

RU350 MARY WILD & VANESSA SINCLAIR TALK SHRINKS ON SCREEN (TV)
Jun 4, 2025
08:17
Welcome to Rendering Unconscious – the Gradiva award-winning podcast about psychoanalysis & culture, with me, Dr Vanessa Sinclair. https://renderingunconscious.substack.com
Rendering Unconscious episode 350.
RU350: MARY WILD & VANESSA SINCLAIR TALK SHRINKS ON SCREEN (TV): https://renderingunconscious.substack.com/p/ru349-mary-wild-and-vanessa-sinclair
I sat down with Freudian cinephile Mary Wild to dish about shrinks on screen. This episode was originally recorded for Mary’s Patreon channel. Mary has just launched her own Substack. Be sure to give her a follow and support independent thinkers: https://psycstar.substack.com/about
Follow her at:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/marywild/posts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psycstar/
In this conversation, Mary and I discuss the portrayal of mental health professionals in television shows. The conversation begins with "The Sopranos," focusing on Tony Soprano's therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi, highlighting the dynamic between a mobster and his therapist. The discussion then moves to "Mr. Robot," examining Elliot Alderson's sessions with his therapist, Krista, and his internal monologue. "In Treatment" is analyzed, exploring the crisis of faith experienced by therapist Paul Weston. The episode concludes with a look at "Hannibal," where Dr. Hannibal Lecter's sessions with his therapist, played by Gillian Anderson, are examined.
Mary Wild is the Freudian Cinephile – a pop psychoanalyst exploring film, philosophy, and the strange contours of modern life. She’s been hosting the Projections series of events at the Freud Museum London for more than a decade. Join her for whimsical cinematic interpretation and witty cultural critique. No one tops Mary for psychoanalytic interpretations of cinema! Stay tuned for her forthcoming book Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema (Routledge, 2025). https://www.routledge.com/Psychoanalysing-Horror-Cinema/Wild/p/book/9781032545097?srsltid=AfmBOorqpeove7e8PlV8GNwGRfi1mes8MEdFFvN_YsbtdSrZY8qpP7-b
News and events:
Coming up on Thursday, June 5th Mary is hosting her next online event PROJECTIONS: Lynchian Women. Not to be missed. You know I’ll be there! https://www.freud.org.uk/event/projections-lynchian-women/
Projections: Death Scenes in Cinema with Mary Wild, Begins September 21: https://www.morbidanatomy.org/classes/p/projections-death-scenes-in-cinema-with-mary-wild-september
Check out our previous discussion:
RU349: MARY WILD & VANESSA SINCLAIR TALK PSYCHOANALYSTS & THERAPISTS ON FILM: https://soundcloud.com/highbrowlowlife/ru349-mary-wild-vanessa?si=69420d5f2b0343c5a18cec5f443ee6f0&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Thank you for listening to the Rendering Unconscious Podcast and for reading the Rendering Unconscious anthologies. And thank you so much for supporting this work by being a paid subscriber at the Substack. It makes my work possible. If you are so far a free subscriber, thanks to you too. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to gain access to all the material on the site, including all future and archival podcast episodes. https://renderingunconscious.substack.com
If you would like information about entering into psychoanalytic treatment with me, joining the group I run for those who have relocated to another country, or have other questions, please feel free to contact me via vs [at] drvanessasinclair.net
https://www.drvanessasinclair.net/contact/
Thank you.