The Applied Mind

Brain fog, memory lapses, disrupted sleep and mood changes can be deeply unsettling. For many women, these symptoms begin during perimenopause. They can appear years before menopause itself and are often dismissed as stress, ageing or simply not coping. This topic matters because perimenopause can affect far more than physical health. It can influence confidence, relationships, work performance an...

The future of cancer treatment may already exist. In this episode of The Applied Mind I sit down with Professor Nikola Bowden , a cancer researcher at the University of Newcastle whose work focuses on personalised cancer treatment, DNA repair, melanoma, ovarian cancer and drug re-purposing. Her research explores how existing drugs can be used in new ways to treat cancers that are resistant to stan...

In this episode of The Applied Mind, I sit down with Dr Jay Raman , a Clinical Psychologist , Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle and Founder/Director of the Three Squares Lab. We explore the psychology of body image, eating disorders, weight, shame, comparison and self-worth. Jay brings over 18 years of clinical and supervision experience , along with research expertise across body ima...

In Episode 09, I sit down with Associate Professor Darren Burke to explore the psychology of evolution, attraction and dark personality traits. Darren is an Experimental and Biological Psychologist whose work examines how evolutionary pressures have shaped the way we see, think, learn and relate to one another. We unpack what evolutionary psychology actually is (and what it isn’t), why sexual dimo...

People-pleasing isn’t just about being “too nice.” For many of us, it’s a learned survival strategy. In the very first episode of  Applied Mind: Solo Sessions , Eddie unpacks the psychology behind people-pleasing — why it forms, why it feels so hard to stop, and how it’s often rooted in attachment patterns, fear of abandonment, and nervous system responses rather than personality flaws. This episo...

In this episode of The Applied Mind , I’m joined by Nicole Ennis-Oakes , clinical psychologist and Director of Neuronexus to unpack ADHD without the hype, oversimplification or misinformation. We break down what ADHD actually is — and what it isn’t — exploring common misconceptions, why the condition is so often misunderstood and how it can profoundly impact attention, relationships, emotion regul...

Domestic and family violence isn’t always loud, obvious, or physical. Much of the harm happens in the quiet — through patterns of control, isolation, monitoring, and fear that slowly shape a person’s entire world. In this episode, I sit down with Ashleigh Chapman, a Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Counsellor with nearly a decade on the frontline, to unpack what coercive control really look...

This episode goes far beyond diets and gym plans — it’s an honest, unfiltered look at the psychology of women’s health, body image, and the pressure to “bounce back.” Anna is a fat loss coach who’s lived every extreme in the fitness space — from bodybuilding competitions to boxing fights, from disordered eating to becoming a coach who now helps women rebuild a healthy relationship with food, exerc...

In this episode, I sit down with performance and physique coach Gary Lapitan , who works with CEOs and elite athletes, to unpack the psychology of getting in shape . We dive into the habits that fuel long-term results, the mental traps that hold people back, and how social media distorts our idea of “fitness.” Gary also opens up about his personal journey from the Philippines to Australia, and how...

Tucked away deep in the hardest part of the skull hides the vestibular system, the mysterious unsung hero of the senses. Professor Alan Brichta is its number one fan. Most of us never think about balance until we lose it. But behind every step you take, every glance you stabilise, and every movement you make, there’s a silent system at work: the vestibular system. In this episode I sit down with P...

In this episode of The Applied Mind, I sit down with psychotherapist Sophie Cook to unpack the deep connections between trauma and addiction. Sophie brings a raw and human perspective from her extensive experience —exploring the ways we carry trauma, how it manifests in destructive patterns, and what the underlying mechanism of addiction and trauma actually are. Whether you’ve walked this path you...

Infertility rates across the developed world are on the rise — and around one in six Australian couples will face fertility challenges. A major part of the problem? A decline in sperm count and quality. In this episode, I’m joined by reproductive biologist Dr. Geoffrey De Iuliis , whose world-leading research is uncovering the hidden factors behind male infertility. From oxidative stress and envir...

We sit down with Ari Paparestis – a psychologist with real experience working on both sides of our juvenile justice centres. Expect to learn what life is like as a guard but also what life is like for some of the youth who are being detained - we dive into Ari’s humorous journey into psychology, explore the raw lessons learned inside juvenile detention, and unpack the mental game behind boxing.