Today we cover a controversial topic with special guest Jeff Schaler. Jeff is a psychology professor and existential analyst. Ostensibly we invited Jeff on to chat about Thomas Szasz, and his book “The Myth of Mental Illness”. Jeff was a close friend with Szasz for many years and helps us grapple with some of Szasz’s fundamental ideas: the metaphorical rather than literal nature of mental illness, the fact that mental illnesses are a response to existential problems, and that psychiatry (where it is coercive) is the religion of the modern age. You can find out more about Jeff, and his latest book with Richard Vatz and Henry Lothane, entitled “Thomas Szasz: The Man and His Ideas” at schaler.net or Szasz.com