You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist

We evolved to take time-saving mental shortcuts. Split-second snap judgments can even save lives. But what are the pitfalls and drawbacks of such heuristics?

Can we really see things as they are, or d…

Lisa K Swallow is the co-founder and Executive Director of Crossing Party Lines, Inc., a national nonprofit dedicated to reducing toxic polarization by creating open dialogue between Americans with d…

A lifelong learner, heterodox thinker, and self-taught dabbler in many disciplines, Michael D. C. Bowen brings a wealth of wisdom on the many worlds he has traveled through. After building his career…

During his career working in acute mental health facilities, Benjamin helped people in psychotic states. His professional and personal curiosities led him to developing a unique passion for interpret…

Michelle always knew she was different. As a child, she was socially awkward, and got picked on. She never felt comfortable dressing or acting like other girls. Receiving a professional diagnosis of …

As two quirky, strong-minded women who have built our careers on the edges of consciousness, Jessie and I compare notes on our personal and professional experiences with giftedness and sensitivity. W…

Many people are curious about psilocybin assisted therapy, but the illegal status of all hallucinogens in the United States makes it difficult to find accurate information. Enter Jonas: a former soci…

I recently emerged victorious from a harrowing battle and successfully defended myself against false allegations of “conversion therapy.” Part of how I got through the stress of it all was envisionin…

Jane is a treasure trove of wisdom who I initially discovered through the transformational, participatory, experiential Systemic Constellations workshops she facilitates locally at her farm in Oregon…

When we are fully present in our bodies and know how to trust our inner guidance, we gain the confidence to navigate any of life’s ups and downs. In this interview, Amy and I explore values and virtu…

As an adolescent, Helena identified as trans. But high doses of testosterone led to such extreme mood swings that she was hospitalized twice — yet none of the professionals on her team ever questione…

Cindy caught my attention when she appeared as a contestant on Netflix’s Baking Impossible. With the help of her engineer teammate Taylor, they dreamed up delightfully decorated, edible, functional m…

Dirk was raised in a scholarly family, but become curious about the inner worlds of people with 300-word vocabularies. A former special education teacher now working in tech, he remains a lifelong le…

Dr. Rhoberta Shaler has spent her career helping the partners, exes, adult children and siblings of relentlessly difficult people. In this episode, she shares a lifetime’s worth of wisdom on what she…

How did a mild-mannered academic scientist find himself a target of vitriol amidst unexpected controversy? In this episode, Colin Wright tells us what he learned from ants and spiders about human soc…

When her impressionable 10-year-old daughter claimed to be transgender, Jennifer recognized it as a cry for help, and did everything in her power to understand the issue. With the help of her therapi…

Jake and I are therapists from wildly different backgrounds. When I’m hiking waterfalls in the lush Pacific Northwest, Jake is shooting guns in the Nevada desert. Yet, as it turns out, we see eye-to-…

I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off my new podcast than with a guest who embodies two of my favorite traits: self-compassion and courage. Author and educator Sarah Peyton is a gentle guide a…