The Broken Brain

Latest Episodes:

Episodic & Serialized Storytelling with Christian Hurst Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Do you like reading or watching media that is an episodic/anthology style one-off story? Or do you prefer the more frequent modern storytelling that follows an overarching arc? Sci-Fi Auhtor Christian Hurst joins to discuss different approaches to creating stories, how they speak to us differently, and how we someitmes can throw the good out with the bad when we fail to balance things out.

Read Chris' Lily Starling Series wherever books are sold, and follow him @churstpublishing to learn more about the release of the 3rd book in the series, Lily Starling and the Death Machine.

Goto www.prismunited.org to view this month's highlighted charity. Prism United helps LGBTQ+ youth with leadership training, meaningful activities, medical, mental health treatment, and more. Get involved in their work today!

Financial Therapy, with Erika Rasure Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

What is Financial Therapy? Dr Erika Rasure is here to tell us about it. Many sources of financial advice neglect the emotional/psychological components of money troubles. She shares how fear, self-perception, hope, and the lack of or presence of security interact with finding financial solutions, and some tips to face those issues. Learn more about Erika's work at www.beyondfinance.com, and check out the Financial Therapy Association, www.financialtherapyassociation.org

The highlighted nonprofit this month is Prism United, local charity in Alabama focused on mental health, healthy development, and parental education for LGBTQ+ youth. Go to www.prismunited.org to learn more and support their work.

Psychiatric Elements in Unexplained Medical Problems, with Dr Susan Trachman May 29, 2026

Show notes

Dr Susan Trachman is a Psychiatrist with 30 years of experience specializing in treating medically unexplained illnesses through the lens of psychiatry. She helps patients delves into the brain-body connection, and addresses the damaging misconception that a condition is "all in your head.

Follow her work at www.susanbtrachmanmd.com, and check out her new book, It's Not Just in Your Head: Demystifying the Brain-Body Connection in Medical Illness.

Go to www.kidsandart.org to follow and support this month's highlighted nonprofit, helping children with cancer and their families through Art.

Achievement as a Trauma defense mechanism, with Lena Fein May 19, 2026

Show notes

Lena Fein is the author of Shattering The Mirror, a story of her experience with abuse. From an early age Lena Fein coped with abuse and neglect by trying to achieve. She believed that if she could do well enough in school, meet everyone's expectations, and especially avoid anything that would trigger her mother, that she would finally feel safe and happy. Her book tells her story of masking with achievement, suppressing difficult emotions, and how she learned to break that cycle.

Our highlighted charity for April and May is Kids & Art, helping pediatric cancer patients through Art. Go to www.kidsandart.org to learn more about this wonderful nonprofit.

Flesh and Blood: A Psychological Thriller with EMDR, by Nathan Presley May 11, 2026

Show notes

Many films are related to psychology. Nathan Presley's short film, "Flesh and Blood," puts therapy directly in the spotlight. This film recently won the Audience Award for best short film at the Dallas International Film Festival. It is the story of an EMDR therapist trying to help a young girl with selective mutism...or is there something more going on? Follow Nathan's work @nathanpresley on IG.

Go to www.kidsandart.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit, helping children in cancer treatment through the arts.

Experiencing Dementia Ryan Noufers Mary The Widow Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Ryan Noufer created his indie short film "Mary The Widow," to tell a story about Dementia from a unique perspective of a woman attending a speed-dating seminar for widowed seniors. In the interview he shares his experiences with his own grandmother, feelings on mental health, and how art can help to process emotion, including our worst fears. You can follow his work @ryannoufer on Instagram.

Please go to www.kidsandart.com to support and share this month's highlighted charity. Kids & Art is a nonprofit using Art to help patients with Pediatric Cancer, a perfect charity to go along with this month's focus on independent storytellers using film to share perspectives on mental health, relationships, and being a human being.

Repairing Parental Estrangement, in the Indie Film "Last Shot" Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

One of the most anticipated films being screened at the 2026 Dallas International Film Festival, Last Shot tells the story of a young basketball prodigy who faces grief over the death of his father and an estranged relationship with his mother.

Producer/Writer Tod Friedman & Director Andy Palmer join me to talk about this film and the personal elements that are there, especially for Friedman. Follow the film @hemlockcircle on IG and other platforms or go to www.hemlockcircle.com

The highlighted charity this month is Kids & Art, using art to help children in cancer treatment. visit www.kidsandart.org to learn more an support their work. New patrons of the Broken Brain will have 50% of their monthly donation go to Kids & Art as long as they remain donors. www.patreon.com/brokenbrain

Real People Being Hurt by "Natural" Gas Production, shown in the Documentary GASLIT Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Katie Comosy is the director of the new independent documentary GASLIT, showcasing people impacted by the practices of oil and natural gas production in Texas and the Gulf Coast. Hosted by Jane Fonda, the film follows their work to fight rising cases of cancer, economic collapse, and damage to food production. The film is now showing at the Dallas International Film Festival.

Follow the film on social media @gaslitdoc, or go to www.gaslitdoc.com for updates of festival screenings and distribution.

The Broken Brain's highlighted charity this month is Kids & Art, helping children with cancer through arts education and activity. Go to www.artandkids.org to learn more and support this wonderful nonprofit.

Interview with the creators of Born To Lose, a film about Self-Destructive Choices, Mentoring, and Escaping Patterns Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Filmmakers Joe Zentil and Pierce Csurgo created the independent film Born To Lose, currently making the way around the film festival circuit. Set in the genre of motorcycle culture, this movie depicts a young man caught up in problems related to fractured relationships, self-destructive choices, and the dangers of addiction and the drug trade.

Our highlighted charity this month is Kids & Art, a California based nonprofit that uses Art to support children with cancer. Go to www.kidsandart.org to learn more about this amazing organization.

Friendship, Communication, and Change in the film Travel Companion Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Alex Mallis and Travis Wood join me to discuss their new film "Travel Companion." The story focuses on Simon, an indie filmmaker who's roommate helps him travel with free airline tickets, and the potential loss of this perk.

Kids & Art is the highlighted charity for April. This organization helps kids with cancer through use of art. go to www.kidsandart.org to learn more about this important organization.

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