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:

Danger and thrills: inside the mind of a high sensation seeker Jun 18, 2023

Show notes

Sky diving. Racing cars. Abseiling. Jumping into an ice bath.

Depending on who you are, those activities either delight or horrify you.High sensation seekers love the thrill, and that leads some to extreme sports, others to crime.

Marley Duncan can tell you first hand: option one is way better.

Just a note, this episode contains strong language and swear words.

The pleasure of pain Jun 11, 2023

Show notes

Spicy food, scary movies, BDSM … why do humans sometimes chase painful experiences and how are they linked to pleasure?

This episode was first broadcast in March 2022.

'Like a bereavement every month' — the extreme emotions of PMDD Jun 04, 2023

Show notes

Laura would spend weeks feeling normal — even happy. But like clockwork, every month, suddenly she would feel intense depression, making her unrecognisable to herself and friends.

It took her nearly two decades to identify what was causing this rollercoaster of mood: PMDD, AKA Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

So what is it about hormones that make some people feel such intense emotions? And why is PMDD still so misunderstood?

This episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening.

Hook me baby one more time: the psychology of pop music May 28, 2023

Show notes

What's the most catchy song you can think of? Is there a moment that makes you suddenly pay attention, mesmerised by the melody or beat?

You're probably reflecting on a song's hook.

But why do hooks capture our minds and memories?

A music psychologist and musicologist share their thoughts on the power of hooks.

In this episode you'll hear Tim and Jadey cover pop songs which Sana credits at the end of the episode. To see the written credits, head to our website.

What's been on Lynne Malcolm's mind (since leaving All in the Mind) May 21, 2023

Show notes

Lynne Malcolm is used to being in the host's seat, but today, the tables are turned. She's back on All in the Mind to discuss her new book, appropriately titled All in the Mind. So what did she learn through 9 years of interviews? How did the show help her process her own mental health?

Lynne reflects on her expansive career at the ABC and the personal connections she made along the way.

Whispers, taps and tingles — what is ASMR? May 14, 2023

Show notes

This episode was first broadcast in September 2021.

Have you heard of ASMR?

Whispery, clicky, crinkly videos are massive on YouTube - racking up millions of views.

The idea is that these sounds elicit a certain tingly, calming sensation in some people.

So what is ASMR and what does the science tell us about it?

Is it real … or pseudoscience? And why do some people get the opposite reaction – irritation rather than these pleasant tingles?

What's the deal with EMDR? May 07, 2023

Show notes

This episode deals with descriptions of abuse. Please take care while listening.

Michael Baldwin cycled through seven therapists over 22 years. No one could help him overcome the trauma of his childhood — until he tried EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy).

But why would eye movements help a person process their trauma? It sounds fantastical. Is it?

The human drive to connect – and divide Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

It's human nature to form groups — families, friends, online communities. We love to be surrounded by people similar to us.

But that can also make us discriminatory and defensive. And social media makes that instinct worse.

In this episode, we look at how our brains evolved to connect and divide, and what that means for the problems we face in our modern world.

Fantasy and make believe — how our brains interpret fiction Apr 23, 2023

Show notes

A magical kingdom with ogres and fairies.

A post-apocalyptic world ruled by machines.

An underwater monster that resembles a dragon.

These fictional worlds might only be described by words, but the images they create in our minds feel so real.

Why are our brains so good at creating imaginary images?

Producer Rose Kerr explores how an author's words translate into the mind's of readers.

The one thing we've never spoken about Apr 16, 2023

Show notes

Journalist Elfy Scott grew up in a loving and tight knit family, but there was one topic they never spoke about, for a long time: her mother's schizophrenia.

Now, Elfy is sharing her family's story, and interrogating why stigma so often silences conversations about complex mental health disorders.