New Books in Psychology Creators & Guests

Dr. Miranda Melcher earned her PhD in Defence Studies from King’s College London, where she researched how to negotiate and implement peace treaties. Her research identifies methods for integrating opposing forces into unified post-conflict security institutions through peace treaty negotiation and implementation, with her qualitative historical case studies focusing on Mozambique and Angola. She is currently a Senior Legal Fellow at Just Access.

Gregory LaBlanc is a lifelong educator with degrees in History, PPE, Business, and Law, Greg currently teaches at Berkeley, Stanford, and HEC Paris. He has taught in multiple disciplines, from Engineering to Economics, from Biology to Business, from Psychology to Philosophy. He is the host of the unSILOed podcast. unSILOed is produced by University FM.

Ari Barbalat holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of California in Los Angeles. He lives in Toronto with his family.

Jordan Osserman is a Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Psychosocial Studies at Birkbeck, University of London, and a clinical trainee with the Site for Contemporary Psychoanalysis in London. His research focuses on the intersections of psychoanalysis, religion, gender, and cultural theory. Osserman has published works exploring how psychoanalytic concepts can be applied to contemporary social and cultural issues, often examining themes of desire, identity, and political subjectivity. His interdisciplinary approach bridges clinical practice with academic scholarship, contributing to broader conversations about mental health, social theory, and cultural critique.

Peter Lorentzen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of San Francisco, where he leads a new Master's program in Applied Economics focused on the digital economy.

Katrina Anderson is a University of Delaware doctoral candidate.

Dave O'Brien is Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Sheffield. He did his PhD in Sociology at the University of Liverpool, looking at European Capital of Culture. Before joining the University of Sheffield he held posts at Edinburgh, Goldsmiths, and City. He has a BA in History and Politics and an MA in Philosophy, both from Liverpool.

Patrick Ney is the Lead Trainer at All About Parenting, a global parenting organization active in over thirty countries, where he has delivered workshops and seminars to more than 165,000 parents over the past six years. A TEDx speaker and author of three parenting books—with a fourth focused on the neuroscience of the mind in progress—he combines expertise in child development with a specialization in Applied Neuroscience and Neuropsychology, currently completing his master's degree in the field. Certified as a DIR Floortime practitioner, he integrates play-based therapy in his work. Based in Warsaw, Poland, he also creates video content on Polish history and culture.

Shu Wan is currently matriculated as a doctoral student in history at the University at Buffalo. He is a digital and disability historian, and serves in the editorial team of Digital Humanities Quarterly and Nursing Clio.

C.K. Westbrook is one of the podcast hosts of the New Books Network.

Matthew Miller works with Jewish organizations in media and content distribution.

Renee Hale, PhD, is a chemical engineer specializing in food research and development, with a doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin. In her professional role, she applies advanced chemical engineering principles to innovate within the food industry, focusing on product development, process optimization, and ingredient functionality. Outside of her R&D work, she engages in the public communication of science and knowledge, exploring a wide range of interdisciplinary topics that bridge science, culture, and technology. Known for combining technical expertise with curiosity-driven inquiry, Hale contributes to both industry advancement and broader science engagement.

Tracy D. Morgan is a psychoanalyst, LCSW-R, and M.Phil., known for her work as the editor and host of New Books in Psychoanalysis, a podcast that features interviews with authors of newly published books in the field of psychoanalysis. Based in New York, Morgan combines clinical practice with scholarly engagement, focusing on contemporary psychoanalytic theory, clinical technique, and cultural critique. Her work bridges the gap between academic research and clinical practice, providing a platform for discussions that explore the evolving landscape of psychoanalysis. Through her podcast, Morgan has contributed significantly to making complex psychoanalytic ideas accessible to a broader audience of clinicians, scholars, and interested listeners.

Christopher Russell, LP is a psychoanalyst in Chelsea, Manhattan. He is a member of the faculty and supervising analyst at The Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies and The New York Graduate School of Psychoanalysis.

Myriam Sauer is a writer, theorist, and psychoanalytic thinker based in Berlin, Germany, recognized for her interdisciplinary approach to exploring the intersections of psychoanalysis, philosophy, and cultural theory. Her work delves into the complexities of human subjectivity, societal structures, and the unconscious, offering fresh perspectives on contemporary psychoanalytic thought. Through her writing, Sauer has contributed to academic journals, books, and conferences, engaging with topics such as trauma, identity, and the dynamics of power in cultural and social contexts. She is known for her ability to bridge theoretical concepts with real-world applications, earning her respect within academic and intellectual circles.

Dr. Susan Yusem is a researcher.

Dr. Raj Balkaran is a writer, teacher, researcher, and author of the book The Goddess and the Sun in Indian Myth.

Karyne Messina is a Psychoanalyst and the author of books about Misogyny, Populism, Donald Trump, Narcissism, Putin's invasion of Ukraine, The Corruption of Democracy and Blame Shifting.

Ashis Roy is a psychoanalyst practicing in Delhi.