The re.think Podcast

Dr. David Zierk
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Social Sciences
  • Updated Weekly

re.think with Dr. David Zierk is the podcast that invites you to challenge the hidden rules shaping your mind and relationships. Through real stories, psychological insights, and powerful tools, Dr. Zierk — clinical psychologist, author of Mind Rules, and relationship strategist — guides you to reframe conflict as a gateway to authentic connection. Because no two people see the world the same way, learning to “re.think” is essential for navigating the messy, beautiful complexity of being human. Whether you’re a leader, a thinker, or simply someone tired of unbreakable habits and unresolved tension, this show will give you fresh perspective and practical strategies for lasting change. Discover how Relationship Intelligence can transform your toughest interactions into your greatest breakthroughs — and how understanding the rules your mind follows might just set you free.

  1. 2d ago

    From Skeptic to Dreamer: Balancing Perspectives at Work [Rebroadcast]

    In this episode, Dr. David Zierk delves into the hidden dynamics of mindsets that drive our immediate reactions and interactions. Exploring the continuum from cynicism to dreaming, Dr. Zierk helps leaders and teams identify their default mindsets and understand how these influence collaboration, innovation, and relational dynamics. Discover practical strategies for balancing healthy skepticism with visionary optimism to foster powerful  connections and effective leadership. Episode Highlights:  ➔ "Introducing the Perception Spectrum": Discover the default mindsets that immediately shape your reactions in team scenarios. ➔ "Understanding Cynicism": Exploring the protective yet limiting nature of a cynical mindset in leadership. ➔ "The Power of Healthy Skepticism": Why evidence-driven skepticism can be beneficial yet challenging for team cohesion. ➔ "Optimism's Strengths and Pitfalls": Learn how an optimistic mindset boosts morale but may overlook critical realities. ➔ "Dreamers as Visionaries": How visionary thinking can inspire innovation, balanced by practical execution to maintain realistic outcomes. Handouts:   Download Dr. Zierk’s helpful guide about this episode: Human Perception Spectrum   Follow Dr. David Zierk   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zierk-psyd-ab99302/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidzierk/  Website: www.davidzierk.com   Subscribe to his re.fresh newsletter: www.davidzierk.com/resources/newsletter/    About Dr. David Zierk:   With a substantive background in psychological work with individuals and teams, Dr. Zierk enjoys bringing his experience to the stage and to corporate clients by providing them with the tools and language necessary for effective outcomes. Most recently, he’s published a book called Mind Rules: Who’s In Control—You or Your Mind? Dr. Zierk is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Master of Arts and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado. He’s affiliated with the American Psychological Association, American Psychotherapy Association, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and National Academy of Neuropsychology. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado with his wife and has three children. When he’s not on stage or working with a team, David loves to cycle in the mountains with his wife, Carol.   Follow, rate, and review Dr. Z on Apple and Spotify!   If you love Dr. Zierk’s episodes, here's how to follow her so you never miss one!   For Apple, click the “Follow” button at the top of the page on the right.  For Spotify, click the “Follow” button below Dr. David Zierk’s show tile.

  2. Sep 9

    Episode #34: What AI Can't Give You (and Who Can)

    Dr. David Zierk unpacks the difference between synthetic intelligence and organic intelligence: one processes information, while the other creates meaning. Through four key distinctions—information versus meaning, knowledge versus wisdom, prediction versus connection, transaction versus trust—he shows why the real question isn't whether machines will get smarter. It's whether you'll get more relationally intelligent alongside them. Highlights → The four distinctions inside Zierk's relationship intelligence framework that separate what AI does well from what only a human relationship can supply. → Why "knowledge answers what is true, wisdom answers what matters," and how that plays out in real decisions, from missed anniversaries to hiring interviews. → A simple weekly practice: noticing the moment you reach for a tool instead of a person, and asking which one the situation actually needs. Follow Dr. David Zierk   Subscribe to his re.fresh newsletter: www.davidzierk.com/resources/newsletter/  Take the relationship intelligence (r.IQ) quiz and get personalized feedback that helps you grow: https://www.davidzierk.com/resources/riq-quiz/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zierk-psyd-ab99302/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidzierk/  Website: www.davidzierk.com     About Dr. David Zierk:   With a substantive background in psychological work with individuals and teams, Dr. Zierk enjoys bringing his experience to the stage and corporate clients by providing them with the tools and language necessary for effective outcomes. Most recently, he’s published a book called Mind Rules: Who’s In Control—You or Your Mind? Dr. Zierk is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado. He’s affiliated with the American Psychological Association, the American Psychotherapy Association, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and the National Academy of Neuropsychology. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and has three children. When he’s not on stage or working with a team, David loves to cycle in the mountains.   Follow, rate, and review Dr. Z on Apple and Spotify!   If you love Dr. Zierk’s episodes, here's how to follow her so you never miss one!   For Apple, click the “Follow” button at the top of the page on the right.  For Spotify, click the “Follow” button below Dr. David Zierk’s show tile.

  3. Aug 25

    Episode #33: Two Ways of Thinking: The Hidden Shift that Builds or Breaks Every Relationship

    Every conversation runs through one of two lenses: self or connection. Dr. David Zierk breaks down the four shifts that separate relationships that deepen from ones that quietly fade, awareness over blindness, mutuality over self-interest, curiosity over certainty, and understanding over judgment. Long before you choose your words, you choose a lens, and that choice determines whether your next hard conversation builds trust or erodes it. Highlights → The four shifts that define connection-minded thinking, and why each one has a quiet, corrosive opposite running in the background of most conflicts. → Why mutuality isn't agreement or people-pleasing: how "we may not see it the same way, but we are looking at it together" changes a standoff into alignment. → A one-question test to run before your next hard conversation, plus the simple swap (one assumption for one question) that pulls people toward you instead of apart. Follow Dr. David Zierk   Subscribe to his re.fresh newsletter: www.davidzierk.com/resources/newsletter/  Take the relationship intelligence (r.IQ) quiz and get personalized feedback that helps you grow: https://www.davidzierk.com/resources/riq-quiz/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zierk-psyd-ab99302/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidzierk/  Website: www.davidzierk.com     About Dr. David Zierk:   With a substantive background in psychological work with individuals and teams, Dr. Zierk enjoys bringing his experience to the stage and corporate clients by providing them with the tools and language necessary for effective outcomes. Most recently, he’s published a book called Mind Rules: Who’s In Control—You or Your Mind? Dr. Zierk is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado. He’s affiliated with the American Psychological Association, the American Psychotherapy Association, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and the National Academy of Neuropsychology. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and has three children. When he’s not on stage or working with a team, David loves to cycle in the mountains.   Follow, rate, and review Dr. Z on Apple and Spotify!   If you love Dr. Zierk’s episodes, here's how to follow her so you never miss one!   For Apple, click the “Follow” button at the top of the page on the right.  For Spotify, click the “Follow” button below Dr. David Zierk’s show tile.

  4. Aug 11

    Episode #32: You Can’t Win Your Way to Connection: The “Twogether” Advantage

    Two intelligent people can disagree and still drift apart, not because they're wrong, but because each is quietly solving a different problem. Dr. David Zierk names this "apart thinking" and introduces its antidote: twogether thinking–the shift from proving you're right to staying connected while you work it out. He breaks down the three conditions and four small practices that turn conflict into a shared win instead of a standoff. Take the quiz today: https://www.davidzierk.com/two  Highlights → The "apart thinking" loop: how experience, memory, and interpretation quietly steer two reasonable people toward gridlock without either one realizing it. → The three conditions for true togetherness: shared reality, emotional co-regulation, and coordinated behavior, illustrated through a product launch stuck between speed and quality. → Four micro-practices (pause, ask, acknowledge, slow down) and a one-line reset you can use mid-argument to pull a conversation back from the brink. Follow Dr. David Zierk Subscribe to his re.fresh newsletter: www.davidzierk.com/resources/newsletter/ Take the relationship intelligence (r.IQ) quiz and get personalized feedback that helps you grow: https://www.davidzierk.com/resources/riq-quiz/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zierk-psyd-ab99302/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidzierk/ Website: www.davidzierk.com About Dr. David Zierk: With a substantive background in psychological work with individuals and teams, Dr. Zierk enjoys bringing his experience to the stage and corporate clients by providing them with the tools and language necessary for effective outcomes. Most recently, he’s published a book called Mind Rules: Who’s In Control—You or Your Mind? Dr. Zierk is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado. He’s affiliated with the American Psychological Association, the American Psychotherapy Association, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and the National Academy of Neuropsychology. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and has three children. When he’s not on stage or working with a team, David loves to cycle in the mountains. Follow, rate, and review Dr. Z on Apple and Spotify! If you love Dr. Zierk’s episodes, here's how to follow her so you never miss one! 1. For Apple, click the “Follow” button at the top of the page on the right. 2. For Spotify, click the “Follow” button below Dr. David Zierk’s show tile.

  5. Jul 29

    Episode #31: This F-Word Can Make or Break Your Relationships

    Feedback is the most powerful word in leadership, parenting, and relationships—yet most of us never learned to do it well. Dr. David Zierk breaks down the five qualities that make feedback constructive instead of corrosive, and the five-step process for receiving it with openness instead of defensiveness. Learn why the same words can either unlock someone's potential or fracture the relationship entirely—and how to make sure yours build connection. Highlights → The five qualities that separate constructive feedback from criticism that shuts people down—and why leaving out just one flips the whole conversation. → A real-world before-and-after: How the same performance concern can either erode trust or build it, depending on how it's delivered. → The five-step framework for receiving feedback with openness instead of defensiveness—because listening well is its own skill.   Follow Dr. David Zierk   Subscribe to his re.fresh newsletter: www.davidzierk.com/resources/newsletter/  Take the relationship intelligence (r.IQ) quiz and get personalized feedback that helps you grow: https://www.davidzierk.com/resources/riq-quiz/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zierk-psyd-ab99302/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidzierk/  Website: www.davidzierk.com     About Dr. David Zierk:   With a substantive background in psychological work with individuals and teams, Dr. Zierk enjoys bringing his experience to the stage and corporate clients by providing them with the tools and language necessary for effective outcomes. Most recently, he’s published a book called Mind Rules: Who’s In Control—You or Your Mind? Dr. Zierk is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado. He’s affiliated with the American Psychological Association, American Psychotherapy Association, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and National Academy of Neuropsychology. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and has three children. When he’s not on stage or working with a team, David loves to cycle in the mountains.   Follow, rate, and review Dr. Z on Apple and Spotify!   If you love Dr. Zierk’s episodes, here's how to follow her so you never miss one!   For Apple, click the “Follow” button at the top of the page on the right.  For Spotify, click the “Follow” button below Dr. David Zierk’s show tile.

  6. Jul 15

    Episode #30: The Four Forces Behind Every Conflict

    Why does a reasonable disagreement between two capable people keep coming back? In this episode, Dr. David Zierk maps the four invisible forces driving most conflict—different pasts, competing passions, accumulated pet peeves, and conflict personality—and shows why lasting change requires diagnosing the system underneath the behavior, not just the behavior itself. Highlights → Why the past is always the problem: how our private histories create mental filters that turn the exact same moment into two completely different experiences—and why conflict is often a collision of histories, not opinions. → The difference between intensity, reactivity, and behavior—and how passions, pet peeves, and conflict personality each contribute a different kind of fuel to escalating tension. → The four questions that interrupt the automatic chain of interpretation and reaction, and why curiosity, not logic, is the skill that transforms conflict into connection.   Follow Dr. David Zierk   Subscribe to his re.fresh newsletter: www.davidzierk.com/resources/newsletter/  Take the relationship intelligence (r.IQ) quiz and get personalized feedback that helps you grow: https://www.davidzierk.com/resources/riq-quiz/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zierk-psyd-ab99302/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidzierk/  Website: www.davidzierk.com   About Dr. David Zierk:   With a substantive background in psychological work with individuals and teams, Dr. Zierk enjoys bringing his experience to the stage and corporate clients by providing them with the tools and language necessary for effective outcomes. Most recently, he’s published a book called Mind Rules: Who’s In Control—You or Your Mind? Dr. Zierk is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado. He’s affiliated with the American Psychological Association, American Psychotherapy Association, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and National Academy of Neuropsychology. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and has three children. When he’s not on stage or working with a team, David loves to cycle in the mountains.   Follow, rate, and review Dr. Z on Apple and Spotify! If you love Dr. Zierk’s episodes, here's how to follow her so you never miss one! For Apple, click the “Follow” button at the top of the page on the right.  For Spotify, click the “Follow” button below Dr. David Zierk’s show tile.

  7. Jun 30

    Episode #29: Not Everything Can Be Fixed, and That’s the Point

    You've tried harder, you've tried differently, and the conflict keeps coming back. In this episode, Dr. David Zierk reframes one of leadership's most frustrating experiences: The problems that resist every solution you throw at them. Not because you're failing—but because you're solving the wrong type of problem. Learn to distinguish what should be fixed, what must be managed, and what can only be navigated—and why that difference changes everything. Highlights → Why "ABC thinking" works brilliantly for broken appliances and scheduling mix-ups—and fails spectacularly when applied to structural human tensions like conflicting values, leadership styles, or hardwired personality differences. → The difference between solvable, manageable, and unsolvable problems—and the costly misdiagnosis that turns manageable friction into endless escalation. → Four practices for navigating what cannot be resolved: recognition, regulation, mutual accommodation, and meaning making—and why they form a loop instead of a finish line.   Follow Dr. David Zierk   Subscribe to his re.fresh newsletter: www.davidzierk.com/resources/newsletter/  Take the relationship intelligence (r.IQ) quiz and get personalized feedback that helps you grow: https://www.davidzierk.com/resources/riq-quiz/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zierk-psyd-ab99302/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidzierk/  Website: www.davidzierk.com   About Dr. David Zierk:   With a substantive background in psychological work with individuals and teams, Dr. Zierk enjoys bringing his experience to the stage and corporate clients by providing them with the tools and language necessary for effective outcomes. Most recently, he’s published a book called Mind Rules: Who’s In Control—You or Your Mind? Dr. Zierk is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado. He’s affiliated with the American Psychological Association, American Psychotherapy Association, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and National Academy of Neuropsychology. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and has three children. When he’s not on stage or working with a team, David loves to cycle in the mountains.   Follow, rate, and review Dr. Z on Apple and Spotify!   If you love Dr. Zierk’s episodes, here's how to follow her so you never miss one!   For Apple, click the “Follow” button at the top of the page on the right.  For Spotify, click the “Follow” button below Dr. David Zierk’s show tile.

  8. Jun 17

    Episode #28: Empathic Amnesia: Why Caring Feels So Hard Right Now

    He cared deeply about his team—until one day, he just didn't have it in him anymore. In this episode, Dr. David Zierk names a phenomenon hiding in plain sight: empathic amnesia, the gradual forgetting of how to be empathetic when it's needed most. It's not a character flaw. It's emotional fatigue in a world that never stops demanding. And there's a surprisingly simple formula for getting it back. Highlights → Why empathic amnesia rarely announces itself and how it disguises itself as efficiency, decisiveness, and focus, while connection quietly erodes beneath the surface. → The difference between authentic empathy and artificial empathy, and why a world saturated with global suffering has made us less connected to individual pain. → Dr. Zierk's human version of E=MC²—empathy as the product of mindfulness multiplied by compassionate curiosity squared—and how small, deliberate practices can counteract the drift toward numbness.   Follow Dr. David Zierk   Subscribe to his re.fresh newsletter: www.davidzierk.com/resources/newsletter/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zierk-psyd-ab99302/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidzierk/  Website: www.davidzierk.com   Take the r.IQ quiz and get personalized feedback that helps you grow: https://www.davidzierk.com/resources/riq-quiz/  About Dr. David Zierk:   With a substantive background in psychological work with individuals and teams, Dr. Zierk enjoys bringing his experience to the stage and corporate clients by providing them with the tools and language necessary for effective outcomes. Most recently, he’s published a book called Mind Rules: Who’s In Control—You or Your Mind? Dr. Zierk is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado. He’s affiliated with the American Psychological Association, American Psychotherapy Association, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and National Academy of Neuropsychology. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and has three children. When he’s not on stage or working with a team, David loves to cycle in the mountains.   Follow, rate, and review Dr. Z on Apple and Spotify!   If you love Dr. Zierk’s episodes, here's how to follow her so you never miss one!   For Apple, click the “Follow” button at the top of the page on the right.  For Spotify, click the “Follow” button below Dr. David Zierk’s show tile.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

re.think with Dr. David Zierk is the podcast that invites you to challenge the hidden rules shaping your mind and relationships. Through real stories, psychological insights, and powerful tools, Dr. Zierk — clinical psychologist, author of Mind Rules, and relationship strategist — guides you to reframe conflict as a gateway to authentic connection. Because no two people see the world the same way, learning to “re.think” is essential for navigating the messy, beautiful complexity of being human. Whether you’re a leader, a thinker, or simply someone tired of unbreakable habits and unresolved tension, this show will give you fresh perspective and practical strategies for lasting change. Discover how Relationship Intelligence can transform your toughest interactions into your greatest breakthroughs — and how understanding the rules your mind follows might just set you free.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. David Zierk
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The re.think Podcast