The Exorcist Within: Where Mental Health Meets Horror Media

This week on The Exorcist Within, Jamie is joined by David Joshua Smith—a real-life human (definitely real) who’s worked behind the scenes on Hollywood films and TV shows, bringing a unique lens to the art and emotion of storytelling. Together, they dive into Daniel Isn’t Real (2019), a psychological horror film that blurs the line between imagination, identity, and inner demons. Is Daniel a figme...

In this episode, Jamie and Ryan delve into the unique horror film 'Good Boy,' which is told from a dog's perspective. They share their experiences at the Overlook Film Festival, discuss the director's vision, and explore the challenges of making a film centered around a dog. The conversation also touches on the mental health benefits of dog ownership, personal anecdotes about their pets, and the r...

🧠 Show Notes In this heartfelt and haunting episode, Jamie and Julie dive into the emotional undercurrents of The Changeling , exploring how horror films can illuminate grief, mental health, and the ways we show up for each other. What starts as a deep dive into ghost stories and cinematic atmosphere quickly expands—because, let’s be honest, they couldn’t resist digressing into other horror favor...

TW: Talk of suicide and bullying, briefly Join Jamie and Ryan for a wildly fun and surprisingly heartfelt deep dive into the 2003 cult horror film Dreamcatcher . Things get a little silly, a little spooky, and a lot insightful as they unpack the movie’s tangled themes—from alien invasions and psychic powers to military intervention and the beauty of friendship. But this episode isn’t just about ci...

In this episode, Jamie discusses the movie 'It Feeds' and its themes related to therapy, particularly focusing on Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. She explores the ethical considerations of podcasting, the importance of boundaries in therapy, and the concept of unattached burdens. Jamie also reflects on generational trauma and the cultural perspectives on mental health treatment, concluding...

Join Jamie and her cousin Josh, Aunt Tammy, and her husband Bryan as they dive into a heartfelt discussion about the horror movie "Pumpkinhead" and its connections to their family stories. This episode explores themes of vengeance, grief, nostalgia, and the power of storytelling in keeping loved ones' memories alive. This episode is in memory of Sonja McDaniels Trant, our Mom and Nana; Clown, Barn...

In this episode, we dive into the complex world of Dexter, exploring the psychological and ethical dimensions of the series. Join us as we discuss the impact of trauma, the concept of the "dark passenger," and the role of societal influences in shaping behavior. Ryan shares his insights as a forensic scientist, adding depth to our analysis of Dexter's methods and the realities of forensic work. Al...

This episode is deeply personal. As both a mental health professional and someone who’s spent years being called “weird,” “nerdy,” “odd,” and even “evil” — not because of who I am, but because of the horror films and music I love that don’t match my facade — this episode is a reclamation. You’ll hear: 🧠 A crash course on the topic of neurodiversity. I try very hard to be fair about my experience...

This episode’s a little different (and a bonus one for this week based on some questions / input I've gotten the last few weeks). I’m sharing my own story. You’ll hear how I found my way to becoming a mental health counselor in more detail from some pretty unexpected detours to deeply personal turning points. Before the therapy office, there were overseas adventures and offshore platforms. (Yes, t...

In this special episode, Jamie is joined by her husband Ryan to explore the tangled roots of childhood fear and the unexpected catharsis found in horror. With the podcast’s upgraded (but still evolving) format, they unpack Ryan’s personal journey of confronting early anxieties by watching A Nightmare on Elm Street as a child. By deliberately exposing himself to a source of terror, Ryan found not o...

In this episode, I discuss Eden lake. Trigger warnings: violence, child death, and mention of suicide. I weave in concepts from Internal Family Systems, Psychodynamic Theory, Generational Trauma with some mentions of existential, developmental, and behavioral themes. I want to acknowledge that this feels like an overly lengthy and “quiet” episode, so for the next one I’m going to work on getting t...

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