The Mood Booster Podcast

Welcome to Episode 62 of The Mood Booster Podcast. 

In this Friday Focus episode, we break down the psychology behind why so many young men are being pulled toward manosphere content, and why these ideas can feel so convincing, even when they are harmful. 

Building on Monday’s reflection, this episode explores the deeper mechanisms at play. We look at how identity threat, uncertainty, and changing social roles can lead young men to search for clarity and belonging. Research in social psychology shows that when identity feels unstable, people are more likely to gravitate toward groups that...

Welcome to Episode 61 of The Mood Booster Podcast. 

In this episode, we explore the rise of the manosphere, the idea of the red pill, and why so many young men are being drawn into online spaces that promote rigid and often harmful ideas about masculinity. But rather than criticising from a distance, we take a step back and ask a deeper question. 

What is this content offering that feels so compelling? 

We reflect on the emotional and psychological drivers behind this movement, including the search for identity, direction, and certainty in a world that...

Welcome to Episode 60 of The Mood Booster Podcast. Guys... this one is special. 

In this episode, we celebrate one year of The Mood Booster Podcast. What started as an idea between two friends has grown into something far bigger than we ever expected, and this episode is a chance to pause, reflect, and take it all in. 

Recorded in Malta overlooking Valletta at sunset, we open a several beers and take a more light-hearted, honest, and reflective approach as we look back on the past year. This is a conversation about the journey, the growth, th...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 59 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this Friday Focus episode, we turn Monday’s reflections into practical psychological tools to help you deal with rude or aggressive strangers without letting those moments take over your day. 

In the previous episode, we reflected on why sudden hostility from strangers can affect us so strongly. In this episode, we focus on how to respond in a way that protects your emotional wellbeing and prevents someone else’s bad moment from becoming your entire day. 

Dr Marcus and Charl...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 58 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we reflect openly on what happens psychologically when strangers are rude, aggressive, or unexpectedly hostile towards us, and why those moments can stay with us long after the interaction has ended. 

Dr Marcus shares a recent experience of being shouted at by a cyclist while out running. A moment of aggression from a stranger led to hours of replaying the interaction and wondering whether something could have been said differently. Charlie reflects on similar experiences where sudden hostility fr...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 57 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this Friday Focus episode, we turn Monday’s reflections into evidence-based advice to help you find joy in your every day. 

Earlier this week we explored the idea of manifestation. Vision boards. Speaking goals into existence. Imagining the future you want to create. For some people it feels powerful and motivating. For others it sounds like pure pseudoscience. 

Today we step away from the mystical side and explore manifestation through a psychological lens. Because when you look closely at th...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 56 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we reflect openly and honestly on the idea of manifestation and why so many people are drawn to it. 

Manifestation has become one of the most talked about ideas in self improvement. Vision boards, scripting your future, speaking goals into existence. Some people swear by it, while others dismiss it entirely. 

Dr Marcus reflects on moments in his life where setting a clear intention seemed to change the way he approached opportunities, relationships, and goals. Charlie shar...

Friday Focus: How to Improve Your Attention Span | The Attention Myth Explained | The Mood Booster Podcast | TMBP 

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 55 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this Friday Focus episode, we turn Monday’s reflections into evidence-based advice to help you find joy in your every day. 

Earlier this week, we questioned whether our attention spans are actually shrinking. Today, we go deeper. 

We open with the popular claim that humans now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish and examine what the research really s...

Reflecting on: Our Shrinking Attention Span | Modern Distraction & Presence | The Mood Booster Podcast | TMBP 

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 54 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we reflect openly and honestly on the idea that our attention spans are shrinking and whether that narrative actually holds up. 

Dr Marcus shares how recently he has found himself flicking between tasks, tabs, and notifications, questioning whether his focus is worse than it used to be. Charlie reflects on our freediving trip, where being underwater demanded full presence. No phones. No noise...

Does Losing Someone Ever Get Easier? | How To Cope with Grief | Friday Focus | TMBP 

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 53 of The Mood Booster Podcast, Friday Focus. In this shorter, science-based episode, we turn Monday’s reflections on grief into evidence-based advice to help you find stability, understanding, and compassion during bereavement. 

Today we explore one central question: does losing someone ever get easier? Drawing on grief psychology, attachment theory, and modern bereavement research, we break down what is happening in the mind and nervous system after the death of a lov...

Reflecting on: The Death of a Loved One | Grief, Loss & Healing | The Mood Booster Podcast | TMBP 

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 52 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we reflect openly and honestly on the death of a loved one and what grief really feels like in the aftermath of loss. 

Charlie shares his experience of losing his nanna last year, and Marcus opens up about losing his dad and the impact that grief has had on him personally and professionally, including speaking recently on a live panel about...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy

Welcome to Episode 51 of The Mood Booster Podcast, Friday Focus. In this episode, we break down how to overcome fear using evidence based psychology, behavioural science, and practical tools you can use immediately.

If you have ever wondered why fear feels so powerful, why anxiety sticks around, or why avoidance makes things worse, this episode explains the four psychological mechanisms that keep fear alive, and how to overcome them.

Building on Monday’s reflections about free diving, public speaking, and performance nerves, this episode turns lived experience in...

How to overcome fear | Mastering fear and anxiety | Reflecting on fear and courage | The Mood Booster Podcast

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy

Welcome to Episode 50 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we reflect on fear, anxiety, bravery, and what it really means to master fear rather than avoid it. If you’ve ever wondered how to overcome fear, why fear feels so intense, or how anxiety can actually improve performance, this conversation is for you.

Fear is not weakness. Fear is biology. Fear is philosophy. Fear is growth.

Ch...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

In this Friday Focus episode, we take Monday’s reflections on networking and turn them into clear psychological understanding, research grounded insight, and practical tools for building an authentic social network that supports wellbeing and growth. 

We begin by clarifying what authentic networking really is. Rather than being strategic, transactional, or pitch led, authentic networking is value aligned, curiosity driven, long term, and human. It prioritises connection over extraction and relationships over immediate return. 

Drawing on Self Determination Theory, we explore why authentic networking feels better and works...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 48 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we slow things down and reflect openly on our lived experiences of networking, connection, and the relationships that have shaped our personal and professional lives. 

We talk honestly about our own networks, times when they felt strong, times when they felt thin or transactional, and how our relationship with networking has changed over time. We reflect on whether networking is something you consciously build or something that grows naturally through curiosity, listening, and shared values. 

Charlie ref...

Friday Focus: How to Improve Your Attention Span | The Attention Myth Explained | The Mood Booster Podcast | TMBP 

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 55 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this Friday Focus episode, we turn Monday’s reflections into evidence-based advice to help you find joy in your every day. 

Earlier this week, we questioned whether our attention spans are actually shrinking. Today, we go deeper. 

We open with the popular claim that humans now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish and examine what the research really s...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 47 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we take Monday’s reflections on imposter syndrome and turn them into clear psychological understanding, research grounded insight, and practical tools you can use. 

We begin by breaking down what imposter syndrome actually is. It is not a clinical diagnosis, but a common psychological experience first described by Clance and Imes, where capable people struggle to internalise success and fear being exposed as a fraud. We explore why this experience is especially common during career transitions, academic progression, and p...

46: Reflecting on Imposter Syndrome 

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 46 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we slow things down and reflect openly on our lived experiences of imposter syndrome and what it feels like to doubt yourself even when you are capable, qualified, and showing up. 

Charlie reflects on feeling imposter syndrome very recently while leading our live workshop, questioning whether he was qualified enough to be in the room and worrying about being exposed as not knowing enough. Dr Marcus shares how imposter syndrome followed him thr...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 45 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we explore the emotional reality of student hood in 2025. Recorded with Josh Robinson, founder of the London Student Network, at King’s College London’s Entrepreneur Institute, this conversation focuses on identity, belonging, pressure, and wellbeing during one of the most intense life transitions. 

Studentship is often framed around grades and productivity, but for many it is a period of identity formation, uncertainty, loneliness, and comparison. Drawing on UK research showing rising levels of stress and loneliness among studen...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 44 of The Mood Booster Podcast. This episode follows directly from our very first live workshop, Joyful Fuelling for Your New Years Fitness Goals, where we sat in a room with James from BrashNutrition and unpacked the realities of diet culture, misinformation, and the pressure to change our bodies in the name of health. 

In this conversation, we reflect more deeply on one central question: why do we diet in the first place. Is it really about health, or is it about chasing unrealistic body ideals shaped by c...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy 

Welcome to Episode 43 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we slow things down and explore one of the most fundamental human questions there is: purpose. What gives life meaning, especially during times of suffering, uncertainty, or emotional pain? 

We centre this conversation around the work of Viktor Frankl, psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor, and founder of logotherapy. Frankl believed that the primary human drive is not happiness or pleasure, but meaning. When we have a why to live for, he argued, we can endure almost any how. 

We un...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy

Welcome to Episode 42 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we welcome the New Year by slowing things down, grounding ourselves in perspective, and rethinking what it really means to set goals that last.

We begin by sharing good news from across the world in 2025, from major climate wins and conservation breakthroughs to medical advances, human rights progress, and global health successes. Before diving into goals and resolutions, we remind ourselves that progress is happening, even when the world can feel overwhelming.

From there, we unpack...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to episode 41 of The Mood Booster Podcast. In this episode, we slow things down and reflect on what has been a huge year for The Mood Booster and for us both personally. What started as an idea between two people has grown into something far bigger than we ever expected, and this episode is about honouring that journey.

Charlie comes into the episode with a plan to break down the growth of the podcast and everything that has happened across the year. But Marcus surprises Charlie with a...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to episode 40 of The Mood Booster Podcast. Merry Christmas from us!

We slow things down and reflect on Christmas and the spirit that surrounds it. From childhood memories to present day rituals, we talk about what Christmas really means to us and why it still holds such emotional weight for so many people. 

We dive into our favourite Christmas memories, the songs that instantly change our mood, and the films that feel like tradition rather than entertainment. 

We debate the best part of a ro...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 39: How to Give Better Gifts: Reflecting on the Psychology of Gift Giving, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore why giving and receiving gifts can feel joyful, stressful, meaningful, awkward and everything in between.

From Secret Santa disasters to deeply thoughtful gifts that strengthen relationships, this episode unpacks the psychology behind why we give, what makes a gift actually meaningful, and why thoughtfulness matters more than cost. We look into reciprocity, love languages, and new research showing how thoughtful gifts create deeper closeness.

Whether you...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 38: Why Mixing Friends Feels So Hard. Reflecting on Blending Friendship Groups, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore why it feels risky to mix your different friendship circles, why it matters for belonging and community, and how to do it without chaos.

We start by sharing our own experiences of trying to bring people together, from the anxiety of managing different versions of ourselves to the joy that comes when new connections form.

Then we dive into the psychology behind mixing groups, from self presentation...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 37: How to Find Joy in Your Food: Reflecting on Influencer Misinformation and Toxic Diet Culture, where Dr Marcus and Charlie sit down with Registered Dietitian James Brash (@BrashNutrition) to unpack why the internet has become a breeding ground for food fear, and how to reclaim a healthy, empowered relationship with what you eat.

We start by exploring how diet has become the wellbeing battleground online, and how James’s myth-busting mission aims to cut through the noise. From seed oils to carbs, we break down why pe...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 36: Is volunteering inherently selfish? Reflecting on the Psychology of Volunteering, where Dr Marcus and Charlie dive into the psychology of volunteering: why we do it, what it gives us, and whether altruism can ever be truly selfless.

We start with our own volunteering stories, from Charlie "volunteering" at ParkRun, youth work, fundraising and events, all the way to beach cleans, Duke of Edinburgh, and travelling projects in Madagascar and Thailand. Then we break down what the science actually says about why humans help others, exploring everything...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 35: Finding Joy in Your Everyday While Living in the City: Our First Live Webinar, where Dr Marcus and Charlie are joined by Chris Hatfield and Lucy Mulligan to discuss identity, wellbeing and belonging for urban residents.

London is a city full of opportunity, culture, movement, and magic, but it can also be overwhelming. Many people quietly struggle with loneliness, burnout, identity shifts, and the pressure to keep up in a place that never slows down.

In this episode, we explore how to find joy...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 34: How to Stay Consistent When Motivation Runs Out: Reflecting on Willpower, where Dr Marcus and Charlie sit down with Ben Kelleher, ultra-marathon runner, triathlete, fundraiser, and host of Running for the Bus, to explore what willpower really is, how far it can take us, and when it starts to take from us.

From running 100km races and raising over £10,000 for charity, to producing his own theatre shows in London and even meeting Barack Obama, Ben’s story is a masterclass in discipline, determination, and purpose. But bene...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 33: How to Regain Control of Your Life: Reflecting onYour Locus of Control, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore how our sense of control shapes our wellbeing, motivation, and mental health, and why learning to balance it is key to living with calm and agency.

From Rotter’s (1966) Locus of Control Theory to Seligman’s work on Learned Helplessness, this episode dives into the psychology of perceived control, asking: how much power do we really have, and what happens when we try to control too much or too...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 32: Why We Are So Polarised in 2025: Reflecting on the Art of Debate Pt. 2, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore how identity, belonging, and social media have shaped the way we disagree, and why finding common ground feels harder than ever.

From Social Identity Theory to algorithmic echo chambers, this episode unpacks the psychology behind political and cultural polarisation, exploring why so many of us now see those who think differently as not just wrong, but immoral. Together, we look at how to build dialogue that protects...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 31: Why We Argue (and How to Do It Better): Reflecting on the Art of Debate, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore why humans argue and how to do it without losing connection, curiosity, or compassion.

From Socratic questioning to confirmation bias and cognitive dissonance, this episode dives into the psychology behind why debates so easily become battles and how to bring humility and empathy back into our conversations.

We explore:

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 30: How to Heal Your Relationship with Yourself: Reflecting on Inner Dialogue, where Dr Marcus and Charlie are joined by Sam Hughes for a powerful conversation about self-talk, self-compassion, and building a kinder relationship with the person you spend the most time with: yourself.

From understanding how your inner voice shapes emotion and behaviour, to learning practical tools for reframing negative self-talk, this episode explores the science of inner dialogue, emotional regulation, and how to quiet the inner critic to find more peace, confidence, and connection in...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 29 Why You Feel Sad in the Darker Months: Reflecting on Seasonal Change, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore the science behind autumn and winter low-mood, the biological and behavioural shifts that make this period uniquely challenging, and how to adapt, reframe, and care for yourself through it. 

From light exposure to circadian disruption, serotonin, physical activity, and connection, this episode dives into why many of us feel the “winter blues” and offers practical tools to build resilience and peace through seasonal change. We help you find joy i...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 28 How to Make a Podcast: Reflecting on the Last Six Months, where Dr Marcus and Charlie take a moment to pause, look back, and reflect on the journey so far. From launching The Mood Booster to hitting 10K followers and everything in between.

In this special stock-take episode, we ask each other honest questions about the highs, lows, and lessons of the past six months. We share what’s surprised us most, what we’ve learned about ourselves, and what it’s really like to build a well...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

⚠️ Please note: This episode contains discussions of topics that some listeners may find difficult, including sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

Welcome to Episode 27 How to Navigate Fitness as a Female: Reflecting on Sexism in a Male-Dominated Industry, where Dr Marcus and Charlie bring on Maria Galitzine (@motivatewithmaria) to share her lived experience and how she has grown a platform all about female empowerment and self-confidence in male-dominated spaces.

From early experiences in sport to confronting harassment and breaking down damaging myths, this conversation explores the barriers women face...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 26 Reflecting on Apologies, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore what makes an apology meaningful, why saying sorry is so hard, and how genuine remorse and repair can restore trust and help us heal.

From the idea that apology is a process (not a single line) to the six core ingredients of effective apologies, this episode dives into the psychology of repair, why vulnerability matters, how closeness and gender can make apologies more difficult, and why timing, responsibility, and follow-through are everything.

We explore:
• Wh...

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy.

Welcome to Episode 25 How to Forgive and Find Peace: Reflecting on Forgiveness, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore how forgiveness can help us let go of resentment, regulate emotions, and reclaim peace, even when justice isn’t possible.

From self-forgiveness to the REACH model, this episode dives into what forgiveness really is (and isn’t), why it supports mental and physical health, and how to practise it without excusing harm or forcing reconciliation.

We explore:
• How forgiveness shifts us from fight-or-flight into healing 🌱
• Why self-forgiveness matters for...

The home of wellbeing and joy.

Welcome to Episode 24 Reflecting on: Resentment, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore why resentment forms, how it affects our wellbeing, and practical ways to work through it.

From the mental replay loops that keep us stuck to the ways resentment signals what matters most to us, this episode dives into how noticing, processing, and releasing resentment can free up energy for joy, connection, and self-care.

We explore:

• What resentment really is: anger, rumination, and moral protest 🧠
• How lingering resentment affects mental and physical health 📚
• Why...