Today it’s great to have Richard Ryan on the podcast. Dr. Ryan is a professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University in North Sydney and professor emeritus in psychology at the University of Rochester. Dr. Ryan is a clinical psychologist and co-developer of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), one of the leading theories of human motivation. He’s among the most cited researchers in psychology and social sciences today, ranking among the top 1% of researchers in the field. Dr. Ryan has been recognized as one of the eminent psychologists of the modern era, listed among the top 20 most influential industrial organizational psychologists and has been honored with many distinguished career awards. He’s co-author with Edward Deci of the book Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. Topics· Dr. Ryan’s interest in psychology· Dr. Ryan’s influences in psychology and philosophy· What is self-determination?· The continuum of motivation· The underdog narrative as a motivating force· Self-Determination Theory’s Basic Needs· Is benevolence a basic need?· Ego involvement in exploration and self-esteem· Dr. Ryan’s attempt to meet Maslow· Transcendence, mindfulness, and integration· Self-Determination Theory in relationships· Changing organization culture through motivationWorks· How do we fix the current education system?· Dr. Ryan’s view of positive psychology· SDT as a criterion to improve social policy· Dr. Ryan’s upcoming projects