All In The Mind

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. If you'd like to hear more from Joel, he featured on our episode abo...

Researchers knew Susannah better than her own parents. They may have even known her better than herself. Today, how spending thirty years in a psychological study warped journalist Susannah Breslin's life. If you enjoyed this episode and want to check out another, take a listen to  Trauma, OCD and a PhD . 

Whether it's shaking hands or which side of the road to drive on, social norms dominate the way we behave. But when norms change suddenly, you get chaos. Just ask Sweden. If you'd like to hear more from today's expert, Matt featured in an episode in 2021 called  Neuromarketing — how brands target your brain . Check it out!

Have you ever looked at your pet and thought, what is going on inside your brain? Today, we're heading to the World Science Festival Brisbane for All in the Mind live to discuss animal consciousness. If you enjoyed this episode and are keen to listen to another, check out  How our brain chemicals drive our behaviour .  This episode was recorded live at the World Science Festival Brisbane. 

Popular culture is endlessly fascinated with cults, and they have the capacity to make ordinary people do unthinkable things. Today - how cults reel people in, how coercive control keeps them there and what it takes to get out. This episode was first broadcast in October 2022.  And if you enjoyed listening, you should check out our episode  The History of Brainwashing .

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. Our original episode on chatter is called  Controlling the chatter in your head , if you liked this episode you'll love that one!

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 can manifestation lead the brain down some dark all...

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. If you liked this episode, you might like one of our past episodes about the isolation we all experienced during the pande...

What does working for the CIA, navigating hot button topics and talking to teenagers all have in common? They're situations that supercommunicators excel at. Today, we explore how you can become a supercommunicator too.  In this episode we touch on a previous story,  Introversion vs Extroversion . If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love that one too. 

Parasocial relationships can be intense — and we all have them to some degree. Whether you're a Swiftie, a fan of the Matildas or just watch the local news every night. But what its like to be on the receiving end of millions of parasocial relationships? For Blair Joscelyne AKA Moog, one half of Mighty Car Mods, it took some unexpected steps to cope. If you're interested in what it's like to be fa...

We all have moments in our lives when we feel an unconscious pull towards a certain decision. Should you walk down that dark alley? Does that person seem a bit off? Why is that giving me the heebie-jeebies? For Isla Lucas, a gut feeling while on holiday saved her life… Or did it? We take a look at the science and fantasy of intuition. If you liked this episode, you'll love our episode on The Pleas...

Now that we're more comfortable talking about mental health, it's time to address some misconceptions. Is depression REALLY a chemical imbalance in the brain? What's the difference between being depressed and distressed? And are psychedelics the solution we've been waiting for? Today, Professor Ian Hickie breaks it all down and reveals the biggest myths about depression.

What does it take to go from second place, to first? Good, to great? This episode was first broadcast in July 2023. It's part one of our two parter on performance psychology. Part two is called Visualisation and values — goal setting like a winne r.

A founding member of the band Gang of Youths. A single mum from Adelaide. A dad of two in Brisbane. What do all these people have in common? They all have young kids, and they all sing to them constantly! This week we ask: why do babies turn us into non-stop singing machines? Where does this instinct come from and what purpose does it serve? This episode was first broadcast in August 2023.

ARIA-nominated musician Parvyn knows what it's like to lose touch with reality. Delusions, mania, psychosis — she's experienced it all, often while on tour. Despite processing these experiences on her debut solo album 'Sa', she's never spoken publicly about her mental health — until now. This episode was first broadcast in March 2023.

As a teen, Hunter Johnson wanted to be the best at sport, the best at getting girls, and the best at getting attention. But one moment would change everything for him — forcing him to rethink his ideas about masculinity. Now, he's paying it forward. Last week, we explored why toxic masculinity is tricky to talk about. Today, we hear from someone having that conversation daily — shifting the focus...

Do you get defensive when you hear the term toxic masculinity? You wouldn't be the only one, if so. In this episode, we follow one dad's attempts to understand where internet algorithms are sending his son… and ask, how do we deal with toxic masculinity, when the very term has become contested? This episode was first broadcast in February 2023.

Sex, scandal, money and misdeeds. All elements of good gossip. So why do we love the gossip, but not the gossiper? And why are we invested in the secrets of celebrities, even though they're strangers? This episode was first broadcast in February 2023.

The best grades, the best schools, the best sports programs, the best universities – sure, it's great for students to strive for success. But when does the pressure to succeed become too much? American journalist Jennifer Wallace says 'toxic achievement culture' is harming the mental health of many students. Is this a uniquely American phenomenon?

We all tend to get a bit cranky when the weather turns super hot, but did you know heatwaves can worsen certain mental health conditions? We explore the troubling ways heat can affects our mental health and behaviour. Just a heads up, this episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care.

Talking about death and grief is hard for anyone, let alone children. But children do experience grief and often have questions they want to ask. Today, how to talk to kids about death, loss and grief. 

Aiming for perfect sounds like a good thing, right? But when perfectionism grows into hurtful self-criticism and unrelenting standards, it can be damaging for your mental health.  And it turns out, perfectionism is linked to an already complex group of mental illnesses. Today, the role perfectionism plays in eating disorders. Please take care while listening if this topic is sensitive for you. And...

Pulitzer prize finalist Meg Kissinger grew up in the 1960's and 70's, steeped in feelings of shame and guilt about the mental illness that plagued her family. Now a journalist covering mental health, she's made it her mission to share stories of lost loved ones and the systems that failed them. This episode explores the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening and don't hesitate to reach...

Social media abounds with mindset mentors, spiritual healers, influencers and more — many of who offer life coaching. Does anyone know what they're talking about?

To imagine the future of artificial intelligence, it's important to reflect on some of the big moments in it's past. This week, James Purtill from Science Friction brings us a story of competition, surprise and thinking machines. This is the only time you'll hear Science Friction in the All in the Mind feed. To hear the full six-part series on AI, Hello AI Overlords , search for Science Friction i...