Best Geek Therapeutics Podcasts (2025)

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Her (2013): Is AI an Effective Tool For Companionship, Romance, & Therapy? 1:01:12

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28d ago1:01:12

1:01:12

On this episode, licensed therapists Rick Guttersohn, LMSW and Kailah Tuttle, LPC explore the 2013 movie 'Her' featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. Can AI meet our emotional needs? Is it an effective way to provide companionship, romance, and even therapy? There is value in this episode even of you’ve never watched the movie! Cinema Se…

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Superman (2025): Super Powered Beliefs, Therapeutic Choices, and Is Kindness is the Real Punk Rock? 49:02

2M ago49:02

49:02

On this episode, Licensed therapist Rick Guttersohn gets geeky and dives into the mental health themes of the 2025 movie, Superman directed by James Gunn. There is plenty of movie talk mixed in with examining the therapeutic themes of belief, hope, optimism, and of course, kindness as the REAL punk rock! Find video content from this podcast on YouT…

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Ep 57- We are in Fluxx with Looney Labs 1:15:00

4M ago1:15:00

1:15:00

One of Shayna's favorite games to play in therapy is a card game called, FLUXX. It is a unique and fun game with ever changing rules. And what makes it even better is that there are many different versions, so anyone can find a version they love! In this episode, Shayna and Kathy interviewed the creators of FLUXX, Andy and Kristin Looney. Learn mor…

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Ep 56- AI and Mental Health 1:09:43

6M ago1:09:43

1:09:43

Age of Ultron, Terminator, I, Robot, The Matrix, and R2D2. What do they all have in common? Yup- they are all movies about AI. Most of the books, movies, and television shows about AI seem to be about machines rising up to take over the world. Well, except R2. Having an R2 may just be worth the risk. But the fact is, AI is here and touches on almos…

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Ep 55- Percy Jackson and ADHD 1:11:44

8M ago1:11:44

1:11:44

Shayna and Kathy are joined by Ana, a clinical social worker who you may remember from the Steven Universe episode (7). Ana discusses what it was like growing up with Percy Jackson and with ADHD, and how those two things are related. Her cat, Percy, also provides some entertainment. Citations, resources and credits Percy and ADHD Artwork by Matthew…

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Ep 54- Day of the Dead 58:18

10M ago58:18

58:18

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a celebration of life, death, and family that is typically celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. Shayna and Kathy are joined by Jose, a Mexican American mental health therapist, and Yessica, a Mexican American student intern studying to become a mental health therapist, as they discuss thi…

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Ep 53- Cosplay with NerdyNostalgia 1:05:11

11M ago1:05:11

1:05:11

Shayna and Kathy talk with Kaitlyn, a Florida based artist, cosplayer, and convention meetup host, who is better known as NerdyNostalgia. Kaitlyn talks about how she got into cosplaying, making the it more accessible to beginners like herself, social media, mental health and, of course, Critical Role. Kaitlyn first caught Shayna's eye when they wer…

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Ep 52- Travel into the Twilight Zone with us 56:39

11M ago56:39

56:39

Shayna and Kathy visit another dimension and discuss the classic television show, The Twilight Zone. The Twilight Zone debuted in 1959 and still influences much of the culture today. The creator, Rod Serling, developed the show in part to explore social issues in a way that could buck the censors. His trauma symptoms from his experiences in WWII al…

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Ep 51- Everyone loves BLUEY!! 1:05:27

1y ago1:05:27

1:05:27

On this episode Shayna and Kathy talk to Angel- a pediatric mental health expert, and Kayla- a Bluey expert, to talk about the immensely popular children's television show, Bluey. Bluey is a cartoon focusing on an anthropomorphic family of dogs. This show is beloved by children and parents alike- for good reasons! It is relatable and heartwarming a…

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Inside Out 2: Navigating Anxiety, Envy, Restoring Joy, and Other Chaotic Emotions! 1:12:37

1y ago1:12:37

1:12:37

On this episode, Rick and Kailah return to talk about a movie tailor made for therapy discussions: Inside Out 2! They talk about the incredible success of the movie before diving into the therapeutic themes of Anxiety, Envy, and Restoring Joy. And make sure to listen to the end for a bonus 3 minute episode where Rick asks his son about his favorite…

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Ep 50- Top 10 Geeky Therapeutic Interventions 1:10:28

1y ago1:10:28

1:10:28

Shayna shares her top 10 favorite therapy interventions that integrate pop culture references. From Steven Universe to The Twighlight Zone to SpongeBob and more, get a glimpse into how geeky therapists like us integrate pop culture into our work with clients. Plus- WE STARTED A PATREON!! Citations, resources and credits Steven Universe- Here Comes …

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Ep 49- Inside Out 2- It's Ok to Feel All the Feels 1:03:04

1y ago1:03:04

1:03:04

**Spoiler alert for Inside Out and Inside Out 2. Inside out 2 has already crossed the billion dollar mark at the box office. This is pretty incredible for a sequel released 9 years after the first movie. And there's a reason these movies are so popular. The movies enlisted psychologists, as well as teenaged girls, to literally get into the mind of …

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Ep 48- Asexual representation in pop culture... still looking for it. 1:04:10

1+ y ago1:04:10

1:04:10

In honor of Pride month, Shayna and Kathy explore the "A" in LGBTQIA+. And no, it does not stand for "ally". We are talking all about asexuality. We tackle myths and misunderstandings. We try to see if we can identify any good representation of asexuality in media. And, of course, we discuss mental health issues related to the asexuality spectrum. …

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Ep 47- Not to trigger you, but here are even more psychology terms you may be using incorrectly. 48:18

1+ y ago48:18

48:18

Finally- the second part to episode 45! Shayna and Kathy discuss even more psychology terms and concepts that you may be misusing or overusing. Today we tackle "toxic", triggers and trigger warnings, and the much maligned "safe spaces". Citations and credits A meta-analysis of the efficacy of trigger warnings, content warnings and content notes Art…

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Ep 46- Emergency meeting of The Tortured Swiftie Department 1:10:28

1+ y ago1:10:28

1:10:28

Shayna and Kathy had to call an emergency meeting of The Tortured Swiftie Department by bringing back several return guests to discuss Taylor Swift's new album, The Tortured Poets Department. You might remember Kayla and Melody from our first Taylor Swift Episode (ep 32), and Melissa from our episode on using music to help with emotional regulation…

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Ep 45- We aren't gaslighting you- you might be using some of these terms incorrectly 1:06:28

1+ y ago1:06:28

1:06:28

Gaslight, narcissist, anti-social, toxic, triggering.... these are just a few of the psychology related terms that you just might be using incorrectly! Shayna and Kathy actually watched the 1944 movie, Gaslight, so we could talk about the genesis of the term that is overused and misused today. Gaslighting is a real and insidious thing... but it's n…

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Ep 44- The ABC's of Mental Health Providers 59:36

1+ y ago59:36

59:36

It can be really confusing trying to figure out which mental health professionals do what, especially given that depictions of therapists in pop culture don't offer a realistic depiction of therapy or who provides therapy. Shayna and Kathy break down the differences and similarities in different mental health providers and different mental health t…

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Ep 43- We don't need to be perfect, we just need to be good enough 48:05

1+ y ago48:05

48:05

WE ARE BACK!! After taking several months hiatus, Shayna and Kathy are back to talk about all things related to mental health and pop culture. This week, we update everyone with some pretty big life changes! Shayna discusses her journey with adoption and her new role supervising student interns at work, and Kathy discusses managing her medical cond…

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Some Show Updates: Kailah's a Mom! And some Season 4 Talk 4:05

1+ y ago4:05

4:05

Hey everyone, if you missed the end of the Dirty Dancing episode, we announced that we'd be wrapping up Season 3 and taking a break. Rick wanted to share a couple of show updates with you so you'd be in the loop on what to expect going forward. Cinema Sessions is hosted by Rick Guttersohn and Kailah Tuttle Connect with us on Instagram: @CinemaSessi…

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40. Dirty Dancing: Navigating Young Womanhood, Adult Desires and Decisions, and Choosing Your Movie Dance Partner! 1:13:33

1+ y ago1:13:33

1:13:33

On this episode, Rick and Kailah put on their dancing shoes to explore the 1987 classic, Dirty Dancing. They dive into some of the unique stories about the making of the movie and about the careers of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Then they discuss some of the struggles of transitioning from a teenage girl into a young adult woman, including na…

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39. A Walk To Remember: Codependent Dating, Terminal Illness, Anticipatory Grief, and Romantic Telescopes!! 1:05:59

2y ago1:05:59

1:05:59

On today's episode, Rick and Kailah dive into the amazingly sappy nostalgia of the 2002 romantic teen drama, A Walk To Remember. They talk about bucket lists, telescopes, and the AMAZING soundtrack before exploring the therapeutic themes that include codependent dating, terminal illness, and anticipatory grief. Then they explore how to best support…

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38. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation: Holiday Stress, Creating the 'Perfect' Christmas, and Fake Turtleneck Fashion! 1:12:02

2y ago1:12:02

1:12:02

On this episode, Rick is joined by Michael Davis to break down the 1989 Christmas comedy, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Enjoy some nostalgia and laughter as they reflect on their favorite iconic images from the movie and explore their own Griswold tendencies. Then they dive into the primary therapeutic theme of coping with holiday stress - …

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37. Spotlight: Investigating Religious Organizational Dysfunction, Abuse of Power, Helping Spiritual Leaders, and Nostalgia for Newspapers! 1:12:02

2y ago1:12:02

1:12:02

On this episode, Rick and Kailah dive into the 2015 Oscar winning movie, Spotlight that’s based on a true story of the Boston Globes investigative efforts in uncovering the abuse and cover up in the Catholic Church. They dive into the movies themes that include organizational religious dysfunction, abusing leadership power, and grooming. They also …

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36. Step Brothers: Failure to Launch, Codependency, Funniest Scene Draft, and Best Will Ferrell Character to be Roomates With! 1:04:04

2y ago1:04:04

1:04:04

If laughter is the best medicine, then you are sure to get some therapeutic relief as we dive into the 2008 comedy, Step Brothers! Rick and Kailah share laughs as they draft their favorite funny scenes. Then they dive into the therapeutic themes to explore how to help these adult men overcome failure to launch, and helping the parents navigate thei…

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42- True Crime with Amanda Jacobson of Wine and Crime 1:09:07

2y ago1:09:07

1:09:07

Amanda Jacobson of Wine and Crime Podcast joins Shayna and Kathy to talk about everyone's obsession about true crime. We see it EVERYWHERE. On podcasts, the news, on social media, on cute shirts. But an interest in true crime is anything but new. We talk about why people are drawn to true crime. How it impacts us. When to take a step back. What we …

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35. Overcoming Fears in Film: Nightmare on Elmstreet (Sleep), The Walk (Heights), The Abyss (Claustrophobia), and SO MUCH MORE! 1:14:11

2y ago1:14:11

1:14:11

It’s spoooooky season, so Rick and Kailah decided to take a look at some common fears that come up in film and examine how to potentially overcome them. They share both personal and professional insights while having lots of fun examine what makes them afraid! Kailah picked three scary movies (Nightmare on Elm Street, Saw, and House of Wax) while R…

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Ep 41- Candyman 1:02:28

2y ago1:02:28

1:02:28

A returning guest, Manami (from episode 5 about Superstitions), joins Shayna and Kathy to talk about the Candyman movies. We will be thoroughly discussing Candyman (1992) and Candyman (2021), with brief references to Candyman 2 & 3- so SPOILER ALERT for the franchise. Candyman is based off a Clive Barker short story and draws inspiration from urban…

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34. A Man Called Otto: Exploring the Uniqueness of Grief, Loneliness, Suicidal Ideation, and Why We Like Sad Movies! 1:01:40

2y ago1:01:40

1:01:40

On this episode, Rick overcomes his loneliness and flies solo to tackle the recent Tom Hanks hit movie, A Man Called Otto (2023). This is a heavy movie with therapeutic themes such as grieving the death of a spouse, factors that make grief unique for everyone (including Otto), suicidal ideation, and the importance of loving others through pain and …

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Ep 40- Girlscouts 1:06:11

2y ago1:06:11

1:06:11

Girl Scouts is a rite of passage for many girls. It has always been girl led and centered on making friends, having fun, meeting goals, and serving community. Recently Girl Scouts has been making even greater efforts to address mental health issues. Shayna and Kathy are joined by Nicole, who is a troop leader and volunteer with Girl Scouts for 10 y…

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33. Barbie: Exploring Feminism, Gender Roles, Body Image, and Being “Kenough”! 1:18:50

2y ago1:18:50

1:18:50

We hope you are wearing Pink because Kailah and Rick are diving into the 2023 pop culture phenomenon, Barbie. They explore themes of gender roles, feminism, body image, and have an important conversation about some of the struggles women have in our culture. Grabs your shades and get ready to beach, because this episode is SUBLIME!!! Cinema Session…

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32. The Lion King: Childhood Narratives, The ‘Hakuna Matata’ Lifestyle, and Favorite Animated Villains! 1:00:18

2y ago1:00:18

1:00:18

We hope you are feeling nostalgic because we are diving into the 1994 animated classic, The Lion King. Rick and Kailah are joined by special guest host Susan Herbeck, LMSW. She brings her insight helping kids, teens, and young adults through anxiety and trauma along with a passion for talking cartoon lions. We explore themes include recognizing chi…

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Ep 39- Cat's Cafe- a conversation with Maxx Tarpley 59:00

2y ago59:00

59:00

Cat's Café is a delightful web comic that has provided joy to millions of people. Shayna and Kathy are so grateful for the opportunity to talk to Cat's Café creator, Maxx Tarpley for this episode. With Cat's Café, Maxx is able to explore universal struggles and joys in a way that is at once so simple, yet so profound. Plus- all of the characters ar…

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31. Movie Draft! Characters That Would Make The Best Therapists 1:14:22

2y ago1:14:22

1:14:22

It’s time to draft! Kailah and Rick are joined by Michael Davis to draft the movie characters they think would make the best therapists. The primary rule is that all characters CANNOT be a therapist in their movie. This might be the most fun and competitive episode we’ve ever recorded! Cinema Sessions is hosted by Rick Guttersohn and Kailah Tuttle …

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Rick's Top Ten Guilty Pleasure Movies (Bonus Summer Session) 34:58

2y ago34:58

34:58

On this episode, Rick goes solo to share joy and comfort with the world as he goes over his favorite guilty pleasure movies. Spoiler alert: Lots of 90's nostalgia! What movies do you feel guilty, yet unashamed for loving? Make sure to share your thoughts with us on Instagram and Facebook. Remember: Season Three launches on Tuesday, September 5th! C…

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Ep 38- Pets and why we love them 57:29

2y ago57:29

57:29

Shayna and Kathy are joined by Isabella Suttle, a 2nd year veterinary student with a degree in Integrative Animal Biology with a criminology minor, as well as a masters in Veterinary Forensic Sciences. She also has 5 fur babies. We talk all about our own animals, but delve into why we love animals, how they are good for our mental health, but also …

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Ep 37- MINDbending with Cricket Leigh 59:26

2y ago59:26

59:26

Cricket Leigh (Alexander) is a voice actress, who is best known for voicing Mai in Avatar: The Last Airbender. She is also a Licensed Master Clinical Social Worker (LMSW) for individuals, couples & families. She works with all ages on a variety of issues including anxiety, mood disorders, family conflict, trauma, PTSD and personal growth. Cricket j…

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Top Ten Favorite Films (Bonus Summer Session) 1:03:58

2y ago1:03:58

1:03:58

On this episode, Rick and Kailah make a valiant effort to list out their top ten favorite movies of all time. They make predictions about each others lists and examine what their lists say about each other. If you love movie talk, or just want to hear what ridiculous action movie Rick loves with his whole heart, then you won't want to miss this epi…

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Ep 36- Dance and Mental Health 1:11:13

2y ago1:11:13

1:11:13

Abby Gangelhoff is a mental health therapist, podcaster (catch her on Book Baddies), and dancer. She joins Shayna and Kathy to talk about mental health and dance. From dancing in your kitchen, to competitive dancing, to conscious dancing, to teaching dance, to being a dance mom- we've got you covered. You may also learn some surprising information …

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Happy 4th of July - No Episode Today 1:58

2y ago1:58

1:58

Happy July 4th! We hope you celebrate with the same vigor as Bill Pullman did in the movie Independence Day... If you didn't catch the end of the Fight Club episode, we announced that we are taking a break for the summer and that Season 3 of Cinema Sessions will launch on Tuesday, September 5th. But don't worry, Kailah and Rick plan on releasing a …

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Ep 35- Signs and Symbols 1:05:52

2+ y ago1:05:52

1:05:52

We are back after a brief break!! Today Shayna and Kathy talk about signs and symbols. What function do they have? How do they relate to mental health? How do they come up in pop culture? We discuss the origin of our logo and the difference between a Caduceus and the Rod of Asclepius and which one REALLY relates to healthcare. You will also discove…

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30. Fight Club: Exploring Masculinity, Rage, Risk Taking, and a Case Study of Tyler Durden! 1:08:10

2+ y ago1:08:10

1:08:10

On this episode, Michael Davis makes his triumphant return as guest host to help Kailah and Rick break down the 1999 film, Fight Club featuring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Meatloaf (Rick’s personal favorite actor and musician). They break all the rules of fight club while examining the benefits and misuse of support groups, and defining healthy v…

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29. The Greatest Showman: Exploitation, Overcoming Shame, and SO MUCH MUSIC!!! 1:03:17

2+ y ago1:03:17

1:03:17

On this episode Rick and Kailah dive into the 2017 musical smash hit, The Greatest Showman featuring Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman. Before diving into the film, we took time to discuss the real life exploitations of P.T. Barnum and wrestle with the tension of enjoying a piece of fictional art that is very different from the events of his real lif…

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Ep 34- Child and Adolescent Mental Health 1:01:09

2+ y ago1:01:09

1:01:09

Shayna and Kathy are so excited to talk about their speciality today- child and adolescent mental health. They discuss the concepts behind integrating play and art into therapy with children and how it isn't just fun and games- real healing takes place. If you have children, if you know children... even if you ever were a child- you will get someth…

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28. Teenage Insecurities in Nostalgic Movies: Perks of Being a Wallflower, Teen Wolf, Can’t Hardly Wait, and More! 1:19:37

2+ y ago1:19:37

1:19:37

Teenagers wrestle with SO many insecurities. What would it look like if we could jump in a DeLorean and travel back in time to talk with our teenage selves? On this special episode, Kailah and Rick take a nostalgic look back at some of their favorite coming of age movies that highlight teenage insecurities. They each pick three films from their chi…

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27. Tully (2018): Parenting Exhaustion, Postpartum Depression, Hiring a 'Night Nanny', and Supporting Other Movie Moms! 1:12:13

2+ y ago1:12:13

1:12:13

On this episode Rick and Kailah are joined by special guest host, Staci Belanger, LMSW. Staci brings her specialty in parenting, pregnancy, and infant mental health as we dive into the 2018 film, 'Tully' starring Charlize Theron. We talk about themes of parenting exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and postpartum depression. [SPOILER TALK from 45:35 to …

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Ep 33- Talking about the Original Star Wars Trilogy with some original fans 1:02:26

2+ y ago1:02:26

1:02:26

May the 4th be with you! In honor of Star Wars week, we are talking about the original trilogy. Shayna and Kathy are joined by Shayna's mom, Cindy, and Kathy's husband, Matt- both of whom watched A New Hope in the theater way back in 1977. We talk about what a game changer the movies were at the time, why they resonate with so many people, and how …

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26. Looking at the Human Elements of ‘The Empire Strikes Back’: Fear & Anger, Patience, Leia’s Femininity, Finding Our 'Dagobah', and Yoda as a Therapist? 1:01:37

2+ y ago1:01:37

1:01:37

On this episode, Rick and Kailah dive into the human behavior elements of the legendary 1980 science fiction blockbuster, The Empire Strikes Back. What are the emotions and behaviors that determine the pathway someone takes to the light side or the dark side of the force? How important is it that we navigate our own personal 'Degobah' wilderness jo…

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Ep 32- Grab your favorite cardigan- we are talking Taylor Swift 1:15:47

2+ y ago1:15:47

1:15:47

Taylor Swift is a force- and there is a reason she is breaking records and selling out stadiums. She is a gifted songwriter who taps into some universal human emotions. Shayna (who is Taylor neutral) and Kathy (a recent Swifty) and joined by two long time Swifties, to chat abut mental health and Taylor Swift. Our return guest, Melody Granzow, is a …

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25. Characters with Bad Boundaries: ‘What About Bob’, Ferris Bueller, Elsa's 'Ice'olation, and What If Robert Pattinson Starred in Commando 1:03:07

2+ y ago1:03:07

1:03:07

On this episode Rick and Kailah explore film characters who have boundary issues. We take a deep dive into the crazy world of What About Bob and explore Bob's lack of boundaries and if Dr. Marvin is actually good at his job. We also discuss characters and scenarios from 2020's "Promising Young Woman" (Kailah starts to scare Rick while talking about…

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Ep 31- OCD- an itchy sweater in your brain 1:08:30

2+ y ago1:08:30

1:08:30

In this episode, Shayna and Kathy talk about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) from both sides of the couch. Pop culture and social media is rife with misinformation about OCD, and minimization of the debilitating nature of the disorder. Not only that, a lot of mental health therapists don't even understand the disorder, thinking it is about bein…