All In The Mind

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?

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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?

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?

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.