New podcast series explores the psychology behind everyday life

A new podcast from The Open University's School of Psychology and Counselling is bringing academic expertise to a wider audience through engaging conversations inspired by real questions from students. Hosted by OU psychology student Freya Carter, Why do we do that? explores the psychology behind everyday experiences, relationships, behaviours and decision-making.

Academics from the OU’s School of Psychology and Counselling have launched a new public-facing podcast, Why do we do that?, bringing together academic expertise and real-world questions submitted by members of the University's student community.

Designed to make psychology accessible to a broad audience, the ten-episode series features academics from across the School exploring topics including memory and misremembering, imagination, relationships, therapy, climate anxiety, political polarisation and the psychology of lying.

Academic contributors to the series are: Professor Lara Frumkin, Professor Catriona Havard, Dr Casey Hamilton, Jennie Kirk (Staff Tutor), Dr Trudi Macagnino, Professor Kesi Mahendran, Professor Naomi Moller, Professor Graham Pike, Heather Price (Staff Tutor) and Professor Zoe Walkington.

Each episode uses a relatable question as a starting point for exploring the evidence, research and real-world implications behind it. Topics include Can an online connection count as cheating?, Why do we lie? and Can friendships survive political differences?

Through engaging conversations, contributors share insights from their research, teaching and professional practice, demonstrating how psychological research can help us better understand everyday experiences and some of the most pressing personal and societal challenges of our time.

Listen now

• YouTube: Why do we do that? playlist
• Spotify: Why do we do that? on Spotify
• Apple Podcasts: Why do we do that? on Apple Podcasts