S2 EP1: Are Fairies Real - and Does God Eat? Inside the Developing Belief Network

S2 EP5: The Power of Art to Encourage Blood Donation in Black Communities

This episode focuses on a project that encourages blood donation within Black communities, where University of Nottingham researchers work with Action on Blood [https://www.actiononblood.org/]. As part of the project, videos were produced with the communities to inspire people to donate blood. This unique, arts-based approach has been very effective at increasing blood donation.   We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers, Prof Eamonn Ferguson [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/eamonn.ferguson] and Dr Richard Mills [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/richard.mills2], and Abiola Okubanjo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiola-okubanjo-976b8888], Founder & CEO of Action On Blood [https://www.actiononblood.org/].   Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode: Action on Blood [https://www.actiononblood.org/] Read a press release on this work [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/research-shows-community-made-videos-encourage-black-blood-donors] A paper on [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/trf.17963] the film’s evaluation [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/trf.17963] Reflections on the co-design process [https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-37609-001]   This is the last episode in Series 2. Follow the podcast [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/notts-psych-pod] to make sure you do not miss out on Series 3.   Catch up on all our episodes wherever you get your podcasts [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/notts-psych-pod]. Vote for Notts Psych Pod in the Listeners’ Choice category at the British Podcast Awards 2025! Head to britishpodcastawards.com/vote [https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote], search for Notts Psych Pod, and cast your vote. Every vote counts - thank you for your support. Voting closes on 8th September 2025!   Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠ [https://twitter.com/@notts_psych], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://instagram.com/uon_psychology] or ⁠e-mail⁠ [NottsPsychPod@nottingham.ac.uk].   Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠ [https://x.com/DrDanielJolley] Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb]) Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ [https://x.com/Rachel_GA_]/ Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/neuro_rachel/] Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb])   Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

S2 EP4: Bringing Science to Kids: The Scouting and Guiding Initiative

This episode focuses on the Scouting and Guiding Initiative – or SAGI. SAGI is a group of researchers at the University of Nottingham who aim to inspire the next generation of scientists. SAGI organise fun sessions all about science and how the brain works at Scouting, Girl Guiding and Boys Brigade groups.   We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers, Dr Lee Parkin [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/lee.parkin]and Dr Nikki Dean Marshall [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/nikki.deanmarshall], two of the co-founders of SAGI, and Dylann Patel, an undergraduate student who is part of the SAGI team.   Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode: X account [https://x.com/SAGI_UoN] and BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/sagi-uon.bsky.social] Scouting and Guiding Initiative - Science Night Interest Form [https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7qe9Z4D970GskTWEGCkKHumV3D-9wrJAvFZBFOxnzuFUQko3TzdMRzZaRzVaOUxVWjFPN1BKQ0w5MC4u]   The team also wish to acknowledge the following team members: Dr Ellen Taylor [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/ellen.taylor] Dr Aneeza Pervez [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Psychology/people/aneeza.pervez] Samantha Martins Emily Mason Catch up on all our episodes ⁠wherever you get your podcasts⁠ [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/notts-psych-pod].  Vote for Notts Psych Pod in the Listeners’ Choice category at the British Podcast Awards 2025! Head to ⁠britishpodcastawards.com/vote⁠ [https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote], search for Notts Psych Pod, and cast your vote. Every vote counts - thank you for your support. Voting closes on 8th September 2025! Get in touch via ⁠X⁠ [https://twitter.com/@notts_psych], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://instagram.com/uon_psychology]or ⁠e-mail⁠ [NottsPsychPod@nottingham.ac.uk].   Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠ [https://x.com/DrDanielJolley] Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb]) Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ [https://x.com/Rachel_GA_]/ Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/neuro_rachel/] Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb])   Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

S2 EP3: How Does Psychosis Affect Thinking? Inside the EPIC Project

This episode focuses on a Wellcome Trust funded project called EPIC – or otherwise known as Early Psychosis: Investigating Cognition [https://the-epic-study.quarto.pub/the-epic-project/]. Problems with memory and attention affect a large proportion of people with psychosis. However, much of the focus is on “positive” symptoms like hallucinations. The EPIC project aims to fill this gap by understanding the changes in memory and attention in daily life during early psychosis.   We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers, Dr Claudia Danielmeier [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/claudia.danielmeier], Dr Laura Blackie [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/laura.blackie] and Dr Ryan Elson [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/People/ryan.elson], alongside Advisory Group Member, Richard Falvey.   Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode: Project Website [https://the-epic-study.quarto.pub/the-epic-project/] X account [https://x.com/the_EPIC_study] and BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/the-epic-study.bsky.social] How to join the advisory group [https://the-epic-study.quarto.pub/the-epic-project/advisory-group.html] Healthy individuals with an interest in Study 1 can contact Dr Ryan Elson (ryan.elson@nottingham.ac.uk [ryan.elson@nottingham.ac.uk]) Watch Dr Claudia Danielmeier talk about the project [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2EBCxS60Hc]   The team also wish to acknowledge the following people: Dr Zia Katshu [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/people/mohammad.katshu] Dr Katherine Dyke [https://the-epic-study.quarto.pub/the-epic-project/the-team.html#katherine-dyke] Dr Adam Berrington [https://the-epic-study.quarto.pub/the-epic-project/the-team.html#adam-berrington] Dr Daniel Cocking [https://the-epic-study.quarto.pub/the-epic-project/the-team.html#daniel-cocking] Dr Amal Jolly [https://the-epic-study.quarto.pub/the-epic-project/the-team.html#amal-jolly] All members of the advisory group [https://the-epic-study.quarto.pub/the-epic-project/advisory-group.html] Catch up on all our episodes ⁠wherever you get your podcasts⁠ [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/notts-psych-pod]. Vote for Notts Psych Pod in the Listeners’ Choice category at the British Podcast Awards 2025! Head to ⁠britishpodcastawards.com/vote⁠ [https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote], search for Notts Psych Pod, and cast your vote. Every vote counts - thank you for your support. Voting closes on 8th September 2025! Get in touch via ⁠X⁠ [https://twitter.com/@notts_psych], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://instagram.com/uon_psychology]or ⁠e-mail⁠ [NottsPsychPod@nottingham.ac.uk].   Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠ [https://x.com/DrDanielJolley] Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb]) Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ [https://x.com/Rachel_GA_]/ Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/neuro_rachel/] Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb])   Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

S2 EP2: What Really Happens During the Menopause

This episode focuses on a research programme which explores what happens to the mind as we navigate one of life’s major transitions, the menopause. Such a transition is under-researched, despite affecting half the population. Here, we dive into the science of attention, memory and hormones, and hear from researchers about how cognitive performance is affected across the stages of menopause.  We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers Prof Lucy Cragg [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/lucy.cragg], Karen Barnor [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/researcher-academy/news/latest-news/taking-the-plunge.aspx] and Chhanda Karmaker [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/chhanda.karmaker].   Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode: MenoCog – Cognition in Menopause Research [https://menocog.wordpress.com/] Get Involved [https://menocog.wordpress.com/get-involved/] Press Release: Menopauseresearch to investigate memory and concentration [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/menopause-research-to-investigate-memory-and-concentration] The team also wish to acknowledge the following researchers: Prof Harriet Allen [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/h.a.allen] Prerita Chawla [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/prerita.chawla] Catch up on all our episodes ⁠wherever you get your podcasts⁠ [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/notts-psych-pod]. Vote for Notts Psych Pod in the Listeners’ Choice category at the British Podcast Awards 2025! Head to ⁠britishpodcastawards.com/vote⁠ [https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote], search for Notts Psych Pod, and cast your vote. Every vote counts - thank you for your support. Voting closes on 8th September 2025! Get in touch via ⁠X⁠ [https://twitter.com/@notts_psych], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://instagram.com/uon_psychology] or ⁠e-mail⁠ [NottsPsychPod@nottingham.ac.uk].   Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠ [https://x.com/DrDanielJolley] Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: @graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb]) Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ [https://x.com/Rachel_GA_] / Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/neuro_rachel/] Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb])   Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

S2 EP1: Are Fairies Real - and Does God Eat? Inside the Developing Belief Network

Are fairies real - and does God eat? This episode focuses on the Developing Belief Network [https://www.developingbelief.com/], a cross-cultural research network involving 19 countries where questions like these have been asked of children to explore the development and diversity of cognition.   We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers Dr Emily Burdett [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/emily.burdett] and Joanna Stephens [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/joanna.stephens4].   Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode: Developing Belief Network [https://www.developingbelief.com/] Objects of Spiritual Yearning [https://www.objectsofspirituality.com/team] Summer Scientist Week [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/outreach/summer-scientist-week/summer-scientist-week.aspx] Photo of the (Massive) Bear [https://uniofnottm-my.sharepoint.com/:u:/g/personal/daniel_jolley_nottingham_ac_uk/Eb67w_9CepRCmEFT1TA2qnsBGyKJf-kX3W_vh-f6u-U5aA?e=S9NZXh]   The team also wish to acknowledge their Research Assistants, alongside really appreciating the undergraduate and Master's students who have helped with transcriptions:   Alexia Jeayes Gherrie Laput Lauren Sheriff  Rosemarie Fowler Aleeya Lone Giorgiana Solomes  Catch up on all our episodes ⁠wherever you get your podcasts⁠ [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/notts-psych-pod]. Vote for Notts Psych Pod in the Listeners’ Choice category at the British Podcast Awards 2025! Head to britishpodcastawards.com/vote [https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote], search for Notts Psych Pod, and cast your vote. Every vote counts - thank you for your support. Voting closes on 8th September 2025! Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠ [https://twitter.com/@notts_psych], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://instagram.com/uon_psychology] or ⁠e-mail⁠ [NottsPsychPod@nottingham.ac.uk].   Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠ [https://x.com/DrDanielJolley] Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb]) Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ [https://x.com/Rachel_GA_]/ Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/neuro_rachel/] Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/graceebaranowski/?hl=en-gb])   Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.