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…

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 t…

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 l…

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: …

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 suppo…

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 behaviour…

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/pMNc8…

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 a…

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.…

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 explor…

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.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

This time on Stranger Than podcast, Joanna tells a variety of awkward sex stories curated on the internet, and Nate gives an update on the giant asteroid strike in 2032 and tells about Denmarkification. Enjoy! Stranger Than podcast is a part of the Age of Radio podcast syndicate. Check them out at ageofradio.org Stranger Than podcast logo art by Ca…

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 r…

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 epis…

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 demen…

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 mi…

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 epis…

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 consta…

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 goi…

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…

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 an…

This time on Stranger Than podcast, Joanna and Nate talk about some of the dangers presenting themselves in 2025. Enjoy! Stranger Than podcast is a part of the Age of Radio podcast syndicate. Check them out at ageofradio.org Stranger Than podcast logo art by Catthulu Art. Take a look at more pieces at https://www.facebook.com/CatThuluArt/ Do you li…

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…

This time on Stranger Than podcast Joanna talks about a newly unlocked fear. Stranger Than podcast is a part of the Age of Radio podcast syndicate. Check them out at ageofradio.org Stranger Than podcast logo art by Catthulu Art. Take a look at more pieces at https://www.facebook.com/CatThuluArt/ Do you like Stranger Than podcast? Let us know! Check…

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 c…

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 f…

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…

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…

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, …

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 …

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 — b…

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…

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 bei…

This time on Stranger Than podcast, Joanna talks about a Thanksgiving explosion. Enjoy! Stranger Than podcast is a part of the Age of Radio podcast syndicate. Check them out at ageofradio.org Stranger Than podcast logo art by Catthulu Art. Take a look at more pieces at https://www.facebook.com/CatThuluArt/ Do you like Stranger Than podcast? Let us …

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 …

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 speci…

Laura would spend weeks feeling normal — even happy. But like clockwork, every month, suddenly she would feel intense depression, making her unrecognisable to herself and friends. It took her nearly two decades to identify what was causing this rollercoaster of mood: PMDD, AKA Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. So what is it about hormones that make …

Professor Chris French has been studying the paranormal for decades. But — he’s a sceptic. In an All in the Mind Halloween special, we explore the psychology behind our spooky encounters. What's going on in your brain when you see a ghost? How do people talk to the dead? And why would a sceptic study the paranormal?…

This time on Stranger Than podcast, Joanna talks about strange radio stations and creepy things that kids say and Nate has a little bit of squid talk. Enjoy! Stranger Than podcast is a part of the Age of Radio podcast syndicate. Check them out at ageofradio.org Stranger Than podcast logo art by Catthulu Art. Take a look at more pieces at https://ww…

This time on Stranger Than podcast, Joanna talks about Vampire Moths and Murder Houses in her creepy compilation. Enjoy! Stranger Than podcast is a part of the Age of Radio podcast syndicate. Check them out at ageofradio.org Stranger Than podcast logo art by Catthulu Art. Take a look at more pieces at https://www.facebook.com/CatThuluArt/ Stranger …

How many hours have you spent on your phone today? And do you feel like it's too many? A growing movement of people are going without their smartphones and computers in favour of just about anything that doesn't have a screen. They say it's giving their lives more meaning — and improving their mental health. This week, meet the digital minimalists …

This time on Stranger Than podcast, Joanna tells us about the worst year to be alive. Enjoy! Stranger Than podcast is a part of the Age of Radio podcast syndicate. Check them out at ageofradio.org Stranger Than podcast logo art by Catthulu Art. Take a look at more pieces at https://www.facebook.com/CatThuluArt/ Stranger Than banner art by the very …

We don't remember everything that happens to us — so why do we remember what we remember? And the memories we do lock away aren't always accurate or trustworthy. This week, we're talking about the fallibility of memory and why sometimes it's healthy to forget. We'll also get into how to remember special moments more clearly, and here's a hint — you…

We know running is good for the body, but what about the brain? Hear from people who love running about the psychological tools they use to stay active, including some advice from a professor who's taught their entire class to run a marathon. Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode Why being a beginner is good for you.…

This week we're talking about something intimate … And at-times taboo … Masturbation. From self-love, to disordered behaviour, and back again, how our perceptions of masturbation have changed over the course of history and why it's still linked to shame and confusion for some. Also — why do humans (and other animals) masturbate in the first place? …

It's human nature to form groups — families, friends, online communities. We love to be surrounded by people similar to us. But that can also make us discriminatory and defensive. And social media makes that instinct worse. Today, we look at how our brains evolved to connect and divide, and what that means for the problems we face in our modern wor…

When you think about pillars of health a few things might come to mind — nutrition, exercise, connectedness. But there's something many of us miss off that list — sleep. Insomnia does so much more than make us cranky, it's closely tied to our mental health. Not just how we feel on a day to day basis, but our likelihood of developing depression. Thi…

Earlier this year, the Netflix program Baby Reindeer brought stalking firmly back into the zeitgeist - sparking discussion about the psychology of people who stalk and the impact it has on victims. So what goes on in the mind of a stalker? How do the various types, from incompetent suitor to intimacy seeker, differ? And what should you do if you th…

Attachment theory is a foundation of modern psychology — a framework for understanding human relationships and how we connect other people. But has social media taken this concept — grounded in decades of research — too far? Scroll through Instagram or TikTok for too long, and you might think that if you have a certain attachment style, you're fund…

Do you know your love language? Maybe you've done an online test — tested your partner — spent time talking it over — even made decisions about your relationship on the basis of your love language. But where did this concept of love languages even come from? And how good is the evidence that backs it up? Today, two research psychologists go deep on…