The Applied Mind

In Episode 09, I sit down with Associate Professor Darren Burke to explore the psychology of evolution, attraction and dark personality traits.

Darren is an Experimental and Biological Psychologist whose work examines how evolutionary pressures have shaped the way we see, think, learn and relate to one another. We unpack what evolutionary psychology actually is (and what it isn’t), why sexual dimorphism exists and how traits linked...

People-pleasing isn’t just about being “too nice.” For many of us, it’s a learned survival strategy.

In the very first episode of Applied Mind: Solo Sessions, Eddie unpacks the psychology behind people-pleasing — why it forms, why it feels so hard to stop, and how it’s often rooted in attachment patterns, fear of abandonment, and nervous system responses rather than personality flaws.

This episode explores how people-pleasing shows u...

In this episode of The Applied Mind, I’m joined by Nicole Ennis-Oakes, clinical psychologist and Director of Neuronexus to unpack ADHD without the hype, oversimplification or misinformation.

We break down what ADHD actually is — and what it isn’t — exploring common misconceptions, why the condition is so often misunderstood and how it can profoundly impact attention, relationships, emotion regulation, identity and daily functioning ...

Domestic and family violence isn’t always loud, obvious, or physical. Much of the harm happens in the quiet — through patterns of control, isolation, monitoring, and fear that slowly shape a person’s entire world.
In this episode, I sit down with Ashleigh Chapman, a Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Counsellor with nearly a decade on the frontline, to unpack what coercive control really looks like and why it’s so often mi...

This episode goes far beyond diets and gym plans — it’s an honest, unfiltered look at the psychology of women’s health, body image, and the pressure to “bounce back.”

Anna is a fat loss coach who’s lived every extreme in the fitness space — from bodybuilding competitions to boxing fights, from disordered eating to becoming a coach who now helps women rebuild a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and self-worth.

We unp...

In this episode, I sit down with performance and physique coach Gary Lapitan, who works with CEOs and elite athletes, to unpack the psychology of getting in shape. We dive into the habits that fuel long-term results, the mental traps that hold people back, and how social media distorts our idea of “fitness.”

Gary also opens up about his personal journey from the Philippines to Australia, and how resilience, discipline, and identity ...

Tucked away deep in the hardest part of the skull hides the vestibular system, the mysterious unsung hero of the senses. Professor Alan Brichta is its number one fan.

Most of us never think about balance until we lose it. But behind every step you take, every glance you stabilise, and every movement you make, there’s a silent system at work: the vestibular system.

In this episode I sit down with Professor Alan Brichta, a leading neu...

In this episode of The Applied Mind, I sit down with psychotherapist Sophie Cook to unpack the deep connections between trauma and addiction. Sophie brings a raw and human perspective from her extensive experience —exploring the ways we carry trauma, how it manifests in destructive patterns, and what the underlying mechanism of addiction and trauma actually are. Whether you’ve walked this path yourself or want to understand it bett...

Infertility rates across the developed world are on the rise — and around one in six Australian couples will face fertility challenges. A major part of the problem? A decline in sperm count and quality.

In this episode, I’m joined by reproductive biologist Dr. Geoffrey De Iuliis, whose world-leading research is uncovering the hidden factors behind male infertility. From oxidative stress and environmental toxins to the potential effe...