The Broken Brain™

Rachel Suissa is the writer & director of "Greek Mother's Never Die," a film with dramatic, romantic, and comedic elements which follows Ella, a young Greek American woman who finds that the spirit of her recently deceased mother continues to give her advice and life guidance. Rachel shares how she used her own Greek heritage and experience to tell a story about mother and daughter relationships, acceptance, and coming to a mutual appreciation of each other. Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to support this month's nonprofit, as they seek to increase mental health advocacy and access to care.  

Michael Reddington is a former private investigator and Forensic Interviewer. In his book "The Disciplined Listening Method," he describes lessons learned from conducting Interviews, and his belief that every conversation has hidden meaning and value, and that two people effectively communicating can meet both of their needs, and the role of empathy in motivational conversations. Follow his work at www.michaelreddington.com.  Visit www.grandviewforgood.org to see this month's highlighted charity, an organization advocating for mental health awareness and funding for those who cannot afford psychological treatment.   

Never give up! A little look at a social movement success, as Sesame Street appears to have been saved from cancellation. Each one of us can opt in or out of doing something to help with things we care about, and every contribution helps.  Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to learn more about this month's highlighted nonprofit organization, helping raise community awareness and help access to care for those in need. 

Thursday Thistory! Today we are diving into the history of the classic novel & movie "A Clockwork Orange," and the effect it had on public perceptions of Behavioral Psychology. Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to learn about this month's highlighted nonprofit, working on public awareness of mental health and increasing access to care.   

Dr Charlie Powell helps military veterans dealing with PTSD and the stress of transitioning into civilian life. His experience as a decorated two war veteran and combat physician led him to confront his own Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, as he learned that it could not simply be avoided. This led him to create Healing Heroes (www.healingheroes.com), a docuseries following the experience of six veterans navigating PTSD treatment and its effect on their day-to-day life.  Please visit and support our highlighted charity for this month, Grandview For Good, a nonprofit helping people without means to access treatment, and advocating for greater mental health literacy in our communities. www.grandviewforgood.org 

This week's tip focuses on finding measures for our own emotional & mental health. This can help to get the jump on a depressive, anxious, or other types of episodes that can drag down quality of life, or worse.  Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to check out this month's charity-of-focus, a wonderful organization helping people find access to mental health treatment. 

"The Parts of Him I Kept: The Gifts of My Father's Madness," is a new memoir by Author Natasha Williams. She opens up about living with a father who struggled with Schizophrenia and Psychosis his entire life. It is a story of hope, love, trauma, loss, and a look at the definition of terms like "normal," and "sanity." Natasha describes what she has learned about working with people who are doing their best with difficult limitations.  The charity of focus this month is Grandview For Good, a nonprofit focused on raising awareness for mental health, and funding for those who cannot afford treatment. 

This past week I saw some interviews with Robert and Airyn De Niro, about their relationship and Robert De Niro's reaction to Airyn recently being outed as Trans by paparazzi. This led me to think about lessons I have learned from working with Transgendered People (and parents) about supportive and loving ways to respond to someone when they come out.  The charity-of-focus this month is Grand View for Good, a nonprofit formed to increase mental health awareness and find funding for those who cannot otherwise afford treatment. Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to learn more. 

Dr David Rabin is a MD and OhD specializing in psychedelic-assisted treatment for individuals, particularly individuals with PTSD. He is an expert in MDMA and Ketamine therapies, and joins the show to discuss ongoing research and his observations as a professional working in this arena. Go to www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to support our charity-of-focus this month: TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, helping Black Trans individuals with legal issues. 

How many things do you do simply for love of the activity? Self-Care tip again today, on our weekly Monday Mental Tip! Go to www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to visit this month's highlighted charity: TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, a nonprofit helping Black Trans people with legal issues and advocacy. 

Christin Day is the creator and host of "Recovery On Air," and the Communications Manager for Crossroads, INC, a nonprofit residential treatment center for addiction recovery. Christin is a passionate advocate for those facing addiction, and tells us how event management, interagency collaboration, and (woo-hoo) podcasting is in her work. You can hear Christin's show anywhere you listen to podcasts.  Visit www.transcendingbarriers.org to support the nonprofit of the month here at the Broken Brain. TRANScending Barriers helps Black Trans people 

What makes something addictive, compulsive, or problematic? Here are a couple of ways to rate our comforting behaviors for trouble.  Go to www.transcendingbarriersatl.org for this month's highlighted charity. TRANScending Barriers Atlanta is a wonderful nonprofit helping Black Trans people handle legal issues. 

Lisa Anzaldua is a counselor & author, specializing with couples with an Autistic and non-Autistic partner. This type of partnership can have unique challenges, but these are also opportunities for learning about each other and deepening intimacy.  Visit www.transcendingbarriers.org to see our highlighted charity for April: TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, a nonprofit helping Black Trans people with legal and social issues. 

Welcome to Monday! Today's tip is about self-care, and how to rediscover things that brings us joy.  Visit www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to support this month's charity-of-focus, helping Black Transgender individuals with legal situations and other needs. 

Chelsea Christer is the Writer & Director of "Out For Delivery," a dark comedy that takes on issues of terminal illness, suicide, and end of life care. Although the world is already jaded about these issues, Out For Delivery explores what would it look like to take it one step further.  The highlighted charity for this month is TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, a nonprofit organization assisting Black Transgendered people with advocacy and legal assistance.  www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to learn more.  

Recently a good friend made a great, salient post for Autism Awareness Day, which led me down a path of thinking about what makes good awareness and advocacy. 

The monthly history episode for all listeners! This week we are examining Logotherapy, and finding meaning in suffering. Specifically a story told by Victor Frankl about a moving session with a patient. Go to www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to see this month's highlighted charity, working to help Black Trans people in Atlanta to address their legal needs. 

Mara Einstein is an author, academic, speaker, and marketing expert. In her new book, "Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use The Same Techniques as Cults," discusses how we have moved from attention-based advertising to an economy of anxiety. She reviews the ways in which cults attract and enmesh new members, and how marketing has become increasingly similar.  Follow her work at www.drmaraeinstein.com. 

What is Gender Affirming Care? It works differently than some people think. Today is Trans Visibility Day, so here is a little rundown of some aspects of this approach that is saving lives and promoting healing at a rate impressive to anyone paying attention. The highlighted charity this month will be TRANScending Barriers Atlanta. Check out this wonderful nonprofit, specializing in helping Black Transgendered Individuals, at www.transcendingbarriersatl.org.  

Amber Willingham writes novels (under the name AL Willingham) focused on the nature of personality, memory, communication, and the illusion of utopia. Her first book, Bliss Creek, tells the story of an amnesiac young women piecing together her life, solving the mystery of who she is. Her latest work, The Petroleum Wars, tells a greater societal story within the same world, looking at how desperation and fighting for resources can bring out problematic choices on a personal and macro level.  Follow her work at www.alwillingham.com.  Remember to check out this month's focus charity, at www.baketheirday.org, a nonprofit bakery in Guam, where they bake birthday cakes for youth in custody. 

Will Crouse is a filmmaker and the creator of the short film "The Coder," which tells the story of a computer programmer in a high-pressure environment who is also coping with intrusive thoughts. Go to www.baketheirday.org for this month's highlighted nonprofit. 

Doug Nielsen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Author, Therapist, Motivational Speaker, and Coach. He is also a good friend, one that I've been meaning to have on the show for a long time. With such an array of roles, Doug tells us how a mental health clinician approaches speaking and coaching, which are related to counseling but have important differences.  Follow Doug's work at www.dougspeaks.com, and check out his book "Take Life By The Helm."  Follow the highlighted charity for March by going to www.baketheirday.org, the website for Bake Their Day, the nonprofit bakery that makes birthday cakes for youth in custody in Guam.

Returning champion Jeff Krasno! Jeff is a great guest and a great guy. Author of the new book "Good Stress," and host of the Commune with Jeff Krasno Podcast, Jeff shares insights into pushing ourselves to get out of our comfort zone in order to have a healthier body-mind connection and greater emotional satisfaction.  Follow his work at www.goodstress.com, and listen to Commune with Jeff Krasno Podcast (after you finished all the episodes of The Broken Brain of course).  Go to www.baketheirday.org to support this month's featured charity, a nonprofit bakery in Guam that provides birthday cakes to youth in custody.

How do you tell the difference between an organization that supports and engages with men's issues and one that promotes various forms of toxic masculinity? With psychological health for boys and men frequently being underdiagnosed and untreated, there is a need to have intelligent conversations about how to address these. Too often though these discussions slide into the dengration of women, or paranoia. Visit www.baketheirday.org to learn more about this month's highlighted charity. 

Ever wonder why fire trucks are red? Or how that interacts with the rods and cones in your eyes? and how Henry Ford didn't color up his cars? No? Well now you can!!!!! In this week's dive into history, we're learning about the ability to see color, what helps and doesn't, and why we continue to do things just because it's what we've done before. The full episode is available only to the super special patrons, but here is the first 5 minutes of this bonus episode

Michael Caven is a Restauranteur, Advocate, Abuse Survivor, and Writer. He is currently writing his memoir about his experiences of coming out as a Gay man in the 1970s and 80s, suffering sexual and emotional abuse, and healing. Michael co-founded Out On Main in Columbus Ohio, the first LGBTQ themed restaurant in the USA. Follow his work at www.michaelcaven.com  In part 2 of this interview Michael focuses on how he worked on community building and giving back through working as a peer counselor in abuse recovery. Go to www.baketheirday.org to check out the highlighted charity for this month. Bake Their Day is a nonprofit bakery in Guam, making birthday cakes for youth in custody.

Michael Caven is a Restauranteur, Advocate, Abuse Survivor, and Writer. He is currently writing his memoir about his experiences of coming out as a Gay man in the 1970s and 80s, suffering sexual and emotional abuse, and healing. Michael co-founded Out On Main in Columbus Ohio, the first LGBTQ themed restaurant in the USA. Follow his work at www.michaelcaven.com In part 1 of this interview Michael focuses on how he escaped  his abuser and beginning of him putting his life together. Go to www.baketheirday.org to check out the highlighted charity for this month. Bake Their Day is a nonprofit bakery in Guam, making birthday cakes for youth in custody.

Monday Mental Health Tip: Shrink your goals to help get started in new behavior, habits, Hobbies, or even Hobbits. But don't shrink Hobbits too much...they're already quite small.    www.baketheirday.org is our highlighted charity this month, providing birthday cakes and a humanizing feeling to youth in custody in Guam. 

Megan Wennberg is a Filmmaker and Director who joins to talk about her documentary "Dances With Cranes," which tells the story of the innovative way in which a team of conservationists and scientists managed to bring the Whooping Crane from the brink of extinction to a thriving species. You may be surprised how they did it.  This is the monthly Thursday Thistory available to all listeners, our look at psychological and cultural history. Weekly History episodes are available to Patreon members the rest of each month. Go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain to sign up and hear them all. 

Filmmaker & journalist Nick Beaulieu talks about his documentary "My Omaha," where he recorded communication with his father while Nick covered racial equality issues in West Omaha. Very much opposed in their politics, Nick and his dad face the challenges of holding different political & ethical beliefs from someone deeply close and loved.  Follow Nick's @nick.beaulieu on IG The highlighted charity this month is www.baketheirday.org, a nonprofit bakery in Guam that helps youth in custody feel normal by bringing them birthday cakes.

What are the most important things you would like to do? We often have a difference between our philosophical values and our behavioral priorities. Today's quick tip is about how we can use things (like Mario Day) to put the highest value activities first. Oh yeah, and HAPPY MARIO DAY! The highlighted charity this month is www.baketheirday.org, a nonprofit bakery in Guam that makes birthday cakes for youth in custody. Share and support them, they're pretty cool! 

Tiffany Kim Stevens is the Director and Co-Writer of the film "Trigger Happy," an indie film set in an alternate society where gender roles are reversed, gun ownership is required to qualify for health insurance, and a murder is being planned. Tiffany describes the process of telling a quirky story with many unlikeable characters and balancing the humor and the darkness of the tale.  Visit www.baketheirday.org to see the highlighted charity for this month. Bake Their Day is a nonprofit bakery in Guam that bakes and delivers birthday cakes to youth in custody.

David Rosen is a composer, musician, and the creator of the Piecing It Together Podcast. He and I sat down to discuss a strange new sub-genre of Biopic: Musical Artists with the surname Williams who are portrayed as a nonhuman. In the case of "A Better Man," Robbie Williams is portrayed as a CGI Chimp Man (think Planet of the Apes), while "Piece by Piece" presents Pharrell Williams and his surrounding world in Lego. Visit www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support a wonderful nonprofit that helps kids pursue their education through athleticism and scholarship. 

What's with all of these weird science experiments? Waste of money and time, right? wellllllll.......probably not. This week history dive looks at 2 examples of when science sounded crazy but delivered something cool. A full half of the episode this week is available to non-subscribers, the rest is on the Patreon feed for you super-cool supporters of the show. Check out www.dcoffeyfoundation.org for this month's highlighted charity.

Benjamin Cohen & Max Strand are the Writers and Directors of "Rocky's" a new coming-of-age film focused on the lives of several young adults spending time in the local hangout, Rocky's Deli. They joined me to discuss their film, character development, growing up, and storytelling. Check out our February Nonprofit-of-choice: The D Coffey Foundation, which helps youth in need to find athletic scholarships to advance their education.

Ann Russo is a clinical social worker, therapist, and founder of AMR Therapy & Support Services. She specializes in healing religious trauma, client empowerment, and inclusivity in mental health. Ann is a strong advocate for all survivors within marginalized communities. Follow her work at www.amrtherapy.com Visit www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit, helping youth to further their education through athleticism.

Telling inspirational stories about disabled people is all over the internet, which raises the question: do we treat them as individuals, listening and learning from them? Or do we fall into the trap of identifying people by their disability, or as an inspirational meme? 

Sharon & Dwight are reacting to the teaser trailer for the upcoming Marvel movie, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," focused on the psychological and cultural aspects of the project. Visit www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support this month's highlighted charity.

Following the Civil War in the USA, during what became known as the Reconstruction Era, freed Black Americans fought hard to establish communities and defend their rights. None of these struggles were more important than access to education, and the efforts of Black American pioneers of public education helped to form the model of publicly funded school for children in the US, as well as codify this into law. Check out www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support this month's charity-of-choice, helping young people in need to further their education through athletic scholarships. 

Elio Zarmati is a retired filmmaker, journalist, and author of the new memoir "Goodbye Tahrir Square: Coming of Age as a Jew of the Nile." He tells the story of his  life, aged 7-14, growing up in war-torn Egypt. It is a message of growing up during societal unrest, and how our life is not defined by outside conflict.   Go to www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support this month's charity of focus. The D Coffey Foundation helps young people to pursue their goals through athleticism and scholarship. 

Don't Give Up!

In 1925 Hugo Gernsback invented the "Isolation Helmet," a device to limit distraction, and a wild device at that. Gernsback also pioneered many things in the area of radio, television, and Science Fiction. This is a sample of the weekly history episode, available in full for all patrons of the show. 

In his new book "The Sexual Evolution," Biologist and Professor Nathan Lents shares the diverse examples of sex, sexual orientation, and flexible gender roles in the animal kingdom. A look at what truly is natural as well as how we learn about the world around us and the important role that sex and gender play in our lives.  At a time when issues of sexuality and gender Identity are controversial, and the Queer population is under attack, this book is timely and informative.  Check out www.dcoffey.org for this month's highlighted charity, The D Coffey foundation. Started by former guest Dr Delice Coffey, this nonprofit helps students achieve scholarships and opportunities through athleticism. 

Author Dr Lakeysha Hallmon discusses her book "No One is Self-Made," and the myth of self-made success. As a Social Entrepreneur she uses the strength of community to create success for local business, and teaches others to do the same, with her mantra: "Support is a Verb." Dr Key is the founder of Village Market, connecting Black-owned businesses, and Our Village United, a nonprofit focused on providing small businesses with funding and tech support. Follow her work at www.drkeyhallmon.com  Remember to check out our highlighted nonprofit this month: www.whitebirdclinic.org, helping people fill their dental, mental health, and other medical needs.    

Self-Care is often defined as a fun or special experience, but that is only one form. Here are 2 ideas for Self-Care that go beyond bubble baths.  The D Coffey Foundation is the highlighted charity for this month. Founded by former Broken Brain guest Dr Delice Coffey, this nonprofit helps young people to pursue education through Athletics and Scholarships. Visit www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to learn more.  

This is a sample of the first few minutes of this week's History dive for Patreon supporters. Go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain to learn how to access these weekly bonus episodes in full.  Nathaniel Branden was an interesting individual, a pioneer in the idea that Self-Esteem is important for mental health functioning. A little about him, his life, and his theories is the subject of this week's episode of Thursday Thistory. 

Chad Foster is an Author, Trainer, and Experienced Leader in the Corporate & Programming field. He is the first blind executive to graduate from the Harvard Business School Leadership Program. Since loosing his sight at age 21, Chad has helped create assistive software for the visually impaired, excelled at skiing and jujitsu, and trained companies in strategies of inclusion and innovation. You can read his book "Blind Ambition," and follow his work at www.chadefoster.com  Check out www.whitebirdclinic.org for this month's highlighted charity, brining mental health, dental, and other medical services to the people of Eugene and Spring Oregon.

We experience a crash because our body tells us it is time to rest, often forcing the issue. Purposeful, proactive rest can be difficult. Luckily our crash can provide information to help plan healthy breaks.  Visit www.whitebirdclinic.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit.

A look into the history of jewelry and art made of hair of a loved one. In the Victorian Era these were used for purposes such as bereavement, spiritual connection, or communicating affection. This is the monthly history episode available to all listeners. Weekly dives into the history of psychology & culture are available to patrons, through www.patreon.com/brokenbrain  Visit www.whitebirdclinic.org to see and support this month's highlighted charity. The White Bird Clinic provides mental, dental, and other medical services to those in need, and informed crisis response for mental health emergencies.   

Cathy Heller is a teacher, podcaster, and author. Her book, "Abundant Ever After," describes her belief and use of principles of Jewish Mysticism in helping people restructure their approach to stress management and realizing their goals. Often difficult to define or measure, Cathy provides tools and a grounded approach to philosophies such as manifestation and abundance. Follow her work at www.cathyheller.com, and listen to her on the Abundant Ever After podcast. The highlighted charity this month is White Bird Clinic, providing dental, medical, and psychological treatment for individuals in Eugene and Springfield, Oregon.

Is today a tough day? Here are a few ideas of ways to survive and function on a tougher day.  Hang in there, everybody!