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:

Cults and coercive control Mar 24, 2024

Show notes

Popular culture is endlessly fascinated with cults, and they have the capacity to make ordinary people do unthinkable things.

Today - how cults reel people in, how coercive control keeps them there and what it takes to get out.

This episode was first broadcast in October 2022.

And if you enjoyed listening, you should check out our episode The History of Brainwashing.

What influences your inner voice? Controlling 'chatter' part two Mar 17, 2024

Show notes

That voice inside your head - where does it come from?

We bring back a topic that was one of our most popular for a long awaited part two. Today, what shapes your internal chatter.

Our original episode on chatter is called Controlling the chatter in your head, if you liked this episode you'll love that one!

How (not) to manifest a million dollars Mar 10, 2024

Show notes

If you could manifest anything into your life, what would it be? A perfect partner, your dream house, winning the lottery?

Manifesting promises a limitless potential of dreams to achieve — through methods like vision boards and affirmations.

But does manifesting actually help us realise our goals? Is it harmless fun? Healthy positive thinking? Or can manifestation lead the brain down some dark alleys that you might not expect?

In this episode we mention another episode called Visualisation and values — goal setting like a winner. It's part two of our two part series on the athlete's mindset. Part one is called A winning mindset — how top athletes think.

If you have a topic idea for All in the Mind, reach out to us via email at mind_rn@abc.net.au

Wanted: Unicorns. Mission: Mars. Mar 03, 2024

Show notes

NASA wants to send humans to Mars in the next decade or so. But can our minds handle it?

We talk to a NASA psychologist and retired astronaut about the psychological challenges people already face on long-duration space missions — and find out what it will take to get to Mars.

If you liked this episode, you might like one of our past episodes about the isolation we all experienced during the pandemic. It's called The brain in isolation.

The skills supercommunicators use, which you can learn too Feb 25, 2024

Show notes

What does working for the CIA, navigating hot button topics and talking to teenagers all have in common? They're situations that supercommunicators excel at.

Today, we explore how you can become a supercommunicator too.

In this episode we touch on a previous story, Introversion vs Extroversion. If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love that one too.

Moog became a Youtube megastar — and it messed with his mental health Feb 18, 2024

Show notes

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.

When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore it Feb 11, 2024

Show notes

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

Guests:

Isla Lucas

Dr Valerie van MulukomSenior Lecturer in PsychologyOxford Brookes University

Professor Joel PearsonPsychologist, neuroscientistFounder and Director, Future Minds LabUniversity of New South WalesAuthor, The Intuition Toolkit

Producers:Fiona Pepper, Rose Kerr

Sound engineer: Russell Stapleton

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.

Nine big myths about depression — busted Feb 04, 2024

Show notes

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.

Think like a winner: performance psychology and lessons for everyday life Jan 28, 2024

Show notes

What does it take to go from second place, to first? Good, to great?

This episode was first broadcast in July 2023. It's part one of our two parter on performance psychology. Part two is called Visualisation and values — goal setting like a winner.

Babies turn us into non-stop singing machines. Why? Jan 21, 2024

Show notes

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.