In the Research Matters Podcast, I interview leading scientific researchers in psychology and other social sciences in an effort to understand what they do that makes them productive. This podcast is intended to help graduate students, professors, and scientists learn actionable strategies that can help them in their own research endeavors. I strive to help draw out the tips, tricks, habits, and routines of extraordinarily productive researchers.
In these interviews, we cover topics like:
How to develop a programmatic line of research
How to build a team of amazing collaborators
Getting things done
Writing productively
Grant writing strategies
Creating an effective research lab
Applying design thinking to research
How to develop great research ideas
When to turn your research into a book
Managing grad students
Maintain a balance with other aspects of life, such as health, fun, and family
How to choose which projects to invest in
How to be efficient
And much more…
Site
RSS
Apple
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Dr. Jackie Persons on Integrating Research into Private Practice and Advancing CBT
Season 3 · Episode 2
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 • Duration 48:05
Dr. Jacqueline (Jackie) Persons is a distinguished clinician, researcher, and Clinical Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. She served as president of the Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ABCT) in 1999 and currently works in private practice at the Oakland Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center. With over 35 years of experience, Dr. Persons is recognized globally for her pioneering work in integrating research into private practice, particularly in the areas of case formulation and measurement-based care.
In this insightful conversation, we dive into Dr. Persons' unique journey, exploring how she built a thriving private practice while contributing significantly to scientific research. She shares practical strategies for clinicians interested in research, the importance of data collection in therapy, and how she navigates collaboration with graduate students and academic institutions. Dr. Persons also talks about balancing her clinical and research roles and why she continues to find research personally rewarding.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
How Dr. Persons integrates cutting-edge research into her private practice
The benefits of measurement-based care and data-driven therapy in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Practical steps for clinicians who want to combine private practice with research
How to collaborate with academic institutions and bring research skills into a clinical setting
Tips from the episode:
On integrating research and practice:
Set up systems that allow seamless data collection during therapy sessions to improve clinical outcomes and generate research data.
Use measurement-based care not only to inform treatment but also to guide research questions.
On balancing multiple roles:
Collaborating with students and academic institutions can expand your research capabilities without overwhelming your practice.
Creating structured time set aside for research—such as a dedicated day per week—can help maintain a balance between clinical and research work.
On clinical and research success:
Stay involved in professional organizations like the Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies to maintain your network and stay updated on new developments.
Regularly attend and present at conferences to contribute to and learn from the wider scientific community.
Research Matters Podcast is hosted by Jason Luoma, who can be found on Twitter @jasonluoma or Facebook at facebook.com/jasonluomaphd. You can download the podcast through iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify. Reach out with suggestions, questions, or comments to researchmatterspod@gmail.com.
Patricia Arean, PhD: Effective Strategies for Community Engagement and Digital Innovations in Mental Health Research.
Season 3 · Episode 1
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 • Duration 52:42
Dr. Patricia Arean is is the Director of the Division of Services and Intervention Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), as well as a clinical researcher and former professor at the University of Washington’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Arean has focused her career on increasing access to mental health services for underserved communities. She has led multiple research initiatives, including the UW Alacrity Center, which aims to redesign psychosocial interventions for underserved populations, and the Creative Lab, which explores digital mental health solutions using mobile technology.
In this insightful conversation, Dr. Arean shares how her early experiences in public hospitals and community mental health centers shaped her passion for working with underserved communities. She discusses her journey of developing partnerships with community organizations and navigating the challenges of research in marginalized populations. Dr. Arean also delves into her groundbreaking work in integrating technology with mental health services and how she has managed to conduct large-scale studies in underserved communities using innovative digital tools. This episode provides valuable lessons for researchers interested in social justice, technology, and community-based research.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
How Dr. Arean’s early work experiences influenced her commitment to underserved communities
The steps she took to build trust and partnerships with community organizations
Why understanding the unique needs of marginalized populations is crucial for effective research
Strategies for navigating the challenges of recruitment and participation in underserved communities
The role of technology in expanding access to mental health services for populations with limited resources
Todd Kashdan, on going against the grain, idea capture, and autonomy
Season 1 · Episode 13
Friday, April 24, 2020 • Duration 01:04:57
Todd Kashdan, PhD, is a professor of psychology at George Mason University, where he’s senior scientist at the Center for the Advancement of Wellbeing. He’s been a leading researcher in positive psychology from when that area first started to blow up, but often plays the role of someone who challenges established wisdom in that area of research.
When looking for the right job, Dr. Kashdan sought the one that would give him the most autonomy in his work. He’s delighted that at George Mason he’s been able to follow his interests. As he gleefully states, he “gets paid to read books, write articles, and study whatever he wants,” which includes but is not limited to gratitude, positive emotions, spirituality, purpose, curiosity, creativity, resilience, and anxiety – just to name a few.
Dr. Kashdan doesn’t shy away from controversial, and that’s, at least partly, by design. His mantra is, whatever is the zeitgeist of the moment – be it mindfulness, positivity, etc. – there must be a psychological benefit to the opposite. That’s why you’ll frequently hear him arguing for the very opposite of whatever is the popular message of the day.
In today’s episode, Dr. Kashdan and I dive deep into his controversial side. He shares the story of the impromptu speech for which he was “banished” as a speaker from a well-known positive psychology organization. He shares lessons he’s learned on softening his approach and explains why he’s not about to give up on speaking out. He also shares his card-based method for capturing and organizing his thoughts, ideas, and insights.
Ken Weingardt, on personal mission statements and tech startups in the mental health space
Season 1 · Episode 12
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 • Duration 01:08:00
How many people do you know who have a personal mission statement…and have it memorized…and actually live by it? Well, now you know of one more. Dr. Ken Weingardt’s personal mission statement is to “use technology to improve access to behavioral health services.”
An addictionologist by training, Dr. Weingardt held various positions in academia and research -- from faculty appointments at major medical schools to leadership positions of federally funded organizations -- before deciding the grant-writing/publishing treadmill was not for him. He was burnt out. He also felt like the rewards were too small, the personal price was too great, and the impact he was having was too small to continue on that path. Surely, he thought, he could have a bigger impact elsewhere without having to sacrifice a meaningful work-life balance
He instead turned to tech startups in the mental health space. He previously worked at Pear Therapeutics, which provides “prescription digital therapeutics for the treatment of serious disease.” Dr. Weingardt then went to a young startup, Emilio Health (he was employee number 6), as Vice President of the Clinical Department. Emilio Health seeks to develop technology-enabled behavior health clinics for children to facilitate care coordination between counselors, parents, children, and educators.
My conversation with Dr. Weingardt is full of straight talk about personal values, work-life balance, making tough life decisions, inspiring books, and authority structures in academia versus in industry.
Kelly Wilson, PhD, on the importance of theory, chasing your interests, and giving away ideas
Season 1 · Episode 11
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 • Duration 59:17
Dr. Kelly Wilson is a recently retired, emeritus faculty at the University of Mississippi. He is a leading researcher, theorist, and trainer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and an important contributor to clinical behavior analysis. He has published nine very well selling books.
Dr. Wilson’s path into research is certainly atypical. If you had seen him as a young adult, he would probably have been the last person you would have expected to have a successful research career. He had an active, severe drug addiction, had been placed in inpatient psychiatric care, and been in drug and alcohol rehab. He encountered behavior analysis at a pivotal point in his life and this helped transform his life path into something he would never have expected. He eventually went on to earn a PhD and was mentored by Steven Hayes at the University of Nevada, Reno and has since become a leader in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and behavior analysis. The bulk of his work has been in theory and meta theory of applied arenas, with a particular interest in clinical theory relating to behavior analysis.
In today’s episode, we learn about Kr. Wilson’s interesting background and path. We discuss the importance of theory, the importance of understanding the “why” of your research, and why it’s better to give ideas away than to hide them. He also discusses how to have a career in academia that focuses on the importance of theory and meta theory and on finding the right fit between your interests and your work setting. He talks about how he organized his lab and the importance of having a good lab culture.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
The importance of the process of creating theories.
The kind of theory that interests Dr. Wilson: deep [0:09:31] variables, which are directly observable, and independent variables, which are both directly observable and (in principle) can be manipulated.
Why Steve Hayes selected Dr. Wilson as a grad applicant, in spite of a terrible interview objections from others on the panel
Why you shouldn’t guard your ideas but give them away as quickly as you have them.
Why Dr. Wilson would occasionally lecture with a baby on his knee.
Lynnette Averill, PhD, on moving from counseling psychology to neuroscience, getting a Fulbright, and ketamine research
Season 1 · Episode 10
Friday, December 13, 2019 • Duration 01:01:22
Dr. Averill is an assistant professor in the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and research fellow in the clinical neurosciences division of the National Center for PTSD VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Her research focuses primarily on studying the neurobiological mechanisms involved in ketamine as a treatment for PTSD and suicidality. Although Dr. Averill originally got her degree in counseling psychology, she later made the switch to neuroscience, which is her current passion.
In today’s interview, we discuss Dr. Averill’s career path and how she changed research focus, how she decides whether to spend time writing grants or publishing papers, why collaboration is so important, and why getting involved in professional organizations is worth it. We also learn about her research of ketamine. Finally, we discuss why it’s important to tell compelling stories…but to make sure you’re telling the story of the data and not making the data fit your story.
Abbreviations mentioned in the episode: ISTSS – International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
MIRECC – Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center of Excellence
In this episode, you’ll learn…
The personal story on how Dr. Averill became interested in PTSD
The backstory on how Dr. Averill landed a Fulbright Scholarship
How to build collaborations
About research on ketamine
Why it pays to be a storyteller
Tips from the episode
On how to have a chance at a Fulbright Scholarship or any other career opportunity…
Take a shot. Apply.
Ditch your fear and reach out in the areas of your interest.
It helps if your area of interest is a ‘hot’ topic politically and/or socially
Approach and collaborate other researchers whose work you admire
Don’t underestimate the benefits of getting involved in professional organizations
Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, on embracing the messy and dissemination and implementation science
Season 1 · Episode 9
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 • Duration 01:03:32
Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, PhD, of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University Medical School and is Acting Deputy Director, Dissemination and Training Division, National Center for PTSD. She’s a leading researcher in the area of disseminating evidence-based therapies. As part of this, she juggles two RO1 research grants from NIMH, working with multiple teams, and having team members scattered across the US and Canada who are conducting research in various settings. She balances all of that with being married with three kids…and carves out time to keep up her running.
In today’s episode, we dive into how stays organized with her various projects and how she deals with the messiness of dissemination research that involves intense involvement with front line providers and sites. She also talks about how to vet collaborating organizations in the community and how to look for win-win collaborations for those you work with. We also discuss her perspective on open science and the need to stay nimble when it comes to data collection.
You’ll also hear Dr. Wiltsey shares tips for squeezing in time for writing, her tips for finding work-life balance, being led by what is exciting for you, and her advice for graduate students.
The opinions expressed by Dr. Stirman on this podcast are solely her own and do not express the views or opinions of her employers.
Some abbreviations mentioned in the episode:
CPT – cognitive processing therapy
IPV – intimate partner violence
DBT – dialectical behavior therapy
CBT – cognitive behavioral therapy
In this episode, you’ll learn…
How Dr. Wiltsey manages various groups and teams across multiple settings
How she deals with bureaucracies from multiple organizations
How to form teams and foster win-win collaboration
How to determine if a site is a good match for your study
How to deal with the messy realities of research
Wiltsey’s perspective on open research
Alan Kooi Davis on Getting Started in Psychedelic Science, Collaboration, and the Source Research Foundation
Season 1 · Episode 8
Friday, September 27, 2019 • Duration 52:32
Dr. Alan Kooi Davis is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at The Ohio State University and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Psychedelic Research Unit at Johns Hopkins University. He’s a researcher in the area of psychedelics, especially psilocybin, and how psychedelics can be used in treatment. He has also done research on harm reduction and drug use more generally, but in this episode we decided to focus on how he got into research on psychedelics for people who are interested in doing work in that area.
Dr. Davis was ahead of the curve in his interest in exploring the use of psychedelics as a component of treatment. As a graduate student, he felt alone in his research interests, and so he sought opportunities to connect with others who were passionate about this potentially viable treatment option. He harnessed opportunities at conferences and online connections to build collaborations in the field of psychedelics. Seeing the need for an organized space in which to bring together researchers and resources, and wanting to build the structure that he wished had been available to him, he also formed the Source Research Foundation, which provides grants to and facilitates collaboration among students and researchers interested in psychedelics.
Dr. Davis writes...a lot. Check out his published works and you’ll see what I mean. Tune in to hear his tips and tricks for staying motivated and disciplined in your writing.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
How to get involved in psychedelic science
About the scenarios in which you’re most likely to get support for research in the psychedelics realm
How to foster collaboration
About Source Research Foundation
Why he decided to pursue a second postdoctoral position
His advice to graduate students who are studying or have an interest in psychedelics
His tips for structuring the writing process and staying motivated
Tips from the episode
George Bonanno on Unconventional Research, Being Led by Curiosity, and How to Deal with Setbacks
Season 1 · Episode 7
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 • Duration 01:01:07
Dr. Bonanno is chair of the department of counseling and clinical psychology at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He is a world leader on research around trauma, bereavement, and resilience. His interest in how people cope with difficult events and circumstances has led to studies around grief, trauma, acute medical situations, and other unpleasant events.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
The rewards and consequences of pursuing controversial questions
What to do when your work is published...and then ignored
About the weak basis for many assumptions within psychology
How to protect your curiosity from being squelched by the day-to-day
Why it’s especially easy for those young in their careers to stay within the safe realm of the conventional
Why Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi encouraged him to look for employment with a small school and why you might too
How to deal with disappointments and setbacks
How to keep the pragmatic details of work from encroaching on your mental space
Tips from the episode
On how to maintain motivation when doing something unconventional…
You have to be internally motivated by the questions
Begin with “What do we know and how do we know it? How solid is the evidence?”
When you find something counterintuitive and trust your methods, it’s usually easy to stay motivated
If you believe you’re on the right track, that’s rewarding in itself
Follow your own interests
Joanna Arch on Disciplined Time Tracking, Grant Writing, and the Blending of Passion and Profession
Season 1 · Episode 6
Thursday, August 8, 2019 • Duration 01:01:44
Joanna Arch is an associate professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is also a member of the Cancer Center in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. Her research initially focused on anxiety disorders, but she’s recently added a focus on cancer patients. Being married to an oncologist and having a personal interest in existential issues helped her embrace her initial reservations about entering work on cancer, which can be very emotional and challenging. Once she braved the waters, though, she found increased meaning, drive, and satisfaction in her work.
An avid runner and trained as a classical musician, Joanna understands the power of discipline, and she brings structured discipline to her work day. In today’s episode, you’ll hear how Joanna stays focused and maximizes her time at work, whether it’s with students, in the lab, or writing grants.
Speaking of grants, Joanna’s favorite part of writing grants and papers is -- wait for it -- editing. The hardest part for her is getting started. When it comes to grants, she’s tasted both success and failure, and she understands that rejection is just part of the grant-application game. That said, she’s determined to learn from each failure, each bit of criticism, every line of feedback. She’s also keen on recognizing her own weaknesses and getting help when needed.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
How things changed for Joanna about a year ago after she received tenure
How Joanna stays healthy and productive as a faculty member
About the “zone of genius” and how Joanna monitors her time and plans her week
How to stay connected to your purpose and avoid burnout
How to deal with rejection in academia
Joanna’s grant writing tips
How Joanna transitioned her career from a focus on treatment of anxiety to including psychological issues unique to cancer patients
Tips from the episode
On structuring and tracking time to increase productivity…
How Dr. Arean approaches collaborations with technology companies to create evidence-based mental health solutions
Tips from the episode:
On Building Partnerships with Underserved Communities:
Approach community organizations with a genuine desire to understand their needs and challenges.
Be prepared to adapt your research goals based on the community's priorities.
Establish relationships with key gatekeepers or champions within the community to facilitate trust and access.
On Developing Effective Research Practices:
Accept that working with underserved populations may involve messy samples and unexpected challenges.
Engage with clinicians, staff, and community members to ensure your research is relevant and respectful.
Incorporate community input when designing research protocols and collecting data.
On Leveraging Technology in Mental Health Research:
Digital tools can significantly improve recruitment and engagement in underserved communities.
Flexibility is key when working with technology partners, as their products and services may evolve.
Maintain a focus on developing solutions that work for marginalized populations, even if it means overcoming technological barriers like limited broadband access.
Why Dr. Kashdan often takes an opposing position from whatever is most popular
How reading a Charles Spielberger chapter on curiosity in grad school inspired Dr. Kashdan’s life work
How Dr. Kashdan captures and organizes his thoughts and ideas for his work
Why Dr. Kashdan seeks no more than an 80% approval rating from audiences
About Dr. Kashdan’s morning and evening routines
Tips from the episode
On choosing a job…
Look for who will give you the most autonomy to study whatever you want.
Don’t follow the trends or the money. Follow what is interesting.
On stealing like an artist…
Tinker with the ideas and theories others are developing
Create a template or framework based on the work of others you admire
On organizing and processing your work…
Use index cards and keep a separate container for each book or project with a section for each topic. Have index cards in all the places where you read, think, and work. Jot down ideas as you think of them.
Most ideas have to be thrown out. Kill your darlings, a la Stephen King.
Remember that you don’t have the processing capacity to hold everything in your head.
On dealing with controversy
Be willing to be the counterpoint…and also be willing to have your mind changed.
If you have the right temperament, it’s important to stand up to bullies in the field.
Try to separate the person from their work.
Try to bring people’s defenses down so you can have an open, civil, interactive conversation.
The importance of a good lab culture and guidelines on how to create it and why he says, ““The beginning of a research presentation in my lab starts with why this matters.”
How to find the right person-environment fit for your research
Why theory is particularly important and undervalued at this current time in science
Tips from the episode
On the types of environments that will let you focus on theory…
Mid-sized universities, where you don’t have to have millions of dollars of grants (which are not awarded for theory construction)
Evaluation not based on the amount of grant dollars produced but on other criteria
Find a chair who “wants to take advantage of your enthusiasms.”
On how to make decisions in relation to your strengths and weaknesses...
Recognize that every weakness carries strengths with it.
Know what you want.
On fostering an environment that encourages chasing interests...
Talk about “why” first – not “what.” Address “why this matters.”
For new researchers:
Ask, “What do I need to succeed?”
Ask, “How can I make a kinder, better, richer process for the next generation of researchers?”
Keep an eye on the practical. Is there enough money to stay afloat? Are there funding opportunities too good to pass up?
Get a big-picture view. Recognize when you need to push out publications versus write grants.
Keep an eye on what you need to continue and/or expand your work – a research assistant, a piece of equipment, etc.
On storytelling…
The reviewers of grants are real people who get tired and bored. Your grant proposal – or whatever you write – needs to be compelling and engaging.
Be strategic with your storytelling.
Be authentic to yourself and stick to your story.
Look at the data and tell a story of what the data says rather than going into the data with your story already written and forcing the data to fit it.
On how to how to stay organized across project and teams…
Distribute the work.
Host once-a-week team calls.
Take detailed notes and document all decisions made.
Reach out when you need something. Don’t be afraid to tap into the expertise of others.
Respect team members’ time. Only pull them in when they’re really needed.
On writing...
Utilize time on flights.
During your writing time, don’t turn on Wi-Fi. If you need to look something up, make a list or leave a comment and do it later.
Utilize time in the evenings if the rest of the family is occupied or asleep.
Take advantage of the times in the margins of your day.
On work-life balance...
Prioritize family dinner. In general, don’t schedule activities for the kids around dinner time.
Carve out time for exercise.
Only work on weekends if the rest of the family is busy.
Take a day or a half-day off
Delegation is critical.
On how to find support for research in psychedelics (or other areas of interest)…
Try to find a supportive graduate advisor/mentor
Publish and present as much as possible.
If you are a clinical psychologist, get trained in the latest evidence-based methods for the disorders that you might want to work with using psychedelics
Develop the skills you need to be a good scientist in general. You’ll never know what will make you competitive for a job in the future.
Publish studies on psychedelics to build your vitae
Connect with people at psychedelic science conferences (e.g., psychedelic science, Breaking Convention)
Look for opportunities online to help out researchers, particularly the MAPS graduate student listerv/Facebook
On building collaborations and connections...
Proactively look for others with similar interests
Look for remote opportunities within your area of interest
Connect with other students in master and PhD programs with similar interests
Attend conferences and make connections, and don’t overlook connecting with other grad students
Discover shows related to Research Matters Podcast, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
