Sideways
Episodes
254 episodes
Social Loafing
This week, we're talking about how some of us make less effort when we think our contribution won't be noticed.A man turns up in A&E with an unexploded bomb stuck in an unusual place, we discuss strange eating habits, and Martin gets...
The Ick
This week we're discussing the modern dating phenomenon that involved sudden revulsion at someone with whom you had been experiencing a romantic spark. I offer some theories about why it might have more to do with you than you realise.We...
Hugging
This week, we're discussing the benefits of physical touch, and why it can be such a useful component of recovery and good mental health more generally.
DTD (Developmental Topographical Disorientation)
This week, we're talking about getting lost easily and how it can lead to unfair and painful levels of criticism.A woman employs a counterintuitive way to address her debilitating anxiety, and I get angry about hot cross buns.
Bigorexia
This week, we're talking about a less well-known form of body dysmorphia.A man wakes up coloured blue and can't understand why, and there are despicable practices at the camel pageant.
How To Live A Good LIfe
This week we're talking about the components that help us get the most from our lives.A woman becomes unbelievably wealthy when buying a cup of coffee, there's underwear that measures 'flatus', I get the ick about something I can't recal...
Why it's hard to escape from addiction
This week, we're trying to explain why so many people remain addicted to drink and drugs even when they can see how much damage it's doing.A professional fighter gets his hair punched off, I witness a live drug deal whilst walking home f...
How To be Kind
This week, we're talking about kindness, how to demonstrate more of it and what it feels like when we do.We're recording on the first day of February which reminds of of violent traditions from childhood, and Martin has a story about ph...
Dry January
This week, we have a look at the popular 'Dry January' campaign and consider the potential benefits and drawbacks it represents. We also discuss why long term recovery for dependent drinkers is not comparable with short-term behavioural program...
Tolerance v Acceptance
This week we're discussing the difference between tolerance and acceptance.There's a drunk racoon, vaccination chat, and I am back to my usual disappointing worst in the lyric quiz.There is also a single uttering of the f-word so,...
Frisson
This week we're talking about expereinces that move you unexpectedly. I offer the example of a key change in a James Taylor song that moved me before realising that it doesn’t have a key change in it at all. It was the introduction ...
Glimmers
This week, we're discussing an effective antidote to anything that triggers feelings of anxiety, stress, overwhelm or sadness.Martin suggests some world records we can have a crack at, and there's some hygiene talk that involves dangerou...
SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder
This week we're talking about the way the shift in seasons and the changing of the clocks is a point in the year when many of us find our emotional resilience severely tested.In other news, a bold double bluff doesn't work out, there are...
Overexplaining
This week we're talking about the tendency to explain too much, a habit that emerges from insecurity in the explainer and often has little to do with the target of the explanation.A plane is grounded as a result of flatulence, there's a ...
Body Doubling
This week we're talking about an effective way of keeping yourself on track or reducing feelings of overwhelm when you're facing practical and/or emotional challenges.We also feel grateful for seasonal joy and being fed. Ther...
Shunishment
We're back!This week, we're having a conversation about 'shunishment' which might be a word you've never heard of that describes manipulative and controlling behaviour in a relationship.There's a new quiz, we're both surprisingly ...
Finding the right sponsor
This week we're discussing the red flags you might come across when you work with a sponsor in one of the fellowships and what you can do about it if it happens.
Curiosity
This week, we're talking about why curiosity is important and how we, sometimes inadvertently, prevent ourselves from exercising it.We hear about famous people carved from vegetables, and a man gives police an unwelcome gift when they pu...
How To Remember What You Learn
This week, we're talking about how we forget most of what we learn and consider ways of improving retention.Some friends, having messed with hallucinogens, mistakenly believe their companion to have died, and an elephant pops into ...
Overthinking
This week, we're talking about how we get in our own way by making things too complicated and failing to establish helpful strategies for getting stuff done.I nearly burn myself alive with a BBQ, we ponder on what might make it worth bei...
Self-nudging
This week, we're talking about how to avoid putting barriers up to prevent our own progress and how small incremental improvements add up to a lot.There's also a man who gets shot by his dog, and gratitude for longevity and pizza ovens.
Social Thinning
This week, we're talking about the early developmental experiences that might have a significant impact on your ability to establish and sustain relationships.There's also a cautionary tale about carrying glazed windows on your head down...
Dealing with criticism
This week, we discuss the perils of slipping on fruit, fear of vending machines, and the joy of greenhouses and short trousers.If that weren't enough, we devote the more serious segment of the episode to a discussion on ways to deal with...
Meaning v Purpose
This week Martin has some wisdom related to the classic film, 'Citizen Kane'.It's the first episode we've recorded while sitting in the same room for five years and, frankly, it was disturbing.There's all the usual fun and frolics...
Dealing with other peoples opinions
This week we're talking about how to keep your composure when someone tells you that Charlie Chaplin films are funny.A mother steals ice cream from her child, who then gets the police involved, and a snake takes part in a heist and slith...