The Broken Brain

This past week I saw some interviews with Robert and Airyn De Niro, about their relationship and Robert De Niro's reaction to Airyn recently being outed as Trans by paparazzi. This led me to think about lessons I have learned from working with Transgendered People (and parents) about supportive and loving ways to respond to someone when they come out.  The charity-of-focus this month is Grand View for Good, a nonprofit formed to increase mental health awareness and find funding for those who cannot otherwise afford treatment. Go to www.grandviewforgood.org to learn more. 

Dr David Rabin is a MD and PhD specializing in psychedelic-assisted treatment for individuals, particularly individuals with PTSD. He is an expert in MDMA and Ketamine therapies, and joins the show to discuss ongoing research and his observations as a professional working in this arena. Go to www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to support our charity-of-focus this month: TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, helping Black Trans individuals with legal issues. 

How many things do you do simply for love of the activity? Self-Care tip again today, on our weekly Monday Mental Tip! Go to www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to visit this month's highlighted charity: TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, a nonprofit helping Black Trans people with legal issues and advocacy. 

Christin Day is the creator and host of "Recovery On Air," and the Communications Manager for Crossroads, INC, a nonprofit residential treatment center for addiction recovery. Christin is a passionate advocate for those facing addiction, and tells us how event management, interagency collaboration, and (woo-hoo) podcasting is in her work. You can hear Christin's show anywhere you listen to podcasts.  Visit www.transcendingbarriers.org to support the nonprofit of the month here at the Broken Brain. TRANScending Barriers helps Black Trans people 

What makes something addictive, compulsive, or problematic? Here are a couple of ways to rate our comforting behaviors for trouble.  Go to www.transcendingbarriersatl.org for this month's highlighted charity. TRANScending Barriers Atlanta is a wonderful nonprofit helping Black Trans people handle legal issues. 

Lisa Anzaldua is a counselor & author, specializing with couples with an Autistic and non-Autistic partner. This type of partnership can have unique challenges, but these are also opportunities for learning about each other and deepening intimacy.  Visit www.transcendingbarriers.org to see our highlighted charity for April: TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, a nonprofit helping Black Trans people with legal and social issues. 

Welcome to Monday! Today's tip is about self-care, and how to rediscover things that brings us joy.  Visit www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to support this month's charity-of-focus, helping Black Transgender individuals with legal situations and other needs. 

Chelsea Christer is the Writer & Director of "Out For Delivery," a dark comedy that takes on issues of terminal illness, suicide, and end of life care. Although the world is already jaded about these issues, Out For Delivery explores what would it look like to take it one step further.  The highlighted charity for this month is TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, a nonprofit organization assisting Black Transgendered people with advocacy and legal assistance.  www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to learn more.  

Recently a good friend made a great, salient post for Autism Awareness Day, which led me down a path of thinking about what makes good awareness and advocacy. 

The monthly history episode for all listeners! This week we are examining Logotherapy, and finding meaning in suffering. Specifically a story told by Victor Frankl about a moving session with a patient. Go to www.transcendingbarriersatl.org to see this month's highlighted charity, working to help Black Trans people in Atlanta to address their legal needs. 

Mara Einstein is an author, academic, speaker, and marketing expert. In her new book, "Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use The Same Techniques as Cults," discusses how we have moved from attention-based advertising to an economy of anxiety. She reviews the ways in which cults attract and enmesh new members, and how marketing has become increasingly similar.  Follow her work at www.drmaraeinstein.com. 

What is Gender Affirming Care? It works differently than some people think. Today is Trans Visibility Day, so here is a little rundown of some aspects of this approach that is saving lives and promoting healing at a rate impressive to anyone paying attention. The highlighted charity this month will be TRANScending Barriers Atlanta. Check out this wonderful nonprofit, specializing in helping Black Transgendered Individuals, at www.transcendingbarriersatl.org.  

Amber Willingham writes novels (under the name AL Willingham) focused on the nature of personality, memory, communication, and the illusion of utopia. Her first book, Bliss Creek, tells the story of an amnesiac young women piecing together her life, solving the mystery of who she is. Her latest work, The Petroleum Wars, tells a greater societal story within the same world, looking at how desperation and fighting for resources can bring out problematic choices on a personal and macro level.  Follow her work at www.alwillingham.com.  Remember to check out this month's focus charity, at www.baketheirday.org, a nonprofit bakery in Guam, where they bake birthday cakes for youth in custody. 

Will Crouse is a filmmaker and the creator of the short film "The Coder," which tells the story of a computer programmer in a high-pressure environment who is also coping with intrusive thoughts. Go to www.baketheirday.org for this month's highlighted nonprofit. 

Doug Nielsen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Author, Therapist, Motivational Speaker, and Coach. He is also a good friend, one that I've been meaning to have on the show for a long time. With such an array of roles, Doug tells us how a mental health clinician approaches speaking and coaching, which are related to counseling but have important differences.  Follow Doug's work at www.dougspeaks.com, and check out his book "Take Life By The Helm."  Follow the highlighted charity for March by going to www.baketheirday.org, the website for Bake Their Day, the nonprofit bakery that makes birthday cakes for youth in custody in Guam.

Returning champion Jeff Krasno! Jeff is a great guest and a great guy. Author of the new book "Good Stress," and host of the Commune with Jeff Krasno Podcast, Jeff shares insights into pushing ourselves to get out of our comfort zone in order to have a healthier body-mind connection and greater emotional satisfaction.  Follow his work at www.goodstress.com, and listen to Commune with Jeff Krasno Podcast (after you finished all the episodes of The Broken Brain of course).  Go to www.baketheirday.org to support this month's featured charity, a nonprofit bakery in Guam that provides birthday cakes to youth in custody.

How do you tell the difference between an organization that supports and engages with men's issues and one that promotes various forms of toxic masculinity? With psychological health for boys and men frequently being underdiagnosed and untreated, there is a need to have intelligent conversations about how to address these. Too often though these discussions slide into the dengration of women, or paranoia. Visit www.baketheirday.org to learn more about this month's highlighted charity. 

Ever wonder why fire trucks are red? Or how that interacts with the rods and cones in your eyes? and how Henry Ford didn't color up his cars? No? Well now you can!!!!! In this week's dive into history, we're learning about the ability to see color, what helps and doesn't, and why we continue to do things just because it's what we've done before. The full episode is available only to the super special patrons, but here is the first 5 minutes of this bonus episode

Michael Caven is a Restauranteur, Advocate, Abuse Survivor, and Writer. He is currently writing his memoir about his experiences of coming out as a Gay man in the 1970s and 80s, suffering sexual and emotional abuse, and healing. Michael co-founded Out On Main in Columbus Ohio, the first LGBTQ themed restaurant in the USA. Follow his work at www.michaelcaven.com  In part 2 of this interview Michael focuses on how he worked on community building and giving back through working as a peer counselor in abuse recovery. Go to www.baketheirday.org to check out the highlighted charity for this month. Bake Their Day is a nonprofit bakery in Guam, making birthday cakes for youth in custody.

Michael Caven is a Restauranteur, Advocate, Abuse Survivor, and Writer. He is currently writing his memoir about his experiences of coming out as a Gay man in the 1970s and 80s, suffering sexual and emotional abuse, and healing. Michael co-founded Out On Main in Columbus Ohio, the first LGBTQ themed restaurant in the USA. Follow his work at www.michaelcaven.com In part 1 of this interview Michael focuses on how he escaped  his abuser and beginning of him putting his life together. Go to www.baketheirday.org to check out the highlighted charity for this month. Bake Their Day is a nonprofit bakery in Guam, making birthday cakes for youth in custody.