All In The Mind

How stressed have you been lately? Are you heading towards burn out? Time and time again, Dr Rangan Chatterjee has seen chronic stress wreak havoc on his patients' lives — contributing to autoimmune disorders, gut problems, low libido and more. But the most devastating blow struck his own family, when his father's punishing work schedule forced him to medically retire in his 50s. It’s an experience that led Rangan to rethink his own work and approach to medicine. Today, Dr Chatterjee, a GP and host of a mega popular wellbeing podcast, shares his story, as well as strategies for better managing stress in your own life. This episode first aired in June 2025. Guest: Dr Rangan Chatterjee GP, author and host of Feel Better, Live More Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls To find the transcript of this episode, head to its original webpage. To explore more great episodes from the award-winning psychology podcast All in the Mind with host Sana Qadar, download the ABC Listen app (Australia) or search 'ABC All in the Mind podcast' wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find more episodes on mental health, trauma, attachment theory, wellness hacks, and family relationships. You'll also hear interviews with experts like Esther Perel, Billy Garvey and Ethan Kross. All in the Mind is created for ABC's Radio National by specialist journalists and reporters at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Languages are so much more than words and sounds — they encode culture and shape our identity. So how do you connect to your culture, if language is lost? While many Indigenous languages have already been lost, and more are at risk of extinction, in Australia, people are increasingly trying to revitalise certain Indigenous languages. ABC Radio National presenter and Gamilaraay woman Rudi Bremer is on her own journey of reconnecting with her mother tongue, and it's bringing up a mixed bag of feelings — from a profound sense of loss, to deep contentment and belonging. Guests: Jade McHughes, PhD candidate and Ngarrindjeri woman  Trinity Clarke, Language worker and Kuku Yalanji woman Credits: Reporter/presenter: Rudi Bremer, Gamilaraay woman Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Kaylene Langford, Guringai woman Producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen You can hear more from presenter Rudi Bremer on Word Up and Awaye! To explore more great episodes from the award-winning psychology podcast All in the Mind with host Sana Qadar, download the ABC Listen app (Australia) or search 'ABC All in the Mind podcast' wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find more episodes on mental health, trauma, attachment theory, wellness hacks, and family relationships. You'll also hear interviews with experts like Esther Perel, Billy Garvey and Ethan Kross. All in the Mind is created for ABC's Radio National by specialist journalists and reporters at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

At some point in our lives, we all face the question, "how will I ever get through this?". You know the moments — a sudden loss, a messy break up, an unexpected diagnosis or a career halted… These questions are close to Lucy Hone's heart, not just because of her work as a resilience researcher, but also because of her own experiences of life-altering grief. So today, Dr Lucy Hone shares her tips for navigating the world when it feels like everything is falling apart. Guest: Dr Lucy Hone Resilience researcher Adjunct Senior Fellow, University of Canterbury in New Zealand  Co-director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience Author, How Will I Ever Get Through This and Resilient Grieving Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More information: The three secrets of resilient people, Dr Lucy Hone and TEDxChristchurch You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

What is it that drives a person to mass murder? It's a question forensic psychiatrist Professor Paul Mullen has made a life's study of. While these devastating events can at times appear random — he says that taken together, from Port Arthur to Dunblane to Texas — patterns emerge that tell us about the motivations of lone mass killers. It's often to do with isolation, vengeance and fame. Which is why a growing number of people, including Paul, are pushing never to name the perpetrators of mass killings. Today on All in the Mind: insights into denying mass killers the glory they seek and preventing future massacres. Please note, this episode covers some heavy topics including massacres and suicide. Please take care while listening. Guest: Professor Paul E. Mullen  Monash University Forensic psychiatrist Author, Running Amok: Inside the Mind of the Lone Mass Killer Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Antonia Gauci Support: Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue  1300 22 4636

Should you consider estrangement from an emotionally immature parent? How do you process the grief of realising your more stable parent … might have been a passive enabler? And what should you do if you realise you are an emotionally immature parent? This week, clinical psychologist and author Lindsay Gibson is answering your questions about emotionally immature parents. Each family is different, but she shares some key tips and lessons that can help you navigate difficult relationships. If you missed last week's episode with Lindsay, you can find it here, or listen to our original 2021 episode with her here. Guest: Dr Lindsay Gibson Clinical psychologist Author, How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you've never had good parenting modelled to you, how do you raise emotionally mature kids? Clinical psychologist Dr Lindsay Gibson has thoughts. You might remember Lindsay from our extremely popular 2021 episode titled 'The damage done by emotionally immature parents (and how to heal)'. This week, she's back on All in the Mind, talking about the next generation. From the difference between consequences and punishment, to the questionable/cruel videos some parents post on social media, Lindsay has insights, tips and 'absolutes' — her rules on what to definitely not do, in order to raise emotionally mature kids. Also, keep an eye out for next week's mailbag episode, where we ask Lindsay your questions! Guest: Dr Lindsay Gibson Clinical psychologist Author, How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Rebecca figured out a brilliant way to catch her partner in a lie. It led to a career in forensic psychology… These days, Rebecca studies lie detection, and it turns out, people generally overestimate their ability to tell fact from fiction. All the classic clues — body language, eye contact, acting nervous … they don't really hold up when put to the test. In our fourth and final part of our special series, Forensic, we're discovering the truth about lie detection. Are there any giveaways that someone is lying to us? Can lying show up on a brain scan? If you've enjoyed Forensic, please leave us a review or share the show with a friend. And don't forget to send us your questions based on the series, you can reach us at allinthemind@abc.net.au  Guests: Dr Rebecca Wilcoxson Lecturer in Forensic and Social Psychology, CQ University Dr Arthur Lee Assistant Professor, Boston University Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you saw a crime, how clearly would you remember it? What about if you were questioned years… even decades later? Eyewitness testimony is an important part of the justice system, so how much do we know about our ability to recall details? In part three of our four-part series, Forensic, we take a deeper look at eyewitness memory. Because it's not just about what we can or can't recall, there's also the risk that we may not even recognise a crime as it's happening. It turns out we're sometimes less observant than we think, because of a phenomenon called inattentional blindness. Don't forget to send us your questions based on the Forensic series, you can reach us at allinthemind@abc.net.au Guests: Celine van Golde Associate Professor in Legal Psychology University of Sydney Hayley Cullen Lecturer School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer/reporter: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine police are interrogating you over a crime you didn't commit.  If you're innocent, you're safe, right? Wrong. Sometimes, being innocent can make you more likely to confess. How is that possible? In part two of our four-part series, Forensic, we learn about the police interviewing techniques that make false confessions more likely, and the bizarre cases in which people come to believe they really, truly did commit a crime – despite being innocent. Guests: Saul Kassin Distinguished Professor Emeritus at John Jay College of Criminal Justice  Professor Emeritus at Williams College Lisanne Adam  Lecturer in Law, RMIT University School of Law Celine van Golde Associate Professor in Legal Psychology, University of Sydney Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Criminal profiling promises a lot — being able to piece together a picture of a suspect through clues, intuition and psychology sounds great. But how reliable is it? In our first episode of Forensic, a four-part series unpacking the psychological tools used to solve crimes, we examine the history of criminal profiling. How it got popular in the 1950s after bombings in New York City, its shortcomings when scrutinised by researchers, and the techniques it is built on that police deploy today (but with a lot more data). Guests: Michael Cannell Author, Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling Former Editor, The New York Times Professor Craig Jackson Professor of Occupational Health Psychology Birmingham City University Dr Victoria Berezowski Lecturer, Forensic Science, Deakin University Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. Further Information: Incendiary - Michael Cannell The Organized/Disorganized Typology of Serial Murder: Myth or Model? Is criminal profiling dead? Should it be? Psychology Today George Metesky, the ‘Mad Bomber’ – Wikipedia Unmasking the Mad Bomber – The Smithsonian, 2017 A 16-Year Hunt For New York’s ‘Mad Bomber’ – NPR, 2011 An overview of offender profiling – International Journal of Police Science and Management, 2024 Offender profiling: a review of the research and state of the field – Police Psychology, 2021 The Grit, Glamour and Gall of Criminal Profiling – The University of Arizona, 2021 Casebook of a Crime Psychiatrist – James Brussel, 1968 Dangerous Minds - The New Yorker

Forget everything you’ve learned from crime dramas. Forensic is a new podcast series from All in the Mind on ABC Radio National that takes you behind the psychological tools used to solve crimes. Across four episodes, we investigate criminal profiling, false confessions, eyewitness memory and lie detection, revealing what actually works, what doesn’t, and the surprising ways things can go wrong. Forensic gives an evidence-led look at the cracks and complexities inside modern forensic psychology. Our first episode drops this Sunday!  In the mean time, check out our other true crime themed series from 2025, Criminal Psychology.  You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Would you want to live forever? The rich and powerful certainly do.  There are numerous examples throughout history of people going to extreme lengths in search of immortality. These days, it's Silicon Valley tech bros, testing out everything from blood transfusions to merging our brains with the cloud. Why are they/we so obsessed with dodging death? What is it about extreme wealth that makes people dream of defying biology? Today, tech journalist and social psychologist Aleks Krotoski takes us into the world of the ‘immortalists’: what they think the future of humanity might look like, and whether the rest of us want to come along for the ride. Guest: Aleks Krotoski Investigative journalist Social psychologist Author, The Immortalists: The Death of Death and the Race for Eternal Life Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls

Cosmetic procedures aren't reserved for celebrities anymore - they're becoming more and more accessible for every day people.  So if we're able to alter our looks or avoid the appearance of aging altogether, what impact does this have on our psychology? Today, we examine how changing our faces might change how we see each other. Please note, this episode includes some discussion of body image and mental health issues such as body dysmorphic disorder. Take care while listening. Guests: Professor Gemma Sharp Clinical psychologist and researcher Adelaide University Dr Sarah Bonell Research Fellow Bolton Clarke Research Institute Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Reporter/producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More information: What's the connection between cosmetic procedures and mental health? Australian Women's Lived Experiences of Stigmatization After Cosmetic Surgery: A Qualitative Investigation The cosmetic surgery paradox: Toward a contemporary understanding of cosmetic surgery popularisation and attitudes Under the knife: Unfavorable perceptions of women who seek plastic surgery New AHPRA Guidelines Require Psychological Screening for Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Cheaper, easier and less taboo: Why more gen Zs are getting cosmetic injectables such as botox Body dysmorphic disorder Support: Butterfly foundation 1800 33 4673     You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

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. This episode first aired in January 2025. Guest: Dr Kurt Gray Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Director, Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding Author, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More information: Lethal Mass Partisanship: Prevalence, Correlates, & Electoral Contingencies The transcript for this episode can be found on its original webpage. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

In the last couple of weeks, a lot of people have been getting excited about space exploration thanks to Artemis II. So this week, we revisit an episode from our archives all about life as an astronaut and the psychological impacts of long distance space travel.  And if you enjoy this episode, check out Artemis Explained, a podcast from the Science Friction team, following the Artemis II mission. This episode was first broadcast in March 2024. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: Dr Albert Holland, Senior Operational Psychologist, NASA Johnson Space Center Dr Cady Coleman, Former NASA astronaut Jamey Simpson, Cady's son With excerpts from: Space: The Longest Goodbye, directed by Ido Mizrahy Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite More information: Artemis Explained podcast Science Friction To view the transcript for this episode, please head to its original webpage.

Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks.  In this episode, we're joined by developmental paediatrician and co-host of Pop Culture Parenting, Dr Billy Garvey. From self compassion to channelling anger into advocacy, Billy shares his own strategies for managing bad days. On Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill! If you have feedback or want to suggest a guest, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.au Guest: Dr Billy Garvey Developmental paediatrician Author, Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental health Podcast co-host, Pop Culture Parenting Founder, Guiding Growing Minds Credits: Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar Senior Producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound Engineer: Hamish Camilleri Relevant All in the Mind episodes: Tantrums, sleep training and anxiety: Dr Billy Garvey answers your parenting questions 'Bad behaviour' or just misunderstood? What to know about kids' mental health You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

How can I help my child with anxiety? What's the deal with sleep training? Are we supposed to ignore tantrums? This week, we've invited developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey back on All in the Mind for a mailbag episode. We'll unpack your parenting dilemmas which cover questions about kids of all ages, from the littlest of newborns right through to teenagers.  So whether you're a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend or someone just curious about how to support young people in your life, Billy has advice for navigating challenging moments. And please note, one of the questions is a bit heavy, touching on the topic of suicidality. Please take care while listening. Guest: Dr Billy Garvey Developmental paediatrician Author, Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental health Podcast co-host, Pop Culture Parenting Founder, Guiding Growing Minds Credits: Present/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Antonia Gauci More information: 'Bad behaviour' or just misunderstood? What to know about kids' mental health Support resources: Lifeline 13 11 14 13YARN 13 92 76 Beyond Blue

This week we're talking about something intimate… and sometimes taboo: masturbation. From self-love, to disordered behaviour and back again, we explore 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. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode first aired in September 2024. Guests: Esme Louise James PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Content creator and author of Kinky History Dr Vijayasarathi Ramanathan Clinical sexologist Senior Lecturer of Sexual Health (Sexology) at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney Dr Ann Jones Host, What the Duck?! Dr Matilda Brindle Evolutionary biologist University of Oxford Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Beth Stewart More information: Sex is Weird | What the Duck?! To find the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. In this episode, health journalist and author Casey Beros on managing your inner critic, balancing competing appetites for more and less in life, and filtering out the external voices to chart your own course in life. Each week on Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill! We're testing this format out over the next few weeks, so let us know what you think, or if there's a guest you'd like us to invite back on the program for Mind Hacks. As always, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.au And don't worry, regular All in the Mind episodes will keep dropping every Sunday. Guest: Casey Beros Health journalist Author, Next of Kin Credits: Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar Senior Producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound Engineer: Micky Grossman Relevant All in the Mind episodes: Tough conversations and anticipatory grief: being a carer What influences your inner voice Controlling the chatter in your head You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

When Casey Beros' dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma, she knew her entire world would change.  More than three million Australians are carers — a role people are often thrust into without any kind of map. So based on her own experience, Casey wrote one. On All in the Mind this week, what it takes to be a carer for a loved one. How to get through the tough conversations and difficult moments — from giving bad news to talking about voluntary assisted dying — and still come out the other end in one piece. Guest: Casey Beros Health journalist Author, Next of Kin Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

How do you grieve a dying parent you're estranged from? Do cheaters ever change? People say love should feel 'easy', is that true? Psychotherapist Esther Perel is back on All in the Mind, answering your questions about heartbreak, loss, and love in this extra special mailbag episode. We've got questions on how to reconnect with estranged siblings, what to do when global conflicts impact personal relationships, and whether a first love can still feel special, even if it happens later in life. And if you missed part one of our chat with Esther Perel, you can listen to our episode titled "Couples therapy with an AI partner? Esther Perel's just done it" here. Esther also featured on our first episode of Mind Hacks! Guest: Esther Perel Psychotherapist and couples therapist Author, The State of Affairs and Mating in Captivity Host, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More information: If you want to hear more from Esther Perel, she chatted to Lisa Leong on This Working Life. The episode is called Esther Perel on conflict and power struggles at work. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. In this episode, cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson tells us how he manages his own stress (clue: it involves saunas!) Each week on Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill! We're going to test this format out over the next few weeks, so let us know what you think, or if there's a guest you'd like us to invite back on the program for Mind Hacks. As always, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.au And don't worry, regular All in the Mind episodes will keep dropping every Sunday. Guest: Professor Joel Pearson Psychologist, neuroscientist Founder and Director, Future Minds Lab University of New South Wales Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan Relevant All in the Mind episodes: Is AI making our brains lazier? "Scarier than killer robots": why your mind isn't ready for AI When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore it You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Social media gave us brain rot; will AI give us cognitive atrophy? How can we possibly learn to cope with the sheer amount of uncertainty and change heading our way? Cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson is back on the show, two years after his mega popular appearance in our episode titled "Scarier than killer robots": why your mind isn't ready for AI. In this episode we cover the potential long-term impact of widescale job losses, the anxiety university students are feeling about their job prospects, the risk of cognitive atrophy when outsourcing to AI, and what we can do to be more adaptable and flexible in the age of AI. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. Guest: Professor Joel Pearson Psychologist, neuroscientist Founder and Director, Future Minds Lab University of New South Wales Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Tim Jenkins More info: When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore it Why being a beginner is good for you

Introducing All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. Each week, we'll bring you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill! Kicking off our first episode is none other than Esther Perel. What mental health advice would she avoid at all costs? We're going to test this format out over the next few weeks, so let us know what you think, or if there's a guest you'd like us to invite back on the program for Mind Hacks. As always, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.au And don't worry, regular All in the Mind episodes will keep dropping every Sunday. Guest: Esther Perel Psychotherapist and couples therapist Author, The State of Affairs and Mating in Captivity Host, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Michael Grossman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Psychotherapist and relationship expert Esther Perel has had a lot of 'firsts' over her four decade-long career — counselling her first polyamorous relationship, or her first gay couple navigating surrogacy. Now, she's just done her first session with a man and his AI 'girlfriend'… Did she struggle to take this ‘couple’ seriously? What kind of love can someone really form with a chatbot? And why would someone bring their AI partner to a relationship therapy session in the first place? This week, renowned psychotherapist, author, and speaker Esther Perel reflects on what’s changed in the decades she's worked as a relationship therapist; whether AI can be a helpful tool for therapy; and why we might be better off conceptualising AI companions as ‘transitional objects’ instead.  Plus, join us in a few week's time for a very special mailbag episode with Esther, featuring your questions! Guest: Esther Perel Psychotherapist and couples therapist Author, The State of Affairs and Mating in Captivity Host, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineers: Harvey O'Sullivan and Emrys Cronin You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey is returning to All in the Mind and we'd love to ask him your questions! Billy is an expert on kids' mental health — last time he was on the show we discussed what's really going on with kids who are labelled "bad"; including insecure attachment, separation anxiety and emotional difficulties.  He co-hosts Pop Culture Parenting and is the author of Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental health. So if you have any questions you'd like to put to Billy, send them to allinthemind@abc.net.au and include "question for Dr Billy Garvey" in the subject line. And if you're looking for inspiration, you can find Dr Billy Garvey's previous episode here. Thanks!  - Sana and the All in the Mind team

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? This episode first aired in July 2024. Guests: Caroline Anderson Performance psychologist Lead psychologist for the Paris 2024 Australian Olympic Team Dr Chris Mesagno Senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology, Victoria University Louise Potter Footballer and Darebin Falcons legend Mary Spillane Clinical psychologist Credits: Presenter: Sana Qadar Reporter/Producer: Belinda Smith Producer: Rose Kerr, Petria Ladgrove Sound engineer: Russell Stapleton To view the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

40 years ago, NASA experienced one of its most devastating disasters. The Challenger space shuttle disintegrated just 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members. How had this happened? And did the culture of NASA have anything to do with it? In this episode, we dig into a concept called 'normalisation of deviance', which has been touted as an explanation for this incident, as well as the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster and a clinical drug trial that left six people in intensive care. So what is 'normalisation of deviance'? How does it happen? And given its potential for harm, is there anything we can do to prevent it? If you enjoyed this episode, check out the latest season of Science Friction, The Challenger Disaster (which is also produced by our senior producer James Bullen!) Guests: Dr Nejc Sedlar Lecturer, University of Aberdeen Professor Sidney Dekker Professor, Griffith University Credits: Presenter: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Additional reporting/production: Fiona Pepper Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. More information: A qualitative systematic review on the application of the normalization of deviance phenomenon within high-risk industries. Sidney Dekker — Drift into Failure. Challenger: the disaster five people saw coming. The Challenger Legacy — Science Friction. Has NASA learned anything from the Challenger disaster? When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore it A deviation from standard design? Clinical trials, research ethics committees, and the regulatory co-construction of organizational deviance

Renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel is coming to All in the Mind! And we'd love to ask her some of your questions. Esther Perel is an internationally recognised couples therapist. You might know her as the author of Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs. Family, sex, intimacy, friendship, betrayal - Esther covers it all.  So if you have any thorny relationship questions you'd like to ask her, send them to allinthemind@abc.net.au and include "question for Esther Perel" in the subject line. Thanks!

Slow walkers. Unmelted cheese in a toastie. Bad formatting in documents.  If these small annoyances make you weirdly mad, you're not alone (in fact, you're human). But when little pet peeves add up, they can contribute much bigger problems like chronic stress. So what can you do about it? Today: why small annoyances have such an outsized impact; why judging yourself doesn't help; and how elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you better navigate these moments (as well as the bigger challenges in life). And if you're not a fan of radical acceptance, which was covered in a recent episode, we go deeper on what it really means. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. Guest: Dr Patricia Zurita-Ona Clinical psychologist Author Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More information: Relationship of daily hassles, uplifts, and major life events to health status The peculiar longevity of things not so bad Patricia's website and resources Other recommended listening: Chronically stressed? These small changes can help Difficult people and radical acceptance: answering your questions about tricky relationships

When Blake's dad died by suicide, it came as a complete shock. Overwhelming grief, combined with confusion and guilt — it uprooted his life. The loss made him rethink his own mental health, and eventually, channel that into the community — fundraising and taking on three world records. Today, we're talking about suicide bereavement; how it can affect family and friends, its long lasting impacts on mental health, and how to support someone going through the experience. It can be really tricky to talk about suicide, so how do you tackle talking to kids about this kind of loss? Also, why are rates of suicide not going down, despite millions spent on prevention? And why do some people experience something called post-traumatic growth while others don't? This episode discusses suicide, grief and mental illness in depth. Please take care while listening. Guests: Blake Johnston Former pro surfer Surf Coach Mental Health advocate Author, Swellbeing Associate Professor Karl Andriessen Principal Research Fellow, Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Melbourne School of Population and Global Health University of Melbourne Tanja Hirvonen Clinical psychologist Chief Executive Officer, Thirrili Board Director, Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association Board Director, Black Dog Institute Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan Thanks to freesound.org users tim.kahn and juskiddink Support and resources: Lifeline 13 11 14 Thirrili 1800 805 801 13 YARN 13 92 76 Beyond Blue  1300 22 4636 StandBy Support 1300 727 247 Roses in the ocean More information: Coping With A Parent's Suicide Alarming rise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide rates A better way: suicide prevention in First Nations communities You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Simon considers himself a calm, conscientious, conflict-avoidant type of person. But in the car, his personality flips — and it scares him. It can be hard to admit, but many of us do experience road rage. So what is it about being in the driver's seat that makes us so quick to anger? And does the type of car a person drives have anything to do with their propensity for aggression? Today, we're talking about road rage; owning up to times we've lost our temper and finding out what we can do about it. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: Dr Amanda Stephens Senior Research Fellow, Monash University Accident Research Centre Simon All in the Mind listener and business owner Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan More information: Estimated car cost as a predictor of driver yielding behaviors for pedestrians Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior The fast and the furious: Research shows that owners of high-status cars are on a collision course with traffic

Over years of practice, clinical psychologist Dr Mary Anderson started to notice a peculiar pattern across her many clients. Despite being impressive high achievers on the outside, inside they were struggling with burnout, imposter syndrome, anxiety and self-criticism. So she set out to develop a guide for these high achievers. A framework to support their success ... without sacrificing their mental health. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode first aired in May 2025. Guests: Dr Mary Anderson Clinical Psychologist; Author, The Happy High Achiever Credits: Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Tegan Nicholls You can find the transcript for this episode on its original webpage here. Extra Information: The Happy High Achiever - Pan Macmillan Australia

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. This episode first aired in February 2025. Guest: Dr Blaise Aguirre Child and adolescent psychiatrist Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School Author, I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Loathing and Realize Why You're Wrong About You Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano Thanks to Freesound.org users 7by7, qubodup, laft2k, andre.nascimento To find the transcript for this episode, head to it's original webpage. Resources: Lifeline Australia 1800RESPECT You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

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. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode first aired in March 2025. Guests: Dr Emma Fitzgerald  Clinical Neuropsychologist Seb Emma's son and distracted teenager Gloria Mark, PhD Chancellor's Professor Emerita, University of California, Irvine Author, Attention Span Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Bella Tropiano To find the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage. Extra info: Gloria's The Future of Attention substack Smartphones in the nursery: Parental smartphone use and parental sensitivity and responsiveness within parent–child interaction in early childhood (0–5 years): A scoping review Ditching your smartphone won't stop you being distracted, study finds

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. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode first aired in March 2025. Guests: Michaela Single and ick-prone Adam Horvath Clinical Psychologist at Personal Psychology Professor Gery Karantzas, PhD Couples therapist Director, Science of Adult Relationships laboratory Deakin University Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineers: Tegan Nicholls and Michael Grossman You can find the transcript for this episode on its original webpage here. More information: The ick: Disgust sensitivity, narcissism, and perfectionism in mate choice thresholds

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). You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode first aired in February 2025. Guest: Dr Billy Garvey Developmental paediatrician Author, Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental health Podcast co-host, Pop Culture Parenting Founder, Guiding Growing Minds Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: John Jacobs

Difficult people are everywhere. Maybe you're one of them, or maybe you're about to sit through an awkward holiday situation with someone you REALLY don't know how to handle. This week, clinical psychologist Rachel Samson returns to answer all your questions on challenging people from the All in the Mind mailbox. How do I deal with my coworker who's crossing boundaries? Should I try and make peace with my problematic family member? We'll answer these questions and more — from how to avoid becoming a difficult person yourself, to the power of radical acceptance. Thank you for listening to All in the Mind this year! If you have an episode idea for next year or want to send some feedback, you can email us at mind_rn@abc.net.au Guest: Rachel Samson Clinical psychologist Co-author, Beyond Difficult Director of the Australian Association of Psychologists Rachael Samson also appeared on our episode in November called Narcissist, or just a pain? How to deal with difficult people. Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Bethany Stewart You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

From the prohibition era in the US, to gun control in Australia, bans have been used throughout history to change behaviour.  Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes, they lead to a whole lot of unintended consequences. With the social media ban for under-16’s taking effect this week, we uncover the three factors that can determine whether a ban is more likely to succeed or fail – and find out what the history of bans tells us about how effective this policy might be (or not). Plus – how solid is the research on the link between mental ill health and social media use? You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: Dr Alexis Whitton Associate Professor and psychologist The Black Dog Institute and University of New South Wales Dr Kate Harrison Brennan Professor of Practice and Academic Director of the Sydney Policy Lab Honorary Associate at the Sydney Law School University of Sydney Seb, Eva, Ciara, Lily With additional thanks to Associate Professor Susanne Schweizer, from the University of New South Wales. Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Micky Grossman A big thank you to everyone who sent us emails and voice memos with their thoughts on the social media ban. We couldn't include everyone but we appreciate getting to hear your perspectives. Thanks to freesound.org users TRP and davidbain More information: Support for under-16 social media ban soars to 77% among Australians Illegal tobacco is a deadly $10 billion industry wiping out legitimate businesses Smoking rates continue to decline while vaping triples, national household drug survey shows Psychological reactance to system-level policies before and after their implementation The presence of laws and mandates is associated with increased social norm enforcement Youth mental health enters 'dangerous phase' Social psychologist and author of best-selling book The Anxious Generation Jonathan Haidt talks to News Breakfast about Australia's world-first under 16 social media ban — ABC Lifestyle eSafety appoints Stanford University-led academic advisory group to assess the impacts of the Social Media Minimum Age obligation Digital mental health, Black Dog Institute

When bad things happen, do you berate yourself or treat yourself with compassion? Do you journal, meditate, or listen to music? Growing up, Sabrina McKenzie always turned to music to help her through her worst moments. As she got older and began studying psychology, she realised what she felt when she listened to sad or angry songs ... was self-compassion. In the field of positive psychology there’s plenty of research on how journalling and meditation can cultivate self-compassion (and plenty of research suggesting self-compassionate people are more mentally and physically healthy). But Sabrina was shocked to learn there was no research on whether music could cultivate self-compassion. She decided to change that. Today: the songs that saved Sabrina, and the novel research looking for a link between music and self-compassion.  This episode touches on the topic of sexual abuse, please take care while listening. Guest: Sabrina McKenzie Associate Lecturer in music PhD candidate in music psychology University of Melbourne, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Music to listen to: Why Trust You - Alice Cooper Now I Can Dance - Tina Arena This Is Me (Official Audio) — The Greatest Showman Cast "Saying Goodbye" — Ondara More information: Self-compassion as a predictor of interleukin-6 response to acute psychosocial stress A Systematic Review on Mediation Studies of Self-Compassion and Physical Health Outcomes in Non-Clinical Adult Populations Exploring the role of music listening in cultivating self-compassion Support: Lifeline 13 11 14

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. This episode first aired in November 2024. Guest: Professor Nick Haslam Professor of Psychology, University of Melbourne Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. More information: Concept creep: Psychology's expanding concepts of harm and pathology

You've probably experienced intrusive thoughts — bizarre, fleeting, sometimes inappropriate thoughts that cross your mind without warning. Although these can be weird to experience, they're totally normal. But for people with obsessive compulsive disorder these thoughts can become inescapable — leading to worry, compulsions and shame. Today we're talking about OCD, because it's often quite different from the stereotype of handwashing and lining up pencils. It can venture into taboo and dangerous thoughts, from paedophilia to violent harm.  So what does living with these unwanted thoughts feel like? And how much can treatment improve OCD symptoms? This episode covers some heavy topics from sexual abuse to suicide. There are also a few swear words. Please take care while listening. Guests: Uma Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS Neuroscience PhD student, University of Wisconsin-Madison Science communicator Mental health advocate Martin Ingle Writer and filmmaker Professor Vlasios Brakoulias Psychiatrist Sydney Medical School, Westmead Hospital Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Timothy Jenkins You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Support: Lifeline 13 11 14 SANE Australia ARCVic Helpline 1300 269 438 More information: You Can't Ask That - OCD episode

According to consumer psychology, there's a recipe for being cool. And surprisingly, the ingredients are similar across a bunch of countries and cultures. So today, we explore the concept of cool: what it says about our values and how it influences us. But be warned — if you try too hard to be cool, it might unravel your attempt before you even get there. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guest: Caleb Warren Consumer psychologist Professor of Marketing University of Arizona Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite More info: Trying too hard or not hard enough: How effort shapes status What Makes Things Cool? How Autonomy Influences Perceived Coolness Cool People

You know how certain people are just… difficult? Maybe they're prickly to be around, don't take feedback well, or act like a narcissist? Today we're learning how to handle relationships with difficult people; from setting boundaries, to understanding the role of attachment and temperament on behaviour. Plus, is it ever the right time to cut someone off completely? And what's a 'highly sensitive person' (HSP)? Got a question about a difficult person in your life? Send us an email at mind_rn@abc.net.au with the subject line "mailbag episode: difficult people". Guests: Rachel Samson Clinical psychologist Co-author, Beyond Difficult Dr Jessie Stern Developmental psychologist and researcher Co-author, Beyond Difficult Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Micky Grossman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Extra information: Beyond Difficult, An attachment-based guide to dealing with challenging people

Extreme emotional turmoil, fears of abandonment, huge amounts of stigma… These factors can make navigating a career when you have borderline personality disorder really tricky. But Rosie and Enya are making it happen. Today, how to navigate your working life when you have BPD. We hear from Enya, a listener who works on fishing boats while receiving treatment for her BPD, and Rosie, a teacher and author who decided to disclose her diagnosis with her workplace. How has borderline personality disorder impacted their careers? And what advice does an occupational therapist have for people with BPD entering the workforce? This episode includes mention of self-harm and suicide. Please take care while listening. Guests: Enya Rosie Cappucino Author, Talking about BPD Dr Suzanne Dawson Occupational Therapist Senior Research Fellow, Caring Futures Institute Flinders University Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Bethany Stewart Thanks to freesound.org users digifishmusic and Scott_Snailham. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Support services: Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue Australian BPD Foundation

Long before Sarah's daughter Chloe Hayden became an award-winning actress starring in Netflix's Heartbreak High, she was a kid facing immense struggles. Chloe was sensitive to smells, lights and foods; she had no friends; she hated school. Sarah never suspected Chloe was autistic, but that’s only because her idea of what autism looked like came from the film Rain Man. Sarah is now a social worker and equine assisted therapist, working with neurodiverse families. In this episode, Sarah shares her family’s story, her advice for parents navigating school refusal and food aversion – and the shock of getting her own surprise ADHD diagnosis later in life. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guest: Sarah Hayden Social worker Equine assisted therapist Author, Parenting Different Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Roi Huberman Support services: Butterfly Foundation Lifeline More information: What to do if nothing's working, Autism Australia Planning Absences: A Guide for Parents of Autistic Students Eating disorders and autism Anorexia Nervosa and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review Autism spectrum disorder and anorexia nervosa: Investigating the behavioural and neurocognitive overlap Personal essay: "I was unseen, even to myself" Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa Comorbidity: Common Features and Treatment Possibilities With Cognitive Remediation Therapy and Oxytocin Disability advocates say NDIS changes disregard alternative therapy benefits Effects of Equine Therapy on Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review Equine-Assisted Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Comprehensive Literature Review Equine assisted activities and therapies in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and a meta-analysis Autism and Equine-Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Mapping Review Effects of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Effectiveness of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Update A Scoping Review of Equine-Assisted Therapies on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Autistic Children and Adolescents: Exploring the Possibilities

We've all dreamt of lobbing our smartphone into the ocean and going off grid. So what happens when you follow through with it? For the final episode of Brain Rot, we speak to the people who decided they'd had enough. From a French village, to Gen Z 'luddites' in New York City and a group of parents in regional Victoria, there are clubs, campaigns and even laws dedicated to a smartphone-free life. But in 2025, how do you pull it off? And is it actually worth it? This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind from Sunday 19 October. Guests: Stan Awtrey Sportswriter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Vincent Paul-Petit Mayor, Seine-Port, France Lisa Given Professor of Information Sciences, RMIT University Steph Challis Founder, The Phone Pledge Jameson Butler Co-Founder, The Luddite Club Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Ross Richardson Thanks to Sam Goerling for the assistance with French translation. This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples. More Information: The Luddite Club Parents unite to ban teens from smartphones amid social media minimum age review You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Plenty of people will say they are addicted to the internet. But how well-recognised, scientifically, is an addiction … to your screen? In episode four of Brain Rot, we dig into how behavioural addictions work. And we hear from self-described internet addicts about the treatment programs helping them manage their relationship with technology. This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October. Guests: Jillian and Kate Internet and Technology Addiction Anonymous members Hilarie Cash Psychologist and Co-Founder, reSTART Anna Lembke Professor of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine Anastasia Hronis Clinical Psychologist; Author, The Dopamine Brain Dar Meshi Associate Professor, Michigan State University Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Tim Symonds This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples. More Information: Changes and correlates of screen time in adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta analysis — eClinical Medicine, 2022. Internet-addicted South Korean children sent to digital detox boot camp. The Dopamine Brain — Anastasia Hronis. Everyone is on their phones. But are we actually addicted? The Guardian, 2024. Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous. Dopamine Nation — Anna Lembke. Inside the rehab saving young men from their internet addiction — The Guardian, 2017 Other episodes related to focus and our relationship with smart phones: When doom scrolling leads to actual harm Should you do a 'dopamine detox'? Sick of scrolling? Digital minimalism could help Fighting for focus in the age of distraction You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

We're trusting tech with more tasks than ever — including the ones our brains once did. We're Googling things we used to know, taking screenshots of things we'll instantly forget, and hoarding all kinds of data we'll never check again. On this episode of Brain Rot: is tech giving your brain a holiday, or putting it out of a job? You'll also meet a guy who's turned the tables, by using AI to help recover his lost memories. This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October. Guests: Dr Julia Soares Assistant Professor, Mississipi State University Morris Villaroel Academic, Spain; Lifelogger Max Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Tim Symonds This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples. More Information: Memory in the Digital Age — Oxford Handbook of Human Memory, 2024. Lifelog Retrieval from Daily Digital Data: Narrative Review — JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2022. People mistake the internet's knowledge for their own — PNAS, 2021. Data Selves: More-Than-Human Perspectives — Deborah Lupton, 2019. One man's 10-year experiment to record every moment — BBC, 2019. The case for using your brain — even if AI can think for you — Vox, 2025. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Whether it’s social media, the omnipresent smartphone or AI companions, in recent decades the way we relate to each other has been completely up-ended. In episode two of Brain Rot, we explore the potential implications that tech poses to human relationships. Worldwide estimates suggest there are around one billion users of AI companions — people using software or applications designed to simulate human-like interactions through text and voice. So if the uptake of these AI companions is as rapid as is being reported, what are the ramifications? And could AI companions be both a cause and cure for loneliness?  This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October. Guests: Kelly In a relationship with an AI companion, Christian Bethanie Drake-Maples Doctoral Candidate, Research Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence Nicholas Epley Professor of Behavioural Science, University of Chicago Booth School of Business Nicholas Carr Author and journalist Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Tim Symonds This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples. More Information: Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots — npj Mental Health Research, 2024. Hello, stranger? Pleasant conversations are preceded by concerns about starting one — Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2022. Talking with strangers is surprisingly informative — PNAS, 2022. Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart — Nicholas Carr, 2025. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Everyone seems to have a hunch that their phone is destroying their attention span, but is there any science to back it up? In episode one of Brain Rot, we’re doing our best to focus on the topic of attention for a full 25 minutes — and find out what's actually happening in your brain every time your phone buzzes or dings. Is brain rot a real thing? Or just another moral panic? And how do you know when your own screen use has gone too far? This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October. Guests: Anna Seirian CEO, Internet People Dr Mark Williams Professor, Macquarie University; Cognitive neuroscientist Michoel Moshel Clinical Neuropsychologist Registrar; Phd Candidate, Macquarie University Professor Marion Thain Professor of Culture and Technology, University of Edinburgh; Director, Edinburgh Futures Institute Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Brendan O'Neill More information: Neuropsychological Deficits in Disordered Screen Use Behaviours: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis - Neuropsychology Review, 2024. Do we have your attention? How people focus and live in the modern information environment - King's College London, 2022. Internet addiction-induced brain structure and function alterations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity studies - Brain Imaging and Behavior, 2023. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Revenge feels sweet... At least for a moment. James Kimmel Jr knows that better than most. As a lawyer, he made a career out of helping clients get payback. But the drive for revenge started to eat away at him, threatening to destroy his work life and relationships. Coming back from the brink, he started to wonder — why are we drawn to payback? What impacts does it have on the brain? And can revenge ever be addictive? In this episode, we explore some of the neuroscience of revenge: what's going on in the brain when we seek it out, the rewards we get from it, the damage it causes and how to stop it. Plus, are we hardwired for forgiveness? Just a heads up, there is a brief mention of animal cruelty in the intro of this episode, so please take care while listening. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guest: James Kimmel, Jr., JD Assistant Clinical Professor, Psychiatry Yale School of Medicine Author, The Science of Revenge Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite Thanks to freesound.org users craigsmith, Scott_Snailham and EwanPenman11.  More information: The neural basis of altruistic punishment The sunny side of fairness: preference for fairness activates reward circuitry (and disregarding unfairness activates self-control circuitry) The neural basis of economic decision-making in the Ultimatum Game "An eye for an eye"? Neural correlates of retribution and forgiveness

Five years of unpaid taxes. Homework handed in on the last day of an extension. Some people are champion procrastinators. Why? And what does task paralysis (sometimes called ADHD paralysis) have to do with it? Today: the personality traits that make you more prone to procrastination, the types of tasks we're most likely to put off, and what to do if your to-do list sends you into fight-or-flight mode. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: Eva High school student Dr Catherine Houlihan Clinical psychologist Senior lecturer in clinical psychology Director of the UniSC Psychology Clinic University of the Sunshine Coast Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite More information: The skills supercommunicators use, which you can learn too Outwardly impressive, losing it on the inside? The cognitive distortions of a high achiever Why do I procrastinate? And can I do anything about it? Fighting for focus in the age of distraction

If you opened up a magazine in the 2000s, you'd likely be met by countless images of celebrities on their worst days. And the conversation accompanying those images? Pretty toxic. We've come a long way in how we talk about mental health since then, but how did we get here? What changed? Today, we reflect on the cruelty of tabloid culture and how the internet shifted the narrative about mental health. If you want to hear more about our relationship with celebrities, check out our episode Moog became a Youtube megastar — and it messed with his mental health. Guests: Jo Piazza Author and host of Under the Influence Sophie Gilbert Staff writer for The Atlantic Author of Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves Dr Jessica Ford Lecturer in Media University of Adelaide Professor Nick Haslam University of Melbourne Clinical Professor Jonathan Shedler Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences University of California Hadley Meares Hollywood historian Matthew Suarez Author of Paparazzi Daze: Celebrity Encounters David Kamp Contributing Editor Vanity Fair Magazine Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Reporter/producer: Jennifer Leake Producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

When was the last time you decluttered? Was it a satisfying process, or did it fill you with dread? Where you sit on the clutter spectrum differs person to person, so today, we investigate if decluttering is worth the hype.  Why can it be so hard for some people? Could there be a way to reduce clutter before it builds up? And what's the relationship between hoarding disorder and clutter?  If you want to hear more about our relationship with objects, check out Why do we love collecting? Guests: Professor Melissa Norberg Psychologist Macquarie University Professor Jessica Grisham Psychologist University of New South Wales Dr Seung Hwan (Mark) Lee Professor and Associate Dean of Engagement & Inclusion Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University Dr Omar Fares Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Business University of New Brunswick Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Reporter/producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. More information: Understanding 'underconsumption core': How a new trend is challenging consumer culture Breaking up with belongings: a pilot randomized controlled trial of an unguided web-based program to reduce overconsumption Nudging society toward more adaptive approaches to material possessions: Harnessing implicit approaches to reduce overconsumption and excessive saving Try This: declutter your work from home space

Can serial killers ever learn empathy? Is their psychology similar to mass shooters? Why are they almost always men? Welcome to All in the Mind’s first ever ‘mailbag’ episode! These are just some of the many questions you sent us after our recent episode on serial killers, called Where have all the serial killers gone? Forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee is back on the show, answering these questions and a whole lot more. And can we ask a favour? As this is our first mailbag episode, we’d love to know your thoughts. Do you find this kind of format useful or interesting? Would you be keen to hear mailbag episodes more regularly? You can reach us at mind_rn@abc.net.au if you have any feedback. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: Dr Rajan Darjee Forensic psychiatrist Clinical Director, Forensic Behavioural Assessment and Consultation Services Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: John Jacobs

Have you ever felt like things were not quite real? That you were no longer connected to your body or didn’t know who you were? Nathan Dunne felt this way for years. And it’s never quite stopped affecting the way he sees himself or the world around him. Today, depersonalisation disorder — and what we know about its symptoms, causes and treatments. And a heads up, this episode discusses heavy topics such as suicide. Please take care while listening. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: Nathan Dunne Author, When Nothing Feels Real Dr Emma Cernis Clinical psychologist and researcher Assisant Professor of Clinical Psychology University of Birmingham Centre Lead, Midlands Dissociation & Depersonalisation Centre Credits: Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar Reporter/Senior Producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound Engineer: Tegan Nicholls If you enjoyed this episode, you might like: Can we trust our memories? Memory loss and identity Dissociation and coping with trauma Depersonalisation — when Nathan lost his sense of self and nothing felt real (Conversations) More Information: When Nothing Feels Real - Nathan Dunne Unreal: Depersonalisation and Derealisation Support Like being trapped behind a pane of glass – depersonalisation, derealisation disorder explained (The Conversation, 2025) Depersonalisation-derealisation as a transdiagnostic treatment target: a scoping review of the evidence in anxiety, depression, and psychosis (Frontiers in Psychology, 2025) The Prevalence of Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder: A Systematic Review (Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 2023) Support resources: Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue

Love it or hate it, there are reasons you might read your star sign and relate to what it says about you as a person. We all fall into cognitive traps — but if we’re aware of them, is it such a bad thing to indulge in your daily horoscope, or a tarot card reading? Today, we delve into the occult, to understand why some people seek messages from the universe, and if it can play a role in therapeutic care. If you want to hear more about otherworldly beliefs, check out our episode Spooky science: What's behind a paranormal experience? And Soul Search also has an episode called Astrology and tarot — telling the future, or connecting with the present? Guests: Professor Susan Krauss Whitbourne Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst Ryan Findlay Psychotherapist and tarot reader Credits: Presenter: Sana Qadar Reporter/producer: Shelby Traynor Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite Extra information: When It Comes to Personality Tests, a Dose of Skepticism Is a Good Thing Why You Might Not Want to Trust a Personality Test – Psychology Today The validity of astrological predictions on marriage and divorce: a longitudinal analysis of Swedish register data Even the stars think that I am superior: Personality, intelligence and belief in astrology The Power of Rituals – Psychology Today

The backpacker killer. The Claremont killer. Ted Bundy. The crimes serial killers commit linger in our memories for decades. But when was the last time you heard about an active serial killer in the news? In our final episode of Criminal Psychology, we probe the lead-crime hypothesis, find out about 'chemical castration' and ask — where have all the serial killers gone? And a heads up that this episode explores some heavy themes including sexual assault, child abuse, suicide and murder. It also contains the names of Aboriginal people who have died. Please take care while listening. If you've got more questions for our forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee, please send them to us! We're going to make a special mail-bag episode featuring your burning true crime questions. Get in touch by emailing us at mind_rn@abc.net.au with the subject line "criminal psychology question". Guests: Dr Rajan Darjee Forensic psychiatrist Clinical Director, Forensic Behavioural Assessment and Consultation Services Dr Xanthe Mallett Criminologist Associate Professor of Criminology, Central Queensland University Co-Director, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research Podcast co-host, Motive and Method Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Emrys Cronin More information: The lead-crime hypothesis: A meta-analysis Support resources: Beyond Blue Lifeline 13 11 14 1800 Respect

What drives some people to steal compulsively? This week, as part of our special four-part series Criminal Psychology, we're talking about kleptomania and the impact it can have on a person's life. We speak to someone who’s been diagnosed with kleptomania about their experiences; from their urges to steal, to the guilt and shame they feel. We also chat to a psychiatrist about what treatment looks like for people with kleptomania. Guests: Lynn Dr Sam Chamberlain Professor of Psychiatry, University of Southampton  Credits: Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar Reporter/Senior Producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound Engineer: Emrys Cronin Voice Actor: Swa Kaushik More information: Symptom Severity and Its Clinical Correlates in Kleptomania A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Opiate Antagonist, Naltrexone, in the Treatment of Kleptomania Why do young children sometimes steal? And what should parents do about it? Kleptomania — Mayo Clinic Kleptomania and Potential Exacerbating Factors

Australians know the devastation of bushfires all too well. So why would anyone deliberately light a fire? In this episode of Criminal Psychology, our new four-part series on unusual crimes and unusual minds, we're exploring the psychology of arson. Answering questions like, how does it relate to pyromania? What do we know about the profile of a typical arsonist? And how do investigators track down the source of a blaze? Guests: Dr Paul Read Climate criminologist Dr Nichola Tyler Senior lecturer, forensic psychology Swinburne University of Technology Richard Woods Director, Wildfire Investigations and Analysis Adjunct Associate Lecturer, Wildfire Investigation, Charles Sturt University Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Emrys Cronin Extra information: Adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism who deliberately set fires: A systematic review The truth about Australia's fires — arsonists aren't responsible for many this season Some Coalition MPs say that arson is mostly to blame for the bushfire crisis. Here are the facts Deliberately lit vegetation fires in Australia Clinical characteristics of child and adolescent psychiatric outpatients engaging in fireplay or arson: a case–control study What are the differences between children and adolescents who deliberately light fires? The Acquisition of Fire

Why would any parent lie about their child's health? Or worse, intentionally make their child sick? In episode one of Criminal Psychology, our new four-part series on unusual crimes and unusual minds, we dive into a disorder that’s long been sensationalised in the media: Munchausen by Proxy – and ask: how do these parents get away with their lies? Can their behaviour ever be reformed? Guests: Brenda Bursch, PhD Director, Pediatric Psychology in Outpatient Subspecialty Pediatrics Program Professor of Clinical Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences Professor of Clinical Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Professor Jon Jureidini Child psychiatrist Research Leader, Robinson Research Institute University of Adelaide Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Executive producer: Petria Ladgrove Sound engineer: John Jacobs Extra information: Munchausen by Proxy: Clinical and Case Management Guidance APSAC Advisor Volume 30, Issue 1- Munchausen by Proxy Special Issue Psychological Treatment of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another/Munchausen by Proxy Abuse The mothers accused of poisoning their kids Support resources: Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

On All in the Mind, we investigate why people behave the way they do. But there are some perspectives we don't often hear about. Introducing Criminal Psychology, a special series diving into just that. On this four-episode series, we'll cover arson, kleptomania, serial killers and Munchausen by proxy as we look at what drives people to the extremes of human behaviour. And we'll examine how our understanding of the human mind can better help us to prevent harm. Whether you're a dedicated fan of true crime or curious about the inner workings of our minds, find the series linked below and on the All In The Mind website.

Time and time again, Dr Rangan Chatterjee has seen chronic stress wreak havoc on his patients' lives — contributing to autoimmune disorders, gut problems, low libido and more. But the most devastating blow struck his own family, when his father's punishing work schedule forced him to medically retire in his 50s. It’s an experience that led Rangan to rethink his own work and approach to medicine. Today, Dr Chatterjee, a GP and host of a mega popular wellbeing podcast, shares his story, as well as strategies for better managing stress in your own life. Guest: Dr Rangan Chatterjee GP, author and host of Feel Better, Live More Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls More information:  Rangan's Australian tour

Loneliness hurts. And we know it's bad for us, worse than smoking or obesity. Even though a third of us are lonely, we're embarrassed to say so.  So, what would happen if we talked about our loneliness openly? And how can we build more meaningful connections? This week we have a special episode from our friends at Ladies, We Need To Talk. Host Yumi Stynes speaks to women who are lonely, one within a marriage and one hoping to find a partner, to understand the toll it can take. Plus, psychologist Dr Bella Ingram shares tips on how we can insulate ourselves from the chill of being lonely. More information: Ending Loneliness Report Resources: Beyond Blue Lifeline 13 11 14

Concussions are hard to diagnose, often get missed, and don't always get 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. This episode was first broadcast in October 2023. Guests: Dr Lewis Freeth Psychiatrist Kate Naznin Virji-Babul Physical therapist and neuroscientist Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia Shreya Mcleod Physiotherapist Lecturer, Australian Catholic University PhD candidate, University of Newcastle Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Russell Stapleton

Avoiding your emotions is generally a recipe for disaster — but Ethan Kross makes a case for occasional 'strategic' avoidance. He’s a professor of psychology from the University of Michigan, and he’s appeared in some of our most popular episodes: Controlling the chatter in your head and What influences your inner voice? Controlling 'chatter' part two. He’s back to share more tools for taking charge of your emotions. Guests: Ethan Kross, PhD Professor of Psychology and Management, University of Michigan Author, Shift: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don't Manage You Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Dylan Prins

Panicky. Irrational. Impulsive. These are the traits that have long been associated with crowd behaviour. But modern crowd science suggests that’s an incomplete, if not inaccurate picture. From crowd crushes to terrorist attacks, we take a closer look at how people really behave in crowds, and what you can do to keep yourself safe in one. Want to listen to more All in the Mind? Check out our episode, Can music inspire mania? Guest: Associate Professor Milad Haghani Principal Fellow in Urban Resilience & Mobility University of Melbourne Credits:  Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More info: How simple behavioural modifications can influence evacuation efficiency of crowds: Part 1. Decision making of individuals How simple behavioural modifications can influence evacuation efficiency of crowds: Part 2. Physical movement of individuals How behavioural changes in social groups affect evacuation efficiency of crowds Contemporary understanding of riots: Classical crowd psychology, ideology and the social identity approach The role of social identity processes in mass emergency behaviour: An integrative review English riots 2011: new research shows why crowd behaviour isn't contagious How to stay safe in a New Year's Eve crowd

Whether it's stamps, figurines, antiques or toys, plenty of people love collecting. But why? What are the psychological drivers behind the hobby? How much is marketing influencing us, and is there a risk of collecting turning into hoarding? If you enjoy the show or if you have feedback you'd like to share, please check out our survey here. Guests: Sam Todd Content creator and collector Professor Nick Neave Director of the Hoarding Research Group Department of Psychology, Northumbria University Associate Professor Louise Grimmer Tasmanian School of Business and Economics University of Tasmania Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Reporter/producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Micky Grossman More info: Why They Collect: Collectors Reveal Their Motivations How retailers turn everyday items into 'must-have' collectables

Over years of clinical practice, psychologist Dr Mary Anderson started to notice a peculiar pattern across her many clients. Despite being impressive high achievers on the outside, inside they were struggling with burnout, imposter syndrome, anxiety and self-criticism. So she set out to develop a guide for these high achievers. A framework to support their success ... without sacrificing their mental health. If you loved this episode, you should listen to our story on controlling the chatter in your head. And if you haven't already, please take a moment to fill out our listener survey! It's only seven questions and we'd love to hear your thoughts on the show. Guests: Dr Mary Anderson Psychologist; Author, The Happy High Achiever Extra Information: The Happy High Achiever - Pan Macmillan Australia

If you're watching sport or browsing social media, odds are you will come across gambling ads. If you work in an office, you might've joined Melbourne Cup or footy tipping comps. In Australia, it can feel like gambling is everywhere. Today, we look at how everything from video games to shopping sites seem to be priming us for betting-like behaviours, and how the ubiquity of gambling ads is influencing young people in particular. And if you haven't already, please take a moment to fill out our listener survey! It's only 7 questions and we'd love to hear your thoughts on the show. Guests: Dr Hannah Pitt VicHealth Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Health Transformation  Deakin University Dr Anastasia Hronis Clinical psychologist Lecturer, University of Technology Sydney Nic Bloom Mental health first aid trainer Wellbeing facilitator and speaker Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Ann-Marie de Bettencor Resources: Gambling Help Online or over the phone 1800 858 858 Lifeline resources Extra information: Meta-analysis of the relationship between problem gambling, excessive gaming and loot box spending Young people's recall and perceptions of gambling advertising and intentions to gamble on sport "It's just everywhere!" Children and parents discuss the marketing of sports wagering in Australia Gambling activity among Australian teenagers

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 mind_rn@abc.net.au 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. Guest: Daniel Oberhaus Science writer Author, The Silicon Shrink: How Artificial Intelligence Made the World an Asylum Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano Extra info: Meta preys on insecure teens, whistleblower says - The Australian Meta whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams says company targeted ads at teens based on their ‘emotional state’ - Yahoo Finance Comments on Research and Ad Targeting - Meta Resources: Lifeline Australia Beyond Blue 13YARN

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. Guests: Dr Emma Fitzgerald  Clinical Neuropsychologist Seb Emma's son and distracted teenager Gloria Mark, PhD Chancellor's Professor Emerita, University of California, Irvine Author, Attention Span Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Bella Tropiano Extra info: Gloria's The Future of Attention substack Smartphones in the nursery: Parental smartphone use and parental sensitivity and responsiveness within parent–child interaction in early childhood (0–5 years): A scoping review Ditching your smartphone won't stop you being distracted, study finds

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: Lifeline Australia 1800RESPECT

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.

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.

Spicy food, scary movies, BDSM … why do humans sometimes chase painful experiences and how are they linked to pleasure?

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: SANE Australia Orygen Headspace Psychosis Understood

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: The Psychology Behind Design: A Marketing Perspective See the Yamaha Silent Violin

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.