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A podcast at the intersection of psychology and culture that intimately explores the human experience and critiques the counseling profession. Your host, Stephanie Winn, distills wisdom gained from her practice as a family therapist and coach while pivoting towards questions of how to apply a practical understanding of psychology to the novel dilemmas of the 21st century, from political polarization to medical malpractice.
What does ethical mental health care look like in a normless age, as our moral compasses spin in search of true north? How can therapists treat patients under pressure to affirm everything from the notion of "gender identity" to assisted suicide?
Primarily a long-form interview podcast, Stephanie invites unorthodox, free-thinking guests from many walks of life, including counselors, social workers, medical professionals, writers, researchers, and people with unique lived experience, such as detransitioners.
Curious about many things, Stephanie’s interdisciplinary psychological lens investigates challenging social issues and inspires transformation in the self, relationships, and society. She is known for bringing calm warmth to painful subjects, and astute perceptiveness to ethically complex issues. Pick up a torch to illuminate the dark night and join us on this journey through the inner wilderness.
You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist ranks in the top 1% globally according to ListenNotes. New episodes are released every Monday. Three and a half years after the show's inception in May of 2022, Stephanie became a Christian, representing the crystallization of moral, spiritual, and existential views she had been openly grappling with along with her audience and guests. Newer episodes (#188 forward) may sometimes reflect a Christian understanding, interwoven with and applied to the same issues the podcast has always addressed. The podcast remains diverse and continues to feature guests from all viewpoints.
What does ethical mental health care look like in a normless age, as our moral compasses spin in search of true north? How can therapists treat patients under pressure to affirm everything from the notion of "gender identity" to assisted suicide?
Primarily a long-form interview podcast, Stephanie invites unorthodox, free-thinking guests from many walks of life, including counselors, social workers, medical professionals, writers, researchers, and people with unique lived experience, such as detransitioners.
Curious about many things, Stephanie’s interdisciplinary psychological lens investigates challenging social issues and inspires transformation in the self, relationships, and society. She is known for bringing calm warmth to painful subjects, and astute perceptiveness to ethically complex issues. Pick up a torch to illuminate the dark night and join us on this journey through the inner wilderness.
You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist ranks in the top 1% globally according to ListenNotes. New episodes are released every Monday. Three and a half years after the show's inception in May of 2022, Stephanie became a Christian, representing the crystallization of moral, spiritual, and existential views she had been openly grappling with along with her audience and guests. Newer episodes (#188 forward) may sometimes reflect a Christian understanding, interwoven with and applied to the same issues the podcast has always addressed. The podcast remains diverse and continues to feature guests from all viewpoints.
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In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Malphrus, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist in private practice who works with adolescents and adults — particularly boys and men. Ryan spent 15 years working in level-five special education schools before transitioning to private practice, and he brings a grounded, refreshingly honest perspective on the struggles facing young men today.We dive into how boys communicate through behavior and aggression, and why the instinct to shut those impulses down often backfires. Ryan shares his own experience of internalizing societal messages that told him his natural masculine traits — his drive, his assertiveness, his sexuality — were problems to be managed rather than understood. We explore the red pill pipeline and "looksmaxxing" culture, and why young men are turning to these communities when therapy and education fail to speak to their actual needs.We also discuss the crisis of purpose facing men in modern society, why schools are not boy-friendly, the vital role of physical play and risk-taking in healthy development, and how parents — especially single moms — can learn to step back and let their sons work through conflict. We close with a conversation about differentiation: that psychological maturity that allows us to have feelings without being controlled by them, and how adults modeling that capacity gives children the room to develop it themselves.Ryan Malphrus is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Maryland and Connecticut providing individual psychotherapy to adolescents and adults. With over 10 years of experience, Ryan specializes in working with men and boys, offering a space to explore identity without judgment. His primary orientation is psychodynamic, and he is a board-certified clinical supervisor. Learn more at ryanmalphrus.com or follow him on X @VirgilMSW.[00:00:00] Start[00:05:25] Interpreting Kids' Behavior as Communication[00:09:35] Natural, Logical, and Punitive Consequences[00:12:35] Boys Hiding From Masculinity[00:17:10] Red Pill Culture and Looks Maxing[00:23:25] Societal Shame Around Male Nature[00:28:25] Online Identity and Social Media's Impact[00:33:55] The Crisis of Male Purpose[00:39:15] Trades and Alternative Paths to Manhood[00:47:20] Are Schools Boy Friendly?[00:51:35] Physical Play and Male Bonding[00:56:50] Thoughts vs. Actions With Angry Kids[01:05:15] Giving Adolescents Progressive Freedom[01:13:05] Differentiation and Emotional MaturityROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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Chaplain, coach, and author Dean Abbott joins me for a thought-provoking conversation about the difference between healthy introspection and unhealthy rumination. Dean challenges a popular argument that therapy simply encourages people to think about themselves too much, making the case instead that people don't ruminate for fun — they ruminate because they're in pain and searching for something they've lost.Together we explore what makes self-examination productive versus destructive, and Dean introduces a framework rooted in the Christian tradition that contrasts nihilistic rumination — where a person endlessly rehearses their pain with no resolution — with a more structured self-examination oriented toward growth, virtue, and wisdom. I get personal and share my own recent struggles with loneliness and the tension between being a generous host and not getting that energy back when I need it most. Dean walks me through what healthy self-examination would look like in that situation, pointing to the importance of recognizing our legitimate needs and having the courage and honesty to express them.We also dive into the lost concept of human formation, the role of moral education in therapy, why thousands of years of wisdom literature shouldn't be abandoned in the counseling room, and the difference between development and formation. This is a rich, honest, and deeply human conversation.Dean Abbott is a coach, chaplain and author living in the Midwest. He loves animals, music and baseball. His can be found at www.deanabbott.com. His X account which has been hacked is @deanabbott but he doesn't recommend following him until the situation is resolved.[00:00:00] Start[00:00:49] Stephanie Introduces Dean Abbott[00:02:07] Healthy Versus Unhealthy Introspection[00:03:47] Why the "Stop Ruminating" Argument Falls Short[00:05:09] People Don't Ruminate for Fun[00:07:13] The Missing Half: Why Culture Fails the Ruminative Mind[00:08:16] Nihilistic Rumination Versus Christian Self-Examination[00:10:20] Stephanie Gets Personal About Loneliness[00:13:00] Walking Through Healthy Self-Examination[00:15:40] Tension Between Generosity and Personal Needs[00:17:33] Wisdom Over Rule-Following in the Christian Life[00:19:20] What Leads to Wisdom Versus What Leads to Nihilism[00:21:45] Healthy Introspection Leads to Hope[00:24:01] Coaching Men Who Don't Know What They Want[00:27:35] Emotional Intelligence and Decoding Our Needs[00:29:22] The Lost Concept of Human Formation[00:32:15] Formation Versus Development[00:36:07] Virtue and the Difference It Makes in Self-Examination[00:38:25] What's Wrong With a Liberal Approach to Psychotherapy[00:41:43] Seeing Yourself in the Larger Human Narrative[00:43:26] Moral Education in Therapy: A Practical Example[00:44:32] The Sports Betting Example: Virtue and Deep Self-Examination[00:48:21] Why Reality Is Inescapably Moral[00:50:26] Stephanie Asks for a Personal Tip on Virtue[00:53:00] What Dean Does: Coaching, Chaplaincy, and Writing[00:56:38] ClosingROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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Today I'm joined by Dr. Will Dobud, a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families across the United States, Australia, and Norway. Will is the co-author of Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health, and he brings a refreshingly optimistic yet realistic perspective to the challenges facing today's young people.We dig into some truly provocative territory in this conversation. Will challenges the prevailing narrative that phones and social media are the root of the youth mental health crisis, drawing on historical moral panics — from kaleidoscopes to pinball machines — to argue that blanket bans rarely work. Instead, he advocates for digital integration through boundaries and parental involvement.We explore why more diagnoses, more medication, and more therapy haven't improved outcomes, and how the explosion of mental health labeling — especially around neurodivergence — may actually be doing more harm than good. Will shares his concerns about "label mania," the misuse of accommodations, and how identity politics have hijacked what was originally a movement toward inclusion. We also talk about the shortage of real-world experience for kids, the importance of rough-and-tumble play, and what parents can do to build connection instead of defaulting to control. This episode asks the hard questions: Are we crushing the spirit of youth with our own adult anxiety? And what would happen if we just gave kids something worth participating in?Dr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway. Will is from Washington, D.C., and divides his time between the United States and Australia each year. He is the author and editor of three books, including Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health. Will is an award-winning researcher and educator who has received recognition for excellence in research, teaching, and crime prevention. Dr. Dobud is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University, Australia's largest social work school. Will is an invited international speaker who conducts workshops for therapists and families worldwide. Will's research focuses on improving therapy outcomes for teenagers and promoting safe, ethical practices. He has investigated and written about America's Troubled Teen Industry, especially wilderness therapy. He has worked alongside advocates, survivors, researchers, and clinicians to protect youth from institutionalization and harm.WillDobud.comwww.kidsthesedaysbook.comFacebook: @WillDobudPhDX: @WillDobudInstagram: @WillDobud @Kids_These_Days_BookLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-dobud-5209ab74/Substack: https://substack.com/@willdobudBooks mentioned in this episode:Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health by Will Dobud and Nevin HarperThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidti-Minds by Mari SwingleThe Spirit of Youth and the City Streets (1909) by Jane Addams[00:00:00] Start[00:02:46] Why Adults Get Trapped Trying to Fix Kids[00:06:06] What's Actually Going Right With Youth Today[00:10:17] Environmental Toxins and the Hard Questions[00:11:48] Digital Interference vs. Digital Integration[00:17:54] Can Kids Self-Regulate With Screens?[00:25:57] Phone-Free Schools: Solution or Distraction?[00:34:43] The Anxious Generation's Four Norms Problem[00:37:10] Putting Yourself in a Kid's Shoes[00:40:11] Experiential Learning and the Crowded Curriculum[00:48:07] Autism, Neurodivergence, and Label Mania[00:56:35] Identity Politics and Secondary Gain[01:04:04] Living Well With ADHD Without Hiding Behind It[01:12:11] Accommodations as Institutional Traps[01:16:22] Breaking Free From Therapeutic Dogma[01:18:46] Normies, Psychos, and Schizos[01:21:25] Institutional Exploitation in Mental Health[01:28:12] The Shortage of Experience and Risky Play[01:32:33] DC Punk Rock as Youth Participation Model[01:37:45] What Don't You Want to Change About Your Child?ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.
Today I sit down with my friend Anita Bartholomew, a magazine journalist and author, to discuss her new book Sacrificial Lambs: Liberal Reporter Exposes How the Progressive Left Harms Children in the Name of Gender Ideology. This is Anita's second appearance on the show, and this time she walks us through the findings of her thorough investigation into how gender ideology functions as a predatory movement targeting today's youth.We dig into the disturbing reality of what's being taught in K-12 public schools under the banner of "comprehensive sexuality education" — from second-grade anatomy lessons designed around queer theory to explicitly sexual library books being promoted to middle schoolers. Anita reads excerpts from books like "All Boys Aren't Blue," "Beyond Magenta," and "Gender Queer" that are sitting on school library shelves, and we explore how this curriculum systematically breaks down children's natural psychological boundaries.We also examine the mainstream media's role in propping up the gender ideology narrative, looking at how outlets like the New York Times dismissed the Cass Report and continue to misrepresent reality. I share my perspective as a psychotherapist on how premature exposure to sexual content can confuse children's developing sense of sexuality and identity. We discuss what parents can do to protect their kids, why pressuring media for accurate reporting may be the most powerful long-term strategy, and why Anita believes the evidence overwhelmingly shows that there is no such thing as a "trans kid." Follow her on X @AnitaBart.Anita Bartholomew's SubstackAnitabartholomew.com[00:00:00] Start[00:04:17] Why Anita Wrote Sacrificial Lambs[00:06:22] What K-12 Schools Are Teaching Children[00:12:15] Queer Theory Origins and Gayle Rubin[00:14:44] Pornographic Books in School Libraries[00:21:39] Academics Calling Children Sexual Beings[00:24:53] Psychological Harm of Premature Sexual Content[00:32:26] Comprehensive Sex Ed as Indoctrination[00:35:04] How Media Indoctrinated Adults First[00:37:46] NYT, Vox, and AP Headlines Exposed[00:44:33] Sunk Cost, Money, and Who Pulls the Strings[00:54:16] Advice for Parents in Captured Schools[00:59:15] A Letter Writing Campaign for Change[01:05:15] What Else Is in the Book[01:12:00] Families Torn Apart by Gender IdeologyROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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Today I sit down with investigative reporter Benjamin Ryan, who was the only journalist present for the entirety of the historic Variant v. Einhorn trial — the first detransition malpractice lawsuit in the world to reach a jury verdict. Ben has been covering pediatric gender medicine for three years for outlets including the New York Times, NBC News, the New York Sun, and the Free Press, and he brings an extraordinary level of detail to this conversation.We dive into the case of Fox Variant, a young woman diagnosed with autism who underwent a double mastectomy at age 16 after her psychologist, Kenneth Einhorn, wrote a referral letter riddled with errors and omissions — including listing body dysmorphic disorder instead of gender dysphoria. We discuss how the jury found Einhorn 70% responsible and plastic surgeon Dr. Chin 30% responsible for a $2 million award, the devastating testimony from Fox's mother about being coerced with suicide threats, and the critical communication failures between the psychologist and surgeon. We also explore what this verdict means for the nearly 30 other detransition lawsuits currently pending, why WPATH's standards of care were largely sidelined in the trial, and the broader implications for the field of pediatric gender medicine. I also share my own perspective as a therapist who worked for a group practice later acquired by the same company that employed Einhorn.Benjamin Ryan is an independent reporter who has been covering pediatric gender medicine for the past three years, including on his Substack: benryan.substack.com. He writes for publications such as The New York Times, NBC News and The New York Sun and covered the detransitioner trial for The Free Press. Follow him @BenRyanWriter on X or BlueSky.BenRyan.netBenjamin's article in the Free Press, A Legal First That Could Change Gender Medicine[00:00:00] Start[00:00:54] Introducing Reporter Benjamin Ryan[00:09:38] Fox Variant's Background and Rapid Transition[00:18:35] Were WPATH Guidelines Actually on Trial?[00:25:30] Disturbing Revelations From Einhorn's Treatment[00:35:15] Changing the Body to Treat the Mind[00:46:41] The Joanna Olson-Kennedy Lawsuit[00:55:32] The Jury Verdict Question by Question[01:06:41] Einhorn's Visible Devastation in Court[01:13:04] Q&A: Technicality or Broader Indictment?[01:31:31] What If WPATH Were Followed Perfectly?ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Ziffra, a psychiatrist and associate professor at Northwestern University who specializes in anxiety disorders. Dr. Ziffra has been writing a Substack series called "Wise Mind in Anxious Times," exploring how we can better navigate the intersection of mental health and our turbulent political landscape.We begin by discussing the alarming advice that made headlines—a Yale psychiatrist suggesting people should avoid family members who voted differently than them. Dr. Ziffra and I unpack why avoidance is the exact opposite of what we'd normally recommend for anxiety, and how vilifying language creates a vicious cycle that intensifies fear and paranoia. He offers practical wisdom on how softening our language can open doors to genuine dialogue.From there, we dive deep into the world of psychiatric medication. Dr. Ziffra helps demystify the "chemical imbalance" theory, explaining why "dysfunction" is a better term than "imbalance" since we can't actually measure neurotransmitter levels the way we can check vitamin D. We explore fascinating territory including opioid receptors and depression, how low-dose naltrexone works, the dangers of chronic benzodiazepine use, and why tapering off medications requires far more patience than most people realize. We also discuss the overlooked impacts of birth control on young women's mental health, sleep disorders that masquerade as psychiatric conditions, and the emerging questions around weight loss drugs and ketamine for treatment-resistant depression.Dr. Michael Ziffra is a psychiatrist and Associate Professor at Northwestern University, specializing in anxiety and mood disorders. Dr. Ziffra also is the author of “Wise Mind in Anxious Times”, a series on Substack exploring the interface between mental health and our sociopolitical climate. Its aim is to provide analysis and commentary from a mental health specialist with insight into why we experience anxiety about particular issues and happenings, and how to better manage that anxiety. Follow him on Substack, X, or Instagram.[00:00:00] Start[00:00:40] Guest Introduction: Dr. Michael Ziffra[00:02:28] Yale Psychiatrist's Bad Advice on Family[00:09:39] What Does a Psychiatrist Actually Do?[00:12:03] The Chemical Imbalance Theory Explained[00:18:02] Low-Dose Naltrexone and Opioid Receptors[00:23:27] Benzodiazepines: Dangers and Dependence[00:31:00] Safe Medication Tapering Strategies[00:38:29] Nicotine Addiction and Smoking Cessation[00:43:15] Psychiatry Beyond Just Medication[00:47:30] Birth Control and Mental Health[00:51:47] Sleep Disorders That Mimic Depression[00:55:01] Weight Loss Drugs: Psychological Effects[01:00:52] Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression[01:12:06] Where to Find Dr. ZiffraROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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In this inaugural roundtable discussion, I dive headfirst into one of the most contentious topics at the intersection of faith and science: psychedelics and Christianity. As a relatively new Christian myself, I've been wrestling with what believers should think about these powerful substances—especially after interviewing guests whose lives were transformed by psychedelic experiences, including detransitioners who credit these substances with helping them see through lies they'd built their lives upon.I've gathered four fascinating voices for this conversation, each bringing unique expertise and perspectives. Louie Locke, a pastor of 26 years from Reno, Nevada, rates himself a one out of ten—firmly opposed to psychedelic use from a Christian perspective. He explains his concerns about entering the "second heaven" or spirit realm through means other than Jesus, warning of spiritual doors that may be opened through such substances.Cameron English, a science journalist and director of biosciences at the American Council on Science and Health, brings skepticism from both scientific and theological angles, noting the poor quality of research and drawing parallels to problematic harm reduction movements.Daniel Elliot, an Air Force veteran and counselor who has conducted research on psilocybin and spiritual wellbeing, offers a cautious middle ground as a five, distinguishing between natural substances like psilocybin and synthetic ones like MDMA.Dr. Liza Lockwood, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist, presents the highest rating at seven, explaining her interest in the therapeutic potential for treating refractory depression while sharing the fascinating history of ergot poisoning from the Salem Witch Trials to the discovery of LSD.Together we explore the Greek concept of pharmakeia, whether psychedelics might be connected to the tree of knowledge of good and evil, what harm reduction really means in practice, and whether Christians should be involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy settings. This is just the first in a series exploring these questions—questions that don't have easy answers but deserve thoughtful Christian engagement.Books mentioned:-Imagine Heaven and Imagine The God of Heaven by John Burke-The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis---WHERE TO FIND THE GUESTSLouie D Locke is the Lead Pastor of Hillside Church in Reno, Nevada, where he has served for 26 years, and also oversees eight churches across Northern Nevada and Eastern California as an Area Pastor. Married to Joni for 36 years with three adult children and eight grandchildren, Louie's life mission is to help people understand and follow God's plan, guiding them toward spiritual wholeness and mature discipleship grounded in biblical integrity. A lifelong learner with passion for history, theology, and thoughtful discussion, he enjoys exploring complex biblical topics and applying Christian principles to everyday life.- X/Twitter: @scoeyd- Church website: hillside4.orgCameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project, a nonprofit committed to aiding the public, media, and policymakers by promoting science literacy.- X/Twitter: @CamJEnglish- Website: acsh.org (American Council on Science and Health)- Podcast: Science Facts and Fallacies (with Dr. Liza Lockwood)Daniel Mark Elliott Jr., LMHCA, is a Protestant psychoanalytic counselor specializing in psychosis, dissociation, and cultural fragmentation. An Air Force veteran, psychedelic researcher, and founded Mad River Counseling. He is currently writing a book titled My Psychosis while developing a framework on how minds form reality, coherence, and meaning in fragmented societies.- X/Twitter: @Olaf_The_Third- Website: mad-river.orgDr. S. Eliza Lockwood is an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist who completed her fellowship at NYU in 2006 and went on to establish an ACGME-accredited program at Washington University in St. Louis. Driven by a passion for sustainable global health solutions, she has organized humanitarian relief efforts, founded a global health scholar track, and now serves as Medical Affairs Lead for Bayer, focusing on innovative approaches to malnutrition and disease prevention in developing countries. She lectures nationally and internationally on medical toxicology, tropical medicine, and global health.- X/Twitter: @DrLizaMD- LinkedIn: Liza Lockwood- Podcast: Science Facts and Fallacies (with Cameron English)- Weekly X Space: Thursdays 4-6 PM Central (with Cam and John Entine) discussing science and faith topics[00:00:00] Start[00:00:47] Introduction to Psychedelics and Christianity Roundtable[00:02:30] Rating Scale Explained: One to Ten[00:03:25] Louie Locke Introduction: Pastor, Rating One[00:05:23] Cameron English Introduction: Science Journalist, Rating Two[00:07:13] Daniel Elliot Introduction: Veteran and Counselor, Rating Five[00:08:14] Dr. Liza Lockwood Introduction: Toxicologist, Rating Seven[00:09:16] Why This Topic Matters to Stephanie[00:11:30] Louie Explains His Opposition to Psychedelics[00:19:22] Defining Pharmakeia and Biblical Sorcery[00:25:26] Cam's Journey Through Depression to Faith[00:38:17] Daniel on Natural vs Synthetic Substances[00:55:50] Dr. Liza's Scientific Perspective as a Seven[00:57:22] Salem Witch Trials to LSD: A History[01:10:32] Mid-Episode Break[01:19:45] Defining Harm Reduction and Its Failures[01:35:01] Psychedelics and the Tree of Knowledge[01:47:30] Brian Johnson's Psilocybin and Transhumanism[02:01:06] Seeking God in Mistaken Ways[02:05:20] Final Thoughts from the Panel[02:12:45] Where to Find the GuestsROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pe...
Listen on headphones or speakers for best results.Today we were going to air the first “Psychedelics and Christianity” panel, but then a crisis hit our family: my husband fell and broke both bones in his left forearm, while rock climbing with our kids.When I got his call from the ER, I was 2500 miles away, working remotely on ROGD Repair from a peaceful Airbnb in Holualoa, Hawaii, where I was recharging on a solo trip. Needless to say, the news hit hard; it felt like the ground dropped out from under me.There was a crisis whirlwind: catching up to speed on the situation; coordinating with my husband, doctors and nurses, friends and family; and figuring out how to get home quickly, despite his insistence I stay in Hawaii and somehow “enjoy” my birthday there despite knowing the love of my life was suffering without me.When I got home, I was thankful to our amazing friends who had risen to the occasion and cared for him in my absence, but it was clear that the severity of the situation had been downplayed. My first full day back was spent handling the chaos of our home in disarray, coordinating overworked and saintly friends, and quickly catching up to speed on his pain, medications, mobility issues, caregiving needs, and surgery plan. Not to mention the psychological adjustment to finding the man who'd spent so much time taking care of me suddenly being the helpless patient in need of tending. That day also happened to be my birthday, which I'd originally planned to spend boogie boarding and whale watching. Bless my husband’s heart — he still made sure a friend picked up a dessert for me. But I chose to save most of the presents he’d prepared well in advance for a day with a more celebratory mood. What mattered was that he be able to have surgery as quickly as possible, that we be adequately prepared, and that he not further injure himself while his bones were loose.Thankfully, the orthopedic surgeon was able to get my husband in the very next day, and despite the sickening level of anxiety I felt in the waiting room, the procedure went as well as it could have: he had great bones, a clean fracture, excellent range of motion and an ideal recovery prognosis.My husband now has plates and screws in his arm; a bandage/splint/sling situation; and a schedule of pain relief, ice, and elevation. He’s encouraged to move gently, and will begin occupational therapy in two weeks when the sutures are removed. Meanwhile, I'm adjusting to my new role as my responsibilities have drastically increased to include both nursing him, and taking over all the chores and errands he used to handle. I'm in one of those chapters where all you can do is focus on the next thing you must do.Although my husband should be resting, we are also dealing with a completely separate issue, a private family situation causing loads of stress and costing even greater loads of money. So while he's on the couch with his arm elevated and iced, he's still working remotely on what he can to ameliorate the other thing.We were prepared for a rainy day, even a stormy one. We just weren't prepared to be pelted with hail the size of golf balls.This feels like a sneak preview into the reality of aging.With his one good hand, my poor sweet husband was going to try to make sure to get you this week’s episode as usual. But I see no reason not to save that for next week with all we’re going through. Especially not when I have this amazing recording we can use. This took him minutes to assemble, not hours.See, before the accident, one morning in Holualoa, HI, I woke up before dawn. The chorus of birds, frogs, and insects there is normally amazing, especially at that time of day, but it was even more incredible that morning with the rain. There is something so magical about being in a place teeming with life all around you. So I opened my voice memos app and started a new recording; sat my phone down carefully on the ledge of the lanai; and sipped coffee as quietly as possible while listening to the chorus, hoping my phone’s mic would hear it as keenly as my ears did. I am pretty pleased with how the recording turned out, and I wanted to turn it into a track that could be looped, if only for myself. But I decided to share it with you too. It's pretty perfect if you ask me, aside from the occasional vehicle motor humming in the background.So today, in honor of my husband’s healing, I bring you ten minutes of a glorious chorus of tropical birds, insects, frogs, and rain. It feels like bringing home a little piece of my time on the island, making up for the trip being cut short. Studies show 20 minutes of birdsong a day improves mental health. I hope this brings you peace.I’m explaining everything in the notes here, and not including any speech in the podcast, both because that’s easier, and because it allows you to loop this track for sound therapy. You can listen to it over and over. I recommend playing it in the morning while waking up.If you want to help us out while my husband is unable to work, you can send money via Venmo or Paypal. Better yet, refer every parent of a gender-confused kid you know to my course, ROGD Repair, which now comes with unlimited access to AI assistant, RepairBot. The income from the course helps us stay stable during these tough times. Thanks as always for your support.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals co...
Social psychology expert Brant Elwood joins me to explore the fascinating and often troubling world of unconscious group dynamics. Brant brings a unique perspective, having spent four years as a field guide in wilderness therapy—accumulating over 10,000 hours working with small groups—before transitioning into organizational psychology and leadership consulting.We dive deep into the phenomenon of scapegoating: why groups unconsciously select certain members to carry their collective anxiety, how the scapegoat often cooperates with this unspoken contract, and what happens when that person leaves. Brant shares compelling examples from Tavistock group relations conferences and primate research to illustrate how these dynamics play out across species.I also share my own experience of being scapegoated in a T-group during grad school, and we explore how our childhood wounds create "Velcro" for these projections to stick. We discuss the role of humor as a potential escape route, what healthy leadership looks like, and why some organizations become addicted to crisis. The conversation takes a meaningful turn toward Nathaniel Brandon's work on self-esteem—what it truly means beyond the smarmy 90s version—and how a leader's unintegrated material gets amplified throughout an organization. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone navigating workplace dynamics or seeking to understand group psychology.Brant Elwood has a MA in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. He has held consulting roles and leadership positions within several therapeutic treatment organizations. During the pandemic, he directed a non-profit that utilized myth and archetypal theory to conduct rites of passage work with young men in the southeast US. Brant draws from the mythopoetic lineage of Robert Bly, Robert Johnson, and others in an attempt to establish a novel style of thinking about groups in communities and organizations. He first attended a Tavistock-style group relations conference in 2015. Follow him on X @thegrouplens. Find his book on Amazon: Gods, Heroes, and Groups: Relational Dynamics Through Mythic Archetypes.[00:00:00] Start[00:00:38] Introduction to Brant Elwood[00:01:40] Background in Wilderness Therapy[00:04:01] Tavistock Group Relations Conferences[00:15:59] The Psychology of Scapegoating[00:28:19] Projective Identification and Personal Wounds[00:40:47] Qualities of Healthy Organizations[00:45:30] Toxic Workplace Dynamics Case Study[00:54:21] Nathaniel Brandon's Self-Esteem Framework[01:09:00] Christian Perspective on Self-Worth[01:15:45] Crisis of Faith in Therapy Field[01:17:29] Where to Find Brant and His BookROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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Dr. Travis Morrell, chair of Colorado Principled Physicians and a senior fellow at Do No Harm Medicine, joins me to pull back the curtain on what he calls the "medical mafia"—the intricate web of organizations led by the American Medical Association that manufactures the illusion of consensus on controversial medical practices, particularly pediatric sex trait modification.We explore how the AMA maintains its power despite only 15% of American doctors being members. The answer lies in a government-mandated monopoly: the AMA holds the copyright on CPT codes—the procedural codes every healthcare provider in the country must use to bill insurance and Medicare. This generates hundreds of millions in revenue annually, which the AMA then uses to lobby politicians, influence other medical organizations, and train activists within specialty societies to align with their positions.Travis explains how this money flows into shadow organizations like Race Forward to push diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that ultimately tie back to gender ideology in medicine. We discuss the physical harms of cross-sex hormones on women—including vaginal atrophy, pelvic floor dysfunction, and incontinence affecting over 95% of female patients on testosterone—and why Travis compares these effects to female genital mutilation. We also discuss what everyday people and physicians can do to push back against this institutional capture, and why speaking up—even privately—is a moral duty.Travis Morrell, MD, MPH, is a dad, husband, and physician. A lifelong learner to a fault, his postgraduate medical training in five specialty departments and medical leadership gives him a broad perspective of his profession. He is published in the top journals of multiple fields and in popular media. Dr. Morrell is a Senior Fellow at Do No Harm Medicine. He is Chair of Colorado Principled Physicians, a grassroots organization of physicians promoting evidence-based medicine and classical liberal values.The X thread mentionedX: @MorrellMDmphProtect Kids ColoradoColorado Principled PhysiciansStop the Harm Database[00:00:00] Start[00:00:46] Introducing Dr. Travis Morrell[00:09:30] The AMA's $450 Million Empire and CPT Code Monopoly[00:17:34] How the AMA Controls Other Medical Organizations[00:30:53] Who's Driving the Gender Ideology Agenda[00:44:35] Cross-Sex Hormones as Female Genital Mutilation[00:49:06] Physical Harms of Testosterone on Women[01:07:01] What Doctors and Patients Can Do[01:10:51] Why Doctors Alone Won't Save the Day[01:17:43] Compassion for Affected Kids and Families[01:18:47] Where to Find Dr. Travis MorrellROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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Licensed clinical social worker Tammy Weitzman dedicated 23 years of her career to caring for cancer patients—from the moment of diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and sometimes end of life. But her stellar track record as a source of comfort to ailing patients in their hour of need wasn’t enough for her to keep her job. Tammy’s story reveals how DEI ideology can infiltrate even the most sacred spaces in healthcare, ultimately costing her everything she'd worked for.Tammy describes how her workplace at Seattle's Fred Hutch Cancer Center transformed after 2017, when self-described "social justice warriors" entered her department. She was called a "white kike" by a colleague, harassed for her friendship with someone in the Trump administration, and subjected to mandatory DEI sessions that dismissed her own experiences with antisemitism. When she pushed back against an email encouraging therapists to bring political conversations into patient care, she received a three-page complaint accusing her of "white privilege"—and was terminated ten days later for "lack of ethnic sensitivity."We explore what it means when institutions prioritize ideology over their core mission, how the female-dominated helping professions have become breeding grounds for social aggression masked as compassion, and what it takes to rebuild after your career and character have been destroyed. Tammy shares how she filed a lawsuit that settled quickly, relocated across the country, and rebuilt her practice from the ground up—all while becoming a source of support for others experiencing similar persecution.A licensed clinical social worker for 25 years, Tammy Weitzman has presented her work around the world. Born and raised in Toronto, she completed her graduate degree in New York. Tammy spent most of her career caring for cancer patients and their families, particularly those undergoing treatment of hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and stem cell transplantation. Although gifted at her job, her career took a downturn when “woke” colleagues created a hostile working atmosphere, harassing her with antisemitic slurs. After she objected to a colleague sending a biased political article to social workers over company email, Tammy was abruptly terminated from her job in Seattle. Tammy now counsels in private practice as an LCSW in North Carolina.Tammy's counseling websiteEmail: tammyw@wefixbrains.comBooks mentioned in this episode:- Imagine Heaven by John Burke- Imagine the God of Heaven by John Burke[00:00:00] Start[00:07:22] Why Oncology: Father's Death from Cancer[00:11:57] Wisdom from a Dying Patient[00:20:41] 2017: Social Justice Warriors Arrive[00:34:28] Called a "White Kike" by Colleague[00:44:00] Friend in Trump Administration Exposed[00:54:19] Terminated for "Lack of Ethnic Sensitivity"[00:56:01] Decision to Fight Back[01:09:52] Filing Lawsuit and Rebuilding LifeROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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In the spirit of celebrating my first Christmas as a Christian, this week is the perfect time to share a delightful conversation I had with Chris Legg. As both a licensed professional counselor and the lead pastor of a church, Chris has a rare combination of expertise he describes as being "a bit of a unicorn." Chris is also the founding owner and clinical director of Alethia Family Counseling Center, which now operates six locations across Texas with thirty therapists on staff.We explore the intersection of faith and psychology, discussing how secular therapy approaches to self-esteem fall short without a spiritual foundation. Chris challenges the contemporary affirmation-based therapy model, arguing that true humility comes from an accurate understanding of who we are in light of who God says we are. We discuss the persistent human tendency toward self-deception, examining why building identity solely on ourselves is fundamentally delusional—and what happens when we recognize ourselves as treasure through God's eyes instead.Our conversation ventures into controversial territory, including the relationship between Christianity and psychedelics, where Chris explains his measured "five out of ten" stance. He shares clinical examples of clients whose severe addictions were transformed through professional psychedelic-assisted treatment, while also emphasizing the need for Christian voices to remain engaged in this conversation rather than retreating into reflexive rejection. We discuss the theology of the Father, father wounds, and how childhood experiences shape our intuition of God. We examine prayer through the lens of the persistent widow and the friend at midnight, exploring what it means to approach God boldly as his children rather than with practiced piety. Chris shares insights on marriage, sacrifice, and how his son co-authored their book "Sex and Marriage" after witnessing the congruence between his father's theology and his treatment of his mother. Finally, we touch on near-death experiences, spiritual integration, and the beautiful, ongoing process of faith deconstruction and reconstruction that characterizes a lifetime of spiritual growth.Pastor Chris Legg, LPCs, and his wife Ginger have been living out the parable of God’s love for His people since 1993 and have been blessed with five great kids. He is the Lead Pastor at South Spring Baptist Church in Tyler, TX and is also the founding owner and clinical director of Alethia Family Counseling Center, which offers training, counseling, speaking and business consulting in several locations in Texas. He and his son, Mark, are the authors of the book Sex and Marriage, which is intended to restore to marriages the power God intended. He also writes on Substack and hosts the Reconstructed Faith podcast.Books Mentioned in This Episode:Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan ManningAbba's Child by Brennan ManningLion and Lamb by Brennan ManningImagine Heaven by John BurkeImagine the God of Heaven by John BurkeThe Great Divorce by C.S. LewisNarnia Series by C.S. LewisSex and Marriage by Chris Legg and Mark LeggBreaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza[00:00:00] Start[00:01:09] Meet Chris Legg: Pastor and Therapist[00:11:54] The Father Wound and Our Intuition of God[00:18:45] Bold Prayer: Keep Hounding God[00:32:35] The Problem with Self-Esteem[00:40:00] Affirmation-Only Therapy Will Be Replaced by AI[00:43:15] Psychedelics and Christianity[01:05:00] Paul on Intention and What's Truly Forbidden[01:16:10] Chris's Vulnerability on Lifelong Addiction[01:32:30] Chris's Book: Sex and MarriageROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @a...
Today I’m joined by the founder of Detrans.AI, an innovative chatbot and data tool designed to amplify the perspectives of detransitioners. A young web developer from Wellington, New Zealand, Peter shares how his journey began with trying to understand a loved one, and how his search for answers led him to discover the largely silenced stories of those with transition regret.We dive deep into the technical and ethical decisions Peter made while building Detrans.ai, including his choice to use a Chinese AI model (Kimi K2) to avoid the pro-gender ideology bias baked into Western AI systems like ChatGPT. Peter walks us through the site's powerful data visualizations, which reveal striking patterns: the peak ages for transition and detransition, the gender differences in why people transition (with autogynephilia prominent for males and internalized misogyny for females), and perhaps most importantly—that proper psychotherapy is the number one factor leading to detransition for females.We explore how parents and questioning individuals can use this tool, the social backlash Peter has faced for creating it, and why dismantling the "born this way" narrative is essential for protecting young people experiencing gender distress. This conversation offers hope that ethical therapists are beginning to step forward and that tools like Detrans.ai can help bridge the gap between concerned parents and the truth about what's really driving the gender crisis.Peter James Steven is a developer and designer from Wellington, New Zealand. He recently developed a sited called detrans.ai to promote the experiences and perspectives of detransitioners. Detrans.ai is primarily a chatbot that deconstructs gender concepts and to promotes holistic, non-medical approaches to healing gender distress. It integrates knowledge from the /r/detrans subreddit, which is the largest open collection of detrans experiences on the internet. Follow him on X @pjamessteven.[00:00:00] Start[00:03:45] Why the "Born This Way" Narrative Is Toxic[00:09:30] Building AI Without Gender Ideology Bias[00:17:45] The 5000% Increase in Gender Dysphoria Referrals[00:27:30] Analyzing 2,700 Detransitioner Stories[00:35:00] Male vs Female Transition Reasons Compared[00:42:32] What Actually Causes People to Detransition[00:49:27] Tour of the Detrans.ai Platform[00:57:45] Debunking Common Gender Ideology Myths[01:02:35] Message to Detransitioners and Closing ThoughtsROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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Dr. Eithan Haim first became nationally known as the whistleblower on Texas Children's Hospital's secret pediatric gender program. After facing prosecution by the Biden Department of Justice and the prospect of ten years in prison, the surgeon was ultimately successful in his case and is now practicing medicine while continuing to expose ethical violations in pediatric sex trait modification.Today, we dive deep into the insurance fraud that enables gender clinics to operate—a layer of scandal beneath the already discredited evidence base for these interventions. Dr. Haim explains how medical billing codes work and reveals that clinics are routinely using false diagnosis codes to get insurance companies to cover hormones, blockers, and surgeries. We discuss the 95% rate of fraudulent "endocrine disorder unspecified" diagnoses found at one university gender clinic, how patients' sex is being falsified in medical records, and how the American Medical Association—with its government-mandated monopoly on medical coding—may be facilitating this fraud.What are the consequences of this scheme? Why would the AMA recommend coding mastectomies as "breast reductions"? How is this affecting insurance premiums for ordinary Americans? And where does Dr. Haim see all of this heading? This conversation will change how you understand the machinery behind gender medicine.Dr. Eithan Haim is a general and trauma surgeon in Greenville, Texas. In 2023, he served as the anonymous whistleblower who exposed Texas Children's Hospital for secretly continuing its pediatric gender program after publicly claiming it had shut down. Within 24 hours of the story's publication, the Texas Senate passed bipartisan legislation banning these interventions on minors.The Biden Department of Justice responded by charging Dr. Haim with four federal felonies, sending armed U.S. Marshals to his home on the morning of his surgical residency graduation. Facing up to 10 years in prison, he and his wife—an attorney—drained their savings to fight the charges. He was ultimately successful, with the case resolved in his favor.Dr. Haim now continues his work as a surgeon while raising awareness about fraud and ethical violations in pediatric gender medicine. He and his wife Andrea live outside Dallas with their young child.Follow him on X @EithanHaimDonate to his GiveSendGo[00:00:00] Start[00:01:29] Introduction to Dr. Eithan Haim[00:05:30] How medical billing codes work: CPT and ICD codes[00:09:30] 95% of gender clinic patients had fraudulent "endocrine disorder" diagnosis[00:14:45] Iatrogenic harm: treatment creates the condition listed in the diagnosis[00:19:45] The AMA's government-mandated monopoly on medical coding[00:24:15] AMA recommends coding mastectomies as breast reductions[00:34:00] The "alternative diagnosis codes" guide removed after exposure[00:39:00] Falsifying patient sex in medical records[00:49:00] Wildest case: male diagnosed with "agenesis of the cervix"[00:58:00] How this fraud affects healthcare costs for everyone[01:04:15] The disturbing romanticization of surgery among trans-identified youth[01:10:30] Why "adults can do what they want" doesn't apply to doctors[01:16:00] Where this is heading: criminal prosecutions[01:25:15] Dr. Haim's family and current work[01:28:15] Where to find Dr. Eithan HaimROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Lucy Biggers, a former climate activist who has undergone a remarkable transformation. Lucy shares her journey from being deeply entrenched in climate activism and suffering from climate anxiety to becoming a voice of reason who now creates content to calm people's environmental fears.We explore how documentaries like "An Inconvenient Truth" and her work at NowThis News shaped her initial worldview, and what specific moments during the COVID pandemic made her question the climate movement's demands. Lucy reveals how becoming a mother changed her perspective on the future and why she now advocates for climate realism over alarmism. We discuss the psychological appeal of climate catastrophism, the actual data on extreme weather and climate-related deaths, and how young people are being affected by environmental anxiety.This conversation examines the intersection of environmental concerns with mental health, exploring how catastrophic thinking about climate can impact life decisions about family, career, and personal wellbeing. Lucy offers a refreshing perspective on why humanity's future might be brighter than many believe, and why gratitude for human progress is essential for mental health.Lucy Biggers makes content to calm climate anxiety on her social media and is the Head of Social Media at The Free Press. She was a climate activist in her 20s and a video producer at NowThis News.Instagram: @lucybiggersTwitter/X: @llbiggersSubstack: Lucy BiggersThe Free Press: thefp.comBooks mentioned in this episode:Apocalypse Never by Michael ShellenbergerUnsettled by Steven KooninFalse Alarm by Bjorn LomborgFossil Future by Alex Epstein [00:00:00] Start [00:01:00] Lucy’s Background And Early Climate Fears [00:03:00] Entering Activism And Media Influence [00:07:00] Pregnancy, Values, And Climate Reassessment [00:14:57] Choosing Motherhood Despite Anxiety [00:17:45] Mental Health Impacts Of Climate Alarmism [00:22:45] Media Narratives And The “Fallen Humanity” Story [00:27:58] Abundance, Development, And Global Energy Needs [00:30:04] Fossil Fuels And Human Progress [00:34:03] Weighing Tradeoffs And Energy Realities [00:41:47] Innovation, Ingenuity, And Future Solutions [00:42:15] Key Climate Data That Shifted Her Thinking [01:23:20] Gratitude, Perspective, And Helping Young People [01:29:15] Where To Find Lucy / ClosingROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Kathleen Mills, a licensed professional counselor and co-founder of the Association for Mental Health Professionals (AMHP). Together, we explore the seismic shifts happening in the mental health field and why so many therapists are feeling disillusioned with the profession's current direction.Kathleen shares her journey from running a successful group practice for over 30 years to founding AMHP as a response to what she sees as the profession's failure to truly heal people. We dive deep into the mind-body-spirit approach to healing that challenges the traditional "neck-up" therapy model, discussing why medication isn't the answer and how the counseling profession has lost the trust of the public.This episode explores critical questions about professional integrity, the impact of woke ideology on therapy, and the rise of coaching as an alternative to traditional counseling. Kathleen doesn't hold back in her critique of how our field created the "gender affirming care nightmare" and social justice warrior mentality that's dividing rather than healing families. Whether you're a mental health professional questioning the status quo or someone seeking genuine healing, this conversation offers hope for a new paradigm in mental health care.Kathleen Mills, LPC-S, CEAP, CIMHP, is a seasoned therapist and mental health professional with over 30 years of experience. Founding LifeTree Counseling in 1992, she employs a holistic "Six Pillars" therapeutic approach that addresses comprehensive life wellness. As a spiritually-motivated counselor, Kathleen guides clients toward restoration and purpose with grace.Beyond clinical practice, Kathleen is passionate about supporting mental health professionals through PracticeMentors.us, where she conducts workshops and provides continuing education on business development, office operations, and ethical considerations for practitioners.In 2022, Kathleen co-founded the Association for Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) with Phillip Crum. AMHP emerged as an alternative professional organization for mental health practitioners seeking a platform that aligns with traditional professional and spiritual values, offering a new professional home for those who feel marginalized by mainstream medical organizational policies.A graduate of the University of North Texas with a Master of Education in Counselor Education, Kathleen continues to mentor associates and advocate for principled mental health practice. Kathleen co-hosts the podcast Therapy Disruptors, available on all platforms. Save the date for AMHP Conference 2026 - October 1st through 3rd in Dallas/DFW area.[00:00:00] Start[00:03:00] AMHP Origins And Purpose[00:04:35] Mind-Body-Spirit Framework Shift[00:08:43] Scope Of Practice And Limits[00:12:15] Nutrition, Medication, And Holistic Care[00:15:15] Framing Problems Versus Solving Them[00:19:35] Transference, Boundaries, And Role Clarity[00:23:53] Six Pillars Holistic Model[00:34:33] Profession Direction And Identity Crisis[00:54:15] Faith, Conversion Therapy, And Misconceptions[01:12:00] Christianity, Grace, And Counseling IntegrationROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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In this deeply personal conversation, I welcome back Will Spencer to discuss our shared journeys to Christianity and the spiritual revival currently unfolding. We begin by connecting over musician Nick Mulvey's recent testimony of faith, which moves us both to tears as we recognize kindred spirits joining the Kingdom of God. Will shares his journey from being what Carl Teichrib calls "Perennial Man" - traveling the world, exploring transformational festivals, and seeking through psychedelics - to finding true peace in scripture. We discuss the challenges of navigating relationships with those still in New Age circles, the importance of genuine repentance versus simple regret, and how Christianity offers complete freedom from the burdens that no amount of therapy or spiritual practice could lift. Will's story of concrete blocks at the bottom of his psyche that dissolved through sanctification beautifully illustrates the peace that surpasses understanding, available to all who come to faith.Will Spencer is an evangelist and adventurer who journeyed from Stanford University and the Dotcom Boom through 30 countries. He's explored spiritual traditions worldwide: from meditation in the Himalayas to ayahuasca retreats in the Amazon. The Lord found him at the Burning Man festival in Nevada. Now he hosts The Will Spencer Podcast and helps rescue men from destructive thinking and find their way to Christ. Follow him on X @renofmen, on YouTube @willspencerpod or via his Linktree.Will Spencer originally appeared on episode 181 of my podcast, From Ayahuasca to Christ: Will Spencer on Escaping the Serpent's Deception. That conversation was one of three (along with 182 and 184) that were censored on Spotify for several weeks due to inane AI copyright flagging issues detailed in episode 187. Fortunately, after extensive advocacy, those episodes have been re-released and are available on Spotify once again; they have remained consistently available on all other audio platforms and YouTube. At this time, I can only hope that the root cause of the issue has been addressed and Spotify will not wrongfully remove any more of my episodes. However, should any appear missing, you can find them on any other platform of your choice starting here. Nick Mulvey links mentioned:Testimony, "My Ancient Friend"Song, Fever to the FormAlbum about coming to the faith: Dark Harvest Part 1, Dark Harvest Part 2Books mentioned:Game of Gods by Carl TeichribPilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan[00:00:00] Start[00:01:06] Introduction To Guest Will Spencer[00:04:14] Stephanie’s Public Declaration Of Faith[00:07:42] How Music Opened The Door To God[00:13:05] Leaving The New Age Behind[00:19:20] Finding Truth Through Scripture[00:25:48] Lessons From Ecclesiastes And Solomon[00:33:12] CS Lewis And The Reality Of Choice[00:42:07] Will’s Baptism And Early Faith Journey[00:53:44] Recognizing God’s Guidance Through Crisis[01:04:30] The Battle Between Ego And Surrender[01:16:18] From Therapy To Faith-Based Coaching[01:29:47] Spiritual Leadership And Masculine Purpose[01:41:55] Women, Compassion, And Biblical Strength[01:55:12] Peace Beyond Understanding And Closing ReflectionsROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plu...
UPDATE: After escalating the issue several times and ways, Spotify FINALLY reinstated the missing episodes and added my podcast to their "allowlist" so my theme song won't be flagged again. However, I'm leaving this up to explain what happened; this issue is still affecting other podcasters, and the resolution process is deeply flawed. - Stephanie, late November 2025ORIGINAL:In this special public service announcement episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on a frustrating battle with Spotify that's threatening the very soul of my podcast - its theme song. After three years and 180+ episodes of using "Half Awake" by Joey Pecoraro (which I legally licensed back in 2021), Spotify's AI suddenly started flagging my episodes for copyright infringement. The story of how this song became part of my podcast is deeply personal - it came to me through creative inspiration while planning the show, and Joey graciously agreed to let me use it. Now Spotify wants to force me to manually appeal every single episode going forward, despite my valid license. And there’s no guarantee of prompt resolution; in fact, I’m still waiting on replies more than a week after submitting appeals.Their customer service essentially told me to accept this new weekly homework or lose my Spotify audience. I explore why this matters for the entire podcasting ecosystem, especially as Spotify pushes to become a major hosting platform while simultaneously failing to support creators who legally use music. This isn't just about my inconvenience - it's about a platform that profits from our content refusing to implement basic systems to verify licensing agreements, potentially silencing smaller voices who can't fight back.Since this episode was recorded, Spotify has still yet to reinstate episodes 181, 182, or 184. It reinstated episode 180 after successful completion of the appeals process, but has ignored my appeals on these other 3 episodes. Episodes 183, 185, and 186 appear unaffected, while the future for episodes after this (187) remains uncertain. The censorship of episodes 181, 182, and 184 is especially disappointing considering their content. I mean, get a look at these titles!181. From Ayahuasca to Christ: Will Spencer on Escaping the Serpent's Deception: listen on Transistor or watch on YouTube182. From Estrangement to Advocacy: Lynn Chadwick on Parental Identity After Your Child Transitions: listen on Transistor or watch on YouTube184. The Best ROGD Parenting Advice a Robot Can Give: Meet RepairBot, a Groundbreaking AI Tool: listen on Transistor or watch on YouTubeClick on the links above to find each of these episodes on Transistor or YouTube; or, go here to find my podcast on your platform of choice; any platform listed besides Spotify should work just fine. I’m truly incredibly proud of each of these episodes, and all for very different reasons. It would mean the world to me if you would make sure to give one a listen and share it with a friend.Back to the problem-solving saga: I’ve reached out to Transistor.fm, the platform that hosts my podcast, and they’ve graciously agreed to reach out to Spotify with a copy of my licensing agreement in the hopes of getting this issue permanently resolved. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that hopeful outcome. But I won’t rescind my message in this episode until Spotify resolves this issue across the board. It’s affecting many other podcasters, not just me. As Justin Brady explains in this video on X, the net result of this will not only silence many voices, but also discourage and silence musicians as well.If you normally listen on Spotify, please remain subscribed there, but also be sure you’ve subscribed to my podcast on any platform of your choice besides Spotify. And please subscribe to my YouTube channel here.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgene...
In this compelling follow-up conversation, I welcome back Jonathan Cogburn, a licensed marriage and family therapist from Texas, to explore a nuanced conservative perspective on mental health services in schools. While we've covered many concerns about ideological overreach in school counseling on this podcast, Jonathan makes a thoughtful case for why certain levels of mental health intervention are not just appropriate but indispensable in our current educational landscape.We dive deep into the McKinney-Vento Act and its implications for students experiencing homelessness - a critical issue that most therapists haven't even heard about. Jonathan shares his extensive experience working with behavioral threat assessment teams and reveals surprising data about successfully prevented school attacks. We explore how schools can create positive cultures that prevent violence upstream, the proper boundaries between school support and parental roles, and why some vulnerable student populations desperately need these services.This conversation challenges us to think beyond binary positions about school mental health services, examining what a "just right" balance looks like that serves students while respecting parental authority and avoiding ideological indoctrination.Jonathan Cogburn is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in West Texas who currently works for an agency that provides a variety of support to school districts in his area In that role he delivers state-required mental health training to districts, supports rural school counselors and homeless student liaisons, and co-leads a team of licensed professionals and school counselors that respond to crises and disasters. Follow Jonathan @SystemicTexism on X or on Substack.MAKE SURE YOU'RE FOLLOWING THIS PODCAST ON ANY PLATFORM OTHER THAN SPOTIFY. Spotify removes episodes for containing copyrighted music, even though I have a license to use my theme song, Half Awake by Joey Pecoraro. It's been a huge pain; I'll release an episode explaining this soon. In the meanwhile, find this podcast on your platform of choice starting here. [00:00:00] Start [00:02:45] Defining McKinney-Vento and Student Homelessness [00:05:40] Unaccompanied Youth and School Support Systems [00:08:50] Mental Health Professionals’ Role in Identifying Homeless Students [00:14:10] Student Leadership Summit and Success Stories [00:18:10] Association of Mental Health Professionals Conference Recap [00:19:45] Detransition Language Discussion [00:23:05] Values and Ethics in School Mental Health Services [00:29:45] Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Explained [00:33:00] Voluntary vs. Imposed Therapy for Students [00:40:13] Problems with Suicide Awareness Campaigns for Children [00:46:00] Overmedicalization and the Origins of Family Therapy [00:51:00] Family Therapy’s Historical Role and Modern Challenges [00:55:00] Appropriate Levels of School-Based Intervention [01:04:30] Behavioral Threat Assessment Overview [01:35:30] Restoring School Function and ReadinessROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
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In this compelling conversation, I sit down with 21-year-old desister Simon Amaya Price, who identified as transgender from ages 14 to 17. Now serving as Outreach and Events Lead at the LGB Courage Coalition, Simon offers invaluable insights into why young people—especially those with autism—fall into gender ideology.We explore the perfect storm of factors that led to Simon's trans identification: autism, bullying, sexual assault, and false accusations in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Simon shares how his parents' firm boundaries against medicalization, combined with giving him a "long leash" to make mistakes and learn from them, ultimately helped him desist.Our discussion delves into practical strategies for parents, including the "match plus one" social skills framework, body-based distress tolerance techniques, and why allowing kids to experience natural consequences is crucial. Simon challenges the "neurodiversity affirming" approach that keeps autistic kids disabled, advocating instead for teaching real-world skills. We examine how disconnection from the body fuels gender dysphoria and why adventures, cold showers, and physical challenges can reconnect kids to reality. This episode offers hope and concrete tools for families navigating the gender crisis.Simon is a desister, writer, and speaker, fighting gender ideology with classical liberal values. At 14, he came out as transgender but desisted after 3 years. He has written for The Boston Globe, testified on bills nationwide, has spoken in communities across the country, and been featured in the Daily Mail, Boston Herald, and The Daily Signal. Simon now is the Outreach and Events Lead at the LGB Courage Coalition.Simon can be found at:X (Twitter): @SimonAmayaPriceInstagram: @SimonAmayaPriceYouTube: @SimonAmayaPriceWebsite: simonamayaprice.comBooks mentioned in this episode:The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff[00:00:00] Start & guest introduction[00:02:52] Political Violence and Role Models[00:04:00] The Coddling of American Minds[00:05:00] Finding Normal Male Peers[00:05:41] Charlie Kirk's Impact[00:07:00] Coming Out as Bisexual[00:08:00] Sexual Assault and False Accusations[00:10:09] Why Accusations Fueled Trans Identity[00:11:18] Parents Unaware of Trauma[00:12:49] How Boys Learn About Female Power[00:14:46] Rejection and False Allegations[00:16:28] Young Men's Dating Fears[00:18:00] Male Coping Strategies[00:20:37] Conservative vs Liberal Dating Success[00:21:41] Parent Coaching Advice[00:23:07] What My Parents Did Right[00:26:00] Making Mistakes Builds Character[00:27:00] Adventures and Neuroplasticity[00:28:01] Natural Consequences Build Identity[00:31:32] Learning Through Experience[00:33:30] Complaining as Communication[00:34:30] Inconvenience vs Challenge vs Trauma[00:37:00] The Long Leash Double Bind[00:39:00] Life Skills Prevent Trans Identity[00:40:26] Social Skills Algorithm[00:41:47] Match Plus One Framework[00:43:00] Life Skills Get You Out[00:44:05] Working Hard on Social Fluidity[00:45:00] Neurodiversity Affirming Care Problems[00:47:23] Therapists Who Only Validate[00:49:00] Tools for Autistic Teens[00:51:00] Frameworks for Social Understanding[00:54:00] Mental Health Energy Landscapes[00:56:00] Reflective Listening for Rumination[00:58:03] Body-Based Distress Tolerance[01:02:00] Concrete Goals in Therapy[01:04:00] Breaking Down Big Goals[01:07:00] Modeling Coping Strategies[01:09:08] Ice Cube Self-Harm Prevention[01:11:00] Embodied Experiences Matter[01:14:00] Ancient Vedic Psychology[01:16:00] Looking Inwards vs Ruminating[01:18:30] Trauma Separates Mind from Body[01:19:41] Growing Into Your Body[01:22:00] Losing Connection at Puberty[01:24:00] From Appearance to Function[01:25:17] Adult Personality Development[01:27:00] Presenting Yourself Authentically[01:28:02] Breaking Down Big Tasks[01:30:00] Health Signals and Attractiveness[01:31:00] Queer Theory vs Reality[01:33:00] Theory of Mind and Autism[01:33:39] Standpoint Epistemology Problems[01:35:45] Understanding Historical Atrocities[01:37:05] Street Conversations with Opposition[01:39:00] Charlie Kirk Abortion Discussion[01:40:30] Building Empathy Across Difference[01:41:56] Starting with Agreement[01:43:38] Closing and Contact InformationROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness p...
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