It turns out our relationship to the present has more to do with how we imagine the future than we might think. In this episode, Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of futurism.
Episodes
October 30, 2026
How To Crush Writer’s Block (Rebroadcast)
Writer’s block! That phrase might induce panic and a recollection of a familiar experience. It’s a very common phenomenon. So what is it? When in the beginning stages of undertaking a new writing project, a writer might find themselves blocked – stuck in front of a blank page or screen with no thoughts coming to […]
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October 23, 2026
Figuring something out intellectually can be a struggle, but when you finally get there, you feel a sense of accomplishment, maybe even joy. That joy is a big part of learning, and it comes from challenges that are hard but still within reach; it’s similar to working out and bodybuilding. In this episode of Two […]
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October 16, 2026
Annoyance Part II: Pain and Expectations
We deal with annoyances every day, but why do some things annoy us a lot more than others? In part two of this two-part Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of annoyance, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the role that pain, expectations, and stories play in how […]
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October 9, 2026
Annoyance Part I: Predictability and Risk
Why is it that some things really annoy us while others we couldn’t care less about? It turns out it has a lot to do with predictability and attention: we get annoyed when something we didn’t choose or anticipate intrudes on our attention, or when we are stuck paying attention to something we would rather […]
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October 2, 2026
Threatening Punishment (Rebroadcast)
In the moment, threatening punishment might seem like a good idea, but does it work? It turns out it depends on your goal. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of punishment and reveal why scolding, threats, and consequences might […]
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September 25, 2026
There are times when we feel out of sync with what we want in the world and how we act in the world. Say you’re longing for close, lasting relationships, but you are acting in a way that says you don’t believe you’re worthy of love, pulling back or pushing people away without quite knowing […]
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September 11, 2026
When To Use AI: An Opportunity
AI tools can help us extend our capabilities and our capacity, but what about our brains? When is using AI beneficial, and when can it be detrimental to our ability to learn and think? In Part II of our conversations on “When To Use AI,” Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke and Rebecca McInroy talk […]
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September 4, 2026
AI tools are ubiquitous and, let’s be honest, mind-blowing in their capabilities. But when is it healthy and productive to use them, and when is it not? What impact does relying on AI have on our ability to learn, to be creative, to think? In this first “Two Guys on Your Head” episode in our […]
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