What's going on up there?

Do you really know when you're being lied to? Most of us believe we do, but research suggests we're far worse at detecting deception than we'd like to think. This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Stuart Duff to explore the fascinating psychology of lying. Together they examine what we mean by lying, the line between a white lie and calculated manipulation, and what personality can reveal about how, and why, people deceive. Drawing on the latest behavioural science, they also challenge the biggest myths around lie detection and uncover what research actually says about spotting a liar. ReferencesCantarero, K., Van Tilburg, W., Szarota, P. (2018) Differentiating everyday lies: A typology of lies based on beneficiary and motivation. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences Volume 134, November 2018Dr Julia Shaw How to actually catch a liar, according to the new science of lie detection. BBC Science Focus. December, 2025Luke, T. et al. (2025) What have we learned about cues to deception? A survey of expert opinions. Psychology, Crime and Law. Vol. 31, 2025

We've never had more ways to entertain ourselves. So why are so many of us more bored than ever? This week, Grace sits down with Chartered Psychologist Dr Jo Kandola to explore the paradox of modern boredom: how the very devices designed to keep us entertained are rewiring our brains to crave constant stimulation and are ultimately making the problem worse. From the way social media is fuelling a boredom epidemic, to the point at which scrolling stops being a distraction and starts becoming an addiction, to the impact of boredom on our mental health and wellbeing, this conversation might just change the way you think about reaching for your phone. References:Dora, J., van Hooff, M., Geurts, S., Kompier, M., & Bijleveld, E. (2020). Fatigue, boredom, and objectively-measured smartphone use at work (preprint). Radboud University. Date taken from manuscript (May 1, 2020).Tam, K. Y. Y., & Inzlicht, M. (2024). People are increasingly bored in our digital age. Communications Psychology, 2, 106.Tam, K. Y. Y., & Inzlicht, M. (2024). Fast-forward to boredom: How switching behavior on digital media makes people more bored. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

Behind the glitz and glamour of Eurovision lies one question – how fair is the voting?This week, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE ahead of this year's event to explore the science behind the scores. Together, they unpack what the data reveals about recurring voting patterns, how ‘framing effects’ shape the way we judge performances, and what Eurovision ultimately tells us about the way people think, feel, and connect across countries.Whether you're a lifelong Eurovision fan or a first-time viewer, this episode will change the way you watch the scoreboard.References:Ginsburgh, V. and Moreno-Ternero, J.D. 2023. The Eurovision Song Contest: voting rules, biases and rationality. Journal of cultural economics. 47(2), pp.247–277.Mantzaris, A.V., Rein, S.R. and Hopkins, A.D., 2017. Examining collusion and voting biases between countries during the Eurovision Song Contest since 1957. arXiv preprint arXiv:1705.06721.

“I can't remember where I heard this, but…” We've all said it, and it seems harmless, but losing that context is precisely how unreliable information becomes believable. The sleeper effect is a common psychological phenomenon: over time, we retain the message but lose the memory of where it came from. Without the context, our brains accept it as fact, regardless of the source's credibility. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to unpack why this happens and what we can do about it. Together, they explore how we assess the credibility of information, why source memory matters more today than ever before, and practical ways to counteract this mental shortcut. In a world where we're inundated with information from hundreds of channels, this episode gives you the tools to think more critically and share more responsibly.  References:Kumkale, G. T., & Albarracín, D. (2004). The Sleeper Effect in Persuasion: A Meta-Analytic Review. Psychological Bulletin, 130(1), 143–172.

Empathy is one of the most powerful leadership skills available to us, yet it's consistently underestimated.It's dismissed as a "soft skill" or a nice-to-have, rather than the performance driver decades of research show it to be.This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to explore why empathy is a genuine leadership essential.Together, they examine the three core elements of empathy and unpack what the research actually shows – from how empathetic leaders deliver feedback, to its measurable impact on physical and mental wellbeing, and the critical role it plays in team performance during uncertain times.References:Muss, C., Tüxen, D. and Fürstenau, B. (2026) 'Empathy in leadership: a systematic literature review on the effects of empathetic leaders in organizations', Management Review Quarterly, 76, pp. 333–369.

When we talk about power, we often focus on who has it. But the more important question is: what does it do to us? While the Epstein files continue to dominate headlines, most coverage focuses on allegations and those implicated. We're taking a different approach, examining the role power played and how possessing it changed people in ways that made this kind of behaviour possible. Grace is joined by Stuart Duff, Chartered Psychologist, Partner and Head of Leadership at Pearn Kandola, to examine the psychology of power - how it is defined, how it influences behaviour, and how it can distort moral judgement if it is not understood. References:Cuddy, A. (2017) Presence: Bringing your boldest self to your biggest challenges. London: Orion.Deng et al. (2018) When does power trigger approach motivation? Threats and the role of perceived control in the power domain. Social and Personality Compass, 12(5), e12390Fiske, S.T. (1993) ‘Controlling other people: The impact of power of stereotyping.’ American Psychologist, 48, 621-28.Guinote, A. (2017) ‘How power affects people: Activating, wanting and goal-seeking’. Annul Review of Psychology, 68(1), 353-81.Scholl, A. and Sassenberg, K. (2015) ‘Better know when (not) to think twice: How social power impacts pre-factual thought.’ Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41(2), 159-70.