JOY Drive

19 Dec 2024

Stephanie Gomes-Ng: Superstitions

History, Mental Health, Philosophy, Popular Culture, Psychology, Social Sciences

Superstitions… we all know them, we all laugh about them, and yet, many of us secretly abide by them. From lucky socks to avoiding black cats, superstitions come in all shapes and sizes. We dive into the psychology behind these curious habits and why they persist, even in a modern, science-driven world.

Guest: Stephanie Gomes-Ng is a Senior Lecturer of Psychology at the Auckland University of Technology.

Presenter: Warren Andrew.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:48 — 13.5MB)

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15 Mar 2026

Associate Professor Micah Goldwater: Why Rational People Still Believe in Superstitions

Popular Culture, Social Sciences, Society & Culture

Most of us consider ourselves rational, yet superstitions still shape everyday behaviour. Psychologist Micah Goldwater explains why scientific thinking and ...

15 Mar 2026

Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: Why Some Gen Z Men Are Returning to Traditional Gender Views

LGBTIQA+ Community, Popular Culture, Social Media, Society & Culture

New research suggests some Gen Z men are expressing more traditional views about gender roles than older generations. Associate Professor ...

15 Mar 2026

Ben Cork: What the Pride in Sport Survey Reveals About Inclusion in Australian Sport

LGBTIQA+ Community, Professional, Society & Culture, Sports & Recreation

New results from the Pride in Sport Index survey reveal how LGBTQIA+ players, coaches and volunteers are experiencing sport across ...