The Broken Brain

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.whitebird.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 specialist in smoking and addiction. She takes a Harm Reduction approach, helping people to make 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