Hi there!
 

Sana Qadar here from ABC Radio National’s mental health podcast All In The Mind.
 

It's nearly my favourite time of the year. No, not Christmas. I'm talking about that week between Christmas and the new year where time collapses, I'm not sure what day it is, and I'm mostly at the beach. 
 

I love it — I can read what I want (whereas usually I'm reading for work), and listen to whatever I want. Or do nothing at all (if I'm lucky enough to have in-laws in town to hang out with my son!).
 

So if you have endless time to fill this holiday (or just a quick 30 minutes), and you're looking for some lazy listening options, here are some of my favourite episodes of All In the Mind this year.
 

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy listening!
 

Until next year,
 

Sana
 

P.S. If you have other topics you'd like to hear more about next year on All In The Mind, send us an email.
 

And if you — or someone you know — find any of the themes we touch on in this newsletter difficult, please reach out to services such as Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 or the Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
 

All In The Mind is an exploration of the mental: the mind, brain and behaviour. It airs on Sundays at 1pm and is repeated on Mondays at 1.30pm and Fridays at 2.30am on RN. Listen for free on the ABC listen app.
 

You can find more mental-health-related content on ABC iview, and head to our dedicated page for articles.

In this episode, we hear a wild story about a woman whose gut told her something wasn't quite right as she sat in a café while travelling through Mumbai. She quickly left. Not long after, that café was targeted in a terrorist attack. Was it gut instinct? Coincidence? We explore the science and fantasy of intuition.

To be honest, this may not be the most relaxing holiday listen, but it is fascinating, and surprisingly entertaining. From relationships and sex, to the experience of grief — we cover the many ways AI might mess with our psychology and mental health in the years ahead.

Could you survive a work trip that lasted three-ish years, with just two other colleagues to talk to? And nowhere to go, apart from your spacecraft? If astronauts ever make it to Mars, they'll need more than just scientific smarts — they'll need exceptional people skills and mental fortitude. Is anyone really up to the task? 

From self-love to disordered behaviour, and back again, we track how attitudes towards masturbation have changed over the course of history and why it's still linked to shame and confusion for some. Also — why do humans (and other animals) masturbate in the first place?

Everyone can experience the feeling of awe, right? Wrong. Tanya Vivilova has never felt it, and that's a shame because feeling awe can have all kinds of mental health benefits. In this episode, we learn how everyone can add a bit more awe into their daily lives — and see if we can manage to inspire awe in Tanya.