Why Do We Do That?

About Why Do We Do That?

Have you ever wondered why we think, feel, and behave the way we do? Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that explores the hidden forces shaping our everyday lives. Hosted by Dr. Ryan Moyer, each episode features engaging conversations with psychologists, social scientists, authors, and other experts who use psychology in their work. Come curious. Leave understanding yourself—and everyone around you—a little better.

Publisher

Ryan Moyer, Ph.D.

Category

science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

8 Jul 2020

Latest episode

8 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

82 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Sept 2026

   #082 - Why Do We Love Romance Novels? with Sarah MacLean

   Why do romance readers keep coming back to stories when they already know there's going to be a happy ending? In this episode, Sarah MacLean explores what makes romance novels so compelling, from yearning and familiar tropes to the emotional payoff of watching characters overcome impossible odds to find love. We also discuss how the genre has changed over the past 50 years, what romance can teach us about relationships and sexuality, and where we should be careful about confusing satisfying fiction with real life. Keywords romance novels, psychology of romance, Sarah MacLean, relationships, love, romance tropes, enemies to lovers, happily ever after, yearning, sexuality, consent, fiction, relationship expectations In this episode, you'll learn: Why knowing there's a happy ending doesn't make romance novels less satisfying What separates a romance novel from a love story Why conflict and yearning are essential ingredients in romance Why familiar tropes like "enemies to lovers" and "only one bed" are so compelling How romance novels can provide joy, hope, representation, and a sense of possibility How the romance genre has evolved alongside changing cultural attitudes Why relationships that work wonderfully in fiction might be terrible ideas in real life How romance novels portray sex, pleasure, and consent Whether romance novels create unrealistic expectations about relationships Why the genre continues to evolve even though the happily-ever-after ending stays the same Chapters 00:00 What do readers get from romance novels? 03:46 What makes a romance novel a romance novel? 06:50 The psychology, joy, and hope behind romance 10:31 How the modern romance novel began 15:23 What makes a compelling romance story? 17:36 Why yearning and struggle are more satisfying than happily ever after 19:59 Why romance tropes work 20:24 Enemies to lovers and the psychology of conflict 24:56 Friends to lovers—and why Sarah doesn't love it 30:28 Can romance novels inspire us in real life? 34:42 When romance novels become bad relationship advice 37:24 Are romance novels like pornography? 38:42 Sex, pleasure, and consent in romance novels 42:26 Do romance novels create unrealistic expectations? 44:39 How romance writers stand out in a crowded genre 47:21 How romance novels have evolved Guest Links Website — https://www.sarahmaclean.net (https://www.sarahmaclean.net) Books — https://www.sarahmaclean.net/book-list (https://www.sarahmaclean.net/book-list)

2. 

   10 Aug 2026

   #081 - Decision Making with Dr. Barry Schwartz

   In this episode, Barry Schwartz explores why making a good decision isn't always as simple as weighing the pros and cons. We discuss why trying to find the "best" option can sometimes leave us worse off, when we should trust our judgment instead of the numbers, and why having so many choices today can make even simple decisions feel overwhelming. Along the way, Barry offers a different way to think about making choices—and what it really means to choose wisely. Keywords decision making, rational choice theory, judgment, behavioral economics, trade-offs, regret, modern decision challenges In this episode, you'll learn: Why rational choice theory doesn't capture how many real-world decisions should be made Why some choices simply can't be reduced to numbers How quantification can create a false sense of confidence Why we sometimes prioritize what's measurable instead of what actually matters The difference between maximizing and choosing something that's "good enough" Why having more choices can make decision-making harder How judgment differs from simply following your intuition Why values and flexibility both matter when making difficult choices How regret can improve future decisions Why the modern world may be making thoughtful decision-making more difficult Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Barry Schwartz and his new book 09:30 The limitations of quantifying decisions and outcomes 11:00 The importance of context, framing, and norms in decision making 13:24 The seductive nature of quantification and its pitfalls 14:56 The futility of searching for the 'best' in decisions 16:54 Mechanical errors in probabilistic thinking and uncertainty 18:09 Challenges of quantifying complex decisions like college choices 19:44 The risks of over-reliance on quantification and metrics 22:09 The influence of quantifiable metrics on decision priorities 23:36 The problem with maximizing and searching for the 'best' 25:21 The paradox of choice and satisfaction 27:12 The limits of rational search in life decisions 28:46 When to apply rational choice theory and when to rely on judgment 30:12 The role of reflection and goals in decision making 31:58 Balancing logic, intuition, and emotion in decisions 40:36 The importance of values, principles, and flexibility 41:30 Life as a series of judgment calls, not formulas 42:29 The role of regret in learning and decision improvement 44:29 The right amount of regret and its importance 45:54 Final thoughts on decision making in a complex world Guest Links Website - https://www.swarthmore.edu/profile/barry-schwartz (https://www.swarthmore.edu/profile/barry-schwartz)

3. 

   13 Jul 2026

   #080 - Parenting & ADHD with Ryan Wexelblatt

   In this episode, Ryan Wexelblatt shares insights on behavioral interventions for children with ADHD, focusing on practical strategies for parents to support emotional regulation, motivation, and behavior management both at home and outside. Discover how understanding the ADHD brain can transform parenting approaches and foster better outcomes for kids. keywords ADHD, parenting, behavioral interventions, emotional regulation, executive functioning, motivation, child development, ADHD strategies key topics ADHD and executive functioning delays Cognitive flexibility and emotional regulation Behavioral interventions and scaffolding Managing disrespectful language and meltdowns Creating structure and expectations for ADHD kids Chapters 00:00 Introduction to ADHD Parenting Strategies 02:59 Meet Ryan Wexelblatt and his expertise 04:29 Understanding how ADHD brains differ from neurotypical brains 06:40 The role of cognitive flexibility in ADHD behavior 08:34 Emotional regulation challenges and solutions 09:25 Living in the moment and its impact on therapy 12:37 Internal dialogue and impulsivity in ADHD 13:39 Triggers of emotional outbursts in ADHD children 15:58 Negative attention and reinforcement of behaviors 18:31 Calmness and response strategies during meltdowns 20:10 Setting expectations and opportunities for self-correction 22:21 Disrespectful language and how to address it 32:26 Teaching accountability and repair after hurtful words 36:45 Managing emotional blackmail and severe behaviors 40:03 Impulsivity and behavior outside the home 43:32 Supporting motivation and routine at home 53:30 Key takeaways for parents of ADHD children guest links Website - https://adhddude.com (https://adhddude.com) YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDDudeRyanWexelblattLCSW (https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDDudeRyanWexelblattLCSW)

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

12,183

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100

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

Quality

24

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

85

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