All In The Mind - podcast cover

All In The Mind

ABC listenwww.abc.net.au
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.

Episodes

Moog became a Youtube megastar — and it messed with his mental health

Parasocial relationships can be intense — and we all have them to some degree. Whether you're a Swiftie, a fan of the Matildas or just watch the local news every night. But what its like to be on the receiving end of millions of parasocial relationships? For Blair Joscelyne AKA Moog, one half of Mighty Car Mods, it took some unexpected steps to cope. If you're interested in what it's like to be famous, you'll love our episode The dark side of fame and what it does to the brain....

Feb 17, 202429 min

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

We all have moments in our lives when we feel an unconscious pull towards a certain decision. Should you walk down that dark alley? Does that person seem a bit off? Why is that giving me the heebie-jeebies? For Isla Lucas, a gut feeling while on holiday saved her life… Or did it? We take a look at the science and fantasy of intuition. If you liked this episode, you'll love our episode on The Pleasure Of Pain...

Feb 10, 202429 min

Nine big myths about depression — busted

Now that we're more comfortable talking about mental health, it's time to address some misconceptions. Is depression REALLY a chemical imbalance in the brain? What's the difference between being depressed and distressed? And are psychedelics the solution we've been waiting for? Today, Professor Ian Hickie breaks it all down and reveals the biggest myths about depression.

Feb 03, 202430 min

Babies turn us into non-stop singing machines. Why?

A founding member of the band Gang of Youths. A single mum from Adelaide. A dad of two in Brisbane. What do all these people have in common? They all have young kids, and they all sing to them constantly! This week we ask: why do babies turn us into non-stop singing machines? Where does this instinct come from and what purpose does it serve? This episode was first broadcast in August 2023.

Jan 20, 202434 min

The diagnosis that inspired an album

ARIA-nominated musician Parvyn knows what it's like to lose touch with reality. Delusions, mania, psychosis — she's experienced it all, often while on tour. Despite processing these experiences on her debut solo album 'Sa', she's never spoken publicly about her mental health — until now. This episode was first broadcast in March 2023.

Jan 13, 202429 min

How The Man Cave talks to teens about toxic masculinity

As a teen, Hunter Johnson wanted to be the best at sport, the best at getting girls, and the best at getting attention. But one moment would change everything for him — forcing him to rethink his ideas about masculinity. Now, he's paying it forward. Last week, we explored why toxic masculinity is tricky to talk about. Today, we hear from someone having that conversation daily — shifting the focus from toxic behaviours and beliefs … to emotional intelligence. This episode was first broadcast in F...

Jan 06, 202429 min

A dad's attempt to understand toxic masculinity

Do you get defensive when you hear the term toxic masculinity? You wouldn't be the only one, if so. In this episode, we follow one dad's attempts to understand where internet algorithms are sending his son… and ask, how do we deal with toxic masculinity, when the very term has become contested? This episode was first broadcast in February 2023.

Dec 30, 202329 min

Gossip is fun! Gossip is bad! Gossip is… Good?

Sex, scandal, money and misdeeds. All elements of good gossip. So why do we love the gossip, but not the gossiper? And why are we invested in the secrets of celebrities, even though they're strangers? This episode was first broadcast in February 2023.

Dec 23, 202329 min

Only as good as your grades – why 'toxic achievement culture' can crush kids

The best grades, the best schools, the best sports programs, the best universities – sure, it's great for students to strive for success. But when does the pressure to succeed become too much? American journalist Jennifer Wallace says 'toxic achievement culture' is harming the mental health of many students. Is this a uniquely American phenomenon?

Dec 16, 202332 min

Hot and bothered

We all tend to get a bit cranky when the weather turns super hot, but did you know heatwaves can worsen certain mental health conditions? We explore the troubling ways heat can affects our mental health and behaviour. Just a heads up, this episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care.

Dec 09, 202329 min

The 5 things kids ask when they're grieving

Talking about death and grief is hard for anyone, let alone children. But children do experience grief and often have questions they want to ask. Today, how to talk to kids about death, loss and grief.

Dec 02, 202329 min

How the drive to be perfect is linked to eating disorders

Aiming for perfect sounds like a good thing, right? But when perfectionism grows into hurtful self-criticism and unrelenting standards, it can be damaging for your mental health. And it turns out, perfectionism is linked to an already complex group of mental illnesses. Today, the role perfectionism plays in eating disorders. Please take care while listening if this topic is sensitive for you. And if you would like support, the Butterfly Foundation has a national support helpline for body image i...

Nov 25, 202329 min

Mental illness ran in Meg's family. Suicide forced them to talk about it.

Pulitzer prize finalist Meg Kissinger grew up in the 1960's and 70's, steeped in feelings of shame and guilt about the mental illness that plagued her family. Now a journalist covering mental health, she's made it her mission to share stories of lost loved ones and the systems that failed them. This episode explores 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....

Nov 18, 202330 min

Is life coaching legit?

Social media abounds with mindset mentors, spiritual healers, influencers and more — many of who offer life coaching. Does anyone know what they're talking about?

Nov 11, 202329 min

The decades long feud of mind vs brain in AI

To imagine the future of artificial intelligence, it's important to reflect on some of the big moments in it's past. This week, James Purtill from Science Friction brings us a story of competition, surprise and thinking machines. This is the only time you'll hear Science Friction in the All in the Mind feed. To hear the full six-part series on AI, Hello AI Overlords , search for Science Friction in your podcast feed....

Nov 04, 202329 min

ADHD, TikTok, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria — meet Matilda's brain

TikTok is a mixed bag when it comes to mental health content. Great at raising awareness and building community, but not always accurate or evidence based. Journalist Matilda Boseley sees both sides – but she says TikTok was the push she needed to seek out a formal diagnosis.

Oct 28, 202330 min

The confusion around concussions

Concussions are hard to diagnose, often get missed, and not always taken seriously. And if you're not a professional athlete, it can be surprisingly hard to get clear information on how to manage and recover afterwards. Why? The brain is your most important organ, after all! This week, we try and make sense of the confusion around concussions.

Oct 21, 202329 min

A kid can't be diagnosed as a psychopath. Why?

As a toddler, Nicole's son was extremely aggressive. As he got older, his behaviour worsened. In this episode from our archives, we examine 'callous unemotional traits' — the early warning signs of psychopathy that emerge in childhood. This episode was first broadcast in December 2022.

Oct 07, 202331 min

Seeing red — anger and aggression

What happens when we let our most destructive emotion dominate? On All in the Mind this week, we explore why we get angry, how you might control aggression and whether it can ever be ... useful. This episode was first broadcast in February 2022.

Sep 30, 202329 min

Introversion vs Extroversion Part II: Genes, gender and leadership

In part two of our look at introversion and extroversion, we dive into the science and psychology of personality. How do we develop these traits? How much are our genes responsible? The way brains of introverts and extroverts differ will probably surprise you. This episode was first broadcast in August 2022.

Sep 23, 202329 min

Introversion vs Extroversion

Jessica Pan was a life-long shy introvert and for the most part she was happy with this aspect of her personality – until the loneliness crept it. This week on All in the Mind, the first of two episodes exploring introversion and extroversion. The benefits and downsides of each, how these traits impact our mental health and whether we change, if we want to. This episode was first broadcast in August 2022.

Sep 16, 202329 min

Its not just mums that get perinatal depression and anxiety

1 in 10 dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety, and more seem to be willing to reach out for help. Chris Jephcott wishes he'd been one of them. If this episode raises any issues for you, you can reach out to: Lifeline13 11 14 Beyond Blue1300 22 4636 PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)1300 726 306

Sep 09, 202330 min

Is Stockholm Syndrome a sexist myth?

A bank heist, a hostage drama and a dubious diagnosis. It's 50 years since the robbery that inspired the term 'Stockholm Syndrome', and today we explore the origins of the proposed condition - and probe the many problems with that label.

Aug 27, 202329 min

Hacking humans: social engineering and the power of influence

Chris Hadnagy’s job involves breaking into break into banks. But he’s not after money, gold or jewels. He’s searching for weaknesses – in systems, in security, and in people. And he doesn’t use weapons or threats of violence to get past guards and into vaults. He uses a smile - and a few tricks from his toolbox of psychology and social engineering techniques. Chris is the founder and CEO of Social Engineer LLC and lectures about social engineering around the globe. On All in the Mind this week, ...

Aug 19, 202329 min

Why do we sing to babies?

A founding member of the band Gang of Youths. A single mum from Adelaide. A dad of two in Brisbane. What do all these people have in common? They all have young kids, and they all sing to them constantly! As part of our exploration of sound and noise for Science Week, we ask: why do babies turn us into non-stop singing machines? Where does this instinct come from and what purpose does it serve? For more Science Week stories, head to abc.net.au/science...

Aug 12, 202334 min

The psychology of fashion — it's more than just clothes

Fashion can embody a lot: status, identity, belonging... A great outfit makes us feel confident, but the fashion industry can be harmful to our self esteem. So what does fashion say about us? And why as humans do we even care about clothes?

Aug 05, 202329 min