The Broken Brain

Sophie Edwards is a vocal coach for Transgender Women, specializing in finding and developing a voice that fits with an individual's sense of self. She explains the effect that having a voice of our own on our self-esteem, the relationship between voice and the transition process, and techniques for developing vocal range. You are invited to join the first Broken Brain Book Club, focused on "A Stream to Follow," by Jess Wright. July 11, join the zoom meeting through the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88956308489

The Batman is the most recent cinematic forray into the world of ...well...the Batman. Sharon Blady is of course the perfect CoHost for an episode in which we take a look at this representation of Batman, which above all is a story of trying to discover hope in the face of loss, trauma, and pain. This episode also includes an announcement about our upcoming Broken Brain Book Club, coming up on July 11. Subscribe on Patreon for special episodes, including Sharon and I talking about the cultural impact of KPOP, and Geoff John's recent Three Jokers run in Batman comics.

It's a Deep-Dive-Diagnosis-with-D episode. Exciting research is happening in the area of MDMA treatment for PTSD. Psychedelic drugs, such as MDMA, are being studied and are showing hopeful results towards significant reduction in Trauma symptoms. What does this mean? Where does it go from here? I'll share what I know. Goto www.MAPS.org/MDMA/PTSD to learn more about Phase 3 Trials. DDDD is a special episode of the podcast and will be broadcasting weekly on our Patreon channel. One episode per month is uploading to the regular feed. Consider bcoming a patron of the show at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain for bonus materials. This episode was recorded LIVE, but not in front of a studio audience, to the Facebook, Twitter @breakabrain, and YouTube accounts for the show. You can watch this video there, and watch video of all the episodes on the Patreon.

Returning champion, neurodiversity advocate, and your mental health's best friend Sharon Blady returns to focus on Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), trauma, healing, PTSD, fear, and other psychological underpinnings within Marvel's Moon Knight, including the historically problematic representation of DID. Sharon created and operates speak-up.co. Click HERE or go to the site to see a dope arc reactor before checking out her work. Subscribe to our Patreon membership for bonus episodes, including the video of this discussion, and an episode where Sharon discusses the use of Wolverine as a model for psychological health: www.patreon.com/brokenbrain

Once more unto the MCU breach with Sharon Blady! Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is a wild ride into many psychological elements. Grief, trauma, anger, compulsivity, and decidedly unhealthy coping mechanisms. We also discuss the elements of support (or lack thereof) and Dr Strange's lousy bedside manner. Stay tuned to the feed for our discussion about Dissociative Identity Disorder & symptom integration in the Marvel series Moon Knight. Watch the video of this discussion by becoming a Broken Brain patron at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain

Tehya Nakamura (TK) is the host and creator of the For the Love of History podcast. She returns to The Broken Brain to help break down the information about Abraham Lincoln's experiences with depression, or Melancholy as it was called at the time. It is an interesting look at one of the United States' favorite Presidents, old-timey attitudes about mental health, gender issues in treatment, and little blue pills that were super poisonous. Go to www.patreon.com/brokenbrain to sign up for bonus materials, including the video of this interview and a special mini episode about "The Suicide's Soliloquy," an anonymous poem about suicidality that may have been written by Lincoln himself.

Tehya Nakamura (TK) is the host of For The Love of History, a wonderful podcast that shares obscure and exciting historical stories. She joins me to discuss the awkward and weird history of mental health diagnosis. This is a rerun of a previous Broken Brain, leading the way for TK's appearance on a new episode next week, when we will talk about Abraham Lincoln's history with Depression.

Psychiatrist and Author Jess Wright appeared on the podcast a few months ago to discuss his work in computer-assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He returns to the show to discuss his new book, "A Stream to Follow," a historical-fiction novel focused on PTSD in the time of WWII. The protagonist of the story is a small town doctor who served as a WWII battlefield medic. Jess discusses his own experience as a Military Psychiatrist, his Father and Uncle's service in WWII, and much more. "A Stream to Follow" is the FIRST book to be featured in the Broken Brain Book club. About a month from now (the release of this episode) we will hold a virtual book club meeting for any listener who is interested in joining. Jess has agreed to join us in that meeting to answer questions and discuss his work. You can find "A Stream To Follow" on Amazon, at your local indie book store, or anywhere you get books. The best place of course is booksandcranniesva.com, where you can order from former guest DeShanta Hairston through her store Books and Crannies.

This episode is a selection of another podcast that is produced by the same people bringing you the Broken Brain. Dwight cohosts and produces a podcast with Clare Waismann and David Livingston of the Waismann Method Rapid Detox and Opiate Treatment Specialists in California. They are discussing healthy ways to cope and avoid substance use triggers during times of high crises like many are facing currently. Check out Clare and David's podcast: A Podcast to Answer Your Questions on Addiction, Recovery and Mental Health by Waismann Method® Opioid Treatment Specialists and Rapid Detox Center

Dr. Carmine Pariante is a Psychiatrist who studies Treatment Resistant Depression. He is working towards a more specific definition of what constitutes a resistance to treatment interventions, and how to use that information in increasing efficacy in treatment. Sofia Quaglia is a medical journalist who wrote a piece on Dr. Pariante's work, and joins today to help describe this work, and discuss her goals of highlighting the need for definition in diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. You can view the video of this interview by becoming a Patron of the show at www.patreon.com/breakabrain.