The Broken Brain

Shai Tubali is a specialist in meditation, mental flexibility, and the modern application of ancient philosophies. He is also the author of the new book: Your Chakra Personality, in which he details ways that people use the philosophy of Chakras in healing. He also shares the dangers of comparison and how to find healthy tension in our lives. Follow his work at www.shaitubali.com Learning Works of Maine is this month's highlighted nonprofit. They focus on meeting the academic needs of adults and children in need. Follow them at: www.learningworks.me. 

Dr Jo-Ann Finkelstein is a Psychologist and Author. Her new book, "Sexism & Sensibility: Raising Empowered, Resilient Girls in the Modern World," helps parents and young women to face toxic messages about body image, femininity, and sex. Follow her work at www.joannfinkelstein.com.  Our charity of focus this month is Learning Works, a delightful nonprofit aiming to help adults & youth in Maine who are at-risk for academic disadvantage. Learn more about them at www.learningworks.me 

Anxiety magnifies and distorts worries, making them seem even more urgent than they are. One technique to mitigate this is to look at underlying assumptions and expectations about our lives and duties.  The highlighted charity this month on the podcast is Learning Works, a nonprofit dedicated to providing academic assistance to those who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the educational system. Learn more about their work at www.learningworks.me 

Psychology is primarily a study of understanding why we do things. This is an important part of measuring, predicting, and providing treatment for aspects of behavior. The question of how to accurately study this behavior and how to use it ethically is the work of today's guest.  JonRobert Tartaglione uses social and psychological research to help decison-makers in political movements, nonprofits, and corporations to align their approach in a way that will clearly communicate their goals and values. You can follow his work at www.influence51.com It's a new month, so we have a new charity-of-focus for the show. Learning Work is a nonprofit providing academic and social support for youth and adults in Southern Maine. Go to www.learningworks.me to learn more.  

Dr Steven Lazar is a pediatric neurologist specializing in detection, diagnosis, and management of neurodevelopmental disorders. He is also the Medical Director of Neonatal Developmental Follow-Up Clinics for Texas Children's Hospital, and is here today to teach us about modern understanding and study of ADHD and Autism, and his focus on individualized and strength-based treatment.  With so much misunderstanding and disinformation about ASD & ADHD, Dr Lazar is one of many medical researchers helping to share science-based information. Follow him and his work @smlazarMD on Instagram and BluSky.  Visit www.covenanthousecalifornia.org to support this month's highlighted charity, helping homeless youth in California to find safety and stability. 

Marcia Holt is the CEO & Founder of Because Organization, helping survivors of Trafficking. She returns to the podcast with Dr Bill Cottringer, Clinical Psychologist and Trauma Expert, to discuss the use of Trauma Informed Care, and the importance of this specialty when working with the after-effects of Human Trafficking. Follow their work at www.becauseorganization.org, including the upcoming walk&run fundraising and awareness event in October.  

Another example of the use of TTRPG for emotional and therapeutic applications. This is a live-play session of a mysterious nursing home environment. Players created characters of retired individuals (with sketchy pasts) and gained advantages in their choices through communicating negative emotions, communication, and problem-solving. Go to www.dwighthurst.com/rpg to watch the video of this game, and see more about the use of RPG play in therapy. This game was created using the Green Oaks RPG system, by Roberto De Luca. Go to www.drivethrurpg.com to find and purchase this lovely indie game.

Dr Alan Rozanski is a professor of medicine at Icahn University of MEdicine, teaching cardiology, health psychology, and the importance of cognitive techniques in healthcare. He has developed a 6 stage health model, exercise, muscle care, diet, sleep, emotions, and thinking quality. Follow his work at www.alanrozanski.com.  Go to www.covenanthousecalifornia.org to view and get involved with our monthly charity of focus this month, helping homeless youth in California.

What happens when gender stereotypes, economic development, societal expectations and the 5,000 year old technology known as the wheel all converge? You get wheels on the bottom of your suitcase! This is the monthly dive into psychological & cultural history available to all listeners of the show. To hear the weekly bonus history episodes go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain and become a supporter of the podcast today!

Sean Murphy, AKA Mr Motivation, is an educator and motivational speaker. He has taught students, Scholars as he calls them, at every level from Elementary School to College. As a Veteran and someone who has overcome many obstacles he has developed expertise in motivation, and how we can reframe challenges to help catapult personal development. Learn more about his work at www.mister-motivation.com Our highlighted charity this month is Covenant House California, meeting the needs of homeless youth. Did you know that 1/3 of homeless young people in the US are in California? They certainly do. Go to www.covenanthousecalifornia.org to support this nonprofit. 

It's about time Piglet started pulling his weight on this show. For this week's mental health tip we look at a technique of Cognitive Reframing endorsed by both Winnie the Pooh and David Mamet.  It's a new month, which means we have a new charity-of-focus. Covenant House California is a nonprofit that helps Homeless Youth to find housing and resources. Go to www.covenanthousecalifornia.org to learn more and support this exciting organization. 

George Peabody, known as the Father of American Philanthropy, donated 1/2 of his fortune throughout his life to education, feeding the needy, and fighting poverty. This episode dives into the history of the Peabody Education Fund, the first modern nonprofit started in the USA. There are also some interesting tidbits about earlier charitable groups and the history of nonprofits as well in this one. This is the first 9 minutes of this week's Thursday Thistory, a weekly dive into psychological and cultural history for Patreon Members. Enjoy this sample! To hear each week's History episode go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain and consider becoming a supporter of the show.

Many people value philosophical & spiritual approaches to trauma recovery, self-improvement, and breaking unhealthy patterns. My guest today is Masati, is the CEO & Founder of Xponential Intelligence Science, dedicated to the study and application of Dimensional Consciousness and shifting focus while suffering. He finds that reframing our emotions and evaluating where we place our attention helps to decrease suffering. Follow his work on https://thexicode.com/.  Grand View For Good is the charity-of-focus this month. Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to learn more.

Rachel Suissa is the writer & director of "Greek Mother's Never Die," a film with dramatic, romantic, and comedic elements which follows Ella, a young Greek American woman who finds that the spirit of her recently deceased mother continues to give her advice and life guidance. Rachel shares how she used her own Greek heritage and experience to tell a story about mother and daughter relationships, acceptance, and coming to a mutual appreciation of each other. Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to support this month's nonprofit, as they seek to increase mental health advocacy and access to care.  

Michael Reddington is a former private investigator and Forensic Interviewer. In his book "The Disciplined Listening Method," he describes lessons learned from conducting Interviews, and his belief that every conversation has hidden meaning and value, and that two people effectively communicating can meet both of their needs, and the role of empathy in motivational conversations. Follow his work at www.michaelreddington.com.  Visit www.grandviewforgood.org to see this month's highlighted charity, an organization advocating for mental health awareness and funding for those who cannot afford psychological treatment.   

Never give up! A little look at a social movement success, as Sesame Street appears to have been saved from cancellation. Each one of us can opt in or out of doing something to help with things we care about, and every contribution helps.  Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to learn more about this month's highlighted nonprofit organization, helping raise community awareness and help access to care for those in need. 

Thursday Thistory! Today we are diving into the history of the classic novel & movie "A Clockwork Orange," and the effect it had on public perceptions of Behavioral Psychology. Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to learn about this month's highlighted nonprofit, working on public awareness of mental health and increasing access to care.   

Dr Charlie Powell helps military veterans dealing with PTSD and the stress of transitioning into civilian life. His experience as a decorated two war veteran and combat physician led him to confront his own Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, as he learned that it could not simply be avoided. This led him to create Healing Heroes (www.healingheroes.com), a docuseries following the experience of six veterans navigating PTSD treatment and its effect on their day-to-day life.  Please visit and support our highlighted charity for this month, Grandview For Good, a nonprofit helping people without means to access treatment, and advocating for greater mental health literacy in our communities. www.grandviewforgood.org 

This week's tip focuses on finding measures for our own emotional & mental health. This can help to get the jump on a depressive, anxious, or other types of episodes that can drag down quality of life, or worse.  Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to check out this month's charity-of-focus, a wonderful organization helping people find access to mental health treatment. 

"The Parts of Him I Kept: The Gifts of My Father's Madness," is a new memoir by Author Natasha Williams. She opens up about living with a father who struggled with Schizophrenia and Psychosis his entire life. It is a story of hope, love, trauma, loss, and a look at the definition of terms like "normal," and "sanity." Natasha describes what she has learned about working with people who are doing their best with difficult limitations.  The charity of focus this month is Grandview For Good, a nonprofit focused on raising awareness for mental health, and funding for those who cannot afford treatment.