ARIA-nominated musician Parvyn shares her experience of delusions, mania, and psychosis while on tour, discussing her bipolar diagnosis and how she processed it through her music. She reflects on a vipassana retreat, intense touring, distressing experiences, and the connections between her debut album and her mental health journey.

Psychologist discusses the negative effects of hate mail and fight or flight response. Impact of chatter on relationships, loneliness and rejection. Strategies to control chatter with distance self-talk and temporal distancing. Importance of seeking broader perspective and leveraging relationships. Power of rituals to manage overwhelming thoughts and enhance social connection.

Hunter Johnson, a former teen who had to rethink his ideas about masculinity, discusses the impact of hyper-masculinity, the importance of positive role models, navigating challenges for young men, the impact of camps and circle discussions, and advice for parents on addressing masculinity.

A father investigates his son's online experience. The origin and misinterpretation of toxic masculinity. Online communities' impact on boys. Social media's influence on perceptions of masculinity. Leading by example in exhibiting respectful behaviors.

Exploring the brain's awareness and understanding of the body it belongs to, the podcast discusses topics such as the rubber hand experiment, conditions like Phantom Limb Syndrome and anorexia, the causes of migraine hallucinations and phantom limb syndrome, the role of bodily awareness in consciousness, the rubber hand illusion and its limits, and the significance of consciousness and our brain's interpretation of the world.

Exploring the fascination with gossip, its benefits and drawbacks, impact on social life, accountability in reporting, evolving nature, and the consequences of sharing gossip.

The podcast explores the history of brainwashing, from its origins in the Korean War to its association with popular culture. It delves into the blurred lines between persuasion, groupthink, and mind control. The speakers also discuss troubling examples of brainwashing today, including climate change denial and the manipulation of information through social media.

Exploring negotiation tactics during the Vietnam War, the importance of power dynamics and BATNA in negotiations, an unconventional pitching strategy, challenges faced by women and people of color, and techniques used in hostage negotiation.

Historian of science Professor Marga Vicedo explores the early history of autism, highlighting the blame placed on mothers and the fight for support. The podcast discusses the story of Clara and her daughter Jessica, the dismissal of a mother's observations, and the emotional experience of seeking help. It also follows Clara's journey of advocacy and recognition, exploring different treatment approaches and the contributions of Marie Battle singer and Bernard Rimmland.

Exploring the history and neurological processes behind humor, satirists using incongruity to highlight absurdity, the power dynamics of comedy, the connection between types of humor and personality traits, and a neuroscientist scanning comedians' brains during improvisation.