Characters on the Couch

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Join Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Adam Stern and journalist/pop-culture enthusiast Jordana Horn as they discuss the interior lives of YOUR favorite fictional TV icons. From the classics to binge-worthy shows that everyone’s talking about right now, get ready

A Zcast Production


    • Jan 25, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 30 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Characters on the Couch

    Fleishman Needs Meds and Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 29:07


    Jordana and Adam dive into the unique perspectives and broken psyches in the mesmerizing, thoughtful, and original take on middle-aged discontent, better known as Fleishman Is In Trouble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Pierpoint Needs an In-House Therapist: An Industry Deep Dive

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 21:27


    Jordana and Adam discuss the deeply troubling psychological state of Industry and the messy recipe of extreme behavior, high salaries, and selling your soul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Wednesday Sessions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2023 27:22


    Jordana and Adam delve into the mesmerizing, fascinating, darkly fantastic and flawed character of Wednesday Addams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Therapeutic Sex Lives of College Girls

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 35:04


    Jordana and Adam discuss HBO Max's Sex Lives of College Girls as the show's characters explore identity, individuation, sense of self, and enormous amounts of sex. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Another Therapeutic Stay at the White Lotus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 44:06


    Jordana and Adam discuss Season 2 of the HBO smash hit The White Lotus. Circling around themes of toxic masculinity, identity within relationships, and murder on the Mediterranean, Characters on the Couch has you covered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Grieving with WandaVision

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 30:11


    Jordana and Adam talk about grief and loss through the eyes of our favorite morally ambiguous comic book witch, Wanda Maximoff. If grief is love persevering, what is it when someone makes flesh-muppets out of an entire town to cope with their own personal loss? On this, Characters on the Couch has got you covered. Let's delve in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Postmortem of The Patient

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 34:45


    Jordana and Adam circle back to The Patient and try to make sense of the psychology of a sociopath who locks his therapist in his basement. They delve into what works, what doesn't, and all the ways they saw this show from entirely different perspectives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Are So Many Grown Ups Still Drawn So Much To Superhero Content?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 39:05


    Jordana and Adam discuss the psychology of why so many of us are still drawn to men and women in capes. From the complex, damaged psyches of Batman and Ironman to the societal exclusion of the X-Men, we delve in to better understand what still draws us in decades later. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Loot on the Couch

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 29:39


    Jordana and Adam discuss Apple TV's Loot, starring Maya Rudolph as a woman trying to find happiness and herself in the setting of a difficult divorce along with tens of billions of dollars. Can she find a way to a life filled with meaning and self-worth? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Patient on the Couch in the Basement Dungeon

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 37:16


    For the first time, Jordana and Adam preview a show – The Patient – because the premise is so good and ready for dissection! Join in as they discuss the challenges, tensions, and impossibilities of trying to help a psychopathic serial killer while chained up in his basement. This show is going to be intense and a wildly worthwhile experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Catastrophe on the Couch

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 30:50


    Jordana and Adam tackle the fantastically genuine depiction of love and marriage in the show Catastrophe, delving into Rob and Sharon's many imperfections, motivations, charms, and flaws that make the show one of the best of the last 10 years. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Never Have I Ever...Been in Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 33:06


    In an episode saturated in teen angst, Jordana and Adam discuss the psychological complexities of Devi from Never Have I Ever. What is a functional neurologic disorder? How does the adolescent perspective change one's behaviors and priorities? How can kids process the emotional trauma of losing a parent? We cover it all on this week's Characters on the Couch! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Fleabag on the Couch

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 26:47


    Jordana and Adam discuss the psychologically tortured protagonist of the brilliant show Fleabag, featuring discussions of complex grief, sibling identity, overcoming maladaptive behavior patterns, and even a bit about psychedelic-assisted therapy! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Delving into the Not-Very-Therapeutic Espionage of The Americans

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 30:50


    Jordana and Adam discuss the psychologically fractured family at the center of the new classic, The Americans. What draws people to espionage, and how does our favorite Soviet-American family pick up the pieces of their shattered selves when it's all over? Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Therapeutic Stay at The White Lotus

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 26:20


    From one couple to another to another, Jordana and Adam work through the many psychological issues accompanying the guests at The White Lotus. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Bear on the Couch

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2022 23:54


    Jordana and Adam chomp down on the summer's buzziest show, The Bear, examining it through the lens of complex grief and toxic masculinity. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Sipping Your Psychological Brew with The Morning Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2022 40:26


    From Mitch to Alex to Bradley, our hosts dissect the complex psyches of everyone's favorite morning show characters. Jordan and Adam can't help but explore why we're attracted to watching shows like The Morning Show that center around bad behavior and the strikingly complicated people at the center of it all. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Entering a Fugue State with Breaking Bad's Walter White

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 29:53


    Jordana and Adam talk about the transformation Breaking Bad's Walter White experiences as he becomes Heisenberg over five seasons; and, in a turn of unbridled self-disclosure juxtaposes his arc with Adam's own after a similarly life threatening cancer diagnosis. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Hacks on the Couch

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2022 30:37


    Jordana and Adam assess the gaping generational divide between Deborah and Ava, along with the character flaws that draw them together and illuminate both their best and worst selves each week. There is plenty of psychological intrigue in this episode with a dash of Erik Erikson for good measure. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Psychologically Lassoing Ted Lasso

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 31:54


    Where does Ted Lasso's relentless positivity come from and why does he experience panic attacks? Why does Nate spit at his own reflection in the mirror? Jordana and Adam get into all things Lasso on this week's Characters on the Couch. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Time Traveler's Wife's Therapist's Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 29:53


    Jordana and Adam tackle the psychological challenges of finding and keeping love from within the many versions of Henry and Clare's love story across space and (naked) time (traveling). Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Psychological Bottom Line of Succession

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 34:25


    When Succession patriarch Logan Roy dangles the carrot of love, his adult children reach for it every time, and to him this is how the game is played. Jordana and Adam delve into how each of the different Roys cope within their very toxic family arena.Purchase Characters on the Couch merch here. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Getting to the inner Layers of Russian Doll

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 28:00


    Our hosts dig into the kaleidoscopic, psychedelic world of Netflix's Russian Doll and try to make sense of Nadia's adventures through time, space, and intergenerational trauma. Purchase Characters on the Couch merch here. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Understanding the Psychopaths of Anatomy of a Scandal and The Undoing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022 35:10


    Jordana and Adam discuss the different forms of sociopathy and psychopathy on display in two shows: Anatomy of a Scandal and The Undoing. How can we understand the mindset of someone so simultaneously entitled and damaged and the families that shatter due to their actions?Purchase Characters on the Couch merch here. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Dissecting Severance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 30:07


    Jordana and Adam dissect Apple TV's intense, complex, and psychologically fractured show Severance covering ground featuring extreme compartmentalization, trauma, corporate culture, and the cult of optimizing work-life balance.Purchase Characters on the Couch merch here. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Heartthrobs of Bridgerton Keep Their Clothes on in Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 34:39


    Jordana and Adam take on both seasons of Netflix's steamy smash hit Bridgerton and dissect why our heroes and heroines can't help but fall for each other in spite of or because of how very vexing they find one another.Purchase Characters on the Couch merch here. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Don Draper from Mad Men Goes to Fictional Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 24:31


    Jordana and Adam discuss the classic drama, Mad Men, with a special focus on Don Draper's complex character as he navigates a world that is superficially flawless and deeply damaged under the surface. Can Adam find any common ground to help Don reach his potential on the fictional therapist's couch?Purchase Characters on the Couch merch here. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Characters from The Gilded Age Get Analyzed

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 35:52


    In our second episode, Jordana and Adam discuss a variety of characters from The Gilded Age with a discussion on the show's central themes of social status and climbing. Ultimately, Adam sits Agnes and Ada down on a fictional couch for some much needed family therapy.Purchase Characters on the Couch merch here. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Midge from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Gets into Fictional Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 29:22


    In this inaugural episode of Characters on the Couch, journalist and editor Jordana Horn and Harvard Medical School psychiatrist Dr. Adam Stern discuss the charms and character flaws of Midge Maisel from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. As Season 4 of this hit show comes to a close, why do we, the viewer, still find her so compelling in the face of such self-sabotage, and how might a real-life therapist work to help her achieve what she wants out of her one marvelous life? Jordana and Adam delve in.Purchase Characters on the Couch merch here. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 2:58


    Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

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