PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff

Saying no is one of the hardest — and most important — skills in academic life. In this re-release episode, Susan Nolan, Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith, Asani Seawell, and Eric Landrum break down how to do it well. From practical tools like the "no folder" and the "would I be excited if it were tomorrow?" test, to honest conversations about the added pressures faced by women and BIPOC professionals, this episode is all about protecting your time so you can say yes to what truly matters.
Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by AI.

In this episode Garth interviews Danae Hudson from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO for a Part 3 interview. At NITOP 2026, they revisit their 2022 podcast conversation to discuss how classrooms and roles have changed since COVID. Hudson describes teaching large Intro Psych sections (330 students), smaller Abnormal Psych classes, and doctoral courses, noting post-COVID struggles in student adjustment and DFW rates, but some recent movement toward greater preparedness and reduced anxiety. They explore how COVID forced course redesign, current students' desire for more in-person study sessions, and the challenge of assessing learning amid widespread AI use and online degree options. Garth explains cutting Intro Psych content to prioritize meaningful, communicative assessments. Hudson proposes surveying Abnormal Psych students to form AI-mixed study groups and share effective tools. They also discuss boundaries with institutional demands and Hudson's work as STP VP of Membership, building pathways from graduate to late-career involvement and suggesting ways to get involved via STP resources, committees, and task forces.
[Note: Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this (RE-RELEASE) episode, Garth and Eric—joined by guest host John Batson—interview the late Charles Brewer of Furman University. A towering and beloved figure in the teaching of psychology, Charles reflects on his remarkable career, including his work as a John B. Watson scholar, his 12 years as editor of Teaching of Psychology, his role at the very first AP Psychology Reading, and his service on APA Boards and Council. His legacy continues to shape the field and the many educators and students he inspired.
Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by AI.

In this episode Garth interviews Steve Most from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Steve shares his approach to navigating the two-body academic problem with his wife, which has led to dual jobs in Sydney and continued adjunct affiliation with the University of Delaware. He describes early uncertainty about research, influential mentors, and how Dan Simons' visual cognition work and the "gorilla" selective attention task reshaped his interests, highlighting inattentional blindness and the role of attention in shaping conscious experience. He outlines his research on emotion-induced blindness and a newer program on effort aversion, including links to students' Psych 1 grades and planned applications to critical thinking and entrepreneurship. They discuss AI as cognitive offloading versus "desirable difficulties," his TEDx card-change demonstration, and his co-authored Oxford cognition textbook, emphasizing story-driven, real-world examples and interdisciplinary connections.
[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this RE-RELEASE episode Eric chats with Wayne Weiten (UNLV) about his career, retiring from teaching in 2021, and continuing as a leading intro psych textbook author. From a "go it alone" mindset to shaping future instructors, Wayne reflects on the experiences and influences that defined his impact—including contributions to the Society for the Teaching of Psychology.