KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts

KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

Rebecca McInroy

Dignity

Dignity is core to our humanity and woven into our sense of agency, authenticity, and the way others treat us, yet what it looks and feels like shifts across cultures, circumstances, and relationships. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology behind this deeply human need.

Neuroticism Part III: Support

People high in the Big Five personality trait of neuroticism generally experience more negative than positive feelings each day. In this final episode of our three-part series on the psychology of neuroticism from Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of support.

Big Five Personality Test

References

Wenzel, M., Kaurin, A., Ringwald, W. R., Tüscher, O., Kubiak, T., & Wright, A. G. C. (2026). Unraveling the link between neuroticism and well-being in daily life: The role of event occurrence, event appraisals, affective reactivity, and affective recovery. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 130(1), 93–108.

Neuroticism Part II: Social Media and Personality Tests

People high in the Big Five personality trait of neuroticism generally experience more negative than positive feelings each day. In this second episode of our three-part series on the psychology of neuroticism from Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the impact of social media, the benefit of reflecting on how you’re feeling, and why you might want to know where you rank on the Big Five.

Big Five Personality Test

References

Wenzel, M., Kaurin, A., Ringwald, W. R., Tüscher, O., Kubiak, T., & Wright, A. G. C. (2026). Unraveling the link between neuroticism and well-being in daily life: The role of event occurrence, event appraisals, affective reactivity, and affective recovery. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 130(1), 93–108.

New Research in Neuroticism

People high in the Big Five personality trait of neuroticism generally experience more negative feelings and fewer positive feelings each day. In this first episode of a three-part series on the psychology of neuroticism from Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss some new research that explores a key question: Why does this happen?

References

Wenzel, M., Kaurin, A., Ringwald, W. R., Tüscher, O., Kubiak, T., & Wright, A. G. C. (2026). Unraveling the link between neuroticism and well-being in daily life: The role of event occurrence, event appraisals, affective reactivity, and affective recovery. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 130(1), 93–108.

Theory

 A theory serves as an analytical tool to explain “why” and “how” events occur, rather than just describing them. Yet, all too often, the way we use the idea of a theory obfuscates the real value of what a theory is: a structured, evidence-based explanation for natural or social phenomena, constructed using the scientific method to connect facts, laws, and hypotheses. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the definition of theory and why it’s so important.

Desensitization

Why do things that once felt exciting, delicious, shocking, or even frightening start to feel… ordinary?
In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of desensitization and how motivation, memory, and context shape what we see, feel, and react to, often without us even realizing it.

Bruner, J. S., & Goodman, C. C. (1947). Value and Need as Organizing Factors in Perception. Harvard University. Reprinted at PsychClassics: https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Bruner/Value/

Proffitt, D. R., Creem, S. H., & Zosh, W. D. (2001). Seeing mountains in mole hills: Geographical-slant perception. Psychological Science, 12(5), 418–423. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.00377

Early Specialization?

If your child shows exceptional talent early, it may be tempting to cultivate it immediately. However, an overload of lessons and practice may not be the most effective approach. This episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the perils of specializing early.

Bloom, Benjamin S. Developing Talent in Young People.

Gullich, A., Barth, M., Hambrick, D.Z., & Macnamara, B.N. (2025). Recent discoveries on the acquisition of the highest levels of human performance. Science, 390, DOI: 10.1126/science.adt7790.

Protecting Your Boredom (Re-broadcast)

Someone once said, “I like to do nothing if I can avoid doing something.” For many of us, doing nothing is surprisingly hard. It asks us to generate our own thoughts rather than constantly reacting to Instagram, email, and an ever-expanding stream of stimuli. But when we allow ourselves the space to be bored, to daydream, to think, we can emerge feeling restored rather than drained. And that kind of renewal is deeply valuable.

This episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about protecting your boredom.

Are Holiday Traditions The Fountain of Youth? (Rebroadcast)

For many of us, the holidays bring us back to our families and the traditions we’ve carried through the years. And while that can come with its fair share of stress, it can also offer something unexpectedly beautiful: a chance to re-center ourselves and reconnect with the version of us we knew in childhood.

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore how holiday gatherings can both challenge and ground us, and why revisiting our past selves can feel so meaningful this time of year.

Grief and Work

Grief is difficult, exhausting, and slow, but our daily routines, including work, still continue during the grieving process. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how we can show up with compassion for colleagues who are grieving, and how we can prepare ourselves, psychologically, for returning to work while carrying loss.

SPECIAL: Celebrating 75 Years of The School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin

Join the Two Guys on Your Head team, Rebecca McInroy, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke, for this special live recording celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UT School of Social Work and the 85th anniversary of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.

Featured Guests:

In This Episode:

Recorded before a live audience, this conversation explores the intersection of psychology, social work, and mental health. The panel discusses what we really mean when we talk about “behavioral health” and how it differs from mental health, emphasizing the crucial role that environment, community, and social structures play in our well-being.

Key topics include:

  • The Power of Storytelling: How narratives help us understand our lives and connect with others in therapeutic and meaningful ways
  • Building Community: Why human connection is essential for mental wellness, especially in an age of increasing isolation and loneliness
  • Arts and Humanities in Healthcare: How literature, music, and creative expression foster empathy, prevent burnout, and improve patient outcomes
  • The Pace of Modern Life: Why slowing down and being present matters more than ever
  • Looking Forward: The promise and potential pitfalls of AI and new technologies in behavioral health

The conversation also addresses Dean Cole’s work with the Parkinson’s community, the importance of face-to-face interaction in an increasingly digital world, and how universities can help create more inclusive, less reactive communities.

Episode recorded live at the University of Texas at Austin

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