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75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world

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

14:03

From the Rape Academy to Your Living Room

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/04/20

Semantic Derailment and the Social Permission That Sustains Organized Sexual ViolenceHost Leslie Poston discusses a CNN investigation into an “online rape academy,” including a Telegram group called ZZZ where nearly 1,000 men allegedly coordinated drugging and sexual assault, shared footage, discussed substances and dosages, and advertised paid live streams; while ZZZ was taken down, the U.S.-hosted site Motherless remains public, drawing about 62 million visits in February and hosting

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18:17

When TV Makes Harm Look Normal: Why We Keep Watching

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/04/13

The Ethics of Reality TV: Deception, Conflict, and What We NormalizeHost Leslie Poston examines the ethical and psychological costs of reality and reality-adjacent TV that relies on deception or engineered conflict, arguing the key issue is whether harm is built into a show’s format rather than whether it is scripted. Using Jury Duty as an example of compromised informed consent and Survivor as an example of formats that reward manipulation, humiliation, and betrayal, she asks what it does

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18:57

The Psychology of AI Slop: How Synthetic Junk Erodes...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/04/06

AI Slop and Your Brain: Attention, Fatigue, and the Erosion of MeaningHost Leslie Poston explains how “AI slop” is industrial-scale synthetic content optimized for volume and fast reactions rather than accuracy or usefulness, ranging from keyword-stuffed articles and fake reviews to fabricated quotes, fake images, and targeted deepfake audio/video. She argues it exploits cognitive shortcuts like attentional capture and processing fluency, creating decision fatigue, weakening deliberate

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13:03

Meta Lost. Now What?

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/03/29

Meta Verdicts, Kids’ Harm, and the Push for Age VerificationHost Leslie Poston reviews two jury verdicts finding Meta liable for harming children: a New Mexico case ordering $375 million in civil penalties for concealing knowledge about child sexual exploitation and mental health impacts, and a Los Angeles negligence case where Meta and YouTube were found liable and Kaylee was awarded $6 million for worsened anxiety and depression from compulsive use starting at ages 6 and 9. Poston cites

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23:21

The 100% Myth: Why Giving Everything Is Costing You...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/03/23

Why “Give 100%” Is Corrosive: Sustainable Performance, Burnout, and Reserve CapacityHost Leslie Poston examines the phrase “give 100%” in American work culture, tracing it to Protestant work-ethic theology and arguing it became a management tool that moralizes maximum output despite lacking empirical support. The episode contrasts this norm with research on sustainable performance, citing shorter-workweek trials. Poston explains how “100%” ignores unequal baselines via allostatic load,

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24:13

Why Common Sense Isn't Common

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/03/16

Common Sense or Power Move? The One Question That Reveals the DifferenceHost Leslie Poston argues that “common sense” is often used to end conversations and universalize one person’s perception rather than provide evidence. She explains this through naïve realism (people experience their perceptions as objective reality), embodied cognition (gut intuitions shaped by bodily and lived experience), and positionality (social location shapes what becomes perceptually salient). She cites the

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22:15

Your AI Best Friend Is Lying To You

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/03/09

When AI Becomes a Confidant: Loneliness, Engagement Incentives, and the Risks of Chatbot “Support”Host Leslie Poston examines why so many adults and teens are using LLM chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude as friends, therapy substitutes, or romantic stand-ins, linking it to eroding community, expensive and inaccessible mental health care, and tech incentives optimized for engagement. Citing Meta’s engagement-driven practices and data harms as an example of industry patterns, she argues similar

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20:30

Forever Wars Shrink the Future: What Endless War Does...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/03/02

Forever War and the Stolen FutureHost Leslie Poston examines a hidden psychological cost of “forever wars”: they don’t just create fear and grief, they change how people relate to time—shrinking hope, planning, and the ability to believe in tomorrow. She explains how chronic threat and recurring escalation can trap individuals and whole societies in emergency mode, erode trust in institutions, and create a sense of democratic powerlessness, citing January 2026 U.S. polling from Quinnipiac

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18:21

What the Epstein Network Tells Us About Power,...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/02/23

Losing Our Heroes: The Epstein Files, Elite Complicity, and the Psychology of Looking AwayHost Leslie Poston discusses the psychological impact of seeing the names of people you once admired or trusted in the Epstein files. Poston examines why revelations connected to the Epstein files can feel psychologically destabilizing, especially when they involve admired public figures and trusted institutions. Drawing on research in power and social perception, implicit cognition, moral

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15:12

Courage is Contagious: The Psychology of Collective...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/02/16

Sustained Resistance: How Communities Keep Showing Up Under RepressionHost Leslie Poston closes PsyberSpace’s three-part series on American authoritarianism by focusing on the psychology of sustained resistance. Drawing on findings that real-world bystander intervention occurs in most incidents, she distinguishes one-time helping from long-term collective action and uses Minneapolis as an example of ongoing community response to state violence. She reviews research suggesting risk can

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16:03

The War on What You Saw: The Psychology of...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/02/09

The Power and Purpose of Obvious Lies in Authoritarian RegimesIn this episode of PsyberSpace®, host Leslie Poston explores why authoritarian regimes tell obvious lies that contradict available video evidence and their psychological impact on the public. The discussion digs into how such lies serve to dominate rather than persuade, sorting the population, degrading shared reality, and forcing individuals to either accept the lie, stay quiet, or openly reject it. The episode also touches on

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13:48

When They Come For You: The Psychology of Expanding...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/02/02

Understanding American Authoritarianism Short Series Part 1 of 3: Expansion of State ViolenceIn the first part of a special three-episode series on PsyberSpace®, host Leslie Poston examines the psychology of authoritarianism with a focus on the expansion of state violence in the United States. Highlighting the significance of understanding how psychological patterns predict such outcomes, Leslie discusses recent events involving federal immigration agents and names the victims to humanize

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17:56

Your Data Is Already Breached: Why Age Verification...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/01/27

The Illusion of Digital Safety: How Age Gates and Digital IDs Miss the MarkIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the ineffectiveness and risks of age gates and digital ID verification systems aimed at protecting children online. Highlighting global legislative attempts and their unintended consequences, Poston argues that these measures often exacerbate digital risks while failing to address root causes such as inadequate parental capacity, literacy deficiencies, and

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19:44

Why Does Debating Bad Ideas Make Them Stronger?

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/01/19

The Hidden Dangers of Debate: Why It Can Legitimize Bad IdeasIn this episode of PsyberSpace®, host Leslie Poston explores the unintended consequences of debate formats in media, arguing that they often function as tools to distribute and legitimize harmful ideas rather than dismantling them with facts. Poston discusses psychological principles such as social proof, the illusory truth effect, and the continued influence effect to explain why debates can amplify bad ideas. She advocates for

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27:17

When "No" Stops Mattering: The Psychology of Stolen...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/01/12

The Erosion of Consent in the Digital AgeIn this episode of PsyberSpace®, Leslie Poston discusses the systematic erosion of consent both online and offline, and its devastating psychological consequences. Key topics include non-consensual AI-generated sexual imagery, the mass theft of creative work to train AI systems, the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for social media content, and the influence of manosphere ideology on young men. Poston explores the dehumanization and

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30:16

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, EMDR, and Beyond: Real...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2026/01/05

PsyberSpace® on Navigating Therapy: Finding the Right Modality and Therapist for Your Mental HealthIn this episode of PsyberSpace®, host Leslie Poston kicks off season three with an in-depth exploration of several of the many therapy modalities available to you. Leslie discusses that therapy isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, emphasizing the importance of finding the right match between therapeutic modalities, the therapist, and individual needs. The episode covers various therapeutic

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15:43

Going No Contact: Why Adult Children Are Choosing...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/12/23

Navigating Family Estrangement During the HolidaysIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the trending issue of family estrangement, especially relevant during the holiday season. With so many adults experiencing estrangement, Poston dives into the research findings from the Cornell Reconciliation Project and other studies. The episode discusses the perspectives and reasons behind estrangement both from adult children and the parents' viewpoints, highlighting cultural

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14:58

When Trust in Research Breaks: How Engineered Doubt...

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/12/16

The Impact of Engineered Doubt on Trust and KnowledgeIn this episode of PsyberSpace™, hosted by Leslie Poston, the focus is on the concept of trust in a rapidly changing world. Leslie digs into how societal trust is being undermined by 'engineered doubt', the deliberate creation of uncertainty by powerful forces that aim to destabilize public confidence in research, expertise, and evidence. The episode discusses the emotional and psychological impacts of this phenomenon on both the general

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21:37

Stop Thinking: How Clever Phrases Hijack Your Brain

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/12/09

Recognizing and Countering Thought Limiting PhrasesIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston discusses 'thought limiting phrases'—statements that superficially seem wise but actually discourage critical thinking. These phrases often shut down debate, simplify complex issues, and create false equivalencies, benefiting those who want to avoid scrutiny. Leslie explores examples in technology, privacy, workplace dynamics, politics, and more, highlighting their psychological appeal and

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18:12

Limerence: When Obsession Masquerades as Love

PsyberSpace® - we help you understand your world ·

2025/12/02

Understanding Limerence: The Psychological and Neurological PerspectivesIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the phenomenon of limerence, a state of intense, often obsessive longing that is frequently mistaken for love. Leslie explores how limerence manifests and differs from love and lust, particularly in neurodivergent individuals and those with trauma. The discussion covers the impact of modern technology and social media in intensifying these feelings. Practical

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111 results

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