Toxic work behaviours, mind blanking, and why spending time with friends makes you more yourself

Claudia Hammond and guests offer insights into tackling knowledge theft and discourteous emails.

Dr Emma Russell, occupational psychologist and reader in occupational and organisational psychology from the University of Sussex, has insights into perpetrators of disrespectful emails. And studio guest Dr Pete Olusoga, senior lecturer in psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, tells Claudia about new research into knowledge theft and how to make repairs if it happens.

And Dr Madoka Kumashiro, from Goldsmiths, University of London, will discuss the Michaelangelo phenomenon – the idea that spending time with people who bring out the best in us helps to reveal our ideal inner self.

And finally, Pete Olusoga has research on mind-blanking which is increasingly thought to be a distinct brain state, different to mind-wandering or sleep.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

Producers: Lorna Stewart and Gerry Holt

Studio Managers: Giles Aspen and Mary Stone

Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Content Editor: Ilan Goodman