Braaains

Nafisa Moallim, a therapist and Registered Social Worker with a Clinical Master of Social Work, joins us to talk about immigration and bicultural identity. As a Somali-Canadian refugee, Nafisa has extensive lived experiences navigating two identities and learning the language of trauma. Her biggest passion is for advocating for how to discuss mental health in immigrant and refugee populations. We dig deep into the series Virgins on CBC Gem in Canada. Set in Toronto, virgins! is a dramatic comedy created by Aden Abebe that follows the lives of four 20-something-year-old women who are too modest for the big city and too provocative for the East African homes they come from. We also discuss the impact immigration can have on someone's mental health, what it's like to be part of the 1.5 generation, and the effects of post-migration trauma. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today is the episode you've all been waiting for – ADHD! Our guest, Rach Idowu was diagnosed with ADHD Combined Type on January 2020 at the age of 26. Shortly after her diagnosis, she decided to start her AdultingADHD substack newsletter to document her own personal experience. Rach has been featured in the NYTimes, BBC, Stylist, and Mashable among others. She has also created flashcards to help adults with ADHD learn more about ADHD traits including coping strategies. We discussed the long road to Rach's ADHD diagnosis and what it meant for her, the impact of ADHD stigmas on getting the help you need, and what kind of accommodations you can ask for in the workplace. We also talked about the representation of ADHD in films like Everything Everywhere All At Once and the TV show Grey's Anatomy. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today's episode is about diabetes and we are excited to talk with writer, science communications professional, and podcast producer and host, Krista Lamb, who recently released her book 'Beyond Banting: Decoding Canada's Diabetes Research Superstars.' During our conversation, we discussed the different types of diabetes that present (type one and type two), the stigmas associated with diabetes, and the impact this chronic illness has on a person's mental health. Together, we also explore how we currently see this disability on film and television in films like Turning Red and shows like The Baby-Sitters Club and what we'd like to see on the screen in the future! Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

On today's episode, we dive into the world of autism with Ava Xiao-Lin Rigelhaupt who is a writer, actress, and consultant/advocate for diversity, autism, and disability representation in entertainment. We discussed how Ava got her autism diagnosis and what it meant for her, what stigmas she and other autistics often face, and how she would like to create inclusive autism representation on and off screen. We also talked about the representation of autism in television shows such as As We See It and Everything's Gonna Be Okay. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Respectability alum, Michael J. Dougherty, talks with us about Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus and disability representation in Guillermo del Toro films such as The Devil's Backbone and The Shape of Water. Michael is a film person, screenwriter, essayist, occasional actor, and advocate living & working in Hollywood. He's also the co-founder of the ReelAbilities Film Festival: Los Angeles, entering its 6th year, which presents films and discussions by and about the disability community. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today, we deconstruct emergency medicine and medical misinformation with ER doctor, Dr. Shazma Mithani. Wondering how many patients emergency doctors see in a day or why it's such a burnout profession? Listen on! We also discuss which TV series portrays the ER in the most accurate way – is it Grey's Anatomy? House? ER? Scrubs? And of course, we find out why Dr. Mithani decided to take to social media to dispel medical misinformation and talk about how her work in the ER informs the kinds of topics she shares online. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Our guest, writer and actor, Graham Kent, joins us to talk about his experience with Tourette Syndrome, how it presents, and why he thinks Edward Norton's Motherless Brooklyn is the best portrayal of Tourette Syndrome he's seen on screen! The key moments in this episode are: 00:06:16 - Overlapping Disorders 00:08:08 - Presentation of Tourette Syndrome 00:14:17 - Living with Tourette Syndrome 00:16:32 - Motherless Brooklyn as a Representation of Tourette Syndrome 00:21:02 - Not Naming Tourette Syndrome in Motherless Brooklyn 00:23:56 - Other Depictions of Tourette Syndrome in Pop Culture 00:34:06 - Tourette Syndrome and Acting 00:39:17 - Nuances of Tourette Syndrome 00:41:46 - Understanding ADHD and Tourette Syndrome 00:45:09 - The Power of Nuanced Storytelling 00:48:31 - Resources for Tourette Syndrome 00:53:25 - Sarah's Documentary Premiere 00:57:16 - Heather's Experience at the WGC Awards 00:58:10 - Importance of Listener Reviews DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today we had the pleasure of speaking with Diana Elizabeth Jordan, an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and disability and IDEA influencer. We discussed her experience with cerebral palsy, some of the common stigmas associated with her disability, and what the representation of cerebral palsy on shows like Special and Speechless meant to her. Whether portraying a character, sharing a personal story, directing, or producing a project, Diana is committed to celebrating the power of resiliency and disability. DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Jenna and the system of alters (together known as the Gianu System) join us today to talk about Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. This complex disorder, which occurs in 1.5% of our population, is a covert survival mechanism specific to each individual. We discuss what dissociation is, how identities and ego states exist, and how alters can hold different parts of trauma. We also talk about the accurate DID representation in the Australian film by Rome Trower, What if it Worked? and how shows like The United States of Tara and the film Split have impacted the perceptions of DID. 00:02:38 - What is Dissociative Identity Disorder? 00:06:44 - Jenna's Discovery of DID 00:09:09 - Discovering Alters in the Gianu System 00:15:39 - Understanding DID and its Complexity 00:16:57 - Aging and Sliding of Alters 00:19:11 - The Representation of DID in What If It Works 00:22:05 - The Debate on Integration and Healing 00:25:31 - The Misrepresentation of DID in Media 00:30:52 - Misconceptions about DID 00:35:03 - Using Social Media to Heal 00:39:49 - Normalizing DID in Media 00:40:59 - Recommended Resources 00:47:07 - Lack of Diversity in Canadian Writing Rooms 00:49:48 - Documentary Premiere for The Lebanese Burger Mafia 00:50:39 - Harvardwood Talk on Ethics and Storytelling DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today's guest, Michelle Asgarali, a Disabled Creative Producer and Advocate and Story Producer on the new CBC docuseries PUSH, deep dives into disability representation and the stigmas and tropes that impact the disability community on and off the screen. We also discussed the importance of creating more accessible and inclusive spaces with universal design and looked at how popular shows like The Last of Us, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, and the fab Australian series Latecomers have showcased storylines with disabled characters. [00:01:01] Inclusive storytelling. [00:09:21] Three tropes of disability. [00:25:48] Disability representation in media. [00:36:02] Disability inclusion in the film industry. [00:42:01] Creating better environments for disabilities. [00:47:42] Remote work and disability rights. [00:54:25] Better representation in media. [01:01:31] Universal design for everyone. DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Welcome to Season two of Braaains! Today we're discussing weight stigma, diet culture, and the impact of fat representation in TV shows like Shrill and Rutherford Falls with our guest Lauren Groves, a registered psychologist in Edmonton, Alberta who is the owner of Ignite Counseling and Wellness Services. [00:02:14] Diet culture and representation. [00:04:28] The effects of lack of body representation. [00:12:38] Authenticity in influencer culture. [00:17:06] Thinness and Medical Bias. [00:24:13] Harmful effects of diet culture. [00:29:03] Fatphobia's impact on earnings. [00:38:33] Trusting ourselves in diet culture. [00:49:27] The cost of diet culture. [00:52:35] Anti-diet culture journey. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today's episode is our last one for 2022 so of course, we're talking about the holidays and how they're portrayed on film! We're excited to have historian Vaughn Joy on to talk specifically about the impact of Christmas movies, how the government influenced the cultural sector in the nuclear age, and how those ramifications are still having ripple effects today. We also discuss how pop culture changes social attitudes and conveys the politics of the moment as seen through the lens of innocuous media like what you consume around the holidays. Lastly, we dive into how we'd like to see more representation on screen in terms of holiday films including different religions, different secular traditions, and different communities at the center of the story. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today, we deep dive into stuttering with our guests Per Alm, a researcher and lecturer from the Department of Neuroscience at Uppsala University, Sweden, and Maya Chupkov, the host and creator of the podcast Proud Stutter. We discuss background factors that can affect whether or not you stutter, the impact of neurological mechanisms underlying stuttering, and how stuttering can affect your day-to-day life. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Disabled educator, speaker, and creator, Erin Ryan Heyneman, joins us to talk about Multiple Sclerosis. We discuss how MS presents, the impact of her diagnosis as a teenager, how a major flair-up and its aftermath affected her life, and the importance of disability representation. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Editing: Blair Drover Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

On today's episode we discuss misogyny with Guylaine Maroist, who is one of the directors of BACKLASH: MISOGYNY IN THE DIGITAL AGE. This tour de force documentary throws us into the vortex of online misogyny and reveals the devastating effects unbridled female hatred has on victims. We also talk about the importantance of education in combating this growing phenomenon. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Editing: Blair Drover Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast A huge thank you to Calgary International Film Festival for giving us the opportunity to record our interview with Guylaine in the podcast booth on location at the festival.

It's spooky season so let's talk about trauma and horror films and how the two intersect. We're excited to be talking to horror film writer and cognitive behavior therapist, Mo Moshaty, about her own experiences with trauma and how horror films can be used to talk about it. Of course, it can sometimes misuse and exploit traumatic experiences for chills and thrills which we also address in this episode. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:33 - Trauma and horror films 00:01:14 - Mo's personal experiences with trauma 00:05:17 - Mental, physical, and emotional implications of trauma 00:13:48 - Changes in brain structure and body 00:15:05 - Understanding the Impact of Childhood Trauma 00:16:36 - Physical Effects of Trauma 00:17:31 - People-Pleasing and Ignoring Personal Needs 00:20:32 - Challenges in Accessing Mental Health Care 00:27:40 - Misuse of Trauma in Horror Films 00:29:35 - Realistic Portrayal of Trauma in Cinema 00:31:48 - Impact of Grief in Horror Movies 00:35:32 - Negative Female Tropes in Horror 00:37:11 - Realistic Depictions of Trauma in Film 00:39:18 - Movies with Realistic Depictions of Trauma 00:44:11 - Finding Healing in Literature 00:45:10 - Protecting Ourselves as Viewers 00:47:24 - Acknowledging Triggers and Setting Boundaries 00:50:27 - Horror as a Tool for Mental Health 00:55:38 - Centering Women's Experiences in Horror CW: Abuse, assault, and childhood trauma DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-017-Horror-and-trauma-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

On today's episode, we'll be talking about addiction and substance abuse with producer and mental health nurse, Jenny Ng-Turner! We'll discuss warning signs, triggers, stigmas, the value of having the right support systems in place, and where you can go for help. The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:20 - Jenny's Background and Interest in Addiction and Substance Abuse 00:05:37 - Definition of Addiction and Triggers 00:16:08 - The Impact of Drug Use and Access to Medication 00:16:47 - Recognizing Substance Abuse and Seeking Help 00:18:14 - Healthy Conversations about Substance Use 00:21:46 - Patterns of Use and Finding Support 00:27:38 - Supporting Families and Practicing Harm Reduction 00:31:29 - Importance of Small Successes in Recovery 00:31:53 - Complexity of Mental Health and Addiction 00:32:13 - Self-Medication and Cognitive Disabilities 00:34:18 - Portrayal of Addiction in Film and TV 00:39:40 - Resources for Addiction Support 00:47:07 - Overcoming Unhealthy Relationship with Alcohol 00:48:13 - The Stigma of Sobriety 00:48:43 - Fear of Addiction 00:49:15 - Additional Information on Addiction CW: Alcohol and substance use DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-016-Addiction-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Doctor Kathryn Wood joins us today to talk about rural medicine and the impact lack of medical access can have on both patients and physicians. She details what it's like to work in the Peace River area in Northern Alberta, the impact on the mental health of doctors and patients, how she chose the path of rural medicine, and what she'd love medical shows to get right about remote medicine. The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:00 - Dr. Kathryn Wood's Journey to Medicine 00:04:08 - Rural Medicine in Peace River 00:08:31 - Surgical Skills in Rural Medicine 00:11:13 - Balancing Work and Self-Care 00:13:48 - A Day in the Life of a Rural Surgeon 00:15:19 - Balancing Work and Parenthood 00:17:37 - Impact of Limited Medical Care 00:21:50 - Revolutionizing Reproductive Health 00:26:27 - Myths and Realities of Rural Medicine 00:27:36 - Balancing Autonomy and Patient Care 00:29:15 - Personal Growth and Training 00:30:47 - Challenges of Rural Medicine Recruitment 00:32:14 - Lack of Rural Exposure in Medical Education 00:37:29 - Inaccuracies in Medical Portrayals in Media 00:39:58 - Rural Medical Practice Opportunities 00:40:49 - Advice for Starting Out in Rural Practice 00:41:32 - Challenges Faced by Physicians 00:42:22 - Access to Mental Health Care in Rural Areas CW: Medical procedures DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-015-Rural-medicine-and-lack-of-medical-access-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today's guest is Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore, an independent filmmaker, podcaster, artist and educator, who is a Mohawk citizen and an enrolled member of Six Nations of the Grand River territory. Our conversation deep dives into the importance of language, community, and the impact representation (or the lack thereof) can have on you. We also discuss how losing and/or gaining a language that connects you to your community and who you are affects you. Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore is also a founding member of The Aunties Dandelion: a relationship-centered media collective. The organization seeks to revitalize community through stories of land, language, and relationship. The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:31 - Importance of Representation and Language 00:03:18 - Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore's Transition to Independent Filmmaking 00:11:52 - Return to Mohawk Community and Language Revitalization 00:15:42 - Ancestral Connection to the Land 00:16:05 - Giving Gratitude to the Natural World 00:18:45 - Revitalizing the Mohawk Language 00:22:49 - Embracing the Role of the "Auntie" 00:25:46 - Story of Skywoman 00:29:24 - The Power of Community and Relationality 00:33:07 - The Impact of Workplace Perks 00:35:45 - Loss of Language in Indigenous Communities 00:39:31 - Filmmakers Preserving Mohawk Language 00:43:29 - Mohawk Language in Film 00:48:23 - Indigenous Stories in Media 00:49:26 - Sharing Indigenous Stories 00:50:11 - Immersing in Mohawk Language 00:53:11 - Embracing Mohawk Language CW: Discussions about residential schools and genocide DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-014-Launguage-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

On today's episode, we interviewed Marie-France Guerrette, documentary filmmaker, director, and producer who created the feature doc, Sans Maman or Unmothered. In this touching documentary about her family, Marie-France blends home-movie footage and interviews to give viewers a window into her own personal experience of grief. Through the lens of the film and beyond, we discuss the death of a parent when you're a child, and how this impacted Marie-France's life and work as a filmmaker. CW: Discussions about death and dying Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today, we deep-dive into OCD - Obsession Compulsive Disorder - and discuss symptoms, treatment options, and the impact OCD can have on your everyday life. Our two guests include photographer Dallas Curow, who recently started sharing her story about OCD, and Farah Zerehi, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in California. She's a specialist who works with OCD patients and has OCD herself! CW: Discussions about self-harm and POCD DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE The key moments in this episode are: 00:08:06 - OCD Diagnosis 00:11:59 - OCD Adaptations 00:15:06 - Breaking the Silence on Mental Health 00:19:01 - OCD in the Creative World 00:21:06 - Depictions of OCD in TV and Film 00:27:28 - Dropping Rituals to Overcome OCD 00:31:50 - Specializing in OCD Treatment 00:33:27 - The Long Road to Diagnosis 00:38:57 - Signs of OCD to Look Out For 00:41:10 - How to Seek Help for OCD 00:44:48 - Misunderstandings about OCD 00:45:29 - Genetic factors of OCD 00:46:24 - Intrusive Thoughts vs. OCD 00:48:05 - Coping with Bad Days 00:52:06 - Types of Compulsions 00:59:58 - The Stigma of OCD Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Editing: Blair Drover Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today's episode is all about Aphantasia, also known as mind's eye blindness. Those with Aphantasia can't visualize scenes, people, experiences, objects, and memories, and it can impact other senses as well. This lack of mental imagery was described as early as the late 1800s, yet it has remained a relatively unstudied phenomenon until 2015, when a study first introduced the term, Aphantasia. Since then, the amount of research about Aphantasia has continued to grow. Our two guests today, who both experience Aphantasia, include Tom Ebeyer who is the founder of the Aphantasia Network, and Jana O'Connor, writer of the upcoming feature film, PICTURE IT, probably the first long-form film highlighting the experience of having Aphantasia! The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:34 - Understanding Aphantasia 00:01:04 - Interview with Tommy Ebeyer 00:01:44 - Aphantasia Network and Community 00:04:55 - Impact of Aphantasia on Daily Life 00:13:51 - The Relationship between Imagination and Body Response 00:14:22 - Research on Aphantasia 00:16:37 - Personal Experiences and Unique Imagery Profile 00:21:00 - Resources for Aphantasia from Tom 00:24:42 - Jana discovering Aphantasia and Writing "Picture It" 00:28:27 - Impact on Daily Life 00:32:04 - Grief and Aphantasia 00:36:24 - Creative Professions and Aphantasia 00:39:11 - Aversion to Descriptive Passages 00:40:10 - Childhood Horror Experience 00:41:25 - Approach to Writing and Performing 00:43:21 - Visualization and Learning 00:45:14 - Challenges of Standardized Testing 00:49:44 - Representation of Aphantasia in Film and Writing 00:53:01 - Writing and Visual Imagination 00:53:40 - Evolution of Television and Writing 00:54:35 - Aphantasia Resources from Jana DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-011-Aphantasia-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Ahhh! Animals! On today's podcast, we're talking to Jocelyn Nand, executive director of the Family Counselling Centres in Alberta. Her work includes animal-assisted therapy with the help of her co-therapist (and dog!), Watson. We'll talk about the work that she does to help a variety of clients deal with emotional dysregulation issues, impulse control, behavioral struggles, anxiety, low self-esteem, as well as work with those who have sensory struggles. We'll also discuss our impact on the mental health of animals and how positive reinforcement when training pets can go a long way. The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:29 - Jocelyn Nand's Background and Interest in Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:05:42 - Impact of Watson (the dog) in Therapy Room 00:08:33 - Clients Who Benefit from Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:13:07 - Other Animals in Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:14:34 - The Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:16:37 - Pet Preferences and Personality 00:18:10 - The Impact of Mental Health on Animals 00:22:07 - Training Animals for Therapy 00:27:47 - Integrating Animal-Assisted Therapy into Counseling 00:29:04 - The Therapist's Attachment to Her Therapy Dog 00:31:29 - Utilizing Watson's Strengths in Therapy 00:32:55 - Challenges and Limitations of Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:36:11 - Misconceptions and Ethical Considerations in Animal Therapy 00:42:44 - The Role of Animals in Grief and Loss 00:45:19 - Resources for Animal Therapy 00:46:18 - Becoming an Animal Therapist DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-010-Animal-assisted-therapy-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

This episode is part two of our conversation around abortion. Today we're discussing the research conducted for the Abortion Onscreen program which examines how abortion is portrayed in American popular culture. The principal investigator, Dr. Gretchen Sisson, is a research sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) at the University of California, San Francisco. She's joined by her colleague Steph Herold, who has a Master of Public Health and conducts mixed methods research on the portrayal of abortion on television and in film. CW: Discussions about surgical and medical abortion Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

With the US on the precipice of recriminalizing abortion, we're having a two-part episode on this medical procedure, the impact it has, and the importance of the right representation in media. Today's episode features an interview with Rachel Dyer, the Board of Director's Chair of Exhale Pro-Voice, an international nonprofit organization that provides non-judgmental and abortion-positive after-abortion emotional support via text line, and trains medical and mental health providers to better support the emotional well-being of people after their abortions. The key moments in this episode are: 00:03:01 - Abortion Experiences and Stigma 00:06:48 - Supporting Individuals Before, During, and After Abortions 00:09:01 - Overcoming Stigmas and Changing Dominant Culture 00:15:41 - Breaking the Silence on Abortion Conversations 00:17:27 - Abortion Stigma in BIPOC Communities 00:22:41 - Fake Clinics and Accessing Reliable Resources 00:25:00 - Supporting Future Reproductive Healthcare 00:28:42 - Clinic Escorting and Medication Abortions 00:30:38 - Importance of Education and Knowledge Sharing 00:31:10 - Supporting Exhale and Their Work 00:32:43 - Importance of Non-Partisan Support 00:39:42 - Importance of Conversation and Education CW: Discussions about medical abortion DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-008-Abortion-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Editing: Blair Drover Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today's episode deep dives into hookups and consent with Dr. Aditi Paul. We hope to dispel commonly held myths about hookup culture. We'll also discuss how sex scripts used in TV and movies affect Gen Z's sexual behaviors and influence how we think about consent. The key moments in this episode are: 00:04:09 - Dr. Aditi Paul's Background and Interest in Dating and Hookup Culture 00:08:22 - Changing Landscape of Hookups 00:14:32 - The Evolution of Dating Scripts 00:17:50 - Hookup Culture Misconceptions 00:20:44 - Portrayal of Hookups in Media 00:24:56 - Rethinking Consent 00:28:31 - Personal Experience and Impact 00:28:55 - Recognizing Sexual Assault 00:30:17 - Teaching Consent to the Next Generation 00:33:33 - Multifaceted Solutions to Sexual Assault 00:35:26 - Understanding Boundaries and Nonverbal Consent 00:39:13 - Men and Consent 00:43:31 - Unnamed ripple effect 00:44:00 - Unwanted touch and boundaries 00:46:29 - Sexual repression and assault 00:48:22 - Female masturbation and empowerment 00:53:29 - Resources for education CW: Discussions about sex and sexual assault DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-007-Hookups-and-ConsentTranscript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Editing: Blair Drover Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Let's explore the world of Twins and Triplets! Graduate student, Sarah Carroll, shares details of her clinical work with twins at MSU, and Alice and Cindy deep-dive into what it's like being part of a set of triplets. Most importantly, we find out if there's such thing as having an evil twin... The key moments in this episode are: 00:09:50 - Portrayal of Twins in Media 00:12:17 - Sarah Carroll's Research and Twin Registry 00:14:30 - Introduction and Background to triplets Alice and Cindy 00:15:58 - Growing Up as a Triplet 00:22:16 - Identity and Family Dynamics 00:27:29 - Embracing Differences and Individuality 00:29:06 - Sibling Relationships 00:30:15 - Sibling Dynamics 00:33:32 - Parenting and Family 00:35:08 - Mental Health and Self-Care 00:40:25 - Embracing Self-Discovery and Acceptance 00:41:04 - Overcoming Insecurities and Building Confidence 00:42:23 - Shifting Societal Views on Mental Health 00:43:36 - Positive Shift in Mental Health Discourse 00:52:35 - Gratitude for Unique Triplet Experience 00:52:55 - Connecting with Other Triplets 00:53:19 - Sharing Life Experiences 00:53:59 - Brave Vulnerability 00:54:40 - Birth Order Dynamics DOWNLOAD EPISODE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-006-Twins-and-Triplets-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Rachelle Bensoussan and Michelle Williams of Being Here, Human challenge and deconstruct the common myths and misconceptions about grief and give new language around recognizing and honoring your own grief, and the grief of those around you. Topics include: 00:03:48 - Personal Stories of Grief 00:12:05 - Definition of Grief and Mourning 00:15:14 - Shifting Cultural Perspective on Grief 00:15:49 - Rethinking Grief Culture 00:17:27 - Collective Grief in a Pandemic 00:18:53 - Permission to Grieve 00:21:33 - Dismissive Cultural Narratives 00:25:17 - Rethinking Five Stages of Grief 00:29:34 - The Nature of Grief 00:30:07 - Unprepared for Grief 00:31:35 - Social Perception of Grief 00:34:28 - Misconceptions About Grief 00:37:20 - The Role of Literacy in Grief 00:43:20 - Understanding Grief and Mortality 00:44:23 - Unhelpful Narratives Around Grief 00:46:15 - Realistic Portrayals of Grief in Media 00:48:29 - Recommended Resources for Grief Literacy 00:51:03 - Validating Grief and Providing Support 00:56:31 - Rethinking Grief and Mourning 00:57:49 - Honoring Grief and Supporting Others 00:59:15 - Embracing Feelings and Allowing Grief CW: This episode includes discussions about death and dying. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-005-Somebody-Somewhere-and-Grief-Transcriptdocx.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today's episode is all about children's brains! We're talking to our resident kid expert, Charlotte (who's six), and Behaviour Consultant, Aynsley Graham, about how children's brains develop and the importance of media literacy. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:33 - Importance of Media Literacy for Children's Brains 00:07:51 - Advice for Grown-Ups and Emotional Well-being 00:14:27 - Children's Understanding of Words 00:15:51 - Developmental Milestones 00:18:04 - Brain Development in Young Adults 00:22:21 - Grace and Understanding 00:23:20 - Age-Appropriate Conversations 00:26:44 - Understanding Developmental Capabilities 00:28:20 - Addressing Children's Questions 00:29:51 - Motivation for Conversations 00:34:27 - Building a Foundation for Understanding 00:38:26 - Addressing Ethnocentrism and Racism 00:39:13 - Explaining anatomy to kids 00:40:11 - Parent-child relationship dynamics 00:43:57 - Media literacy for kids 00:46:57 - Media as a learning tool 00:50:14 - Representation in children's media 00:51:35 - Evaluating Media Representation for Children 00:52:25 - Challenging Social and Gender Stereotypes in Media 00:53:25 - Teaching Critical Media Literacy to Children 00:59:40 - Recommended Child Development Resources 01:02:08 - Hopeful Outlook on Parenting 01:04:52 - Supporting Literacy and Storytelling Programs 01:05:26 - Creating Stories with Children CW: This episode includes discussions about residential schools and suicide. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-004-Childrens-Brains-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Hamza Khan, author of The Burnout Gamble, speaker, and co-founder of SkillsCamp, joins us to talk about burnout – what it is, what we can do about it, and how we can recover when it happens to us. The key moments in this episode are: 00:02:43 - Impact of Stress on Burnout 00:07:25 - Personal Experience with Burnout 00:11:47 - Symptoms and Syndrome of Burnout 00:12:42 - Recognizing Burnout Indicators 00:13:25 - Impact of Stress on Younger Generations 00:15:11 - The Impact of Loneliness on Burnout 00:16:42 - Path to Recovery from Burnout 00:24:37 - The Toxic Triangle of Leadership 00:26:07 - The Gig Economy and Freelancing 00:28:09 - Conservation of Resources Theory 00:31:40 - Challenges in the Film Industry 00:33:55 - Balancing Work and Self-Care 00:37:58 - The Consequences of Burnout 00:38:22 - Recognizing Burnout Symptoms 00:39:20 - Toxic Workplace and Internalizing Burnout 00:40:12 - Managers' Responsibility in Preventing Burnout 00:41:51 - Recognizing and Supporting Burnout in Others 00:45:41 - Embracing Radical Existence and Resources for Burnout 00:51:40 - Burnout Resources and Recommendations 00:52:27 - Film and Television Depictions of Burnout 00:53:04 - The Need for System-Level Solutions 00:57:19 - Gender Dynamics and Burnout 01:01:46 - Villain Archetypes and Macro-Economic Reform 01:04:12 - Gratitude and Reflection 01:05:11 - Addressing Burnout in the Film Industry DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-003-Burnout-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Time to talk about sleep! Clinical psychologist, Dr. Kristen Casey, explains why sleep is so important, its impact on our brains, and why, for some people, it's so elusive. Key moments in this episode are: 00:00:38 - Importance of Sleep 00:07:00 - Dr. Kristen Casey's Background 00:09:45 - Common Sleep Issues 00:11:57 - Tips for Mind Racing 00:12:38 - The Role of Anxiety in Sleep 00:14:08 - Scheduled Worry Time 00:15:40 - Impacts of Sleep Deprivation 00:17:13 - The Benefits of Different Sleep Stages 00:19:11 - Managing Sleep Disruptions 00:24:09 - Hormonal Changes and Sleep 00:25:20 - Sleep Hygiene Tips 00:26:54 - Managing Sleep Anxiety 00:28:34 - Childhood Sleep Habits 00:31:26 - Individual Sleep Needs 00:35:01 - Importance of Wake Time 00:35:56 - Napping and Sleep Drive 00:37:53 - Effects of Sleep Aids 00:42:20 - Sleep for Restoration 00:43:21 - Sleep Resources 00:46:25 - The Impact of Insomnia on Health 00:47:19 - Impact of Films on Normalizing Insomnia 00:49:10 - The Reality of Living with Insomnia 00:50:40 - Resources for Understanding Insomnia DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-002-Sleep-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

For the inaugural episode of Braaains, hosts Heather and Sarah Taylor discuss identity – how they see themselves, how they think others see them, and all the facets that make them who they are! Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Hosted by sisters, Heather Taylor (writer/director) and Sarah Taylor (film and TV editor), Braaains is a new podcast exploring the inner workings of our brains and how film & television portray them. We love talking about our brains & we hope you do, too! Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast