It’s A Small World!

Revenge: Does It Really Make You Feel Better?

Revenge is one of the strongest human emotions, but does getting even really bring the satisfaction we imagine? In this episode of It's A Small World!, Tanya and Mich explore why we seek revenge, whether it's ever justified, and the difference between revenge, justice and healing. Inspired by Lily Allen's latest album, written in the wake of her marriage breakdown, Tanya reflects on seeing her perform live and asks whether turning pain into creativity is its own form of revenge. The conversation also delves into Mich's personal experience of stalking, the powerful themes explored in the play Punch, and why our desire to retaliate can sometimes say more about our own hurt than the person we're trying to hurt. Along the way, they discuss the psychology of revenge, whether forgiveness is really the harder option, and ask one simple question: If you had the chance to get even... would you? As always, this isn't about telling you what to think - it's about exploring the ideas together. Show links: Lily Allen - West End Girl https://amzn.to/3Qwy5eB

Past Life Regression: Real Memories, Hypnosis or the Power of the Mind?

This week on It's A Small World!, we're exploring one of the most fascinating, and controversial, subjects out there: Past Life Regression. Can hypnosis really unlock memories from another lifetime, or is something else happening inside our minds? Tanya shares her own recent past life regression experience, while we discuss the science behind hypnosis, famous case studies, including the work of Dr Ian Stevenson, and the arguments from both believers and sceptics. As always, we're not here to tell you what to think. Our aim is simply to explore the evidence, ask questions and encourage open-minded conversation. Have you ever experienced déjà vu, unexplained fears, or a feeling that you've lived before? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Show links: Book. - Many Lives, Many Masters https://amzn.to/4wqc28H For Past Life Regression visit Jane Osbourne - https://jane-osborne.com/

Barnum: Spectacle, Belief & The Performance of Life

What do circuses, influencers, celebrities, reality TV and social media all have in common? More than you might think. In this week's episode of It's A Small World, Tanya and Mich use the life and legacy of P.T. Barnum as a starting point to explore something much bigger: why humans are so fascinated by spectacle. From The Greatest Showman to The Prestige, from theatre audiences to TikTok virality, this conversation explores charisma, illusion, performance, identity and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Why are some people magnetic? Why do audiences willingly suspend disbelief? Are influencers simply modern-day showmen? And do humans need wonder just as much as they need truth? Thoughtful, philosophical and surprisingly relevant to modern life, this episode isn't really about Barnum at all. It's about us. Because perhaps humans don't just watch performance... Maybe we live it. Links: The Greatest Showman https://amzn.to/4x4oSKN The Prestige https://amzn.to/4ac0UTZ The True Life of The Worlds Greatest Showman https://amzn.to/43aXjBU

Energy: Physics, Feeling or Belief?

What do we actually mean when we say someone has “good energy”… or that a place feels “off”? In this week’s episode of It’s A Small World,! Tanya and Mich explore the fascinating space between science, psychology, intuition and human experience as they ask: What IS energy? From Nikola Tesla and the science of frequency and vibration… to emotional contagion, gut feelings, atmosphere, spiritual energy and the emotional weight of places… this episode explores why humans are so deeply affected by people, environments and emotion - often before we consciously understand why. Why can crowds completely change how we feel? Why do some people leave us drained? Do places hold emotional residue? And is “protecting your energy” actually psychological survival rather than mysticism? Thoughtful, conversational and slightly philosophical, this episode sits right in that It’s A Small World! space between: physics… feeling… belief… and something we still can’t fully explain. Plus: intuition, energy healing, paranormal locations, nervous systems, emotional atmosphere, modern burnout and why humans have always searched for invisible forces shaping our lives.

Placebo, Belief & The Power of the Mind

What if the mind can change the body… even when the treatment itself does nothing? In this episode of It’s A Small World!, we explore the fascinating and sometimes unsettling world of the placebo effect, nocebo responses, expectation and human belief. From sugar pills and placebo surgery… to empathy, self-talk and the physical effects of fear and stress… we ask how much the mind influences the way we experience pain, healing and reality itself. We discuss: What the placebo effect actually is Why even “honest placebos” can still work How belief changes biology Placebo surgery and expectation in healing The nocebo effect and health anxiety Manifestation, mindset and self-talk Why humans are so psychologically responsive to hope, trust and reassurance We also explore the emotional side of healing: the importance of empathy, human connection, ritual and feeling safe, and whether healing has ever been purely physical. This isn’t an episode about miracle cures or magical thinking. It’s about the questions. Because maybe the placebo effect tells us something much deeper about what it means to be human.