The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More

In this episode, we welcome the Norse Mythology and Shakespearean overtones that flavor the Marvel movie, Thor  (2011)!

We're reviewing the third film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 2 (2010); and discuss the 5 Stages of Grief, as they relate to Tony's impending death by blood poisoni ng. We also discuss our own "hype songs!" Learn what they are by listening now!

"You won't like me when I'm angry."   But...what if you're just ...excited? We rewatch The Incredible Hulk (2008) from Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and discuss the disorders most laypersons and mental health specialists try to assign to the Hulk.

We begin our dive into the MCU with 2008's IRON MAN . We discuss the personality similarities and differences between Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne; his damaged ego and shift in vision; assess for post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, and depression; and weigh in on why his candid, unapologetic nature serves as less a cover for his unease and more of an indicator of his unstoppable drive toward...

At the request of our loyal Patrons, Dr. Drea and Brian finally take the opportunity to break down the psychology of Zack Snyder's Justice League !

We wrap up our coverage of the inaugural season of Steven Universe and notice that, compared to earlier episodes, the storytelling is more arc-forming and that the stakes are higher--disasters, losses, and crises have very clear consequences. 

Things are kicking into high gear! In this batch of episodes, we're finally able to analyze Garnet; Stevonnie; and the traumatic past of Amethyst.  Steven Universe has it all!

We descend further into the Steven Universe adventure with our coverage of 10 more episodes of the beloved series. During this episode, Drea picks up on a pattern in Steven's social interactions--when others make jokes or use sarcasm, Steven often misses the intent and takes the comments seriously. His literal approach prompted us to wonder if he has features of Autism.

Brian and Drea focus on Pearl, the maternal or "big sister" figure to the group. Best characterized as very organized, mature, and responsible, Pearl is also seen as overly rigid, perfectionistic, stern, and domineering. In our discussion, we share why this personality profile can lead to rejection; and yet, when more deeply investigated, Pearl's personality is quite layered and nuanced.

In this episode, we dive into the psychology of Amethyst! Is she lazy? Aggressive? Or just misunderstood? Dr. Drea and Brian take on the Purple Puma herself; and even uncover which of the Crystal Gems Drea fears she may be!  

The podcast embarks on a new chapter, as we begin the journey of exploring the beloved animated show, Steven Universe ! Using the Big 5 Personality traits as a model, we discuss Steven's strengths and features; taking into account how much of his personality may have been shaped by his environment and past life events.

In our coverage of the third and final film in the Nolan trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises , Drea and Brian connect the events surrounding Bane's violent coup to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that took place on January 6, 2021. With a focus on explaining the fundamental causes of real-world terrorism, Drea outlines the psychological mechanisms involved in political radicalization and extremism...

"And here we go!" After several years of exploring the psychology of Batman, Brian and Drea finally discuss Christopher Nolan's acclaimed film, The Dark Knight .

Brian and Drea take listeners back to 2005 to revisit the well-received live-action film, Batman Begins . What does Batman Begins teach us about our relationship with fear? What can we do when we are stifled by fear, worry, or panic? Listen to the show for suggestions on how to manage and maintain emotional well-being.

It's the finale of Doom Patrol 's inaugural season. How have our characters progressed? Or regressed? Is Niles the ultimate baddie? We cover one last episode, before moving onto brand-new things!

In the realm of narrative psychology, our life story isn't just a mundane list of facts--it's the way we integrate our experiences and events internally. Drea and Brian explore the second-to-last episode in their analysis of  Doom Patrol : Season 1!

The Doom Patrol finally meets Flex Mentallo, Man of Muscle Mystery! As we continue to discuss these characters and their feelings of deep regret, we talk about the importance of looking back at mistakes and the dilemma of "cancel culture." With Doom Patrol giving us good--yet still chaotic--role models, we address these challenges and give some tips that might help listeners manage their own space...

  To celebrate Juneteenth, we've decided to analyze the first episode of HBO's WATCHMEN ; which introduced many people to the existence of the very real Tulsa Race Riots (or "Black Wall Street Massacre") of 1921. In this episode, we take a look at this historical event and discuss its use in this series, by showrunner Damon Lindelof ( The Leftovers ). We also cover what it means to be an ally, cor...

How reliable are our memories? Science and fiction intersect in interesting ways in this episode of The Arkham Sessions !

In this episode, we draw upon the experiences of Doom Patrol heroes, Negative Man and Robot Man, as they revisit their mistakes and discover how to end the pain they're holding onto. For Cliff, this means meeting his estranged daughter and facing some hard decisions about whether to be in her life. For Larry, he has an opportunity to tell the man he has loved all his life what he truly meant to hi...

The term  pogonophile  refers to a person who has an obsessive love of beards.  We discuss this concept and go down a few hairy rabbit holes in this episode centering around a new character, The Beard Hunter.  TeePublic: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-arkham-sessions?ref_id=11228

This episode of Doom Patrol centers entirely around (and in) Jane's psyche. With 64 different personalities, Jane could easily be a textbook example of the mental health condition known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (or Multiple Personality Disorder). But there's far more to this story.  Hero's Journey Fitness can be found  here . 

When asked for help, Larry and Vic visit Danny the Street, a benevolent, sentient street--yes, street--that acts as a mecca for the disenfranchised; with abilities to help you become the person you truly are. Additionally, Cliff and Rita find themselves trying to stop the wedding of Karen--a lovesick alter of Jane's--and the poor soul she has trapped in her spell. This episode is about the importa...

The gang has learned that Mr. Nobdy is using its members' sordid pasts against them. Determined to avoid collapsing the way the original Doom Patrol once did, Cliff demands the group sits down for "therapy." Drea discusses the concept of group therapy, while she breaks down each member's own trauma. Plus, we unveil the options for what we analyze next! Tune in, to learn how you can help us decide!...

In examining this episode of Doom Patrol , we talk about the ethics of entangling romance with psychotherapy. We also discuss the field of psychology and the emerging counseling interventions known under the umbrella of "energy psychology."  From healing crystals to tapping, we examine various fringe psychotherapeutic practices in order to better understand the real from the fantasy.