What's going on up there?

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

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

A racing heart before a big moment, a knot in the stomach when we’re stressed, or a sudden sense of calm after a deep breath.Why do emotions feel so physical? Emotions are not just experiences in the mind - they are whole-body events.This episode explores the psychology of emotion, focusing on how the brain and body constantly communicate to shape what we feel. From fear and anger to joy and love, emotional experiences emerge from a dynamic feedback loop between the brain and the body.This week, we’re joined by Dr Jo Kandola to examine how the brain interprets signals from the body, why emotions are accompanied by physical sensations, and how this process influences our behaviour and decision-making.Follow for a new episode every Friday!References:Nummenmaa, L., Hari, R., Hietanen, J. K., & Glerean, E. (2018). Maps of subjective feelings. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(37), 9198–9203. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1807390115Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes’ error: Emotion, reason, and the human brain. New York: Putnam.James, W. (1884). What is an emotion? Mind, 9(34), 188–205. https://doi.org/10.1093/mind/os-IX.34.188

When we watch the Olympics and Paralympics on TV, we mostly see the highlight reel: the medals, the tears, the interviews, the national anthem, and the occasional inspirational backstory. And that’s natural – we’re spectators. We focus on performance.But the games aren’t really just a two-week sporting event. For the athletes, it’s better understood as a multi-year psychological transition – and it comes with a real emotional price tag.In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE to unpack the psychological journey of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. We explore how elite performance shapes identity, the emotional instability of the games themselves, and why the most intense moments often occur far from the podium. References:Roy David Samuel, Itay Basevitch, The Olympic Games transition: a narrative review and a conceptual model, Performance Enhancement & Health, Volume 13, Issue 4, October 2025 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211266925000660David Awosoga, Matthew Chow, Peaks and primes: Do athletes get one shot at glory?, Significance, Volume 21, Issue 3, July 2024, Pages 6-9, https://doi.org/10.1093/jrssig/qmae038Starting and Specialisation Ages of Elite Athletes across Olympic Sports: An International Cross-sectional Study. (2023). European Journal of Sport Sciences, 2(5), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejsport.2023.2.5.100