Home Podcasts PsycHacks
PsycHacks

PsycHacks

Orion Taraban 634 Episodes Sep 18, 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 658: The five hard conversations (preventing divorce)
Episode 658: The five hard conversations (preventing divorce) Sep 18, 2026 684 The five hard conversations reveal major relationship incompatibilities before they become deeply entrenched and may collectively be one of the best tools for preventing divorce. Every serious couple needs to talk about sex, money, children, politics/religion, and in-laws. The goal isn't perfect alignment, but recognition of which differences can be negotiated – and which are better revealed befor
Episode 657: When empathy is evil (Lindsay Clancy)
Episode 657: When empathy is evil (Lindsay Clancy) Sep 14, 2026 678 When empathy is evil, compassion overrides accountability, justice, and concern for the true victims. Using the case of Lindsay Clancy, this episode examines the psychological forces behind the public response to a mother who admitted to murdering her children. What happens when empathy for the perpetrator eclipses the suffering of the innocent – and what does that mean for the social order? Join
Episode 656: Cultivating need (keep her busy)
Episode 656: Cultivating need (keep her busy) Sep 11, 2026 542 Cultivating need is a controversial, but pragmatic approach to maintaining long-term relationships. In this episode, I explain why the intentional cultivation of need can strengthen bonds and prevent relationships from fading into irrelevance. Keep her busy with projects that provide genuine value, dignity, and a sense of purpose. Join my community: The Captains' Quarters. Attend bimonthly group c
Episode 655: Finding good women (how to test them)
Episode 655: Finding good women (how to test them) Sep 7, 2026 763 Finding good women depends on your ability to discern which women are enthusiastic about entering your frame – and which women aren't. In this episode, I explain how to test them using simple, reasonable requests to reveal compatibility, interest, and respect. Make space for the women who genuinely want to be in your life – and let the rest fall by the wayside. Join my community: The Captains' Qua
Episode 654: 90% love (don't go all the way)
Episode 654: 90% love (don't go all the way) Sep 4, 2026 649 This episode was inspired by Patrice O'Neal, who once said he only offers a woman 90% love. This is really good advice. Boundaries may be antithetical to love, but they do make for good relationships. By all means, emotionally invest in your long-term relationships – but don't go all the way. Here's why. Join my community: The Captains' Quarters. Attend bimonthly group consultations where I answer
Episode 653: She ain't yours (she's yours for now)
Episode 653: She ain't yours (she's yours for now) Aug 31, 2026 661 Men set themselves up for disappointment when they think of the women in their lives as theirs. The truth is she ain't yours – she's yours for now. Using a viral real-world story, I examine hypergamy, loyalty, and the incentives that shape modern relationships. Ultimately, your relationship will last as long as the woman perceives you to be her best option. After that, she starts looking for the d
Episode 652: Emotions are resources (what players understand)
Episode 652: Emotions are resources (what players understand) Aug 28, 2026 611 Emotions are resources – and understanding that idea will change how you see attraction, dating, and long-term relationships. In this episode, I reveal what players understand, namely: emotional engagement is more valuable in cultivating attraction than money, gifts, or status. And this is also why genuine emotional connection is one of the hardest things to find. Join my community: The Captains'
Episode 651: Women are the brakes (men drive progress)
Episode 651: Women are the brakes (men drive progress) Aug 24, 2026 629 Citation: https://archive.org/details/homosexualitiessbellrich In this episode, I explore the idea that women are the brakes on both sexual behavior and social change – while risk-taking men drive progress. Drawing on evolutionary psychology, demographic data, and historical examples, I examine how different incentives shape male and female behavior. Ultimately, civilization depends on the balanc
Episode 650: Effort doesn't pay (no one cares about your struggle)
Episode 650: Effort doesn't pay (no one cares about your struggle) Aug 21, 2026 542 Effort doesn't pay, results do – and the marketplace rewards the value you create rather than the effort you expend. In this episode, I explain why no one cares about your struggle unless it produces outcomes that genuinely benefit other people. Using the example of Lionel Messi, I demonstrate why mastery is measured by leverage, efficiency, and impact – not exertion. Join my community: The Captai
Episode 649: Love is hard (why it is rare)
Episode 649: Love is hard (why it is rare) Aug 17, 2026 653 Love is hard because it demands sacrifice – not merely emotion, attraction, or a mutual exchange of value. And this is why it is rare: most people only love to the point where sacrifice becomes personally costly. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, and the life of Jesus, I challenge conventional ideas about love, boundaries, and selflessness. Join my community: The Captains' Quarters. Attend bimont
Episode 648: You like toxic (the real reason you go back)
Episode 648: You like toxic (the real reason you go back) Aug 14, 2026 651 You like toxic more than you realize, and recognizing that uncomfortable truth is the first step toward lasting change. In this episode, I explore the real reason you go back, arguing that chaos, drama, and pain are often preferable to boredom or emotional emptiness. Learn how greater emotional awareness can break the cycle and replace destructive habits with enduring virtues. Join my community: T
Episode 647: How to be physically attractive (the five principles)
Episode 647: How to be physically attractive (the five principles) Aug 10, 2026 777 Looksmaxxing – the modern male movement to become more physically attractive – is not essentially bad, though it is mired in problematic personalities and bad faith marketing. In this episode, I discuss how to be physically attractive as a man without wasting money on gimmicks and snake oil. I discuss the five principles that account for the vast majority of a man's physical attractiveness and pra

Recommended