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Explore every episode of the podcast All In The Mind

Dive into the complete episode list for All In The Mind. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
'Task paralysis' and overcoming procrastination16 Oct 202600:29:36

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.

This episode first aired in August 2025.

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 Qadar
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite

To view the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

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.

What self-help advice is actually useful?09 Oct 202600:29:36

Today, we're making sense of the tips, tricks and treatments that the self-help landscape has to offer.

So whether you're keen to try exposure therapy, tackle your need for validation or restructure your thinking, we'll unpack the psychology so you can improve your life.

Guests:

Dr Jeremy StevensonClinical psychologistCo-author, The 12 Levers: The Complete Psychological Toolkit For Improving Your Life

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

Related episodes:

Is AI the end of creativity and cognition?02 Oct 202600:29:53

As the headlines get scarier, a neuroscientist and an English professor weigh in on some of our big questions about AI.

From cognitive offloading to memory and creativity, we'll examine what AI can offer and what should be kept for human minds.

Sophie Gee and Reuben Rideaux appear in Where's the AI Off Switch? on 4 October, co-presented with The University of Sydney, as part of Curious at the Sydney Opera House.

Guests:

Professor Sophie GeeDepartment of English, Princeton UniversityCo-director, Eleos Collaboration, University of Sydney

Dr Reuben RideauxCognitive neuroscientistSenior Lecturer in the School of PsychologyUniversity of Sydney

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls

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.

Trying to read more? Your brain will thank you25 Sep 202600:29:36

Reading is good for you, but fiction has added benefits.

So how does reading work in the brain? Why are stories so impactful? 

And why, in this era of book clubs and booktok, are literacy rates not thriving?

Get your votes in for Radio National's Top 100 Books Countdown before October 1st. 

Guests:

Professor Genevieve McArthurAustralian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy, ACUDirector of Research Translation, Dyslexia SPELD Foundation

Dr Lili YuSenior Lecturer, School of Psychological SciencesMacquarie University Centre for Reading

Dr Raymond MarProfessor of PsychologyYork University

J.A. (Jess) StevensAuthor, A Change of Pace

BecJess' partner

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Reporter/producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Sound engineer: Tim Jenkins

Resources:

More information:

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.

Hypochondria and cyberchondria: the many ways to worry about health18 Sep 202600:29:37

How do you know if you have health anxiety?

For mental health nurse Sarah, she had real health concerns, but they were coupled with panic, spiralling worries and late nights googling her symptoms. So how can you tell if your concerns are causing more harm than good?Today, we're demystifying health anxiety. From the impact it has on individuals, to family and friends, to the flow on effects it can have on the medical system. 

And don't worry, there is good news - it is treatable, so we'll explore what to do if you're feeling overwhelmed by health anxiety. 

Guests:

Sarah (pseudonym)Mental health nurse

Professor Jill NewbyClinical psychologistUniversity of New South WalesBlack Dog Institute

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano

More information/resources:

The Black Dog Institute is doing research on digital treatments for health anxiety. If you're interested in participating, you can find more information here.

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.

Burnout: the warning signs and how to stop it11 Sep 202600:29:36

Sally Gould was a couple of years into her dream job as a paramedic when it all started to fall apart.It wasn’t the trauma and injury she was exposed to on shifts that was getting to her. It was everything else - the hours, the nonsense callouts, the bullying.The experience would leave her isolated and thinking of suicide. But she found a way back.Today, an episode for those of you who fear you’re burning out - or have burnt out.We hear about the personality traits that put you at higher risk of burnout, how to protect yourself and getting back on the path back to good health.

Guests:

Sally Gould

Paramedic; Author, Frog: The Secret Diary of a Paramedic

Gordon Parker

Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales

Credits:

  • Presenter: Sana Qadar
  • Senior Producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound Engineer: Tegan Nicholls

More info:

Frog: The Secret Diary of a Paramedic (Simon & Schuster).

Burnout: A Guide to Identifying Burnout and Pathways to Recovery (Allen & Unwin).

Defining burnout: What is this syndrome and what sets it apart from other labels? (RACGP).

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.

When meditation goes wrong: part two04 Sep 202600:29:36

Meditation sickness, meditation-related adverse effects or meditators in distress – you probably haven't heard these terms, even if you do meditate.

Yet research finds adverse effects occur in half of all meditators. For one in 10, it impairs their functioning or lasts more than a month.

Experts say many people can benefit from meditation, but it can also come with harms.

Today, the second episode of a two-part special on the research into those harms and the personal stories of those who've experienced them. You can hear part one of the series here.

Guests:

Willoughby BrittonAssociate Professor, Brown University Medical School; Director of the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Lab

Nicholas Van DamAssociate Professor, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences; Director of the Contemplative Studies Center at the University of Melbourne

Willem KuykenProfessor of Mindfulness and Psychological Science, University of Oxford

Jane ReedExperienced adverse effects from meditation and the author of First Telling

SueExperienced adverse effects from meditation

Credits:

  • Presenter: Sana Qadar
  • Reporter/Producer: Fiona Pepper
  • Senior Producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr

Extra info:

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.

When meditation goes wrong: part one28 Aug 202600:29:36

Meditation has a lot of benefits, but could it also have risks?

Over the past decade, meditation and mindfulness have been promoted to reduce stress and increase relaxation.

But there is another story of meditation that rarely gets told... one that involves anxiety, insomnia — even psychosis.

Today, how one person went from being an evangelical mindfulness meditator, to a leading researcher on the adverse effects of meditation.

Guests:

Willoughby BrittonAssociate professor, Brown University Medical School and director of the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Lab

Pawan SharmaAssistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Pattan Academy of Health Sciences School of Medicine

Pierce SalgueroProfessor of Asian History and Health Humanities at Penn State University

Credits:

  • Presenter: Sana Qadar
  • Reporter/producer: Fiona Pepper
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr

Extra information:

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.

Why do we crave closure?21 Aug 202600:29:36

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 Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

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.

Why should I spend time in nature?14 Aug 202600:29:36

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?

This episode first aired in September 2023.

In celebration of National Science Week, make sure to vote in ABC Radio National's poll for Australia's most amazing wildflower.

Guests:

Belinda McCawleyFounder, Mindful in Nature

Dr Xiaoqi FengProfessor of Urban Health and EnvironmentSchool of Population Health,University of New South Wales (UNSW)Founding Co-Director of PowerLab

Josh BrownCo-founder, Deadly Ed

Credits:

  • Presenter: Sana Qadar
  • Reporter/producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: John Jacobs

To read the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

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.

Dark tourism, selfies and moral outrage07 Aug 202600:29:33

Since the days of gladiator battles and public hangings, dark tourism — our attraction to places linked to death and despair — has been a part of human behaviour.

But there's something in the 21st century that's causing debate… Selfies.

Digital media isn't all bad though. It's also creating opportunities for authentic storytelling.

Today, we examine what dark tourism is, if it's ethical, and when it is (and isn't) appropriate to snap a selfie.

This episode first aired in June 2024.

Guests:

  • Dr Craig Wight, Associate Professor, Business School, Edinburgh Napier University
  • Dr Nicole Basaraba, Assistant Professor, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies and Centre for Digital Humanities, Trinity College Dublin
  • Dr Mariko Smith, Head of First Nations Collections & Research, First Nations Division, Australian Museum

Credits:

  • Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior Producer: James Bullen
  • Sound engineer: Beth Stewart

Other information:

The Australian Museum's Unsettled exhibition

To read the transcript from this episode, head to its original webpage.

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.

From gaming addiction to healthy gamer: Dr K's story31 Jul 202600:29:36

Why is gaming addictive? How do you know if it's a problem? And what should parents do if they're worried about their kids' gaming habits?

This week, psychiatrist and author Dr Alok Kanojia (Dr K) unpacks gaming addiction.

Long before Dr K was the co-founder of Healthy Gamer, he had his own story of addiction — playing for 20 hours a day and failing out of uni. How did he turn his own struggles into a global online community supporting gamers?

And what practical advice does he have for gamers (and the parents raising them) who want to find a balance?

Guest:

Dr Alok Kanojia (Dr K)PsychiatristAuthor, How To Raise A Healthy GamerCo-founder, Healthy Gamer

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

Inside Perth's gaming addiction clinic — the first in a public hospital in Australia

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.

How can I become more securely attached?24 Jul 202600:31:19

Whether you're anxious or avoidant, there are steps you can take to make your relationships more secure. And the benefits extend beyond dating — finding secure people can help you build a community and maybe even live longer.

Today, neuroscientist, psychiatrist and author Dr Amir Levine joins Sana to discuss all things secure attachment. From tiny meaningful moments with strangers, to prioritising the right people in your life, Amir shares his top advice for anyone wanting to change their attachment style.

Guest:

Dr Amir LevinePsychiatristNeuroscientistAssociate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia UniversitySecure: The Revolutionary Guide to Creating a Secure Life

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls

More information:

We're all stressed. What should we do about it?

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.

Oppositional defiant disorder and bad behaviour in schools17 Jul 202600:28:57

Aggression, not listening, interruptions ... bad behaviour is on the rise in schools. What's causing this trend? Is it parenting styles or the pandemic?

Nurse Erin has had plenty of challenges with her son, leaving her family at the end of their tether. But one therapy just clicked.

Today, a family's story of oppositional defiant disorder and giving Parent-Child Interaction Therapy a go. Can coaching parents through one-way mirrors and ear pieces help build stronger relationships? And why is PCIT so effective for kids with ODD?

Guests:

ErinNurse and motherPCIT participant

Professor Eva KimonisClinical PsychologistDirector of the UNSW Parent-Child Research Clinic

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan

More information:

Parent-Child Research Clinic at the University of New South WalesPartnering with schools to better deliver effective therapiesInvestigating Western Australian Teacher Perceptions of Young Children’s Challenging Behaviour in the Early Years (Kindergarten to Year 2): An Exploratory AnalysisLandmark report warns wellbeing of Australian children at a crossroadsSchools Plus

Soul Search

The neuroscience of spirituality with Iain McGilchrist

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.

We're all stressed. What should we do about it?10 Jul 202600:29:37

How stressed have you been lately? Are you heading towards burn out?

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.

This episode first aired in June 2025.

Guest:

Dr Rangan ChatterjeeGP, author and host of Feel Better, Live More

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls

To find the transcript of this episode, head to its original webpage.

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.

‘Should have been my birthright’ - the journey to reclaim a lost language04 Jul 202600:30:16

Languages are so much more than words and sounds — they encode culture and shape our identity. So how do you connect to your culture, if language is lost?

While many Indigenous languages have already been lost, and more are at risk of extinction, in Australia, people are increasingly trying to revitalise certain Indigenous languages.

ABC Radio National presenter and Gamilaraay woman Rudi Bremer is on her own journey of reconnecting with her mother tongue, and it's bringing up a mixed bag of feelings — from a profound sense of loss, to deep contentment and belonging.

Guests:

Jade McHughes, PhD candidate and Ngarrindjeri woman 

Trinity Clarke, Language worker and Kuku Yalanji woman

Credits:

  • Reporter/presenter: Rudi Bremer, Gamilaraay woman
  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Producer: Kaylene Langford, Guringai woman
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior producer: James Bullen

You can hear more from presenter Rudi Bremer on Word Up and Awaye!

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.

From death to divorce: getting through the worst losses of your life27 Jun 202600:31:48

At some point in our lives, we all face the question, "how will I ever get through this?". You know the moments — a sudden loss, a messy break up, an unexpected diagnosis or a career halted…

These questions are close to Lucy Hone's heart, not just because of her work as a resilience researcher, but also because of her own experiences of life-altering grief.

So today, Dr Lucy Hone shares her tips for navigating the world when it feels like everything is falling apart.

Guest:

Dr Lucy HoneResilience researcherAdjunct Senior Fellow, University of Canterbury in New Zealand Co-director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and ResilienceAuthor, How Will I Ever Get Through This and Resilient Grieving

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

The three secrets of resilient people, Dr Lucy Hone and TEDxChristchurch

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Fame, isolation and terror: inside the mind of a lone mass killer20 Jun 202600:30:25

What is it that drives a person to mass murder?

It's a question forensic psychiatrist Professor Paul Mullen has made a life's study of.

While these devastating events can at times appear random — he says that taken together, from Port Arthur to Dunblane to Texas — patterns emerge that tell us about the motivations of lone mass killers.

It's often to do with isolation, vengeance and fame. Which is why a growing number of people, including Paul, are pushing never to name the perpetrators of mass killings.

Today on All in the Mind: insights into denying mass killers the glory they seek and preventing future massacres.

Please note, this episode covers some heavy topics including massacres and suicide. Please take care while listening.

Guest:

Professor Paul E. Mullen Monash UniversityForensic psychiatristAuthor, Running Amok: Inside the Mind of the Lone Mass Killer

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Antonia Gauci

Support:

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue  1300 22 4636

Emotionally immature parents and grandparents: what to do if you have them (or are one)13 Jun 202600:34:46

Should you consider estrangement from an emotionally immature parent? How do you process the grief of realising your more stable parent … might have been a passive enabler? And what should you do if you realise you are an emotionally immature parent?

This week, clinical psychologist and author Lindsay Gibson is answering your questions about emotionally immature parents. Each family is different, but she shares some key tips and lessons that can help you navigate difficult relationships.

If you missed last week's episode with Lindsay, you can find it here, or listen to our original 2021 episode with her here.

Guest:

Dr Lindsay GibsonClinical psychologistAuthor, How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Handling emotionally immature parents, raising emotionally mature kids06 Jun 202600:33:10

If you've never had good parenting modelled to you, how do you raise emotionally mature kids?

Clinical psychologist Dr Lindsay Gibson has thoughts. You might remember Lindsay from our extremely popular 2021 episode titled 'The damage done by emotionally immature parents (and how to heal)'. This week, she's back on All in the Mind, talking about the next generation.

From the difference between consequences and punishment, to the questionable/cruel videos some parents post on social media, Lindsay has insights, tips and 'absolutes' — her rules on what to definitely not do, in order to raise emotionally mature kids.

Also, keep an eye out for next week's mailbag episode, where we ask Lindsay your questions!

Guest:

Dr Lindsay GibsonClinical psychologistAuthor, How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

How to catch a liar (it's harder than you think)29 May 202600:35:10

Rebecca figured out a brilliant way to catch her partner in a lie. It led to a career in forensic psychology…

These days, Rebecca studies lie detection, and it turns out, people generally overestimate their ability to tell fact from fiction. All the classic clues — body language, eye contact, acting nervous … they don't really hold up when put to the test.

In our fourth and final part of our special series, Forensic, we're discovering the truth about lie detection. Are there any giveaways that someone is lying to us? Can lying show up on a brain scan?

If you've enjoyed Forensic, please leave us a review or share the show with a friend.

And don't forget to send us your questions based on the series, you can reach us at allinthemind@abc.net.au

Guests:

Dr Rebecca WilcoxsonLecturer in Forensic and Social Psychology, CQ University

Dr Arthur LeeAssistant Professor, Boston University

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Ambiguous crimes and inattentional blindness: the science of eyewitness memory22 May 202600:29:36

If you saw a crime, how clearly would you remember it? What about if you were questioned years… even decades later?

Eyewitness testimony is an important part of the justice system, so how much do we know about our ability to recall details?

In part three of our four-part series, Forensic, we take a deeper look at eyewitness memory. Because it's not just about what we can or can't recall, there's also the risk that we may not even recognise a crime as it's happening. It turns out we're sometimes less observant than we think, because of a phenomenon called inattentional blindness.

Don't forget to send us your questions based on the Forensic series, you can reach us at allinthemind@abc.net.au

Guests:

Celine van GoldeAssociate Professor in Legal PsychologyUniversity of Sydney

Hayley CullenLecturerSchool of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer/reporter: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Confessing to a crime you didn't commit15 May 202600:31:15

Imagine police are interrogating you over a crime you didn't commit. 

If you're innocent, you're safe, right? Wrong.

Sometimes, being innocent can make you more likely to confess. How is that possible?

In part two of our four-part series, Forensic, we learn about the police interviewing techniques that make false confessions more likely, and the bizarre cases in which people come to believe they really, truly did commit a crime – despite being innocent.

Guests:

Saul KassinDistinguished Professor Emeritus at John Jay College of Criminal Justice Professor Emeritus at Williams College

Lisanne Adam Lecturer in Law, RMIT University School of Law

Celine van GoldeAssociate Professor in Legal Psychology, University of Sydney

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Can criminal profiling identify a killer?08 May 202600:31:50

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 Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Further Information:

INTRODUCING — Forensic06 May 202600:01:08

Forget everything you’ve learned from crime dramas.

Forensic is a new podcast series from All in the Mind on ABC Radio National that takes you behind the psychological tools used to solve crimes.

Across four episodes, we investigate criminal profiling, false confessions, eyewitness memory and lie detection, revealing what actually works, what doesn’t, and the surprising ways things can go wrong.

Forensic gives an evidence-led look at the cracks and complexities inside modern forensic psychology.

Our first episode drops this Sunday! 

In the mean time, check out our other true crime themed series from 2025, Criminal Psychology. 

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Our millennia-long obsession with immortality02 May 202600:32:05

Would you want to live forever? The rich and powerful certainly do. 

There are numerous examples throughout history of people going to extreme lengths in search of immortality. These days, it's Silicon Valley tech bros, testing out everything from blood transfusions to merging our brains with the cloud.

Why are they/we so obsessed with dodging death? What is it about extreme wealth that makes people dream of defying biology?

Today, tech journalist and social psychologist Aleks Krotoski takes us into the world of the ‘immortalists’: what they think the future of humanity might look like, and whether the rest of us want to come along for the ride.

Guest:

Aleks KrotoskiInvestigative journalistSocial psychologistAuthor, The Immortalists: The Death of Death and the Race for Eternal Life

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior Producer: James Bullen
  • Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls
Pretty privilege, surgery stigma and the cosmetic procedure paradox25 Apr 202600:29:35

Cosmetic procedures aren't reserved for celebrities anymore - they're becoming more and more accessible for every day people. 

So if we're able to alter our looks or avoid the appearance of aging altogether, what impact does this have on our psychology?

Today, we examine how changing our faces might change how we see each other.

Please note, this episode includes some discussion of body image and mental health issues such as body dysmorphic disorder. Take care while listening.

Guests:

Professor Gemma SharpClinical psychologist and researcherAdelaide University

Dr Sarah BonellResearch FellowBolton Clarke Research Institute

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Reporter/producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

What's the connection between cosmetic procedures and mental health?Australian Women's Lived Experiences of Stigmatization After Cosmetic Surgery: A Qualitative InvestigationThe cosmetic surgery paradox: Toward a contemporary understanding of cosmetic surgery popularisation and attitudesUnder the knife: Unfavorable perceptions of women who seek plastic surgeryNew AHPRA Guidelines Require Psychological Screening for Non-Surgical Cosmetic ProceduresCheaper, easier and less taboo: Why more gen Zs are getting cosmetic injectables such as botoxBody dysmorphic disorder

Support:

Butterfly foundation 1800 33 4673

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

The psychology behind our moral outrage18 Apr 202600:29:37

Politics, war, abortion, gun control — why do some topics make us so outraged?

One theory is that our preoccupation with preventing harm is to blame.

So today, we examine how humans developed morality, why we differ in what we consider right and wrong, and how that drives us to moral outrage.

And after all of that, we'll find out how to have better conversations with people you disagree with (even if you're feeling outraged).

If you want to hear more about that, check out The skills supercommunicators use, which you can learn too.

This episode first aired in January 2025.

Guest:

Dr Kurt GrayProfessor in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDirector, Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral UnderstandingAuthor, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

Lethal Mass Partisanship: Prevalence, Correlates, & Electoral Contingencies

The transcript for this episode can be found on its original webpage.

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Staying sane in space11 Apr 202600:29:06

In the last couple of weeks, a lot of people have been getting excited about space exploration thanks to Artemis II.

So this week, we revisit an episode from our archives all about life as an astronaut and the psychological impacts of long distance space travel. 

And if you enjoy this episode, check out Artemis Explained, a podcast from the Science Friction team, following the Artemis II mission.

This episode was first broadcast in March 2024.

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Guests:

  • Dr Albert Holland, Senior Operational Psychologist, NASA Johnson Space Center
  • Dr Cady Coleman, Former NASA astronaut
  • Jamey Simpson, Cady's son

With excerpts from:Space: The Longest Goodbye, directed by Ido Mizrahy

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite

More information:

Artemis Explained podcastScience Friction

To view the transcript for this episode, please head to its original webpage.

Mind Hacks with Dr Billy Garvey: "being a bit kinder to myself"08 Apr 202600:07:54

Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. 

In this episode, we're joined by developmental paediatrician and co-host of Pop Culture Parenting, Dr Billy Garvey. From self compassion to channelling anger into advocacy, Billy shares his own strategies for managing bad days.

On Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill!If you have feedback or want to suggest a guest, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.au

Guest:

Dr Billy GarveyDevelopmental paediatricianAuthor, Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental healthPodcast co-host, Pop Culture ParentingFounder, Guiding Growing Minds

Credits:

  • Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior Producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound Engineer: Hamish Camilleri

Relevant All in the Mind episodes:

Tantrums, sleep training and anxiety: Dr Billy Garvey answers your parenting questions'Bad behaviour' or just misunderstood? What to know about kids' mental health

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tantrums, sleep training and anxiety: Dr Billy Garvey answers your parenting questions04 Apr 202600:29:39

How can I help my child with anxiety? What's the deal with sleep training? Are we supposed to ignore tantrums?

This week, we've invited developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey back on All in the Mind for a mailbag episode. We'll unpack your parenting dilemmas which cover questions about kids of all ages, from the littlest of newborns right through to teenagers. 

So whether you're a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend or someone just curious about how to support young people in your life, Billy has advice for navigating challenging moments.

And please note, one of the questions is a bit heavy, touching on the topic of suicidality. Please take care while listening.

Guest:

Dr Billy GarveyDevelopmental paediatricianAuthor, Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental healthPodcast co-host, Pop Culture ParentingFounder, Guiding Growing Minds

Credits:

  • Present/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Antonia Gauci

More information:

'Bad behaviour' or just misunderstood? What to know about kids' mental health

Support resources:

Lifeline 13 11 14

13YARN 13 92 76

Beyond Blue
The psychology of masturbation28 Mar 202600:29:06

This week we're talking about something intimate… and sometimes taboo: masturbation.

From self-love, to disordered behaviour and back again, we explore how our perceptions of masturbation have changed over the course of history and why it's still linked to shame and confusion for some.

Also, why do humans (and other animals) masturbate in the first place?

Just a heads up, if the topic didn't give it away, this episode may not be suitable for little ones.

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode first aired in September 2024.

Guests:

Esme Louise JamesPhD candidate, University of MelbourneContent creator and author of Kinky History

Dr Vijayasarathi RamanathanClinical sexologistSenior Lecturer of Sexual Health (Sexology) at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney

Dr Ann JonesHost, What the Duck?!

Dr Matilda BrindleEvolutionary biologistUniversity of Oxford

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Beth Stewart

More information:

Sex is Weird | What the Duck?!

To find the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Mind Hacks: Casey Beros24 Mar 2026

Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. In this episode, health journalist and author Casey Beros on managing your inner critic, balancing competing appetites for more and less in life, and filtering out the external voices to chart your own course in life.

Each week on Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill!We're testing this format out over the next few weeks, so let us know what you think, or if there's a guest you'd like us to invite back on the program for Mind Hacks. As always, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.auAnd don't worry, regular All in the Mind episodes will keep dropping every Sunday.

Guest:

Casey BerosHealth journalistAuthor, Next of Kin

Credits:

  • Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior Producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound Engineer: Micky Grossman

Relevant All in the Mind episodes:

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tough conversations and anticipatory grief: being a carer21 Mar 202600:29:36

When Casey Beros' dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma, she knew her entire world would change. 

More than three million Australians are carers — a role people are often thrust into without any kind of map. So based on her own experience, Casey wrote one.

On All in the Mind this week, what it takes to be a carer for a loved one. How to get through the tough conversations and difficult moments — from giving bad news to talking about voluntary assisted dying — and still come out the other end in one piece.

Guest:

Casey BerosHealth journalistAuthor, Next of Kin

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Family estrangement and infidelity: Esther Perel answers your questions14 Mar 202600:30:06

How do you grieve a dying parent you're estranged from? Do cheaters ever change? People say love should feel 'easy', is that true?

Psychotherapist Esther Perel is back on All in the Mind, answering your questions about heartbreak, loss, and love in this extra special mailbag episode.

We've got questions on how to reconnect with estranged siblings, what to do when global conflicts impact personal relationships, and whether a first love can still feel special, even if it happens later in life.

And if you missed part one of our chat with Esther Perel, you can listen to our episode titled "Couples therapy with an AI partner? Esther Perel's just done it" here.

Esther also featured on our first episode of Mind Hacks!

Guest:

Esther PerelPsychotherapist and couples therapistAuthor, The State of Affairs and Mating in CaptivityHost, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

If you want to hear more from Esther Perel, she chatted to Lisa Leong on This Working Life. The episode is called Esther Perel on conflict and power struggles at work.

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Mind Hacks: Joel Pearson11 Mar 202600:06:59

Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. In this episode, cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson tells us how he manages his own stress (clue: it involves saunas!)

Each week on Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill!We're going to test this format out over the next few weeks, so let us know what you think, or if there's a guest you'd like us to invite back on the program for Mind Hacks. As always, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.auAnd don't worry, regular All in the Mind episodes will keep dropping every Sunday.

Guest:

Professor Joel PearsonPsychologist, neuroscientistFounder and Director, Future Minds LabUniversity of New South Wales

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan

Relevant All in the Mind episodes:

Is AI making our brains lazier?"Scarier than killer robots": why your mind isn't ready for AIWhen to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore it

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Is AI making our brains lazier?07 Mar 202600:32:47

Social media gave us brain rot; will AI give us cognitive atrophy? How can we possibly learn to cope with the sheer amount of uncertainty and change heading our way?

Cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson is back on the show, two years after his mega popular appearance in our episode titled "Scarier than killer robots": why your mind isn't ready for AI.In this episode we cover the potential long-term impact of widescale job losses, the anxiety university students are feeling about their job prospects, the risk of cognitive atrophy when outsourcing to AI, and what we can do to be more adaptable and flexible in the age of AI.

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Guest:

Professor Joel PearsonPsychologist, neuroscientistFounder and Director, Future Minds LabUniversity of New South Wales

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Tim Jenkins

More info:

When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore itWhy being a beginner is good for you
Mind Hacks: Esther Perel05 Mar 202600:07:10

Introducing All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. Each week, we'll bring you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill!Kicking off our first episode is none other than Esther Perel. What mental health advice would she avoid at all costs?We're going to test this format out over the next few weeks, so let us know what you think, or if there's a guest you'd like us to invite back on the program for Mind Hacks. As always, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.auAnd don't worry, regular All in the Mind episodes will keep dropping every Sunday.

Guest:

Esther PerelPsychotherapist and couples therapistAuthor, The State of Affairs and Mating in CaptivityHost, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Michael Grossman

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Couples therapy with an AI partner? Esther Perel's just done it28 Feb 202600:30:23

Psychotherapist and relationship expert Esther Perel has had a lot of 'firsts' over her four decade-long career — counselling her first polyamorous relationship, or her first gay couple navigating surrogacy. Now, she's just done her first session with a man and his AI 'girlfriend'…

Did she struggle to take this ‘couple’ seriously? What kind of love can someone really form with a chatbot? And why would someone bring their AI partner to a relationship therapy session in the first place?This week, renowned psychotherapist, author, and speaker Esther Perel reflects on what’s changed in the decades she's worked as a relationship therapist; whether AI can be a helpful tool for therapy; and why we might be better off conceptualising AI companions as ‘transitional objects’ instead. Plus, join us in a few week's time for a very special mailbag episode with Esther, featuring your questions!

Guest:

Esther PerelPsychotherapist and couples therapistAuthor, The State of Affairs and Mating in CaptivityHost, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineers: Harvey O'Sullivan and Emrys Cronin

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

We want your parenting questions26 Feb 202600:01:43

Developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey is returning to All in the Mind and we'd love to ask him your questions!

Billy is an expert on kids' mental health — last time he was on the show we discussed what's really going on with kids who are labelled "bad"; including insecure attachment, separation anxiety and emotional difficulties. 

He co-hosts Pop Culture Parenting and is the author of Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental health.

So if you have any questions you'd like to put to Billy, send them to allinthemind@abc.net.au and include "question for Dr Billy Garvey" in the subject line.

And if you're looking for inspiration, you can find Dr Billy Garvey's previous episode here.

Thanks!

 - Sana and the All in the Mind team

Why do we choke under pressure?21 Feb 202600:29:32

The siren has sounded. The scores are even. A footy player has one final chance to kick an easy goal to get his team into the finals.

He's right in front of the goals. He lines up. Kicks. Misses. The pressure of such a moment was phenomenal, and the player choked under it.

So what happens in the brain during such intense periods? Why can some people remain calm while others can't handle it?

This episode first aired in July 2024.

Guests:

Caroline AndersonPerformance psychologistLead psychologist for the Paris 2024 Australian Olympic Team

Dr Chris MesagnoSenior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology, Victoria University

Louise PotterFootballer and Darebin Falcons legend

Mary SpillaneClinical psychologist

Credits:

  • Presenter: Sana Qadar
  • Reporter/Producer: Belinda Smith
  • Producer: Rose Kerr, Petria Ladgrove
  • Sound engineer: Russell Stapleton

To view the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Can 'normalisation of deviance' help to explain a catastrophe?14 Feb 202600:34:37

40 years ago, NASA experienced one of its most devastating disasters.

The Challenger space shuttle disintegrated just 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members.

How had this happened? And did the culture of NASA have anything to do with it?

In this episode, we dig into a concept called 'normalisation of deviance', which has been touted as an explanation for this incident, as well as the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster and a clinical drug trial that left six people in intensive care.

So what is 'normalisation of deviance'? How does it happen? And given its potential for harm, is there anything we can do to prevent it?

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the latest season of Science Friction, The Challenger Disaster (which is also produced by our senior producer James Bullen!)

Guests:

Dr Nejc SedlarLecturer, University of Aberdeen

Professor Sidney DekkerProfessor, Griffith University

Credits:

  • Presenter: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Additional reporting/production: Fiona Pepper
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

More information:

A qualitative systematic review on the application of the normalization of deviance phenomenon within high-risk industries.

Sidney Dekker — Drift into Failure.Challenger: the disaster five people saw coming.The Challenger Legacy — Science Friction.Has NASA learned anything from the Challenger disaster?When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore itA deviation from standard design? Clinical trials, research ethics committees, and the regulatory co-construction of organizational deviance
Got a question for Esther Perel?13 Feb 2026

Renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel is coming to All in the Mind! And we'd love to ask her some of your questions.

Esther Perel is an internationally recognised couples therapist. You might know her as the author of Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs. Family, sex, intimacy, friendship, betrayal - Esther covers it all. 

So if you have any thorny relationship questions you'd like to ask her, send them to allinthemind@abc.net.au and include "question for Esther Perel" in the subject line.

Thanks!

The paradox of petty problems: Why small annoyances can snowball07 Feb 202600:29:22

Slow walkers. Unmelted cheese in a toastie. Bad formatting in documents. 

If these small annoyances make you weirdly mad, you're not alone (in fact, you're human). But when little pet peeves add up, they can contribute much bigger problems like chronic stress. So what can you do about it?

Today: why small annoyances have such an outsized impact; why judging yourself doesn't help; and how elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you better navigate these moments (as well as the bigger challenges in life).

And if you're not a fan of radical acceptance, which was covered in a recent episode, we go deeper on what it really means.

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Guest:

Dr Patricia Zurita-OnaClinical psychologistAuthor

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

Relationship of daily hassles, uplifts, and major life events to health statusThe peculiar longevity of things not so badPatricia's website and resources

Other recommended listening:

Chronically stressed? These small changes can helpDifficult people and radical acceptance: answering your questions about tricky relationships
Grief and guilt: losing a loved one to suicide31 Jan 202600:32:55

When Blake's dad died by suicide, it came as a complete shock. Overwhelming grief, combined with confusion and guilt — it uprooted his life. The loss made him rethink his own mental health, and eventually, channel that into the community — fundraising and taking on three world records.

Today, we're talking about suicide bereavement; how it can affect family and friends, its long lasting impacts on mental health, and how to support someone going through the experience. It can be really tricky to talk about suicide, so how do you tackle talking to kids about this kind of loss?

Also, why are rates of suicide not going down, despite millions spent on prevention? And why do some people experience something called post-traumatic growth while others don't?

This episode discusses suicide, grief and mental illness in depth. Please take care while listening.

Guests:

Blake JohnstonFormer pro surferSurf CoachMental Health advocateAuthor, Swellbeing

Associate Professor Karl AndriessenPrincipal Research Fellow, Centre for Mental Health and Community WellbeingMelbourne School of Population and Global HealthUniversity of Melbourne

Tanja HirvonenClinical psychologistChief Executive Officer, ThirriliBoard Director, Australian Indigenous Psychologists AssociationBoard Director, Black Dog Institute

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan

Thanks to freesound.org users tim.kahn and juskiddink

Support and resources:

Lifeline 13 11 14

Thirrili 1800 805 801

13 YARN 13 92 76

Beyond Blue  1300 22 4636

StandBy Support 1300 727 247

Roses in the ocean

More information:

Coping With A Parent's SuicideAlarming rise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide ratesA better way: suicide prevention in First Nations communities

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 ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Driving me mad: why we get road rage24 Jan 202600:30:22

Simon considers himself a calm, conscientious, conflict-avoidant type of person. But in the car, his personality flips — and it scares him.

It can be hard to admit, but many of us do experience road rage.

So what is it about being in the driver's seat that makes us so quick to anger? And does the type of car a person drives have anything to do with their propensity for aggression?

Today, we're talking about road rage; owning up to times we've lost our temper and finding out what we can do about it.

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:

Dr Amanda StephensSenior Research Fellow,Monash University Accident Research Centre

SimonAll in the Mind listener and business owner

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Harvey O'Sullivan

More information:

Estimated car cost as a predictor of driver yielding behaviors for pedestriansHigher social class predicts increased unethical behaviorThe fast and the furious: Research shows that owners of high-status cars are on a collision course with traffic
The cognitive distortions of a high achiever17 Jan 202600:29:35

Over years of practice, clinical psychologist Dr Mary Anderson started to notice a peculiar pattern across her many clients.

Despite being impressive high achievers on the outside, inside they were struggling with burnout, imposter syndrome, anxiety and self-criticism.

So she set out to develop a guide for these high achievers. A framework to support their success ... without sacrificing their mental health.

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 May 2025.

Guests:

Dr Mary AndersonClinical Psychologist; Author, The Happy High Achiever

Credits:

  • Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Senior Producer: James Bullen
  • Sound Engineer: Tegan Nicholls

You can find the transcript for this episode on its original webpage here.

Extra Information:

The Happy High Achiever - Pan Macmillan Australia
Healing from self-hatred10 Jan 202600:29:36

Many of us have felt self loathing at some point in our lives — maybe when you've failed at an important task at work, or lost an important relationship.

But some people hate themselves all the time — their inner monologue is a constant drumbeat of self-criticism and self-loathing. 

Where does this kind of all-encompassing self-hate come from? And is there a way to unlearn it?

We speak to psychiatrist Dr Blaise Aguirre, author of I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Loathing and Realize Why You're Wrong About You. 

This episode discusses the topic of suicide - please take care while listening.

This episode first aired in February 2025.

Guest:

Dr Blaise AguirreChild and adolescent psychiatristAssistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical SchoolAuthor, I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Loathing and Realize Why You're Wrong About You

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano

Thanks to Freesound.org users 7by7, qubodup, laft2k, andre.nascimento

To find the transcript for this episode, head to it's original webpage.

Resources:

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.

The fight for focus in a world of distraction03 Jan 202600:29:36

Be honest, how many times have you checked your notifications in the last hour? Or opened a new, totally unrelated tab? Or stopped what you're doing even though you really need to do it?

Distractions are everywhere. And whether they're self-imposed or coming from our environment, it can be hard to focus.

Today, we explore the ramifications of our rapidly shrinking attention spans, debunk some myths about focus, and discuss the art of taking a break.

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:

Dr Emma Fitzgerald Clinical Neuropsychologist

SebEmma's son and distracted teenager

Gloria Mark, PhDChancellor's Professor Emerita, University of California, IrvineAuthor, Attention Span

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Bella Tropiano

To find the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Extra info:

Gloria's The Future of Attention substack

Smartphones in the nursery: Parental smartphone use and parental sensitivity and responsiveness within parent–child interaction in early childhood (0–5 years): A scoping reviewDitching your smartphone won't stop you being distracted, study finds
Got the ick? Dating, disgust and evolutionary psychology27 Dec 202500:29:36

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 Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineers: Tegan Nicholls and Michael Grossman

You 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
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