Mind on Trial

Why do we lose motivation right before we reach our goals? In this episode, I unpack the neuroscience behind “Final Stretch Syndrome” — that frustrating dip in energy, focus and drive just when success is in sight. From dopamine crashes and cortisol spikes to ego depletion and social comparison, we explore why your brain starts to tap the brakes at the worst possible moment. We’ll also dig into th...

If part one left you rethinking what makes a psychopath, you’ll want to buckle in for the second half of this deep dive. In this episode, we explore the “successful” psychopaths who climb corporate ladders instead of prison fences, the grim reality of treating adult psychopaths, and the cutting-edge neuroscience that could one day change their brains. We also look at why children with callous-unem...

If you’ve ever wondered what makes a psychopath tick — or if they’re even real, this episode is for you. In this week’s deep dive on Mind on Trial , we crack open the neurological, emotional and behavioural layers of psychopathy. We’ll separate myths from science and ask the big questions: Are psychopaths born or made? What do brain scans actually show? And why do some turn violent, while others b...

Episode 4: Dating in the Age of Algorithms + Swipe Fatigue If your thumbs are tired from swiping and your heart’s a little weary, this one’s for you. In this episode, I explore how dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are reshaping our brains, literally. From dopamine loops to choice fatigue, we dive into how tech-fuelled dating is training your nervous system to seek novelty, reject connecti...

💔 Episode 3: Healing + Heartbreak A breakup doesn’t just hurt, it rewires your brain. In this episode, I dive into the neuroscience of heartbreak: why it feels like withdrawal, what’s happening in your limbic system and how your brain processes rejection like a threat to survival. I also unpack how rebounds can be both a comfort and a crutch, what “no contact” really does to your neural pathways,...

Grief isn’t just emotional — it’s neurological. Your brain physically feels it, reshapes around it, and fights to make sense of what happened. In this episode of Mind on Trial , Mallory dives into the neurochemistry of grief and loss — how your brain responds to heartbreak, trauma and mourning. You’ll learn why grief hurts physically, how it alters your neural pathways and why healing takes time....

Why do we chase people who hurt us? You can’t negotiate your worth with someone who benefits from your insecurity. In this premiere episode of Mind on Trial , host Mallory Van Noort shares her raw, personal journey — from chasing music to studying the mind and dives deep into the psychology and neuroscience behind emotional addiction, fantasy loops and the dopamine highs we confuse for love. This...

Why do people do the things they do? What’s really going on in the brain of someone who breaks the law, betrays a partner, or can’t break a pattern, even when they want to? Hi, I’m Mallory Van Noort on track to becoming a forensic neuropsychologist. I’m also a mum, musician, survivor and lifelong truth-digger. This is Mind on Trial —the podcast where neuroscience meets the messy, beautiful chaos o...