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PODCAST

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world

Dr. Leslie Poston, Research Psychologist: Applied Psychology, Media Psychology, Organizational Psychology

PsyberSpace® is a weekly psychology podcast for curious people who want to understand why the world feels the way it does, online and offline. The show helps you name what you’re seeing and feeling, understand the science behind it, and figure out what to do next. If you"ve ever wondered what makes "reply guys" tick, why we fall for emotionally manipulative language in politics, why meetings suck, why comfort can keep us stuck, why limerence hits so hard, or how music and media reshape your brain,

science social sciences

All Episodes

17:19

Living in Entropy: System Decay and Psyches Under...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/11/18

Navigating System Decay: Understanding Institutional Betrayal and Capitalist RealismIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the concept of the 'Entropy Age' and its impact on mental health. The discussion covers how the decay of institutions like governments, healthcare, education, and information systems affects people's mental models and trust. Key topics include collective trauma, institutional betrayal, and capitalist realism. The episode explains how layered

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15:33

Living in Entropy – When the Future Stops Feeling...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/11/17

Emotional Entropy: Coping with Psychological Strain in the Entropy AgeHost Leslie Poston of PsyberSpace introduces a five-episode series on the 'entropy age,' focusing on the psychological impact of living in an unstable world marked by late-stage capitalism, technological upheaval, and rising authoritarianism. This episode explores the concept of 'emotional entropy,' comparing it to physical entropy to describe the fraying of our inner lives. Key topics include existential anxiety,

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44:42

We're All Living in Different Realities (Literally)

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/11/03

The Brain's Reality: How Our Perception Shapes Our WorldIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how our brains create different realities through predictive processing. The discussion includes concepts like the McGurk effect, the role of attention, and the impact of body states on perception. Poston explains how memory is a reconstruction influenced by current priors and how culture and language shape our prediction engines. The episode also addresses the implications

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25:19

The Bystander Effect Revisited: Courage Against...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/10/27

Unmasking the Bystander Effect: Courage in the Face of ThreatsIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston revisits the classic psychology concept of the bystander effect, challenging the common narrative of human apathy in groups. Starting with the infamous case of Kitty Genovese, Leslie digs into how exaggerations shaped public perception and spurred psychological research. The episode highlights recent studies showing that people often do intervene in emergencies, especially under

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24:30

The Psychology of Better Work: Why Remote Work, Rest,...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/10/20

Revolutionizing Work: Psychology's Role in Shaping the FutureIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychology and future of work. The discussion highlights the benefits of remote and flexible work, shorter work weeks, universal basic income, and the importance of rest in creating healthy and productive work environments. Leslie explains how outdated work models are being challenged by new data and psychological insights, emphasizing that autonomy, flexibility, and

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26:20

Why Your Surgeon Wears Special Socks: The Psychology...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/10/12

The Power of Talismans: Mind Over MatterIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the fascinating world of talismans, lucky charms, and rituals. While these objects may seem irrational at first glance, psychological and anthropological insights reveal they significantly alter how our brains handle risk, uncertainty, and stress. From ancient warriors to modern surgeons and athletes, humans have always used symbolic objects to manage anxiety and enhance performance. This

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21:13

The Psychology of Everyday Aesthetics: Why Your...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/10/06

The Psychology of Everyday Aesthetics: How Our Surroundings Shape Our Well-beingIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the psychological impact of everyday aesthetics on our emotions, focus, and overall well-being. From cozy cafes to well-lit offices, Leslie delves into the science behind how environmental cues like color, light, form, and texture affect our mental state and cognitive performance. The episode also discusses the importance of creating supportive

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28:49

The AI Transparency Trap: Why Honesty About AI Use...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/10/03

The Transparency Trap: How AI Disclosure Erodes TrustIn this special episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores a new study revealing that people who disclose AI use in professional settings are trusted significantly less than those who keep it a secret. This phenomenon is linked to identity protective cognition and professional identity threats. The discussion delves into how legitimacy and social norms shape trust dynamics, the role of cognitive dissonance, and systemic issues

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24:17

Frictionless and Forgettable: How Tech Undermines...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/09/29

The Cost of Convenience: How Technology is Redefining Connection and CreativityIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the impact of technological convenience on our emotional and cognitive lives. Inspired by a conversation with Jason Miller, Leslie explores how platforms like Facebook and generative AI tools are stripping away meaningful friction from our interactions, creativity, and mental tasks, leading to reduced emotional investment and cognitive development. The

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25:17

Stuck in the In-Between: The Psychology of Liminal...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/09/22

Exploring the Psychological Depths of Liminal SpacesIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the concept of liminal spaces — those transitional zones, both physical and psychological, where we feel suspended between the past and the future. The discussion explores various examples such as airports, traffic jams, dead malls, subways, hospitals, and even digital environments. These spaces challenge our sense of time, memory, and self, creating both potential for

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25:44

Microjoys and Mini-Moments—The Psychology of Tiny...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/09/16

The Power of Micro Joys: Building Psychological Resilience through Tiny PleasuresIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of micro joys—small, spontaneous moments of delight that contribute significantly to our mental well-being. Contrary to the cultural emphasis on major achievements and peak experiences, micro joys provide a sustainable foundation for psychological resilience. Backed by research in positive psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science,

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39:03

When Hate Speaks: The Psychology of Stochastic Terrorism

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/09/12

PsyberSpace: Understanding the Psychology of Stochastic TerrorismIn this special episode of PsyberSpace, hosted by Leslie Poston, the focus is on the psychology of stochastic terrorism, particularly in the wake of the shooting of political pundit Charlie Kirk. The episode explores how public figures use mass communication to incite violence indirectly through loaded language and dehumanizing rhetoric. It looks into the mechanisms behind this phenomenon, including moral disengagement and

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23:29

Sneaky Grief - The Losses That Linger, the Systems...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/09/07

Unseen Grief: Navigating Disenfranchised and Ambiguous LossIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the often overlooked and invalidated forms of grief that extend beyond traditional mourning. Discussing the concept of 'disenfranchised grief,' the episode delves into how economic systems and societal norms suppress acknowledgment of certain types of loss. From the unexpected death of a first love to ongoing ambiguous losses, Poston examines how these unacknowledged forms

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28:06

Hoarding Power: The Billionaire Brain and the...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/08/31

Billionaire Hoarding: A Psychological ExplorationIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the provocative idea that billionaire behavior may resemble a form of hoarding disorder, typically seen in people unable to part with physical objects. The discussion gets into the clinical understanding of hoarding, its evolutionary basis, and how similar psychological patterns might drive compulsive accumulation of wealth, power, and resources at a global scale. The episode

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23:39

Why Some People Want the World to Burn

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/08/25

The Psychology Behind Apocalyptic Thinking and Why It’s DangerousIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the growing phenomenon of apocalyptic thinking, exploring its psychological, sociological, and cultural roots. The episode examines why some people are drawn to the idea of societal collapse and how this mindset is manifesting in modern times through various ideologies and policies. Leslie discusses historical and contemporary examples, the role of trauma, and the

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25:44

The Comfort Trap: Why Ease Is the Enemy of Progress

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/08/18

The Comfort Trap: How Familiarity Hampers Growth and ProgressIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of comfort and how it acts as a hidden barrier to personal and societal growth. Despite its allure, comfort can prevent individuals from taking risks, learning, and embracing change. The episode digs into the psychological and neurological reasons behind our preference for comfort, and its impact on behaviors, relationships, and social structures. Poston

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24:58

The Voice Inside Your Head: Who's Really Running the...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/08/11

The Secret Life of Your Inner Monologue: Navigating and Harnessing Your Inner VoiceIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of the inner monologue, discussing its origins, functions, and variations across individuals and cultures. The episode digs into the impact of internal speech on decision making, emotional regulation, and self-identity. Leslie also addresses how disorders like ADHD and anxiety affect inner voices, offering practical strategies for

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32:34

She Leads: What Psychology Reveals About Women and Power

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/08/04

The Science Behind Women’s Superior Leadership: Breaking Biases and Embracing EffectivenessIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the compelling evidence showing that women tend to be better leaders than men. The discussion includes statistics indicating that countries led by women have fewer conflicts and better crisis management. It digs into decades of research from organizational psychology, showing women outscore men in key leadership competencies such as empathy,

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29:28

Media As Resistance: The Psychology of Necessary...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/07/27

Navigating Media Consumption for Psychological Well-Being and ResistanceIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the critical issue of media consumption in the age of information overload and crisis. With facts being scrubbed from official sources and reality under attack, Poston examines the role of independent journalism and social media as lifelines to truth. The episode digs into the psychology of how we consume media, the distinction between staying informed and

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11:16

Your Brain on Easy Mode: AI, Comfort, and the Cost of...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/07/24

Unmasking the Dangers of 'Preventing Woke AI': A Critical AnalysisIn this midweek special of PsyberSpace, Leslie Poston addresses a significant news event: the Trump administration's signing of a federal AI action plan as well as an executive order called 'Preventing Woke AI.' Focusing on generative AI, LLM AI, and NLP AI, Poston discusses the implications of how AI, optimized for ease, can subtly reprogram societal norms and reinforce biases. The episode underscores the threat of

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127 results

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