How Language Shapes Our Identity

In this episode of The Don Rob Show, I sit down with Dr. Zenzi Griffin. A professor at UT Austin who has spent her career studying how we speak, why we make speech errors, and how language constructs the way we see ourselves and others.

We dive into a wide-ranging, thought-provoking conversation that explores:

🔹 Why names are so difficult to remember — and what they reveal about how our minds work
🔹 How misnaming siblings, partners, and children reflects deeper cognitive patterns
🔹 The hidden psychology of changing your name and what it means for personal identity
🔹 What happens in the brain when we plan and speak — and how our eye movements reveal it
🔹 How bilingualism can influence empathy, cultural connection, and even emotional expression
🔹 Why your attention shapes your reality — and how to reclaim clarity in moments of emotional overwhelm
🔹 The role of body language, gestures, and even slang in creating belonging and shared meaning
🔹 The science behind Freudian slips, speech disfluencies, and what we can learn from them

Dr. Griffin’s research is both deeply scientific and incredibly human, touching on family dynamics, relationships, identity shifts, and the cultural layers hidden in our daily speech. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, building self-awareness, or simply curious about how language shapes the world, this episode has something for you.
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#Language #Identity #Bilingualism #Psychology #Communication #TheDonRobShow #SpeechScience #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #CognitivePsychology