Shrink Tank Podcast

Why Do We *Need* John Krasinski’s ‘Some Good News’? Analyzing the Psychology of Positivity If there’s one thing that has made quarantine better, it’s been viewing John Krasinski’s Some Good News— his smash-hit YouTube show highlighting happy moments as news segments. So, why do we need good news? Why do we need heroes? In today’s […]

Your Mindset Determines How You’re Coping with the Pandemic If you’re struggling with coping with the Pandemic, take a look at your mindset. Sometimes just a shift in your own perspective can have the greatest impact. Take, for example, our podcast speakers. Have you ever watched a movie or tv show from the past that […]

How to Maintain your Emotional Health During a Pandemic Dr. Dave Verhaagen shares practical tips to maintain your emotional health during a pandemic. Due to COVID-19, the Shrink Tank Podcast has made the decision that our mental health experts, as well as our behind-the-scenes crew, temporarily pause recording our podcast while working remotely to protect […]

HBO’s McMillions: How Do Regular People Get Wrapped up in Organized Crime? Imagine if the only thing standing between you and a million dollars was a small ticket on the french fries you just bought for lunch. If you knew you never had a chance at winning, would you still play? We’re of course talking […]

Billie Eilish is Paving the Way for Gen Z to Open up About Mental Health In the music industry, Billie Eilish is known as the somewhat creepy, still cool girl who is one of the staple pillars for the niche genre ‘melancholy pop.’ In today’s episode of the Shrink Tank Podcast, our mental health experts […]

Is Coronavirus Increasing Cultural Anxiety? Mental Health Experts Discuss the Psychology of Fear Fever. Cough. Shortness of breath. This doesn’t sound too scary, if anything, it sounds like a typical respiratory infection. When you find out these symptoms are associated with Coronavirus, however, it’s a different story. In today’s episode of the Shrink Tank Podcast, […]

Dwyane Wade & Zaya Wade: How His Open Support for Trans Daughter Causes Shockwaves for Activism Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are inspiring many with their recent public support of the transgender community after their daughter Zaya publicly identified as transgender. This support and acceptance of parenting a transgender child have inspired us to discuss […]

What John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch Highlights about Childhood Anxiety John Mulaney is a quirky comedian, so it’s no surprise that John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch is just as eclectic. While the Netflix special felt odd at times, it did highlight numerous psychological concepts that we wanted to explore. In today’s episode […]

Best Mental Health Depictions in Oscar-Nominated Films With the Oscar’s premiering this Sunday, we thought we’d stray from the usual “predictions” and have a little fun in the realm of psychology. In today’s episode of the Shrink Tank Podcast, our mental health experts spotlight Oscar-nominated films and performances that embody a mental health issue or […]

What Went Wrong in ‘Marriage Story’? Mental Health Experts Answer Both Adam Driver and Scarlett Johannsson’s performances in Marriage Story have so much to offer about the human experience in relationships and how to finding hope in tragic circumstances. In today’s episode of the Shrink Tank Podcast, our mental health experts discuss how Marriage Story […]

Why Haven’t we Cancelled The Academy Yet? Analyzing the Sexist, Racist, and Elitist Process in Selecting Oscar Nominees This year’s Academy Awards are causing headlines—yet again—for the fact that not a single female director was recognized in the Best Director category. In today’s episode of the Shrink Tank Podcast, our panel of Shrinks discuss the […]

What is the Psychology of Classism? Analyzing ‘Parasite’, ‘Knives Out’, and ‘Us’ The year’s films Parasite, Knives Out and Us all explored how classism impacts our day to day life. In today’s episode of the Shrink Tank Podcast, our panel of Shrinks discuss the erosion of middle class, the exploitation of the lower class, and the […]

Analyzing ‘The Mandalorian’: How Attachment Impacts our Identity The Mandalorian explores how an individual’s moral development — or moral code — fosters their decision making and personal identity. The show follows lead character Mando as he puts himself in the crossfire of the Empire to protect the Baby Yoda. In today’s episode of the Shrink […]

Analyzing ‘Watchmen’: Reverse Racism, Reparations, and Morality Watchmen is an American superhero drama television series, which serves as a continuation of the 1987 DC Comics limited series of the same name created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The HBO drama is set in an alternate reality where white supremacist group, the Seventh Kavalry, has […]

Greta Thunberg: Psychology of Teenage Activism Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist on climate change whose campaigning has gained international recognition. Every Friday, Thunberg would skip school in order to sit outside the Swedish parliament to call for stronger action on global warming by holding up a sign saying (in Swedish) “School strike […]

Jeopardy, Alex Trebek, Cancer, and Positive Psychology Alex Trebek, the longtime host of Jeopardy! has been a pop culture staple since the show’s revival in 1984.  Apart from being a beloved icon of public television, he’s made waves this year for how he’s eloquently handled his diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in the public […]

Is Tom Hanks the Mister Rogers of Today’s Time? Tom Hanks has one of the most long-standing careers in Hollywood, yet has remained one of the kindest individuals in the industry. Tom Hanks’ portrayal of Mister Rogers in It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood inspired this discussion on his psychological make up. That said, […]

Psychology of Fetishes: How Do We Think about Fetishes in a Sex-Positive Culture? With an ever-changing culture on the way we talk about sex, our panel of Shrinks wanted to approach the subject of fetishes. How do fetishes start? Are fetishes psychologically healthy? How do fetishes relate to vulnerability and intimacy? In today’s episode of […]

JoJo Rabbit: Is it Okay to Use Hitler as a Punch Line?  JoJo Rabbit, the latest film from Taiki Waititi, follows a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary friend—Adolf Hitler—Jojo must confront his blind nationalism as World War II […]

Should Student-Athletes Be Paid? Where Moral Psychology Comes into Play In September of this year, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a measure that allows players to receive endorsement deals, despite the NCAA calling the move “unconstitutional.” When asked about the NCAA’s differing view on the subject, Governor Newsom said, “I have deep reverence, […]

How Misbehavin’ was Born: Interviewing ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Composer, Joseph Stephens In today’s special edition of the Shrink Tank Podcast, panelist Jonathan Hetterly sits down with the composer of The Righteous Gemstones, Joseph Stephens. Joseph Stephens is an American multi-instrumentalist, film score composer, and songwriter who wrote the infectious tune Misbehavin’ on HBO’s The Righteous […]

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Joker. Why Joker is so Polarizing, Explained by Psychology Joker, the latest film starring Joaquin Phoenix, has been the catalyst of numerous discussions regarding its depiction of mental health, toxic masculinity, and the correlation of mental illness and violence. In today’s podcast episode, therapists Jonathan Hetterly and Frank Gaskill break […]

Righteous Gemstones & Megachurch Culture Danny McBride’s latest HBO creation, The Righteous Gemstones, is a satirical take on a Southern megachurch, following the dysfunctional lives of the Gemstone family.  Megachurches and televangelism can vary in regard to delivering their spiritual messages. While some megachurches give more robust sermons leaning heavy on scripture, others are more […]

The Psychology of Brad Pitt Brad Pitt’s latest movie, Ad Astra, follows his character on a space mission to remedy a cosmic threat to all human life, as well as to search for his missing father. Similarly, the famed Hollywood actor has been dealing with some major life changes following his divorce and separation from […]

The Psychology of Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez is a modern-day Hollywood icon. Her latest movie, Hustlers, has been killing it at the box office, so we were inspired to have a discussion about the psychology of Jennifer Lopez, and her long and impressive career in Hollywood. As wrong as it is, at 50 years old, […]

The Psychology of Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of The Joker in the upcoming film is bringing talks of Oscar buzz. The Joker’s complex characteristics have us wanting to dive deeper into a psychological look at Joaquin Phoenix, including a rocky childhood, his traumatic loss of his brother, and how these events have shaped his […]

Are Emotional Support Animals Encouraging Dependent Behavior? Pets can do wonders for our mental health, so it’s no surprise that emotional support animals are growing in popularity. In increasingly stressful times, the increased use of emotional support animals says a lot about our culture’s coping skills and techniques. On today’s episode, we’re discussing how emotional […]

Why don’t we learn from history? Early in the month of August, an explosion at a Russian missile testing site last week killed at least seven people and caused widespread fears of a radiation leak. This fear is completely sensible, considering the national tragedy of Chernobyl. On today’s episode, we’re discussing the psychology of history […]

Jeffrey Epstein’s Deviant Behavior, Analyzed by Therapists The recent scandal and death of Jeffrey Epstein has brought an onslaught of public speculation. On today’s episode, we’re discussing the psychological structure of Jeffrey Epstein, the numerous conspiracy theories related to the death of Jeffrey Epstein, the correlations of power and money, and more… Listen to ‘Jeffrey […]

Why Does Everyone Love – Or Love To Hate – Taylor Swift? In light of the new Taylor Swift album Lover, our panel of Shrinks tackles the country-pop crossover star. On today’s episode, our panel of Shrinks will be discussing transformations which are represented in the new Taylor Swift album Lover, her newly public motives […]

Do You Take Astrology Seriously? Whether you believe in astrology or not, chances are that you’ve read your horoscope at least once before in your life. So, do you take astrology seriously? Let us know in the comments below! Our panel of Shrinks welcomes special guest and producer of the Shrink Tank Podcast, Mariel Butler. […]

Due to recent events, this episode tackles the psychology of guns, gun control, and why Americans can’t seem to find common ground about the topic. In today’s podcast, our panel of Shrinks discusses why people are interested in guns, why guns are partisan, why our country can’t make reform, and why it’s so difficult for […]

With the current border crisis, it’s impossible to avoid the discussion of immigration. In today’s podcast, our panel of Shrinks discusses the historical parallels between the Japanese internment camps after Pearl Harbour versus the current border crisis, the psychology of trauma in children, as well as mental health/public advocacy. Listen to the psychology of immigration […]

I Love You, Now Die has one glaring problem: no one has mentioned the potential element of Borderline Personality Disorder. HBO’s docuseries I Love You, Now Die explores the real-life trial of Michelle Carter, the teenager who was tried in court over texting her boyfriend convincing him to follow through with his plan to take […]

  Stranger Things 3 is riddled with relationships, both platonic and romantic. In today’s podcast, our panel of Shrinks is breaking down some of the psychology of this season, in particular, analyzing the relationship dynamics found in the show. Listen to the psychology of the relationships in Stranger Things 3 below, or anywhere you find podcasts! […]

The Psychology of Abortion The recent Alabama abortion bill has introduced a debate: should the government dictate what is best with an individual’s health? This Alabama abortion bill was signed into law on May 15, 2019, and it made nearly all abortions in the state illegal, with felony charges for physicians who perform the procedure. […]

In most cases, relationship between a therapist and their client is built on the foundation of trust, vulnerability, and good intentions. The Shrink Next Door, the latest podcast from Wondery, exposes a story where this was not the case. In today’s podcast, our panel of Shrinks discuss The Shrink Next Door, and the story of […]

LGBTQ+ Pride Month is a month to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual people, plus all other sexual orientations and genders. Pride Month features marches around the country, educational and awareness events, and parties to celebrate the members of the LGBTQ community. Listen in below or anywhere you find podcasts. If you have […]

In the latest musical biopic, Rocketman, audiences are taken through the rise, fall, and subsequent rise again of Elton John (Taron Egerton). In this week’s podcast episode, our panel of Shrinks is analyzing the film’s psychology, including its portrayal of substance abuse, addiction, and seeking treatment. Listen in below or anywhere you find podcasts. That’s […]

With the surge of Disney live action films, we’re discussing the psychology behind the trend of remakes. Is it a lazy money-grab? An act of nostalgia? A chance to re-define outdated tropes? Our panel of Shrinks discuss this and more in this week’s episode. Listen in below or anywhere you find podcasts. these remakes are […]

With the sudden increase in school shootings, our panel of Shrinks is discussing the psychology of school shootings, including the impact of active shooter trainings on mental health, gun control, and our culture’s changing response to this event. Listen in below or anywhere you find podcasts. the fact that kids are feeling like they have […]

Following the release of Howard Stern’s autobiography, Howard Stern Comes Again, our panel is discussing the psychology of the radio superstar. Howard Stern’s iconic career is marked by his personal transformation through therapy. Listen in to our panel of Shrinks discuss the psychology behind Howard Stern. Tune in below or anywhere you find podcasts. the depth of […]

Keanu Reeves is a household name in Hollywood, but not for the typical reasons of the famous lifestyle. Ahead of the release of John Wick 3, our panel of Shrinks are discussing the psychology of the actor, his career, past trauma, resilience, and post-traumatic growth. Our panel of Shrinks is analyzing the psychological makeup of […]

Avengers: Endgame is a metaphor for coping with major life changes and loss. We’re only going to solve the world’s problems if we find a way to put aside our own traumas and differences. Our panel of Shrinks is discussing the elements of failure, group dynamics, resiliency, grit, cultural uproar and dissatisfaction, and trauma. Listen […]

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos are some of the powerhouse names that come to mind when you think of this generations industry of Tech Titans. Are these individuals the modern-day Vanderbilts, Carnegies and Rockefellers? Our panel of Shrinks is discussing the psychology behind these individuals, and their path to success. Listen in below […]

With the rise of anti-vaxxers and flat-earthers, it’s apparent that there is a current trend in our society to be anti-science. Our panel of Shrinks is discussing the idea of cognitive dissonance, the role of media, confirmation bias, and how social media has intensified the element of groupthink. Listen in below or anywhere you find […]

Game of Thrones is a world completely ruled by corrupt power. How do you make it by? Our panel of Shrinks unpack the psychological elements of GoT, such as psychopathy, attachment, trust and vulnerability. Listen in below or anywhere you find podcasts. if you think historically, love and self-actualization are not universal elements that have […]

Jordan Peele’s latest thriller Us is rich with psychology. Our panel of Shrinks unpack the film’s motifs, themes, and discuss: how do we rectify the things that we like and dislike about ourselves?  Listen in below or anywhere you find podcasts. we all have this dark side to who we are. – Dr. Emma Kate Wright […]

Editor’s note: This podcast was recorded prior to the news of the Jussie Smollett charges being dropped. Is biased media impacting the way people receive and accept information? Today’s podcast is discussing the psychology of liberal media bias. On the heels of the Jussie Smollett scandal as well as the Covington high school student, our […]

Earlier this month, news broke of one of the biggest college admissions scandal in history. These wealthy and privileged families buy their children’s way into elite schools including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford universities. Chief executives and even Hollywood actresses (Lori Laughlin, Felicity Huffman) are among the list of those being charged.  On this episode, our […]

Leaving Neverland explores how two men dealt with the trauma of their sexual abuse from Michael Jackson. While our previous podcast explored the psychology of Michael Jackson, this episode will be looking at the accusers (Wade Robson and James Safechuck), the psychology of trauma, and the documentary itself. Listen in below or anywhere you find […]