All In The Mind

All In The Mind is ABC RN's weekly podcast looking into the mental universe, the mind, brain and behaviour — everything from addiction to artificial intelligence.

Trauma or a tough time? How our mental health labels are changing over time

We've come a long way in how we talk about mental health.But while diagnoses like depression and anxiety can empower people to seek help and support — they also influence how we see ourselves and how others might see us, too.Today, we investigate 'concept creep.' It's the idea that the labels we use to describe mental health are expanding and being applied to an ever-wider array of human behaviours.We look at what's causing this, the impacts it might have (both positive and negative), and what it means for how we understand mental health conditions.Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode about parasocial relationships: Moog became a Youtube megastar — and it messed with his mental health.

11-23
29:05

Anauralia: what's it like to have no inner monologue?

How clear is your inner voice? Do you internally narrate your life? And do you get songs stuck in your head?Almost all of us can imagine sounds in our minds. But a small part of the population don't have internal auditory imagery — a phenomenon called anauralia.Today, we explore the experience of anauralia, in an episode from Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World.Our Changing World is produced and presented by Claire Concannon and Ellen Rykers for RNZ.The original version of this episode was first broadcast on RNZ as The puzzle of the silent mind.Special thanks to Auckland University Student Chamber Orchestra, for allowing use of their recording of Beethoven's 5th symphony.

11-16
29:06

Can you recognise a love song in any language?

Music is a universal feature of the human experience — present from our very first cultures and civilisations.But do the features of particular songs and styles translate across cultural boundaries? Like, is a lullaby recognisable even when it's from a different culture? Can you identify a love song in another language?Today, we explore the special relationship between music and our minds, in an episode from Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World.Our Changing World is produced and presented by Claire Concannon and Ellen Rykers for RNZ.The clips from the Natural History of Song project used in this episode are available online under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.The original version of this episode was first broadcast on RNZ as Our Musical Minds.

11-09
29:06

Girl, Interrupted: the extreme emotions of PMDD

Laura would spend weeks feeling normal — even happy. But like clockwork, every month, suddenly she would feel intense depression, making her unrecognisable to herself and friends.It took her nearly two decades to identify what was causing this rollercoaster of mood: PMDD, AKA Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.So what is it about hormones that make some people feel such intense emotions? And why is PMDD still so misunderstood?This episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening and don't hesitate to reach out for support if you need it. You can reach Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.It was first broadcast in June 2023.Looking for something to listen to next? Why not check out Demystifying menopause.

11-02
29:06

Spooky science: What's behind a paranormal experience?

Professor Chris French has been studying the paranormal for decades. But — he’s a sceptic.In an All in the Mind Halloween special, we explore the psychology behind our spooky encounters.What's going on in your brain when you see a ghost? How do people talk to the dead?And why would a sceptic study the paranormal?

10-26
30:27

Sick of scrolling? Digital minimalism could help

How many hours have you spent on your phone today? And do you feel like it's too many?A growing movement of people are going without their smartphones and computers in favour of just about anything that doesn't have a screen.They say it's giving their lives more meaning — and improving their mental health.This week, meet the digital minimalists ditching their devices, and how you can do it too.Want to hear more about the impact social media is having on your mental health? Check out our episode When doom scrolling leads to actual harm.

10-19
29:22

Can we trust our memories?

We don't remember everything that happens to us — so why do we remember what we remember?And the memories we do lock away aren't always accurate or trustworthy.This week, we're talking about the fallibility of memory and why sometimes it's healthy to forget.We'll also get into how to remember special moments more clearly, and here's a hint — you might want to put down your camera sometimes.If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode Overcoming resentment with gratitude.

10-12
30:39

Grit and a goal: tricking your brain into loving running

We know running is good for the body, but what about the brain? Hear from people who love running about the psychological tools they use to stay active, including some advice from a professor who's taught their entire class to run a marathon. Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode Why being a beginner is good for you.

10-05
29:06

Once taboo, now good for you: the psychology of masturbation

This week we're talking about something intimate … And at-times taboo … Masturbation.From self-love, to disordered behaviour, and back again, 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.After listening, why not check out Sex is Weird, a series from our fellow science podcast, What the Duck?!

09-28
29:06

Mates vs strangers — why humans connect and divide

It's human nature to form groups — families, friends, online communities. We love to be surrounded by people similar to us.But that can also make us discriminatory and defensive. And social media makes that instinct worse.Today, we look at how our brains evolved to connect and divide, and what that means for the problems we face in our modern world.This episode was first broadcast in April 2023.Looking for something to listen to next?  Check out another All in the Mind episode, The Certainty Myth.

09-21
29:07

Cranky and depressed: Why bad sleep equals bad mental health

When you think about pillars of health a few things might come to mind — nutrition, exercise, connectedness. But there's something many of us miss off that list — sleep.Insomnia does so much more than make us cranky, it's closely tied to our mental health. Not just how we feel on a day to day basis, but our likelihood of developing depression.This week, what happens when you don't get enough sleep; the effect on your brain and why it's so impactful on your mental health.If you'd like to learn more about sleep, check out the science team's Sleeptember content.This episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening. If you need support, you can reach Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

09-14
29:03

The five types of stalker and how to spot them

Earlier this year, the Netflix program Baby Reindeer brought stalking firmly back into the zeitgeist - sparking discussion about the psychology of people who stalk and the impact it has on victims.So what goes on in the mind of a stalker? How do the various types, from incompetent suitor to intimacy seeker, differ? And what should you do if you think you have a stalker?

09-07
29:58

What we get wrong about attachment styles

Attachment theory is a foundation of modern psychology — a framework for understanding human relationships and how we connect other people.But has social media taken this concept — grounded in decades of research — too far?Scroll through Instagram or TikTok for too long, and you might think that if you have a certain attachment style, you're fundamentally unlovable — or that you need to steer clear of people who are avoidant, anxious or not secure enough.Today, what we get wrong about attachment styles. Plus, the experiments that helped discover them in the first place ... and how a better understanding of attachment could help us to heal.If you liked this episode, you'll love our episode on when to trust your gut instinct and when to ignore it.

08-31
29:39

The false promise of love languages

Do you know your love language? Maybe you've done an online test — tested your partner — spent time talking it over — even made decisions about your relationship on the basis of your love language.But where did this concept of love languages even come from? And how good is the evidence that backs it up?Today, two research psychologists go deep on the concept of love languages — and what they really mean for your relationships.Want more relationship content from All in the Mind? Check out our episode Why heartbreak hurts so bad.

08-24
29:28

The damage done by emotionally immature parents

How would you describe your parents?Nobody's perfect, of course, but some parents leave more of a mark than others.Today, we revisit the life-long impact of having 'emotionally immature' parents, as Dr Lindsay Gibson's book hits bestseller lists.This episode was first broadcast in May 2021.If you're looking for another episode to listen to, why not check out Milgram Shock and Stanford Prison — what we misunderstand about the most infamous experiments in psychology.

08-17
29:37

Turning sleeplessness into stargazing

Can't sleep? Worries keeping you up at night? It might be time to look to the stars.For National Science Week, we're investigating the relationship between the night sky and mental wellbeing.So can spending time under the night sky give you a mood boost? And if it does … why?Looking for more nature in your life? Check out our episode Nature prescriptions — just what the doctor ordered.

08-10
29:09

The Tetris effect: How we learnt to manipulate dreams

It sounds like fantasy, but the manipulation of dreams is now possible — and it's thanks to a well known video game, Tetris.So what does Tetris have to do with dreaming, and could companies use this to shape what we see when we sleep?Want to learn more about dreams? Check out our episode 'As real as waking life' — exploring lucid dreams.Hear our first episode about Tetris: Why people are playing Tetris to treat their trauma. 

08-03
29:10

Why people are playing Tetris to treat their trauma

For people with PTSD, flashbacks can be an unwelcome and distressing experience. To tackle this problem, researchers have turned to Tetris. Yep - the falling blocks puzzle game from the '80s.Today, we discover how Tetris can be used to treat trauma. If you'd like to listen to more All in the Mind, check out our episode The confusion around concussions. 

07-27
29:47

Why do athletes choke under pressure?

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?If you're keen to listen to another episode, check out Wanted: Unicorns. Mission: Mars.

07-20
29:09

Conspiracies: why people change their mind

What if your entire understanding of the world — your beliefs, how you parent, how you work, how you interact with friends at the pub — all came crashing down?For Stephanie, Jules and Joel — who are all former conspiracy theorists — that was their reality.And digging their way out of the conspiracy rabbit hole came with a whole lot of challenges.Today on All in the Mind: falling into and out of conspiracy ... and rebuilding your life after breaking free.And if you enjoyed listening, you should go back and check out our earlier episode on how to help conspiracy theorists.

07-13
30:31

Yaser Dianati

Really!!? No one has written a comment yet! I just finished listening to this episode for the third time, not only it was an interesting topic, but also it was informative for me. There were a few episodes that I've enjoyed that much and listened more than once. Good job Sana👌

10-09 Reply

ID83031758

Rubbish. My ‘fight or flight response’ goes off at the presence of any people regardless of who they are. I don’t identify as anything and I certainly don’t belong to any ‘ingroups’ thank you very much!

09-21 Reply

pixi hummingbird

Thankyou for this awesome wee educational pod! I would have absolutely been Manic for his epic key banging 😎🤩🙌✨🥰

06-15 Reply

Hosein Nasrollahi

ححجاهحعخعحعغ

06-02 Reply

Afra Tanzeem

💚WATCH>>ᗪOᗯᑎᒪOᗩᗪ>>LINK>👉https://co.fastmovies.org

01-29 Reply

11-12

09-05

08-08

06-04

05-11

04-28

03-12

03-04

02-19

09-26

09-20

08-19

05-14

02-15

02-12

Recommend Channels