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All In The Mind is ABC RN's weekly podcast looking into the mental universe, the mind, brain and behaviour — everything from addiction to artificial intelligence.

All In The Mind

Can serial killers ever learn empathy? Is their psychology similar to mass shooters? Why are they almost always men?

Welcome to All in the Mind’s first ever ‘mailbag’ episode!

These are just some of the many questions you sent us after our recent episode on serial killers, called Where have all the serial killers gone?

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee is back on the show, answering these questions and a whole lot more.

And can we ask a favour? As this is our first mailbag episode, we’d love to know your thoughts. Do you find this kind of format useful or interesting? Would you be keen to hear mailbag episodes more regularly? You can reach us at mind_rn@abc.net.au if you have any feedback.

Guests:

Dr Rajan DarjeeForensic psychiatristClinical Director, Forensic Behavioural Assessment and Consultation Services

Credits:

 • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
 • Senior producer: James Bullen
 • Producer: Rose Kerr
 • Sound engineer: John Jacobs

Serial killers: answering your questions about how they think

Have you ever felt like things were not quite real?

That you were no longer connected to your body or didn’t know who you were?

Nathan Dunne felt this way for years. And it’s never quite stopped affecting the way he sees himself or the world around him.

Today, depersonalisation disorder — and what we know about its symptoms, causes and treatments.

And a heads up, this episode discusses heavy topics such as suicide. Please take care while listening.

Guests:

Nathan DunneAuthor, When Nothing Feels Real

Dr Emma CernisClinical psychologist and researcherAssisant Professor of Clinical PsychologyUniversity of BirminghamCentre Lead, Midlands Dissociation & Depersonalisation Centre

Credits:

 • Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
 • Reporter/Senior Producer: James Bullen
 • Producer: Rose Kerr
 • Sound Engineer: Tegan Nicholls

If you enjoyed this episode, you might like:

Can we trust our memories?Memory loss and identityDissociation and coping with traumaDepersonalisation — when Nathan lost his sense of self and nothing felt real • (Conversations)

More Information:

When Nothing Feels Real - Nathan Dunne

Unreal: Depersonalisation and Derealisation Support

Like being trapped behind a pane of glass – depersonalisation, derealisation disorder explained (The Conversation, 2025)

Depersonalisation-derealisation as a transdiagnostic treatment target: a scoping review of the evidence in anxiety, depression, and psychosis (Frontiers in Psychology, 2025)

The Prevalence of Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder: A Systematic Review (Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 2023)

Support resources:

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue

Depersonalisation — when nothing feels real

Love it or hate it, there are reasons you might read your star sign and relate to what it says about you as a person.

We all fall into cognitive traps — but if we’re aware of them, is it such a bad thing to indulge in your daily horoscope, or a tarot card reading?

Today, we delve into the occult, to understand why some people seek messages from the universe, and if it can play a role in therapeutic care.

If you want to hear more about otherworldly beliefs, check out our episode Spooky science: What's behind a paranormal experience?

And Soul Search also has an episode called Astrology and tarot — telling the future, or connecting with the present?

Guests:

Professor Susan Krauss WhitbourneProfessor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Ryan FindlayPsychotherapist and tarot reader

Credits:

 • Presenter: Sana Qadar
 • Reporter/producer: Shelby Traynor
 • Senior producer: James Bullen
 • Producer: Rose Kerr
 • Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite

Extra information:

When It Comes to Personality Tests, a Dose of Skepticism Is a Good Thing

Why You Might Not Want to Trust a Personality Test – Psychology Today

The validity of astrological predictions on marriage and divorce: a longitudinal analysis of Swedish register data

Even the stars think that I am superior: Personality, intelligence and belief in astrology

The Power of Rituals – Psychology Today

Divination isn’t scientific, but can it ever be therapeutic?

The backpacker killer. The Claremont killer. Ted Bundy. The crimes serial killers commit linger in our memories for decades.

But when was the last time you heard about an active serial killer in the news?

In our final episode of Criminal Psychology, we probe the lead-crime hypothesis, find out about 'chemical castration' and ask — where have all the serial killers gone?

And a heads up that this episode explores some heavy themes including sexual assault, child abuse, suicide and murder. It also contains the names of Aboriginal people who have died. Please take care while listening.

If you've got more questions for our forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee, please send them to us! We're going to make a special mail-bag episode featuring your burning true crime questions. Get in touch by emailing us at mind_rn@abc.net.au with the subject line "criminal psychology question".

Guests:

Dr Rajan DarjeeForensic psychiatristClinical Director, Forensic Behavioural Assessment and Consultation Services

Dr Xanthe MallettCriminologistAssociate Professor of Criminology, Central Queensland UniversityCo-Director, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence ResearchPodcast co-host, Motive and Method

Credits:

 • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
 • Senior producer: James Bullen
 • Producer: Rose Kerr
 • Sound engineer: Emrys Cronin

More information:

The lead-crime hypothesis: A meta-analysis

Support resources:

Beyond BlueLifeline • 13 11 14
1800 Respect

Where have all the serial killers gone?

What drives some people to steal compulsively?

This week, as part of our special four-part series Criminal Psychology, we're talking about kleptomania and the impact it can have on a person's life.

We speak to someone who’s been diagnosed with kleptomania about their experiences; from their urges to steal, to the guilt and shame they feel.

We also chat to a psychiatrist about what treatment looks like for people with kleptomania.

Guests:

Lynn

Dr Sam ChamberlainProfessor of Psychiatry, University of Southampton 

Credits:

 • Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
 • Reporter/Senior Producer: James Bullen
 • Producer: Rose Kerr
 • Sound Engineer: Emrys Cronin
 • Voice Actor: Swa Kaushik

More information:

Symptom Severity and Its Clinical Correlates in Kleptomania

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Opiate Antagonist, Naltrexone, in the Treatment of Kleptomania

Why do young children sometimes steal? And what should parents do about it?

Kleptomania — Mayo Clinic

Kleptomania and Potential Exacerbating Factors

Kleptomania: when compulsive stealing takes over your life

Australians know the devastation of bushfires all too well. So why would anyone deliberately light a fire?

In this episode of Criminal Psychology, our new four-part series on unusual crimes and unusual minds, we're exploring the psychology of arson.

Answering questions like, how does it relate to pyromania? What do we know about the profile of a typical arsonist? And how do investigators track down the source of a blaze?

Guests:

Dr Paul ReadClimate criminologist

Dr Nichola TylerSenior lecturer, forensic psychologySwinburne University of Technology

Richard WoodsDirector, Wildfire Investigations and AnalysisAdjunct Associate Lecturer, Wildfire Investigation, Charles Sturt University

Credits:

 • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
 • Senior producer: James Bullen
 • Producer: Rose Kerr
 • Sound engineer: Emrys Cronin

Extra information:

Adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism who deliberately set fires: A systematic review

The truth about Australia's fires — arsonists aren't responsible for many this season

Some Coalition MPs say that arson is mostly to blame for the bushfire crisis. Here are the facts

Deliberately lit vegetation fires in Australia

Clinical characteristics of child and adolescent psychiatric outpatients engaging in fireplay or arson: a case–control study

What are the differences between children and adolescents who deliberately light fires?

The Acquisition of Fire

Pyromania vs revenge – why do people light fires?

Why would any parent lie about their child's health? Or worse, intentionally make their child sick?

In episode one of Criminal Psychology, our new four-part series on unusual crimes and unusual minds, we dive into a disorder that’s long been sensationalised in the media: Munchausen by Proxy – and ask: how do these parents get away with their lies? Can their behaviour ever be reformed?

Guests:

Brenda Bursch, PhDDirector, Pediatric Psychology in Outpatient Subspecialty Pediatrics ProgramProfessor of Clinical Psychiatry & Biobehavioral SciencesProfessor of Clinical PediatricsDavid Geffen School of Medicine,University of California, Los Angeles

Professor Jon JureidiniChild psychiatristResearch Leader, Robinson Research InstituteUniversity of Adelaide

Credits:

 • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
 • Senior producer: James Bullen
 • Producer: Rose Kerr
 • Executive producer: Petria Ladgrove
 • Sound engineer: John Jacobs

Extra information:

Munchausen by Proxy: Clinical and Case Management Guidance

APSAC Advisor Volume 30, Issue 1- Munchausen by Proxy Special Issue

Psychological Treatment of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another/Munchausen by Proxy Abuse

The mothers accused of poisoning their kids

Support resources:

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

Munchausen by Proxy: when parents hurt their kids

On All in the Mind, we investigate why people behave the way they do. But there are some perspectives we don't often hear about.

Introducing Criminal Psychology, a special series diving into just that.

On this four-episode series, we'll cover arson, kleptomania, serial killers and Munchausen by proxy as we look at what drives people to the extremes of human behaviour.

And we'll examine how our understanding of the human mind can better help us to prevent harm.

Whether you're a dedicated fan of true crime or curious about the inner workings of our minds, find the series linked below and on the All In The Mind website.

INTRODUCING — Criminal Psychology

Time and time again, Dr Rangan Chatterjee has seen chronic stress wreak havoc on his patients' lives — contributing to autoimmune disorders, gut problems, low libido and more.

But the most devastating blow struck his own family, when his father's punishing work schedule forced him to medically retire in his 50s.

It’s an experience that led Rangan to rethink his own work and approach to medicine.

Today, Dr Chatterjee, a GP and host of a mega popular wellbeing podcast, shares his story, as well as strategies for better managing stress in your own life.

Guest:

Dr Rangan ChatterjeeGP, author and host of Feel Better, Live More

Credits:

 • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
 • Senior producer: James Bullen
 • Producer: Rose Kerr
 • Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls

More information: 

Rangan's Australian tour

Chronically stressed? These small changes can help

Loneliness hurts. And we know it's bad for us, worse than smoking or obesity. Even though a third of us are lonely, we're embarrassed to say so. 

So, what would happen if we talked about our loneliness openly? And how can we build more meaningful connections?

This week we have a special episode from our friends at Ladies, We Need To Talk.

Host Yumi Stynes speaks to women who are lonely, one within a marriage and one hoping to find a partner, to understand the toll it can take. Plus, psychologist Dr Bella Ingram shares tips on how we can insulate ourselves from the chill of being lonely.

More information:

Ending Loneliness Report

Resources:

Beyond Blue

Lifeline 13 11 14

Loneliness — you're not alone, from Ladies, We Need To Talk

The corpus callosum links one side of our brain to the other. It’s not essential for survival, but in some people it’s missing or malformed, causing quite mild to extreme disabilities. The good news is that research is now revealing that it holds intriguing secrets about brain plasticity.

This program was first broadcast in May 2016.

The mysterious corpus callosum: One of Lynne Malcolm's favourite programs

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