SPEAKING

Elevate your thinking and decision-making with workshops and presentations by Dr. Schmaltz. Talks are organized into two categories: Work, focused on professional performance and well-being, and Skepticism, Scientific Thinking, and Teaching, which explores rational thinking, belief, and how we learn.

WORK

Learn how psychological science can elevate your work by boosting productivity, leadership, and collaboration.

Rituals of High Achievers

In this session, Dr. Schmaltz explores the psychology of habit formation, revealing how successful people use intentional routines to stay focused, energized, and on track. You will learn science-backed techniques for building habits that stick, and create daily structures that drive real results at work and beyond.

Outcomes

Discover how small, consistent routines can lead to major gains in performance
Learn evidence-based strategies to build habits that support long-term goals
Walk away with a personal framework to create, refine, and sustain powerful rituals

Designed For
Professionals looking to boost productivity, reduce burnout, and develop routines that lead to meaningful progress.

Problem Solving and the Psychology of Creativity

Creativity isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something you can learn. This session looks at how you can help unlock creative thinking and better problem-solving. Dr. Schmaltz shares practical strategies to spark new ideas, approach problems from different angles, and break out of rigid thinking.

Outcomes

Learn how to strengthen creative thinking as a trainable skill
Explore research-backed methods for improving problem-solving
Move past the myth that creativity is fixed or rare

Designed For

Leaders, teams, and professionals who need to generate new ideas, solve complex problems, and drive innovation in fast-changing environments.

The Science of Not Boring People

Sharing complex ideas shouldn’t put your audience to sleep. This workshop shows how to turn dense material into presentations that are clear, engaging, and memorable. Dr. Schmaltz explains why many presentations, especially those using PowerPoint, fail to engage, and shares practical strategies to make talks more effective and memorable. Whether you're leading a meeting, pitching a proposal, or speaking at a conference, you'll learn how to design and deliver content that truly connects.

Outcomes

Learn how to organize complex material into clear, audience-friendly formats
Apply storytelling techniques to make technical content more engaging
Improve slide design and delivery to keep people listening and remembering

Designed For

Professionals, leaders, and subject-matter experts who want to communicate more clearly, connect with audiences, and leave a lasting impression in high-stakes settings.

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making

We like to think we make decisions based on logic, but our brains often have other plans. This session covers cognitive biases and how they quietly shape judgment. Dr. Schmaltz explains why good advice is often ignored and shares practical tools for making better, more informed decisions.

Outcomes

Identify common cognitive biases that distort judgment and lead to poor decisions
Understand when your thinking is off and how to fix it
Apply simple strategies to improve decision making under pressure

Designed For
Anyone who wants to make better decisions. Especially for leaders, managers, and teams in high-stakes or fast-moving environments.

Sleep Well: The Science of Rest and Recovery

Good sleep is the foundation for focus, mood, and long-term health. This session explores what the research says about how sleep affects the brain and body. Dr. Schmaltz breaks down the science into clear, practical advice for improving sleep and managing fatigue in everyday life. You may be surprised how much sleep matters!

Outcomes

Learn how sleep supports mental health, memory, and performance
Gain practical tools to improve sleep quality and consistency
Identify and correct common habits that disrupt rest

Designed For
Anyone looking to improve energy, clarity, and resilience through better sleep.

SKEPTICISM, SCIENTIFIC THINKING AND TEACHING

Strengthen your thinking and decision-making with presentations by Dr. Schmaltz. Talks are organized into two categories: Work, focused on professional performance and well-being, and Skepticism, Scientific Thinking, and Teaching, which explores critical inquiry, belief, and how we learn.

Can Scientific Skepticism Make Us More Empathetic?

Skepticism is often misunderstood as cold or dismissive, but what if it could actually make us more compassionate? In this thought-provoking talk, originally presented at TEDx, Dr. Schmaltz explores how applying scientific skepticism both improve reasoning and foster empathy. Drawing from psychology and real-world examples, he shows how critical thinking isn’t just about finding flaws, it’s also about building better conversations and stronger human connections.

Outcomes

Rethink common assumptions about skepticism and belief
Explore how empathy and critical thinking can coexist
Learn how skepticism can foster deeper, more respectful dialogue

Designed For
Anyone interested in improving communication, promoting understanding, and applying critical thinking with compassion - in classrooms, workplaces, or everyday life.

How We Think, What We Believe: Lessons from Teaching Skepticism

What makes people believe in things that aren’t true? How can we help them think more clearly? In this talk, Dr. Schmaltz shares insights from over 15 years of teaching scientific skepticism through hands-on experiences—like ghost hunts, psychic readings, and testing paranormal claims. Drawing on research in psychology and education, he explores why pseudoscientific beliefs persist and how we can challenge them in ways that are engaging, respectful, and effective. This session offers practical tools for anyone interested in promoting rational thinking, whether in the classroom, the workplace, or everyday conversations.

Outcomes

Understand the cognitive biases that shape belief in pseudoscience
Explore hands-on strategies for teaching skepticism and critical thinking
Gain practical tools to challenge misinformation and promote clearer thinking

Designed For
Educators, science communicators, and professionals interested in belief, decision-making, and helping others think more critically.

Cabin Fever: Good (and Some Very Bad) Advice From Horror Films on How to Deal With Stress

What can horror movies teach us about stress, coping, and survival? More than you'd think. In this session, Dr. Schmaltz uses classic and contemporary horror films as a lens to explore how people respond to pressure, uncertainty, and fear. With humor and psychological insight, he separates the helpful lessons from the terrible decisions, offering practical takeaways for managing stress in real life. This session is especially popular around Halloween, but the strategies apply year-round.

Outcomes

Explore common stress responses through the lens of popular culture
Identify both helpful and harmful coping strategies under pressure
Learn evidence-based approaches to staying calm and making good decisions

Designed For
Teams, educators, and curious audiences looking for a fun and insightful session on stress, decision-making, and how not to be the first one out in a crisis.

The Need for Scientific Thinking: Teaching Students How to Detect Baloney

In an age of information overload, helping people think clearly is more important than ever. This session focuses on practical ways to teach scientific thinking by highlighting tools that help students question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and spot misleading claims. Dr. Schmaltz shares classroom-tested strategies for fostering skepticism and curiosity, showing how these skills can be applied well beyond academics.

Outcomes

Learn how to introduce the principles of scientific thinking in clear, engaging ways
Explore strategies for helping students detect flawed reasoning and misleading claims
Gain tools to support rational inquiry and curiosity in a world full of noise

Designed For
Educators, facilitators, and professionals who teach critical thinking, media literacy, or scientific reasoning.

Ghosts in the Mind: The Science Behind Hauntings

Why do so many people believe in ghosts, and why do those beliefs feel so real? This session explores the psychological factors that fuel experiences of the paranormal, from strange sensations to haunted houses. Dr. Schmaltz discusses the cognitive biases, perceptual quirks, and emotional triggers that shape how we interpret unexplained events. Through real-world examples and scientific research, participants will gain insight into how the mind creates meaning from ambiguity and what these experiences reveal about belief, memory, and perception.

Outcomes

Understand the psychological roots of paranormal experiences
Learn how perception, suggestion, and context influence belief
Explore what haunting phenomena can teach us about how the mind works

Designed For
Anyone interested in the science of belief, cognitive bias, and how we make sense of the unknown, including educators, skeptics, and curious thinkers.

Bang Your Head: Heavy Metal and Other Unusual Examples to Enhance Lectures and Promote Scientific Thinking

Engaging students isn’t just about what you teach, it’s how you teach it. Dr. Schmaltz shares how unexpected, culturally relevant examples can bring psychological concepts to life. Backed by research and classroom experience, this talk explores how surprising content can boost attention, deepen understanding, and make lessons more memorable. It’s a practical look at how creativity in the classroom can lead to real learning gains.

Outcomes

Discover how novel and unconventional examples can enhance learning
Learn techniques to increase attention, retention, and engagement
Explore how to connect psychological science to everyday experiences

Designed For
Educators, trainers, and communicators looking to make their lessons stick and their audiences think.

Who Has the Time? Self-Management in Academia

Academia demands a lot: teaching, research, service, and everything in between. This session explores how to navigate competing priorities with greater clarity and control. Drawing on psychological research and personal experience, Dr. Schmaltz shares practical strategies for setting boundaries, managing workload, and maintaining productivity without burning out. It is not about doing more. It is about doing what matters most.

Outcomes

Learn science-based strategies for time and energy management
Explore tools for setting priorities and avoiding burnout
Develop habits that support focus, balance, and long-term success

Designed For
Faculty, graduate students, and academic professionals looking to get more done in less time.

Interested in booking a keynote or workshop?

Contact Dr. Schmaltz to discuss formats, availability, and how a session can be tailored to meet the needs of your organization or institution.