Everything's Psychology
This podcast features conversations with fascinating guests about the psychology behind everyday life. Host Paul Davies, a behavioural psychologist, explores how human behaviour works and what motivates people's actions. Each episode aims to uncover the psychological mechanisms that shape our daily experiences.
Episodes
The Psychology of Harry Potter
In this episode, the boy who lived. Why does a story about a bespectacled wizard still have its hooks in millions of people decades on? And can Harry Potter teach us anything about belonging, prejudice, personality, fandom, and why we fall so hard for a world that just doesn't exist?With me to discuss the psychology of Harry Potter are Will Brooker, Professor of Film and Cultural Studies at K
The Psychology of Dogs
This has been the most requested topic after I previously did the psychology of cats; it’s the psychology of dogs. We think we know them better than any creature on earth, but what is actually going on behind those adorable eyes? Do they love us as completely as we think, and how much of canine psychology involves the human at the other end of the lead?With me to unpack the psychology of dogs are
The Psychology of The Odyssey
Have you seen it yet? The film of the summer? Have you forked out for the most padded seats in the cinema to watch Christopher Nolan’s three-hour bum-numbing epic of Matt Damon struggling to get home in a world without satnav?If you have, did you sit there thinking: Why has a three thousand year old story got any relevance to today?Is there real psychology in here?Did the Greeks work something out
The Psychology of Weight Loss
Are you on a diet? Have you got a shelf full of books to help you shed the pounds and get that summer beach bod or are you considering a weight loss jab such as Ozempic or Mounjaro? When the world seems to focus on the need to have a fit and firm body, what is this doing to people’s self-esteem and body image? With me on this episode are Dr Joanna Silver, a leading psychologist specialising in eat
The Psychology of Childhood
In a world of screens, social media, climate anxiety, and mental health awareness, what does the future of childhood and education look like?With me to discuss the psychology of childhood are Sue Roffey, founder of Growing Great Schools Worldwide and one of the UK's foremost voices on student, school, and community wellbeing, and Charlie Lewis, Professor of Psychology at Lancaster University,
The Psychology of James Bond
What kind of person is James Bond? What do audiences want from a Bond actor? What traits make someone convincing as the world's most famous spy? And how realistic is James Bond when compared to the psychological make-up of real-life spies?With me to discuss the psychology of James Bond are Calvin Dyson, one of the world's leading Bond commentators and the creator of one of YouTube's
Season 2 Trailer
In season two, I'll be chatting with some fascinating guests about topics such as the psychology of childhood, the psychology of Harry Potter, the psychology of weight loss, and, by popular demand after last season’s episode on cats, the psychology of dogs.And this time, I need your help. If you have a question you’d like to ask a psychologist about any of the topics I’ve just mentioned, you
The Psychology of The Met Gala
Every year, on the first Monday of May, something extraordinary happens. 450 of the world's most powerful, most beautiful, most photographed people climb a set of steps in Manhattan — and the internet collectively loses it’s mind.The Met Gala is billed as an exclusive charity fundraiser where tickets cost seventy-five thousand dollars. And yet somehow, it reaches billions of people sat at hom
The Psychology of Cats (Archive Episode)
The most popular episode of 2025 was about the psychology of cats 😻Dr Claude Béata, animal behaviouralist and author of The Interpretation of Cats, emphasises cats dual role as both predator and prey and how this distinction can help us understand these most wonderful creatures. Go order a copy of Dr Béata's book, The Interpretation of Cats and Their Owners. It's a fascinating, enjoyable
The Psychology of Investing (Archive Episode)
How do your behavioural biases impact investment decisions?Are financial advisers affected by these psychological biases?What practical steps are there for individuals looking to improve their investing strategies or just get started?More about Daniel Crosby: https://orion.com/thought-leader/daniel-crosbyThe Behavioral Investor (Amazon): https://amzn.eu/d/b4ginLaThe Soul of Wealth (Amazon): https:
The Psychology of Habits (Archive Episode)
Do habits really take 66 days to form? Should you rely on willpower? How does a psychologist approach overcoming their own bad habits and starting good ones?Professor Ben Gardner leads me through the intricate world of habits, exploring their definitions, the distinction between habits and routines, and the psychological mechanisms behind habitual behaviour. Find out more about Ben's work at:
The Psychology of Search Engines (Archive Episode)
Going back to the very first episode of Everything's Psychology, where I talk with Professor Robert Epstein about the psychological techniques Google employs in its search engine. Are you being manipulated by search engines?What is Google's policy on human manipulation?What can you do to protect yourself?Send us Fan MailTo leave a voicenote, just visit speakpipe.com/everythingspsychology
Bias: Present Bias
My final short story on behavioural biases. This week, the story focuses on the power of today over tomorrow by looking at present bias.Present bias describes our tendency to give greater weight to rewards available now, while undervaluing the costs those choices impose on our future. And, in this story, I try to take this idea to its extreme.I hope these little psychological stories have been enj
Bias: Revenge
Another short story involving a behavioural bias. This week, the bias is revenge.Maybe not considered by behavioural scientists as one of the core cohort of behavioural biases, revenge certainly fits the bill. It makes people act irrationally and often behave against their own self-interest.While I did write this week's story, it is a retelling of Roald Dahl's short story "William &
Sticking to New Year's Resolutions
Happy New Year! Have you set yourself a resolution? If so, in this episode, I share how a behaviourist psychologist would approach sticking to them and sailing past Quitters Day on January 17th.The principles are taken from a book called Self-Help Without The Hype by Professor Robert Epstein. I was honoured to have written the foreword to the new edition last year, in which I reflect on how the wo
Bias: Choice Overload
Something different for Christmas. I share a short story based on a behavioural bias.This week, the story is called Spaghetti Sauce and is about choice overload. Choice is a paradox. We convince ourselves that we want it, and certainly rebel when it’s taken away from us, but when we get too much of it, we regularly struggle to make a choice. This story follows a young girl in Atlanta as she strugg
The Psychology of Time
In this episode of Everything’s Psychology, I sit down with Richard D. Gross, author of The Psychology of Time, to unpack how our minds construct the very thing we live inside of: time. From internal body clocks and ‘mind time’ to cultural attitudes and our awareness of mortality, we explore why time can race, crawl, or seem to stand still.You’ll learn why your brain is always half a second late,
The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories
Was the moon landing mankind’s giant leap, or was it Hollywood's greatest special effect? Was the global vaccine rollout an elaborate scheme by Bill Gates to implant microchips in all of us? And do the condensation trails you see behind aeroplanes in the sky contain chemicals to keep the population docile?Let's be honest, a small part of us loves a good conspiracy theory. They’re excitin
The Psychology of Sport
What makes a great athlete? Why do some sports professionals rise to the occasion, while others crumble under pressure? Do the lessons from sports transfer to other areas of our lives, such as business or parenting?With me to discuss the psychology of sport, is Dr Jim Taylor.Jim holds a PhD in Psychology, has written 18 books including The Complete Guide to Cycling Psychology and Train Your Mind f
The Psychology of Podcasts
Why do people start a podcast? I chat with host of the Growth Mindset Psychology podcast, Sam Webster Harris, about his motivations for launching a podcast and why, after 500+ episodes, he's still doing it. We chat about the psychology of motivation, self-determination, signalling theory, and whether there's a hierarchy of influencers.Listen to the Growth Mindset Psychology website on Sp
Psychbite: Celebrity Traitors
What psychology have we seen in the first four episodes of the Celebrity Traitors? Were we right in our predictions? Now that we've seen how the celebs are playing the game, who do I think will make it to the end?Don't forget to listen to last week's episode where I chat with three psychologists from the University of Chester about the psychology in the show. And check out their own
The Psychology of The Traitors
With the celebrity version of The Traitors UK starting on October 8th, I talk with three psychologists from Chester University about the psychology used in the show as a whole, how contestants have played the show previously, and how the gameplay will change with celebrities in the Traitor house.Listen to Lisa, Clea, and Kevin breakdown each new episode of the Celebrity Traitors on their own podca
PsychBite: OnlyFans Influence on Teens
In this episode, I expand on last week's interview with the details of a 2025 research paper that examined the influence of erotic content platforms, such as OnlyFans, on teenagers.You can read the full paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12119-025-10389-2. Send us Fan MailTo leave a voicenote, just visit speakpipe.com/everythingspsychology
The Psychology of OnlyFans
Valued this year at $8 billion, OnlyFans is the video hosting site generating significant media interest, with celebrities using it to support their other work.I chat with Dr Anna Kelberg about why people put themselves on cams, and whether it's just for the money. Also, is paying for a subscription to an OnlyFans provider considered cheating on your partner? And, is OnlyFans something which
Psychbite: Motivating people to invest
I share my framework to help companies struggling to persuade their customers to make decisions that will make them better off. I share how mapping customer communications to a psychological model helps promote action.For more on the Behaviour Relay, email paul@behaviour.co.ukGet updates and freebies from my upcoming book at behavebook.comSend us Fan MailTo leave a voicenote, just visit speakpipe.
The Psychology of Investing
In this episode, I explore the intricate relationship between psychology and investing with Dr. Daniel Crosby. We discuss how behavioural biases impact investment decisions, the importance of understanding these biases, and the role of financial advisors in guiding investors. We end by recommending practical steps for individuals looking to improve their investing strategies – or just get started.
Psychbite: What's been the most popular episode so far?
In this shorter episode, I share a few more ideas from psychology that relate to last week's topic of sexual violence. I also give an update on which episodes have proven to be the most popular to date.If you have an idea for an episode, please let me know at paul@everythingspsychology.com or DM me on any of the social channels.📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everythingspsychology📷 Inst
The Psychology of Sexual Violence
In this episode, we dip our psychological toes into the world of sociology and gender studies by chatting with Professor Alison Phipps (Newcastle University) about sexual violence.It's certainly a serious topic, but we try to tackle it with humour as Alison and I are old school friends who can be open and honest with each other. I ask Alison to summarise her last book, ‘Me Not You: The Troubl
Psychbite: Let there be blood
In this shorter episode, I discuss my interview with David Cohen on the psychology of vampires and delve a little deeper into the groups of people who identify themselves as real-life vampires or drink blood.– – –The Psychology of Vampires by David Cohen (Routledge Publishing)Psychologists on Psychology by David CohenLaycock, J. (2010) Real Vampires as an Identity Group: Analyzing Causes and Effec
The Psychology of Vampires
Why are we so obsessed with vampires?In this episode, I'm joined by psychologist and author David Cohen. We chat about his book The Psychology of Vampires (Routledge, 2019) and David unpacks what vampires really represent in the human mind—from repressed desires and forbidden sexuality to our deepest fears about death, power, and emotional dependency.We delve into how Freud, Jung, and modern
PsychBite: Super Psychology
If you haven't listened to the previous interview episode with Dr Janina Scarlet on the idea of Superhero Therapy then instead get the cheat sheet with all the best bits here. Also, I extrapolate from Superhero Therapy to Bandura's Bobo doll experiments from the 1960s, behavioural noise from Daniel Kahneman, and I also share a couple of super resources for you to dive into.ResourcesSuper
The Psychology of Superhero Therapy
In this episode, discover the innovative concept of superhero therapy with Dr. Janina Scarlett. Her work with military personnel, adults, and children integrates pop culture heroes into evidence-based therapy to help individuals cope with anxiety, trauma, and other mental health challenges.Links from the episodeDr Janina Scarlet's website: https://www.superhero-therapy.com/The Superhero Thera
Psychbite: The Power of Stories
This is the first of shorter episodes to sit in-between the main interview episodes. It means you'll now get an Everything's Psychology episode every week.Here, I dig a little deeper into the psychology behind the Hero's Journey and share a couple of academic studies which reveal the power of storytelling.– – –Here's some links which I mention:Christopher Vogler's 7-page m
The Psychology of the Hero's Journey
Why are we so drawn to stories about transformation? About leaving the ordinary world, facing a crisis, and returning changed?From King Lear to The Lion King, from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games, the same plot shape appears again and again: a lone hero sets off on a journey, struggles, grows, and triumphs.This structure — famously named The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell — has come to do
The Psychology of Artificial Intelligence
I chat with Dr Paul Sacher about the state of AI within the behavioural sciences. Should we be scared how AI will be used or excited about the opportunities it opens for research and the application of psychology?Paul is an AI and Behavioural scientist, CEO of Sacher.ai, and a senior lecturer in AI and behavioural science in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London.Send us Fan MailTo lea
The Psychology of Habits
Do habits really take 66 days to form? Should you rely on willpower? How does a psychologist approach overcoming their own bad habits and starting good ones?Professor Ben Gardner leads us through the intricate world of habits, exploring their definitions, the distinction between habits and routines, and the psychological mechanisms behind habitual behaviour. Professor Gardner shares insights from
The Psychology of Cats
This episode dives into the complexities of cat behaviour.Dr Claude Béata, animal behaviouralist and author of The Interpretation of Cats, emphasises cats dual role as both predator and prey and how this distinction can help us understand these most wonderful creatures. Our discussion also covers the importance of experience in shaping behaviour, the nuances of attachment and over-attachment, and
The Psychology of Vulnerability
What is vulnerability and how does it affect people differently? How should consumer organisations, such as banks be catering for people with characteristics of vulnerability?I chat with Dr Chris Fitch from the Money Advice Trust about the impact of being vulnerable and some of the innovative ways organisations are changing to be inclusive and accessible.Find out more about the Money Advice Trust
The Psychology of Kink & Fetish
I'm joined by Dr Lori Beth Bisbey, a psychologist, a sex & intimacy coach, host of the A to Z of Sex podcast and star of Open House: The Great Sex Experiment on Channel 4. We talk about the psychology behind people's sexual kinks and fetishes, if engaging in kinky behaviour is healthy for relationships, and if such behaviour should be seen as ‘normal’.You can find out more about Lori
The Psychology of Cycling & Behaviour Change
Professor Ian Walker, Professor of Psychology and Head of the School of Psychology at Swansea University, talks to me about the psychology of cycling. We also discuss how you can change people's transport behaviour, what it means to be a ‘mindful traveller’, and if it's actually safer not to wear a helmet when cycling.Find out more about Professor Walker's work at www.drianwalker.co
The Psychology of Search Engines
I chat with renowned psychologist Professor Robert Epstein about how search engines are modern Skinner boxes, manipulating our choices and even our beliefs. Hear about how his research over the last 12 years shows how tech corporations such as Google and Facebook are employing techniques from behaviourism to manipulate our beliefs and opinions to influence global politics and beyond.In the show, R
Everything's Psychology Trailer
Dive into the science that shapes our lives as I chat to experts to uncover unexpected areas where psychology influences us.Are search engines manipulating your beliefs? Could getting kinky improve your relationship? And why do people become obsessed with cycling?From vulnerability to vampires, and from cats to craft beer, subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts to explore if actually, Ever
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