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:

The building blocks of wellbeing Oct 03, 2021

Show notes

Wellbeing' has become a bit of a buzz word recently, but what does it really mean?It's not the same as simply being happy, or experiencing pleasure - it's something deeper and broader than that.

It has to do with how we connect with others, how we feel about ourselves, and much more.

So what do we need in order to achieve wellbeing?

Hey you! Tell us about your pandemic life Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

We're working on an episode about how Australians have been coping through the pandemic, and we want your stories.

We want to know what’s been getting you through the tough times, and what you’re most looking forward to when this is all behind us.

How can you tell us? You just need to use your smartphone to record yourself telling a story.

It can be sad, happy, funny, weird -- like maybe you got a new hobby, or re-discovered an old one, or made an unexpected friend, and that helped get you through. Maybe you’re looking forward to travelling the world, seeing your children again … or just a cold beer at the pub.

Whatever it is, put it into a voice recording, and we’ll share it in a special episode of All in the Mind.

To record:

Find a quiet room and open up the voice memo app on your smartphone.

If you don't have one installed, search for a voice memo app in your app store.

Hold the phone's microphone (located at the base of the phone) about 15-20cm from your mouth.

Press the red 'record' button and share your thoughts.

Once you're finished, hit the record button again to stop, then press done and save the recording with a name.

If you're unhappy with what you've recorded, just re-do it.

When you've got your recording, you should be able to 'send' or 'share' it via email to mind_rn@abc.net.au.

Remember to include your name and the area you live so we can credit you on the podcast.

Whispers, taps and tingles — what is ASMR? Sep 26, 2021

Show notes

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?

Machiavellianism, and the 'dark triad' of personality Sep 19, 2021

Show notes

Do you consider yourself a shrewd manipulator? Are you cynical about the nature of human beings? If so, you might rank highly in Machiavellianism - a personality trait that's based on the writing and views of Niccolo Machiavelli, the 16th-century Italian political philosopher. We look at what makes a Machiavellian personality, and how it fits into the so called ‘dark triad’ of traits.

Forget dad bod ... what about dad brain? Sep 12, 2021

Show notes

During pregnancy and then in childbirth, new mums experience some dramatic hormonal changes.

But while these changes in women are relatively well studied … there’s a growing body of evidence finding that biological changes - shifts in hormones and brain activity - happen in men, too.

And these shifts are just one part of the picture.

Men can also experience mental health issues when they become a new dad, like postnatal depression.

On All in the Mind this week, the psychological and biological changes that happen during the transition to fatherhood.

COVID and the brain Sep 05, 2021

Show notes

As the pandemic continues, the long-term effects of COVID-19 are a growing concern.

Much is still unknown, but one major study suggests up to a third of people who get COVID-19 will go on to develop a psychiatric or neurological condition.

Then there's the anxiety, depression and stigma that come with a diagnosis of the disease.

On All in the Mind this week, how COVID can affect the brain.

Electroconvulsive therapy — they still do that? Aug 29, 2021

Show notes

ECT has a chequered history, but its modern iteration is nothing like the scenes depicted in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Used to treat severe depression and psychosis, ECT's side effects include some degree of memory loss. We delve into the discussion around benefits vs side effects, and speak to three patients about their varying degrees of success with the treatment.

Neuromarketing — how brands target your brain Aug 22, 2021

Show notes

Would you be able to tell the difference between a bargain bin red and a top drop? Or how about what separates a duck paté … from one made of dog food?

Perception is everything when it comes to marketing, and decades of neuroscience and psychology research have given businesses ever greater insights into how we can make decisions and how they can subtly shape our expectations so that yes – even dog food paté can become appealing.

But the ramifications of this power may be pushing companies into unethical territory.

The 'benevolent' brand of sexism Aug 15, 2021

Show notes

You’re no doubt familiar with 'hostile sexism' – blatantly negative or restrictive attitudes towards women.

But there's another type of sexism it co-exists with - ‘benevolent sexism’ - which is sometimes harder to detect.

Benevolent sexism can be well-meaning and positive – describing women as natural nurturers or brilliant carers.

It's linked to notions of chivalry and romance - research suggests some women even find benevolent sexism attractive.

But these attitudes can still cause major harm to women in the workplace and the home.

The 'hidden histories' of autistic adults Aug 08, 2021

Show notes

Over the past two decades, our cultural understanding of autism and what it means to be autistic has grown - though we have a long way to go. But there are entire generations of people who grew up when the popular conception of autism was a far cry from how it’s now understood.

It meant a whole host of people who grew up feeling like they didn’t fit in, but never quite knowing why.

They were autistic, but undiagnosed. And when a diagnosis did come as an adult – it was often revelatory and life-changing.

On All in the Mind this week, 'hidden histories’ of late-diagnosed autistic adults.