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:

Can criminal profiling identify a killer? May 08, 2026

Show notes

Criminal profiling promises a lot — being able to piece together a picture of a suspect through clues, intuition and psychology sounds great. But how reliable is it?

In our first episode of Forensic, a four-part series unpacking the psychological tools used to solve crimes, we examine the history of criminal profiling. How it got popular in the 1950s after bombings in New York City, its shortcomings when scrutinised by researchers, and the techniques it is built on that police deploy today (but with a lot more data).

Guests:

Michael CannellAuthor, Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal ProfilingFormer Editor, The New York Times

Professor Craig JacksonProfessor of Occupational Health PsychologyBirmingham City University

Dr Victoria BerezowskiLecturer, Forensic Science, Deakin University

Credits:

Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
Senior producer: James Bullen
Producer: Rose Kerr
Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano

You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Further Information:

INTRODUCING — Forensic May 06, 2026

Show notes

Forget everything you’ve learned from crime dramas.

Forensic is a new podcast series from All in the Mind on ABC Radio National that takes you behind the psychological tools used to solve crimes.

Across four episodes, we investigate criminal profiling, false confessions, eyewitness memory and lie detection, revealing what actually works, what doesn’t, and the surprising ways things can go wrong.

Forensic gives an evidence-led look at the cracks and complexities inside modern forensic psychology.

Our first episode drops this Sunday!

In the mean time, check out our other true crime themed series from 2025, Criminal Psychology.

Our millennia-long obsession with immortality May 03, 2026

Show notes

Would you want to live forever? The rich and powerful certainly do.

There are numerous examples throughout history of people going to extreme lengths in search of immortality. These days, it's Silicon Valley tech bros, testing out everything from blood transfusions to merging our brains with the cloud.

Why are they/we so obsessed with dodging death? What is it about extreme wealth that makes people dream of defying biology?

Today, tech journalist and social psychologist Aleks Krotoski takes us into the world of the ‘immortalists’: what they think the future of humanity might look like, and whether the rest of us want to come along for the ride.

Guest:

Aleks KrotoskiInvestigative journalistSocial psychologistAuthor, The Immortalists: The Death of Death and the Race for Eternal Life

Credits:

Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
Producer: Rose Kerr
Senior Producer: James Bullen
Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls

Pretty privilege, surgery stigma and the cosmetic procedure paradox Apr 26, 2026

Show notes

Cosmetic procedures aren't reserved for celebrities anymore - they're becoming more and more accessible for every day people.

So if we're able to alter our looks or avoid the appearance of aging altogether, what impact does this have on our psychology?

Today, we examine how changing our faces might change how we see each other.

Please note, this episode includes some discussion of body image and mental health issues such as body dysmorphic disorder. Take care while listening.

Guests:

Professor Gemma SharpClinical psychologist and researcherAdelaide University

Dr Sarah BonellResearch FellowBolton Clarke Research Institute

Credits:

Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
Reporter/producer: Rose Kerr
Senior producer: James Bullen
Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

What's the connection between cosmetic procedures and mental health?Australian Women's Lived Experiences of Stigmatization After Cosmetic Surgery: A Qualitative Investigation The cosmetic surgery paradox: Toward a contemporary understanding of cosmetic surgery popularisation and attitudes Under the knife: Unfavorable perceptions of women who seek plastic surgery New AHPRA Guidelines Require Psychological Screening for Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Cheaper, easier and less taboo: Why more gen Zs are getting cosmetic injectables such as botox Body dysmorphic disorder

Support:

Butterfly foundation 1800 33 4673

The psychology behind our moral outrage Apr 19, 2026

Show notes

Politics, war, abortion, gun control — why do some topics make us so outraged?

One theory is that our preoccupation with preventing harm is to blame.

So today, we examine how humans developed morality, why we differ in what we consider right and wrong, and how that drives us to moral outrage.

And after all of that, we'll find out how to have better conversations with people you disagree with (even if you're feeling outraged).

If you want to hear more about that, check out The skills supercommunicators use, which you can learn too.

This episode first aired in January 2025.

Guest:

Dr Kurt GrayProfessor in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDirector, Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral UnderstandingAuthor, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground

Credits:

Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
Senior producer: James Bullen
Producer: Rose Kerr
Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More information:

Lethal Mass Partisanship: Prevalence, Correlates, & Electoral Contingencies

The transcript for this episode can be found on its original webpage.

Staying sane in space Apr 12, 2026

Show notes

In the last couple of weeks, a lot of people have been getting excited about space exploration thanks to Artemis II.

So this week, we revisit an episode from our archives all about life as an astronaut and the psychological impacts of long distance space travel.

And if you enjoy this episode, check out Artemis Explained, a podcast from the Science Friction team, following the Artemis II mission.

This episode was first broadcast in March 2024.

Guests:

Dr Albert Holland, Senior Operational Psychologist, NASA Johnson Space Center
Dr Cady Coleman, Former NASA astronaut
Jamey Simpson, Cady's son

With excerpts from:Space: The Longest Goodbye, directed by Ido Mizrahy

Credits:

Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
Producer: Rose Kerr
Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite

More information:

Artemis Explained podcast Science Friction

To view the transcript for this episode, please head to its original webpage.

Mind Hacks with Dr Billy Garvey: "being a bit kinder to myself" Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks.

In this episode, we're joined by developmental paediatrician and co-host of Pop Culture Parenting, Dr Billy Garvey. From self compassion to channelling anger into advocacy, Billy shares his own strategies for managing bad days.

On Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill!If you have feedback or want to suggest a guest, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.au

Guest:

Dr Billy GarveyDevelopmental paediatricianAuthor, Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental healthPodcast co-host, Pop Culture ParentingFounder, Guiding Growing Minds

Credits:

Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
Senior Producer: James Bullen
Producer: Rose Kerr
Sound Engineer: Hamish Camilleri

Relevant All in the Mind episodes:

Tantrums, sleep training and anxiety: Dr Billy Garvey answers your parenting questions 'Bad behaviour' or just misunderstood? What to know about kids' mental health

Tantrums, sleep training and anxiety: Dr Billy Garvey answers your parenting questions Apr 05, 2026

Show notes

How can I help my child with anxiety? What's the deal with sleep training? Are we supposed to ignore tantrums?

This week, we've invited developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey back on All in the Mind for a mailbag episode. We'll unpack your parenting dilemmas which cover questions about kids of all ages, from the littlest of newborns right through to teenagers.

So whether you're a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend or someone just curious about how to support young people in your life, Billy has advice for navigating challenging moments.

And please note, one of the questions is a bit heavy, touching on the topic of suicidality. Please take care while listening.

Guest:

Dr Billy GarveyDevelopmental paediatricianAuthor, Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental healthPodcast co-host, Pop Culture ParentingFounder, Guiding Growing Minds

Credits:

Present/producer: Sana Qadar
Senior producer: James Bullen
Producer: Rose Kerr
Sound engineer: Antonia Gauci

More information:

'Bad behaviour' or just misunderstood? What to know about kids' mental health

Support resources:

Lifeline 13 11 14

13YARN 13 92 76

Beyond Blue

The psychology of masturbation Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

This week we're talking about something intimate… and sometimes taboo: masturbation.

From self-love, to disordered behaviour and back again, we explore how our perceptions of masturbation have changed over the course of history and why it's still linked to shame and confusion for some.

Also, why do humans (and other animals) masturbate in the first place?

Just a heads up, if the topic didn't give it away, this episode may not be suitable for little ones.

This episode first aired in September 2024.

Guests:

Esme Louise JamesPhD candidate, University of MelbourneContent creator and author of Kinky History

Dr Vijayasarathi RamanathanClinical sexologistSenior Lecturer of Sexual Health (Sexology) at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney

Dr Ann JonesHost, What the Duck?!

Dr Matilda BrindleEvolutionary biologistUniversity of Oxford

Credits:

Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
Senior producer: James Bullen
Producer: Rose Kerr
Sound engineer: Beth Stewart

More information:

Sex is Weird | What the Duck?!

To find the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Mind Hacks: Casey Beros Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. In this episode, health journalist and author Casey Beros on managing your inner critic, balancing competing appetites for more and less in life, and filtering out the external voices to chart your own course in life.

Each week on Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill!We're testing this format out over the next few weeks, so let us know what you think, or if there's a guest you'd like us to invite back on the program for Mind Hacks. As always, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.auAnd don't worry, regular All in the Mind episodes will keep dropping every Sunday.

Guest:

Casey BerosHealth journalistAuthor, Next of Kin

Credits: