Everything's Psychology

Why are we so obsessed with vampires? In this episode, I'm joined by psychologist and author David Cohen. We chat about his book The Psychology of Vampires (Routledge, 2019) and David unpacks what vampires really represent in the human mind—from repressed desires and forbidden sexuality to our deepest fears about death, power, and emotional dependency. We delve into how Freud, Jung, and moder...

If you haven't listened to the previous interview episode with Dr Janina Scarlet on the idea of Superhero Therapy then instead get the cheat sheet with all the best bits here.  Also, I extrapolate from Superhero Therapy to Bandura's Bobo doll experiments from the 1960s, behavioural noise from Daniel Kahneman, and I also share a couple of super resources for you to dive into. Resources Su...

In this episode, discover the innovative concept of superhero therapy with Dr. Janina Scarlett. Her work with military personnel, adults, and children integrates pop culture heroes into evidence-based therapy to help individuals cope with anxiety, trauma, and other mental health challenges. Links from the episode Dr Janina Scarlet's website: https://www.superhero-therapy.com/ The Superhero Th...

This is the first of shorter episodes to sit in-between the main interview episodes. It means you'll now get an Everything's Psychology episode every week. Here, I dig a little deeper into the psychology behind the Hero's Journey and share a couple of academic studies which reveal the power of storytelling. – – – Here's some links which I mention: Christopher Vogler's 7-pa...

Why are we so drawn to stories about transformation? About leaving the ordinary world, facing a crisis, and returning changed? From King Lear to The Lion King, from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games, the same plot shape appears again and again: a lone hero sets off on a journey, struggles, grows, and triumphs. This structure — famously named The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell — has come to...

I chat with Dr Paul Sacher about the state of AI within the behavioural sciences. Should we be scared how AI will be used or excited about the opportunities it opens for research and the application of psychology? Paul is an AI and Behavioural scientist, CEO of Sacher.ai , and a senior lecturer in AI and behavioural science in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. Send us Fan Mail To...

Do habits really take 66 days to form? Should you rely on willpower? How does a psychologist approach overcoming their own bad habits and starting good ones? Professor Ben Gardner leads us through the intricate world of habits, exploring their definitions, the distinction between habits and routines, and the psychological mechanisms behind habitual behaviour.  Professor Gardner shares insights fro...

This episode dives into the complexities of cat behaviour. Dr Claude Béata, animal behaviouralist and author of The Interpretation of Cats, emphasises cats dual role as both predator and prey and how this distinction can help us understand these most wonderful creatures.  Our discussion also covers the importance of experience in shaping behaviour, the nuances of attachment and over-attachment, an...

What is vulnerability and how does it affect people differently? How should consumer organisations, such as banks be catering for people with characteristics of vulnerability? I chat with Dr Chris Fitch from the Money Advice Trust about the impact of being vulnerable and some of the innovative ways organisations are changing to be inclusive and accessible. Find out more about the Money Advice Trus...

I chat with renowned psychologist Professor Robert Epstein about how search engines are modern Skinner boxes, manipulating our choices and even our beliefs. Hear about how his research over the last 12 years shows how tech corporations such as Google and Facebook are employing techniques from behaviourism to manipulate our beliefs and opinions to influence global politics and beyond. In the show,...

Professor Ian Walker, Professor of Psychology and Head of the School of Psychology at Swansea University, talks to me about the psychology of cycling. We also discuss how you can change people's transport behaviour, what it means to be a ‘mindful traveller’, and if it's actually safer not to wear a helmet when cycling. Find out more about Professor Walker's work at www.drianwalker.c...

I'm joined by Dr Lori Beth Bisbey, a psychologist, a sex & intimacy coach, host of the A to Z of Sex podcast and star of Open House: The Great Sex Experiment on Channel 4.  We talk about the psychology behind people's sexual kinks and fetishes, if engaging in kinky behaviour is healthy for relationships, and if such behaviour should be seen as ‘normal’. You can find out more about Lo...

Dive into the science that shapes our lives as I chat to experts to uncover unexpected areas where psychology influences us. Are search engines manipulating your beliefs? Could getting kinky improve your relationship? And why do people become obsessed with cycling? From vulnerability to vampires, and from cats to craft beer, subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts to explore if actually, Ev...