Broken Podcast

In this episode Hannah and Alexa interview Hannah's 8 year-old son Daniel Mirmiran. Daniel wanted to come on the show to talk about anger and aggression. He talks about how he's learned to express anger in healthy ways. 

On this episode Alexa and Hannah talk about gratitude and how incorporating a practice of gratitude can improve relationships, mental health and life.

Alexa and Hannah speak with Alicett (also known as "Bee"). Bee is a coach who works with people to manifest abundance & love by breaking through manifestation blocks. She has worked with thousands of clients to supercharge their manifesting power using her unique skills and intuition. https://alicett.com  

Hannah and Alexa interview Omaha hypnotist Clovis Colley.   In this episode, hypnosis and hypnotherapy is discussed and defined. Clovis, an Omaha hypnotherapist, talks about why hypnosis is useful and beneficial. Clovis is available for in-person and also virtual sessions. He can be reached at 402 393 0544 and at ncandhc.com  

In this episode Hannah and Alexa talk about break-ups.

Hannah and Alexa discuss boundaries. They educate listeners about types of boundaries and why they are important. Alexa also shares her engagement story. Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. (402) 715-9710. omahapsychotherapy;com Thank you to everyone who has supported us on Patreon! If you haven't yet joined, please do so... https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast Thank you for listening and for joining us!  

On this episode of Broken, Hannah and Alexa educate listeners about attachment theory. They break down the concept of attachment and explain how we each typically attract and hook with others. They discuss a book/helpful resource: Attached https://www.amazon.com/Attached-Science-Adult-Attachment-YouFind/dp/1585429139/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=78065379769319&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=attached+book&qid=1570505521&sr=8-1   Thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast so far! If you haven't yet added your support, please do so here: https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast   Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. (402) 710-9715.  

On this episode, co-hosts Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen interview trauma expert, therapist, and survivor, Chris Pilcher. Chris shares her personal story of surviving childhood trauma. She also provides helpful information about trauma and how people can recover and find strength. Hannah, Alexa, and Chris all practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. omahapsychotherapy.com 402-715-9710 Please join us on patreon! https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

On this episode, Alexa and Hannah interview Omar Pinto. Omar Pinto is a Life Transformation Coach, Addiction Recovery Specialist and Lifestyle Entrepreneur. He hosts a popular and awesome podcast called Recovery Revolution https://omarpinto.com/category/podcast/ Omar can be found at http://omarpinto.com On this episode Omar shares his personal story and all that he's learned along the way. Thank you so much to Omar for sharing your story and wisdom. Thank you for keeping coming back and for joining us.  Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy.  (402) 710-9715 Omahapsychotherapy.com If you haven't joined us on patreon yet, please join us!  https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast

On this episode, Alexa and Hannah talk about forgiveness. They walk listeners through a step-by-step model of how to forgive. They also educate listeners about why forgiving others is good for our health and our well-being. Thank you for listening! If you'd like to add your voice and join us, please go to https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast and contribute!  Thank you so much to those of you who've joined us so far. Hannah and Alexa both practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710

Co-hosts Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen talk about marriage.    Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. (402) 715-9710 omahapsychotherapy.com   Join us! Add your support for our podcast on our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast   Thank you for listening!

Co-hosts Alexa Theisen and Hannah Mirmiran interview John Tsilimparis about depression. John Tsilimparis, MFT is a psychotherapist in Los Angeles that has become a go-to expert for the media on many areas of psychological issues. He has appeared on many news programs to comment on subjects such as, marriage and divorce, holiday stress, empty nest syndrome, seasonal affective disorder, celebrity addictions, lottery fever, etc. John's radio appearances include Air-Talk with Larry Mantle on KPCC-FM and recently on KPFK-AM radio. On this episode, listeners are educated about depression--the causes, symptoms, treatment, and effects. John's info: https://www.johntsilimparis.com "Retrain Your Anxious Brain" https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Anxious-Brain-Practical/dp/0373892918/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396534450&sr=8-1&keywords=retrain+your+anxious+brain Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710 Please join us: https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast  

Join Broken! We would love to add your voice and support! Contribute at https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast . This episode is about finding romantic love and about maintaining self love. On this episode of Broken, therapists Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen interview Emily Wilkinson Mayfield, the wife of NFL Quarterback, Heisman Trophy Award winner, and 2018 first round draft pick Baker Mayfield. Emily Mayfield grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She met Broken co-host Alexa while attending the University of Nebraska. Emily was actually Alexa's manager at Barry's Bar in Lincoln. In college Emily was in a serious relationship and was planning to marry her boyfriend and start a life with him, but after she graduated, she made the painful but life-saving decision to follow her gut and start over.  She ended her relationship, quit her job, and moved to Los Angeles, California where she managed the music career of her brother, Sammy Wilk.  Emily later transitioned into a career in the plastic surgery field, as a coordinator with Galanis Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills.  In 2018 her life took another turn when she met Baker Mayfield. In this episode she shares her journey of meeting and marrying Baker.  She talks about how she knew Baker was "the one", how they built their relationship, the qualities she initially appreciated about him, their engagement, what wedding planning was like, all about the wedding and honeymoon, the craziness of entering into the world of celebrity and fame, going through the NFL draft, moving to Cleveland, maintaining a sense of self, self-care, staying grounded, receiving criticism, managing the pressures of expectations and being in the public spotlight, being a role model, social media, how she and Baker maintain their connection, and learning to adapt. Emily shares her advice for people who may be single and wanting to find love. Emily shares openly and candidly about her life. While few people share the identical elements of her story, everyone will relate to the thoughts and feelings she has had that she shares about—the human experience of wanting and finding love. Broken is so, so grateful to Emily for sharing her story with us!  Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy, (402) 595-8368, omahapsychotherapy.com. Find Emily Mayfield on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/emilywmayfield Please listen to this episode and share it with others. Then let us know what you think! Rate and review us on iTunes. Connect with us on social media. Donate to us on patreon.com.  Thank you for listening and thank you for being better. 

This episode features an interview with Maria Sosa, MS, MFT, Therapist and Holistic Nutrition Coach. Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen interview Maria about intuitive eating. Maria shares her story of finding intuitive eating. She explains intuitive eating and the benefits she has seen in her life and in the lives of clients. The episode examines the connection between mental health and physical health and the value of nutrition in mental health. The episode also looks into shame and body image, and the dangers of labeling food as "bad" or "good". Maria can be found here: Instagram: @holiticallygrace Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. (402) 715-9710. omahapsychotherapy.com Join us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast

Welcome to Season 2! Add your support to Broken on our Patreon Page at patreon.com/brokenpodcast This episode launches the second season of the Broken Podcast. Co-hosts Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen recap season 1 and discuss their goals for season 2. They share their mission for season 2: We want to encourage everyone to be better. The season will feature inspirational stories and interviews with people who share about how they've become better. People who have overcome challenges and changed their lives. We want to help listeners know that it's possible to have a better life, to feel better, to be better parents, to find recovery, to find love, to find hope, to look better, to laugh more, to find more joy, to come out of despair, to have better relationships and better friendships and better jobs and better lives.  In this season we will share stories, examples, tools, ideas, conversations, inspiration, connection, support, resources, and tools to help listeners learn about ways they can be better. It's easy to live life as a victim. It's easy to live on autopilot. It's easy to live with secrets and guilt and shame. It's easy to stay unhealthy. We all get stuck in our comfort zones. Change is hard. Bettering your life and your world is not easy. It can be painful and scary and hard. And it's often lonely.  And it's so important. Just like we recycle and take care of our world and our physical environment, it's also important to remember to take care of our world's emotional environment. So that we can leave this world a better place than we found it.  Changing your life and being better is brave. It's courageous. It's inspiring. With this in mind we are launching Season 2 as a movement-- a community of support for everyone who is doing the hard work to be better.  We hope you'll join us Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen are at Omaha Psychotherapy: omahapsychotherapy.com or 402-715-9710 Connect with us on Social Media: Facebook: @brokenpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/broken.podcast/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brokenpodcast  

Co-hosts Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen continue their investigation into shame. They talk about how people avoid dealing with shame and guilt, and how people act out.  One of the ways people react to painful feelings of shame and guilt is automatically getting defensive. We rarely want to sit with feelings of shame and guilt. It's painful. None of us wants to be seen as the "bad guy", so we often automatically shift blame and focus on other people. Through projection and blame.  A common way for shame and guilt to be expressed is through jealousy and envy. This episode looks at all of that. Alexa and Hannah look at envy and jealousy and talks about how shame and guilt are often projected through those feelings. Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. They can be reached at 402-715-9710. Omahapsychotherapy.com

This week's episode is about shame. - Shame is one of the main reasons people feel broken. So with this week’s episode, the Broken Podcast is jumping in for a deep dive in understanding shame.  _ We love how Brené Brown talks about shame. We also feel like it goes a little deeper and that there are other ways to look at shame. So this is our attempt to really understand shame and how it impacts all of us—as individuals and couples and friends and families and communities.  _ This week we begin with a general overview about shame.  _ Shame is an emotion. A feeling. It’s the painful reaction we experience when we feel like we’ve done something wrong, or worry that someone is mad at us, or fear like we don’t measure up, or feel as if we aren’t enough, or believe that something is wrong with us.  _ The origin of the word shame is “to hide, to cover”.  _ The feeling of shame is painful. It makes us want to hide and cover ourselves. The feeling is physical. Our cheeks get red. We feel hot. Our brains kind of shut down. We get embarrassed. We feel naked. We want to disappear or crawl in a hole or run and hide.  _ The experience of shame is so powerful that instead of rationally pausing, taking a breath, and evaluating whether our thought or belief— that we’ve messed up or that we’ve done something wrong or that we are a disappointment— is actually true, or checking it out with someone, we panic and jump to use defense mechanisms so we can pretend that we are fine so we can feel better.  _ We react by wanting to make everything look more perfect, or by pretending that everything is great, or by working harder, or by avoiding life and numbing with alcohol and Netflix, or by trying to be really good religious people, or by trying to control things, or by getting angry and blaming other people.  _ All of those things temporarily make the pain of shame go away, but it’s often only temporary relief, and sometimes, when we use defense mechanisms and react to shame, we end up adding more shame.  _ Example: maybe I feel like I’m supposed to be something because I think my parents expect that (a certain job or spouse or religion or belief or hobby), like if I feel like my parents want me to go to church, but I don’t want to go to church, then if I don’t go to church, I won’t want to tell them that I didn’t go. Because I will worry that they will be mad at me or disappointed in me. So if they call on Sunday afternoon and ask what I did that morning, I might feel shame when I see that they are calling. I might think, “crap. I better lie and say I went to church. Or maybe I should not answer.” _ Shame makes us feel like we are doing something wrong. Like we are something bad. Like if people really knew who we really were, we might get kicked out of the family.  _ When we feel shame and don’t talk about it, it makes us feel so alone and awful.  _ Everyone feels shame. It’s a normal emotion. Like sadness or joy or anger or hunger. It just happens. To everyone.  _ But shame the most painful and lonely emotion. It is so hard to talk about. Because we want to avoid it and pretend everything is fine.  _ There is another way. It doesn’t have to be like this. You do not have to feel like you are a terrible person. You can feel better. You can know that you are okay.  _ This is so important to learn about and to talk about. It’s confusing and complicated and scary. We all deal with this. All of us.  _ We hope you’ll join us for this shame dive. We hope you’ll listen and think and reflect and share and ask questions and join us. We are not the experts on this one. Learn with us.   

This episode educates listeners about thought patterns and how we can change our thoughts to feel better. The episode begins with an acknowledgment of the recent tragic accident that happened in Gretna, Nebraska where four young women lost their lives. Hannah and Alexa send their sympathies and wishes for the survivors.  Listeners who would like support or counseling are encouraged to call Omaha Psychotherapy at 402-715-9710.  Alexa talks about grief and the importance of processing difficult feelings and seeking support. The episode continues with information about thoughts, automatic thought patterns, negative thinking, and the trauma response. Information about how to identify thoughts, and how to change them, is provided.  The episode covers fear, grounding techniques, mindfulness, scarcity vs abundance, thought reframing, and the law of attraction. Many tools and examples are provided. This episode shows that by mindfully changing our thoughts, we have the power to make ourselves feel better.  By using the tools provided in this episode, listeners will be able to change patterns of thinking, feel less fearful, and change the way they feel, decreasing stress, anxiety and depression. ----------------   Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. They can be reached at 402-715-9710. omahapsychotherapy.com  

This episode focuses on parenting and shame. Alexa and Hannah break down various conflicts currently faced by parents. This episode primarily focuses on moms.  The two talk about the history of parenting in America, the evolution of the role of motherhood, the choices and decisions moms frequently face, the heartache, the joy, the challenges, the opportunities, and the insidious shame and judgment that is so prevalent today. Suggestions are provided for how families can redefine needs and wants and roles. -------------------- Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy.  (402) 715-9710 omahapsychotherapy.com  

Alexa and Hannah respond to a listener request to do an episode about friendship.  This episode talks about the importance and value of friends and good friendship.  The co-hosts talk about various experiences they’ve had with friends.  The show covers lots of issues related to friendships including how to decide the value of friends, the importance of maintaining friends, the pain of losing friends, and the skills needed to improve and grow friendships.  ——————————————— Alexa and Hannah practice at Omaha Psychotherapy.  (402) 715-9710. omahapsychotherapy.com

Episode 25 of the Broken Podcast is about the danger of labeling people. Ever since Donald Trump was elected, it feels like we can't go a day without hearing the word "narcissist" on the nightly news. The label "narcissist" is everywhere and is being used to label men, especially in the midst of difficult divorces and nasty breakups. Gaslighting, love bombing, grey rocking, and stone walling are concepts we hear about often now. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a real thing, and there are people who suffer from the disorder who utilize manipulation and abuse. But not everyone who behaves selfishly is a "narcissist". There is a difference between narcissist traits and having an actual personality disorder. On the other side, women are being accused of being "borderline" in the same way. If a woman breaks up with someone, or files for divorce, she's often labeled by her ex as "crazy", "bipolar", "psycho", "stalker" or "borderline". Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder are real, actual mental health diagnoses. When unqualified jilted lovers accuse people of having these disorders, and labeling people with these words, it only furthers stigma and shame, and leads to people who actually meet diagnostic criteria for these disorders often not getting the help and support they need.    This episode begins with the co-hosts thanking listeners for their support and announcing that the podcast will soon be undergoing a relaunch and opportunities to support the podcast financially.    Hannah and Alexa introduce this week’s topic, narcissism.    Hannah discusses narcissism and differentiates between narcissistic traits and the mental health diagnosis, Narcissistic Personality Disorder.    Alexa clarifies that not everyone who has traits of narcissism qualify for a diagnosis. She shares observations about the current prevalence of narcissism.    Hannah provides information about and the history of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM 5). She describes how mental health providers diagnose conditions and discusses the difference between personality disorders and mood disorders. The stigma and shame of personality disorders is explored.    The two discuss Narcissistic Personality Disorder and educate listeners about the specific criteria, how criteria are measured and assessed, and the method used for diagnosing the disorder. Frustrations with the process for diagnosis and the subjective nature of diagnosis are explored.    Listeners are educated about the impact of the disorder and the problems frequently experienced by those who struggle with this disorder. Examples of narcissist behavior are discussed.    Alexa and Hannah discuss empathy and highlight concerns about the decline of empathy in recent times in our society. They share concerns about how kids don’t learn much about empathy today and discuss the importance of teaching empathy. The impact of social media on empathy development is also discussed. Hannah points out that many people now base their self-worth on reactions from others on social media.    Hannah shares about her own experience with divorce and how she discovered a prevalence of available resources related to narcissist abuse. She describes the process people go through in ending relationships, labeling exes as “bad”. She explains why it’s important for people going through breakups and divorces to look at the big picture and to see people and situations in shades of gray rather than labeling people as all good or all bad.    Listeners are educated about behaviors that are commonly associated with narcissists. Gaslighting and love bombing are discussed. Examples are providers.    Narcissist abuse is discussed. Strategies like grey rocking and no contact are explored.    Hannah describes the spectrum of narcissism and describes malignant narcissism. She talks about the danger of labeling people with narcissism. She discusses her concern that many ex boyfriends and ex husbands and men who have acted inappropriately are labeled as narcissists.    Alexa and Hannah discuss how this labeling happens for women too. Hannah describes the trend of men labeling women as borderline. She discusses the common occurrence of men who experience frustrating experiences with women to label them as crazy, psycho, unstable, and/or borderline.    Alexa shares information about Borderline Personality Disorder. She describes the disorder and talks about the criteria for diagnosis. Treatment for the disorder is discussed.    Hannah and Alexa wrap up the episode by sharing tips for all listeners:   Avoid labeling people with words like narcissist, borderline, bipolar, crazy, psycho, and abusive. Words can be dangerous.  Be aware that these labels often carry stigma and shame. Know that just because someone exhibits some symptoms of a disorder does not mean the person can necessarily be diagnosed with a disorder.  If you have experienced a negative experience with someone who has symptoms of a personality disorder, hesitate before labeling yourself as a victim and identifying with that label.  If you are diagnosed with a mental health disorder, avoid labeling yourself with the disorder. Try saying, “I have struggled with symptoms of depression” instead of “I am depressed”.  When you are triggered by something that happens or by something someone does, pause and breathe and ground yourself so that you can respond mindfully rather than automatically reacting.  If you have a history of relationships with people who struggle with personality disorders, examine patterns of your past relationships to examine red flags and where you might be getting hooked.  Come to therapy to learn more about all of this and to discover new ways of being in relationships to avoid becoming a victim of narcissist abuse.    Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy: (402) 715-9710 omahapsychotherapy.com

Therapists Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen discuss the sex strike suggested recently in a tweet by Alyssa Milano. They talk about the sex strike and the messages it may send. They also talk about how many people in marriages seem to be on sex strikes.  Hannah and Alexa talk about the danger of using sex as a weapon.  They discuss trends in marriage in America surrounding sex.  They also share tools and resources to help individuals and couples improve sex. Alexa shares that she officially graduated with her Master's degree in Counseling and has received her license to practice mental health. She is now seeing clients at Omaha Psychotherapy in person and virtually. You can schedule a session with Alexa, or reach Hannah or Alexa at: Omaha Psychotherapy https://omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710

Hannah and Alexa discuss lots of things related to therapy including how to find a therapist, how therapists are trained and credentialed, and what happens in therapy. Hannah updates listeners about her stolen car. Alexa shares about her upcoming graduation from her Master's program. She reflects about what she's learned in her graduate program and how it's prepared her to become a therapist. Hannah educates listeners about the various educational paths people take to become therapists. She explains the licensing and credentialing process, and describes the process for becoming independently licensed as a mental health provider. Alexa describes the transition from student to provisional licensure to full licensure. Hannah shares her own journey to becoming a therapist and about some of her early experiences as a social worker helping people with severe and persistent mental illness. They discuss the medical model of mental healthcare, which has developed over time, in part due to a parity act mandating health care insurers and providers to treat physical and mental health similarly. Hannah discusses how this has led to the creation of a system that pathologizes mental illness and encourages treatment providers to focus on diagnosis, labeling, brief and limited treatment, disability, and a goal of stabilizing and discharging patients. Hannah shares that more recently, many people have sought out a different model of therapy. She describes that increasing numbers of people come to therapy voluntarily, not because something is "wrong" with them, but because they want to optimize their lives, to grow and to improve their lives, investigating patterns and areas of their lives that are lacking or seem limited. Alexa mentions something she heard on another podcast about soul work and how public opinion and awareness has changed over time and has led to increasing numbers of people wanting to do deeper "soul" work.  Hannah educates listeners about the Hierarchy of Needs, a theory and model developed in 1943 by psychologist Abraham Maslow. She discusses the levels of the model and the importance of accepting that people have differing goals and needs, and that it's completely okay for people to occupy various levels and to be okay staying at a level. She also describes the impact of the country's relatively stable and secure economic and political situation in this country, combined with increased access to resources and information, which seems to be allowing people greater mobility on this ladder of needs. Hannah and Alexa discuss recent research that has shown that membership in churches and other formal religious organizations has declined in recent years. They discuss concerns regarding a decrease in the level of community involvement and support provided by faith communities as membership decreases.  They discuss how these increased opportunities, improved and stable economic conditions, and greater mobility and technology have led to people having many more varied and rich opportunities for relationships and education and occupations and experiences, but this doesn't necessarily correlate to increased happiness or satisfaction.  Hannah and Alexa discuss the therapy process and what typically happens in therapy sessions. They discuss reasons why people come to therapy, how people typically find and begin the process of therapy, how to identify goals for therapy, and possible outcomes of therapy. They discuss the "Magic Wand' question and how people can discover what they are looking to gain from therapy. They talk about ways therapists help clients identify what they want to change in their lives. Hannah and Alexa educate listeners about various types and modalities of therapy including CBT, DBT, EMDR, bibliotherapy, walking therapy, yoga therapy, virtual therapy, individual, couples and group therapy. They discuss what happens in therapy sessions. The typical structure and what to expect. The process of finding a therapist is discussed. Hannah and Alexa share important qualities to seek in a therapist. They talk about various ways to find therapists and how to decide who to see. They also share about some of the different ways therapists practice. Hannah talks about evidence-based treatment--what that means, how it came about, how evidence is demonstrated, how insurance companies authorize treatment, and how this model doesn't allow for some therapists and types of therapy to be covered. Hannah talks about her decision to not participate with any health insurance company or system. She talks about the freedom of practicing and of seeking therapy outside of the traditional medical model of mental health care and the benefits of seeking therapy and not using health insurance benefits. Resources: Hannah and Alexa both practice at Omaha Psychotherapy omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 710-9715

Therapists Hannah and Alexa of Omaha Psychotherapy (omahapsychotherapy.com) talk about a lot of things related to burnout, caregiver stress, secondary trauma, and compassion fatigue.    Hannah shares about the recent trauma she experienced losing her car.    Alexa shares about the current stress she’s experienced related to her graduation from grad school and waiting for her license.    Hannah discusses a presentation she made to immigration attorneys about compassion fatigue.    Hannah defines compassion as putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and asking what you can do for them.   She says that compassion is sometimes defined as “easing the suffering of another.”   Hannah shares an example which illustrates the difference between pity, sympathy, empathy, and compassion.    They discuss #metoo and how empathy is different than compassion.    Hannah shares her five stage model of compassion fatigue.    Alexa and Hannah share information about compassion fatigue. They talk about the definition and diagnosis, symptoms, recognition, and treatment.  Resources: Hannah and Alexa both practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. omahapsychotherapy.com.  (402) 715-9710         

The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 Hannah and Alexa interview domestic violence survivor Christen Sacco. Christen shares some education and statistics about domestic violence and intimate partner abuse. She then shares her story of being in an intimate relationship where she was the victim of domestic abuse. She openly shares about how the relationship began, the initial red flags, the progression into abuse, how the abuse escalated, the steps she took to get out of the relationship, how she escaped and got help, and how she's healed after the relationship. Broken is very grateful to Christen for her courage and vulnerability and bravery in sharing her story. Resources:  If you or someone you know is in an unhealthy relationship, are the victim of a current or past domestic violence incident or relationship, or are concerned about safety, please reach out for help. You aren't alone. Help is available... The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 https://www.thehotline.org The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://ncadv.org Hannah and Alexa practice at Omaha Psychotherapy omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 710-9715  

Co-hosts and therapists Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen interview Hannah's daughter, 7 year-old Lily Mirmiran. Lily shares her thoughts about what is broken in the world today and about how adults are breaking things. Lily discusses her frustrations with annoying brothers, paper straws, fake Sprite, adults using their phones, Instagram, the pressure to be perfect, beliefs about money, and coping with stress.  She gives suggestions for how people might better cope with frustrations, find happiness, and be more present in their lives. Lily also shares her "color theory", where she assigns virtues and emotions to colors, and then chooses clothes and hair chalk when she wants to embody these qualities. Lily encouraged us to share her color associations here: Red: Fierce, happy inside, secure Orange: Cautious, shy Peach: Funny Yellow: Happy, excited Gold: Down to earth, casual Green: I like money Emerald green: I am fancy Light green: Jealous Lime: I’m a little late to the party Teal: I don’t care what anyone thinks Navy blue: Wise and intelligent Royal blue: Bored Light blue: Sad Turquoise: Joyful Indigo: Kind Purple: Badass Maroon: I slay Violet: I love everything Pink: Fierce, and I want everyone to know it Hot pink: I just gotta dance Brown: I just got roasted Khaki: I like the heat Gray: Grateful Charcoal: Beautiful Silver: Brave Bronze: Confident Black: Evil, dark White: I am perfect Cream: I am feeling weird today Rainbow: I am loved Sequins: I am a party girl Naked: I am taking a big chance Broken would like to thank Lily Mirmiran for this insightful interview!   Resources: Hannah and Alexa both practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710 Song: "Feel Better When I'm Dancing", sung by Meghan Trainor. From the album: "The Peanuts Movie" (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Therapists Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen interview Shannon Vaccaro, a mom from Omaha, Nebraska who, with her husband Tony, lost their first child, son Alfy, on April 6, 2012 at 28 weeks of pregnancy due to stillbirth and later, their daughter Anna due to miscarriage. This episode focuses on pregnancy loss--both miscarriage (which occurs prior to week 20 of gestation), and stillbirth (occurring after 20 weeks of gestation). Tony and Shannon Vaccaro unfortunately and heartbreakingly experienced both types of pregnancy loss--a stillbirth and a miscarriage. In this episode, Shannon shares the journey she and her husband have traveled to becoming parents and building a family. Shannon bravely shares the story of her first pregnancy and the trauma of finding out that her son was stillborn when she was 7 months pregnant.  Shannon shares the heartbreaking experiences of the ultrasound where they learned their son had died, sharing the news with family, delivering the baby, learning the gender, naming him, holding him, being rushed into emergency surgery to remove the placenta, and receiving a blood transfusion. She also shares about her husband Tony's experiences and talks about their time at the hospital, about their family's experiences, and about preparing, planning and having a funeral service, and then burying their son. She discusses her own grief experience and the tools and resources she and her husband used to cope after their loss. She also talks about the emotions and symptoms they experienced related to grief and trauma, and about how she and Tony used therapy to help process everything. She also shares their process of continuing Alfy's memory and legacy. Shannon goes on to talk about she and Tony's decision to have more children, testing to discover why Alfy died, about pregnancy after loss, about coping with anxiety, and about having their second child, son Vinny. She talks about their decision to expand their family, and the heartbreaking loss of another pregnancy, their daughter Anna who was lost through miscarriage. She then shares about becoming pregnant again, and giving birth to son Mikey. Shannon shares about how her marriage survived loss and how she and Tony have supported each other and have strengthened their relationship. She also talks about the growth she's experienced along her grief journey, and the work she's done to honor her grief and to find more meaning in her life. And about what it's like for her to be a mom of both living and deceased children. Shannon talks about the advocacy and education work she's done to increase awareness about pregnancy loss. The resources she recommends are listed below. "If there is a mom out there who has experienced loss, know you are not alone." - Shannon Vaccaro The Broken Podcast is so grateful to both Tony and Shannon for their willingness and courage to share their story, their strength, and the memory of their children Alfy and Anna.  Resources: Guest, Shannon Vaccaro can be reached at Shannon.vaccaro.loss@gmail.com Pregnancy Loss Resources: For Immediate Grief Support, call 1-800-221-7437. Counselors are available 24/7 Articles Hannah has written: Coping With Pregnancy Loss: https://whatsyourgrief.com/coping-with-pregnancy-loss/ Meaningful Grieving After Pregnancy Loss: https://whatsyourgrief.com/grieving-after-pregnancy-loss/ Online support, education, and information: Healing Hearts Baby Loss Comfort: http://babylosscomfort.com/grief-resources/ Count the Kicks: https://www.countthekicks.org What's Your Grief: https://whatsyourgrief.com Still Standing Magazine: https://stillstandingmag.com Compassionate Friends: Supporting Families After the Loss of a Child: https://www.compassionatefriends.org Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope: http://facesofloss.com The Centering Corporation and Grief Digest Magazine: https://centering.org --------------------------------------------------------------- Hannah and Alexa are therapists and coaches at Omaha Psychotherapy. https://omahapsychotherapy.com They can be reached at (402) 715-9710 and at hmirmiran@omahapsychotherapy.com    

In this episode, Broken co-host Hannah Mirmiran shares her own story of brokenness. The episode begins with co-host Alexa thanking listeners for their feedback and support, especially to previous show guest, Melissa Mueller, who shared her story of recovering from an eating disorder. Alexa encourages listeners to contact the show to share feedback and reactions. Listeners are also encouraged to rate and review the podcast, and to subscribe on iTunes. Hannah shares that she was inspired by Melissa and other guests to share her own story of brokenness. Hannah reminds listeners that historically, therapists have embraced a "blank slate" approach and have not disclosed anything personal to clients. Hannah talks about the reasons and benefits of this approach and also discusses the potential value of therapeutic disclosure and therapists who choose to be more open about their lives and experiences. Hannah encourages listeners who prefer the "blank slate" approach to not listen to this episode.  Alexa interviews Hannah about her life story. Hannah shares details about her history and discusses difficult life experiences she encountered. She talks about how she started using alcohol to manage anxiety and difficult emotions, and how she learned to turn to alcohol repeatedly to cope with stressful life events. She discusses her struggles with alcohol and her struggle to find recovery. Hannah openly shares about her marriage, becoming a mother, experiencing miscarriages, and her path to becoming a therapist and finding balance as a wife, mother, and therapist. She talks about the difficulties in her marriage and the decision to end her marriage. She vulnerably shares about her painful divorce experience, the shame and grief she experienced, her struggle transitioning to life as a single mother, her pattern of people pleasing, and how she relied on alcohol to cope with  divorce. Hannah then shares her story of hitting a bottom and feeling broken, how she asked for help, and the path she took to find recovery. Hannah opens up about how she changed her life, let go of shame, became more authentic, found her voice, and created a new life that she's proud of. Hannah thanks everyone who has supported her and has given her a second chance. Resources: Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen are both therapists and coaches who practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. omahapsychotherapy.com . (402) 715-9710 .  Song: "You're Gonna Be Okay", written by Jenn Johnson, sung by Brian and Jenn Johnson, released 2017 by Bethel Music.  

Therapists Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen of Omaha Psychotherapy interview Melissa Mueller. Melissa shares her powerful personal story, including her struggle with bulimia and her recovery. Hannah and Alexa are therapists at Omaha Psychotherapy, omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710

Hannah and Alexa explain a concept developed by psychiatrist, Carl Jung called the Shadow. In the early twentieth century, Carl Jung developed a way to conceptualize our "self", identifying two main structures: the persona  (the things we know about ourselves that we present to the outside world), and the shadow (the unconscious part of ourselves that we keep hidden). Hannah and Alexa explain this and educate listeners about this concept. They explain that this isn't a bad or good thing, that each person has a persona and shadow side. They show that social media is a good way to see how we each present our persona. Hannah further explains the shadow and says she visualizes this concept as a backpack we all carry that contains the rules and "shoulds" we all learn about who we are supposed to not be. She shows that often people think of the shadow as dark and containing bad and unwanted aspects of ourselves, it often contains potentially good and healthy aspects and energy that could be useful to people. Alexa explains projection and what happens when our shadow is activated and have strong reactions. Alexa shares about an experience she had recently at a conference where she witnessed other therapists have reactions that seemed to come from their shadows. Hannah and Alexa examine how the current political environment in America seems to be activating many shadow reactions. Hannah and Alexa share personal examples of shadow work they've done, and times they've recognized something come up from their shadows.  Hannah discusses the danger of not exploring the shadow side. She provides examples of things that happen when the shadow is not recognized or explored. As she explains, when someone firmly attaches to their persona, while disowning and repressing their shadow side, the shadow side often takes over and drives someone's behavior, leading to increasingly toxic and harmful actions, examples Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson. She shares examples of things that are often in one's shadows and explains that each person has a shadow side and is capable of doing harmful behavior. Hannah then explains the process of unlocking and integrating the shadow. She explains that when someone explores their shadow side and becomes conscious of it, they feel better, become aware, can harness the power of the shadow, and then don't engage in harmful behavior. Alexa educates listeners about the "idealized self" and explains why many of us don't like to look at our shadows. Hannah also explains Carl Jung's concept of the collective shadow. She shows how this collective consciousness leads to groupthink, allowing people to feel supported and empowered and to collectively engage in hate, seeing people with differing views as the "other', a faceless group that is seen as bad and dangerous. Hannah and Alexa talk about how to do shadow work. They share tools and ways people can unlock, explore and integrate their shadow sides. They explore the power of examining projections and reactions, psychotherapy, journaling, examining dreams, using substances like dmt and ayahuasca, and reflecting on the rules we each have in our shadow backpacks. Hannah says that often sexuality is locked in our shadows. She explains the power and possibilities for growth that happen when we harness our sexual energy and examine the sexual elements we've placed in our shadow. Hannah shares examples of shadow from the media and from movies. She explores Batman, Star Wars, and Disney, including Elsa. Hannah explains that by becoming more aware and conscious of the elements of our shadows, we become more integrated and whole. We feel better, we have more power, we have more control over our behavior, and we feel less shame.   Resources: Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen practice at Omaha Psychotherapy. omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710

Trauma expert Chris Pilcher, LMHP, of Omaha Psychotherapy joins Hannah and Alexa for this episode.  Chris shares her experience and history of treating both the victims and the perpetrators of childhood sexual trauma.  She discusses definitions, treatment, warning signs, statistics, trends, patterns, and differentiates between healthy age appropriate behavior and harmful, concerning behavior.  Hannah and Alexa discuss some of the current trends and identify two documentaries that aired recently about childhood sexual trauma, including “Leaving Neverland” about Michael Jackson.  Chris educates listeners about warning signs to notice in children who may be victims of sexual trauma.   Resources: Chris Pilcher, LMHP: omahapsychotherapy.com One in Six: an organization devoted to helping boys and men who have experienced sexual trauma: https://1in6.org Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Thiesen are therapists and coaches at Omaha Psychotherapy, omahapsychotherapy.com    

Hannah and Alexa educate listeners about codependency, and examine various patterns and dynamics common in many relationships and in families.  Hannah provides examples of codependency, and shares a quiz with listeners, to help you see if this is something you might struggle with. Hannah also admits that she's had to address codependence in her own life. She shares her history of codependence. Hannah and Alexa talk about family dynamics and the roles various family members play. They talk about the Karpman Drama Triangle. Hannah educates listeners about the three roles people play in their families: victim, perpetrator, and rescuer. Alexa shares some of the things she's learned from the book "Codependence No More" by Melody Beattie.   Hannah and Alexa identify ways that people can address codependence. They share strategies for people to change relationship dynamics and to challenge their roles in relationships.    Resources: Books: Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend Karpman Drama Triangle: https://www.karpmandramatriangle.com Support Groups: Al-Anon: https://al-anon.org Codependents Anonymous: http://coda.org Hannah and Alexa are both at Omaha Psychotherapy.  omahapsychotherapy.com    

Episode 13 is all about self-care and how to find more happiness in life. Listeners are encouraged to break out of ruts and routines to find more meaning and satisfaction in life. Alexa and Hannah talk about self-care.  Before discussing self-care, they follow up on feedback they've received from previous episodes. Listeners are thanked for providing feedback and are encouraged to communicate their continued feedback with the show--good and bad. Hannah introduces the Wheel of Abundance exercise, a tool she often uses. She notes that many different coaches and books use a similar tool, and she explains that she's categorized the tool in a new way with different spokes and labels. Hannah describes the Wheel of Abundance/ Life Assessment Tool, and suggests that it's one good tool for assessing happiness in life. She suggests that listeners rate their lives on a scale of 1-10 in the following areas: 1) Friendship: Community, Connection, Relationships 2) Family: Family Relationships, Community, Connection 3) Marriage: Partnership, Romantic Relationship, Primary Relationship 4) Intimacy: Sexual Health, Touch, Affection, Connection, Vulnerability 5) Spirituality: Faith, Connection to Source, Meaning, Purpose 6) Stuff: Physical environment, House, Car, Clothes, Shoes, Things 7) Job: Career, Profession, Fulfillment 8) Finances: Earnings, Savings, Investments, Retirement, Savings 9) Adventure: Fun, Play, Travel, Creativity 10) Giving Back: Being of service, Contributing, Volunteering, Giving 11) Learning and Personal Development: Reading, Therapy, Coaching, Classes, Languages, New learning 12) Heath: Physical health, Mental health, Dental health, Body awareness and acceptance 13) Relationship with Self: Ability to enjoy being alone 14) Wellness: Happiness, Wellbeing, Satisfaction Hannah suggests drawing a circle and segmenting the circle into 14 "slices", labeling each slice with one of the 14 above-listed categories, and then charting the corresponding level of satisfaction, noting levels of satisfaction in each slice. Alexa points out that it's important to look at our values and see how our values align with these categories. Hannah suggests listing personal values in the middle of the pie as described above. Hannah shares a tool she learned in a coaching program where she was encouraged to track her time. She shares the experience and encourages others to track time, by noting which activities you are engaged in, in 15 minute intervals throughout the day. Hannah and Alexa debate iPhone's new time-tracking feature. They discuss how time spent on their phones and on social media has both positive and negative implications. Hannah shares a game she plays each day: Instagram Roulette, where she logs onto Instagram and finds the first positive post she sees, using that message as an inspiration for the day. She plays the game live on the show and shares the post she finds, which reads, "We are not in debt to the people who choose to love us" from @fierceselfcompassion.  Hannah and Alexa share information about giving and unspoken expectations. They talk about scorekeeping, expectations, selfishness, and traps many couples fall into.  They then define and describe self-care: "the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health, how well are you taking care of yourself." Hannah shares her analogy of comparing self-care to car care and maintenance. She explains that it's not the job of other people to take care of us. As she says, "it is all of our jobs and responsibilities to take care of our selves and our happiness and our lives." Hannah shares her number one suggestion for improving happiness: identifying gratitude. She shares a tool for finding gratitude. The two also suggest other tips that might be used to start this process: auditing a diet and exercise routine, limiting sugar and caffeine, incorporating more movement, eating more greens and vegetables and nutrients by including green juice, drinking more water, limiting alcohol, addressing sleep issues, incorporating meditation, using yoga, saying no, setting boundaries, auditing commitments, quitting mindless activities like watching tv during other activities, evaluating how you spend your time, delegating activities like cleaning, laundry and trash, asking for your help, finding a sacred time ritual or morning routine, incorporating gratitude, using affirmations, and prioritizing self-care. Hannah also discusses the importance of a heathy morning routine. She shares about her personal morning routine.  Hannah and Alexa remind listeners that life is short, and that it's important to find happiness and satisfaction in life, and that self-care is a tool to accomplish this. Resources: Quote of the Day Podcast: http://seancroxton.com/quoteoftheday/ Morning Routine: Great book by Hal Elrod: The Miracle Morning: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Morning-Not-So-Obvious-Guaranteed-Transform-ebook/dp/B00AKKS278/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=morning+routine&qid=1551072023&s=gateway&sr=8-2 Hannah and Alexa are therapists and coaches. You can find them at Omaha Psychotherapy. Both are accepting new clients. Contact them today for help with this stuff! omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710 hmirmiran@omahapsychotherapy.com

Episode 12 is dedicated to the memory of Abby Nicole Uecker who left this world unexpectedly on July 23, 2017. Alexa shares the poignant story of losing her best friend, Abby. Hannah and Alexa discuss grief. They educate listeners about the stages of grief, the common experiences people go through when grieving, and tools that can be helpful. Resources: "Here Comes Right Now", song by Abby Nicole (2017) Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen are therapists at Omaha Psychotherapy. omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710 hmirmiran@omahapsychotherapy.com

Episode 11 features Amanda Diekman Alexa and Hannah interview new mom, Amanda Diekman. Amanda gave birth to her first child, daughter Palmer, about three and a half months ago.  Shortly after bringing Baby Palmer home, Amanda realized she was experiencing symptoms and became concerned that she might have Postpartum Depression. She asked for help, received treatment, and soon started to feel better. She then opened up about her experience on social media and has continued to share her story. She embraces vulnerability and authentically shows up, and many other moms have found strength and hope in her example. Amanda shares her raw story with Alexa and Hannah. She talks about having a difficult pregnancy, a traumatic birth experience, recovering from a c-section and experiencing depression and anxiety after delivery. She opens up about how she knew something was wrong, when she asked for help, about her diagnosis with Postpartum Depression, the treatment she sought, and her recovery. She also talks about her decision to share about all of this publicly. Amanda also talks about the general challenges of becoming a mom, mourning her old life, finding a community of other moms, receiving criticism about feeding her baby formula, and experiencing mom shame.  Alexa, Hannah and Amanda all discuss the competition and judgment that is common between moms about many issues and how that leads to feelings of shame and guilt. They share their hope that moms will find compassion and empathy for each other rather than judging and tearing each other down. Broken is so grateful to Amanda Diekman for your honesty, your vulnerability, and your courage. Thank you!   Resources: While 80% of new moms experience Baby Blues in the first two weeks after giving birth, about 15% of moms are diagnosed with Postpartum Depression in the year after delivery. Men can also experience the disorder. Typically, the disorder presents about a month after childbirth, but this varies. Depression during pregnancy (Peripartum Depression) can also happen. If you are struggling with symptoms of depression or anxiety, please reach out for help. Talk to your healthcare provider, your Ob/Gyn, your midwife, your nurse, your pediatrician, or a therapist. You are not alone. Help is available.  https://www.postpartumdepression.org Find Amanda Diekman on Instagram @amdiekman Also, please check out her clothing boutique, Madida Clothing: https://madidaclothing.com Find Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen at https://omahapsychotherapy.com hmirmiran@omahapsychotherapy.com (402) 715-9710

Broken's Tenth Episode! Alexa and Hannah open the episode by thanking listeners for joining them so far and share about some of the recent conversations they’ve had with listeners. This episode provides listeners with a look inside therapy. Alexa and Hannah talk about who comes to therapy, why people seek therapy, how therapy can be helpful, and what happens in therapy. Hannah and Alexa both share their journeys to becoming therapists, and the reasons why both entered the field. Hannah says that therapy is an investment in one’s self and compares therapy to getting an oil change in your car—necessary and helpful maintenance.  Hannah shares about her decision to no longer accept health insurance for payment, and why she doesn’t see people who come to therapy as sick or disordered. Alexa mentions that some people seem to lack insight and have a hard time working on themselves and coming to therapy. Hannah provides education about Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Narcissism. Hannah also provides information about Imposter Syndrome and talks about how attorneys often deal with this. She shares about her own struggle with Imposter Syndrome and how vulnerability and self-disclosure has helped her release perfectionism and shame, and has helped clients feel more connected. Alexa says that she’s noticed that many people seek therapy to help them learn to regulate emotions. Hannah shares information about the difference between reacting and responding. She shares about some of the pressures felt by women and how this sometimes leads women to react in ways that don’t end up having their desired impact. Alexa shares that sometimes when women react emotionally, they are labeled as crazy or angry. Hannah talks about an article she recently read about political candidates and likeability and the different ways men and women are perceived. She talks about how women’s roles have changed and shifted recently and explained that we are in a transitional time redefining roles and expectations. Hannah also shares her concern about shame experienced by men. Alexa and Hannah talk about a commercial recently released by Gilette about toxic masculinity. They also discuss the recently released recommendations from the American Psychological Association about treating boys and men. Hannah introduces a Jungian concept called the “shadow”. They talk about how external pressure to be “good”, can lead to the creation of an external persona. Hannah shares examples she’s seen in the national spotlight of men who seem to be driven by shame, presenting a public persona of a “good guy”, and then displaying rage and aggression and acting out behaviors. Hannah shares the importance of kids and adults finding healthy outlets for competition and aggression. Hannah and Alexa thank everyone for listening to the podcast and share their gratitude for everyone who has listened to the first 10 episodes, and for everything that they’ve learned so far. They share that they have received some feedback about not including the voices of many men yet, and explain that they hear this and will be adding men’s voices as time progresses.

Hannah and Alexa discuss ghosting. Hannah mentions an article from the New York Times this week, "Why People Ghost, and How to Get Over it, Time to Go Ghostbusting." Hannah and Alexa share personal stories and observations about ghosting. Hannah educates Alexa about countertransference.  Alexa defines ghosting: "the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication". Hannah and Alexa discuss various examples of ghosting from their personal lives and professional experiences. They discuss friendships and romantic relationships. Alexa shares her personal experience with grief after losing her best friend, when she felt like she'd been ghosted.  Hannah explains that ghosting often feels like death because there's no closure. Both discuss current dating culture and how in our search for "the one", combined with the ease of "swiping" a new date, ghosting is common and even becoming acceptable. They examine why ghosting has become common, and speculate that it's because people don't want to have hard conversations. They both highlight problems with ghosting and the opportunities missed by both parties when ghosting happens. They discuss the pain that happens with ghosting, the questioning, the unknowns, and the missed opportunity to have cognitive closure for both sides. They also discuss the pain, shame and guilt created in the ghoster.  Hannah shares suggestions for how to cope and what to do after you've been ghosted. Hannah and Alexa discuss how therapy can be helpful. They also talk about the stages of grief. Hannah also shares some education about what seems to make someone a "bad" person, and the importance of being aware that some people just seem to lack the capacity for empathy or compassion. Ghosting is explained as trauma. Hannah and Alexa discuss how to heal from ghosting, and the importance to review the relationship to see if any red flags were missed. They also discuss how each break-up in life can be seen as a gift and something that teaches us. Courage, trust, respect, believing in one another's strength to hear hard things, pain, victimhood, empathy and compassion are discussed.       Resources: New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/smarter-living/why-people-ghost-and-how-to-get-over-it.html    

  The Sex Episode  Hannah and Alexa talk about sex and how it’s broken in many ways. Disclaimer: much of the content in this episode focuses on heterosexual, traditional, cis-gendered married couples. This is because Hannah and Alexa primarily with these couple configurations and both identify as heterosexual, cis-gender women. This episode covers a lot of material and is an overview of several issues. Other configurations, identities, sexual orientations, and preferences were not intentionally excluded. Future episodes will expand the conversation and will be more inclusive of others.  Hannah begins the episode by sharing her reasons for why she thinks this is an important topic and why it was so important to her that Broken cover sex. As someone who has been a therapist for 15 years, a woman for 41 years, and someone who was married for 10 years and is now divorced, Hannah shares that over the years she has noticed many people (clients, friends, herself) struggle with sex in many ways. She admits that for many people, while sex is a good thing, it’s also messy and confusing, and not something many people feel comfortable discussing. Because sexuality is an important part of our selves, our relationships, and our health, even though it’s uncomfortable and difficult to talk about, it’s important, and so we dedicate this episode to looking at sex and how it’s broken. Observations  Hannah and Alexa share trends they’ve seen in couples they’ve worked with. Hannah says that often, what’s going on in a couple’s sex life is a good indicator of what’s happening in the relationship in general. A couple’s sex life is often a barometer for the relationship, and is often a predictor of the relationship’s level of communication, connectedness, intimacy, trust, openness, comfortability, honesty, adventure, sharing and ability to ask for and meet each other’s needs.   Alexa shares that she’s been surprised to learn that many married couples do not have frequent sex. She says that she sees sex as a tool to stay connected, and an important feature of marriage. Hannah points out that couples differ on how important sex is within their specific relationship and can negotiate their own rules and boundaries about frequency of sex, and that it’s different for every couple. Hannah also shares that sometimes sex stops in relationships without the couple talking about it, because it’s vulnerable, uncomfortable, and difficult to talk about sex. She says that when sex stops, it’s often hard to get it back. She says sex is often “use it or lose it”, if a couple is not having sex, it sometimes falls off and then is very hard to start again.   Couples don’t often have the tools, words, language, or skills to talk about sex.   This episode is about helping to give people some of those tools, words, and skills.   Statistics:   The average American adult has sex 103 times a year.   Couples living together, but not married, have sex 146 times a year.   Married couples have sex 98 times a year.   Single adults have sex 49 times a year.   Married couples are having less sex. On average, married couples are having sex 9 fewer times per year than they were in the 1990s.   Hannah shares statistics about sex in America, but cautions listeners from giving too much weight to statistics because each couple, person, and situation is different. It can be dangerous to compare yourself to others, and there is an amount of bias in studies that measure sexuality since people tend to filter or edit their responses.   Hannah and Alexa discuss these statistics and share that they are consistent in their work with couples and from reports they’ve heard anecdotally from others. Married people seem to be having sex less often, not enjoying sex, viewing sex as a chore, and normalizing these experiences. Both Hannah and Alexa assert that sex in marriage seems to be broken.   So, what is happening in marriage? Why is sex broken?   Hannah educates listeners about the mixed messages we all receive about sex, from very young ages.   Sex Ed   Sexual education in schools is discussed. Sexual education in school is more common today, and Hannah shares that this is important and good, as it’s the only way some kids learn about sex and their bodies, especially if they have parents who don’t talk about sex. Schools are also teaching about consent and boundaries and respect. And these are good things, and important messages for everyone.    Americans are uncomfortable talking about sex, and sex education in this country lags far behind other countries. Other countries begin sex education at age 4, while most schools in America start with a very limited sexual health program at age 10, when students are in fourth grade.   Sexual education in America is often focused around the dangers of sex. Kids learn that they can get diseases and babies from sex. Kids learn that sex can kill you. Sex is often presented in a scary way that does discuss any of the positive things about sex.   Hannah says that teen pregnancy rates have decreased in America thanks to better sex education and information.   Rates of teens having sex in general have decreased as well. Hannah discusses reasons for this including increased time using devices and communicating with other online instead of in person. Because of this increased use of devices, children are learning fewer social skills and not learning to interact in person.   Children who grow up in religious environments often receive additional messages about sex—that it is sinful, dirty, wrong, bad, and can lead to hell and damnation.   Messages   Hannah and Alexa also discuss the mixed messages girls and boys receive about sex, from society, culture, their peers, the media, and their families.   Girls and Women   Girls receive messages that you should wait until you are married, having sex outside of a relationship or marriage means you are a slut, you should “save yourself”, cover up, don’t dress in a way that could lead a boy to take advantage of you, if you get pregnant your life is over, don’t be a bad girl, sex is dirty, sex is shameful, sex is secret, a gift you give your husband.   They discuss the word “slut”, and the messages girls receive that if they have sex outside of a relationship, they are labeled as a “slut”, “bad girl, or “damaged goods”.   Women also struggle with internal conflicts about reconciling multiple roles, such as desirable sexual creature and mother.   Alexa and Hannah share realizations and conversations from their peer groups about birth control, the fear of pregnancy and the shift in expectations and messages that occurs after marriage, or once someone is in a loving relationship or partnership.   Boys and Men   Hannah identifies that boys and men receive very different messages about sex. Boys often are given permission (implicit or explicit) to look at pornography and sexually provocative images in sources such as Playboy, from early on. Many boys are raised to learn that they aren’t really a “man” until they are sexually active. There is pressure for boys and young men to have many different sexual partners, to “get their numbers up”, “male slut” is not really even a thing. Many men receive messages from a community called the “Pick-up Artists”, and a book called “The Game”. “Hookup culture” and spring break, Greek life in academic settings, and the current culture encourages boys and men to express their sexuality and to sleep with many women. Boys feel this pressure to perform. Many boys also grow up concerned about issues like size and find themselves in a constant battle of comparing themselves with others.   On the other hand, recently, following the #metoo backlash, men and boys are receiving messages about consent and respect and boundaries. These messages are good and important, for both men and women, and they also are contributing to some men feeling conflicted and confused.   Hannah discusses the “Madonna-Whore Complex”, a term coined by Freud about a century ago, to describe an internal conflict many men experience when separating sexual desire from friendship and respect.   For some men, they can feel desire and arousal with sexual objects (“whore”) such as a stripper, porn star or casual hookup partner, but then find it difficult to feel desire or passion or arousal for (“Madonna”) their spouse, the mother of their children, and their best friend and life partner.   This complex can translate into lack of desire, confusion and shame.   Mindset Shift   Hannah says, you spend half your life learning that sex is bad and dangerous and hope to avoid pregnancy, and the other half of your life having sex to become pregnant, have babies and to connect with your spouse.   Alexa points out that the flip that is expected is drastic and is supposed to happen overnight.   Women sometimes “save themselves”, and are virgins at marriage, and then on their wedding night, are expected to give themselves to their husbands, be sexual, be comfortable, know what to do, please their husband, and consecrate the marriage.   This is a mindset shift that is expected to happen overnight, or suddenly, once someone is in a partnership or long-term relationship or marriage. It’s a difficult transition for many people.   Hannah observes that many people have a hard time making this shift. Alexa observes that, as with many mindset shifts, it’s difficult because our mindset is driven by deeply held and firmly entrenched beliefs that are often unconscious.   The difficulty in shifting mindset is often compounded by couples not often having the words, skills, tools, or language to talk about sex or beliefs, or to help each other process conflicting feelings without fear of judgment or shame.   Therapy and coaching is suggested as a tool to help address mindset issues around sex.   The Pressure to find “The One”   Hannah discusses the tremendous pressure and expectations many people put into marriage today.   Marriages are more egalitarian today. Women and men share roles and responsibilities. Most marriages include partners who share financial responsibilities and incomes. Most are dual-earning partnerships.   There is pressure to find “THE ONE”. Marriage is seen as a partnership where you merge lives with another person who becomes your best friend, intimate partner, trusted companion, keeper of secrets, protector, provider, nurturer, and sexual partner.   While the average age of marriage is increasing, so is life expectancy, so marriages, and the potential for marriage longevity is longer than ever in history.   Additionally, couples are less connected to extended families and are more mobile, often living miles from extended families and support. This distance often puts additional pressure on the marital relationship to provide support that may have once been provided by family members.   So today, marriage is expected to provide nearly all of the love, friendship, support, trust, financial responsibility, childcare responsibility, intimacy, desire, passion, and fidelity that a person needs in his or her life.   That is a lot of pressure on one relationship. A relationship that may last 80 years. For life. Monogamy.   Hannah and Alexa discuss lack of sexual desire and low sex drive, and things that can contribute to this.   They also discuss issues that can lead to infidelity. Hannah shares trends and statistics about infidelity.   Hannah also shares information about ways sex benefits health and well-being.   Suggestions and Resources:   Hannah and Alexa share resources for help with all of this. Hannah says that some therapists and other thought leaders are helping couples rethink some of these expectations and rules, and helping couples and individuals to adjust expectations.   Esther Perel is a psychotherapist and sex expert who hosts a podcast, “Where Do We Begin”, and has authored two helpful books, “Mating in Captivity”, and “The State of Affairs”.   Hannah talks about some of the suggestions shared by Esther Perel, including creating some distance, relying on other supports, the use of the “other” through fantasy, and tools for reigniting desire and passion.   Hannah and Alexa discuss some of the other pressures common in current-day marriages including infertility, financial stress, the pressure to reproduce, parenting, over-programming, competing with neighbors and friends and social media.   When couples are faced with these stresses and pressures, they don’t often feel “in the mood”, sexual desire wanes, and frequency of sex and intimacy decreases.   Take responsibility for your sexual well-being   Alexa shares her thoughts and beliefs about the responsibility and opportunity we each have as individuals to figure out our wants and needs, and to maintain sexual health and wellbeing.   Hannah shares her frustration with the lack of available resources for women to learn about sex. She says, men have porn, which is typically made by men for men. But women aren’t encouraged to learn about sex and aren’t provided with many tools or resources to educate themselves about the possibilities of sex and desire.   Hannah shares that each of us have different parts of our selves. Our sexual self is a part of us. Some people stop having sex and let that part of themselves die. Many people don’t prioritize sex and think it’s not important or necessary. But in doing that, they lose a part of themselves that can be very helpful to people.   Staying in tune with our sexuality is a way for people to feel alive, stay connected, find power, decrease anxiety and depression, sleep better, be healthier, and feel good. It’s also a way for people to connect with certain aspects of femininity and masculinity. We can look at sex as an untapped resource that might help us feel better and be better.   Understand your body   Learn about your anatomy and your body. Explore and find the parts of you that “feel good”. Learn more about types of orgasms and about the possibility of sex.   Get more comfortable talking about all of this   Find people and ways to start talking about this. Find people to start practicing even talking about sex.   Talk to your children about sex in positive, age appropriate ways.   Think about the opportunity to find passion in your life.     Resources:   Coaching with Hannah Mirmiran or Alexa Thiesen: (402) 715-9710 or hmirmiran@omahapsychotherapy.com   Esther Perel: “Mating in Captivity”: https://www.amazon.com/Mating-Captivity-Unlocking-Erotic-Intelligence-ebook/   Esther Perel: “State of Affairs-Rethinking Infidelity”: https://www.amazon.com/State-Affairs-Rethinking-Infidelity-ebook    

The seventh episode of Broken covers anxiety.  Hannah and Alexa start the episode by sharing some listener feedback. Hannah responds to a comment she made about divorce on an earlier episode and clarifies what she intended.  Hannah and Alexa then introduce John Tsilimparis, MFT. John is a psychotherapist, author, speaker, and expert on anxiety who practices in Los Angeles, California. He also shares about his own experience with anxiety. John begins by defining anxiety and provides information about impairment and knowing when levels of anxiety have reached the point of diagnosable disorders. He clarifies the two main types of anxiety symptoms: cognitive (thoughts like fears and worries), and somatic (physical experiences like rapid heartbeat and flushing). "Normal" anxiety, "healthy" anxiety, and dysfunctional anxiety are identified, as are various types of anxiety like social anxiety and generalized anxiety. John provides an overview of treatment for anxiety including cognitive therapy, restructuring, thought logging, peer support, lifestyle change and mindfulness. He identifies three characteristics people with anxiety typically experience: 1) Excessive need for control, being averse and reacting to uncertainty. 2) Perfectionism: living in a world of extremes with no grey area. 3) Reliance on others for approval, people pleasing. John shares the "ten minute rule", a suggestion for slowing down thoughts early, to decrease anxiety. He talks about the capacity to tolerate discomfort. John, Hannah and Alexa discuss current trends in anxiety, when anxiety can be useful, how anxiety is often pathologized as bad, the opportunity to look at anxiety as an internal warning sign and help, multitasking, setting priorities, urgency, self-compassion, therapy, neuroplasticity, treating anxiety with medication, trauma, fight-flight-freeze responses, the danger of avoidance, parenting, reducing stigma, and the importance of talking openly. The three discuss the opportunity people have in learning how to confront anxiety, tolerate discomfort, build courage, and learning their own strength. John discusses the dangers of trying to control anxiety as well as avoiding it, and instead suggests processing thoughts and using mindfulness. They discuss anxiety experienced by children and adolescents and how parents can help. He also shares about his own experience of anxiety and how he has overcome personal struggles. Broken sends a big thank you to John Tsilimparis! Resources: John Tsilimparis, MFT: https://johntsilimparis.com His book: "Retrain Your Anxious Brain": https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Anxious-Brain-Practical/dp/0373892918/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396534450&sr=8-1&keywords=retrain+your+anxious+brain  

In this episode, Hannah and Alexa interview Jim Florentine. Jim is a stand-up comedian, TV host, actor, podcaster and voice artist. He is best known for co-hosting VH1 Classic's heavy metal talk show series "That Metal Show". He is also known for his work on Comedy Central's show "Crank Yankers". Recently, he appeared in the hit movie "Trainwreck", and on the critically acclaimed TV series "Inside Amy Schumer". He was submitted for an Emmy for best supporting actor for his role of Kenny on the show "Louie". Jim has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The Apprentice, and the Fox News Channel's Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld. He has released numerous comedy specials, including "I'm Your Savior", a critically acclaimed one-man show about his about his life and the death of his ex-girlfriend. Earlier this year, he published his first book, "Everybody is Awful (Except You!)". Hannah met Jim in 2016 when he was in Omaha performing at a comedy show. At the time, both had just gone through messy divorces and they bonded about their experiences. In this episode, Hannah and Alexa interview Jim about his recovery and healing following the 2007 suicide death of his girlfriend. He shares about his experiences in therapy, support groups, and with a shaman healer. Jim also shares how he's learned to cope with rejection and criticism as a comedian and how he no longer takes anything personally. He shares about why therapy has been valuable and why he recommends that everyone do therapy for at least a year. Jim and Hannah both discuss moving on after divorce and adjusting to life as a single parent navigating parenting, work, dating, and co-parenting. Jim shares some really good insight and wisdom about parenting, honesty, the dangers of comparing oneself to others, dating, communication, boundaries, and self-improvement.   Resources: http://www.jimflorentine.com Jim's book, "Everybody is Awful (Except You!)": https://www.amazon.com/Everybody-Awful-Except-Jim-Florentine/dp/0306825635/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1505241495&sr=8-1 "I'm Your Savior", Jim's one-man show available on iTunes and Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Florentine-Im-Your-Savior "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz.  

Happy New Year! In this episode Hannah and Alexa dive into the importance of reflecting and setting goals. Hannah and Alexa talk about their different views on New Year’s resolutions. This episode discusses how to set resolutions and why most people fail at meeting the resolutions they set. The hosts acknowledge the shame that people feel when they do not meet their goals and give solutions for how to better approach them. Why don’t people follow through with resolutions? What’s the biggest resolution in this country? These questions are answered throughout the episode. Hannah and Alexa take listeners through a resolution activity to help them set their own goals. This episode is all about mindset, beliefs, and addressing the areas of your life that aren’t working for you.  Resources: todoist app

Happy Holidays! In this episode, Hannah and Alexa talk about the the holidays and why they seem a little broken. They explore the various experiences and emotions, the joy and the pain, the crazy and the funny and the sadness and the frustrations that come with the season. They remind listeners that it is ok to not be ok. Hannah and Alexa each discuss their own holiday memories and share what the season means to each of them. They explore all of the pressure that is involved with trying to make a "perfect" holiday. This episode explains why "should" is a bad word in therapy and what “shouding on yourself” means. Hannah and Alexa identify the "shoulds" and the expectations of the holiday season. They also talk about the opportunity to create new traditions and why it's important to prioritize yourself during the holiday season.  They share their discoveries of upside down Christmas trees and something called "pornmas".  The episode takes a turn when Hannah and Alexa start talking about the hard things that come with this time of year. They discuss what they see clients struggling with, as well as their own personal struggles. Alexa shares about the loss of her best friend and how she feels the loss more deeply during the holidays. Hannah discusses the loneliness of being a single mom at Christmas. Grief, loss, loneliness, and sadness impact how many people experience the holidays and the other times in life that "should" be happy. This episode talks about how to survive and how to find meaning in holidays, even during times of grief. Hannah and Alexa discover that it is ok to still feel brokenness even in a season that is supposed to be full of joy and light.  Listeners are reminded to practice gratitude, ask for help, be vulnerable, reduce expectations, have self-compassion and empathy, communicate honestly and evaluate traditions to find and create meaning during the holidays. Hannah and Alexa wish all of their listeners a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Credits: Music: Tobymac, "Bring on the Holidays", Light of Christmas album (2017), Capitol CMG Label Group

The third episode of Broken covers a lot. Hope, yoga, grounding techniques to reduce anxiety, body image, food, intuitive eating, mindfulness and breath. Hannah and Alexa share their own stories and talk about how their beliefs and thoughts about food, their bodies, yoga and exercise have changed. Hannah and Alexa begin this episode by reading a comment sent by a listener about finding hope from the podcast.  Hannah and Alexa talk about hope, and about the importance and usefulness of finding hope when things feel broken.  They talk about yoga and about how each found yoga. Alexa shares about her journey training to become a yoga teacher. They both share their initial judgments and doubts about yoga and how they now think differently. Hannah explains grounding and teaches about using grounding techniques such as yoga and breathing to decrease anxiety. Alexa demonstrates a technique called "square breathing". They also talk about meditation and suggest resources including an app called the Insight Timer. They share examples of mindfulness, grounding and breathing techniques to teach children. Alexa talks about the mind-body connection and how our feelings about our bodies impact our thoughts and mental health.  The two then shift into discussing body image. They discuss the evolution that occurs for many people leading to disconnection from body awareness. Hannah and Alexa share their personal struggles with food, weight gain, dieting, and losing weight. They discuss what food, eating, and body awareness was like in their respective childhoods, when they went to college and joined sororities, and then post-college.  They talk about binge eating, college weight gain, restricting and denying food, dieting, guilt inducing diet fails, rules about food, stress eating, tracking calories, eating kid-food highchair leftovers, eating and using alcohol to numb and ignore the problem, beating ourselves up about weight loss failure, yoyo dieting, food choices, and about how they learned about food and to listen to their bodies. Hannah and Alexa both examine the journeys that led them to find intuitive eating and achieve their ideal body weight, which they've each maintained now for more than a year. They discuss the importance of prioritizing self-care, the connection between self-worth and self-care, and the opportunity to use healthy eating and exercise as a way to gain some control in life, in a healthy way--to empower yourself and to optimize mental and physical health. Hannah and Alexa circle back to discussing yoga and provide information about how to apply yoga to life. Listeners are reminded to acknowledge themselves after surviving hard things. Hannah teases an upcoming episode about sex. She asks for listeners to reach out to the show with their thoughts and concerns about sex. Connect with Broken Podcast (@brokenpodcast) on Facebook and on Instagram (@broken.podcast). Check out the website at brokenpodcast.com. Email hmirmiran@gmail.com .  Join Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen every Monday for Broken.   Resources: Lotus House of Yoga (Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska: lotushouseofyoga.com) Insight Timer, Headspace, Calm: Meditation apps available on your device's App Store. Website: www.brokenpodcast.com Instagram: @broken.podcast Facebook: @brokenpodcast  

In this not so light or superfun episode, Hannah and Alexa look at honesty and examine how honesty as a value, a practice, and a skill is kinda “Broken” today. They talk about honesty from multiple angles and give the listener an idea of how honesty can heal brokenness. So what is honesty? The hosts define what honesty means to them and talk about how being totally honest and vulnerable can help reduce feelings of shame. Oversharing and "too much honesty" is also explored. How much is too much? The hosts give their opinions.   Hannah gives a shout-out to Game of Thrones for the awesome visual depiction of shame. The hosts discuss what happens when we live based on our beliefs about what other people expect and want. School snack mom shame is used as an example. Brené Brown (Hannah and Alexa's idol, dream guest and all time #therapistcrush) is credited and praised in this episode for her groundbreaking research and writing about the value and power of using honesty and vulnerability to heal shame. The hosts discuss Brené's recent appearance on the Armchair Expert Podcast with Dax Shepard. Things get a little controversial as Hannah and Alexa explore their reactions to Brené's interview and their concerns about the danger of dehumanizing others. Hannah and Alexa talk about the power, the value and the skill of honest conversations, and the responsibility we all have to break down our walls and to listen. Really listen. They share examples of how they feel, have seen other people feel and how much better life gets when we allow ourselves to be honest with ourselves and with others. They explain that when we find the courage to participate in difficult conversations where everything is on the table, instead of not saying or hearing important things because we don't want to hurt someone's feelings, everyone benefits. The hosts show that conversations like these are the building blocks of connection and healthy relationships and a powerful tool to increase trust and respect, both for yourself, and for the other person and the relationship. Vulnerability and being honest are skills that take practice. Hannah describes how gratitude is often thought of as a "practice" and shows that vulnerability can be thought of in the same way--as something you work on and get better at doing over time, becoming more confident, resilient and secure with practice. The hosts talk about what gets in the way of all this honesty stuff. They explore our most basic human need for attachment, connection, belonging, and acceptance, and examine how this need drives human behavior and choices. The process of creating a persona--editing ourself to be who we think other people want us to be is explained. Hannah and Alexa talk about how creating this persona and trying to be who we think others want us to be is dishonest. While it is understandable that we want to fit in, when we aren't totally real and authentic about who we are and what we feel and want and believe, other people don't really know us, and we don't really get to be ourselves. Everyone misses out. Nobody knows us, we lose ourselves, and it's not honest. Hannah and Alexa believe that all people have the capacity and the strength to do hard things and to sit with hard feelings. They give tips and share skills for how to have hard conversations with people even when it's painful and scary. The hosts show that not wanting to hurt someone's feelings, while it seems nice, is actually a major disservice. They talk about the danger of ghosting and blocking and avoiding to protect someone's feelings, as this robs both people of a meaningful opportunity for growth, learning, and connection. The term "shame resilience" is introduced. Hannah and Alexa explain how resilience creates more honesty and trust and respect in relationships. The more shame resilience we build in ourselves the more people will share honestly with us. As a bonus, this resilience training builds self-worth and self-confidence, which decreases depression and anxiety. Bonus! Hannah and Alexa share examples from their own lives and acknowledge that it takes a lot of courage to be honest with ourselves and with others. They challenge and encourage listeners to look into their own lives and relationships. To examine something in their lives that might be currently triggering difficult feelings. To identify somethinh in their lives they want to “block” or cut out. Listeners are encouraged to take a risk, to find some compassion and empathy for the person they most want to "block", and to get curious about what is really going and what might be causing the reaction. Listeners are encouraged to consider moving toward that other person, to have a potentially difficult and painful conversation, to get vulnerable, to have empathy, to ask questions, to attempt to understand, to see the other person as a person, to listen, to break down a wall, and to be honest. Honesty is broken. For any of us to have trust in ourselves, in each other and in the world, and for us to know what is real and true and to have trust and faith, honesty is necessary. It's a mandatory ingredient for this stuff. We have to fix honesty. Yes, this unfiltered honesty is hard, and Hannah and Alexa believe that hard things are worth doing.   Links and mentions: Game of Thrones, Cersei's Walk of Shame, Season 5, Episode 10 (originally aired June 14, 2015) The Power of Vulnerability (Brené Brown Ted Talk) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o Listening to Shame (Brené Brown Ted Talk)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0 Armchair Expert Podcast with Dax Shepard "Braving the Wilderness", Brené Brown

The first episode of “Broken” is an introduction to what the podcast is about and the direction it will be heading. The hosts of the show, Hannah Mirmiran and Alexa Theisen introduce themselves and talk about how “Broken” originated. The hosts go into detail about being psychotherapists and why a podcast seemed like a good idea. They talk about how they met and how being “broken” brought them together. Hannah and Alexa discuss what they are going to be talking about on the podcast and what the intention behind “Broken” is. This episode gets into the definitions of shame and guilt and why its important to know the difference between the two. Guilt is described as something that can be healthy and Hannah goes into detail about where guilt and shame show up in our lives. The hosts talk about how social media is playing into what is broken. The images of perfection that people compare themselves to, the pretty filters people use to cover themselves up, and what being real on social media feels like.   Controversial issues are brought to light as the hosts describe how breaking things is often necessary. Hannah and Alexa describe how they are “breaking the rules” of therapy. They describe the origins of psychotherapy and how it has changed over the years. Throughout the episode, therapy is talked about as something that people shouldn’t be ashamed of needing. Therapy is defined as something that is not just for sick people. Different types of therapy are discussed and Hannah and Alexa get real about their own brokenness. This episode is an icebreaker for all the “Broken” things to come on the podcasts. Listeners are encouraged to join in on the conversation and present their ideas about what they think is broken. You don’t want to miss this first episode of “Broken”!