PsycHacks
Presented by Orion Taraban, Psy.D. PsycHacks provides listeners with a brief, thought-provoking episode several days a week on a variety of psychological topics, inspired by my clinical practice. The intention is for the core idea contained within each episode to inspire listeners to see something about themselves or their world in a slightly different light.
Episodes
Unhappiness and love may be more closely related than most people realize. In this episode, I explain why so many people struggle in romantic relationships, arguing that people use them too often to escape from internal dissatisfactions. Happy people tend to approach love differently – and building a meaningful life may be the foundation of lasting relationships.
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What does it mean to be a citizen of the world in an increasingly globalized society? In this episode, I explain how travel can broad your perspectives, challenge cultural assumptions, and reveal the humanity we share across borders. However, living globally comes with a responsibility: wherever you are, be a good guest and respect the rules of your host. Openness and structure: to survive, we need both.
It seems like both men and women are bad at texting. This is generally due to the fact that both sides are giving the other what they hope to receive – not what the other genuinely desires. This stimulates deep-seated anxieties and turns texting into an emotional chore. Men want sexual content: objectify him. Women want relational content: give her affection.
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In this episode, I discuss the Lindsay Clancy mistrial in the context of certain controversial statements made by several jurors after deliberations ended. Whether they were aware of it or not, their arrogance was on full display. Prioritizing sectarian goals over the rule of law raises difficult questions about the role of justice in modern society. What happens when jurors identify more strongly with the accused than with the com...
When you deepen a woman's initial interest into emotional engagement, you make her obsessed. In this episode, I explain the importance of contrast, and why this element can create depth, intrigue, and fascination. By embracing the less socially acceptable parts of themselves, men can cultivate a more authentic, compelling, and psychologically-nuanced presence.
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Constantly trying to manage your partner's feelings does not lead to peace. Emotional externalizers turn relationships into imbalanced systems – and assertive boundaries are required to resist their sway. However, this might be difficult given the relationship models many men extrapolate as children. Ultimately, men must understand that keeping the peace does not mean catering to women's whims, but standing up to female bulli...
In this episode, I discuss whether the evidence supports reasonable doubt about Lindsay Clancy's mental state at the time of the murders. I also examine the diagnoses involved, questioning whether they can legitimately establish what medical professionals should have known beforehand. While certainty may be impossible, the case raises a crucial question: when does skepticism become reasonable?
In this episode, I discuss the structural problem at the heart of all advice meant for mass consumption. Generalities are broadly true but difficult to apply, while specifics are actionable but often irrelevant or counterproductive. This is why I can't tell you what to do in a YouTube video. Good judgment is ultimately the ability to apply the right principle to the right situation.
Can depression or psychosis be invoked to erase responsibility? The support for Lindsay Clancy indicates that some people believe it is never her fault. Using examples from her supporters, this episode explores the balance between compassion for mental illness, personal accountability, and the duty to protect others from foreseeable risks. When medical explanations become excuses, the entire justice system is threatened.
The five hard conversations reveal major relationship incompatibilities before they become deeply entrenched and may collectively be one of the best tools for preventing divorce. Every serious couple needs to talk about sex, money, children, politics/religion, and in-laws. The goal isn't perfect alignment, but recognition of which differences can be negotiated – and which are better revealed before you build a life together.
When empathy is evil, compassion overrides accountability, justice, and concern for the true victims. Using the case of Lindsay Clancy, this episode examines the psychological forces behind the public response to a mother who admitted to murdering her children. What happens when empathy for the perpetrator eclipses the suffering of the innocent – and what does that mean for the social order?
Cultivating need is a controversial, but pragmatic approach to maintaining long-term relationships. In this episode, I explain why the intentional cultivation of need can strengthen bonds and prevent relationships from fading into irrelevance. Keep her busy with projects that provide genuine value, dignity, and a sense of purpose.
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Finding good women depends on your ability to discern which women are enthusiastic about entering your frame – and which women aren't. In this episode, I explain how to test them using simple, reasonable requests to reveal compatibility, interest, and respect. Make space for the women who genuinely want to be in your life – and let the rest fall by the wayside.
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This episode was inspired by Patrice O'Neal, who once said he only offers a woman 90% love. This is really good advice. Boundaries may be antithetical to love, but they do make for good relationships. By all means, emotionally invest in your long-term relationships – but don't go all the way. Here's why.
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Men set themselves up for disappointment when they think of the women in their lives as theirs. The truth is she ain't yours – she's yours for now. Using a viral real-world story, I examine hypergamy, loyalty, and the incentives that shape modern relationships. Ultimately, your relationship will last as long as the woman perceives you to be her best option. After that, she starts looking for the door.
Emotions are resources – and understanding that idea will change how you see attraction, dating, and long-term relationships. In this episode, I reveal what players understand, namely: emotional engagement is more valuable in cultivating attraction than money, gifts, or status. And this is also why genuine emotional connection is one of the hardest things to find.
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Citation: https://archive.org/details/homosexualitiessbellrich
In this episode, I explore the idea that women are the brakes on both sexual behavior and social change – while risk-taking men drive progress. Drawing on evolutionary psychology, demographic data, and historical examples, I examine how different incentives shape male and female behavior. Ultimately, civilization depends on the balance of these opposing forces &n...
Effort doesn't pay, results do – and the marketplace rewards the value you create rather than the effort you expend. In this episode, I explain why no one cares about your struggle unless it produces outcomes that genuinely benefit other people. Using the example of Lionel Messi, I demonstrate why mastery is measured by leverage, efficiency, and impact – not exertion.
Love is hard because it demands sacrifice – not merely emotion, attraction, or a mutual exchange of value. And this is why it is rare: most people only love to the point where sacrifice becomes personally costly. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, and the life of Jesus, I challenge conventional ideas about love, boundaries, and selflessness.
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You like toxic more than you realize, and recognizing that uncomfortable truth is the first step toward lasting change. In this episode, I explore the real reason you go back, arguing that chaos, drama, and pain are often preferable to boredom or emotional emptiness. Learn how greater emotional awareness can break the cycle and replace destructive habits with enduring virtues.
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