Professor P

About Professor P

What does it take to be influential in today's world? Dr. Parsa Peykar -Mental performance consultant, university professor, and author- joined by world-class experts from diverse fields explore practical lessons on leadership, influence, and service.Each episode of the Professor P Podcast is designed like a mini research project, built around a central “research question” tied to the theme. Every episode unfolds in three parts: 1.Book Review or Art Analysis – exploring ideas that set the stage.2. Expert Conversation – insights from leading voices across diverse fields. 3. Student Reflections – real feedback and fresh perspectives from university students. Across all episodes, one theme remains constant: every guest leaves listeners with at least one simple act of kindness to put into practice. The Professor P Podcast is a fun, engaging “university” for everyone—delivering both educational and experimental lessons to inspire you to grow, lead, and make an impact in your chosen field. More than a podcast, it’s a movement to add value to your life—and to encourage you to add value to others. 📩 We’d love to hear from you! Share your comments, ideas, or just say hi: contact@parsapeykar.com

Publisher

Parsa Peykar

Category

education · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jun 2023

Latest episode

17 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

146 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Oct 2026

   Psychology of Power Series Ep.10 | The Psychology of Greatness: The Ultimate Form of Power

   After nine episodes exploring the psychology of power, we arrive at the question beneath them all: What is the highest form of power? Is it money? Status? Influence? Authority? Followers? The ability to control other people? Or is true power something much more difficult? The ability to master yourself. In the series finale of The Psychology of Power, Professor P brings together the psychological lessons from all ten episodes and explores the ultimate relationship between power, character, identity, purpose, and greatness. Throughout this series, we've explored why humans crave power, how power changes perception, why people obey authority, what makes someone charismatic, how persuasion works, why loyalty becomes so powerful, why humans chase status, and how fear can control behavior. But now we turn the lens inward. Because you can influence thousands of people and still be controlled by your ego. You can have millions of dollars and still be controlled by insecurity. You can command an organization and still be unable to control your emotions. You can have enormous status and still be terrified of losing it. You can have power over others... and still be powerless over yourself. This episode explores self-mastery as the foundation of meaningful greatness. You'll discover the difference between success and greatness, power and character, ego and purpose, external status and internal worth, and why the person who can govern themselves may ultimately possess the greatest form of power. From elite athletes and leaders to parents, entrepreneurs, and everyday people, this finale asks what happens when we stop asking: "How can I become more powerful?" and start asking: "What kind of person will I become if I do?" In This Episode The ultimate paradox of power Why power over others isn't the same as power over yourself Self-mastery and psychological freedom Success vs. greatness Power + Character + Purpose Why identity matters more than achievement The psychology of ego Why emotions are information, not commands How values become your internal compass The difference between influence and domination Why greatness is built when nobody is watching The psychology of athletes, leaders, and high performers Why character becomes more important as power increases How to build your own "circle of power" The relationship between purpose and influence The ultimate question: What will you do with the power you have? THE GREATNESS EQUATION POWER + CHARACTER + PURPOSE = GREATNESS Power gives you capacity. Character gives you direction. Purpose gives you meaning. Without character, power becomes dangerous. Without purpose, power becomes empty. With all three... power becomes greatness. THE 10 LESSONS OF THE SERIES 01 — POWER Power is the ability to influence reality. 02 — CHANGE Power changes perception before it changes behavior. 03 — DARKNESS Power without character can become dangerous. 04 — OBEDIENCE Humans can surrender judgment to authority. 05 — CHARISMA Presence, warmth, confidence, and competence create influence. 06 — PERSUASION The deepest persuasion can change how people see themselves. 07 — LOYALTY Belonging can become stronger than logic. 08 — STATUS Comparison can turn achievement into an endless competition. 09 — FEAR Fear can influence behavior, but courage allows us to choose our response. 10 — GREATNESS The ultimate form of power is self-mastery in service of something meaningful. THE FINAL QUESTIONS Ask yourself: Who am I becoming? What controls me? Can I remain myself when I gain power? If I lost my title tomorrow, who would I still be? What would I pursue if nobody could see it? Am I trying to impress people—or become someone I respect? And the most important question: What will I do with the power I already have? This is the final episode of the exclusive 10-part series, The Psychology of Power. Ten episodes. Ten psychological lenses. One journey. From power, obedience, darkness, charisma, persuasion,

2. 

   10 Oct 2026

   Psychology of Power Series Ep. 09 | The Psychology of Fear: Why We Obey, Freeze, Fight, and Run

   Fear is one of the oldest and most powerful forces in human psychology. It can make us run. Freeze. Fight. Obey. Avoid. And sometimes, without realizing it, change who we are. Why does a powerful leader use fear to control people? Why do athletes perform perfectly in training but struggle under pressure? Why do employees hide mistakes when they're afraid of their boss? Why can the fear of failure become more powerful than the desire to succeed? And perhaps the most important question: How much of your life is being shaped by something you're afraid might happen? In Episode 9 of The Psychology of Power, Professor P explores the psychology of fear and its relationship with power, leadership, performance, obedience, status, persuasion, and human behavior. You'll discover why fear isn't simply an emotion, but a complex survival system that can influence attention, decision-making, relationships, and performance. From the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses to the psychology of choking under pressure, this episode explores what happens when the brain perceives a threat—and why fear can sometimes make us behave in ways we don't recognize. Through examples from elite sports, leadership, parenting, workplaces, and high-pressure environments, Professor P examines both the protective and destructive sides of fear. Because fear can motivate us. Fear can protect us. But fear can also become a prison. And the goal isn't to eliminate fear. It's to learn how to move while fear is still present. In This Episode What fear actually is Why the brain responds to perceived threats The fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses Why fear doesn't always require real danger How fear becomes a tool of power Fear-based leadership and its hidden costs Why psychological safety matters The psychology of choking under pressure Why athletes can fail to perform what they already know Fear of failure—and fear of success Status anxiety and the fear of losing position Fear in parenting and relationships Fear in the workplace How fear affects decision-making The difference between fear-based obedience and genuine commitment How to transform fear from an enemy into information The Fear Reset When fear takes over, remember: NAME IT What exactly am I afraid of? SEPARATE POSSIBILITY FROM CERTAINTY Is this actually happening—or am I predicting it? RETURN TO THE PRESENT What is actually required of me right now? ACT WITH FEAR PRESENT I don't need to feel fearless to move forward. Key Takeaways ✔️ Fear is not weakness. It is a survival system. ✔️ Fear can influence behavior before conscious reasoning catches up. ✔️ Fear-based leadership may create compliance, but it can destroy trust and honest communication. ✔️ Athletes don't need to eliminate pressure—they need to learn how to perform while pressure is present. ✔️ Fear can become a powerful tool of manipulation. ✔️ Fear of losing status can be as powerful as the desire to gain it. ✔️ Courage isn't the absence of fear. ✔️ Fear can be information without becoming instruction. Reflection Questions Ask yourself: What fear currently has the most influence over my life? What am I avoiding because of it? Am I making decisions based on what I want—or what I'm afraid of losing? What would I do if I knew I could survive failure? Am I leading people through fear—or creating an environment where they can become courageous? If fear disappeared for one day, what would I finally have the courage to do? This is Episode 9 of the exclusive 10-part series, The Psychology of Power—an exploration of the psychological forces behind power, authority, charisma, persuasion, loyalty, status, fear, and human behavior. If you've ever wondered why fear can make people obey, why high performers sometimes freeze under pressure, or how powerful leaders use fear to influence behavior... this episode is for you.

3. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Psychology of Power Series Ep. 08 | The Psychology of Status: Why We Care Where We Stand

   Why do we care so much about where we rank? Why can a promotion make us feel powerful—and losing a position make us question who we are? Why do athletes obsess over contracts, trophies, and starting positions? Why can social media make us feel unsuccessful even when our own lives haven't changed? And perhaps the deepest question: How much of what we pursue do we actually want... and how much do we want because other people will see us having it? In Episode 8 of The Psychology of Power, Professor P explores one of the most deeply rooted forces in human behavior: Status. From CEOs and professional athletes to parents, students, celebrities, and everyday people, our position in the social hierarchy can influence how we think, behave, compete, and even define ourselves. This episode explores social comparison, status threat, prestige vs. dominance, identity, confidence, humility, the status treadmill, and the psychological effects of losing status. You'll discover why humans naturally compare themselves to others, why status can become addictive, and why achieving more doesn't necessarily make us feel more successful. We'll also explore one of the most important distinctions in leadership: Dominance earns compliance through fear.Prestige earns respect through value. And we'll examine what happens when your title, career, wealth, athletic success, or social recognition becomes part of your identity. Because eventually... the trophy gets dusty. The title changes. The followers disappear. And you're left with one question: Who are you when nobody is watching? In This Episode What status really means Why humans naturally create social hierarchies Social Comparison Theory Why we compare ourselves to people above and below us The psychology of status threat Why losing status can feel deeply personal Prestige vs. Dominance Why great leaders earn respect rather than demand it Status and professional athletes The psychological impact of social media comparison The status treadmill and why "more" is rarely enough When achievement becomes identity Why retirement can be difficult for elite performers Status, money, relationships, parenting, and leadership How to escape the status trap The Status Trap External Status "How do other people see me?" Internal Worth "How do I see myself?" The problem begins when your external status becomes the foundation of your internal worth. 5 Ways to Escape the Status Trap Build Internal Status Ask: Do I respect myself? Compete With Yourself Use others as information, not as your identity. Separate Role From Self You are not your title, salary, followers, or achievements. Practice Humility Let yourself be a beginner again. Choose Prestige Over Dominance Earn respect through value rather than demanding it through power. Key Takeaways ✔️ Status is about perceived social standing, not simply power. ✔️ Humans naturally compare themselves with others. ✔️ Status threats can trigger insecurity, defensiveness, and competition. ✔️ Dominance creates compliance. Prestige creates respect. ✔️ External achievements cannot permanently solve internal insecurity. ✔️ Your title is a role—not your identity. ✔️ The healthiest form of success is based on meaning and contribution, not constant comparison. Reflection Questions Ask yourself: What status am I currently trying to prove? Who am I comparing myself to? What would I still pursue if nobody could see it? If I lost my title tomorrow, who would I still be? Am I pursuing success—or applause? If nobody applauded me, would I still be proud of the person I'm becoming?

Who has been a guest on Professor P

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Thomas G Plante
• Marion Nestle
• Deborah Feltz
• Sanja Malagurski
• Robin Seidl

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1,539 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

59

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

76

Contact Professor P

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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