What's going on up there?

Shame is one of our most powerful emotions yet one of the least talked about, particularly at work. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to explore the psychology of shame, including why feedback can sometimes feel like a judgment of who we are, rather than something we have done. They unpack the difference between guilt and shame, how shame can trigger defensiveness or withdrawal, and why it can get in the way of learning. They also share practical ways to spot shame, separate behaviour from identity, and respond to difficult feedback with greater self-compassion. References: Leach, C. W., & Cidam, A. (2015). When is shame linked to constructive approach orientation? A meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109(6), 983–1002. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000037 Mróz, Justyna & Sornat, Wojciech. (2022). Shame- and guilt-proneness and self-compassion as predictors of self-forgiveness. Journal of Beliefs & Values. 44. 188-202. 10.1080/13617672.2022.2076455. Tangney JP, Stuewig J, Mashek DJ. Moral emotions and moral behavior. Annu Rev Psychol. 2007;58:345-72. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070145. PMID: 16953797; PMCID: PMC3083636. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world where unexpected events can dominate the news cycle and disrupt our working lives, how does unpredictability affect us? This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Stuart Duff to explore why sudden change can leave us anxious, stressed and struggling to switch off. From unsettling global headlines to unexpected decisions at work, they unpack why unpredictability can heighten anxiety, reduce our sense of control and leave us worrying long after the working day ends. Stuart also shares practical, psychology-informed strategies for managing uncertainty, coping with workplace change and regaining control when life feels unsettled. References: Schoellbauer, J., Sonnentag, S. Prem, R. and Korunka, C (2022) I'd rather know what to expect: Work unpredictability as contemporary work stressor with detrimental implications for employees’ daily wellbeing. International Journal of Work & Stress , Volume 36, 2022 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Swearing: bad habit, emotional release, or performance booster? This week, Grace and Professor Binna Kandola OBE unpack the surprising psychology of swearing. From tolerating pain to pushing through a physical challenge, research suggests that a well-timed swear word can do more than let off steam: it may reduce self-doubt, increase confidence, and help us get out of our own way. But it is not a free pass to swear whenever we like. Context, audience, and intention all matter, and the same words that create connection in one setting can cause offence or damage credibility in another. So, can swearing help you perform closer to your potential? And when is it better to hold your tongue? A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are we so quick to assume that someone’s actions reflect who they are, rather than what might be happening around them? In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to explore the fundamental attribution error – our tendency to explain other people’s actions through their personality, intentions, or character, while overlooking situational pressures and context. From missed deadlines and unanswered messages to first impressions and public stereotypes, James unpacks why this bias is so common, even when we have clear information about the circumstances. They also discuss what the research tells us, why we are more forgiving of our own behaviour than others’, and how a simple “situational check” can prevent us jumping to conclusions. References: Jones, E. E., & Harris, V. A. (1967). The attribution of attitudes. Journal of experimental social psychology , 3 (1), 1-24. Ross, L. (1977). The intuitive psychologist and his shortcomings: Distortions in the attribution process. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 173–220). Academic Press. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most poor decisions are not made by reckless people. They are made by capable people at the wrong moment – when they are tired, stressed or have consumed alcohol. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to look beyond the headlines about drinking in Parliament to ask a bigger question: what gets in the way of good judgement? Together, they explore how fatigue, stress and cognitive overload can make us more reliant on assumptions and mental shortcuts, and what individuals can do to create the conditions for fairer, more thoughtful decisions. References : Fiske, S. T., & Taylor, S. E. (1984). Social Cognition . Random House. Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow . Farrar, Straus and Giroux. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conspiracy theories are everywhere. They come up in everyday conversation, online, and increasingly in mainstream debate. We have seen claims that COVID vaccines were being used to implant tracking devices, that climate change is a hoax created by hidden interests, or that major events like 9/11 were secretly planned from the inside. But what makes them so compelling? In this episode, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE to explore why these ideas are so appealing right now. Not by asking whether they are true or false, but by looking at what psychology tells us about how people think under uncertainty, threat, and distrust. They talk about how conspiracy theories form, how they change over time, and, most importantly, what the research suggests helps reduce their pull. References : Bad News Game: https://www.getbadnews.com/en van der Linden, S., Thompson, B.-S., & Roozenbeek, J. (2023). Editorial—The truth is out there: The psychology of conspiracy theories and how to counter them. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 37(2), 252–255. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.4054 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we dream — and do our dreams really mean anything? From flying through the air to your teeth falling out, dreams can feel intensely real, even when they make no logical sense. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Dr Jo Kandola to explore the psychology behind our dreams. They examine what happens in the brain during sleep and why dreams can be so strange. Drawing on Freud’s influential ideas alongside contemporary dream research, they explore the role of REM sleep, where dreams come from, and whether these strange nighttime stories reveal anything about our waking lives. Are dreams meaningless brain noise, hidden messages from the unconscious, or something in between? References : Freud, S. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams. Hobson, J. A., & McCarley, R. W. (1977). The Brain as a Dream State Generator: An Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis of the Dream Process. American Journal of Psychiatry, 134 (12), 1335–1348. Horikawa, T., Tamaki, M., Miyawaki, Y. and Kamitani, Y. (2013) ‘Neural decoding of visual imagery during sleep’, Science , 340(6132), pp. 639–642. Leckie, L., Bershad, A.K., Heppler, J., McClay, M., Rappe, S. and Foster, J.G. (2024) The content and structure of dreams are coupled to affect . A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When performance slips, replacing the person at the top can feel like the obvious answer. From Prime Ministers and CEOs to football managers, leadership turnover is often seen as the fastest route to change. But does changing a leader actually improve performance, or does it simply create the feeling that something is being done? In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Stuart Duff to unpack why we are so quick to replace leaders. Together, they explore the psychological forces behind leadership change — from the illusory truth effect and fundamental attribution error to the romance of leadership. Drawing on research from politics, business and sport, they ask why we so readily blame individual leaders while overlooking systems, culture and circumstances, and examine what really happens after leaders are replaced. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do mistakes make us look bad, or more human? In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to explore why a small blunder can sometimes increase likeability rather than damage it. Drawing on classic research into the pratfall effect, they discuss how mistakes can make highly capable people seem more relatable, approachable, and real. A sharp, practical conversation on why mistakes are not always a problem, and why your response can matter just as much as the blunder itself. References : Aronson, E., Willerman, B. & Floyd, J. The effect of a pratfall on increasing interpersonal attractiveness. Psychon Sci 4, 227–228 (1966). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03342263 Goksel, S., Sezer, O., & Berman, J. Z. (2026). Transcending embarrassment: On the reputational benefits of laughing at yourself. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000477 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to be a good astronaut? In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to explore the psychology of space work, from the personality traits linked to astronaut success to the team dynamics that shape performance in isolated, high-pressure environments. Drawing on research from space missions and Mars simulation studies, they discuss how communication, conflict, stress and motivation influence team effectiveness, and why diverse crews perform better under pressure. From astronaut selection to the future of Mars exploration, this episode looks at what space can teach us about resilience, teamwork, and human performance when the stakes are highest. References: Pena I, Chen H (2025) Exploring team dynamics and performance in extended space missions using agent-based modeling. PLoS One 20(10): e0332496. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332496 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One player. One ball. One kick. Millions watching. With the World Cup in the knockout stages, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Stuart Duff to explore the psychology of penalty taking — one of the most intense moments in sport. Because standing on the penalty spot is about far more than football. It’s about what happens when the pressure is overwhelming, the stakes are high, and there is nowhere to hide. Drawing on the research of Professor Geir Jordet and his book Pressure, they unpack why penalty shootouts are not a lottery, but a powerful test of human psychology. Why do some players stay composed while others unravel? What does pressure do to the body and mind in those few decisive seconds? From rushed run-ups and wandering focus to the routines that help players hold their nerve, this episode reveals the hidden psychology behind success and failure from twelve yards. A fascinating listen for football fans and anyone interested in how we perform when everything is on the line. References : Jordet, G. and Hartman, E. (2008) Avoidance Motivation and Choking under Pressure in Soccer Penalty Shootouts. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 30(4):450-7 Jordet, G. (2024). Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout. London: New River Books. ISBN: 9781915780218. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re reading this in the middle of a heatwave, you’ve probably already noticed your brain isn’t firing on all cylinders. The good news is, it’s not just you. In this episode, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE to explore the growing body of research showing that as temperatures rise, our ability to do demanding mental work can start to decline. Together, they unpack why complex cognitive tasks are especially vulnerable, what this means for organisations and education, and how heat is likely to become an increasingly important issue in the years ahead. They also discuss what workplaces, schools and universities can do differently — from improving airflow to rethinking when demanding work, meetings and exams are scheduled. References: Ebi, K.L., Capon, A., Berry, P., Broderick, C., de Dear, R., Havenith, G., Honda, Y., Kovats, R.S., Ma, W., Malik, A. and Morris, N.B. (2021) ‘Hot weather and heat extremes: health risks’, The Lancet , 398(10301), pp. 698–708. PLOS Climate (no date) ‘Cumulative exposure to urban heat can affect the learning capacity of students and penalize the vulnerable and low-income young population: A systematic review’, PLOS Climate . Available at: https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000618 (Accessed: 26 June 2026). Thompson, R., Hornigold, R., Page, L. and Waite, T. (2018) ‘Associations between high ambient temperatures and heat waves with mental health outcomes: a systematic review’, Public Health , 161, pp. 171–191. Zeng, P., Sui, Y., Liu, Y., Xu, H., Cheng, D., Che, Y. and Helbich, M. (2025) ‘Heat risk during hot weather is associated with poorer self-reported mental health: A cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China’, Cities , 164, p. 106078. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all had that awkward moment where we recognise someone instantly, but their name has completely vanished. Why does that happen? And are we really worse with names than faces, or does it just feel that way? In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Dr Jo Kandola explore one of the most relatable mysteries of human memory. From everyday social slip-ups to the psychology of recognition and recall, they unpack why names can be so difficult to remember and what that reveals about how memory actually works. Along the way, they delve into research on metamemory and the brilliantly named “Butcher on the Bus” phenomenon, revealing why our intuitions about memory are not always as reliable as they seem. If you’ve ever smiled confidently at someone while silently panicking over what they’re called, hopefully this episode will make you feel a little less embarrassed. References Jenkins, R., Murray, A., & Dowsett, A. J. (2021). "I recognise your name but I can't remember your face": Name recognition outperforms face recognition. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(12), 2157–2165. Jenkins, R., Dowsett, A. J., & Burton, A. M. (2018). How many faces do people know? Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285(1888), 20181319. Bruce, V., & Young, A. (1986). Understanding face recognition. British Journal of Psychology, 77(3), 305–327. Burke, D. M., MacKay, D. G., Worthley, J. S., & Wade, E. (1991). On the tip of the tongue: What causes word finding failures in young and older adults? Journal of Memory and Language, 30(5), 542–579. Mandler, G. (1980). Recognizing: The judgment of previous occurrence. Psychological Review, 87(3), 252–271. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history — but beyond the viewing figures and commercial spectacle, what does it do to us psychologically? In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Professor Binna Kandola OBE to explore the psychology behind the world's biggest sporting, and emotional, event. Drawing on research from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, they examine how expectation gaps shape supporter wellbeing, why moderate hope tends to produce healthier emotional outcomes than either blind optimism or low expectations, and how football can influence our mood without fundamentally changing overall life satisfaction. A conversation that reveals more about human psychology than you might expect from a football tournament. References: Robinson, M. A., Davis, M. C., & Unsworth, K. L. (2023). Expectation-achievement gaps and satisfaction in World Cup football supporters: a quasi-experiment. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(5), 1304–1327. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2021.2007278 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past decade, words like 'triggered' have become part of everyday speech, and the psychology behind that shift is more significant than it might seem. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to explore why the language we use to describe our emotions can profoundly shape how we experience them and, in turn, undermine our resilience. Drawing on insights from ancient Greek philosophy through to modern psychology, they examine how our internal dialogue often has more influence over our emotional responses than the situations themselves. Along the way, they identify the thinking patterns that can keep us stuck and explain why recognising them is the crucial first step towards building genuine, lasting resilience. References Ellis, A. The revised ABC's of rational-emotive therapy (RET). J Rational-Emot Cognitive-Behav Ther 9 , 139–172 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01061227 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're more divided than ever – and mostly avoiding the conversations that could change that. Research shows that a single civil conversation reduces polarisation more than people expect. Not a debate. Not a lecture. Just a chat. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to explore the psychology behind polarisation. Together, they unpack the "online disinhibition effect", the algorithms that reward outrage over nuance, and the new research that proves talking across difference works to depolarise attitudes. They close with four ground rules for how to have challenging conversations effectively and move towards a less divided society. References : Suler, John. (2004). The Online Disinhibition Effect. Cyberpsychology & behavior : the impact of the Internet, multimedia and virtual reality on behavior and society. 7. 321-6. 10.1089/1094931041291295. Kardas, M., Nordgren, L., & Rucker, D. (2026). Unnecessarily divided: Civil conversations reduce attitude polarization more than people expect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 130(2), 187–214. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000469 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you really know when you're being lied to? Most of us believe we do, but research suggests we're far worse at detecting deception than we'd like to think. This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Stuart Duff to explore the fascinating psychology of lying. Together they examine what we mean by lying, the line between a white lie and calculated manipulation, and what personality can reveal about how, and why, people deceive. Drawing on the latest behavioural science, they also challenge the biggest myths around lie detection and uncover what research actually says about spotting a liar. References Cantarero, K., Van Tilburg, W., Szarota, P. (2018) Differentiating everyday lies: A typology of lies based on beneficiary and motivation. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences Volume 134, November 2018 Dr Julia Shaw How to actually catch a liar, according to the new science of lie detection. BBC Science Focus. December, 2025 Luke, T. et al. (2025) What have we learned about cues to deception? A survey of expert opinions. Psychology, Crime and Law. Vol. 31, 2025 A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've never had more ways to entertain ourselves. So why are so many of us more bored than ever? This week, Grace sits down with Chartered Psychologist Dr Jo Kandola to explore the paradox of modern boredom: how the very devices designed to keep us entertained are rewiring our brains to crave constant stimulation and are ultimately making the problem worse. From the way social media is fuelling a boredom epidemic, to the point at which scrolling stops being a distraction and starts becoming an addiction, to the impact of boredom on our mental health and wellbeing, this conversation might just change the way you think about reaching for your phone. References : Dora, J., van Hooff, M., Geurts, S., Kompier, M., & Bijleveld, E. (2020). Fatigue, boredom, and objectively-measured smartphone use at work (preprint). Radboud University. Date taken from manuscript (May 1, 2020). Tam, K. Y. Y., & Inzlicht, M. (2024). People are increasingly bored in our digital age. Communications Psychology, 2, 106. Tam, K. Y. Y., & Inzlicht, M. (2024). Fast-forward to boredom: How switching behavior on digital media makes people more bored. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the glitz and glamour of Eurovision lies one question – how fair is the voting? This week, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE ahead of this year's event to explore the science behind the scores. Together, they unpack what the data reveals about recurring voting patterns, how ‘framing effects’ shape the way we judge performances, and what Eurovision ultimately tells us about the way people think, feel, and connect across countries. Whether you're a lifelong Eurovision fan or a first-time viewer, this episode will change the way you watch the scoreboard. References : Ginsburgh, V. and Moreno-Ternero, J.D. 2023. The Eurovision Song Contest: voting rules, biases and rationality. Journal of cultural economics. 47(2), pp.247–277. Mantzaris, A.V., Rein, S.R. and Hopkins, A.D., 2017. Examining collusion and voting biases between countries during the Eurovision Song Contest since 1957. arXiv preprint arXiv:1705.06721. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I can't remember where I heard this, but…” We've all said it, and it seems harmless, but losing that context is precisely how unreliable information becomes believable. The sleeper effect is a common psychological phenomenon: over time, we retain the message but lose the memory of where it came from. Without the context, our brains accept it as fact, regardless of the source's credibility. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to unpack why this happens and what we can do about it. Together, they explore how we assess the credibility of information, why source memory matters more today than ever before, and practical ways to counteract this mental shortcut. In a world where we're inundated with information from hundreds of channels, this episode gives you the tools to think more critically and share more responsibly. References: Kumkale, G. T., & Albarracín, D. (2004). The Sleeper Effect in Persuasion: A Meta-Analytic Review. Psychological Bulletin, 130 (1), 143–172. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.