All In The Mind

Why do people lie? Why do relationships fall apart? Can trauma change your brain?

Every week on All in the Mind, award-winning journalist Sana Qadar explores the psychology behind the biggest questions in our lives — how we think, feel and behave.

Featuring leading experts like Esther Perel, Billy Garvey and Ethan Kross, you’ll hear personal stories and practical insights that will leave you thinking long after the podcast ends.

Whether it’s debunking pop psychology trends or translating the latest neuroscience research, more than 100,000 listeners join Sana each month to learn the best strategies for surviving life with your mental health intact.

All in the Mind is created for ABC’s Radio National by specialist journalists and reporters at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and was awarded Best Health and Wellness podcast at the 2026 Australian Audio Awards

Latest Episodes:

Trying to read more? Your brain will thank you Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

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 health Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

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.

Burnout: the warning signs and how to stop it Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

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).

When meditation goes wrong: part two Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

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:

When meditation goes wrong: part one Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

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:

Why do we crave closure? Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

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:

Why should I spend time in nature? Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

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.

Dark tourism, selfies and moral outrage Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

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.

From gaming addiction to healthy gamer: Dr K's story Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

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

How can I become more securely attached? Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

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: