The Broken Brain

Once more unto the MCU breach with Sharon Blady! Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is a wild ride into many psychological elements. Grief, trauma, anger, compulsivity, and decidedly unhealthy coping mechanisms. We also discuss the elements of support (or lack thereof) and Dr Strange's lousy bedside manner.  Stay tuned to the feed for our discussion about Dissociative Identity Disorder & sym...

Tehya Nakamura (TK) is the host and creator of the For the Love of History podcast . She returns to The Broken Brain to help break down the information about Abraham Lincoln's experiences with depression, or Melancholy as it was called at the time. It is an interesting look at one of the United States' favorite Presidents, old-timey attitudes about mental health, gender issues in treatment, and li...

Tehya Nakamura (TK) is the host of For The Love of History, a wonderful podcast that shares obscure and exciting historical stories. She joins me to discuss the awkward and weird history of mental health diagnosis.  This is a rerun of a previous Broken Brain, leading the way for TK's appearance on a new episode next week, when we will talk about Abraham Lincoln's history with Depression. 

Psychiatrist and Author Jess Wright appeared on the podcast a few months ago to discuss his work in computer-assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He returns to the show to discuss his new book, "A Stream to Follow," a historical-fiction novel focused on PTSD in the time of WWII. The protagonist of the story is a small town doctor who served as a WWII battlefield medic. Jess discusses his own exp...

This episode is a selection of another podcast that is produced by the same people bringing you the Broken Brain. Dwight cohosts and produces a podcast with Clare Waismann and David Livingston of the Waismann Method Rapid Detox and Opiate Treatment Specialists in California. They are discussing healthy ways to cope and avoid substance use triggers during times of high crises like many are facing c...

Dr. Carmine Pariante is a Psychiatrist who studies Treatment Resistant Depression. He is working towards a more specific definition of what constitutes a resistance to treatment interventions, and how to use that information in increasing efficacy in treatment.  Sofia Quaglia is a medical journalist who wrote a piece on Dr. Pariante's work, and joins today to help describe this work, and discuss h...

Tammie Chang MD is a pediatric oncologist, author, coach, and super swell human being! The USA is facing the highest rate of medical professional burnout ever recorded. We discuss why this may be, what can be done about it, and how to find hope amid the problems.  Dr Chang is an expert and consultant on workplace burnout for physicians and one of the founders of Pink Coat MD, an online space for w...

Music Thanatology is the clinical use of music to aid people who are dying. Tony Pederson, Certified Music Thanatologist and former President of the Music-Thanatology Association International joins me today to share how the use of harp and vocal music in hospital environments helps to humanize the end of life process, sharing some of his musical talent with us in the episode.   Tony is also a fac...

Freind of the show and returning guest Sam Led is here to inspire me and you to be ourselves and let that be our guide towards relaxing we are not broken and have all we need to live our life.  An intuitive Life and Inspirational Coach, Sam is also the host & creator of the Fear Less Now podcast. Learn more about his work and his upcoming book at SamLedConsulting.com.

With the recent Anti-Transgender actions taken by the Texas State Government, among other states in the USA, I am excited to welcome Evan Urquhart to the show. A Journalist who writes about issues facing Transgendered youth, Evan is here to share his story and insights for parents, youth, and others. Please listen, share, and get involved in equal rights and protection for the Transgendered indivi...

Today's episode covers avoiding burnout, creativity and creative writing, emotional and legal issues related to immigration, and how doing for others helps us to develop ourselves more effectively than trying to improve for ourselves.  Ivan Infante is an Immigration Lawyer who specializes in helping people to obtain legal permission to remain in the USA and remain together as families and pursue t...

Today's episode covers avoiding burnout, creativity and creative writing, emotional and legal issues related to immigration, and how doing for others helps us to develop ourselves more effectively than trying to improve for ourselves.  Ivan Infante is an Immigration Lawyer who specializes in helping people to obtain legal permission to remain in the USA and remain together as families and pursue t...

Dr Jesse Wright is a college professor, researcher, therapist, and psychopharmacologist. He has been a pioneer in the field of technological innovation in the field of mental health treatment, especially with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He joins the show to discuss the history of computer assisted therapy (going back to the 1960s) and how research has been used to refine and design technological...

Josh Wood is the Business Manager for the nonprofit Improving Lives, and The Broken Brain's official correspondent for Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG3 4QA. In this episode we discuss some of the psychological & emotional effects of the COVID pandemic, including recent relaxation of mandatory health regulations in the UK and US, and the reactions people are having too difficult economic times. Abo...

In the 1970s a couple of psychologists (Dr Pauline Rose Clance & Dr Suzanne Imes) coined the term Imposter Syndrome. Then in 2021 Marvel Studios created the TV series Hawkeye .  Many things actually happened between those 2 events. Imposter Syndrome, which is the persistent belief that you are less competent than others perceive you to be. This persistent belief is based on emotions rather than ob...

Abi Perez returns to the podcast to discuss the cultural and psychological lessons learned form the Disney film Encanto, which Dwight cannot watch or without crying. We discuss how each character addresses an element of PTSD, how relationships can be complicated by fear and misunderstanding, and how actions we take with others can become twisted even when love is the underlying drive.  Listen to A...

Sharon Blady, MCU expert, former Health Minister, and Superhero of the Broken Brain, joins me yet again. This time we are talking some more nuts-and-bolts treatment planning for how to reframe your mental health symptoms into a superpower-weakness framework. You are not broken, just burdened with glorious purpose...I couldn't help it. If you know you know.  Sharon tells us how she developed this p...

What we eat influences our psychological health, even more than we previously thought. Dr Chris Aiken joined me to discuss how certain diets help with the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and other Mood Disorders.  Listen to the intro to learn how to win a copy of "You Next: Reflections in Black Barbershops."  (this is a replay of an episode from 3 years ago) 

International podcast law requires all shows to do an episode on the new SpiderMan movie, and now it's our turn! Sharon Blady, mental health advocate and super hero, is here for it. We talk trauma, healing, and why everyone loves SpiderMan's tendency to try to save everyone, even the villains.  SPOILERS for Spider Man No Way Home abound in this episode. 

For those who marked the beginning of the New Year last week, this is a time for goal setting and getting a jump on organization and self-improvement. So naturally I put off editing and releasing this episode.  Hannah Boone, host & creator of Disordered, is here to discuss some of the dangers of productivity obsession. This episode deals with self-judgement, shame, hope, comparison, and the import...

Writing and directing duo Ian and Eshom Nelms are brothers who tell stories through writing and directing movies.   Their 2020 film " Fatman ," tells the story of what it might be like if Santa Claus had to live in the reality of the world, surviving and transcending some of it's less-jolly aspects while maintaining his position as a shaper and teacher of children. IT is a story of redemption, fea...

THE NEW CHRISTMAS EPISODE!!! Finally 2021 has culminated in our first NEW holiday episode.  Chris Revil joined me to discuss The Muppets and Christmas, in particular looking at the 1992 classic Christmas Film The Muppet's Christmas Carol. We talk about relationships, loneliness, hurt and (no surprise) trauma. Mostly we are focused on the inherent healing portrayed in this wonderful edition of this...

Twice a month "The Broken Brain" joins "Let's Chat with Chris Revill" to create the Patreon-only show: "The Broken Chat!" This is a free sample of what you may be missing in the patron feed. In addition to The Broken Chat show there is also extended interviews, follow-ups with guests, and other special projects. Check out www.patreon.com/brokenbrain to learn more and to subscribe.  In this Fifth e...

Rerun of a Holiday Episode from 2015 where Clinical Social Worker Lee Messersmith joins the podcast to discuss skillful navigation of family and other relationships during the holidays. 

RERUN where you can win a PRIZE. Chris Revill and I got together in 2015 and talked about TV Christmas Specials and our experiences with them. Respond to the question in the intro in order to win a prize!