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PsycHacks

PsycHacks

Orion Taraban 634 Episodes Jul 24, 2026

PsycHacks offers short, thought-provoking episodes several times a week on various psychological topics, inspired by clinical practice. Each episode aims to help listeners see themselves or their world from a new perspective.

Episodes

Episode 642: Forget it (have a short memory)
Episode 642: Forget it (have a short memory) Jul 24, 2026 690 Healing requires understanding and forgiveness – but it may also require forgetfulness. In this episode, I explain why successful people have a short memory and quickly re-engage after setbacks. Holding on to pain can become a form of self-protection that ultimately blocks growth, freedom, and happiness. Sometimes we just need to forget it. Join my community: The Captains' Quarters. Attend bimonth
Episode 641: Paying to play (the two exceptions)
Episode 641: Paying to play (the two exceptions) Jul 20, 2026 850 Most relationships involve some form of exchange, but many people overlook the transactional nature of paying to play in modern dating. Both traditional marriage and sugaring relationships exist on the same continuum in which resources are traded for sexual opportunity. In this episode, I discuss the two exceptions to this dynamic, where the relationship is primarily founded on something other tha
Episode 640: Your past (moving forward from pain)
Episode 640: Your past (moving forward from pain) Jul 17, 2026 701 Your past can shape you, but it doesn't have to define you – especially when moving forward from pain is the path to self-realization. In this episode, I challenge the idea that suffering justifies withdrawal from life and argue that your past can be fuel for courage – as opposed to a prison of stagnation. Using both philosophy and psychology, I examine why identifying as a victim undermines resil
Episode 639: Obedience (a model for women)
Episode 639: Obedience (a model for women) Jul 13, 2026 878 Everyone is obedient to something, and this obedience (properly applied) provides the necessary structure for self-improvement and functional relationships. In this episode, I present a model for women in which I argue that exercising good judgment with respect to what they choose to obey can strengthen their characters and improve their relationships. The alternative is obedience to self, which i
Episode 638: Love bombing (the two budgets)
Episode 638: Love bombing (the two budgets) Jul 10, 2026 739 Love bombing is a courtship strategy that overwhelms partners with attention and affection before effort inevitably declines. In today's episode, I explain the economic logic behind romance, revealing how dating operates through the two budgets of recruitment and maintenance. Understanding these dynamics can protect you from manipulation and lead to more realistic relationship expectations. Join m
Episode 637: Never restore a woman (don't take her back)
Episode 637: Never restore a woman (don't take her back) Jul 6, 2026 667 Many men are monomaniacally focused on getting an ex back. However, you should never restore a woman to her previous level of commitment after she has chosen to leave. Just like you can't step into the same river twice, you can't have the same relationship twice – even with the same person. Moving forward with clarity and self-respect often requires that you don't take her back into the role she o
Episode 636: Your best life (an ideal Tuesday)
Episode 636: Your best life (an ideal Tuesday) Jul 3, 2026 608 Designing your best life is less about chasing peak experiences and more about building a sustainable daily structure. By focusing on an ideal Tuesday, you can create a repeatable process that balances work, health, relationships, growth, and meaningful leisure. Craft a life you can live again and again – because lasting happiness is built out of ordinary days. Join my community: The Captains' Qua
Episode 635: Women are endurance hunters (stop running from her)
Episode 635: Women are endurance hunters (stop running from her) Jun 29, 2026 596 Some women are endurance hunters. They apply steady pressure over time until resistance collapses. In this episode, I discuss how incremental demands can shape power dynamics over time. The solution is simple, but counterintuitive: stop running from her and hold your ground. Draw a boundary and preserve your frame in the face of relationship pressure. The Captains' Quarters. Attend bimonthly group
Episode 634: The death of speech (why we need men)
Episode 634: The death of speech (why we need men) Jun 26, 2026 588 Recent research has revealed significant gender differences with respect to tolerance for opposing viewpoints. In today's episode, I argue that male social norms around respect and restraint may play a crucial role in preserving open dialogue and intellectual diversity. As relational aggression increases, the risk of widespread self-censorship – the death of speech – becomes more pronounced. Disco
Episode 633: Love cheats (the unfaithful spouse)
Episode 633: Love cheats (the unfaithful spouse) Jun 22, 2026 810 Why do so many romances involve betrayal? In this episode, I explain why love cheats as a narrative device to measure the depth and intensity of the romantic connection. This trope dates back to the very first romance, The song of Tristan and Iseult, in which love and duty are set on a tragic collision course. The more a character sacrifices, the more “real” their love appears to the audience. Thi
Episode 632: The gift of your absence (if you can't leave)
Episode 632: The gift of your absence (if you can't leave) Jun 19, 2026 660 When respect breaks down, the gift of your absence can remind others of your value by withdrawing from unproductive dynamics. But what happens if you can't leave – because of work, family, or shared responsibilities? In today's episode, I explain how strategic emotional neutrality can protect your well-being while you prepare for healthier boundaries – or a decisive exit. The Captains' Quarters. A
Episode 631: A million dollar dream (it's worth the work)
Episode 631: A million dollar dream (it's worth the work) Jun 15, 2026 804 A loving, stable, long-term relationship with a supportive and attractive woman is a million dollar dream. Both may be rare – but potentially not as rare as many might think. Like building wealth, creating a top-tier relationship requires patience, discipline, and the willingness to iterate on failure. If you want an extraordinary outcome, you must commit to extraordinary effort. The prize is rare

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