Live From Boulder Colorado, an Interview with Dr. Paul Bretz Jim catches up with his long-time friend and colleague from his halcyon days at the University of Chicago. Dr. Paul Bretz (a.k.a. Reverend Paul). Paul is still prolific after all these years —and is still doing his part to make the world a better place. Paul is the CEO of Centus Counseling Center (Centus.org). He is passionate abut high quality, cost effective, spiritually integrative behavioral healthcare. He is also a surveyor...

Dr. Jim Bramson interviews Charlie & Linda Bloom The Blooms are back. They tuned in from a writing retreat to discuss their latest book “An End to Arguing.” They also introduce their forthcoming book project on exemplary relationships. (In sharp contrast to their slacker podcast host who has been toiling over one book for over five years, the Blooms are churning out incredible books in rapid fire.) In this interview we explore some spicy content areas in their “End to Arguing” book:...

Robby Kendall not only spearheads the nonprofit film production company Fishnets & Film, Inc.  He is also a psychologist. Indeed, Robby is an educator, entertainer, writer, director, connector, humorist, and consummate problem solver. In this podcast episode, Robby shares his drag origin story as well as his psychologist origin story. Apparently he “therapized” his mother for years before becoming a shrink. And now he helps students and individuals solve their own problems. The...

Panel Discussion Interview with Louie Kangeter and Christine Benvenuto Louie Kangeter and Christine Benvenuto are both experts in their respective fields. They participated in a live panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the field of psychology and the human psyche. This WCMI (West Coast Mindfulness Institute) sponsored event is part of the annual Human Potential Conference series. Louie and Christine both took a bold look at the impact of AI on the human experience....

Dr. Ken Dychtwald is an entrepreneur, author, lecturer, gerontologist, and psychologist. He is the co-founder and CEO of Age Wave. In this live recording Ken presents his memoir “Radical Curiosity” at the Human Potential Conference in Berkeley, California, sponsored by WCMI (West Coast Mindfulness Institute). You will find yourself mesmerized and inspired by Ken’s story — and will want to run, not walk, to buy one of his books. Ken artfully discusses his meetups with Arnold Schwarzenegger,...

Rafael and Jim join forces after catching a 49’ers victory over Seattle at Levi Stadium to tackle the topic of what makes this time of the year particularly challenging (and not just for Lions fans). Football is only discussed at the “kickoff” of this episode. Instead, Rafael and Jim focus mainly on managing the holidays, demanding relatives, shorter days, and your bulging waistline practical tips. Jim and Rafael share some of the strategies that have helped their clients stay resilient and...

Rafael and Jim interview Andre Decary  Andre Decary, “The Seeker of Untruth,,” returns for another stellar discussion, this time about  his new writing project.  In this episode, Andre makes an important distinction between pain and suffering. He references Jung and Einzelganger’s work to illustrate his point: “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”  There is the Buddhist story of the two arrows that come toward you on the mountain path. When the first arrow hits, you know it hurts....

Dr. Jim interviews Dr. Josh Wilson Dr. Josh Wilson is the Co-Founder of EBMC, Psych Inc, WCMI, and Organizational Solutions. Prior to becoming a licensed psychologist and President of the aforementioned businesses (and all around cool guy) Dr. Josh worked with kids on the spectrum and their parents. Dr. Josh worked at Quest Therapeutic Camp. While where he discovered his passion for working with children on the (Autism) spectrum, including gifted kids. It is also where he met his current...

Rafael highlights his journey from Poland to Croatia. While there he shared his Gestalt framework on trauma and hope. He also took a deep dive into the history, culture, beauty, and atrocities of the region. Rafael was particularly moved after visiting Auschwitz. He immediately thought about the resiliency of its survivors, including the original tour guides who were survivors themselves. Jim thought about the well-known psychologist Viktor E. Frankl and what he taught us about resiliency...

Dr. Jim interviews Bryn Khan, Psy.D., Jessica Lim, AMFT, and Eti Valdez-Kaminsky, MFT In this episode, three highly talented and impassioned clinicians from EBMC and the Samsara Intensive Therapy program discuss mindful parenting. Bryn who manages EBMC together with her associate Jessica, run a mindful parenting class, do intensive therapy sessions with parents, and provide executive functioning coaching and assessment services for children and adolescents through the Satori college prep and...

Dr. Jim interviews Dr. David Pepper & Christine Benvenuto    David and Christine are not only a dynamic couple, but they are also incredible healers, impassioned speakers, skilled trainers, and mindful practitioners of psychedelic medicine and psychotherapy. They have worked in tandem (and separately) to help individuals who are traumatized or demoralized find relief, equanimity, and joy.    Dr. David Pepper is a trained family doctor who has worked at UCSF for 30 years. He has been a...

Drs. John Schinnerer and Jim Bramson reunite to tackle the subjects of self-awareness and humility. They share their own missteps on this subject and can now laugh about it (tragedy + time = humor). In this interview, Dr. John (whom  we lovingly like to call, the Caveman) takes us deep into his own cavernous mind and discusses the “death of ego” as a prerequisite to connecting to “source” (meta-consciousness). He opines about how the ego hamstrings our curiosity, psychological development,...

Rafael Cortina and his fellow Podcaster, Dr. Jim Bramson, discuss their unique approach to couples therapy. Rafael and Jim utilize an eclectic therapeutic approach that pulls from the following: Gestalt therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) Work, Imago Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Terrance Real, and the PACT model (Tatkin’s work), to name but a few.  In this episode, Rafael and Jim talk about what has worked well with couples, what has, and why. It is their aim at all times to build...

Rafael and Jim take a deep dive into the subject of fatherhood—that is, after getting derailed on the subject of 49ers football. Why? Rafael was afraid of jinxing the team during the last episode. He refused to discuss the 49ers loss until this episode. Fortunately, your podcasters got on track again to discuss Fatherhood as promised. Not surprisingly, they even linked the subject to the 49ers somehow. They did so by imagining how they would console 49ers QB Brock Purdy after he got injured...

Dr. Michael Mayer packed a lot into this interview. Buckle up. He touches on the six books he has written and their relevancy. He details how some healers can become shamans or shape shifters. In his case a shape shifter can also be a reluctant metaphysician. Dr. Mayer further theorizes that Tai Chi, astrology, hypnosis, energy psychology, Transpersonal psychology and competitive chess can all be at home with one another. The whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Dr. Mayer opines...

Dr Jim & Rafael are back!  The band is back. Dr. Jim & Rafael are back together agin exploring healing on a global level. Rafael shares his thoughtful impressions of Georgia (not the peach state, but the country) where he did a recent training on Compassion, Addiction, and Trauma. Rafael also has gone to where the action is - - doing (virtual) trainings for professionals in the Ukraine and Russia. As almost everyone knows the Ukraine and Russia are currently the epicenter of war and...

Chris Huitfeldt (pronounced Wheatfelt) owns a company called, Terra Firma, which means solid ground.  It provides intervention services for celebrities, professional athletes, and common folks. He even does pro bono work to help the economically disadvantaged. His philosophy is that “every good foundation starts on solid ground.”  Terra Firma usually provides interventions for individuals with addiction and dual diagnosis disorders. His group also offers recovery coaching, consultation, and...

Dr. John Schinnerer brings heart, intellect, and compassion to his craft. He coaches men to greater success and happiness at work and at home.  Dr. John graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a Ph.D. in psychology.  He was an expert consultant for Pixar’s Inside Out.  Dr. John recently received the award for Excellence in Healthcare Leadership in 2022, and Best Executive Coach in Danville for 2020. His areas of expertise include high performance, stress management, Man Box culture, positive...

Vann Duke is a celebrated fitness trainer, life coach, and commercial actor (check out his latest Jeep commercial).  He trains and coaches people in the "Second Half of Life." Once voted “top trainer in the Bay Area” by the Guardian, Vann’s committed to his clients looking and feeling their best —whether that’s Oscar-winning superstars, like Viola Davis, or the less famous but equally hardworking second half’ers. Vann splits his time between France and Calistoga, California. This...

Dr. James H. Bramson Interviews Psychologist, Family Therapist, and Parenting Educator, Lyn Benson    Lyn Benson has sold out seminars on the subject of Mindful Parenting in Australia. She has also trained internationally in the area of mindfulness. Lyn Benson and Dr. Bramson met back in 2006 and have taught workshops together around the world - including Turkey, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, and Bali. Dr. Bramson has been threatening to pull her out of “retirement” to get the band back on...

Dr. Gerald Smith has led workshops at the storied Esalen Institute for over 50 years. He is friends with one of its originals co-founders, Michael Murphy, whom he interviewed on an earlier podcast. Jerry attended the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University, earning an M.B.A and Doctoral degree in Educational Psychology. Jerry is still a practicing clinical psychologist at the age of 92. And he is as sharp and quick-witted as ever. He has written two books, hosted a T.V. show, and...

Rafael Cortina & Felicia Carroll Break New Ground Felicia Carroll, is a Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor in private practice in Solvang, California. She is a natural story teller, child advocate, celebrated Gestalt trainer, and consummate gardener. One could argue that Felicia is the Shel Silverstein of Gestalt Therapy. Her work is the metaphoric “Givingtree” that keeps on giving. Better to consider how to give back, recognize the gifts in all...

Dr. James H. Bramson interviews Dr. Josh Wilson and Eti Valdez-Kaminsky  What do Naomi Judd, Anthony Bourdain, Robin Williams, Cleopatra, Mark Rothko, and David Foster Wallace have in common? They have all suicided. Suicide is an epidemic during these times of tumult. Obviously, suicide and depression impacts more than celebrities. Depression and suicide impact every, age, race, and gender. Depression and suicide do not revere white privilege, or bow down to someone’s socioeconomic status....

Rafael Cortina interviews another Gestalt icon - Morgan Goodlander  Morgan Goodlander is a public speaker, president of the San Francisco Gestalt Institute, and leadership counselor. He has worked in 17 countries and has managed educational programs for the Esalen Institute. Rafael Cortina continues his mission to introduce us to extraordinary thought leaders and influencers throughout the Gestalt world. Many luminaries continue to be pulled into Rafael’s gravitational field and you may ask...