Journey From Darkness: Becoming David Hartman, M.D. with Dr. James Bramson, PsyD.
This podcast chronicles psychiatrist Dr. David Hartman’s “Journey from Darkness.” Dr. Hartman teaches us that, when the mind clears, the eyes can see — and dreams can be fully realized. In this podcast, Dr. Hartman, with his sharp wit and folksy charm, shares his extraordinary story about becoming the first blind person to graduate from medical school. In the movie that chronicles his life, “Journey from Darkness, ” and in his book “White Coat, White Cane,” the world learned how Dr. Hartman defied the odds through his determination and grit, and the loving support of his parents and community. Dr. Hartman opines that “all of us are handicapped in some way.” And he advises that is up to each of us to discover our handicaps (or obstacles) and not let them thwart our dreams or our potential.
Dr. Hartman also discusses his critical and cutting-edge work with opioid addicts and addiction generally. His wife, Cheri, who is an accomplished psychologist and community leader in her own right, is his muse at work and at home. (Or did he say boss?) Theirs is a love story for the ages. This podcast will inspire anyone who wants to overcome great odds to live out their dream.
Dr. Eric Raimo, M.D. The Bipolar Whisperer
Dr. Eric Raimo is an accomplished psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of bipolar disorder. I refer to him as the “Bipolar Whisperer.” Dr. Raimo went to two Ivy’s (the University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College, Medical school) and went on to do his residency at the University of California - San Diego (UCSD) Medical School.
He has an outstanding reputation among colleagues and patients. People don’t just like him, they love him.
I learned about Dr. Raimo’s cutting-edge work with bipolar patients. Among other ways his treatment is unique, Dr. Raimo believes in treating the entire family system, not just the person with the diagnosis. Dr. Raimo has a great command of psychopharmacology, alternative therapeutic interventions, and evidenced-based research. He offers some helpful insights into how these modalities impact patients.
Dr. Eric takes the stigma out of the illness in this podcast. He cites many famous people who have lived successfully with the disorder. We are familiar with some of the them, including Winston Churchill, Brian WIlson, and Frank Sinatra. However, more recent luminaires have stepped forward to courageously share their experiences. Catherine Zeta-Jones said: “There is no need to suffer silently and there is no shame in seeking help.” Claude Van Damme waxed poetry: “All the commotion around me, all the water around me, moving left and right around me, became like a lake.” Russell Brand described his cycling depression and response to it: “And the image of myself as compromised and inconsistent made me want to withdraw from the world even further.”
We hope this podcast touches the known and unknown people with bipolar disorder who suffer in silence and feel unnecessarily stigmatized. We also hope to reach the hearts and minds of professionals who may want to treat this population.
Citizen Josh (Kornbluth): Film Maker, Mono-linguist, Oboe Player, Red Diaper Baby, and Jungian Psychotherapy Client
Josh Kornbluth is a mono-linguist, film maker, humorist, theatre performer, and activist who was raised by Stalinist parents Bunny and Paul in NYC. Josh admits that his oboe- playing likely helped more than his athletic prowess in landing him a scholarship at Princeton.
A self-described “Red Diaper Baby,” his indoctrination into communism by left-leaning Jewish parents inspired a one-man show and featured film. In this podcast, Josh talks about his film “Haiku Tunnel” and the fanfare around the announcement that the film had made it into Sundance Film Festival (they forgot to call him). Josh jokes about his wife’s anxiety about left turns and neglecting taxes, and how he dedicated a play and movie to her called “Love and Taxes.” Josh explores a doorway metaphor, and its relevance to caring for his mom who suffers from Alzheimer’s and his stint as an “artist in residence” at a hospice, The Zen Hospice Project.
Because this is ShrinksRap Josh opened up about his connection to psychotherapy, including his feelings of guilt that his long-term Jungian analyst likely retired because of him, and his confusion even today over what Jungian Psychotherapy actually is.
From Triggered To Tranquil: Loving Yourself Where It Hurts
Dr. Jim interviews Dr. Susan Campbell — an extraordinary psychologist, coach, trainer, author, and sage. She has appeared on CNN and Good Morning America and has lectured at the Harvard, Stanford, and UCLA business schools. Her work has been featured in Psychology Today, Harvard Business Review, Men’s Health. In this podcast, Dr. Campbell shares insights and tips from her recent, highly acclaimed book, “From Triggered to Tranquil.” She provides accessible tools to help you self-regulate and co-regulate, whether you’re triggered by a partner, a boss, or a passerby. Her coaching and consulting model has application for litigators, business leaders, and those who find themselves across the table from someone with an opposing political view. As a bonus, Dr. Campbell also regales us with stories from her journey, including encounters with luminaries such as Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Fritz Pearls and more.
Radical Curiosity: A Thought Leader’s Journey
In this wide ranging discussion, we explore: human potential, identity, bodymind, mentors, elder wisdom, aging, love/marriage, parenthood, self-review and dealing with the death of loved ones. Ken shares how his wife and children are the most extraordinary human beings he's encountered and why. For anyone fascinated with the sometimes serendipitous, often bewildering, and sometimes breathtaking process of life, listen to the podcast and enjoy it as much as Jim and Ken enjoyed being a part of it.
Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D. is a gerontologist, psychologist, educator, lecturer, consultant, entrepreneur, and is the author of eighteen books. He is also the founder and CEO of Age Wave, an acclaimed think tank and consultancy focused on the social and business implications and opportunities of global aging and rising longevity.
In 2018, he was awarded the Inspire Award from in the International Council on Active Aging for his contributions to the active-aging industry and for his efforts to make a difference in the lives of older adults globally. In 2020, he was the first recipient of the Pioneer Award from the Retirement Coaches Association.
Dychtwald has served as a fellow and presenter at the World Economic Forum in Davos and was a delegate and featured presenter at both the 1995 and 2005 White House Conferences on Aging.
Creating Exemplary Relationships During the Pandemic — Linda & Charlie Bloom
The Bloom's walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk as a couple who has been together since 1972. Dedicated to promoting healthy, fulfilling, and successful relationships, Linda and Charlie talk openly about how they've overcome their own relationship challenges and share how they are not afraid to use self-disclosure when working with clients or leading workshops around the world. In this podcast, learn the secrets of taking a relationship from okay to good, and then from good to great.
Married since 1972, Linda and Charlie Bloom have been working with groups, individuals, couples and organizations to enhance the quality of their relationships and communication skills since 1975. They both have Master’s degrees in Clinical Social Work and have lectured, led seminars and provided consultation at universities and learning institutes throughout the United States as well as internationally. They have written and published four books, Happily Ever After…and 39 Other Myths about Love: Breaking Through to the Relationship of Your Dreams, 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married: Simple Lessons to Make Love Last, Secrets of Great Marriages: Real Stories from Real Couples about Lasting Love, and That Which Doesn’t Kill Us: How One Couple Became Stronger in the Broken Places. Their organization, Bloomwork is dedicated to promoting healthy, fulfilling, and successful relationships for individuals, couples and organizations. They have served as psychotherapists, marriage counselors, consultants and seminar leaders since 1975. In addition to their academic and professional training, the Blooms’ expertise in the field of relationships stems from experience in the crucible of their own committed partnership of over 52 years. Their best-selling book, 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married: Simple Lessons to Make Love Last has been translated into several languages and distributed world-wide. Since its publication in 2004 it has sold over 100,000 copies.
Mindful Parenting: An Interview with Lyn Benson from the Land Down Under
Dr. James H. Bramson Interviews Psychologist, Family Therapist, and Parenting Educator, Lyn Benson
Lyn Benson has sold out seminars on the subject of Mindful Parenting in Australia. She has also trained internationally in the area of mindfulness. Lyn Benson and Dr. Bramson met back in 2006 and have taught workshops together around the world - including Turkey, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, and Bali. Dr. Bramson has been threatening to pull her out of “retirement” to get the band back on the road again, or at least teach a mindful parenting seminar on-line (due to popular demand).
Lyn was strongly influenced by the work of internationally recognized Australian psychologist, Moshe Lang. Moshe Lang is one of the pioneers of family therapy in Australia and has had a huge influence on Lyn’s work. Over time Lyn’s interests have evolved as she has dedicated herself to teaching parents how to be more mindful. In this podcast, Lyn passionately discusses her own take on gender fluidity, the “coming out” process for non-binary kids, and what every parent should know.
Lyn is funny, intelligent, and heart centered. She has dedicated her career to making sure children grow up learning how to love and accept themselves. Lyn believes that parents (who are truly mindful) can help their children optimize their own self-worth. She emphasizes teaching children to love themselves unconditionally. Lyn extols the importance of parents loving their children for who they are …. and who they are becoming … whether gender fluid, non-binary, gay, straight, or somewhere in between. Lyn also made some pithy comments on the differences between the United States and Australia when it comes to paying for therapy, practicing psychology, the freedom of choice, and the impact of politics on the human condition.
America’s Suicide Epidemic: What Everyone Should Know and Is Afraid to Ask
Dr. James H. Bramson interviews Dr. Josh Wilson and Eti Valdez-Kaminsky
What do Naomi Judd, Anthony Bourdain, Robin Williams, Cleopatra, Mark Rothko, and David Foster Wallace have in common? They have all suicided. Suicide is an epidemic during these times of tumult. Obviously, suicide and depression impacts more than celebrities. Depression and suicide impact every, age, race, and gender. Depression and suicide do not revere white privilege, or bow down to someone’s socioeconomic status. Suicidal thoughts and feelings lead to isolation, anhedonia and despair. Depression is an equal opportunity destroyer and disrupter in our society. Depression and suicide can impact every religion, political group, white collar workers, blue collar workers, the educated, uneducated, and everyone in between. Suicide rips apart families and communities. The CDC reports that the financial cost on our society averages 70 billion a year (in just medical and work-loss costs alone). However, the human toll is incalculable.
Most importantly, irreplaceable lives (souls) are lost every minute because the general pubic is afraid to discuss death, depression, and suicide. Shame causes suicide to go underground where it becomes the silent killer. Individuals who are suffering do not want to be seen as burdensome. People who suffer the most are often too reticent or afraid to talk about it. It is often the case that people who recognize suicidal tendencies in those they love (or care about) are afraid of acting on what they know. In fact, Dr. Wilson points out in this episode that we lost a human being every 11-minutes (in the United States). So during the course of one Podcast episode (under 60 minutes) we lost 5 to 6 Americans.
Dr. Wilson (Co-Founder and President of East Bay Mindfulness Center, Psychology Inc. and West Coast Mindfulness Institute) and Eti Kaminsky (Clinical Director of EBMC, Psychology, Inc.) discuss their unique and shared approach to preventing and treating suicide. They raise awareness regarding the complex and underlying issues surrounding depression and suicide, particularly among our youth. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in individuals aged 10 to 14. It is the second leading cause of death for people aged 25-34 in the United States. This episode concludes by offering everyone hope and a way forward. Dr. Wilson and Eti Kaminsky stress the myriad ways therapy can instill hope, joy, and purpose driven awareness in people who suffer the most. Listeners please note the Suicide Prevention (Lifeline number) - 998. Let us all be life guards or guardians.
The Evolved Caveman: Helping Men Change Themselves From The Inside Out
Dr. John Schinnerer brings heart, intellect, and compassion to his craft. He coaches men to greater success and happiness at work and at home. Dr. John graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a Ph.D. in psychology. He was an expert consultant for Pixar’s Inside Out. Dr. John recently received the award for Excellence in Healthcare Leadership in 2022, and Best Executive Coach in Danville for 2020. His areas of expertise include high performance, stress management, Man Box culture, positive psychology, anger management, and creating happy, thriving relationships. Dr. John hosts The Evolved Caveman Podcast to coach men to find success and happiness. Over 16,000 people have taken his online anger management course. He recently recorded micro courses on anger management and forgiveness for Simple Habit; they have been listened to nearly 125,000 times in the first year.