The Broken Brain

James P Gannon & Matt Ferrin are creating a feature film, and decided to turn their research into a short documentary about the psychology & culture of Demolition Derby. A cool creative move by 2 creative souls, they ended up with a short film debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) This episode is a part of my coverage of TIFF, looking at the psychological elements of indie films, all of which are available on the Patreon feed as well as here. The highlighted charity for this month is the Mental Health Awareness and Creative Arts Gallery Inc, of Hudson NY, providing free arts classes and using art to help people with addiction and mental health problems.

3 minute sample of this week's patrons-only episode: How do Astronauts prepare themselves psychologically? What are the mental health risks for Space Travel? This week we dive a bit into the history, experience, and research associated with the rigors of being an Astronaut.

Julia Baird is a journalist, author, and broadcaster. In her new book, "Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything," she shares ways that people use Grace to make sense of the world, heal from suffering, and (when necessary) challenge the status quo. Far from passive, she discusses how Grace is a motivation to action. Remember to check out www.stigmafree.art to get involved with our highlighted charity this month, bringing art instruction and creativity to those struggling with mental health and addiction.

The use of our senses for meed management and immediate stress-reduction is a quick and effective technique. Today the focus is on our sense of smell, how to use it, and why the future smells rosy...especially when you're smelling roses.

A live play session of a one-shot RPG called "Cage Fight," where the players adopt the powers of Nicolas Cage characters to defeat aliens and save the world. This episode is another exploration into how RPGs can be used for fun, social skills, and building a sense of community. Check out www.dwighthurst.com/rpg to see how I am applying TTRPG play to mental health.

The American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is the largest organization of addiction professionals in the world, and has developed a model for assessment and treatment planning. This is a look at where it came from, how it has changed, and the 6 areas for assessment that they recommend. Go to www.stigmafree.art to view and participate with Mental Health Awareness & Creative Arts Gallery, this month's highlighted charity

Do you struggle with burnout, waver in self-acceptance? Would you like to get into the head of a mental health clinician? And for professionals, how much of yourself do you bring into session? Dr Jessi Gold is a psychiatrist and author who is here to share her story in treating healthcare professionals, and her journey through addressing her own mental health needs. Her book "How Do You Feel: One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine," is a look into the trends of modern medicine, Personalism vs Professionalism, and how being yourself can moderate burnout and help others. You can order a signed copy of her book at: https://www.novelmemphis.com/pre-order-signed-copy-how-do-you-feel-jessi-gold Our Charity of focus this month is Mentla Health Awareness Creative Arts Gallery, in Hudson NY, where they provide free Art Education and those with Psychological Illness to showcase their healing through Art. Follow their work at www.stigmafree.art. If you join the Patreon this month and half your donation will go to them each month.

This week's Mental Health Tip is all about counting & celebrating things going well, especially when anxiety or depression get in the way. Today is the last day to join Patreon and have 50% of your monthly donation go to Horses of Hope, Puerto Rico each month. Tomorrow we start our October challenged

Darryl Mansel, AKA Seed, joins to talk about "Batman: White Knight vol 1," an alternate storyline where Batman must confront his own demons when The Joker is (possibly) cured from his mental health problems and organizes a citizen's drive against him. Happy Batman Anniversary Day 2024!

Ian Bawa is a filmmaker who joins to discuss his Short Film "The Best," which is currently being shown at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). His short "Strong Son," premiered at TIFF in 2020. Both films showcase father-son relationships and complexities of masculine identity. He is currently working on a feature film that further explores these topics. Ian joins to discuss storytelling and integrating his own experiences through film. Follow his work at www.ianbawa.com The Broken Brain's highlighted charity this month is www.horsesofhopepr.org bringing equine therapy to adults and children with disabilities and trauma.