We often blame the weather when we’re feeling low, or give it credit when we’re feeling great. But research shows our moods aren’t actually driven by sunshine or storms. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy explore the surprising psychology of weather and emotion. Reference: Lucas, R. E., & Lawless, N. M. (2013). Does life seem better on a sunny day? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/236075...
Aug 22, 2025•8 min
Discoveries can make a lot of money, so can you enhance the discovery process with more money? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInro y explore a new study that examines this exact question. The post Does Money Motivate Discovery? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Aug 08, 2025•8 min
When our actions hurt someone or lead to a bad outcome, it can be uncomfortable to acknowledge that we’re at fault, yet as Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInro y explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , taking responsibility for our actions can yield long-term psychological benefits we shouldn’t overlook. The post Retroactive Justification appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Aug 07, 2025•8 min
We all know someone who seems to dislike everyone , until they decide they like you . But what happens next? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology behind people who hate everyone. The post Why We Like People Who Hate Everyone appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Aug 01, 2025•8 min
The way we dress can say a lot about who we are, especially when it comes to rank. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy explore how what we wear conveys our agency, power, and autonomy. The post The Psychology of Style: Power appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Jul 20, 2025•7 min
The way we dress, whether to stand out or blend in, can say a lot about who we are. But what influences that choice? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy explore how uniforms can shape our identity, behavior, and sense of belonging, and what they reveal not just about us as individuals, but about the culture and society we live in. The post The Psychology of Style: The Uniform appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Jul 18, 2025•8 min
What we wear not only expresses who we are, it also shapes how we see and interpret the world around us. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy explore the surprising psychology of style. The post The Psychology of Style appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Jul 11, 2025•8 min
Turns out that understanding the why and how of play in our everyday lives is a serious business, and a lot of fun! In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Rebecca McInroy , Art Markman , and Bob Duke join Alison Preston , Kirk Lynn , and Sarah Abraham from a special presentation at the Texas Science Festival on the psychology, science, and performance of play! Listen to the full conversation, The Psychology, Science and Performance of Play . The post The Psychology of Play appeared first on ...
Jul 04, 2025•8 min
You don’t need to be wildly witty or irresistibly charming to give a great talk; you just need to be yourself. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke share why authenticity matters most, along with a few practical tips that can take your speaking skills to the next level.” The post How to Give a Great Talk (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Jun 20, 2025•8 min
How do you bring human-centered design into systems that weren’t built with humans in mind? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy explore how small, thoughtful changes, even in complex, rigid systems, can prevent problems and demonstrate that people matter. The post Human-Centered Design: Prevention appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Jun 13, 2025•8 min
Have you ever been forced to sit through hours of training because someone in another department made a mistake that has nothing to do with you? This “fire hose” approach that organizations sometimes take to address problems is surprisingly common. In our first episode of a series on the psychology of human-centered design, Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy look at how well-meaning administrative decisions can miss the mark, waste time, and forget that ...
Jun 06, 2025•8 min
If threatening punishment is not an effective way to change behavior or motivate people, why do we continue to do it? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy wrap up their exploration of the psychology of punishment by examining why we rely on threats and why they still don’t work. The post Why We Continue To Threaten Punishment appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
May 30, 2025•8 min
Not all punishment is created equal. While punishment can serve many purposes, it’s not always effective when it comes to changing behavior, especially if the goal is simply to avoid getting punished. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy continue their exploration of the psychology of punishment, focusing on its signal value and what that means for behavior change. The post Signal Value and Punishment appeared first on KUT & KUTX Stu...
May 23, 2025•8 min
In the moment, threatening punishment to see behavior change might seem like a good idea, but does it work? It turns out it depends on your goal. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of punishment and reveal why scolding, threats, and consequences might get short-term results but rarely lead to lasting change. The post Threatening Punishment appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
May 16, 2025•8 min
It can be frustrating to be in conversations that get you nowhere, often because one party knows what they want already and is not interested in hearing the other side. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy explore the all too common practice of reasoning from the desired conclusion. The post Reasoning From The Desired Conclusion appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
May 09, 2025
Our culture, personal reflection, and life experiences shape how we understand our value within larger systems, and this, in turn, affects how we see our role in creating change. In the third and final installment in our Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of apathy, Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy discuss how our value systems influence apathy, motivation, and our sense of connection or isolation—and why it matters. 4o The post Apathy and Value Systems appeared f...
May 02, 2025
When the weight of the world feels overwhelming, tuning out can feel like the only option. But what happens when apathy becomes a habit, and how do we break free from it? In this episode, the second in our Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of apathy, Dr. Art Markman , Dr. Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy shift from understanding why apathy takes hold to exploring how we can overcome it. The post How To Combat Apathy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Apr 25, 2025•7 min
When life feels like a nonstop barrage of problems we can’t fix, it’s natural to want to shut down. But apathy doesn’t make the problems go away, and it can leave us feeling even more stuck. In this episode—the first in our Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of apathy— Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore the concept of learned apathy , why it takes hold, and how we can start to build the confidence and motivation to re-engage with the world around us. The post Learned Apathy app...
Apr 18, 2025
Spring is in the air in Austin, Texas, and on this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman and Bob Duke talk about why–psychologically–it’s important to enjoy the beauty of this moment. The post Spring appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Apr 11, 2025•7 min
Conversations change our minds. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman and Bob Duke explore the psychology of why and how that happens. The post Conversation appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Apr 04, 2025
Emotions are sometimes good to listen to when you’re trying to make a decision, but sometimes, they’re not so good. However, as Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , the more you know about how your brain works and what certain feelings may indicate, the more tools you have to act. The post Embodied Emotions (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Mar 28, 2025
There is a lot of misinformation out there, and we might think that we just need more correct and factual information to combat it. While that can be true, it turns out that how and when we get information plays a huge role in what we believe. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman and Bob Duke explore the psychological concept of “bypassing.” Bypassing versus correcting misinformation: Efficacy and fundamental processes. by Javier Granados Samayoa and Dolores Albraracín. The pos...
Mar 21, 2025
When it comes to deciding what is valued and what is not, we often proceed with an illusion of objectivity instead of an evaluation system that can showcase expertise and quality. So, what does it really mean to be “the best,” and who gets to decide? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman and Bob Duke explore how culture shapes our understanding of merit, fairness, and success and why it matters. The post Meritocracy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Mar 15, 2025•8 min
One misconception about giving up is that it takes less energy, motivation, or stamina than sticking to something. However, in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman and Bob Duke discuss the agency and energy it takes to stop doing something and change course. The post Giving Up and Agency appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Mar 07, 2025•8 min
When we hear someone say they’re giving up, it’s not usually met with congratulations. However, on this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman and Bob Duke explore why perhaps it should be. The post Giving Up appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Feb 28, 2025•8 min
Why do we wait for big milestones to celebrate when the little wins matter just as much? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head , Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore the psychology behind celebration, gratitude, and achievement—revealing why our brains are wired to thrive on recognizing progress along the way. The post Celebration (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Feb 21, 2025•8 min
Our producer, Rebecca McInroy , spent a lot of time in Greece as an undergraduate studying and living there; she adores the country and the language. On one of her first trips there, a Greek man accused her of being from a country of “barbarians” because in the English language, there is only one word for love, whereas in Greek, there are at least eight words that express different kinds of love. This prompted a question: what is the importance of having words to express our feelings? On this sp...
Feb 14, 2025•8 min
Disappointment is unpleasant, and many times, when we’ve experienced past disappointments, we adjust our expectations so we don’t have to go through that again. Still, sometimes, that isn’t the best way to navigate our emotional lives. In the third and final episode of our series on the psychology of disappointment, Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman , Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy discuss how past traumas can influence our expectations. The post Disappointment: Trauma and Expectations appeare...
Feb 07, 2025•8 min
Disappointment is unpleasant, but we rarely take the time to reflect on the social dimensions of the feeling. In the second episode of our series on the psychology of disappointment, Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman , Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy talk about the role of disappointment as discipline. The post Disappointment: Discipline appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Jan 31, 2025•8 min
Feeling disappointment is not pleasant, but rarely do we take the time to reflect on how re-calibrating our expectations can help us navigate disappointment more constructively. In the first episode of our series on the psychology of disappointment, Two Guys on Your Head , Art Markman , Bob Duke , and Rebecca McInroy talk about the role of expectations. The post Dissapointment: Expectations appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Jan 24, 2025•8 min
