What's going on up there?

From the thrill of a new car to the life-changing prospect of a lottery win, we often assume we know exactly how future events will make us feel. But are we as good at predicting our emotions as we think?This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to explore the psychology of affective forecasting — our ability to predict how we’ll feel in the future.Together, they unpack what the research reveals about how we anticipate the impact of major life events, why we can overestimate how long feelings will last, and how our often-overlooked resilience shapes our emotional experiences.James also shares practical advice for using these insights to make more informed choices and improve day-to-day wellbeing.References:Albrecht, G. L., & Devlieger, P. J. (1999). The disability paradox: High quality of life against all odds. Social Science & Medicine, 48(8), 977–988. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00411-0Brickman, P., Coates, D., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1978). Lottery winners and accident victims: Is happiness relative? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36(8), 917–927. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.36.8.917Wilson, T. D., & Gilbert, D. T. (2003). Affective forecasting. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 35, 345–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(03)01006-2

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”.The people around us can influence the information we receive, the opportunities we hear about and whether we feel safe enough to speak up.In this bonus Psychological Safety Week episode, Grace and Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston explore social capital: the value held in our relationships, networks and connections.From the “old boys’ network” to everyday introductions, they examine how connections can open doors, build trust and support psychological safety at work.Louise also shares practical ways we can broaden our networks and use our own influence to build more inclusive, connected and psychologically safe workplaces.Find out more about Psychological Safety Week: https://www.psychologicalsafetyweek.com

AI is changing how we work. So why are people afraid to admit they're using it? In this Psychological Safety Week bonus episode, Grace is joined by Managing Psychologist Janet Tarasofsky to explore the anxiety, uncertainty, and silence surrounding AI at work. They examine the research behind shadow AI, social evaluative threat and technostress, and what it reveals about Talent Hushing. From job security and imposter syndrome to the pressure to keep pace, this episode unpacks why AI use has become a psychological safety issue in the workplace. Find out more about Psychological Safety Week: https://www.psychologicalsafetyweek.comReferences:Microsoft UK (2025). Rise in ‘Shadow AI’ tools raising security concerns for UK organisations. Microsoft UK Stories, 13 October 2025.Sawhney, G., McCord, M.A., Cunningham, A., Cook, P., Adjei, K. & Flinn, T. (2026). ‘A meta-analytic review of 60 years of role stressor research’. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 167, 104234. DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2026.104234.Dickerson, S.S. & Kemeny, M.E. (2004). ‘Acute stressors and cortisol responses: A theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research’. Psychological Bulletin, 130(3), 355–391. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.130.3.355.Liu, M., Li, Y. & Li, J. (2026). ‘The impact of generative AI use on employees’ psychological distress: A moderated mediation model’. Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1798423. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1798423.Högemann, M., Hein, L., Britsche, J-O. & Thomas, O. (2025). ‘Technostress and generative AI in the workplace: A qualitative analysis of young professionals’. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 8, 1728881. DOI: 10.3389/frai.2025.1728881.Mizrak, F. & Karakaya, T. (2026). ‘Why Hide AI Use? Psychological Configurations and Explainable Machine Learning Evidence from Marketing Work’. Behavioral Sciences, 16(6), 994. DOI: 10.3390/bs16060994.Kandola, B. (2025) Building a psychologically safe work environment. Routledge.Morrison, E.W. (2023). ‘Employee Voice and Silence: Taking Stock a Decade Later’. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 10, 79–107. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-054654.

In this Psychological Safety Week bonus episode, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE to explore the findings from our 2026 research into talent hushing: the ways organisations fail to hear, value and make full use of people’s ideas and capabilities.Drawing on a nationally representative survey of over 2,000 people, they examine who feels heard at work, whose ideas are taken seriously, and how negative experiences can lead people to hold back in future. The conversation explores important differences across gender, sexual orientation, disability and ethnicity, and why focusing only on visible differences can obscure the bigger problem.They close with three practical principles to help unlock the talent in your organisation.Find out more about Psychological Safety Week: https://www.psychologicalsafetyweek.com

AI can write an article, solve a problem, or plan our holiday in seconds. But as we rely on it more, are we becoming lazy thinkers? In this week’s episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Dr Jo Kandola to explore what the research tells us about AI and cognition. Together, they unpack the psychology of cognitive offloading, why our brains love shortcuts, and what happens when AI boosts our performance without improving our capability. They also discuss what AI could mean for creativity, judgement and critical thinking, and how we can use it to support our thinking rather than replace it. References:Fiske, S. T., & Taylor, S. E. (1991). Social Cognition (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill.Georgiou, G. P. (2025). ChatGPT produces more “lazy” thinkers: Evidence of cognitive engagement decline.Ghasemi, H. (2025). The dual impact of artificial intelligence on human cognition: Balancing benefits and risks.Hailegebriel Girma, A. (2025). The role of artificial intelligence in shaping human interaction and cognitive function. KUE Journal of Education, 3(1), 69–88.Rao, Sohail. (2025). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Tools on Human Cognitive Abilities: A Comprehensive Review. Shanmugasundaram, M., & Tamilarasu, A. (2023). The impact of digital technology, social media, and artificial intelligence on cognitive functions: A review. Frontiers in Cognition, 2, 1203077.

Shame is one of our most powerful emotions yet one of the least talked about, particularly at work.In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to explore the psychology of shame, including why feedback can sometimes feel like a judgment of who we are, rather than something we have done. They unpack the difference between guilt and shame, how shame can trigger defensiveness or withdrawal, and why it can get in the way of learning.They also share practical ways to spot shame, separate behaviour from identity, and respond to difficult feedback with greater self-compassion.References:Leach, C. W., & Cidam, A. (2015). When is shame linked to constructive approach orientation? A meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109(6), 983–1002. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000037Mróz, Justyna & Sornat, Wojciech. (2022). Shame- and guilt-proneness and self-compassion as predictors of self-forgiveness. Journal of Beliefs & Values. 44. 188-202. 10.1080/13617672.2022.2076455.Tangney JP, Stuewig J, Mashek DJ. Moral emotions and moral behavior. Annu Rev Psychol. 2007;58:345-72. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070145. PMID: 16953797; PMCID: PMC3083636.