What The Theory

Is addiction a choice or a disease? Why is there so much shame and stigma around it? In this crucial episode of Deconstructing Mental Health, we tackle the difficult questions surrounding substance use and abuse. Join Joel, Allan and their guest Dr. Innocent Acan, a medical doctor and psychiatry masters student, as she breaks down the science of addiction, challenges the myth of it being a moral failing, and explains its deep connection to mental health. This conversation is essential for anyone who has struggled personally, loves someone who is struggling, or simply wants to understand this complex issue with compassion and facts. In this episode, we discuss: • The difference between substance use, abuse, and dependency. •How stigma prevents people from seeking life-saving help. •The critical intersection of addiction and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. •Steps and pathways to recovery for you or a loved one. Your mental health matters. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance dependency, please reach out to a licensed medical or mental health professional. You are not alone. RESOURCE FOR VIEWERS IN UGANDA: Butabika National Referral Hospital offers support and treatment.You can contact them for help and information on their support meetings. Tel - 0414504376 Website: https://www.butabikahospital.go.ug/ Heart to heart spaces: https://hearttoheartspaces.com/mental... https://hearttoheartspaces.com/mental...     • What Is Mental Health?: Nancy McWilliams     Follow Dr. Innocent Acan for more insights: @I_I_Acan on Twitter and TikTok) Subscribe to our channel and hit the bell icon (🔔) so you don’t miss our next episode where we continue to deconstruct mental health, one topic at a time. ---   Disclaimer: The content in this video is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.    #MentalHealth #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #EndTheStigma #Psychology #Psychiatry #SubstanceUse #MentalHealthUganda #Africa #Butabika

Hey folks... Question.. How do your multiple identities—like gender, tribe, or ability—shape your access to healthcare and education? In today's episode, the guys dive into intersectionality—the concept that our overlapping identities define our lived experiences. Hosts Pumla, Primah, Joel, and Allan discuss how recognizing this in Uganda’s context is crucial for building equitable policies in SRHR and other essential services from education, to employment and even social acceptance. We ask: How have your own identities affected your access to services? This episode is Sponsored by The SRHR Alliance Uganda, a consortium ensuring vulnerable young people can access friendly SRHR services and claim their rights freely, without violence. Get resources: SRHR Alliance Uganda – SRHR Alliance Uganda https://share.google/iL41neXfApKgYdJHB

Pumla throws down a challenge: name 3 cultural or societal practices we've personally outgrown or believe our community needs to rethink. From family rituals and gender roles to weddings, funerals, and money habits – nothing's off limits! In this episode, the podcast team takes turns sharing their picks, explaining why these traditions feel ripe for change and exploring the resistance holding us back.  Plus, we dive into your responses from social media! What practices do YOU think are due for a major makeover?  

Pumla throws down a challenge: name 3 cultural or societal practices we've personally outgrown or believe our community needs to rethink. From family rituals and gender roles to weddings, funerals, and money habits – nothing's off limits! In this episode, the podcast team takes turns sharing their picks, explaining why these traditions feel ripe for change and exploring the resistance holding us back. Plus, we dive into your responses from social media! What practices do YOU think are due for a major makeover? Comment below!

In the 1st of a series of conversations around mental health , we examine the Biopsychosocial approach to well being, Alternative Therapies for treating mental anguish, as well as ask whether psychology is more of an art than a science. The guest for this show is Dr Innocent Acan ( @I_I_Acan on Twitter), a medical doctor and psychology student who also happens to be a really great writer. We're grateful for her time and sorry not sorry for all the bad jokes we are both going to drop on these conversations.

This episode finds us at the honorable’s home on Labor Day. We catch up on each other's well-being, enjoy some time at Mama Tejass's domicile, and do a mental health check-in. We speak about what we’ve learned about trauma, about how we navigate the work of healing so we don’t bleed on others, and take a quick test using Nancy McWilliams' 10 signs of mental health. If you or someone you love is struggling, please contact someone. Your mental health journey is not something to be ashamed of…it’s just a reflection of experiences and environment. There is always hope.    And if you feel like you’re alright, check in with yourself and others to see how they’re doing. You won’t regret it. We’d like to hear from you…How has your healing journey been? What tools have you used and want to share with us I want to give special thanks to Lamera Bakery (@lameraug on Instagram and Lamerabakery on Facebook) for the lovely cookies and cakes. Links -Nancy McWilliams: What is mental health?    • What Is Mental Health?: Nancy McWilliams   -​​A summarized list of the ten signs :https://chhs.source.colostate.edu/10-... Liminal on choosing your hard: https://www.buridansridge.com/p/choos...  

Karl Marx called religion the soul in soulless conditions. It's our expressiom of the almighty... And that expression matters as it either liberates all or causes us to look to the world to come instead of the world we're in The disembodied voice of Allan hosts two old friends who were once church boys, Reverend Captain Gideon and some guy called Joel, to a special debate that has a prodigal and a pastor asking each other what it means to be Christian today Does belief actually make us fail to do what God wants which is to love people and this world and bring justice? Why do we pray about what we ought to be acting on? Does believing in God as symbolic and not literal give anyone true hope? You know.... Light work. 😊 We aren't aiming to fully answer these questions but to rather raise them so you can engage with them We want to hear your answers and questions too. #christianity #Whatthetheory #hegel #Theology

In this episode, PPJ dives into the realities of adulting - is it really a scam, or are we just making poor choices? We share unprepared moments, broke stories, and debate whether adulting is as hard as people let on, or are we just romanticising childhood too much? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comment section below.

Season 2 is here, and we intended to talk about change,ge but instead,d we showed how we process changes in this episode. Joel talks about turning 40 and how they say life starts at 40 because you realize just how short life is and that life happens as you plan. Pumla shares how she navigates friendships and relationships and how she determines when it's time to change, e and Primah gets a revelation about the way she affects people.    Oh, and Allan throws some elderly advice in the wise unseen voice. Welcome back to PPJ, guys Do share some of the things you’ve made it a point to change this year, how you have noticed you or your relationships have changed and how you choose between accepting things and acting on the hope that we can change our lives, our country, our very being. Do leave a link or comment so we know what resonates with you. Happy 2025

It's the last episode of the year, and Primah had us examining not only what the year has been like, how the show has grown and how what we planned kids have learned and continue to learn about Privilege.   Note : Tell us your favorite PPJ segment, moment or episode from the year   From us to you.. Happy Holidays and if you are in the giving mood...please consider donating to some good causes like;   Yambi community outreach who support young girls in Uganda with reusable pads - https://yambicommunityoutreach.org/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaao1tO9GnIRgPf0pwBfyPKGBnnvmaPIR3byqGE8gRUauJ-3V9Do7Vr5o8Y_aem_GPQRzd6SMbYHaAhytj6-9A Raremark Foundation who aim to improve the lives of people affected by Sickle Cell - https://raremarkfoundation.org/ And lastly .... visit https://www.digimarkug.com/  for all your video audio production and comms deals. They make us look good!!!

Sex!! Now that we got your attention... Pumla is the chair today and she's called us to talk intimacy, talk about healthy attachment, and the great separateness yet longing for connection to feel whole that we call love. Love that force that binds without chaining you, that lifts without emptying you...  That we call God. Oh and we talk about lube!!!   Written by J

This episode we talk about becoming super famous you guys!!! Oh Gosh, how are we going to deal with fame ?!;-) No, but thank you for making us one of the most trending podcasts in the country. We value you spending time with us as we use the show as an excuse to just hang out….

Primah is finally hosting us, dia. We talked about  the theory of attachment from psychology, how the experiences and homes we grew up in may linger in how we express and receive love, as well as some of the benefits and limits of this theory Find and take a test if you so dare here : https://www.attachmentproject.com/attachment-style-quiz/

They say you can't change the past. Wrong!! You can. In a way, by reframing and contextualising it, we can learn from it, change how we relate to it and lead to different outcomes today In this special edition, Pumla takes the reins and asks us to speak to our past selves about everything from career to faith.

It's been forever since we got to chat and well, the homework was to discuss collectivism vs individualism..along the way we touch on class, capital and even why money is such an issue in marriage and relationships.  For those interested in the bit on climate change..please read https://libguides.depaul.edu/c.php?g=253564&p=1690283 We cannot keep our heads in the sand just because the action needed is going to be collective

We finally have MERCH!!! The lovely ladies over at "Can We Talk 256 "came over to talk about how they started their platform to foster more intimate, meaningful conversations between people . With their help, we will be launching our own "What the Theory" line of Can we Talk cards this week with 75 philosophy-based questions to help you inject a little dialectics into your relationships. We used the cards during the interview and the things we learned !! Oh Boy. You can find the cards and information about the physical meet-up sessions organized by them at https://www.canwetalk256.com/ and the cards are available for order from the website, their Instagram handle and at Bold in Africa, Book point - Village Mall , Gift fairing - Kansanga, Kardamon & Coffee and Mahiri Books

Ask someone about their purpose and they may say some combination of “To live my best life” or to achieve happiness. The Declaration of Independence of the United States, the hegemony of ruling ideology, might capture this well in the line “ the right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" ... Today’s episode will take a thesis, antitheses, and synthesis approach to examine this idea, critiquing it using Pshcialanlys sand then finding some space for synthesis. Also, it wouldn’t be Easter if we didn’t mention Grace. at the end works cited:    Todd McGowan -https://web.english.upenn.edu/~cavitc...   Peter Rollins-    • Grace and the Freedom from Self-Help     Slavoj Zizek- https://altexploit.files.wordpress.co...   Jacques Lacan -https://www.academia.edu/32053409/How...  

In 1888, Friedrich Nietzche finished "The Antichrist" and as you;d imagine, it wasn't released until years later due to its title. While known for being the "God is dead" guy that inspired every angry teen's atheist phase, he's probably also the most misunderstood due to his aphoristic and polemic style. The book is surprisingly kind about Christ and instead focuses on Christianity as an institution, as a belief rather than practice had betrayed the very essence of Christi, turning him into a dominating symbol and king, or an ineffectual belief system. Essentially , Christianity had become antichrist We highlight how he fleshes out this argument in today's Palm Sunday episode.

What does it mean to be engaged politically in Uganda today? Can a social media website be used to awaken a sense of engagement with politics that all too often leaves us feeling unheard and dominated over?    Today’s discussion with Anthony Natif about his life and activism most recently seen in the trending #UgandaParliamentExhibition which has unearthed what we already knew-mounds of corrupt practices with oru lawmakers. In the episode, we tackle items from free speech and tradition, why it’s dangerous for most people to speak up, and some of the ways he and the Public Square team use Twitter and other spaces for activism. 

Today we examine the ideology of personal responsibility and how the further we lean on centering the self, the further the deeper we fall into false consciousness  Works cited: Michel Foucault - Discipline and punish, John Locke's "Second Treatise of Government", Jordan Peterson's "!2 rules for life" , and Bowling Alone" by Robert Putnam