Over the holidays we're encouraged to be grateful for what we have, and sometimes, that's not a request, it's a demand. While feeling sincerely grateful is good for mental health, no one ever feels gratitude by force. Liana goes through where the lines are, and why gratitude can become resentment when it's not freely given.

Sometimes life isn't fair. So what do we do? Liana takes listeners through the science of how the brain responds to unfairness, and how to deal with it like a hero instead of a villain!  

Sometimes life isn't fair. So what do we do? Liana takes listeners through the science of how the brain responds to unfairness, and how to deal with it like a hero instead of a villain!  

Prejudice and bigotry are common human failings, even among those who have experienced both. Liana talks to Gila Münster, a Toronto drag performer and charity fundraiser, about how antisemitism in the LGBTQ+ community motivated her to develop a greater sense of self and desire to help others.

Prejudice and bigotry are common human failings, even among those who have experienced both. Liana talks to Gila Münster, a Toronto drag performer and charity fundraiser, about how antisemitism in the LGBTQ+ community motivated her to develop a greater sense of self and desire to help others. Tickets for Gila's show can be found at Gilamunster.com

INT ep 69 - Mental Health Maintenance with Howie Mandel Howie Mandel, the star of TV's America's Got Talent and Canada's Got Talent has been open about his mental health challenges. Liana talks to Howie about normalizing caring for our mental health in the same way we care for our dental health. Plus, Liana goes in-depth on her Top 10 Rules for checking in with your best self. 

Howie Mandel, the star of TV's America's Got Talent and Canada's Got Talent has been open about his mental health challenges. Liana talks to Howie about normalizing caring for our mental health in the same way we care for our dental health. Plus, Liana goes in-depth on her Top 10 Rules for checking in with your best self.   

Shame. It's something that touches, and damages, us all. Liana shares her raw, honest, personal battle with shame and its childhood origins and talks to Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers, PhD, author, licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist about how to overcome shame that stunts our self-worth, infects our relationships and hurts our intimate and sexual connections. 

Shame. It's something that touches, and damages, us all. Liana shares her raw, honest, personal battle with shame and its childhood origins and talks to Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers, PhD, author, licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist about how to overcome shame that stunts our self-worth, infects our relationships and hurts our intimate and sexual connections. 

Processing negative emotions is a learned skill... that a lot of people don't learn! Liana talks to psychology researcher Richard Contrada, Ph.D. of Rutgers University about how to channel being sad, angry, disappointed, ashamed or dejected into tools for positive change. 

Processing negative emotions is a learned skill... that a lot of people don't learn! Liana talks to psychology researcher Richard Contrada, Ph.D. of Rutgers University about how to channel being sad, angry, disappointed, ashamed or dejected into tools for positive change. 

Vincent Van Gogh created many of his greatest masterpieces while in a psychiatric hospital. Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson wrote classic hits while dealing with mental illness. The list goes on. Some believe that the creative impulse and mental health challenges often go hand in hand. In this episode Liana talks with James 'Grim' Desborough, UK tabletop game writer and artist, about how he manages the relationship between his depression and his creative work.

Vincent Van Gogh created many of his greatest masterpieces while in a psychiatric hospital. Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson wrote classic hits while dealing with mental illness. The list goes on. Some believe that the creative impulse and mental health challenges often go hand in hand. In this episode Liana talks with James 'Grim' Desborough (https://post-mort.com/), UK tabletop game writer and artist, about how he manages the relationship between his depression and his creative work.

The first thing to understand about Autism - there is no one-size-fits-all way to understand Autism. It's called a 'spectrum' for a reason.  Though those on the spectrum are all different, Liana and her guest Ingrid, who has Autism,  offer some primers to help you understand your neurodivergent friends, family and colleagues. 

"What if I F up?" It's a fear that stops conversations before they start. Beginning a conversation can stir up multiple "What if?" anxieties - but relax! Breaking the ice is easier than you think! Liana and Kevin Bennet, PhD, professor of social-personality psychology, talk about how you can overcome the pre-conversation jitters.

The first thing to understand about Autism - there is no one-size-fits-all way to understand Autism. It's called a 'spectrum' for a reason.  Though those on the spectrum are all different, Liana and her guest Ingrid, who has Autism,  offer some primers to help you understand your neurodivergent friends, family and colleagues. 

"What if I F up?" It's a fear that stops conversations before they start. Beginning a conversation can stir up multiple "What if?" anxieties - but relax! Breaking the ice is easier than you think! Liana and Kevin Bennet, PhD, professor of social-personality psychology, talk about how you can overcome the pre-conversation jitters.

"So what?" Those two words have the power to free us from the anxiety, fear and dread which keep our lives stuck in a bad place.  Author and psychotherapist Richard Joelson joins Liana to relate how he helps his clients cope with and overcome obstacles and live happy, fulfilling lives.

Performance psychologists coach elite athletes to win championships by working as a team. Alex Auerbach, performance psychologist for the Toronto Raptors, joins Liana to talk about how he approaches high level well being, resilience, and teamwork in a highly competitive environment! Plus: why Liana utterly hated group work in school.

"So what?" Those two words have the power to free us from the anxiety, fear and dread which keep our lives stuck in a bad place.  Author and psychotherapist Richard Joelson joins Liana to relate how he helps his clients cope with and overcome obstacles and live happy, fulfilling lives.

Performance psychologists coach elite athletes to win championships by working as a team. Alex Auerbach, performance psychologist for the Toronto Raptors, joins Liana to talk about how he approaches high level well being, resilience, and teamwork in a highly competitive environment! Plus: why Liana utterly hated group work in school.

If your understanding of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) comes through how it's presented in the media, then you don't really understand OCD. Liana talks with Sophia Florence, a comedian with OCD, about how it impacts her daily life and the strategies she's developed to deal with it.

Personality tests claim that they can assess and predict our characters, and that some things are unlikely to change. But is this true? Are our personalities anchored in our past or can they evolve..and if so, what factors will contribute to the evolution? Liana talks to Glenn Geher, Ph.D.,  a professor of psychology and director of the Evolutionary Studies program at the State University of New York at New Paltz, about the influences that affect our personality development and the pros and...

Religion can deepen our understanding of the human condition and of ourselves - except when it dissuades the critical thinking and education required to achieve it.  Liana speaks to Rabbi Michael Harvey (www.rabbimichaelharvey.com) about how blind religious faith can lead to misconceptions that prove harmful to ourselves and others.

The series on why smart people do stupid things continues! Ever feel like a phony? That you're not nearly as good as people think you are - and any day now, you're going to be exposed? If so, you're not alone - Imposter Syndrome can get to anyone. Liana talks to impostor syndrome expert Dr. Wendy Boring-Bray (https://wendyboringbray.com/) about how we can break free of this mental trap.