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:

Turning sleeplessness into stargazing Aug 11, 2024

Show notes

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.

The Tetris effect: How we learnt to manipulate dreams Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

It sounds like fantasy, but the manipulation of dreams is now possible — and it's thanks to a well known video game, Tetris.

Why people are playing Tetris to treat their trauma Jul 28, 2024

Show notes

For people with PTSD, flashbacks can be an unwelcome and distressing experience. To tackle this problem, researchers have turned to Tetris.

Why do athletes choke under pressure? Jul 21, 2024

Show notes

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.

Conspiracies: why people change their mind Jul 14, 2024

Show notes

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.

How bystanders (like you) can help stop domestic violence Jul 07, 2024

Show notes

After enduring years of abuse, Robyn Westgate was jailed for the murder of her husband. Now out of prison, she runs training programs that aim to reduce domestic violence.

Robyn says the key is empowering people to be better bystanders.

Today, one woman's story from domestic violence survivor to domestic violence consultant, and the importance of speaking up.

Please note this episode includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault and domestic violence. It may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.

Resources:

1800 Respect Men's Referral Service

Dark tourism + selfie sticks = moral outrage Jun 30, 2024

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.

If you're keen for another episode of All in the Mind, check out You've got the music in you.

How to win the battle for better sleep Jun 23, 2024

Show notes

Do you wake up each morning refreshed and well-slept? Or are you the kind of person who tosses and turns for ages before falling asleep, ruminating on all of your missteps and stresses from the day?

If you chose option two, this episode is for you. Two sleep experts share advice on making night-time more restful — beyond the standard 'don't look at your phone before bed.' (Though that's important too).

This episode was first broadcast in March 2023.

Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode, Busting bias: what works and what doesn't.

Credits:

Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
Producer: Rose Kerr
Sound engineer: Ann-Marie DeBettencor

Can music inspire mania? Jun 16, 2024

Show notes

Long before Bieber fever and Swifties, there was Lisztomania.

Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer who inspired such intense fandom and frenzy that it was dubbed mania.

So, was it true mania? What caused fans to respond to him so passionately?

And what can Lisztomania reveal about the way we talk about female obsession?

If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode; Hook me baby one more time: the psychology of pop music.

When doom scrolling leads to actual harm Jun 09, 2024

Show notes

For 8 months, images and videos of the carnage in Gaza have been flooding social media. They give a powerful view of what's happening to Palestinians on the ground – but they also have the potential to cause vicarious trauma.

Today – what is vicarious trauma, and why doomscrolling doesn't help.