About this episode

Dr Alex George and Dr Kathryn Bates explore the complexities of memory, hypnosis, and the myths surrounding repressed memories.

Does stress help you remember things better? Does alcohol erase your memories? And can hypnosis actually unlock memories you’ve buried? In Part 3, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates put these common beliefs about memory to the test in Myth, Fact and It’s Complicated. They cover why hypnosis may be more likely to create false memories than recover repressed ones, and the surprising number of clinicians who believe repressed trauma can be uncovered in therapy. No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out. We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor. Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated. Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Dr Alex George

Guest: Dr Kathryn Bates

Topics covered

• hypnosis
• memory
• repressed memories
• stress
• alcohol
• false memories
• trauma

Keywords

• hypnosis
• memory
• repressed memories
• stress
• alcohol
• false memories
• trauma therapy

More episodes of Figuring It Out

• What Does Empathy Look Like In Autism? | Pt 3 · September 8, 2026 · 17 min
• Are We All A Bit Autistic? | Pt 2 · September 7, 2026 · 17 min
• Why Are Two Autistic People So Different? | Pt 1 · September 6, 2026 · 35 min
• Is Female Intuition Real? | Pt 3 · September 1, 2026 · 19 min
• Does Your Body Know Something You Don’t? | Pt 2 · August 31, 2026 · 16 min
• Can You Trust Your Gut Instinct? | Pt 1 · August 30, 2026 · 23 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Figuring It Out podcast page.