SuperPsyched with Dr. Adam Dorsay

Have you ever wondered what a dog was thinking? I know I have and, amazingly, today's guest has some answers. Dr. Gregory Burns (http://gregoryberns.com/) is a neuroscientist who holds both a doctorate in medicine as well as a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. He is a professor of psychology at Emory University and has found a way to comfortably place dogs in a functional MRI machine to discover what areas of their brains are active in the face of various cues. His book, How Dogs Love Us, is a Wall Street Journal Bestseller and it has been heralded by multiple media outlets, including the Boston Globe, which said it “explains why our two species have lived together so long and happily.”  As for me, I say it is utterly fascinating and highly recommended to anyone who loves dogs or is curious about their behavior. So join Greg and me as we have a lively and highly informative conversation about how dogs think. Book Link: https://amzn.to/43ZzKdk This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

The expert on this episode is the perfect person to explain how and why pets are so good for us. Carol Novello was CEO of Humane Society Silicon Valley and now serves as CEO and founder of an organization called Mutual Rescue (https://mutualrescue.org/). Simply put, Carol is amazing. She earned a Harvard MBA, worked for years in the corporate sector, and then pivoted to devote her life to addressing the pet-human bond. She is the author of a fantastic book called “Mutual Rescue” and she has studied how the pet-human bond is reciprocal and her book has a huge bibliography corroborating her work. And on her Mutual Rescue website, she shares films that clearly show the measurable impact pets have had in their humans’ lives. So join Carol and me as we have a lively discussion on how the pets we rescue end up rescuing us right back. Book Link: https://amzn.to/4429VJX This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

Ok, I’ll admit it—I spent a lot of my youth fantasizing about being a Rockstar.  You know, singing with the car stereo and imagining being on stage...it was my dream.  I’m guessing I wasn’t alone. I imagine you too have probably fantasized about being a rock or pop star at least once in your life. But what’s it actually like to be a Rock star?  What goes into writing major hit songs?  As it happens, today’s guest knows firsthand, and he is super generous and straightforward in sharing his story.  Greg Camp is best known as the former lead guitarist and primary songwriter for Smash Mouth.  He wrote All Star, Walking on the Sun, Then the Morning Comes, and nearly everything Smash Mouth released leading to sales in the millions and bringing Smash Mouth to gold and platinum status causing them to tour all over the globe. Although Greg left the band some time ago, music and sound remain front and center in his life.  He continues to write brilliant music for himself, other musicians like the Jonas Brothers and Chainsmokers, and for movies.  You can find links to some of these in the Shownotes and I highly recommend you give them a listen. In the meantime, listen in as Greg and I have a lively, fun, and intimate discussion about life as a Rock star. https://www.instagram.com/greg_camp_music/?hl=en https://music.apple.com/us/album/closer/1530166981?i=1530166984

There are lots of misconceptions about forgiveness. What is it and what is it not? Why is forgiveness an important skill and how do we get good at it? And what if we believe we can’t or don’t want to forgive? These, and many other questions, will be fielded by one of the world’s leading experts in the study and the science of forgiveness. Dr. Frederic Luskin (https://learningtoforgive.com/about/) is a clinical psychologist and the Director of the Stanford Forgiveness Project at Stanford University where he also lectures at its School of Medicine. Fred is also the author of a best-selling book called “Forgive for Good,” which was heralded by Publisher’s Weekly as a “solidly researched and convincing guide,” and he teaches forgiveness all over the world. Fred has taught forgiveness in places as diverse as Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, as well as New York City after the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. So, join Fred and me as we have a lively and informative conversation about how to forgive and what’s in it for you if you do. Book Link: https://amzn.to/3Pchk58 This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

Have you ever done something and then afterwards asked yourself, “Why the heck did I do that?” It can be as if we have an angel and a devil on our shoulders giving us good advice and bad. What if we actually thought of ourselves as having several different parts within us rather than just the two? Some of those parts we like, and some we don’t. For those that we don’t, it can be like a nasty game of whack-a-mole with yourself to try to pat down those parts and even suppress them. If you can relate, then welcome to the human race—we all do it and we all have various parts within us; parts we like and parts we don’t.  The important thing is to get to know these parts, to get curious, and not just pretend they aren’t there by keeping them out of sight and out of mind. You may ask, how do I get to know these parts? And, exactly why is that important? Thankfully, we have just the man to answer these questions and to describe the therapy he has created around that idea.  Dr. Richard Schwartz (https://ifs-institute.com/about-us/richard-c-schwartz-phd) who goes by the name Dick, is the father of a form of psychotherapy called Internal Family Systems, which is also known as IFS.  IFS provides methods for us to know our parts and be more in control of our lives.  IFS has gained international recognition for its effectiveness with a host of mental health conditions including, to name just a few: PTSD, depression, anxiety, phobias, and substance abuse. It’s even been shown as effective with various physical conditions including rheumatoid arthritis! Dick is a luminary in psychology and easily one of the best-known people in the entire field today.  He explains how IFS can help us know our parts and why that is such a crucial thing for us all. So, listen in as Dick and I have a lively and user-friendly exchange about knowing the parts that make you YOU. Book Link: https://amzn.to/3p29S1O This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

What does it take to be a great employee? And if we zoom out, what are practices that companies can use to help employees flourish? These, and other questions are answered by my expert Human Resources guest who is the ideal person to address them. Lissa Minkin is VP of People and Workplace at Tile (https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/about-tile). She has played instrumental roles at several companies including eBay and Facebook and has helped the growth of every company she’s touched. Lissa is passionate about her work, a great implementor and sustainer of healthy corporate culture, and fiercely loyal to the people she serves. Also, full-disclosure, I am a shareholder at Tile where Lissa now works, and that had nothing to do with my selecting her as a guest. I chose her because I have known her work for well over a decade and have been a fan of the healthy practices she promotes in the workplace and I believe listeners will benefit. So, join Lissa and me as we have a lively and user-friendly conversation about being happier at work.

Dr. Jeffrey Zeig, a top authority on hypnosis and founder of the Milton Erickson Foundation, shares his insight into the world of hypnosis. He clarifies misconceptions and discusses how it can lead to healthier living. Hypnosis is likened to an immersive movie, facilitating therapeutic change. Zeig emphasizes the importance of selecting qualified professionals for hypnotherapy and reveals its effectiveness in treating various ailments, such as smoking cessation. The conversation showcases the transformative power of personalized therapy and the deep connection between identity and change.

What does it take to survive and ultimately thrive after horrible trauma? Today’s guest, my friend, Dydine Umunyana, was a young child in 1994 during the Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. She is a woman who has faced and dealt with severe trauma. Yet, she found healthy ways to ultimately return to a place of love, trust, and safety. How did she do that? We will find out. Her book, Embracing Survival, is excellent, and has been described as “an important contribution to our understanding of trauma and healing after unbearable brutality and loss.” Dydine speaks all over the world about her experiences about how she has come out of the worst experiences imaginable and how she now can bring out the best in herself and in others. So, join Dydine and me as we have a candid conversation about life after genocide.

Relationships with our significant others are often hard and even scary. What if there was a technology that could change all of that? The good news is that my guests, Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen Hunt (https://harvilleandhelen.com/) have created that technology and it’s called “Safe Conversations.” (https://safeconversations.com/) I use this technology to help couples in my practice and I do the same in my personal life. Their classic book, “Getting the Love You Want,” which has sold over 4 million copies is one of the finest tools I have ever seen, and their work has made them internationally famous. Harville has been on the Oprah Winfrey Show 17 times and is such a favorite of hers that, upon her retirement, one of his episodes made it to the top-10 list of her all-time favorite shows. These are the people I believe you will want to learn from. My wife, Aurianne, who is also a psychologist, joined me at a 3-day workshop with Harville and Helen and we think the world of them and their Safe Conversations technology. So, listen in as Helen, Harville, and I talk about Safe Conversations and ways to supercharge your relationship in ways that can help you get the love you want. Book Link: https://amzn.to/43XzzPT This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

Boundaries—we all have trouble with them at times. And for some of us, we are so unaware of our own role in how people treat us, we may go our entire lives not really living by our own rules or expressing what’s important to us. Here to shed a light on taking back our lives through boundary setting is Nancy Levin (https://nancylevin.com/), a Master Coach and bestselling author of several books including her latest, Setting Boundaries Will Set You Free. Dr. Christiane Northrup has said, “This book could save your life.” In addition to her writing, Nancy served as the Event Director at Hay House for over a decade, and now runs Levin Life Coach Academy. Nancy offers in-depth coaching and training programs designed to support clients in making themselves a priority and setting boundaries that stick. So listen in as Nancy and I have an energetic, entertaining, and user-friendly conversation on Reclaiming Your Life through Boundary Setting. Book Link: https://amzn.to/42FDX4S This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).