Mind Tricks Radio

In this episode of MindTricks Radio, I spoke with Dr. Kevin Pelletier, an associate professor of English at the University of Richmond, about apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic literature—where the tradition comes from, why it has endured for centuries, and why stories about the end of the world continue to speak so powerfully to the human imagination. We talk about the deep roots of apocalyptic thinking in early American Puritan writing, its connection to religion, morality, abolitionism, and fear of divine judgment, and how those older traditions gradually evolved into modern stories about pandemics, nuclear war, zombies, climate catastrophe, and social collapse. Dr. Pelletier explains why apocalyptic fiction is rarely just about destruction. At its best, it uses catastrophe to reveal what matters most in ordinary life: love, fear, mortality, community, meaning, and the fragile structures that hold civilization together. One of the things I especially enjoyed about this conversation is that Dr. Pelletier approaches these questions from the perspective of literature and intellectual history rather than psychology alone. I always find it stimulating to speak with people from different disciplines because there is often tremendous overlap in the ideas, but each field brings its own language, emphasis, and angle of vision. In this case, our conversation moved naturally between literature, religion, psychology, history, and existential meaning. This was a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about Puritan sermons, Edgar Allan Poe, Station Eleven, The Walking Dead, World War Z, COVID-19, and the enduring question of why human beings are so drawn to imagining the end. Dr. Pelletier brings warmth, depth, and literary insight to a genre that is often mistaken for mere entertainment, but that may actually help us think more deeply about fear, survival, morality, and what makes life worth living.

In this episode of MindTricks Radio, I spoke with Dr. Art Markman about the subjectivity of age and time—why we often feel younger than the number on our birth certificate, why time seems to speed up as we get older, and what psychology can tell us about making life feel fuller, longer, and more meaningful. We talk about the difference between chronological age and subjective age, the strange experience of looking in the mirror and seeing someone older than we feel inside, and how staying physically active, socially engaged, and open to new experiences can help people maintain a sense of vitality. Dr. Markman also explains why childhood and travel can feel so expansive, while routine-heavy adult years can seem to disappear in a blur. This was a lively, thoughtful, and surprisingly practical conversation about aging, memory, novelty, regret, and the importance of saying yes to life. Dr. Markman brings warmth, humor, and deep cognitive science expertise to a topic that touches everyone: how we experience the passing of time, and how we might live in a way that makes that time feel richer.

In this episode of MindTricks Radio, I sit down with Dr. Mathias Clasen, associate professor of literature and media and co-director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, to explore why people are so drawn to frightening stories — especially stories about the end of the world. Our conversation dives into the strange appeal of post-apocalyptic fiction, from its “blank slate” fantasy of starting over to its darker confrontation with loneliness, survival, morality, and meaning. Dr. Clasen explains how these stories tap into the human imagination, our tendency toward worst-case thinking, and our deep ambivalence about civilization: we depend on society, but we also fantasize about escaping its rules, pressures, and artificial constraints. We also discuss the psychology of fear, including how horror and apocalyptic fiction may function almost like emotional rehearsal. Drawing from his research on scary entertainment, haunted attractions, and pandemic-era resilience, Dr. Clasen makes the case that frightening fiction does more than scare us — it may help us practice coping with anxiety, uncertainty, and crisis. At my request, Dr. Clasen also generously provided a list of some of his favorite post-apocalyptic works of literature. For listeners interested in exploring the genre further, here is his list: George R. Stewart, Earth Abides (1949)John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids (1951)Richard Matheson, I Am Legend (1954)John Christopher, The Death of Grass (1956)Nevil Shute, On the Beach (1957)Pat Frank, Alas, Babylon (1959)Walter M. Miller Jr., A Canticle for Leibowitz (1960)John Christopher, Empty World (1977)Stephen King, The Stand (1978/1990)David Brin, The Postman (1985)Robert R. McCammon, Swan Song (1987)Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven (2014)Max Brooks, World War Z (2006)Joe Hill, The Fireman (2016)

In this episode of MindTricks Radio, I caught up with Dr. Liza Wacker to continue our conversation about perfectionism—what it is, where it comes from, and why it can quietly create so much stress, anxiety, burnout, and self-doubt. We talk about the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism, how perfectionism shows up in relationships, parenting, work, athletics, creativity, procrastination, reassurance-seeking, and social media. Dr. Wacker also explains why perfectionism is usually less about “doing your best” and more about tying your self-worth to whether you meet impossible standards. I enjoyed a warm, practical, and thoughtful conversation with Dr. Wacker about learning to make mistakes, loosen unrealistic expectations, and choose wholeness over flawlessness. Dr. Wacker brings a lot of wisdom and clarity to a topic that many people struggle with—but may not always recognize in themselves.

In this episode of MindTricks Radio, I sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Mateer, a Harvard Medical School neuropsychology fellow, writer, and Psychology Today contributor, to explore how identity is shaped by memory, attention, emotion, and the stories we tell ourselves. We talk about the idea that the self is not fixed, but continually built and rebuilt through experience. Our conversation dives into neuroplasticity, self-narrative, authenticity, and the value of developing multiple aspects of identity rather than overinvesting in just one role. We also explore how emotionally charged experiences can shape the way we see ourselves, why people get stuck in limiting stories about who they are, and how greater psychological flexibility can help us adapt and grow. Dr. Mateer brings warmth, clarity, and real depth to a conversation about how the brain, our experiences, and our choices all work together in shaping who we become.