Innerversal

Episode 17: Psychology and... Painting [with Tigran Tsitoghdzyan]

Where does creativity come from? What does it take to be an artist in 2026? Does AI actually pose a threat to the world of visual arts? In the 17th episode of INNERVERSAL, we speak with legendary hyper-surrealist painter Tigran Tsitoghdzyan about the intersections between psychology and painting.

Episode 16: Psychology and... Conflict Journalism [with Fin de Pencier]

What does it take to be a reporter in the middle of a warring nation? How does someone keep their cool in the middle of a deadly combat? Where does one go to avoid misinformation and disinformation? Most importantly, what still surprises a writer after witnessing so many international tragedies? From the battlefield of Artsakh during the height of the pandemic to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts, we speak to writer, photographer, and filmmaker Fin de Pencier to discover the psychology of conflict journalism.

Episode 15: Psychology and... Coffee Shops [with Jonathan Rubinstein and Amaris Gutierrez-Ray from Joe Coffee]

What makes a great coffee shop truly great? What is a founder thinking when they open a single café in the West Village - one that blossoms into 20+ across New York City? How do atmosphere & staff training shape the way we feel the moment we walk through the door? And how do founders know - sometimes in that Malcolm Gladwell Blink way - when a location or idea “just feels right”? In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Rubinstein, Founder & CEO of Joe Coffee, and Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, the company’s VP of Coffee and Roasting. Together, we explore the motivations behind launching Joe Coffee in 2003, the wise and heartfelt decisions that allowed the shops - and their respective communities - to endure through COVID, the principles behind ethically sourcing great coffee, and the cultural debate around caffeine.

Episode 14: Psychology and... Acting [with Vache Tovmasyan]

What is an actor thinking right before the camera begins recording? How does acting in drama differ from acting in comedy? What goes through their mind as they win their first Oscar - and second, third, fourth, and fifth!? In this episode, we speak with Vache Tovmasyan, an actor, stand up comic, and founder of numerous comedy shows. Most recently, he played the role of Garnik in the pom d'or film festival winning and five-time Oscar-winning film Anora, bringing his talents to an international stage.

Episode 13: Psychology and... Students [Pt. II] [with Brooklyn Tech’s Class of 2025]

Who is Gen Z? How did they make it through COVID & Remote Learning? Where do they see themselves in the future after such a unique adolescence? In this two-episode segment, we're speaking to a diverse array of students recently graduating from the renowned Brooklyn Technical High School. Episode 12 [Part I]: Luca Granelli (Industrial Design at University of Cincinnati) Susana Sharp (Engineering at Brown University) Grace Chen (Political Science at Fordham University [my alma mater]) Episode 13 [Part II]: Nufisa Patwary (Computer Engineering at Stony Brook University) Demyan Kruglov (Mechanical Engineering and Design at Northeastern University) Gadin Aggarwal (Business at Carnegie Melon)