I am available for talks, lectures, and public engagement events at schools, universities, associations, and cultural festivals.
If you are organizing an event and are interested in hosting one of my talks, feel free to contact me directly at giovanni@giovannitelesca.net to discuss details and availability.
Suggested Topics
Below you can find some of the talks I have already delivered, which are available upon request. Each talk can be adapted to suit the audience and context. I am also available to develop new presentations on specific topics in agreement with the hosting organization. To get an idea of the themes I can cover, take a look at the episodes of The Social Mind – Podcast.
1 – The Moral Elevator
Target audience: General public (festivals and cultural events, schools, universities)
Synopsis:
Very often we know what the right thing to do would be: reduce our environmental impact, help those in need, commit to a cause. And yet, we do not act. Why? Perhaps we think our contribution is too small, or the context does not allow us to act. And in a world dominated by discouraging news, it is easy to lose faith in the possibility of change.
Yet, something can reignite that hope. Ordinary people, through concrete actions, can evoke in us a powerful and uplifting emotion: moral elevation. Elevation makes us feel inspired and eager to become better individuals.
In this talk, combining psychological research, real-life stories, and interactive moments, we explore the power of positive moral examplars and how elevation can move us — like an “elevator” — towards real, meaningful change.
2 – Communicating Social Psychology Through Podcast
Target audience: University students and professionals
Synopsis:
How can we tell the story of psychology in an accessible, rigorous, and engaging way? This talk explores the world of podcasting as a tool for science communication, with a specific focus on psychology and its communicative challenges.
We begin with an overview of the podcast phenomenon in Italy and worldwide, then zoom in on the use of audio formats in science communication, especially when dealing with psychological content. Drawing from the real-life experience of The Social Mind podcast, the talk presents practical examples, narrative strategies, editorial choices, and challenges in translating the complexity of research into language suitable for a broader audience.
The talk also addresses some of the discipline’s current challenges, such as the replication crisis, methodological evolution, and the difficulty of communicating results often perceived as “obvious” or disconnected from everyday life. A critical reflection is offered on how psychology is received by the public, and what we can do to make it more relevant, understandable, and credible.
Past Talks and Public Lectures
Here is a list of public talks and lectures I have given in recent years:
- March 28, 2025 – “The Moral Elevator” – Liceo Scientifico Statale “Alessandro Tassoni”, Modena (Italy).
- June 28, 2024 – “Resilience in Youth Crisis” – Panel organized by the Behavior in Crisis Lab, Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland).
- April 18, 2024 – “Communicating Social Psychology Through Podcasts” – University of Perugia, Online-Perugia (invited by Prof. Maria Giuseppina Pacilli).
- December 14, 2023 – “Communicating Social Psychology Through Podcasts” – University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti (invited by Profs. Ilaria Giovannelli and Stefano Pagliaro).
- April 9, 2022 – “ESNsurvey 2021 – Understanding the Experience and Needs of International Students in Times of COVID-19” – Erasmus Generation Meeting Porto (Porto, Portugal).