Advertise on podcast: Psychology and Stuff

Numbers can tell us a lot about the world, but only if we understand the people and experiences behind them. In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Dr. Alison Jane Martingano sits down with Dr. Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges, Professor of Psychology at UW-Green Bay, to discuss the power of storytelling in statistics and why making data meaningful matters more than ever. Drawing on her decades of teaching statistics and research methods, Georjeanna explains how connecting numbers to real-world experiences can reduce math anxiety, improve scientific communication, and help people see the relevance of data in their own lives. From interpreting uncertainty and visualizing data to questioning the assumptions behind averages, their conversation explores the importance of human judgment in an age of AI, the lessons educators can learn from their students, and how a better understanding of statistics can help us tell more honest, compassionate, and impactful stories.

In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano sits down with UW–Green Bay psychologists and endurance athletes Dr. Chelsea Wooding and Dr. Jason Cowell to explore the psychology of endurance sports, from personality and motivation to pain and perseverance. Their conversation was inspired by their recent 100.5-mile Door County Century ride, and the mental and physical challenges they faced along the way. Chelsea and Jason break down what separates endurance athletes from the rest of us, why conscientiousness may be key to going the distance, and how training, social connection, and small rewards can reshape our relationship with effort. From the “pain cave” to the differences between amateur and professional athletes, they explore what it really takes to keep moving forward, and whether women may have an advantage when endurance events reach their most extreme.

What does it take to make a team thrive in space? In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano sits down with Dr. Morgan Stosic, a research psychologist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, to explore the psychology behind human performance in extreme environments. From studying nonverbal behavior and fatigue to understanding how astronauts communicate, collaborate, and cope with isolation, Morgan shares how psychology helps prepare humans for life beyond Earth. Martingano and Stosic discuss why personality traits that work well on Earth can shift in space, how communication delays could reshape empathy on future Mars missions, and what simulated Mars environments can teach us about teamwork and performance. They also explore what makes an astronaut—and why strong communication skills may be one of the most important tools for psychologists working beyond the traditional boundaries of the field.

In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano sits down with UW-Green Bay 2026 commencement speaker, Grace Holschuh, to talk about finding your path through college and beyond. Grace reflects on her journey from discovering psychology to pursuing medical school, and how research, service, and leadership helped her figure out what she wanted for her future. Martingano and Holschuh discuss why it’s okay not to have your career figured out, how trying new opportunities can open unexpected doors, and why meaningful service can benefit both the people you help and yourself. From psychology research labs to study abroad in Thailand, Grace shares the experiences that have shaped her education, her goals, and her commitment to serving others. Follow Psych & Stuff on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychandstuff/

In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano sits down with Dr. Neema Trivedi-Bateman, senior lecturer in criminology at Loughborough University and founder of the Compass Project, an innovative intervention designed to strengthen moral development and promote prosocial behavior in young people. Neema shares how her research on empathy, shame, guilt, and decision-making inspired the creation of Compass, and explains why helping young people reflect on their emotions and choices may be more effective than focusing solely on rules and punishment. Together, they explore the role of moral reasoning, self-control, and social environments in shaping behavior, as well as the challenges of translating theory into real-world programs. From promising early results in schools to plans for international expansion, their conversation highlights how research-driven interventions can help young people make healthier decisions and create positive changes in their communities.

What does it really mean to be “information literate” in a world overflowing with content? In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano sits down with UW–Green Bay Assistant Library Director Renee Ettinger to explore how students—and all of us—can better navigate today’s complex information landscape. Drawing on her work supporting research, teaching, and undergraduate scholarship, Renee explains how to evaluate sources, recognize authority (and false authority), and slow down in a fast-moving digital world. From classroom instruction to conference presentations, their conversation highlights the skills that help turn information into insight—and why those skills matter far beyond the classroom.

What if your home isn’t just where you live—but something that actively shapes who you become? In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano sits down with UW–Green Bay psychology professor and environmental psychologist Dr. Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges to explore the powerful relationship between people and the places they inhabit. Drawing on her background in social ecology, Georjeanna explains how our homes function as dynamic systems—shaped by routines, relationships, and the broader environments around them. From childhood development and household “chaos” to pandemic-era living and aging in place, they unpack how design, flexibility, and social connection influence well-being. The conversation reveals why a home is never just a physical space—and how small changes can transform how we live in it.

In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, Dr. Alison Jane Martingano sits down with Dr. Jason Harman, an Associate Professor of Psychology and Human Factors at Michigan Technological University, to explore how we learn from experience when making decisions. They discuss how memory, frequency, and feedback shape our choices over time, why early experiences can have such a lasting impact, and how rare events can sometimes mislead our decision-making. The conversation also dives into real-world applications, including police training, risk-taking, and how people make split-second judgments. Dr. Harman also shares his work on gamified personality assessment, using interactive storytelling and game-like environments to measure behavior in new ways. Listen in to learn more about how our past experiences shape the decisions we make—and why changing those patterns can be harder than we think.

After a stroke and kidney failure diagnosis, Drew Grove decided it was time to change his life. Returning to UW-Green Bay at 38, he pursued a psychology degree while balancing family, health challenges, and a drive to prove to himself he could succeed. Drew joins the podcast to talk about second chances, mentorship, burnout, and the powerful “aha” moments that come with learning—and helping others learn.

What if the key to finding a healthy relationship isn’t swiping more — but blocking more? In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano sits down with UW–Green Bay Professor and Associate Dean Jennie Young, creator of the viral Burned Haystack Dating Method. What began as a personal solution to dating app burnout has grown into a global feminist movement and a community of more than 250,000 women. Jennie explains how she applied her academic expertise in rhetoric and critical discourse analysis to decode dating profiles and reveal what people unintentionally expose through their language. From “disciplinary directives” to subtle red flags, she breaks down how to identify toxic patterns fast, and why “block to burn” is the core strategy. Pre-order Jennie's book: https://www.jennieyoung.com/burn-the-haystack-book

In this episode, host Dr. Alison Jane Martingano sat down with Dr. Paul Belanger, faculty member in Applied Writing and English and Project Manager of UW-Green Bay’s AI Think Tank, to explore the promises, fears, and ethical tensions surrounding generative AI. Martingano and Belanger discuss whether today’s large language models are truly replicating human thought or merely mimicking patterns, why “friction” may be essential to keeping our agency intact, and how students can use AI as a sparring partner rather than a substitute thinker. From creative writing workshops to faculty assessment anxiety, their conversation tackles the real challenges instructors are facing — and why abandoning the technology altogether may not be the answer.

In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano sits down with Dr. Illene Cupit to explore the psychology of childhood grief and the healing power of community. Dr. Cupit shares the story behind Camp Lloyd, a bereavement camp for children who have lost a loved one, and reflects on two decades of helping kids—and UW-Green Bay students—find connection, meaning, and joy after loss.

Why does one negative moment stick with us while positive experiences fade so quickly? In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano welcomes back Dr. Ryan Martin – psychology professor, author of Emotion Hacks, and dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UW-Green Bay – to explore new research showing how negative emotions linger longer than positive ones, especially for people who experience anxiety. Ryan (also known as "The Anger Professor") breaks down the science behind emotional habituation, explains why our brains are wired to hold on to bad feelings, and discusses how evolution, anxiety, and memory shape our emotional lives. Together, they explore practical ways to manage emotions more intentionally without falling into toxic positivity, and how to make positive moments last longer.

In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Allison Jane Martingano sits down with UW–Green Bay psychology professors Dr. Jason Cowell and Dr. Todd Hillhouse for a fascinating deep dive into what we can—and can’t—learn from human and animal brains. Dr. Cowell discusses his work using EEG to study moral development, empathy, and self-regulation in both children and adults, including the practical challenges of recruiting families and gathering clean neural data from kids. Dr. Hillhouse shares how his behavioral neuroscience lab uses mice to investigate pain, addiction, and depression, highlighting both the ethical responsibilities and scientific advantages of animal research.

In this myth-busting episode of Psychology & Stuff, Dr. Abigail Nehrkorn-Bailey dives into the science of aging and dismantles some of our culture’s most persistent misconceptions. She and host Dr. Alison Jane Martingano explore why aging isn’t just decline, how learning and brain development continue throughout life, and why older adults are often happier than we expect. They also discuss ageism, emotional well-being, retirement, and how our beliefs about aging can actually shape our health and longevity.