DEPTH Work: A Holistic Mental Health Podcast

“I wish somebody had presented these ideas that what we call mental disorders, they're not like diabetes. They're not like cancer. They're more like fever or pain. They're meaningful responses to something going on in your life. And they are part of your inner self trying to tell you to look more closely.” - Justin Garson If you’ve ever felt as though there may be a purpose or function to the experiences that get labeled as a ‘mental illness’, you’re not alone. Justin Garson spent his career advocating for the idea that madness should not be seen as purely dysfunctional, but rather that it can be an evolved signal or feature with a purpose in our lives. Rather than being a sign of a ‘broken brain’, madness may play an important protective or illuminating role in our lives. In this episode we discuss: The 1980s prozac revolution & changing landscape of mental health Why viewing madness as a dysfunction is so ubiquitous How depression or other mental health concerns can be an evolved signal or designed response to a life crisis Who gets to decide what’s functional or dysfunctional? The importance of alternative frameworks Meaningful pluralism Bio Justin is Professor of Philosophy at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, and a contributor for PsychologyToday.com, Aeon, and MadInAmerica.com. He writes on the philosophy of madness, evolution of the mind, and purpose in nature. He is the author of The Madness Pill: The Quest to Create Insanity and One Doctor’s Discovery that Transformed Psychiatry (St. Martin’s Press, forthcoming). He also has two recent books: Madness: A Philosophical Exploration (Oxford University Press, 2022) and The Biological Mind: A Philosophical Introduction, 2nd ed. (Routledge, 2022). Links: Website: www.justingarson.com Twitter: https://x.com/justin_garson Recent Book: Madness: A Philosophical Exploration Madness-as-Strategy as an Alternative to Psychiatry’s Dysfunction-Centered Model Resources: Get videos and bonus episodes: ⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠ Get the book: ⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠ Become a member: ⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠ Train with us: ⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Have you ever felt frustrated by the narrow, rigid ways we’re encouraged to think about mental health and experiences considered ‘madness’? Whether you are a person with mental health experiences and feel discouraged by the lack of options or support, a family member or clinician concerned by the way people are treated, a scholar who wants to think outside the box, or an activist combatting discrimination, you may be excited to hear about a field of study. In this very special episode, Dr. Alisha Ali, Dr. Bradley Lewis, and I discuss the emerging field of Mad Studies and the way it challenges conventional mental health narratives. IDHA is hosting an online event December 8th from 12-6pm EST for those who want to dive into this field, get tickets here: https://www.idha-nyc.org/mad-studies-symposium In this episode we discuss: what is mad studies and how is it different from anti-psychiatry and critical psychiatry/psychology? our cultural unquestioning reverence for science and how it deters important scholarship how specialization in academia can lead to reductive research and scholarship The power of language to shape how we think about madness and what’s ‘normal’ connections between activism and academia biologizing ‘normal’, the hyperfocus on the brain, and neurodiversity movements the struggle against sanism across social movements Alisha Ali is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University where she heads the Advocacy and Community-Based Trauma Studies (ACTS) Lab. Her research examines the mental health effects of various forms of oppression... including racism and poverty. She is co-editor (with Bradley Lewis and Jazmine Russell) of the upcoming book “The Mad Studies Reader” (Routledge Press). Her current projects are investigating the effects of empowerment-based interventions for domestic violence survivors and low-income high school students, and the impact of an arts-based intervention to treat the effects of traumatic stress in military veterans. Alisha received her PhD in Applied Cognitive Science from the University of Toronto and completed her postdoctoral fellowship training in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto Bradley Lewis is a psychotherapist/psychiatrist in private practice and a humanities professor at New York University. He is devoted to enriching everyday life and clinical practice through integration with the arts, humanities, and cultural/political/religious study. In addition to co-editing the Mad Studies Reader, his books include Experiencing Epiphanies in Literature and Cinema; Narrative Psychiatry; and Moving Beyond Prozac, DSM, and the New Psychiatry: Birth of Postpsychiatry Jazmine Russell is the co-founder of the Institute for the Development of Human Arts, a transformative mental health educator, trauma survivor, and host of "Depth Work: A Holistic Mental Health Podcast." She is an interdisciplinary scholar of Mad Studies, Critical Psychology, and Neuroscience, and a postgraduate student at the Berlin School of Mind and Brain. Jazmine has worked in the mental health system as a crisis counselor and later as a peer counselor specializing in working with those experiencing 'psychosis.' Becoming disillusioned with the system, she became a grassroots mental health organizer and holistic counselor across many modalities since 2015. JOIN US FOR THE MAD STUDIES SYMPOSIUM ONLINE DECEMBER 8th  Links The Mad Studies Reader - https://www.routledge.com/Mad-Studies-Reader-Interdisciplinary-Innovations-in-Mental-Health/Lewis-Ali-Russell/p/book/9780367709082  https://imsj.org/what-is-mad-studies/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

In everyday life, we might label irrational, illogical, or absurd beliefs as ‘delusional’, and dismiss the person who expresses them on these grounds. This tendency is common when it comes to conspiracy beliefs or beliefs held by individuals labeled with psychosis, where such views are frequently pathologized. But can beliefs themselves really be pathological? What if they can also be meaningful, informative, and important? We all hold some beliefs that, to others, might appear “delusional.” Communicating more effectively with those whose beliefs differ radically from our own is a crucial skill to develop. Dr. Lisa Bortolotti, philosopher and author of “Why Delusions Matter” advocates for a more compassionate approach—one that respects the agency of those with unconventional beliefs. Especially in a world of increasing political divide and a loss of trust in our broader systems, media, and government, it’s crucial to be able to find some common ground and develop the capacity to listen well. In this episode we discuss: The roles of curiosity and compassion when engaging with those who hold fundamentally different beliefs Why delusions in clinical and everyday contexts share significant similarities How conspiracy thinking often stems from a legitimate loss of trust and can serve adaptive purposes The potential value and meaning embedded in delusional beliefs Why epistemic justice is essential Lisa Bortolotti is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, working in the philosophy of psychology and interested in belief, agency, self-knowledge, and mental health. Her latest book is Why Delusions Matter (Bloomsbury, 2023) and she is the editor in chief of *Philosophical Psychology* (a Taylor and Francis journal). Lisa is the founder of the Imperfect Cognitions blog, and of The Philosophy Garden, a virtual philosophy museum gathering resources to bring philosophy to everyone. Currently, Lisa is co-investigator in project EPIC, a six-year project funded by a Wellcome Discovery Award, investigating epistemic injustice in healthcare. Links Launch of project EPIC: What interests me about epistemic injustice. (Project EPIC, 2024). Brief video. Delusions and Philosophy (Awais Aftab's Mixed Bag Psychiatry at the Margins series, 2023). Online article. How to give young people agency in mental health. (McPin Foundation, 2021). Podcast. Why Delusions Matter by Lisa Bortolotti Resources: Find videos and bonuses: DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM Get the book: ⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health The Institute for the Development of Human Arts Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“It is valuable for our culture and our society to work towards disability rights, disability justice, and a disability inclusive lens, because it's going to benefit all of us.”- Sarah Napoli Each of us, at some point in life, will have some type of disabling experience whether that’s from natural aging, illness, burnout, trauma, accidents or structural factors. Building communities of care and mentorship, and undoing ablism is integral to our collective sustainability and wellbeing. In today’s episode, disability activist Sarah Napoli and I talk about visible vs. invisible disability, why chronic illness and experiences like long covid count as disability, and the bridges between mental health and disability communities. In this episode we discuss: the importance of disability identity and mentorship why ablism isn’t just about access invisible disability and overcoming the ‘pity’ or ‘superhero’ narratives why disability rights benefit all of us owning your own narrative why chronic illness communities should start to use disability and power in unity learning different types of rest dating and having relationships with disabilities difference between disability rights, disability inclusion, and disability justice mental health and disability intersections passions hobbies and the things that make us feel alive - bridging hip hop and activism Bio Sarah Napoli has been teaching and training in the field of social justice, diversity and inclusion, intercultural relations, advocacy and human rights for over 20 years. She is originally from northwest Indiana, outside of Chicago and has called Japan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, Vermont, England, New York and currently New Jersey home. She is the learning services director at the Disability & Philanthropy Forum. From 2019-2023, she acted as the lead disability inclusion project officer within the people and culture Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity team at Open Society Foundations, where she developed and facilitated disability inclusion learning and embedded proactive disability inclusive practices throughout the global network. Sarah spent many years teaching and conducting training on social justice and advocacy in higher education and nonprofits, most recently as the director for the inaugural Center for Inclusion at Manhattanville College and as the assistant head of Goodricke College at the University of York, England. She specializes in facilitating engaging workshops and designing curriculum that challenge and encourage participants to foster a culture of inclusion. She holds two MA degrees, one in social justice in intercultural relations from the SIT graduate institute and one in applied human rights from the University of York. She identifies as a proud disabled person and enjoys chatting about Geek culture—all things fantasy and sci/fi and her former life as a hip hop researcher and dancer. Her research on how hip hop creates human rights identities was recently published in the University of Michigan press text, For the Culture: Hip Hop and the Fight for Social Justice. She has conducted workshops and training all over the USA and in the world, including Japan, Guatemala, throughout Europe, South Africa, and Canada. Sarah's LinkedIn The Disabled Mindset - Embracing My Disability Identity For the Culture: Hip Hop and the Fight for Social Justice Links Skin tooth and bone by Sins Invalid Black Disability Politics book The Future is Disabled book Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.IDHA-nyc.org Get The Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“As long as we insist that we absolutely don't want dark, freaky, unpleasant things, a major part of our full spectrum human curiosity gets cut off, repressed, denied, and made unconscious.”- Carolyn Lovewell, Existential Kink With the rise in popularity of shadow work, inner child work, and healing unconscious pain and trauma, many are eager to explore the depths of our wholeness. However, a willingness to do this work requires an acceptance of the dark, “yucky”, and uncomfortable things that can be hard for us to forgive or acknowledge in ourselves. Carolyn Lovewell wrote “Existential Kink,” a hallmark book in this area drawing on jungian psychology and western esoteric traditions. She explains the importance of ‘unironically’ embracing the parts of ourselves that may have been repressed - not to change ourselves, or spiritually bypass - but to truly accept the full spectrum of our wholeness In this episode we discuss: the windy path from academia to magic links between existential kink & erotic energy embracing the parts of ourselves that are hungry for experiences of pain shadow work, the unconscious, and repression dealing with a divided will a short intro shadow work practice Bio Dr. Carolyn Lovewell has helped thousands of people around the world transform their lives for the way-better using shadow work and applied occult philosophy.  She's the author of the cult-classic creativity guide, Awaken Your Genius, and the book that rocked the coaching world, Existential Kink: unmask your shadow and embrace your power.  She's the co-founder of the world's only in-person Mystery School in the Western Esoteric Tradition, Sleep Over Mystery School. She earned her doctorate in Critical and Cultural Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family.  She offers online courses and memberships in magick and transformation via the Immortal College. Dr. Carolyn Lovewell adept of the Immortal College leader of Sleep Over Mystery School author of Existential Kink: unmask your shadows and embrace your power co-host of The Sleep Over Podcast with Carolyn and Laila Free Breathwork Practice: https://depthwork.substack.com/p/free-meditations-practices-and-workbooks Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Commercialized psychiatric and psychological knowledge encourages us to think of ourselves primarily as consumers and promotes a set of values that suggest some of us have minds or brains that should be ‘fixed’ with particular products or services. These neoliberal values have led to a great deal of institutional corruption and also has been exported beyond the western world across the globe. Many researchers, clinicians and activists have rallied together to fight against medicalized global mental health initiatives which promote a narrow westernized notion of wellness and defined how treatment should look, often at the expense of local healing practices and without the participation of people with lived experience. Justin Karter, couseling psychologist, and research news editor at Mad In America, has spent a long time advocating for epistemic justice in the psy disciplines and helping to expose practices and policies that undermine people’s human rights and agency. In this episode we discuss: how the political and psychological meet within and outside of therapy commercialization of psychopharmaceuticals and institutional corruption how neoliberalism and capitalist values are embedded in psychiatry the global mental health movement and psychiatric export as a neocolonial practice the ways in which global advocates with lived experience uniting and fighting back the need for epistemic justice, humility, and polyphony legal updates from the UN Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities psychological humanities, mad studies, and other exciting emerging disciples of study Bio: Justin M. Karter, PhD, is a Counseling Psychologist in private practice in Boston and an instructor for the Center for Psychological Humanities & Ethics at Boston College. He is also the long-time research news editor of the Mad in America webzine. He completed his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2021. Justin does research in critical psychology, critical psychiatry, and philosophy of psychology. He is currently working on a book on the activism of psychosocial disability advocates in the context of the movement for global mental health. Links: Exploring the Fault Lines in Mental Health Discourse - Mad In America - https://www.madinamerica.com/2022/10/interview-psychologist-justin-karter/ Can Psychosocial Disability Transform Global Mental Health? - https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/08/can-psychosocial-disability-decolonize-mental-health-a-conversation-with-luis-arroyo-and-justin-karter/ Boston College Psychological Humanities - https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/lynch-school/sites/Psychological-Humanities-Ethics/About.html#tab-mission_and_history Justin’s Research Gate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin-Karter Resources Mentioned Psychiatry Under The Influence by Robert Whitaker and Lisa Cosgrove - https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137516022 Vikram Patel lancet article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)02241-9/abstract UN CRPD: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-Disabilities.html Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

The language we have for describing mental health challenges and suffering can constrict or expand the realm of possibilities for how we define ourselves. Sascha Altman DuBrul has spent his life challenging mainstream assumptions about mental health, what’s normal and abnormal, and built a community around shifting the narrative. Drawing from his personal experiences of getting locked up in a psych ward, he co-founded a radical mental health support group and media project (The Icarus Project) which proliferated the language of mental health concerns as ‘Dangerous Gifts,’ to be harnessed and worked with rather than obliterated and erased. Today we talk about lessons learned, the challenges and necessity of community organizing, developing ethical values as a provider outside the system, and visions for the future of mental health. In this episode: 02:30 Sascha’s Story & The Icarus Project07:53 From Punk Rock Subcultures to Radical Mental Health 11:11 Challenges and Transitions in Mental Health Organizing 17:14 Dangerous Gifts and other language 26:46 Using Internal Family Systems to Process Shame42:35 Self-reflection in Community Organizing 51:30 A Vision for the Future Bio Sascha DuBrul is a writer and educator that has been facilitating workshops and community dialogues at universities, conferences, community centers and activist gatherings for more than two decades. From the anarchist squatter community in New York City to the Lacandon jungle of Chiapas, Mexico, to the Earth First! road blockades of the Pacific Northwest, Sascha is a pioneer in urban farming and creative mental health advocacy. He is the co-founder of the Bay Area Seed Interchange Library, the first urban seed library in North America, and The Icarus Project, a radical community support network and media project that’s actively redefining the language and culture of mental health and illness. He is currently working in private practice and raising two children in Oakland, California. Sascha’s Website & Private Practice: https://www.saschadubrul.com/ Underground Transmissions Substack : https://undergroundtransmissions.substack.com/ The Icarus Project Archive and Resources: https://site.icarusprojectarchive.org/about-us Icarus Project Archive Survey 2024https://forms.gle/3EvDGq7NoyHa2Rzr9 Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Are most mental health concerns a result of issues with cellular metabolism? In this episode, I discuss Dr. Chris Palmer’s 'brain energy theory,' which draws on decades of cross-disciplinary research, positing that metabolic dysfunctions throughout the body may underlie various mental health conditions. I explore how mental health, chronic illness, stress, modern lifestyle, and cellular metabolism are all related in an ongoing feedback loop. I review a landmark pilot study from Stanford on the ketogenic diet, and other research supporting this theory. This is a really exciting time for psychiatry as we move beyond neurotransmitter imbalance theories and understand the complex nuances of brain and body health. Studies such as these can promote more agency to make healthy choices and options to intervene at many levels in service of our health. 00:00 Introduction 00:26 Challenging the dominant paradigm 01:23 The Brain Energy Theory of metabolic health explained 06:00 The Role of Cellular Metabolism & Mitochondria 11:25 How our environment sets the stage 14:16 Nutritional interventions and the ketogenic diet 15:42 Case Studies and Research Findings Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Links Brain Energy by Chris Palmer https://brainenergy.com/ Metabolic Mind https://www.metabolicmind.org/ Stanford Pilot Trial description: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/04/keto-diet-mental-illness.html Case study of depression and anxiety: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1396685/full Review of Keto for Mental Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11122005/ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“Our mental health is a cumulative product of the story of the body.” Why do mental and physical health concerns seem to go hand in hand? At which levels can and should we intervene and develop more agency in our whole health trajectory? Too many people are getting more sick with traditional interventions, but many are taking their power back and finding ways that basic and sustainable changes can change our outcomes. In this episode, I share personal and professional lessons in healing from over a dozen chronic conditions (celiac, depression, IBS, Lyme, anemia, schizophrenia, PMDD, etc.), revealing how they were all connected and how I came to understand the importance of sustainable changes. I am not here to offer a “magic pill” kind of story, but rather to reveal and embrace the complexity of healing and offer a different framework for understanding mind-body health. In this episode we discuss: chronic illness and mental health overlap early cascades of symptoms that lead to chronic health crises surprising roots causes no one ever told me about why getting diagnosed is not enough to determine interventions interpreting the body’s messages why western world has worse rates of chronic illness and mental health concerns determining the most basic and sustainable interventions Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠ Links chronic illness rates : https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/study-chronic-disease-increased-25-percent-over-last-decade global chronic disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6214883/ c section and swabbing : https://www.science.org/content/article/swabbing-c-section-babies-mom-s-microbes-can-restore-healthy-bacteria effects of overuse of antibiotics: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4939477/ pans and step bacteria: https://www.psych.theclinics.com/article/S0193-953X(22)00101-0/abstract Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“A new order will emerge from within the chaos” - Sara Avant Stover Being human means experiencing loss. If we let it, these moments can propel us towards a deeper, richer inner journey. In this episode of the Depth Work podcast, Sarah Avant Stover shares her profound experiences through many circumstances of grief and heartbreak, detailing the events that led her to write her latest book. She discusses the unique nature of betrayal trauma, the transformative power of grief, and the significance of ritual and communal support in healing. Her exploration into Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and its impact on her is also highlighted. In fact, she was generous enough to demonstrate an IFS session in real time with yours truly 00:06 Sara’s story 02:13 Betrayal Trauma and Its Unique Challenges 04:14 The Transformative Power of Grief 12:16 Navigating the Early + Later Stages of Grief 14:51 Collective Grief and Community Healing 19:48 The Role of Rituals in Healing 25:20 Exploring Internal Family Systems (IFS) 32:29 Demonstrating a session - Jazmine’s parts 48:35 Understanding Inner Child Dynamics Bio Sara Avant Stover is an author, Certified Internal Family Systems practitioner, and teacher and mentor of women’s spirituality and entrepreneurship. Her work—integrating Buddhism, embodiment, and psychology—has uplifted the lives of countless women worldwide. She has taught at Kripalu, 1440 Multiversity, and Shambhala Mountain Center and has been featured in Yoga Journal, HuffPost, Newsweek, Natural Health, and more. She lives in Boulder, Colorado. For more, visit saraavantstover.com. Links Handbook for the Heartbroken: A Woman's Path from Devastation to Rebirth By Sara Avant Stover https://www.soundstrue.com/products/handbook-for-the-heartbroken?variant=43436021809351 Website https://saraavantstover.com/about Programs: https://saraavantstover.com/offerings Podcast: https://saraavantstover.com/podcast/ Resources Mentioned Jody Day https://gateway-women.com/ Sobonfu Some https://www.sobonfu.com/ Daniel Foor https://ancestralmedicine.org/bio/ Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

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Its becoming more well known that gut health impacts mental health, but with the rise of ‘wellness culture’ how do we separate fact from fiction? Dr. Supriya Rao of Gutsy Girl MD bridges the gap between medicine and lifestyle to give patients simple and effective support for gut health, motility, and nutrition. We talk about the topics patients are often too embarrassed to discuss (elimination!), what trauma has to do with the gut, and the things we can do each day to support ourselves. In this episode we discuss: how gut health is linked to mental health the enteric nervous system and trauma why it’s important to screen for sexual abuse motility and issues with constipation and diarrhea simple effective nutrition tips 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine dispelling wellness myths Bio Dr. Supriya Rao (she/her) is a quadruple board-certified physician in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine and lifestyle medicine who focuses on digestive disorders, gut health, obesity medicine, and women's health and wellness. She received her undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after which she graduated from Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine from the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to complete her fellowship in Gastroenterology at Boston Medical Center. She joined Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants in 2014 and is now a managing partner. She completed further certification in obesity and lifestyle medicine and is the Director of Medical Weight Loss at Lowell General Hospital and runs the Metabolic & Lifestyle Medicine Program at IGIC. She also runs the motility program, which focuses on disorders of the esophagus, irritable bowel syndrome and anorectal disorders. She is passionate about empowering people to improve their health through sustainable changes in their lifestyle. She enjoys cooking, traveling, running, yoga and spending time with family and friends. You can also find Dr. Rao on Instagram @gutsygirlmd. Links https://www.gutsygirlmd.com/ Sessions & Information about the host: Get bonus episodes now on substack! https://depthwork.substack.com/ ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Millions of people are put on psychiatric drugs each year. For some, these drugs are desired and effective, but for many, whether taken willingly or by force, they create multiple harmful side effects, long-term health complications, and are incredibly challenging to taper off of. Users of psychiatric drugs also rarely find professional or even peer support for tapering off due to the stigma and discrimination and a false narrative that implies users must remain on them for life. Chaya Grossberg, psychiatric survivor and ally, has supported people for over 15 years in finding alternatives and maintaining their agency, a role that is much needed. After becoming ill and nearly dying from the multiple psychiatric drugs she was prescribed, she decided to slowly taper off with support from the Freedom Center (a peer support organization) and heal the damage done to her body. Now, an activist, community organizer and writer of her book: “Freedom from Psychiatric Drugs”, Chaya shares her wisdom. In this episode we discuss: what it was like to take 7 different psychiatric medications how to change and reclaim your narrative crisis as a retrieval of life purpose what we want young people to know today how pharmaceutical companies use non-profits and peer organization to perpetuate propaganda why nutrition matters when coming off psych meds case studies of successful tapering off withdrawal symptoms and the false narratives told about them the risk of SI due to being on or coming off psych meds taking a basic needs framework Bio Author Chaya Grossberg discusses her book Freedom from Psychiatric Drugs about what people go through coming off psychiatric drugs and what helps them. Freedom From Psychiatric Drugs is a manual and workbook for psychiatric survivors and their allies, friends and families. Chaya is not a medical practitioner, does not give medical advice, and supports the autonomy of each individual to make their own decisions on when or whether to come off psychiatric drugs. She advocates for increased options, support and safe spaces for people seeking alternatives to psychiatric drugs. website: http://www.chayagrossberg.com Book: Freedom From Psychiatric Drugs: First edition Resources the freedom center - https://www.freedom-center.willhall.net/node/463.html Links Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠ Institute for the Development of Human Arts (mental health training institute) - www.IDHA-NYC.org Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

"When someone says that they want to end their life, it just means that they don't want to be living the life that they're living" (Icarus Project). It’s overwhelmingly common for people to experience a suicidal ideation at some point in their life. As a society, we have to find better ways of preventing or approaching these experiences. Currently, our traditional psychiatric approaches seem to often do more harm than good for folks in vulnerable states. In this episode, I review some of the concerning research around SI interventions, and what we can do better. In this episode we discuss: myths about folks who experience SI why structured clinical assessments aren’t predictive of SA what traditional mental health systems get wrong about approaching SI why there are higher rates of SA after psychiatric hospitalization research on efficacy of emergency services alternative options when someone’s experiencing SI Resources Institute for the Development of Human Arts : www.idha-nyc.org peer run respite centers: https://power2u.org/directory-of-peer-respites/ Alt 2 Su (australia): https://alt2su-nsw.net/support-groups/ Alt 2 Su charter https://wildfloweralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CHARTER_alt2su_August-edits.pdf Research: safety contracts https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18638213/ assessments and lack of predictive power https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11673-022-10189-5 post-hospitalization suicide risk https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2629522 higher risk post emergency services https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-014-0912-2 coercion survey https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31162700/ harm disguised as help https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/09/suicide-police-harm-disguised-as-help/ hospitalization both increased and decreased risk https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37851457/ Sessions & Information about the host: Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠ ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“When medical doctors or psychiatrists entertain incoherent ideas about the mind and body, they make bad decisions about how to assist us in being well.” - Diane O’Leary. Understanding how the mind and body are connected in mental health and medicine is critical, especially considering that when we fail to do so, many are harmed. Despite drawing on the Biopsychosocial model for the last few decades, psychiatry hasn’t gotten much closer to elucidating the connections between the mind, body, and society. Today, Diane O’Leary explains to us psychiatry’s big philosophy problem and how it leads to huge ethical concerns. In an effort to ‘not be dualists’ psychiatry often tries to lump the mental and physical together, but in doing so, fails to approach clients as ‘holists’. Here’s how we can bring the person back into mental health. In this episode we discuss: why medically unexplained physiological symptoms get labeled as ‘in your head’ why the way to be a ‘holist’ is not about eradicating dualism or separating mind and body why the biopsychosocial model is incoherent and doesn’t do justice to patients the roots of bad philosophy in psychiatry women’s health and the history of manipulation in psychosomatic medicine why psychiatry needs to reevaluate its bioethics and respect patients’ rights and personhood Bio Diane O’Leary, PhD is a philosopher whose research focuses on medicine and psychiatry. In particular, she sets out to apply philosophy of mind in a way that helps to clarify what biomedicine and psychiatry are aiming for with holistic practice – and what they should be aiming for. Dr. O’Leary is Professor of Philosophy at University of Maryland Global Campus, and a former visiting researcher at the Center for Philosophy of Science at University of Pittsburgh. She’s a strong advocate for change in the area of psychosomatic medicine, and she’s currently a Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls with The Oped Project and Equality Now. https://www.dianeoleary.com/ Links: Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.idha-nyc.org Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠ Resources How to be a Holist who Rejects the Biopsychosocial Model https://eujap.uniri.hr/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/17_2_5.pdf John Read on the “Bio bio bio model” https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=fc53f77bec3514fe6c66f9216be662a89b78fa27 Prozac’s rebrand for PMDD to Serafim - https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/04/29/renamed-prozac-fuels-womens-health-debate/b05311b4-514a-4e65-aaa5-434cb2934271/ & https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2016/11/how-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-was-defined-and-marketed-drug-makers/#:~:text=Lilly rebranded Prozac%2C changing the,feminine-sounding name — Sarafem. Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Sometimes it takes a healing crisis to get to the roots of chronic illness and transform our life into something more sustainable and purposeful. For Fern Olivia, this crisis manifested as an autoimmune thyroid problem - Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis - that forced her to quit her corporate job and led her down a healing path. Since then, she has developed Thyroid Yoga, along with other breath, movement, and vocal practices to support people who desire a more holistic way of dealing with whole-body health concerns. In this episode we discuss: the connections between the thyroid, hormones, and depression why hypothyroidism is more prevalent in women and diagnostically overshadowed messages from the body and why we ignore or normalize symptoms the function of the thyroid, physically and energetically the value of mentorship and community support learning to not be antagonistic with the body body talk practice and how to deeply listen blending yogic traditions and holistic nutrition using your voice to find your power Bio Fern Olivia is an internationally recognized teacher, speaker, and wellness influencer, as well as the founder of Thyroid Yoga®, a unique holistic program that has empowered thousands of women to reclaim their thyroid health and live a fuller, more radiant life. After fainting in the subway in NYC while working for seven years as a Vice President on Wall Street, she left the concrete jungle for the jungle of Costa Rica where she lives and guides retreats. Fern has birthed a new approach to healing through her own education in biomedical engineering and over a decade of experience and certifications in yoga, integrative medicine, breathwork and as a Medical Medium cleanse specialist. She combines targeted yoga sequences, breathwork, vocal activation, somatic intelligence, and brain rewiring to form a whole body approach to health. Through her masterminds, writings, retreats, workshops, and much more, Fern continues to educate and train thousands of women to reclaim their health and live their most fully expressed lives. Fern's "The Expressed Woman" 21-Day Quest to Confidence: www.thyroid.yoga/products/theexpressedwoman Join Fern's Medical Medium & Thyroid Yoga® Cleanse Retreat in Upstate NY this July 10-14: www.thyroid.yoga/products/upstateny Retreats and Cleanses in Costa Rica: www.thyroid.yoga/cleanseretreat Websites: www.fernolivia.com www.thyroid.yoga https://embodiedvoicebreathwork.com Instagram: @fernolivia Research: Epstein Barr Virus a possible cause for Autoimmune Thyroid conditions: https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/epstein-barr-virus-thyroid https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5099387/ Thyroid Conditions and Increased Risk of Depression https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9392461/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9025086/ Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Ever have an existential crisis that made you upend all your beliefs about who you thought you were in life? Abby has, and today she speaks to the power of unlearning oppressive ideologies that we all have inherited, and how patriarchy can seep into all notions of what’s healthy, normal, and how we should live. Abby’s work centers on cultivating shame resilience through allowing ourselves to engage in “belief grief” - giving up toxic beliefs about our roles and identities so we can foster collective liberation. We also talk about bridging generational divides and the gifts that come when we can learn to listen especially to younger folks. In this episode we discuss: the value of existential crises getting unstuck from gender roles and refusing to live someone else’s story finding your voice in midlife how mentors and teachers show up in all places in life - even within your children knowing your privilege, cultivating shame resilience and being willing to change your mind ‘belief grief’ and letting harmful internalized beliefs go Abby Kamen's Bio: I am an artist, author, and energist. With candor and wit, I seek to provide a thought provoking look at generational trauma and the cyclical effects of survivalism. With my art, my writing, and my energetic gifts, I provide an innovative approach to collective healing that will enable all of humanity to create better, together. I live in Louisville, KY. WEBSITE: abbykamen.com Resources What is Belief Grief: https://www.abbykamen.com/belief-grief-defined Links Generation We: https://www.abbykamen.com/generation-we Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64⁠⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

They say many therapists get into this work for deeply personal reasons, but not many have held so many roles the way today’s guest, Denise Ranaghan, has. Denise gets real about what it was like being forcibly locked up in a psychiatric institute while in the military, working her way through school to become a therapist, directing community mental health services while being open about her mental health ‘status’ as a peer professional, and then having the courage to leave the system and go off on her own as an activist and therapist in private practice. Denise talks about the double edged sword of relying on oppressive authoritative systems while internalizing self-blame, and the courage it takes to bring a critical consciousness into your work. In this episode we discuss: growing up a ‘troubled teen’ forced involuntary psychiatric institutionalization authoritative abuse and internalizing self-blame identifying and de-identifying with the ‘patient’ label swallowing vs acting out anger moral injury as a provider in the system being ‘out’ as a peer working in clinical settings self doubt, endurism and developing better boundaries as a therapist being a apart of a community and making local changes knowing your privilege intergenerational collaboration and undoing agism Bio Denise Ranaghan shares a powerful personal story of recovery that has driven her 20-year record of service in the mental health field. She has held multiple positions including Residential Manager, Peer Specialist, Director of Wellness Services, Director of Assertive Community Treatment, and Director of Peer Services. In all of her positions she strove to include the peer perspective and vehemently called out oppressive practices, and eventually came to terms with how she was contributing to them. She was one of the first in several agencies who publicly identified as a Peer while in professional roles. She introduced and supported alternative peer run self help groups that challenged the “clinician knows best” belief. Denise has presented on Peer Support, Trauma-Informed Care, Voice hearing, Cultural Diversity, Suicide and The Human Canine connection. She is the author of multiple essays on recovery as well as the book Institutional Eyes which profiles her experience in the military where she was first psychiatrically hospitalized. Presently she has a private practice in Woodstock, NY, she serves on the Ulster County Community Services Board, the Mental health subcommittee and is a member a local Social Justice Committee. She says she has found community with a purpose at IDHA! https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/denise-ranaghan-lake-hill-ny/823460 Resources Transformative Mental Health Training Institute (international membership) www.idha-nyc.org Links Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Some of the most egregious harms have been done in the name of “help,” and this is especially true when it comes to forced psychiatric interventions. Investigative journalist, Rob Wipond illuminates the systemic harms of the psychiatric system after experiencing his father attempt to get help and instead of care, be met with coercion and force. As many find out, this is an all too common story. The evidence that psychiatric detention is beneficial to people is lacking, yet rates continue to dramatically rise. From mental health laws and policies, to corruption in pharmaceutical companies, and even political organizations lobbying for more control, all grease the wheels of power and injustice. In this episode we discuss: the politics of forced psychiatric treatment and why it is harmful how the evidence on forced treatment is systematically hidden the ins and out of mental health laws why there’s a higher suicide risk in the weeks after psychiatric hospitalization how giving people the label of ‘lacking insight’ is dangerous and false several alternative interventions and why we need more advocates advice for family members the cultural shift that’s needed Rob Wipond is a freelance investigative journalist who writes frequently about the interfaces between psychiatry, civil rights, community issues, policing, surveillance and privacy, and social change. His articles have been nominated for seventeen magazine and journalism awards in science, law, business, and community issues, and he’s the author of the book Your Consent is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships. Links Rob’s Website: https://robwipond.com/about Book: Your Consent is not Required: https://robwipond.com/your-consent-is-not-required Socials: https://twitter.com/robwipond https://www.facebook.com/RobWipondAuthor https://www.youtube.com/user/robwipond Resources: US rates of committment: Lee, Gi and David Cohen. “Incidences of Involuntary Psychiatric Detentions in 25 U.S. States.” Psychiatric Services 72, no. 1 (January 1, 2021). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900477 European rates of commitment: Sheridan Rains, Luke. “Variations in Patterns of Involuntary Hospitalisation and in Legal Frameworks: An International Comparative Study.” Lancet Psychiatry 6, no. 5 (May 2019). https://doi.org/10.1016%2 FS2215-0366(19)30090-2 Suicidality after hospitalization: Whitaker, Robert. “Suicide in the Age of Prozac.” Mad in America (August 6, 2018). https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/08/suicide-in-the-age-ofprozac/ & Simons, Peter. “Involuntary Hospitalization Increases Risk of Suicide.” Mad in America (June 24, 2019). https://www.madinamerica. com/2019/06/involuntary-hospitalization-increases-risk-suicide-study-finds/ United Nations statement: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/10/statement-mr-dainius-puras-special-rapporteur-right-everyone-enjoyment-highest Find all notes, research, and resources list on Rob’s Website Become a member of the Institute for the Development of Human Arts: ⁠www.idha-nyc.org⁠ Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

In popular culture, we tend to think of eating disorders as a reaction to toxic societal messages about our bodies. While this may in part be true, for many people complex trauma is often at the root. Our guest today, Katie Kilbourn, co-founder of a dance company helping people heal through expressive arts, courageously shares about many aspects of eating disorders that are silenced, including the links between addiction, trauma, and eating disorders. We discuss the adaptive coping strategies we develop as a result of trauma, and the double-edged sword of escapism, perfectionism, and control. She also shares about what it's like to navigate pregnancy while recovering from an eating disorder, and why it’s critical for mothers to stay authentic and boundaried in caring for their own mental health. We also discuss: redefining body ‘positivity’ and body ‘neutrality’ the toxic pressure on dancers and performers how eating disorders are like many other addictions how pregnancy and motherhood could trigger patterns exploding the myth of ‘selfishness’ in motherhood the light and shadow of escapism, perfectionism and control what makes expressive arts so healing Bio Katie Kilbourn was born in Sacramento, California and trained all over the West Coast before she moved and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Dance Performance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After relocating to New York, Katie had the privilege to dance with several companies including Balasole, J/D Dansfolk, and IKADA. From a young age Katie realized there is a generic pressure within the dance community to maintain a specific body type and she realized that many people, herself included, engage in unhealthy behaviors to achieve a certain look. In 2015 she co founded Borne Dance Company with Kianna Moye and together they created a company dedicated to mental health and eating disorder awareness. As someone who has dealt with mental health concerns her entire life, Katie strived to create a company that would inspire body positivity, self appreciation, and the idea of recovery through art. She was a volunteer at the National Eating Disorders Association for over four years and has personal history with mental health and recovery. She has closely worked with therapists and specialists in the mental health field to create content and workshops that are therapeutic, inspiring, and compassionate for the community. Resources Website & Donate to Borne Dance which offers donation based artistic shows, events, and workshops to the public that serves as an educational entity for mental health awareness, healing through the arts, as well as prevention and treatment of eating disorders. https://www.bornedance.com/ Dance Shows: Feb 24-25 2024 in Sacramento, March 2nd 2024 NYC Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.