All In The Mind

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...

TikTok is a mixed bag when it comes to mental health content. Great at raising awareness and building community, but not always accurate or evidence based. Journalist Matilda Boseley sees both sides – but she says TikTok was the push she needed to seek out a formal diagnosis.

Concussions are hard to diagnose, often get missed, and not always 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.

Artist Matt Ottley has been experiencing hallucinations since he was a child.  Today, Matt takes us on a journey to understand what psychosis can feel like, through storytelling and musical composition. 

As a toddler, Nicole's son was extremely aggressive. As he got older, his behaviour worsened. In this episode from our archives, we examine 'callous unemotional traits' — the early warning signs of psychopathy that emerge in childhood. This episode was first broadcast in December 2022. 

What happens when we let our most destructive emotion dominate? On All in the Mind this week, we explore why we get angry, how you might control aggression and whether it can ever be ... useful. This episode was first broadcast in February 2022. 

In part two of our look at introversion and extroversion, we dive into the science and psychology of personality. How do we develop these traits? How much are our genes responsible?  The way brains of introverts and extroverts differ will probably surprise you. This episode was first broadcast in August 2022. 

Jessica Pan was a life-long shy introvert and for the most part she was happy with this aspect of her personality – until the loneliness crept it. This week on All in the Mind, the first of two episodes exploring introversion and extroversion. The benefits and downsides of each, how these traits impact our mental health and whether we change, if we want to. This episode was first broadcast in Augu...

1 in 10 dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety, and more seem to be willing to reach out for help. Chris Jephcott wishes he'd been one of them. If this episode raises any issues for you, you can reach out to: Lifeline13 11 14 Beyond Blue1300 22 4636 PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)1300 726 306

Nature is good for our wellbeing. But how much green space does a community need, before you can see a wellbeing boost? And how do we encourage people to spend more time outdoors?

A bank heist, a hostage drama and a dubious diagnosis. It's 50 years since the robbery that inspired the term 'Stockholm Syndrome', and today we explore the origins of the proposed condition  - and probe the many problems with that label. 

Chris Hadnagy’s job involves breaking into break into banks. But he’s not after money, gold or jewels. He’s searching for weaknesses – in systems, in security, and in people.  And he doesn’t use weapons or threats of violence to get past guards and into vaults. He uses a smile - and a few tricks from his toolbox of psychology and social engineering techniques. Chris is the founder and CEO of Socia...

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! As part of our exploration of sound and noise for Science 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? Fo...