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 engagement
• Simple classroom changes that boost belonging
• How “micro-friendships” can transform classroom dynamics
• Why small gestures like eye contact or remembering a name make a big impact
• What 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” prompts
• Why five-minute office check-ins build stronger student relationships
• Easy, low-stakes ways to reduce test anxiety and support emotional awareness
• How 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 courses
• Why the “teach fewer things better” philosophy improves long-term learning
• What sleep science and stress research can teach students in any discipline
• How 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

• Exploring Psychology, 13th edition
• Psychology in Everyday Life, 7th edition
• Psychology, 14th edition
• Student Store: Psychology, 14th edition
• David Myers Classroom Activities
• About Dr. Douglas Bernstein
• About 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 ExpectationsCreate a Barrier to Deeper Conversation
• Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania (for happiness surveys)
• Assistive Listening Advocacy by Dr. David Myers