This Thinking Life https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com Let's think about what it means to be human in today's world.

This Thinking Life is a podcast adaptation of Massey University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences public talk series, bringing you smart, accessible conversations about the ideas that shape how we understand ourselves and the world. Each episode features Massey humanities and social sciences researchers exploring big questions across areas such as psychology, media, politics, classics, and mātauranga Māori, with practical insights you can use in everyday life. Recorded from the free live webinars, the series lets you think in new ways, understand different perspectives, and join the conversation about our shared future.
]]> Fri, 15 May 2026 01:09:59 -0300 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved Education 1440 episodic What does it mean to think well in a world overflowing with information, emotion and ideology? This Thinking Life takes the best of Massey University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences webinar series and turns it into a podcast you can take anywhere. Across eight engaging talks, Massey academics unpack how ideas from the humanities and social sciences influence identity, hope, media, technology, politics and wellbeing. Expect clear thinking, real-world examples, and research that connects directly to the lives we are living now. CoHSSMASSEY CoHSSMASSEY No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/12172538/Podbean_tile_1400_x_14006ttxh.jpg This Thinking Life https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com 144 144 How Digital Technology is Shaping Lives: What our Research on Period Tracking Apps Tells Us, with Professor Sarah Riley How Digital Technology is Shaping Lives: What our Research on Period Tracking Apps Tells Us, with Professor Sarah Riley https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/how-digital-technology-is-shaping-lives-what-our-research-on-period-tracking-apps-tells-us-with-professor-sarah-riley/ https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/how-digital-technology-is-shaping-lives-what-our-research-on-period-tracking-apps-tells-us-with-professor-sarah-riley/#comments Fri, 15 May 2026 01:09:59 -0300 thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/cd66e428-e50f-3497-8a01-e3b2ddfb28df What can period-tracking apps tell us about digital life? In this seventh talk, Professor Sarah Riley draws on research into period tracking to show how everyday technologies shape identity, health, privacy, and power. A practical, research-informed guide to noticing what apps ask of us, and what they quietly normalise.

]]> What can period-tracking apps tell us about digital life? In this seventh talk, Professor Sarah Riley draws on research into period tracking to show how everyday technologies shape identity, health, privacy, and power. A practical, research-informed guide to noticing what apps ask of us, and what they quietly normalise.

]]> CoHSSMASSEY false No 1593 6 full Emotion in/as Popular Culture, with Dr Pansy Duncan Emotion in/as Popular Culture, with Dr Pansy Duncan https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/emotion-inas-popular-culture-with-dr-pansy-duncan/ https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/emotion-inas-popular-culture-with-dr-pansy-duncan/#comments Fri, 15 May 2026 01:09:48 -0300 thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/bc597187-0a43-3797-808b-ae087412a1af How do emotions circulate through popular culture? In this sixth talk, Dr Pansy Duncan explores feeling as both content and technique: how films, TV, music and online culture shape what we feel, and how those feelings shape us in return. A lively, research-informed guide to reading emotion in media.

]]> How do emotions circulate through popular culture? In this sixth talk, Dr Pansy Duncan explores feeling as both content and technique: how films, TV, music and online culture shape what we feel, and how those feelings shape us in return. A lively, research-informed guide to reading emotion in media.

]]> CoHSSMASSEY false No 1639 7 full The Power of Feeling: How Emotions Shape Our Minds, with Dr Kealagh Robinson The Power of Feeling: How Emotions Shape Our Minds, with Dr Kealagh Robinson https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/the-power-of-feeling-how-emotions-shape-our-minds-with-dr-kealagh-robinson/ https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/the-power-of-feeling-how-emotions-shape-our-minds-with-dr-kealagh-robinson/#comments Fri, 15 May 2026 01:09:37 -0300 thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/b6983859-e911-3885-97b1-8e447fbda90d Why do emotions shape how we think, decide and relate? In this final talk, Dr Kealagh Robinson explores the power of feeling: how emotions work in the mind, how they influence judgement and behaviour, and why understanding them matters. A clear, research-informed guide to making sense of what we feel.

]]> Why do emotions shape how we think, decide and relate? In this final talk, Dr Kealagh Robinson explores the power of feeling: how emotions work in the mind, how they influence judgement and behaviour, and why understanding them matters. A clear, research-informed guide to making sense of what we feel.

]]> CoHSSMASSEY false No 1806 9 full ‘Race’: How a Discredited Science Still Shapes Our Daily Lives, with Professor Richard Shaw ‘Race’: How a Discredited Science Still Shapes Our Daily Lives, with Professor Richard Shaw https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/race-how-a-discredited-science-still-shapes-our-daily-lives-with-professor-richard-shaw/ https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/race-how-a-discredited-science-still-shapes-our-daily-lives-with-professor-richard-shaw/#comments Fri, 15 May 2026 01:09:06 -0300 thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/920f7808-f102-3d7f-91f4-14f508cc7fca ‘Race’ has been discredited as science, yet it still shapes everyday life. In this fifth talk, Professor Richard Shaw explores how racial ideas persist through institutions, media and habits of thought, influencing identity, power and belonging. A clear, research-informed invitation to recognise these legacies and think differently.

]]> ‘Race’ has been discredited as science, yet it still shapes everyday life. In this fifth talk, Professor Richard Shaw explores how racial ideas persist through institutions, media and habits of thought, influencing identity, power and belonging. A clear, research-informed invitation to recognise these legacies and think differently.

]]> CoHSSMASSEY false No 1692 5 full How Does Media Influence Work? With Dr Kevin Veale How Does Media Influence Work? With Dr Kevin Veale https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/how-does-media-influence-work-with-dr-kevin-veale/ https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/how-does-media-influence-work-with-dr-kevin-veale/#comments Thu, 14 May 2026 21:59:38 -0300 thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/7c90648e-bfa5-3ef7-a0ad-b00ca72152fb How do the media actually influence what we think, feel, and do? In this fourth talk, Dr Kevin Veale unpacks how media impact functions: how it shapes attention, values and belief, and how meaning is built through platforms, stories, and images. A clear, research-informed guide to becoming a more critical, confident media user.

]]> How do the media actually influence what we think, feel, and do? In this fourth talk, Dr Kevin Veale unpacks how media impact functions: how it shapes attention, values and belief, and how meaning is built through platforms, stories, and images. A clear, research-informed guide to becoming a more critical, confident media user.

]]> CoHSSMASSEY false No 1666 4 full Karl Marx, Ideology and Media Cultures: How Has Capitalism Shaped Our World? With Dr Yuan Gong Karl Marx, Ideology and Media Cultures: How Has Capitalism Shaped Our World? With Dr Yuan Gong https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/karl-marx-ideology-and-media-cultures-how-has-capitalism-shaped-our-world-with-dr-yuan-gong/ https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/karl-marx-ideology-and-media-cultures-how-has-capitalism-shaped-our-world-with-dr-yuan-gong/#comments Sun, 10 May 2026 19:25:23 -0300 thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/fd61fade-e6f4-3135-a30b-0ca356c34586 How has capitalism shaped what we think is ‘normal’? In this third talk, Dr Yuan Gong draws on Karl Marx and media studies to examine how ideology is embedded in popular culture, shaping beliefs, desires, and everyday common sense. A sharp, accessible guide to reading media critically and recognising capitalism’s invisible reach.

]]> How has capitalism shaped what we think is ‘normal’? In this third talk, Dr Yuan Gong draws on Karl Marx and media studies to examine how ideology is embedded in popular culture, shaping beliefs, desires, and everyday common sense. A sharp, accessible guide to reading media critically and recognising capitalism’s invisible reach.

]]> CoHSSMASSEY false No 1671 3 full Practising Hope in Uncertain Times, with Dr Alice Beban Practising Hope in Uncertain Times, with Dr Alice Beban https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/practising-hope-in-uncertain-times-with-dr-alice-beban/ https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/practising-hope-in-uncertain-times-with-dr-alice-beban/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:36:49 -0300 thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/8fb6391d-0b0c-319f-81a5-badc076307b2 Hope isn’t passive optimism: it can be actively practised. In this second talk, Dr Alice Beban explores how hope can be cultivated collectively in uncertain times, and how it helps us face uncertainty, imagine alternatives, and act. A clear, research-informed invitation to rethink what hope does, and how we can sustain it together.

]]> Hope isn’t passive optimism: it can be actively practised. In this second talk, Dr Alice Beban explores how hope can be cultivated collectively in uncertain times, and how it helps us face uncertainty, imagine alternatives, and act. A clear, research-informed invitation to rethink what hope does, and how we can sustain it together.

]]> CoHSSMASSEY false No 1700 2 full The Future Self: Exploring Identity and Transition Points, with Dr Raewyn Laurenson Elder The Future Self: Exploring Identity and Transition Points, with Dr Raewyn Laurenson Elder https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/the-future-self-exploring-identity-and-transition-points-with-raewyn-laurenson-elder/ https://thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/e/the-future-self-exploring-identity-and-transition-points-with-raewyn-laurenson-elder/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:49:02 -0300 thisthinkinglife.podbean.com/de9eab7f-38e0-3199-9ad5-bb5ef24342f5  

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