Two Guys on Your Head

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July 29, 2022

Porosity Complicated

By: Rebecca McInroy

Last week’s episode focused on the concept of “porosity” a term developed by anthropologist Tanya Marie Luhrmann and psychology researcher Kara Weisman, to help understand the root of religious and spiritual beliefs. They argue that at the heart is the concept of a porous boundary between mind and world and that people in all human societies have conflicting intuitions about this boundary.

Here at Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman,  Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy find this concept interesting and thought we would spend a little time, not only understanding it but complicating it.

In this second in our three-part series on porosity we ask a few questions about how it manifests in our daily lives and why we should care.

“Porosity is The Heart of Religion”

 


Episodes

September 4, 2026

When To Use AI: The Problem

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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August 28, 2026

Back To School: Teachers

It’s that time of year again when fresh-faced little ones with new backpacks and clean shoes head back to school. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wanted to provide some tips to help teachers set the stage for a successful and happy year.

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August 21, 2026

Back To School: Kids and Parents

It’s that time of year again when fresh-faced little ones with new backpacks and clean shoes head back to school. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wanted to make sure to highlight the psychological significance of this time of year for kids and […]

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August 14, 2026

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel, follows Guy Montag, a “fireman” whose job is to burn books, as he turns into an outlaw set on restoring memory, reclaiming time to think, and building human connection. It is a classic that is easy to take for granted, but as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, […]

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August 7, 2026

Growth Mindset and Self-blame

Having a growth mindset, the belief that you can get better with effort alone, is supposed to push you to keep trying when things get hard, and often it does. But new research suggests that when you try and still fail, you are more likely to blame yourself, and that can harm your mental wellbeing. […]

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July 31, 2026

Growth Mindset and Its Discontents

A growth mindset about intelligence, the belief that you can get smarter with effort, is supposed to push you to keep trying when things get hard. And often it does. But what happens when you try and still fail? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and […]

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July 25, 2026

Navigating Uncertainty: Gratitude and The Swartz Value System

No one can control everything that happens, but we can adapt to a changing environment, even when that means shifting our perspective. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss the value of gratitude and how a better understanding of where our values come from […]

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July 19, 2026

Managing Discontinuous Predictions

Most people, most days, deal with variation pretty well, but how do we psychologically prepare for the times when big things happen that change the course of our lives, our livelihoods, or our sense of self? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about […]

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