The Broken Brain

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What is Smart Horror? With Dalin & Izzy Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

What kind of scary movies do you like? What type of storytelling do you find to be smart and compelling? It's Halloween time, a time for spooky, scary stuff, and I am joined by two movie and Halloween experts, Dalin Rowell of "It's Reely a Podcast, and Isabel Teran of "Hearsing Around," and "That's Bodacious Dude! 80 Radical Movies from the Eighties."

Visit www.becauseorganization.org to visit this month's highlighted charity AND participate in their virtual walk/run event from anywhere in the world. Your contributions help survivors of human trafficking rebuild their lives.

Join The Because Organization's Fundraiser for Survivors of Trafficking Oct 25, 2025

Show notes

Marcia Holt & Bill Cottringer return to the show to share details about the virtual walk/run fundraising event for The Because Organization, a nonprofit providing virtual and in-person services for survivors of Human Trafficking, and helping them to stabilize their lives vocationally, psychologically, medically, and in whatever other ways needed. Less than 8% of Human Trafficking related nonprofits address the needs of the individual AFTER escaping a trafficking situation.

Go to www.becauseorganization.org to sign up for this event, which runs from 10/26-11/9, and participate from anywhere in the world. Any amount of distance and money are helpful for this great cause, and share the link on your social media.

Diagnosis, Assessment, and ADHD with Dr Barry Herman Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

The way in which we diagnose mental health conditions has been key to the treatment world. Much of this has historically been done through patient report and observable behavior. As time has gone by assessment instruments and tools have been developed to help, but the individual assessment will always be important. Dr Barry Herman, medical director for Mentavi, joins today to share information about diagnosis, particularly for ADHD and related issues. Go to www.mentavi.com to follow his work.

The Because Organization is a nonprofit dedicated to helping those who have survived human trafficking to build up their lives in a healthy and managable way, and is this month's charity-of-focus. Visit www.becauseorganization.org to support them and to learn more.

Can I fight Trauma with Joy? MC McDonald says YES! Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Dr Mary-Catherine (MC) MCDonald is a Research Professor, Trauma Recovery Expert, and the Author of "The Joy Reset." Her expertise is in the use of joy to combat the effects of trauma. Going deeper than just the philosophy of joy, she shares actionable techniques to reduce trauma symptoms. We also like & dislike some of the same trends in therapy. Follow her work @mcphd on Instagram.

Go to www.becauseorganization.org to support The Because Organization, helping survivors of trafficking to establish healthy lives. Participate in their virtual walk/run from anywhere in the world during October & November.

Purple Crayons, by Dr Ross Ellenhorn Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Remember "Harold and the Purple Crayon"? So does Dr Ross Ellenhorn, our guest today and the author of "Purple Crayons: The Art of Drawing a Life." Dr Ellenhorn uses the framework of the world of Harold and the Purple Crayon to showcase the importance of individuality and creativity when dealing with mental illness, addiction, and health.

The charity of focus this month is The Because Organization, a nonprofit in Philadelphia helping people who have survived human trafficking to build their lives. Go to www.becauseorganization.org to learn more AND to participate in their virtual walk-a-thon fund raiser.

Women of Gotham, with Dalin Rowell Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

What kind of women characters do we find in Batman stories? How do they interact with Batman, The BatFamily, and the world of Gotham?

Dalin Rowell, host & creator of "It's Reely a Podcast," joins me to discuss this year's Batman episode, where we focus on Characters such as Catwoman, Batgirl, Talia al Ghul, Baby Doll, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and more! Including the under-discussed Andrea Beaumont!

One more plug for the September charity-of-focus: go to www.akshayapatra.org, to share and support this wonderful nonprofit providing hot midday meals to students in India.

The Human Animal, with Frank Forcich Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

Frank Forcich is a biologist and health educator. He teaches people to understanding life through the lens of what attributes human beings have as animals within the natural world, and to assess how we are influenced by health and habitat. His perspective helps to break down the things that influence the way we form culture, community, and how we make decisions on a group and individual level. Learn more about his work at www.honortheanimal.com

Visit www.akshayapatra.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit. Akshata Patra is an NGO base din India, with a focus on providing a hot midday meal for youth in school.

Choices & Redemption in the new film 55, with Filmmaker Shyam Madiraju Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

Shyam Madiraju is the writer & Director of "55," a modern Dickensian story set in Mumbai, India. It tells the story of a young pickpocket who faces hard decisions about survival, morality, and what power we have over our own lives. Look for the film streaming on Video On Demand, and follow Shyam's work on Instagram @mad_n_shy

The highlighted nonprofit this month is Akshaya Patra, an NGO based in India that provides hot midday meals for children attending school. Go to www.akshayapatra.org to learn more, support, and share this charity.

Adventure, Redemption, & Storytelling with Author Bill Combs Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Bill Combs is the Author of the novel, "The Quantum Gate," (and its upcoming sequel). An adventure story in the spirit of Indiana Jones, Da Vinci Code, Stargate, this novel is a story of trauma and redemption, with riddles, treasure hunting, and mystical elements. He joins the podcast to share this story and his approach to creating realistic characters facing mystical situations, and how people relate to difficulty in real life. Go to www.billcombs.com to follow his work, monitor his ongoing series of novels, and read his free short stories.

Visit www.akshayapatra.org to support and share our charity-of-focus this month. Akshaya Patra is a NGO that delivers hot midday meals to school students in India.

Live Event Audio for Overdose Awareness Part 2 Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

The second half of the 4th Annual Live Stream for International Overdose Awareness Day. In this segment of the stream Dwight and Isabel Teran are joined by the Reels of Justice Podcast hosts to discuss addiction, engagement with life, and cultural/societal elements of health. Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Robb Maynard, Ben Haslar, and Dylan Schlender have a vulnerable and open discussion about their own experiences with compulsion, addiction, and alcohol. A great example of openness, community, and support.

We will do it again next year!

Go to www.akshayapatra.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit agency, providing hot midday meals to children in school in India.

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