How do our beliefs about ourselves and the world influence the way we learn and make decisions? Dr. Hayley Dorfman joins us to discuss how internal representations like sense of control shape our learning processes. We discuss the interplay between reinforcement learning and Bayesian inference, how agency beliefs impact learning from positive and negative feedback, and how these processes change across different developmental stages/

This week on Minds Matter both Ava and Beth chat with Dr. Nina Rajcic about her work using LLMs in her art practice giving us a new perspectives for thinking about AI. Dr. Rajcic talks about her work and how its meaning has changed as LLMs continue to develop. We share our thoughts about the future of AI in both tech and art.

In a very special episode, our very own Beth Fisher tells us all about optimism! Beth shares what optimism is, how her recent research shows psilocybin can boost optimism in rats, and what this might mean for humans. We also discuss how optimism shapes our engagement with the world, and if and when it can become too much of a good thing.

How do our identities shift and change over our lifetimes? Dr. Pauline Ho joins us to explore three pathways of identity formation—consolidating, cumulative, and transformative—and how each is shaped by personal histories, social contexts, and important life events. Building off her research with African American college students, Dr. Ho discusses how these pathways could extend to other groups and identities. Beth and Ava chat about meaning-making in their own identities.

The climate crisis demands urgent action, yet many people struggle to make meaningful changes. This week, we’re joined by Dr. Rachit Dubey to hear about the the psychology behind climate inaction. Dr. Dubey shares insights into why humans are wired to seek rewards, leading to consumerism—a core driver of environmental issues. He breaks down how understanding these psychological patterns can help shape more effective climate policies. We learn the best ways to communicate climate change information. Beth and Ava reflect on how their own experiences have influenced their environmental concerns and actions.

How often do you find yourself pondering existential questions—like the meaning of life or what happens after we die? This week, we're joined by Dr. Telli Davoodi, to speak about her research on how both scientific and religious explanations address these questions and psychological roles they play in our lives. Dr. Davoodi also shares insights from her cross-cultural studies, exploring how children form beliefs about concepts they can’t directly observe. In this moving episode, Beth and Ava open up about their own beliefs and personal experiences with finding meaning in life. Spoiler alert: Beth gets emotional!

Have you ever felt disgusted? Have you wondered what caused that feeling? This week Dr. Indra Bishnoi explains to us the science behind disgust and its relationship to nausea. She shares her research on conditioned induced nausea and chemotherapy, explaining the importance of finding a treatment to treat this disgust response. We talk about how anxiety can feelings of nausea and Beth and Ava share their own feelings on disgust.

Welcome back to season 4 of Minds Matter! We begin our season with a conversation about civic science with Andrew Gray, co-founder of BioQuisitive a civic science hub in Brunswick, Australia. Can there be ways to create research outside a university? And what does it look like to democratise science? Andrew talks about his inspiring journey to get to where he is today and we reflect non-traditional ways we can study, research, and learn.