The Broken Brain

Darryl Mansel, aka Seed, is the creator and host of the Poprika Network and the Poprika Reviews Podcast. Today's episode is a sample of Darryl's movie reviews (always spoiler free BTW). With Black History month winding up in the USA this episode highlights Black creators in the Podcasting Sphere.  Check out: Poprika Reviews Vega: A SciFi Adventure Podcast! by Ivuoma Hall TheGrio Daily with Michael Harriot Maximum Film cohosted & created by Ify Nwadiwe

Brad Reed is a Coach in matters of Meditation, Self-Redefinition and Acceptance, and Mindfulness. He shares his story and the philosophy he has built over years of personal and professional work. You can learn more about Brad's work at  www.repurpose-you.com   Consider becoming a Brainiac Level Patron of the show by singing up at  www.patreon.com/brokenbrain You can get access to all episodes in the growing library of bonus content, video of each interview, and things that will never appear in the main feed. If you would like to make a one-time donation to keeping the show strong go to  www.buymeacoffee.com/brokenbrain

Ryan Luis Rodreguez is a movie expert. He podcasts about film, storytelling and his experience as a Neurodivergent individual. We have the opportunity to discuss why stories, film and otherwise, play such a powerful role in our psychology, and give several examples of depictions of healing and emotion in stories. We also discuss Neurodivergence, and what that means to both of us.  Listen to Ryan on One Track Mind, a podcast discussing the audio commentary found on DVD and Blu-ray bonus features. Ryan is also one of the hosts of The Reels of Justice Podcast, a comedy show pitting films against one another in a mock courtroom trial. Follow him at @onetrackmindpod on Twitter.

Family disruption, reparenting, and forming healthy relationships with found and existing family. Could this all exist in a fun and funny holiday special within the MCU? I think you know what our answer will be. Sharon Blady joins this 2023 Holiday Episode focused on the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. There was much more than we planned on finding within the psychological aspects of this Marvel show, apparently the end of Phase 4 (for those of us into that sort of thing).

Nikolai Blinow is a psychotherapist in private practice in Rhode Island. She is an expert in preventing and healing from burnout and navigating major life stressors, and is here to share insights into what to do with this very real problem. Learn more about her work at www.ompowermentpsych.com. Support the show, get involved in the Broken Brain community, and unlock extra bonus episodes by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain, or www.buymeacoffee.com/brokenbrain. 

An episode with Dwight's brother and sister? Yup. Anyone who has listened to the program in Decembers Past knows of the BBrain's obsession with Christmas Specials. Christian Hurst and Amber Lopez join the show to discuss their childhood creation of a VHS tape meant to contain ALL the specials available in the 90s. Happy Holidays, whichever (if any) apply for you. Love you all, thank you for making this a great year!

The rerun of this episode has become a holiday tradition at the Broken Brain. Chris Revill helps me unpack the elements of relationships, community, and support of family and neighbors contained within the Christmas Special "The Snowy Day."

This is an episode of "Addiction, Recovery and Mental Health: A Podcast by WAISMANN METHOD® Opioid Treatment Specialists & Rapid Detox Center," a podcast produced and cohosted by Dwight.  Holidays can be a time of high stress for many reasons, and especially for those doing the hard work of remaining sober and healthy, battling addiction. Clare Waismann, M-RAS/SUDCC II, and David Livingston, LMFT, join to discuss sober strategies. They are two highly experienced and kind people, and if you enjoy the Broken Brain you will likely enjoy the Waismann Method Podcast.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!  

Sharon Blady and Darryl Mansel join me for a wonderful discussion about the MCU film Wakanda Forever. The film showcases some psychological aspects of anger, lashing out, and healing.  Spoiler ALERT! We are discussing pretty much all the details of the movie, so you may want to watch it before listening. The film showcases some psychological aspects of anger, lashing out, and healing.  Partner up with the podcast by becoming a Brainiac Patron on www.patreon.com/brokenbrain, or go to www.buymeacoffee.com/brokenbrain to make a one time donation. Thank you to our wonderful patrons that are helping the show to move forward. 

This is a throw back session from 2016, when Dave Hart (of www.followingfilms.com ) and I sat down to discuss what a psychological tool for healing that gratitude can become. I am replaying it now because it is USA Thanksgiving in the USA, where I live, so gratitude was on my mind.  Gratitude is good for you! What better time to talk about this again than the USA Thanksgiving, which happens this week. And what better CoHost for this topic than the honey-drippingly sweet Guru of Gratitude himself, David Hart! We discuss the use of purposeful gratitude, going deeper than meme culture positivity, the application of Acceptance, and much more! Sit around our virtual Thanksgiving table and pass the virtual potatoes, won't you?  

Sharon Blady (www.speak-up.co) rejoins the program to discuss the social and psychological issues addressed in the MCU TV show "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law," such as toxicity in the culture, toxic masculinity, healthy male & female relations, revenge, anger, and healing. Make sure to check out the Broken Brain Patreon to find more content like this.  www.patreon.com/brokenbrain  

Jocelyn Jones is a Director and Actor, who appears in more than 40 films, including "The Enforcer," and "The Butler." She is also the author of the new book "Artist: Awakening The Spirit Within," in which she tells her story of growing up in a small Artist's community and what Art and Acting mean for healing and finding your comfort in life. Part workbook and part memoir, "Artist" includes exercises and principles to apply to help anyone find their creative outlet. Support the podcast by visiting www.patreon.com/brokenbrain, make a one time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/brokenbrain, or just share the show with a friend. Thanks for listening!

Karly Beaumont returns to the show to help forward a Broken Brain Halloween Tradition: to talk about a scary movie. This year we focus on the film The Black Phone. We talk about the psychological elements of the film, including fear, abuse, forgiveness, trauma, fight-or-flight, and how mental health does not explain violence all by itself. Plus that scary-as-hell mask that Ethan Hawke wears in the movie!

Dr Susan Trachman is a Psychiatrist, Forensic Specialist, and mental health clinician. She joins the podcast today to share some information about the role of psychiatry in legal and forensic areas, the difference between non-clinical levels of trauma & PTSD, and some of the psychological elements of the COVID crisis.  If you are in a place to do so, please consider becoming a patron Brainiac of the show at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain. Bonus episodes, merch, and more! Plus you will get that warm and fuzzy feeling only known by true patrons of the arts. 

Dr Rebecca Dempster is a psychologist specializing in burnout and secondary trauma, especially among employees of nonprofits and NGOs that serve Third World nations. was mentioned in the recording of an upcoming episode, and it reminded me of this episode when she was on the show a few years back. This is a re-broadcast of that episode. Stay tuned for the all new episode this week with Dr Susan Trachman, Forensic Psychiatrist.

A bit of serious, a bit more silly in today's episode. Every year I like to tell everyone "Happy Colombo Day!" a send-up of what today is often called. In this episode I am sharing facts about the 1970s Murder Mystery Series "Colombo," because why not? As today is now referred to as Indigenous Peoples' Day, I also want to highlight Coyote & Crow, a company producing an exciting new RPG designed, owned, and operated by Indigenous People. Check them out at www.Coyoteandcrow.net

Tonya Lester is an LCSW, therapist, blogger for Psychology Today, and author. She is also an expert in relationships, family systems theory and couple's counseling. She joins the Broken Brain today to share her insights working with relationship difficulties and successes. Learn more about Tonya's work at www.tonyalester.com, including the progress of her book and her writing for Psychology Today.  Support The Broken Brain and get awesome extra materials by becoming a patron Brainiac today at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain, or make a one-time donation on www.buymeacoffee.com/brokenbrain 

Internal Family Systems is a mode of therapy developed by Dr Richard Schwartz, declared an evidence based treatment by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The treatment uses family systems theory, and applies it to the patient's internal emotional parts. It is also known as Parts-Work. Dylan Schlender joins me to discuss our experience researching and receiving IFS in therapy. This episode is focused on the client experience, the theories of IFS, and what an IFS session looks like.

Happy Batman Day 2022! Give this a listen while decorating your Batman Tree or Dying Batman eggs.  This is a compilation of answers from listeners and friends to the two questions we are always asking ourselves: 1. What does Batman mean to you? 2. Is there a Batman story from the comics that you would love to see show up in live action form? Something fun for a fun memorial day for one of my favorite superheroes. Thanks for listening!     

This is PART 5 of the Rebroadcast of the Live Streamed Overdose Awareness event I hosted on August 31, 2022 for International Overdose Awareness Day.   During the program I am joined by several Podcasters and Friends, some of whom you have heard on the podcast before, along with some first timers. Tons of info and a Substance Abuse or Mental Health themed charity shared every 20 (ish) minutes.