Podcasts about dougal sutherland

One of the most robust findings in psychology is that people often form genuine intentions but fail to translate them into action – it's called the intention–behaviour gap. Someone may sincerely think, “Yes, I'd like that furniture and I'll pick it up,” but when the time comes, competing demands, forgetfulness, inconvenience, or loss of motivation prevent follow-through. People frequently overestimate what their future selves will be willing or able to do. At the moment of expressing interest, the furniture may have seemed useful and easy to collect. Later, when the pickup time approached, the immediate costs (travel, arranging transport, giving up free time) became more important than the future benefit of owning the item. In this case the person may genuinely have wanted the item when they contacted you but later discovered that collecting it required more effort than anticipated. They may also have been less committed to picking up the item simply because it was free, so they had very little investment in following-through. The “stopped replying” part is interesting because it suggests more than simple forgetfulness. Research on ghosting describes it as a strategy in which someone “ends an interaction by ceasing communication rather than explicitly communicating a change of plans”. Studies have found that ghosting is often associated with avoiding uncomfortable conversations, avoiding conflict, or avoiding feelings of guilt associated with disappointing another person. It's more common amongst those who are particularly uncomfortable with confrontation – it's a kind of path of least resistance and arguably something that is something of a Kiwi trait linked with us generally not being good at handling disagreement. The irony is that the ghoster often chooses silence to avoid discomfort, even though it may create greater inconvenience and uncertainty for the other person. One interesting implication from psychology research is that this kind of behaviour often says less about the value of the item itself and more about how people manage intentions, commitment, and social discomfort when circumstances change. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever considered why we tell our kids to 'be themselves' when sticking out from the crowd can make you the subject of bullying? Umbrella Wellbeing CEO and psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Tim Beveridge to chat about the balances of supporting our children and allowing them to stand on their own. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are lots of things we know are good for our wellbeing, like eating properly, getting enough sleep, and doing exercise. But many of these are, let's face it, pretty boring some of the time and we might not feel very motivated to do them. But what if doing things for your wellbeing was actually fun? New research has looked at the impact listening to live music can have on us. Music itself has some very positive aspects to it such as changing our mood and helping us feel connections with other people who like the same music or whom we're playing music with. It seems going to a live music gig can have an even deeper impact on us via a phenomenon called “collective effervescence”. Collective effervescence is defined as having a strong sense of connection to other people present, feelings of elation, and that something special or even sacred is occurring – by its very definition it's only something you can get when you are experiencing something jointly with other people. You can get this with non-music events too – for example going to a wedding or for some people, attending a religious service. Collective effervescence seems to help reduce loneliness and improve people's mood – basically you feel better and more connected with other people. New research found people rated group events involving live music as more emotionally intense and unifying than group events that didn't involve music, and that the stronger a sense of emotional connection with others the more enjoyable people found the gig. This shared emotional high was linked not only to greater enjoyment and meaning during the event, but also to significantly greater happiness up to a week later. Need to be cautious about the results as it involved people looking back on what they remember happening, but it does seem that the appeal of gigs may lie in more than just performance alone. I've had lots of experiences of this myself but the best example I can remember of this is when our daughter went to the Taylor Swift concert in Sydney a couple of years ago – we went out to the stadium with her and the sense of a collective buzz amongst people on the train going out there and even just milling around was almost palpable. TayTay won't be everyone's cup of tea, but whatever your taste in music is why not get out there and seem some live music and enhance your own wellbeing in a way that's fun and enjoyable, especially as it's just coming to the end of New Zealand Music month! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 30 May 2026, Joel Little is in studio to launch 'BIG FAN', his move to support the next generation of musicians and live music gig culture. Jack has thoughts on the tattoo trend losing momentum. Dr Dougal Sutherland unpacks the research that suggests attending live music events is good for your wellbeing. Ruud Kleinpaste has tips to help your local garden bird population. And our music critic Chris Schulz reviews Sir Paul McCartney's brand-new album, ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane'. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often think of influencers as being media celebrities, politicians, or people in the media, and that mental health care needs to be done by psychologists and counsellors. But new research suggests that people in your community who you have regular ongoing trusted and personal relationships with could also play a big role. Recent research looking at how hairdressers could influence people's views and actions around climate change found that hairdressers were often already talking with clients about climate change and how to influence this. By introducing a few simple prompts —e.g. stickers on the mirrors, hairdressers commenting on their own initiatives to reduce water and recycle— conversations on the topic increased and clients reported they were more likely to take similar actions, both about their haircare and other things at home such as energy use. This research built on earlier studies which had looked at the effect barbers could have on the mental health of their clients, particularly for groups who typically don't engage well with traditional mental health services (e.g. young men). With some training, barbers were able to monitor their client's mental health, provide emotional support, and give some basic advice about where to go for help. In both these areas there were some key things that are thought to help: Hairdressers and barbers often have regular ongoing relationships with clients, allowing them to regularly check-in with them. There is often a warm and trusting relationship between the barber and their clients – we know from other psychology research that this type of relationship is central to any type of therapy going well. Hairdressers and barbers are often seen by the public as cool and influential. They have some status within their communities where people look up to them – particularly true for barbers in places like Black communities in the USA. However, we do need to be careful, particularly in looking after barbers who might be providing mental health support. We want to make sure they are well equipped and have their own support, so they don't feel unduly burdened by caring for people's mental health problems as well as their hair. Innovative solutions like these might really help in nudging people towards making changes in their lives, either around climate change or mental health, and could be an efficient way to roll out widescale changes in health and wellbeing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 2 May 2026, Ted Dwane and Ben Lovett from Mumford & Sons joined for a chat ahead of tonight's show at Spark Arena – part of their Prizefighter tour. Jack is in awe of marathon runner Yomif Kejelcha. It's pie season and Chef Nici Wickes has an autumnal triumph – beef, black pepper, mushroom, and red wine. Dougal Sutherland uncovers some alarming new research into how much less we're speaking. Francesca Rudkin reviews the highly anticipated The Devil Wears Prada 2. Plus, American blues/rock duo The Black Keys have released their 14th studio album, Peaches! Music reviewer Chris Schulz joins Jack to share his favourite tunes. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we losing our words? Some new psychology research suggests that we are gradually speaking fewer words each year. Psychologists looked at data from over 2000 people between 2005-2019 that sampled sounds and speech from people's everyday lives. Researchers found that, over time, people are talking less and less. By 2019 on average, people spoke about 12,800 words per day – this was down from an estimated 16,000 words per day in 2007. On average this is a drop of about 300 words per year. Between 2005 and 2019, this represents a 28% drop in daily spoken words At first glance, losing 300 words a day doesn't sound like much. But across years and decades, it reflects many conversations that simply aren't happening anymore. Why this happening? The timing overlaps with the rise of texting, social media, emails, etc – we can't establish a direct cause but looking at younger and older participants: People under 25 lost about 450 words per year People over 25 lost about 310 words per year Younger people lost around 44% more words per year than older adults This suggests technology may play some role, but it does not explain everything. The decline affected everyone, pointing to broader social changes such as: Fewer casual public interactions Different work patterns Less shared physical space More solitary or screen‑based time Why does this matter? Spoken conversation is not just information exchange. It plays a key role in things like social connection and wellbeing. Speaking less means connecting less, which may link to the wider issues of loneliness, social isolation, etc. The good news: 300 words a day is not hard to regain. Practical Implication: Small conversations matter more than we think. An extra 300 words could be: A short hallway chat A few minutes checking in with a colleague Asking a neighbour how they're going A longer, more thoughtful answer to “How was your day?” These everyday moments add up. If loneliness and disconnection are growing problems, the solution may start with something surprisingly modest: speak a little more—on purpose. One extra conversation a day could help slow the slide into silence, for individuals and for society as a whole. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disgust is a basic human emotion, probably designed to keep us safe and well as it makes us avoid icky things. Yet as a parent of a baby we are constantly exposed to disgusting things – known officially as “effluvia” (think anything that flows out of a baby). It would make sense that constant exposure to baby ones, twos, and vomit would have some impact on our sense of disgust, otherwise we probably wouldn't ever get near them! New research compared parents to non-parents and showed them images of disgusting images. It found that non-parents looked away from these much more quickly than parents. This suggests that parents get inoculated against disgust, as looking away quickly is a sign of being grossed out. But the impact on parents only occurred after babies had started to wean. Also, parents who had older kids and who also had a newborn milk-fed only baby showed the same disgust response as non-parents. So what might be going on? It may be that parents' sense of disgust is present with newborn babies in order to help keep them safe – newborns are obviously particularly sensitive to infection and so it makes sense that their parents might stay highly attuned to disgusting things that might harm their babies. Then as babies grow into toddlers, their “outputs” change to being more adult-like (think of the difference between a milk-fed baby nappy and the nappy of a baby who has started solids) parents disgust gets blunted, probably through repeatedly being in contact with these outputs. But, it seems that the inoculation against disgust is only a time limited thing as it re-emerges for parents as their kids grow up – this would make sense if we think of disgust as a core emotional response that is designed to keep us away from stuff that might make us sick. I'm sure this reflects many parents' experience of getting used to dirty nappies and cleaning up after a child's been sick and maybe why it's a bit more difficult to get back into it as a grandparent (speaking from experience). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 18 April 2026, one of New Zealand's sharpest comedic minds, Tim Batt, joined Jack to chat about his major podcast success and return to the festival circuit. Jack reaches a Duolingo milestone. Chef Nici Wickes was in studio with a delicious dark chocolate and feijoa recipe. Francesca Rudkin reviews the latest instalment in 'The Mummy' franchise. Plus, Dougal Sutherland considers the impact of being a parent on your sense of disgust. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's school holidays, and boredom is setting in... While it can send parents into a bit of a spiral hearing their children complain about how bored they are all day long - being bored is one of those skills we all need to learn at some point. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we approach the Easter break —a time typically filled with texts, chocolate, memes, and quick check-ins— new research from 2degrees suggests Kiwis may be craving something more meaningful. The study reveals a modern contradiction: Kiwis have more ways to stay in touch than ever, but two thirds say meaningful conversations are harder to come by. While texting and social media have become the default, a phone call still has the greatest emotional impact - 77% say they feel meaningfully better after speaking to someone close to them, yet only 15% regularly pick up the phone. Always on, rarely connected: 67% of Kiwis say meaningful conversations are harder to come by despite having more ways to stay in touch than ever Nearly one in three (32%) are making fewer calls than five years ago 23% of Kiwis can't recall a single phone number apart from their own How Kiwis use their phones to communicate: 68% say text-based messaging is their primary way of keeping in touch vs just 15% who default to a phone call When asked where their thumb instinctively reaches in a spare moment, 45% said social media vs just 5% who make a call, meaning Kiwis are nine times more likely to scroll than call. Top reasons Kiwis don't call more: Messaging feels easier (31%) Not wanting to interrupt (27%) Feeling too busy for a proper conversation (20%) Or a phone call feeling too awkward or unexpected (19%) The case for calling: 77% feel better after a phone call with a loved one 59% say there is someone in their life they wish they called someone more often LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are struggling with their health and wellbeing in the workplace. Umbrella Wellbeing has released its annual report into the state of workplace health and wellbeing, which surveyed over 11,000 people across 33 workplaces over the last two years. It found: More than half the workplaces surveyed struggle to support staff wellbeing and mental health About 25% of workers were experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress – the main things affecting this were a mixture of personal and work factors including: Not getting enough sleep Their workplace not prioritising mental wellbeing Not getting enough leisure time Poor diet Bullying or harassment at work 12% of people's productivity at work was explained by a mix of personal and work factors including Not getting enough physical activity during the day High workload Not being clear about their role at work Poor sleep Overall, this shows a picture of how people's personal health and features of the work environment combine together to impact people's wellbeing and their job performance. A couple of examples from the past few years that highlight this relationship: A tragic case from 2016 investigated a tractor driver who had an accident while driving in the early hours of the morning, leading to his death. It was revealed that fatigue was the key contributing factor in this case, given that he had worked almost 200 hours in the fortnight before his death, including a 17-hour workday the day that he died. In Australia, a police officer suffered from PTSD after witnessing some traumatic incidents. The stress associated with this led to an increase in stomach acid secretion which led to development of a gastrointestinal disease and later the development of cancer. Sadly, some of the policeman's coping personal coping strategies including drinking and smoking made the situation worse. So what can be done? It's a partnership between individuals and their workplaces. Things like sleep and diet are largely in the control of individuals, but given these things impact on people's productivity at work, workplaces might want to consider how they could support people in these areas, e.g., making sure healthy food is available rather than lots of junk food, supporting people to get their sleep patterns checked for things like sleep apnoea. Workplaces are directly responsible for some of the other factors like workload and bullying in the workplace, so they need to address these to both protect the health and wellbeing of their people and make sure they are getting maximum productivity from their workforce. In the past many workplaces have split off workplace and personal health risks, treating them as separate. Our results and the couple of examples I've given show how important it is to think about how these two factors combine together and the need to look at workplace health from a holistic point of view. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a SuperAger and how do you become one? A SuperAger is someone over 80 with an excellent memory, particularly for everyday events and personal history. What we know about them: They produce twice as many young brain cells as people in their 30s and 40s New brain cells are more adaptable or plastic and can help rewire and repair the brain when needed Genetics do play a part, but so do lifestyle factors like a good diet, lowering your stress, and having good sleep patterns There are also some psychological tools you can adopt that help develop SuperAging: Developing an optimistic view of the world and people around you – if we break this down, optimistic people have the following pattern: When something bad happens, they are less likely to blame themselves and see the problem as temporary When something good happens, they are more likely to take credit for it, feel that it's partly in their control, and that good things are likely to continue It's not about pretending stress or bad things don't happen It is something you can train yourself to do – easy practical way of doing this is taking 15-20mins a week and think of your “Best Possible Self” in the future when you have achieved all your life goals and resolved all your problems. Be very specific about what this would look like and make sure to include how that would feel for you. Another way is “grace for atheists” where you spend time before the start of your evening meal deliberately bringing to mind and being thankful for several things that have occurred that day. Some days will be easier than others, but over time you can help train your brain to pay attention to these positive things. Your brain doesn't need any practice looking for negative things – it does this automatically! Regularly practising the Best Possible Self and grace for atheists exercises can help develop an optimistic mind-set, and increase your chances of being a SuperAger. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early childhood education is darn expensive. You want your kids to socialise, make friends, learn some basics - but it costs an arm and a leg. So how long can you put it off? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hot on the heels of Valentines Day, Dr Dougal Sutherland becomes Dr Love. He joined Jack Tame to discuss some research about dating, both online and in person, and offer up some advice. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 21 February 2026, Moana Maniapoto of Moana and the Tribe joins Jack to discuss bringing musicians from around the world together for a special International Women's Day performance. Jack reflects on that photo of former Prince Andrew. Francesca Rudkin shares an adventurous documentary. And Dougal Sutherland is Dr Love for the day, with advice for online dating. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 7 February 2026, Kiwi dream-pop quartet Yumi Zouma joined Jack to discuss a decade together and their creative shift for album No. 5, No Love Lost to Kindness. Jack finds the Epstein files illuminating. Two contrasting musical events took place at opposing ends of the North Island this week and music reviewer Chris Schulz went to both. Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland reveals the happiest jobs in New Zealand. Plus Nici Wickes is not letting us overlook the classics with a deliciously moist Blueberry Muffin recipe. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the happiest job in New Zealand? Research undertaken in 2025 looked at how people across different jobs and sectors rated their wellbeing. They targeted people who were “mid-career” – around 40 years old. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to delve into the findings and see what factors make for the happiest careers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schools have started back up and we all, obviously, want our children to do well. Parents will be doing drop off and pick up, making sure the homework is done and forms are signed, keeping an eye on grades and reports. But how involved should parents really be in their children's education? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turns out that not only is swearing good for pain, but it may also increase performance. In many situations where physical effort or performance is required, people often hold themselves back, and holding back emotionally can lead to underperforming physically as well. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss the growing evidence that “letting it all hang out”, aka shouting, grunting, and even swearing, can benefit your performance. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whilst many of us are decking the halls and merrily celebrating, spare a thought for those who suffer from Christougenniatikophobia. Literally translated from Greek means Christ-related-birth-fear i.e., a phobia of Christmas. Is it a real phobia? Not really. Dougal Sutherland of Umbrella Wellbeing talked to Jack Tame about the discomfort and anxiety that surrounds Christmas for some people. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we hurtle into the so called silly season at break neck speed some of you may feel the wheels are about to fall off. On the family front there can be pressure to deliver the perfect day, cook a chef grade ham, get along with your least favourite uncle and balance the household budget. Add to that the current debate about whether the summer break is too long; with claims New Zealand effectively shuts down for the summer and beyond, giving the impression the country is closed for business. Principal Psychologist at Umbrella Wellbeing, Dougal Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen with some advice.

Why do we remember the “good old days” as being so good? In past weeks we've touched on events that are blasts from the past, or the good old days. Most people have fond memories of these good old days. Politicians refer to this too to pull on our heartstrings (and votes) e.g., “Make America Great Again” – the inference being that we can make it good like the past. So why do the good old days feel so good for most of us? Some of this is due to what psychologists call “the reminiscence bump”. It refers to our teenage and early adult years of life when we tend to have stronger memories about our lives and major events in life. You can almost date people's ages by the time of their reminiscence bump – e.g., my teen and young adult years were in the late 80s, early 90s, so my favourite bands are from then (the Smiths), my favourite football team (Liverpool), favourite movie (Goodfellas), or TV shows (Seinfeld). Reminiscence bump breaks the general rule of autobiographical memory, which is that we typically have better memory for recent events compared to events that were longer ago. Contrasts with “childhood amnesia” which refers to the fact that we have few memories of our very early years of life. Why do we have this bump? One theory is that it's related to the function of autobiographical memory (memory about ourselves and our own lives). This type of memory isn't meant to be a video recording of our life that we simply tap back into and replay, it's more about helping shape our view of who we are as individuals – our sense of self. In our teens and early adulthood we often are experiencing a number of first-time experiences – our first love, our first concert, going to Uni, or starting a first job. These experiences are new and unique and therefore often stand out in our memory. We might also talk about them more with others at the time, which helps us cement them into our memory more as we repeatedly bring them to mind and go over them. These first-time experiences help shape our view of who we are, what type of person I am – am I an Oasis fan or a Blur fan? Do I remember when Princess Di died? Do I love or loath the Royal Family? It also tends us to give a rosy view of the past because many of our memories from the bump are about new and exciting things. Be aware that ads and politicians will try to appeal to this. And remember that someone else's good old days might be different to yours, but you both think of them as “good”. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 22 November 2025, iconic history presenter Sir Tony Robinson discusses his first foray into historical fiction for an older audience, ‘The House of Wolf'. Jack sings the praises of Dimitris as the Christchurch institution celebrates 40 years of souvlaki in The Garden City. Francesca Rudkin reviews the Wicked sequel, Dougal Sutherland discusses a new study showing how mobile phone activity can predict mood and Chris Schulz hails the return of the nostalgia acts. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're constantly looking for ways to spot early signs of problems such as depression or bipolar disorder, based on the idea that the earlier we can spot signs the earlier we can intervene. Traditionally in psychology this has relied on asking people to monitor themselves and report back. Lots of problems inherent in this e.g., lack of motivation, lack of awareness, not knowing what to look for, self-fulfilling prophecies, etc. Psychology research is often hampered by lack of more objective ways of collecting information that don't rely so much on self-report of individuals. New methods are emerging which look at how someone's pattern of typing on a smartphone keyboard might predict early onset of depression. Firstly – rest assured this isn't some new and frightening emergence of big-brother watching your keystrokes! For this research people had to download a specific keyboard to use with their phone that feeds back results to researchers about their typing patterns, it didn't capture the content of what they were writing. This is referred to as passive-sensing as doesn't require any extra effort from people, just for them to keep using their phone as usual. A number of interesting findings about depression: When depressed, people have lower accuracy in spelling and more variability in typing speed – possibly reflects slow-down in their thinking. They also tend to have more times using their phone than when not depressed – might indicate loneliness and social withdrawal. When people are depressed, they have much higher rates of using the backspace key than when not depressed – suggests they're making more errors which could be due to slowing down of thinking or lots of ruminating about life and going round and round in their heads. For people with bipolar disorder, they're more likely to have high rates of backspace use when also having increased levels of activity and decreased levels of sleep – both of which are warning signs of a possible manic episode. Other interesting research using technology: Smartphone apps monitoring daily patterns of behaviour reduced reoccurrence of periods of depression. This was done by tracking when people slowed down in their levels of daily activity and had less periods of being outside in daylight. The app would alert them to this change, and suggesting that if the pattern continued, they could get depressed again – this led people to get more outside activity. Some interesting possible implications: Could be really helpful in noticing early warning signs of things like depression in a really unobtrusive way. Imagine linking this data in with AI who could send you info about early warning signs and what to do about them, plus link you in with a psychologist if needed. Potentially gives people the ability to monitor themselves and make small changes in their behaviour to prevent getting depressed and without having to see a psychologist. Nice to have some good news about potential benefits of technology and given we usually focus on how these things can suck us down into the dark underbelly of the internet! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 8 November 2025, an author who is very familiar with bestseller lists, Michael Connelly joins Jack to discuss being an unofficial voice for Los Angeles, and how the devastating fires changed his perspective on the city and prompted him to start over for his new book ‘The Proving Ground'. Jack considers what makes a good meal, and how much a Michelin Star means. Strawberries are here and Nici Wickes shares her favourite way to serve them while the season is still early. Kevin Milne champions a humble tool: the clothes peg. Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland delves into a condition in which people are unable to see mental images. And music correspondent Chris Schulz is vibe checking live from Sydney as Oasis get ready to perform the final gig of their reunion world tour. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple of months ago we covered Prosopagnosia – the inability to recognise faces. Following on from that, today we're covering Aphantasia – the inability to see mental images. Most of the time most of us, if asked to remember something or “picture” something in our minds, we create a mental image of the thing or person. For example, if asked to remember what you had for breakfast this morning, many of us will mentally see the weetbix and toast – not always in perfect detail, but there will be a picture of the thing. But for a small number of people, this is just a theoretical idea. They have aphantasia. Estimated to affect about 1% of people – not a disorder in itself but considered one end of a spectrum related to how well or poorly we can visualise things in our mind. Some people become aphantasic after a head injury or damage to the brain. Others have never had it and assume that terms like “mental pictures” were just meant to illustrate the idea of thinking about something, rather than referring to an actual thing that other people do. There's been a growth in the use of the term aphantasia since the mid 2000s after the publication of an article in a neuroscience journal describing the condition, which led others to go “I've got that too!” At the other end of the spectrum is hyperphantasia – mental images are so clear and vivid that it's hard to distinguish them from reality. People are aware that their visions are imaginary though – if you don't realise this it's an hallucination. Some things that are associated with aphantasia: over-represented in people who work in maths and IT roles; much poorer autobiographical memory; also much poorer recognition of other people's faces and probably some overlap with prosopagnosia; occurs more in people with autism. For hyperphantasia – much better autobiographical memory and over-represented in artists. Interestingly, people with aphantasia typically report that they do dream and see images in dreams. There are some indications that there are differences in brain wiring for people at either end of the mental imagery spectrum but no conclusive proof yet! Some suggestion that most children have very strong mental imagery but that they lose this ability as they grow, and the brain goes through a “pruning” process whereby it loses connections that aren't so useful or needed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building on Jack's love of birds and bird-feeding in his garden – new research shows that listening to birdsong may actually benefit your mental health and improve sadness and depression. Researchers took people with and without depression and then made them feel sad in the laboratory by playing movie clips. Sidenote – I read another study where they made people feel sad by playing a piece of Russian classical music slowed down to half speed and matched with sad faces! It's not uncommon in psyc studies to mess around with people's emotions and then make them feel better. Then taught people mindfulness breathing or gave them opportunity to listen to birdsong. Both of these treatments led to people feeling happier. Listening to birdsong helped peoples heart rates to return to normal functioning, indicating it was good for the body as well as the mind. What are the implications of this? Both are helpful at improving people's mood. Mindfulness requires more effort from a person and learning a skill so might be harder to get up and running in the first place. But of course once you've learnt it you can do it whenever you want – the ideal self-help tool. Listening to birdsong requires much less effort on behalf of someone – you just lie back and do it! This might be particularly useful for someone who is quite down and has little energy or motivation to do much. Shows how our emotional state can be changed both intentionally and on-purpose, and just automatically Also birdsong is free and possibly easily available – but you do need to be near some trees. This could have implications for things like urban design and building green spaces near and around new housing developments. This builds on a growing amount of research showing the benefits of nature-based interventions for improving mental health. In the UK these are called “green prescriptions” – things like gardening and going fishing – like the UK TV show “Mortimer and Whitehouse - Gone Fishing”. Interestingly, there was a recent NZ study that showed fishing was really helpful in reducing depression, psyc distress, and anxiety Media release: World's largest angling mental health study reveals remarkable benefits - Fish & Game So get out there – feed the birds and then listen to them sing. Garden or go fishing. It's good for the mind as well as the body! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're one of the many who feel the clouds of the winter blues part on the first sunny day, you're not alone and there's a reason. Clinical psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland spoke to Corin Dann.

Unless you've been living under a rock you'll know that we've just had Mental Health Awareness Week. It's a great initiative by the Mental Health Foundation to normalise talking and thinking about mental health! Pop quiz – how many Kiwi adults do you think will, in their lifetime, experience a major mental health problem? According to Ministry of Health, it's 47% of us. But data from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study suggests this figure might be closer to 80%. So that means most of us will experience some mental health problems in our lifetime – that shows it's pretty normal! This year, Mental Health Awareness Week's theme is Top Up Together – focusing on how to “top up” your mental health with others, which can help protect us against developing mental health problems. To top up our mental health we can use the 5 ways to wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give. I wanted to share some of my tips to top-up in each of the 5 areas: Connect – very 3rd Thursday of the month me and a bunch of friends get together for “Thirsty Thursday” at our local. Some of us have a beer, some have a soft drink – it doesn't matter. Sometimes there are 6 of us sometimes 16 – whoever can make it, makes it. We talk about everything from how to cook brisket to the state of cricket in NZ to what makes a “good” or “bad” person. Be Active – try and make this an everyday habit. I go for a 45min walk every morning at 6am. It's now so much of a habit that I need to do it otherwise I really notice it Take Notice – I've just sparked up my mindfulness practice again Keep Learning – I'll use my lovely wife as an example here – she's halfway through an online Te Reo course – she's doing this together with others Give – give time, or social support, or resources to help others – can be volunteering at your local soup kitchen or coaching your kid's sports team or helping replant native bush. In a few weeks time I'll be helping out at the St Michael's church fair in Kelburn – giving some stuff and helping run the white elephant stall. Lots of research shows that the act of giving is just as helpful to the “giver” as to those receiving the help The challenge for listeners – how can you top up your mental health together with others. And check out www.mhaw.nz for more tips! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 11 October 2025, rising Kiwi musician Sam Cullen joins Jack in studio for a live performance and to chat about the upcoming release of his debut album. Jack considers the lack of rules around treatment of referees in football. Tara Ward shares details on the brand-new series of The Celebrity Traitors UK, starring Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, and Celia Imrie. If you're considering your first trip to India, Mike Yardley has his top tips on navigating the sensory contrast. And Dougal Sutherland discusses Mental Health Awareness Week. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's revealed progress is being made towards their mental health and addiction targets. The latest data shows 80.3% of New Zealanders are accessing specialist mental health and addiction support within three weeks. However, that percentage is carried by eight of the 20 regions, leaving behind Northland, Gisborne, and Canterbury. Clinical Psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland told Mike Hosking the access to specialist services was a positive surprise, as it's not necessarily what he'd heard. He says he's cautiously optimistic about the progress, but there is still room for improvement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When thinking about punishments for crime, at least minor ones, there is often a balance between teaching someone a lesson to make sure they don't do it again and not being so harsh that it ends up doing more harm than good. New research from the US shows a possible new pathway that might get this balance right, called Creative Punishments. Creative punishments were made popular by a particular judge in the US who, for example, sentenced a man who didn't pay his taxi fare to have to walk the same distance as his taxi ride. Creative punishments are alternative forms of discipline that are designed to fit the specific nature of the crime, often by making the offender experience the consequences of their actions in a direct, meaningful way. Other examples of creative punishments include: A woman who threw food at a fast-food outlet employee sentenced to work at a fast-food restaurant for 60 days instead of jail. A man caught vandalizing a public statue was sentenced to cleaning graffiti. A young person caught stealing mail was sentenced to go and sort and deliver mail. It has also been used in workplaces. For example, a worker who verbally abused and bullied a workmate had to go and work in a customer service department that often involved verbal altercations with the public. The key features of creative punishments are: The punishment involves doing something related to the harm caused. It's specifically matched to the crime. And the goal is to help the person understand why their behaviour was wrong. The research showed that the general public think creative punishments: Are more appropriate. Teach offenders better lessons. Are less harsh but still effective at deterring future crimes. Interestingly, when asked to imagine what it would be like if you were the person who committed the crime, the majority of people preferred creative punishments when given the choice. Some parents will have experimented with these sort of natural consequences in disciplining their children e.g., for breaking a toy belonging to someone else, the child has to buy a new one for the friend out of their own money, or for constantly not cleaning up Lego, having the Lego taken away for a week. One of the key things was that creative punishments work best when they match the nature of the crime. Random or unrelated punishments don't have the same positive effect. Maybe it's time for our courts to try something new! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered why you can't stick to an exercise routine or why you hate the gym when everyone else seems to love it? You could be doing the wrong type of exercise for your personality type. A recent UK study looked at how personality types could predict how enjoyable people find different exercise routines and who can stick to them. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss the research. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a common belief that having a pet is good for one's wellbeing. You often hear stories about how looking into a dog's eyes gives you an emotional boost or that using real and fake animals in rest homes boosts residents' moods, but it turns out it's not a guaranteed path to better mental health – reality is more nuanced. Some studies do find that pet owners report lower anxiety and loneliness, and greater life satisfaction. However, other studies show no significant difference, and some have even found that pet owners actually reported lower wellbeing, including higher loneliness, than non-owners. The type of bond between owner and pet plays a crucial role. Owners with insecure attachments (e.g. anxiety about separation or doubts about their pet's affection) tend to report higher depression and anxiety – this likely to be worse if your pet also has insecure attachment and worries when you're not there! Feeling a shared identity with a pet (e.g. similar traits or habits) is linked to better wellbeing, so if you look like your pet, you feel better – not sure what that says about me as I've got two miniature schnauzers! Mindful interaction with pets —appreciating their present-focused nature— can help owners stay grounded. This is the idea behind support animals for people with various types of disability Pets require time, energy, and financial resources, which can be stressful, and it's sometimes the reason people give up pets early. During the pandemic, pet ownership was linked to lower wellbeing among women, parents, and those with unstable employment – probably because it was yet another thing to think of/worry about. Caring for sick pets or dealing with behavioural issues and grief after loss can be emotionally taxing. So, think carefully if you're thinking about getting a pet! It's not necessarily all it's cracked up to be – but we wouldn't give up ours for anything! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 30 August 2025, the grand dame of crime fiction, Lynda La Plante joins Jack to discuss how her characters fit in the modern world of publishing and her new book ‘Scene of the Crime'. Jack weighs up the balance between transparency, trust, and the public service. As thoughts turn towards summer, travel correspondent Mike Yardley explores Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays. Tech expert Paul Stenhouse explains the use of AI in the US's 911 call centres. And are pets as good for our wellbeing as we like to think? Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland explores life satisfaction as a pet owner. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study has found one in three 18-34-year-olds in New Zealand are turning to AI instead of a professional therapist for life and relationship advice. Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland spoke to Corin Dann.

When it comes to managing stress, we often think about the big things —job loss, death of a loved one— but what about the everyday stressors? Things like buying a house, getting married, and speaking in public occur much more regularly, and can potentially have a bigger cumulative effect over time. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss the long-term impact of everyday stressors and what can be done to mitigate potential harm. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 2nd August 2025, Kiwi acting legend Cliff Curtis joins Jack to discuss his starring role in the brand-new series spearheaded by Jason Momoa, Chief of War. Jack considers the bill that would enshrine the name New Zealand into law. Dougal Sutherland picks up on Jack's interest in Blue Zones, joining the show to share what contributes to longer life in these areas, and just how realistic it is to achieve in alternative environments. And hot off judging awards for the best New Zealand pie, Nici Wickes gives in to Jack's sweet side with her personal recipe for pie of the year. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blue Zones are an area of interest for many, geographical locations in which people live longer than average. Some such areas are in Sardinia, others in Okinawa in Japan, Nicoya in Costa Rica, and Ikaria in Greece – all of which have a significant number of people living into their 90s or hundreds. But why are these people living so much longer than average? Dr Dougal Sutherland delves into the research and reasons behind the extended lifespans of those in Blue Zones. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we all have difficulty remembering and placing faces sometimes, some people are unable to do it altogether. Prosopagnosia, otherwise known as face-blindness, is a psychological condition that renders people unable to recognise faces – sometimes including their own. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to delve into this rare condition. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the cold and wet winter months, people often spend a lot less time in the great outdoors. This can be a bit of a problem, as recent research reveals that spending time outside can have quite a few psychological benefits. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to delve into the findings. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are kids spending too much time looking at screens? Dougal Sutherland is dipping into the debate over kids' use of social media and online spaces, and the impact it has on them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At some point in their life, most women will experience menopause. It generally impacts women between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age New Zealand women will begin to experience menopause being 52. At menopause, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and menstrual periods stop. In most cases, if someone hasn't had a period for 12 months in a row, they are considered post-menopausal. Significant symptoms are experienced by approximately 70% of those experiencing menopause – common ones including anxiety, low mood/depression, hot flushes, brain fog, nausea, and fatigue. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss menopause, why awareness should be raised around it, and how to support someone dealing with it in the workplace. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Friday (May 16) was Pink Shirt Day in New Zealand which, as we know, is to promote anti-bullying - serving as a reminder that bullying can happen anywhere. Some people think it only happens in the playground at school but reports show it also occurs in workplaces, with a Massey Uni study in 2023 reported 1 in 4 people experienced bullying at least monthly in the workplace. Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland unpacked the numbers - and offered up some tips as to how it can be dealt with. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The internet is filled with a wide array of things – more than any one person could experience in their entire life. However, as the internet has developed, spaces dedicated to children have been eroded – gone are the days of Club Penguin and flash games, replaced with adult and advertiser friendly spaces. What this has resulted in is the exposure of generations of children and young people to harmful —sometimes outright illegal— content. The Classification Office recently released a report delving into what young people are exposed to online, speaking with ten different groups, ranging in age from 12-25. Dougal Sutherland unpacks the results, and the impact the exposure has had on young people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some would argue our world has got too busy, too frantic, that we never get a chance to switch off. An estimate from a few years ago believes we have as much as 34GB of information coming into us every day. Some of this business is likely due to never being able to switch off from incoming info, as well as a loss of “stopping cues” around us, e.g. ads on linear tv, intermissions at movies. We can get into a pattern of always being on, always “doing”, never stopping and just “being”. It's arguably not good for our wellbeing —a constant low level of stress— and can also affect relationships, e.g. having a conversation at the same time as scrolling on your phone. Here are three things people could try if they want to experiment with an antidote to this business: 1) Mindfulness: one aspect of mindfulness is becoming aware of when your attention has shifted and moving it back to just one thing, e.g. your breathing. 2) Concentrating on doing everyday tasks one at a time, e.g. if brushing your teeth, just brush your teeth. Notice all the aspects of it – notice your mind wandering away and practice bringing it back to the task at hand. 3) Watch some slow tv. My best recommendation for the moment is the Great Moose Migration on Swedish tv (svtplay.sw). It's 24/7 coverage of moose migrating across a river —over 30 cameras but very slow— long shots of Swedish wilderness without a moose in sight. It's on right now but only lasts for a few more days – you can almost feel your blood pressure lowering. Give it a go, see if it makes a difference! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School holidays and Easter are both just around the corner, so how do you make the most of your break? Taking a holiday boosts wellbeing, but the longevity of the benefits depends on several factors: time away, actives, and mental detachment from work. Dr Dougal Sutherland breaks down the data, offering advice to ensure that the benefits of your break stick around as long as possible. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's six days into the new year, which means many New Zealanders could be six days into becoming better, healthier versions of themselves. But what are the chances of people actually following through with their New Year's resolutions? Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland spoke Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira.

This week we welcome the amazing Tegan Yorwarth from Mai FM to the studio. At 28, Tegan's crushing it in her career and is hunting for her first home, but she's ready to level up her financial game. With the help of Shelley Pallman from Enable Me, Tegan kicks off her financial coaching journey to fast-track her goals. In Part 2 of our look into the Psychology of Money, Dr. Dougal Sutherland from Umbrella Wellbeing joins us to break down how money stress really messes with our heads and what to do about it. powered by enable.me Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok: @wheresmymoneynz Reagan White Instagram Where's My Money? Linktree Reach out to our podcast guest expert Dougal Sutherland