

The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy
The Thinking Mind Podcast
"If you are interested in your mind, emotions, sense of self, and understanding of others, this show is brilliant."Learn something new about the mind every week - With in-depth conversations at the intersection of psychiatry, psychotherapy, self-development, spirituality and the philosophy of mental health. Featuring experts from around the world, leading clinicians and academics, published authors, and people with lived experience, we aim to make complex ideas in the mental health space accessible and engaging. This podcast is designed for a broad audience including professionals, those who suffer with mental health difficulties, more common psychological problems, or those who just want to learn more about themselves and others. Hosted by psychiatrists Dr. Alex Curmi, Dr. Anya Borissova & Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson. Listeners have also said:"Every episode is enlightening, the approach, conversations and depth of information is deeply enriching. So refreshing to hear practitioners with this level of insight into human behaviour. Thank you for the work and for sharing."Podcast related enquiries: thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com.If you would like to work with Dr. Curmi: alexcurmitherapy@gmail.comDisclaimer: None of the information in the podcast is intended as medical advice for any one invididual.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 24, 2021 • 44min
The Psychology of Christmas
In this episode Anya and Alex discuss the psychological significance and historical origins of Christmas, as well as other similar celebrations around the world. They also discuss: nostalgia, social cohesion, why you shouldn't try and change your relatives minds over Turkey, loneliness, New Years resolutions and much more.From the whole team Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! With Dr. Anya Borissova and Dr. Alex Curmi Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT THE PODCAST: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Dec 10, 2021 • 52min
Interview #28: Obesity, Weight Loss and Why We Eat Too Much (With Andrew Jenkinson)
Andrew Jenkinson, author and bariatric surgeon, challenges mainstream views on obesity crisis and discusses the 'body set-point' hypothesis. He explores improving diet and lifestyle, psychological hurdles with weight loss, and the potential of government policies to enhance public health.

Nov 27, 2021 • 48min
Interview #27: Why Do We Laugh? (With Professor Sophie Scott)
Professor Scott is the Director of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, and Head of the Speech Communications Group. Her research studies the neural basis of vocal communication - how our brains process the information in speech and voices, and how our brains control the production of our voice. Professor Scott also researches the expression of emotion in the voice, especially laughter. In this episode, we spend some time discussion why we laugh and how this might change with mental illness, what makes something funny, and why our voices are so relevant in understanding our mental state. Professor Scott is also well known for her public engagement work, including performing stand-up comedy, featuring on radio (The Life Scientific, The Infinite Monkey Cage) and TV (Horizon, Inside Culture) and the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. Professor Scott hosts a podcast with a poet - 'The Neuromantics' available on https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-neuromantics/id1455641494Interviewed by Dr. Anya Borissova - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Nov 12, 2021 • 1h 38min
Interview #26: Dr. Richard Miller Part 1 - MDMA, Psychedelics & the Therapeutic Milleu
Dr. Richard Miller is an American clinical psychologist, author and radio broadcaster. He is the author of the book Psychedelic Medicine and the founder of the Wilbur Hot Springs health maintenance organisation, where he helped over 1500 people to detox from drugs and alcohol. Miller has presented his work at national conferences of the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Psychotherapists and the White House Conference on Drugs.In addition to continuing his professional work in psychology, Miller currently hosts a weekly, live radio program, "Mind Body Health & Politics" on his website MindBodyHealthpolitics.orgInterviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi and Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastPart 2 of this Interview can be found under Interview #33, released on April 1st 2022SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Oct 29, 2021 • 26min
Audio Essay #9: Reality vs Fantasy
What if you are being held back by fantasies you are scarcely aware of? How can you become more conscious of your fantasies? How can you become more reality oriented? In this episode mental suffering is examined through the lens of Fantasy and Reality, with the help of cognitive behavioural, psychoanalytic and Jungian theories. Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Oct 15, 2021 • 58min
Interview #25: Cannabis, CBD and THC - What You Should Know (with Dr. Amir Englund)
Dr Amir Englund is a cannabis scientist at King’s College London. He has been involved in and run a number of experimental cannabis, THC, CBD studies. In this episode we discuss the question of can we make cannabis safer with some brand new study results, the effects of CBD in combination with THC, future directions in cannabis harm reduction including the development of a ‘cannabis unit’, the risks of the high street CBD hype and some interesting pharmacology. Interviewed by Dr. Anya Borissova. Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Oct 1, 2021 • 1h 23min
Interview #24: The Cruelty in All of Us (with Dr. Gwen Adshead)
Dr. Gwen Adshead is a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, previously a consultant at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital. She is a visiting professor of psychiatry at Gresham College, Jochelson and a visiting professor at the Yale School of Law and Psychiatry. She is the author of the Devil You Know: Stories of Human Cruelty and Compassion (2021) a book that seeks to understand violent criminals at their most extreme. She is also the author of A Short Book About Evil (2013). Interviewed by Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson with Dr. Alex Curmi Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Sep 16, 2021 • 1h 37min
Interview #23: Our Brain is Divided (with Dr. Iain McGilchrist)
Iain McGilchrist is an author, speaker, psychiatrist and former Oxford literary scholar. McGilchrist came to prominence after the publication of his book The Master and His Emissary in 2010 which concerns the differences between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. His new book The Matter with Things, which concerns epistemology and metaphysics will be out November 2021. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Sep 1, 2021 • 1h 16min
Interview #22: Cannabis & Psychosis (with Dr. Marta Di Forti and Professor Robin Murray)
In this episode Dr. Marta Di Forti and Professor Sir Robin Murray discuss the link between cannabis use and psychotic illness in depth, including: - How cannabis has changed over recent decades- The effect of cannabis on the incidence of psychosis- How cannabis can produce psychotic symptoms in a laboratory setting- The potential role of the endocannabinoid system in humans- The cannabis clinic run by Dr. Di Forti in the South London and Maudsley NHS trustDr. Di Forti is a psychiatrist and senior clinical fellow and senior lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London and is now regarded as one of the leading researchers in the world in the field of cannabis and psychosis.Professor Murray is a psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatric Research at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, and considered a world expert in psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia. Interviewed by Dr. Anya Borissova. Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Aug 5, 2021 • 44min
Interview #21: Introducing New Hosts Anya & Rebecca
Alex chats with new ML Podcast hosts Dr. Anya Borissova and Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson, both training psychiatrists. In this episode they discuss what makes psychiatry different from other medical specialties, the ups and downs of podcasting, the relationship between cannabis and mental illness, the value of psychotherapy and other topics. Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast