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The What And Who Of EDU

The What And Who Of EDU

By: Macmillan Learning
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 Welcome to The What and Who of EDU. Join us as we talk with thought leaders, educators, and experts to explore the latest trends, innovations, and best practices shaping education today. Whether in the classroom or beyond, we equip educators with the tools and insights to support student learning anytime, anywhere.2025
Episodes
  • From Grades to Grit: What Psychology Authors Drs. Dave Myers and June Gruber Want Every Student to Know

    From Grades to Grit: What Psychology Authors Drs. Dave Myers and June Gruber Want Every Student to Know
    Nov 19 2025

    What do sleep, gratitude, and emotional chaos have in common? Psychology.

    In this student-focused episode of The What and Who of EDU, Dr. Dave Myers and Dr. June Gruber return to explore how psychology can help students live better, not just learn better. From stress and self-compassion to gratitude, emotional diversity, and the paradox of happiness, they unpack the research behind what really helps students thrive, both inside and outside the classroom.

    You'll hear how to use stress as a tool for growth, why chasing happiness can backfire, and how simple habits like gratitude and reflection can build lasting resilience. Whether you're a student navigating college life or an educator supporting them, this episode delivers practical, science-backed strategies for managing emotions, staying grounded, and finding meaning in the messy middle of it all.


    Brought to you by Macmillan Learning

    What You'll Learn in This Episode
    • How studying psychology can improve your life beyond the classroom
    • The difference between healthy and harmful stress
    • Why emotional diversity supports mental health
    • How gratitude and self-compassion build resilience
    • Why chasing happiness can backfire
    • How to use evidence, not anecdotes, to make better choices
    • What the research says about optimism, flow, and human growth
    Featured Guests

    Dr. David Myers – Professor of Psychology at Hope College and author of the world's best-selling psychology textbook. His research spans behavior genetics, social psychology, and public understanding of science.

    Dr. June Gruber – Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director of the Positive Emotion & Psychopathology Lab. Her research explores emotion science, mental health, and the science of well-being.

    Resources

    More about Dave & June

    🎧 Missed the first two episodes in this series?

    Check out Episode 1: The Psychology of Psychology on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Check out Episode 2: Teaching Like a Psychologist on on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts

    Resources

    • Exploring Psychology, 13th edition
    • Psychology in Everyday Life, 7th edition
    • Psychology, 14th edition
    • Student Store: Psychology, 14th edition
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    26 mins
  • Teaching Like a Psychologist: Drs. Dave Myers & June Gruber Discuss Strategies To Foster Wellness and Belonging

    Teaching Like a Psychologist: Drs. Dave Myers & June Gruber Discuss Strategies To Foster Wellness and Belonging
    Nov 5 2025
    What if the secret to better teaching isn't about what you teach, but how students experience your classroom? Psychology legends Dr. David Myers and Dr. June Gruber have spent decades studying what actually makes information stick and it's not more PowerPoint slides. In this episode, they reveal why removing 18 chairs from your classroom, scheduling 5-minute coffee chats, and teaching students about "micro-friendships" might be the most powerful teaching strategies you'll ever use. From awe walks to anxiety management, from handling shelter-in-place alerts to designing spaces for hearing loss, this isn't your typical pedagogy discussion. The duo discuss some intentional moments that transform students from passive listeners into engaged humans who actually retain what you taught them. Spoiler alert: Teaching like a psychologist is good pedagogy. Period. Brought to you by Macmillan Learning What You'll Learn in This Episode Teaching Psychology in Practice How to move from passive learning to active, reflective engagementSimple classroom changes that boost belongingHow "micro-friendships" can transform classroom dynamicsWhy small gestures like eye contact or remembering a name make a big impactWhat educators can do before class starts to build trust and connection Strategies You Can Use Tomorrow How to use tools like the Perceived Stress Scale and "ask yourself" promptsWhy five-minute office check-ins build stronger student relationshipsEasy, low-stakes ways to reduce test anxiety and support emotional awarenessHow to handle emotionally heavy topics in a supportive, science-informed way Psychology Beyond the Psych Classroom How psychology concepts can enhance STEM, humanities, and public health coursesWhy the "teach fewer things better" philosophy improves long-term learningWhat sleep science and stress research can teach students in any disciplineHow art and nature-based practices like awe walks support well-being and learning Featured Guests: Dr. David Myers – Professor of Psychology at Hope College and author of the world's best-selling psychology textbook, read by millions of students globally. His research spans behavior genetics, social psychology, and the public understanding of science. Despite being completely deaf without hearing technology, Dave has championed inclusive learning and continues to shape how students understand the brain, behavior, and human nature. Dr. June Gruber – Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director of the Positive Emotion & Psychopathology Lab. June's research explores emotion science, mental health, and what it truly means to thrive. As co-author of the best-selling psychology textbook, she brings cutting-edge research on student well-being, emotional diversity, and positive psychology to millions of learner More about Dave & June **** Check out Episode 1: The Psychology of Psychology on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Resources Psychology, 14th edition Student Store: Psychology, 14th editionDavid Myers Classroom ActivitiesAbout Dr. Douglas BernsteinAbout Dr. Christopher France Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) – used in June's classroom to help students assess their own stress levels"Micro-Friendship" Research by Nicholas Epley; Overly Shallow?: Miscalibrated Expectations Create a Barrier to Deeper ConversationPositive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania (for happiness surveys)Assistive Listening Advocacy by Dr. David Myers
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    33 mins
  • The Psychology of Psychology: Drs. Dave Myers & June Gruber Discuss Emotion, Happiness & Students' Wellbeing

    The Psychology of Psychology: Drs. Dave Myers & June Gruber Discuss Emotion, Happiness & Students' Wellbeing
    Oct 22 2025

    Is the pursuit of happiness actually making students less happy? In this episode of The What and Who of EDU, we sit down with Dr. David Myers and Dr. June Gruber, co-authors of the world's best-selling psychology textbook, to explore what decades of psychological research reveal about student mental health, emotional well-being and why today's students are struggling more than ever.

    Discover why emotional diversity matters more than constant positivity, how social media is reshaping student mental health, and the surprising science behind what actually makes us thrive. From "awe walks" that reduce anxiety to the counterintuitive relationship between money and happiness, this conversation offers evidence-based insights every educator needs to support student well-being in the classroom.

    Brought to you by Macmillan Learning

    What You'll Learn in This Episode

    Student Mental Health & Well-Being

    • Why today's students face unprecedented mental health challenges (and what's driving the increase in depression and anxiety)
    • The connection between smartphone use, social media, and declining student mental health
    • How emotional diversity—not toxic positivity—builds psychological resilience
      Why the "I-happy" problem is making students lonelier and less fulfilled

    The Science of Happiness

    • The happiness paradox: Why focusing on happiness makes you less happy
    • How much money actually contributes to well-being (and when more stops mattering)
    • The neuroscience of awe and why 10-minute "awe walks" reduce stress and depression
    • What the research says about aging and happiness (spoiler: we get happier as we age)

    Teaching & Learning Strategies

    • How to create classroom moments that foster wonder and psychological well-being
    • Why broad liberal education matters more than career specialization
    • The importance of teaching critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning
    • How to balance scientific evidence with compelling storytelling in teaching

    Human Nature & Psychology

    • The surprising truth about parenting: why genes matter more than we think
    • Research showing humans are inherently kind and altruistic (not selfish)
    • The bystander effect myth: new data shows 90% of people help others in need
    • Why students can't predict their futures (and why that's actually good news)

    Featured Guests

    Dr. David Myers – Professor of Psychology at Hope College and author of the world's best-selling psychology textbook, read by millions of students globally. His research spans behavior genetics, social psychology, and the public understanding of science. Despite being completely deaf without hearing technology, Dave has championed inclusive learning and continues to shape how students understand the brain, behavior, and human nature.

    Dr. June Gruber – Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director of the Positive Emotion & Psychopathology Lab. June's research explores emotion science, mental health, and what it truly means to thrive. As co-author of the best-selling psychology textbook, she brings cutting-edge research on student well-being, emotional diversity, and positive psychology to millions of learner.

    Learn more about Dave & June.

    Resources

    • Psychology, 14th edition
    • Student Store: Psychology, 14th edition
    • More about Dave & June
    • David Myers - Make Things Memorable
    • More about Awe Walks from the NIH
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
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