Episodes

Monday Apr 17, 2023
#034 - Evolution & Motivation with Dr. Doug Kenrick
Monday Apr 17, 2023
Monday Apr 17, 2023
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with professor of psychology Dr. Doug Kenrick about human motivation and his newest book, co-authored with his son, David Lundberg-Kenrick, entitled Solving Modern Problems with a Stone-Age Brain.
They discuss meaningful differences between the environment of our ancestors vs the modern world, why having too much can be as bad as having too little, the necessity of community, and how we can leverage our ancient instincts to be happier and thrive in a global community.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Sunday Mar 19, 2023
#033 - Self-Expression with Kelly Carlin
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with writer & speaker, Kelly Carlin, about self-expression. They discuss how one's early life can make self-expression challenging, discovering your true passions, ways to develop creativity, and how Kelly's father (George Carlin) struggled to express his true self.
For more on Kelly, visit humansontheverge.com or follow @Kelly_Carlin on Twitter
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Monday Feb 20, 2023
#032 - Effective Learning with Dr. Regan Gurung
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist, Dr. Regan Gurung about effective learning strategies and his new book co-authored with Dr. John Dunlosky entitled Study Like A Champ: The Psychology Based Guide to “Grade A” Study Habits. They discuss why the feeling of learning may not be the same as actual learning, the most common studying mistakes, how to effectively use notes & flash cards, ways to increase retention when studying, and how to prepare your mind for learning.
For more on Regan, visit his website or follow @StudyChamp22 on Instagram.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Sunday Jan 22, 2023
#031 - Influence with Dr. Zoe Chance
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with author and marketing professor, Dr. Zoe Chance about influence and her new book, Influence Is Your Superpower. They discuss how to influence without manipulating, if authenticity is necessary to be persuasive, why feelings must come before facts, and the importance of kindness & persistence when being influential.
For more on Zoe, visit her website or follow her on Twitter.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Sunday Dec 18, 2022
#030 - Conspiracy Theory Beliefs with Dr. Joe Pierre
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with psychiatrist & author, Dr. Joe Pierre, about conspiracy theory beliefs. They discuss what distinguishes conspiracy theories from other types of beliefs, the motives & thinking errors that contribute to these beliefs, why convincing people to change their mind might be the wrong goal of conspiracy theory discussions, and ways to encourage more analytical thinking at the cultural & individual level.
For more on Joe, visit his website, follow him on Twitter, or check out his blog, Psych Unseen, at Psychology Today.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Sunday Nov 20, 2022
#029 - Consumer Motivation with Dr. Kaitlin Woolley
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with researcher & marketing professor, Dr. Kaitlin Woolley, about consumer motivation. They discuss the motives & biases underlying consumer decisions, why we avoid certain types of product information, how marketers leverage psychology to build loyalty, and practical ways to improve your decision-making abilities.
For more on Kaitlin, visit her website or follow her on Twitter.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Sunday Oct 23, 2022
#028 - Psychosis with Dr. Mark Ruffalo
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with psychiatry instructor & psychotherapist, Dr. Mark Ruffalo, about psychotic disorders. They discussed the nature of psychotic disorders, changes in classification & treatment over time, how talk therapy can be used to reduce symptoms, and ways to address psychotic disorders in homeless populations.
For more on Mark, visit his website or follow him on Twitter.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Monday Sep 26, 2022
#027 - Self-harm & Trauma with Dr. Jill Rathus
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with psychologist Dr. Jill Rathus about self-harm & trauma. They discussed motives behind self-harm, the role trauma plays in creating negative patterns of behavior, the downside of using distraction to deal with emotional pain, and how dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help people develop better coping strategies.
For more on Jill, visit https://cbtreatment.org/
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Sunday Aug 21, 2022
#026 - The Value of Irrationality with Dr. Stuart Vyse
Sunday Aug 21, 2022
Sunday Aug 21, 2022
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with behavioral scientist Dr. Stuart Vyse about his new book The Uses of Delusion: Why It's Not Always Rational to Be Rational. They discussed why being rational is not always the optimal way of thinking, the competing systems of human cognition, when it makes sense to be unhealthy, and why being overconfident may be a good thing.
For more on Stuart, visit his website or follow him on Twitter. You can also check out his Skeptical Inquirer column called Behavior & Belief.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.

Sunday Jul 17, 2022
#025 - Effective Conversations with Monica Guzman
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with journalist & author, Monica Guzman about her new book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. They discussed barriers that get in the way of effective communication, how judgment is the opposite of curiosity, how social media poisons political discourse, why it's harmful to close your mind to the views of others, and how to use conversation to build bridges of understanding.
For more on Monica, visit her personal website or visit www.braverangels.org to learn more about her nonprofit organization.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.