Rebecca McInroy

When it comes to making really tough decisions, like deciding where to go to college or where to work, we may think we should lay out all the options and weigh the pros and cons, but as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke and Rebecca McInroy talk about in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, it turns out we are taking into account a lot more than we realize.

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:

• Dean Allan Cole, Dean of the School of Social Work at UT Austin
• Dr. Octavio Martinez, Executive Director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

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

As the poet Jack Gilbert reminds us, “Icarus also flew,” which ain’t nothing. But as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, it’s a good idea to check with the experts first before attempting a big new challenge, so that you don’t get burned.

New research on the psychology of overconfidence reveals that even when people get clear feedback about their actual abilities, their confidence doesn’t budge. The finding might not surprise you, but as we explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, with Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy, the way researchers uncovered it is pretty ingenious.

When it comes to luck, we often focus on the good kind, but what about bad luck, superstition, and the strange rituals we turn to for comfort and control? On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how these beliefs and behaviors can both calm and trap us, and what they reveal about our desire to manage the uncontrollable.

Chance may favor the prepared mind, but if you’re only looking for a lucky break, you may miss out on something much more important. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of luck.

Popularity shapes our choices every day, but in today’s world, what we perceive as “popular” is often steered by algorithms, targeted ads, push notifications, and the constant pull of social media; forces we may not fully recognize.

In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology of popularity and how its influence has evolved in the digital age.

We often assume our choices reflect personal taste: selecting the “best” products, enjoying the movies we “want” to see, and listening to the music we believe is “good.” Yet underlying these decisions is the powerful influence of popularity. It doesn’t just affect what we buy—it informs how we evaluate ideas, people, and beliefs.

In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy examine the psychology of popularity and its impact on our everyday judgments.

Humans may take the card we swipe for granted at the grocery store when we buy food, or look at our bank balance and not even think of how unique it is that we can translate those little numbers into experiences and things. It’s merely one of the benefits of having big brains.

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of how our brains determine value.

Every day we’re surrounded by a flood of negative headlines, and it can take a real toll on our mental health. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy share practical ways to protect your well-being and stay mentally strong in the midst of all the noise.

To resist or not to resist? That is the question. And the answer is—shocker to no one—it depends. But what it depends on matters a lot. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the fine line between resistance as healthy self-preservation versus resistance as missed opportunity, and what to take into account when considering a path forward.

We spend an increasing proportion of our time online, and, given the importance of social media to human welfare, the external factors that shape online behavior are important to consider. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore social media use and the weather.

Resources & References

Worse Weather Amplifies Social Media Activity — A 2025 study in Psychological Science by Kelton Minor, Esteban Moro, and Nick Obradovich shows that extreme weather events significantly increase social media use, often more than major cultural celebrations. Read the study here
.

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/23607534/

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 McInroy explore a new study that examines this exact question.

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 McInroy 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.