What's going on up there?

Pearn Kandola LLP
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Social Sciences

A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 14 hr ago

    Why Does Everything Feel Harder In A Heatwave?

    If you’re reading this in the middle of a heatwave, you’ve probably already noticed your brain isn’t firing on all cylinders. The good news is, it’s not just you. In this episode, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE to explore the growing body of research showing that as temperatures rise, our ability to do demanding mental work can start to decline. Together, they unpack why complex cognitive tasks are especially vulnerable, what this means for organisations and education, and how heat is likely to become an increasingly important issue in the years ahead. They also discuss what workplaces, schools and universities can do differently — from improving airflow to rethinking when demanding work, meetings and exams are scheduled. References: Ebi, K.L., Capon, A., Berry, P., Broderick, C., de Dear, R., Havenith, G., Honda, Y., Kovats, R.S., Ma, W., Malik, A. and Morris, N.B. (2021) ‘Hot weather and heat extremes: health risks’, The Lancet, 398(10301), pp. 698–708.PLOS Climate (no date) ‘Cumulative exposure to urban heat can affect the learning capacity of students and penalize the vulnerable and low-income young population: A systematic review’, PLOS Climate. Available at: https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000618 (Accessed: 26 June 2026).Thompson, R., Hornigold, R., Page, L. and Waite, T. (2018) ‘Associations between high ambient temperatures and heat waves with mental health outcomes: a systematic review’, Public Health, 161, pp. 171–191.Zeng, P., Sui, Y., Liu, Y., Xu, H., Cheng, D., Che, Y. and Helbich, M. (2025) ‘Heat risk during hot weather is associated with poorer self-reported mental health: A cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China’, Cities, 164, p. 106078.A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min

  2. 19 Jun

    Have We Met Before? Remembering Names and Faces

    We’ve all had that awkward moment where we recognise someone instantly, but their name has completely vanished. Why does that happen? And are we really worse with names than faces, or does it just feel that way? In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Dr Jo Kandola explore one of the most relatable mysteries of human memory. From everyday social slip-ups to the psychology of recognition and recall, they unpack why names can be so difficult to remember and what that reveals about how memory actually works. Along the way, they delve into research on metamemory and the brilliantly named “Butcher on the Bus” phenomenon, revealing why our intuitions about memory are not always as reliable as they seem. If you’ve ever smiled confidently at someone while silently panicking over what they’re called, hopefully this episode will make you feel a little less embarrassed. References Jenkins, R., Murray, A., & Dowsett, A. J. (2021). "I recognise your name but I can't remember your face": Name recognition outperforms face recognition. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(12), 2157–2165.Jenkins, R., Dowsett, A. J., & Burton, A. M. (2018). How many faces do people know?Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285(1888), 20181319.Bruce, V., & Young, A. (1986). Understanding face recognition. British Journal of Psychology, 77(3), 305–327.Burke, D. M., MacKay, D. G., Worthley, J. S., & Wade, E. (1991). On the tip of the tongue: What causes word finding failures in young and older adults? Journal of Memory and Language, 30(5), 542–579.Mandler, G. (1980). Recognizing: The judgment of previous occurrence. Psychological Review, 87(3), 252–271.A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min

  3. 12 Jun

    Football Fever: The Psychology of the World Cup

    The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history — but beyond the viewing figures and commercial spectacle, what does it do to us psychologically? In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Professor Binna Kandola OBE to explore the psychology behind the world's biggest sporting, and emotional, event. Drawing on research from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, they examine how expectation gaps shape supporter wellbeing, why moderate hope tends to produce healthier emotional outcomes than either blind optimism or low expectations, and how football can influence our mood without fundamentally changing overall life satisfaction. A conversation that reveals more about human psychology than you might expect from a football tournament. References: Robinson, M. A., Davis, M. C., & Unsworth, K. L. (2023). Expectation-achievement gaps and satisfaction in World Cup football supporters: a quasi-experiment. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(5), 1304–1327. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2021.2007278A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min

  4. 5 Jun

    Is Getting 'Triggered' Destroying Your Resilience?

    Over the past decade, words like 'triggered' have become part of everyday speech, and the psychology behind that shift is more significant than it might seem. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to explore why the language we use to describe our emotions can profoundly shape how we experience them and, in turn, undermine our resilience. Drawing on insights from ancient Greek philosophy through to modern psychology, they examine how our internal dialogue often has more influence over our emotional responses than the situations themselves. Along the way, they identify the thinking patterns that can keep us stuck and explain why recognising them is the crucial first step towards building genuine, lasting resilience. References Ellis, A. The revised ABC's of rational-emotive therapy (RET). J Rational-Emot Cognitive-Behav Ther 9, 139–172 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01061227A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    7 min

  5. 29 May

    Beyond the Divide: Can We Reverse Polarisation?

    We're more divided than ever – and mostly avoiding the conversations that could change that. Research shows that a single civil conversation reduces polarisation more than people expect. Not a debate. Not a lecture. Just a chat. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to explore the psychology behind polarisation. Together, they unpack the "online disinhibition effect", the algorithms that reward outrage over nuance, and the new research that proves talking across difference works to depolarise attitudes. They close with four ground rules for how to have challenging conversations effectively and move towards a less divided society. References: Suler, John. (2004). The Online Disinhibition Effect. Cyberpsychology & behavior : the impact of the Internet, multimedia and virtual reality on behavior and society. 7. 321-6. 10.1089/1094931041291295. Kardas, M., Nordgren, L., & Rucker, D. (2026). Unnecessarily divided: Civil conversations reduce attitude polarization more than people expect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 130(2), 187–214. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000469 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min

  6. 22 May

    Can You Really Spot a Liar? The Psychology of Deception

    Do you really know when you're being lied to? Most of us believe we do, but research suggests we're far worse at detecting deception than we'd like to think. This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Stuart Duff to explore the fascinating psychology of lying. Together they examine what we mean by lying, the line between a white lie and calculated manipulation, and what personality can reveal about how, and why, people deceive. Drawing on the latest behavioural science, they also challenge the biggest myths around lie detection and uncover what research actually says about spotting a liar. References Cantarero, K., Van Tilburg, W., Szarota, P. (2018) Differentiating everyday lies: A typology of lies based on beneficiary and motivation. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences Volume 134, November 2018Dr Julia Shaw How to actually catch a liar, according to the new science of lie detection. BBC Science Focus. December, 2025Luke, T. et al. (2025) What have we learned about cues to deception? A survey of expert opinions. Psychology, Crime and Law. Vol. 31, 2025A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11 min

  7. 15 May

    Why You’re Always Bored: Digital Overstimulation Explained

    We've never had more ways to entertain ourselves. So why are so many of us more bored than ever? This week, Grace sits down with Chartered Psychologist Dr Jo Kandola to explore the paradox of modern boredom: how the very devices designed to keep us entertained are rewiring our brains to crave constant stimulation and are ultimately making the problem worse. From the way social media is fuelling a boredom epidemic, to the point at which scrolling stops being a distraction and starts becoming an addiction, to the impact of boredom on our mental health and wellbeing, this conversation might just change the way you think about reaching for your phone. References: Dora, J., van Hooff, M., Geurts, S., Kompier, M., & Bijleveld, E. (2020). Fatigue, boredom, and objectively-measured smartphone use at work (preprint). Radboud University. Date taken from manuscript (May 1, 2020).Tam, K. Y. Y., & Inzlicht, M. (2024). People are increasingly bored in our digital age. Communications Psychology, 2, 106.Tam, K. Y. Y., & Inzlicht, M. (2024). Fast-forward to boredom: How switching behavior on digital media makes people more bored. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    8 min

  8. 8 May

    Is Eurovision Rigged?

    Behind the glitz and glamour of Eurovision lies one question – how fair is the voting? This week, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE ahead of this year's event to explore the science behind the scores. Together, they unpack what the data reveals about recurring voting patterns, how ‘framing effects’ shape the way we judge performances, and what Eurovision ultimately tells us about the way people think, feel, and connect across countries. Whether you're a lifelong Eurovision fan or a first-time viewer, this episode will change the way you watch the scoreboard. References: Ginsburgh, V. and Moreno-Ternero, J.D. 2023. The Eurovision Song Contest: voting rules, biases and rationality. Journal of cultural economics. 47(2), pp.247–277.Mantzaris, A.V., Rein, S.R. and Hopkins, A.D., 2017. Examining collusion and voting biases between countries during the Eurovision Song Contest since 1957. arXiv preprint arXiv:1705.06721. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min
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5
out of 5
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About

A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  • Creator
    Pearn Kandola LLP
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Pearn Kandola LLP
  • Show Website
    What's going on up there?

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