The Broken Brain

This is a throw back session from 2016, when Dave Hart (of www.followingfilms.com ) and I sat down to discuss what a psychological tool for healing that gratitude can become. I am replaying it now because it is USA Thanksgiving in the USA, where I live, so gratitude was on my mind. Gratitude is good for you! What better time to talk about this again than the USA Thanksgiving, which happens this week. And what better CoHost for this topic than the honey-drippingly sweet Guru of Gratitude himself, David Hart! We discuss the use of purposeful gratitude, going deeper than meme culture positivity, the application of Acceptance, and much more! Sit around our virtual Thanksgiving table and pass the virtual potatoes, won't you?

Sharon Blady (www.speak-up.co) rejoins the program to discuss the social and psychological issues addressed in the MCU TV show "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law," such as toxicity in the culture, toxic masculinity, healthy male & female relations, revenge, anger, and healing. Make sure to check out the Broken Brain Patreon to find more content like this. www.patreon.com/brokenbrain

Jocelyn Jones is a Director and Actor, who appears in more than 40 films, including "The Enforcer," and "The Butler." She is also the author of the new book "Artist: Awakening The Spirit Within," in which she tells her story of growing up in a small Artist's community and what Art and Acting mean for healing and finding your comfort in life. Part workbook and part memoir, "Artist" includes exercises and principles to apply to help anyone find their creative outlet. Support the podcast by visiting www.patreon.com/brokenbrain, make a one time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/brokenbrain, or just share the show with a friend. Thanks for listening!

Karly Beaumont returns to the show to help forward a Broken Brain Halloween Tradition: to talk about a scary movie. This year we focus on the film The Black Phone. We talk about the psychological elements of the film, including fear, abuse, forgiveness, trauma, fight-or-flight, and how mental health does not explain violence all by itself. Plus that scary-as-hell mask that Ethan Hawke wears in the movie!

Dr Susan Trachman is a Psychiatrist, Forensic Specialist, and mental health clinician. She joins the podcast today to share some information about the role of psychiatry in legal and forensic areas, the difference between non-clinical levels of trauma & PTSD, and some of the psychological elements of the COVID crisis. If you are in a place to do so, please consider becoming a patron Brainiac of the show at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain. Bonus episodes, merch, and more! Plus you will get that warm and fuzzy feeling only known by true patrons of the arts.

Dr Rebecca Dempster is a psychologist specializing in burnout and secondary trauma, especially among employees of nonprofits and NGOs that serve Third World nations. was mentioned in the recording of an upcoming episode, and it reminded me of this episode when she was on the show a few years back. This is a re-broadcast of that episode. Stay tuned for the all new episode this week with Dr Susan Trachman, Forensic Psychiatrist.

A bit of serious, a bit more silly in today's episode. Every year I like to tell everyone "Happy Colombo Day!" a send-up of what today is often called. In this episode I am sharing facts about the 1970s Murder Mystery Series "Colombo," because why not? As today is now referred to as Indigenous Peoples' Day, I also want to highlight Coyote & Crow, a company producing an exciting new RPG designed, owned, and operated by Indigenous People. Check them out at www.Coyoteandcrow.net

Tonya Lester is an LCSW, therapist, blogger for Psychology Today, and author. She is also an expert in relationships, family systems theory and couple's counseling. She joins the Broken Brain today to share her insights working with relationship difficulties and successes. Learn more about Tonya's work at www.tonyalester.com, including the progress of her book and her writing for Psychology Today. Support The Broken Brain and get awesome extra materials by becoming a patron Brainiac today at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain, or make a one-time donation on www.buymeacoffee.com/brokenbrain

Internal Family Systems is a mode of therapy developed by Dr Richard Schwartz, declared an evidence based treatment by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The treatment uses family systems theory, and applies it to the patient's internal emotional parts. It is also known as Parts-Work. Dylan Schlender joins me to discuss our experience researching and receiving IFS in therapy. This episode is focused on the client experience, the theories of IFS, and what an IFS session looks like.

Happy Batman Day 2022! Give this a listen while decorating your Batman Tree or Dying Batman eggs. This is a compilation of answers from listeners and friends to the two questions we are always asking ourselves: 1. What does Batman mean to you? 2. Is there a Batman story from the comics that you would love to see show up in live action form? Something fun for a fun memorial day for one of my favorite superheroes. Thanks for listening!