Julie's Bio

Julie June Watson, media psychologist and researcher, is deeply passionate about storytelling and its psychological impact. Her work primarily explores the relationship between individuals and media, focusing on empowering people to understand, deconstruct, and navigate media messages. She offers a unique perspective on media literacy and transmediality, investigating how different forms of media converge to shape our perceptions.

Julie's fascination with stories and their influence on human experience began in her early years, sparked by a poignant story she encountered at a supermarket. This story of sadness and hope left a lasting impression, igniting her interest in how stories can foster empathy and drive social change. She believes every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen human connections with dignity, care, and compassion. This belief fuels her exploration of storytelling as a means to understand ourselves and others.

In her approach, Julie emphasizes meaningful media engagement, focusing on the psychology of storytelling to nurture empathy and inspire change. She applies cognitive psychology to transform personal narratives, fostering growth and human development. Her work goes beyond traditional media literacy, incorporating a deep understanding of social-emotional learning and its significance in human interactions. Julie also hosts community conversations and storytelling events, using various creative mediums to foster understanding and connection.

With an extensive background in emotional intelligence, social-emotional learning, and mental health, Julie crafts unique media experiences that resonate profoundly. She frequently speaks on media influence and digital literacy, particularly for aging adults, and delivered a TEDx talk in 2017 titled "The Damage of Difficult," focusing on adolescent mental health. Her insights have been featured in numerous esteemed publications, including USA Today, Family Circle, and NBC Denver. Julie's debut book, "Mommyhood Diaries" (2005), a compilation of diaries from mothers worldwide, earned her the Fresh Voices award.

Julie's research delves into how individuals derive social meaning from media, with a particular focus on transmediality, fandom psychology, parasocial experiences, and the impact of media on social-emotional well-being and mental health. Her dissertation examined the role of individual Need for Cognition in selecting podcast companions.

Julie calls New York City home, where her love for stories often finds her immersed in books at the library or engaging with stories onstage.