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:

Is Stockholm Syndrome a sexist myth? Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

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.

Hacking humans: social engineering and the power of influence Aug 20, 2023

Show notes

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, the psychology of influence and what makes some people more vulnerable to being ‘hacked’ than others.

This episode was first broadcast in August 2021.

Why do we sing to babies? Aug 13, 2023

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!

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

The psychology of fashion — it's more than just clothes Aug 06, 2023

Show notes

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?

Murder, trauma and a different kind of grief — what true crime pods often overlook Jul 30, 2023

Show notes

For years, psychologist Patricia Harney avoided true crime podcasts and docos. They hit too close to home.

Recently she's been testing the waters, and noticing these whodunnit shows often leave out a crucial element of the story.

Toxic positivity — when happiness becomes harmful Jul 23, 2023

Show notes

We're urged to stay positive and keep up a cheerful disposition ... but sometimes things are just awful, aren’t they?

On All in the Mind this week we look at why we engage in toxic positivity, why it's so damaging when we do and whether something called 'tragic optimism' could be the antidote.

This episode was first broadcast in February 2022.

Visualisation and values — goal setting like a winner Jul 16, 2023

Show notes

In your mind's eye, can you see yourself achieving your dream goal? Can you imagine what it would feel like? Who you'd be talking to when you achieve it?

Turns out the more you can imagine, the better your shot at achieving you goal.

But that's not the whole story…

This is part two of our two-parter on performance psychology.

A winning mindset — how top athletes think Jul 09, 2023

Show notes

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

This is part one of our two parter on performance psychology.

Can you smell yourself happy? Jul 02, 2023

Show notes

What's your favourite smell? And why is it your favourite?

Maybe it reminds you of a special moment, a particular place or a loved one.

But can you use these scents to make yourself… Happier? And what happens if we lose our sense of smell altogether?

Demystifying menopause Jun 25, 2023

Show notes

Whether you're 19 and never given it a thought, or 40 and starting to wonder, menopause is an unavoidable part of life for half the population.

But many of us are shaky on the details of what to expect — apart from hot flashes/flushes, maybe.

Former model Ali Daddo was one of those people: totally unprepared, and caught off guard when it hit. She's on a mission to make sure other women are more informed – and therefrom more empowered – than she was.

Just a heads up, this episode touches on mental health struggles and suicide. Please take care while listening.

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