JOY Drive

18 Oct 2025

Associate Professor Daniel Shepherd: The Science of ASMR

Alternative Health, Health, Mental Health, Psychology

Whispers, tapping and soft brushing… for millions, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) videos are a nightly ritual promising calm and sleep. But what’s really happening in our brains when those “tingles” kick in? Associate Professor Daniel Shepherd from Auckland University of Technology unpacks the psychology and science behind ASMR and how it soothes anxiety for some, creeps others out, and why only certain people can feel it at all.

Guest: Associate Professor Daniel Shepherd, Department of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology

Presenter: Warren Andrew

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:17 — 11.4MB)

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5 Feb 2026

Jesse Matheson: Mardi Gras Cancels its After Party

LGBTIQA+ Community, Personal Safety, Popular Culture, Society & Culture

The cancellation of the official Mardi Gras after-party has raised big questions for festival-goers and the broader community. Jesse Matheson ...

5 Feb 2026

Professor Emerita Thea van de Mortel: Why We Get Sick as Soon as the Holiday Starts

Health, Natural Sciences, Places & Travel, Science & Medicine

Many people push through stress and deadlines, only to feel unwell the moment they finally stop. Thea van de Mortel ...

5 Feb 2026

Associate Professor Vincent Ho: Ultra-processed Foods Increasing Bowel Cancer Rates In Under 50s

Diet and Nutrition, Health, Science & Medicine

Rates of bowel cancer are rising in people under 50, and researchers are increasingly linking this shift to ultra-processed foods. ...