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Does America want to watch an execution? Pete Hegseth's plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, raise questions about capital punishment and whether executions should be made public. Why would Hegseth want to livestream an execution, and what are the potential consequences of making it a public event? In this episode of Shrink Space, psychologists Dave and Rob discuss the drawbacks and potential benefits of public executions, including the risks of broadcasting an execution and whether greater transparency and accountability could serve the public interest.

In this episode of Shrink Space, David and Rob take on the Cornell 7 case, the allegations of a sexual assault at a Cornell fraternity party, through a psychological lens. We get into:• Why most sexual assault is acquaintance assault, not the stranger-in-the-garage scenario• Why a "we're fine" text two days later isn't evidence of consent, and why many survivors don't label what happened right away• What the Milgram experiments tell us about how one dissenting voice changes a room• How objectification in a group chat creates distance from the human being upstairs• The debate over naming the accuser vs. the accused (and the Richard Jewell lesson)• Why the case has split along political lines, and the DA's decision not to charge #Cornell7 #BystanderEffect #ConsentCulture #ShrinkSpace #Psychology⚠️ Content note: this episode discusses sexual assault in detail. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you or someone you know needs support, RAINN's hotline is 1-800-656-4673 (rainn.org).All parties are referred to as alleged; no charges have been filed as of recording.⏱️ Chapters0:00 Cold open: why it's not the bystander effect5:39 Today's topic: the Cornell 76:10 Timeline of the night9:33 First reactions11:36 Talking about Jane Doe without victim blaming14:09 Why perpetrators rarely see it as assault15:41 The group chat18:59 Bystander effect vs. pluralistic ignorance25:10 What Milgram teaches us29:14 Culture, empathy, and entitlement36:17 Megyn Kelly's take37:19 Should we know the names?40:08 The Richard Jewell lesson41:06 "It was fine": what her text does and doesn't mean43:57 Why is this political?48:40 The police interview and the DA's decision53:11 David vents about the legal standard54:50 The special prosecutor57:04 Rob pushes back: 43 vs. 7🎧 Follow Shrink Space everywhere: @ShrinkSpaceShowLike, subscribe, and tell us what you think in the comments.

Macklemore vs. Ed Sheeran has reignited the debate over whether musicians and other public figures should speak up about politics. Rob and Dave discuss the expectations placed on celebrities to share their political opinions, the potential benefits and drawbacks of speaking out, and the pressure public figures can face when they choose to take a stand. They also explore whether entertainment should be political at all, or whether artists should simply be able to entertain without having an agenda.

Why are we so fascinated by serial killers? Inspired by a traveling serial killer exhibit, Dave and Rob explore the psychology behind our fascination with murderers and the growing interest in murderabilia. What draws people to true crime exhibits, artifacts, and objects connected to notorious killers? And when does curiosity become something more? A conversation about true crime, serial killers, murderabilia, and the psychology behind our fascination with murder.

Why are we so obsessed with true crime? In this episode of Shrink Space, Dave and Rob explore the psychology behind our fascination with true crime and why stories about real crimes and criminals can be so compelling. From documentaries and podcasts to following high-profile cases, what keeps us coming back to true crime?

The Lindsay Clancy trial has raised so many difficult questions. Was she psychotic? Is she responsible for what happened? Did she know what she was doing? In this episode, psychologists Dave and Rob discuss the key events of the Lindsay Clancy trial and explore some of the psychological questions surrounding the case.

Would you like a song less if you found out it was made entirely by AI? Why can learning that something was created with AI change how we feel about it, even when we still enjoy the final product? In this episode of Shrink Space, Dave and Rob explore the psychology of AI, authenticity, creativity, and effort. We look at why the person behind a creation matters to us, why we can feel frustrated or even angry about AI-generated content, and how knowing something's origin can change the way we experience and value it. What does the creator have to do with the creation? And why does knowing whether something was made by a human or AI matter so much to us?

Content Warning: This episode discusses self-harm and self-harming behaviors. If this type of content may be triggering or upsetting for you, please take care of yourself and consider skipping this episode. What can drive someone toward self-harm, and why might someone engage in these behaviors? In this episode of Shrink Space, David and Rob examine the psychology behind Perez Hilton’s recent public incident and explore the factors that may contribute to self-harming behavior.

What happens when we start outsourcing parts of being human? AI can write our emails, answer our questions, help us study, recommend what to watch, and even provide companionship. But as technology becomes more capable, what happens to the skills and experiences that make us human? Psychologists Rob and Dave explore the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence. They discuss AI's impact on critical thinking, learning, decision-making, relationships, and emotional connection, while asking an important question: How do we use technology without letting it replace parts of ourselves? Whether you're excited about AI, skeptical of it, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at how technology is shaping modern life.

Grief is something every one of us will experience, yet no one really teaches us how to handle it. If you've ever wondered, "Am I grieving the right way?" or "Will this ever get easier?", you're not alone. In this episode, we explain the psychology of grief, how grief works, why it is so often misunderstood, and how we can carry loss without letting it define our lives. From the emotions that come with loss to the ways we make sense of grief, this conversation offers a deeper look at one of the most universal human experiences.

What holds society together? In this episode, we explore social cohesion, the invisible force that helps people trust one another, cooperate, and feel a sense of belonging. We discuss why social cohesion matters, what happens when it weakens, and how modern challenges can strain the bonds that connect communities. We also explore a surprising source of insight: businesses. What can societies learn from organizations that successfully create trust, shared purpose, and cooperation among diverse groups of people? A conversation about psychology, connection, leadership, community, and the foundations of healthy societies.

Why are so many people diagnosing themselves with ADHD, autism, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health conditions? In this episode, psychologists Dave and Rob discuss the rise of self-diagnosis, the role of social media in shaping mental health conversations, and whether we're becoming better informed about psychology or increasingly pathologizing normal human experiences. Can we really diagnose ourselves, or can self-diagnosis sometimes do more harm than good?

Why do more choices often make us feel worse? In this episode of Shrink Space, we explore choice overload, decision fatigue, and the paradox of choice. Learn why too many options can increase anxiety and how to make decisions with more confidence.

Self-help is everywhere right now, but does it actually hold up when you look at it through a psychological lens? Psychologists Rob and Dave explore self-help culture, motivational advice, and why certain messages spread so easily online. They also discuss well-known voices in the space, including Mel Robbins, and what to look out for before taking self-help advice at face value.

We’re told money is what drives us. But is it? In this episode of Shrink Space, we talk about what actually motivates people, why chasing more never seems to feel like enough, and how the hedonic treadmill keeps us stuck wanting more.