Pure Curiosity with Iris McAlpin

In this episode I speak with Amanda E. White, therapist, retired party girl, and author of the new book Not Drinking Tonight about alcohol culture. This is a nuanced conversation about how we collectively relate to alcohol and sobriety, how alcohol misuse and eating disorders are intimately connected, the difference between alcohol addiction and "food addiction" and so much more. Whether you're struggling with your relationship with alcohol, interested in reflecting on your relationship with alcohol, or wanting to support someone in your life who is struggling with substance use, this conversation offers insight as well as practical guidance for navigating these issues. About Our Guest:Amanda E. White is a licensed therapist and the creator of the popular instagram account @therapyforwomen. She is the author of the book “Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating A Sober Life You Love.” She is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Therapy for Women Center, based in Philadelphia serving clients across the country. In her clinical work, she specializes in working with individuals with substance use disorders and eating disorders.People are drawn to Amanda's unique expertise, accessible approach to healing and mental health. She has been featured in notable publications such as Forbes, Washington Post, Shape, Women's Health Magazine, and more.  Follow Amanda on Instagram.Purchase Amanda's Book.  

In this episode I speak with Dr. Jen Douglas, a licensed psychologist, Stanford professor and mom about all things perfectionism. We talk about how it shows up (in sometimes sneaky ways) across multiple dimensions, including body image, parenting and productivity. Perfectionism also has an intergenerational component to it, and Dr. Jen offers some tangible insight into how we can shift these patterns within our families and raise children who aren't burdened by the weight of perfectionism. We also discuss the importance of pleasure, play and humor in healing, and how learning to laugh at ourselves can help us manage the inevitable messiness of life. Dr. Jen is a delight, and I hope you will enjoy this perfectly imperfect episode! About Our Guest:Jen Douglas, PhD is a licensed psychologist, Stanford clinical assistant professor, executive coach, consultant, partner and mother. Dr. Jen specializes in helping high-achieving individuals overcome their own perfectionism to reach their fullest potential, both in their professional worlds and in their personal relationships. Dr. Jen turns her unique approach to mental health towards women and non-binary individuals at the intersection of identity, professional goals, and parenting. In her academic role, Dr. Jen trains graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and medical residents in empirically-based mental health treatment, and has published in international peer-reviewed psychology journals. Dr. Jen's clinical interests span the intersection of high-functioning anxiety, emotional regulation, and societal influences on mental health.  As a mission-driven mental health expert intent on improving access to education about life-changing psychological tools, Dr. Jen facilitates anti-burnout workshops and provides speaking engagements for such companies as Facebook Inc. and Vox Media. The center of Dr. Jen's passion is marrying academic psychological theory with real-life societal pressures and intersectional identities. It is harder to overcome perfectionism, anxiety, and imposter syndrome when these patterns are rooted in societal expectations and pressures. Dr. Jen brings a holistic approach to overcoming these issues from an empowerment lens.Dr. Jen's more than 13 years in the mental health field and academic medicine have given her the tools to help others find that sweet spot in the fusion of self-acceptance, humility, and stepping into power by showing up as our true selves.  Dr. Jen and her work have been featured across news outlets including Newsweek, NBC News, Glamour, and NPR. She currently lives in the Bay Area with her family, who humor her feeble attempts at being a “cool mom.”Learn more about Dr. Jen's Online Course.Follow Dr. Jen on Instagram. 

In this episode of Pure Curiosity I speak with licensed therapist Yolanda Renteria about how our childhood experiences impact our wellbeing as adults, sleep training, child development, trauma-informed parenting, and so much more. Yolanda shares from both her personal experience as a mother and her professional experience as a therapist, and addresses some really delicate and potentially very sensitive issues that come up for parents. As an expecting mother, I was grateful to learn from her, and believe her insights would be helpful for anyone regardless of their parenting status. We've all been children, so we've all been impacted by the cultural norms around parenting in one way or another. About Our Guest:Yolanda is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Arizona with a certification in trauma and training in somatic approaches. She works in a community setting in an agricultural community serving predominantly Hispanic clients. She has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and a Masters degree in Counseling. She is also adjunct faculty Professor for the Social Sciences Department at Northern Arizona University. In her free time she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family.Follow Yolanda's work on Instagram

In this gripping episode I speak with executive coach and leadership consultant Daniel Stover about his near-death experience while traveling abroad. His story is vulnerable, captivating and ultimately very inspiring. We explore what happens when we're pushed to our limits, how we may not react the way we think we're going to in crisis, and the potential for trauma to lead to profound shifts in understanding about what it means to be alive. About Our Guest:Dan grew up in rural Northwest Ohio, where his journey of self discovery began. While volunteering for Suicide Prevention Services in college, Dan found his passion for helping others get unstuck and find hope. It was there he became a coach, advisor, trainer and board member for the first time.Dan received two degrees from The Ohio State University, and his master's degree in organizational psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In 2012, Dan began his formal training in leadership psychology with an established midwest leadership development firm. He thrived in the consulting profession and held several board positions in Columbus, Ohio. In 2015, Dan pioneered West to Los Angeles, where he expanded his career and passion for leadership development.Today, Dan owns and manages Ensight Partners. He has helped hundreds of teams create culture, resolve conflict and lead more effectively across industries, internationally. In 2017, he received the Excellency Award from Geneva Group International.In his free time, Dan is an avid reader, traveler, nature photographer and hiker. He is a member of The American Psychological Association, The Society of Consulting Psychology, and The Nature Conservancy. Dan is also member of the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative for the Society of Consulting Psychology, The International Coaching Federation and the ICF Foundation Society.Visit Dan's company websiteFollow Dan on Instagram

Healthy boundaries are a critical aspect of mental and relational health, but they're something most people struggle with. Burn out is rampant. Many of us have felt overwhelmed by at least one relationship in our lives. Almost all of us have something we feel challenged to set limits around. This is our guest Nedra Tawwab's area of expertise. She helps people around the world set healthier boundaries with her online content and new book, Set Boundaries Find Peace. In this episode we discuss setting limits around social media use, how to deal with guilt around setting boundaries, why so many of us struggle with boundaries and much more. About Our Guest:Nedra Glover Tawwab is a licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert. She has practiced relationship therapy for 12 years and is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Kaleidoscope Counseling. Every day she helps people create healthy relationships by teaching them how to implement boundaries. Her philosophy is that a lack of boundaries and assertiveness underlie most relationship issues, and her gift is helping people create healthy relationships with themselves and others. Follow Nedra on InstagramCheck out Nedra's Book Set Boundaries Find PeaceVisit Nedra's Wesbite

In this episode of Pure Curiosity I speak with speaker, writer and therapist-in-training Mimi Cole about her experience with Orthorexia, a less commonly known eating disorder, as well as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. Orthorexia is an obsession with healthy eating, which ironically gets to a point of being unhealthy and disruptive for people's lives. Unfortunately it is becoming more widespread with the popularity of the "clean eating" movement. Mimi shares her story of recovery from both of these disorders as well discussing the overlap between the two. I know you will find Mimi as likable and delightful as I do!About Our Guest:Mimi Cole is a second year graduate student in the Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has worked in the outpatient and residential levels of care as a Resident Patient Associate for individuals with eating disorders. Mimi is the host of The Lovely Becoming podcast and you can find her on Instagram: @the.lovelybecoming. Outside of therapy, Mimi loves to explore new coffee shops, read, and write.Check out Mimi's PodcastFollow Mimi on Instagram  

In this episode of Pure Curiosity I speak with trauma coach and survivor Nate Postlethwait on his experience with religious trauma, and his recovery from the abuses he experienced in childhood. After disclosing his experiences of sexual abuse, Nate was told he needed to repent and was pushed into conversion therapy, where he was forbidden to discuss important aspects of his trauma and identity for many years. Over time, Nate realized he needed a very different kind of support for his recovery, and eventually found his way to inner child work. This is a very candid and powerful conversation about the traumatic underbelly of religious fundamentalism, and finding healing on your own terms.About Our Guest:A few years ago Nate Postlethwait walked away from a highly successful career in real estate in order to give himself a reset and find more understanding in his life. He sold his home and everything with it and traveled throughout the world for several months. During his travels, he began publicly sharing his journey of healing from childhood trauma and the battles with his mental health. Quickly, a community began to form. Other survivors began sharing their stories in the comments section. That community has quickly grown to over 120k and continues to have thousands of new friends join weekly.Nate has lead sold out webinars on inner child work and most recently, written a four week course on this work and offers multiple weekly q & a's that help share stories from within this survivor community. On the weekends, he posts the funniest memes sent in from those who follow along and does a segment on "My worst possible advice" where others write in what they want advice on. He describes himself as a loud introvert, but also incredibly tender hearted to those who are hurting and need help. His life mission is to help those who need trauma informed therapy find it in a way that is accessible and affordable. He is an avid traveler, but proudly calls Denver, CO home.Visit Nate's WebsiteFollow Nate on Instagram 

In this episode of Pure Curiosity I speak with Steven Kessler, a licensed therapist of over 30 years, and author of the bestselling book The 5 Personality Patterns. I first picked up his book in 2019, and found it to be one of the most accessible book on character analysis/personality formation I've found. This is a topic that is often reserved for dense clinical literature, and Steven does a wonderful job translating it for a broader audience. His book breaks down universal patterns of behavior that we adopt in order to feel safe in our early lives. These patterns become woven into the fabric of our identities, and shape much of what we consider to be our personalities. In this conversation we discuss these patterns, and how they relate to sensitivity, narcissism, attraction, and much more. About Our Guest:Steven Kessler has been a psychotherapist in the San Francisco Bay Area for almost 30 years, teaching both locally and internationally. He is a certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Expert and Trainer, and is the bestselling author of The 5 Personality Patterns, a simple, clear, true-to-life map of personality that gives you the key to understanding people and communicating with them effectively. More information and descriptions of the patterns are available at www.The5PersonalityPatterns.com. Steven loves teaching and helping people grow. He can be reached at Steven@The5PersonalityPatterns.com. 

In this episode of Pure Curiosity, I speak with James Onwuachi, a modern day philosopher, theologian and upper school dean. When James and I met in Houston 10 years ago we immediately had a good rapport, and managed to stay in touch despite multiple major moves around the country. Earlier this year, he reached out and shared an article he had written in Newsweek about the cancelling of Dr. Seuss, and I immediately asked him to join me on the podcast. This is a conversation about what sacredness means beyond the confines of traditional religion, and the role it plays in Cancel Culture. I really appreciated the thoughtfulness and depth James brings to these topics. I left our conversation feeling touched and inspired, and I have a feeling you will too.About Our Guest:After getting his masters in divinity at Vanderbilt University (where he's currently pursuing a doctorate) James Onwuachi went into academia. He is the Upper School Dean at Kinkaid Preparatory School in Houston Texas, and is the former Associate Dean at Vanderbilt University, Oberlin College, Grinnell College, and University of California-Santa Cruz. James is also an op-ed columnist for Newsweek magazine, where he discusses culture, race and theology.James' Newsweek Articles:As a Black Child in Houston, my Dr. Seuss Moment Was About Thomas JeffersonBlack Men Are a Rorschach Test That America Keeps FailingThe Real Source of Cancel Culture: We're Seeking Justice for Old Wounds  

In this episode of Pure Curiosity, Neuroscientist Dr. Don Vaughn weighs in on The Social Dilemma, and answers a very important question: can technology help us overcome tech addiction? It might sound counterintuitive, but he offers a very compelling argument. We also discuss his research on empathy, and address the age old question of free will. Lastly we review the findings of his latest polling technology, which predicted a much closer race than any other national poll. Dr. Vaughn is, in my opinion, one of the brightest minds out there. I'm always interested in and impressed by his analysis of complex issues, and I believe you will be as well. 

Dr. Alex Abramovich and I were brought together in honor of Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's campaign "Not Suicide. Not Today." to discuss one of the most vulnerable populations: LGBTQ+ youth. LGBTQ+ youth, and in particular trans youth of color, are at a disproportionately high risk of homelessness, discrimination and suicide. Dr. Abramovich is working on the front lines with shelters, and conducting research to support both the mental and physical wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth. In this interview we discuss the role families play in homelessness, as well as transphobia, coming out, and the joys of living authentically. It was such a pleasure to speak with Alex and learn about his personal journey and work, and I know you'll enjoy it as well!   

A few months ago I read an article titled An Invitation to White Therapists by Hayden Dawes, and immediately wanted to invite him onto my podcast. In the article (which I highly recommend reading) he unequivocally calls out problematic behavior and attitudes he's observed in the White mental health community, but in a way that shows his commitment to communal healing and grace. In all of our interactions I've been struck by his humility, dedication to living authentically, and his playfulness. These are qualities I think our world could use more of, so I'm very excited to share this conversation with you! As usual we cover a wide range of topics, from coming out in the Catholic Church to embracing the free fall of uncertainty. I hope you'll listen all the way to the end for some gems on the vulnerability of anger and it's value for transformation. 

In this episode I am joined by clinical psychologist Wangui Wanjiru and we cover a LOT of ground, from "pretty privilege," to the narcissistic abuse inflicted upon Black people in societies all over the world. I originally reached out to her to discuss emotional colonization and her work in mental health in Kenya, but with the protests unfolding in the US, we ended up primarily discussing what's happening here. I hope you'll listen to this longer episode in its entirety, and that you'll appreciate learning from Wangui as much as I did. There is much to learn. 

Feelings of helplessness, uncertainty and anxiety are being felt globally right now, and for good reason. We're experiencing a collective trauma. Most of us have never faced something quite like COVID-19 before, and it's only natural to be feeling unsettled. Thankfully there is also a possibility of using this experience to build greater resilience both individually and collectively. In this episode, NARM Master Therapist Brad Kammer joins us to help guide us through these uncharted waters. He serves up some important doses of reality along with a message of compassion, hope and healing.  I truly hope this will be of service to you.

In this episode, Victoria Welsby (a.k.a. Fierce Fatty) and I dive deep into body politics, eating disorder recovery, and the critical importance of fat activism in our society. Fat people are discriminated against in almost every area. They don't make as much money in the workplace, they are blamed for their own health issues by medical professionals, and they're frequently denied treatment for eating disorders. This bias is based on extremely flawed ideas about what makes a person fat (e.g. lack of willpower, etc.), and outdated, lazy science about dieting, health and weight. Victoria is incredibly insightful, and she brings a wonderful sense of humor and levity to these otherwise challenging topics. 

A lot of my content focuses women's issues because it's what I can speak to best, but I'm really passionate about the mental health of all genders. Speaking with Preston about the male experience of relationships, trauma, health and emotion was a real treat for me. He brings so much energy and authenticity to his work, and I appreciate his no filter style. We definitely get into some potentially triggering and controversial topics here, but I hope anyone in a relationship with a man, either as a friend, parent, or partner will listen to this with an open mind. 

This podcast was difficult to title, because it covers so much ground. Brad Kammer talks to us about connection, community, shame, fear, love, sexuality...he basically covers the range of human experience from both a clinical and personal perspective. His extensive work in the field of trauma, and the depth of understanding he possess around the healing process, make this episode feel especially important. Brad is my teacher in the certification program for the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), and from day one I knew I wanted to have him on the podcast. He is insightful and heartfelt, and I believe this podcast will leave you with a sense of hope for our collective healing. 

If you're anything like me, growing concerns about carbon emissions and news about the state of our planet are leaving you feeling alarmed. In the murky waters of fake news and misinformation, it can be difficult to parse out what concerned citizens and consumers need to be doing about it. Enter Dr. Daniel Howard, energy and environmental engineer. He has generously gifted us an hour of science-backed information, practical steps we can all take, and a heartfelt perspective on this planet we call home. In many ways I think this is the most important issue facing humanity today, and I hope you will take his words to heart. 

In this episode of Pure Curiosity, Shawn Nemeth, a coach, speaker, and founder of the Chester Street Foundation, discusses his triumph over a traumatic and abusive childhood. We discuss the importance of taking responsibility for our recovery, the magic of forgiveness, and the healing power of sharing our stories. Shawn generously shares with us important scientific research as well as his heartfelt personal testimony.

Several years ago I read an article in the New York Times by Dr. Sandra Aamodt that made me feel like it was Christmas morning. It was the first time I had seen a legitimate scientist say authoritatively that dieting is completely counterproductive, and in many cases damaging. This was something I knew already, after years of bulimia and yo-yo dieting, but no one had ever articulated the principles I discovered in my own path to healing so well. When her book Why Diets Make us Fat came out, I rushed to buy it, and I think it is a truly groundbreaking book. I couldn't recommend it more highly, and I was thrilled that Dr. Aamodt was willing to join me for this podcast! I am a huge fan of hers, and can't wait to see what she creates in the future!

Jake Heilbrunn was suffering from crippling anxiety before embarking on a life-changing trip to South America. His experience during his travels connected him to his passion for helping others, so when he returned he began speaking and writing about his journey. Jake is now an extremely accomplished public speaker, author and mental health advocate, helping young people all over the world find their passions and overcome their fears.

When most people hear the term "psychedelic" it tends to conjure up images of tie dye and Woodstock at best, and people winding up homeless or losing their minds at worst. The media backlash after the 60's, and the war on drugs did a great job distorting the public's conception of these substances. What if I told you that despite what you may have heard, psychedelics may be the world's most powerful tool for healing trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? That over 60% of people could be completely PTSD free after just 3 sessions? The research being done at the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is showing us just that.

Even though we've had them our entire lives, emotions confound just about all of us at times.  Joy, anger, sadness, fear...they can seemingly come out of nowhere, and often defy logic.  Thankfully, there are people like Joie Seldon who have made it their life's work to help us navigate choppy emotional waters with grace and understanding.  In this podcast, we discuss emotions on many different levels and at multiple scales.   Joie offers helpful tangible examples, and practical exercises from her practice as a coach and work as an author.  If you have emotions--and if you're reading this, that's you--you'll benefit from Joie's wisdom!

What if you could play a fun, intelligent, self-adapting video game to treat your ADHD or depression? What if a psychiatrist's office was no longer just a place to get pills, but a place to lay back and immerse yourself in a Virtual Reality treatment environment? It sounds like science fiction, but neurologist/neuroscientist Dr. Adam Gazzaley is working to make these things a reality. In this episode of Pure Curiosity, Adam describes his cutting-edge research and the future of digital medicine, including the development of what will likely be the world's first prescribable video game! The future is very bright indeed.

When I first met professional wrestler Shaun Ricker, I had to confront my own ignorance. He was dating one of my best friends, and based on his career and appearance I thought he was probably a "bro," and she was just having some fun. He quickly surprised me by being very thoughtful, passionate and well informed. He was also very loving and respectful toward my friend while they were together, and I was glad my snap-assessment of him was wrong. When he commented on my instagram post (shown below), I thought he would make a really interesting guest for this podcast. I don't agree with everything he says, but I think it's important for us to hear opinions that don't match our own. Over the course of this podcast we discuss gender politics and dynamics, social and political polarization, dating, and body image.

Over 20 million people over the age of 12 struggle with addiction in the United States alone (and that doesn't even include tobacco). Despite its prevalence, addiction is still considered taboo, and the stigma attached remains strong. As with most things that are kept under wraps, there are a ton of misconceptions about addiction and recovery. In this podcast I speak with Stephen Pfleiderer, a recovered addict, recovery coach and interventionist in San Francisco, and he shares his thoughts on these complex issues.

In this episode Jamie Thompson teaches us about boundary setting, accountability, and managing romantic partnerships while building a business or working from home. Whether you are in a romantic partnership, a business partnership (or both), work for yourself, or think you might in the future, this conversation will be relevant for you.

Intelligence comes in many forms, and until somewhat recently, emotional intelligence has been vastly underrated. In this episode of Pure Curiosity, Dan Stover and I discuss what it takes to increase emotional intelligence, tell the truth to ourselves and each other, and live a more purposeful life. He also shares fascinating stories from his time working with Suicide Prevention and Homeboy Industries.

This week’s episode of Pure Curiosity is a critical discussion about modern culture, media, parenting methods and our relationship with our bodies.

In this episode of Pure Curiosity we discuss the future of humanity. In particular we talk about Artificial Intelligence as being a mirror that reflects back to us both the light and dark sides of who we are. AI is a powerful tool that simultaneously solves problems and creates new--and some might say bigger--challenges. We also discuss the role of spirituality and psychedelic medicine in this new future, and how they could play an unexpected and pivotal role in righting the ship.

Dr. Jonathan Downar, neuroscientist and psychiatrist, and Dr. Don Vaughn, neuroscientist and behavioral consultant, share their thoughts on the future of mental health, and how Neuroscience is helping us solve complex human problems.

A conversation with self-love coach Megyn Blanchard about grief, loss and spiritual inquiry in the age of spiritual narcissism.

This week’s episode of Pure Curiosity is all about float therapy.  Dr. Sahib Khalsa and his colleagues at the Laureate Institute for Brain research have been studying the impact of floating on mental health disorders from PTSD to Anorexia, and the results are very promising.  While trials are still in early phases, this is an important step toward understanding how this 63 year old treatment could impact modern mental health.  Not sure what floating is?  You’re not alone!  Floating has only recently become more widely known, with athletes like Steph Curry endorsing it.  To learn more about it, and how it might help you, listen in! About Our Guest: Dr. Sahib Khalsa Director of Clinical Studies, Laureate Institute for Brain Research Assistant Professor, Oxley College of Health Sciences, University of Tulsa Volunteer Faculty Member, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oklahoma ​Dr. Khalsa’s laboratory studies the heart-brain connection. Our research explores three main questions: (1) How do we feel our heartbeat? (2) Is there dysfunctional cross talk between the heart and brain in psychiatric and cardiovascular illnesses? (3) How can we develop new treatments that re-establish a functional dialogue between the heart and brain? He has published over 40 papers and abstracts, and has received research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS), and the Mind and Life Foundation.   For more on Dr. Khalsa and the Laureate Institute, visit http://www.laureateinstitute.org/.

In the first episode of Pure Curiosity, I talk to my friend and spiritual business coach David Burns.  We cover a wide range of topics from workaholism, to flow states, to the importance of body awareness…just to name a few. While we do encounter a few audio issues in this podcast, it’s lack of perfection certainly doesn’t take away from the quality of wisdom David shares.  If you are interested in finding more balance, presence and success in your life and/or business, this one is for you! About Our Guest: David Burns helps entrepreneurs and business leaders stop working themselves to death, through the replacement of false belief systems, habit repatterning, and shadow integration. He’s worked with Fortune 50 executives, solopreneurs, startup founders and sales teams, and is currently working on his first book about the next generation of business, titled “The Business Monk.” He’s a passionate meditator and student of intimacy work, a former addict, and a cellist. Go to TheBusinessMonk.com for more on David.