The Broken Brain

Debbie Ausburn is a social worker and the author of "Raising Other Peoples Children: What Foster Parenting Taught Me About Bringing Together A Blended Family." She shares her experiences as a Foster and Step Parent, and the lessons learned from successes and mistakes connecting and parenting children in situations where trust must be earned instead of assumed. Donate, participate, and promote The Because Organization, this month's highlighted nonprofit. They work with survivors of human trafficking, helping people to build safe and healthy lives after emerging from these abusive situations.    

What kind of scary movies do you like? What type of storytelling do you find to be smart and compelling?  It's Halloween time, a time for spooky, scary stuff, and I am joined by two movie and Halloween experts, Dalin Rowell of "It's Reely a Podcast, and Isabel Teran of "Hearsing Around," and "That's Bodacious Dude! 80 Radical Movies from the Eighties." Visit www.becauseorganization.org to visit this month's highlighted charity AND participate in their virtual walk/run event from anywhere in the world. Your contributions help survivors of human trafficking rebuild their lives. 

Marcia Holt & Bill Cottringer return to the show to share details about the virtual walk/run fundraising event for The Because Organization, a nonprofit providing virtual and in-person services for survivors of Human Trafficking, and helping them to stabilize their lives vocationally, psychologically, medically, and in whatever other ways needed. Less than 8% of Human Trafficking related nonprofits address the needs of the individual AFTER escaping a trafficking situation.  Go to www.becauseorganization.org to sign up for this event, which runs from 10/26-11/9, and participate from anywhere in the world. Any amount of distance and money are helpful for this great cause, and share the link on your social media.   

The way in which we diagnose mental health conditions has been key to the treatment world. Much of this has historically been done through patient report and observable behavior. As time has gone by assessment instruments and tools have been developed to help, but the individual assessment will always be important. Dr Barry Herman, medical director for Mentavi, joins today to share information about diagnosis, particularly for ADHD and related issues. Go to www.mentavi.com to follow his work.  The Because Organization is a nonprofit dedicated to helping those who have survived human trafficking to build up their lives in a healthy and managable way, and is this month's charity-of-focus. Visit www.becauseorganization.org to support them and to learn more. 

Dr Mary-Catherine (MC) MCDonald is a Research Professor, Trauma Recovery Expert, and the Author of "The Joy Reset." Her expertise is in the use of joy to combat the effects of trauma. Going deeper than just the philosophy of joy, she shares actionable techniques to reduce trauma symptoms. We also like & dislike some of the same trends in therapy.  Follow her work @mcphd on Instagram. Go to www.becauseorganization.org to support The Because Organization, helping survivors of trafficking to establish healthy lives. Participate in their virtual walk/run from anywhere in the world during October & November.

Remember "Harold and the Purple Crayon"? So does Dr Ross Ellenhorn, our guest today and the author of "Purple Crayons: The Art of Drawing a Life." Dr Ellenhorn uses the framework of the world of Harold and the Purple Crayon to showcase the importance of individuality and creativity when dealing with mental illness, addiction, and health.  The charity of focus this month is The Because Organization, a nonprofit in Philadelphia helping people who have survived human trafficking to build their lives. Go to www.becauseorganization.org to learn more AND to participate in their virtual walk-a-thon fund raiser. 

What kind of women characters do we find in Batman stories? How do they interact with Batman, The BatFamily, and the world of Gotham? Dalin Rowell, host & creator of "It's Reely a Podcast," joins me to discuss this year's Batman episode, where we focus on Characters such as Catwoman, Batgirl, Talia al Ghul, Baby Doll, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and more! Including the under-discussed Andrea Beaumont!  One more plug for the September charity-of-focus: go to www.akshayapatra.org, to share and support this wonderful nonprofit providing hot midday meals to students in India. 

Frank Forcich is a biologist and health educator. He teaches people to understanding life through the lens of what attributes human beings have as animals within the natural world, and to assess how we are influenced by health and habitat. His perspective helps to break down the things that influence the way we form culture, community, and how we make decisions on a group and individual level. Learn more about his work at www.honortheanimal.com  Visit www.akshayapatra.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit. Akshata Patra is an NGO base din India, with a focus on providing a hot midday meal for youth in school. 

Shyam Madiraju is the writer & Director of "55," a modern Dickensian story set in Mumbai, India. It tells the story of a young pickpocket who faces hard decisions about survival, morality, and what power we have over our own lives. Look for the film streaming on Video On Demand, and follow Shyam's work on Instagram @mad_n_shy The highlighted nonprofit this month is Akshaya Patra, an NGO based in India that provides hot midday meals for children attending school. Go to www.akshayapatra.org to learn more, support, and share this charity. 

Bill Combs is the Author of the novel, "The Quantum Gate," (and its upcoming sequel). An adventure story in the spirit of Indiana Jones, Da Vinci Code, Stargate, this novel is a story of trauma and redemption, with riddles, treasure hunting, and mystical elements. He joins the podcast to share this story and his approach to creating realistic characters facing mystical situations, and how people relate to difficulty in real life. Go to www.billcombs.com to follow his work, monitor his ongoing series of novels, and read his free short stories.  Visit www.akshayapatra.org to support and share our charity-of-focus this month. Akshaya Patra is a NGO that delivers hot midday meals to school students in India. 

The second half of the 4th Annual Live Stream for International Overdose Awareness Day. In this segment of the stream Dwight and Isabel Teran are joined by the Reels of Justice Podcast hosts to discuss addiction, engagement with life, and cultural/societal elements of health. Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Robb Maynard, Ben Haslar, and Dylan Schlender have a vulnerable and open discussion about their own experiences with compulsion, addiction, and alcohol. A great example of openness, community, and support. We will do it again next year! Go to www.akshayapatra.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit agency, providing hot midday meals to children in school in India. 

This is the first half of the Annual Live Stream for International Overdose Awareness Day, 2025. Join hosts Dwight and Izzie as we look at how Engagement & Avoidance factor into addiction. In Part one we are joined by Chris Revill and Mike Lundsford.  Please support & share our highlighted charity of the month, Akshaya Pahtra, a NGO in India providing hot midday meals to provide incentive and support for children to attend school. Visit www.akshayapatra.org to learn more. 

Monday Mental Health Tip Time, talking about the human tendency to wait to act until we feel sure of success, and what that can cost us in experiences.  Big thank you and shout out to the folks who appeared on and helped the Live Stream for Overdose Awareness yesterday. That audio will be showing up in the feed soon.  Thanks to: Isabel Teran, Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Robb Maynard, Ben Haslar, Dylan Schlender, Mike Lundsford, & Dr Delice Coffey for jumping onto the stream and sharing so openly.   

Tomorrow will be the Broken Brain's 4th annual Live Stream for Overdose Awareness! Go to www.dwighthurst.com/live to WATCH live, on YouTube FB or Linkedin, or you can JOIN the live stream with me! Links and details all at that page. 

Dr Alessandra Seggi is a Professor of Sociology and Crimonology for Villanova University, and Author of the book "Youth and Suicide in American Cinema: Context, Causes, and Consequences." She talks about the ethics and effects of depictions of suicide, the possible positive applications, processing emotions, as well as the risks. With suicide being such a huge risk for youth, this is an important topic for everyone. Go to www.alessandraseggi.com to learn more about her work.  This Sunday (8/31) is the Broken Brain's 4th Annual Live Stream for Overdoes Awareness. Visit www.dwighthurst.com/live for times, links, and ways to join the stream. 

Author, educator, and Behavioral Psychology expert Dr John Demartini is a survivor. Faced with literacy & academic challenges, physical injury, and a period of homelessness as a youth, he learned to overcome obstacles by finding opportunities within struggle. He teaches others how to reframe traumatic events to aid personal development, to "send us ON the way, not be IN the way." Learn more about his work at www.drdemartini.com. Visit www.dwighthurst.com/live to find information and links to the 4th annual Broekn Brain Live Stream for Overdose Awareness, broadcasting 8/31. Watch or JOIN the program anytime during the 5 hour live stream.  And please support Improving Lives, a wonderful nonprofit in Nottingham, UK, that seeks to hep those facing mental health with supports and bridge services for those awaiting treatment. Go to www.improvinglivesnotts.org.uk to follow and support them. 

MJ Renshaw is a breathwork trainer, podcast host, and author of the book "How To Cry." She helps individuals use spirituality, breath, and somatic techniques for emotional regulation and healing. Drawing from her own experiences with Trauma, she shares her experiences of trauma, healing, and learining to help others. Follow her work at www.beingmethod.ca and check out her podcast "The Being Method Podcast."  Make sure to go to www.dwighthurst.com/live to see the details for the 4th annual Broken Brain Live Stream for International Overdose Awareness day on 8/31. AND go to www.improvinglivesnotts.or.uk to support Improving Lives, this month's highlighted charity. 

Over 30 million people in the USA have a diagnosable eating disorder, with many going undiagnosed, and even more having distorted thoughts about food and body issues. Mallary Tenor Tarpley is the author of the new book "Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery," (RELEASED TODAY!) where she shares information about the genetic influences on eating disorders, how our brain changes both while suffering from ED and while recovering, and the under-discussed grey area between being total symptomatic and in active recovery. This month we are highlighting Improving Lives, a wonderful nonprofit helping those in Nottingham, UK, to receive enhanced mental health services and case management. Go to www.improvinglivesnotts.org.uk 

Holy cow! The upload on Monday didn't work, so this is now a mid-week mental health tip! This episode is setting the stage for the Live Event coming up on 8/31, for International Overdose Awareness Day. Go to www.dwighthurst.com/live for the sweet details.  Last chance to sign up and have 50% of your Patreon donation each month go the Learning Works of Maine. www.learningworks.me will take you to this wonderful nonprofit helping adults & kids at risk for academic disadvantage. Next episode will have the new charity for August.  

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.