The Broken Brain

What are the most important things you would like to do? We often have a difference between our philosophical values and our behavioral priorities. Today's quick tip is about how we can use things (like Mario Day) to put the highest value activities first. Oh yeah, and HAPPY MARIO DAY! The highlighted charity this month is www.baketheirday.org, a nonprofit bakery in Guam that makes birthday cakes for youth in custody. Share and support them, they're pretty cool!

Tiffany Kim Stevens is the Director and Co-Writer of the film "Trigger Happy," an indie film set in an alternate society where gender roles are reversed, gun ownership is required to qualify for health insurance, and a murder is being planned. Tiffany describes the process of telling a quirky story with many unlikeable characters and balancing the humor and the darkness of the tale. Visit www.baketheirday.org to see the highlighted charity for this month. Bake Their Day is a nonprofit bakery in Guam that bakes and delivers birthday cakes to youth in custody.

David Rosen is a composer, musician, and the creator of the Piecing It Together Podcast. He and I sat down to discuss a strange new sub-genre of Biopic: Musical Artists with the surname Williams who are portrayed as a nonhuman. In the case of "A Better Man," Robbie Williams is portrayed as a CGI Chimp Man (think Planet of the Apes), while "Piece by Piece" presents Pharrell Williams and his surrounding world in Lego. Visit www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support a wonderful nonprofit that helps kids pursue their education through athleticism and scholarship.

What's with all of these weird science experiments? Waste of money and time, right? wellllllll.......probably not. This week history dive looks at 2 examples of when science sounded crazy but delivered something cool. A full half of the episode this week is available to non-subscribers, the rest is on the Patreon feed for you super-cool supporters of the show. Check out www.dcoffeyfoundation.org for this month's highlighted charity.

Benjamin Cohen & Max Strand are the Writers and Directors of "Rocky's" a new coming-of-age film focused on the lives of several young adults spending time in the local hangout, Rocky's Deli. They joined me to discuss their film, character development, growing up, and storytelling. Check out our February Nonprofit-of-choice: The D Coffey Foundation, which helps youth in need to find athletic scholarships to advance their education.

Telling inspirational stories about disabled people is all over the internet, which raises the question: do we treat them as individuals, listening and learning from them? Or do we fall into the trap of identifying people by their disability, or as an inspirational meme?

Sharon & Dwight are reacting to the teaser trailer for the upcoming Marvel movie, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," focused on the psychological and cultural aspects of the project. Visit www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support this month's highlighted charity.

Following the Civil War in the USA, during what became known as the Reconstruction Era, freed Black Americans fought hard to establish communities and defend their rights. None of these struggles were more important than access to education, and the efforts of Black American pioneers of public education helped to form the model of publicly funded school for children in the US, as well as codify this into law. Check out www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support this month's charity-of-choice, helping young people in need to further their education through athletic scholarships.

Elio Zarmati is a retired filmmaker, journalist, and author of the new memoir "Goodbye Tahrir Square: Coming of Age as a Jew of the Nile." He tells the story of his life, aged 7-14, growing up in war-torn Egypt. It is a message of growing up during societal unrest, and how our life is not defined by outside conflict. Go to www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to support this month's charity of focus. The D Coffey Foundation helps young people to pursue their goals through athleticism and scholarship.

Don't Give Up!

In 1925 Hugo Gernsback invented the "Isolation Helmet," a device to limit distraction, and a wild device at that. Gernsback also pioneered many things in the area of radio, television, and Science Fiction. This is a sample of the weekly history episode, available in full for all patrons of the show.

In his new book "The Sexual Evolution," Biologist and Professor Nathan Lents shares the diverse examples of sex, sexual orientation, and flexible gender roles in the animal kingdom. A look at what truly is natural as well as how we learn about the world around us and the important role that sex and gender play in our lives. At a time when issues of sexuality and gender Identity are controversial, and the Queer population is under attack, this book is timely and informative. Check out www.dcoffey.org for this month's highlighted charity, The D Coffey foundation. Started by former guest Dr Delice Coffey, this nonprofit helps students achieve scholarships and opportunities through athleticism.

Author Dr Lakeysha Hallmon discusses her book "No One is Self-Made," and the myth of self-made success. As a Social Entrepreneur she uses the strength of community to create success for local business, and teaches others to do the same, with her mantra: "Support is a Verb." Dr Key is the founder of Village Market, connecting Black-owned businesses, and Our Village United, a nonprofit focused on providing small businesses with funding and tech support. Follow her work at www.drkeyhallmon.com Remember to check out our highlighted nonprofit this month: www.whitebirdclinic.org, helping people fill their dental, mental health, and other medical needs.

Self-Care is often defined as a fun or special experience, but that is only one form. Here are 2 ideas for Self-Care that go beyond bubble baths. The D Coffey Foundation is the highlighted charity for this month. Founded by former Broken Brain guest Dr Delice Coffey, this nonprofit helps young people to pursue education through Athletics and Scholarships. Visit www.dcoffeyfoundation.org to learn more.

This is a sample of the first few minutes of this week's History dive for Patreon supporters. Go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain to learn how to access these weekly bonus episodes in full. Nathaniel Branden was an interesting individual, a pioneer in the idea that Self-Esteem is important for mental health functioning. A little about him, his life, and his theories is the subject of this week's episode of Thursday Thistory.

Chad Foster is an Author, Trainer, and Experienced Leader in the Corporate & Programming field. He is the first blind executive to graduate from the Harvard Business School Leadership Program. Since loosing his sight at age 21, Chad has helped create assistive software for the visually impaired, excelled at skiing and jujitsu, and trained companies in strategies of inclusion and innovation. You can read his book "Blind Ambition," and follow his work at www.chadefoster.com Check out www.whitebirdclinic.org for this month's highlighted charity, brining mental health, dental, and other medical services to the people of Eugene and Spring Oregon.

We experience a crash because our body tells us it is time to rest, often forcing the issue. Purposeful, proactive rest can be difficult. Luckily our crash can provide information to help plan healthy breaks. Visit www.whitebirdclinic.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit.

A look into the history of jewelry and art made of hair of a loved one. In the Victorian Era these were used for purposes such as bereavement, spiritual connection, or communicating affection. This is the monthly history episode available to all listeners. Weekly dives into the history of psychology & culture are available to patrons, through www.patreon.com/brokenbrain Visit www.whitebirdclinic.org to see and support this month's highlighted charity. The White Bird Clinic provides mental, dental, and other medical services to those in need, and informed crisis response for mental health emergencies.

Cathy Heller is a teacher, podcaster, and author. Her book, "Abundant Ever After," describes her belief and use of principles of Jewish Mysticism in helping people restructure their approach to stress management and realizing their goals. Often difficult to define or measure, Cathy provides tools and a grounded approach to philosophies such as manifestation and abundance. Follow her work at www.cathyheller.com, and listen to her on the Abundant Ever After podcast. The highlighted charity this month is White Bird Clinic, providing dental, medical, and psychological treatment for individuals in Eugene and Springfield, Oregon.

Is today a tough day? Here are a few ideas of ways to survive and function on a tougher day. Hang in there, everybody!

Kathy Bjork is the Author of "My Mother is Loosing Her Memory, and I AM LOOSING MY MIND," the true story of caring for her mother with Dementia. A raw & vulnerable window into an experience filled with grief, tragedy, fear, strength, and hope. Follow her Blog at www.kathleenbjork.com Our highlighted charity this month is White Bird Clinic, helping with mental health crisis response and bringing psychological, dental, and other medical services to those in need. Follow them at www.whitebirdclinic.org

Regret is something we are taught to fear. But it can be very helpful. If we combine this principle with the DBT definition acceptance then we can find a healthy use for our regrets

Welcome to Thursday Thistory, the weekly dive into psychological history. Today's episode focuses on Sophie Freud, granddaughter of Sigmund, probably the Freud you think of when we say Freud. She was a remarkable social worker, advocate, author, and sociologist, and unfortunately most of us don't hear about her. Let's change that! This monthly special episode is released in full to the regular podcast feed. For weekly historical episodes consider subscribing to the Broken Brain Patreon at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain Check out our January charity of focus, The White Bird Clinic, at www.whitebirdclinic.org as they do great work providing access to mental health, dental, and other forms of medical care.

Ray Daugherty is the Primary Developer of the Prime For Life Curriculum, a program for people engaged in high-risk behavior with alcohol or drugs. Developed in the Seventies, and updated regularly, Prime For Life is an approved curriculum for court-ordered intervention for individuals with DUI/DWI charges. The program takes a nonjudgemental and research-based approach to help people identify low or high risk patterns of behavior with intoxicants. Go to www.primeforlife.org to learn more about this nonprofit and their work with addiciton. The charity of focus this month is White Bird Clinic in Eugene Oregon, providing psychological crisis services and medical, dental, and mental health support to those in need. Support their work at www.whitebirdclinic.org

Every New Year people feel pressure to set annual resolutions, goals tied to the arbitrary day chosen to mark the beginning of the calendar year. Do you like this? Hate it? Here are a couple ideas about goal-setting that may give a new angle on this tradition.

Dr Eli Camp is a natural health specialist. She uses a Harm Reduction approach to help individuals with smoking cessation. This involves helping people form their own plan for nicotine use, whether they have a goal of quitting, lessening their use, or increasing their health as much as possible while still smoking. She is the author of "Smoke Rings," for smokers and their family. Follow her work at www.ecampnd.com Today is your last day to join Patreon and provide ongoing support the Prince Edward Island Transgender Network with 50% of your monthly pledge. go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain.com Or go and give to them directly at www.peitn.com

Another tip in the vein of disentangling information to choose what source to trust about what answers in areas like medical care, mental health, and self-growth.

New Christmas Episode! Isabel Teran, host of "That's Bodacious Dude," and "Hearsing Around," joins to discuss the Wizard-Of-Oz adjacent Christmas special: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus."

A replay of one of my favorite Christmas Episodes, becaus eI got to record with my wonderful siblings! Amber Lopez and Christian Hurst join me to talk about the widely popular topic of the VHS tapes we used in our home to record and watch Christmas specials every year. We were streaming before streaming ever was! Visit www.peitn.com to view and help the highlighted charity this month: The Prince Edward Island Transgender Network. A great cause and a great group!

Replay of the 2021 Christmas episode where Chris Revill and I discuss Muppet's Christmas Carol, possibly the best of the iterations of this classic.

A replay of the 2015 Christmas Episode of the podcast. Michael Denniston, creator of great film podcasts like "War Machine Vs War Horse" and "99 from 99," joined me to record about the classic holiday movie "It's A Wonderful Life." Be kind folks, 2015 was a long-ah time ago, my microphone wasn't as good.

Replay of the episode where Sharon Blady and I discuss the roots of the Santa Claus Legend, and how Santa looks in Marvel Comics. Is he a powerful mutant? He sure is! (New Christmas Episode coming Tuesday, Christmas Eve) Check out www.PEITN.com for the monthly highlighted charity, the Prince Edward Island Transgender Network

Replay of the very popular Christmas Episode of 2020, a discussion about "The Snowy Day," holiday special, based on the book of the same name by Ezra Jack Keates. This year's New Christmas Episode will air on Christmas Eve! Stay tuned, Dear Listener!

Amity Cooper is an expert in mental health therapy & entrepreneurialism. She joins the show today to talk about how therapist's run private practices and how this affects access to care. Follow her work at www.amitycooper.com This month we are highlighting the Prince Edward Island Transgender Network, found at www.peitn.com, a nonprofit focused on advocacy and support for the Trans community.

Do we remember the trauma that those around us feel? Do we check in enough to even know about it?

Remember that episode of Seinfeld with the Soup Nazi? That character was based on a real guy! Al Yeganeh operated a soup restaurant frequented by one of the Seinfeld writers, and had the strange experience of becoming a template for a cultural icon. This is the first 8 minutes of the weekly dive into the history of culture & psychology. If you would like to hear these weekly full episodes please consider becoming a supporter of the program at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain

Matt Moyer is a photographer, producer, and filmmaker. He is the Co-Director and Cinematographer of the Indie Documentary "Inheritance," which follows five generations of a family in Rural Ohio. 11 years in the making, the film focuses on Curtis, a young member of this family, from age 12-18, and allows us to observe the patterns and events in his family, and how they experience love, addiction, trauma, and hope. A vulnerable and brave family, their story of heartache and hope provides precious insight for anyone hoping to understand addiction and to help others. Follow the film at www.inheritancethefilm.com This month we are highlighting the Prince Edward Island Transgender Network, found at www.peitn.com, a nonprofit focused on advocacy and support for the Trans community.

Online self-assessment tests are huge online. They can be a great tool in our own health management and improvement, but we have to use them the correct way.

A dive into a few psychological elements of the story "A Christmas Carol." a story that has been popular for 181 years, probably for a reason. To hear history episodes like this every week, along with other bonus materials, consider donating to the Broken Brain Patreon, at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain The charity-of-focus for this month is Prince Edward Island Transgender Network, a nonprofit providing advocacy for Trans individuals in Prince Edward Island & surrounding areas. Follow their work at www.peitn.com

Mark Sullivan MD is an Internal Medical Physician providing individual and family care at the North Virginia Family Practice. He believes in individual empowerment through relationship building and listening to patients. Like me he is dedicated to putting the patient in the driver's seat of their own healthcare. Follow his practice at www.nvafamilypractice.com Our charity-of-focus for December is the PEI Transgender Network, a nonprofit providing support and advocacy to Trans individuals living in Prince Edward Island and the surrounding areas. Go to www.peitn.com to learn more and support their great work. Our charity-of-focus for December is the PEI Transgender Network, a nonprofit providing support and advocacy to Trans individuals living in Prince Edward Island and the surrounding areas. Go to www.peitn.com to learn more and support their great work.

Dr Sui Wong is Neurological Ophthalmologist, direct care specialist in Migraine treatment, and Author. She was kind enough to join me to discuss proactive healthy behavior for the health of the brain, finding hope with neurological disorders, and the use of mindfulness. Go to www.peitn.com to visit our highlighted charity for December. The PEI Transgender Network provides education, fundraising, and advocacy for Trans people in Prince Edward Island & the surrounding area.

What is sobriety? For those working with Compulsion or Addiction, one of the most important elements of health is finding your own goals and measures of success. Developing an individual definition of sobriety is an often overlooked but useful tool in this process.

Marion Stokes was a political & civil rights activist, television professional, librarian, and someone who absolutely followed her passions. From 1976 to 2012 she recorded TV for every waking hour of the day, ending up with 74,000 VHS tapes loaded with history of the evolution of news, entertainment, talk shows, and US culture. Why would she do this, and what has it contributed? To hear full episodes diving into psychological history every Thursday, consider becoming a patron of the show at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain

As the former Director of Content for Sesame Street, Anna Housley Juster knows the psychoeducation and mental health needs of children. As a child & adolescent therapist and author, she has continued to teach children and parents the skills of emotional regulation. She discusses these needs and her new children's book, "How To Train Your Amygdala." Follow her work at www.annahousleyjuster.com Follow her work at www.annahousleyjuster.com

The holidays are upon us! Look out! Traditions & holidays can be a joy, a burden, or even kinda meh. Forging personal traditions can help to deepen joy, reduce burden, or make it less meh and a bit more yeah. Please check out the charity-of-focus for November while there is still some November left. The Because Organization helps people in the Philadelphia area who have survived and emerged from situations of human trafficking, to find jobs, health, and stability. Those who join the Patreon this final week of the month will have half of their monthly donation sent to The Because Organization as long as they are patrons of the show. You can also get involved or donate directly to them at: www.becauseorganization.org

Samantha Skelly is an Master Breathwork Facilitator, Author, and the Founder & CEO of Pause Breathwork. She teaches others how to use breath as a powerful tool for stress management, emotional processing, and trauma recovery. Follow her work at www.pausebreathwork.com Remember to follow and support The Because Organization, this month's highlighted charity, a Philadelphia based nonprofit helping survivors of human trafficking, at www.becauseorganization.org

This week's mental health tip is about Positive Deviancy: an interesting concept and a way to find a solution that already exists, but is flying under the radar. Go to www.becauseorganization.org to support this month's charity-of-focus, helping survivors of human trafficking.

This week we are diving into the history of Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and the tool of The Miracle Question in trying to solve clinical problems. The entire episode can be found through subscribing to the Patreon: www.patreon.com/brokenbrain The highlighted charity this month is the Because Organization, a nonprofit helping survivors of human trafficking to rebuild a healthy & happy life. Follow their work at www.becauseorganization.org

Thomas LaGrave is a Therapist, Social Worker, Author, former Navy SEAL, and expert in mental health treatment for youth. He describes the obstacles to mental health and social development facing modern youth, and the strengths of the young generation. Our charity of focus this month is Because ORganization, helping survivors of Human Trafficking to adjust and build a healthy life. Follow their work at www.becauseorganization.org

Where do we look for hope when we are overwhelmed, anxious, or afraid? Mr Rogers suggested looking for the helpers, those coming to the aid of others at risk. Can we find comfort and survival by looking at all those doing good in the world? I hope so! Visit www.becauseorganization.org to help battle Human Trafficking by helping survivors with their aftercare needs.