Cover Sheet

Ali Hennessey
Hennessey Story 2
The Personalities Behind Two Guys on Your Head
September 21, 2014

Budget line:
Two UT professors come from different backgrounds and create a successful talk show
called Two Guys on Your Head.
Sources:
o Rebecca McInroyproducer of Two Guys on Your Head
o I spoke with her at a panel featuring the two co-anchors on September 17, 2014.
o Phone: she did not share her phone number
o Email: rmcinroy@kut.org
o Date(s) contacted: 9/15/14 via email and 9/17/14 in person
o I spoke with her after the panel to get an idea of what it is like to work with the
co-anchors and how they make the show successful.
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Art Markmanco-anchor of Two Guys on Your Head

Phone: did not share his phone number
Email: markman@utexas.edu
Date(s) contacted: 9/15/14 via email and 9/17/14 in person
I spoke with him about working with co-anchor Bob Duke and transitioning from
the classroom setting to the newsroom.

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Bob Dukeco-anchor of Two Guys on Your Head

Phone: did not share his phone number
Email: bobduke@austin.utexas.edu
Date(s) contacted: 9/15/14 via email and 9/17/14 in person
I spoke with him about working with co-anchor Art Markman and transitioning
from the classroom setting to the newsroom, as well.

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Christine Hanna-sophmoresophomore communication major at UT

Phone: 512-745-5757
Email: marychristinehanna18@gmail.com
Date(s) contacted: 9/17/14 in person and 9/27/14 via email
I spoke with her about how she felt about the co-hosts interaction with one
another.

Invisible sources/web sites used:

KUT Austin
o URL: http://www.kut.org
o Read about how the show works and when it is broadcasted.

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The Personalities Behind 2 Guys on Your Head

AUSTIN, TEXAS Friday mornings often include a cup of coffee and a sigh of relief
that the weekend is in sight. However, KUTs Bob Duke and Art Markman kick off the weekend
with a burst of energy that does not involve caffeine.
On the set of KUTs Two Guys on Your Head, the co-hosts prepare for a seven-and-ahalf-minute talk show that they prefer to call a conversation. They use psychology to explain
to listeners why people make the choices they do. Their on-set chemistry and ability to converse
enthusiastically about one question has captured listeners attention. Many are shocked to learn
that they are not only talk show hosts, but also UT professors.
The two men were so good together and fun to talk to, so I knew they would be great on
a radio program together, said the shows producer, Rebecca McInroy. She said a coincidental
business meeting led to the creation of the talk show.
They cover a wide range of questions such as, Why can school be so boring? and
How to deal with jerks. Most often, this one question spirals into a spontaneous discussion
involving both laughter and serious talk.
One Friday morning, the duo discussed the importance of laughter in our lives. As the
hosts laughed throughout the segment, they used their knowledge of psychology to conclude that
laughter is one way that humans play around with their mental systems.
Although Duke said Markman has more experience than he does in the realm of
psychology, he believes he can relate to his co-anchor. We both have similar views of the world
and how we relate to people that comes across in the show.
The hosts manage to avoid conflict on-set with their complimentary personalities.
Markman, a professor of psychology, agreed that the two share a commonality in the way they

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apply psychology to understanding the human mind. The difference is that our applications of
psychology in the show come from different places, as we work within two different fields, he
said.
While they make it sound easy on the show, transitioning from the classroom to the
newsroom has been a learning experience for the teachers. Duke joked, We start out with the
fact that we dont know what were doing.
The show is an outlet for the professors who are often bound to textbooks and formulas,
Markman said. Science involves people collaborating and having genuine conversation, like we
do on the show.
Duke agreed. One time someone came into the studio complaining about why meetings
are so long, so we did a show on why meetings are so long.
Although the two enjoy the talk show, both professors admit they could not see
themselves ever leaving the field of education. Duke describes teaching with the word joyful.
Interacting with students in a way that is positive and productive allows me to bring humans to
understand something that they have never understood before.
He also believes that his tone and personality in the classroom carry over to the
newsroom. The only difference is, in the classroom I am constantly interacting with my students
and they are doing most of the talking.
While Markman also says that his classroom persona is a good reflection of his show
character, he mentioned a difference that does appear in the newsroom. It is so much fun to
have a foil to bounce ideas off of, Markman said as he put his arm around Duke.

McInroy believes the co-hosts are compatible since they are both down-to-earth, and
non-judgmental. The first thing they do each morning is ask each other How are you? or
How are your kids?
Their chemistry was obvious during a panel discussion in the Belo Media Center
Wednesday evening. As they discussed the workings of the human mind, Duke, a professor of
music and human learning, spoke about how he is constantly learning from his co-anchor. One
of the things I love about doing this is that I get to learn something from Bob, Duke said. The
show would be awful if I said something and knew what he was going to say back.
At the end of the panel, their banter onstage aroused laughter from the crowd. Duke stage
whispered to Markman, Im afraid theyre not having as much fun as we are; were blowing it!
The authentic conversation between Markman and Duke is what makes for a successful
show, McInroy said. They are a prime example of collaboration when they come together from
two different fields and talk about all kinds of things.
It is visible on-set that the co-hosts main goal is to make viewers interpret ideas and
explanations in a positive light. There is a humanness about this show that makes it about more
than information, Duke said.
Duke and Markman have come together to share their intellectual knowledge and
understanding of humans to create a talk show that has attained great success, according to
McInroy.
Markman is simply amazed that people are still listening. However, the show is now
available on iTunes U and other networks, McInroy said.
Coming together years ago with low expectations, the two co-hosts have made an impact
on the ways many individuals think and how they choose to spend their Friday mornings. More

than 250,000 people listen to KUT in Central Texas each week, according to the stations
website.
Christine Hanna, a junior at UT, described the hosts as relatable and easy to connect
with. She firmly believessays she believes that with energy like theirs, Its hard to start your
weekend off on the wrong foot.