Shrink Speak

In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman is joined by pioneering psychedelics researchers, Drs. Rick Doblin and Steven Levine, to discuss the therapeutic applications of psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, MDMA, and ibogaine in treating mental health and addiction disorders, and the future path forward in legitimately harnessing their game changing potential. Dr. Rick Doblin is the Founder and Executive Director of MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), , a leading non-profit psychedelic drugs research and educational organization, with both domestic and international studies. Dr. Steven Levine is the Vice President of Patient Access at COMPASS Pathways, a leading psychedelics research organization conducting international clinical trials with psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression. A pioneer in the clinical use of IV ketamine for treatment resistant depression, Dr. Levine is also the founder of Actify Neurotherapies, one of the largest networks of ketamine treatment centers in the US.  

Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman is joined by Dr. Scott A. Small, a physician specializing in aging and dementia and a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University, where he directs the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. He has run a National Institutes of Health–funded laboratory for over twenty years and has published more than 140 studies on memory function and malfunction, research that has been covered by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time. His insight into Alzheimer's disease recently led to the formation of Retromer Therapeutics, a new biotechnology company which he co-founded. Raised in Israel, he now lives in New York City. In this episode, Dr. Small, author of the recently published book, Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering, explains why forgetfulness is good for us—and, alongside memory, it is a required function for our minds to work best Check out his book Forgetting on Amazon.

The Goldwater Rule is Section 7 in the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Principles of Medical Ethics, which states that it is unethical for psychiatrists to give a professional opinion about public figures whom they have not examined in person. Joining Dr. Lieberman in this episode of Shrink Speak to talk about how the Goldwater Rule came to be is Senator Barry Goldwater’s Son, Former California Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr. Also joining the conversation is Dr. Paul Appelbaum, the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Law, and Director, Division of Law, Ethics and Psychiatry at Columbia. Dr. Appelbaum is also Past President of the American Psychiatric Association.

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking an emotional and economic toll on America, add in social unrest over racial injustice, political turmoil, and now the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the controversy filling of her seat. These events have created a cascade and cycle of emotional responses that are roiling the American population and collectively producing a sense of loss. Joining Dr. Lieberman in this episode to discuss how to process it all, is Andrew Solomon, Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center. Andrew is  the winner of the National Book Award for The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression and also wrote Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity; he is an activist in LGBT rights, mental health, and the arts; and his TED talks have been viewed more than 20 million times.  Solomon is also the former President of PEN American Center. To learn more about Andrew please visit www.andrewsolomon.com Also, joining Dr. Lieberman is Kay Jamison, Co-Director of the Mood Disorders Center at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Kay Jamison has won numerous awards and published over 100 academic articles. She has been named one of the "Best Doctors in the United States" and was chosen by Time as a "Hero of Medicine. She is also a best-selling author and her latest book, Robert Lowell: Setting the River on Fire was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Biography in 2018. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the U.S. and world, how we live our daily lives have been utterly disrupted including how we process loss and handle grief. Grief outside of a global pandemic is difficult and painful to experience, and adding in the complexities of COVID-19, those experiencing grief may need a little extra help.   In this episode, Dr. Lieberman is joined by Dr. Katherine Shear, the Marion E. Kenworthy Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia School of Social Work and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Shear is a world expert on grief and the founding director of the Center on Complicated Grief within the Columbia School of Social Work.   For links to resources on managing grief yourself or helping a friend or loved one manage grief please visit: complicatedgrief.columbia.edu

Anxiety is a normal emotion and it is to be expected during this unprecedented crisis. Anxiety increases when we experience uncertainty, are in unpredictable situations and feel unable to control our circumstances. In this episode Dr. Lieberman speaks with one of the leading anxiety and mood disorders expert in the world, Anne Marie Albano, PhD. Dr. Lieberman and Dr. Albano discuss why it’s normal to feel anxiety during this time, and talk about support and resources available like; Columbia Psychiatry, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America that can help you take control and structure your “new normal” during this pandemic. If you or family member or friend is in need of immediate assistance please contact: Disaster Distress Helpline  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Textline Veterans Crisis Line 

In addition to the doctors and nurses on the frontlines, the unsung heroes during this COVID-19 pandemic are also those pathology personnel who are developing, validating and then bringing up to scale a method of COVID-19 diagnostics that previously never existed. In a process that usually takes months to years is now taking days and weeks because of their dedication and working 24/7. In this episode, Dr. Lieberman speaks with Dr. Eldad Hod, Medical Director of Columbia University Medical Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine and Columbia’s COVID-19 Clinical Laboratory. Dr. Hod is leading the efforts to implement serological testing to identify patients who have recovered from this disease and who may qualify as convalescent plasma donors.

In this special three-part COVID-19 Crisis series, Dr. Lieberman speaks with renowned experts who have expertise in relevant disciplines that pertain to this COVID-19 pandemic. In Part 3, Dr. Lieberman discusses the COVID-19 epidemic with infectious disease expert, W. Ian Lipkin, MD, John Snow Professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Dr. Lipkin and Dr. Lieberman discuss the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, what it means for everyday people, and what people should expect.

In this special three-part COVID-19 Crisis series, Dr. Lieberman speaks with renowned experts who have expertise in relevant disciplines that pertain to this COVID-19 pandemic. In part 2, Dr. Lieberman discusses the impact of the COVID-19 on medicine and society at large with Pulitzer Prize winning author and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD.  

In this special three-part COVID-19 Crisis series, Dr. Lieberman speaks with renowned experts who have expertise in relevant disciplines that pertain to this COVID-19 pandemic. In Part 1, Dr. Lieberman discusses the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with Brian Fallon, MD, MPH, the Director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University. Dr. Lieberman and Dr. Fallon talk about how people are being affected by and coping with the psychological impact that COVID-19 is having across the country and the world.

Mass violence events in America have been occurring unfortunately more and more frequently. After every event the conversation is always, “why does this keep happening?”. Fingers are pointed to things like access to guns and mental illness. But there is a serious and widespread confusion about mass violence and mental illness in America. In this two-part episode, Dr. Lieberman is joined by Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, Dr. Michael First. Dr. First is a psychiatrist whose focuses is on the diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. Dr. Lieberman and Dr. First fully address and answer the question…”Is mental illness to blame for the rise in mass violence incidents in America”. To find out more about Dr. Lieberman visit jeffreyliebermanmd.com

In honor of Veterans Day, Dr. Lieberman speaks with Dr. Yuval Neria about the current state of mental health resources and assistance available for our active duty, veterans, national guard members, along with their family members and what can be done to serve them better. Dr. Neria is a Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University Medical center and Director of the PTSD Research and Treatment Program at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute along with being the Director of the New York Presbyterian Military Family Wellness Center. To learn more about the mentioned Man O’ War project discussed in this episode please visit mowproject.org

Shrink Speak took to the SXSW 2019 Podcast stage on March 11th live from Austin, Texas. In this special episode Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman was joined by Dr. Charles Nemeroff, the Director of the Institute for Early Life Adversity Research at the University of Texas Dell Medical School to explore childhood trauma live on the SXSW 2019 Podcast Stage. Adversity and stress come in many forms throughout the life-cycle, however, it is especially pernicious in early life. Brain development during gestation, postnatally, infancy, early and late childhood is particularly susceptible to the potential of adversity to cause effects that are psychologically and emotionally traumatic and have enduring effects that impact the person’s behavior throughout life. To find out more about Dr. Lieberman visit jeffreyliebermanmd.com

In part 2 of this this special two-part episode on suicide prevention, Dr. Lieberman is rejoined by Columbia’s Dr. Kelly Posner and Dr. J. John Mann. Journalist, author, and adjunct professor at Columbia, Stephen Fried also joins the conversation to discuss the role and responsibility of the media when covering the difficult subject of suicide.  If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. To find out more about Dr. Lieberman visit jeffreyliebermanmd.com

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. In a special two-part episode, Dr. Lieberman recently sat down to chat with Columbia’s Dr. Kelly Posner and Dr. J. John Mann to discuss the ongoing health crisis that is suicide in the U.S. following the suicides of both Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. To find out more about Dr. Lieberman visit jeffreyliebermanmd.com

In a continuation of the "Voices In Mental Illness" series, Dr. Lieberman is joined by“Circles Around the Sun” author, Molly McCloskey. Molly writes about her older brother Mike, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at the age of 23. By the time Molly was old enough to know Mike, he was effectively gone. It wasn’t until many years later that she discovered letters from her brother before he was ill, that she got to really know Mike. To find out more about Dr. Lieberman visit jeffreyliebermanmd.com

In honor of mental health awareness month, I will be conducting a series of interviews with individuals who have made it their cause to talk about mental health year round. To kick-off the series, I’m thrilled to be joined by Nyna Giles, author of “The Bridesmaid's Daughter”. Nyna is the youngest daughter of Carolyn Scott Reybold, a model best known as one of Grace Kelly's bridesmaids. Nina’s courageous and moving memoir of her mother provides a heartrending account of the fall from grace of a beautiful woman from a small Ohio town into the abyss of madness and homelessness, and its devastating impact on her family. To find out more about Dr. Lieberman visit jeffreyliebermanmd.com

The first of a multi-part series debunking advertising medical claims that aren’t backed up by science.  This "The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth” episode focuses on longevity. You may have heard the claims, but does the science back it up? You’ll have to listen to find out! To find out more about Dr. Lieberman visit jeffreyliebermanmd.com

In this episode of Shrink Speak, Dr. Lieberman explores the growing trend of using recreational drugs to treat the psychological injuries of our military personnel. Along with how the VA is handling the mental health care of our Veterans.

Part 4 of a 4 Part series "The Profession That Everyone Needs and Nobody Want" about Mental Health. What is it, when and how to know if you need to seek help, where to find help, and what to do when loved ones are suffering from a mental illness. 

Part 3 of a 4 Part series "The Profession That Everyone Needs and Nobody Wants" about Mental Health. What is it, when and how to know if you need to seek help, where to find help, and what to do when loved ones are suffering from a mental illness. 

Part 2 of a 4 Part series "The Profession That Everyone Needs and Nobody Want" about Mental Health. What is it, when and how to know if you need to seek help, where to find help, and what to do when loved ones are suffering from a mental illness. 

Part 1 of a 4 Part series, "The Profession That Everyone Needs and Nobody Want" about Mental Health. What is it, when and how to know if you need to seek help, where to find help, and what to do when loved ones are suffering from a mental illness. 

When it comes to healthcare reform compromise in Congress, why a Congressional Psychiatrist may just be the answer!

President Trump’s behavior has been a constant topic of discussion, provoking reactions ranging from concern to suspicion and anger. So, what's the cause? "Shrink Speak" Episode 1 evaluates President Trump’s unconventional behavior. It also dives into the complicated topic of how much the public should know when it comes to the President's mental health and, further, explores the role of professionals in commenting on the President's mental health.