PsychCrunch

PsychCrunch is the podcast from the British Psychological Society's Research Digest. Each episode we explore whether the findings from psychological science can make a difference in real life. Just how should we live, according to psychology? We speak to psychologists about their research and whether they apply what they've discovered in their own lives.

Ep 44: Doing something when nothing can be done: Working with Huntington’s disease 12/12/2025

Ep 44: Doing something when nothing can be done: Working with Huntington’s disease Living with a life-limiting condition comes with a plethora of psychological consequences. When the condition is rare, having psychologists in your corner can mean even more. This episode, we speak with Dr Sarah Gunn, Lecturer at the University of Leicester and expert on the psychology of Huntington’s disease, about her research journey and how her work supports those with the condition. Join her and Dr Jon Sutton, Editor for the Psychologist, in conversation as they explore what psychologists can do when nothing can be done. This is Episode 44 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted by Dr Jon Sutton. With contributions by Ella Rhodes. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Not done learning?Find out more about with this piece from Emily Reynolds. Or learn in our conversation with Professor Aimee Aubeeluck. PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/39380190

Ep 43: Psychology on the Menu 10/17/2025

Ep 43: Psychology on the Menu Join Dr Jon Sutton and Dr Andrea Oskis (Food Writer and Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University, London) for a research-packed feast, through which they navigate the deep and meaningful connections between us and the food we eat. From appetiser to dessert, every dish opens the door to exploring fascinating studies and discoveries. This is Episode 43 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted by Dr Jon Sutton. Audio editing by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Hungry for more? Find out more about ‘cupboard love’ with this piece by Andrea Oskis that explores Or check out this piece from Chukwudi Barrah on Find these and much, much more PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/38617440

Ep 42: What makes hobbies healing? 08/18/2025

Ep 42: What makes hobbies healing? In this episode of PsychCrunch, Tabby Taylor Buck delves into the world of unconventional therapeutic activities, guided by the latest psychological research and insights from practitioners in the field. She explores how innovative approaches are reshaping what therapy can look and feel like. Tabby begins with a spot of climbing therapy, and then turns to the imaginative world of structured roleplay, as Dr. Sören Henrich discusses the therapeutic potential of Dungeons & Dragons. Next, Professor Jo Williams offers insight into animal-assisted interventions, shedding light on the psychological mechanisms that underpin them. Finally, the conversation plunges into cold water. Professors Mark Wetherell and Mike Tipton discuss the psychological and physiological impact of cold water swimming, exploring how cold water immersion may help with stress adaptation and improve mood. Throughout the episode, Tabby and her guests explore a central question: Are these diverse interventions tapping into unique mechanisms, or are they all accessing shared core ingredients that promote psychological wellbeing? This is Episode 42 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Produced and hosted by Tabby Taylor Buck. Edited by Emma Barratt. Hungry for more? Read about how shaped psychologist Dr Sören Henrich’s identity and connections in academia. Or hear about how our current media landscape makes this the with this piece from Dave Neale. Find these and much, much more PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/37860580

Ep 41: What makes a successful transition to school? 07/18/2025

Ep 41: What makes a successful transition to school? Most of us remember what it was like to start school. Intimidating new places, being unsure of the schedule, lots of new potential friends — and maybe a few foes. It’s a huge moment for kids, and their families, that brings with it a lot of big, complex challenges. In this episode, Jon Sutton chats with Professor Claire Hughes, Deputy Director of the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge, about the hurdles families face when children start school, what it means to be ‘school ready’, and more. This is Episode 41 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted by Jon Sutton. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Hungry for more? Why not check out this piece on by Clinical Psychologist Dr Tara Porter. Or get to grips with with this recent article from Educational Psychologist Meg Fairclough. Find these and much, much more PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/37454045

Ep 40: Kink, community, and transformation 04/30/2025

Ep 40: Kink, community, and transformation The massive variety of human sexual interests is a little mind-boggling. As what we consider to be sexually typical continues to be expanded and shaped by the internet and popular culture, psychologists are making efforts to research kinks and members of the kink community like never before. Join Ella Rhodes in conversation with Liam Wignall (Senior Lecturer at Brighton University and committee member of the BPS’s Sexualities Section) about his work exploring community in these underground spaces, links with neurodivergence, and the ways modern technology is transforming the scene — as well as research into it. We also chat with Dr Kate Marks, a Clinical Psychologist who works with those involved in kink communities, about her impressions of the emotions, social consequences, and even therapeutic echoes that run through these subversive engagements. This episode discusses sex, sexuality, and the stigma and struggles that can come alongside it. As such, it may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised. This is Episode 40 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society’s , sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted by Ella Rhodes. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date . Want to learn more? Read more about thanks to the changing landscape of gender-based stereotypes online, and the fallout for women, in our interview with Dr Jane Meyrick over at The Psychologist. Or learn about how with this Research Digest piece by Emily Reynolds. PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/36370980

Ep 39: Why it's worth embracing uncertainty 12/10/2024

Ep 39: Why it's worth embracing uncertainty There’s no question that we find ourselves in uncertain times. Looking at current events and wondering about what the future may hold can leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed, to say the least. But uncertain times aren’t always the ominous force we make them out to be. In fact, research suggests that they can create unique opportunities for growth and transformation that we wouldn’t otherwise encounter. This episode, Ella Rhodes chats with Maggie Jackson — author of Uncertain and expert on uncertainty — unpacking how uncertainty shapes our lives. Together, they explore how embracing the unknown can open doors to unexpected possibilities, and can lead us to greener pastures. This is Episode 39 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society’s , sponsored by Routledge Psychology. Episode Credits: Hosted by Ella Rhodes. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date . Want to learn more? Read more about how we can embrace uncertainty in therapeutic settings with , over at The Psychologist. Or check out by Eleanore Batteux for a practical exploration of what we can do to become resilient to future uncertainties, explored through the lens of the pandemic. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the . Browse over , and . BPS members are entitled to a 25% discount on all books published by Routledge – find your discount code here and visit the dedicated BPS Member page at Routledge . /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/34363425

Ep 38: Nothing about us without us 06/14/2024

Ep 38: Nothing about us without us In years gone by, the norm for psychological research was to design studies from the outside looking in. Acting as observers of particular populations, there was generally an expected separation between the researcher and the researched. More recently, however, there’s been a shift. For decades, the rallying cry “nothing about us without us” has been used by the disability rights movement to communicate the idea that no policy should come to pass without their full and direct participation. This important approach has made its way to psychological research, and as it gathers momentum, we’re seeing more and more lived experiences and expert insights from studied populations enrich our scientific landscape. This episode, Emma Palmer-Cooper meets James Cusak (Chief Executive, Autistica) and Dr Amy Pearson to look at the benefit of involving studied populations in research design — specifically, in autism research. This is Episode 38 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. Episode Credits: Hosted by Emma Palmer-Cooper. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date . Want to learn more? See in this article investigating differences between academic and community research priorities in Scotland. Or take a look at The Psychologist’s . PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the . Browse over , and . BPS members are entitled to a 25% discount on all books published by Routledge – find your discount code here and visit the dedicated BPS Member page at Routledge . /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/31746172

Ep 37: Talking with patients about sad, bad and difficult things 05/16/2024

Ep 37: Talking with patients about sad, bad and difficult things This is Episode 37 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. [Content warning: This episode centres around cancer. As such, it makes references to medical events and themes that some listeners may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.] In the face of significant medical challenges, we would all hope for compassionate, informative communication from medical professionals and those close to us. Sometimes, though, the reality falls short of that expectation. This episode, Editor of The Psychologist, Dr Jon Sutton, meets Professor Dame Lesley Fallowfield, Director of the Sussex Health Outcomes Research and Education in Cancer (SHORE-C) group at the University of Sussex. Through their conversation, our guest shares personal reflections on her career at the cutting edge of psycho-oncology, improving the experiences of those with cancer by creating new ways to measure difficult things, and forging new paths to help people talk about the disease. Episode Credits: Hosted by Dr Jon Sutton. Mixed and edited by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date . Want to learn more about psycho-oncology? Check out The Psychologist’s article on the SHORE-C group's recent film Or , with comment from Dr Mike Rennoldson, Chair of the DCP Faculty for Oncology and Palliative Care. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the . Browse over , and . BPS members are entitled to a 25% discount on all books published by Routledge – find your discount code here and visit the dedicated BPS Member page at Routledge . /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/31333942

Ep 36: The secrets of dreams and nightmares 03/14/2024

Ep 36: The secrets of dreams and nightmares This is Episode 36 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. Why do we dream? And what business does a good dream have turning into a nightmare? In this episode, Ella Rhodes embarks on an exploration of our non-waking life. In it, she speaks with Director of the Swansea University Sleep Laboratory, Professor Mark Blagrove, about his research and latest theories about the origins of dreams. Research Clinical Psychologist Dr Bryony Sheaves of Oxford University also shares her expert insights into why we have nightmares, and the innovative research revealing how treating them can improve our mental health. Episode Credits: Written and hosted by Ella Rhodes. Mixed and edited by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date . Not done dreaming? Check out The Psychologist’s most recent for much more on the function of dreams. Or in this Research Digest piece by Emily Reynolds. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the . Browse over , and . BPS members are entitled to a 25% discount on all books published by Routledge – find your discount code here and visit the dedicated BPS Member page at Routledge . /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/30369783

Ep 35: Why do we enjoy playing with fear? 10/26/2023

Ep 35: Why do we enjoy playing with fear? This is Episode 35 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. From haunted houses to scary movies, many of us find a thrill in a good scare. But… isn’t that a bit counter-intuitive? In this episode, we ask why so many of us are drawn to things that should make us run a mile, and whether we can use fear to help us better cope with day-to-day anxiety. Host Ella Rhodes speaks with Director of The Recreational Fear Lab, Dr Mathias Clasen, and Cambridge University PhD student Lucie Daniel-Watanabe to discover why fear isn’t always to be feared. Episode credits: Written and hosted by Ella Rhodes. Audio mixing and editing by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Not done learning about fear? Get into Dr Ciaran O’Keeffe’s look at . Or if coping with fear piques your interest, why not explore with this piece by Christian Jarrett. Still curious? Dive deeper into our guest Dr Matthias Clasen’s work . PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the . Browse over 5 million articles at , and related books at . /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/28429352

Ep 34: How do you make friends as an adult? 06/16/2023

Ep 34: How do you make friends as an adult? This is Episode 34 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. Despite it being easier than ever to communicate, so many of us find it challenging to make new friends – especially as we get older. Opening up conversations with strangers can leave us feeling like a bother, and fizzle into nothing more than a one-off interaction. The loneliness this can create isn’t just a passing sting, it can have ongoing impacts to both our mental and physical health. So, in this episode, Ginny Smith asks: just how do we make friends as adults? To get to the bottom of this problem, Ginny speaks with our expert guests Dr. Marissa G. Franco (Professor, speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author of Platonic) and Dr Gillian Sandstrom (Senior Lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex). Together, they give their insights on why so many of us run into problems expanding our social circle, and share some practical advice on how to make more connections. Episode Credits:Written and hosted by Ginny Smith.Mixing and audio editing by Jeff Knowler.Edited by Emma Barratt. Want to know more about the psychology of friendship?Discover plenty more on the topic over . PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge PsychologyRoutledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the . Browse over 5 million articles at , and related books at . /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/27167634

Ep 33: Have you experienced the unseen other? 02/23/2023

Ep 33: Have you experienced the unseen other? Have you ever had the feeling that there was someone – or something – nearby? Perhaps you were in bed falling asleep when you suddenly became convinced that a person was standing next to you, even though you couldn’t actually ‘see’ or ‘hear’ anyone at all. Or maybe you were out in the wilderness, with no-one for miles around, and couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following you. In this episode, Dr Jon Sutton, editor of The Psychologist magazine, talks to , Associate Professor at Durham University, about the phenomenon of the 'felt presence' – that often eerie sensation that someone is near us. Jon and Ben’s wide-ranging discussion touches on everything from Shackleton’s unusual experiences in Antarctica, to the frightening yet common phenomenon of sleep paralysis and the modern practice of ‘tulpamancy’. Read a at The Psychologist Ben’s book will be released in March and is Episode credits: Presented and produced by Jon Sutton, with additional content from Matthew Warren. Mixing and editing by Jeff Knowler. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/26020023

Ep 32: How to face grief 02/15/2023

Ep 32: How to face grief Grief is a universal experience, but one which affects every individual differently. A grieving person might feel guilty, listless, frightened, or angry. And at a time when they most need support, the bereaved may find other people turning away from them, not really knowing how to talk to them about their feelings and the person they’ve lost. So how can we learn to better cope with grief in ourselves and in others? In this episode, Ella Rhodes, journalist for The Psychologist, speaks to two experts who are working to help us understand how people process grief and what can be done to support those who are grieving. Our guests are , Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Arizona and author of The Grieving Brain, and , psychotherapist and co-founder of The Good Grief Project. Episode credits: Presented and produced by Ella Rhodes. Script edits by Matthew Warren. Mixing and editing by Jeff Knowler. PsychCrunch theme music by Catherine Loveday and Jeff Knowler. Artwork by Tim Grimshaw. Further resources More information about The Good Grief Project Check out Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor's website for , as well as a including those discussed in this episode. Last year, Jon Sutton for The Psychologist Also in The Psychologist: Memory Box: Echoes of 9/11, and discusses the themes of the film with Jane Harris. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/25938060

Ep 31: How to better understand your cat 09/06/2022

Ep 31: How to better understand your cat We’ve lived side-by-side with domestic cats for thousands of years, yet they maintain an aura of mystery and a reputation for aloofness and even outright disdain for humans. But are cats really so enigmatic – or are we only just beginning to understand them? In this episode, Ella Rhodes, journalist for The Psychologist, speaks to two experts who are working to help us to understand cats. They discuss research on cat cognition and intelligence, chat about what we can do how to make our cats’ lives happier, and even share some tips on how to train them. Our guests are , assistant professor of animal health and behaviour at Unity College, and Dr Zazie Todd, author of the and recent book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. Episode credits: Presented and produced by Ella Rhodes. Script edits by Matthew Warren. Mixing and editing by Jeff Knowler. PsychCrunch theme music by Catherine Loveday and Jeff Knowler. Artwork by Tim Grimshaw. Relevant research and writing from our guests includes: : a blog written by Zazie Todd Several articles by Kristyn Vitale and colleagues: /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/24284490

Ep 30: The psychology of superstitions 05/13/2022

Ep 30: The psychology of superstitions From carefully avoiding cracks in the pavement to saluting every magpie that you meet, superstitious behaviour is really common. But why do we have superstitions? Where do they come from? And are they helpful or harmful? To find out, our presenter talks to , former professor of psychology at Connecticut College and author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition. Ginny also chats to , professor of communication at the University of California Davis, who explains how superstition and magical thinking is linked to being a fan of both fiction and sports. Episode credits: Presented and produced by Ginny Smith. Script edits by Matthew Warren. Mixing and editing by Jeff Knowler. PsychCrunch theme music by Catherine Loveday and Jeff Knowler. Art work by Tim Grimshaw. Relevant research and writing from our guests includes: and , both by Laramie Taylor and discussed in the podcast. , an article at Skeptical Inquirer in which Stuart Vyse discusses some of the work mentioned in this episode. , an extract from Vyse's book Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, published at The Atlantic. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/23098904

Ep 29: Why do people share false information — and what can we do about it? 01/26/2022

Ep 29: Why do people share false information — and what can we do about it? Why do people share false information? In this episode, our presenters and Jon Sutton explore the psychology of misinformation. They hear about the factors that make people more or less likely to share misinformation, discuss strategies to correct false information, and learn how to talk to someone who is promoting conspiracy theories. Our guests, in order of appearance, are , Professor of Psychology at the University of Westminster, and , senior research scientist at Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute. Episode credits: Presented and produced by Ginny Smith, with additional reporting by Jon Sutton. Script edits by Matthew Warren. Mixing and editing by Jeff Knowler. PsychCrunch theme music by Catherine Loveday and Jeff Knowler. Art work by Tim Grimshaw. Relevant research from our guests includes: /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/21901796

Ep 28: Why songs get stuck in our heads 10/15/2021

Ep 28: Why songs get stuck in our heads In this episode, our presenter Ginny Smith explores the psychology of earworms. Ginny hears about the possible evolutionary reasons for why we experience the phenomenon, learns what earworms can teach us about memory — and finds out how to get rid of them. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/20826287

Episode 27: The Psychologist presents… at Latitude Festival 2021 — Child food poverty 08/16/2021

Episode 27: The Psychologist presents… at Latitude Festival 2021 — Child food poverty At Latitude Festival in Suffolk in July, The Psychologist Editor Dr Jon Sutton hosted a conversation in The Listening Post with Greta Defeyter, Professor of Developmental Psychology and founder and Director of the "Healthy Living" Lab at Northumbria University. An expert on food insecurity, social injustice, school feeding programmes and holiday hunger, Professor Defeyter considered why children go hungry, what we can do about it, and how her own experiences of poverty have shaped her. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/20154251

Ep 26: How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected our mental health? 08/03/2021

Ep 26: How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected our mental health? In this episode, our presenter Ginny Smith talks to researchers who have been conducting work throughout the pandemic to understand the toll that it has taken on our wellbeing. Ginny learns about the different factors that can make us more or less vulnerable to these effects, finds out how pregnant women have fared during this stressful time, and also hears about emerging data that finds links between the virus itself and mental health conditions. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/20017670

Ep 25: How to change your personality 05/18/2021

Ep 25: How to change your personality Are our personalities set in stone, or can we choose to change them? In this bonus episode, Matthew Warren talks to former Research Digest editor Christian Jarrett about his new book, "Be Who You Want: Unlocking the Science of Personality Change". Christian discusses the evidence-based methods you can use to alter your personality, and explains how our personalities evolve over the course of our lifespans, even when we’re not consciously trying to change them. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/19145981

Ep 24: How Children Learn Through Play 04/13/2021

Ep 24: How Children Learn Through Play What role does play have in child development? In this episode, our presenter Ginny Smith talks to some top play researchers to find out how children learn new skills and concepts through play, and explores what teachers and parents can do to encourage this kind of learning. Ginny also discovers how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way kids play and learn. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/18691781

Ep 23: Whose psychology is it anyway? Making psychological research more representative 01/21/2021

Ep 23: Whose psychology is it anyway? Making psychological research more representative Emily Reynolds, staff writer at Research Digest, explores modern psychology’s relationship with race and representation. How does psychology's focus on White American participants shape the assumptions we make about people of different racial identities or cultures? And what can top-tier psychology journals do to improve diversity among not only participants but also authors and editors? /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/17634239

Ep 22: Drifting Minds — Maladaptive Daydreaming And The Hypnagogic State 11/03/2020

Ep 22: Drifting Minds — Maladaptive Daydreaming And The Hypnagogic State Ella Rhodes, Journalist for The Psychologist, explores the boundaries between wakefulness and dreaming. What can we can learn about consciousness from the strange transition period between being awake and asleep, known as hypnagogia? And why do some people experience visions and imaginings that take them away for hours at a time? /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/16665539

Ep 21: How To Stay Connected In The "New Normal" 09/02/2020

Ep 21: How To Stay Connected In The "New Normal" What can we do to stay connected in the middle of a pandemic? Our presenter Ginny Smith looks at how video chats compare to in-person interaction, and how psychology could help improve virtual communication in the future. She also examines the importance of touch for reducing stress — and asks whether interactions with our furry friends could make up for a lack of human contact. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/15854900

Episode 20 03/02/2020

Episode 20 What can psychology teach us about dealing with pain? Our presenter Ginny Smith learns that swearing can have a pain-reducing effect, and puts the theory to the test with an experiment on editor Matthew Warren. Ginny also hears about how virtual reality could provide a welcome distraction to patients suffering from chronic pain. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/13340918

Episode 19 01/28/2020

Episode 19 Do we worry too much about screen time? The issue of screen use by children and teenagers is rarely out of the headlines — but what does the science say? To find out, our presenter Ella Rhodes talks to Dr Amy Orben, Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge and winner of the 2019 BPS award for Outstanding Doctoral Research, who has explored the psychological effects of screen time in her research. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/12902414

Episode 18 09/09/2019

Episode 18 Can psychology help us become more creative? Our presenter Ginny Smith learns how we can develop our creativity with practice, and discovers that our best “Eureka” moments often come when we step away from the task at hand. She also investigates how members of the public fare with the riddles psychologists use to study creative problem solving — see how you get on at home. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/11177216

Episode 17 07/23/2019

Episode 17 Can psychology help make running more enjoyable? Our presenter Christian Jarrett speaks to several experts about various strategies including "cognitive reappraisal" and the benefits of taking part in organised runs. He also hears how some of us are genetically disposed to find running less enjoyable than others, and why that isn't an excuse for giving up. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/10623962

Episode 16 (bonus episode) 05/03/2019

Episode 16 (bonus episode) Ella Rhodes, journalist for The Psychologist magazine, delves into the growing body of research exploring aphantasia – a condition she has personal experience of. While most people can see images formed in their minds people with aphantasia draw a blank, what might this mean for autobiographical memory, face perception and imagination? Our guests, in order of appearance, are: at the University of Westminster and at the University of Exeter. Background resources for this episode: . . . . . . . . Episode credits: Presented and produced by Ella Rhodes. Mixing Jeff Knowler. Music Sincere Love by Monplaisir. PsychCrunch theme music Catherine Loveday and Jeff Knowler. Art work Tim Grimshaw. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/9636179

Episode 15 03/19/2019

Episode 15 Mindfulness is everywhere these days, but is it really as beneficial as it's often made out to be? Our presenter Ginny Smith hears from clinical psychologist Dr Catherine Wikholm (co-author of The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You?); she visits the Cambridge Buddha Centre to meet people who have taken up mindfulness meditation; and she discusses some of the latest mindfulness research trials with Professor Barney Dunn, a clinical psychologist at Exeter University. /episode/index/show/psychcrunch/id/9060209

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