Two Guys on Your Head

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September 11, 2026

When To Use AI: An Opportunity

By: Rebecca McInroy

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 about an opportunity AI presents: thinking with AI tools to clarify our own thoughts and ideas.

Further reading: “Sycophantic AI Decreases Prosocial Intentions and Promotes Dependence,” a study led by Stanford University computer scientists, published March 26 in the journal Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aec8352


Episodes

October 23, 2026

Brain Building

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

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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

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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