What's going on up there?

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.

Think sleep is just downtime? Think again. It's actually when your brain does some of its most critical work. This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Dr Jo Kandola to explore the science behind what happens to your brain when you don't get enough sleep. Jo draws on extensive research to dispel common sleep myths and reveal the ways poor sleep affects how we think, feel, and function – from clouded decision-making and heightened irritability to its surprising impact on collective creativity. She also shares evidence-based tips to improve your sleep, starting tonight! If you often talk yourself into late nights thinking you'll be fine in the morning, this episode might change your mind. References:Killgore, W. D. S. (2010). Effects of sleep deprivation on cognition. Progress in Brain Research, 185, 105–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53702-7.00007-5Harrison, Y., & Horne, J. A. (1999). One night of sleep loss impairs innovative thinking and flexible decision making. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 78(2), 128–145. https://doi.org/10.1006/obhd.1999.2827Banderet, L. E., Stokes, J. W., Francesconi, R., Kowal, D. M., & Naitoh, P. (1981). Artillery teams in simulated sustained combat: Performance and other measures. Proceedings of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors Society, 28–32.Harrison, Y., & Horne, J. A. (2000). The impact of sleep deprivation on decision making: A review. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 6(3), 236–249. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-898X.6.3.23Li, J., Barnes, C. M., Yam, K. C., & Lian, H. (2019). Leader sleep deprivation and team creativity: The role of leader self-regulation and processing of creative ideas. Journal of Applied Psychology, 104(9), 1058–1073. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000397Venkatraman, V., Huettel, S. A., Chuah, L. Y. M., Payne, J. W., & Chee, M. W. L. (2011). Sleep deprivation biases the neural mechanisms underlying economic preferences. Journal of Neuroscience, 31(10), 3712–3718.Wild, C. J., Nichols, E. S., Battista, M. E., Stojanoski, B., & Owen, A. M. (2018). Dissociable effects of self-reported daily sleep duration on high-level cognitive abilities. Sleep, 41(12). https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsy182

What happens when the most influential voice in the room isn't human? Influence has always been built on credibility. We trust experts for their credentials. We follow leaders for their judgment. But AI is reshaping that dynamic - changing not just how we find information, but how we decide what, and who, to believe. In this episode, Grace is joined by James Meachin, Chartered Psychologist and Partner at Pearn Kandola, to unpack the psychology of AI and influence. Together, they explore how we evaluate sources of information, why AI complicates that process, and the growing tension between AI output and human expertise. They also get practical, examining the mental shortcuts we all rely on, how AI exploits them without even trying, and what we can do to stay critically aware in an age of increasingly convincing artificial intelligence.References:Cialdini, R. B. (2021). Influence, new and expanded: The psychology of persuasion. Harper Business

Do we talk too much? New research suggests we may be communicating less effectively than we think - and it comes down to how much we talk. In this episode of What's going on up there?, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE to look at a new Scandinavian research idea called Cyclic Verbal Load Modulation. Or, more simply, Interval Talking. Could the number of words we speak each day affect fatigue? They discuss the evolution of language and how it has shaped the way we communicate today, before diving into the research into CVLM and what the research tells us about its benefits. Binna also shares practical steps you can take to increase efficiency in your own communication.References:The study appears in Applied Psychological Research in Language (APRIL) and was conducted by the Franz Olaf Olsen Laboratory (FOOL) in Oslo.

Most of us believe our personality, habits, and emotional responses are fixed. It's just who we are. But your brain isn't the rigid structure you might think. It's constantly changing – rewiring itself based on the thoughts and habits you repeat every single day.This week, Grace sits down with Louise Weston, Chartered Psychologist and Partner at Pearn Kandola, to unpack one of the most exciting and empowering areas of modern psychology – neuroplasticity.Together, they break down what neuroplasticity means, how it works, and – most importantly – how you can use it. If you’ve ever felt stuck in certain behaviours or ways of thinking, this episode will give you a new perspective on how to move forward.

In today’s turbulent political climate, trust in leadership is under intense scrutiny. Expectations are high, scepticism is widespread, and the margin for error is small.In this episode, we’re joined by Stuart Duff, Partner and Head of Leadership at Pearn Kandola, to unpack the critical role of trust in effective leadership. We explore the psychology behind different types of trust, how these are built, and the key qualities people seek in leaders they can rely on.Through this lens, we examine Keir Starmer’s recent political challenges and consider how his ability to foster trust within his party may be integral to navigating these uncertain times.Follow for a new episode every Friday!References:Conlin, M. (2009), ‘The ideal virtual worker?’, Business Week, 27 July.Pearn Kandola (2006). The Psychology of Effective Business Communications in Geographically Dispersed Teams.Washington, Michel G. (2013), "Trust and Project Performance: The Effects of Cognitive-Based and Affective-Based Trust on Client-Project Manager Engagements". Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics Theses. 67. http://repository.upenn.edu/od_theses_msod/67