From Grades to Grit: What Psychology Authors Drs. Dave Myers and June Gruber Want Every Student to Know

What do sleep, gratitude, and emotional chaos have in common? Psychology.

In this student-focused episode of The What and Who of EDU, Dr. Dave Myers and Dr. June Gruber return to explore how psychology can help students live better, not just learn better. From stress and self-compassion to gratitude, emotional diversity, and the paradox of happiness, they unpack the research behind what really helps students thrive, both inside and outside the classroom.

You'll hear how to use stress as a tool for growth, why chasing happiness can backfire, and how simple habits like gratitude and reflection can build lasting resilience. Whether you're a student navigating college life or an educator supporting them, this episode delivers practical, science-backed strategies for managing emotions, staying grounded, and finding meaning in the messy middle of it all.

Brought to you by Macmillan Learning

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• How studying psychology can improve your life beyond the classroom
• The difference between healthy and harmful stress
• Why emotional diversity supports mental health
• How gratitude and self-compassion build resilience
• Why chasing happiness can backfire
• How to use evidence, not anecdotes, to make better choices
• What the research says about optimism, flow, and human growth

Featured Guests

Dr. David Myers – Professor of Psychology at Hope College and author of the world's best-selling psychology textbook. His research spans behavior genetics, social psychology, and public understanding of science.

Dr. June Gruber – Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director of the Positive Emotion & Psychopathology Lab. Her research explores emotion science, mental health, and the science of well-being.

Resources

More about Dave & June

🎧 Missed the first two episodes in this series?

Check out Episode 1: The Psychology of Psychology on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out Episode 2:  Teaching Like a Psychologist on on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts

Resources

• Exploring Psychology, 13th edition
• Psychology in Everyday Life, 7th edition
• Psychology, 14th edition
• Student Store: Psychology, 14th edition