In this week’s episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Michael Cummings, a psychiatrist, researcher, and associate professor at Loma Linda University. This podcast is the first of a series on addiction and the focus of this week’s episode is on alcohol use disorder. In this episode, Dr. Puder and Dr. Cummings dive into the history of alcohol use, vulnerabilities and mechanisms responsible for the development of alcohol use disorder and its related neurobiological circuits, and common...

In this week's episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Michael Garrett, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychiatry and former Vice Chair and Director of Psychotherapy Education at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. He also wrote a book called, Psychotherapy for Psychosis: Integrating Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychodynamic treatment. He is husband to the prior beloved presenter, Dr. Nancy McWilliams. In this episode, we will discuss how psychotherapy can be effective for patients...

In a previous episode of the podcast, we discussed exercise for the brain, reviewing the pathophysiology between exercise and dementia, the pathophysiological mechanisms associated between low skeletal muscle mass and cognitive function, exercise as a treatment, and cardiorespiratory fitness and its relationship to all-cause mortality. In today’s episode, we look at the extensive research available on these subjects.   Link to blog here.

From childhood, Russell experienced intense social anxiety to the point that, on more than one occasion, he discontinued certain extracurricular activities and socially normal gatherings to avoid it. Red Face is a narrative of his struggles with this social anxiety, the accompanying idiopathic craniofacial erythema (uncontrollable blushing), and the many successful and unsuccessful coping mechanisms he has attempted over the years.  In today's episode, Russell shares his experience with...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Kirk Schneider, a psychologist, psychotherapist, and author of, Life-enhancing Anxiety: Key to a Sane World. Dr. Schneider is a practicing psychotherapist and director of the Existential-Humanistic Institute, a psychotherapy training institute. As a former mentee of the great existential psychologist Rollo May and a self-described existential-integrative psychotherapist, he has made significant contributions to the fields of humanistic...

The idea of using psychedelics to treat psychiatric symptoms has been approaching mainstream popularity thanks to podcasters like Joe Rogan, Tim Ferris, and Sam Harris. As interest in these substances continues to grow, so does the size of the online communities centered around this topic. While there is undoubtedly value in recognizing some of the claims being made about microdosing, it’s important to recognize where the literature currently stands and to identify where there are gaps in...

Over the last several years, Dr. Puder has worked as the medical director for Loma Linda University Health’s MEND program, a hospital-based intensive outpatient program (IOP) and partial program that works with patients who have chronic illness and their families. Jesse has been a lead therapist instrumental to the program’s success and Brian Distelberg oversees the MEND program and acts as the Director of Research for the program. During this episode, they come together to discuss the MEND...

In today’s episode of the podcast, we are joined by psychiatrist and neuropharmacologist Dr. Ken Gillman who is the founder and convener of the International MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) Expert Group and widely recognized as a world expert in serotonin toxicity.    Serotonin toxicity (syndrome) is a rare as well as potentially lethal form of toxicity that results from excess serotonin within neuronal synapses. There are numerous poorly written/controlled case reports that have...

On this week’s episode of the podcast, we interview psychiatrist, author, and founder of Gemma Women, Dr. Pooja Lakshmin. Dr. Lakshmin founded Gemma Women for the purpose of educating women on cultural and social structures that impact their mental health. Gemma also provides community groups, evidence-based conversations, and courses covering topics such as stress, inequity, and structural violence. In her new book, Real Self-Care, she discusses personal experiences that led her to create...

In today’s episode of the podcast, we speak with Professor Nicholas Reid, author of, Prisons in Ancient Mesopotamia. After introducing us to how Mesopotamians viewed and treated mental health, Reid talks to us about the earliest historical records on imprisonment in the history of the world.  In his book, Reid discusses the evolution of the modern prison system as it relates to ancient Mesopotamia. Together we discuss the commonalities that can be seen between the ancient and modern systems...

In today’s episode of the podcast, I speak with Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D, a renowned psychologist-psychoanalyst. She has authored several books, including, Psychoanalytic Diagnosis (1994; rev. ed. 2011), Psychoanalytic Case Formulation (1999), Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (2004), and Psychoanalytic Supervision (2021). She was also the Associate Editor of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (2006; 2nd ed. 2017).   We discuss different aspects of mental health and how it pertains to...

In today’s episode of the podcast, I would like to give you my take on transference. I want to share with you what I actually believe. Often lectures focus on the history of transference or what certain papers say, but I’d like to share my accumulated, internalized experiences and understanding of transference. My hope is to make this easy to read and understand. I want to give a talk on this that can be understood both by experienced clinicians who are familiar with these concepts, who will...

In this episode, Dr. Cummings joins the podcast to discuss and give tips on overcoming social anxiety disorder. Individuals with social anxiety disorder tend to avoid important events and activities, such as classes, meetings, or public speaking. The disorder is essentially the fear of rejection by a group one would like to be part of. This is different from shyness because of the intensity and pervasiveness of the symptoms.   Link to blog here.

For over a century, psychoanalytic psychology has recognized certain types of personality configurations that we see repeatedly. A clinician who understands these familiar patterns has a map of the patient’s interior terrain to help navigate treatment. In today’s episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. Jonathan Shedler to discuss obsessive-compulsive personality and the continuum on which personalities operate. Link to blog here.

In today’s episode of the podcast, Dr. Michael Cummings returns to discuss the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. LAIs are administered in intervals ranging from every 2 weeks to every 6 months, eliminating the need for daily oral antipsychotics and thereby improving adherence.   Link to blog here.

Malingering is the conscious misrepresentation of psychiatric symptoms for a secondary gain (such as hospitalization, obtaining disability benefits, avoiding criminal responsibility, proceedings or sentencing, or avoiding military service). In today’s episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. Phillip Resnick and Dr. Alex Scott as we discuss the topic of malingering.   Link to blog here.

Exercise is an integral contributor to brain health. Physical activity has been proven to slow the rate of cognitive decline. In this episode, Dr. Puder invites four guests to discuss the importance of incorporating exercise into mental health routines.  Link to blog here.

In this episode, Dr. Puder discusses the importance of dynamic listening with patients in order to alleviate guilt, shame, and self-disgust. Building connection with your patients is a crucial element for mental health professionals, and this episode dives into the best practices that build connection through dynamic listening for the benefit of the patient.  Link to blog here. 

In today’s episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Chris Palmer, a psychiatrist, researcher, and expert in using the keto diet as a medical treatment for some treatment-resistant patients. Dr. Palmer is currently the director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He also runs his private practice specializing in treatment-resistant mental health patients. Link to blog here.

In today’s episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. Michael Cummings to discuss the most recent and popular diagnosis wave of individuals believing they may have autism, which has become a recent TikTok phenomenon.   Link to blog here.

In this episode, Dr. Corrin Pelini and Dr. Michael Cummings join the podcast to discuss the documentary involving the 2014 case involving Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy, both teenagers at the time in Massachusetts. The state of Massachusetts investigated the suicide of Conrad and filed a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Michelle. We discuss our views on the documentary as well as possible treatments that could have been used. Link to blog here. 

Amidst the rise of dating apps and websites lurks a new form of deviance: online romance scams. In this episode, we interview Dr. Annabel Kuhn on the subject of online catfishing relationship scams. We discuss with Dr. Kuhn how to identify an online scammer, the personality types of both the scammer and the scammed, and how providers can help patients who have fallen victim to such a scam. Link to blog here.

In this episode of the podcast, we interview Alyse Price-Tobler, who is a practicing clinical psychotherapist (MCAP) and also in her final year of her PhD., and Dr. Mandy Matthewson on the topic of parental alienation.   Note: This will be discussed as a form of family violence and child abuse. As such, the content of this presentation will involve discussion of child abuse and its consequences. Please speak to someone if you become distressed during or after this presentation.   Link to...

In today’s episode of the podcast, I interview Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, owner of New York Endocrinology on Park Avenue. Dr. Salas-Whalen has deep expertise in diabetes, metabolism, obesity, thyroid abnormalities and other endocrine disorders. She completed her internal medicine residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and her endocrinology fellowship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Additionally, she was a research fellow at Johns Hopkins University School...