Unmasking the Dangers of 'Preventing Woke AI': A Critical Analysis In this midweek special of PsyberSpace, Leslie Poston addresses a significant news event: the Trump administration's signing of a federal AI action plan as well as an executive order called 'Preventing Woke AI.' Focusing on generative AI, LLM AI, and NLP AI, Poston discusses the implications of how AI, optimized for ease, can subtly reprogram societal norms and reinforce biases. The episode underscores the threat of authoritarian...
Jul 24, 2025•11 min•Season 2Ep. 30
The Myth of Meritocracy: Unpacking Workplace Inequality In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the illusion of meritocracy in the workplace. Despite the comforting narrative that hard work leads to success, systemic biases and structural inequalities often shape career outcomes more than individual effort. The episode digs into psychological concepts like the just world hypothesis and fundamental attribution error, and cultural factors such as the American Dream and survivor...
Jul 21, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Understanding Workplace Gaslighting: Causes, Effects, and Solutions In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the psychological concept of gaslighting, with a focus on its manifestation in the workplace. Leslie digs into how workplace gaslighting mirrors interpersonal abuse, creating a toxic environment where employees doubt their reality. Examples include management minimizing concerns, contradicting realities, and fostering toxic positivity. The episode also discusses the imp...
Jul 13, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Coping in an Age of Chaos: Understanding Adaptive Strategies In this episode, host Leslie Poston digs into the multifaceted science of coping amidst today’s turbulent world. With constant exposure to political violence, environmental disasters, and social instability, many struggle to maintain mental well-being. Leslie explores the psychology behind coping, referencing the work of Richard Lazarus, Susan Folkman, and Bruce McEwen on stress responses. She discusses the roles of problem-focused and...
Jul 06, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 27
The Quiet Reality of Everyday Eugenics In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the pervasive issue of everyday eugenics embedded in our society. Unlike historical instances marked by overt brutality, today's eugenics are subtle and ingrained in policies, healthcare, media, and cultural mindset. Leslie explores how the worth of individuals is unjustly tied to their productivity, leading to harmful social and systemic practices that marginalize people unable to meet those expe...
Jun 30, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Capitalism Stole Your Support System In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the emotional ramifications of systemic abandonment by protective institutions, especially in response to the US's recent unprovoked attack on Iran. The discussion explores the psychological effects of community collapse, the lack of a communal safety net, and the individualist culture that exacerbates feelings of powerlessness and disconnection. Drawing on political and developmental psychology, th...
Jun 23, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Unlocking Creativity: The Science Behind Shower Thoughts and Insight In this episode of Psyberspace, hosted by Leslie Poston, the discussion revolves around the phenomenon of insight—those unexpected bursts of clarity often experienced during mundane tasks like showering. Leslie explains how these 'shower thoughts' are the result of the brain's default mode network (DMN) becoming active during periods of rest. This network facilitates creative connections by allowing the brain to make novel asso...
Jun 16, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Unpacking the Misuse of Mental Illness Labels in Society In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the harmful cultural habit of attributing acts of cruelty, violence, and abuse of power to mental illness. Leslie discusses the psychological reasons behind this impulse, the impact it has on our perceptions of justice and morality, and how it reinforces harmful stereotypes and biases. The episode digs into cognitive dissonance, the just world hypothesis, and the fundamental attri...
Jun 09, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Understanding the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Pathways to Healing In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) test, a 10-question survey that uncovers the hidden impacts of childhood trauma on adult health and well-being. Leslie explains how high ACE scores correlate with numerous physical and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, chronic illnesses, and reduced life expectancy. The episode explores the bi...
Jun 02, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 22
The Paradox of Progress: Why We Forget What Works In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the 'Paradox of Progress,' a psychological phenomenon explaining why society and individuals often dismantle the systems that made their successes possible. The episode explores this paradox in various realms including public health, civil rights, economics, and climate policy. The discussion reveals how our brains' tendency to forget problems once they are resolved leads to cyclical is...
May 26, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 21
The Cognitive Cost of AI: A Deep Dive into Learning and Development In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping cognition, particularly in education. The discussion focuses on the developmental impact of AI on children and the cognitive trade-offs associated with relying on AI tools. The episode delves into the science behind why traditional methods like handwriting are essential for learning, memory, and cognitive development. It also hig...
May 19, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Empathy Under Fire: Understanding Its Crucial Role and Strategic Erosion In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychological phenomenon of empathy, distinguishing it from sympathy and underscoring its pivotal role in moral reasoning, cooperation, and human survival. The episode explores the three types of empathy—cognitive, emotional, and compassionate—and how they are neurologically grounded. Leslie discusses the alarming trend of empathy being framed as a weakness or...
May 12, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 19
The Power of Language: Unveiling the Psychology of Linguistic Control In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychology behind the control and censorship of language, examining how it impacts us psychologically, socially, and politically. The discussion touches on historical and contemporary examples, including the strategic choice of words in South American dictatorships, the erasure of terms like 'diversity' and 'gender' in the U.S., and the euphemistic language used ...
May 05, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Unearthing Psychology's Shadow: A Critical Examination In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the dark history of psychology, exploring its entanglements with colonialism, racism, sexism, and eugenics. The episode sheds light on how psychological theories and practices have upheld oppressive systems and sometimes caused harm. Poston emphasizes the importance of acknowledging these historical abuses to build a more ethical, inclusive, and just field. The episode also address...
Apr 28, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 17
The Dangers of Trivializing Fascism: How Memes Shape Our Politics In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the often overlooked impact of political memes on our digital and real-world environments. While memes may seem harmless or even humorous on the surface, they can trivialize serious issues such as authoritarianism and fascism, thereby dulling societal urgency and fracturing crucial coalitions. Leslie digs into the psychology and neuroscience behind these digital behaviors...
Apr 21, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Navigating Uncertainty: Understanding Its Impact on Decision Making In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the complexities of uncertainty and its effects on decision-making. Leslie explores the psychological and physiological responses to uncertainty, including the role of the amygdala and the concept of Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU). The discussion encompasses cognitive biases like the availability heuristic and ambiguity aversion, and the differential impact of uncerta...
Apr 14, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Unraveling Fan Psychology in Social Movements: Insights from the Hands-Off Protest In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the intersection of fan behavior and social movements, using her early research and the recent Hands-Off protest as case studies. Poston digs into the mechanisms behind successful progressive movements, highlighting the power of collective identity, symbolism, and anti-fandom in mobilizing people. Drawing comparisons with the Women's March, she explains w...
Apr 07, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Marketing and Propaganda Unveiled In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the pervasive challenge of marketing and propaganda, drawing parallels between commercial and ideological influence. She discusses the psychological mechanisms behind effective marketing and propaganda, including social proof, scarcity, authority, and identity-based persuasion. The episode explores real-world examples, such as the tobacco industry's misinformation campaigns and tech companies' use of '...
Mar 31, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Enhancing Workplace Dynamics: The Critical Role of Psychological Safety In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the concept of psychological safety in the workplace. She explains its definition, importance, and methods to cultivate it amidst personal and corporate politics. Drawing on insights from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and social learning theory, Leslie discusses how psychological safety reduces cognitive load, fosters creativity, and enhances team performance...
Mar 24, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 12
The Psychology of Digital Friendships: Navigating Connections in the Digital Age In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the profound psychological mechanisms underlying friendships in the digital era. The episode digs into how technology affects emotional labor, reciprocity, and vulnerability in relationships. Highlighting research by Dr. Jeffrey Hall, Dr. Sherry Turkle, Dr. John Cacioppo, and others, Leslie discusses the impact of social media platforms like Facebook, TikTo...
Mar 17, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Why Humans Struggle with Risk Assessment: Understanding Our Cognitive Biases In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the complexities of human risk assessment. Despite relying on this critical cognitive skill every day, humans often misjudge risks due to emotional biases, misinformation, and stress. From relationships and work to financial decisions and global crises like Covid-19, Leslie explores how attachment styles, behavioral economics, media influence, and neurological...
Mar 10, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 10
The Psychology of Changing Minds: Unpacking Cognitive Barriers and Strategies In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs deep into the complex psychology behind changing minds in a divided society. The episode, which runs longer than usual at 60 minutes, explores how cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, and identity protection influence our resistance to belief revision. Leslie discusses the neurological discomfort of encountering contradictory information, the role of group ide...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 9
The Hidden Power of Disgust and Shame: Unveiling Ancient Emotions in Modern Society In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychological forces of disgust and shame, exploring their ancient roots and modern implications. The episode sheds light on how these emotions shape our identities, enforce social norms, and influence political and social landscapes. Through neuroimaging studies and research from sociology and psychology, Leslie explains how physical disgust respon...
Feb 24, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Navigating and Transforming Toxic Workplaces In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the pervasive issue of toxic workplaces. The discussion covers identifying toxic behaviors such as micromanagement, harassment, and discriminatory practices and their detrimental effects on mental and physical health. The role of leadership, particularly toxic leaders, and their impact on workplace culture is highlighted. Strategies for survival and transformation are provided, including bui...
Feb 17, 2025•30 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Extinction Burst: The Desperate Ways Extremists and their Movements React When Losing Ground In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of extinction bursts—predictable patterns of intensifying behavior when long-standing negative behaviors lose effectiveness. Drawing on examples from political, social, and historical contexts, the episode explains how these bursts manifest in both individual and group behaviors, and why they're particularly relevant given today's ra...
Feb 11, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Harnessing Small Actions for Big Change in Overwhelming Challenges In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how to take meaningful actions when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Through insights from various psychological studies, Leslie explains why our brains often shut down when faced with massive issues, and how small, strategic steps can break this paralysis. The episode dives into concepts such as learned helplessness, behavioral activation, and small wins, emp...
Feb 03, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 5
The Psychological Power of Art and Creativity: Exploring Why We Create In this episode of PsyberSpace, hosted by Leslie Poston, we explore the profound psychological impact of art and creativity. Using examples like Dylan Thomas's poem 'Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night' and Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise,' the episode delves into why art moves us and how creativity nurtures our mental well-being. The discussion touches on how art activates brain reward centers, fosters empathy, and acts as a ...
Jan 27, 2025•19 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Understanding and Resisting Authoritarian Propaganda In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston looks into the mechanisms of propaganda used by authoritarian regimes. The episode covers the psychological strategies behind media manipulation, revisionist history, and language control intended to mold public perception and behavior. Using historical and contemporary examples, Leslie highlights the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in recognizing and resisting these tactics...
Jan 20, 2025•11 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Debunking Psychology Myths: From Brain Function to Vaccines In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston critically examines several long-standing psychology myths and their impacts. The discussion covers misconceptions such as the left-brained/right-brained theory, the myth that we use only 10% of our brain, the idea that opposites attract in relationships, and the belief that venting anger is beneficial. Further myths debunked include the notion that memory functions like a video camera,...
Jan 14, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 2
PsyberSpace S2E1: The Neuroscience of Wealth and Power In the season two opener of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how extreme wealth and power transform the human mind. The episode gets into neuroscientific research revealing that power and wealth can rewire neural pathways, decrease empathy, alter decision-making, and increase risk-taking behaviors. Examples from real-world events, including actions by billionaires like Jeff Bezos, illustrate the psychological changes that accompany i...
Jan 06, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 1
