PsychCrunch

We all love psychology, but it feels safe to say that most of us probably would love it more if it did some things differently. For many, psychology would benefit from a revolution (or two). In this episode, we share hot takes on the matter from the expert contributors to the March 2026 issue of our magazine, The Psychologist. What do they believe needs a revolution within the discipline? And should we call for revolutions at all? Special thanks to our guests: Audrey Linden, Jamie Cummins, Marcus Munafo, Margarita Panaiyoutou, Madeleine Pownall, Richard Wiseman. Thanks also to those who contributed via LinkedIn. This is Episode 45 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted and edited by Emma Barratt. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Produced by Jon Sutton. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date via our PsychCrunch collection page. Want to learn more? Check out our guests' manifestos in full in the March 2026 issue of The Psychologist. PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at ZandaHealth.com

Living with a life-limiting condition comes with a plethora of psychological consequences. When the condition is rare, having psychologists in your corner can mean even more. This episode, we speak with Dr Sarah Gunn, Lecturer at the University of Leicester and expert on the psychology of Huntington's disease, about her research journey and how her work supports those with the condition. Join her and Dr Jon Sutton, Editor for the Psychologist, in conversation as they explore what psychologists can do when nothing can be done. This is Episode 44 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted by Dr Jon Sutton. With contributions by Ella Rhodes. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Not done learning?Find out more about how psychologists conceptualise living with a chronic illness with this piece from Emily Reynolds. Or learn why the world needs more health psychologists in our conversation with Professor Aimee Aubeeluck. PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at ZandaHealth.com

Join Dr Jon Sutton and Dr Andrea Oskis (Food Writer and Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University, London) for a research-packed feast, through which they navigate the deep and meaningful connections between us and the food we eat. From appetiser to dessert, every dish opens the door to exploring fascinating studies and discoveries. This is Episode 43 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted by Dr Jon Sutton. Audio editing by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Hungry for more? Find out more about 'cupboard love' with this piece by Andrea Oskis that explores the intrinsic connection between food and feelings. Or check out this piece from Chukwudi Barrah on nine psychological insights that may just turn down the heat at the dinner table. Find these and much, much more over at The Psychologist. PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at ZandaHealth.com

Mike Tipton, expert on cold physiology; Mark Wetherell, psychobiologist studying cold-water swimmers; Jo Williams, researcher of animal-assisted interventions; Sören Henrich, forensic psychologist exploring therapeutic role-play. They discuss climbing therapy, Dungeons & Dragons as structured roleplay, animal-assisted interventions, and cold water swimming. Conversations center on presence, social connection, and whether diverse activities share core wellbeing mechanisms.

Most of us remember what it was like to start school. Intimidating new places, being unsure of the schedule, lots of new potential friends — and maybe a few foes. It's a huge moment for kids, and their families, that brings with it a lot of big, complex challenges. In this episode, Jon Sutton chats with Professor Claire Hughes, Deputy Director of the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge, about the hurdles families face when children start school, what it means to be 'school ready', and more. This is Episode 41 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted by Jon Sutton. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Hungry for more? Why not check out this piece on fixing the home-school relationship by Clinical Psychologist Dr Tara Porter. Or get to grips with current research on school avoidance with this recent article from Educational Psychologist Meg Fairclough. Find these and much, much more over at The Psychologist. PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at ZandaHealth.com

The massive variety of human sexual interests is a little mind-boggling. As what we consider to be sexually typical continues to be expanded and shaped by the internet and popular culture, psychologists are making efforts to research kinks and members of the kink community like never before. Join Ella Rhodes in conversation with Liam Wignall (Senior Lecturer at Brighton University and committee member of the BPS's Sexualities Section) about his work exploring community in these underground spaces, links with neurodivergence, and the ways modern technology is transforming the scene — as well as research into it. We also chat with Dr Kate Marks, a Clinical Psychologist who works with those involved in kink communities, about her impressions of the emotions, social consequences, and even therapeutic echoes that run through these subversive engagements. This episode discusses sex, sexuality, and the stigma and struggles that can come alongside it. As such, it may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised. This is Episode 40 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Zanda. Episode Credits: Hosted by Ella Rhodes. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date via our PsychCrunch collection page. Want to learn more? Read more about how sexual scripts are shifting thanks to the changing landscape of gender-based stereotypes online, and the fallout for women, in our interview with Dr Jane Meyrick over at The Psychologist. Or learn about how feeling powerful can lead romantic partners to widen their nets with this Research Digest piece by Emily Reynolds. PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists. With telehealth, easy mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. Find out more at ZandaHealth.com

There's no question that we find ourselves in uncertain times. Looking at current events and wondering about what the future may hold can leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed, to say the least. But uncertain times aren't always the ominous force we make them out to be. In fact, research suggests that they can create unique opportunities for growth and transformation that we wouldn't otherwise encounter. This episode, Ella Rhodes chats with Maggie Jackson — author of Uncertain and expert on uncertainty — unpacking how uncertainty shapes our lives. Together, they explore how embracing the unknown can open doors to unexpected possibilities, and can lead us to greener pastures. This is Episode 39 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. Episode Credits: Hosted by Ella Rhodes. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date via our PsychCrunch collection page. Want to learn more? Read more about how we can embrace uncertainty in therapeutic settings with The wisdom of therapist uncertainty, over at The Psychologist. Or check out Resilience to uncertainty by Eleanore Batteux for a practical exploration of what we can do to become resilient to future uncertainties, explored through the lens of the pandemic. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the BPS Core Textbooks Series. Browse over 5 million articles, and related books. BPS members are entitled to a 25% discount on all books published by Routledge – find your discount code here and visit the dedicated BPS Member page at Routledge here.

In years gone by, the norm for psychological research was to design studies from the outside looking in. Acting as observers of particular populations, there was generally an expected separation between the researcher and the researched. More recently, however, there's been a shift. For decades, the rallying cry "nothing about us without us" has been used by the disability rights movement to communicate the idea that no policy should come to pass without their full and direct participation. This important approach has made its way to psychological research, and as it gathers momentum, we're seeing more and more lived experiences and expert insights from studied populations enrich our scientific landscape. This episode, Emma Palmer-Cooper meets James Cusak (Chief Executive, Autistica) and Dr Amy Pearson to look at the benefit of involving studied populations in research design — specifically, in autism research. This is Episode 38 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. Episode Credits: Hosted by Emma Palmer-Cooper. Audio wizardry by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date via our PsychCrunch collection page. Want to learn more? See the value of consulting with studied communities in this article investigating differences between academic and community research priorities in Scotland. Or take a look at The Psychologist's recent issue on Neurodiversity. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the BPS Core Textbooks Series. Browse over 5 million articles, and related books. BPS members are entitled to a 25% discount on all books published by Routledge – find your discount code here and visit the dedicated BPS Member page at Routledge here.

This is Episode 37 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. [Content warning: This episode centres around cancer. As such, it makes references to medical events and themes that some listeners may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.] In the face of significant medical challenges, we would all hope for compassionate, informative communication from medical professionals and those close to us. Sometimes, though, the reality falls short of that expectation. This episode, Editor of The Psychologist, Dr Jon Sutton, meets Professor Dame Lesley Fallowfield, Director of the Sussex Health Outcomes Research and Education in Cancer (SHORE-C) group at the University of Sussex. Through their conversation, our guest shares personal reflections on her career at the cutting edge of psycho-oncology, improving the experiences of those with cancer by creating new ways to measure difficult things, and forging new paths to help people talk about the disease. Episode Credits: Hosted by Dr Jon Sutton. Mixed and edited by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date via our PsychCrunch collection page. Want to learn more about psycho-oncology? Check out The Psychologist's article on the SHORE-C group's recent film 'They just don't know what to say or do'. Or browse our collection of articles on psychology and cancer, with comment from Dr Mike Rennoldson, Chair of the DCP Faculty for Oncology and Palliative Care. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the BPS Core Textbooks Series. Browse over 5 million articles, and related books. BPS members are entitled to a 25% discount on all books published by Routledge – find your discount code here and visit the dedicated BPS Member page at Routledge here.

This is Episode 36 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology. Why do we dream? And what business does a good dream have turning into a nightmare? In this episode, Ella Rhodes embarks on an exploration of our non-waking life. In it, she speaks with Director of the Swansea University Sleep Laboratory, Professor Mark Blagrove, about his research and latest theories about the origins of dreams. Research Clinical Psychologist Dr Bryony Sheaves of Oxford University also shares her expert insights into why we have nightmares, and the innovative research revealing how treating them can improve our mental health. Episode Credits: Written and hosted by Ella Rhodes. Mixed and edited by Jeff Knowler. Edited by Emma Barratt. Missed previous episodes? Get up to date via our PsychCrunch collection page. Not done dreaming? Check out The Psychologist's most recent interview with Mark Blagrove for much more on the function of dreams. Or explore some of Bryony's latest research on nightmares in this Research Digest piece by Emily Reynolds. PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the BPS Core Textbooks Series. Browse over 5 million articles, and related books. BPS members are entitled to a 25% discount on all books published by Routledge – find your discount code here and visit the dedicated BPS Member page at Routledge here.