Episodes

Richard and Marnie turn the spotlight on friendship, revealing the secrets to small talk, what makes people likeable and how to turn acquaintances into friends. Don't want to miss an episode? Follow the show (it's published weekly). Got a question for Richard? We’d love to hear from you - send a...

Richard and Marnie answer some more of your listener questions, delving into the psychology of the street con-artist, sleepwalking, the importance of a growth mindset, attention spans and much more. Don't want to miss an episode? Follow the show (it's published weekly). Got a question for Richar...

Get into the festive spirit with Richard and Marnie, as they unwrap the psychology of gift giving, reveal why cracker jokes are so bad, look at what our Christmas decorations say about us and whether we find people with beards more trustworthy (spoiler alert, it doesn't bode well for Santa!). Do...

Richard and Marnie answer some of your listener questions that have been sent in over the season. Such as, why do some people have no filter when they speak? Does everyone have an inner voice? Which is more powerful, nature or nurture? And why do people pick their nose (how delightful!). Don't w...

Richard and Marnie reveal some of the hidden persuaders that affect our decision making. Are we really as rational as we think we are? Do our names affect our lives and how successful we are? And how are we swayed by advertising, without even realising it? Don't want to miss an episode? Follow t...

In this episode we explore Richard's favourite psychological studies. How does our pace of life affect us? Do we all have the potential to harm others? And how good are we at telling if politicians are lying? Find out why these studies and more made it into Richard's hall of fame. Don't want to ...

Can you control someone’s mind? Marnie takes a suggestibility test, Richard reveals the secrets of hypnosis and they explore whether mind control exists, plus how hypnosis can be used for good. Don't want to miss an episode? Follow the show (it's published weekly). Got a question for Richard? We...

Join Richard and Marnie as they dispel some more psychological myths. Including, whether playing Mozart to a baby makes them more intelligent? Do people really leave their bodies during an out of body experience? And when it comes to decision making, are two heads better than one? Don't want to ...

In this special episode, Richard and Marnie are joined by comedian and author Robin Ince, as they explore the psychology of curiosity. They reveal why staying curious is good for your health, how it can be used to drive learning and Richard sets Marnie a surprising curiosity test. Don't want to ...

Join Richard and Marnie as they explore the psychology of the workplace. Richard reveals the secrets to the perfect job interview, what makes for a good manager and why open plan offices are a bad idea. Don't want to miss an episode? Follow the show (it's published weekly). Got a question for Ri...

In this special episode about the brain, Richard and Marnie talk to cognitive neuroscientist Professor Adrian Owen about his ground breaking research. He then goes on to answer your questions about the brain, including can you train your brain? What happens when we meditate? And is there a higher s...

Richard and Marnie take a look at some of the weird psychology studies that have been carried out over the years, from trying to weigh the soul, to the tale of the talking mongoose. Join them as they reveal the surprising impact that these strange cases actually had on today's world. Don't want ...

Ever wondered what you can tell about a person's personality from their pets? What are the psychological benefits of owning a dog? In this episode, Richard and Marnie take a closer look at the psychology of pet ownership, as well as exploring how being in nature affects us. Don't want to miss an...

Join Richard and Marnie as they discuss how small life changes can have a big impact, and why you might need to go on a digital detox. They provide top tips on how to start making lifestyle changes and reveal why starting small is key. Don't want to miss an episode? Follow the show (it's publish...

Richard and Marnie explore the world of psychic ability and take a closer look at how scientists test for extra sensory perception. They look at why psychic readings can seem so accurate and reveal some of the tricks of the trade. Don't want to miss an episode? Follow the show (it's published weekl...

In this special episode, Richard and Marnie talk to daredevil and escapologist Jonathan Goodwin. They explore the psychological lessons that can be found in Jonathan's incredible story of courage and resilience, after a catastrophic accident left him with life-changing injuries. We're back to our n...

Join Richard & Marnie as they discuss the psychology behind how to keep a long term relationship exciting, the best ways to communicate with your partner and whether small acts of romance add up. And if your partner starts to mark notches on the mantlepiece, then watch out! Got a question for...

In this episode we’re talking about the Apollo space mission and the psychological lessons we can learn from it. How does passion motivate us? What are the secrets of success... and failure? And how to tread the line between risk and recklessness.  Got a question for Richard? We’...

In this second of our two special episodes from Edinburgh Festival, we talk to improv comedian Pippa Evans about how improv can help us in everyday life. Plus, how we can use these skills in our relationships and to be more successful.  We're back to our normal format next week, with Richard a...

In this special episode, recorded at this year's Edinburgh Festival, we take a break from our usual question and answer format to talk to comedian Jo Caulfield about the psychological lessons that can be learned from stand-up comedy. Including the importance of keeping going when things get tough, ...

Richard and Marnie look at why we experience coincidences and whether they are really meaningful. Are we all more connected than we realise and do we really live in a 'small world'? Got a question for Richard? We’d love to hear from you - send a text or voice message to @wisemanpod or email...

Do you cross your fingers, knock on wood? In this episode, Richard and Marnie explore the world of superstition. They take a look at why people are superstitious, the origins of some superstitious rituals and whether these behaviours have any psychological effect.  Got a question for Richard...

Richard and Marnie take a deep dive into the world of dream control. How can you impact the dreams that you have? Can you make yourself have lucid dreams? And the big question that everyone wants to know, how do different cheeses impact your dreams. (Note: If you do have a serious problem with nigh...

Where should you go on a first date... and once you're there, what should you talk about? Is it possible to make two people fall in love? And what do rollercoasters and cheese have to do with all of this? Richard & Marnie explore the psychology of dating and take a closer look at what makes peo...

Join Richard & Marnie as they explore whether it's possible to communicate with the dead, reveal how Ouija boards and seances work, and take a look at the science behind it all. Got a question for Richard? We’d love to hear from you - send a text or voice message to @wisemanpod or email...

Do the clothes we wear affect the way we think? Does the colour of our clothing impact how others perceive us? And is being suited and booted for an interview a good idea? Join Richard and Marnie as they exploring the psychology of clothing. Got a question for Richard? We’d love to hear fro...