On today's episode of Unravelling, we continue our exploration of the architecture of the sellf as Mary sits down with Dr. J. Douglas Bremner, who has spent much of his career exploring trauma, memory, and dissociation. Trauma-related diagnoses are especially significant in the mental health field, because they can be quite disabling and are also not uncommon, and also because they represent a problem that develops at the intersection of mind and body, biology and experience, past experience and the present moment. Mary and Dr. Bremner cover much terrain in this exploration of how memory works, why it gets interrupted by trauma, and what all of this shows us about how the mind works. Dr Bremner's Bio:J. Douglas Bremner, MD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology and Director of the Emory Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Staff Psychiatrist at the Atlanta VAMC in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Bremner moved to Emory from Yale in November of 2000 where he spent the first 12 years of his career.Dr. Bremner’s research has used neuroimaging and neurobiology measures to study the neural correlates and neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to combat and childhood abuse, as well as the related area of depression. His more recent work is expanding to look at the relationship between brain, behavior, and physical health including studies of heart disease and the brain. Dr. Bremner has worked continuously throughout his career as a physician scientist, with the support of funding from two successive VA Career Development Awards, VA Merit Review, NIH, DOD, and various private sources. His research included studies of the neurobiology and assessment of PTSD, hippocampus and memory in PTSD and depression, neural correlates of declarative memory and traumatic remembrance in PTSD, PET measurement of neuroreceptor binding in mood and anxiety disorders, neural correlates of myocardial ischemia, and the effects of treatments on the brain including psychotropic medication, mindfulness training, and Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS).Dr. Bremner has authored or co-authored over 400 peer reviewed articles and book chapters, and written or edited nine books, including Does Stress Damage the Brain? Understanding Trauma-Related Disorders from a Mind-Body Perspective published by W.W. Norton & Co. (2002), You Can’t Just Snap Out of It (2014) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: From Neurobiology to Treatment (Wiley, 2016, Edited). He is on the editorial boards of several journals and has received several awards for his work, including the Chaim Danieli Award for Research and Service in Traumatic Stress from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the Millipub Award for highly cited publications from Emory University (2016, 2018). His personal website is at dougbremner.com.
This episode is the first in a series of four episodes that we are calling "the architecture of the self" wherein we explore human development, genetics and epigenetics, memory and trauma, and, today, diagnosis and the delineation of "normal" and "abnormal" in the field of mental health. These episodes can all be listened to on their own, but each of them is exploring contributions from medicine, psychiatry, and psychology to shed light on the complicated question of how we become who we are. Kurt speaks with Smith College Professor Emeritus Randy O. Frost, whose decades of teaching, research, and publication experience -- as well as his participation in working groups which helped revise diagnostic criteria (for Hoarding Disorder, though that topic is not the focus today) -- make him the perfect person to help us unpack what "diagnosis" in mental health IS and ISN'T, from historical, research, and cultural perspectives. In a special "in-studio" sit down, they dive deep into this topic from the code of Hammurabi to DSM-5 and set the table for the series of episodes to come!Bio:Dr. Randy O. Frost is the Harold and Elsa Siipola Israel Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Smith College. He is an internationally recognized expert on obsessive-compulsive disorder and hoarding disorder and has published more than 200 scientific articles, books, and book chapters on these topics. Dr. Frost has served on the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and has been co-editor of the Hoarding Center on the IOCDF website. He has co-authored several books on hoarding including Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding. Buried in Treasures received a Self-Help Book of Merit Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy in 2010. This book is the backbone of the Buried in Treasures Workshops that have been found to produce significant improvements in hoarding behaviors and are now running in many locations around the world. He has also published the Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring Therapist Guide and client Workbook. All three of these books are in their second editions. His book, Stuff: Compulsive hoarding and the meaning of things, was a finalist for the 2010 Books for a Better Life Award. Stuff was also a New York Times Bestseller and named a Must-Read Book for 2011 by Massachusetts Book Awards. Stuff has been translated into 4 languages. His newest book, Hoarding Disorder: Comprehensive Clinical Guide, was published in June of 2022. His work has been funded by the IOCDF and the National Institute of Mental Health. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in innovation, treatment, and research in the field of hoarding and cluttering by the Mental Health Association of San Francisco. He has also received a Career Achievement Award from the International OCD Foundation for his work on hoarding and a Distinguished Contribution Award from the New England Psychological Association. He has given hundreds of talks and workshops on hoarding. His research has been featured on numerous radio and TV news shows including Dateline, CBS Morning News, Today Show, Good Morning America, 20/20 Downtown, BBC News, Fresh Air, The Infinite Mind, and the Canadian Broadcasting Company’s The Nature of Things.
In this very special episode, Kurt sits down with comedian Gary Gulman to talk about recovery from serious mental health problems, depression, getting treatment and his journey of becoming such a powerful advocate on behalf of mental health. From childhood struggles to finding a way to be oneself, they find humor and hope in the exploration of some of life's darkest moments. Gary has several comedy specials including notably The Great Depresh (on HBO) which combines comedy show and documentary... As well as a equally comedic and poignant memoir of his childhood from Kindergarten to Twelfth Grade, Misfit. We strongly encourage you to check these out! We also encourage folks to check out Sherwin Nuland's TED talk about ECT treatment, which is referenced in the episode.Special thanks to Brattleboro Literary Festival for facilitating the connection that made this possible, and to Latchis Theatre for being host to the event that accompanied this interview!
In this episode, Kurt sits down with guest Dr. Stephanie Jarvi Steele, a clinician and researcher who has extensive experience and knowledge about "non-suidical self-injury". In this detailed and thought provoking interview, she helps unravel common misperceptions about NSSI, including it's differentiation from suicidal behavior, and its complicated relationship to suicidal thinking. We discuss myths about the topic - like that there is a contagion effect to discussing it or sharing information about it - as well as the varying groupings of motivation for those who engage in this behavior. Resources:Cornell resources are excellent through the Self-Injury and Recovery Resources programNAMICrisis line info (if someone is struggling with urges/thoughts/etc)Dr. Steele referred at an article of hers about contagion we discussed, and generously wanted to let folks can also email her directly at ssteele@smith.edu for the full paper.Dr. Steele's faculty page at Smith CollegeDr. Steele Bio:Dr. Stephanie Jarvi Steele is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Smith College. Dr. Steele directs the Behavioral Assessment of Self-Injury Lab (BASIL), which aims to further elucidate risk factors for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. She regularly teaches undergraduate classes on Abnormal Psychology, Personality Disorders, and a seminar on high-risk behaviors in psychological disorders.Dr. Steele is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts; she earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Suffolk University in Boston and completed her predoctoral clinical internship at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University. Dr. Steele has published extensively on the topic of non-suicidal self-injury, or "NSSI", for more than a decade, and is currently working on projects related to NSSI and self-disugst, and understanding NSSI among parents.
In this episode of Unravelling, we are taking a moment to acknowledge September as Suicide Prevention Month, specifically World Suicide Prevention Day - September 10, 2025. Host Mary Wilson had the opportunity to sit down with Dr Rachel Conrad, who serves as Medical Director of Adolescent Services at the Brattleboro Retreat. Together, they discuss issues relating to youth suicide prevention, and how social media plays a role - in both contagion and prevention; as well as how difficult it can be to recognize youth suicide risks in real life, and how our current medical systems could play a critical role in all of this.Dr. Conrad is currently medical director of Adolescent Services at Brattleboro Retreat. She was previously medical director of Young Adult Mental Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She completed her adult psychiatry residency at Emory University School of Medicine, her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, and her bioethics fellowship at the Harvard Medical School. She is on faculty at Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics. Her academic work focuses on autonomy and psychiatric treatment of adolescents and young adults. She received the Eisenhower Fellowship for her work in Youth Mental Health in 2022.Resources: 988 suicide lifeline - please call or text 988 if you are struggling with thoughts of suicide. Help is available! If you enjoy Unravelling, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us and tell you friends about us!And listeners, take note! We always want to hear from you with reactions, topic ideas, stories or other suggestions. Send us an email, an old fashioned voice message, or a voice memo by using unravel@brattlebororetreat.org or by calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!
In this week’s episode of Unravelling, we have a bit of a special episode: a roundtable discussion with our hosts Mary and Kurt, joined by our producers Hans and Andrew, and our guest, Professor Sean Duffy. Sean is a psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at Rutgers-Camden, and together, we share a bit of a metaphorical meal of a discussion about something that unites us all: food. We caught up with Prof. Duffy in Paris on Bastille Day, and he was fresh back from the Louvre researching food:s depiction in art. Together we explore questions such as: How food can bring us closer to family, culture, identity, our history? Can we know ourselves through what we eat? Can it help us keep the past alive in us, and give us a felt sense of our personal and cultural identities? Can we know each other better through the sharing of a meal? Join us in this feast of a discussion, as we explore all of this and more.Website for more about Prof. Duffy: https://duffy.camden.rutgers.edu/Resources:High on the Hog
This episode of Unravelling has Dr. Kevin Volkan, psychologist, psychoanalyst, professor, and author of Human Aggression, War, and Genocide joins Kurt to talk about large group psychology and continue the conversation about what drives so much of the great evils of world. Dr. Volkan shares insights on a vast array of associated topics, as they together work to approach and understand the darker side of human nature... and the potential power of psychological insight to give the hope in dark times. Some resources:Dr. Volkan, has authored and co-authored many books, including these with his father Vamik Volkan:Human Aggression, War, and Genocide Schizophrenia: Science, Psychoanalysis, and CultureHow the Mind Works: Concepts and Cases in Psychoanalysis and PsychotherapyWebpage for Dr. VolkanResource to find some of Dr. Volkan's books, free of charge:https://www.freepsychotherapybooks.org/?ebook_author=volkan-kevin
In today’s episode of Unravelling, host Kurt White sits down with Alette Smeulers, Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology, and International Crimes at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands. Professor Smeulers has spent decades trying to answer the question: What is it that makes people perpetrators of mass atrocities, and why do people follow such leaders? Together, they unravel the specifics of the Milgram Experiment, the mental health implications thereof, and what we can learn about ourselves from that field of work and research.Alette is the author of the book “Perpetrators of Mass Atrocities: Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal?” (Routledge, 2024), as well as the co-host of a podcast by the same title. She believes that if we understand the true nature and causes of violence and mass atrocities, and understand who the perpetrators are, and why they commit such crimes, we may be in a much better position to prevent such horrific things from happening.First They CamePastor Martin NiemöllerFirst they came for the CommunistsAnd I did not speak outBecause I was not a CommunistThen they came for the SocialistsAnd I did not speak outBecause I was not a SocialistThen they came for the trade unionistsAnd I did not speak outBecause I was not a trade unionistThen they came for the JewsAnd I did not speak outBecause I was not a JewThen they came for meAnd there was no one leftTo speak out for meWebsite: https://alettesmeulers.org/en/home/Book:https://www.routledge.com/Perpetrators-of-Mass-Atrocities-Terribly-and-Terrifyingly-Normal/Smeulers/p/book/9781032568027?srsltid=AfmBOorPR1Ke5X_-mx2P8s8rOqQM19OAGa1xqF8phur7TR3W-bRRlCbWPodcast: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/actueel/in-de-media/podcasts/terribly-and-terrifyingly-normal/?lang=enhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2Bt5Wg5nbekeSo8UBDI5MYhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/terribly-and-terrifyingly-normal/id1708596464
In this Disability Pride Month episode of Unravelling, hosts Mary Wilson Kurt White sit down with Cat Milo, former Coordinator of Accessibility and Diversity at Hampshire College and Dr. Madeline Peters, former longtime Director of Disability Services at the University of Massachusetts, to discuss the intersection of mental health and disability. They explore the concept of disability justice, emphasizing that societal barriers, not inherent conditions, are what truly disable people. Cat Milo and Dr. Peters highlight the importance of accommodations and the need for a shift in societal attitudes towards disability. They discuss the challenges of invisible disabilities and the benefits of community and care networks. The conversation underscores the need for inclusive policies and spaces that support all individuals, regardless of their abilities.LinksReadings for Diversity and Social Justice, 4th Edition
In the third installment of Unravelling's 2025 Pride series, Mary speaks with Dr. Marley Balasco, an inpatient psychology specialist at the Brattleboro Retreat, about how to support young people as they explore and affirm their gender identities.Dr. Balasco breaks down the difference between gender and sexuality, and offers insight into how children and adolescents come to understand who they are. She highlights the vital role that family support plays in mental health outcomes, and explains why curiosity, validation, and open-mindedness are essential when working with gender-diverse youth.Together, they explore how gender development is a natural and expected part of growing up, and how cultural, societal, and political forces can either uplift or deeply harm young people in the process. Whether you're a parent, provider, educator, or ally, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and concrete ways to support the well-being of trans and gender-expansive youth.Links -The Trevor Project - The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people, providing information and support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round. Gender Spectrum - Gender Spectrum's mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth. To accomplish this, we help families, organizations, and institutions increase their understanding of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us.
In this episode of Unravelling, host Kurt speaks with Evelyn Lee, a music therapist based in Singapore, about how music can be a powerful tool for identity, healing, and connection, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Evelyn shares insights from her work with queer clients in a country where homosexuality was only recently decriminalized. Together, they explore how music supports self-expression, the evolving landscape of queer-affirming care, and the role of social media in shaping how we experience and share music.We want to know what you're listening to and what it might say about you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a voice memo by emailing unravel@brattlebororetreat.org or calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!LinksEvelyn's website - prospectmusictherapy.comProspect Music Therapy on InstagramSign up for Prospect Music Therapy's mailing list.
In this episode of Unravelling, Kurt White sits down with poet, playwright, and social worker Britt Billmeyer-Finn to unpack the ideas and impact of queer theory. Far from being just an academic concept, queer theory is presented as a lens that challenges societal norms around gender and sexuality, invites curiosity, and honors fluidity in how we relate to ourselves and others. Kurt and Britt delve into the pressures of hetero-cisnormativity, the psychological toll of rigid social expectations, and the role of agency, joy, and community in healing and liberation. This conversation is part of our special Pride Month series.Britt is accepting clients in Massachusetts and can be reached at bebfinn.psychotherapy@gmail.com.Also check out the Stonewall Center at UMass AmherstThe conversation on YouTube between James Baldwin and Maya Angelou that Brit mentioned can be found here.***This episode version replaces an earlier recording, and includes some re-recorded segments. This is due to a mistake explained in the intro segment.
In this episode of Unraveling, Mary Wilson talks with psychotherapist and group facilitator Donna Harris, LCSW, CGP, about the challenging work of healing across lines of difference. Donna explains that real connection in group settings isn’t built by avoiding discomfort, but by risking it with care, curiosity, and accountability. She speaks to the importance of confronting bias, honoring impact over intent, and working through the mistrust that often exists in diverse spaces.Donna highlights the power of affinity groups, spaces where people with shared identities can speak freely without navigating broader societal dynamics. She also pushes back on the idea that simply being surrounded by diversity equates to engaging with it, and critiques traditional therapy models for overlooking systemic forces like racism and sexism. For Donna, group work is a powerful, small-scale practice in collective healing, one that helps us truly see and connect across the lines that too often divide us.Resources:Donna's private practice website, Intercultural CounselingThe People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, a national, multiracial, anti-racist collective of organizers and educators, is dedicated to building a movement for social transformation.Stir Fry Seminars, cross-cultural and communications training programs for managers, supervisors, H.R., admin executives, education professionals, social services leaders and agencies. If you enjoy Unravelling, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us and tell you friends about us!And listeners, take note! We always want to hear from you with reactions, topic ideas, stories or other suggestions. Send us an email, an old fashioned voice message, or a voice memo by using unravel@brattlebororetreat.org or by calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!
What makes a therapy group more than just a room full of people? In this episode, group psychotherapist J. Scott Rutan, Ph.D. joins Kurt to explore the transformative power of group therapy. Drawing on Dr. Rutan's decades of experience, he shares how people often reenact personal dynamics in groups, sometimes unconsciously, which gives therapists and peers the opportunity to reflect those patterns back in real-time. Rutan emphasizes that group therapy doesn't just talk about problems—it lives them, revealing defenses that protect against deeper vulnerability. Dr. Rutan highlights the unique power of group therapy, where multiple members act as mirrors, making interpersonal patterns more visible than in individual therapy. Group dynamics often bring to light behaviors that individuals can describe but not fully demonstrate one-on-one. He and Kurt explore the deep human need for belonging, the therapist’s role as both leader and participant, and why groups so often become the place where the most profound change happens. LinksPsychodynamic Group Psychotherapy by J. Scott Rutan, Walter Stone, & Joseph ShayThis widely adopted text and clinical reference covers the "whats," "whys," and "how-tos" of setting up therapy groups and making them work. If you enjoy Unravelling, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us and tell you friends about us!And listeners, take note! We always want to hear from you with reactions, topic ideas, stories or other suggestions. Send us an email, an old fashioned voice message, or a voice memo by using unravel@brattlebororetreat.org or by calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!
In this episode of Unravelling, Mary sits down with Lane Gardner, musician, educator, and founder of Thread, a nonprofit using collaborative songwriting to help communities heal from trauma. Lane shares the story of a powerful workshop with students affected by a school shooting, illustrating how music became a lifeline and a symbol of resilience.Through personal reflection and professional insight, Lane explains how creativity can serve as a powerful tool for self-expression, emotional release, and connection. Whether it's a simple drumbeat, a line of lyrics, or a moment of movement, Lane shows us how tapping into our innate creativity can help us navigate pain and reclaim our voice.This episode highlights the transformative power of the arts, the importance of safe spaces, and why creativity isn't just for artists but for all of us.LinksLane's website: https://lanegardner.com/Song written by Marjory Stoneman Douglas students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLrgTEJm__wLane's album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/49dPMfbxhXlBhd9154hRne If you enjoy Unravelling, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us and tell you friends about us!And listeners, take note! We always want to hear from you with reactions, topic ideas, stories or other suggestions. Send us an email, an old fashioned voice message, or a voice memo by using unravel@brattlebororetreat.org or by calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!
In this episode of Unravelling, filmmaker and Occidental College professor Aleem Hossain joins host Kurt White for a wide-ranging conversation on the role creativity plays in both personal fulfillment and mental health. Aleem reflects on how making art can serve not only others, but our future selves—leaving behind breadcrumbs of who we were and what we felt. Together, he and Kurt unpack the personal and cultural barriers to embracing creativity, the importance of play and exploration without an end goal, and the joy of saying yes to one’s creative impulses. They also explore the idea that consuming art is a creative act in itself—one that invites us to pause, feel, reflect, and connect with the full spectrum of being human. This episode is a reminder that being creative doesn’t mean being perfect or productive. Sometimes it just means making a little space, not judging yourself, and seeing what shows up. Links:Go to aleemhossein.com to learn more about Aleem's films and to subscribe to his newsletter on issues of creativity, inclusion, and diversity in filmmaking.For an old photo of Kurt and Aleem at University of Chicago, and a picture of the 25 aliens that Kurt drew after this episode, click here! If you enjoy Unravelling, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us and tell you friends about us!And listeners, take note! We always want to hear from you with reactions, topic ideas, stories or other suggestions. Send us an email, an old fashioned voice message, or a voice memo by using unravel@brattlebororetreat.org or by calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!
In this special crossover episode with Never Post, Unravelling host Kurt White joins writer and digital media expert Mike Rugnetta to explore how the internet shapes identity, self-perception, and mental health. From TikTok trends to the eerie accuracy of algorithmic recommendations, they unpack the tension between authenticity and performance in online spaces. How does the internet reinforce or distort who we are? What happens when our digital selves feel more real than our offline ones?They also explore surprising parallels between online spaces and therapy, both offering structured spaces for identity exploration, while discussing the dangers of rigid self-concepts and the necessity of relationships in making sense of our experiences. Ultimately, this episode offers a hopeful perspective on engaging with the digital world: with awareness, playfulness, and the power to shape our own narratives.Listen to Never Post, A Podcast About and For the Internet: https://www.neverpo.st/
In this episode of Unravelling, host Mary Wilson is joined by Betsy Stade, research scientist and clinical psychologist at the Stanford Institute for Human Centered AI, to explore the profound ways AI is reshaping therapy, mental health support, and human connection itself.From AI-powered chatbots offering round-the-clock emotional support to cutting-edge research on how large language models like ChatGPT are used in therapy, Betsy unpacks the opportunities, risks, and ethical dilemmas of integrating AI into mental health care. The conversation dives into AI’s surprising ability to mimic empathy—sometimes even outperforming human professionals in perceived compassion. But what does this mean for real human connection?Betsy also shares groundbreaking research from her lab on AI-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and AI training tools for therapists. Links:Betsy Stade's personal website: https://betsystade.github.io/Stanford Institute for Human Centered AINational Center for PTSD Mobile Apps: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/
In this episode of Unravelling, psychologist Dr. Zoeann Finzi-Adams speaks with Mary about the complexities of mental health in Black women, examining how racism and sexism intersect to shape their experiences. She challenges the "Strong Black Woman" archetype, which often forces Black women to prioritize resilience over their own well-being, making it harder to seek help or even believe they deserve it. She also unpacks the concept of group-based stressors, discussing how chronic exposure to discrimination, political and social stressors, and the cumulative effects of systemic oppression—often referred to as 'weathering'—impact psychological well-being. Dr. Finzi-Adams emphasizes the critical need to reframe social support as a strength rather than a weakness and encourages mental health providers to ask difficult questions, stay curious, and create spaces where Black women feel seen and supported in their healing journeys.Resources: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/handbook-on-counseling-african-american-women-9781440875953/https://therapyforblackgirls.com/https://www.thebirthfund.com/
In this episode of Unravelling, Kurt White sits down with Professor Nnamdi Pole, Harold and Elsa Israel Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Psychology Department at Smith College, to discuss his course, The Psychology of the Black Experience. Professor Pole shares insights from his long-running course, delving into the role of psychology in understanding Black identity, collective experiences, and the impact of systemic forces like racism.The conversation unpacks the origins of Black psychology as a response to scientific racism, which historically justified stereotypes of Black inferiority through flawed studies on IQ, skull sizes, and other biased metrics. Professor Pole traces the emergence of the Association of Black Psychologists and discusses the two major strands of Black psychology—one that counters racism by centering Black experiences, and another that explores pre-colonial African psychological traditions, emphasizing collectivism, spirituality, and alternative concepts of selfhood.The discussion also tackles the evolving definition of race, the spectrum of racism from unconscious biases to systemic discrimination, and the challenges of teaching about race in a classroom with both Black and non-Black students. Professor Pole critiques colorblind ideologies, advocating instead for a pluralistic society where diverse identities are recognized and valued.Many special thanks to Northfire Recording Studio in Amherst, MA, which provided space and equipment for our recording of this episode!Links: Professor Pole is available to do public speaking and/or diversity training in person or remotely for schools, clinical settings, or corporate settings. You can reach him at npole@smith.edu. He suggests the following textbook and supplementary readings if you'd like to learn more:Textbook: Belgrave, F.Z. & Allison, K.W. (2019). African American Psychology: From Africa to America (4th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Kahn, K. B., & McMahon, J. M. (2015). Shooting deaths of unarmed racial minorities: Understanding the role of racial stereotypes on decisions to shoot. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 1(4), 310–320. Karras J. E., Niwa E. Y., Adesina F., Ruck M. D. (2021) Confronting whiteness: Conceptual, contextual, and methodological considerations for advancing ethnic-racial socialization research to illuminate white identity development. Journal of Social Issues. 77: 1305–1326. Lewis, J. A. (2023). Contributions of Black psychology scholars to models of racism and health: Applying intersectionality to center Black women. American Psychologist, 78(4), 576–588. Lundberg, Kristjen B.; Payne, B. Keith; Pasek, Josh; Krosnick, Jon A. (2017). "Racial Attitudes Predicted Changes in Ostensibly Race‐Neutral Political Attitudes Under the Obama Administration." Political Psychology 38(2): 313-330.Steele, C. M. (1997). A threat in the air: How stereotypes shape intellectual identity and performance. American Psychologist, 52(6), 613–629. Vandiver, B. J. (2024). Fifty Years (1974–2024) of the Journal of Black Psychology: A Brief History and Reflection of Its Significance. Journal of Black Psychology, 50(1), 3-8. Williams, M. T. (2021). Racial microaggressions: Critical questions, state of the science, and new directions. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(5), 880–885. Selected videos: The Race Gap: How U.S. systemic racism plays out in Black livesPositive Racial Identity in Early EducationSeeing WhiteThe Fake Link Between Race and IntelligenceBlack Youth Suicide