Psychologists Off the Clock

We are five experts in psychology, bringing you science-backed ideas that can help you flourish in your work, relationships, and health.

Psychologists Off the Clock is a health podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 477 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Psychologists Off the Clock, a health show with 477 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #472

  472. One Relationship, Two Brains with Cindy Ariel

  Aug 11, 202648 min

  Every couple has to learn how to accept their differences. But when you’re in a neurodiverse relationship, those differences aren't just quirks; they’re completely different ways of experiencing the world.  In this episode, we're getting real about love, autism, and how to actually understand each other in a conversation with psychologist and author Dr. Cindy Ariel , who drops by to chat about her book, Autism and the Two of Us . Cindy brings so many incredible insights to the table, including what autism actually is and why neurodiversity is just a normal variation of the human brain.  She also gets into the nuances of identity-first vs. person-first language and why those choices matter, and busts some major myths and talks about redefining what "typical" love even looks like.  Tune in for a genuinely eye-opening conversation on love, connection, and neurodiversity! Listen and Learn:  Framing neurodiversity as the natural spectrum of variation in human minds  Why the assumption that autistic individuals cannot sustain meaningful partnerships is a misconception  The need to move away from standard expectations of romantic behavior, and why neurotypical and autistic partners often express love in vastly different ways  Actionable insights on how partners can translate each other's emotional signals to build deeper connections  How neurodiverse and neurotypical partners often interpret the same situation in vastly different, yet equally valid ways  Moving past rigid expectations and deadlocks by co-creating custom, "third-way" solutions that meet both partners' unique emotional and practical needs  Overcoming the "closeness communication bias" by learning to treat your partner how they want to be treated rather than relying on default assumptions  Navigateing deep neurological differences by letting go of diagnostic labels and distinguishing between normal incompatibility versus toxic behavior Resources:  Autism and the Two of Us: Love, Communication, and Neurodiversity https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/autism-and-the-two-of-us-how-understanding-each-other-can-help-you-build-a-stronger-lasting-love-cindy-n-ariel/b92004b21dec8780?ean=9781462560189&bkshp-astro=t   alternativechoices.com   Pre-order Yael’s book and get pre-order bonuses! (order 12 or more copies and I’ll join you on a Zoom for a 30-minute mini-workshop or Q&A!) About Cindy Ariel:  Cindy Ariel is a Philadelphia-based psychologist who has spent more than three decades at the intersection of psychology, neurodiversity, and intimate relationships. In 1992, she cofounded Alternative Choices, an independent group psychology practice known for its work with LGBTQ families and with individuals on the autism spectrum. She is the author of several books on neurodivergent relationships, including her newest, Autism and the Two of Us: How Understanding Each Other Can Help You Build a Stronger, Lasting Love (Guilford Press). Dr. Ariel is widely recognized for her work with neurodiverse couples, combining clinical insight with advocacy for understanding, acceptance, and the celebration of all kinds of minds. She was doing this work long before most people had a framework for thinking about autism in adulthood. Learn more at alternativechoices.com . Related Episodes: 186. Set Boundaries Find Peace with Nedra Tawwab 263. Relationships with Emotionally Immature People with Lindsay Gibson 449. How to Feel Loved with Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis 467. Bonded by Evolution with Paul Eastwick See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #471

  471. Motivational Interviewing with Kristin Dempsey

  Aug 4, 202648 min

  What do you do as a mental health provider when a client walks into your office and flat-out refuses to be there, is silent, or is disengaged? In this episode, Michael chats with psychotherapist and Motivational Interviewing trainer Kristen Dempsey about her book, Advancing Motivational Interviewing , and how to actually navigate those cases. They get into why Motivational Interviewing works so well when a client is stuck on the fence and how these skills end up being surprisingly useful outside the clinic, too. Kristen also breaks down how MI can help to build real connection early on, why our instinct to "fix" people almost always backfires, and how to work with mandated clients without getting into a power struggle.  They also touch on practical group ideas, the whole concept of "lending hope," and how using MI might just save you from burning out. Tune in for the full chat! Listen and Learn:  How Motivational Interviewing (MI) helps clients uncover their own internal motivation for change  Blending MI with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to meet clients where they are and navigate ambivalence Practical strategies for handling mandated and disengaged clients with the use of "comfort agreements," and offering flexible participation options How practitioners can act as a "professional hoper" in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)  How MI can prevent burnout and cultivate deeper curiosity, compassion, and presence in relationships  Resources:  Advancing Motivational Interviewing: https://www.kristindempseycounseling.com/kristins-book-advancing-motivational Kristin’s Website: https://www.kristindempseycounseling.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-dempsey-ed-d-lpcc-lmft-322812a/  https://www.facebook.com/p/Kristin-L-Dempsey-LPCC-LMFT-100057356474362/ https://www.instagram.com/kristin_d_author_trainer?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==&utm_source=qr  MI Macrostack Collaboration: https://substack.com/@ali1850709/note/p-194642379?r=1tfnrv&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action  Michael’s Confidence Course https://herold.coach/course    About Kristin Dempsey Kristin Dempsey is a psychotherapist, trainer, and counselor educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has over 30 years’ experience working with individuals, youth, and families with challenging behavioral issues that impact their lives, such as substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, trauma symptoms, and unresolved grief. Kristin believes that each individual has unlimited ability to change and grow, and she enjoys exploring the complexities of complex challenges and how to approach them with compassion and curiosity. Kristin has taught many classes in the counselor education curriculum, and she is currently focused on practitioner skill development, substance use disorder treatment, and effective practices in community mental health. Kristin is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), and she currently teaches motivational interviewing to behavioral health and other allied human services professionals. She is an adjunct professor at the Wright Institute’s Counseling Psychology Program and lecturing faculty at San Francisco State University. Kristin is the author of The Harm Reduction Workbook for Addiction (New Harbinger, 2024), co-author of Advancing Motivational Interviewing: An Experiential Skills Guide for Mental Health Professionals (PESI, April 2026), and a writer for The Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Workbook (New Harbinger, May 2027). Related Episodes: 135. Power of Empathy and Motivational Interviewing with Stephen Rollnick 66. Helping People Change Using Motivational Interviewing With Nadine Mastroleo 402. Harm Reduction for Addiction with Kristin Dempsey See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #470

  470. Parenting Science in the Media: Lost in Translation

  Jul 28, 202658 min

  Don't stress over parenting advice, as much of it is based on clickbait, panic, and outdated science. In this episode, we hear from science journalists and experts Melinda Wenner Moyer , Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Jacqueline Nesi in a conversation with Emily on how to spot actual, trustworthy parenting guidance amid all the online noise. Dismantling the myth of the "one-size-fits-all" approach, they explain why classic research was always meant to be flexible and why anyone claiming there is only one right way is usually just selling something.  You'll also learn about the deep flaws in historical parenting studies and what modern research is getting right, as well as the viral panic surrounding screen time, extreme media narratives, and the real risks AI companions pose to kids' emotional growth.  If you’d appreciate a reassuring, reality-based sanity check on modern parenting so you can tune out the fear and focus on what actually works for your family, tune in for this episode on Parenting Science in the Media. Listen and Learn:  How parenting advice moved past simple "good vs. bad" rules to look at how things like culture, environment, and everyday context actually shape what works  Calling out rigid parenting advice, spotting the red flags, and breaking down why real child science actually depends on the context Biases in parenting science and leaning into "goodness of fit" to figure out what actually works for your specific kid   How nuanced, multi-method science often gets distorted by media algorithms and fear-based messaging and how to spot misleading science headlines  How kids are actively using AI, why vulnerable or unfulfilled kids are most at risk of over-dependence, and how parents can guide their children through open communication rather than strict bans  Positive trends in youth resilience and self-control, how modern parenting shifts drive these improvements, and why adults in every generation fall victim to the cognitive bias that "kids these days" are doomed  Resources:  jacquelinenesi.com  melindawennermoyer.com  https://www.tracydennistiwary.com/ technosapiens.substack.com  https://tracydennistiwary.substack.com melindawmoyer.substack.com.  The Kids Are All Right , Scientific American article by Melinda Tracy’s Book Review in the New York Times The Most Elusive Part of Modern Parenting , Emily’s Substack (if you hit a paywall, just email Emily for a free link - emily@emilyedlynnphd.com) About Melinda Wenner Moyer, Jacqueline Nesi and Tracy Dennis-Tiwary  Melinda Wenner Moyer - Melinda Wenner Moyer is an award-winning science journalist and author. She’s a contributing editor at Scientific American magazine and a regular contributor at The New York Times . She’s the author of How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes and Hello, Cruel World! She also writes the popular parenting Substack Now What.  Jacqueline Nesi - Jacqueline Nesi, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist, Associate Professor at Brown University, and author of the popular weekly newsletter Techno Sapiens . Her research focuses on the role of technology in kids’ mental health (especially teens), and on how parents can help. [note that last name is pronounced Nee-See ) Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, PhD , is a clinical psychologist, professor, researcher, mental health tech entrepreneur, and AI safety advisor. Her research focuses on the intersection between digital technology and mental health. She writes about growing up and growing old in the digital age in news outlets like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, as well as on her Substack The Future of Sanity.  She is author of the book Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for You (Even Though it Feels Bad) .  Related Episodes: 464. Dad Brain with Darby Saxbe 428. How to Fall in Love with Questions with Elizabeth Weingarten 409. Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times with Melinda Wenner Moyer 382. The Anxious Generation? The Conversation We Should Be Having About Kids, Technology, and Mental Health 319. Autonomy-Supportive Parenting with Emily Edlynn 307. Navigating Social Media As a Parent with Cara Goodwin 266. Future Tense with Tracy Dennis-Tiwary 253. Free-Range Kids with Lenore Skenazy 214. How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Jerks with Melinda Wenner Moyer See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #469

  469. ACT Refresher with Matt Boone

  Jul 21, 20261h 6m

  We spend an exhausting amount of energy trying to outrun our own difficult thoughts and feelings. For this episode, Jill Stoddard brings back ACT therapist, trainer, and author of The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook , Matt Boone for a refreshingly grounded look at Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Matt shares how his own path through chronic pain led him to ACT, breaking down why trying to "fix" uncomfortable inner experiences usually backfires. You'll hear about why we procrastinate, how to unhook from spiral-inducing thoughts, and how to get unstuck when uncertainty feels overwhelming. Plus, Matt shares how ACT helps therapists dodge burnout.  Join us for this practical guide to making peace with the noise in your head so you can finally move toward what actually matters. Listen to POTC ad-free for just $5 a month by becoming a Mega Supporter on Patreon! Or, support the podcast with a one-time donation at Buy Me A Coffee! Listen and Learn:  How ACT moves away from trying to "fix" or eliminate difficult emotions, teaching people to live alongside their pain so they can focus energy on what truly matters  Matt’s personal journey from chronic pain patient to ACT therapist, exploring how real-life experiences shaped their approach to therapy and led to designing experiential ACT training courses  How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) shifts the focus from managing symptom scores to creating meaningful, real-world behavior changes through experiential, values-based action  Why "we hurt where we care," how procrastination and avoidance function to give us short-term relief, and how reconnecting with your deeper "why" can help you step through discomfort toward a full life  How to define values as actionable, ongoing ways of being rather than fixed feelings, and discover practical tools  Aligning small everyday actions with your values to allow you to act with intention, kindness, and self-acceptance, even in hard moments  Major clinical hurdles and creative, practical exercises to act in alignment with your values anyway  How mindfulness allows you to step back and observe unhelpful thoughts without getting tangled up in them or taking them as "capital-T truth  Why arguing with your mind often backfires, how to shift focus from thought content to thought impact , and why taking a "leap of faith" empowers you to take meaningful action aligned with your values  Resources:  The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook https://www.matthewsboone.com/acceptance-commitment-therapy-skills-workbook Matt's Website https://www.matthewsboone.com/ Connect with Matt on Social Media https://www.facebook.com/matthew.boone.794/about https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsboone https://www.praxiscet.com   About Matt Boone:  Matt Boone is a social worker, psychotherapist, and author who specializes in translating mental health concepts for the general public. His books include The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook, co-authored with Jennifer Gregg, and Stop Avoiding Stuff: 25 Microskills to Face Your Fears and Do It Anyway, co-authored with Jennifer Gregg and Lisa Coyne. He is the Associate Director at the Student Wellness Program (SWP) of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry. As the Clinical Director of Mental Health Coaching at Lyra Health, he oversaw the clinical development of Lyra’s mental health coaching program and offered workshops and webinars on mental health topics to workers in the tech industry. Lyra partners with eBay, Lyft, Uber, Servicenow and others to provide evidence-based care to their employees. At Cornell University, he oversaw the development of Let's Talk, an outreach program that has since been replicated at nearly 100 other colleges and universities.  He lives and works in Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife, guitars, and cats, Giorgia (a sassy Tortie) and Finley (a gentle giant orange kitty with a superhuman -- or superkitten-- capacity for empathy). Related Episodes: 77. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Jill Stoddard 106. Therapy from “The Heart of ACT” with Robyn Walser 116. Building a Meaningful, Values-based Life with Jenna LeJeune 121. Be Mighty: An Episode for Stressed Out, Worried Women with Jill Stoddard 128. ACT for Food Restriction and Anorexia with Rhonda Merwin 190. ACT for Suicide Prevention with Sean Barnes 195. ACT Daily with Diana Hill and Debbie Sorensen 226. ACT for Perfectionism with Jennifer Kemp 279. ACT for Healing Black Racial Trauma with Jennifer Shepard Payne 301. Seven Daily ACT Practices for Living Fully with Diana Hill and Debbie Sorensen 313. ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety with Brian Pilecki and Brian Thompson 338. ACT for Burnout with Debbie! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #467

  467. Bonded by Evolution with Paul Eastwick

  Jul 7, 202657 min

  Are we being lied to about the science of attraction? In this episode, UC Davis relationship scientist and author of Bonded by Love: The New Science of Human Attachment , Paul Eastwick , challenges the massive online narratives around "mate value," hardwired gender differences, and dating strategies. It turns out a lot of the viral relationship theories we see online are built on shaky evidence, relying on photos and surveys rather than real, live human interaction. Paul explains why what we say we want on paper almost never predicts who we actually fall for in person. He redefines compatibility not as a rigid trait-matching algorithm, but as something unique that two people construct together over time. If you're ready to look past the internet's rigid dating rules and see how attraction actually works in the wild, tune in. [And if you are interested in pre-ordering Yael’s book, Why Don’t You Understand Me? , this link will take you to the larger booksellers, while THIS link will take you to her pre-order bonus form. Thank you for supporting Yael’s book launch! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeq8tfQnl1o5GvfxrIrDzeOFtIvB8E16czMKajY3B8IDy1oww/viewform] Listen and Learn: The "Evo script" and the popular, outdated evolutionary psychology myths that dominate modern dating advice and why the latest science challenges its assumptions about mate value, gender differences, and relationship strategies  Why popular evolutionary psychology models fail to predict real-world relationship success, and learn how relationship science reveals a far less competitive and much more hopeful reality of how we actually choose and stay with our partners  Why the way we evaluate romantic partners on paper or dating apps is completely different from how we judge them in person  The surprising scientific truth that our abstract checklists for a romantic partner rarely predict real compatibility, discovering instead how long-term satisfaction is built through shared experiences rather than finding someone who matches a mental template  How actual data debunks extreme evolutionary psychology scripts about gender differences, revealing that men and women are much more aligned in their romantic and sexual desires than popular media and online advice suggest  Why the concept of "mate value" and physical attractiveness only matter for short-term dating and initial impressions, while true long-term relationship success depends on compatibility that partners uniquely construct together rather than a predictable algorithm  How relationship satisfaction and compatibility are not predetermined by matching personality traits, but are instead actively constructed through vulnerability, open-minded interactions, and the unpredictable connections built within real-world social networks  Why platonic friendships between heterosexual men and women are not only entirely possible but also deeply enriching, mind-expanding, and a proven positive predictor for finding a romantic partner in the long run  The major drawbacks of online dating, learn why you should wait until the third date before making a decision, and find out how a "failed" date can actually help you find your next match  Resources: Bonded by Love: The New Science of Human Attachment https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780593593981 https://www.lovefactuallypod.com/ http://pauleastwick.com/pauleastwick   https://linktr.ee/pauleastwick   About Paul Eastwick Paul Eastwick is a professor of psychology at UC Davis, where he runs the Attraction and Relationships Research Laboratory. His work sits at the intersection of evolutionary psychology, social psychology, and close relationships research, meaning he has spent his career asking why people fall for who they fall for, and whether the stories we tell ourselves about that process hold up to scientific scrutiny. His new book, Bonded by Love: The New Science of Human Attachment , makes a sweeping argument: the dominant narrative about human mating — attraction as hierarchy, competition, genetic optimization — isn't just incomplete. It's wrong in ways that matter. The real science of how humans form lasting bonds is, if anything, more interesting and more hopeful than what we've been sold. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, he sits on the editorial boards of several major psychology journals, and he has the rare combination of scientific rigor and personal candor. Paul is also the co-host of Love Factually , a podcast he runs with Northwestern relationship researcher Eli Finkel, which fact-checks Hollywood rom-coms one movie at a time (and which happens to be one of Yael’s favorite binge-listens). Related Episodes: 63. The Ape That Understood the Universe with Steve Stewart-Williams 92. Marriage in Midlife with Daphne de Marneffe 179. How to Be an Adult in Relationships with Dave Richo 248. Let’s Talk about Sex & Intimacy with Zoë Kors   397. The Mindful Path to Intimacy with James Cordova See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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