It's not real!

About It's not real!

It’s Not Real is the podcast that takes a scalpel to the stories we tell ourselves. Hosted by Dr Paul Harrison, consumer psychologist, academic, and media commentator, each episode unpacks the real evidence behind why we do what we do, how the world actually works, and the myths we cling to in order to make life a little easier. From marketing spin to social norms, from economic fictions to psychological blind spots, It’s Not Real cuts through the noise with sharp analysis, candid conversations, and a healthy dose of skepticism. Because sometimes, the things we believe… just aren’t real.

Publisher

Hosted by Dr Paul Harrison from Deakin University

Category

education · society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Mar 2019

Latest episode

22 May 2025

Latest episodes

32 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 May 2025

   32: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Talking Shop Reboot)

   Dr. Paul Harrison and Kirsten Drysdale examine how marketers leverage fear to influence consumer behavior, revealing the psychological tactics behind anxiety-driven purchasing in this interview.

2. 

   1 May 2025

   31: You Are Not In Control (Talking Shop Reboot)

   Kirsten Drysdale and the host reveal how retail environments use psychological tactics, such as lighting and music, to subtly influence consumer purchasing decisions in this episode.

3. 

   10 Apr 2025

   30: In the Lap of Luxury (Talking Shop Reboot/Repeat)

   Kirsten Drysdale and the host delve into the allure of luxury goods, examining the psychology behind our desire for status symbols in this interview episode.

Who has been a guest on It's not real!

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Josh Newton
• Uppma Virdi
• Gordon Renouf
• Dr Ali Tamaddoni
• Professor Mark Rose

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,982,296

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

31

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

0

Contact It's not real!

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.