Bonus episode: mindfulness and meditation

Before you’re even born, your parents’ health is already shaping your future wellbeing. Welcome to the world of epigenetics: where environmental factors – stress, diet and infection – leave molecular marks on genes, altering their expression across generations. Professor Anthony Hannan from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health shares how a father’s health can impact offspring development, why our hunter-gatherer brains struggle with modern life and how precision medicine could transform future healthcare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many children are struggling to attend school, but what if we've been getting the story wrong? In this episode of PsychTalks, Associate Professor Sarah Knight and Natasha Staheli explore how children's distress is often mistaken for misbehaviour and why terms like "school refusal" can fail to capture the reality of many children's actual experiences, especially the role of neurodivergence and impact of masking. Together, they look at what parents and educators can do to better support children so they feel safe, understood and ready to learn. Yellow Ladybugs is a non-government organisation, dedicated to the happiness, success and celebration of autistic girls, women and gender diverse individuals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever looked directly at a motorcyclist while driving – yet completely failed to see them – you’re not alone. The phenomenon is so common, riders refer to it as a “smidsy” (or, “sorry mate, I didn’t see you”.) Professor Kristen Pammer and Dr Angus McKerral discuss the cognitive demands of driving; explaining how inattentional blindness can render a motorcyclist invisible and exploring the promises and pitfalls of self-driving cars. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Cycle syncing’ has exploded online, promoting the idea that women can optimise their wellbeing by planning everything from workouts to work commitments around their menstrual cycles. But what does the science actually say? Dr Lindsie Arthur cuts through the pop psychology hype and discusses the current research around hormones, behaviour and performance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcohol is a normal part of life for many Australians. But why do some people develop problems with drinking while others don't? Dr Antoinette Poulton unpacks the link between impulsivity and hazardous drinking, and explains why our decisions around alcohol are shaped by much more than willpower. From personalised feedback to smartphone-based interventions, we explore how researchers are finding new ways to help people better understand their drinking and make lasting changes. Relevant links: Learn more about Antoinette's research: She is currently recruiting for a study charting cannabis use form and method in Australia, to assist with future app development: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/gnf2 For other current projects: https://hesterlab.org/projects If you have concerns about your own or someone else's drinking, you call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 or visit Daybreak at hellosundaymorning.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.