Two Guys on Your Head

The Psychology of Healthy Ambition

Working toward goals can give our lives direction and meaning. But psychology shows that when we focus too narrowly on outcomes, we can undermine both our well-being and our performance. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the importance of staying mentally well and enjoying what you do while pursuing greatness. The post The Psychology of Healthy Ambition appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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. The post Early Specialization? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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. The post Protecting Your Boredom (Re-broadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Stupidity

We often use the word stupidity to cover a wide range of mistakes. But on closer inspection, what makes something “stupid” may have less to do with what “stupid does” and more to do with what it ignores. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of stupidity. The post Stupidity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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. The post Are Holiday Traditions The Fountain of Youth? (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.