Shrinks on Third

The first in our new series of episodes that cover Social Justice and Psychology in challenging times. In this episode we talk about the psychologically traumatizing effects of having someone you love suddenly taken away.

The one in which we delve deeper into faking illnesses and the issues of Munchausen's aka Factitious Disorder - a mental health disorder in which someone fakes their own (or someone else's) serious illness sometimes to a point of serious but unecessary surgeries on limbs and organs. 

The one in which we look into the act and causes of Malingering - pretending to be sick for some monetary gain or another benefit like getting out of school or work. 

The one in which we explain the current adult diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Differences along with its manifestations and the many ways it impacts people in adulthood. 

The one in which we dive into what it means to be a Sociopath - alternatively known more clinically as someone with Anti Social Personality Disorder. We also distinguish between sociopaths and psychopaths - both of whom are uncaring and can be quite scary in different ways. 

The one in which we discuss the intense thoughts, flashbacks and troublesome memories people can suffer after trauma- and the many other sign and symptoms of PTSD.

The one in which we ponder whether or not people are talking about us behind our backs or are in some way out to get us?!

The one in which we discuss Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder to understand the difference between true OCD, which is painful and life limiting, versus the usual obsessions or compulsions we all sometimes have. 

The one in which we disconnect and try to take you with us on a journey to understand dissociation; another powerful play by our brains to protect ourselves from trauma. 

The one in which we talk about the defense mechanism of Denial - how it serves us and how it doesn't. 

The one in which we talk about the unrealistic goals of perfectionism and the struggles created by the impossible visions of being perfect. 

Not everyone gets dementia, but it doesn't discriminate based upon gender, race, socio-economic status or political party. 

We're back for Season 6 and we're starting with Narcissism. We're seeing so much of it these days. People talk about it, as they do about other mental illnesses, and often create stigma and misunderstandingsd that we hope to clarify. Calling everyone with positive self-esteem or a stron sense of self a narcissist can also dilute the actual difficulties narcissists both create and experience.

Continued review of how to reach out across great divides to talk to others and find some way to connect. It's too late for some things, but not others. Can we still find common ground?

The one in which we review helpful ways to communicate with others around topics you may want to influence them about. We still have to find a way to work together. 

Another one in which we take a look at the Supremely Unethical activities of the Court.

Still offering previously recorded episodes. New material coming soon. This one's still relevant though there's no mention of childless cat ladies which dates it a little bit.

The one in which we talk about how voter suppression takes place at polls around the country and some things to expect as voting day approaches. 

The one in which we rant about dictators and how we create them. 

The one in which we discuss all of the ways people try to intimidate people to impact the way they vote. This should be illegal - oh, yes ... it is!

The one in which we continue to revisit things we learned about voting and how our democracy works as we head into a very big election.

The one in which we try to explore the growing phenomenon of Angry White Men - who are they and what are they so angy about?

The one in which we review all the things we learned about Super PACs, finding that it's all relevant to the times in which we now find ourselves... again. 

The one in which we look back at the mansplaining and white male takeover situation, and realize so much of this is even more true now than it was then (in 2020). 

The one in which we revisit the meaning and history of Labor Day and the importance of the Labor movement for many of the advances in humane working conditions.  

The one in which we shine the light into the dark places from where money flows into creating more darkness in our world. Let there be light!

The one in which we revisit the many ways slavery persists, even today in 2024.

The one in which we take a closer look at the many ways the rich get richer, and richer, and the rest of us tread water at best. 

The one in which we discuss healthcare in prison. Is there healthcare in prison?

The one in which we explore(d) the current state of systemic racism as it plays out in our healthcare system even today. 

The one in which we explore the seemingly all too popular term of gaslighting. It is often confused with lying, though it is a form of lying and manipulation. It is also a form of abuse.  Listen in. 

Listen again to the shameful and amazing history of the Underground Railroad and those who escaped to save their own lives and that of many others. 

The one in which we talk about how people grow into racism. 

Revisting our spontaneous chat with Joyce E. Russell, RN, the mother of Assata Thomas, Director of the Institute for Community Justice. Assata's mom accompanied her to our planned podcast session and sat in the waiting room while we talked to Assata about the social activism and justice work she is passionate about (you can hear the convo on our Prison Services and Reentry podcast). Afterward, we thought it would be nice to have Mom in the interview to talk for a few minutes about her daughter. Once we turned on the mic, we found out that Joyce has her own stories of social justice work having spent years as a nurse in a prison. She spoke about how the work changed her, and her ever-growing deep pride in her family which now has yet another generation of social justice warriors coming up.

Another podcast we're running again because it means so much to us. From their website: "LifeLines is a media and cultural project conducted in extensive, long-term collaboration with people serving Life Death By Incarceration (also known as Life Without Parole) sentences in Pennsylvania. The project uses interviews, visual art, creative media interventions, and sound installations to support the statewide campaign to abolish Death By Incarceration. We use the term “LifeLines” to refer to the fact that this project highlights the stories and analysis of those serving life/death sentences and to point toward the many collective relationships and infrastructures of support (familial, community, activist, and beyond) that are forged in resistance to mass imprisonment."

Learning about Juneteenth, which we should have known about all along, is so important that we're rerunning this one in advance of the upcoming holiday. 

Originally aired in October 2020 to begin uncovering as much as we could about our truthful past with RedLining – a practice that purposely maintained segregation through discrimination in lending. We discuss its racist history, how it promoted both segregation and the wealth gap, and the continued forms it takes even today.  A couple of books we mentioned to learn more about RedLining:  Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein NationalFairHousing.org

The session (originally from Feb 2020) with L'Oréal McCollum in which we learn about Art with Impact (AWI), a nonprofit that uses film and theatre to encourage young people to explore mental health and wellness through art. L'Oreal is a Philadelphia based sexuality and mental health educator, a consultant, and an actress.  www.artwithimpact.org

The session, originally from February 2020,  in which we talk to Norberto ‘Rob' Rosa, who at the time was Associate Vice President of Operations at New Leash on Life USA. New Leash is a nonprofit prison-dog training program improving the lives of people in prison and saving the lives of dogs. In this program, incarcerated people are paired with rejected dogs for training, and end up improving each other's lives in countless ways.  New Leash believes that everyone deserves a second chance. 

Surprise episode outlining some of the changes we'll be making for the rest of this season! Listen to find out. 

The one in which we learn about the implications of the doctrine of Chevron Deference that came out of the case of Chevron v the Natural Resources Defense Council of 1984. This is relevant because of recent cases heard by the Supreme Court that seek to make changes or weaken Chevron Deference, and some of the important protections it offers. 

The one in which we talk about things that encourage and motivate people to take part in our democratic system by voting. Also, why some may choose not to vote and what might inspire them to want to be involved. 

The one in which we review some of the many things we have to look forward to If Trump Wins in November 2024. 

The one in which we explore the complex relationship between women and soy and also, soy's many health benefits for most women. 

The one in which we try to figure out why so many people would vote for a presidential candidate with many charges and indictments surrounding them. 

The one in which we take a look at the falling (and failing) status of our democracy and what it means for our standing as a democratic superpower. 

The one in which we try to figure out, just what kind of country are we?!

The one in which we explore the critical issue of our disappearing ground water and what we can do about it. 

The one in which we discuss, once again, serious reasons for our deep disappointment with the Supreme Court.

The one in which we explore the ways we women are treated as second class and the need for women to support each other in the varying needs of all women (not just white women).

The one in which we discuss the serious disadvantages of what is called "Medicare Advantage." People think they have Medicare when they choose this option, but instead they are insured by private companies and can be at great disadvantage in their hours of need.