31. Project management and leadership

What makes something scary?In Part 2 of the 2026 Halloween special, I catch up with Holly Helprin to explore the kinds of fear we enjoy — and the kinds of fear that cross the line into something genuinely uncomfortable.We talk about our personal experiences of horror and the films that have scared us, entertained us, or stayed with us long after watching them. We discuss why some horror is more enjoyable when experienced with other people, how horror can be subversive and challenge social norms, and how filmmakers use horror to explore discrimination, identity and social relationships. We also explore some of the features that can make horror particularly effective, including:Suspense and uncertaintyJump scares and unexpected threatsIsolation and the loss of safetyBody horror and physical reactionsHumour and comedy in horrorThe familiarity and predictability of horror conventionsSocial connection and shared fearOutsiders, belonging and social exclusionThe subversion of innocenceRepresentation and social commentaryHolly and I share some of our favourite horror films and the kinds of horror we find less enjoyable. We discuss films including Saw, Hellraiser, Halloween, Talk to Me, Hereditary, The Monkey, Get Out, and Evil Dead II, as well as childhood favourites such as Little Monsters, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and Goosebumps.Specific horror films and scenes are discussed, including some spoilers.We also talk about how our responses to horror can change over time. Something that terrified us as children can become funny or fascinating as adults, while other kinds of horror can remain deeply unsettling.The conversation ends with Carrie, which brings together several of the themes we've discussed, including suspense, teenage isolation, belonging, safety and the role of gender and perspective in horror. Holly reflects on the different perspectives that have shaped the story, from Stephen King's novel to Brian De Palma's film adaptation.About Holly HelprinHolly Helprin is a researcher with expertise in youth mental health, program evaluation and culturally responsive methods. Outside of work and study, her special interest is horror films.A special Halloween contribution from Dr Will DobudThe episode also includes a special contribution from Dr Will Dobud, who shares a story about Markoff's Haunted Forest in Maryland.Will reflects on his experiences of the haunted forest, including taking his children there, and considers why being scared together can sometimes increase our sense of connection.Sensitive content warningThis episode discusses horror, violence, bodily injury, stalking, murder, discrimination, social exclusion and other frightening or potentially disturbing content.Cite this episodeMacDonald, J. B., Helprin, H., & Dobud, W. (2026). Halloween Special (Part 2): What Makes Horror Scary? (No. 34) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.comTranscriptThe transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. There may be errors in the content as I do not have capacity to review for accuracy.AcknowledgementsPsych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald. The video and audio for this episode was edited by Morgan McRae. Special thanks to Holly Helprin and Dr Will Dobud.

Why do we enjoy being scared?For this year's Halloween special, I catch up with Holly Helprin to explore the psychology of fear. We start with what happens in the brain and body when we encounter a threat, before turning to a bigger question: why do some of us actively seek out frightening experiences?We discuss the amygdala, the fight-or-flight response, adrenaline, cortisol, dopamine and the limits of what we can actually measure about fear. We also consider how people can respond differently to frightening stimuli, including the fascinating case of a woman known as SM, who had damage to her amygdala and showed a reduced behavioural response to fear.We then work through several theories about why people enjoy fear, including:Sensation seeking – Marvin Zuckerman's theory that some people seek out novel, varied and intense experiences.Excitation transfer – Dolf Zillmann's theory that the physiological arousal associated with suspense and fear can contribute to enjoyment when a threat is resolved.The philosophy of horror – Noël Carroll's theory that horror attracts us partly because monsters represent violations of our culturally defined categories and norms.Recreational fear – Andersen and Clasen's theory that fear and enjoyment can coexist, with an optimal level of fear producing a kind of "sweet spot" for enjoyment.Morbid curiosity – Coltan Scrivner's theory that our interest in potentially dangerous things may help us learn about threats and their possible consequences.We also discuss what might be missing from these theories, including feminist approaches to horror from scholars such as Carol Clover, Barbara Creed and Julia Kristeva.Want to find out what kind of scary stuff you're into?Before recording the episode, Holly completed a couple of the measures we discuss and shares her results during our conversation:Zuckerman's Sensation-Seeking Scale – measures different aspects of sensation seeking, including thrill and adventure seeking, experience seeking, disinhibition and boredom susceptibility.Scrivner's Morbid Curiosity Test – measures different aspects of morbid curiosity, including interest in dangerous people, violence, bodily injuries and paranormal dangers.About Holly HelprinHolly Helprin is a researcher with expertise in youth mental health, program evaluation and culturally responsive methods. Outside of work and study, her special interest is horror films.Cite this episodeMacDonald, J. B. & Helprin, H. (2026, October 27). Halloween Special (Part 1): Why Do We Enjoy Fear? (No. 33) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.comTranscriptThe transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software and may contain errors. AcknowledgementsPsych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald. The video and audio for this episode was edited by Morgan McRae. Special thanks to Holly Helprin for sharing your time and expertise.Sources: BiologyAdolphs R. (2013). The biology of fear. Current Biology, 23(2), R79–R93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.11.055Cannon, W. B. (1915). Bodily changes in pain, hunger, fear and rage: An account of recent researches into the function of emotional excitement. D Appleton & Company. https://doi.org/10.1037/10013-000Feinstein, J. S., Adolphs, R., Damasio, A., & Tranel, D. (2011). The human amygdala and the induction and experience of fear. Current biology, 21(1), 34–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2010.11.042Steimer T. (2002). The biology of fear- and anxiety-related behaviors. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 4(3), 231–249. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2002.4.3/tsteimerSources: Theories of why we enjoy fearAndersen, M. M., Schjoedt, U., Price, H., Rosas, F. E., Scrivner, C., & Clasen, M. (2020). Playing With Fear: A Field Study in Recreational Horror. Psychological science, 31(12), 1497–1510. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797620972116Clasen, M., Kjeldgaard-Christiansen, J., & Johnson, J. A. (2018). Horror, Personality, and Threat Simulation: A Survey on the Psychology of Scary Media. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 14(3), 213–230. https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000152Hoffner, C. A., & Levine, K. J. (2005). Enjoyment of Mediated Fright and Violence: A Meta-Analysis. Media Psychology, 7(2), 207–237. https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0702_5Martin G. N. (2019). (Why) Do You Like Scary Movies? A Review of the Empirical Research on Psychological Responses to Horror Films. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 2298. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02298Scrivner, C. (2021). The psychology of morbid curiosity: Development and initial validation of the morbid curiosity scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111139Tudor, A. (1997). Why Horror? The Peculiar Pleasures of a Popular Genre. Cultural Studies, 11(3), 443–463. https://doi.org/10.1080/095023897335691

'Backrooms' is 2026 film, currently in cinemas. It is a sci-fi / horror / psychological thriller that is gripping and deeply unsettling. After watching it at the cinema this long weekend, I needed someone to discuss it with, and who better than my friend Dr Alexander De Foe. Tune in for a taster if you haven't seen the film but are curious about it. Don't worry - we let you know when to switch off to avoid spoilers.Dr Alexander De Foe is a scholar and author based in Melbourne, Australia. Alex studies altered states of consciousness and how they can be understood within the context of cognitive psychology and philosophy of mind. He is also a university lecturer and counsellor, empowering clients during pivotal lifespan milestones, towards meaning-making and virtue-based living. Alex has over 10 years post-PhD experience in a range of research and educational roles, presently situated at Monash University as a researcher and educator.Sensitive content warningThis episode deep dives on the perceptual and mind state experience of liminal spaces and refers briefly to physical violence. Please take care while listening and if you are feeling discomfort and would benefit from some support, please reach out to your GP or contact a service like Lifeline.Cite this episodeMacDonald, J. B. & De Foe, A. (2026, June 8). Backrooms and liminal spaces (No. 32) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.com TranscriptThe transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. There may be errors in the content as I do not have capacity to review for accuracy. AcknowledgementsPsych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald. The audio for this episode was edited by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald.

In this episode, I catch up with Dominique Barker (CIO) for a deep dive on project management and leadership. We discuss:Dom's professional experience and project management origin storyImplementing real change and making it stickQuantum thinkingFailing fast and forwardHarnessing executive sponsorshipProviding just-in-time informationGiving back to stakeholdersDoing project management in your personal life.About Dominique BarkerDominique Barker is a CIO (Chief Information Officer) with deep experience in IT strategy, enterprise leadership, AI, and organisation‑wide digital transformation across complex public‑sector and university environments. In this episode Dom shares experience gleaned from leading organisation‑wide adoption of new ways of working, delivering large and small‑scale generative and agentic AI implementations, and driving major technology uplift programs. Dom is known for bringing people along on the journey. She partners closely with business executives and delivery teams to ensure technology investments achieve measurable outcomes, hit strategic targets, and deliver lasting organisational change.More from DomDominique Barker on quantum thinking in the age of AI (Online article, Public Spectrum, March 2026)Coding, kids, and the invisible double shift of tech mums (Online article, ChannelLife, February 2026)Australia's AI outlook (Featured contributor, Moxie Insights, December 2025)Rewriting Your Career Mid-Flight – Dominique Barker on the Joyful Upsides of Tech Leadership (Podcast episode, Tech to Exec, September 2025)Books recommended by Dom #noprojects: A culture of continuous value. By Evan Leybourn and Shane Hastie The #noprojects online communityBad change: 50 ways why change doesn't work and 266 tips to make it better. By Peter Phan and Gilbert KruidenierBook websiteThe intangibles of leadership: The 10 qualities of superior executive performance. By Richard A. Davis Cite this episodeMacDonald, J. B. & Barker, D. (2026, April 29). Project management and leadership (No. 31) [Podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.comTranscriptThe transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. It may contain errors. AcknowledgementsPsych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jaz MacDonald. The video and audio for this episode was edited by Morgan McRae and Dr Jaz MacDonald. Special thanks to Dominique Barker for sharing your time and expertise.Related Psych Attack EpisodesSelf-advocacy and professional relationshipsWriting and publishing a non-fiction bookAcademic mental healthRelated blog postsSelf-advocacy and professional relationships. By Max Loomes.Book recommendation: ‘The checklist manifesto’ by Atul Gawande. By Dr Jaz MacDonald.

Snack Attacks are short segments taken from a full episode, so you can have a quick topic taster.This Snack Attack comes from episode 30 'Apple Cider Vinegar: Panel discussion about the Australian TV drama'Dr Suzie Gibson explains what we can learn about ourselves and the society we live in by analysing fictional texts.For links to related research articles and books mentioned in this Snack Attack, go to the full episode show notes.

Snack Attacks are short segments taken from a full episode, so you can have a quick topic taster.This Snack Attack comes from episode 30 'Apple Cider Vinegar: Panel discussion about the Australian TV drama'I describe what parasocial relationships are and some interesting related research findings. I also share some of my own parasocial relationships. Dr Erica McIntyre and I discuss examples of parasocial relationships in 'Apple Cider Vinegar'.For links to related research articles and books mentioned in this Snack Attack, go to the full episode show notes.

'Apple Cider Vinegar' is an Australian TV series that was released in 2025. It presents a dramatised version of the real world story of Belle Gibson, an Australian social media wellness influencer. In the series, Belle posts publicly about her experience of brain cancer and promotes alternative approaches to treatment to her millions of Instagram followers. And through a recipe app that was promoted by Apple called 'The Whole Pantry'. The primary conflict of the series being that Belle never had brain cancer.This episode of Psych Attack is a panel discussion between myself (Dr Jaz MacDonald), Dr Erica McIntyre, Dr Suzie Gibson, and Associate Professor Donna Bridges. Each of us brings a unique lens to our viewing of the series, informed by our own life experiences and professional expertise. The panelDr Jaz MacDonald: my area of expertise is trauma exposure and reactions, as well as mental health. I have a PhD in psychology and am a trained social worker with experience in mental health assessment. I mostly spend my time doing this podcast and working at an Australian research agency, creating practice resources for practitioners supporting children and families. Dr Erica McIntyre is a psychology and public health researcher and educator, now working as an ADHD Coach and Career and Leadership Coach. Erica has a PhD in psychology and has also practiced as a herbalist. Her research focuses on health and wellbeing, specifically health care decision making. Dr Suzie Gibson (PhD in literature and philosophy) is a Senior Lecturer in English Literature at Charles Sturt University. Trained in close textual analysis, Suzie surveys texts across fields and disciplines — literature, film, television and philosophy. She is interested in the ideological underpinnings of texts as well as with their aesthetic import and how it impacts upon their social and cultural meaning. Associate Professor Donna Bridges is a sociologist and a gender theorist at Charles Sturt University. Donna's research focuses primarily on gender inequality and work – specifically women integrating into male dominated fields and the barriers they encounter. This led her to an interest in sexual harassment and violence. Donna is also a creator and host for the podcast 'Conversations for a Brave New World' produced by the Gender Network at CSU. Each month, the podcast shares knowledge, scholarship and research about gender from the diverse perspectives of experts and scholars. The episode I have linked to is one where Donna interviews me (Jaz) about my team's coercive control research and practice resources.Sensitive content warningThis episode refers to cancer, mental illness, and intimate partner violence. Please take care while listening and if you are feeling discomfort and would benefit from some support, please reach out to your GP or contact a service like Lifeline.Content mentioned in this episodeApple Cider Vinegar, NetflixThe Search for Instagram's Worst Con-Artist, NetflixDederer, C. (2023). Monsters: What do we do with great art by bad people? Sceptre.Schur, M. (2022). This sandwich is morally problematic. But it's also delicious. Can I still eat it? In How to be perfect: The correct answer to every moral question (pp. 185-208). Quercus.Research articles on parasocial relationshipsBaek, Y. M., Bae, Y., & Jang, H. (2013). Social and parasocial relationships on social network sites and their differential relationships with users’ psychological well-being. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16(7), 512-517.Balaban, D. C., Szambolics, J., & Chirică, M. (2022). Parasocial relations and social media influencers' persuasive power. Exploring the moderating role of product involvement. Acta Psychologica, 230. DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103731.Bennett, L. L. (2024). Understanding parasocial relationships and the mental health impact. [Master's thesis, Louisiana Tech University].Hoffner, C. A., & Bond, B. J. (2022). Parasocial relationships, social media, & well-being. Current Opinions in Psychology, 45. DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101306.Liebers, N., & Schramm, H. (2019). Parasocial interactions and relationships with media characters–An inventory of 60 years of research. Communication Research Trends, 38(2).Madison, C., & Adam, A. (2023). Perceived marginalization, social support, and mental health: The role of parasocial relationships. Modern Psychological Studies, 28(2).Su, B.-C., Wu, L.-W., Chang, Y.-Y.-C., & Hong, R.-H. (2021). Influencers on social media as references: Understanding the importance of parasocial relationships. Sustainability, 13. DOI: 10.3390/su131910919Cite this episodeMacDonald, J. B., McIntyre, E., Gibson, S., & Bridges, D. (2026, March 12). Apple Cider Vinegar: Panel discussion about the Australian TV drama (No. 30) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.com TranscriptThe transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. There may be errors in the content as I do not have capacity to review for accuracy. AcknowledgementsPsych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald. The video and audio for this episode was edited by Morgan McRae. Special thanks to Dr Erica McIntyre, Dr Suzie Gibson, and Associate Professor Donna Bridges for sharing your time and expertise.

Are you a true crime enthusiast but an even bigger research methods nerd? I see you. If you have watched Mindhunters, read Silence of the Lambs, or are an old school Criminal Minds fan then you already know this study and this team of researchers. In the 1980s a team of FBI agents and researchers teamed up to advance what we knew about serial sexual offenders (serial killers).In this episode, Dr Monsurul Hoq and I nerd out on the research methods and statistical analysis used in the first peer-reviewed research article that compared crime scene characteristics for organised and disorganised serial killers.The beauty of this episode is the practical application of statistical methods. We talk about statistical power, alpha inflation, p-hacking, the obsession with p = .05 (conventions in determining statistical significance), and the importance of subject matter expertise and clinical / practical significance.The paper this episode focuses onRessler, R.K., Burgess, A.W., Douglas, J.E., Hartman, C.R., & D’Agostino, R.B. (1986). Sexual Killers and Their Victims: Identifying patterns through crime scene analysis. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1(3), 288-308. https://doi.org/10.1177/088626086001003003 [not open access]About Dr Monsurul HoqDr Monsurul Hoq has 10 years’ experience as a Biostatistician in medical and health research (in prevention and cure of common childhood illness, transgender health, vaccine uptake, paediatric reference intervals, disability, and mental health), leading, consulting, and performing statistical analysis of data, interpreting findings and reporting results. Prior to working in academia, Monsurul Hoq worked in non-government organisations in Bangladesh and South Sudan, monitoring and evaluating integrated community-based projects in education and child health sector.Monsurul completed his PhD in Biostatistics at the University of Melbourne. His research established continuous age-specific reference intervals for blood biomarkers in children using a novel statistical method. You can find a list of Monsurul's publications here.Jaz is writing a bookThis interview was conducted in preparation for a book I am writing. If you'd like to be notified when the book is finished, please email me and I will store your email and only contact you when the book is ready for you to read. [[email protected]]Cite this episodeMacDonald, J. B. & Hoq, M. (2025, December 29). Organised / disorganised typology of serial killers: A statistics deep dive of the 1986 study (No. 29) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.com TranscriptThe transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. There may be errors in the content as I do not have capacity to review for accuracy. AcknowledgementsPsych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald. The video and audio for this episode was edited by Morgan McRae. Special thanks to Dr Monsurul Hoq for sharing your time and expertise.Serial killer related blog postsSerial killers of ‘Mindhunter’: Childhood experiencesThe original research report behind ‘Mindhunter’Comparing the brains of successful and unsuccessful psychopathsThe Crime Classification ManualThe first offender profileForensic psychology related episodesMacDonald, J. B. & Ashton, S. (2024, June 5). Sex therapy, kink and paraphilias (No. 18) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.comMacDonald, J. B. & Malloy, L. (2024, March 2). Developmental insights for investigative interviewing about maltreatment (No. 17) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.comMacDonald, J. B. & March, E. (2022, June 5). An evolutionary perspective of online behaviour (Part 2: Cyber dating abuse)(No. 11) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.comResearch methods related episodesMacDonald, J. B. & Braund, T. A. (2024, Oct 1). Digital phenotyping: Using smartphone metadata to predict mental health symptoms (No. 22) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.comMacDonald, J. B. & Sugden, N. (2021, September 30). Psychometrics and psychological assessment tools (No. 6) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.comMacDonald, J. B. & Tillman, G. (2021, June 22). Mathematical models of how people make decisions (No. 2) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. https://www.psychattack.comResearch methods related blog postsThe pragmatic researcherWhat international literature is useful in the Australian context?Interpretivism in qualitative researchExperiences are socially constructed, but by whom? Constructivism vs constructionismInterested in going deeper of p-values?Amrhein, V., Greenland, S., & McShane, B. (2019). Retire statistical significance. Nature, 567, 305-307.Gelman, A. & Stern, H. (2006). The Difference Between “Significant” and “Not Significant” is not Itself Statistically Significant. The American Statistician, 60(4), 328-331.Greenland, S., Senn, S.J., Rothman, K...

Professor Emeritus Gregory S. Aldrete explains some of the hallmarks of Ancient Roman psychology (i.e., their values and motivations). Greg shares rich context and examples, weaving together a story of similarities and differences between life in Ancient Rome and life now. We discuss a wide range of topics, from hand gestures used to compensate for lack of microphones in large arenas, tombstone engravings and graffiti messages, common pets, and sources that historians draw on to find the lesser heard voices of ancient Rome.Greg is Professor Emeritus of history at the University of University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Greg is an ancient historian specialising in the study of civilisations, cultures, and history of the ancient Mediterranean world, particularly Ancient Greece and Rome. Greg is driven to figure out how stuff really worked in antiquity. You can reach out to Greg via email: [email protected] other interesting work by GregBooks The Great CoursesWebsiteI highly recommend subscribing to The Great Courses to access Greg's lecture series The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome. Tim and I spent much of our end of year break in 2024 watching it.Cite this episodeMacDonald, J. B. & Aldrete, G. S. (2025, June 22). In the minds of ancient Romans (No. 28) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.com TranscriptThe transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. There may be errors in the content as I do not have capacity to review for accuracy. AcknowledgementsPsych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald. The video and audio for this episode was edited by Morgan McRae. Special thanks to Professor Emeritus Gregory Aldrete for sharing your time and expertise.

In this episode, I catch up with Rahim Thawer about his book The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys, which is currently on presale and is being released 1 June, 2025.The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys offers a safe, inclusive space to examine, understand, and heal from systemic and interpersonal threats to your mental well-being. Based on proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this book provides proven-effective tools and exercises to help you reflect on, confront, and manage difficult emotions; improve self-image and self-esteem; and develop healthy coping skills. This guidebook will help you:Cultivate greater self-awarenessMove past negative thinking habitsHeal emotional wounds and build resilienceChallenge heteronormativity and gender role rigidityCare for your sexual health.Rahim is a racialized, queer social worker who works as an instructor, psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, consultant, public speaker, podcast host, and writer. He calls Toronto home and currently teaches at The University of Alabama. His work explores the intersection of mental health and systemic oppression. He has a particular interest in examining innovation in queer relationships and exploring how anti-racist, queer-affirming psychoanalytic frameworks can support social workers, training therapists, and organizational leaders.Pre-order The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer GuysAmazon US Amazon AustraliaWorks mentioned in this episodeThawer, R. (2025). The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys: Skills to Cope and Thrive as Your Authentic Self. Publisher: New Harbinger Publications. [Pre-Order]To see more of Rahim's work, check out ladyativan.comCite this episodeMacDonald, J. B. & Thawer, R. (2025, May 13). The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys (No. 27) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.com TranscriptThe transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. There may be errors in the content as I do not have capacity to review for accuracy. AcknowledgementsPsych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald. The video and audio for this episode was edited by Morgan McRae. Special thanks to Rahim Thawer for sharing your time and expertise.