Braaains
A podcast exploring the inner workings of our brains, mental health, & disabilities and how film & television portray them. Each episode, hosted by sisters Heather & Sarah Taylor, has an expert talk about a specific facet of our brains. Guests include therapists, scientists, and those with lived experiences and they share facts, insights, and how-tos with our listeners. We then discuss TV series and films that capture this specific aspect of our brains and tell it as it really is. Please follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast app, listen to new episodes biweekly on Tuesdays (every two weeks), and let us know...
S4 E71 · Tue, April 01, 2025
Ontario Place and the Importance of Third Places
Today we delve into the importance of public and free third spaces and how they impact your mental health. We had the pleasure of talking with filmmaker, Ali Weinstein about her first observational documentary, Your Tomorrow, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024. The film is about the last year in the life of Ontario Place which became a defacto public park 10 years ago after living many lives as an educational and entertainment destination. Ontario Place was a third space that acted as a refuge to a lot of Torontonians until the government decided to turn the main part of the space into a private spa and despite public process, construction began in October of 2024, a month after Ali’s documentary premiered. For those of you who haven’t heard of third places before, it’s a sociological term that refers to the social surroundings that are separate from the two usual social environments of home ("first place") and the workplace ("second place"). Third places, then, are "anchors" of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction. They are spaces like churches, cafes, libraries, gyms, bookstores, gaming spaces, parks, and theatres, where people can gather, relax, and engage in meaningful interactions, which can positively impact mental health by fostering a sense of community and belonging Third places are where we can both affirm our own identities and build empathy for identities different from our own. In Ray Oldenburg and Karen Christensen’s 1989 book The Great Good Place, Oldenburg argues that third places are important for democracy, civic engagement, and a sense of place. IN the 2023 edition, Christensen argues that third places are also the answer to loneliness, political polarization, and climate resilience. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S4 E70 · Tue, March 04, 2025
How Family Separation via Migrant Labour Work Impacts Mental Health
Welcome back to another season of Braaains. We’re so excited to start the season with a fantastic interview with filmmakers, Thea Loo and Jeremiah Reyes, about Thea’s latest documentary, INAY With the desire to help answer unresolved questions and heal lingering wounds, INAY (MAMA) investigates the flawed immigration pathways between the Philippines and Canada that kept so many Filipino children from their mothers. Inay, which means “mama” in Tagalog, is an intimate and personal look at the experiences and trauma endured by many Filipino Canadians. In the film, Thea and her husband Jeremiah, who is also the film's Director of Photography, explore the intersections of mental health and migrant labour and the effects that continue to be felt years later. Through intimate conversations, this self-reflexive documentary aims to bridge the silences and disconnect between the first and second generations of the Filipino community. Today’s conversation is about their experiences making this intimate film and the impact it had on how they view mental health today. READ TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/BRAAAINS-PODCAST-Transcript-Ep-070_-How-Family-Separation-via-Migrant-Labour-Work-Impacts-Mental-Hea.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E69 · Tue, December 17, 2024
Brilliant Minds and the Realities of Face Blindness
Today’s our last episode before our Christmas break. Sad, I know, but we have such a great guest: Sadie Dingfelder. She wrote the most excellent book “Do I Know You? A Faceblind Reporter’s Journey into the Science of Sight, Memory, and Imagination.” Our conversation not only delved into face blindness (prosopagnosia) but also covered neurodivergence, aphantasia, and the importance of effective science communication. We also discussed films and literature centered around Face Blindness: the new NBC series Brillant Minds starring Zachary Quinto, KDramas like Rich Man, Poor Woman, 100 Days My Prince, and The Beauty Inside, and the book Hello Stranger. Not only did Sadie consult on the book, but the author Katherine Center named the lead character after her! READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP069-Transcript-Brilliant-Minds-and-the-Realities-of-Face-Blindness.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E68 · Tue, December 03, 2024
Disney+'s Out of My Mind and the Importance of Being Heard
Sarah had the pleasure of interviewing Amber Sealey, director of the newly released Disney+ film OUT OF MY MIND, alongside the movie's star, Phoebe-Rae Taylor. Out of My Mind is based on the best-selling novel of the same name and tells the story of Melody Brooks, a sixth grader with cerebral palsy, who has a quick wit and a sharp mind, but because she is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair, she is not given the same opportunities as her classmates. When a young educator notices her student’s untapped potential and Melody starts to participate in mainstream education, Melody shows that what she has to say is more important than how she says it. This film is a compelling story about acceptance, love, friendship, and joy and it doesn’t shy away from the challenges that come when people judge you by your disability. It’s a great testament to the importance of inclusivity and giving everyone a chance to be heard. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP068-Transcript_-Disneys-Out-of-My-Mind-and-the-Importance-of-Being-Heard.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E67 · Tue, November 19, 2024
TIFF Special: Building Inclusive Futures
We're doing something a little different today. When we were at TIFF, we had the opportunity to go to the perspectives panel -- Building Inclusive Futures: The Means of Accessibility. The panel was a discussion on accessibility and redefining perceptions of disability within the industry and beyond. The panel included Kyla Harris (chair of We Crip Film for the BFI and producer of Patrice: The Film), Viktor Korotovskyi (freelance photojournalist and the subject of Olivier Sarbil's documentary Viktor), Sean Towgood (Toronto-based writer, actor and creator of You’re My Hero), Aria Mia Loberti (an American actress, writer, human rights advocate, Fulbright Scholar, and star of All the Light We Cannot See), and Olivier Sarbil (French documentary filmmaker and cinematographer of Viktor). It was moderated by Rayhan Azmat, a senior finance executive in Media and Entertainment, a disability advocate, and an accomplished keynote speaker. The conversation explores challenges, awareness, and opportunities for people living with disabilities, aiming to further inclusivity and broaden the narrative of accessibility. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP067-TIFF-Special_-Building-Inclusive-Futures.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E66 · Tue, November 05, 2024
Men's Mental Health within the Black Community
Today our special guests are writer/ director Bernard Gray and actor Dwain Murphy. We discussed Men's Mental Health within the Black Community and how they explored this topic in the film, The Other Stuff, which recently premiered at the Reelworld Festival in Toronto. The film offers an honest exploration of how Black men, especially those from environments of crime, straddle the paths of good and evil as they attempt to transition into healthier, more fulfilling lives. The film follows Winston played by Dwain Murphy (CROSS, DIGGSTOWN), and Shannon played by Golden Madison (CROSS, LAW & ORDER TORONTO: CRIMINAL INTENT) who embark on a journey of self-discovery through couples therapy before preparing to start a family. However, their journey takes an unexpected and intense turn when Winston’s suppressed childhood trauma surfaces. Under immense emotional strain, Winston confronts his uncle—the source of his abuse—in an effort to find healing and closure. The film highlights the critical role of therapy in helping men face their pain and work through the deep emotional scars that often remain buried. Content warning: we talk about homophobia and physical and sexual abuse in this episode. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-podcast-transcript_-EP066-Mens-Mental-Health-within-the-Black-Community.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E65 · Tue, October 22, 2024
TIFF Special: Horror, disability, and access
It's Halloween and we're talking about horror, disability, and access with filmmaker and navigator of the creative multiverse, Ariel Baska. We deep dive into A Nightmare on Elm Street, Ginger Snaps, and Wait Until Dark, and discuss how each film made Ariel feel seen in some way. We also discuss their horror documentary Monsterous Me and their work as a horror filmmaker telling stories around disability through a lens of genre. Lastly, we touch upon Ariel's TIFF panel about festivals and accessibility (MICROSESSIONS All Access Pass: Opening Doors for Every Audience) and their work as the founder of Access: Horror, a film festival and industry summit celebrating the history, future, and impact of disability in the genre space. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/BRAAAINS-PODCAST-TRANSCRIPT-Episode-065_-TIFF-Special_-Horror-disability-and-access.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E64 · Tue, October 08, 2024
TIFF Special: SAD JOKES and the Perspective of Being a Carer
SAD JOKES is the story of Joseph, a gay filmmaker, who co-parents with Sonya who is struggling with depression. The film captures a moment in time when Joseph has to juggle his family life, love life, and artistic ambition while Sonya's away at a clinic during a mental health crisis. Writer, director, and star, Fabian Stumm, tells us about the making of the film and how his personal life colored this film. Growing up with a dad with depression, Fabian understood at a young age that sometimes the people who are meant to take care of you can break down. He took that perspective into Joseph's character as he tried to keep everything together when his partner was in that state of crisis. The film also shows a family dynamic we rarely see on screen: two friends co-parenting a child. Fabian believes that if you want to change something, you can talk about it or you can show how it can be. If you create something an audience can aspire to, then it shows new possibilities and a path you can head toward (we believe the same, too!). DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-EP064-Transcript-TIFF-Special_-SAD-JOKES-and-the-Perspective-of-Being-a-Car.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E63 · Tue, September 24, 2024
Empire Waist’s Exploration of Body Image and Teen Friendship
Today we have a special guest and dear friend of Heather’s, Claire Ayoub. Claire is a writer, a director, an advocate, an educator, a leader, and an amazing friend to all – she also has the debut of her feature film, EMPIRE WAIST, coming out THIS FRIDAY, September 27th at a theater near you! Empire Waist follows a group of teens learning to love their bodies through inclusive fashion design and friendship. Not only do we talk about this amazing film, but we also discuss body image, body representation, and how learning to love yourself exactly as you are can sometimes feel like a radical act. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/BRAAAINS-PODCAST-TRANSCRIPT-EPISODE-063_-Empire-Waists-Exploration-of-Body-Image-and-Teen-Friendship.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E62 · Tue, September 10, 2024
Suicidal Ideation in The Bear, Modern Love, and Nadine Crocker's Continue
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and we have a wonderful interview with writer, director, and actress, Nadine Crocker. We talk about her film, Continue, and the importance of representing depression and suicidal ideation on film and TV. We also talk about shows like The Bear and Modern Love (amongst many). CONT;NUE is based on true events from Nadine’s life dealing with suicide and depression. After surviving a suicide attempt when she was 23 years old, Nadine is now a wife, mother, and friend to so many. A content warning to all our listeners that we will be talking about suicide throughout this episode and will also be talking about the toolkit that Nadine dips into when she is dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP062_-Suicidal-Ideation-in-The-Bear-Modern-Love-and-Nadine-Crockers-Con.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E61 · Tue, July 23, 2024
Summer break and Edmonton event!
We have decided to take a summer break and will be back in September with an interview with writer, director, and advocate, Claire Ayoub. For those of you in Edmonton, we're having an in-person event for our guests and listeners in August. Keep an eye on social media for our invite if you're interested in meeting us in person! DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-061-Transcript-SUMMER-BREAK.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E60 · Tue, July 16, 2024
Exploring Family Dramas & How Anxiety Manifests in Relationships
Our last episode before our summer break is one of the first guests our listeners asked us to have on the show! We had the absolute pleasure of talking to DR. KATHLEEN SMITH, a licensed therapist and writer who lives in Washington, DC. Her books include Everything Isn't Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down , as well as her latest book, True to You: A Therapist's Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself . Today we’re talking about anxiety through the lens of how it functions in relation to others and how you can manage different forms of anxious behavior within relationships. We cover the three As that manifest because of anxiety -- Avoiding, accommodating, and acting out -- and imagine what it would be like to let that go and be yourself and let other people be the same. We discuss how we can get stuck in patterns and what it takes to break out of them while dealing with the accompanying uncomfortableness. We also talk about the impact of over-functioning and under-functioning roles in relationships and how we are responsible TO someone and not FOR them. Such an important distinction! DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-Ep060-Exploring-Family-Dramas-and-How-Anxiety-Manifests-in-Relationships.pd f ORDER True to You: A Therapist's Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195790863-true-to-you Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E59 · Tue, July 09, 2024
The Family Stone and other Breast Cancer Stories
We deep-dive into the films and television that best represent the different experiences of having breast cancer with our guest filmmaker and indie journalist, Traven Rice. We look at how things can change for people experiencing recurrence, why you need a support network, and Traven’s wish for a trigger warning for films and TV with cancer stories. CW: Conversations about terminal cancer and death. Support Traven's latest short film about breast cancer at LayLeftyDown.com Listen to our full conversation with Traven about her experience with breast cancer at: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/breast-cancer DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP59_-The-Family-Stone-and-Other-Breast-Cancer-Stories.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E58 · Tue, July 02, 2024
The Big C: Breast Cancer and Mental Health
We have the pleasure of talking with filmmaker and journalist, Traven Rice, about her experiences with Breast Cancer. We talk about how she discovered she had cancer, her treatment, the effects breast cancer can have on your mind and body, and the importance of community. We discuss how breast cancer can impact your view of your identity and how a mastectomy is not just a “boob job.” We also talk about seeing the experience of Breast Cancer on screen and why Traven wanted to create a comedic film about having a memorial for her left breast called Lay Lefty Down, which she is currently raising funds for at LayLeftyDown.com . Content warning – today we discuss terminal cancer and death. Listen to our conversation on breast cancer representation in film and TV: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/breast-cancer-representation DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript_-Episode-58-The-Big-C_-Breast-Cancer-and-Mental-Health.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com <div class=
S3 E57 · Tue, June 25, 2024
The Stigmas of Facial Differences
This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with Alim Somji, the Chairperson of AboutFace, a Canadian non-profit organization that strives to eliminate the stigma and discrimination encountered by individuals with facial differences. We dig into some of the stigmas surrounding facial differences and what Alim’s biggest personal turning point was when it came to his own facial difference. Listen to the full interview with Alim here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/facial-differences DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP057_-The-Stigmas-of-Facial-Differences.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E56 · Tue, June 18, 2024
Understanding Facial Differences in Deadpool
Today’s guest is Alim Somji, the Chairperson of AboutFace, a Canadian non-profit organization that strives to eliminate the stigma and discrimination encountered by individuals with facial differences. Today’s conversation revolves around what facial differences are, the impact having a facial difference can have on mental health, and the journey that Alim took toward the acceptance of his own facial difference. We also talk about facial differences in movies like Deadpool and how some companies have been instrumental in creating awareness around facial differences in their advertising. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript_-Episode-056-Understanding-Facial-Differences-in-Deadpool.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast TIMECODES 00:37 Guest Introduction: Alim Somji and AboutFace 01:28 Alim's Background and AboutFace's Mission 06:13 Discussion on the Representation of Facial Differences in Deadpool 10:29 The Changing Landscape of Advertising 14:43 Alim's Personal Experience with Discrimination 24:19 Desired Representation in Film and TV 28:12 The Isolation and Support for Individuals with Facial Differences 32:03 Resources and Organizations for Facial Differences
S3 E55 · Tue, June 11, 2024
Five Types of Imposter Syndrome
This mini-episode is a continuation of our imposter syndrome conversation with Communication Skills Trainer, Ottillie Parfitt. This episode covers the five types of imposter syndrome and ways people with imposter syndrome misinterpret what it means to be competent. (NOTE: These five subcategories were originated by Dr. Valerie Young and based on her research). We also delve into the myths that persist around the universal experience of imposter phenomenon. Listen to our full interview with Ottillie Parfitt: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/imposter-syndrome DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP055-Transcript_5-Types-of-Imposter-Syndrome.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E54 · Tue, June 04, 2024
Impostor Syndrome in Cyrano de Bergerac
Today, we’re excited to talk to Communication Skills Trainer, Ottillie Parfitt, about all things imposter syndrome!! That’s right, we’re talking about that little voice in your head that tells you that you’re a fraud, a phony, or just not good enough (even when you are). We go into what imposter syndrome is, what some of the triggers are, how it shows up in the workplace, and some techniques for overcoming Imposter Syndrome. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP054_ImposterSyndrome.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E53 · Tue, May 28, 2024
Depression in Film and TV
This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with Rabiya Mansoor and Marushka Jessica Almeida, two of the creators of Get Up, Aisha now streaming on CBC Gem. Today we talk about the other films and TV series about depression that inspired Rabiya and Marushka and how important it is to get it right when you are dealing with subjects surrounding mental health, depression, and suicide. Get Up Aisha is a compelling dramedy series following the intricate life of Aisha Rehman, a Pakistani Canadian student who grapples with her compulsive need for control as she deals with depression. The series, streaming on CBC Gem in Canada, follows Aisha’s story as she is diagnosed with depression after living through a suicide attempt and applies a checklist approach to curing the incurable. CW: Discussions of depression and suicide Listen to our full interview with Rabiya and Marushka here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/depression DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP053_-Depression-in-Film-and-TV.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E52 · Tue, May 21, 2024
Depression: A conversation with the creators of CBC Gem’s Get Up, Aisha
Today we’re talking with two of the creators of Get Up, Aisha, Rabiya Mansoor and Marushka Jessica Almeida. Get Up Aisha is a compelling dramedy series following the intricate life of Aisha Rehman, a Pakistani Canadian student who grapples with her compulsive need for control as she deals with depression. The series, streaming on CBC Gem in Canada, follows Aisha’s story as she is diagnosed with depression after living through a suicide attempt and applies a checklist approach to curing the incurable. Our conversation looks into what depression is, the signs (or lack of signs) that present, what you can do to get help, and how to reframe your experience to allow you to choose yourself. We also discuss using your personal stories of mental health to inform your material as a film and television creator and how to use this work to address the stigmas of mental health both broadly and specifically in the South Asian community. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP052-Transcript-Depression_-A-Conversation-with-the-Creators-of-CBC-Gems-Get-Up-Ai.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E51 · Tue, May 14, 2024
Breaking the Stigmas and Preparing for Menopause
This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with board-certified ObGyn, Dr. Sophia. Today, we talk about the stigmas surrounding menopause, what Dr. Sophia would like to see represented on TV, film, and in the media, and how to prepare for menopause - the more you know, the less scary it is! DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP51-Transcript_-Breaking-the-Stigmas-and-Preparing-for-Menopause.pdf Listen to our longer interview with Dr. Sophia on navigating menopause: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/menopause Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E50 · Tue, May 07, 2024
Navigating Menopause: Fleabag, Sex and the City, and Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce
Today we’re talking with Dr. Sophia Lubin about menopause and perimenopause. Dr. Sophia has been a board-certified ObGyn for over 15 years and as a women’s health and well-being enthusiast, she spreads her knowledge and care through her “Dr. Sophia, ObGyn Podcast” where she helps women learn about their bodies and embrace themselves. Our conversation covers a wide range of information about what menopause really is, the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, how to ask for treatment, and what representation of menopause looks like in film and TV. We deep dive into shows like Fleabag, Sex and the City, and Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce as well as conversations on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live! READ TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP50-transcript-Navigating-Menopause_-Fleabag-Sex-and-the-City-and-Girlfriends-Guid.pdf Listen to our mini-episode with Dr. Sophia on breaking the stigmas of menopause: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/menopausestigma Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E49 · Tue, April 30, 2024
Dispelling Myths of Transracial Adoption in Media w/ Dr. Jill L. Creighton
Today’s mini-episode is a conversation with Dr. Jill L. Creighton, a higher education professional and the host of SA Voices from the Field Podcast. She came to talk with us about her experience as a transracial adoptee and how she would like to see adoption represented on film and television. Also be sure to listen to our other episode on adoption with research sociologist, Gretchen Sisson -- braaainspodcast.com/episodes/adoption DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP049-Transcript_-Dispelling-Myths-of-Transracial-Adoption.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E48 · Tue, April 23, 2024
The Handmaid’s Tale, This is Us, and Adoption w/ research sociologist and author, Gretchen Sisson
Today we’re talking with Gretchen Sisson, a research sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. She is the author of Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood, a critical, ten-year examination of domestic adoption. Centering on the stories of relinquishing mothers, the book chronicles America's refusal to care for families at the most basic level, and instead allows cultural and political ideas of adoption to advance an individual, private solution to large-scale social problems. In our conversation, we discuss the function of adoption in society, its representation in popular culture, and the experiences of birth mothers. We explore the stereotypes and tropes perpetuated by modern adoption stories in TV and film like in shows like This is Us and 16 and Pregnant , and the impact of these narratives on societal biases and policies. We also talk about how the women who Gretchen spoke with feel like The Handmaid’s Tale is the closest representation of their experience of relinquishing their child. We then delve into the complexities of adoption, the historical context of pre-Roe adoption, and the consequences for birth mothers and relinquished children. This discussion explores the complexities of adoption, highlighting the experiences and perspectives of birth mothers as captured in Gretchen Sisson's new book. It delves into the emotional journey of birth mothers, their hopes and expectations, as well as the challenges and grief they face. The conversation also touches on the impact of adoption on adoptees, particularly in terms of trauma and identity. It further discusses the connection between adoption and reproductive justice, and the need to critically examine the narratives and beliefs surrounding adoption. Our discussion concludes with a discussion on the potential of pop culture to shape a more nuanced and inclusive narrative around adoption. Here is a link to find out more about Gretchen's book: https://www.relinquishedbook.com/ DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP048-transcript-The-Handmaids-Tale-This-is-Us-and-Adoption.pdf Listen to our companion episode on Dispelling Myths of Transracial Adoption in Media here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/transracialadoption Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href= "https://instagram.com/braaain
S3 E47 · Tue, April 16, 2024
Working with disability and mental health consultants
Today’s mini-episode is all about working with consultants and team members with lived experience on projects about mental health and disability. Our conversation is with Karen and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, sisters and the co-creators of the new CW and CTV show, SIGHT UNSEEN. The series is about a homicide detective who rapidly loses her vision and has to quit the homicide force. When she leaves, she’s haunted by the cases she’s left behind and is determined to solve them with the help of her visual guide via a visual assistance app. If you want to hear our full episode with Kat and Niko about low vision, vision loss, and the representation of it in their show and beyond, listen here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/visionloss DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/EP047-Braaains-Podcast-transcript-Working-with-disability-and-mental-health-consultants.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E46 · Tue, April 09, 2024
Vision Loss and Blindness on Sight Unseen
Today's guests, Karen and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, are the co-creators of the new CW and CTV show, SIGHT UNSEEN. The series is about a homicide detective who rapidly loses her vision and has to quit the homicide force. When she leaves, she’s haunted by the cases she’s left behind and is determined to solve them with the help of her visual guide via a visual assistance app. In this episode, we discuss sight loss, the representation of vision loss and blindness on SIGHT UNSEEN, and what considerations had to be made when creating a television show for viewers across the entire vision spectrum. DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT - https://braaainspodcast.com/https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Episode-046-TRANSCRIPT-Vision-Loss-and-Blindness-on-Sight-Unseen.pdf Listen to the mini-episode with Niko and Kat on Working with Disability and Mental Health Consultants: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/visionlossconsultants Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast KEY POINTS 05:21 The Genesis of Sight Unseen 06:44 The Plot and Characters of Sight Unseen 07:35 The Importance of Sight Loss Representation 24:04 The Visual Representation of Sight Loss 34:15 Challenging Stigmas and Representing Vision Loss 36:07 Filming Challenges with an Immersive Point of View
S3 E45 · Tue, April 02, 2024
BPD and Mental Health Representation in My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
For today's mini-episode, we're chatting with New York Times best-selling author Bassey Ikpi about the depiction of mental illness (specifically Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD) in The CW's musical comedy-drama series My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015–2019) by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna. Our guest Bassey Ikpi is a Nigerian-American, ex-poet, current writer, mental health advocate, underachieving overachiever, and memoir procrastinator. Her best selling book I’m Telling the Truth But I’m Lying is available in both print and audio at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/im-telling-the-truth-but-im-lying-bassey-ikpi . Listen to our full interview with Bassey: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/bipolardisorder DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP045-transcript-BPD-and-Mental-Health-Representation-in-My-Crazy-Ex-Girlfriend.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S3 E44 · Tue, March 26, 2024
Atlanta, Insecure, and Bipolar Disorder
Welcome to season three of Braaains! Today we have the pleasure of talking with New York Times Best Selling author Bassey Ikpi about Bipolar II disorder, how she got her diagnosis, and the representation of bipolar and depression on shows like Atlanta, Insecure, and Dave. Bassey is a Nigerian-American, ex-poet, current writer, mental health advocate, underachieving overachiever, and memoir procrastinator. Her best selling book I’m Telling the Truth But I’m Lying is available in both print and audio at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/im-telling-the-truth-but-im-lying-bassey-ikpi . DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-44-bipolar-disorder-transcript.pdf Listen to our mini-episode with Bassey on BPD in My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/bpdincrazyexgirlfriend Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E43 · Tue, December 12, 2023
A Little Advice for the Holidays
Today is our last episode of 2023 just in time for the holidays. We bring all of the Taylor/Deppisch siblings together – our little sister, Becky Taylor, and our little brother, Jonathan Deppisch – who is also our composer – to discuss how to deal with stress and protect your mental health over the holidays! We’re especially grateful for all of our listeners, friends, and family who submitted voice recordings, and text messages with advice on how to deal with your mental health over the holidays and throughout the year. We’re grateful to have so much to share today to hopefully make the upcoming weeks a little lighter. Our conversation explores the topics of creating healthy expectations, setting boundaries, saying no, and reconciling your capacity with your expectations during the holiday season. Our advice emphasizes the importance of appreciating simple things and respecting boundaries. The conversation also highlights the value of creating alone time and quiet spaces. As the holidays approach, find a way to find joy in everyday moments and cherish happy memories. Thank you to Mary-Anne Taylor (our mom!), Marcie Peterson, Blair Drover, Nicole Tersigni, Julia Rowland, Lilly Waterfield, Amanda Smith-Kolic, Sarah Snyder from Adulting ADHD, Susan Madigan, Leah Iwaniuk, Leah Simmons, Lisa Lutes, Erin Davis, Kathleen Smith (The Anxious Overachiever), Stephanie Fornasier from Psychocinematic, Pete Whemby, and Celeste Koon. DOWNLOAD OUR TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-EP043_a-little-advice-for-the-holidays_transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E42 · Tue, November 28, 2023
Causeway and Traumatic Brain Injury
In the penultimate episode of our second season, we’re looking at the experiences and representation of Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs with our guest, Naomi Mellor. Naomi is an equine veterinarian and podcaster, who not only runs a podcast production company but also founded the amazing International Women’s Podcast Awards. We discuss how a TBI can impact you with symptoms like headaches, neuro exhaustion, double vision, depth perception issues, sensory stimulation overload, and how Naomi spent 23 hours a day in bed after her accident. Lastly, we talk about the representation of TBIs in film and TV and how Naomi would love to see more stories about the subtlety and variety of the effects of TBIs and what the long-term impact is on your brain, body, and mental health. We also talk about the film Causeway and how it is one of the few films dealing with some of the lasting effects of TBIs. DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E41 · Tue, November 14, 2023
Investigating Inequality Across Film and TV with the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative
We’re mixing things up today with a conversation about the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and their research on representation in film and TV. We spoke with Katherine Pieper, the program director at the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. As the leading global think tank studying inclusion in media, the initiative examines the prevalence and portrayal of groups such as: girls and women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and mental health conditions. They analyze who is on-screen and behind the camera across film, episodic, and short film content. As part of our conversation, we discuss the results of one of their latest studies – Inequality in 1600 popular films examining portrayals of gender, race, ethnicity, LGBTQ+, and disability in Films from 2007 - 2022, as well as dive into the Inclusion Index, and learn more about their new study on indigenous representation in film. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-EP041_Investigating-Inequality-Across-Film-and-TV-with-the-Annenberg-Inclusion-Initiative_t.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Instagram: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E40 · Tue, October 31, 2023
The Conjuring, Paranormal Activity, and Our Obsession with Ghost Stories
Happy Halloween!! In our second SPOOOKY episode for October, we’re talking all about ghosts with the spooktacular host of Geist, Danielle Matar. We discuss why we, as a society, have such a fascination with ghost stories, the paranormal, and what happens to us after we die. We also look at the impact on our brains when we experience these types of unexplainable experiences and how to avoid trauma after an experience with something you think is supernatural. TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E39 · Tue, October 17, 2023
Midsommar, Charlie Says, and the Reality of Cults
As part of SPOOOOOOKY month, we touch on topics in the next two episodes that are often the subject of horror films – and we look at their impact on our brains. Today, we have the fabulous Guinevere Turner as our guest. She is the screenwriter of films like American Psycho and Charlie Says, and has recently published ‘When the World Didn’t End,’ a book about her experiences growing up in a cult. In this episode, we do a deep, deep dive into the representation of cults in film and TV and look at what filmmakers get right and what they get wrong. We also discuss the characteristics of a cult, who is susceptible to them, their impact on one's mental health, and how to help family and friends who may find themselves deeply entwined in a cult community. Lastly, we talk about why it’s hard to find the right therapist if you are a cult survivor and why the world is so obsessed with cult stories. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT Key moments in this episode: 00:01:12 - Representation of Cults in Film and TV 00:03:58 - Defining a Cult 00:06:17 - Warning Signs of Being in a Cult 00:08:16 - Changing Perceptions of Cults 00:15:27 - Humanizing David Koresh & His Followers in the series Waco 00:16:48 - Exploring Characters Trying to Escape Cults 00:17:14 - Understanding the Vulnerability of Cult Followers 00:18:36 - Living in a "Cult-Ready Culture" 00:29:00 - When Guinevere Realized She Grew Up in a Cult 00:35:32 - Therapy and Recovery Process 00:41:59 - Changing Coercion Laws and Law Enforcement Training 00:42:53 - Supporting Someone in a Cult 00:45:17 - Cult Documentaries and Awareness 00:48:13 - Society's Obsession with Cults 00:55:02 - Creating a Unique Movie about the REAL Cult Experience Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: <a href="https://perpetualnotion.ca/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://perpetualnotion.ca/&source=gmail&ust=1696471525614000&usg=AOvVaw
S2 E38 · Thu, October 05, 2023
You're Not Alone: When and How to Disclose
Steph is a psychologist and host of the Psychocinematic podcast who currently works in Disability Inclusion in schools in Naarm (Melbourne) and has her own mental illness lived experience. Steph joins us to discuss how you approach disclosure, concerns around discrimination about disclosure and how to address it, and why some people incorporate their mental illness or disability into their identity after disclosure. This is episode three of our three-part series, You're Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness. This is for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2023 (October 1 - 7) and it explores mental illness, the barriers that can block your journey to good mental health, and how stigmas, diagnoses, and disclosure are represented on film and TV. TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast GUEST BIO Stephanie (Steph) Fornasier is a psychologist currently working in Disability Inclusion in schools in Naarm (Melbourne), with her own mental illness lived experience. She has a 13-year care
S2 E37 · Wed, October 04, 2023
You're Not Alone: The Road to Diagnosis
Dr. Lily Le, a registered psychologist and Director of Clinical Innovation at the mental health tech company, DiveThru, discusses how to take the next step when you need help with a mental illness or are looking to improve your mental health. We also get advice on what to do when it’s difficult to see a therapist due to affordability or long wait times and the importance of having a support system in place. This is episode two of our three-part series, You're Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness. This is for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2023 (October 1 - 7) and it explores mental illness, the barriers that can block your journey to good mental health, and how stigmas, diagnoses, and disclosure are represented on film and TV. TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast GUEST BIO Dr. Lily Le is a Registered Psychologist with a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta. Dr. Le has over a decade of experience in mental health and has worked in university, private practice, and public healthcare settings. She is dedicated to de-stigmatizing mental health, making care more accessible, and leveraging innovation and technology to enhance clinical processes and outcomes. Dr. Le is the Director of Clinical Innovation at DiveThru, a mental health tech company on a mission to ensure no one struggles alone. In her role, Dr. Le oversees the clinical side of the company, employing research and clinical expertise to develop, evaluate, and refine clinical products and processes. In her spare time, Dr. Le can be found binging the latest hit show, picking up a new activity (currently, it's rowing!), and exploring local events with her family and friends.
S2 E36 · Tue, October 03, 2023
You’re Not Alone: How Stigma Hurts Everyone
Amie Archibald-Varley, Nurse, Health Equity Specialist, and co-host of the Gritty Nurse Podcast, joins us to talk about stigma, where it comes from, and how it leads to discrimination. This episode (which is part one of our three-part series) will inform you on how to prevent and address stigmas as well as be a good ally. You're Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness is a three-part series for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2023 (October 1 - 7) that explores mental illness, the barriers that can block your journey to good mental health, and how stigmas, diagnoses, and disclosure are represented on film and TV. TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast GUEST BIO Amie Archibald-Varley is a thought leader, Speaker with the National Speakers Bureau, Health Equity Specialist, and upcoming author of " The Wisdom of Nurses " with Harper Collins (April 2024). She is also a podcaster, mental health & health equity advocate, and quality improvement and change management specialist. She inspires others to speak their truths and brings communities together to engage in "courageous conversations." Amie is a medical contributor who has been featured on numerous television, radio, and news outlets nationally and internationally. She is a Freelance Journalist with the Canadian Broadcaster Corporation (CBC), and regularly contributes to conversations on a wide variety of topics such as: Healthcare, politics (local, national, and international), climate change, health equity, racism and antiracism, mental health issues, and popular culture. She is also featured on the Smart Speakers Series on Newstalk1010's The Rush with Reshmi Nair. Amie has also written for The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and the Toronto Star and is currently writing a book with Harper Collins for 2024. As the co-host of the successful Gritty Nurse Podcast , Amie discusses hot topics in healthcare. The podcast has hit #2 in Apple Podcasts in Medicine for Canada. She also is starting
Trailer · Tue, September 19, 2023
You're Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness (trailer)
Launching October 3rd, Braaains's three-part mini-series, You’re Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness , explores mental illness, the barriers that can block your journey to good mental health, and how stigmas, diagnoses, and disclosure are represented on film and television. It's out October 3 - 5 for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2023. See more here: https://braaainspodcast.com/miaw2023 Episode One: How Stigma Hurts Everyone RELEASE DATE: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 Interviewee: Amie Archibald-Varley, Nurse, Health Equity Specialist, and co-host of the Gritty Nurse Podcast Amie Archibald-Varley, Nurse, Health Equity Specialist, and co-host of the Gritty Nurse Podcast joins us to talk about stigma, where it comes from, and how it leads to discrimination. This episode will inform you on how to prevent and address stigmas as well as be a good ally. Episode Two: The Journey to Diagnosis RELEASE DATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Interviewee: Dr. Lily Le, Registered Psychologist & Director of Clinical Innovation at DiveThru Dr. Lily Le, a registered psychologist and Director of Clinical Innovation at the mental health tech company, DiveThru, discusses how to take the next step when you need help with a mental illness or are looking to improve your mental health. We also get advice on what to do when it’s difficult to see a therapist due to affordability or long wait times and the importance of having a support system in place. Episode Three: When and How to Disclose RELEASE DATE: Thursday, October 5, 2023 Interviewee: Stephanie Fornasier, psychologist and host of Psychocinematic Steph is a psychologist and host of the Psychocinematic podcast who currently working in Disability Inclusion in schools in Naarm (Melbourne) and has her own mental illness lived experience. Steph joins us to discuss how you approach disclosure, concerns around discrimination about disclosure and how to address it, and why some people incorporate their mental illness or disability into their identity after disclosure.
S2 E35 · Tue, September 12, 2023
Blindspotting and life after incarceration
A counselor and advocate, Mark Power works with former inmates to help them reintegrate into life after prison. In Mark’s words, the slippery slope around “the company we keep” or worse “relational disconnection” re-emerges in most second chancer's stories. The pull to reunite with old associates, friends, and even criminal families is often the path of least resistance. We discuss a wide range of topics today around justice, reintegration, and forgiveness. This includes conversations around the mental health implications of prison and the impact incarceration has on both those locked away and the families they leave behind. We also discuss programs such as Blindspotting and Orange is the New Black, amongst others. Mark’s dream is that we start building reintegration programs that are so effective that recidivism radically goes down, and we can start closing prisons. CW: Discussions around crime and suicide. TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E34 · Tue, August 29, 2023
Sense8, The Politician, and Gender Freedom
Our guest Rae McDaniel is a non-binary Speaker, Author, Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Coach, and Transgender Diversity and Inclusion Educator. In this episode, we talk about gender identity, exploration, expression, AND freedom and how your mental health is overwhelmingly better when you can authentically be yourself. We also discuss TV shows like Pose, Sense8, The Politician, and Mae Martin’s Feel Good that include or showcase stories of transgender and non-binary individuals and explore the impact of that representation. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E33 · Tue, August 15, 2023
The Swearing Jar and Brain Aneurysms
In 2017, Canadian director Lindsay MacKay had a brain aneurysm that almost killed her. She joins us today to talk about that experience, the warning signs that can happen (but sometimes don’t), and what the aftermath and recovery were like. We also discuss how Lindsay used the experience of her brain aneurysm to inform her direction of Kate Hewlett’s The Swearing Jar and how Lindsay adjusted her work environment to better serve her brain. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E32 · Tue, August 01, 2023
CBC’s virgins!, Immigration, and Bicultural Identity
Nafisa Moallim, a therapist and Registered Social Worker with a Clinical Master of Social Work, joins us to talk about immigration and bicultural identity. As a Somali-Canadian refugee, Nafisa has extensive lived experiences navigating two identities and learning the language of trauma. Her biggest passion is for advocating for how to discuss mental health in immigrant and refugee populations. We dig deep into the series Virgins on CBC Gem in Canada. Set in Toronto, virgins! is a dramatic comedy created by Aden Abebe that follows the lives of four 20-something-year-old women who are too modest for the big city and too provocative for the East African homes they come from. We also discuss the impact immigration can have on someone’s mental health, what it’s like to be part of the 1.5 generation, and the effects of post-migration trauma. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E31 · Tue, July 18, 2023
Everything Everywhere All at Once & ADHD
Today is the episode you’ve all been waiting for – ADHD! Our guest, Rach Idowu was diagnosed with ADHD Combined Type on January 2020 at the age of 26. Shortly after her diagnosis, she decided to start her AdultingADHD substack newsletter to document her own personal experience. Rach has been featured in the NYTimes, BBC, Stylist, and Mashable among others. She has also created flashcards to help adults with ADHD learn more about ADHD traits including coping strategies. We discussed the long road to Rach’s ADHD diagnosis and what it meant for her, the impact of ADHD stigmas on getting the help you need, and what kind of accommodations you can ask for in the workplace. We also talked about the representation of ADHD in films like Everything Everywhere All At Once and the TV show Grey’s Anatomy. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E30 · Tue, July 04, 2023
Turning Red, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Diabetes
Today’s episode is about diabetes and we are excited to talk with writer, science communications professional, and podcast producer and host, Krista Lamb, who recently released her book ‘Beyond Banting: Decoding Canada’s Diabetes Research Superstars.’ During our conversation, we discussed the different types of diabetes that present (type one and type two), the stigmas associated with diabetes, and the impact this chronic illness has on a person’s mental health. Together, we also explore how we currently see this disability on film and television in films like Turning Red and shows like The Baby-Sitters Club and what we’d like to see on the screen in the future! Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E29 · Tue, June 20, 2023
As We See It and Autism
On today’s episode, we dive into the world of autism with Ava Xiao-Lin Rigelhaupt who is a writer, actress, and consultant/advocate for diversity, autism, and disability representation in entertainment. We discussed how Ava got her autism diagnosis and what it meant for her, what stigmas she and other autistics often face, and how she would like to create inclusive autism representation on and off screen. We also talked about the representation of autism in television shows such as As We See It and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E28 · Tue, June 06, 2023
The Devil's Backbone & Spina Bifida
Respectability alum, Michael J. Dougherty, talks with us about Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus and disability representation in Guillermo del Toro films such as The Devil’s Backbone and The Shape of Water. Michael is a film person, screenwriter, essayist, occasional actor, and advocate living & working in Hollywood. He’s also the co-founder of the ReelAbilities Film Festival: Los Angeles, entering its 6th year, which presents films and discussions by and about the disability community. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E27 · Tue, May 23, 2023
Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs, and Emergency Medicine
Today, we deconstruct emergency medicine and medical misinformation with ER doctor, Dr. Shazma Mithani. Wondering how many patients emergency doctors see in a day or why it’s such a burnout profession? Listen on! We also discuss which TV series portrays the ER in the most accurate way – is it Grey’s Anatomy? House? ER? Scrubs? And of course, we find out why Dr. Mithani decided to take to social media to dispel medical misinformation and talk about how her work in the ER informs the kinds of topics she shares online. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E26 · Tue, May 09, 2023
Motherless Brooklyn and Tourette Syndrome
Our guest, writer and actor, Graham Kent, joins us to talk about his experience with Tourette Syndrome, how it presents, and why he thinks Edward Norton’s Motherless Brooklyn is the best portrayal of Tourette Syndrome he’s seen on screen! The key moments in this episode are: 00:06:16 - Overlapping Disorders 00:08:08 - Presentation of Tourette Syndrome 00:14:17 - Living with Tourette Syndrome 00:16:32 - Motherless Brooklyn as a Representation of Tourette Syndrome 00:21:02 - Not Naming Tourette Syndrome in Motherless Brooklyn 00:23:56 - Other Depictions of Tourette Syndrome in Pop Culture 00:34:06 - Tourette Syndrome and Acting 00:39:17 - Nuances of Tourette Syndrome 00:41:46 - Understanding ADHD and Tourette Syndrome 00:45:09 - The Power of Nuanced Storytelling 00:48:31 - Resources for Tourette Syndrome 00:53:25 - Sarah's Documentary Premiere 00:57:16 - Heather's Experience at the WGC Awards 00:58:10 - Importance of Listener Reviews DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E25 · Tue, April 25, 2023
Speechless, Special, and Cerebral Palsy
Today we had the pleasure of speaking with Diana Elizabeth Jordan, an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and disability and IDEA influencer. We discussed her experience with cerebral palsy, some of the common stigmas associated with her disability, and what the representation of cerebral palsy on shows like Special and Speechless meant to her. Whether portraying a character, sharing a personal story, directing, or producing a project, Diana is committed to celebrating the power of resiliency and disability. DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E24 · Tue, April 11, 2023
United States of Tara, Split, & Dissociative Identity Disorder
Jenna and the system of alters (together known as the Gianu System) join us today to talk about Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. This complex disorder, which occurs in 1.5% of our population, is a covert survival mechanism specific to each individual. We discuss what dissociation is, how identities and ego states exist, and how alters can hold different parts of trauma. We also talk about the accurate DID representation in the Australian film by Rome Trower, What if it Worked? and how shows like The United States of Tara and the film Split have impacted the perceptions of DID. 00:02:38 - What is Dissociative Identity Disorder? 00:06:44 - Jenna's Discovery of DID 00:09:09 - Discovering Alters in the Gianu System 00:15:39 - Understanding DID and its Complexity 00:16:57 - Aging and Sliding of Alters 00:19:11 - The Representation of DID in What If It Works 00:22:05 - The Debate on Integration and Healing 00:25:31 - The Misrepresentation of DID in Media 00:30:52 - Misconceptions about DID 00:35:03 - Using Social Media to Heal 00:39:49 - Normalizing DID in Media 00:40:59 - Recommended Resources 00:47:07 - Lack of Diversity in Canadian Writing Rooms 00:49:48 - Documentary Premiere for The Lebanese Burger Mafia 00:50:39 - Harvardwood Talk on Ethics and Storytelling DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E23 · Tue, March 28, 2023
The Last of Us and Disability Representation
Today’s guest, Michelle Asgarali, a Disabled Creative Producer and Advocate and Story Producer on the new CBC docuseries PUSH, deep dives into disability representation and the stigmas and tropes that impact the disability community on and off the screen. We also discussed the importance of creating more accessible and inclusive spaces with universal design and looked at how popular shows like The Last of Us, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, and the fab Australian series Latecomers have showcased storylines with disabled characters. [00:01:01] Inclusive storytelling. [00:09:21] Three tropes of disability. [00:25:48] Disability representation in media. [00:36:02] Disability inclusion in the film industry. [00:42:01] Creating better environments for disabilities. [00:47:42] Remote work and disability rights. [00:54:25] Better representation in media. [01:01:31] Universal design for everyone. DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S2 E22 · Tue, March 14, 2023
Shrill and the Impact of Fat Representation
Welcome to Season two of Braaains! Today we're discussing weight stigma, diet culture, and the impact of fat representation in TV shows like Shrill and Rutherford Falls with our guest Lauren Groves, a registered psychologist in Edmonton, Alberta who is the owner of Ignite Counseling and Wellness Services. [00:02:14] Diet culture and representation. [00:04:28] The effects of lack of body representation. [00:12:38] Authenticity in influencer culture. [00:17:06] Thinness and Medical Bias. [00:24:13] Harmful effects of diet culture. [00:29:03] Fatphobia's impact on earnings. [00:38:33] Trusting ourselves in diet culture. [00:49:27] The cost of diet culture. [00:52:35] Anti-diet culture journey. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E21 · Tue, December 13, 2022
Holidays on Film
Today’s episode is our last one for 2022 so of course, we’re talking about the holidays and how they're portrayed on film! We’re excited to have historian Vaughn Joy on to talk specifically about the impact of Christmas movies, how the government influenced the cultural sector in the nuclear age, and how those ramifications are still having ripple effects today. We also discuss how pop culture changes social attitudes and conveys the politics of the moment as seen through the lens of innocuous media like what you consume around the holidays. Lastly, we dive into how we’d like to see more representation on screen in terms of holiday films including different religions, different secular traditions, and different communities at the center of the story. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E20 · Tue, November 29, 2022
Stephen King's IT and Stuttering
Today, we deep dive into stuttering with our guests Per Alm, a researcher and lecturer from the Department of Neuroscience at Uppsala University, Sweden, and Maya Chupkov, the host and creator of the podcast Proud Stutter . We discuss background factors that can affect whether or not you stutter, the impact of neurological mechanisms underlying stuttering, and how stuttering can affect your day-to-day life. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E19 · Tue, November 15, 2022
Multiple Sclerosis
Disabled educator, speaker, and creator, Erin Ryan Heyneman, joins us to talk about Multiple Sclerosis. We discuss how MS presents, the impact of her diagnosis as a teenager, how a major flair-up and its aftermath affected her life, and the importance of disability representation. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Editing: Blair Drover Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E18 · Tue, November 01, 2022
Misogyny
On today’s episode we discuss misogyny with Guylaine Maroist, who is one of the directors of BACKLASH: MISOGYNY IN THE DIGITAL AGE. This tour de force documentary throws us into the vortex of online misogyny and reveals the devastating effects unbridled female hatred has on victims. We also talk about the importantance of education in combating this growing phenomenon. Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Editing: Blair Drover Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast A huge thank you to Calgary International Film Festival for giving us the opportunity to record our interview with Guylaine in the podcast booth on location at the festival.
S1 E17 · Tue, October 18, 2022
Trauma & Horror Films
It's spooky season so let's talk about trauma and horror films and how the two intersect. We're excited to be talking to horror film writer and cognitive behavior therapist, Mo Moshaty, about her own experiences with trauma and how horror films can be used to talk about it. Of course, it can sometimes misuse and exploit traumatic experiences for chills and thrills which we also address in this episode. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:33 - Trauma and horror films 00:01:14 - Mo's personal experiences with trauma 00:05:17 - Mental, physical, and emotional implications of trauma 00:13:48 - Changes in brain structure and body 00:15:05 - Understanding the Impact of Childhood Trauma 00:16:36 - Physical Effects of Trauma 00:17:31 - People-Pleasing and Ignoring Personal Needs 00:20:32 - Challenges in Accessing Mental Health Care 00:27:40 - Misuse of Trauma in Horror Films 00:29:35 - Realistic Portrayal of Trauma in Cinema 00:31:48 - Impact of Grief in Horror Movies 00:35:32 - Negative Female Tropes in Horror 00:37:11 - Realistic Depictions of Trauma in Film 00:39:18 - Movies with Realistic Depictions of Trauma 00:44:11 - Finding Healing in Literature 00:45:10 - Protecting Ourselves as Viewers 00:47:24 - Acknowledging Triggers and Setting Boundaries 00:50:27 - Horror as a Tool for Mental Health 00:55:38 - Centering Women's Experiences in Horror CW: Abuse, assault, and childhood trauma DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: <a href= "https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaai
S1 E16 · Tue, October 04, 2022
Addiction
On today’s episode, we’ll be talking about addiction and substance abuse with producer and mental health nurse, Jenny Ng-Turner! We’ll discuss warning signs, triggers, stigmas, the value of having the right support systems in place, and where you can go for help. The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:20 - Jenny's Background and Interest in Addiction and Substance Abuse 00:05:37 - Definition of Addiction and Triggers 00:16:08 - The Impact of Drug Use and Access to Medication 00:16:47 - Recognizing Substance Abuse and Seeking Help 00:18:14 - Healthy Conversations about Substance Use 00:21:46 - Patterns of Use and Finding Support 00:27:38 - Supporting Families and Practicing Harm Reduction 00:31:29 - Importance of Small Successes in Recovery 00:31:53 - Complexity of Mental Health and Addiction 00:32:13 - Self-Medication and Cognitive Disabilities 00:34:18 - Portrayal of Addiction in Film and TV 00:39:40 - Resources for Addiction Support 00:47:07 - Overcoming Unhealthy Relationship with Alcohol 00:48:13 - The Stigma of Sobriety 00:48:43 - Fear of Addiction 00:49:15 - Additional Information on Addiction CW: Alcohol and substance use DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-016-Addiction-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_De
S1 E15 · Tue, September 20, 2022
Rural Medicine and Lack of Medical Access
Doctor Kathryn Wood joins us today to talk about rural medicine and the impact lack of medical access can have on both patients and physicians. She details what it’s like to work in the Peace River area in Northern Alberta, the impact on the mental health of doctors and patients, how she chose the path of rural medicine, and what she’d love medical shows to get right about remote medicine. The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:00 - Dr. Kathryn Wood's Journey to Medicine 00:04:08 - Rural Medicine in Peace River 00:08:31 - Surgical Skills in Rural Medicine 00:11:13 - Balancing Work and Self-Care 00:13:48 - A Day in the Life of a Rural Surgeon 00:15:19 - Balancing Work and Parenthood 00:17:37 - Impact of Limited Medical Care 00:21:50 - Revolutionizing Reproductive Health 00:26:27 - Myths and Realities of Rural Medicine 00:27:36 - Balancing Autonomy and Patient Care 00:29:15 - Personal Growth and Training 00:30:47 - Challenges of Rural Medicine Recruitment 00:32:14 - Lack of Rural Exposure in Medical Education 00:37:29 - Inaccuracies in Medical Portrayals in Media 00:39:58 - Rural Medical Practice Opportunities 00:40:49 - Advice for Starting Out in Rural Practice 00:41:32 - Challenges Faced by Physicians 00:42:22 - Access to Mental Health Care in Rural Areas CW: Medical procedures DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-015-Rural-medicine-and-lack-of-medical-acces
S1 E14 · Tue, September 06, 2022
Language
Today's guest is Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore, an independent filmmaker, podcaster, artist and educator, who is a Mohawk citizen and an enrolled member of Six Nations of the Grand River territory. Our conversation deep dives into the importance of language, community, and the impact representation (or the lack thereof) can have on you. We also discuss how losing and/or gaining a language that connects you to your community and who you are affects you. Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore is also a founding member of The Aunties Dandelion : a relationship-centered media collective. The organization seeks to revitalize community through stories of land, language, and relationship. The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:31 - Importance of Representation and Language 00:03:18 - Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore's Transition to Independent Filmmaking 00:11:52 - Return to Mohawk Community and Language Revitalization 00:15:42 - Ancestral Connection to the Land 00:16:05 - Giving Gratitude to the Natural World 00:18:45 - Revitalizing the Mohawk Language 00:22:49 - Embracing the Role of the "Auntie" 00:25:46 - Story of Skywoman 00:29:24 - The Power of Community and Relationality 00:33:07 - The Impact of Workplace Perks 00:35:45 - Loss of Language in Indigenous Communities 00:39:31 - Filmmakers Preserving Mohawk Language 00:43:29 - Mohawk Language in Film 00:48:23 - Indigenous Stories in Media 00:49:26 - Sharing Indigenous Stories 00:50:11 - Immersing in Mohawk Language 00:53:11 - Embracing Mohawk Language CW: Discussions about residential schools and genocide DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-014-Launguage-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/braaainspodcast" target="_blank" rel= "noopen
S1 E13 · Tue, August 23, 2022
Death of a Parent
On today’s episode, we interviewed Marie-France Guerrette, documentary filmmaker, director, and producer who created the feature doc, Sans Maman or Unmothered. In this touching documentary about her family, Marie-France blends home-movie footage and interviews to give viewers a window into her own personal experience of grief. Through the lens of the film and beyond, we discuss the death of a parent when you’re a child, and how this impacted Marie-France’s life and work as a filmmaker. CW: Discussions about death and dying Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E12 · Tue, August 09, 2022
As Good As it Gets and OCD
Today, we deep-dive into OCD - Obsession Compulsive Disorder - and discuss symptoms, treatment options, and the impact OCD can have on your everyday life. Our two guests include photographer Dallas Curow , who recently started sharing her story about OCD, and Farah Zerehi, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in California. She’s a specialist who works with OCD patients and has OCD herself! CW: Discussions about self-harm and POCD DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE The key moments in this episode are: 00:08:06 - OCD Diagnosis 00:11:59 - OCD Adaptations 00:15:06 - Breaking the Silence on Mental Health 00:19:01 - OCD in the Creative World 00:21:06 - Depictions of OCD in TV and Film 00:27:28 - Dropping Rituals to Overcome OCD 00:31:50 - Specializing in OCD Treatment 00:33:27 - The Long Road to Diagnosis 00:38:57 - Signs of OCD to Look Out For 00:41:10 - How to Seek Help for OCD 00:44:48 - Misunderstandings about OCD 00:45:29 - Genetic factors of OCD 00:46:24 - Intrusive Thoughts vs. OCD 00:48:05 - Coping with Bad Days 00:52:06 - Types of Compulsions 00:59:58 - The Stigma of OCD Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Editing: Blair Drover Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E11 · Tue, July 26, 2022
Aphantasia
Today's episode is all about Aphantasia, also known as mind’s eye blindness. Those with Aphantasia can't visualize scenes, people, experiences, objects, and memories, and it can impact other senses as well. This lack of mental imagery was described as early as the late 1800s, yet it has remained a relatively unstudied phenomenon until 2015, when a study first introduced the term, Aphantasia. Since then, the amount of research about Aphantasia has continued to grow. Our two guests today, who both experience Aphantasia, include Tom Ebeyer who is the founder of the Aphantasia Network, and Jana O’Connor, writer of the upcoming feature film, PICTURE IT, probably the first long-form film highlighting the experience of having Aphantasia! The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:34 - Understanding Aphantasia 00:01:04 - Interview with Tommy Ebeyer 00:01:44 - Aphantasia Network and Community 00:04:55 - Impact of Aphantasia on Daily Life 00:13:51 - The Relationship between Imagination and Body Response 00:14:22 - Research on Aphantasia 00:16:37 - Personal Experiences and Unique Imagery Profile 00:21:00 - Resources for Aphantasia from Tom 00:24:42 - Jana discovering Aphantasia and Writing "Picture It" 00:28:27 - Impact on Daily Life 00:32:04 - Grief and Aphantasia 00:36:24 - Creative Professions and Aphantasia 00:39:11 - Aversion to Descriptive Passages 00:40:10 - Childhood Horror Experience 00:41:25 - Approach to Writing and Performing 00:43:21 - Visualization and Learning 00:45:14 - Challenges of Standardized Testing 00:49:44 - Representation of Aphantasia in Film
S1 E10 · Tue, July 12, 2022
Animal-assisted Therapy
Ahhh! Animals! On today's podcast, we're talking to Jocelyn Nand, executive director of the Family Counselling Centres in Alberta. Her work includes animal-assisted therapy with the help of her co-therapist (and dog!), Watson. We'll talk about the work that she does to help a variety of clients deal with emotional dysregulation issues, impulse control, behavioral struggles, anxiety, low self-esteem, as well as work with those who have sensory struggles. We'll also discuss our impact on the mental health of animals and how positive reinforcement when training pets can go a long way. The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:29 - Jocelyn Nand's Background and Interest in Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:05:42 - Impact of Watson (the dog) in Therapy Room 00:08:33 - Clients Who Benefit from Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:13:07 - Other Animals in Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:14:34 - The Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:16:37 - Pet Preferences and Personality 00:18:10 - The Impact of Mental Health on Animals 00:22:07 - Training Animals for Therapy 00:27:47 - Integrating Animal-Assisted Therapy into Counseling 00:29:04 - The Therapist's Attachment to Her Therapy Dog 00:31:29 - Utilizing Watson's Strengths in Therapy 00:32:55 - Challenges and Limitations of Animal-Assisted Therapy 00:36:11 - Misconceptions and Ethical Considerations in Animal Therapy 00:42:44 - The Role of Animals in Grief and Loss 00:45:19 - Resources for Animal Therapy 00:46:18 - Becoming an Animal Therapist DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-010-Animal-assisted-therapy-Transcript.pd
S1 E9 · Mon, June 27, 2022
Abortion Onscreen
This episode is part two of our conversation around abortion. Today we’re discussing the research conducted for the Abortion Onscreen program which examines how abortion is portrayed in American popular culture. The principal investigator, Dr. Gretchen Sisson, is a research sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) at the University of California, San Francisco. She’s joined by her colleague Steph Herold, who has a Master of Public Health and conducts mixed methods research on the portrayal of abortion on television and in film. CW: Discussions about surgical and medical abortion Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E8 · Tue, June 21, 2022
Abortion
With the US on the precipice of recriminalizing abortion, we're having a two-part episode on this medical procedure, the impact it has, and the importance of the right representation in media. Today's episode features an interview with Rachel Dyer, the Board of Director's Chair of Exhale Pro-Voice , an international nonprofit organization that provides non-judgmental and abortion-positive after-abortion emotional support via text line, and trains medical and mental health providers to better support the emotional well-being of people after their abortions. The key moments in this episode are: 00:03:01 - Abortion Experiences and Stigma 00:06:48 - Supporting Individuals Before, During, and After Abortions 00:09:01 - Overcoming Stigmas and Changing Dominant Culture 00:15:41 - Breaking the Silence on Abortion Conversations 00:17:27 - Abortion Stigma in BIPOC Communities 00:22:41 - Fake Clinics and Accessing Reliable Resources 00:25:00 - Supporting Future Reproductive Healthcare 00:28:42 - Clinic Escorting and Medication Abortions 00:30:38 - Importance of Education and Knowledge Sharing 00:31:10 - Supporting Exhale and Their Work 00:32:43 - Importance of Non-Partisan Support 00:39:42 - Importance of Conversation and Education CW: Discussions about medical abortion DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-008-Abortion-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpet
S1 E7 · Tue, June 07, 2022
Hookups and Consent
Today’s episode deep dives into hookups and consent with Dr. Aditi Paul. We hope to dispel commonly held myths about hookup culture. We’ll also discuss how sex scripts used in TV and movies affect Gen Z’s sexual behaviors and influence how we think about consent. The key moments in this episode are: 00:04:09 - Dr. Aditi Paul's Background and Interest in Dating and Hookup Culture 00:08:22 - Changing Landscape of Hookups 00:14:32 - The Evolution of Dating Scripts 00:17:50 - Hookup Culture Misconceptions 00:20:44 - Portrayal of Hookups in Media 00:24:56 - Rethinking Consent 00:28:31 - Personal Experience and Impact 00:28:55 - Recognizing Sexual Assault 00:30:17 - Teaching Consent to the Next Generation 00:33:33 - Multifaceted Solutions to Sexual Assault 00:35:26 - Understanding Boundaries and Nonverbal Consent 00:39:13 - Men and Consent 00:43:31 - Unnamed ripple effect 00:44:00 - Unwanted touch and boundaries 00:46:29 - Sexual repression and assault 00:48:22 - Female masturbation and empowerment 00:53:29 - Resources for education CW: Discussions about sex and sexual assault DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-007-Hookups-and-ConsentTranscript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_deppisch_/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="n
S1 E6 · Tue, May 24, 2022
Twins and Triplets
Let's explore the world of Twins and Triplets! Graduate student, Sarah Carroll, shares details of her clinical work with twins at MSU, and Alice and Cindy deep-dive into what it's like being part of a set of triplets. Most importantly, we find out if there's such thing as having an evil twin... The key moments in this episode are: 00:09:50 - Portrayal of Twins in Media 00:12:17 - Sarah Carroll's Research and Twin Registry 00:14:30 - Introduction and Background to triplets Alice and Cindy 00:15:58 - Growing Up as a Triplet 00:22:16 - Identity and Family Dynamics 00:27:29 - Embracing Differences and Individuality 00:29:06 - Sibling Relationships 00:30:15 - Sibling Dynamics 00:33:32 - Parenting and Family 00:35:08 - Mental Health and Self-Care 00:40:25 - Embracing Self-Discovery and Acceptance 00:41:04 - Overcoming Insecurities and Building Confidence 00:42:23 - Shifting Societal Views on Mental Health 00:43:36 - Positive Shift in Mental Health Discourse 00:52:35 - Gratitude for Unique Triplet Experience 00:52:55 - Connecting with Other Triplets 00:53:19 - Sharing Life Experiences 00:53:59 - Brave Vulnerability 00:54:40 - Birth Order Dynamics DOWNLOAD EPISODE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-006-Twins-and-Triplets-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Fo
S1 E5 · Tue, May 10, 2022
Grief
Rachelle Bensoussan and Michelle Williams of Being Here, Human challenge and deconstruct the common myths and misconceptions about grief and give new language around recognizing and honoring your own grief, and the grief of those around you. Topics include: 00:03:48 - Personal Stories of Grief 00:12:05 - Definition of Grief and Mourning 00:15:14 - Shifting Cultural Perspective on Grief 00:15:49 - Rethinking Grief Culture 00:17:27 - Collective Grief in a Pandemic 00:18:53 - Permission to Grieve 00:21:33 - Dismissive Cultural Narratives 00:25:17 - Rethinking Five Stages of Grief 00:29:34 - The Nature of Grief 00:30:07 - Unprepared for Grief 00:31:35 - Social Perception of Grief 00:34:28 - Misconceptions About Grief 00:37:20 - The Role of Literacy in Grief 00:43:20 - Understanding Grief and Mortality 00:44:23 - Unhelpful Narratives Around Grief 00:46:15 - Realistic Portrayals of Grief in Media 00:48:29 - Recommended Resources for Grief Literacy 00:51:03 - Validating Grief and Providing Support 00:56:31 - Rethinking Grief and Mourning 00:57:49 - Honoring Grief and Supporting Others 00:59:15 - Embracing Feelings and Allowing Grief CW: This episode includes discussions about death and dying. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-005-Somebody-Somewhere-and-Grief-Transcriptdocx.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E4 · Tue, April 26, 2022
Children's Brains
Today’s episode is all about children’s brains! We're talking to our resident kid expert, Charlotte (who's six), and Behaviour Consultant, Aynsley Graham, about how children’s brains develop and the importance of media literacy. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:33 - Importance of Media Literacy for Children's Brains 00:07:51 - Advice for Grown-Ups and Emotional Well-being 00:14:27 - Children's Understanding of Words 00:15:51 - Developmental Milestones 00:18:04 - Brain Development in Young Adults 00:22:21 - Grace and Understanding 00:23:20 - Age-Appropriate Conversations 00:26:44 - Understanding Developmental Capabilities 00:28:20 - Addressing Children's Questions 00:29:51 - Motivation for Conversations 00:34:27 - Building a Foundation for Understanding 00:38:26 - Addressing Ethnocentrism and Racism 00:39:13 - Explaining anatomy to kids 00:40:11 - Parent-child relationship dynamics 00:43:57 - Media literacy for kids 00:46:57 - Media as a learning tool 00:50:14 - Representation in children's media 00:51:35 - Evaluating Media Representation for Children 00:52:25 - Challenging Social and Gender Stereotypes in Media 00:53:25 - Teaching Critical Media Literacy to Children 00:59:40 - Recommended Child Development Resources 01:02:08 - Hopeful Outlook on Parenting <l
S1 E3 · Tue, April 12, 2022
Burnout
Hamza Khan, author of The Burnout Gamble, speaker, and co-founder of SkillsCamp, joins us to talk about burnout – what it is, what we can do about it, and how we can recover when it happens to us. The key moments in this episode are: 00:02:43 - Impact of Stress on Burnout 00:07:25 - Personal Experience with Burnout 00:11:47 - Symptoms and Syndrome of Burnout 00:12:42 - Recognizing Burnout Indicators 00:13:25 - Impact of Stress on Younger Generations 00:15:11 - The Impact of Loneliness on Burnout 00:16:42 - Path to Recovery from Burnout 00:24:37 - The Toxic Triangle of Leadership 00:26:07 - The Gig Economy and Freelancing 00:28:09 - Conservation of Resources Theory 00:31:40 - Challenges in the Film Industry 00:33:55 - Balancing Work and Self-Care 00:37:58 - The Consequences of Burnout 00:38:22 - Recognizing Burnout Symptoms 00:39:20 - Toxic Workplace and Internalizing Burnout 00:40:12 - Managers' Responsibility in Preventing Burnout 00:41:51 - Recognizing and Supporting Burnout in Others 00:45:41 - Embracing Radical Existence and Resources for Burnout 00:51:40 - Burnout Resources and Recommendations 00:52:27 - Film and Television Depictions of Burnout 00:53:04 - The Need for System-Level Solutions 00:57:19 - Gender Dynamics and Burnout <li data-pm-slice= "1 1 ["draggab
S1 E2 · Tue, March 29, 2022
Sleep
Time to talk about sleep! Clinical psychologist, Dr. Kristen Casey, explains why sleep is so important, its impact on our brains, and why, for some people, it’s so elusive. Key moments in this episode are: 00:00:38 - Importance of Sleep 00:07:00 - Dr. Kristen Casey's Background 00:09:45 - Common Sleep Issues 00:11:57 - Tips for Mind Racing 00:12:38 - The Role of Anxiety in Sleep 00:14:08 - Scheduled Worry Time 00:15:40 - Impacts of Sleep Deprivation 00:17:13 - The Benefits of Different Sleep Stages 00:19:11 - Managing Sleep Disruptions 00:24:09 - Hormonal Changes and Sleep 00:25:20 - Sleep Hygiene Tips 00:26:54 - Managing Sleep Anxiety 00:28:34 - Childhood Sleep Habits 00:31:26 - Individual Sleep Needs 00:35:01 - Importance of Wake Time 00:35:56 - Napping and Sleep Drive 00:37:53 - Effects of Sleep Aids 00:42:20 - Sleep for Restoration 00:43:21 - Sleep Resources 00:46:25 - The Impact of Insomnia on Health 00:47:19 - Impact of Films on Normalizing Insomnia 00:49:10 - The Reality of Living with Insomnia 00:50:40 - Resources for Understanding Insomnia DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-002-Sleep-Transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
S1 E1 · Tue, March 15, 2022
Identity
For the inaugural episode of Braaains, hosts Heather and Sarah Taylor discuss identity – how they see themselves, how they think others see them, and all the facets that make them who they are! Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
Trailer · Tue, February 15, 2022
Introducing: Braaains Podcast
Hosted by sisters, Heather Taylor (writer/director) and Sarah Taylor (film and TV editor), Braaains is a new podcast exploring the inner workings of our brains and how film & television portray them. We love talking about our brains & we hope you do, too! Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
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