The Sound Mind

In this episode, we explore how music shapes our travel experiences, from influencing how we perceive new destinations to helping us navigate journeys and relive holiday memories. We also explore the flip side: how travelling can shape our musical tastes and introduce us to new sounds. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 02:31 Why We Listen on the Move 08:07 Can Music Ease Travel Sickness? 14:06 How Music Shapes...

Joined by Sara Sørensen, one half of the Norwegian-British electronic duo Heirloom, we explore how follower counts, likes, and streams shape the way we discover and perceive music. We examine social proof, herd mentality, and the pressures of social media on emerging artists, questioning whether popularity is influencing our perception of artistic quality. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 03:24 Meet Heirloom...

In this episode, we explore the psychology behind deluxe albums, bonus tracks and rereleases, and how anticipation, curiosity and familiarity shape our listening experiences. We also examine how streaming has changed the way we engage with albums and whether a record can ever truly be finished. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 03:40 From Bonus Tracks to Deluxe Editions 10:41 Why We Always Want More 20:39 Can...

In this episode, we explore why lyrics can sometimes put words to feelings we struggle to articulate. We look at how music can give language to complex emotions, help us recognise what we’re feeling, and become a powerful tool for self-reflection and understanding. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 04:02 Feeling Something Before We Can Name It 07:57 When a Lyric Gives the Feeling a Name 12:18 Why Music Makes T...

In this episode, we explore why popular music keeps returning to the same themes of love, connection, freedom, and self-discovery. We look at Self-Determination Theory, the psychological themes that emerge across hundreds of popular songs, and what they reveal about the human needs hidden beneath the stories we sing about. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 04:26 Self-Determination Theory 08:53 Psychological Ne...

In this episode, we explore the science behind why some people focus better with music, whilst others need silence. We look at how personality, lyrics, tempo, familiarity, and the task itself can shape whether music helps or hinders concentration, and how to build a focus soundtrack that works for you. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 02:33 Why Some Brains Thrive With Noise 10:29 Lyrics as a Distraction  18:5...

In this episode, we explore the psychology of the post-concert high and why the effects of a live music experience can last long after the final song. We examine why we replay, relive, and share our favourite concert moments, how music can turn a night into a lasting autobiographical memory, and why the comedown can feel surprisingly emotional. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 03:56 What Actually is the Post-...

In this episode, we explore how music can become a powerful tool for a mid-year check-in. We examine what our listening habits can reveal about the year we’ve had so far, and share practical exercises to help you reflect, reset, and move forward. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 03:10 Why Music Is a Powerful Reflection Tool 09:43 Your Listening Habits as a Diary 14:20 Five Music Reflection Exercises 22:32 Fin...

In this episode, we explore how certain songs become the soundtrack to an entire summer. We unpack how weather and musical features influence what we listen to, the influence of social trends and shared experiences, and explore how music becomes connected to memory, nostalgia, and identity. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 02:18 What Makes a Song Feel Like Summer? 09:46 How Summer Anthems Take Over 18:26 Why...

In this episode, we explore the role of music in the FIFA World Cup and why football is heard just as much as it is seen. We unpack the psychology of football anthems, stadium chants, and official World Cup songs, and how they shape identity, emotion, and collective experience. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 03:25 The Soundtrack of the Tournament 08:29 Music as Identity 12:56 Why Singing Together Feels So P...

Joined by Justin Holiday, a 15-year NBA veteran, we unpack how rhythm — from church piano and marching band percussion to guitar and worship music — has shaped his focus, resilience, and identity on and off the court. We also explore how and why, in the intensity of professional sport and constant travel, intentional sound choices and even silence can become powerful tools for stress management, c...

Joined by Josh Simons, CEO of Vinyl Group and founder of music industry networking platform Vampr, this episode explores the psychology of music fandom, parasocial relationships, and creativity in the digital age. We unpack why, in a streaming-first world, people are still drawn to deeper, more tangible connections with music, artists, and the communities around them. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 02:27 Jo...

This episode explores the rise of MTV and how visual storytelling reshaped the music industry, artist identity, and global pop culture. We explore the psychology behind this shift, exploring how music videos shape memory, emotional interpretation, and our attachment to songs and artists. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 06:04 Before MTV: The Origin of Music Videos 12:59 The Launch of MTV: Video Killed the Rad...

Joined by Jennie Silber from Koodos Labs, we unpack how platforms like Shelf are turning taste into something social and even predictive, from matching people through music to building a broader picture of identity across culture and lifestyle. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 01:58 Jennie’s Journey: From Law to Data 06:32 What Is Taste? 17:20 Can Taste Be Measured? Inside the Data 29:05 Building Shelf: Turni...

To honour both World Music Therapy Week and World Autism Month, this episode explores the power of music therapy in autism. From understanding how autistic individuals experience the world to the psychology and neuroscience behind why music can unlock connection, we explore how music can become a language of its own and what it reveals about expression, connection, and what it truly means to commu...

What happens in your brain when creativity unfolds in real time? In this episode, we explore the psychology of jazz, from its rich history and roots in expression and identity, to the neuroscience behind improvisation, flow state, and emotional connection. Discover how jazz musicians create in the moment, why it feels so powerful to listen to, and what it can teach us about creativity, focus, and...

How do we understand the history of music when so many women have been left out of the story? In this Women’s History Month special, we explore how women have always shaped music — from medieval composers to modern-day global superstars — despite being overlooked, excluded, and undervalued across the industry. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 02:05 The Earliest Women in Music 08:21 The Age of Erasure 16:08 Ea...

How do we stay emotionally steady when the world feels unpredictable? In this episode, we explore how music becomes a tool for regulation, release, reconnection, and even reclamation during times of collective stress. You’ll also learn how to design your own emotional soundscape with intentional playlists that help you regulate, release, reconnect, and reclaim a sense of agency in uncertain times....

How can music move us so deeply when we don’t even understand the words? In this episode, we explore how Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language Super Bowl performance sparked global streaming surges, inspired thousands to start learning Spanish, and reignited conversations about identity, cultural pride, and representation on one of the world’s biggest stages. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 04:58 The Neuroscience of...

In this 1st anniversary episode of The Sound Mind, we return to the question that started it all: why do we love music? One year on from the very first episode, we revisit the original themes through a new lens: not theory first, but real voices. Drawing on audio responses and conversations, this episode explores how music helps us regulate our emotions, navigate our darkest moments, connect with...

In our first guest episode of The Sound Mind, we sit down with John Butler to explore a life immersed in every corner of the music industry, from college radio and record labels to Spotify and the era of streaming. We discuss what it truly means to listen: to music, to audiences, and to the cultural shifts shaping the way we connect with sound. Plus, John shares his bold predictions for 2026, from...

For our first episode of 2026, we explore New Year’s resolutions and why the pressure we put on ourselves, combined with natural fluctuations in emotional state, can make even the best-intentioned goals feel heavy. We introduce a goal-setting model that works with your emotions instead of against them, showing how music can be a practical tool to support the emotional state you need to take action...

For our last episode of 2025, we break down the psychology behind Christmas music. We explore why festive songs feel comforting, familiar, and instantly transporting — even if they are decades older than we are. We dive into the musical features that make songs sound “Christmassy", and unpack why some people love Christmas music whilst others hate it. Finally, we bring it all together with a...

In this episode, we break down the psychology behind the internet’s favourite holiday: Spotify Wrapped. From nostalgia and identity to social comparison and belonging, we explore the emotional forces that make Wrapped so irresistible. We dive into 2025’s biggest new features, and reveal how Wrapped transforms your listening habits into a personal story worth sharing. Wrapped isn’t just data, it’s...

In this episode, we explore how music shapes the way we shop, from the emotional pull of advertising soundtracks to the subtle cues woven into in-store playlists. Through the psychology of memory, mood, and behaviour, we uncover how brands use music to guide our decisions without us even realising it. We also dive into Christmas as the world’s biggest musical marketing moment, where festive soundt...