Music is a universal feature of the human experience — present from our very first cultures and civilisations.

But do the features of particular songs and styles translate across cultural boundaries? Like, is a lullaby recognisable even when it's from a different culture? Can you identify a love song in another language?

Today, we explore the special relationship between music and our minds, in an episode from Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World.

Our Changing World is produced and presented by Claire Concannon and Ellen Rykers for RNZ.

The clips from the Natural History of Song project used in this episode are available online under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

The original version of this episode was first broadcast on RNZ as Our Musical Minds.

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 and don't hesitate to reach out for support if you need it. You can reach Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

It was first broadcast in June 2023.

Looking for something to listen to next? Why not check out Demystifying menopause.

Professor Chris French has been studying the paranormal for decades. But — he’s a sceptic.

In an All in the Mind Halloween special, we explore the psychology behind our spooky encounters.

What's going on in your brain when you see a ghost? How do people talk to the dead?

And why would a sceptic study the paranormal?

How many hours have you spent on your phone today? And do you feel like it's too many?

A growing movement of people are going without their smartphones and computers in favour of just about anything that doesn't have a screen.

They say it's giving their lives more meaning — and improving their mental health.

This week, meet the digital minimalists ditching their devices, and how you can do it too.

Want to hear more about the impact social media is having on your mental health? Check out our episode When doom scrolling leads to actual harm.

We don't remember everything that happens to us — so why do we remember what we remember?

And the memories we do lock away aren't always accurate or trustworthy.

This week, we're talking about the fallibility of memory and why sometimes it's healthy to forget.

We'll also get into how to remember special moments more clearly, and here's a hint — you might want to put down your camera sometimes.

If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode Overcoming resentment with gratitude.

We know running is good for the body, but what about the brain? 

Hear from people who love running about the psychological tools they use to stay active, including some advice from a professor who's taught their entire class to run a marathon. 

Looking for something to listen to next? Check out our episode Why being a beginner is good for you.

This week we're talking about something intimate … And at-times taboo … Masturbation.

From self-love, to disordered behaviour, and back again, 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.

After listening, why not check out Sex is Weird, a series from our fellow science podcast, What the Duck?!

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.

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

This episode was first broadcast in April 2023.

Looking for something to listen to next?  Check out another All in the Mind episode, The Certainty Myth.

When you think about pillars of health a few things might come to mind — nutrition, exercise, connectedness. But there's something many of us miss off that list — sleep.

Insomnia does so much more than make us cranky, it's closely tied to our mental health. Not just how we feel on a day to day basis, but our likelihood of developing depression.

This week, what happens when you don't get enough sleep; the effect on your brain and why it's so impactful on your mental health.

If you'd like to learn more about sleep, check out the science team's Sleeptember content.

This episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening. If you need support, you can reach Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Earlier this year, the Netflix program Baby Reindeer brought stalking firmly back into the zeitgeist - sparking discussion about the psychology of people who stalk and the impact it has on victims.

So what goes on in the mind of a stalker? How do the various types, from incompetent suitor to intimacy seeker, differ? And what should you do if you think you have a stalker?