Podcast
All In The Mind
Hosted by ABC Australia · EN
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
41episodes
Episodes
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We want your parenting questions
Feb 2600:01:43Tap to summarizeDevelopmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey is returning to All in the Mind and we'd love to ask him your questions!Billy is an expert on kids' mental health — last time he was on the show we discussed what's really going on with kids who are labelled "bad"; including insecure attachment, separation anxiety and emotional difficulties. He co-hosts Pop Culture Parenting and is the author of Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental health.So if you have any questions you'd like to put to Billy, send them to allinthemind@abc.net.au and include "question for Dr Billy Garvey" in the subject line.And if you're looking for inspiration, you can find Dr Billy Garvey's previous episode here.Thanks! - Sana and the All in the Mind team
Transcribe →Why do we choke under pressure?
Feb 2100:29:32Tap to summarizeThe siren has sounded. The scores are even. A footy player has one final chance to kick an easy goal to get his team into the finals.He's right in front of the goals. He lines up. Kicks. Misses. The pressure of such a moment was phenomenal, and the player choked under it.So what happens in the brain during such intense periods? Why can some people remain calm while others can't handle it?This episode first aired in July 2024.Guests:Caroline AndersonPerformance psychologistLead psychologist for the Paris 2024 Australian Olympic TeamDr Chris MesagnoSenior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology, Victoria UniversityLouise PotterFootballer and Darebin Falcons legendMary SpillaneClinical psychologistCredits:Presenter: Sana QadarReporter/Producer: Belinda SmithProducer: Rose Kerr, Petria LadgroveSound engineer: Russell StapletonTo view the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.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.
Transcribe →Can 'normalisation of deviance' help to explain a catastrophe?
Feb 1400:34:37Tap to summarize40 years ago, NASA experienced one of its most devastating disasters.The Challenger space shuttle disintegrated just 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members.How had this happened? And did the culture of NASA have anything to do with it?In this episode, we dig into a concept called 'normalisation of deviance', which has been touted as an explanation for this incident, as well as the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster and a clinical drug trial that left six people in intensive care.So what is 'normalisation of deviance'? How does it happen? And given its potential for harm, is there anything we can do to prevent it?If you enjoyed this episode, check out the latest season of Science Friction, The Challenger Disaster (which is also produced by our senior producer James Bullen!)Guests:Dr Nejc SedlarLecturer, University of AberdeenProfessor Sidney DekkerProfessor, Griffith UniversityCredits:Presenter: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenAdditional reporting/production: Fiona PepperProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Roi HubermanYou 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.More information:A qualitative systematic review on the application of the normalization of deviance phenomenon within high-risk industries.Sidney Dekker — Drift into Failure.Challenger: the disaster five people saw coming.The Challenger Legacy — Science Friction.Has NASA learned anything from the Challenger disaster?When to trust your gut instinct, and when to ignore itA deviation from standard design? Clinical trials, research ethics committees, and the regulatory co-construction of organizational deviance
Transcribe →Got a question for Esther Perel?
Feb 13Tap to summarizeRenowned psychotherapist Esther Perel is coming to All in the Mind! And we'd love to ask her some of your questions.Esther Perel is an internationally recognised couples therapist. You might know her as the author of Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs. Family, sex, intimacy, friendship, betrayal - Esther covers it all. So if you have any thorny relationship questions you'd like to ask her, send them to allinthemind@abc.net.au and include "question for Esther Perel" in the subject line.Thanks!
Transcribe →The paradox of petty problems: Why small annoyances can snowball
Feb 700:29:22Tap to summarizeSlow walkers. Unmelted cheese in a toastie. Bad formatting in documents. If these small annoyances make you weirdly mad, you're not alone (in fact, you're human). But when little pet peeves add up, they can contribute much bigger problems like chronic stress. So what can you do about it?Today: why small annoyances have such an outsized impact; why judging yourself doesn't help; and how elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you better navigate these moments (as well as the bigger challenges in life).And if you're not a fan of radical acceptance, which was covered in a recent episode, we go deeper on what it really means.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.Guest:Dr Patricia Zurita-OnaClinical psychologistAuthorCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Roi HubermanMore information:Relationship of daily hassles, uplifts, and major life events to health statusThe peculiar longevity of things not so badPatricia's website and resourcesOther recommended listening:Chronically stressed? These small changes can helpDifficult people and radical acceptance: answering your questions about tricky relationships
Transcribe →Grief and guilt: losing a loved one to suicide
Jan 3100:32:55Tap to summarizeWhen Blake's dad died by suicide, it came as a complete shock. Overwhelming grief, combined with confusion and guilt — it uprooted his life. The loss made him rethink his own mental health, and eventually, channel that into the community — fundraising and taking on three world records.Today, we're talking about suicide bereavement; how it can affect family and friends, its long lasting impacts on mental health, and how to support someone going through the experience. It can be really tricky to talk about suicide, so how do you tackle talking to kids about this kind of loss?Also, why are rates of suicide not going down, despite millions spent on prevention? And why do some people experience something called post-traumatic growth while others don't?This episode discusses suicide, grief and mental illness in depth. Please take care while listening.Guests:Blake JohnstonFormer pro surferSurf CoachMental Health advocateAuthor, SwellbeingAssociate Professor Karl AndriessenPrincipal Research Fellow, Centre for Mental Health and Community WellbeingMelbourne School of Population and Global HealthUniversity of MelbourneTanja HirvonenClinical psychologistChief Executive Officer, ThirriliBoard Director, Australian Indigenous Psychologists AssociationBoard Director, Black Dog InstituteCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarProducer: Rose KerrSenior producer: James BullenSound engineer: Harvey O'SullivanThanks to freesound.org users tim.kahn and juskiddinkSupport and resources:Lifeline 13 11 14Thirrili 1800 805 80113 YARN 13 92 76Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636StandBy Support 1300 727 247Roses in the oceanMore information:Coping With A Parent's SuicideAlarming rise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide ratesA better way: suicide prevention in First Nations communitiesYou 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.
Transcribe →Driving me mad: why we get road rage
Jan 2400:30:22Tap to summarizeSimon considers himself a calm, conscientious, conflict-avoidant type of person. But in the car, his personality flips — and it scares him.It can be hard to admit, but many of us do experience road rage.So what is it about being in the driver's seat that makes us so quick to anger? And does the type of car a person drives have anything to do with their propensity for aggression?Today, we're talking about road rage; owning up to times we've lost our temper and finding out what we can do about it.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 the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:Dr Amanda StephensSenior Research Fellow,Monash University Accident Research CentreSimonAll in the Mind listener and business ownerCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Harvey O'SullivanMore information:Estimated car cost as a predictor of driver yielding behaviors for pedestriansHigher social class predicts increased unethical behaviorThe fast and the furious: Research shows that owners of high-status cars are on a collision course with traffic
Transcribe →The cognitive distortions of a high achiever
Jan 1700:29:35Tap to summarizeOver years of practice, clinical psychologist Dr Mary Anderson started to notice a peculiar pattern across her many clients.Despite being impressive high achievers on the outside, inside they were struggling with burnout, imposter syndrome, anxiety and self-criticism.So she set out to develop a guide for these high achievers. A framework to support their success ... without sacrificing their mental health.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 the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.This episode first aired in May 2025.Guests:Dr Mary AndersonClinical Psychologist; Author, The Happy High AchieverCredits:Presenter/Producer: Sana QadarProducer: Rose KerrSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tegan NichollsYou can find the transcript for this episode on its original webpage here.Extra Information:The Happy High Achiever - Pan Macmillan Australia
Transcribe →Healing from self-hatred
Jan 1000:29:36Tap to summarizeMany of us have felt self loathing at some point in our lives — maybe when you've failed at an important task at work, or lost an important relationship.But some people hate themselves all the time — their inner monologue is a constant drumbeat of self-criticism and self-loathing. Where does this kind of all-encompassing self-hate come from? And is there a way to unlearn it?We speak to psychiatrist Dr Blaise Aguirre, author of I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Loathing and Realize Why You're Wrong About You. This episode discusses the topic of suicide - please take care while listening.This episode first aired in February 2025.Guest:Dr Blaise AguirreChild and adolescent psychiatristAssistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical SchoolAuthor, I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Loathing and Realize Why You're Wrong About YouCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Isabella TropianoThanks to Freesound.org users 7by7, qubodup, laft2k, andre.nascimentoTo find the transcript for this episode, head to it's original webpage.Resources:Lifeline Australia1800RESPECTYou 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 the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →The fight for focus in a world of distraction
Jan 300:29:36Tap to summarizeBe honest, how many times have you checked your notifications in the last hour? Or opened a new, totally unrelated tab? Or stopped what you're doing even though you really need to do it?Distractions are everywhere. And whether they're self-imposed or coming from our environment, it can be hard to focus.Today, we explore the ramifications of our rapidly shrinking attention spans, debunk some myths about focus, and discuss the art of taking a break.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 the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.This episode first aired in March 2025.Guests:Dr Emma Fitzgerald Clinical NeuropsychologistSebEmma's son and distracted teenagerGloria Mark, PhDChancellor's Professor Emerita, University of California, IrvineAuthor, Attention SpanCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Bella TropianoTo find the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.Extra info:Gloria's The Future of Attention substackSmartphones in the nursery: Parental smartphone use and parental sensitivity and responsiveness within parent–child interaction in early childhood (0–5 years): A scoping reviewDitching your smartphone won't stop you being distracted, study finds
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