All In The Mind
267 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 440 ratingsAll In The Mind is ABC RN's weekly podcast looking into the mental universe, the mind, brain and behaviour — everything from addiction to artificial intelligence.
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Episodes
Taking back control of your time
July 09, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBOur brains are easily distracted or overwhelmed. And that can make getting stuff done harder than it needs to be. This week, we look at methods and strategies for avoiding unnecessary stress by managing your priorities, your focus, and your energy with organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber.
Not broken, just wired differently: ADHD in adulthood
July 02, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBImagine getting a diagnosis in adulthood that suddenly made so much of your life make sense. It explains why you’ve always had trouble being on time, starting things you don’t finish, avoiding difficult projects. Producer Jennifer Leake explores the impact of an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood.
The secret life of secrets
June 25, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBMichael Slepian researches the psychology of secrets. But what he didn't know — until about a decade ago — was that his family had a major secret they were keeping from him. One they planned never to reveal. Until …
Does guilt have a silver lining?
June 18, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBGuilt and shame are often used interchangeably, but researchers in emotion and psychology say they are distinct – and often motivate people into very different paths of behaviour. For the feeling of guilt, at least, that might even push you into making unexpected positive changes.
How we make up our minds: Sydney Writers' Festival
June 11, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBIn the uncertain times we live in, how exactly are we meant to make up our minds? How do we weigh up pros, cons and risk factors, and how do stress and fear bear on our capacity for critical thinking? And how often are we even aware of the decisions we’re making? On All in the Mind this week, a special panel discussion recorded at the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
You've got the music in you
June 04, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBMusic is central to the human experience. We celebrate with it, commiserate through it - often some of our strongest memories are tied to it. On All in the Mind this week, how music affects us from the womb through the rest of our lives - and what new research tells us about its measurable impact on our mental health. Plus, the 'plink' test - how our musical memories can identify a track from just a sliver of song, and the power of music to shape ou...
'Refrigerator mothers' and the history of autism
May 28, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBOn 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.
Can you change your personality?
May 21, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBHave you ever wanted to change your personality? Many people do - studies find we're keen to become more extroverted, more agreeable and more conscientious. But what does the evidence say about whether people do change? And can you tweak your personality deliberately?
Natural disasters: how floods and fires shape the psyche
May 14, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBTwo disasters, two years apart - the ongoing mental health impact on survivors and what the research can tell us about the different ways people respond to these life-changing events.
The psychology of charitable giving
May 07, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBThe quirks of psychology that influence when we give to charity … and when we don't.
'I'm going to cook my baby'
April 30, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MBDolls can tell us a lot about how kids see the world – especially when it comes to race. One American researcher spent months watching pre-schoolers play with dolls and what she observed shocked her. Plus, did you know the very first study of children and their thoughts about dolls actually changed the course of American history? First broadcast 4 April 2021.
The vicious cycle of alcohol and anxiety
April 23, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBAnxiety and alcohol misuse are a common pairing. How do the two egg each other on and what can be done to halt the cycle? Plus, the personality traits that shape our likelihood of harmful alcohol use.
Grief and the pandemic
April 16, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40.8 MBGrief is deeply painful but it's something the majority of us …eventually … find ways to live with. But research is starting to emerge on how the pandemic may have changed the way we grieve - making the experience more intense, more debilitating. As places like Australia and the US move on from the harshest restrictions of the last two years… is how we grieve returning to baseline? Or is it still too early to know? On All in the Mind this week, how...
Co-morbidity: why one mental illness can lead to more
April 09, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBAbout one in five Australians experience a mental illness in any given year. But what about when mental health issues occur ... together? On All in the Mind this week, we look at a massive Scandinavian epidemiological study series which considers why having one mental illness puts you at greater risk of developing subsequent ones, and explore what that might mean for the treatment and prevention of mental health issues. ...
What happens when our minds wander?
April 02, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBWhat are the constructive things our minds do when they wander? And when does mindwandering cross over … into not-so-constructive territory?
Why heartbreak hurts so bad
March 26, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 40.8 MBIf you’re lucky enough to have fallen in love at some point in your life, you’ve probably also had your heart broken. The experience can be excruciating, protracted, disorienting … but can it cause you lasting psychological – even physical – harm?
Hacking humans: social engineering and the power of influence
March 20, 2022 02:05 - 29 minutes - 40 MBChris Hadnagy’s job involves breaking into banks. But he’s not after money, gold or jewels. He’s searching for weaknesses – in systems, in security, and in people. And he doesn’t use weapons or threats of violence to get past guards and into vaults. He uses a smile - and a few tricks from his toolbox of psychology and social engineering techniques. Chris is the founder and CEO of Social Engineer LLC and lectures about social engineering around the ...
Humour me: why we laugh and what counts as funny
March 12, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBWhy do we laugh, and what makes something funny? A psychologist, a neuroscientist and satirist Mark Humphries weigh in on humour and the brain.
All In The Mind presents... What The Duck?!
March 09, 2022 17:00 - 7 minutes - 10.4 MBAn excerpt from a new ABC podcast called What the Duck?! Each week the ABC's resident nature nerd Ann Jones explores the most unusual elements of our natural world — the ones that make you go What the Duck?!
The pleasure of pain
March 05, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBSpicy food, scary movies, BDSM … why do humans sometimes chase painful experiences and how are they linked to pleasure?
'Utterly catastrophic' — life with frontotemporal dementia
February 26, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBFrontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is tricky to pick up at the doctor's office and impossible to cure. And for those who live with the condition, their families and their carers, the situation can be very challenging. On All in the Mind this week, we hear from those people and a researcher who has spent decades working on the condition.
Seeing red — anger and aggression
February 19, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBWhat happens when we let our most destructive emotion dominate? On All in the Mind this week, we explore why we get angry, how you might control aggression and whether it can ever be ... useful.
Toxic positivity — when happiness becomes harmful
February 12, 2022 17:00 - 31 minutes - 43 MBWe're urged to stay positive and keep up a cheerful disposition ... but sometimes things are just awful, aren’t they? On All in the Mind this week we look at why we engage in toxic positivity, why it's so damaging when we do and whether something called 'tragic optimism' could be the antidote.
Controlling the chatter in your head
February 05, 2022 16:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBMost of us have an inner voice – it reminds you to pick up milk on your way home, helps problem solve, or rehearse what you’re going to say. But there are times that helpful voice veers into harmful chatter.
How our brain chemicals drive our behaviour
January 29, 2022 17:00 - 31 minutes - 42.8 MBYou’ve heard of adrenaline, oxytocin and cortisol, but what about glutamate and GABA? And how much do you really know about the chemicals coursing through your brain? On All in the Mind this week, we take a whistle stop tour through your brain to learn how various chemicals influence our behaviour.
Post-partum psychosis
January 22, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBHaving a baby is supposed to be a joyous time, despite the sleep deprivation and constant crying. But for many women, it can be a dark time. We know one in six suffer post partum depression, but there's another condition that affects women during this period that you may not have heard of. It's called post-partum psychosis. It's rare, but for those who get it, it can be utterly debilitating. This episode was first broadcast on 25 April 2021. ...
The damage done by emotionally immature parents (and how to heal)
January 15, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 40.1 MBHow would you describe your parents? Nobody's perfect, of course, but some parents leave more of a mark than others. On All in the Mind this week, we look at the life-long impact of having 'emotionally immature' parents. This episode was first broadcast on 30 May 2021.
Does self-help ... help? The problem with pop psychology
January 08, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBHave you ever tried a self-help book? Did it… well, help? On All in the Mind this week, why self-help sometimes falls short ... and the problem with pop psychology more generally.
The making of a magnificent memory
January 01, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBOne spring weekend a few years back, around 15 people gathered in a south Melbourne office space. They were mostly neuroscience and maths types and there for something super niche and somewhat nerdy — the Australian Memory Championships. Anastasia Woolmer was a first time competitor — but she’d go on to win. On All in the Mind, she explains the techniques memory athletes use, and how you can apply them to everyday life. This episode was first broa...
Mood and the magic ion
December 25, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBIt’s the lightest metal on the periodic table. Its origins lie in the very beginnings of our universe. And it's taken, in the form of a pill, by thousands of Australians every day. Join us as we dive deep into the story of this wonder element lithium — the magic ion, as it's sometimes called — and its remarkable impact on mood. This episode was first broadcast on 28 March 2021.
Misadventures in multitasking
December 18, 2021 18:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBHow many times in a day are you doing just one thing? Or is it more common that you’re multitasking – maybe texting and walking? Reading while listening to music? We all multitask to some degree, but do any of us do it well? And is that even possible? This week on All in the Mind, we look into the science of multitasking – why we struggle to do it, why some of us are better at it than others – and how to do it effectively if you must ...
Psychedelics for mental illness
December 11, 2021 18:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBMajor trials are bringing us a step closer to seeing psychedelic substances used in therapy practice for PTSD, anxiety and depression. On this episode of All in the Mind, we take a look at where the research is currently at.
Overcoming resentment with gratitude
December 04, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40.1 MBWe all have resentments in our lives, big or small. How can we move past the feeling and even repair relationships that get bogged down in resentment? The answer may have something to do with ... gratitude.
How dopamine drives our addictions
November 27, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBWhat role does dopamine play in cycles of addiction — and how might we use that knowledge to break them?
Making big decisions
November 20, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBCareer, family, relationships - how do we think about big decisions and in turn how do they shape our lives? And what makes a 'good decision?' On All in the Mind this week, we hear from three people who have faced big life decisions and an expert who researches life's choices and how we can make better ones.
The toxic effects of rudeness
November 13, 2021 18:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBAre your colleagues rude? Do people regularly ignore each other or dismiss opinions in meeting? Ever gotten an all caps email? On All in the Mind this week, we examine the toxic effects of rude behaviour. And are we getting more rude as a society?
Language and loss
November 06, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBWhat goes on in the multilingual mind? And what does it mean to 'lose' your language? Author and linguist Julie Sedivy with a story of losing – and re-discovering – her native language.
Habits and making them stick
October 30, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MBHabits are notoriously hard to change—exercising more often, practising calmness, getting healthy—it all takes time and effort. So perhaps you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a way to get habits into your routine. We talk with Bernard Balleine, Director of the Decision Neuroscience Lab at UNSW; and with B J Fogg, founder of the Behaviour Design Lab at Stanford University about his new book Tiny Habits.
Tears, fears and hope — your pandemic life
October 23, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MBWith restrictions easing around the country, we wanted to know how you've survived the past year and a half - what's gotten you through and what you can't wait to do next. On All in the Mind this week, we turn the show over to you, our listeners, and hear your pandemic survival stories.
'As real as waking life' — exploring lucid dreams
October 16, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBHave you ever realised you were dreaming ... while in the middle of a dream? Lucid dreams are a common phenomenon, but many people don't realise that these surreal experiences of slumber can be influenced or controlled. On All in the Mind this week, we explore the world of dreams, hear some of the latest research in the area and learn the best ways to induce lucid dreaming.
The peculiar power of talking to strangers
October 09, 2021 18:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBAre you the kind of person who loves chatting to strangers? Like people in cafes, parks or the train? Or does the thought of small talk make you cringe? On All in the Mind this week, we cover a growing body of research on how talking to strangers can make you feel happier, more connected to your community and less lonely.
The building blocks of wellbeing
October 02, 2021 19:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBWellbeing' has become a bit of a buzz word recently, but what does it really mean? It's not the same as simply being happy, or experiencing pleasure - it's something deeper and broader than that. It has to do with how we connect with others, how we feel about ourselves, and much more. So what do we need in order to achieve wellbeing?
Hey you! Tell us about your pandemic life
September 29, 2021 18:00 - 3 minutes - 3.09 MBWe're working on an episode about how Australians have been coping through the pandemic, and we want your stories. We want to know what’s been getting you through the tough times, and what you’re most looking forward to when this is all behind us. How can you tell us? You just need to use your smartphone to record yourself telling a story. It can be sad, happy, funny, weird -- like maybe you got a new hobby, or re-discovered an old one, or made an...
Whispers, taps and tingles — what is ASMR?
September 26, 2021 02:30 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBHave you heard of ASMR? Whispery, clicky, crinkly videos are massive on YouTube - racking up millions of views. The idea is that these sounds elicit a certain tingly, calming sensation in some people. So what is ASMR and what does the science tell us about it? Is it real … or pseudoscience? And why do some people get the opposite reaction – irritation rather than these pleasant tingles?
Forget dad bod ... what about dad brain?
September 11, 2021 19:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBDuring pregnancy and then in childbirth, new mums experience some dramatic hormonal changes. But while these changes in women are relatively well studied … there’s a growing body of evidence finding that biological changes - shifts in hormones and brain activity - happen in men, too. And these shifts are just one part of the picture. Men can also experience mental health issues when they become a new dad, like postnatal depression. On All in the M...
COVID and the brain
September 04, 2021 19:00 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBAs the pandemic continues, the long-term effects of COVID-19 are a growing concern. Much is still unknown, but one major study suggests up to a third of people who get COVID-19 will go on to develop a psychiatric or neurological condition. Then there's the anxiety, depression and stigma that come with a diagnosis of the disease. On All in the Mind this week, how COVID can affect the brain.
Electroconvulsive therapy — they still do that?
August 28, 2021 19:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBECT has a chequered history, but its modern iteration is nothing like the scenes depicted in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Used to treat severe depression and psychosis, ECT's side effects include some degree of memory loss. We delve into the discussion around benefits vs side effects, and speak to three patients about their varying degrees of success with the treatment.
Neuromarketing — how brands target your brain
August 21, 2021 20:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBWould you be able to tell the difference between a bargain bin red and a top drop? Or how about what separates a duck paté … from one made of dog food? Perception is everything when it comes to marketing, and decades of neuroscience and psychology research have given businesses ever greater insights into how we can make decisions and how they can subtly shape our expectations so that yes – even dog food paté can become appealing. But the ramificatio...
The 'benevolent' brand of sexism
August 14, 2021 19:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBYou’re no doubt familiar with 'hostile sexism' – blatantly negative or restrictive attitudes towards women. But there's another type of sexism it co-exists with - ‘benevolent sexism’ - which is sometimes harder to detect. Benevolent sexism can be well-meaning and positive – describing women as natural nurturers or brilliant carers. It's linked to notions of chivalry and romance - research suggests some women even find benevolent sexism attractive. ...
The 'hidden histories' of autistic adults
August 07, 2021 16:00 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBOver the past two decades, our cultural understanding of autism and what it means to be autistic has grown - though we have a long way to go. But there are entire generations of people who grew up when the popular conception of autism was a far cry from how it’s now understood. It meant a whole host of people who grew up feeling like they didn’t fit in, but never quite knowing why. They were autistic, but undiagnosed. And when a diagnosis did come a...