All in the Mind

All in the Mind episodes:

• 03.27.2024

  The psychology of hope

  In this episode of All in the Mind, we’re at the 2024 Northern Ireland Science Festival where we’re discussing the psychology of hope. With a live audience in Belfast’s Metropolitan Arts Centre, Claudia Hammond is joined by a panel...

  
• 03.20.2024

  Seasonality, learning to hope, and the gender citation gap

  Are you looking forward to the lighter evenings of summer? Perhaps you're already feeling different as the seasons change and the green shoots of spring arrive? This week on All in the Mind we're taking a look at how the...

  
• 03.12.2024

  How nightmares link to real-life fears, and new research tackling post-cardiac arrest PTSD

  If you've been cured of a phobia, say of spiders, and finally made your peace with the hairy-legged beasties in real life - why might you then start having vivid nightmares about them? Following an email plea for an...

  
• 03.05.2024

  The science behind screentime, the effect of live music, and can you imagine sounds in your head?

  These days we see a lot of negative stories related to screen time – how we’re addicted to our phones and social media is damaging our mental health. But is our panic about screens justified? Pete Etchells, professor of psychology...

  
• 02.27.2024

  What's going on with girls' mental health?

  When it comes to mental health, what's going on with young people - particularly, teenage girls? There's been a lot of coverage in the media recently regarding mental health difficulties facing boys, not least around the struggle to get to...

  
• 02.20.2024

  Eating to improve memory, and a new play about mental health services

  Does what we eat have an impact on our mood and memory? And should we be thinking about brain health when we make diet choices? Claudia Hammond speaks to Dr Ellen Smith from Northumbria University about the latest food supplement...

  
• 12.19.2023

  What Mastermind can tell us about blinking, how music shapes memory and why anger can be a useful emotion

  How stressed out do you get by TV quiz shows? And would that change if you were a contestant yourself? Cognitive researchers at the University of Arizona have studied back-episodes of Mastermind to find out how people react in high-stress...

  
• 12.12.2023

  The impact of bad news, compassion fatigue, and the psychology of whistleblowing

  Increasing numbers of people are avoiding the news, and a recent update to Ipsos’s Global Trends 2023 report has found that the current state of the world is causing people to focus on their own lives, rather than broader, global...

  
• 12.05.2023

  Rowing the Atlantic in the name of science, psychologists tackling poverty, and the scent of fear makes us more observant.

  Have you ever considered rowing across the Atlantic? How about making it even more challenging by doing it whilst wearing an ECG monitor and filling in psychological questionnaires? Claudia Hammond speaks to the first Austrian woman to row the Atlantic,...

  
• 11.29.2023

  ADHD medication shortage, life after being a carer and the benefits of keeping positive secrets

  This Autumn, the UK has seen a shortage of life-altering medication for people living with ADHD. Many have found themselves completely out of pills and are now having to deal with symptoms which made life so tough prior to their...

  
• 11.21.2023

  Belief in conspiracy theories, exercising before work, and living with OCD

  It’s not hard to find headlines about conspiracy theories these days, and on social media, they appear everywhere. It would be easy to think that more people are falling victim to conspiracies than ever before, but is there any evidence...

  
• 11.15.2023

  New psychosis drug, why its hard to recall 2021, and counselling in later life

  A new medication for psychosis is on the horizon. It's called KarXT and it could mean fewer side effects as well as finally some relief from difficulties with attention, concentration and memory - these are the symptoms patients often report...

  
• 11.08.2023

  Grieving when estranged, musical hallucinations and the benefits of snoozing your alarm

  Losing a parent is extremely difficult, but for adult children who are estranged, this loss can create a mixture of grief, sadness, guilt or relief. Claudia Hammond talks to broadcaster and author, Professor Alice Roberts, about her experience of losing...

  
• 10.31.2023

  Increasing humility, suppressing negative thoughts and talking about mental health at work

  Humility is a quality often associated with self-deprecation. But by championing our achievements while also acknowledging our weaknesses, we could see benefits in many areas of our lives – and even increase our attractiveness. Claudia Hammond hears about this research...

  
• 06.27.2023

  All in the Mind Awards Ceremony

  Last November All in the Mind listeners were asked to nominate the group, professional or individual who had made a positive impact on their mental health and the winners are announced in this programme. All in the Mind is...

  
• 06.20.2023

  Male friendship

  The author and screenwriter Max Dickins was preparing to propose to his girlfriend when he came to a realisation: he didn’t have anyone he felt he could ask to be his best man. It prompted him to write the book...

  
• 06.13.2023

  The perfection trap: do you feel 'good enough'?

  It's not only the headliners at Glastonbury and winners at Wimbledon who strive for perfection in their lives. Psychologist Dr Tom Curran says people in all walks of life are prone to believing they're not quite "good enough". The pressure...

  
• 06.06.2023

  Can we fix mental health care?

  Whilst we have been hearing about some amazing acts of mental health support in the All in the Mind Awards, many of you have reached out to express the difficulties you've had finding the care you need. Two of the...

  
• 05.30.2023

  Stories of Loss and Hope

  This week we have two more finalists in the All in the Mind Awards. When Hollie met the love of her life Pete she felt she belonged for the first time. But then her new husband's cancer returned and...

  
• 05.25.2023

  Supporting a son with schizophrenia

  Hamish Barclay was a teenager when he was given steroids to treat kidney problems and experienced a rare side effect of psychosis. Now 29, he's lived with a diagnosis of schizophrenia for ten years and thanks to support...

  
• 05.19.2023

  How much empathy should doctors have?

  A good bedside manner is a wanted quality in healthcare professionals. But as is performing procedures that can be painful or uncomfortable. As medical students train to become doctors, they can experience changes in their levels of empathy;...

  
• 05.09.2023

  Do lonely brains see the world differently?

  Ground-breaking discoveries in neuroscience, psychology and mental health are shared in scientific journals. And this gives them a stamp of approval. Before publication, articles go through rigorous checks by other experts in the field to assess if methods are watertight...

  
• 05.02.2023

  Aphasia

  This week's finalist in the All in the Mind Awards is Sian who's been nominated by her mother Myra who cannot believe how much support she has given her during a manic episode and her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Even...

  
• 04.25.2023

  Feeling an unseen presence

  All in the Mind returns for our 72nd series. An experience hard to put into words but felt by many is the phenomenon of 'presence'. Claudia Hammond hears an account of a fearful-turned-friendly presence from Luke Robertson, an adventurer whose...

  
• 12.27.2022

  Can you knit away your worries?

  Many people say that knitting or crochet helped ease their anxiety during the Covid-19 lockdowns - but what is it about these repetitive, absorbing and creative hobbies that soothe the mind? Claire Anketell set up free Yarn for Mental Health...

  
• 12.20.2022

  Fergal Keane and PTSD

  Fergal Keane describes living with PTSD. For thirty years, Fergal covered some of the most brutal wars for the BBC, including Rwanda, Iraq and Ukraine. Despite having PTSD, he kept going, taking more and more risks until witnessing a massacre...

  
• 12.13.2022

  The sudden rise in teenagers developing tics during the pandemic

  A new study highlights the increase in the number of teenagers - especially girls - developing involuntary physical and vocal tics during the pandemic. Neurologist Professor Jon Stone from the University of Edinburgh explains how they differ from those...

  
• 12.06.2022

  Can Mental Health Awareness have unintended consequences?

  Mental health awareness campaigns have reduced stigma and changed attitudes to mental illness, but has the messaging also led to unintended consequences? With the help of a panel consisting of mental health campaigner James Downs, the former director of Time to...

  
• 11.29.2022

  Devices to aid our memories and safe music for driving

  With busy lifestyles many turn to devices for aide memoires. Claudia discusses new findings with Dr Sam Gilbert who studies so called ‘offloading’ and gives tips on how best to remember the important things. And a visit to Manchester’s Turn...

  
• 11.22.2022

  Diagnosing bipolar disorder and the launch of the 2023 All in the Mind Awards

  Claudia launches the 2023 All in the Mind Awards with mental health campaigner Marion Janner and actor Maddie Leslay, Chelsea from Radio 4's "The Archers" and a 2018 awards finalist. We ask why it takes nine and...

  
• 11.15.2022

  Negotiating a crisis

  Claudia meets Professor Elizabeth Stokoe author of 'Crisis Talks' whose research shows when preventing a suicide, that words really do matter and can save lives during a crisis. Through analysing real time recordings of actual conversations between people in crisis...

  
• 11.08.2022

  Steven Pinker

  Claudia Hammond meets cognitive scientist and author Steven Pinker. He describes the times we are living in as a pandemic of poppycock and has advice on how to be more rational.

  
• 06.28.2022

  Urban rewilding for wellbeing, oxytocin and kindness, false alarm crowd panic

  What amount of biodiversity in our cities is enough to benefit our wellbeing? Good evidence can be hard to come by. Andrea Mechelli, professor of Early Intervention in Mental Health at Kings College London, together with landscape architect Joanna Gibbons...

  
• 06.21.2022

  One mother's story of the psychological impact on her children of her ex husband's sexual offences

  They call it "the knock" - when the police are at the door and demand to take away laptops and phones to search for evidence of images of child sexual abuse. Our reporter Jo Morris talks to "Emma" (not her...

  
• 06.14.2022

  The Psychology of Regret

  Claudia Hammond explores the psychology of regret with an audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival. What role do rueful thoughts on "what might have been" play in our lives? Is regret a wasted emotion or does it have some hidden...

  
• 06.07.2022

  Breastfeeding Trauma and the Psychology of Awkwardness

  When breastfeeding goes wrong some women feel guilty that they have failed to do what should come naturally. But Professor Amy Brown from Swansea University says those with the most severe physical and emotional impact could be experiencing trauma, similar...

  
• 05.31.2022

  Post-pandemic mental health; navigation ability; conversations with strangers

  Back in 2020 at height of pandemic lockdown the “ Social Study” a longitudinal study began looking at the psychological and social impact of the pandemic involving over 95,000 UK adults. What started as a 12 week study has now...

  
• 05.24.2022

  Gardening and mental health

  Claudia Hammond reports on a trend which has emerged from the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show this year - a growing number of gardens designed with mental health in mind. So what is it about gardens and nature which makes us...

  
• 05.17.2022

  Manifestation; Overconfidence; Radio drama changing attitudes

  Instagram is awash with people sharing dream homes, holidays, partners and jobs which they claim to have 'manifested' into being. Proponants of manifestation say that thinking positive thoughts attracts tangible positive things into your life. They believe that 'asking the...

  
• 05.10.2022

  Treating refugee mental health; Improving personal growth; Dreamachine

  What role can psychologist play in supporting the mental health of displaced Ukrainians? Millions of people have had to flee either abroad or to other parts of the country and the implications for mental health are huge – not...

  
• 05.03.2022

  Dreams and dreaming; brain scans for personality traits; extrovert listening

  Many of us tend to dismiss dreams as merely the churning of the brain— but for much of human history, dreams were taken very seriously. Claudia Hammond speaks to Brazilian neuroscientist Sidarta Ribeiro who in his new wide ranging...

  
• 04.26.2022

  How to cope when your child can't

  When a child is suffering from mental health problems it feels natural for a parent to feel sad and anxious. But when Ursula Saunders' son refused to go to secondary school her life was turned upside down: his...

  
• 03.30.2022

  The Anatomy of Kindness

  In the final part of the Anatomy of Kindness, Claudia Hammond and guests ask 'Can Bosses be Kind'? Using evidence from the Kindness Test, the world's largest psychological study into kindness, Claudia starts her quest with Thom Elliot Co-founder of...

  
• 03.23.2022

  The Anatomy of Kindness

  In the Anatomy of Kindness Claudia Hammond asks who we are kind to. Professor Nichola Raihani from University College London says there are circles of connections, so family and friends, work colleagues, neighbours continuing out to everyone on the planet....

  
• 03.16.2022

  The Anatomy of Kindness

  In the Anatomy of Kindness, a three part documentary series, broadcaster, author and psychologist Claudia Hammond interrogates what it means to be kind, who we are kind to and the benefits of being a kind boss. For the first of...

  
• 03.09.2022

  The Anatomy of Kindness Results

  Claudia Hammond and guests announce the results of the biggest ever public science project on Kindness. With over sixty thousand participants from across the world this unique work helps to fill some of the research gaps and learn more about...

  
• 12.28.2021

  Looking inside the minds of our pets - and our relationships with them

  Delving into animals' minds - and our relationships with them - Claudia Hammond wonders whether our pets care if we get hurt. Would a dog - or even a cat - give a monkey's if their owner fell over?...

  
• 12.21.2021

  Fish Oils for depression, Pain pleasure and a good life, Kindness, Comedy memory

  Fish oil supplements are often touted as good for your heart health, but a new study finds they may also help fight depression. Alessandra Borsini of King’s College London has been examining the impact of these omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids...

  
• 12.14.2021

  The power of expectation, Buildings and neurodiversity, Music therapy for Parkinson's

  The Expectation Effect. Claudia talks to science journalist David Robson about how our reality can be changed by our beliefs, from being able to see more clearly in bright sun if we believe we are wearing good quality sunglasses to...

  
• 12.07.2021

  Earworms in sleep, body sensations and image, Louis Wain exhibition

  Many people listen to music for hours every day, and often near bedtime in the hope of a good night’s sleep. But if you can’t get the tune out of your head could this be counter-productive? In new research, neuropsychologist...