PokaPod

Uncover the final pieces of your psychological protection system in this conclusion to our defense mechanisms series. Host Katja explores how we compartmentalize our lives, compensate for insecurities, and attempt to undo uncomfortable thoughts. This eye-opening episode connects these unconscious strategies to everyday behaviors like overworking, luxury purchases, and compulsive cleaning. Gain val...

Discover the hidden shields your mind creates to protect you from emotional pain. Clinical psychologist Katja reveals four powerful defense mechanisms that shape your daily behaviors and relationships. Learn how intellectualization uses logic to avoid feelings, suppression temporarily pauses pain, fantasy creates mental escapes, and isolation of affect disconnects emotions from thoughts. Recognize...

Ever wonder why you work extra hard when you're stressed? Or why some people strongly hate things they might secretly like? Your mind has fascinating ways of dealing with difficult emotions - and you're not alone. In this episode, we explore four common ways people unconsciously handle emotional challenges in daily life - Sublimation, Reaction Formation, Identification, and Introjection. Learn how...

Why Can't You Find a Therapist Who Gets You? Let's be honest - finding the right therapist is hard enough. Add in a different culture or language, and it can feel impossible. In this episode, we're having an open conversation about these struggles and sharing real ways to overcome them. Whether you've given up on therapy because it was too expensive, too foreign, or just didn't click with your bac...

Dive into the fascinating world of AI and mental health with Liza, a legal expert specializing in digital law and AI ethics. Discover the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into mental health care, the importance of maintaining human connection, and the legal landscape surrounding this rapidly evolving field. From Eurovision to ethical AI, Liza's unique background offers fresh insights...

Confused by your own reactions sometimes? You're not alone! Join psychologist Katja as she explains four common mental tricks we all use to handle stress. From seeing situations as all good or all bad, to making excuses for our actions, these 'defense mechanisms' shape how we behave and interact. With plenty of everyday examples, this episode will help you recognize these patterns in yourself and...

Dive into the fascinating world of psychological defense mechanisms with Katja in this enlightening episode of PokaPod Psych Edition. Explore the unconscious strategies we use to protect ourselves from unpleasant emotions, focusing on repression, denial, projection, and acting out. Katja breaks down each mechanism, providing real-life examples to help you understand how these processes manifest in...

In this enlightening episode of PokaPod Psych Edition, host Katja, a licensed clinical psychologist, delves into the often-misunderstood world of emotions. She explores why it's crucial to embrace both pleasant and unpleasant feelings, the pitfalls of toxic positivity, and the biopsychological importance of our full emotional range. Katja offers practical insights on when to process emotions versu...

Katja delves into the concept of psychological safety and its impact on team dynamics and organizational success. She defines psychological safety, highlighting its key elements such as open communication, trust, risk-taking, conflict resolution, and continuous learning. Katja also explores the risk factors that can undermine psychological safety, including fear of retribution, lack of trust, and...

Join Katja as she delves into the complexities of mental health and personality disorders in this thought-provoking episode of the Pokapod. Explore the nuances of mental well-being, the challenges of self-diagnosis, and the importance of compassion and understanding. Gain valuable insights into coping strategies and learn how to navigate interpersonal relationships with empathy. This episode is a...

Dive into the fascinating world of personality with Katja on PokaPod, as we explore the Big Five personality traits—openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—and the intriguing debate around a potential sixth trait. This episode unpacks the complexities of what makes us who we are, offering insights into how these traits influence our behavior, relationships, and li...

In this enlightening episode of PokePod, titled "That Boring Thing - Mental Health Maintenance - and How to Find Motivation to Make Time For It," host Katja delves into the often overlooked aspect of mental health: maintenance. Understanding the struggle many face in finding the motivation to incorporate mindfulness and mental wellbeing practices into their daily routines, this episode is designed...

Dive into the world of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) with host Katja in this enlightening episode of PokaPod. Discover how DBT's four modules – Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness – can help you navigate the complexities of personal boundaries in your private life. Learn practical strategies like 'Wise Mind' and 'Radical Acceptance' to enhanc...

🧠 Dive into the minds behind PokaMind as hosts Yousef and Sarah take you on an unscripted adventure from the birth of a startup idea to the creation of an AI-powered mental wellness assistant! 🤖✨ Are you ready to poke some minds and explore the future of emotional well-being? Join us in this laughter-filled episode where we unravel the twists, turns, and tech that's transforming how we vent, re...

Join us on a thought-provoking journey through the labyrinth of modern information with Youssef, your guide in this week's unfiltered episode of Pokapod. Dive head-first into a raw, unedited monologue exploring the ever-blurring lines between reality and fabrication. From AI-generated imagery to the psychological toll of constant news streams, this episode lays bare our struggle with discerning tr...

Do you struggle to find balance between work, relationships, self-care and more? Our hosts dive into the six key aspects of a balanced life and share tips for reflecting on your current reality vs your needs. Learn how to be kind to yourself when life falls out of balance.

Join us for a riveting conversation with our guest, a young professional juggling a full-time job, pursuing a master's degree, maintaining a social life, and participating in sports. Our guest shares his personal journey and strategies on how he manages his time effectively, prioritizing his commitments and creating a routine that works for him. This episode is a testament to the power of time man...

Do you feel like you're drowning in work while your coworkers cruise along? Are you exhausted and overwhelmed, wondering why no one seems to notice or care? This week on The Polka Pod, our psychology experts dive into the science behind workplace stress and dynamics. They explain how even good-hearted coworkers and bosses can lose empathy and awareness of others' struggles when under pressure. Tun...

Get to know our expert team of psychologists as we launch our new Psych Edition podcast! Learn about their backgrounds, interests, and the topics they'll be covering in upcoming episodes. Stay tuned as next week we dive into achieving work-life balance.

We are finally back after a loong summer break Pokaminders! In this comeback episode, we dive deep into a topic that affects us all - burnout. We're joined by a special guest speaker: Christina Egerstrom who shares their personal experiences and provides insights into managing and overcoming burnout. Tune in as we explore the signs of burnout, discuss practical coping strategies, and share tips on...

As a startup, staying motivated despite threats of irrelevance is challenging but critical. Are you willing to pivot quickly, embrace change, and stay passionate? For actionable insights on maintaining motivation, listen to our podcast episode on how startups can stay motivated against these giants. Your relevance and success depend on it!

What does it mean to be productive? Is being averagely productive enough or does society push us towards more? In this episode, we discuss productivity and work-life balance, and the impact of productivity culture on our mental health. Our special guest, Lucas Morillo, a psychologist, and a human-robot interaction researcher, shares his own experiences with setting healthy boundaries and establish...

Hello Pokaminders, join us today for a short intro episode where we walk you through who we are, the purpose of this podcast and give you a brief description of our company. We also finish up the episode with a small section with regards to communication. Enjoy!