Dr. Alex Swan

Class #205 - A Psychologist Goes to the Movies with Dr. Alexander Swan Podcast Episode · Being a Fan of Disney: The Podcast · February 25 · 1h 31m

Last month, I joined a fellow podcast enthusiast & prof, Cody Havard, on HIS podcast abt "being a Disney fan" because he stumbled across my "A Psychologist Goes to the Movies" Audible audiobook. Here's the Apple podcast link:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Episode 110: There's Nothing Like a Freudian Obsession of Mother — Vertigo (1958) with Daniel Kieckhefer Join Alex and film studies professor Daniel Kieckhefer as they explore the deeper meaning in Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Vertigo (1958). The film stars James

Join Alex and film studies professor Daniel Kieckhefer as they explore the deeper meaning in Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Vertigo (1958).


#filmsky #psychsky #Freud #movies
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Episode 109: Grief and Guilt Can Take You on a Journey into Darkness — Herman (2025) with Dir. Andrew Vogel Join Alex and filmmaker Andrew Vogel, director of the new psychological horror/thriller film, Herman (2025), as they discuss the themes and psychological concep

Join Alex and filmmaker Andrew Vogel, director of the new psychological horror/thriller film, Herman (2025), as they discuss the themes and psychological concepts found within his directorial debut!


#filmsky #psychsky #psychology #movies
cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2026/01/26/e...

Episode 108: Sometimes You Just Need a Frontal Lobotomy — Shutter Island (2010) Join Alex in a solo episode as he explores the Scorsese psychological thriller Shutter Island (2010)! Starring Leonard DiCaprio as a troubled US Marshal, the fi

Join Alex in a solo episode as he explores the Scorsese psychological thriller Shutter Island (2010)! As Leo’s final line in the film suggests, sometimes, ignorance can truly be bliss!


#filmsky #psychsky #film #psychology #movies
cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2026/01/05/e...

Episode 107: Believing in Angels Really Does Enhance Sports Performance! Angels in the Outfield (1994) with Corinne Hobbs Join Alex and Corinne Hobbs as they dive into a headfirst slide in home, exploring the mid-90s Disney hit Angels in the Outfield (1994)! Corinne is working towa

Join Alex and Corinne Hobbs as they dive into a headfirst slide in home, exploring the mid-90s Disney hit Angels in the Outfield (1994)!


#filmsky #psychsky #film #sportspsychology #nostalgia
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Episode 106: No Mnemonics Detected but at Least We Have Jones — Johnny Mnemonic (1995) with Celeste Pilegard Join Alex and Celeste Pilegard as they discuss the first of two Keanu Reeves dystopian cyberpunk future films, Johnny Mnemonic (1995). The film was directed by

Join Alex & Celeste Pilegard as they discuss the first of two Keanu Reeves dystopian cyberpunk future films, Johnny Mnemonic (1995)!


#filmsky #psychsky #dystopian #memory
cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2025/11/24/e...

Episode 105: Defying Gravity is the Self-Actualization Anthem We All Needed — Wicked (2024) with Jill Swirsky Join Alex and guest host Dr. Jill Swirsky as they enter the world of musical theater yet again, this time traveling to the land of Oz in Wicked (2024)! The film

Join Alex and guest host Dr. Jill Swirsky as they enter the world of musical theater yet again, this time traveling to the land of Oz in Wicked (2024)! It’s such a good story, you’ll definitely end up defying gravity!


#filmsky #psychsky #psychfilm
cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2025/11/03/e...

Psychologist Discusses Why 'Sinners' Works and Why Horror is in a Golden Age YouTube video by MovieWeb

I was interviewed by MovieWeb a couple of weeks ago about the psychology of horror films and we specifically discussed the pertinent psych of Sinners. Here’s the video:
youtu.be/PGVkPG9Z-vU?...

A Psychologist Goes to the Movies Check out this great listen on Audible.com. Movies have the astonishing ability to show us our world in a whole new light. They can help us understand tough concepts and even allow us to walk in someo...

4. I recently completed an audiocourse/book/series of essays for Audible that you can find here, entitled"A Psychologist Goes to the Movies":
www.audible.com/pd/A-Psychol...

Episode 104: The Family That Crimes Together Stays Together — The Godfather (1972) with Jon Mandracchia Join Alex and guest host Dr. Jon Mandracchia as they become members of the Corleone family discussing Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972). This first pa

Join Alex and guest host Dr. Jon Mandracchia as they become members of the Corleone family discussing Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972). Listening to this episode is an offer you can't refuse!


#filmsky #psychsky #film #movies #psych #mafia
cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2025/10/13/e...

Episode 103: Finding Love, Family, & Metaphorical Food Through Psychodynamic Therapy — Antwone Fisher (2002) with Katherine Marshall Woods Join Alex and guest host Dr. Katherine Marshall Woods as they explore the psychodynamic themes in Denzel Washington's directorial debut, Antwone Fisher (2002).

Join Alex and guest host Dr. Katherine Marshall Woods as they explore the psychodynamic themes in Denzel Washington's directorial debut, Antwone Fisher (2002). #filmsky #psychsky #antwonefisher #psychology #psychodynamictheory #mediastudies
cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2025/09/22/e...

This is out now! Click on the link in the quoted post and enjoy a wonderful experience of psychology and film mixed together!

#psychsky #filmsky

Meme of Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story, with the former’s arm outstared and the latter with a worried look on his face. Buzz seems to be saying with the text on the image “confirmation bias everywhere”

Mood

A Psychologist Goes to the Movies Check out this great listen on Audible.com. Movies have the astonishing ability to show us our world in a whole new light. They can help us understand tough concepts and even allow us to walk in someo...

Pleased to announce that my audiobook/course "A Psychologist Goes to the Movies" releases next week on Thursday, 9/18 on Audible!! Preorder is available now!

I talk about six films & their psych content/portrayal, 1 film per chapter.

#psychsky #filmsky #psychology

www.audible.com/pd/A-Psychol...

Last month, my essay on film pedagogy was published on the APA's Psychology Teacher's Network:

#psychsky #filmsky #filmpedagogy #pedagogy #APA

www.apa.org/ed/precolleg...

Episode 102: Hitchcock, Freudian Theory, and the Perfect Murder — Strangers on a Train (1951) with Brooke Cannon Join Alex and guest host Dr. Brooke Cannon as they explore one of Alfred Hitchcock's brilliant thrillers, Strangers on a Train (1951). The film stars Farley Gra

Join Alex and guest host Dr. Brooke Cannon as they explore one of Alfred Hitchcock's brilliant thrillers, Strangers on a Train (1951).


#bias #cinema #clinicalpsychology #cognitivepsychology #darktriadpersonality #film #filmanalysis #Freud #psych
cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2025/09/01/e...

Episode 101: Basic Film Editing and Human Perception are a Match Made in Cinema Heaven! The Cinema Within (2024) with Chad Freidrichs Join Alex and guest host Chad Freidrichs, documentary filmmakers, as they discuss one of Chad's recent releases, The Cinema Within (2024). The documentary cleve

Alex & guest host Chad Freidrichs, doc filmmaker, discuss one of Chad's recent releases, The Cinema Within (2024). The doc cleverly explores & visualizes one of film's greatest mysteries: how humans process editing's most basic pieces: the cut!

cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2025/08/11/e...

Perhaps when the future looks back on why humanity fell, I think they’re gonna settle on advertisements. This is the lifeblood of capitalism. It’s always been the ads.

a picture of a minion holding a megaphone with the words big deal alert below it ALT: a picture of a minion holding a megaphone with the words big deal alert below it

@edhansenphdad.bsky.social woot woot you big deal. Featured as frequent guest on @swanpsych.com ‘s CinemaPsychPodcast! Proud of both my friends. 🍾😄

Thank you!! Appreciate you and you’re featured in the clip show 😎

Episode 100: The Past Six Years and Episodes of Shows and Psychology Squeezed into Three Hours — Worth It! Join Alex in a celebration of the past six years of CinemaPsych Podcast content and 100 episodes! It's been a journey, with so many films and guests, and so wha

Join Alex in a celebration of the past six years of CinemaPsych Podcast content and 100 episodes! It's been a journey, with so many films and guests, and so what better way to highlight that time with a clip show!

#filmsky #psychsky #clipshowtrope

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Episode 099: My Availability Heuristic Says It’s a Shark Attack! Jaws (1975) with Jordan Wagge Join Alex and returning guest host Dr. Jordan Wagge as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the first summer blockbuster films, Jaws (1975)! One of Ste

Duuun dun… duuun dun… duun dun, dun dun, dun dun, dun dun… New episode alert!!

Join Alex and returning guest host Dr. Jordan Wagge as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the first summer blockbuster films, Jaws (1975)!

#bias #psychsky #psych

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