Start Here: All in the Mind Podcasts - Apple Podcasts

04/05/2024

How to help a conspiracy theorist: an ex believer and an expert weigh in

So you've got a loved one who's fallen deep down the conspiracy rabbit hole. Are they destined to stay there forever? Today, we hear from a former conspiracy theorist and a social psychologist on what fuels these beliefs, how likely people are to change their minds, and what you can (and can't) do to help. Want to listen to more All in the Mind? Check out our episode, The Certainty Myth.
28/12/2024

Inside a sociopath's mind: "I'm capable of almost anything"

Patric Gagne is a sociopath, but she doesn’t fit the stereotype. From a violent kid, to a PhD and author - we track the unusual story of a sociopath who learned to be 'good'. Plus, there's been some controversy and questions about the veracity of her PhD - so, we fact checked it. This episode was first released in May 2024. Need something to listen to next? Check out our episode Why heartbreak hurts so bad.
27/12/2025

Got the ick? Dating, disgust and evolutionary psychology

Have you ever experienced "the ick"? It's that sudden, visceral feeling of being put off by someone you're dating. Maybe it's their hat, a hobby or even the way they laugh. Stories of the ick are prolific online, but it leaves us with a question - what causes it? To separate red flags from disgust, we get into the psychology of the ick - why you might feel icky, if it should be a deal breaker, and what it says about your own attachment style. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode first aired in March 2025. Guests: MichaelaSingle and ick-prone Adam HorvathClinical Psychologist at Personal Psychology Professor Gery Karantzas, PhDCouples therapistDirector, Science of Adult Relationships laboratoryDeakin University Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineers: Tegan Nicholls and Michael GrossmanYou can find the transcript for this episode on its original webpage here. More information: The ick: Disgust sensitivity, narcissism, and perfectionism in mate choice thresholds
26/06/2025

Munchausen by Proxy: when parents hurt their kids

Why would any parent lie about their child's health? Or worse, intentionally make their child sick? In episode one of Criminal Psychology, our new four-part series on unusual crimes and unusual minds, we dive into a disorder that’s long been sensationalised in the media: Munchausen by Proxy – and ask: how do these parents get away with their lies? Can their behaviour ever be reformed? Guests: Brenda Bursch, PhDDirector, Pediatric Psychology in Outpatient Subspecialty Pediatrics ProgramProfessor of Clinical Psychiatry & Biobehavioral SciencesProfessor of Clinical PediatricsDavid Geffen School of Medicine,University of California, Los Angeles Professor Jon JureidiniChild psychiatristResearch Leader, Robinson Research InstituteUniversity of Adelaide Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrExecutive producer: Petria LadgroveSound engineer: John JacobsExtra information: Munchausen by Proxy: Clinical and Case Management GuidanceAPSAC Advisor Volume 30, Issue 1- Munchausen by Proxy Special IssuePsychological Treatment of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another/Munchausen by Proxy AbuseThe mothers accused of poisoning their kidsSupport resources: Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
21/06/2025

Chronically stressed? These small changes can help

Time and time again, Dr Rangan Chatterjee has seen chronic stress wreak havoc on his patients' lives — contributing to autoimmune disorders, gut problems, low libido and more. But the most devastating blow struck his own family, when his father's punishing work schedule forced him to medically retire in his 50s. It’s an experience that led Rangan to rethink his own work and approach to medicine. Today, Dr Chatterjee, a GP and host of a mega popular wellbeing podcast, shares his story, as well as strategies for better managing stress in your own life. Guest: Dr Rangan ChatterjeeGP, author and host of Feel Better, Live More Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Tegan NichollsMore information: Rangan's Australian tour
30/08/2025

Task paralysis and procrastination - why it's so hard to get sh*t done

Five years of unpaid taxes. Homework handed in on the last day of an extension. Some people are champion procrastinators. Why? And what does task paralysis (sometimes called ADHD paralysis) have to do with it? Today: the personality traits that make you more prone to procrastination, the types of tasks we're most likely to put off, and what to do if your to-do list sends you into fight-or-flight mode. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: EvaHigh school student Dr Catherine HoulihanClinical psychologistSenior lecturer in clinical psychologyDirector of the UniSC Psychology ClinicUniversity of the Sunshine Coast Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarProducer: Rose KerrSenior producer: James BullenSound engineer: Simon BranthwaiteMore information: The skills supercommunicators use, which you can learn tooOutwardly impressive, losing it on the inside? The cognitive distortions of a high achieverWhy do I procrastinate? And can I do anything about it?Fighting for focus in the age of distraction
01/11/2025

Narcissist, or just a pain? How to deal with difficult people

You know how certain people are just… difficult? Maybe they're prickly to be around, don't take feedback well, or act like a narcissist? Today we're learning how to handle relationships with difficult people; from setting boundaries, to understanding the role of attachment and temperament on behaviour. Plus, is it ever the right time to cut someone off completely? And what's a 'highly sensitive person' (HSP)? Got a question about a difficult person in your life? Send us an email at mind_rn@abc.net.au with the subject line "mailbag episode: difficult people". Guests: Rachel SamsonClinical psychologistCo-author, Beyond Difficult Dr Jessie SternDevelopmental psychologist and researcherCo-author, Beyond Difficult Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Micky GrossmanYou can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Extra information: Beyond Difficult, An attachment-based guide to dealing with challenging people
10/02/2024

When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore it

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 Pleasure Of Pain Guests: Isla Lucas Dr Valerie van MulukomSenior Lecturer in PsychologyOxford Brookes University Professor Joel PearsonPsychologist, neuroscientistFounder and Director, Future Minds LabUniversity of New South WalesAuthor, The Intuition Toolkit Producers:Fiona Pepper, Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Russell Stapleton To explore more great episodes from the award-winning psychology podcast All in the Mind with host Sana Qadar, download the ABC Listen app (Australia) or search 'ABC All in the Mind podcast' wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find more episodes on mental health, trauma, attachment theory, wellness hacks, and family relationships. You'll also hear interviews with experts like Esther Perel, Billy Garvey and Ethan Kross. All in the Mind is created for ABC's Radio National by specialist journalists and reporters at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
8 May

Can criminal profiling identify a killer?

Criminal profiling promises a lot — being able to piece together a picture of a suspect through clues, intuition and psychology sounds great. But how reliable is it? In our first episode of Forensic, a four-part series unpacking the psychological tools used to solve crimes, we examine the history of criminal profiling. How it got popular in the 1950s after bombings in New York City, its shortcomings when scrutinised by researchers, and the techniques it is built on that police deploy today (but with a lot more data). Guests: Michael CannellAuthor, Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal ProfilingFormer Editor, The New York Times Professor Craig JacksonProfessor of Occupational Health PsychologyBirmingham City University Dr Victoria BerezowskiLecturer, Forensic Science, Deakin University Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Isabella TropianoYou can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. Further Information: Incendiary - Michael CannellThe Organized/Disorganized Typology of Serial Murder: Myth or Model?Is criminal profiling dead? Should it be? Psychology TodayGeorge Metesky, the ‘Mad Bomber’ – WikipediaUnmasking the Mad Bomber – The Smithsonian, 2017A 16-Year Hunt For New York’s ‘Mad Bomber’ – NPR, 2011An overview of offender profiling – International Journal of Police Science and Management, 2024Offender profiling: a review of the research and state of the field – Police Psychology, 2021The Grit, Glamour and Gall of Criminal Profiling – The University of Arizona, 2021Casebook of a Crime Psychiatrist – James Brussel, 1968Dangerous Minds - The New Yorker
21 Aug

Why do we crave closure?

Closure can feel like the ultimate solution to help us heal. But is it all it's cracked up to be? Today, we learn about ambiguous loss — the type of grief that comes without closure. We know navigating uncertainty is tricky, so what practical steps can we take to process this kind of loss? A heads up, this episode touches on some heavy topics around loss and trauma. Guests: Carly DoberPsychologist Dr Pauline BossProfessor emeritus, University of MinnesotaAuthor, Myth of Closure: Ambiguous Loss in a Time of Pandemic Author, Change and Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Roi HubermanMore information: The psychology of closure — and why some need it more than othersMotivated closing of the mind: "seizing" and "freezing"Beyond dogmatism: The need for closure as related to religionNeed for cognitive closure, tolerance for ambiguity, and perfectionism in medical school applicantsAmbiguous lossTo explore more great episodes from the award-winning psychology podcast All in the Mind with host Sana Qadar, download the ABC Listen app (Australia) or search 'ABC All in the Mind podcast' wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find more episodes on mental health, trauma, attachment theory, wellness hacks, and family relationships. You'll also hear interviews with experts like Esther Perel, Billy Garvey and Ethan Kross. All in the Mind is created for ABC's Radio National by specialist journalists and reporters at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.