The Psych Central Show: Candid Chat On Mental Health & Psychology

There’s a common misconception that, due to asylum closures, only “dangerous” people get committed to a psychiatric wards and hospitals. We also believe that forcing someone with mental illness into treatment is rare. However, millions of Americans are subjected to psychiatric detention or forced treatment every year.  Often well meaning family members are trying to “help,” but end up traumatizing and permanently damaging their loved ones. Join us as investigative journalist Rob Wipond explains how most states have broadened their criteria for psychiatrically detaining someone far beyond “imminent harm” and that as a practical matter, this could happen to almost anyone. Join us for a special two part episode of Inside Mental Health. (part 2 of 2) To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Rob Wipond is a freelance investigative journalist who writes frequently at the interfaces between psychiatry, civil rights, policing, surveillance and privacy, and social change. His

Can you name a millionaire tech mogul with bipolar disorder? Well, you can now. Today’s guest is Paul English, the tech mogul best known as the founder of travel website Kayak.  As more and more celebrities in the arts publicly share their bipolar disorder diagnoses many people in the business world still choose to conceal their illness due to stigma and discrimination.  Join us as Paul tells us his story of living with bipolar disorder, including some of the stigma he has faced in the workplace. To learn more - or read the transcript -- please visit the show's official episode page. Guest Paul English is the founder of Boston Venture Studio. Paul has previously co-founded and successfully sold six startups — Kayak, Lola, Moonbeam, GetHuman, Boston Light and Intermute. Paul is also the founder of four nonprofits — Summits Education in Haiti, Embrace Boston, The Winter Walk for Homelessness, and the Bipolar Social Club. Paul is the subject of Tracy Kidder’s book, “A Truck Full of Money.” You can hear an inter

Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison believes that medication is an overused option and that many people can make great strides recovering from “mental suffering” using therapy, art, and meaningful hobbies. She also shares that we can learn a lot by understanding the lessons learned from resilient people who came before us. Using numerous historical examples, Dr. Jamison takes us on a journey of understanding our present mental health states by using the past.  What do soldiers who suffer from PTSD, mourners after a death, and people with mental illness all have in common? According to New York Times’ best selling author and Johns Hopkins professor Dr. Jamison, they all have an unquiet mind they need to heal.  To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Kay Redfield Jamison is the Dalio Professor in Mood Disorders and a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as an honorary professor of English at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland

There is a lot of stigma against people with diagnosed borderline personality disorder (BPD), even within the mental health community. People living with a borderline diagnosis are unfairly characterized as difficult and overly dramatic, and many feel that people with BPD reject needed treatments or interventions because “they don’t want to get better.” In this episode, we ask why people living with BPD may be reluctant to seek treatment. Further, today’s guest, Dr. Connell Cowan, offers advice for family and friends about how they can become allies and be more understanding of the resistance. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Dr. Connell Cowan (Los Angeles, CA) is a clinical psychologist. He co-wrote Smart Women/Foolish Choices, a runaway bestseller that spawned an entire genre of books dealing with male/female dilemmas. The book spent nearly a year on the New York Times bestseller list, sold millions of copies, has been published in 23 different la

We all know that the COVID pandemic has taken a toll on healthcare workers. But how was their mental health before the pandemic?  Today’s guest, Dr. Rola Hallam, has opened 7 hospitals in Syria as part of her humanitarian work. Dr. Hallam shares with us that compassion fatigue isn’t really about compassion or fatigue, it’s more likely trauma from having large amounts of empathy. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the show's official episode page. Guest Bio Dr. Rola Hallam is an award-winning doctor, humanitarian, campaigner, speaker, social entrepreneur, and trauma-informed life coach. She has been honored with several awards and is also the first Syrian TED Fellow and founder of CanDo — a humanitarian organization supporting frontline health and aid workers to save children’s lives in their war-devastated communities. She has helped build 7 hospitals in Syria, including the first ever crowdfunded hospital, together reaching over 4 million people. An advocate for the protection of healthcare,

In honor of mental health awareness month, we want to welcome you to the first ever Inside Mental Health podcast clips show. Listen now to hear some great insights from some of the best guests of the past year. Featuring clips from Jennette McCurdy, Alanis Morissette, Wil Wheaton, Brooke Burke, Dr. Phil and Paul Gilmartin – there is something for everyone. Our host, Gabe Howard, combed through hours of audio to pick his favorites. Please enjoy! To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the official episode page. Inside Mental Health Podcast 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 you

Most parents (and other adults) want to be able to talk to teenagers and young adults about mental health and mental illness. But, uncertainty and awkwardness often stop well-intentioned people from broaching the subject.  In this episode, we discuss how to have these conversations with the young people in our lives by inviting Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer of The Jed Foundation (JED). Dr. Erickson-Schroth gives practical tips and hints on how to have these sometimes awkward conversations and what to do if a teenager doesn’t want to talk back. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth (she/they), Chief Medical Officer for The Jed Foundation (JED), is a psychiatrist committed to improving mental health through education and resource creation. She provides guidance on how individuals, families, schools, communities, media, and other youth-serving organizations can take actions to protect mental health and prevent

Children and teenagers are expressing unprecedented levels of anxiety and many experts believe there is currently a crisis of anxiety in the United States. If that is true, what can adults — who may also be managing anxiety — do to help young people?     While many experts believe social media and news outlets play a role, we have to accept that these things are here to stay — so what is our next step? Join us as Laura Morton and Joan Lunden explain what they discovered working on the new documentary “Anxious Nation.” For information on where to view Anxious Nation, visit anxiousnation.com.  To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the episode page. Guest Bios Laura Morton has been involved in the entertainment industry for more than 25 years as a bestselling author, producer, speaker and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Lasega Films and the soon to be launched Anxious Nation Network (ANN). Morton has written over 60 books and a staggering 21 New York Times bestsellers, with a wide range of

12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous dominate the recovery space. In fact, when most people think of someone in recovery, they typically assume they are part of a 12-step program. But, what if the traditional 12-step programs don’t work for you? For example, if you are an atheist, don’t like the idea of a sponsor, or want a program driven by self-empowerment, are there other options? Join us as today’s guest, Mary Beth O’Connor, shares with us that 12 steps are not the only choice when it comes to peer support recovery programs. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Mary Beth O'Connor has been sober since 1994. She has also been in recovery from abuse, trauma, and anxiety. Six years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended Berkeley Law. She worked at a large firm, then litigated class actions for the federal government. In 2014, she was appointed a federal administrative law judge, a position she held until 2020. Mary Beth is a

ADD / ADHD are typically discussed as a controversial diagnosis. Some people — including experts — feel that these conditions are over diagnosed, underdiagnosed, or simply don’t exist. ADD / ADHD have been used to attack parents, defend behavior challenges, and seemingly everything in between. But what is the real story? Join us as today’s guest, Dr. Theresa Cerulli, explains the challenges in helping people with ADD / ADHD and the steps people can take to make sure they get the best care. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Theresa Cerulli, M.D., is a graduate of Tufts University, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Harvard Longwood Residency Program in Adult Psychiatry, and Harvard Fellowships in Medical Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Cerulli is board certified in psychiatry and is on faculty at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and for NEI, the Neuroscience Education Institute. Dr. Cerulli is the co-founder and prior Chief Medica

Dallas Roquemore, aka Lil Dallas, is a personal friend of — and has worked with — famed rapper, Mozzy. While Dallas’s rap career started out very strong, it was derailed when he went to prison at age 16 and was incarcerated for the next 11 years.   Join us as restored citizen and prison reform and reentry advocate Lil Dallas tells us what life in prison is really like, what he thinks might help more people from his community stay out of prison, and the recovery program he is working with now. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the episode page. Guest Bio Dallas Roquemore, aka Lil Dallas, is 27 years old and has been incarcerated since he was 16. He returned from prison on March 13, 2022. Dallas grew up alongside famous rapper Mozzy. They were incredibly close as children and would rap together as they lived in the same neighborhood. When Dallas wasn’t making music, he was establishing himself as one of the most recognized gang members in his city. At 16, Dallas had made enough bad choices to la

Police officers are seldom asked to respond to something positive. The nature of their jobs is to assist when things go wrong. Vehicle accidents, crime, and death are part of the job description for the average law enforcement officer. They are trained to run toward danger rather than away from it.   Yet when it comes to managing their mental health, the general practice is to bury those emotions and “just do your job.” Join us as Sheriff Jay Armbrister shares why this practice must change for not only officer safety but public safety as well. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the show's official episode page. Guest Bio Sheriff Jay Armbrister has served the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years as a law enforcement officer, and he was elected Sheriff and took office in January 2021. As Sheriff, Jay has committed to ensuring the long-term success of the Sheriff’s Office and improving outcomes for residents with behavioral health needs and public safety in the community. Sheriff Ar

When Daniel Bergner’s brother received a bipolar disorder diagnosis, his family was told he needed to adhere to the doctor’s orders or death was a likely outcome. This set off a chain reaction of fear his life while Daniel’s brother was just trying to manage a difficult and persistent illness.  The common denominators? Fear and uncertainty.  Today’s guest is the author of "The Mind and the Moon: My Brother's Story, the Science of Our Brains, and the Search for Our Psyches." It’s the story of Daniel’s brother’s illness and his family’s quest to understand more about how modern psychiatry works. Join us as Gabe and Daniel discuss why the discussion surrounding medication is so polarized, how we can have a more balanced understanding of the limits of modern psychiatry, and how to move the discussion toward the middle ground. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Daniel Bergner is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and the author of six bo

Since childhood, most of us have been socialized to “forgive and forget.” We’ve been told that to do anything else risks our mental health and causes emotional pain. But is that actually good advice? Does forgiving someone actually increase our mental stability? Join us as today’s guest explains why this simplistic idea doesn’t always work for people and how it is absolutely possible to move on with your life in a healthy way without offering forgiveness. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Kate Schroeder is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and owner of Transformation Counseling, LLC. With over 25 years in the mental health field, her clinical background includes experience as a school counselor, mental health therapist in an urban university’s counseling center, clinical researcher, and individual, couples, group, and family therapist. Within these settings, Kate has provided dedicated counseling for clients experienc

Despite growing up in Nigeria and the UK, Tobi Bamtefa received the same stereotypical messaging surrounding what it means to be a man: men are strong, handle their responsibilities stoically, and men never cry. Ever.  Join us as Tobi shares how living with these societal expectations can be stifling and damage men’s mental health. He shares how becoming an actor and being encouraged to participate in the arts was both a protective and threatening factor. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Tobi Bamtefa can currently be seen starring opposite Jeremy Renner in Taylor Sheridan’s MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN. Season 2 is airing now on Paramount+. Brought up between London and Nigeria, after a career as a spoken word artist, Tobi landed the leading regular role of 'Godswill' in Rowan Joffe's series TIN STAR for Kudos Television/ Sky Atlantic opposite Tim Roth and Christina Hendricks. Some of Tobi’s other screen credits include Woody Harrelson’s self-penned, director

"The TV is talking directly to me" is a common delusion nowadays. But delusions have existed throughout history, so what did people in the Middle Ages have delusions about when there was no TV?   Join us as historian Victoria Shepherd tells us about the King of France who thought his body was made of glass, a woman who believed her husband and children had been swapped by imposters, and the man who thought magnetism was controlling the British Parliament. Victoria tells us how all delusions are products of their time and culture and how they hold the key to our collective traumas and anxieties.   To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Victoria Shepherd is an award-winning producer of history documentaries for BBC radio. She has a masters in creative writing and has just completed her first book, "A History of Delusions: The Glass King, a Substitute Husband and a Walking Corpse." Inside Mental Health Podcast Host Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and

Have you seen all the amazing stuff your friends’ kids are doing while scrolling through social media? Are you worried that your kids aren’t keeping up and that maybe it is your fault? Or that maybe it’s because you are a terrible parent?  Join us as today’s guest, Dr. Carla Naumburg, explains why you are not as bad at parenting as you think. Dr. Naumburg shares why parents may think this way and what you can do to stop. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the episode page. Guest Bio Carla Naumburg, PhD, is a clinical social worker and mother. She’s the author of four non-fiction books, including her international bestseller, “How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids” (Workman, 2019), as well as “You Are Not a Sh*tty Parent,” and the forthcoming “How to Stop Freaking Out,” the (completely swear-free) middle-grade adaptation of “How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids.”  Carla’s writing has appeared in a variety of online and print publications, including The New York Times, The Was

Laurie Dhue appeared to have it all — a successful career as a broadcast journalist, a beautiful apartment over Central Park, a great family, and lots of friends. But she had what she thought of as a “naughty and thrilling” secret — a cocaine addiction.  Join us as she shares with Gabe her motivation for getting clean, how she did it, and what she is up to now. To learn more -- or read the transcript - -please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Laurie Dhue is Chief Brand Officer at Recovery Education and Applied Learning (REAL). One of the nation’s leading recovery advocates, Laurie is in long-term recovery from alcohol misuse and drug addiction. She has worked closely with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) and the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD). Laurie has spoken on behalf of many national recovery organizations including the Hazelden Bett

Today’s guest experienced a “trifecta of trauma” when three experiences of death and illness affected her family within just 10 months. These experiences led her to a revelation and the discovery of her life’s purpose. Join us as Lisa Honig Buksbaum, the author of “SOARING Into Strength,” shares her personal story as well as thoughts on how trauma can actually foster resilience. To learn more --or read the transcript -- please visit the episode page. Guest Bio Lisa Honig Buksbaum, MAPP, MBA, is an author, social entrepreneur, and Positive Psychology thought leader. Lisa is a passionary: a visionary driven by great passion and action. An intuitive healer, well-loved inspirational speaker, and expert workshop leader and facilitator, Lisa has shared her wisdom with thousands of people throughout the world. Three experiences with death and illness in her family during a 10-month period motivated her to launch Soaringwords, a nonprofit organization devoted to inspiring children, families, adults, seniors, and hea

Veteran and double bronze star recipient shares how military culture might contribute to suicidality — or at least a lack of willingness to get help — and how the American Legion is trying to fix that. Every day, 17 U.S. military veterans die by suicide. How can we even begin to stop this tragedy? The American Legion, a 107-year-old organization dedicated to serving veterans, has a plan. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Dave Berkenfield leads the Chip Ganassi Racing, GMC HUMMER EV, Extreme E competition group as well as the broader Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, developing Human Performance Initiative on both the IndyCar and US / Global Sports Car Teams. Prior to joining Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Berkenfield completed a 25-year career serving in the U.S. Military Special Operations community focusing on building and leading small teams in dynamic and austere combat environments. During his military career, Berkenfield helped implement and apply cutting