What I've been up too-

So, something you probably don't know about me is....I have recently started working for a radio station!  I speak for 1 hour every Monday morning about psychological research (which I find funny since I only have an associates degree in psychology and my Bachelors and Masters in something else). The station is a local station here in Melbourne but it broadcasts world wide. The station is pretty much the equivalent of an NPR in America (debates, conversation and classical music); we even get callers from the USA!

How I got roped into this....
I was giving a lesson on gratitude in church and failed to get past the empirical evidence and onto the spiritual benefits. It was a good lesson (I thought) but it reminded me a bit of being a college professor in a lecture hall where you are mapping out things that are interesting to you and not to anyone else... One lady in the audience was a radio broadcaster and asked me if I would be interested in being interviewed on her program for one hour each week. I was like SURE!...the best part is, I even get paid!

The first day I did it I was TERRIFIED! I love public speaking so I didn't think I would get nervous but I had such a difficult time talking into a microphone in a small sound proof room with no one to look at. It occurred to me then that I react to the audience a lot when I speak; when they smile- I smile, when they look confused- I expound and I had none of this in the radio station room.

After about a month I got better. In fact, each time I spoke I was significantly better than the last time (which should paint a picture of how bad the first time was). I missed a week while I was over in America, but when I came back it was still easier!

So far we have gotten to talk about a lot of things which I haven't thought about for a while. When I get the topic I then research it so I have something useful to say for the next week. So far I have been interviewed about: Memory emotion, Observational Learning, Parental control and depression,Childhood development and play. Some topics last for a couple of weeks before we move on, others are just one week discussions.  Either way it is fun!