Psychologists Off the Clock

• 437. Wise Effort with Diana Hill

  Are you wisely using your genius energy? In this episode, Michael reconnects with Diana Hill, a therapist and author who has recently explored the concept of focusing your genius energy on what matters most through her book Wise Effort.Their discussion spans from insights from ancient Buddhist wisdom to the application of commitment therapy to the practice of finding one's unique 'genius energy.' If you’re interested in practical ways to maximize your strengths, handle emotional challenges, and cultivate a meaningful and balanced life, you’ll want to join them to unearth actionable tips and exercises for making the most out of your efforts and ultimately enhancing your well-being.Listen and Learn: What is “Wise Effort” and how can this practice reshape your energy, choices, and well-being?Identifying and using your unique “genius energy” while also recognizing how overusing those strengths can become a stumbling block, and how cultivating awareness, curiosity, and context helps direct those strengths with wisdomPractical self-reflection questions to uncover your geniusA simple four-question “energy audit” for knowing when to dial your genius up or downWhere true wisdom really comes from, and what if rethinking how growth happensAdopting “Wise Effort” helps you understand your struggles in context, align your actions with your values, and transform both self-judgment and relationshipsBringing mindful intention to even mundane tasks to transform how you use your time, connect with yourself, and balance structure with flexibility in a meaningful lifeResources: Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781649633361 Diana’s Website: drdianahill.comConnect with Diana on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdianahillhttps://www.facebook.com/drdianahill/https://www.youtube.com/drdianahillhttps://www.instagram.com/drdianahill/https://insighttimer.com/drdianahill FREE Energy Audit guide: https://drdianahill.com/energy Wise Effort: The Business Of Therapy Program: https://drdianahill.com/wise-effort-the-business-of-therapy Michael’s Real Play Episode on The Wise Effort Podcast: https://wiseeffortshow.com/episode/living-life-on-your-own-terms-with-michael-herold-real-play About Diana HillDr. Diana Hill, PhD is a clinical psychologist, author, international trainer, and recognized expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), compassion-based interventions, and psychological flexibility. With a background that bridges neuroscience, mindfulness, and behavioral science, she is known for making complex psychological concepts both practical and inspiring.A summa cum laude graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she majored in Biopsychology, Dr. Hill earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She later collaborated with Dr. Debra Safer at Stanford University, researching Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Appetite Awareness Training (AAT) for bulimia nervosa. She completed her clinical internship at the University of California, Davis, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at La Luna Intensive Outpatient Center, where she later served as Clinical Director and developed their ACT- and AAT-based treatment program.A leading voice in the evolution of ACT and Process-Based Therapy, Dr. Hill works closely with pioneers in the field. She co-leads ACT BootCamp Training for Therapists with ACT founder Dr. Steven Hayes and is actively involved in shaping the future of therapy—including applications of AI, advances in diagnostic systems, network modeling, and process-based approaches. She serves as a senior meditation teacher and curriculum developer for the University of California’s Climate Resilience Initiative, integrating ACT and mindfulness into interdisciplinary environmental education.Dr. Hill has contributed to publications in the International Journal of Eating Disorders and co-authored a seminal article on Process-Based Therapy, advancing evidence-based clinical practice. She is a contributor to PsychFlex, a digital platform that helps clinicians incorporate ACT into their work and track client outcomes in real time through ecological measurements. She also speaks regularly at global conferences including the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) World Conference, Innovations in Psychotherapy, and the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference.In addition to her clinical and academic work, Dr. Hill teaches at organizations and retreat centers such as InsightLA, Blue Spirit Costa Rica, PESI, and PraxisCET. She serves on the clinical advisory board of Lightfully Behavioral Health and is a board member of the Institute for Better Health.She is the author of Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most (Sounds True, 2025), The Self-Compassion Daily Journal, I Know I Should Exercise But…, and ACT Daily Journal. Her insights have been featured in NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, Mindful, Prevention, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, and other leading media outlets. She is also the host of the Wise Effort podcast.With more than 20 years of study and practice in yoga and meditation—including training in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh—Dr. Hill integrates contemplative practice into her approach to healing and growth. She lives in California, where she raises two sons, cares for bees, and embodies the Wise Effort principles she teaches—living a life guided by presence, purpose, and compassion.Related Episodes:48. Practical Wisdom with Barry Schwartz349. The Hunger Habit with Judson Brewer188. Unwinding Anxiety with Judson Brewer122. Taking in the Good with Rick Hanson138. Exploring Existence and Purpose: Existentialism with Robyn Walser320. Anger and Forgiveness with Robyn Walser346. Self-compassion Daily Journal with Diana Hill301. Seven Daily ACT Practices for Living Fully with Diana Hill and Debbie SorensenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  --------  

  57:58

  --------

  57:58
• 436. Consent Laid Bare with Chanel Contos

  How can we reshape the understanding of consent and more effectively address the widespread problem of sexual violence? Start by joining Jill for a conversation with award-winning activist Chanel Contos, who is bringing attention to the complexities of consent, sexual coercion, and rape culture through her book Consent Laid Bare. Chanel’s pioneering work in making consent education mandatory in Australia shows what’s possible and what could be achieved worldwide.We invite you to listen in to broaden your knowledge about gender norms, the dangers of low empathy and high entitlement, practical steps to foster empathy in young people, and much more. This is a crucial conversation that has the potential to make a huge difference in everyone's lives.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: Chanel’s personal experiences with early consent education and witnessing systemic injustice that led to the creation of Teach Us Consent?Why clear, affirmative consent is understood as the active seeking of an enthusiastic “yes,” rather than simply the absence of a “no” Distinguishing between different categories of rapeDoes the normalization of misogyny and the lack of social consequences contribute to rape culture and make sexual assault socially acceptable within peer groups and broader society?How language and metaphors, like the “blueberry” analogy, reveal the hidden social dynamics where men benefit from gendered power structuresHow language shapes recognition of sexual assault and why survivors of coercion or subtle rape struggle to label their experience as “rape”The classification of sexual violence and shifting from focusing on the victim’s response to examining the perpetrator’s intentHow trauma responses like fawning and hypersexuality can explain why survivors continue contact with perpetrators and challenge misconceptions about consentHow can parents and adults support young people in navigating online sexual content and consent by having open, shame-free conversations early, rather than relying on abstinence messagesRaising boys’ empathy to match girls’ and reduce entitlement, creating a culture where consent and respect are normalizedResources: Chanel’s Book, Consent Laid Bare: Sex, Entitlement, and the Distortion of Desire: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780063449381 For More About Chanel’s Work, Visit: https://www.teachusconsent.com/https://www.teachusconsent.com/resources#PodcastsTeach Us Consent Podcast Series: https://www.teachusconsent.com/resources#Podcasts Connect with Chanel on Social Media:https://x.com/Chanelcontoshttps://www.instagram.com/chanelc/https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanel-contoshttps://www.tiktok.com/@chanazc About Chanel ContosChanel Contos is an international award-winning activist and the founder of Teach Us Consent, a campaign that successfully mandated consent education across Australia and led to the criminalisation of stealthing in multiple states. She holds a Master’s in Education, Gender, and International Development from University College London and is currently completing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford.In 2022, Chanel was named by the BBC as one of the 100 most inspiring and influential women worldwide. Her work has received global attention, with coverage from the BBC, The New York Times, France24, and numerous other international outlets.Related Episodes19. Keeping Children Safe from Sexual Abuse with Feather Berkower84. Courageous Conversations to Prevent Childhood Sexual Abuse with Feather Berkower163. The Likeability Trap with Alicia Menendez198. Break the Good Girl Myth with Majo Molfino272. Middle School Matters with Phyllis Fagell305. The Power of Saying No with Vanessa Patrick390. Raising Empowered Girls in a Sexist World with Jo-Ann Finkelstein421. Defy with Sunita SahSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  --------  

  57:26

  --------

  57:26
• 436. How to Winter with Kari Leibowitz

  If you shudder when Daylight Saving Time ends and the colder months settle in, or if winter leaves you feeling stuck in a funk, we’re here to present a different way to look at this stretch of the year.In this episode, Kari Leibowitz, a health psychologist and author of 'How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days,' joins Debbie to talk about her journey from being a self-proclaimed winter hater to a winter embracer. Kari shows us the impact of mindsets on our well-being, particularly during the cold, dark months, and offers practical strategies drawn from global research. You’ll also learn about the power of wintertime mindsets, adaptations for enjoying the season, and how to turn winter's perceived limitations into opportunities. Whether you love or loathe winter, this conversation will provide many tips to help you find joy and thrive during this often challenging season.Listen and Learn: How Kari’s accidental deep dive into Arctic life launched her decade-long exploration into winter mindsets and human flourishingHow adopting a positive winter mindset can transform the season from something to endure into a source of enjoyment, opportunity, and greater well-beingThe ways mindsets shape your attention, motivation, behavior, and well-being, and how you can thrive during winter instead of merely enduring itEmbracing a nuanced wintertime mindset to recognize both the challenges and pleasures of winter, stay present with your actual experiences, and develop a balanced, resilient, and practical approach to the seasonHow seasonal changes naturally affect your energy and mood, and why embracing rest and adjusting expectations in winter can be healthyEvidence-based strategies to manage seasonal affective disorder that improve mood, resilience, and long-term well-being.Resources: Kari’s Website: https://www.karileibowitz.com/How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780593653753 Kari’s Substack, Wintery Mix: https://wintrymix.substack.com/ About Kari LeibowitzKari Leibowitz is a health psychologist, speaker, and writer, and the author of How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days. She received her PhD in Psychology from Stanford University, served as a US-Norway Fulbright Scholar, and taught the ‘Mindsets Matter’ Stanford Continuing Studies Course. Leibowitz combines scholarly expertise with practical strategies to help people understand and harness the power of their mindsets and find joy in winter. Her writing on the power of wintertime mindset has appeared in the Atlantic, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. She has taught winter workshops to businesses, universities, non-profits, and organizations around the world. Kari lives in Amsterdam with her husband, son, and dog, where she is learning to love biking in the rain. Related Episodes: 2. Hygge – Happiness and the Danish Art of Cozy Connection 6. Holiday Stress with Stephanie Smith115. Creating Meaningful Gatherings with Debbie and Diana132. The Joy Of Movement With Kelly McGonigal 348. Sustainable Exercise with Michelle Segar 410. Creativity and Making Things with Kelly Corrigan and Claire Corrigan Lichty 431. Ordinary Magic: Social Psychology for Big Change with Gregory WaltonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  --------  

  59:32

  --------

  59:32
• 434. How Trust Works with Peter H. Kim

  What do you do when your trust is broken, or when people start questioning your trustworthiness? Chances are, you’re left feeling unsure, even overwhelmed. Most of us don’t really understand how trust works, so trying to fix it can feel impossible.In this episode, Peter Kim from USC's Marshall School of Business breaks it down for us. Drawing from his book How Trust Works, he shares over twenty years of research on what makes people trustworthy, why trust gets broken, and how relationships can actually be repaired.Join us for a conversation about the science of trust and discover what it really takes to build, break, and restore the connections that matter most.Listen and Learn: Why trust is essential for cooperation, even though it makes us vulnerable, and how people who choose to trust ultimately function and flourish better than those who don’tHow trust is defined as a willingness to be vulnerable in situations involving real risk, and why acting as if you trust someone is not the same as truly trusting themHow trust violations fall into competence or integrity, and how we weigh positive and negative information differently for each, shaping how we perceive and respond to others’ actionsThe effectiveness of apologies depends on whether a violation is seen as a matter of competence or integrity, and how our motivation to preserve relationships influences the way we interpret and respond to wrongdoingMoving beyond black-and-white judgments of right and wrong to explore the gray areas in human behavior and foster a more nuanced understanding and dialogueHow to begin rebuilding trust by acknowledging the other person’s concerns, assuming shared core values, and creating a safe space for honest, collaborative conversation, even when opinions deeply differWhy apologies for integrity violations are so hard to accept, and ways to reframe actions or create narratives that allow people to recognize errors and pursue redemptionResources: How Trust Works: The Science of How Relationships Are Built, Broken, and Repaired https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781250838155 Peter’s Website: https://peterhkim.com Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkim/ My Octopus Teacher movieAbout Peter Kim Peter is a Professor at USC's Marshall School of Business, where he teaches some of the most popular MBA courses around—probably because everyone wants to know why their apologies keep backfiring. His research on trust violation and repair has ten national and international awards, been featured everywhere from the New York Times to NPR, and culminated in his 2023 book How Trust Works: The Science of How Relationships Are Built, Broken, and Repaired, which won the Academy of Management's 'Distinguished Winner' award for making significant contributions to both science and practice.Related Episodes: Episode 51. The Psychology of Political Division with Debbie and YaelEpisode 371. Uniting Toward a Better Future with Diana McLain SmithEpisode 281. Belonging Uncertainty and Bridging Divides with Geoffrey CohenEpisode 392. Outraged with Kurt GraySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  --------  

  1:00:33

  --------

  1:00:33
• 433. Rethinking Screens and Video Games with Ash Brandin

  Parenting in the digital age can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. For this episode, Emily brings in the insight of Ash Brandin for a thoughtful conversation about her book, Power On, and what healthy screen use can actually look like for families. With over 15 years of hands-on experience teaching in the classroom, Ash shares a perspective that moves away from fear and guilt, encouraging parents to think about screens with the same balance and neutrality we often bring to food or other everyday choices.By the end, you’ll hopefully have a more compassionate lens for thinking about tech and some practical, flexible ideas for creating a calm, balanced approach to screen time that truly fits with your own family’s life.Listen and Learn: How viewing kids’ screen time with moral neutrality can help parents move past guilt and fear to understand the real purposes screens serve and the deeper systemic issues driving our reliance on themWhy the old “two-hour screen limit” is outdated and oversimplified, and how a personalized family media plan can lead to healthier, more sustainable screen useReframing of screen time and how systemic factors make it unfair to place all the blame or responsibility on individual parents, and why true change requires collective, not individual, solutionsHow self-determination theory explains kids’ relationships with screens, not as addiction but as a way to meet core needs for autonomy, competence, and connection, and how parents can stay neutral, understand what needs are being met, and help kids find healthy, varied ways to fulfill themWhy not everything that releases dopamine is addictive, how our relationship to an activity matters more than the activity itself, and why screens aren’t “evil dopamine machines”Resources: Power on: Managing Screen Time to Benefit the Whole Family https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780306836992Ash’s Website https://www.thegamereducator.com/Connect with Ashon Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/thegamereducatorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-brandin025For More on Ash’s Work, Subscribe to their Substack https://thegamereducator.substack.com/ About Ash BrandinAsh Brandin, EdS, known online as TheGamerEducator, empowers families to make screen time sustainable, manageable, and beneficial for the whole family. Now in their 15th year of teaching middle school, they help caregivers navigate the world of tech with consistent, loving boundaries, founded on respect for children, appreciation of video games and tech, and knowledge of pedagogical techniques. Ash has appeared on podcasts including Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Care and Feeding from Slate, Brave Writer Podcast with Julie Bogart, Learning Curve with Mr. Chazz, Burnt Toast with Virginia Sole-Smith, Your Parenting Mojo with Jen Lumanlan, and Kid Talk with Katie Plunkett, and has contributed to articles featured on Romper, Scary Mommy, Lifehacker, The Daily Beast, USA Today, and NPR. Their bestselling book, "Power On: Managing Screen Time to Benefit the Whole Family" debuted in August, 2025. In their free time, Ash loves to hike, bake, play video games, and spend time with their family. Related Episodes382. The Anxious Generation? The Conversation We Should Be Having About Kids, Technology, and Mental Health369. The Good News About Adolescence with Ellen Galinsky319. Autonomy-Supportive Parenting with Emily Edlynn317. Growing Up in Public with Devorah Heitner256. Social Justice Parenting with Traci BaxleySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  --------  

  58:25

  --------

  58:25

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Psychologists Off the Clock