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All In The Mind is ABC RN’s weekly podcast looking into the mental universe, the mind, brain and behaviour — everything from addiction to artificial intelligence.
The podcast All In The Mind is created by ABC listen. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
For years, psychologist Patricia Harney avoided true crime podcasts and documentaries. They hit too close to home.
Recently she's been testing the waters, and noticing these whodunnit shows often leave out a crucial element of the story.
This episode was first broadcast in July 2023
Take our listener survey here: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/pMNc8TK7b7
All in the Mind is doing its first-ever listener survey — can you tell us a bit about who you are and why you listen? We'd love to understand you better!
We’ve kept the survey snappy — it's only seven questions. We’re especially keen to know the age range of our listeners.
Take the survey here: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/pMNc8TK7b7
And you can always reach us at [email protected]
On behalf of the team, thank you!
Chat bots as therapists. Apps that can track your mood and behaviour, offering earlier detection of psychiatric illness.
There's a lot happening at the nexus of mental health and AI – some of it promising, some of it perilous.
Today, science writer and author of The Silicon Shrink, Daniel Oberhaus, takes us on a journey through this emerging space. We'll look at the potential benefits, the major limitations and the ethics of adding AI into our mental health mix.
And just a heads up, this episode touches on the topic of suicide, please take care while listening.
Resources:
The brain might be an undiscerning blob that makes up just two per cent of your body, but what it does for you is extraordinary.
How much about the day-to-day workings of the brain do we fully understand, and what does the future of medicine have in store for it?
In this recording of our live show from the World Science Festival Brisbane, we explore the wonder of brain surgery, advances in neurotech, and whether we could one day preserve consciousness and ‘live’ forever.
Keen to listen to another episode? Why not check out Can we trust our memories?
Madi's had 25 rental applications rejected. Seen absolute horror houses while searching for a rental. It's all driving her to despair.
Today, how housing insecurity can alter our sense of agency and how we perceive the world around us.
This episode was first broadcast in May 2024.
Be honest, how many times have you checked your notifications in the last hour? Or opened a new, totally unrelated tab? Or stopped what you're doing even though you really need to do it?
Distractions are everywhere. And whether they're self-imposed or coming from our environment, it can be hard to focus.
Today, we explore the ramifications of our rapidly shrinking attention spans, debunk some myths about focus, and discuss the art of taking a break.
Want to hear more? Check out our episode, When doom scrolling leads to actual harm.
How strong is your memory?
Whether you're frequently forgetful or eager to improve, there are ways you can train your brain to recall faster and remember better.
This week, we bring you our live show from Podfest at the Adelaide Festival, featuring neuropsychologists, memory athletes, and even some listeners!
If you'd like to check out another episode, why not listen to Is life coaching legit?
Dementia usually involves a decline in your ability to remember, think and reason over time. And those with dementia are at a high risk of feeling socially isolated, lonely and depressed.
As artificial intelligence systems get better and better, researchers are investigating whether AI companion bots could help improve the lives of those with dementia.
The combination might sound counterintuitive, but researchers reckon these chatbots have some advantages over human companionship.
So, what does a conversation with an AI companion sound like? How might they help? And what do the real people these AI companions are based on think of the experience?
Today, former host of All in the Mind Lynne Malcolm reports on the developing field of AI companions for people with dementia.
If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode with Lynne What's been on Lynne Malcolm's mind (since leaving All in the Mind).
Have you ever experienced "the ick"?
It's that sudden, visceral feeling of being put off by someone you're dating. Maybe it's their hat, a hobby or even the way they laugh.
Stories of the ick are prolific online, but it leaves us with a question - what causes it?
To separate red flags from disgust, we get into the psychology of the ick - why you might feel icky, if it should be a deal breaker, and what it says about your own attachment style.
If you want to hear more about dating and psychology, check out our episode The false promise of love languages.
NASA wants to send humans to Mars in the next decade or so. But can our minds handle it?
We talk to a NASA psychologist and retired astronaut about the psychological challenges people already face on long-duration space missions — and find out what it will take to get to Mars.
This episode was first broadcast in March 2024.
Looking for another episode to listen to next? Check out Dark tourism + selfie sticks = moral outrage.
Join us for a live episode of All in the Mind at Podfest in Adelaide this March. You can enter to win tickets here.
Many of us have felt self loathing at some point in our lives — maybe when you've failed at an important task at work, or lost an important relationship.
But some people hate themselves all the time — their inner monologue is a constant drumbeat of self-criticism and self-loathing.
Where does this kind of all-encompassing self-hate come from? And is there a way to unlearn it?
We speak to psychiatrist Dr Blaise Aguirre, author of I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Loathing and Realize Why You're Wrong About You.
This episode discusses the topic of suicide - please take care while listening.
If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode Can we trust our memories?
Resources:
Developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey has seen a lot of kids with behavioural issue over the years, and there are ten things he wishes all parents understood about their kids mental health.
From insecure attachment to separation anxiety to emotional difficulties – he gives us the low down on why kids get labelled ‘bad’ – and what’s really going on (usually).
Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode, Wanted: Unicorns. Mission: Mars.
All in the Mind is heading to Podfest in Adelaide this March. You can enter to win tickets here.
There are some decisions in life that can be trickier to navigate. Do you want to get married? Should you change careers? Do you want a baby?
Parenthood is a choice more vexed than ever in a world threatened by climate change, political instability and cost-of-living crises.
So how can people approach this choice? And if you're lucky enough to have a choice, how do you make peace with your decision?
Decision coach Merle Bombardieri has been working with couples on this very topic for decades — today, we ask her about the tools, tips and strategies you can use to tackle the baby question.
If you're interested in hearing more about parenthood, check out our episode called Why do we sing to babies?
Harry had been lucky. He'd never struggled with his mental health.
Then, when he was 18, seemingly out of nowhere — he had his first psychotic episode.
It was an abrupt change, with ripple effects across his family.
Today, the shock of experiencing psychosis, why you're most likely to get it when you're young, and how you can recognise the signs and support a loved one.
If you'd like to hear more about this topic, we have an episode called A musician processes her bipolar diagnosis.
Extra resources:
Politics, war, abortion, gun control — why do some topics make us so outraged?
One theory is that our preoccupation with preventing harm is to blame.
So today, we examine how humans developed morality, why we differ in what we consider right and wrong, and how that drives us to moral outrage.
And after all of that, we'll find out how to have better conversations with people you disagree with (even if you're feeling outraged).
If you want to hear more about that, check out The skills supercommunicators use, which you can learn too.
If you could manifest anything into your life, what would it be? A perfect partner, your dream house, winning the lottery?
Manifesting promises a limitless potential of dreams to achieve — through methods like vision boards and affirmations.
But does manifesting actually help us realise our goals? Is it harmless fun? Healthy positive thinking? Or can manifestation lead the brain down some dark alleys that you might not expect?
In this episode we mention another episode called Visualisation and values — goal setting like a winner. It's part two of our two part series on the athlete's mindset. Part one is called A winning mindset — how top athletes think.
This episode was first broadcast in March 2024.
The AI revolution is coming. Your mind isn't ready for it.
Cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson walks us through the many ways artificial intelligence is messing — and will mess — with our psychology.
From falling in love with AI to unforgettable deep fakes, we dive into an uncertain future and what you can do to prepare for it.
This episode was first broadcast in April 2024.
If you'd like to hear more from Joel, he featured on our episode about intuition called When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore it.
That voice inside your head - where does it come from?
We bring back a topic that was one of our most popular for a long awaited part two.
Today, what shapes your internal chatter.
This episode was first released in March 2024.
Our original episode on chatter is called Controlling the chatter in your head, if you liked this episode you'll love that one!
Patric Gagne is a sociopath, but she doesn’t fit the stereotype.
From a violent kid, to a PhD and author - we track the unusual story of a sociopath who learned to be 'good'.
Plus, there's been some controversy and questions about the veracity of her PhD - so, we fact checked it.
This episode was first released in May 2024.
Need something to listen to next? Check out our episode Why heartbreak hurts so bad.
What do working for the CIA, navigating hot button topics and talking to teenagers all have in common? They're all situations that supercommunicators excel at.
Today, we explore how you can become a supercommunicator too.
This episode was first broadcast in February 2024.
Why not check out Introversion vs Extroversion. If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love that one too.
What influences your shopping behaviour? Well, it's likely a mix of what you need, what's presented to you in store and probably some neuromarketing (which we've covered on our program before).
But what about the role of product designers?
Today, we get into the psychology of design and the battle designers face balancing innovation with our human need for the familiar. And given all the ways design can manipulate us into wanting something, what role will AI play in the future of design?
Extra information:
How do you feel as you move through a busy space — like an airport, a city street or a crowded shopping centre?
For some of us, these spaces are energising — being among the rush of people and the noise of the crowds. But for others, these situations can be a little much.
And for some neurodivergent people — especially those with sensory issues — being in these public spaces can be utterly overwhelming, even harmful. That's a problem when you want or need to use them just like everybody else.
Today, audio engineer and producer Amelia Geiss takes you inside their mind — for a first-hand perspective of what it's like to move through public spaces as someone with sound sensitivities.
We'll hear about how these sensitivities manifest in the brain — strategies for managing them — and building public spaces that are accessible for everyone.
If you're looking for something to listen to next, why not check out our episode, How the drive to be perfect is linked to eating disorders.
Dopamine feels great, but is it always good for us?
The answer is complicated, so today, we get into what dopamine actually does in the brain.
How does it affect our motivation, movement and behaviour? And how does our environment influence that?
Plus, should we be detoxing from dopamine ... and why are people raw dogging flights?
If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode, Nine big myths about depression — busted.
We've come a long way in how we talk about mental health.
But while diagnoses like depression and anxiety can empower people to seek help and support — they also influence how we see ourselves and how others might see us, too.
Today, we investigate 'concept creep.' It's the idea that the labels we use to describe mental health are expanding and being applied to an ever-wider array of human behaviours.
We look at what's causing this, the impacts it might have (both positive and negative), and what it means for how we understand mental health conditions.
Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode about parasocial relationships: Moog became a Youtube megastar — and it messed with his mental health.
How clear is your inner voice? Do you internally narrate your life? And do you get songs stuck in your head?
Almost all of us can imagine sounds in our minds. But a small part of the population don't have internal auditory imagery — a phenomenon called anauralia.
Today, we explore the experience of anauralia, in an episode from Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World.
Our Changing World is produced and presented by Claire Concannon and Ellen Rykers for RNZ.
The original version of this episode was first broadcast on RNZ as The puzzle of the silent mind.
Special thanks to Auckland University Student Chamber Orchestra, for allowing use of their recording of Beethoven's 5th symphony.
Music is a universal feature of the human experience — present from our very first cultures and civilisations.
But do the features of particular songs and styles translate across cultural boundaries? Like, is a lullaby recognisable even when it's from a different culture? Can you identify a love song in another language?
Today, we explore the special relationship between music and our minds, in an episode from Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World.
Our Changing World is produced and presented by Claire Concannon and Ellen Rykers for RNZ.
The clips from the Natural History of Song project used in this episode are available online under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
The original version of this episode was first broadcast on RNZ as Our Musical Minds.
Laura would spend weeks feeling normal — even happy. But like clockwork, every month, suddenly she would feel intense depression, making her unrecognisable to herself and friends.
It took her nearly two decades to identify what was causing this rollercoaster of mood: PMDD, AKA Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
So what is it about hormones that make some people feel such intense emotions? And why is PMDD still so misunderstood?
This episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening and don't hesitate to reach out for support if you need it. You can reach Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
It was first broadcast in June 2023.
Looking for something to listen to next? Why not check out Demystifying menopause.
Professor Chris French has been studying the paranormal for decades. But — he’s a sceptic.
In an All in the Mind Halloween special, we explore the psychology behind our spooky encounters.
What's going on in your brain when you see a ghost? How do people talk to the dead?
And why would a sceptic study the paranormal?
How many hours have you spent on your phone today? And do you feel like it's too many?
A growing movement of people are going without their smartphones and computers in favour of just about anything that doesn't have a screen.
They say it's giving their lives more meaning — and improving their mental health.
This week, meet the digital minimalists ditching their devices, and how you can do it too.
Want to hear more about the impact social media is having on your mental health? Check out our episode When doom scrolling leads to actual harm.
We don't remember everything that happens to us — so why do we remember what we remember?
And the memories we do lock away aren't always accurate or trustworthy.
This week, we're talking about the fallibility of memory and why sometimes it's healthy to forget.
We'll also get into how to remember special moments more clearly, and here's a hint — you might want to put down your camera sometimes.
If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode Overcoming resentment with gratitude.
We know running is good for the body, but what about the brain?
Hear from people who love running about the psychological tools they use to stay active, including some advice from a professor who's taught their entire class to run a marathon.
Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode Why being a beginner is good for you.
This week we're talking about something intimate … And at-times taboo … Masturbation.
From self-love, to disordered behaviour, and back again, how our perceptions of masturbation have changed over the course of history and why it's still linked to shame and confusion for some.
Also — why do humans (and other animals) masturbate in the first place?
Just a heads up, if the topic didn't give it away, this episode may not be suitable for little ones.
After listening, why not check out Sex is Weird, a series from our fellow science podcast, What the Duck?!
It's human nature to form groups — families, friends, online communities. We love to be surrounded by people similar to us.
But that can also make us discriminatory and defensive. And social media makes that instinct worse.
Today, we look at how our brains evolved to connect and divide, and what that means for the problems we face in our modern world.
This episode was first broadcast in April 2023.
Looking for something to listen to next? Check out another All in the Mind episode, The Certainty Myth.
When you think about pillars of health a few things might come to mind — nutrition, exercise, connectedness. But there's something many of us miss off that list — sleep.
Insomnia does so much more than make us cranky, it's closely tied to our mental health. Not just how we feel on a day to day basis, but our likelihood of developing depression.
This week, what happens when you don't get enough sleep; the effect on your brain and why it's so impactful on your mental health.
If you'd like to learn more about sleep, check out the science team's Sleeptember content.
This episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening. If you need support, you can reach Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Earlier this year, the Netflix program Baby Reindeer brought stalking firmly back into the zeitgeist - sparking discussion about the psychology of people who stalk and the impact it has on victims.
So what goes on in the mind of a stalker? How do the various types, from incompetent suitor to intimacy seeker, differ? And what should you do if you think you have a stalker?
Attachment theory is a foundation of modern psychology — a framework for understanding human relationships and how we connect other people.
But has social media taken this concept — grounded in decades of research — too far?
Scroll through Instagram or TikTok for too long, and you might think that if you have a certain attachment style, you're fundamentally unlovable — or that you need to steer clear of people who are avoidant, anxious or not secure enough.
Today, what we get wrong about attachment styles. Plus, the experiments that helped discover them in the first place ... and how a better understanding of attachment could help us to heal.
If you liked this episode, you'll love our episode on when to trust your gut instinct and when to ignore it.
Do you know your love language?
Maybe you've done an online test — tested your partner — spent time talking it over — even made decisions about your relationship on the basis of your love language.
But where did this concept of love languages even come from? And how good is the evidence that backs it up?
Today, two research psychologists go deep on the concept of love languages — and what they really mean for your relationships.
Want more relationship content from All in the Mind? Check out our episode Why heartbreak hurts so bad.
How would you describe your parents?
Nobody's perfect, of course, but some parents leave more of a mark than others.
Today, we revisit the life-long impact of having 'emotionally immature' parents, as Dr Lindsay Gibson's book hits bestseller lists.
This episode was first broadcast in May 2021.
If you're looking for another episode to listen to, why not check out Milgram Shock and Stanford Prison — what we misunderstand about the most infamous experiments in psychology.
Can't sleep? Worries keeping you up at night? It might be time to look to the stars.
For National Science Week, we're investigating the relationship between the night sky and mental wellbeing.
So can spending time under the night sky give you a mood boost? And if it does … why?
Looking for more nature in your life? Check out our episode Nature prescriptions — just what the doctor ordered.
It sounds like fantasy, but the manipulation of dreams is now possible — and it's thanks to a well known video game, Tetris.
So what does Tetris have to do with dreaming, and could companies use this to shape what we see when we sleep?
Want to learn more about dreams? Check out our episode 'As real as waking life' — exploring lucid dreams.
Hear our first episode about Tetris: Why people are playing Tetris to treat their trauma.
For people with PTSD, flashbacks can be an unwelcome and distressing experience. To tackle this problem, researchers have turned to Tetris.
Yep - the falling blocks puzzle game from the '80s.
Today, we discover how Tetris can be used to treat trauma.
If you'd like to listen to more All in the Mind, check out our episode The confusion around concussions.
The siren has sounded. The scores are even. A footy player has one final chance to kick an easy goal to get his team into the finals.
He’s right in front of the goals. He lines up. Kicks. Misses. The pressure of such a moment was phenomenal, and the player choked under it.
So what happens in the brain during such intense periods? Why can some people remain calm while others can’t handle it?
If you're keen to listen to another episode, check out Wanted: Unicorns. Mission: Mars.
What if your entire understanding of the world — your beliefs, how you parent, how you work, how you interact with friends at the pub — all came crashing down?
For Stephanie, Jules and Joel — who are all former conspiracy theorists — that was their reality.
And digging their way out of the conspiracy rabbit hole came with a whole lot of challenges.
Today on All in the Mind: falling into and out of conspiracy ... and rebuilding your life after breaking free.
And if you enjoyed listening, you should go back and check out our earlier episode on how to help conspiracy theorists.
After enduring years of abuse, Robyn Westgate was jailed for the murder of her husband. Now out of prison, she runs training programs that aim to reduce domestic violence.
Robyn says the key is empowering people to be better bystanders.
Today, one woman's story from domestic violence survivor to domestic violence consultant, and the importance of speaking up.
Please note this episode includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault and domestic violence. It may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.
Resources:
Since the days of gladiator battles and public hangings, dark tourism — our attraction to places linked to death and despair — has been a part of human behaviour.
But there's something in the 21st century that's causing debate… Selfies.
Digital media isn't all bad though. It's also creating opportunities for authentic storytelling.
Today, we examine what dark tourism is, if it's ethical, and when it is (and isn't) appropriate to snap a selfie.
If you're keen for another episode of All in the Mind, check out You've got the music in you.
Do you wake up each morning refreshed and well-slept? Or are you the kind of person who tosses and turns for ages before falling asleep, ruminating on all of your missteps and stresses from the day?
If you chose option two, this episode is for you. Two sleep experts share advice on making night-time more restful — beyond the standard 'don't look at your phone before bed.' (Though that's important too).
This episode was first broadcast in March 2023.
Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode, Busting bias: what works and what doesn't.
Credits:
Long before Bieber fever and Swifties, there was Lisztomania.
Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer who inspired such intense fandom and frenzy that it was dubbed mania.
So, was it true mania? What caused fans to respond to him so passionately?
And what can Lisztomania reveal about the way we talk about female obsession?
If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode; Hook me baby one more time: the psychology of pop music.
For 8 months, images and videos of the carnage in Gaza have been flooding social media. They give a powerful view of what's happening to Palestinians on the ground – but they also have the potential to cause vicarious trauma.
Today – what is vicarious trauma, and why doomscrolling doesn't help.
Trans non-binary performer Dax has spent most of her life not loving who she sees in the mirror. That is, until earlier this year.
A few months ago, Dax finally experienced a particular kind of joy — gender euphoria. And it's transformed the way she sees herself.
So what is gender euphoria? Why is it so powerful for trans and non-binary people? And why are researchers keen to flip the script and talk about trans joy?
If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode Taking back control of your time.
Patric Gagne is a sociopath, but she doesn’t fit the stereotype.
From a violent kid, to now a PhD and author - we track the unusual story of a sociopath who learned to be 'good'.
Plus, there's been some controversy and questions about the veracity of her PhD - so, we fact checked it.
Need something to listen to next? Check out our episode Why heartbreak hurts so bad.
Guest:Patric Gagne, Author, Sociopath: A Memoir.
Credits:
Madi's had 25 rental applications rejected. Seen absolute horror houses while searching for a rental. It's all driving her to despair.
Today, how housing insecurity can alter our sense of agency and how we perceive the world around us.
If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode, Is life coaching legit?
Have you ever experienced the feeling of awe?
Maybe it was sparked by an awesome view, a moving artwork or witnessing the birth of a child.
Today we follow one person's attempt at finding awe when she's never felt it before.
What does awe do to us? What benefits can it offer?
If you'd like to listen to more of All in the Mind, check out our episode Does guilt have a silver lining?
So you've got a loved one who's fallen deep down the conspiracy rabbit hole. Are they destined to stay there forever?
Today, we hear from a former conspiracy theorist and a social psychologist on what fuels these beliefs, how likely people are to change their minds, and what you can (and can't) do to help.
Want to listen to more All in the Mind? Check out our episode, The Certainty Myth.
Over the last couple of weeks, schizophrenia has been appearing in headlines across the country as details of the Bondi Junction attack unfold.
Coverage of mental health conditions, especially one as complex as schizophrenia, can be shrouded in stigma.
So today, we revisit our conversation with journalist Elfy Scott, sharing the one thing her family never spoke about - her mother's schizophrenia.
This episode was first broadcast in April 2023.
If you're looking for what to listen to next, check out our episode ADHD, TikTok, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria — meet Matilda's brain
The AI revolution is coming. Your mind isn't ready for it.
Cognitive Neuroscientist Joel Pearson walks us through the many ways artificial intelligence is messing — and will mess — with our psychology.
From falling in love with AI to unforgettable deep fakes, we dive into an uncertain future and what you can do to prepare for it.
If you'd like to hear more from Joel, he featured on our episode about intuition called When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore it.
And if you want to hear more about artificial intelligence, check out the latest season of Science Friction, Hello AI Overlords.
Researchers knew Susannah better than her own parents.
They may have even known her better than herself.
Today, how spending thirty years in a psychological study warped journalist Susannah Breslin's life.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to check out another, take a listen to Trauma, OCD and a PhD.
Whether it's shaking hands or which side of the road to drive on, social norms dominate the way we behave.
But when norms change suddenly, you get chaos.
Just ask Sweden.
If you'd like to hear more from today's expert, Matt featured in an episode in 2021 called Neuromarketing — how brands target your brain. Check it out!
Have you ever looked at your pet and thought, what is going on inside your brain?
Today, we're heading to the World Science Festival Brisbane for All in the Mind live to discuss animal consciousness.
If you enjoyed this episode and are keen to listen to another, check out How our brain chemicals drive our behaviour.
This episode was recorded live at the World Science Festival Brisbane.
Popular culture is endlessly fascinated with cults, and they have the capacity to make ordinary people do unthinkable things.
Today - how cults reel people in, how coercive control keeps them there and what it takes to get out.
This episode was first broadcast in October 2022.
And if you enjoyed listening, you should check out our episode The History of Brainwashing.
That voice inside your head - where does it come from?
We bring back a topic that was one of our most popular for a long awaited part two. Today, what shapes your internal chatter.
Our original episode on chatter is called Controlling the chatter in your head, if you liked this episode you'll love that one!
If you could manifest anything into your life, what would it be? A perfect partner, your dream house, winning the lottery?
Manifesting promises a limitless potential of dreams to achieve — through methods like vision boards and affirmations.
But does manifesting actually help us realise our goals? Is it harmless fun? Healthy positive thinking? Or can manifestation lead the brain down some dark alleys that you might not expect?
In this episode we mention another episode called Visualisation and values — goal setting like a winner. It's part two of our two part series on the athlete's mindset. Part one is called A winning mindset — how top athletes think.
If you have a topic idea for All in the Mind, reach out to us via email at [email protected]
NASA wants to send humans to Mars in the next decade or so. But can our minds handle it?
We talk to a NASA psychologist and retired astronaut about the psychological challenges people already face on long-duration space missions — and find out what it will take to get to Mars.
If you liked this episode, you might like one of our past episodes about the isolation we all experienced during the pandemic. It's called The brain in isolation.
What does working for the CIA, navigating hot button topics and talking to teenagers all have in common? They're situations that supercommunicators excel at.
Today, we explore how you can become a supercommunicator too.
In this episode we touch on a previous story, Introversion vs Extroversion. If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love that one too.
Parasocial relationships can be intense — and we all have them to some degree. Whether you're a Swiftie, a fan of the Matildas or just watch the local news every night.
But what its like to be on the receiving end of millions of parasocial relationships?
For Blair Joscelyne AKA Moog, one half of Mighty Car Mods, it took some unexpected steps to cope.
If you're interested in what it's like to be famous, you'll love our episode The dark side of fame and what it does to the brain.
We all have moments in our lives when we feel an unconscious pull towards a certain decision.
Should you walk down that dark alley? Does that person seem a bit off? Why is that giving me the heebie-jeebies?
For Isla Lucas, a gut feeling while on holiday saved her life… Or did it?
We take a look at the science and fantasy of intuition.
If you liked this episode, you'll love our episode on The Pleasure Of Pain
Now that we're more comfortable talking about mental health, it's time to address some misconceptions.
Is depression REALLY a chemical imbalance in the brain? What's the difference between being depressed and distressed? And are psychedelics the solution we've been waiting for?
Today, Professor Ian Hickie breaks it all down and reveals the biggest myths about depression.
What does it take to go from second place, to first? Good, to great?
This episode was first broadcast in July 2023. It's part one of our two parter on performance psychology. Part two is called Visualisation and values — goal setting like a winner.
A founding member of the band Gang of Youths. A single mum from Adelaide. A dad of two in Brisbane. What do all these people have in common?
They all have young kids, and they all sing to them constantly!
This week we ask: why do babies turn us into non-stop singing machines? Where does this instinct come from and what purpose does it serve?
This episode was first broadcast in August 2023.
ARIA-nominated musician Parvyn knows what it's like to lose touch with reality.
Delusions, mania, psychosis — she's experienced it all, often while on tour.
Despite processing these experiences on her debut solo album 'Sa', she's never spoken publicly about her mental health — until now.
This episode was first broadcast in March 2023.
As a teen, Hunter Johnson wanted to be the best at sport, the best at getting girls, and the best at getting attention. But one moment would change everything for him — forcing him to rethink his ideas about masculinity. Now, he's paying it forward.
Last week, we explored why toxic masculinity is tricky to talk about. Today, we hear from someone having that conversation daily — shifting the focus from toxic behaviours and beliefs … to emotional intelligence.
This episode was first broadcast in February 2023.
Do you get defensive when you hear the term toxic masculinity?
You wouldn't be the only one, if so.
In this episode, we follow one dad's attempts to understand where internet algorithms are sending his son… and ask, how do we deal with toxic masculinity, when the very term has become contested?
This episode was first broadcast in February 2023.
Sex, scandal, money and misdeeds. All elements of good gossip.
So why do we love the gossip, but not the gossiper?
And why are we invested in the secrets of celebrities, even though they're strangers?
This episode was first broadcast in February 2023.
The best grades, the best schools, the best sports programs, the best universities – sure, it's great for students to strive for success. But when does the pressure to succeed become too much?
American journalist Jennifer Wallace says 'toxic achievement culture' is harming the mental health of many students.
Is this a uniquely American phenomenon?
We all tend to get a bit cranky when the weather turns super hot, but did you know heatwaves can worsen certain mental health conditions?
We explore the troubling ways heat can affects our mental health and behaviour.
Just a heads up, this episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care.
Talking about death and grief is hard for anyone, let alone children.
But children do experience grief and often have questions they want to ask.
Today, how to talk to kids about death, loss and grief.
Aiming for perfect sounds like a good thing, right?
But when perfectionism grows into hurtful self-criticism and unrelenting standards, it can be damaging for your mental health.
And it turns out, perfectionism is linked to an already complex group of mental illnesses.
Today, the role perfectionism plays in eating disorders.
Please take care while listening if this topic is sensitive for you. And if you would like support, the Butterfly Foundation has a national support helpline for body image issues or eating disorders. You can reach them on 1800 33 4673 or head to their website.
Pulitzer prize finalist Meg Kissinger grew up in the 1960's and 70's, steeped in feelings of shame and guilt about the mental illness that plagued her family.
Now a journalist covering mental health, she's made it her mission to share stories of lost loved ones and the systems that failed them.
This episode explores the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening and don't hesitate to reach out for support if you need it. You can reach Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Social media abounds with mindset mentors, spiritual healers, influencers and more — many of who offer life coaching.
Does anyone know what they're talking about?
To imagine the future of artificial intelligence, it's important to reflect on some of the big moments in it's past.
This week, James Purtill from Science Friction brings us a story of competition, surprise and thinking machines.
This is the only time you'll hear Science Friction in the All in the Mind feed. To hear the full six-part series on AI, Hello AI Overlords, search for Science Friction in your podcast feed.
TikTok is a mixed bag when it comes to mental health content. Great at raising awareness and building community, but not always accurate or evidence based.
Journalist Matilda Boseley sees both sides – but she says TikTok was the push she needed to seek out a formal diagnosis.
Concussions are hard to diagnose, often get missed, and not always taken seriously.
And if you're not a professional athlete, it can be surprisingly hard to get clear information on how to manage and recover afterwards. Why?
The brain is your most important organ, after all!
This week, we try and make sense of the confusion around concussions.
Artist Matt Ottley has been experiencing hallucinations since he was a child.
Today, Matt takes us on a journey to understand what psychosis can feel like, through storytelling and musical composition.
As a toddler, Nicole's son was extremely aggressive.
As he got older, his behaviour worsened.
In this episode from our archives, we examine 'callous unemotional traits' — the early warning signs of psychopathy that emerge in childhood.
This episode was first broadcast in December 2022.
What happens when we let our most destructive emotion dominate?
On All in the Mind this week, we explore why we get angry, how you might control aggression and whether it can ever be ... useful.
This episode was first broadcast in February 2022.
In part two of our look at introversion and extroversion, we dive into the science and psychology of personality.
How do we develop these traits? How much are our genes responsible?
The way brains of introverts and extroverts differ will probably surprise you.
This episode was first broadcast in August 2022.
Jessica Pan was a life-long shy introvert and for the most part she was happy with this aspect of her personality – until the loneliness crept it.
This week on All in the Mind, the first of two episodes exploring introversion and extroversion.
The benefits and downsides of each, how these traits impact our mental health and whether we change, if we want to.
This episode was first broadcast in August 2022.
1 in 10 dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety, and more seem to be willing to reach out for help.
Chris Jephcott wishes he'd been one of them.
If this episode raises any issues for you, you can reach out to:
Lifeline13 11 14
Beyond Blue1300 22 4636
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)1300 726 306
Nature is good for our wellbeing. But how much green space does a community need, before you can see a wellbeing boost?
And how do we encourage people to spend more time outdoors?
A bank heist, a hostage drama and a dubious diagnosis.
It's 50 years since the robbery that inspired the term 'Stockholm Syndrome', and today we explore the origins of the proposed condition - and probe the many problems with that label.
Chris Hadnagy’s job involves breaking into break into banks. But he’s not after money, gold or jewels. He’s searching for weaknesses – in systems, in security, and in people.
And he doesn’t use weapons or threats of violence to get past guards and into vaults. He uses a smile - and a few tricks from his toolbox of psychology and social engineering techniques.
Chris is the founder and CEO of Social Engineer LLC and lectures about social engineering around the globe.
On All in the Mind this week, the psychology of influence and what makes some people more vulnerable to being ‘hacked’ than others.
This episode was first broadcast in August 2021.
A founding member of the band Gang of Youths. A single mum from Adelaide. A dad of two in Brisbane. What do all these people have in common?
They all have young kids, and they all sing to them constantly!
As part of our exploration of sound and noise for Science Week, we ask: why do babies turn us into non-stop singing machines? Where does this instinct come from and what purpose does it serve?
For more Science Week stories, head to abc.net.au/science
Fashion can embody a lot: status, identity, belonging...
A great outfit makes us feel confident, but the fashion industry can be harmful to our self esteem.
So what does fashion say about us? And why as humans do we even care about clothes?
For years, psychologist Patricia Harney avoided true crime podcasts and docos. They hit too close to home.
Recently she's been testing the waters, and noticing these whodunnit shows often leave out a crucial element of the story.
We're urged to stay positive and keep up a cheerful disposition ... but sometimes things are just awful, aren’t they?
On All in the Mind this week we look at why we engage in toxic positivity, why it's so damaging when we do and whether something called 'tragic optimism' could be the antidote.
This episode was first broadcast in February 2022.
In your mind's eye, can you see yourself achieving your dream goal? Can you imagine what it would feel like? Who you'd be talking to when you achieve it?
Turns out the more you can imagine, the better your shot at achieving you goal.
But that's not the whole story…
This is part two of our two-parter on performance psychology.
What does it take to go from second place, to first? Good, to great?
This is part one of our two parter on performance psychology.
What's your favourite smell? And why is it your favourite?
Maybe it reminds you of a special moment, a particular place or a loved one.
But can you use these scents to make yourself… Happier? And what happens if we lose our sense of smell altogether?
Whether you're 19 and never given it a thought, or 40 and starting to wonder, menopause is an unavoidable part of life for half the population.
But many of us are shaky on the details of what to expect — apart from hot flashes/flushes, maybe.
Former model Ali Daddo was one of those people: totally unprepared, and caught off guard when it hit. She's on a mission to make sure other women are more informed – and therefrom more empowered – than she was.
Just a heads up, this episode touches on mental health struggles and suicide. Please take care while listening.
Sky diving. Racing cars. Abseiling. Jumping into an ice bath.
Depending on who you are, those activities either delight or horrify you.High sensation seekers love the thrill, and that leads some to extreme sports, others to crime.
Marley Duncan can tell you first hand: option one is way better.
Just a note, this episode contains strong language and swear words.
Spicy food, scary movies, BDSM … why do humans sometimes chase painful experiences and how are they linked to pleasure?
This episode was first broadcast in March 2022.
Laura would spend weeks feeling normal — even happy. But like clockwork, every month, suddenly she would feel intense depression, making her unrecognisable to herself and friends.
It took her nearly two decades to identify what was causing this rollercoaster of mood: PMDD, AKA Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
So what is it about hormones that make some people feel such intense emotions? And why is PMDD still so misunderstood?
This episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening.
What's the most catchy song you can think of? Is there a moment that makes you suddenly pay attention, mesmerised by the melody or beat?
You're probably reflecting on a song's hook.
But why do hooks capture our minds and memories?
A music psychologist and musicologist share their thoughts on the power of hooks.
In this episode you'll hear Tim and Jadey cover pop songs which Sana credits at the end of the episode. To see the written credits, head to our website.
Lynne Malcolm is used to being in the host's seat, but today, the tables are turned. She's back on All in the Mind to discuss her new book, appropriately titled All in the Mind. So what did she learn through 9 years of interviews? How did the show help her process her own mental health?
Lynne reflects on her expansive career at the ABC and the personal connections she made along the way.
This episode was first broadcast in September 2021.
Have you heard of ASMR?
Whispery, clicky, crinkly videos are massive on YouTube - racking up millions of views.
The idea is that these sounds elicit a certain tingly, calming sensation in some people.
So what is ASMR and what does the science tell us about it?
Is it real … or pseudoscience? And why do some people get the opposite reaction – irritation rather than these pleasant tingles?
This episode deals with descriptions of abuse. Please take care while listening.
Michael Baldwin cycled through seven therapists over 22 years. No one could help him overcome the trauma of his childhood — until he tried EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy).
But why would eye movements help a person process their trauma? It sounds fantastical. Is it?
It's human nature to form groups — families, friends, online communities. We love to be surrounded by people similar to us.
But that can also make us discriminatory and defensive. And social media makes that instinct worse.
In this episode, we look at how our brains evolved to connect and divide, and what that means for the problems we face in our modern world.
A magical kingdom with ogres and fairies.
A post-apocalyptic world ruled by machines.
An underwater monster that resembles a dragon.
These fictional worlds might only be described by words, but the images they create in our minds feel so real.
Why are our brains so good at creating imaginary images?
Producer Rose Kerr explores how an author's words translate into the mind's of readers.
Journalist Elfy Scott grew up in a loving and tight knit family, but there was one topic they never spoke about, for a long time: her mother's schizophrenia.
Now, Elfy is sharing her family's story, and interrogating why stigma so often silences conversations about complex mental health disorders.
This episode was first broadcast in June 2021.
Have you ever tried a self-help book? Did it… well, help?
On All in the Mind this week, why self-help sometimes falls short ... and the problem with pop psychology more generally.
A lot of us would like to think we could spot a scam a mile away. Spelling errors, suspicious email addresses and requests for money… all tip offs that something isn't right.
But none of us are immune to scammers' psychological tricks – not even psychologists.
In this episode, forensic neuropsychologist Dr Stacey Wood reveals the tricks and techniques scammers use, and what makes us most vulnerable to their tactics.
Do you wake up each morning refreshed and well slept? Or are you the kind of person who tosses and turns for ages before falling asleep, ruminating on all of your missteps and stresses from the day?
If you chose option two, this episode is for you. We get advice on making nighttime more restful — beyond the standard 'don't look at your phone before bed.' (Though that's important too).
Doing something that goes against your beliefs feels pretty bad, right? But what if those beliefs are stopping you from doing something good for you?
Producer Rose Kerr investigates the role cognitive dissonance plays in our lives: how it can lead to some creative mental gymnastics, and when it can be harnessed for good.
ARIA-nominated musician Parvyn knows what it's like to lose touch with reality.
Delusions, mania, psychosis — she's experienced it all, often while on tour.
Despite processing these experiences on her debut solo album 'Sa', she's never spoken publicly about her mental health — until now.
This episode was first broadcast in February 2022.
Most of us have an inner voice – it reminds you to pick up milk on your way home, helps problem solve, or rehearse what you’re going to say.
But there are times that helpful voice veers into harmful chatter.
As a teen, Hunter Johnson wanted to be the best at sport, the best at getting girls, and the best at getting attention. But one moment would change everything for him — forcing him to rethink his ideas about masculinity. Now, he's paying it forward.
Last week, we explored why toxic masculinity is tricky to talk about. Today, we hear from someone having that conversation daily — shifting the focus from toxic behaviours and beliefs … to emotional intelligence.
Do you get defensive when you hear the term toxic masculinity?
You wouldn't be the only one, if so.
In this episode, we follow one dad's attempts to understand where internet algorithms are sending his son… and ask, how do we deal with toxic masculinity, when the very term has become contested?
From phantom limbs to Alice in Wonderland syndrome — why does the brain sometimes mess up its awareness and understanding of the body it belongs to?
Neuroscientist and author of Body Am I, Moheb Costandi explains.
Sex, scandal, money and misdeeds. All elements of good gossip.
So why do we love the gossip, but not the gossiper?
And why are we invested in the secrets of celebrities, even though they're strangers?
Where do you draw the line between brainwashing… and influence?
Thought control… and mere suggestion?
From the Korean War, to The Beatles, to current day, we trace the sometimes scary/sometimes weird history of brainwashing.
This episode was first broadcast in September 2022.
You might not think of yourself as a negotiator but big or small we all negotiate daily.
Getting better at it could make your life easier.
So what's the most effective way to negotiate?
Is playing hardball ever a useful strategy?
And what do you do when you're at a power disadvantage?
This episode was first broadcast in May 2022.
On All in the Mind this week, the early history of autism.
With historian of science Professor Marga Vicedo we learn about the blame that was cast on mothers, the fight to get adequate help and support for families, and the movement that one mother, Clara Park, helped spark.
This episode was first broadcast in March 2022.
Why do we laugh, and what makes something funny? A psychologist, a neuroscientist and satirist Mark Humphries weigh in on humour and the brain.
Over summer, we're sharing some of our favourite episodes of the year. This one was first broadcast in April 2022.
Anxiety and alcohol misuse are a common pairing. How do the two egg each other on and what can be done to halt the cycle?
Plus, the personality traits that shape our likelihood of harmful alcohol use.
This summer, we're sharing some of our favourite episodes of the year. This episode was first broadcast in April.
What are the constructive things our minds do when they wander?
And when does mindwandering cross over … into not-so-constructive territory?
Guests:Professor Moshe BarCognitive Neuroscientist, Bar-Ilan University; Author, Mindwandering: How It Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity
Producer:James Bullen
Sound Engineer:Roi Huberman
As a toddler, Nicole's son was extremely aggressive.
As he got older, his behaviour worsened.
In our final episode of the year, we examine 'callous unemotional traits' — the early warning signs of psychopathy that emerge in childhood.
This episode was first broadcast in November 2021.
Are your colleagues rude?
Do people regularly ignore each other or dismiss opinions in meetings? Ever gotten an all caps email?
On All in the Mind this week, we examine the toxic effects of rude behaviour.
And are we getting more rude as a society?
If you open any social media app, you're likely to eventually come across videos of people discussing trauma.
The hashtag TraumaTok has billions of views...
So how did trauma take over the internet? And what effect is it having on our mental health? Technology Reporter Ariel Bogle investigates.
When you get nervous, can you feel it in your stomach?
The gut-brain connection is something many of us have experienced but probably not given much thought to.
Research into this connection has led to the rise of a seemingly unexpected treatment for IBS: hypnotherapy.
Producer Danni Stewart investigates how Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be treated.
If the only certainty is uncertainty, how do we manage our anxieties about the unknown?
Today we explore why the mind struggles with uncertainty and what we can do to manage it.
Before she was Dr Alix Woolard, Alix was a teenager grappling with a traumatic event in her family.
It would affect her mental health dramatically, leaving her unsure of her path ahead.
Now, Dr Alix Woolard researches childhood trauma and it's lifelong impacts.
This episode deals with mental health and discusses suicide. Please listen with care.
Have you ever thought, I wonder what it's like being famous?
Maybe it's something you've always dreamed of, or maybe it's your worst nightmare.
Being famous is something many people aspire to, but the reality can be isolating.
This week, producer Jennifer Leake looks at what fame does to a person's psychology.
What makes people do evil things?
Psychologist Stanley Milgram wanted to understand if people could be led to do awful things, just by being told to do them.
The experiment he would devise to test this would become one of the most infamous examples of unethical studies in the field of psychology: The Milgram Shock Experiment.
But Professor Alex Haslam says that's not the full picture… And the findings are misunderstood.
Learning chess with his young daughter kickstarted a life-long journey of learning for Tom Vanderbilt. Here's what he discovered about being an adult beginner, its benefits, and how kids and adults learn differently.
With relatively benign intentions, Wendell Johnson devised an experiment that would go on to be dubbed the Monster Study, inflicting terrible harm on a group of vulnerable and unsuspecting children.
Popular culture is endlessly fascinated with cults, and they have to capacity to make ordinary people do unthinkable things.
So how do cults reel people in and what does it take to leave?
What goes on in the multilingual mind? And what does it mean to 'lose' your language?
You might not think of yourself as a negotiator but big or small we all negotiate daily and getting better at it could make your life easier.
Addiction has long been a problem for humans, but smart phones and the internet have changed the game. So how can we find balance in a dopamine overloaded world?
You've probably heard of unconscious bias but how are they formed and what can we do to stop the damage they can cause?
What does neuroscience and psychology tell us about how these traits are developed?
Are you outgoing or shy? there are pros and cons of each but is it possible to switch sides?
Few sensations are as primal, as fundamental to our very survival, as pain.
But for a fifth of Australian adults, that useful protective mechanism lingers as chronic pain — persistent aching, searing, stabbing sensations, which can be incredibly stressful and debilitating.
What if you could dial down that pain — or even extinguish it altogether — by retraining your brain?
Anastasia Woolmer explains the techniques memory athletes use, and how you can apply them to everyday life.
How many times in a day are you doing just one thing?
Or is it more common that you’re multitasking – maybe texting and walking? Reading while listening to music?
We all multitask to some degree, but do any of us do it well? And is that even possible?
This week on All in the Mind, we look into the science of multitasking – why we struggle to do it, why some of us are better at it than others – and how to do it effectively if you must.
First broadcast 19 December 2021.
Would you be able to tell the difference between a bargain bin red and a top drop? Or how about what separates a duck paté … from one made of dog food?
Perception is everything when it comes to marketing, and decades of neuroscience and psychology research have given businesses ever greater insights into how we can make decisions and how they can subtly shape our expectations so that yes – even dog food paté can become appealing.
But the ramifications of this power may be pushing companies into unethical territory.
First broadcast on 22 August 2021.
Over the past two decades, our cultural understanding of autism and what it means to be autistic has grown - though we have a long way to go. But there are entire generations of people who grew up when the popular conception of autism was a far cry from how it’s now understood.
It meant a whole host of people who grew up feeling like they didn’t fit in, but never quite knowing why.
They were autistic, but undiagnosed. And when a diagnosis did come as an adult – it was often revelatory and life-changing.
On All in the Mind this week, 'hidden histories’ of late-diagnosed autistic adults.
First broadcast 8 August 2021.
Our brains are easily distracted or overwhelmed. And that can make getting stuff done harder than it needs to be.
This week, we look at methods and strategies for avoiding unnecessary stress by managing your priorities, your focus, and your energy with organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber.
Imagine getting a diagnosis in adulthood that suddenly made so much of your life make sense.
It explains why you’ve always had trouble being on time, starting things you don’t finish, avoiding difficult projects.
Producer Jennifer Leake explores the impact of an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood.
Michael Slepian researches the psychology of secrets.
But what he didn't know — until about a decade ago — was that his family had a major secret they were keeping from him.
One they planned never to reveal. Until …
Guilt and shame are often used interchangeably, but researchers in emotion and psychology say they are distinct – and often motivate people into very different paths of behaviour.
For the feeling of guilt, at least, that might even push you into making unexpected positive changes.
In the uncertain times we live in, how exactly are we meant to make up our minds?
How do we weigh up pros, cons and risk factors, and how do stress and fear bear on our capacity for critical thinking?
And how often are we even aware of the decisions we’re making?
On All in the Mind this week, a special panel discussion recorded at the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
Music is central to the human experience. We celebrate with it, commiserate through it - often some of our strongest memories are tied to it.
On All in the Mind this week, how music affects us from the womb through the rest of our lives - and what new research tells us about its measurable impact on our mental health.
Plus, the 'plink' test - how our musical memories can identify a track from just a sliver of song, and the power of music to shape our emotions.
On All in the Mind this week, the early history of autism.
With historian of science Professor Marga Vicedo we learn about the blame that was cast on mothers, the fight to get adequate help and support for families, and the movement that one mother, Clara Park, helped spark.
Have you ever wanted to change your personality?
Many people do - studies find we're keen to become more extroverted, more agreeable and more conscientious.
But what does the evidence say about whether people do change? And can you tweak your personality deliberately?
Two disasters, two years apart - the ongoing mental health impact on survivors and what the research can tell us about the different ways people respond to these life-changing events.
The quirks of psychology that influence when we give to charity … and when we don't.
Dolls can tell us a lot about how kids see the world – especially when it comes to race.
One American researcher spent months watching pre-schoolers play with dolls and what she observed shocked her.
Plus, did you know the very first study of children and their thoughts about dolls actually changed the course of American history?
First broadcast 4 April 2021.
Anxiety and alcohol misuse are a common pairing. How do the two egg each other on and what can be done to halt the cycle?
Plus, the personality traits that shape our likelihood of harmful alcohol use.
Grief is deeply painful but it's something the majority of us …eventually … find ways to live with.
But research is starting to emerge on how the pandemic may have changed the way we grieve - making the experience more intense, more debilitating.
As places like Australia and the US move on from the harshest restrictions of the last two years… is how we grieve returning to baseline? Or is it still too early to know? On All in the Mind this week, how the COVID pandemic has changed the nature of grief.
About one in five Australians experience a mental illness in any given year. But what about when mental health issues occur ... together?
On All in the Mind this week, we look at a massive Scandinavian epidemiological study series which considers why having one mental illness puts you at greater risk of developing subsequent ones, and explore what that might mean for the treatment and prevention of mental health issues.
What are the constructive things our minds do when they wander?
And when does mindwandering cross over … into not-so-constructive territory?
If you’re lucky enough to have fallen in love at some point in your life, you’ve probably also had your heart broken.
The experience can be excruciating, protracted, disorienting … but can it cause you lasting psychological – even physical – harm?
Chris Hadnagy’s job involves breaking into banks. But he’s not after money, gold or jewels. He’s searching for weaknesses – in systems, in security, and in people.
And he doesn’t use weapons or threats of violence to get past guards and into vaults. He uses a smile - and a few tricks from his toolbox of psychology and social engineering techniques.
Chris is the founder and CEO of Social Engineer LLC and lectures about social engineering around the globe.
On All in the Mind this week, the psychology of influence and what makes some people more vulnerable to being ‘hacked’ than others.[This episode originally aired on 01 August 2021]
Why do we laugh, and what makes something funny? A psychologist, a neuroscientist and satirist Mark Humphries weigh in on humour and the brain.
An excerpt from a new ABC podcast called What the Duck?! Each week the ABC's resident nature nerd Ann Jones explores the most unusual elements of our natural world — the ones that make you go What the Duck?!
Spicy food, scary movies, BDSM … why do humans sometimes chase painful experiences and how are they linked to pleasure?
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is tricky to pick up at the doctor's office and impossible to cure.
And for those who live with the condition, their families and their carers, the situation can be very challenging.
On All in the Mind this week, we hear from those people and a researcher who has spent decades working on the condition.
What happens when we let our most destructive emotion dominate?
On All in the Mind this week, we explore why we get angry, how you might control aggression and whether it can ever be ... useful.
We're urged to stay positive and keep up a cheerful disposition ... but sometimes things are just awful, aren’t they?
On All in the Mind this week we look at why we engage in toxic positivity, why it's so damaging when we do and whether something called 'tragic optimism' could be the antidote.
Most of us have an inner voice – it reminds you to pick up milk on your way home, helps problem solve, or rehearse what you’re going to say.
But there are times that helpful voice veers into harmful chatter.
You’ve heard of adrenaline, oxytocin and cortisol, but what about glutamate and GABA?
And how much do you really know about the chemicals coursing through your brain?
On All in the Mind this week, we take a whistle stop tour through your brain to learn how various chemicals influence our behaviour.
Having a baby is supposed to be a joyous time, despite the sleep deprivation and constant crying.
But for many women, it can be a dark time. We know one in six suffer post partum depression, but there's another condition that affects women during this period that you may not have heard of.
It's called post-partum psychosis. It's rare, but for those who get it, it can be utterly debilitating.
This episode was first broadcast on 25 April 2021.
How would you describe your parents?
Nobody's perfect, of course, but some parents leave more of a mark than others.
On All in the Mind this week, we look at the life-long impact of having 'emotionally immature' parents.
This episode was first broadcast on 30 May 2021.
Have you ever tried a self-help book? Did it… well, help?
On All in the Mind this week, why self-help sometimes falls short ... and the problem with pop psychology more generally.
One spring weekend a few years back, around 15 people gathered in a south Melbourne office space.
They were mostly neuroscience and maths types and there for something super niche and somewhat nerdy — the Australian Memory Championships.
Anastasia Woolmer was a first time competitor — but she’d go on to win.
On All in the Mind, she explains the techniques memory athletes use, and how you can apply them to everyday life.
This episode was first broadcast on 30 May 2021.
It’s the lightest metal on the periodic table. Its origins lie in the very beginnings of our universe. And it's taken, in the form of a pill, by thousands of Australians every day.
Join us as we dive deep into the story of this wonder element lithium — the magic ion, as it's sometimes called — and its remarkable impact on mood.
This episode was first broadcast on 28 March 2021.
How many times in a day are you doing just one thing?
Or is it more common that you’re multitasking – maybe texting and walking? Reading while listening to music?
We all multitask to some degree, but do any of us do it well? And is that even possible?
This week on All in the Mind, we look into the science of multitasking – why we struggle to do it, why some of us are better at it than others – and how to do it effectively if you must
Major trials are bringing us a step closer to seeing psychedelic substances used in therapy practice for PTSD, anxiety and depression. On this episode of All in the Mind, we take a look at where the research is currently at.
We all have resentments in our lives, big or small. How can we move past the feeling and even repair relationships that get bogged down in resentment?
The answer may have something to do with ... gratitude.
What role does dopamine play in cycles of addiction — and how might we use that knowledge to break them?
Career, family, relationships - how do we think about big decisions and in turn how do they shape our lives? And what makes a 'good decision?'
On All in the Mind this week, we hear from three people who have faced big life decisions and an expert who researches life's choices and how we can make better ones.
Are your colleagues rude?
Do people regularly ignore each other or dismiss opinions in meeting? Ever gotten an all caps email?
On All in the Mind this week, we examine the toxic effects of rude behaviour.
And are we getting more rude as a society?
What goes on in the multilingual mind? And what does it mean to 'lose' your language?
Author and linguist Julie Sedivy with a story of losing – and re-discovering – her native language.
Habits are notoriously hard to change—exercising more often, practising calmness, getting healthy—it all takes time and effort. So perhaps you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a way to get habits into your routine. We talk with Bernard Balleine, Director of the Decision Neuroscience Lab at UNSW; and with B J Fogg, founder of the Behaviour Design Lab at Stanford University about his new book Tiny Habits.
With restrictions easing around the country, we wanted to know how you've survived the past year and a half - what's gotten you through and what you can't wait to do next.
On All in the Mind this week, we turn the show over to you, our listeners, and hear your pandemic survival stories.
Have you ever realised you were dreaming ... while in the middle of a dream?
Lucid dreams are a common phenomenon, but many people don't realise that these surreal experiences of slumber can be influenced or controlled.
On All in the Mind this week, we explore the world of dreams, hear some of the latest research in the area and learn the best ways to induce lucid dreaming.
Are you the kind of person who loves chatting to strangers? Like people in cafes, parks or the train?
Or does the thought of small talk make you cringe?
On All in the Mind this week, we cover a growing body of research on how talking to strangers can make you feel happier, more connected to your community and less lonely.
Wellbeing' has become a bit of a buzz word recently, but what does it really mean?It's not the same as simply being happy, or experiencing pleasure - it's something deeper and broader than that.
It has to do with how we connect with others, how we feel about ourselves, and much more.
So what do we need in order to achieve wellbeing?
We're working on an episode about how Australians have been coping through the pandemic, and we want your stories.
We want to know what’s been getting you through the tough times, and what you’re most looking forward to when this is all behind us.
How can you tell us? You just need to use your smartphone to record yourself telling a story.
It can be sad, happy, funny, weird -- like maybe you got a new hobby, or re-discovered an old one, or made an unexpected friend, and that helped get you through. Maybe you’re looking forward to travelling the world, seeing your children again … or just a cold beer at the pub.
Whatever it is, put it into a voice recording, and we’ll share it in a special episode of All in the Mind.
To record:
Find a quiet room and open up the voice memo app on your smartphone.
If you don't have one installed, search for a voice memo app in your app store.
Hold the phone's microphone (located at the base of the phone) about 15-20cm from your mouth.
Press the red 'record' button and share your thoughts.
Once you're finished, hit the record button again to stop, then press done and save the recording with a name.
If you're unhappy with what you've recorded, just re-do it.
When you've got your recording, you should be able to 'send' or 'share' it via email to [email protected].
Remember to include your name and the area you live so we can credit you on the podcast.
Have you heard of ASMR?
Whispery, clicky, crinkly videos are massive on YouTube - racking up millions of views.
The idea is that these sounds elicit a certain tingly, calming sensation in some people.
So what is ASMR and what does the science tell us about it?
Is it real … or pseudoscience? And why do some people get the opposite reaction – irritation rather than these pleasant tingles?
Do you consider yourself a shrewd manipulator? Are you cynical about the nature of human beings? If so, you might rank highly in Machiavellianism - a personality trait that's based on the writing and views of Niccolo Machiavelli, the 16th-century Italian political philosopher. We look at what makes a Machiavellian personality, and how it fits into the so called ‘dark triad’ of traits.
During pregnancy and then in childbirth, new mums experience some dramatic hormonal changes.
But while these changes in women are relatively well studied … there’s a growing body of evidence finding that biological changes - shifts in hormones and brain activity - happen in men, too.
And these shifts are just one part of the picture.
Men can also experience mental health issues when they become a new dad, like postnatal depression.
On All in the Mind this week, the psychological and biological changes that happen during the transition to fatherhood.
As the pandemic continues, the long-term effects of COVID-19 are a growing concern.
Much is still unknown, but one major study suggests up to a third of people who get COVID-19 will go on to develop a psychiatric or neurological condition.
Then there's the anxiety, depression and stigma that come with a diagnosis of the disease.
On All in the Mind this week, how COVID can affect the brain.
ECT has a chequered history, but its modern iteration is nothing like the scenes depicted in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Used to treat severe depression and psychosis, ECT's side effects include some degree of memory loss. We delve into the discussion around benefits vs side effects, and speak to three patients about their varying degrees of success with the treatment.
Would you be able to tell the difference between a bargain bin red and a top drop? Or how about what separates a duck paté … from one made of dog food?
Perception is everything when it comes to marketing, and decades of neuroscience and psychology research have given businesses ever greater insights into how we can make decisions and how they can subtly shape our expectations so that yes – even dog food paté can become appealing.
But the ramifications of this power may be pushing companies into unethical territory.
You’re no doubt familiar with 'hostile sexism' – blatantly negative or restrictive attitudes towards women.
But there's another type of sexism it co-exists with - ‘benevolent sexism’ - which is sometimes harder to detect.
Benevolent sexism can be well-meaning and positive – describing women as natural nurturers or brilliant carers.
It's linked to notions of chivalry and romance - research suggests some women even find benevolent sexism attractive.
But these attitudes can still cause major harm to women in the workplace and the home.
Over the past two decades, our cultural understanding of autism and what it means to be autistic has grown - though we have a long way to go. But there are entire generations of people who grew up when the popular conception of autism was a far cry from how it’s now understood.
It meant a whole host of people who grew up feeling like they didn’t fit in, but never quite knowing why.
They were autistic, but undiagnosed. And when a diagnosis did come as an adult – it was often revelatory and life-changing.
On All in the Mind this week, 'hidden histories’ of late-diagnosed autistic adults.
Chris Hadnagy’s job involves breaking into banks. But he’s not after money, gold or jewels. He’s searching for weaknesses – in systems, in security, and in people.
And he doesn’t use weapons or threats of violence to get past guards and into vaults. He uses a smile - and a few tricks from his toolbox of psychology and social engineering techniques.
Chris is the founder and CEO of Social Engineer LLC and lectures about social engineering around the globe.
On All in the Mind this week, the psychology of influence and what makes some people more vulnerable to being ‘hacked’ than others.
It’s a condition which affects some patients who end up in intensive care … and can continue after they’re released from hospital.
People often experience paranoia and fear, sometimes believing doctors are trying to kill them or that ghostly figures have visited during the night.
Disrupted sleep, bright lights, the endless beeping of alarms — all are thought to play a role in bringing on the condition.
On All in the Mind this week, delirium in the ICU – and how our hospital system might be redesigned to reduce it.
Tom Vanderbilt didn’t know how to play chess.
That fact had never bothered him – until his four-year-old daughter decided she wanted to have a go.
Within a couple of months, they’d recruited a teacher and both Tom and his daughter combo were battling it out over 64 squares.
Tom found the experience of being an adult beginner so challenging and interesting he thought he'd give it a proper go - with a range of different skills and hobbies.
Over the next year he embarked on learning multiple new skills, from surfing to singing.
On All in the Mind this week, we hear what Tom learnt from his journey, the benefits of lifelong learning, and how kids and adults learn differently.
More than a year after the novel coronavirus pushed much of the world into lockdown, a generation of new mothers are still coming to terms with having been pregnant - and giving birth - in a pandemic.
And if you consider the uncertainty of the past year, the stress, the isolation - there are lots of reasons to be concerned about the impact that might have had on new mums, as well as their babies.
On All in the Mind this week, we delve into new research on the impact of the pandemic on new mothers, and hear from mums about the trials, and occasional triumphs, of life in a lockdown limbo.
From 2008 to 2018, the prescription of antidepressants in young people grew by 66 per cent. There’s data to suggest that last year, among the lockdowns and anxiety of the pandemic, that figure ticked even higher.
In last week’s episode we looked at how the mental health of teenagers fared through the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. This week, another big issue among teenagers and young people - antidepressant medications.
We hear from young people themselves about their mental health journeys, what it’s like to be on anti-depressants and their hopes for the future. And we cover the findings from a major review into antidepressant use in young people.
Your teenage years can be tumultuous, but did you know that half of all mental conditions in adulthood emerge by the age of 14?
And on top of regular stressors like school and relationships, teens today have social media to contend with – and a little something called the global coronavirus pandemic.
On All in the Mind this week, we speak to experts – and teens – about how young people fared last year.
There's a condition so bizarre and rare that most doctors haven't even heard of it.
It causes people to hear their own blood moving, bones creaking, lungs breathing - even eyeballs moving.
Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome can have a profound impact on a person's life and mental health... so can it be fixed?
We go into a hospital operating room to learn about this little-known condition.
Warning: this episode contains a description of a surgical operation.
This episode first aired on 29 March 2020.
Have you ever tried a self-help book? Did it… well, help?
On All in the Mind this week, why self-help sometimes falls short ... and the problem with pop psychology more generally.
On All in the Mind this week, the guru playbook and why we should get smart to their tactics.
Anastasia Woolmer explains the techniques memory athletes use to recall names, facts and figures, and how you can apply them to everyday life.
Are you good at recognising voices?
From the Beatles to the Backstreet Boys, Taylor Swift to BTS – music changes, but screaming fans never seem to fade.
How would you describe your parents? Nobody's perfect, but some parents leave more of a mark than others.
Virtual reality technology is increasingly being used as a form of therapy – treating everything from the depressive symptoms of dementia to the paranoia people develop as part of psychosis.
Having a baby is supposed to be a joyous time, despite the sleep deprivation and constant crying. But for many women, it's an extremely vulnerable period.
Dr Richard Taylor is a forensic psychiatrist — and he’s assessed well over a hundred accused killers in his career.
For two decades of Hannah Byford’s life, she kept a secret. When things at home got too much to bear, she’d retreat to an imagined life, inside her head — an elaborate daydream.
A few years back, Dr Toni Sturdivant was looking for a preschool for her three-year-old daughter. After considering a few schools around their Texas suburb, she thought she’d found the perfect place.
It’s the lightest metal on the periodic table. Its origins lie in the very beginnings of our universe. And it's taken, in the form of a pill, by thousands of Australians every day.
Graham doesn't think I am broken, but I still suspect I might be.
How to collect your tears, the existential angst of the shampoo aisle, and the boy returns.
We have 60,000 thoughts each day. I will try to track every single one of them.
There are no good snack options in psych hospital. And it’s really hard to not look crazy.
Hunting for a psychiatrist is a lot like hunting for 'The One'. Only much more expensive and with a tiny dating pool.
We all have that voice in our head. The one that is brutally honest. It’s a good thing, right? Except when it really isn’t.
On All in the Mind, we look at the problems in Victoria's mental health system and what needs to change going forward.
Our relationship with music begins at birth, if not before, and plays a role in the formation of our identity when we are young. Now a heart-warming movement called Music & Memory is creating personalised music playlists for residents with dementia in nursing homes—who use their mobile device to hear it.
The corpus callosum links one side of our brain to the other. It’s not essential for survival, but in some people it’s missing or malformed, causing quite mild to extreme disabilities. The good news is that research is now revealing that it holds intriguing secrets about brain plasticity.
This program was first broadcast in May 2016.
Most people tend to think of autism as a male disorder, and the character in the film Rain Man often comes to mind. But emerging research shows that girls often have different symptoms which cause them to slip through the net.
This program was originally broadcast in June 2015,
Warning: some listeners may find aspects of this program confronting.
The compelling account of a woman who lived with dissociative identity disorder—and how she eventually became integrated.
If you were given a date from the last five years could you say what day of the week it was? One young woman in Australia can remember every single day of her life since she was born. We hear about her life and the research she’s involved with—as a single participant.
Turn on, tune in and drop out … that was the catch cry of U.S. psychologist Timothy Leary in the 1960s. By 1966 psychedelics were demonised and banned, but now—in controlled scientific settings—there's a psychedelic 'renaissance' in mental health therapy. Early research on the use of ecstasy in the treatment of stress disorders looks promising.
Being a parent can be very rewarding, but if you are managing your own mental health you may not be able to be the parent you’d like to be. It can be sad and confusing for kids too—and they often take on a caring role.
For some people the number six is red and music evokes a range of colours and shapes. Seeing sounds and hearing colours is one type of synesthesia—where the senses are crossed. Meet an 11-year-old girl who was surprised to find out that not everyone sees colourful auras around people, and who feels that numbers have colours and personalities.
Anxiety is an essential human emotion—it kicks in to protect us from threats—but sometimes those threats are only perceived. When worries start to become overwhelming, approximately 25 per cent of us experience clinical anxiety. But it is highly treatable. A ten-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man share their anxious thoughts and their strategies to manage them.
At the age of 12 Martin Pistorius developed a mysterious neurological illness. He fell into a coma and was unable to move or communicate. It was assumed he had no awareness but a couple of years later he began to wake up—yet no-one knew. He was trapped inside his body for almost 10 years until he found a way to communicate. Using computer-generated voice technology he tells us about how he coped with this terrifying ordeal, and how he found the love of his life.
Scientists and philosophers have been perplexed by our sense of the self for millennia. Now, by investigating neurological conditions which disrupt the self—such as body identity disorder, schizophrenia, and the doppelganger effect—neuroscience is finding new clues.
As part of our program about Resilience, Lynne spoke with former Olympian - and now medical doctor - Jana Pittman. We thought you'd like to hear the full interview.
As Lynne Malcolm gets ready for life outside the ABC, she’s been thinking about how all of us cope with changes and challenges, and how our sense of ourselves is influenced by our surroundings. This has become even more relevant for us as we get through the COVID-19 pandemic.
What happens in our brain when we make assumptions about people who don’t seem to be like us – when they may look, speak, or behave differently. And can brain science help us to override our potential prejudices? I explore some research on this topic, which specifically looks at how we perceive other people, animals, and things outside ourselves - such as technology.
The rate of suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is double that of non-Indigenous people in Australia, and it’s reached a crisis point – particularly amongst the young. In this NAIDOC week 2020 we hear from researchers and practitioners, and those with lived experience about the best strategies to stem the tide of indigenous suicide
Folk wisdom suggests that playing ‘hard to get’ can help you attract a potential partner. But many psychologists have been skeptical about whether it does have an effect in dating. Over the past few years several new studies on the effect have aimed to pin down the rare circumstances where it might actually be effective.
Lynne Malcolm's extended interview with Timothy Carey about how he applies his perspective on control to address inequality in Rwandan society.
We all have a natural need for a sense of control in our lives – but the over-controlling kind can get out of hand. People with a psychopathic personality disorder are highly skilled in manipulative techniques – which can wreak havoc if you’re on the receiving end. But every-day controlling behaviour may be getting an unfair bad rap – and may be essential for our wellbeing.
Claims about human psychology and behaviour in top international journals are largely based on the WEIRDest people in the world. People from Western Educated Industrialised Rich Democratic - or WEIRD - societies are widely used as research subjects, but the assumption that they represent a universal human population may be vastly wrong, and skew psychological research. More cultural psychology could be the answer.
The mind contains everything we think and feel – our experiences are created by the brain, mostly without our awareness. This makes it pretty much impossible to fully know the mind of others. Research shows that, to ensure our survival, the brain constantly attempts to predict what will happen next.
When you're near coriander or parmesan cheese, do you smell fresh sweetness or vomit and soap?
Can you rewire your brain to recover from depression?
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.