Recently, I have been listening to some psychology-focused podcasts to feed my curiosity but also to enhance my learning and understanding of psychology as a whole. These are listed below, with the main gist of the podcast, as well as my thoughts and feelings after listening.
BBC Sounds – All in the Mind – The perfection trap: do you feel ‘good enough’?
This podcast focuses on perfectionism, why it happens, and what kind of detrimental effects it can have on mental health. Dr Tom Curran, author of “The Perfection Trap”, explains how he is a perfectionist, and whilst it may be seen as positive, it can make accepting failures and responding to unanticipated challenges difficult. It’s also stated how certain individuals may be more susceptible than others to perfectionism as it can be passed on genetically which I found quite interesting. Dr Peter Olusoga then builds on what had been mentioned about the implications perfectionism can have and expresses that burnout can occur, which is characterised by fatigue and a negative change in attitude. Overall, I really enjoyed listening to this podcast and found it very informative, so I would definitely recommend it if you are looking to educate yourself on perfectionism.
Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001mt5l
The Psychology Podcast – The Power of Wonder with Monica Parker
Guest Monica Parker, “The Power of Wonder” author, shares insights into why wonder is so important to practice in our day-to-day lives. Embracing wonder was mentioned to be valuable due to its ability to promote perseverance and help to reframe perspectives when facing tough issues. Though, it is stated by Monica that wonder is not often considered due to how hectic life can be, and having a tendency to take most things for granted also hinders the ability to wonder. Multiple strategies for enhancing wonder are then recommended, such as taking a walk and trying to really admire what might usually be ignored. I really enjoyed learning more about wonder from this podcast and I found that hearing from somebody who has written a book on the topic of wonder was really insightful.
Available from: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3RJT0NqbJBmRn3WMbWduSq
American Psychological Association – Speaking of Psychology – Red with anger or feeling blue? The link between color and emotion, with Domicele Jonauskaite, PhD
Within this episode of “Speaking of Psychology”, the relationship between psychology and colour is explored, and I found it fascinating. Dr Domicele Jonauskaite speaks about the typical beliefs of what moods and colours are associated with one another, and explains that in reality, the impact of these colours on our emotions are quite dissimilar to what is usually expected. Additionally, I also found it interesting how what we perceive colours to represent can have some differences around the world, with one of the examples being that blue only represents sadness in the English language. Previously, I was not very aware of how psychology and colour interact, but now I am keen to learn more. This podcast is definitely one to listen to if you are intrigued by how colour is perceived!
Available from: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cvkEcCCnNPIafFhnTooYW