DEPTH Work: A Holistic Mental Health Podcast

The central divide in psychiatry, the split between mind and brain, has been holding the field back and preventing people from getting the help they truly since its inception. Dr. Edward Bullmore, psychiatrist and author of The Inflamed Mind and The Divided Mind, has spent 35 years witnessing psychiatry struggle with this false dichotomy. In this conversation, we trace how the trauma of WWII rewrote the diagnostic manual, how antidepressants were discovered by accident and the science was reverse-engineered to justify them, and why the biggest genetic hits in schizophrenia research point not to neurons but to the immune system. If you've ever felt that the current system offers too little too late or that the answers must lie somewhere between biology and biography, this episode is for you.In this episode we discuss:The false brain/mind split that has defined and distorted psychiatry for over a centuryWhy the DSM is rooted in false science and has not held up to recent findingsWhy treatment for schizophrenia hasn't fundamentally changed since the 1980sGenome-wide association studies: what they reveal about schizophrenia, immunity, and shared genetic risk across diagnosesEarly life stressors and epigenetic riskThe case for integrating psychiatry with the rest of medicinePublic health interventions as mental health interventions; why maternal and child health may be the highest-leverage pointHow psychiatry might fundamentally change and what Dr. Bullmore hopes to leave for the next generationBioEd Bullmore studied medicine at the University of Oxford and St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, before training as a psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital, and completing a PhD in brain MRI analysis at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. He moved to Cambridge as Professor of Psychiatry in 1999 and his research on brain networks and development of severe mental health disorders has since been highly cited. He was Head of the Department of Psychiatry, then Deputy Head of the School of Clinical Medicine in the University of Cambridge from 2014 to 2024.From 2005 to 2019, he also worked half-time for GlaxoSmithKline, focusing on the links between inflammation and depression, as described in his first book, The Inflamed Mind. He has recently published another book, The Divided Mind, about the past, present and future of schizophrenia. His scientific work has been recognised by election to the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he returned to King’s College London as the Regius Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the School of Academic Psychiatry.Links:The Guardian: Review of The Divided Mind https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/dec/17/the-divided-mind-by-edward-bullmore-review-do-we-now-know-what-causes-schizophreniaThe Times Interview: https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/psychiatrist-edward-bullmore-divided-mind-schizophrenia-cause-childhood-infection-gm99jzjhm?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfDuktSniOg_lxW5VLwPpLbpeIXNW3mCiER6PIWqRn99oF0SO8llQH-&gaa_ts=69c1a808&gaa_sig=l3rw9dUnzBnRd5S1Q7xd7qTqOE8Kpu63ROoP6N2ANWLN9bJw0cf4d24hJd3JqEhDoXiGaotrTHKgjV0ZMafQKw%3D%3DTelegraph Interview: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/conditions/dementia/prevent-schizophrenia-alzheimers/Resources:Find videos and bonus episodes: ⁠⁠⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠⁠⁠Get the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠⁠⁠Become a member: ⁠⁠⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠⁠⁠Train with us: ⁠⁠⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum⁠⁠Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: 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.

At a time when tools for ‘nervous system regulation’ are everywhere we look, it’s easy to forget that we aren’t meant to always be “regulated.” In this episode, I'm joined by Nkem Ndefo, trauma therapist, nurse-midwife, somatic practitioner, and founder of the Resilience Toolkit. Nkem brings a rare synthesis of biological training, lived experience, social activism, disability and systems thinking to their work. We dig into the limits of nervous system regulation as a panacea, the politics of the word "dysregulation," what birth and midwifery taught Nkem about intergenerational trauma, and why understanding just how interwoven physical and emotional healing are can be life-saving. We also explore the modality of Emotional Transformation Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and we even talk about the healing quality of colors.In this episode we discuss:Nkem's journey from community organizer and needle exchange worker, to nurse-midwife, to trauma therapist and somatic practitionerWhat birth taught her about the “long arms of intergenerational and historical trauma”Why medicine's hyper-specialization keeps people trapped in cycles of sufferingThe link between trauma, autoimmunity, and conditions like mast cell activation and why the "hardest to treat" psychiatric presentations may have an immunological rootWhy Nkem is moving away from the word "dysregulation" and toward the concept of “coherence”Utilizing light, color, and bilateral stimulation for rapid transformationWhat collective healing looks like when systems themselves are treated as organismsNkem Ndefo is foremost an alchemist and also a disabled Black midwife, facilitator, coach, and strategist. She is the founder of Lumos Transforms and creator of the Resilience Toolkit, vehicles for healing and liberatory change across borders and at all scales. Her work builds embodied capacity to stabilize the impacts of personal and collective trauma and catalyze structural transformation. Nkem has led multi-year initiatives in embodied antiracism, healing justice, and resilience capacity building across the U.S., the UK, and Palestine, and directs several certification and professional training programs internationally.Links: https://lumostransforms.com/https://theresiliencetoolkit.co/Resources:Find videos and bonus episodes: ⁠⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠⁠Get the book: ⁠⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠⁠Become a member: ⁠⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠⁠Train with us: ⁠⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum⁠Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: 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.

Life gives many of us moments that can crack us open. For Wendy, this was a car accident that led her to seek alternative healing modalities and ultimately open up a healing center: Roslyn Salt Cave. We talk about the ups and downs, keeping faith in your vision, and letting life bring you what you need even when it’s not always what you want. We also talk about the unglamorous in-between stages of the healing journey, the sometimes indignant inner child, why discernment matters more than any single modality, and building a community of healers. We also get personal about gratitude practices, forgiveness rituals, breathwork, and what it means to see your “purpose” as broader than any one action or dream.In this episode we discuss:How a car accident became the catalyst for Wendy's pathThe unglamorous "in-between" phase after crisis"Collecting ingredients" - why seemingly random experiences and detours are often exactly what you needLearning to trust your intuitionThe wellness industry's complicated relationship with science, placebo, and ancestral healing traditionsCreating sacred healing environments — how sight, scent, sound, and curation shape the experience of healingDaily rituals: morning practices, gratitude, forgiveness and bedtime intentionsThe difference between chasing a destination and living the journeyWendy Shulman is a dynamic speaker, life architect, and coach based in Roslyn, New York, renowned for guiding individuals toward profound personal transformation and purpose-drivenlives. Drawing from her own near-fatal car accident that became a pivotal turning point, Wendy rebuilt her world with resilience and vision, ultimately founding a thriving wellness center thathas empowered over 25,000 clients on their journeys to health and fulfillment. As the creator of "Purpose Unleashed: Unlock the Power of Your True Calling," she equips people with simple,powerful tools to shift paradigms, align careers with passion, and monetize their innate gifts—proving that destiny isn't just discovered, it's architected. With a philosophy rooted in energy, joy, and unapologetic self-discovery, Wendy is a beacon for anyone ready to trade survival for sovereignty.Links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roslynsalt/Website: https://roslynsaltcave.comResources:Find videos and bonus episodes: ⁠⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠⁠Get the book: ⁠⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠⁠Become a member: ⁠⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠⁠Train with us: ⁠⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum⁠Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠Disclaimer: 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.

Seasonal depression, often called “seasonal affective disorder”, can make getting through the Wintertime much more difficult. But what’s really happening in our brains and bodies when winter darkness sets in? How do our urban environments, work culture, and economic systems create the worst conditions for winter struggles. Shouldn’t we all be hibernating anyways?In this episode, I explore the links between seasonal depression and Vitamin D, beyond simplistic explanations about light exposure, revealing fascinating connections between our environment, brain chemistry, immune function, and mental health. I’ll tell you a bit about my own experience as living in Berlin, a city with pretty minimal winter sunlight, has given me personal insight into how profoundly seasonal shifts can affect our mental and physical wellbeing.The world needs all of us to be tuned in, feeling resilient, and able to support ourselves, our bodies, and our communities, especially right now, so let’s dive into what we can do.LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE AT: DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM In this episode:The medicalization of structural problems: how urban environments, work culture, and economic factors set us up for seasonal struggleWhat science actually tells us about vitamin D’s role in brain health, immune function, and mood regulationMy personal experiences with vitamin D testing and its connections to autoimmunity and mental healthPractical strategies for feeling awake and alive during darker monthsSupport Immigrants & Stand Against ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/https://www.wfmn.org/funds/immigrant-rapid-response/https://mylegalaid.org/https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/volunteerMutual Aid Resources:https://www.alwaysreadyhq.com/9719/strategies-for-forming-local-mutual-aid-groups/https://wildanarchistvessel.substack.com/p/10-ways-to-start-doing-mutual-aidResources:Find videos and bonus episodes: ⁠⁠⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠⁠⁠Get the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠⁠⁠Become a member: ⁠⁠⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠⁠⁠Train with us: ⁠⁠⁠Transformative Mental Health Core CurriculumDisclaimer: 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 this episode of the Depth Work podcast, I speak with clinical psychologist, professor, and author, Phil Yanos about his powerful new book "Exiles in New York City" an exploration of how institutionalization creates barriers of exclusion and banishment in urban landscapes.Phil shares his unique journey growing up on Ward's Island near Manhattan Psychiatric Center, where his father worked as a psychiatrist. Through his research and interviews with current residents, Phil reveals how Ward's Island has become a site of profound contradiction – simultaneously rebranded as a recreational space for privileged New Yorkers while functioning as a place of exile for those deemed too "mad" to belong in mainstream society.In our conversation we explore concrete solutions for transforming Ward's Island into a more just and integrated community, a vision that seems more possible with the recent election of Zohran Mamdani who has emphasized housing justice. We also discuss the wins and losses in mental health advocacy in recent years, what we’ve learned from working with those labeled with “psychosis” or “schizophrenia”, and what clinicians can do better.Bio:Philip T. Yanos is professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center, City University of New York and Director of Clinical Training for the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at John Jay College. He is the author of "Exiles in New York City: Warehousing the Marginalized on Ward's Island" (2025) and Written Off: Mental Health Stigma and the Loss of Human Potential (2018). During his childhood in the 1970s, Yanos lived on the grounds of Manhattan State Hospital on Ward’s Island, where his father was a psychiatrist.Exiles in New York City: Warehousing the Marginalized on Ward's Island https://cup.columbia.edu/book/exiles-in-new-york-city/9780231212373/ Exiles in the City Podcast https://rss.com/podcasts/exiles-in-the-city/Resources:Find videos and bonus episodes: ⁠⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠⁠Get the book: ⁠⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠⁠Become a member: ⁠⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠⁠Train with us: ⁠⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum