Episode 396: Are you a workaholic or just a hard worker? With Malissa Clark, PhD
October 7, 2026
Many of us have trouble switching off from work, whether it's staying late at the office, checking messages on vacation, or lying awake running through tomorrow's to-do list. Malissa Clark, PhD, of the University of Georgia, discusses how workaholism differs from simply working hard; why it's about more than hours on the clock; how it affects physical health, mental health, and relationships; and how workplaces can encourage a healthier relationship with work.
We’ve all felt a pang of envy watching a friend’s success or a colleague’s promotion. But does this much-maligned emotion deserve its negative reputation? Psychologist Jens Lange, PhD, and philosopher Sara Protasi, PhD, discuss the difference between envy and jealousy; why we’re often most envious of the people closest to us; and how envy may, in the right circumstances, motivate us to grow.
Burnout gets all the attention, but some employees struggle with a different problem: chronic boredom on the job, sometimes called “boreout.” Lotta Harju, PhD, of EM Lyon Business School, and Sharon K. Parker, PhD, of Curtin University, discuss how boreout differs from burnout, how it can affect workers’ health and well-being, and what individuals, managers and organizations can do to design more engaging work.
The U.S. suicide rate today is almost identical to what it was a century ago, even as death rates from many other causes have dropped. Matthew Nock, PhD, of Harvard University, discusses why it’s so hard to predict who will act on suicidal thoughts—and when; how new tools, from electronic health records to smartphone sensors, are helping researchers understand risk in real time; what interventions show the most promise; why stigma and fear keep us from discussing suicide; and why open conversations are key to prevention.
Why does music give many of us goosebumps, bring back vivid memories and make us want to dance—while leaving some people cold? Robert Zatorre, PhD, author of
From Perception to Pleasure: The Neuroscience of Music and Why We Love It
, discusses how music engages the brain’s reward system; why expectation and surprise are a key part its appeal; what we can learn from musical anhedonia, or the inability to enjoy music; and how scientists are making strides in understanding music therapy and the healing potential of music.
Over the past several years, generative AI has moved into classrooms at lightning speed. C. Edward Watson, PhD, author of
Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning
, and Beth Schwartz, PhD, senior director of teaching and learning at APA, discuss how students and educators are navigating these changes; how AI can help or hinder learning; how teachers can redesign assignments and assessments; and what schools and universities should be teaching students about using AI responsibly.
Infidelity can shatter trust and leave people questioning their relationships and themselves. Galena Rhoades, PhD, discusses why people cheat; infidelity in the age of dating apps, social media, and AI chatbots; what makes some betrayals harder to overcome than others; and how psychologists help individuals and couples begin to heal after an affair.
Speaking of Psychology
is taking a summer break, so we’re rerunning some of our favorite episodes from the past. In 2024, I talked to psychologist Daniel Wann about sports fandom. What drives sports superfans, why are some people fair-weather fans while others love to root for the underdog, and whether a crowd of supportive fans can affect the outcome of a game. I hope you enjoy this episode from the archives. We’ll be back with new episodes beginning August 26th.
Speaking of Psychology
is taking a summer break, so we’re rerunning some of our favorite episodes from the past. In 2022, I talked to psychologist Abigail Marsh about her research on psychopathy, why psychopathic traits are far more common than most of us realize, and why psychopaths in real life don’t look like those in the movies. I hope you enjoy this episode from the archives. We’ll be back with new episodes beginning August 26th.
Speaking of Psychology
is taking a summer break, so we’re rerunning some of our favorite episodes from the past. In 2022, I talked to psychologist Michael Slepian about why people keep secrets, why keeping a secret bottled up inside can be harmful, and how keeping secrets—and sharing them—affects people’s relationships with each other. I hope you enjoy this episode from the archives. We’ll be back with new episodes beginning August 26th.
