Conversations with Mensa takes the new ideas and fresh insights shared through the Foundation's activities and presents them to the general public in an easy-to-use format.
Forensic psychologists play an important role in the criminal justice system, and interest in the field has been fueled recently by popular movies, television programs and books. Here, forensic psychologist Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski and Mensan and Retired FBI Special Agent Don Sheehan help listeners delve into the numerous aspects of the field, including legal principles, expert witness testimony, psychological assessment, mental healthcare and other court-ordered evaluations.
Joyce VanTassel-Baska and Deborah Ruf, Ph.D. touch on the myriad facets of gifted education, including the design and development of curriculum and programming in line with the new common core, philosophical attitudes that may be hindering student growth, the differences and similarities in domestic and foreign education and the division in research goals between those gifted educators with education-specific and psychology-specific backgrounds.
From design to sustainability, British Mensan Melissa Sterry and Joyce Gioia highlight acclaimed themes associated with contemporary concepts of the future, including ecological conservation, technological growth and changes in industry. This conversation touches on the numerous facets, geo-politics, the arts and societal issues instrumental to growing civilizations.
Recorded as a follow-up to the 2011 Colloquium — and as a forerunner to the 2012 Colloquium titled "Social and Video Games" — this Conversation explores the evolution of social games and the people who play them. Mensa member Gordon Walton, vice president and executive producer at Playdom Austin, joins Dr. Mia Consalvo, visiting associate professor of comparative studies at MIT, to discuss Dr. Consalvo’s research with regard to the development of social interaction and communities via online gaming.
While the general population is made up of approximately 75 percent extroverts and 25 percent introverts, the membership of Mensa is the nearly the reverse: approximately 65 percent identify as introverts. In this Conversation, Dr. Marti Olsen and Laney Dr. John Sheehan help listeners understand and appreciate the wonderful gifts that introverts have to offer.
Warren Madden, Mensa member, Weather Channel meteorologist and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter discusses the future of our weather patterns with Dr. Josh Wurman, creator of the Doppler on Wheels program and founder of the Center for Severe Weather Research.
Tim Westergren, founder of the Music Genome Project and Pandora Internet Radio, discusses the success, scope and synergy of the twin projects with New York composer and pianist — and Mensan — Aaron Dai.
Mensa member and actor Myles Jeffrey talks to “verbivore” Richard Lederer about the lessons one can learn from Richard's lifetime of successful evolutions.
Heather Preston — a NASA researcher, astronomy instructor and Mensan — discusses exciting developments and complex theories in cosmology with George Musser, editor for Scientific American magazine and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to String Theory.
Dr. Frank Lawlis, author of The ADD Answer, provides basic information about Attention Deficit Disorder and the steps that can be taken to manage it. Leading the discussion is Mensa member Robin Crawford, an experienced educator and mother of twin Mensans.
Renowned actor and Mensan Alan Rachins discusses the area where psychology and poker intersect with internationally recognized poker professional Howard Lederer.
Tarek Saab converses with 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dr. Jane Piirto about a segment of her work — in particular, that which has explored the intersection of giftedness, women's issues and creativity.