It’s Not Therapy! with Liana Kerzner

There is a loneliness epidemic uniquely affecting men. Why do men have fewer friends than women - and how does that affect their relationships, self-worth and potential for success? Also... why do men have fewer friends than women?? Liana talks to game designer James "Grim" Desborough of Postmortem Studios (post-mort.com) as they explore answers for these difficult questions.

Canada's first female mayor, Dr. Charlotte Witten, said “Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.” With respect to Dr. Witten - yes, it really is. Dated perspectives often punish women for the very thoughts and behaviours men are celebrated for. But this isn't a man vs woman issue as award-winning expert in women's leadership a...

It's the 100th episode! Liana uses her Top 10 Sayings to share what she has learned from her discussions with expert guests about mental health recovery, the strengths & weaknesses of mental health systems and treatments and the essential role of peer counseling.

The media feeding frenzy and intra-party backstabbing that forced US President Joe Biden to withdraw his candidacy for the 2024 Presidential Election wasn't just politics - it was a profound example of our society's long-standing prejudice against older people. Award-winning U.S. author and psychiatrist Dr. Ravi Chandra joins Liana to uncover just how deeply ageism affects us all... and what we ca...

It's just a fact that all of us harbour some kind of prejudice. It doesn't need to be based on things like religion or ethnicity, it may be as small as attitudes toward movie genres or sports teams, but it's a part of the human condition. Where does it come from? Liana takes a journey through how to recognize prejudice, find its source, and disarm it within ourselves... and how to deal with being...

We're in an era of political bad crazy, and friendships that have lasted decades are crumbling because of political fights. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it? Liana looks at social identity threats on this episode!

Yoda is well known for saying hate leads to the Dark Side. Though it's an impulse that is human and natural, hate never leads anywhere good. Liana, no novice when it comes to being a target of some peoples' enmity, talks about how to handle being hated, what to do when you're the hater, and how to stop hating yourself, in a world where everyone is encouraged to hate as much as possible.

Ever wished you could have an owner's manual for your brain - a reference you could turn to when facing mental and emotional health issues? That book is You Will Get Through This and Liana talks to the authors, 3 mental health professionals, about their approach to getting a handle on common mental health challenges. Link to the book by Julie Radico, Nicole Helverson and Charity O’Reilly: https://...

What is 'Therapy-Speak'? People using mental health care terms like 'gaslighting' and 'narcissism' without knowing what they really mean. Too many people use Therapy-Speak to win arguments and marginalize people with their 'diagnoses'. Liana unpacks what the words really mean, what they don't mean, and how to deal with someone using them against you.

Wanting attention for accomplishments, actions, outfits or just for being you is a normal healthy human desire. Everyone needs validation now and then. Narcissism is when wanting attention crosses into needing attention - and that's not good. Liana lays out a list of what separates a healthy appetite for attention from the unhealthy cravings of narcissism.

How we measure success or failure depends on our core values. So what are your core values? That's not the easiest thing to define. Liana is joined by Marianna Lead, founder of Goal Imagery Coaching Academy and author of the book Me, My Brand And Why, to help you name the personal values that guide your life.

"So, what are you saying?" That's a question people get asked, but also one we should be asking of ourselves. Are we really delivering the message we intend, or has it gone (maybe horribly) awry? Communication errors plague everyone at some point, so Liana takes us through easy ways to get our message across more effectively and avoid misunderstandings.

Introverts Unite! Believe it or not, Liana - Youtuber, podcast host, peer counselor and former TV personality & pin-up model - is an introvert. It is possible for introverts to navigate and succeed in a world built for extroverts and communications expert and NYU educator Nancy Ancowitz, the author of Self-Promotion for Introverts (a Quiet Guide for Getting Ahead) will share strategies on how...

It's as simple as this - You Matter. It's not your job, your family, your income - your value is inherent from the day you were born. So why do so many of us struggle with feelings of worthlessness? Psychologist Dr. Julie Radico, author of the forthcoming You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health First-Aid Book, talks to Liana about why we matter and how to break through the relentless messaging...

Validation - recognition that our thoughts and efforts have value - is essential for healthy self-esteem. Yet we're exposed to so much messaging that is invalidating, it's hard to fight it...but you can do it. One of the groups facing greatest public invalidation is trans people, and Liana speaks to Aquila, a military veteran and bi-racial trans woman, about how she grappled with and overcame a li...

The rising tide of homophobia and transphobia has made 2SLGBTQ+ people targets of surging intolerance, and nobody knows that better than Fae Johnstone. Fae is a trans woman and advocate whose face appeared on a Hershey chocolate bar celebrating International Women's Day which brought her waves of hate and derision. Why do some people fear trans men and women, and what's it like being the focus of...

We all do. Our buttons get pushed, our emotions take over. But our attempts to defend ourselves often lead to offending others. And do we really need to defend ourselves? Liana walks us through the pitfalls that add fuel to an argument and some tools to use to get better results.

According to psychotherapist and author Dr. Avrum Weiss, there's one relationship men have in common that controls their relationship with women - and most don't even know it. Liana talks with Dr. Weiss, author of Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men's Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships about exactly that.

According to some experts, we're living in the age of narcissism. It's even been called an "epidemic". So...what is narcissism, really? How do you spot it, deal with a narcissist or find out if you are one? Jeremy Sherman, Ph. D., a self-described 'Jerkologist' and author of the book What's Up with A**holes?: How to spot them and stop without becoming one talks to Liana about...well...his book tit...

They're Shaping Your Brain! But it's not as terrifying as it sounds! Liana talks with Branding expert Matt Johnson, author of Blindsight: The (Mostly) Hidden Ways Marketing Reshapes Our Brains, about how your brain's mental shorthand guides you to make decisions you aren't aware you're making - and how companies use this to influence our thinking. 

We live in an identity-obsessed age and a lot of us are exhausted by it. However, how we define ourselves determines our self-worth, self-esteem, and awareness of others. But putting together our self-concept isn't like following assembly instructions from IKEA. Liana dives deep into her own difficult, heart-breaking experiences to show how the good, the bad and the ugly helped her find out who sh...

Connections - In our digital world, opportunities for human connections are growing scarce - especially if you're shy, anxious, uncomfortable in crowds or socially awkward. Yet those human connections are what keep us feeling...human. Liana talks to Bobby Calloway, an actor/writer/filmmaker and content creator for Better With Bob? on YouTube, on how he forges these connections despite his quiet na...

When Mental Health Complicates Consent The Perfect Storm: dishonesty, violating consent, borderline personality disorder, gender issues and complex sexual politics - therapist "Poppy" and her partner Zena navigated all this together over one Christmas break. Liana hears their story, which is heartbreaking and, ultimately, uplifting.

When applied to old dark houses or Scooby-Doo villains, we know what the word 'creepy' means. But what does it mean when it's weaponized against men and women? It can lead to ostracism, fear, and worse. Liana talks to It's Not Therapy community facilitator Jake about how & why 'creepy' is perceived, why it's become so powerful a word, and how to handle it when you get labeled.

Boundaries are emotional 'guard rails' that can make us feel secure, happier, and more fulfilled. Liana uses her personal experiences to illustrate how to establish better boundaries and why they are essential for our mental well-being... even when people react terribly to them.