Inside Mental Health

Latest Episodes:

Are Ketamine and Psychedelic Treatments Safe? Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

Most people think of ketamine therapy for mental health conditions as being experimental and new. Today’s guest shares that ketamine has been successfully used for mental health conditions for over 20 years and for other medical purposes for decades. The discussion answers important questions like why we are so hesitant about this treatment option when we are so quick to embrace others.

Join us as the CEO of Mindbloom tells us about a recent study showing that at-home ketamine therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression.

“I think we've lumped a bunch of these illegal drugs or substances together. Some of them have been shown for a long time to have stunning and profound therapeutic benefits. Seemingly overnight, people have been starting to prescribe or use psychedelic therapies like ketamine therapy. There's that quote: An overnight success is ten years in the making. In this case, ketamine would be 20 years in the making. The first study on ketamine for depression was published in 2000. And since then, over 100 clinical studies have been published showing consistently the safety and efficacy of ketamine therapy for a range of mental health care issues.” ~Dylan Beynon

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Please note: Healthline content is strictly information and should not be considered medical advice. See a licensed medical professional for diagnosis or treatment recommendations.

Our guest, Dylan Beynon is the Founder & CEO of Mindbloom — a mental health company that is transforming lives through psychedelic medicine, starting with ketamine therapy. A three-time founder, Dylan has been named a Top 25 Consumer HealthTech Executive and one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Psychedelics and received the Tony Hsieh Award for the innovative culture he built at Mindbloom. Mindbloom has been featured by the likes of the New York Times, Vogue, and Women's Health, and its clinicians facilitate over 100,000 ketamine therapy sessions annually.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Crying in the Workplace: How to Stop and Why You Shouldn't Have To Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever started to cry at work and felt unable to control it? Did this cause you feelings of shame or embarrassment? Similarly, have you ever tried to comfort a co-worker who was crying? For many people, crying — whether themselves or someone else — can be an unwelcome emotional response while in the workplace.

Today’s guest, Alex Wills, MD, shares how to handle crying at work, basic tips for managing emotions, and why crying is so stigmatized but shouldn’t be. Listen now!

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Alex Wills, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist. He is a graduate of the Sackler School of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship training in Hawaii with additional training from Columbia University. He is the owner of Perma Mental Health, a private psychiatric practice with offices across Idaho. Alex’s clinical days are spent using the Radical Emotional Acceptance method to help patients heal from issues ranging from past traumas to interpersonal struggles in their marriages. Give a F*ck, Actually is based on that experience. Learn more at RadicalEmotionalAcceptance.com

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Treating OCD with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy with NOCD's Dr. Patrick McGrath Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NOCD. ERP is widely considered the gold standard treatment for OCD. Unfortunately, very few people with OCD receive this type of therapy due to many external factors. It can take up to 17 years for someone with OCD symptoms to receive any treatment let alone the best one. Also, many people with OCD are unaware of ERP’s existence or how it even works.

We explain what OCD is and is not and address some common reasons people don’t seek help for OCD.

Join us as our host, Gabe Howard, speaks with Dr. Patrick McGrath, the clinical director of NOCD.com, an app-based platform that specializes in bringing ERP to those who need it. Special thanks to NOCD for graciously sponsoring this episode. Learn more at treatmyocd.com.

Our guest, Dr. Patrick B. McGrath serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for NOCD, an app-based platform for the treatment of OCD, leading their teletherapy services across the world. He opened Intensive Outpatient, Partial Hospital, and Residential Treatment Programs for Anxiety Disorders, School Refusal, and OCD. He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation. He is a Fellow of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. He authored “Don’t Try Harder, Try Different,” and “The OCD Answer Book.” He was featured on Discovery Health Channel’s, “Panic” and on three episodes of TLC’s “Hoarding; Buried Alive.”

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Does Online Dating Increase Loneliness? With OkCupid's Michael Kaye Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Dating apps are the most popular way to find romance in America. However, many people believe they cause more issues than they resolve. Some experts have opined that apps can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and rejection, for example.

Also, a contingent of people have not tried them and are suspicious about how they work. Join us as Michael Kaye from OkCupid shares some tips for success and what is going on right now in the online dating world. Our host, Gabe Howard (who met his wife on OkCupid), shares his own experiences as well.

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Michael Kaye is the Head of Global Communications at OkCupid, one of the world's largest dating apps, where he leads public relations programming, influencer marketing, and social media.

Michael has been a leading voice in dating and relationships and has been featured in ABC News, Business Insider, Bustle, CBS, CNN, Cosmopolitan, Elite Daily, Good Morning America, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Do We Medicate Normal Behaviors? With Dr. David Cohen (Part 1/2) Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

In 1980, about 1 in 100 children in the US were taking psychiatric medications. Today, that number is 1 in 10. Even more shockingly, 1% of 3-year-olds in the US are taking psychiatric medications. Across the board, 1 in 5 Americans takes daily psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and sleeping pills — and these numbers continue to rise.

Presumably, humans haven’t changed in the past 40 years, so why has the way we are treating their symptoms changed? Join us as Dr. David Cohen looks at psychoactive drugs and how their desirable and undesirable effects have been constructed for society through language, policy, attitudes, and social interactions.

Today’s two-part episode looks at how we got here, examines the possible implications for our society, and attempts to answer the question, “Is this the best medical treatment available?”

Please note, this is part 1 of 2.

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

For 20+ years our guest, Professor David Cohen, has been doing research on psychoactive drugs (prescribed, licit, and illicit) and their desirable and undesirable effects. He has also authored and co-authored over 120 articles and book chapters on these and other subjects.

Recently he was one of the main experts interviewed in “Medicating Normal,” an in-depth documentary about the overuse and harmful impact of commonly prescribed psychiatric drugs.

About 1 in 5 Americans takes daily psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and sleeping pills. Most people take them for months and years.

While these medications can provide effective short-term relief, Dr. David estimates about 30–35% of regular users experience harm and/or are made worse by the drugs. But the real percentage could be higher because harms are not studied carefully.

Driven by profit, pharmaceutical companies, which spend billions of dollars annually promoting psychiatric drugs, keep evading the serious study of the dangers and long-term harms these drugs can cause. And no other responsible agency is taking up the slack.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Are We Using Psychiatric Medications Correctly? (Part 2/2) Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

Today’s two-part episode looks at how we got here, examines the possible implications for our society, and attempts to answer the question, “Is this the best medical treatment available?”

Please note, this is part 2 of 2. The first episode is titled "Do We Medicate Normal Behaviors? With Dr. David Cohen (Part 1/2)" and is available on your favorite player.

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Recently he was one of the main experts interviewed in “Medicating Normal,” an in-depth documentary about the overuse and harmful impact of commonly prescribed psychiatric drugs.

About 1 in 5 Americans takes daily psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and sleeping pills. Most people take them for months and years.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Narcissism in Kids: Spotting the Early Warning Signs Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Is your child acting entitled and selfish? Are you worried they are showing signs of narcissism? Some warning signs can include constantly wanting to be the center of attention, never compromising, and continually insisting that things can only be their way.

However, as a parent, how can you tell the difference between a budding narcissist and a child throwing a tantrum? After all, healthy children push boundaries and act out as part of typical development. Join us as our guest, renowned early childhood narcissism expert Dr. Mary Ann Little, explains the difference between usual childhood behavior and potential warning signs.

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Mary Ann Little, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who has been in private practice for over four decades. She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and has served as an adjunct professor in the departments of psychology and special education at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Little authored Loving Your Children Better: Matching Parenting Styles to the Age and Stage of Your Children; Cooperation Station, an educational toy for kids and families; and the Competent Kids Series. Her latest book, Childhood Narcissism: Strategies to Raise Unselfish, Unentitled, and Empathetic Children, is out now.

Dr. Little has been a consultant to numerous educational and psychiatric facilities and frequently lectures to both lay and professional audiences. When not in her Dallas office, she can be found with her husband cooking, cycling back roads in Europe, or hiking trails near Santa Fe. Visit her online at drmaryannlittle.com.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Happier Made Simple with Randye Kaye Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

Everyone wants to be happy, but reaching that goal is quite complicated. For example, what does happiness even look like for you? Many of us haven’t defined it in our own minds. Then we get to more complex questions like, is it even possible for humans to truly be happy?

Join us as noted voice-over talent, podcaster, and actress Randye Kaye explains that our goal shouldn’t be happiness; it should be to be happier. She explains why that distinction is important and how we can get there. And, you guessed it, she shares how this can be a much simpler process.

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Randye Kaye's passions for theater and improv help her inspire audiences and workshop participants to get human again - Connect, Create, Communicate - so we empower each other to live happier, more meaningful lives. Two bestselling books, Happier Made Simple and Ben Behind His Voices, tie into her work as speaker, radio and podcast host, actress, singer, and mental health advocate. Her most recent podcast, Schizophrenia: 3 Moms in the Trenches, is entering its 4th season.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Mother of Mindfulness Shares How Positive Thinking Improves Our Health with Dr. Ellen Langer Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

Join us for a wide-ranging conversation about the power of positive thinking, the mind-body connection, and the realization that many of our limits are self-imposed. Dr. Langer even helps our host with some of his own insecurities and answers the question: "can positive thinking improve hearing loss and the need for glasses?"

Dr. Ellen Langer is known as the “mother of mindfulness” and was the first woman to whom Harvard gave tenure in psychology. She is nothing less than psychology royalty. Listen now!

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Dr. Ellen J. Langer, was the first woman to be tenured in psychology at Harvard, where she is still professor of psychology. The recipient of three Distinguished Scientists awards, the Arthur W. Staats Award for Unifying Psychology, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Liberty Science Genius Award, Dr. Langer is the author of twelve other books, including the international bestseller Mindfulness, as well as The Power of Mindful Learning, Counterclockwise and On Becoming an Artist. Her trailblazing experiments in social psychology have earned her inclusion in The New York Times Magazine’s “Year in Ideas” issue. She is known worldwide as the “mother of mindfulness” and the “mother of positive psychology.” She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Stillbirth, Grief, and Humor with Comedian Liz Glazer Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Comedian Liz Glazer and her wife experienced the trauma of their daughter, Leo Pearl, being stillborn at 33 weeks. Liz explains that, “Leo existed, but she never lived.” As a way to process this trauma, she did what she knows best and made a comedy album about the experience.

Join us as Liz shares a vulnerable and practical firsthand look at the experience and explains why she decided to make the album, how the process was healing for her, what pushback she received from the public, and the particular grief that attends a stillbirth.

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Liz Glazer, released her latest album on the one-year anniversary of her first daughter’s stillbirth titled, “A Very Particular Experience.”

As a previous winner of the Boston Comedy Festival and Ladies of Laughter Competition and former tenured law professor, Liz’s style is fast-paced and gripping. This debut album about grief, stillbirth, and inherited trauma (Liz is also the granddaughter of 4 Holocaust survivors) is heartfelt, vulnerable, and hilarious all at once. “A Very Particular Experience is the testimony I offered to honor my wife’s and my first daughter Leo Pearl’s stillbirth so as to create something positive from the experience. And while that experience wasn’t and isn’t funny, the album is,” said Liz.

Liz’s comedy has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and she opens for Maria Bamford. Liz has also appeared as an actor on “The Blacklist” on NBC, “For Life” on ABC, and “BULL” on CBS. She headlines clubs, law schools, law firms, and synagogues, and performs at the Comedy Cellar in NYC. Liz also had a bunch of accomplishments in law, having been published in journals such as the Northwestern University Law Review and the Georgetown Law Journal, where one of her pieces became the subject of a symposium in the journal’s centennial volume. Liz is currently working on a comedy pilot about her life as a law professor turned comedian. Liz lives in New Jersey with her wife who is a rabbi and her cat Jack, who also is.

A Very Particular Experience is available wherever comedy albums are streamed or sold.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

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