

PsycHacks
Orion Taraban
Presented by Orion Taraban, Psy.D. PsycHacks provides listeners with a brief, thought-provoking episode several days a week on a variety of psychological topics, inspired by my clinical practice. The intention is for the core idea contained within each episode to inspire listeners to see something about themselves or their world in a slightly different light.
Episodes
Mentioned books

6 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 11min
Episode 593: His money is my money (modern slavery)
A provocative look at financial entitlement in relationships and why claiming a partner’s earnings can mean claiming their labor. The episode connects money, time, bodily autonomy, and personal freedom. It explores how financial control can restrict options and likens extreme entitlement to a form of modern slavery.

24 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 12min
Episode 592: Why you were lied to (and why it hurts so much)
A look at why certain lies cut deepest and how our secret wishes make us vulnerable. Exploration of the ego ideal and why flattering falsehoods hook us. Discussion of how praise and criticism shape self-image and emotional dependence. Practical focus on knowing your vulnerabilities and building accurate self-knowledge to prevent future pain.

25 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 11min
Episode 591: You are a killer (dominate your mind)
A provocative take on mental self-mastery that frames inner peace as a garden needing aggressive protection. Discussion of confronting and destroying harmful thoughts and internal programming. A call to personally fight for psychological liberation and build a mind that feels like home. Practical urgency around vigilance and refusing to surrender mental control.

18 snips
Jan 23, 2026 • 11min
Episode 590: Why the world is falling apart (turning down the genie)
A look at why rapid change feels like societal collapse and how easy gratification fuels it. A genie metaphor connects magical technologies to fading virtues like patience. Parables and contrasts show who benefits from change and who is left behind. A final challenge: refusing instant solutions is rare and unlikely to reverse the trend.

8 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 11min
Episode 589: The female idol (the corruption of dating)
Modern dating has transformed women into idols and men into devoted worshipers. This dynamic mirrors ancient sacrificial practices, where men invest time and resources in courtship. Discussions reveal how pedestalization creates unrealistic expectations, leading to prolonged sacrifices. Low-effort dates are seen as offensive, hinting at a flawed valuation of partners. The podcast argues that this idol-like dating corrupts relationships, wasting resources that could be better spent on genuine connections.

7 snips
Jan 16, 2026 • 13min
Episode 588: Love and justice (order and chaos)
The podcast delves into our conflicting attitudes toward love and justice, highlighting society's expectation for unconditional love while rejecting the need for judgment. It argues that both love and justice can embody divine qualities, yet society often misinterprets justice by adding modifiers like 'social.' The discussion stresses the importance of universal laws and warns against the dangers of prioritizing individual exemptions, which can destabilize social order. A call for true impartiality in justice execution rounds out an engaging examination of order versus chaos.

25 snips
Jan 12, 2026 • 13min
Episode 587: The reality of modern family (what's the point?)
Explore the complexities of the modern family structure, where dual incomes have transformed domestic life into a costly endeavor. Discover how societal changes have created a reliance on employers rather than traditional partners for financial support. The conversation dives into the implications of hypergamy and shifting mate selection patterns, questioning whether the pursuit of dual-income households is truly beneficial. Listeners are invited to reflect on these dynamics and consider alternative family arrangements that could foster more stability.

12 snips
Jan 9, 2026 • 12min
Episode 586: What do you want to have for dinner? (no straight answers)
The question of what to have for dinner reveals deeper dynamics between men and women. Conversations often serve to gather varying types of information; men focus on explicit desires while women seek relational signals. This seemingly simple query tests a man's valuation of a woman through indirect cues. The discussion highlights how thoughtful anticipation and unasked gifts can enhance feelings of value and attraction, offering insights into communication and emotional investment in relationships.

34 snips
Jan 5, 2026 • 12min
Episode 585: Women are dirty (understanding their dark desires)
The discussion delves into the complexities of women's sexual fantasies, challenging the notion that they're all sweet and innocent. It uncovers how women's desires often revolve around socially taboo themes. The reexamination of classic tales, like Beauty and the Beast, reveals deeper attractions to danger and conquest. The conversation also highlights adult fiction trends, where monstrous protagonists reign, and notes a rise in female porn consumption, often with edgy themes. Ultimately, it reassures men about the varied attractions women can have.

18 snips
Jan 2, 2026 • 10min
Episode 584: Become a monster (owning your darkness)
Explore the intriguing concept that the monster you fear may actually be a part of you. Delve into how dreams reveal our inner complexities, showcasing roles like victim and predator. Discover the primal nature that resides within all humans, encompassing rage and destruction. Uncover why many suppress their darker impulses and how this leads to projecting negativity onto the world. Finally, learn how embracing and integrating your 'monster' can reduce fear and empower personal growth.


