Minds and Mics

Child psychologist Kristen Ohlenforst comes on the show to discuss childhood anxiety, followed up by a no-holds-barred round-robin between Nick and Kristen recounting their own "embarrassing blunders" and "tricks of the trade" as psychologist-parents.Show NotesHow Kristen became interested in psychology (1:24)Talk Therapy vs Play Therapy for kids (12:58)Common misconceptions about childhood anxiety (19:10)Normal childhood anxiety vs clinically significant anxiety (22:30)Common types of childhood anxiety (28:14)To what extent are parents involved in their child’s therapy (30:15)What to look for in a good child therapist (33:48)Embarrassing Blunders & Tricks of the TradeKristen’s 1st Embarrassing Parenting Blunder (40:05)Nick’s 1st Embarrassing Parenting Blunder (43:28)Kristen’s 1st Tricks of the Trade (46:50)Nick’s 1st Tricks of the Trade (50:10)Kristen’s 2nd Embarrassing Parenting Blunder (54:00)Nick’s 2nd Embarrassing Parenting Blunder (57:48)Kristen’s 2nd Tricks of the Trade (60:45)Nick’s 2nd Tricks of the Trade (64:30)Kristen and Nick’s picks for historical figures from psychology they would least and most like to have dinner with (68:30)Kristen’s 2 parenting book recommendations (71:35)Kristen’s book Moose the Worry Mutt (73:45)You can learn more about Kristen and her work here:Therapy Dallas (Website)Get the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Philosopher Alexus McLeod comes on the show to discuss ancient Chinese philosophy and what it can tell us about alternative approaches to mental health today.Show NotesMental health in ancient Chinese philosophyEastern vs Western approaches to philosophyAlexus’s Essay in Aeon (12:00)Communal approaches to personhood (13:00)Character and community (19:30)Stoicism and Buddhism (23:20)Can society cause mental illness? (25:00)Harmony and mental health (39:50)Individuality, alienation, and mental health (44:00)Questioning cultural assumptions productively (49:40)Community innovation and mental health (55:00)You can learn more about Alexus and his work here:WebsiteGet the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Psychiatrist Brian Wu comes on the show to discuss how to think about psychiatric medication.Show NotesPsychiatrists vs psychologistsThe most important factor when choosing a psychiatrist (17:00)What is psychiatric medication, exactly? (18:52)The most common psychiatric medications (20:00)Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (26:00) Benzodiazepines (29:00) Getting prescribed psychiatric medication by non-psychiatrists (32:00)Children and psychiatric medication (35:00)Working with a psychiatrist vs a psychologist (38:00)How to know if your medication is working? (39:50)Getting off psychiatric medications (43:00)Can we really trust psychiatric medications? (48:20)You can learn more about Brian and his work here:WebsiteGet the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Piers Steel, one of the world's leading researchers on the science of procrastination, explains how to think about procrastination, what really causes it, and the changes we can make to do it a little less.Show NotesMeta-analysisDavid Hume, An Inquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingThe four factors in procrastination:ValuesSelf-confidenceImpulsivenessReward delayTask aversivenessSubjective Expected Utility TheoryThe Procrastination EquationThe Marshmallow TestSteven CoveyAldus Huxely, Brave New World RevisitedRoy Baumeister and willpower researchPresatiationDrive TheoryLearned HelplessnessSMART GoalsThe Attention EconomyProcrastination vs LazinessHow to help kids with procrastinationYou can learn more about Piers and his work here:Procrastinus (Website)The Procrastination Equation (Book)Get the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Clinical psychologist and marriage therapist, Sam Hamburg, discusses common myths and misconceptions about happy marriages, emphasizing the importance of compatibility in relationships. He explores dimensions of compatibility including practical, wavelength, and sexual dimensions. He also touches on the significance of understanding, commitment, and maintaining a wall of privacy in a marriage.

Psychologist and researcher Yvonne Barnes-Holmes joins Nick to discuss the role of language in mental health and human suffering, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the state of psychotherapy in the 21st century.Show NotesThe power of language for mental health and sufferingThought-Identity FusionLearning histories and narrative habitsReading and social perspective-takingThe Cat in the HatFalse beliefDoes reading novels lead to psychological flexibility?Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Meta-Cognitive Therapy (MCT)Relational Frame Theory (RFT)Functional AnalysisBehaviorismCognitive RevolutionB.F. SkinnerIatrogenicsYou can learn more about Yvonne and her work here:WebsiteGet the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Caitlin Faas, a professor of human development and life coach, joins Nick to discuss the psychology of overeating.Show NotesThe Life Coach School“Overeating” vs “weight loss”Eating as a way to push down difficult feelingsHow long do emotions really last?Patterns of emotional eatingManaging urgesIntentional vs automatic thoughtsCuriosity and “I wonder…” statementsIndulgent feelingsSystem 1 and System 2 thinkingWhy relying on willpower usually backfiresShaping desireReal joy vs false pleasuresIs “Listen to your body” really good advice?Relationship between stress and weight lossRelationship between food and moodBody positivityYou can learn more about Caitlin and her work here:WebsiteTwitterGet the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Gregg Krech, an expert in a form of Japanese psychology called Morita Therapy, discusses how to think differently about the role of emotions in mental health and the surprising power of taking action to improve things like anxiety, procrastination, and depression.Show NotesThe relationship between feeling and actionMorita therapyFeeling-centered vs purpose-centered lifestyleCoexisting with unpleasant feelings without acting on them Cultural difference in our understanding of emotionsAcceptance of emotionsContent of emotions vs your relationship with your emotions Zen meditation and the nature of emotionsWorking on feelings vs accepting themAcceptance, attachment, and sufferingNon-resistanceSelf-focused attentionIatrogenics in psychotherapyPerformance anxietyThe Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy GallweySoren KierkegaardAnxiety and intelligenceProcrastinationMichael Singer and The Untethered SoulYou can learn more about Gregg and his work here:Thirty Thousand Days (website)The To-Do Institute (website)The Art of Taking Action (book)Get the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Neuroscience researcher and author Brian Pennie reflects on his 15-year addiction to heroin and how he managed to not only survive those harrowing years but to come out of it and build a life he loves.Show NotesAnxiety and addiction"The opposite of addiction is connection." Johann HariAwareness is the opposite of addictionAwareness by Anthony DeMeloStorytelling and “the grand self-deception”The relationship between self-awareness, self-belief, and self-deceptionWhere does self-belief come from?The importance of friendship and vulnerabilitySurrender and peace of mindRelational Frame Theory and the connection between language and emotionThe relationship between addiction and values (or the lack of values)Curiosity as the key to recovery and thrivingPositive addictionsTransforming desireSurviving vs thrivingBrian’s Dr. Dolittle StoryThe importance of playfulness and humorYou can learn more about Brian and his work here:WebsiteBonus Time (Book)Social Media: Twitter | LinkedIn | MediumGet the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Dr. Randy Paterson guides us through the ins and outs of assertive communication, explaining why it's essential for healthy, happy relationships in work, love, and life.Show NotesWhat is assertiveness?Common misconceptions about assertivenessThe 4 styles of communicationThe benefits of becoming more assertiveThe barriers to being assertive: the stress barrier; the social barrier; the belief barrierWhy it’s so hard to ask for what you really wantDemanding what we want vs informing people of what we wantDESO scriptsWhy it’s hard to say no to what you don’t wantHow to handle confrontation wellStrategies for constructive confrontation, especially how to find common groundAre we responsible for other people’s feelings?Beyond assertive communication: taking responsibility for your own lifeYou can learn more about Randy and his work here:Personal Website YouTube ChannelThe Assertiveness Workbook (book)How to Be Miserable (book)How to Be Miserable in Your 20s (book)Get the latest Minds&Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →