The Broken Brain

Lily Allen-Duenas is a Yoga Instructor, Podcaster, and Health Coach. She is the creator and host of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast and an expert in the use of Yoga and Meditation in health management. She joins the podcast today to share tips on practicing Yoga for health and stress management, at whatever level you are. Learn more about her work at:  https://wildyogatribe.com/ Also joining the show is special cohost Kathleen Brennan, Psychotherapist, Trauma Speacilist, and creator of the podcast On The Blue Couch. Follow her practice, podcast, and writing at: https://kathleenrbrennan.com/  

Joe Capozzi is an actor, writer, and producer who joins the show to share information on the creation of his documentary "A Peloton of One," profiling the advocacy work being done by Dave Ohlmuller, Capozzi, and others around the issue of statute of limitation laws and filing charges against sexual abusers. Joe shares his own experiences as a survivor of clergy abuse and how advocacy work can funnel pain and suffering into areas of helping others.  Watch the documentary preview HERE. "A Peloton of One," is available on Amazon Prime and other video outlets online. 

Jess Wright joins us for the first Broken Brain Book Club, reviewing and answering questions about his historical fiction novel "A Stream To Follow." The story follows battlefield surgeon Bruce Duncan as he returns home from WWII service to his small hometown in Pennsylvania, opens up a practice, and tries to adjust to normal life. A fascinating cast of characters, relationship dynamics, and the fact that Bruce, his brother, and others are still struggling with PTSD from their wartime experiences.  

THIS IS A sample of the bonus materials available to our Patreon Subscribers. To hear more like this go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain   It's a new monthly tradition for the Patreon Feed. We are reviewing the June 2022 issue of Psychology Today. This is a publication focused on mental health and psychology designed to be accessible to the public.   Hannah Boone, Substance Abuse professional, Comedian, and Mental Health Podcaster joins me to have some fun and get deeper into some of the article in this month's issue.

Three Jokers is a limited series Batman comic book from 2020, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jason Fabok & Brad Anderson. In it the Joker finds a new way to confront Batman...and serve him a side of therapy...kind of.  Friend of the show and fellow Super-Nerd Sharon Blady helps me review the story and discuss the psychological elements of Batman, the Joker, Red Hood, Batgirl, and a whole host of others. We also get into a talk about fandom, gatekeeper culture, and  trauma. Twitter: @breakabrain     IG: @brainiacsahoy

Sophie Edwards is a vocal coach for Transgender Women, specializing in finding and developing a voice that fits with an individual's sense of self. She explains the effect that having a voice of our own on our self-esteem, the relationship between voice and the transition process, and techniques for developing vocal range. You are invited to join the first Broken Brain Book Club, focused on "A Stream to Follow," by Jess Wright. July 11, join the zoom meeting through the link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88956308489  

The Batman is the most recent cinematic forray into the world of ...well...the Batman. Sharon Blady is of course the perfect CoHost for an episode in which we take a look at this representation of Batman, which above all is a story of trying to discover hope in the face of loss, trauma, and pain. This episode also includes an announcement about our upcoming Broken Brain Book Club, coming up on July 11. Subscribe on Patreon for special episodes, including Sharon and I talking about the cultural impact of KPOP, and Geoff John's recent Three Jokers run in Batman comics.

It's a Deep-Dive-Diagnosis-with-D episode. Exciting research is happening in the area of MDMA treatment for PTSD. Psychedelic drugs, such as MDMA, are being studied and are showing hopeful results towards significant reduction in Trauma symptoms. What does this mean? Where does it go from here? I'll share what I know.  Goto www.MAPS.org/MDMA/PTSD to learn more about Phase 3 Trials. DDDD is a special episode of the podcast and will be broadcasting weekly on our Patreon channel. One episode per month is uploading to the regular feed. Consider bcoming a patron of the show at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain for bonus materials.  This episode was recorded LIVE, but not in front of a studio audience, to the Facebook, Twitter @breakabrain, and YouTube accounts for the show. You can watch this video there, and watch video of all the episodes on the Patreon. 

Returning champion, neurodiversity advocate, and your mental health's best friend Sharon Blady returns to focus on Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), trauma, healing, PTSD, fear, and other psychological underpinnings within Marvel's Moon Knight, including the historically problematic representation of DID.  Sharon created and operates speak-up.co. Click HERE or go to the site to see a dope arc reactor before checking out her work.  Subscribe to our Patreon membership for bonus episodes, including the video of this discussion, and an episode where Sharon discusses the use of Wolverine as a model for psychological health: www.patreon.com/brokenbrain  

Once more unto the MCU breach with Sharon Blady! Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is a wild ride into many psychological elements. Grief, trauma, anger, compulsivity, and decidedly unhealthy coping mechanisms. We also discuss the elements of support (or lack thereof) and Dr Strange's lousy bedside manner.  Stay tuned to the feed for our discussion about Dissociative Identity Disorder & symptom integration in the Marvel series Moon Knight.  Watch the video of this discussion by becoming a Broken Brain patron at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain 

Tehya Nakamura (TK) is the host and creator of the For the Love of History podcast. She returns to The Broken Brain to help break down the information about Abraham Lincoln's experiences with depression, or Melancholy as it was called at the time. It is an interesting look at one of the United States' favorite Presidents, old-timey attitudes about mental health, gender issues in treatment, and little blue pills that were super poisonous.   Go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain to sign up for bonus materials, including the video of this interview and a special mini episode about "The Suicide's Soliloquy," an anonymous poem about suicidality that may have been written by Lincoln himself.  

Tehya Nakamura (TK) is the host of For The Love of History, a wonderful podcast that shares obscure and exciting historical stories. She joins me to discuss the awkward and weird history of mental health diagnosis.  This is a rerun of a previous Broken Brain, leading the way for TK's appearance on a new episode next week, when we will talk about Abraham Lincoln's history with Depression. 

Psychiatrist and Author Jess Wright appeared on the podcast a few months ago to discuss his work in computer-assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He returns to the show to discuss his new book, "A Stream to Follow," a historical-fiction novel focused on PTSD in the time of WWII. The protagonist of the story is a small town doctor who served as a WWII battlefield medic. Jess discusses his own experience as a Military Psychiatrist, his Father and Uncle's service in WWII, and much more. "A Stream to Follow" is the FIRST book to be featured in the Broken Brain Book club. About a month from now (the release of this episode) we will hold a virtual book club meeting for any listener who is interested in joining. Jess has agreed to join us in that meeting to answer questions and discuss his work. You can find "A Stream To Follow" on Amazon, at your local indie book store, or anywhere you get books. The best place of course is booksandcranniesva.com, where you can order from former guest DeShanta Hairston through h

This episode is a selection of another podcast that is produced by the same people bringing you the Broken Brain. Dwight cohosts and produces a podcast with Clare Waismann and David Livingston of the Waismann Method Rapid Detox and Opiate Treatment Specialists in California. They are discussing healthy ways to cope and avoid substance use triggers during times of high crises like many are facing currently.  Check out Clare and David's podcast: A Podcast to Answer Your Questions on Addiction, Recovery and Mental Health by Waismann Method® Opioid Treatment Specialists and Rapid Detox Center

Dr. Carmine Pariante is a Psychiatrist who studies Treatment Resistant Depression. He is working towards a more specific definition of what constitutes a resistance to treatment interventions, and how to use that information in increasing efficacy in treatment.  Sofia Quaglia is a medical journalist who wrote a piece on Dr. Pariante's work, and joins today to help describe this work, and discuss her goals of highlighting the need for definition in diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.  You can view the video of this interview by becoming a Patron of the show at www.patreon.com/breakabrain. 

Tammie Chang MD is a pediatric oncologist, author, coach, and super swell human being! The USA is facing the highest rate of medical professional burnout ever recorded. We discuss why this may be, what can be done about it, and how to find hope amid the problems.  Dr Chang is an expert and consultant on workplace burnout for physicians and one of the founders of Pink Coat MD, an online space for women physicians. Learn more about her work at tammiechangmd.com  Watch video of all the Broken Brain interviews (and hear bonus episodes as well) by becoming a patron of the show at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain. Also, subscribe to the Dr Erica Harris FaceBook page to see Dr Chang's live Q&A appearance for the Rise Today Inspirational Podcast on April 19.

Music Thanatology is the clinical use of music to aid people who are dying. Tony Pederson, Certified Music Thanatologist and former President of the Music-Thanatology Association International joins me today to share how the use of harp and vocal music in hospital environments helps to humanize the end of life process, sharing some of his musical talent with us in the episode.   Tony is also a faculty member at the Accorda Music Thanatology Institute, you can learn more about Thanatology education at accordaschool.org. Help support the show and get bonus material, including video of this and other episode recordings, at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain. 

Freind of the show and returning guest Sam Led is here to inspire me and you to be ourselves and let that be our guide towards relaxing we are not broken and have all we need to live our life.  An intuitive Life and Inspirational Coach, Sam is also the host & creator of the Fear Less Now podcast. Learn more about his work and his upcoming book at SamLedConsulting.com.

With the recent Anti-Transgender actions taken by the Texas State Government, among other states in the USA, I am excited to welcome Evan Urquhart to the show. A Journalist who writes about issues facing Transgendered youth, Evan is here to share his story and insights for parents, youth, and others. Please listen, share, and get involved in equal rights and protection for the Transgendered individuals in your community.  Follow Evan @e_urq on Twitter to read his work. 

Today's episode covers avoiding burnout, creativity and creative writing, emotional and legal issues related to immigration, and how doing for others helps us to develop ourselves more effectively than trying to improve for ourselves.  Ivan Infante is an Immigration Lawyer who specializes in helping people to obtain legal permission to remain in the USA and remain together as families and pursue their goals. He is also the author of the Mike Chance Novels, historical crime fiction set in 1930s Los Angelas. In this episode he explains how he uses his creative talents to help in his legal work, and also funds his private practice with his novels.  Follow Ivan on Twitter @EddieMarsAttack to follow his legal work, buy his novels, and see dope pictures of LA in the 1930s.