Why are some people so happy? How can you tell when politicians are lying? Why do long lists of questions hold our attention? Welcome to Richard Wiseman’s On Your Mind, the podcast that aims to answer a thousand questions about the human mind. A magician, academic and author, Richard holds the UK’s only professorship in the public understanding of psychology. Together with science journalist Marnie Chesterton, they take on all manner of questions from the public, celebrities and each other, on everything from ghosts to laughter, dreaming to luck, sleep to memory.
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...