It’s A Small World!

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.

Food As Medicine

Can what we eat really heal us? In this episode of It’s A Small World!, we explore the complicated, emotional and deeply human relationship between food, health and healing. From ancient herbal remedies and fasting rituals… to calories, vitamins and modern wellness culture… humans have always searched for answers in what we consume. We talk about: the origins of nutrition science food as fuel vs nourishment gut health and fasting emotional eating and comfort food cancer, fear and conflicting health advice online why so many medicines originally came from plants and whether modern life has disconnected us from food in a deeper way Tanya also reflects on her own experience as a two-time cancer survivor, and the overwhelming world of “anti-cancer” diets, wellness promises and food anxiety that can come with it. This isn’t an episode about perfect eating or miracle cures. It’s about the questions. Because maybe food isn’t magic…but maybe it’s never been “just fuel” either. Next week’s episode explores placebo, belief and the power of the mind.

Beltane: Fire, Folklore & Feeling Alive

What if the feeling of wanting more from life... isn't random at all? As the seasons shift and everything begins to bloom, many of us feel a change in energy. More restlessness. More desire. A pull towards something new. In this episode, we explore Beltane - the ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of summer. A time of fire, fertility, protection, and connection... where communities came together to celebrate life at its fullest. From bonfires and maypoles to folklore surrounding fairies, thresholds, and the "otherworld", Beltane wasn't just ritual, it was deeply tied to survival, nature, and the cycles of human life. But what does that mean for us now? Why do we still feel these seasonal shifts, even in modern life? Have we replaced ritual with something else... or simply forgotten how to recognise it? We also explore how this energy shows up today, in fresh starts, relationships, creativity, and that simple urge to feel more alive. This is a conversation about nature, belief, and what it really means to reconnect with yourself. In this episode: * The origins and meaning of Beltane * Fire rituals, folklore & symbolism * The connection between nature and human behaviour * Modern parallels (whether we realise it or not) * Why we still crave moments that make us feel alive Links: The Wicker Man dvd - https://amzn.to/4drRhm0 Eat Pray Love dvd - https://amzn.to/4cSRD5d Eat Pray Love book - https://amzn.to/49wE7Sq The Secret World of Polly Flint Book - https://amzn.to/4euEjVU - Beltane: A History of Summer | Documentary | Pagan Folklore & Mythology | Celtic Spirituality https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-XT8tgLfN1U&t=136s&pp=2AGIAZACAQ%3D%3D&ra= [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-XT8tgLfN1U&t=136s&pp=2AGIAZACAQ%3D%3D&ra=m]

The Unknown Voice

Some things you hear… you can explain. This wasn’t one of them. In this episode of It’s A Small World!, we go back to a moment we didn’t didn't hear at the time… until we listened back. A voice. Clear enough to notice. Strange enough to question. Was it something natural we missed in the moment? A trick of sound? Our own minds filling in the gaps? Or something else entirely? We explore what it means to hear something you can’t quite place - the science, the psychology… and the part of us that still wonders if there’s more going on than we understand. This isn’t about proving anything. It’s about sitting with the question. 🎙️ Listen now and decide for yourself… what, or who, do you think it was? Links to items and themes spoken about this episode: Haunted Heritage Paranormal Investigations - https://hauntedheritage.co.uk Haunted Heritage You Tube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@hauntedheritage729 Professor Cal Cooper - https://www.callumecooper.com Telephone Calls From The Dead - Prof Callum E. Cooper - https://amzn.to/4mRopH4

Rebirth, Death & Reinvention

We often talk about “reinventing ourselves” as something exciting - a fresh start, a new chapter. But what if reinvention is actually rooted in something much deeper? In this episode, we explore both sides of the conversation - the symbolic “deaths” we go through as we outgrow identities, relationships and versions of ourselves… and the reality of actual death, loss, and how it reshapes the way we see life. Because whether it’s the end of a relationship, a version of yourself, or the loss of someone you love - death, in all its forms, changes you. We talk about grief, fear, meaning, and what it really means to begin again after something ends. Is reinvention something we choose… or is it something we’re forced into through loss? And how do you rebuild yourself when life doesn’t look the same anymore? A thoughtful, honest conversation about endings, identity, and the quiet process of becoming someone new. Link to books by featured artists: Lucas Jones - https://amzn.to/4csXz36 John O' Donohue: https://amzn.to/4sKOSau https://amzn.to/4cKWnIS https://amzn.to/4eyN5C https://amzn.to/4tA2Jla https://amzn.to/4tUJTVO Jane Goodall: https://amzn.to/4sKTYDG https://amzn.to/4vHYndi Lucas Jones - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKXijuFozqe/?igsh=MXFwOXMxY3d4dnd5MQ== Lucas Jones - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVlXtPGDUsQ/?igsh=MWR5a3VmajdlbWNodw==