A mental disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying or life-threatening event
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Welcome to Botched: A D&D Podcast! The stage is set, and it's time for the first ever Tough Guy Tryout Fitness Challenge! There are hundreds of people waiting to get in, and there isn't even enough space for everyone in line!The guys got a special guest speaker to get everything started before the games begin.They announce all the different tiers, and how each person will be separated. However, if you have enough coin, you can purchase a higher rank.There are three testing categories: physical fitness, spell aptitude, and problem solving.Who is this special guest speaker? How will the boys squeeze all of these fools for the most possible money? What is involved in the physical challenges? What kind of spell aptitude testing will take place? What does problem solving entail? Why does Terry have PTSD? Tune in and find out!We now have a PO Box! Wanna send us something? PO BOX 3178 Gettysburg, PA 17325All of our previous seasons can be found on our new channel!Botched Archives!A special shout out and thank you to all of our supporters over on Patreon. You help us continue to churn out “quality” episodes. With your continued support we can take our show on the road! Check out our store over at Botched Podcast where you can find tshirts, stickers, pint glasses and more!Give us a 5 star review on Itunes. Doing so will help the show grow, but we will also read out whatever you write at the end of one of our episodes!Feel free to email us any questions, comments or suggestions at BotchedPodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, subscribe on Youtube, like us on Facebook.You can watch the show live on Twitch!Check out each of the hosts' Twitch streams! Dennis, Phil, TristanHosts: Dennis, Phil, Tristan, SteveEditor: Philip D Keating And Dennis RobinsonProducer: Phil and DennisExecutive Producers: James Thatcher, Chronic Ejac, Jim Beverly,Disgruntled Furniture, Chris Wisdom, ShinigamiSPQR, Jayson Haiss, Toaster Bath and Scabby GoosePublisher: Phil and DennisArt by Emily SwanMusic by Gozer
We explore why emotional highs are often followed by sudden lows, especially after moments of achievement, transition, or loss. We look at how identity, nervous system biology, and meaning collide — and why the crash doesn't mean something is wrong. Most importantly, we talk about how to build guardrails for the comedown.Key Points:Highs stress the nervous systemIdentity amplifies the swingEndings create emotional voidsGrief intensifies contrastThe drop is often biologicalGuardrails matter more than mindsetThrive With Leo Coaching: If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to www.thrivewithleo.com to begin your journey.If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, there are people who want to help:In the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.
The world moves too fast; simple tasks like grocery shopping become overwhelming due to endless choices, and noise/crowds can trigger anxiety after years of institutional life. Lack of internet access inside means relearning everything from smartphones to online job applications. A criminal record creates huge barriers to housing, employment, and building new relationships, often leading to instability or re-incarceration. High rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression are common due to trauma, making emotional regulation difficult.Business Inquires DaDojoProduction@gmail.com Insta https://www.instagram.com/senseink/ Pod Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dadojocast/ Sports Page @IKINDAKNOWBALL
We walk through the hard truths of hospital escorts: layers of security vanish, complacency creeps in, and small mistakes become big risks. From intel control to room setup, we share a field-tested checklist to keep officers, medical staff, and the public safe.• controlling timelines and blocking leaks• gathering inmate intel and risk factors• conducting full inmate and vehicle searches• using maximum restraints and wheelchairs• hospital reconnaissance and secure entry points• room layout, line of sight, and door control• protecting medical staff during care• anti-fatigue tactics and accountability• professionalism in public and clear communication• training needs and administrative supportMake sure you like, subscribe, go to our website and check it out thereAlso, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.comSend us a text PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.OMNIOMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail. Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showAlso, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Buy Me a Cup of Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mikeml Keys to Your New Career: Information and Guidance to Get Hired and Be Successful as a Correctional or Detention Officer https://amzn.to/4g0mSLw Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career https://amzn.to/3HV4dUG Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficerTake care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
It's time for the annual Spearhead Sundays tradition of setting new years resolutions and reviewing last years
Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy's Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. For years, fentanyl has dominated headlines as a driving force behind America's overdose crisis. What's discussed far less often is how this drug impacts the first responders who encounter it in the line of duty. For Deputy Jeff Brown, a long-serving law enforcement officer, accidental fentanyl exposure didn't just spark a frightening moment, it caused permanent injuries, ongoing trauma, and a new mission focused on helping others. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. By any measure, Jeff Brown is a law enforcement hero. But one accidental fentanyl exposure nearly ended his life, and forever changed it. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform This is not just a story for the news-cycle. It's a story meant to be shared on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and across platforms like the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, Apple Podcasts and Spotify, because it speaks to the hidden cost of service, the reality of trauma, stress, PTSD, and the lasting injuries many heroes carry long after the call ends. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . Accidental Fentanyl Exposure Almost Claimed His Life Jeff Brown had built a distinguished law enforcement career when one routine encounter with drug abusers turned into a life-threatening emergency. During the incident, Jeff and his backup deputies were accidentally exposed to fentanyl. The effects were immediate and terrifying. Had it not been for department-issued Narcan and the training the deputies received, Jeff believes he and others would not have survived. In a matter of minutes, deputies were forced to save each other's lives. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy's Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. They lived, but not without consequence. For Jeff, the exposure caused permanent damage to his heart, altering his health and his future. What should have been just another shift became the defining moment of his life. The Aftermath: Injuries, Recovery, and a Broken System Surviving the incident was only the beginning. Jeff openly talks about: The physical recovery and lingering medical issues The emotional toll and ongoing stress Battles with Worker's Compensation The lack of understanding surrounding first responder injuries The rarely discussed crime problem in a tourist-driven resort area Like many first responders, Jeff learned that surviving the job does not guarantee support afterward. The system often struggles to recognize invisible injuries, especially when fear, misinformation, and stigma surround incidents involving fentanyl. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy's Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms. Fentanyl Misinformation and First Responder Trauma In 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released advisories warning that simply touching or inhaling fentanyl could be fatal within minutes. Images of tiny, allegedly lethal doses circulated widely, reinforcing fear among first responders. At the time, the narrative felt plausible. Illicit fentanyl was flooding the streets, and officers had limited information. Later, medical experts, including the American College of Medical Toxicology and the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology clarified that incidental exposure leading to overdose is extremely unlikely. Other countries adjusted their guidance accordingly. Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. But misinformation lingers, and it carries consequences. Officers who believe they've been exposed can experience panic attacks, hyperventilation, vertigo, and racing heart rates. These symptoms are real and distressing, yet often misinterpreted as fentanyl toxicity. In a culture where fear is seen as weakness, these events can go under-reported or misdiagnosed, potentially leading to delayed or inappropriate medical care. We stand by this critical point: Accidental fentanyl exposure can have drastic effects when combined with preexisting health conditions, particularly involving the heart. These incidents deserve serious, compassionate, and accurate medical evaluation. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy's Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. The special episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories. The FDA Warning: When Fentanyl Exposure Is Truly Deadly While incidental exposure myths persist among adults, there is one area where the danger is undisputed. The FDA warns that accidental exposure to fentanyl patches continues to be deadly to children. Fentanyl patches are prescribed for opioid-tolerant patients and release fentanyl through the skin over several days. Tragically, children have died after: Putting used or unused patches in their mouths Sticking patches onto their skin Even used patches can contain enough fentanyl to be fatal. The FDA urges caregivers to: Store patches securely Dispose of them properly Keep naloxone readily available If a child is suspected of exposure, call 911 immediately. Trauma, PTSD, and the Cost of Service Jeff's story highlights a truth many don't want to face: trauma doesn't end when the sirens stop. First responders routinely carry: Cumulative stress Psychological trauma PTSD Chronic health problems These issues affect not only their careers but their families, hobbies, and identities. For many even the simple joys of fishing and hunting, once outlets for peace, were impacted by his injuries and recovery. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy's Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Turning Pain Into Purpose: Hometown Heroes Alliance Instead of walking away, Jeff chose to give back. He now dedicates his time to Hometown Heroes Alliance, a nonprofit organization that supports wounded, injured, and disabled first responders, those who are often left financially and emotionally vulnerable after serving their communities. Hometown Heroes Alliance focuses on: Raising awareness for injured first responders Providing financial, physical, and emotional support Hosting benefit events, including concerts Producing brand-funded television and digital media to amplify impact From hurricane-stricken areas in Florida and Texas to less-publicized tragedies across the country, the organization helps heroes who lost homes, suffered disabling injuries, or sacrificed everything while protecting others. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy's Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. On the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms. As long as there are heroes answering the call, there will be a need for compassion—and action. A Story That Needs to Be Heard Jeff Brown's journey is more than a headline. It's a reminder that behind every badge is a human being who absorbs trauma so others don't have to. This story belongs on every platform, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Podcast networks, because awareness saves lives, corrects misinformation, and honors those who continue to serve, even after the job nearly takes everything from them. He survived fentanyl exposure. He lives with the injuries. And he refuses to stop fighting for his fellow heroes. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. Be sure to check out our website . Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB. Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms. Interested in being a guest, sponsorship or advertising opportunities send an email to the host and producer of the show jay@letradio.com. Listen to this special episode on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy's Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. Attributions NIH FDA.gov Hometown Heroes Alliance Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
For H-Hour perks, join the H-Hour Discord guild: https://discord.com/invite/KCb54MQNxd and follow H-Hour Hugh on X: https://x.com/HughKeir ****** "We need to stop regulating the product and start regulating those who misuse it." In this episode of H-Hour, host Hugh Keir interviews Tom Sherwood about his groundbreaking work with Sentra AI, an innovative technology aimed at providing mental health support for veterans and blue-light workers. They discuss Tom's journey from the military to tech, the challenges of tackling PTSD, and the role of AI in enhancing mental resilience and performance. The conversation also touches on data privacy, the resistance from existing charities, and the future of AI in mental health. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of technology, mental health, and the need for innovative support systems. https://getsentra.ai/ Tom Sherwood, a British Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sentra AI and a pioneer in trauma-informed, dual-use generative AI for mental health. Sentra AI is a 24/7 AI companion specifically engineered for acute psychological crises and long-term resilience, serving both defence and security forces and civilian populations affected by trauma.
For H-Hour perks, join the H-Hour Discord guild: https://discord.com/invite/KCb54MQNxd and follow H-Hour Hugh on X: https://x.com/HughKeir ****** In this H-Hour Icebreaker, Tom Sherwood and Hugh delve into the multifaceted world of mental health, trauma, and the role of AI. Tom shares his experiences from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the inception of Sentra AI, and its potential impact on reducing veteran suicides. The discussion also covers mental health stigmas, the complexities of PTSD, and candid thoughts on governmental understanding and handling of AI technology. Enjoy this eye-opening conversation on resilience, innovation, and the future of mental health support. https://getsentra.ai/ Tom Sherwood, a British Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sentra AI and a pioneer in trauma-informed, dual-use generative AI for mental health. Sentra AI is a 24/7 AI companion specifically engineered for acute psychological crises and long-term resilience, serving both defence and security forces and civilian populations affected by trauma.
As a new year begins, there is often an unspoken pressure to feel motivated, clear, and already moving forward. But not everyone starts the year feeling strong. Some start stalled. Some start somewhere in between. In this episode of PTSD and Beyond, we explore why either way is okay and why what matters most is practicing the space of G.R.A.C.E. Grace is not a process. Grace is a practice. When we feel stalled, old patterns often rush in. Shame. Stigma. Rumination. Past criticisms. Stories that were never ours to carry. None of these support healing or growth. This episode introduces the G.R.A.C.E. practice as a way to move beyond coping and into grounded, compassionate self leadership. In this episode, we explore: • Why starting strong does not eliminate the need for grace • Why starting stalled is not a failure • How shame and past conditioning hijack the nervous system • Why grace is a daily practice, not a checklist The G.R.A.C.E. Practice G Ground Returning to the body and the present moment through sensation and breath. R Recognize Naming what is activated while staying anchored in now. A Allow Giving yourself permission to assess and adjust rather than suppress or react. C Choose Remembering that you have choice and practicing responses ahead of time. E Exit and Emerge Stepping into safety and returning when ready, without rushing or escaping. Whether this year has started strong or stalled, this practice offers a way forward that honors healing, agency, and humanity. If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who may need permission to slow down and offer themselves grace. Follow, subscribe, and leave a review to support PTSD and Beyond. Join us on Ko-Fi to help keep these conversations going.
The countries within the EU and the U.K. have dealt with overwhelming censorship for decades now, is an all out assault on free speech coming to America? In the United Kingdom, 30 people are arrested every day for social media posts, retweets or even cartoons. Michael Shellenberger has been monitoring this dangerous trend and recently spoke to the EU Parliament. A very unpopular group of European leaders don't like when they see dissenting voices on the internet. Shellenberger describes a system in which the EU appoints so-called “trusted flaggers” – NGOs and academics who receive special access to the platforms' data in order to identify content that is to be removed. While President Trump has defunded a lot of the censorship taking place under Biden, this global censorship campaign has its sights set on America next. President Trump signed an executive order to move marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, allowing medical research to be done for cannibodial medical purposes. Dr Oz is here today to discuss what this means for patients in pain or suffering from PTSD. As administrator of the Center for Medicaid and Medicare services, Dr Oz has already blocked fraudsters trying to scam Medicare. There are many sophisticated operations, including foreign governments that are attacking and defrauding Obamacare. As President Trump secured a victory in prescription drug pricing, Dr Oz is optimistic about getting real healthcare reform for American citizens. Featuring: Michael Shellenberger Founder | Public News https://www.public.news/ Dr. Mehmet Oz Administrator | Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services https://www.doctoroz.com/ Today's show is sponsored by: Beam Do you want to wake up in the middle of the night and scare Santa away and ruin Christmas? Of course you don't, you want to wake up refreshed, inspired and ready to take Christmas day or any day! You need Beam's Dream powder. This best-selling blend of Reishi, Magnesium, L-Theanine, Apigenin and Melatonin will help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed. So if you're ready for the best night of sleep you ever had just head to https://shopbeam.com/SPICER to receive 40% off your order. Delta Rescue Delta Rescue is one the largest no-kill animal sanctuaries. Leo Grillo is on a mission to help all abandoned, malnourished, hurt or suffering animals. He relies solely on contributions from people like you and me. If you want to help Leo to continue his mission of running one of the best care-for-life animal sanctuaries in the country please visit Delta Rescue at: https://deltarescue.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------- 1️⃣ Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 2️⃣ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ 3️⃣ Listen to the full audio show on all platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sean-spicer-show/id1701280578 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/32od2cKHBAjhMBd9XntcUd iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-sean-spicer-show-120471641/ 4️⃣ Stay in touch with Sean on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanmspicer Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicer Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanmspicer/ 5️⃣ Follow The Sean Spicer Show on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanspicershow Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicershow Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanspicershow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This profound episode is not a typical "alien encounter" story. It may be the first. It is a meticulous, psychological deep dive into the lifelong journey of Nancy Tremaine—from a traumatized 12-year-old silenced in 1961 to the self-described "galactic ambassador" she is today. The narrative, drawn from her memoir and personal recordings, reveals a radical transformation forged in the crucible of institutional betrayal and unimaginable personal trauma.The core mission of the analysis is to understand the alchemy of trauma: how a devastating, isolating childhood event becomes the catalyst for a grand, purposeful life mission. It begins with Nancy's 1961 sighting in Novi, Michigan—a massive, silent craft that immobilized a police car with a beam of light and delivered a telepathic "We see you." The real trauma was cemented not by the craft, but by the enforced silence that followed. Her father, a veteran with apparent insider knowledge, validated her reality while demanding absolute secrecy—a psychological double bind that created what she calls "the root of the trauma."This personal silencing was reinforced by an immediate, coordinated military operation. The retired police chief, Lee Begole, confirmed on tape that the military's sole objective was "to silence everyone so as not to create a panic," arriving with a bias to disbelieve despite the overwhelming evidence. This institutional gaslighting, compounded by missing time and suppressed memories, led to 50 years of debilitating PTSD—a life Nancy describes as being "nothing more than scar tissue."Her healing began only in 2011 with validation, first from a UFO investigator and then through regression therapy. This process unlocked memories of non-human intelligences, hybrid offspring, and a symbiotic relationship with a Draconian reptilian being she calls "Mister." Crucially, their connection is almost entirely non-physical—a communion of consciousness and energy. The symbiosis is transactional: they study intense human emotions through her for a stated goal of genetic evolution, and in return, she receives knowledge, protection, and a cosmic purpose.The episode confronts the most difficult integrations, including severe medical trauma. After pineal gland manipulation by the entities, Nancy developed Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD), a legitimate and agonizing condition. When she sought emergency care, the medical institution inflicted a second, profound betrayal: staff mocked her and permanently documented her crisis as a "sex marathon" in her records. This betrayal mirrored the 1961 silencing, forcing her to seek meaning beyond the physical plane.Her transformation from victim to ambassador is complete when she fully accepts her mission: not to convince, but to inform. The philosophical messages she channels are stark and challenging: "We are you"; "Empathy holds back technology. It is the vehicle that is sacrificed"; and "We are here to avert war." She was shown apocalyptic visions to internalize the stakes—humanity must shed its low-frequency emotions of hate and rage to evolve, or risk being "left behind."Nancy Tremaine's story is ultimately about the relentless pursuit of personal truth against a consensus reality designed to reject it. It forces a unsettling question: Is our physical and emotional suffering—the struggles of the "vehicle"—merely functional data on the road to becoming something more? Her journey from scar tissue to a being of "light knowledge energy" suggests that the answer, for her, is a definitive yes. The destination, as the entities told her, is simply home.Nancy Tremaine's Bookhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B076MKFFT4/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=9a137337-92f1-4454-89c8-9058abb348ba&ref_=ap_rdrGrant Cameron Websitepresidentialufo.org
Please enjoy our 2025 Kampfer Special--the third of four parts of a wonderful GitS TTRPG Actual Play experience penned and game mastered by show scholar Ghost and featuring storied Year in the Shell guest Iris Jay! In this session: Burn takes the shot. Saoirse plays rock-paper-scissors. Rika intimidates an alleged divorcee. An takes a nap. You can find Iris here and here. You can find Ghost here. Inquire with Psirensongs at their email psirensongs@gmail.com or here Content warnings for this episode: Violent suicide, black ops, war crimes, mass violence, gun violence, political assassination, PTSD, and corporate pollution. On the Shoulders of Giants is hosted by Alice (she/her), Brian (he/they), and Niko (she/her). Join OSG's Discord here Obligation-free tip jar on Ko-Fi Hang out with us on Twitch! You can find us on Bluesky @osgpod, YouTube @osg_pod, and Tumblr @osg-pod. Visit our website at osgpod.com and send questions/feedback to questions@osgpod.com. Our theme is “She Loves Your Fusion” by PartyFactor. Other royalty-free sound effects also sourced from Pixabay. Any and all clips of copyrighted media are included for transformative use in commentary, and On the Shoulders of Giants makes no claim of ownership on any sampled audio. If you've read this far, please consider leaving us a 5-star review on your podcatcher of choice. It really means a lot!
If Love Island took a dark twist. Today we are talking about a true classic, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. You probably already know but just in case you weren't a teen in the early 2010s, this book has it all: archery, bread, and a girl who can't accept a man isn't gaslighting her. This book just wants you to start a rebellion against your unjust oligarchy (looking at you America).WARNING: murder, child abuse, starvation, death of a parent, death of children, PTSD, talk of suicideBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/book-cult--5718878/support.
Debbie McRae and Tami tackle ‘betrayal brain', the intrusive thoughts, and emotional flooding that often accompany betrayal. When the brain is in survival mode, neurological and psychological effects are out of the betrayed partner's control. They discuss tactics to regain control when the brain is hijacked. TAKEAWAYS: [1:26] When betrayal occurs, the architecture of the brain is reshaped. [4:50] Warning signs of betrayal brain. [5:46] Four areas of the brain are affected by betrayal. [10:45] Triggers can occur even when the relationship feels safe. [12:07] Regaining control when the brain is hijacked. [25:37] Self-compassion practices and therapy after betrayal. [27:30] The betrayed partner has no control over how the brain is going to react. [31:41] Keeping regulation expectations simple. [33:54] Does my PTSD and anxiety make it harder to overcome betrayal brain? [40:12] What boundaries can I enact with a sex addict who is breaking the law? [46:17] Handling abandonment to create safety. [49:10] How can I increase my functionality to what it was before PTSD? RESOURCES: Seekingintegrity.com Email Tami: Tami@Seekingintegrity.com Sexandrelationshiphealing.com Intherooms.com Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions. QUOTES “When betrayal occurs, it shatters trust in an instant.” “Even neutral interactions that the betrayed partner is experiencing can be triggering.” “The betrayed partner has no control over how the brain is going to react when it senses threat.” “Self care is brain care.”
To celebrate being the most listened to episode of 2025, former Boston Red Sox Director of Grounds and PTSD survivor David Mellor returns to talk to the boys about dogs (his and theirs!), what he's been up to since he retired following the 2024 baseball season, where he keeps his four World Series rings, whether or not he was worried about the field at Fenway Park following a big concert and, of course, "blow flowers". Episode originally aired May 20, 2024. This week's podcast was brought to you by Teambrown Apparel, Old Fort Baseball Co and Patrick's Custom Painting.
John and Jenny dive into the disturbing intersections between militarism, psychology, and religion within Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Drawing parallels to early Pentecostal cults and authoritarian movements, they examine how “spiritual warfare” language and practices condition young minds for obedience and control. Jenny shares her firsthand experience of life inside YWAM—where teenagers are sent on “target missions,” sleep-deprived prayer watches, and told demons lurk in everyday objects—while John connects these patterns to the mind control methods of Branhamism and early revival cults like those of Frank Sanford and John Alexander Dowie. Together they expose how hyper-spiritualized fear, trauma bonding, and dissociation produce lifelong anxiety and religious PTSD, even as participants believe they are serving God.______________________Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K ______________________– Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham – Visit the website: https://william-branham.org
Check out this Encore show from October 2, 2025 Fr. Patrick Hyde joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Warfare Where do we see spiritual warfare in the bible? (7:13) how do we find a happy medium with spiritual warfare? (12:22) Elaine - When I was young, I grew up in a haunted house. When i was little, I'd have nightmares. I would go to my parent’s room. Would see 2 angels in their doorway. That would calm me. (17:53) Maria - Mother is devout Catholic. Goes to Mass, confession, adoration. Convinced a family member is partaking in evil demonic activities and she's the target of it. She's had a lot of unusual things happen to her. Would that be considered some kind of spiritual warfare? (21:48) Break 1 Jacob - Live in a sketchy neighborhood. Somebody put a crow in my basement. Was in fear of it and demonic presence. Am I giving too much attention to the devil by leaving the house? Trying to ignore it. (27:24) Tom - Explain more about why he said not to get involved in crystals, also, how can we help loved ones to really heal from past wounds? I know the devil loves to keep you in anger and fear. Sarah - I have a sister I'm trying to help . Doesn't go to church. Have had conversations about this. She exhibited some rage after talking to her about it. I had a dream about her and she faded in the dream. I think she needs spiritual food. How do I deal with this? (38:13) Break 2 Randy - Spiritual warfare and PTSD...overall deal with spiritual warfare and experiences I've had. I called on Monday. (45:35) Dee Dee - My mom was into new age in the past. My sister and I were drawn to it. We're now stronger in our faith. I think some of the issues are still coming up though. My daughter doesn't sleep much (3 years). Around midnight or 3am, she will wake up screaming. How do we handle this? Resources: JP II Healing Center https://jpiihealingcenter.org/
In this episode of the Healing Begins Podcast, Pastor Gale Kragt and Stephanie Butler discuss "Standing Strong in the Battle," focusing on Ephesians 6:10-18. They explore practical ways believers can stand firm amid life's spiritual battles and the unseen struggles of today's world. Discover how to equip yourself with the armor of God and find strength in faith. For more resources, visit www.scchealingbegins.com or reach out at share@healingbeginsradio.com.To donate to the ministry of Spiritual Care Consultants, please visit: www.DonateToSCC.com or visit: www.SpiritualCareConsultants.com
Actor and director Steven Grayhm joins Read Shepherd and Dana McKay to discuss his powerful new film Sheepdog, which shines a light on the hidden struggles many veterans face after returning home. In this conversation, Grayhm opens up about the inspiration behind the film, the realities of PTSD among veterans, and the concept of post-traumatic growth — finding healing, purpose, and meaning after trauma. He explains why telling these stories authentically matters, how Sheepdog aims to spark honest conversations, and what he hopes audiences take away from the film. Sheepdog arrives in theaters January 16, and this episode explores why its message is especially timely for veterans, families, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of trauma and resilience.
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode covers content around violence, murder, war, death, brutality, drug usage, substance abuse, PTSD, animal abuse, racial injustice, hate crimes, and racism. Please be advised. Welcome back to another episode of Did You Read The Book? ! Join me and my frequent flyer guest, Julie McCulloch-Francis, as we dive real fast into the past to talk about classic Greek themes, wacky mythos, and how in the heck does it tie into the Great Depression (that don't make no sense!) in The Odyssey by Homer. Our Recommendations Lucifer, the Devil in the Middle Ages by Jeffrey Burton Russell Blood Orange: The Dracula Duet Book 1 by Karina Halle Black Rose: The Dracula Duet Book 2 by Karina Halle Find Me Online If you like Did You Read The Book?, don't be shy and share with your family, friends, neighbors, and anyone else you see fit! You can also follow me on Twitter (@DYRTBPodcast), Threads, Facebook, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iTunes, Tune In/Alexa, Spotify, and Pandora! About The Show Music composed and produced by Abek Cover art created by Jared Stokes Banner art and background design by IndigoLink Podcast production by Erin Palmer
Eight Deployments, One Mission: Chad Robichaux and the Call to Never Quit What an incredible guest we have on this week's Team Never Quit Podcast. Marcus engages in a compelling discussion with former Force Recon Marine, Chad Robichaux. With eight deployments to Afghanistan as part of a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Task Force, Chad overcame his personal battles with PTSD after nearly becoming a veteran suicide statistic. Chad is the founder of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, serving the active duty, military veteran and first responder communities around the world with highly successful faith-based combat trauma and resiliency programs. He has spoken to over 450,000 active-duty troops and led life-saving programs for over 4,600 active military and veterans at four Mighty Oaks Ranches around the U.S. He has served as an advisor to former President Trump, Congress, the VA, and the Department of Defense. Another one of Chad's personal endeavors, Save Our Allies, is focused on the evacuation and recovery of Americans, our allies and vulnerable people still trapped in Afghanistan. His original mission was to rescue his long-time friend and Afghanistan interpreter, but the mission quickly evolved because of Chad's compassion for people and his servant heart. Since its inception, Save Our Allies has safely evacuated over 17,000 people that were trapped in Afghanistan and he is now helping in Ukraine. As if that weren't enough, Chad is a lifelong martial artist. He holds a 4th degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and is a former Professional Mixed Martial Arts Champion having competed at the highest levels of the sport. In this episode you will hear: • My family has 84 years of military service. (11:27) • I was raised in a very dysfunctional home because my father never recovered from Vietnam. (13:15) • Our operation was compromised and I ended up being abducted. (26:53) • On the surface, everything seemed fine. Then I crashed, had an affair, filed for divorce, and attempted to take my life. The some amazing people came around me and helped us to restore my family and my faith. (30:38) • I tried to build the courage to take my life and I had my Glock 40 caliber pistol, but I was interrupted, and it was enough to pump the brakes. (31:18) • My wife asked me: “How can you do all you did in the military, but when it comes to your family, you'll quit?” (32:23) • You're gonna deal with anxiety, depression, and anger, but you could respond to it in a better way that could lead you to a better place. (35:35) • God's like a centerpiece solution, because a lot of what we deal with are spiritual wounds. (36:29) • President Bush signed the Opportunity for Faith Mission in 2001, then in 2009, President Obama signed a policy to override that, and take funding away from faith-based programs. (49:47) • In Afghanistan, people couldn't go in to help, but in Ukraine you could drive a bus across the border to do mass evacs. (52:07) • I've been getting a lot of heat like: Why are you going over there to help – the governments is corrupt. None of that matters. These people didn't ask for any of this. They're being invaded by a super power. (54:48) • Glen Beck (Radio Show Host) raised 21 million dollars to support our mission. (72:41) • The White House said there were 100 Americans left [in Afghanistan] but without debate there were thousands of Americans still there. (75:27) • You don't leave Americans behind. The White even promised that they wouldn't but they did. (76:34)
Retired LAPD Lieutenant Rick Deadman joins the show to share over 50 years of intense, bizarre, and sometimes humorous police stories from his career with LAPD, Casper PD, and Natrona County Sheriff's Office. From high-speed pursuits and armed suspects in the 1970s "Jungle" to a tragic training accident that shook Hollywood Division, Rick pulls no punches. He also discusses his current volunteer work with Copline, helping officers and their families through PTSD, trauma, and crisis. Copline www.copline.org Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055
In this episode of "Next Level Healing," Dr. Tara Perry interviews Julie Ryan, a seasoned businesswoman and medical intuitive with a remarkable 45-year career in the medical devices industry. Julie shares her journey from the 3D science world to the realm of energy medicine and psychic mediumship, revealing how her experiences have shaped her understanding of healing and consciousness.Throughout the conversation, Julie discusses her unique ability to scan individuals for medical issues, offering insights into the connection between emotional and physical health. She shares compelling stories of her work with both humans and animals, illustrating the profound impact of energy healing. The episode also touches on the spiritual aspects of dying, including the comforting presence of deceased loved ones and the role of angels during the transition process.Listeners are encouraged to explore their own intuitive abilities, as Julie emphasizes that everyone has the potential to connect with spirit. The episode concludes with information about Julie's teachings and resources, including her book "Angelic Attendance," which offers insights into what happens when we die and the support available from the spirit world.Work with Dr. Tara PerryTune in every Wednesday for a new episode of Next Level Healing. Subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and never miss an episode!
Welcome back to Resiliency Radio with Dr. Jill Carnahan, where today's empowering episode asks a transformative question: Can You Rewire a Dysregulated Nervous System? Dr. Jill is joined by Dr. Cat King, founder of Primal Trust™ Academy and a leading educator in nervous system healing, brain retraining, vagus nerve toning, and trauma-informed somatic practices. In this heartfelt and science-driven conversation, Dr. Cat explains why safety is the foundation of all healing—and why no protocol, supplement, or therapy can work when the body feels threatened. She shares how cultivating genuine safety, both internally and within therapeutic relationships, can shift the autonomic nervous system out of fear and into healing mode.
Episode 160: of the American Grown Podcast in the Colortech Creative Solutions studios with returning guest, Track & Field Coach at Cedar Crest High School Rob Bare.In this episode, we welcome back Rob Bare, Cedar Crest Track & Field coach, physical education teacher, author, and lifelong runner—for his first appearance since Episode 1 in 2022.Rob joins us to celebrate an incredible milestone: 50,000+ lifetime running miles—equal to running around the Earth twice. But for Rob, the miles have always been about more than running. They're about service, leadership, and impact.We talk about the Kids Heart Challenge at Ebenezer Elementary nearing $1 million in total donations, Cedar Crest Track & Field's continued success with four Division I athletes this spring, and Rob's work with the Men Wear Pink campaign.Braving Your AdversityMen Wear Pink CampaignSHOW SPONSORS:College Knowledge Foundation. Your path to higher education.Cleona Coffee Roasters. A small batch coffee roastery & coffee shop, veteran & first responder owned located inside 911 Rapid Response in Annville PA.Angelo's Pizza. Enjoy mouthwatering Italian dinners.Triggered 22. Support a local veteran and help spread awareness for PTSD & #22aday.Hossler Engraving. Looking for unique handcrafted gifts for all occasions Zach has you covered.Modern Gent Customs. We don't make basics...We make statements.Hains Auto Detailing. Have your car smiling from wheel to wheel.Boyer's Tavern. Proper food & drinks made by slightly improper people.Sip or Snack break.SIP: Garage Beer.SNACK: Jurgy.OFFICIAL STUDIO SPONSOR: Colortech Creative Solutions takes your creative projects from visualization to realization. We've been doing so since 1980 all while keeping your budget in mind.To see photos of today's guest follow on social media:IG: AmericanGrownPodcastFB: American Grown Podcast or visits us at American Grown Podcast
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Brendan McCarthy—Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Tempe, Arizona—continues his in-depth progesterone series with a deep dive into reverse responders and an often-overlooked mechanism: hormone sulfation. Many women take progesterone expecting better sleep, calmer moods, and reduced anxiety—yet feel more alert, only mildly calmer, or see no benefit at all. This episode explains why that doesn't mean progesterone is wrong for you. Dr. McCarthy breaks down: What progesterone reverse responding really is The difference between 5-alpha reductase pathways and sulfation How the brain uses sulfation to buffer stress and trauma Why progesterone may be stored instead of calming the nervous system The role of chronic stress, PTSD, perimenopause, and hormone volatility Why higher doses can make things worse How thoughtful, low-dose, individualized hormone therapy actually works Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he's helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He's also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you're ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.
SUMMARY: - “Hurting people hurt people—but narcissists mean to. The higher up the spectrum, the more deliberate and sadistic it becomes.” - “A normal person can self-reflect and repair. A narcissist can't or won't—self-reflection feels like death to them.” - “You didn't cause this, and you can't fix it. It's not your fault.” - “As darkness rises, so does the glory of God. What the enemy meant for evil, God can turn for good.” - “If you move slowly and keep physical/emotional boundaries while dating, a narcissist will often disqualify himself.” Annette's 4-category spectrum - Category 1: “Normal” human flaws—can be selfish or insensitive at times, but can self-reflect, repent, repair, and grow. - Category 2: Emotionally immature; hurtful without calculated malice. Constant defensiveness, blame-shifting, meltdowns when confronted. Change is unlikely; aim is reducing chaos and managing wisely if you choose to stay. - Category 3: Calculated and conniving. Love-bombing, data-mining your hopes/fears to weaponize later. Public charm/private cruelty. Dangerous in church/community settings. You won't resolve this. - Category 4: Sociopathic/psychopathic traits. Amplified cruelty and real danger. Divorce triggers the “monster.” Requires safety planning, documentation, and expert help. Dating red flags and protection - Love-bombing: intense pursuit, “soulmate” language, over-the-top gestures, fast-moving timeline. - Boundary testing: pushes past your limits; discomfort rises quickly. - Inconsistencies and subtle cruelty: backhanded comments, smirks at tears or grief, delight in your pain. - How to protect: move slowly, keep physical/emotional boundaries early, listen to the Holy Spirit and your discomfort, look for patterns (not isolated incidents), and let time test character. If you stay (Category 2 dynamics) - Goal: not fixing him, but wisely reducing chaos and preserving your well-being and the household's stability. - Tactics: reframe requests in terms of what benefits him; avoid head-on confrontation; build your life outside the relationship (calling, ministry, education, friendships). - Support: grief the loss of the dream; get equipped; find a small, trusted peer group who truly understands narcissistic abuse. If you're considering leaving (especially 3–4) - Safety first: if there's a risk of harm, have a go-bag for you/kids/pets and get out. - Prepare: document everything; expect financial sabotage; avoid using the term “narcissist” in court unless there's a diagnosis. - Kids: courts may be vulnerable to “parental alienation” claims; consider a High-Conflict Divorce Coach to reduce legal costs and navigate strategy. - Church/community: narcissists often “borrow” your credibility and pre-poison relationships. Find a healthy church culture and rebuild wise support. Biblical considerations for divorce - Abuse, abandonment, adultery are valid biblical grounds. With minors, weigh carefully: safety, modeling for children, and the realities of family court. Healing and identity - Post-abuse, identity is almost always impacted. You can be 10 years out and still hear their voice in your head—self-abuse by proxy. - The path: clean up the past (lies, agreements, unresolved pain), rebuild identity in Christ, then step into power and authority with wisdom and boundaries. - Beauty must rise with pain: intentionally add joy, nature, creativity, and community to counterbalance suffering. Church and parenting insights - Teach kids the Word, discernment, and healthy vs. unhealthy relationship dynamics. Christlike love includes boundaries and walking away when necessary. Programs and resources Annette mentioned - Living Well While Staying: coaching for women who choose to remain in Category 2 marriages, focused on reducing chaos and rebuilding a meaningful life. - Cinderella No More Academy: membership community and tools for recovery and growth. - Cinderella Conversations: 4-session discovery series on identifying narcissistic dynamics, tactics, false guilt, and spiritual warfare. - Upcoming book: Cinderella No More: Becoming Ella (target 2026). She's seeking early readers for feedback. - For severe trauma/PTSD: consider a Christian therapist specializing in trauma; complement with coaches who understand narcissistic abuse. Interview for fit. One thing to remember - You didn't cause it, you can't fix it—and this isn't the end. With God, this can be the beginning of a new, stronger chapter. You get to write the next chapters with Him. PODCAST INTRO: My guest Annette Chesney is a Christian coach, speaker, and seasoned recovery professional who equips women healing from narcissistic abuse. Narcissistic dynamics can be hard to spot because they often look like ordinary relationship friction at first. Many people struggle to tell the difference between someone who is simply hurting and occasionally hurtful, and someone who persistently harms others without accountability. One useful way to think about it is as a spectrum: not everyone with difficult traits is a narcissist, and not every narcissistic person behaves the same way. Understanding this range can help you decide what you're seeing—and what to do next. But before you think that keeps you in the dark….Annette has created a spectrum that consists of 4 categories or types of narcissists including 10 different characteristics. What she shares is very interesting and from my experience very accurate. Annette's work is done both one-on-one and in groups. She talks primarily from a women's point of view with regard to narcissistic abuse but she did say men are subject to women narcs as well. Annette talks about common red flags and she says pay attention to patterns over time rather than isolated incidents; that wider view tells the truth. Annette even shares about how she coaches women who choose to stay in a challenging relationship…she teaches “management” strategies that focus less on changing the other person and more on stabilizing her client's environment, protecting her energy, and minimizing chaos. A few of the examples she gave were learning how to reframe requests so they're seen as mutually beneficial, limiting circular arguments, and building a strong support system outside the relationship. She even touches on the subject for when separation or divorce becomes necessary and minor children are involved. She alerted us to the fact that trauma symptoms, including anxiety and PTSD‑like responses, are not uncommon adding that qualified mental health support and targeted coaching can help you recover clarity and confidence. Even with the reality of living with the effects of narcissistic abuse…the dismantling of who you are, loss of confidence, identity, goals, dreams etc. , Annette says recovery is possible. Many people find that healing involves unpacking earlier hurts, challenging false beliefs, rebuilding identity, and learning durable skills: boundaries, self‑care, emotional regulation, and discernment. Getting connected with the right help will make all the difference and get you to what she calls…your Kingdom Zone of Impact where you're living with identity and purpose in Christ. Her parting words were for the listener to remember two things that are worth holding onto: you didn't cause someone else's narcissistic pattern, and you can't fix it for them. What you can do is prioritize safety, educate yourself/get informed, surround yourself with wise support, and invest in your own future. Whether you're staying, preparing to leave, or rebuilding afterward, the next chapters can be healthier—with Christ those next chapters are filled with restoration and redemption, they can bring clarity, strength identity and purpose… and they're yours to discover with the Lover of Your Soul, the One who never abuses you, never fails you, Jesus. Live Loved and Thrive! Sherrie Pilk Connect With Annette: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-chesney/ Website: https://annettechesney.com/ Visit her website for more information on the programs and resources Annette mentioned: - Living Well While Staying: coaching for women who choose to remain in Category 2 marriages, focused on reducing chaos and rebuilding a meaningful life. - Cinderella No More Academy: membership community and tools for recovery and growth. - Cinderella Conversations: 4-session discovery series on identifying narcissistic dynamics, tactics, false guilt, and spiritual warfare. - Upcoming book: Cinderella No More: Becoming Ella (target 2026). She's seeking early readers for feedback. - For severe trauma/PTSD: consider a Christian therapist specializing in trauma; complement with coaches who understand narcissistic abuse. Interview for fit.
You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for December 30, 2025. 0:30 We kick off today’s show with a major legal showdown as the U.S. Department of Justice takes aim at the state of Virginia over immigration and college tuition policy. We break down how Virginia law allows students without legal immigration status to qualify for discounted tuition if they attended Virginia schools, even as law-abiding U.S. citizens from states like West Virginia or North Carolina are forced to pay more. These benefits directly violate federal law, which prohibits states from offering post-secondary education benefits to illegal immigrants unless those same benefits are provided to all U.S. citizens on identical terms. It's a test of the Supremacy Clause and federal authority over immigration, and these policies normalize lawlessness one benefit at a time. 10:00 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said this week that the DOJ has already indicted 98 people with fraud in Minnesota this year. A federal judge has ruled that the Trump Administration does not have the authority to block funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. President Trump will become the first non-Israeli to be awarded the Israel Prize. 12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 We dig into the unraveling scandal surrounding fraudulent daycare operations in Minnesota. As scrutiny intensifies, the focus turns to empty daycare centers—previously exposed by independent reporting— that are now suddenly filled with children, raising serious questions about timing and credibility. 16:00 The American Mamas Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson don’t hold back on this one. They take on the question of why it suddenly feels like everyone has a disability—and whether it’s about real need or working the system. While acknowledging legitimate conditions that truly require accommodations, they zero in on what they see as a disturbing trend: elite college students claiming disability status for special treatment, extra time, exemptions, and advantages. This isn’t about compassion anymore—it’s about entitlement. A culture that rewards victimhood, hands out loopholes, and teaches young people that being “broken” is a badge of honor. Comparing today’s mindset to the grit and pride of earlier generations, the Mamas warn that intelligence without ethics is dangerous, and a society that incentivizes weakness shouldn’t be surprised when responsibility, character, and resilience disappear. If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 Protests are breaking out across multiple cities in Iran as the country's economy spirals. The national currency has collapsed to record lows against the U.S. dollar, inflation has surged past 40 percent, and everyday life is becoming increasingly unlivable for ordinary Iranians. 24:30 Plus, we give director and actor Steven Grayhm a call. His film Sheepdog, is set to release nationwide on January 16, centered on the unseen battles of PTSD and the long-term cost of military service. Grayhm spent years traveling the country, listening to veterans, Gold Star families, and mental-health professionals, determined to tell their stories without political spin or Hollywood gloss. The result, he says, is a “love letter” to those who wore the uniform and the families who carried the burden alongside them. 32:00 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 According to newly revealed information, more than $5 billion in HUD rental assistance payments during the final year of the Biden administration were flagged as questionable or improper—an eye-popping figure that immediately raises red flags. According to newly revealed information, more than $5 billion in HUD rental assistance payments during the final year of the Biden administration were flagged as questionable or improper—an eye-popping figure that immediately raises red flags. The most jaw-dropping detail: over 30,000 of those payments allegedly went to people who were already deceased. 35:30 New data shows Bible sales in the United States are booming, with double-digit growth two years in a row, and that's a Bright Spot. The resurgence isn’t limited to Bible sales alone. Church attendance is rising, especially among young people, with Catholic parishes seeing growth even in major cities like New York—places long declared spiritually dead by the secular elite. Add in the historic election of the first American pope, and the signs of a broader faith revival are hard to miss. 39:30 Here’s something that stopped us in our tracks: Charlie Kirk was the most searched name in the world in 2025. Not just in the United States—globally. More than any other news story, more than any other headline, Charlie Kirk topped Google search inquiries worldwide. 41:00 And we finish off today's episode with the most popular New Year's resolutions. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As 2025 comes to a close, this episode of PTSD and Beyond offers a slower, more intentional way to pause. December 31 is often treated like a countdown or a party night. But it is also a bridge. A bridge between who we were, who we lived as this year, and who we are becoming next. In this Self Care Sunday episode, Dr. Deb shares a trauma-informed reflection practice that supports the nervous system through transition. Rather than rushing into goals or avoiding the moment, this episode focuses on reflection, closure, and care as essential forms of self care. This episode explores • Why endings and transitions matter • The difference between reflection and rumination • How unfinished projects and decisions affect mental and emotional health • The role of energy awareness, boundaries, and environment • A simple planning approach that supports clarity without overwhelm This episode is for listeners who want to end the year with intention, steadiness, and care. Listen at your own pace. Pause or return as needed. Take what resonates. If this episode resonates, share it with someone who may need a reminder that healing does not always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it arrives as a breath, a softness, or a quiet moment the body whispers you are safe right now. Follow, subscribe, and leave a review to support PTSD and Beyond. Join us on Ko-Fi to help keep these conversations going.
After surviving the Taliban's 2012 attempted assassination, activist Malala Yousafzai didn't back down. She continued to advocate for girls' education across the globe. In 2014, Yousafzai became the youngest person to win a Nobel Prize, an honor that weighed on her when she went off to college. In ‘Finding My Way,' she writes about her life at Oxford and beyond. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about reliving childhood, PTSD, and her decision to get married.Also, critic at large John Powers highlights some things he wish he had reviewed this year. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
This week, we sit down with our great friend, Johnny Krash, for the kind of conversation that feels like home yet challenges the way you think. Johnny brings sharp insight on guns and gun control, the climate of our country, and the realities of PTSD among troops, law enforcement etc. Topics that often divide, but here are approached with honesty, depth, and respect. Together we explore what freedom really means, how trauma shapes resilience, and where hope still lives in a divided America. It's equal parts real talk, reflection, and revelation, the kind of dialogue that reminds us why meaningful conversations matter. FULL EPISODE: Patreon.com/straightupsisters __________________________________ Follow us on IG and TikTok: @straightupsistersthepodcast @lasusie @raqcsworld Follow Johnny on IG: @jonnykrash @sabotfoundation YouTube: Straight Up Sisters Podcast Contact us: hello@straightupsisters.com
Let me start with a disclaimer—this isn't a political editorial. It's a conversation about ideas. Lessons from business, design, culture, and philosophy that might help us grow—individually and collectively. And if you disagree, email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. I welcome the debate. As this year closes, I'm feeling a mix of frustration and optimism. This moment feels chaotic—as does most of life lately—which is why I often end the show with, “rise above the chaos.” We can't eliminate it, but we can manage what's within our control. The Stoics told us that long ago: focus on what you can control, release what you can't, act with virtue, and let obstacles sharpen resilience. This essay is about taking back even a small amount of control through the work we do and the spaces we shape. The Problem with Trend-Driven Design This year, phrases and hashtags flew faster than ever—Quiet Luxury, Brat Green, Fridgescaping, Millennial Grey. Much like the “big, beautiful bill” language we've all heard tossed around in political discourse, design's buzzwords can distract from what actually matters. They generate attention, not meaning. They look good on social media, not necessarily in the lived experience of a home, workplace, or public square. So instead of centering our design conversations around fleeting edits, let's pivot toward the global innovations that are transforming the built world in ways that truly matter. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Real Innovation Worth Talking About Across the globe, designers, architects, and researchers are developing ideas that transcend buzz. These are the concepts with longevity—the ones shaping smart, resilient, human-centered spaces: Biophilic Design, rooted in the work of Edward O. Wilson, Erich Fromm, and Japanese shinrin-yoku, continues to reframe our relationship with nature. Net-Zero Architecture, pioneered in Canada, Germany, and Australia, redefines building performance through projects like Seattle's Bullitt Center and Colorado's RMI Innovation Center. Smart Homes and Invisible Tech, building on early Asian innovation, hiding circuitry and functionality behind seamless design powered by Apple, Google, and Amazon ecosystems. Prefab and Modular Construction, originally exemplified by structures like the Crystal Palace and the Sydney Opera House, now reimagined by firms such as Plant Prefab. Passive House Design, born in Germany but rapidly shaping U.S. projects in California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest. And the list goes on: Self-Healing Concrete by Hendrik Marius Jonkers Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry Bët-bi Museum in Senegal by Mariam Issoufou Powerhouse Parramatta in Australia Pujiang Viewing Platform in China by MVRDV Landscape and biophilic approaches—Wabi-Sabi gardening, edimental gardens, climate-adaptive landscapes, and indoor biophilia—are redefining how we engage with natural systems in daily life. Even infrastructure has become a site of innovation: CopenHill/Amager Bakke, Denmark's waste-to-energy plant with a ski slope Urban Sequoias by SOM—skyscrapers designed as carbon sinks 3D-printed timber in Germany, Finland, and France This is the work that deserves our attention—not the color of the week on TikTok. Rethinking the Shelter Space For years I described architecture as a language, design as a dialect, and landscape as the narrative. Mies van der Rohe famously introduced the concept of architecture as language. It caught on, and then the bandwagon effect took over. But today, the metaphor feels insufficient—especially for the shelter space, where people spend their lives, raise families, work, heal, and age. The shelter space isn't like a retail store or restaurant, where design is often intended for those who pass through briefly while the people who labor there navigate the leftover space. The shelter space must serve those who inhabit it deeply and continuously. And that shifts the conversation. Design begins with the usual questions—purpose, function, users, goals, budget. But these questions don't define design. They only outline it. There is no universal purpose of architecture or design, no single philosophy, no singular “right” answer. The shelter space varies as widely as the people living within it. So instead of treating architecture and design as technical processes, we should approach them philosophically. A Philosophical Framework for Design Stoicism offers clarity: Accept that budget overruns and changes will occur. Respect the expertise of the designer you hired. Invest in authenticity rather than dupes. Create environments that support health—clean air, clean water, noise reduction, resilience. Utilitarianism reminds us that choices have consequences. If the design decisions you make are based on influencer content instead of expertise, the result is no surprise. And now, a new framework is emerging that could transform our shared spaces entirely. Sensorial Urbanism: Designing the City We Actually Feel One of the most compelling movements emerging globally is Sensorial Urbanism—a shift from focusing on how the city looks to how it feels. It's neuroscience, phenomenology, and inclusive design rolled into a multi-sensory toolkit. Five Key Sensory Principles Soundscaping Water features masking traffic. Acoustic pavilions. Designed sound gardens. Paris' Le Cylindre Sonore. Soundscape parks in Barcelona and Berlin. Smellscaping Native flowers, herbs, and aromatic trees restoring identity—especially critical after disasters like wildfires. Kate McLean's smellwalks map a city's olfactory signature. Tactile Design Materials that invite touch and respond to temperature—stone, wood, water—connecting inhabitants to place. Visual Quietness Reducing signage and visual clutter, as seen in Drachten, Netherlands, creates calmer, more intuitive environments. Multisensory Inclusivity Design that accommodates neurodiversity, PTSD, aging, and accessibility through tactile paving, sound buffers, and scent markers. Why It Matters Because cities didn't always feel this overwhelming. Because design wasn't always rushed. Because quality of life shouldn't be compromised for aesthetics. Sensorial Urbanism reconnects us with spaces that are restorative, intuitive, and emotionally resonant. A city is not just a picture—it is an experience. The Takeaway for 2026 Rising Above the Chaos: Lessons from 2025 for a Smarter 2026 HED (3-sentence summary): As 2025 closes, the design and architecture world has experienced unprecedented chaos and rapid trend cycles. In this episode, Soundman reflects on lessons from business, culture, and global innovation, emphasizing resilience, purposeful design, and human-centered spaces. From Stoic philosophy to sensorial urbanism, this conversation offers guidance for navigating the next year with clarity and intentionality. DEK (Expanded description): Twenty twenty-five tested the design industry's patience, creativity, and adaptability. In this reflective episode, we explore the pitfalls of trend-driven design, the enduring value of service, and the innovations shaping architecture globally — from net-zero buildings to multisensory urbanism. With examples ranging from TimberTech decking to Pacific Sales' trade programs, we examine how designers can reclaim control, prioritize meaningful work, and create spaces that heal, inspire, and endure. A philosophical lens, practical insights, and actionable guidance make this a must-listen for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Outline of Show Topics: Introduction & Context Reflection on the chaotic year of 2025 in design and architecture. Disclaimer: this is a philosophical conversation, not a political editorial. Invitation for audience engagement via email. Trends vs. Meaningful Design Critique of buzzwords like “quiet luxury” and “millennial gray bookshelf wealth.” Emphasis on global innovation over social media-driven trends. The gap between American design influence and international innovation. Global Innovations in Architecture & Design Biophilic design and its philosophical roots. Net-zero buildings: Bullitt Center (Seattle), RMI Innovation Center (Colorado). Smart homes, modular construction, and passive house adoption in the U.S. vs. abroad. Focus on Service & Professional Support Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home: Pro Rewards program and exceptional service. TimberTech: innovation in sustainable synthetic decking. Importance of performance, durability, and client-focused solutions. Philosophical Approach to Design Architecture as experience, not just a visual language. Stoicism, utilitarianism, and mindfulness applied to design. Sensorial urbanism: engaging all five senses in public and private spaces. Emerging Global Examples of Innovation Self-healing concrete (Henrik Marius Junkers), Copenhill (Denmark). 3D printed timber in Germany, Finland, France. Climate-adaptive landscapes, Wabi-sabi gardening, inclusive urban design. Moving Beyond Social Media Trends Rejecting influencer-driven design priorities. Returning to performance, resilience, and quality of life. Practical guidance for designers in all regions, including overlooked U.S. markets. Closing Reflections & New Year Outlook Encouragement to rise above chaos and focus on what can be controlled. Goals for 2026: intentional, human-centered, and innovative design. Call to action: share, subscribe, and engage with Convo by Design. Sponsor Mentions & Callouts Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home TimberTech Design Hardware If you enjoyed this long-form essay, share it with a friend. Subscribe to Convo By Design, follow @convoxdesign on Instagram, and send your thoughts to ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Thank you to TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, and Design Hardware for supporting over 650 episodes and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of it's kind!
For this episode of Timeless Spirituality, Daniel sits down with Rebecca Schmidt to explore what real healing actually looks like when spiritual language gives way to lived experience.Rebecca shares her 13-year journey through complex PTSD, agoraphobia, and trauma, and why she decided to speak openly despite years of fear, shutdown, and self-protection. What unfolds is not a story of bypassing pain, but of facing it head-on. Together, Daniel and Rebecca walk through her past life regression in detail, including confronting exploitation, survival, choice, and ultimately reclaiming agency, belonging, and self-worth.Rebecca's bio:Rebecca Schmidt is the founder of Trust The Effing Process. She is a Canadian born psychic intuitive, writer, and creator now based in Costa Rica. Rebecca offers intuitive support sessions along with tarot and astrology readings. Her teachings on the ascension journey are rooted in her own deep healing work in spirituality, trauma, mindset, codependence, inner child healing, self development, and recovery. Her path from self proclaimed atheist to intuitive guide has shaped the heart of her work. Her newest course, How To Trust The Effing Process, will be available soon with more offerings to come.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trusttheeffingprocessSubstack: https://trusttheeffingprocess.substack.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17Wx9N9y9a/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trusttheeffingprocess
Content Warning This podcast contains detailed discussions of sensitive topics, including combat experiences, childhood trauma, and substance abuse. It also includes a first-hand account of a mental health crisis involving a firearm and thoughts of suicide. In this episode of the DAV Podcast, host Matt Saintsing sits down with Justin, a combat veteran who served as an infantry Marine in Fallujah and Ramadi. Justin shares a raw and candid account of his journey from enlisting to seek his father's approval to his decade-long struggle as a firefighter masking deep-seated anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse. While initially believing his suffering stemmed from war-related PTSD, a spontaneous encounter with the psychedelic medicine Ayahuasca led to a profound spiritual awakening. Through this experience and his subsequent work with Save A Warrior, Justin realized the roots of his trauma actually lay in his childhood, leading him to a new path in spiritual chaplaincy and a mission to help others heal through the power of psychedelic integration.
Johnny Mac presents five uplifting news stories from Britain and beyond: A 63-year-old army veteran named Nick, suffering from COPD, arthritis, and PTSD, received a major surprise when a cleaning company owner cleared his overgrown backyard and raised about $14,000 for him via GoFundMe. In Norway, a hiker discovered an Iron Age reindeer trap that dates back between 500 AD and 500 BC. Conservationists in the Caribbean successfully boosted the population of the critically endangered lesser Antillean iguana on Anguilla's Prickly Pear East island. GameStop in Texas conducted its most valuable trade-in ever by paying a customer over $30,000 for a rare Pokemon card. In New York, a loose horse running along the Van Wick Expressway near JFK Airport was safely captured and returned to Curley's Cowboy Center.John also hosts Daily Comedy NewsUnlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! For Apple users, hit the banner which says Uninterrupted Listening on your Apple podcasts app. FSubscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get 'Daily Comedy News,' and '5 Good News Stories' with no commercials! Plans start at $4.99 per month, or save 20% with a yearly plan at $49.99. Join today and help support the show!Get more info from Caloroga Shark Media and if you have any comments, suggestions, or just want to get in touch our email is info@caloroga.com
Creating Spaces with Natalie Bedard (ADHD, PTSD,OCD).We open with Natalie Bedard (NatNat), an Energy Healing Specialist who helps people regulate the nervous system and transform anxiety into empowerment through her brand LiftOneSelf. She's been featured on multiple podcasts, always reminding us that self‑care is personal and that understanding our own biology is essential.This episode is special because NatNat turns her insight toward me. I open up about the negative voices in my head — the ones many listeners know too well. It gets emotional, and she meets it with compassion, clarity, and spiritual guidance. She offers practical ways to quiet those inner demons, plus a short meditation to help ground the moment.You might want a box of Kleenex. I certainly did. I don't pretend to have it all together — I'm traveling toward home just like you.Sleep Lists for the SleeplessNext is Helen Sernett, host of the podcast Sleep Lists and a dedicated sleep and wellness enthusiast. Her show uses simple, soothing lists — numerical, chronological, or alphabetical — all designed to help listeners drift off before the episode ends. And if you're still awake, she offers gentle suggestions to help you settle into sleep. With six episodes per season, quarterly releases, and special holiday editions, there's always something calming to queue up.We talk about alternative sleep routines for people without traditional schedules — remote workers, flex‑schedule professionals, college students, and retirees — and how daytime napping can support better rest. Good sleep is essential to mental health, and Helen's podcast may be exactly the natural support you need.Advocacy for Inclusion - Neurodivergent Acceptance into SocietyNext we talk to Khushboo Chabria, a neurodiversity specialist, career coach, and mental health advocate reshaping how workplaces and schools include neurodivergent people. We talk about why ADHD, Autism, and other forms of neurodiversity are not disorders, and why every brain deserves the right accommodation.Khushboo is the coauthor of Neurodiversity for Dummies (including the full ADHD chapter) and leads transformative work through Neurodiversity Pathways at Goodwill of Silicon Valley. Drawing on her therapeutic background, leadership experience, and her own ADHD journey, she brings a powerful, authentic perspective to this conversation.Goodbye Anxiety, Depression, Addiction & PTSD: The Life-Changing Science of Dual-Brain Psychology.Dr. Fredric Schiffer joins me to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Goodbye Anxiety, Depression, Addiction & PTSD: The Life‑Changing Science of Dual‑Brain Psychology. A best‑selling author, psychiatrist, public speaker, and part‑time assistant professor at Harvard, Dr. Schiffer has spent decades studying how early trauma, brain laterality, and emotional patterns shape our mental well‑being. His work explores how the two hemispheres of the brain can function like two competing minds — and how treating the more troubled side can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and addiction.As founder of the Dual‑Brain Psychology Institute, Dr. Schiffer has developed innovative techniques to help people access and heal the wounded part of the mind, including a surprisingly simple method involving something as ordinary as a piece of junk mail. His new book lays out these discoveries and the science...
H&P Disability Direct - Live Answers on the Road to VA Compensation
Join in our Live VA Disability Q&A Session in which we answer your questions live. We can't get to every single question so we will answer them as they come in. If you have any questions about the VA Disability Benefits process you can ask the question in the comment section when we go live and a little earlier. We are nationwide VA Accredited Disability Lawyers. We can't wait to answer your questions!For a FREE Case Evaluation go here: https://www.hillandponton.com/free-ca...Visit our website at https://www.hillandponton.com/?utm_so...Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HillandPontonFor questions please email us at Info@hillandponton.comSpeakers: Attorney Ursula MecabeSenior Appellate Counsel Kerry BakerThe content of this YouTube channel is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. You should not rely upon any information contained on this YouTube channel for legal advice. Viewing this YouTube channel is not intended to and shall not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Hill and Ponton, PA. Messages or other forms of communication that you transmit to this YouTube channel will not create an attorney-client relationship and thus information contained in such communications may not be protected as privileged. Hill and Ponton, PA does not make any representation, warranty, or guarantee about the accuracy of the information contained in this YouTube channel or in links to other YouTube channels or websites. This YouTube channel is provided "as is," does not represent that any outcome or result from the viewing of this channel. Your use viewing of this YouTube channel is at your own risk. You enjoy this YouTube channel and its contents only for personal, non-commercial purposes. Neither Hill and Ponton, PA, nor anyone acting on their behalf, will be liable under any circumstances for damages of any kind.
People often ask me why I share my story—what makes it so different, exciting, or unique. The truth is, there's really nothing particularly unique about my story.Still, when we discuss mental illness, a common theme is that feeling of isolation, of being misunderstood, and of others not really grasping what we're going through.Today, I want to briefly share my own experience and then talk about why it matters for you to tell your story too—why it's important to take ownership of your narrative and discover its real meaning.Let's get started and see where this takes us.▶ WATCH MORE VIDEOS…✅ Proud Dad At Christmas | STIGMA And a Moment For The Fallen | Mark MI Words
Episode 115 – 15-minute Speed Coaching with Kseniia Oliinykova Welcome to another 15-minute Speed Coaching Session for Veterinary and Pet Care Professionals! The rules of the game are as follows: · Episodes will be in-the-moment, off-the-cuff and unscripted. · Coaching sessions will be 15 Minutes MAXIMUM, so wherever we finish, we finish… · Which means that we might not find complete resolution to your question, but we will certainly get the thought process started! In this episode, I chat to veterinary Behaviourist, Kseniia Oliinykova, who is doing an incredible job at supporting her patients and clients in a currently war-torn Ukraine. These patients are facing such unique and extreme exposures and challenges, that the normal rules simply don't apply. Have a listen as we chat about creating good sleep hygiene and health, medications that may help in these situations, how to think outside the box and how to come up with solutions that are not found in any textbook. I am so in awe of the resilience and determination, love and empathy that Kseniia shows to her patients and clients and it just reinforces the fact that we can all do more to help on a global scale. If you would like to get in touch with Kseniia directly, here is her Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/pet_cltr?igsh=M2tienV3b3pvMmds&utm_source=qr And here is her email address: pet.cltr@gmail.com I would love to record a "round-table style" episode on the topic of PTSD in our pets and how we can support in some of these unprecedented situations, so if you are a vet, veterinary behaviourist, allied professional or human healthcare professional interested in joining in on this conversation, please email us at info@trinityvetbehaviour.com and hopefully we can get a really interesting conversation started in the new year ! If you liked this episode of the show, Veterinary Behaviour Chat, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, share, and subscribe! Facebook Group: Join The Veterinary Behaviour Community on Facebook You can CONNECT with me: Website: Visit my website Trinity Veterinary Behaviour Instagram: Follow Trinity Veterinary Behaviour on Instagram Trinity Veterinary Behaviour Facebook: Join us on Trinity Veterinary Behaviour's Facebook page Trinity Veterinary Behaviour YouTube: Subscribe to Trinity Veterinary Behaviour on YouTube LinkedIn Profile: Connect with me on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in!
As we close out 2025, I'm reflecting on the biggest lessons we've learned about building mental strength this year. I reviewed reviewed the most listened-to episodes of the year—from conversations with neuroscientists to inspiring stories from musicians—to bring you the top 10 takeaways that resonated most with you. Today, I'm breaking down the most powerful, science-backed strategies and insights from this year's most popular episodes to help you make 2026 your strongest year yet. Some of the things I talk about are: The #1 lesson from our most popular episode on healing anxiety How to "dose stack" your brain chemicals for a powerful boost to your mental health Why you don't need therapy to improve your mental health (and what may be more helpful) The surprising connection between lifting weights, confidence, and PTSD How to influence someone to change Why the belief "I am enough" is the foundation of a healthy money mindset The childhood beliefs that might still be holding you back as an adult Why joy is found in the journey, not the destination (and how to embrace it) Featured Episodes 211 — 5 Ways to Add More Joy to Your Life with Dr. Tiffany Moon 176 — 10 Childhood Beliefs Holding You Back and How to Break Free 181 — The Money Mindset Makeover to Help You Cope with Financial Anxiety with Elizabeth Husserl 174 — How to Influence People to Change Without Overstepping Your Bounds 179 — The Power of Persistence and Positivity with Singer/Songwriter Niko Moon 180 — Stronger Mind, Stronger Body: The Science of Building Both 202 — 10 Ways to Improve Mental Health Without Therapy 187 — The Ultimate Guide to Hacking Your Brain Chemicals with Neuroscientist TJ Power 204 — 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do in Today's World Connect with the Show 183 — How to Permanently Heal Your Anxiety by Addressing the Root Cause with Dr. Nicole Cain Resources Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com Sponsors OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/ Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Hollow Socks — Buy 2, get 2 free at hollowsocks.com BetterHelp — This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/mentallystrong Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger Lola Blankets — Get 35% off your entire order at Lolablankets.com by using code STRONGER at checkout. Experience the world's #1 blanket with Lola Blankets. AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! Uncommon Goods — Go to UncommonGoods.com/Stronger for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Post-traumatic stress disorder is common among veterans, with 10% of men and nearly 20% of women reporting having symptoms at some point in their lives. But could exposure to more arts programming be the needed prescription for those who have served our country? Stephanie Sy reports for our look at the intersection of art and health, part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
In this deeply moving episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind sits down with Burton Fischler, author of The Gift: Trauma to Triumph. Burton shares a harrowing personal journey marked by unimaginable loss—the murder of his wife, Barbara, at the hands of her son who struggled with severe mental illness and addiction.Burton discusses how he navigated the dark abyss of PTSD and grief, eventually finding a path toward healing through writing, nature, and service. Now a substance addiction counselor, Burton explains the intersection of trauma and addiction and offers a message of profound hope for anyone feeling lost in the darkness.Key HighlightsA Tragic Turning Point: Burton recounts the heartbreaking events leading up to his wife's death and the systemic failures that preceded the tragedy.The Weight of Trauma: Moving beyond "talk therapy" to understand how trauma lives in the body and the reality of living with PTSD.The Power of Writing: How documenting his journey for eight hours a day became a lifeline and a tool for self-discovery.Gratitude vs. Joy: The shift from waiting for joy to practicing gratitude as a foundational step toward recovery.Neuroplasticity and Choice: Understanding that while we cannot "think" our way into right action, we can act our way into right thinking by rewiring the brain through healthy habits.The Wisdom of Trauma: Why Burton chose to become a substance abuse counselor and how his own pain allows him to connect deeply with his clients.During the conversation, Burton emphasizes the importance of replacing negative feedback loops with positive ones. This process leverages the brain's natural ability to change.Breaking Isolation: Moving from secrecy and shame to human connection.Nature and Awe: Finding symbols of resilience in the natural world (like a flower growing through concrete).Holistic Practice: Incorporating meditation, nutrition, and movement to support the "rewiring" of the mind.Notable Quotes"It is not joyfulness that makes us grateful. It's gratitude that makes us joyful." — Burton Fischler (referencing Brother David Steindl-Rast)"If children after they fell did not get up and try again, we would have a world of people on their knees." — Burton Fischler"There are two ways to look at life: one is that nothing is a miracle, and the other is that everything is." — Burton Fischler (referencing Albert Einstein)Resources MentionedBook: The Gift: Trauma to Triumph by Burton FischlerPoetry: T.S. EliotReferences: Viktor Frankl (Man's Search for Meaning), Gabor Maté, and Bill Wilson (AA).Connect with Burton FischlerWebsite: traumatotriumph.clubCoaching: coachburton.comSocial Media: Follow @BurtonFischler on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery CenterNovusMindfulLife.comWe want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmindDisclaimerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sean/a Smith:Sean/a's bold style and vibrant spirit made her a beloved figure in La Jolla—despite being unhoused for years. When Dr. Kirsten Harrison learned Sean/a's story, she was moved to help. Their connection sparked a shared journey of healing, advocacy, and transformation. From life on the streets to co-author and national speaker, Sean/a now champions intersex rights and dignity for the marginalized, always grounded in her deep sense of community.Dr. Kirsten Harrison:Dr. Kirsten Harrison is a psychologist specializing in trauma, with research experience at UCLA and advanced studies at institutions like Georgetown, Harvard, and Pepperdine. But her greatest education has come from working directly with survivors of PTSD, DID, and near-death experiences. Inspired by their resilience, she continues to share her expertise with compassion and purpose, guided by the strength of those she serves.In This EpisodeDr. Kirsten's websiteI, Sean/a: The Story of A Homeless Intersex Woman Who Inspired A CommunityBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you'd like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.Thank you to our Sponsors:Incogni - Use code [traumatherapist] and get 60% off annual plans: https://incogni.com/traumatherapistJane App - use code GUY1MO at https://jane.app/book_a_demoJourney Clinical - visit https://join.journeyclinical/trauma for 1 month off your membershipTherapy Wisdom - https://therapywisdom.com/jan/
Explore the power of purpose through the story of Velasco in The Samurai and research-backed insights:Velasco chose meaning over comfort, even at the cost of his life.Purpose drives resilience, stress tolerance, and mental well-being.Without purpose, life can feel stagnant and numbing.Discover why knowing your “why” is essential to truly being alive.Thrive With Leo Coaching: If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to www.thrivewithleo.com to begin your journey.If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, there are people who want to help:In the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is common among veterans, with 10% of men and nearly 20% of women reporting having symptoms at some point in their lives. But could exposure to more arts programming be the needed prescription for those who have served our country? Stephanie Sy reports for our look at the intersection of art and health, part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
In this powerful and insightful episode, we explore the connection between PTSD and OCD, two conditions that often intersect in complex and misunderstood ways. The discussion dives into how trauma can shape obsessive-compulsive patterns, how compulsions can emerge as coping mechanisms, and why a trauma-informed approach is essential for effective treatment.The speakers unpack the challenges of working with co-occurring trauma and OCD, emphasizing flexibility, creativity, and compassion in clinical work. From ERP integration to managing dissociation and building client insight, this conversation offers a nuanced understanding of how clinicians can hold both trauma and OCD safely in the therapy room.
In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sayan sits down with Dr. Christal L. Badour to cut through the internet noise around trauma healing. They break down what actually happens in the brain and body during trauma. Why memory can show up as vivid snapshots with gaps. And why that is a survival feature, not a personal defect. Dr. Badour also explains how to spot credible healing information in a world full of “pretty but flimsy” wellness content. She points listeners to research-backed sources like global and national trauma organizations, then adds a grounded take on generative AI. It can help you find reputable resources, but it is not a replacement for real clinical care or human connection. The conversation closes with a practical shift. Trauma-informed environments change everything. Families, workplaces, and communities can support recovery by moving from “what's wrong with you” to “what happened to you” and “what do you need.” About the Guest: Dr. Christal L. Badour is a licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and founder of Science for Survivors. She has led federally funded research on PTSD and substance use, trains clinicians, and translates paywalled research into real-world language survivors and communities can use. Key Takeaways: Trauma responses start during the event. Your brain's #1 KPI is survival, not comfort. The limbic system ramps up fast. The amygdala helps drive threat detection and intense emotions. Trauma memories can store as sharp snapshots with gaps. That is common and not “proof” you are broken. Confusion after trauma is often the brain reviewing threat data, not weakness or failure. Online healing content can look credible because production quality is not evidence. Packaging is not peer review. Start with research-grounded hubs like the World Health Organization and major trauma education networks. Evidence-based tools and spiritual reflection can coexist. Real humans do not heal in tidy categories. Generative AI can act like an advanced search engine for credible sources. It should not replace therapists or care teams. Trauma and substance use often intersect. Coping via substances is not a moral failing, but it can become harmful over time. Trauma-informed workplaces improve outcomes. Shift from blame to support and psychological safety. How Listeners Can Connect With the Guest Website: http://www.scienceforsurvivors.com/ Explore Dr. Badour's blog on trauma recovery science. You can also find details on her services and professional work there. Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM . Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty. storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate. this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: • Mental Health & Emotional Well-being • Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth • Holistic Healing & Conscious Living • Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment With over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.
Imagine for a second that Eckhart Tolle wasn't a spiritual teacher, but a deep cover operative with a gun to his head. And just for a second, pretend that Tolle’s Power of Now wasn't a way to find peace, but a survival mechanism used to slow down time when your reality is collapsing. And your memory has been utterly destroyed by forces beyond your control. Until a good friend helps you rebuild it from the ground up. These are the exact feelings and sense of positive transformation I tried to capture in a project I believe is critical for future autodidacts, polymaths and traditional learners: Vitamin X, a novel in which the world’s only blind memory champion helps a detective use memory techniques and eventually achieve enlightenment. It’s also a story about accomplishing big goals, even in a fast-paced and incredibly challenging world. In the Magnetic Memory Method community at large, we talk a lot about the habits of geniuses like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. We obsess over their reading lists and their daily routines because we want that same level of clarity and intellectual power. But there's a trap in studying genius that too many people fall into: Passivity. And helping people escape passive learning is one of several reasons I’ve studied the science behind a variety of fictional learning projects where stories have been tested as agents of change. Ready to learn more about Vitamin X and the various scientific findings I’ve uncovered in order to better help you learn? Let’s dive in! Defeating the Many Traps of Passive Learning We can read about how Lincoln sharpened his axe for hours before trying to cut down a single tree. And that's great. But something's still not quite right. To this day, tons of people nod their heads at that famous old story about Lincoln. Yet, they still never sharpen their own axes, let alone swing them. Likewise, people email me every day regarding something I've taught about focus, concentration or a particular mnemonic device. They know the techniques work, including under extreme pressure. But their minds still fracture the instant they're faced with distraction. As a result, they never wind up getting the memory improvement results I know they can achieve. So, as happy as I am with all the help my books like The Victorious Mind and SMARTER have helped create in this world, I’m fairly confident that those titles will be my final memory improvement textbooks. Instead, I am now focused on creating what you might call learning simulations. Enter Vitamin X, the Memory Detective Series & Teaching Through Immersion Because here's the thing: If I really want to teach you how to become a polymath, I can't just carry on producing yet another list of tips. I have to drop you into scenarios where you actually feel what it's like to use memory techniques. That's why I started the Memory Detective initiative. It began with a novel called Flyboy. It’s been well-received and now part two is out. And it’s as close to Eckhart Tolle meeting a Spy Thriller on LSD as I could possibly make it. Why? To teach through immersion. Except, it's not really about LSD. No, the second Memory Detective novel centers around a substance called Vitamin X. On the surface, it's a thriller about a detective named David Williams going deep undercover. In actuality, it's a cognitive training protocol disguised as a novel. But one built on a body of research that shows stories can change what people remember, believe, and do. And that's both the opportunity and the danger. To give you the memory science and learning research in one sentence: Stories are a delivery system. We see this delivery system at work in the massive success of Olly Richards’ StoryLearning books for language learners. Richards built his empire on the same mechanism Pimsleur utilized to great effect long before their famous audio recordings became the industry standard: using narrative to make raw data stick. However, a quick distinction is necessary. In the memory world, we often talk about the Story Method. This approach involves linking disparate pieces of information together in a chain using a simple narrative vignette (e.g., a giant cat eating a toaster to remember a grocery list). That is a powerful mnemonic tool, and you will see Detective Williams use short vignettes in the Memory Detective series. But Vitamin X is what I call ‘Magnetic Fiction.’ It's not a vignette. It's a macro-narrative designed to carry the weight of many memory techniques itself. It simulates the pressure required to forge the skill, showing you how and why to use the story method within a larger, immersive context. So with that in mind, let's unpack the topic of fiction and teaching a bit further. That way, you'll know more of what I have in mind for my readers. And perhaps you'll become interested in some memory science experiments I plan to run in the near future. Illustration of “Cafe Mnemonic,” a fun memory training location the Memory Detective David Williams wants to establish once he has enough funds. Fiction as a Teaching Technology: What the Research Says This intersection of story and memory isn't new territory for me. Long before I gave my popular TEDx Talk on memory or helped thousands of people through the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass, live workshops and my books, I served as a Mercator award-winning Film Studies professor. In this role, I often analyzed and published material regarding how narratives shape our cognition. Actually, my research into the persuasion of memory goes back to my scholarly contribution to the anthology The Theme of Cultural Adaptation in American History, Literature and Film. In my chapter, “Cryptomnesia or Cryptomancy? Subconscious Adaptations of 9/11,” I examined specifically how cultural narratives influence memory formation, forgetting, and the subconscious acceptance of information. That academic background drives the thinking and the learning protocols baked into Vitamin X. As does the work of researchers who have studied narrative influence for decades. Throughout their scientific findings, one idea keeps reappearing in different forms: When a story pulls you in, you experience some kind of “transportation.” It can be that you find yourself deeply immersed in the life of a character. Or you find your palms sweating as your brain tricks you into believing you're undergoing some kind of existential threat. When such experiences happen, you stop processing information like you would an argument through critical thinking. Instead, you start processing the information in the story almost as if they were really happening. As a result, these kinds of transportation can change beliefs and intentions, sometimes without the reader noticing the change happening. That's why fiction has been used for: teaching therapy religion civic formation advertising propaganda Even many national anthems contain stories that create change, something I experienced recently when I became an Australian citizen. As I was telling John Michael Greer during our latest podcast recording, I impulsively took both the atheist and the religious oath and sang the anthem at the ceremony. All of these pieces contain stories and those stories changed how I think, feel and process the world. Another way of looking at story is summed up in this simple statement: All stories have the same basic mechanism. But many stories have wildly different ethics. My ethics: Teach memory improvement methods robustly. Protect the tradition. And help people think for themselves using the best available critical thinking tools. And story is one of them. 6 Key Research Insights on Educational Fiction Now, when it comes to the research that shows just how powerful story is, we can break it down into buckets. Some of the main categories of research on fiction for pedagogy include: 1) Narrative transportation and persuasion As these researchers explain in The Role of Transportation in the Persuasiveness of Public Narratives, transportation describes how absorbed a reader becomes in a story. Psychologists use transportation models to show how story immersion drives belief change. It works because vivid imagery paired with emotion and focused attention make story-consistent ideas easier to accept. This study of how narratives were used in helping people improve their health support the basic point: Narratives produce average shifts in attitudes, beliefs, intentions, and sometimes behavior. Of course, the exact effects vary by topic and the design of the scientific study in question. But the point remains that fiction doesn't merely entertain. It can also train and persuade. 2) Entertainment-Education (EE) EE involves deliberately embedding education into popular media, often with pro-social aims. In another health-based study, researchers found that EE can influence knowledge, attitudes, intentions, behavior, and self-efficacy. Researchers in Brazil have also used large-scale observational work on soap operas and social outcomes (like fertility). As this study demonstrates, mass narrative exposure can shape real-world behavior at scale within a population. Stories can alter norms, not just transfer facts from one mind to another. You’ll encounter this theme throughout Vitamin X, especially when Detective Williams tangles with protestors who hold beliefs he does not share, but seem to be taking over the world. 3) Narrative vs expository learning (a key warning) Here's the part most “educational fiction” ignores: Informative narratives often increase interest, but they don't automatically improve comprehension. As this study found, entertainment can actually cause readers to overestimate how well they understood the material. This is why “edutainment” often produces big problems: You can wind up feeling smarter because you enjoyed an experience. But just because you feel that way doesn't mean you gain a skill you can reliably use. That’s why I have some suggestions for you below about how to make sure Vitamin X actually helps you learn to use memory techniques better. 4) Seductive details (another warning) There's also the problem of effects created by what scientists call seductive details. Unlike the “luminous details” I discussed with Brad Kelly on his Madness and Method podcast, seductive details are interesting but irrelevant material. They typically distract attention and reduce learning of what actually matters. As a result, these details divert attention through interference and by adding working memory demands. The research I’ve read suggests that when story authors don't engineer their work with learning targets in mind, their efforts backfire. What was intended to help learners actually becomes a sabotage device. I've done my best to avoid sabotaging my own pedagogical efforts in the Memory Detective stories so far. That's why they include study guides and simulations of using the Memory Palace technique, linking and number mnemonics like the Major System. In the series finale, which is just entering the third draft now, the 00-99 PAO and Giordano Bruno's Statue technique are the learning targets I’ve set up for you. They are much harder, and that’s why even though there are inevitable seductive details throughout the Memory Detective series, the focus on memory techniques gets increasingly more advanced. My hope is that your focus and attention will be sharpened as a result. 5) Learning misinformation from fiction (the dark side) People don't just learn from fiction. They learn false facts from fiction too. In this study, researchers found that participants often treated story-embedded misinformation as if it were true knowledge. This is one reason using narrative as a teaching tool is so ethically loaded. It can bypass the mental posture we use for skepticism. 6) Narrative “correctives” (using story against misinformation) The good news is that narratives can also reduce misbelief. This study on “narrative correctives” found that stories can sometimes decrease false beliefs and misinformed intentions, though results are mixed. The key point is that story itself is neither “good” or “bad.” It's a tool for leverage, and this is one of the major themes I built into Vitamin X. My key concern is that people would confuse me with any of my characters. Rather, I was trying to create a portrait of our perilous world where many conflicts unfold every day. Some people use tools for bad, others for good, and even that binary can be difficult for people to agree upon. Pros & Cons of Teaching with Fiction Let’s start with the pros. Attention and completion: A good story can keep people engaged, which is a prerequisite for any learning to occur. The transportation model I cited above helps explain why. The Positive Side of Escapism Entering a simulation also creates escapism that is actually valuable. This is because fiction gives you “experience” without real-world consequences when it comes to facing judgment, ethics, identity, and pressure-handling. This is one reason why story has always been used for moral education, not just entertainment. However, I’ve also used story in my Memory Detective games, such as “The Velo Gang Murders.” Just because story was involved did not mean people did not face judgement. But it was lower than my experiments with “Magnetic Variety,” a non-narrative game I’ll be releasing in the future. Lower Reactance Stories can reduce counterarguing compared with overt persuasion, which can be useful for resistant audiences. In other words, you’re on your own in the narrative world. Worst case scenario, you’ll have a bone to pick with the author. This happened to me the other day when someone emailed to “complain” about how I sometimes discuss Sherlock Holmes. Fortunately, the exchange turned into a good-hearted debate, something I attribute to having story as the core foundation of our exchange. Compare this to Reddit discussions like this one, where discussing aspects of the techniques in a mostly abstract way leads to ad hominem attacks. Now for the cons: Propaganda Risk The same reduction in counterarguing and squabbling with groups that you experience when reading stories is exactly what makes narratives useful for manipulation. When you’re not discussing what you’re reading with others, you can wind up ruminating on certain ideas. This can lead to negative outcomes where people not only believe incorrect things. They sometimes act out negatively in the world. The Illusion of Understanding Informative narratives can produce high interest but weaker comprehension and inflated metacomprehension. I’ve certainly had this myself, thinking I understand various points in logic after reading Alice in Wonderland. In reality, I still needed to do a lot more study. And still need more. In fact, “understanding” is not a destination so much as it is a process. Misinformation Uptake People sometimes acquire false beliefs from stories and struggle to discount fiction as a source. We see this often in religion due to implicit memory. Darrel Ray has shown how this happens extensively in his book, The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture. His book helped explain something that happened to me after I first started memorizing Sanskrit phrases and feeling the benefits of long-form meditation. For a brief period, implicit memory and the primacy effect made me start to consider that the religion I’d grown up with was in fact true and real. Luckily, I shook that temporary effect. But many others aren’t quite so lucky. And in case it isn’t obvious, I’ll point out that the Bible is not only packed with stories. Some of those stories contain mnemonic properties, something Eran Katz pointed out in his excellent book, Where Did Noah Park the Ark? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhQlcMHhF3w The “Reefer Madness” Problem While working on Vitamin X, I thought often about Reefer Madness. In case you haven’t seen it, Reefer Madness began as an “educational” morality tale about cannabis. It's now famous largely because it's an over-the-top artifact of moral panic, an example of how fear-based fiction can be used to shape public belief under the guise of protection. I don’t want to make that mistake in my Memory Detective series. But there is a relationship because Vitamin X does tackle nootropics, a realm of substances for memory I am asked to comment on frequently. In this case, I'm not trying to protect people from nootropics, per se. But as I have regularly talked about over the years, tackling issues like brain fog by taking memory supplements or vitamins for memory is fraught with danger. And since fiction is one of the most efficient way to smuggle ideas past the mind's filters, I am trying to raise some critical thinking around supplementation for memory. But to do it in a way that's educational without trying to exploit anyone. I did my best to create the story so that you wind up thinking for yourself. What I'm doing differently with Vitamin X & the Memory Detective Series I'm not pretending fiction automatically teaches. I'm treating fiction as a delivery system for how various mnemonic methods work and as a kind of cheerleading mechanism that encourages you to engage in proper, deliberate practice. Practice of what? 1) Concentration meditation. Throughout the story, Detective Williams struggles to learn and embrace the memory-based meditation methods of his mentor, Jerome. You get to learn more about these as you read the story. 2) Memory Palaces as anchors for sanity, not party tricks. In the library sequence, Williams tries to launch a mnemonic “boomerang” into a Memory Palace while hallucinatory imagery floods the environment. Taking influence from the ancient mnemonist, Hugh of St. Victor, Noah's Ark becomes a mnemonic structure. Mnemonic images surge and help Detective Williams combat his PTSD. To make this concrete, I've utilized the illustrations within the book itself. Just as the ancients used paintings and architectural drawings to encode knowledge, the artwork in Vitamin X isn’t just decoration. During the live bootcamp I’m running to celebrate the launch, I show you how to treat the illustrations as ‘Painting Memory Palaces.’ This effectively turns the book in your hands into a functioning mnemonic device, allowing you to practice the method of loci on the page before you even step out into the real world. Then there’s the self-help element, which takes the form of how memory work can help restore sanity. A PTSD theme runs throughout the Memory Detective series for two deliberate reasons. First, Detective Williams is partly based on Nic Castle. He's a former police officer who found symptom relief for his PTSD from using memory techniques. He shared his story on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast years ago. Second, Nic's anecdotal experience is backed up by research. And even if you don't have PTSD, the modern world is attacking many of us in ways that clearly create similar symptom-like issues far worse than the digital amnesia I've been warning about for years. We get mentally hijacked by feeds, anxiety loops, and synthetic urgency. We lose our grip on reality and wonder why we can't remember what we read five minutes ago. That's just one more reason I made memory techniques function as reality-tests inside Vitamin X. 3) The critical safeguard: I explicitly separate fiction from technique. In Flyboy's afterword, I put it plainly: The plot is fictional, but the memory techniques are real. And because they're real, they require study and practice. I believe this boundary matters because research shows how easily readers absorb false “facts” from fiction. 4) To help you practice, I included a study guide. At the end of both Flyboy and Vitamin X, there are study guides. In Vitamin X, you'll find a concrete method for creating a Mnemonic Calendar. This is not the world's most perfect memory technique. But it's helpful and a bit more advanced than a technique I learned from Jim Samuels many years ago. In his version, he had his clients divide the days of the week into a Memory Palace. For his senior citizens in particular, he had them divide the kitchen. So if they had to take a particular pill on Monday, they would imagine the pill as a giant moon in the sink. Using the method of loci, this location would always serve as their mnemonic station for Monday. In Vitamin X, the detective uses a number-shape system. Either way, these kinds of techniques for remembering schedules are the antidote to the “illusion of understanding” problem, provided that you put them to use. They can be very difficult to understand if you don't. Why My Magnetic Fiction Solves the “Hobbyist” Problem A lot of memory training fails for one reason: People treat it as a hobby. They “learn” techniques the way people “learn” guitar: By watching a few videos and buying a book. While the study material sits on a shelf or lost in a hard drive, the consumer winds up never rehearsing. Never putting any skill to the test. And as a result, never enjoying integration with the techniques. What fiction can do is create: emotional stakes situational context identity consistency (“this is what I do now”) and enough momentum to carry you into real practice That's the point of the simulation. You're not just reading about a detective and his mentor using Memory Palaces and other memory techniques. You're watching what happens when a mind uses a Memory Palace to stay oriented. And you can feel that urgency in your own nervous system while you read. That's the “cognitive gym” effect, I'm going for. It's also why I love this note from Andy, because it highlights the exact design target I'm going for: “I finished Flyboy last night. Great book! I thought it was eminently creative, working the memory lessons into a surprisingly intricate and entertaining crime mystery. Well done!” Or as the real-life Sherlock Holmes Ben Cardall put it the Memory Detective stories are: …rare pieces of fiction that encourages reflection in the reader. You don’t just get the drama, the tension and the excitement from the exploits of its characters. You also get a look at your own capabilities as though Anthony is able to make you hold a mirror up to yourself and think ‘what else am I capable of’? A Practical Way to Read These Novels for Memory Training If you want the benefits without the traps we've discussed today: Read Vitamin X for immersion first (let transportation do its job). Then read it again with a simple study goal. This re-reading strategy is important because study-goal framing will improve comprehension and reduce overconfidence. During this second read-through, actually use the Mnemonic Calendar. Then, test yourself by writing out what you remember from the story. If you make a mistake, don't judge yourself. Simply use analytical thinking to determine what went wrong and work out how you can improve. The Future: Learning Through Story is About to Intensify Here's the uncomfortable forecast: Even though I’m generally pro-AI for all kinds of outcomes and grateful for my discussions with Andrew Mayne about it (host of the OpenAI Podcast), AI could make the generation of personalized narratives that target your fears, identity, and desires trivial. That means there’s the risk that AI will also easily transform your beliefs. The same machinery that can create “education you can't stop reading” can also create persuasion you barely notice. Or, as Michael Connelly described in his novel, The Proving Ground, we might notice the effects of this persuasion far more than we’d like. My research on narrative persuasion and misinformation underscores why this potential outcome is not hypothetical. So the real question isn't “Should we teach with fiction?” The question is: Will we build fiction that creates personal agency… or engineer stories that steal it? My aim with Flyboy, Vitamin X and the series finale is simple and focused on optimizing your ability: to use story as a motivation engine to convert that motivation into deliberate practice to make a wide range of memory techniques feel as exciting for you as they are for me and to give your attention interesting tests in a world engineered to fragment it. If you want better memory, this is your challenge: Don't read Vitamin X for entertainment alone. Read it to see if you can hold on to reality while the world spins out of control. When you do, you'll be doing something far rarer than collecting tips. You'll be swinging the axe. A very sharp axe indeed. And best of all, your axe for learning and remembering more information at greater speed will be Magnetic.
Fighter Pilot Survival: Kegan Gill's Battle Beyond the Battlefield In this extraordinary episode, Marcus and Melanie meet with retired U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot Kegan Gill, whose story is nothing short of miraculous. Kegan survived a catastrophic ejection from his aircraft during a training mission over the Atlantic Ocean, where he ejected directly into the sound barrier. The injuries he sustained in that moment were severe enough to kill most people – his limbs torn apart and a traumatic brain injury among them. But Kegan's ordeal was only beginning. Plunged into the icy waters of the Atlantic with his parachute still attached, his wetsuit torn, and his arms unable to move, Kegan was forced to endure a two-hour battle with hypothermia as rescue teams raced to find him. Miraculously, his hypothermic state prevented fatal blood loss. Following this harrowing experience, Kegan faced months of grueling recovery, eventually achieving a perfect Physical Fitness Test score and returning to flight duty. However, Kegan's journey didn't end with physical recovery. He began experiencing severe psychotic episodes due to his brain injury, leading to a stint in a VA Mental Health Facility. Pharmaceutical treatments only worsened his symptoms, and he endured dehumanizing treatment from caregivers who misunderstood his unique needs. Now, Kegan is finding renewed hope through alternative treatments for brain health. Through the Warrior Angels Foundation, he has discovered the power of nutraceutical and hormonal interventions, offering a glimmer of healing. Beyond his personal health battles, Kegan is a dedicated father and husband, working tirelessly to support his young family. Join us as Kegan opens up about his incredible journey of survival, resilience, and healing. His story is as inspiring as it is shocking – a testament to human strength and the will to overcome even the darkest of circumstances. Tune in to hear a story of grit, determination, and the relentless pursuit of healing against all odds. In This Episode You Will Hear: • When I was about 10 years old, my family had a friend that had a Cessna, and he took me up on this lawnmower with wings, and we went buzzing around, and it felt like a freakin' rocket ship. I absolutely loved being above the earth, and I felt so free. (6:36) • In May of 2012, I graduated as a winged aviator, and I got those wings pinned on my chest. (23:40) • [Marcus] It's an absolute transition into a different human being the minute those wings touch your chest. (24:02) • [In flight school] you showed up there, and you had your wings, and you thought you made it. They made it very clear you have not made anything yet. (26:40) • It just so happened on this day there was a 16 foot, 3,500 pound Great White Shark named Mary Lee directly under my airspace, and my buddy pointed out, “Hey man, Today would be a terrible day to eject,” and an hour after having that conversation, I found myself out on what turned into a pretty freaking wild experience. (36:23) • [Melanie] Q: Is it common to eject?” [Keegan] A: It happens more than you hear about in the news. We lose a few naval fighter jets every year to mishaps. (37:16) • When you show up at flight school, they say “Look to your left and look to your right. One of you is gonna have a serious mishap or be dead choosing this job. Are you sure you wanna be here?” (37:49) • You think you're invincible, and you don't really think anything of it. (38:04) • Keegan tells the detailed story of that fateful day. (Starting at 41:21) • When I punched out, I got the initial blast from the ejection seat, and then immediately impacted the sound barrier with my body. At that speed, the human body is not aerodynamic. (50:58) • The aircraft impacted the water so fast, it just vaporized. (52:50) • They ended up wheeling me in, and treated me for severe hyperthermia. They took my core body temperature. I was at 87 degrees. [Marcus] “That should've killed you.” (60:13) • One of the more senior guys takes me into his office and he goes: “Congratulations, Lieutenant Gill. If you can figure out how to get your body working again, we'll get you back in a Super Hornet. (68:14) • My brain was just not working the way it was supposed to from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). (75:04) • I had a deep sense of betrayal from all that thought I had served. To see the treatment, it seemed like everything I was fighting for was a joke. (89:53) • I've had a number of psychedelic-assisted therapies that have been really helpful. (95:54) • Ibogaine has been studied pretty thoroughly at this point. It's showing that it triggers neuro-regeneration. 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