THE EXPLODING HUMAN with Bob Nickman

Former guitarist from the band Korn, Wes talks about his organization Rock To Recovery, which uses music to heal. They work in a variety of environments such as drug & alcohol treatment, with people who have eating disorders, veterans with both physical and psychological injuries and at-risk youth. He talks about his own struggles with addiction, his life in rock music, and his passion for helping others to recover and discover through musical expression.

AMANDA COWAN talks about the differences and similarities in social work and addiction treatment between the U.S. and England based on her nine year experience working in London and other cities. In a wide-ranging, tell-it-like-it-is conversation we discuss difficult and complicated issues surrounding addiction, poverty, mental illness, street drugs, pharmaceuticals. cultural trends, government policy, the health care system and the lighter side of being stalked.

Hypnotherapist CYNTHIA MORGAN says, "You are already hypnotized!" What we really need is to be "un-hypnotized" from false and unhealthy beliefs and expectations imposed by our parents. society and our ourselves. She talks about the surprisingly fast results which can be achieved with hypnotherapy for weight loss, smoking cessation and other emotional issues. We get into some the specifics of my own experience in the sessions I did with her about ten years ago, including back pain and past-life regression.

I talk with Elena about the various forms of sex addiction, childhood sexual abuse, and the types of treatment she uses -- including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma.

Writer/Comedian Ritch Shydner and I talk about his turbulent childhood, how comedy helped him escape and how his childhood depression kicked in again when he stopped doing stand-up. We talk about pharmacology, UCLA psych ward and his mind/body/spirit approach to extricating himself from all meds.

We talk about intuition, inspiration, creativity and how it applies to Jules' outrageous, beautiful, funny and irreverent street art. We learn how her upbringing in Greece, England and New York informs her work and what made her pick up the spray paint can. She talks drugs, healing through art and the public controversy over her paintings of copulating bunnies. It's a fun ride!

I talk with equine therapist BRAD LANGENBERG about how he uses horses to work with a variety of people in learning more about themselves and how they might improve their lives. His work with recovering addicts, children with various personality disorders and business organizations has improved communication skills and self-knowledge for hundreds of people. His unique upbringing and intimate knowledge of what horses can teach us is a truly fascinating listen.

I talk with pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. Sheryl Lewin about her unique work with creating prosthetic ears for children born with microtia (partial or no ear). We also talk about her philanthropic organization "Earicles" and how her surgical technique has evolved, making her one of the leaders in her field. And we have some laughs, too.

Welcome to the first episode!! I talk with end-of-life, palliative care and hospice nurse JAY WESTBROOK. It was a frank, compassionate and spiritual discussion on all aspects of the dying experience.