The Kvetching Professor

Mark Sherman is a Renaissance soul, a guy with so many interests that he's never made it to the top in anything. Got a PhD in Psychology and taught it for 25 years, but always preferred being funny to anything else. As "The Kvetching Professor" he'll have you laughing, but learning at the same time.

Snippets of Fun 09/23/2019

Snippets of Fun In this episode I first talk about how there are potentials for humor all around us constantly – in what we think, see, and hear. So for the professional in the comedy biz, his or her workweek is never done. Of course, for the rest of us, it’s fun to notice funny stuff and hear people laugh when we share it. Hope this episode gives you at least a chuckle or two, if not a full-fledged guffaw. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/11353412

The Joys of Discontent 09/16/2019

The Joys of Discontent After a shout-out to Jordan Peterson for his book, "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos," I talk about my own proposal for a very different kind of self-help book. Mine will tell you how to be more discontent in life. For example, I urge readers not to do meditation or yoga. Why stress yourself out trying to be happy? It’s so much easier to be miserable. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/11264699

Saying So Long to Your Shrink 09/09/2019

Saying So Long to Your Shrink This episode starts off with some serious stuff about why therapy is so valuable. What I read in the second half of the episode is something I wrote more than 20 years ago, and while I wrote it with humor, it was way ahead of its time in its commentary on feminism, men, and traditional masculinity. Listen to find out what I wrote! /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/11174633

Marital Minefields 09/02/2019

Marital Minefields Marriage is great. (I’ve been married a long time and I’m a big fan). But I recognize that it has its pitfalls – and the biggest is the stuff we say. In this episode you’ll learn how lines like “Who’s that?” can get you into big trouble. And how the word “honey” is sometimes not so sweet. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/11091665

Some Fun Thoughts 08/26/2019

Some Fun Thoughts After a brief discussion of the meaning of “kvetching,” and how annoying optimistic people can be, the Kvetching Professor makes some humorous observations on life - including the basic principle of child-rearing, and also why we need professional apologizers. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10993712

Throwing My Hat in the Ring 08/19/2019

Throwing My Hat in the Ring No one I know is really happy with the choice of presidential candidates right now, so I feel it is my patriotic duty to announce my candidacy! In this episode I do that, and tell why I’d make the best choice in 2020. My campaign slogan will be “Isn’t it time we had a psychologist in the White House?” /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10915259

Becoming a Professor - Part 2 07/28/2019

Becoming a Professor - Part 2 In Part 2, I talk more about becoming a college professor – including my realization of how humor is so important in the classroom. In fact, I point out some parallels between college teaching and stand-up comedy that help explain why some very smart people could never be college teachers. There’s this and much more that will be of interest to past and present college students, professors, and those thinking about a college career. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10684895

Becoming a Professor 07/22/2019

Becoming a Professor Why did I become a psychology professor? I started out loving math ... so what happened? In a humorous way, I tell you about what led me to choose the psychology field, and what my best and worst professors in college did that showed me how to be a good teacher. Every college student, teacher, or aspiring teacher should give this a listen! /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10606562

Pet Peeves 07/15/2019

Pet Peeves Join the Kvetching Professor as he kvetches about "pet peeves" ... no, not talking about things your pets may do that bother you. These are things people do that he, and no doubt others, find annoying – starting with drivers who don’t use their directional signals, or put them on after they’ve already started making their turn. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10521032

Beautiful Women - Part 2 07/08/2019

Beautiful Women - Part 2 Although this episode (like the previous one) focuses on the fascinating topic of female beauty, a highlight here is a lively performance of a folk rock song I wrote and recorded in 1977. And then there are 15 engaging minutes of me, as the Kvetching Professor, talking about the politics and reality of beauty. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10437101

Beautiful Women - Part 1 07/01/2019

Beautiful Women - Part 1 Years ago, as a psych professor, I did a research project where I interviewed beautiful women on what it feels like to be the subject of so much attention based on looks. That was back when it wasn’t politically incorrect to describe a woman as beautiful or, God forbid, tell her that she is. But whether it’s PC or not, my interviews showed that being beautiful is real and is complex. I talk about all this here. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10353857

Teacher Stories 06/24/2019

Teacher Stories I admire the teaching profession, and I remember many of my teachers – some terrific ones, and some not so terrific. We all have our teacher stories, and here are a few of mine: a grammar school teacher who used behavioral principles all wrong, an unforgettable third grade substitute teacher, and one of my professors in college who had a great way to get us to do our homework. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10259504

The General Quiz 06/17/2019

The General Quiz Do you lack self-esteem? Join the crowd! Listen in as the Kvetching Professor talks about his own issues in that area, and the long-term pain of narrowly losing in a competition. It’s 15 minutes of fun about stuff most of us can relate to – and features a story of a memorable experience from his youth about that quiz! /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10170404

Hassle-Free Fame 06/10/2019

Hassle-Free Fame So many of us want to be famous, but fame does have its drawbacks. In this episode I talk about some of the dilemmas, but I also tell you one way that fame can truly be hassle-free! And tune in as well to learn about what I call “humorous license” and “age math.” /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10108423

How to Start a Conversation 06/03/2019

How to Start a Conversation Though texting has made speech unnecessary, some of us still enjoy this antiquated means of communication. But sometimes the problem is starting a conversation. In this episode, you’ll learn how to do this! And it doesn’t involve alcohol. It’s all in fun, though, so I wouldn’t advise doing most of what I suggest here. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/10022588

Dear Dr. Mark 05/27/2019

Dear Dr. Mark In this episode, the Kvetching Professor first talks about two of the most famous advice columns ever — “Dear Abby” and “Ask Ann Landers.” And then it’s about his own altogether fictitious contribution — “Dr. Mark.” Unless you wanted a good laugh, you probably wouldn’t want to write in to ask Dr. Mark for his advice. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/9932405

My Life As a Renaissance Soul 05/20/2019

My Life As a Renaissance Soul A rare treat! Hear one of my most popular songs in an episode where I humorously discuss the pros and cons of having a bunch of passions rather than just one. This is what it means to be a Renaissance soul — which is a problem when it’s 400 years after the Renaissance. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/9844172

Fudgsicles Anonymous 05/12/2019

Fudgsicles Anonymous The very smart and funny Howard Sachar joins me for his third appearance on the “The Kvetching Professor.” As usual, a variety of unforeseen topics comes up, including a great idea for a consulting business, what happens when you call a doctor’s office these days, a beautiful European city not a whole lot of Americans have visited, and my addiction to fudgsicles. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/9750617

We Can Laugh Now 05/05/2019

We Can Laugh Now Mark Twain once said, “Humor is tragedy plus time.” In this episode I talk about an example of that, focusing on something that happened before any of us were born. But then I discuss a couple of experiences I had that were not at all tragic, but very awkward – and yet soon became really funny stories. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/9662366

Door Dilemmas 04/27/2019

Door Dilemmas In a time when civility so often seems to be missing in everyday life, it’s great that there’s still a place where we can easily practice it and brighten the day for our fellow human beings. I’m talking about doors and doorways. But what are the rules about opening doors or holding them open? /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/9554585

Real Men and Me 04/15/2019

Real Men and Me While the centerpiece of this episode is humorous, there is a serious message here as well. And in the introduction, I definitely get serious as I talk about issues concerning boys in America today. Girls are getting all kinds of encouragement, but boys are not, and yet I think our society will do best when boys as well as girls are encouraged to be all that they can be. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/9402593

Born to Be Mild 03/25/2019

Born to Be Mild Listening to “Born to Be Wild,” the great Steppenwolf rock song from the late 1960s, got me thinking about what the title of my signature song might be. I think “Born to be Mild” would come closer. This episode takes a fun look at that, but I also talk about the lasting joys of rock. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/9127340

My Little Black Book 03/17/2019

My Little Black Book In going through the piles of stuff I’ve saved over the years, I came across the “little black book” I bought when I was 16 years old, so I could write in the names and phone numbers of girls I hoped I might go out with. I kept this little book going for three or four years. In this episode I talk about a few of the girls I did go out with, and one who had an exclamation mark next to her name - but whom I can’t remember at all. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/9035498

High Maintenance or Piece of Work? 03/11/2019

High Maintenance or Piece of Work? We all know people who are, shall we say, “difficult.” This episode talks about various terms we have for them, some of which aren’t so nice. But others are OK, like “high maintenance” and “piece of work.” Assuming you’re not the easiest person to be with, which would you rather be called? I’m sure you’ll agree, they’re both better than “total jerk” or “complete idiot.” /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/8953754

Revisiting Kids' Tales 03/04/2019

Revisiting Kids' Tales Here I look back at some old and classic children’s stories - from a contemporary perspective. The little engine that could? Are you kidding? Give me a break! I also talk about some of the best kids’ stories of the late 20th Century. I’m talking “George and Martha,” the two wonderful hippopotamus friends. Each story in the series is so short and sweet. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/8862260

Am I an Alpha Male? 02/24/2019

Am I an Alpha Male? I’ve long heard about the status associated with being an "alpha male," so I’ve always wondered if I was one. In this educational and entertaining episode I talk about alpha males, beta males, and what makes you one or the other. Am I, the Kvetching Professor, an alpha male? There's only one way to find out! Listen in... /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/8764709

The Strange World of Mottos 02/18/2019

The Strange World of Mottos In this episode I take a lighthearted poke at some mottos of companies, colleges and countries. If you think about it, mottos are all around us. Many are quite inspiring, like Nike’s “Just Do It.” Others are a bit less so, like KFC’s “Finger-Lickin’ Good,” or the state of Michigan’s “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” I mean let’s be honest. How many of us are truly seeking a pleasant peninsula? /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/8684081

Raining On Their Parade 02/04/2019

Raining On Their Parade In this episode, the Kvetching Professor, who has attended many a college graduation ceremony, suggests what a commencement speaker might say if he were being truly realistic about what the future holds for today’s graduates. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/8509967

Age Shaming 01/28/2019

Age Shaming Today we’re encouraged to take pride in whatever groups we are a part of – whether it’s race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, etc. But one group, to which we all ultimately aspire, doesn’t seem to be proud of its identity: the old folks. In fact, we “seniors” (which sounds so high school!) are embarrassed even to use the term “old.” Here, the Kvetching Professor tries to put an end to that kind of self-shaming! /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/8417630

Finders Keepers 01/21/2019

Finders Keepers While this week’s episode of The Kvetching Professor features something I wrote more than 25 years ago, it certainly is highly relevant today, when, between new guidelines for therapists counseling men and boys and the Gillette ad, which went viral, the idea of boys as rowdy, rambunctious, and wild has become so yesterday. /episode/index/show/thekvetchingprofessor/id/8331902

The Kvetching Professor

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