Episodios

  • How to break free from the negative cycle of overthinking

    How to break free from the negative cycle of overthinking
    Jan 26 2026
    While the human mind is capable of great insight, original thoughts and acts of tender kindness towards others, it can also, at times, act like our own worst enemy. Feelings of worthlessness, shame and disappointment can all stem from our brain’s natural inclination for overthinking. This can give rise to a wide range of debilitating impacts on our lives, such as low self-esteem, anxiety and depression and can even lead to the development of significant physical health issues. So, why do our minds seem to sabotage us in this way and what measures can we take to free ourselves from the common traps that lead us to being stuck in endless loops of negative thinking? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Jessamy Hibberd, a clinical psychologist and best-selling author, to talk about her latest book, The Overthinking Cure – How to Free Your Mind and Focus on What Really Matters. She tells us how common habits such as self-criticism, comparing ourselves to others, and actively avoiding our problems can all lead us to overthink, why we are all vulnerable to getting stuck in spirals of negative thoughts, and how learning to manage where we place our attention is often the first step we can all take to help us to boost our moods and wellbeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    37 m
  • How paleoartists bring dinosaurs to life

    How paleoartists bring dinosaurs to life
    Jan 23 2026
    From the terrifying, hulking beasts portrayed in blockbuster movies to the friendly, charismatic characters often found in children’s cartoons, dinosaurs have made their way into almost every corner of popular culture. However, in terms of scientific accuracy, such depictions tend to leave a lot to be desired. So, how do we know what dinosaurs really looked like, whose job is it to show us, and how exactly do they go about it? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Mark Witton, a researcher, author and highly regarded paleoartist based at the University of Portsmouth. He outlines the detailed scientific process paleoartists follow to bring these ancient beasts to life as realistically as possible, runs us through some of the common mistakes Hollywood directors make in the name of artistic licence, and explains why the T.Rex is one of his favourite dinosaurs to draw. To see Mark’s work, check out his website www.markwitton.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 m
  • Why mental resilience is a skill we can all learn

    Why mental resilience is a skill we can all learn
    Jan 19 2026
    At some points in our lives, we all face challenges or setbacks or find ourselves in difficult situations that can ultimately have a profound effect on our mental health and wellbeing. During such times, we need to draw on our reserves of mental resilience. But what techniques and strategies can we employ to develop this vital mental resource to enable us to better cope with whatever life throws at us? In today’s episode, we’re joined by psychologist and therapist Emanuela Brun to talk about ways we can all build our mental resilience. She tells us what happens in our brains when we’re faced by challenging situations, why we shouldn’t shy away from failure, and shares some strategies and techniques that can help us all bounce back from difficult situations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    27 m
  • The hidden scoring systems running our lives

    The hidden scoring systems running our lives
    Jan 16 2026
    In the world of games, scoring systems establish a framework that provides us with clear challenges, motivation, and ultimately delivers a huge amount of fun and pleasure. However, on the flip side, the increasing tendency to apply rankings and metrics to almost every area of our personal and professional lives can have a dehumanising effect, reducing our actions, performance, and even ourselves to a simple string of numbers. In today’s episode, we’re joined by C Thi Nguyen, a games researcher and associate professor of philosophy based at the University of Utah, to talk about his latest book, The Score – How to Stop Playing Someone Else’s Game. He explains how, in the real world, scoring systems typically fail to provide meaning by focusing on the simplest to measure outcomes, how purely numerical data is, by definition, lacking in nuance, and how, by concentrating on what we truly value, we can all break free from the tyranny of rankings and metrics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    37 m
  • How to beat burnout in an increasingly fast-paced world

    How to beat burnout in an increasingly fast-paced world
    Jan 12 2026
    These days, it can be easy to feel like we have too much to do and too little time to do it in. This can lead to many of us feeling overwhelmed, or in extreme cases, can lead to burnout – a state of profound physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that can have far-reaching consequences for both our mental and physical health. So, what measures can we take to regain control of our lives if we are feeling overwhelmed, and what techniques can we employ to ensure we never reach this state of crisis in the first place? In this episode, we’re joined by Claudia Hammond, a visiting professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Sussex and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind, to talk about her latest book, Overwhelmed, Ways to Take the Pressure Off. She tells how the rise of perfectionism is leading to more and more of us feeling overwhelmed, why we all tend to be our own worst critics, and shares a number of evidence-based tips we can all employ to make our loads feel a little bit lighter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 m
  • Why your next best friend may be an AI

    Why your next best friend may be an AI
    Jan 9 2026
    Over the last several decades, the world has seen artificial intelligence undergo a rapid transformation. Since its beginnings in the 1950s as speculative theorising and novel thought experiments, AI has blossomed into a bona fide technological tool that can perform sophisticated tasks such as detecting signs of cancer or spotting signs of financial fraud, in many cases much more effectively than we humans can. But recently, another, more personal use for the technology has arisen – that of the AI companion. Against a backdrop of rising issues of social isolation and loneliness, more and more of us are turning to AI agents to act as friends, therapists and, in some cases, even lovers. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr James Muldoon, a sociologist based at Essex Business School, to talk about his latest book, Love Machines – How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Our Relationships. He tells us how far from being a niche activity, more than 200 million AI companions have been downloaded worldwide, how many of the people who interact with them view them as being ‘real’, and why tech companies and policymakers need to work together to ensure that our relationships with AI agents remain healthy as the technology progresses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 m
  • How the arts can keep our bodies and brains healthier for longer

    How the arts can keep our bodies and brains healthier for longer
    Jan 5 2026
    For many of us, consuming or making art – be it listening to music, playing an instrument, reading a book, painting a watercolour or attending a dance class – is seen as a pastime or hobby, a fun way to spend an evening or Sunday afternoon. But according to the latest scientific thinking, engaging with the arts can have a profound effect on our mental and physical well-being, and may even help us to live longer, healthier lives. In this episode, we’re joined by Daisy Fancourt, a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology and head of the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at University College London, to talk about her latest book, Art Cure – The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health. She tells us what happens in our brains and bodies when we make, perform or interact with art, how engaging with the arts may even have a beneficial effect our genes, and how medical professionals are increasingly prescribing art therapies to improve our overall health in almost every way, whether you’re three years old or 103. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 m
  • Why social connection is vital for our health and well-being

    Why social connection is vital for our health and well-being
    Dec 19 2025
    There’s little doubt that we humans are a deeply social species; in many ways, our interactions with others define the very essence of who we are. But in recent times, studies have shown that we’re connecting with one another less and less, to the point where some say we may now be facing a loneliness epidemic. So, why are social interactions so vital to our health and well-being, what actually happens in our brains and bodies when we form meaningful relationships, and what measures can we take to reverse this worrying trend? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Ben Rein, a neuroscientist, science communicator and author based at Stanford University, to talk about his latest book, Why Brains Need Friends, The Neuroscience of Social Connection – and Why We All Need More. He tells us how feel-good chemicals are released in our brains when we interact with others, how we all lie on a spectrum of introversion and extroversion and that recognising our own personalities can help us all make the most of our social interactions, and how small acts such as complimenting a stranger or putting emojis at the end of a text message can help us all to boost our social capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 m