x

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

Pop-Culture Couch

Welcome to "Pop-Culture Couch"! I"m Maegan, your host and fellow pop-culture enthusiast with a unique blend of expertise in behavioral psychology, data science, and UX research within the world of video games. With a deep passion for the brain, behavior, and breaking down big psychological concepts into bite-sized pieces, I’m here to help you unravel the psychological themes woven into our favorite movies, TV shows, and video games."Pop-Culture Couch" is all about breaking down complex psychological

society & culture visual arts

All Episodes

12:10

Your Brain on Fear: The Neuroscience of Horror’s Thrill

Pop-Culture Couch ·

2025/09/24

Fear is supposed to protect us—so why do we pay good money to feel it on purpose? From haunted houses to horror marathons, millions of us choose to be terrified. In this episode, Maegan breaks down the psychology and neuroscience of fear and why it can actually feel good. What you’ll hear about: What happens in the brain when fear kicks in.Why some people love horror while others can’t stand it.Psychological theories that explain horror’s appeal: Excitation Transfer, Catharsis, Sensation-Seek...

en-us

11:55

Damn, That Was Hard...Let's Do It Again!: The...

Pop-Culture Couch ·

2025/09/03

Why do millions of players willingly suffer through Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and other punishing Soulslike games? In this episode, we dive into the psychology and neuroscience of difficulty—and why it feels so good to finally triumph after countless defeats. We’ll cover how your brain’s reward systems fire when you finally beat a brutal boss, why struggle makes success feel sweeter, and how failure itself becomes part of the fun. From dopamine spikes to flow states to the deep satisfaction of ...

en-us

13:44

Humor as a Coping Mechanism in Comedy Sitcoms

Pop-Culture Couch ·

2024/06/20

In this episode of "Pop-Culture Couch," I dive into the role of humor as a coping mechanism, using beloved comedy sitcoms "The Office," "Community," and "Parks and Recreation" as case studies. We'll explore how psychological theories such as Relief Theory, Benign Violation Theory, and Broaden-and-Build Theory are illustrated through humorous scenarios and character interactions in these shows.By analyzing key scenes and character interactions, we uncover how these shows illustrate important p...

en-us

2:14

An Introduction to Pop-Culture Couch

Pop-Culture Couch ·

2024/05/29

An super quick introduction episode to learn what Pop-Culture Couch is all about!My intro/outro music and all sound fxs were created for me by Han Htet of Han Solos.

en-us

15:37

Psychology of Choice & Consequence in Narrative Video...

Pop-Culture Couch ·

2024/05/29

In this episode of "Pop-Culture Couch," Maegan dives into the psychology of choice and consequence in narrative video games, using "Mass Effect 2," "Fallout: New Vegas," and "Cyberpunk 2077" as case studies. We'll explore how psychological theories such as Rational Choice Theory, Prospect Theory, and Cognitive Dissonance Theory are illustrated through the complex decision-making mechanics and moral dilemmas presented in these games. By examining key moments and player choices, we reveal how t...

en-us

5 results

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger