Travis means “to cross.” And Travis always does. But is it chaos… or prophecy?

In this episode, we unpack what science says about the power of names—and what culture has already decided about anyone named Travis. From subtle psychological biases to outright stereotypes, we explore how your name can quietly write your story before you even begin it.

Someone’s gotta go first.

Might as well be him.

Sources & References:

Nuttin, J. M. (1985). “The Name Letter Effect.”

Pelham, B. W., Mirenberg, M. C., & Jones, J. T. (2002). “Why Susie Sells Seashells by the Seashore: Implicit Egotism and Major Life Decisions.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Bertrand, M., & Mullainathan, S. (2004). “Are Emily and Greg More Employable Than Lakisha and Jamal?” American Economic Review.

Rosenthal, R., & Jacobson, L. (1968). “Pygmalion in the Classroom.”

Mehrabian, A. (2001). “Characteristics Attributed to Names.”

Pelham, B. W., & Carvallo, M. (2015). “The Surprising Role of Implicit Self-Esteem in Motivation.”