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Crazy Together

Marcus & Esme O’Kayvius

If you’re sick and tired of listening to the negative talk track playing in your head, then why not listen to us instead? We are Marcus and Esme O’Kayvius (not our real names), a married, neurodivergent couple with a lot of experience managing our own mental health issues while raising a daughter and navigating the dystopic hellscape that is corporate America. Join us each week as we discuss trending mental health issues and explore how they impact our health and wellness. We’ll also examine the myths and misconceptions associated with mental health and what we can do about them.

Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com

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  • S1 · E150
    Friday · 32 min

    147. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Book Wins and Football Losses

    Marcus and Esme readily admit they are not perfect parents, but they do feel like they got at least one thing more or less right. They always prized, valued, and enjoyed time spent reading to their daughter. Eventually, their daughter learned to read on her own and, like most voracious readers, began to prize the time she spent reading to herself. While Marcus and Esme were proud of their girl’s reading skills and independence, both of them miss the simple joys of reading to their favorite small-ish person. However, Esme recently found two books from different series she used to read to their daughter. And, surprise of all surprises, was delighted to learn her daughter wanted to continue the tradition of reading them together. For his part, Marcus is happy for the both of them, but he laments his daughter's lack of interest in completing one of their shared book series: The Baby-Sitters Club. Marcus very much wants to know how it ends and would like to experience that with his daughter, but he’s kept those feelings bottled up inside. He’s such a Mary Anne in that way. For his part, Marcus shares the joys, pains, contradictions, and ethical dilemmas of being a football fan. His favorite team is doing well, which is good, so he should be happy. However, his joy is tempered by the fact that Lane Johnson, one of the league’s best players, suddenly announced he is retiring this week, citing family needs and his own mental health challenges as his rationale. Johnson is someone who has been very open about his struggles with depression over the years, so his decision makes sense. However, Johnson has also had issues with Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) and has had at least four concussions in his career, both of which are strongly associated with an increased risk of developing depression and mood disorders. As such, he is certainly not the first (and he definitely won’t be the last) football player whose career, health, and mental well-being suffered as a result of the extremely high physical demands of the sport. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E149
    Thursday · 1 hr 6 min

    146. ADHD Treatment Options

    Marcus and Esme are alive and well and (mostly) disease free! To celebrate their newly recovered health and ADHD Awareness Month (Happy Hard, everyone!) they’ve decided to discuss ADHD treatment options. And not just any treatment options, mind you. They’ve decided to discuss the type of treatment options they usually don’t entertain. For you see, Marcus and Esme are big believers in the combined powers of therapy and medication when it comes to the treatment of ADHD and other mental health issues. And the reason* they believe in this multimodal approach is because it has worked for them. It has not always been easy, and their progress hasn’t always been forward. However, it has helped them improve their executive functioning capabilities, minimize their impulsivity and distractibility, and most of all, survive in a world that was not designed with neurodivergent people in mind. Nevertheless,there are some compelling arguments out there for non-pharmacological treatments, and so Marcus and Esme have decided to share some of these with you, their beloved listeners, and to do so with an open mind This feat proved easier for their discussions about neurotechnology treatments, and treatments related to diet and gut health. However, their discussion of treatments related to the theory that ADHD is not a real condition was predictably triggering, so they fell short of their “fair and unbiased” goals there. *Note: Contrary to conspiratorial opinions, Marcus and Esme are not shills for, nor suckling at the teat of, Big Pharma. If they were, they would load their faces up with filler, install a green screen in their basement, and elevate this podcast to video so fast your head would spin. Heck, their heads might spin. There would be no discernable change to their faces though, as they would be packed to the brim with filler (as previously mentioned). Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Wedge, Marilyn. “The Politics of ADHD.” Psychology Today, 17 Mar. 2020, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/suffer-the-children/202003/the-politics-adhd. Wedge, Marilyn. “Marilyn Wedge Ph.D..” Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/marilyn-wedge-phd. Wedge, Marilyn. “Is ADHD Over?” Psychology Today, 13 Oct. 2025, Psychology Today: Is ADHD Over? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/suffer-the-children/202510/is-adhd-over “Psychiatrists Shift Focus To Drugs, Not Talk Therapy.” NPR, 22 Oct. 2012, Psychiatrists Shift Focus To Drugs, Not Talk Therapy. https://www.npr.org/2012/10/22/163409863/psychiatrists-shift-focus-to-drugs-not-talk-therapy University of Southampton. “Largest Study Reveals Best Treatment Options for ADHD.” University of Southampton, 27 Nov. 2025, https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2025/11/largest-study-reveals-best-treatment-options-for-adhd.page EBI-ADHD: Interventions for ADHD | Evidence Matrix. EBI-ADHD, https://ebiadhd-database.org/. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Diagnosis and Management.” NICE, Guideline NG87, 14 Mar. 2018, updated 13 Sept. 2019, https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87 Chang, Jane Pei-Chen, et al. “Cortisol and Inflammatory Biomarker Levels in Youths with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Evidence from a Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.” Translational Psychiatry, vol. 11, no. 1, 19 Aug. 2021, p. 430, doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01550-0. PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34413283/ Lange, Klaus W., et al. “Nutrition in the Management of ADHD: A Review of Recent Research.” Current Nutrition Reports, vol. 12, no. 3, 2023, pp. 383-394, doi:10.1007/s13668-023-00487-8. PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10444659/ Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E148
    October 2 · 31 min

    145. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Happy Hard Month 2026

    In this week's Hyperfocus Bonus, Marcus and Esme pitch ideas to spice up ADHD awareness month. Then, Marcus identifies a plot hole in the 1990-something thriller The Fugitive, and Esme demands an end to the pumpkin spice- and apple cinnamon-bombardment of peoples’ olfactory senses during the fall season. Happy Hard, everyone! Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E147
    September 30 · 1 hr 2 min

    144. Whimsy Revisited

    Sickness has descended on the O’Kayvious household again, and this time Marcus and Esme are both down for the count. However, because they felt like they could use a shot of something fun and enjoyable they decided to replay their episode about whimsy from earlier this year. Join Marcus and Esme as they discuss whimsy, the rare social media trend that doesn’t seem to want to kill us. Marcus and Esme discuss why the trend has taken off, and whether or not there is any hard, scientific evidence to suggest that it might be a good thing (spoiler alert: believe it or not, there kinda’ is). They also share some of the whimsical interests and activities that bring a little fun to their lives, encourage straight guys to give whimsy a chance (it might actually encourage women to choose you and not the bear), and encourage listeners to not overthink whimsy, because then it won’t be whimsical anymore. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: “Whimsy.” Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, 2026, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/whimsy. Caramela, Sammi. “The Surprisingly Powerful Benefits of Adding a Little Whimsy to Your Life, According to Science.” VICE, 30 May 2026, https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-surprisingly-powerful-benefits-of-adding-a-little-whimsy-to-your-life-according-to-science. Gray, Peter. “The Value of Play I: The Definition of Play Gives Insights.” Psychology Today, 19 Nov. 2008, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/200811/the-value-play-i-the-definition-play-gives-insights. Hart, Tori, and Robyn M. Holmes. “Exploring the Connection Between Adult Playfulness and Emotional Intelligence.” Journal of Play in Adulthood, vol. 4, no. 1, Aug. 2022, pp. 28–51. University of Huddersfield Press. Magnuson, Cale D., and Lynn A. Barnett. “The Playful Advantage: How Playfulness Enhances Coping with Stress.” Leisure Sciences, vol. 35, no. 2, 2013, pp. 129–144. Taylor & Francis Online, https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2013.761905. sagmoonmagic. “Hope this helps #witch #witchtok #witchcraft #nature #earth.” TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@sagmoonmagic/video/7640568255018552589. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E146
    September 25 · 28 min

    143. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Church for Broads and the Fate of Principled Irish Musicians

    Marcus and Esme make an effort to watch the same TV shows and movies together whenever possible. However, subject matter sometimes interferes and results in one of them begging out of the viewing experience. Case in point: Esme recently watched a program that Marcus noped out of in the first five minutes of the first episode once it became clear the tragic death of a young child was one of the key plot points. But Esme pressed on (with Marcus’ blessing, of course). She shares her impressions of a new classic British cop drama that, incidentally, is NOT about a church where one might go to pick up women (as its name implies). Marcus then shares his two cents on the recent controversy singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has made for himself, and salutes the integrity of the musicians who left his tour. In particular, Marcus calls out Aaron Rowe and the band Beoga –* two Irish acts with a lot more to lose than their American counterparts. He also provides some much needed context for listeners who might not know who Ed Sheeran or Macklemore are because they have managed to craft beautiful aesthetic bubbles for themselves. Also, Esme provides an update on her continued success with her “watercolor habit” and Marcus identifies the one thing that would make the act of watching football a lot more manly. *NOTE: The em dash in the second paragraph is NOT AI generated. It was put there by a real human being who thinks and writes tangentially and refuses to abandon a useful punctuation mark just because some people think it’s an automatic sign that a piece of content was written by a glorified Google search result. The author in question has been using parentheticals since he was writing term papers on an ancient word processor and he’s not about to stop now. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E145
    September 23 · 50 min

    142. A Mostly Good News Story About Person-Centered Therapy: Part 2

    MKULTRA, Human Potential Movement-inspired sex cults, and “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland . . . these are just some of the topics Marcus and Esme make passing reference to in this week’s episode, so don’t get your hopes up. Or, maybe you should get your hopes up! Because Marcus and Esme continue their discussion from last week about Carl Rogers, humanistic psychology, and person-centered psychotherapy. They discuss the highs and lows of the back half of his career, and the factors that eventually led to the decline of interest and influence of Rogers’ work in the psychological community. However, they also identify recent efforts by members of the positive psychology movement to re-engage with humanistic psychology traditions in an effort to inject some much-needed compassion and social awareness in their theories and treatments. And they actually do make more than just passing reference to “The Troubles,” MKULTRA, and sex cults, so you can revel in those stories as well. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Demanchick, Stephen and Howard Kirschenbaum. “Carl Rogers and the CIA.” Journal of Humanistic Psychology, October 2007. https://www.scribd.com/document/203007846/Carl-Rogers-and-the-CIA Joseph, Stephen. “How Humanistic Is Positive Psychology? Lessons in Positive Psychology From Carl Rogers' Person-Centered Approach—It's the Social Environment That Must Change.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 12, 28 Sept. 2021, article 709789. Frontiers Media, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8510647/. McLeod, Saul. “Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy).” Simply Psychology, 28 Apr. 2025, https://www.simplypsychology.org/client-centred-therapy.html. Rogers, Carl R. The Clinical Treatment of the Problem Child. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1939. Internet Archive, https://ia801902.us.archive.org/2/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.166832/2015.166832.The-Clinical-Treatment-Of-The-Problem-Child_text.pdf. Rogers, Carl R. On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin, 1961. PDF file. Rogers, Carl. “Dealing With Breakdowns in Communication.” ListeningWay, https://www.listeningway.com/rogers1-eng.html. Thomason, Timothy C. “The Shadow Side of the Great Psychotherapists.” Counseling & Wellness: A Professional Counseling Journal, vol. 5, 2016, PDF via OpenKnowledge@NAU. Yao, Lucy, and Rian Kabir. “Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy).” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708. “Carl Rogers, PhD: 1947 APA President.” American Psychological Association, June 2021, https://www.apa.org/about/governance/president/carl-r-rogers. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E144
    September 18 · 32 min

    141. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Learning is Magical, Unless it's Scary or Boring

    Some lessons have the power to open our minds, and to expand our understanding of the universe and the possibilities within it. Other lessons just scare the crap out of us. Or they reveal how something that seems pretty cool at first glance might actually be pretty stupid. Esme explains how she recently learned that the paper certain stores use to print receipts is actually fairly toxic! And Marcus describes how a deep dive into the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings (i.e., the famous battle in 1066 in which William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxon king of England and began the Norman Conquest of England) only served to remind him that, sometimes, history is just the byproduct of self-important people doing stupid things. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: McLeod, Saul. “John B. Watson: Contribution to Psychology.” Simply Psychology, 6 Sept. 2026, https://www.simplypsychology.org/john-b-watson.html. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E143
    September 17 · 54 min

    140. A Mostly Good News Story About Person-Centered Therapy: Part 1

    Marcus believes the Road Runner cartoons are some of the greatest existential and allegorical works of art ever created. While this might feel like more of a Friday topic, we assure you it is directly relevant to today’s discussion and will make complete sense if you listen to the whole episode. In this week’s episode, Marcus and Esme discuss the work and legacy of yet another influential psychologist. This time, they’re discussing Carl Rogers, one of the founders of humanistic psychology and the primary developer of person-centered psychotherapy. However, unlike the last two profiles they did, they find his legacy to be much less complicated. And while they acknowledge Rogers is by no means perfect, and that his theories have generated a fair amount of criticism over the years, they take comfort in the knowledge that it seems as though he never stopped thinking about the best interests of the patients and clients he served. So, it’s a (mostly) happy story! Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: McLeod, Saul. “John B. Watson: Contribution to Psychology.” Simply Psychology, 6 Sept. 2026, https://www.simplypsychology.org/john-b-watson.html. McLeod, Saul. “Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy).” Simply Psychology, 28 Apr. 2025, https://www.simplypsychology.org/client-centred-therapy.html. “Carl Rogers, PhD: 1947 APA President.” American Psychological Association, June 2021, https://www.apa.org/about/governance/president/carl-r-rogers. Yao, Lucy, and Rian Kabir. “Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy).” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708. Rogers, Carl R. The Clinical Treatment of the Problem Child. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1939. Internet Archive, https://ia801902.us.archive.org/2/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.166832/2015.166832.The-Clinical-Treatment-Of-The-Problem-Child_text.pdf. Rogers, Carl. “Dealing With Breakdowns in Communication.” ListeningWay, https://www.listeningway.com/rogers1-eng.html. 250 WPM. This One Skill Can Transform Every Conversation. YouTube, uploaded by 250 WPM, 10 Sept. 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtLwcR3-pZQ. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E142
    September 11 · 34 min

    139. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Can’t Get Enough of Your Emotional Cues, Babe

    September 12 is a very special date, because it was on that date in the year of our lord nineteen hundred and forty-four that a special man was born. A man whose bass-baritone voice, soulful grooves, and silky-smooth string arrangements would serve as the soundtrack for many a romantic evening. Who knows, his voice might even have accompanied (and possibly inspired) your very conception, which would be a beautiful and wondrous thing to consider, if not for the fact that it also meant you’d have to acknowledge that your parents were getting their freak on. But it would be worth it, because it would mean that your addition to this mortal coil was heralded by no less of a legend than Barry White. Marcus wishes him a happy birthday and pays tribute to his legacy with such suitably grandiose and over-the-top prose that Esme had to turn away from the mic to avoid snort laughing directly into it. For her part, Esme reveals a shocking discovery about a common cosmetic procedure that would only be shocking to someone who hasn’t recently received that cosmetic procedure. Because it turns out that receiving a procedure that renders one’s facial expression somewhat muted for a period of time might also impact their ability to feel surprise, joy, sadness and any number of other emotions. Esme shares what she has learned, acknowledges she has only scratched the surface of available research, and teases the possibility of returning to the subject on a full-length episode of Crazy Together in the near future. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E141
    September 10 · 45 min

    138. False Memories, Abuse, and Power: Part 2

    WARNING: It’s part 2 of Crazy Together’s exploration of the research and legacy of Elizabeth Loftus, PhD and emotions are running high! Loftus, as you’ll no doubt recall from last week’s episode, is best known for her contributions to our understanding of the malleability and fallibility of human memory. She’s also well known for consulting with and providing expert testimony at trial for the defense in some of the most high profile cases in recent memory. And not just any cases, mind you. Cases in which it looked like some of the absolute worst people in recent memory were finally going to face justice. Why does she do it, and what are some of the far reaching impacts of her continued endeavors in the criminal justice system? Well, that was the topic Marcus and Esme planned on tackling in this episode. And the funny thing is, they really felt like they had a plan heading into part 2. They had an outline with time slots reserved for discussing Loftus’ rationale as well as a summary of some of the criticism that has been leveled against her. It seemed pretty straightforward. But that plan went straight out the window as they began parsing out Loftus’ rationale and considering the implications of all the criticism she’s received. Before long, it became apparent that their plan for capping their discussion of Loftus’ work with the same nuance and perspective they tried to bring to last week’s episode was a pipe dream. Now, they’re just pretty pissed off, so much so that one of the hosts has had to recuse themselves from today’s episode. What has them so upset? You’ll have to listen to find out. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Ahmed, Waheed. “Elizabeth Loftus’ 25,000 Subject False Memory Research: How Covert Narcissists Erase Your Truth.” Medium, Psyche Pedia, 31 Jul. 2025. https://medium.com/psyche-pedia/elizabeth-loftus-25-000-subject-false-memory-research-how-covert-narcissists-erase-your-truth-7bbfb47fd8bf. Brewin, Chris R., and Bernice Andrews. “False Memories of Childhood Abuse: Are Therapists to Blame?” The Psychologist, 7 June 2017, British Psychological Society, https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/false-memories-childhood-abuse. Drouin, Michelle, Jody M. Ross, and Tara L. Cornelius. “Current State of ‘Lost in the Mall’: Implications for Expert Witness Testimony on the Reliability of Childhood Memories.” Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, published online 13 Oct. 2025, Taylor & Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2025.2556461. Fomina, Maria. “The Misinformation Effect.” The Decision Lab, 12 Aug. 2021, https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/the-misinformation-effect. Loftus, Elizabeth F. “The Repressed Memory Controversy.” American Psychologist, vol. 49, no. 5, 1994, pp. 443–445. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.49.5.443. Loftus, Elizabeth, and Katherine Ketcham. Witness for the Defense: The Accused, the Eyewitnesses, and the Expert Who Puts Memory on Trial. St. Martins Press, 1991. McMaugh, Kate, and Warwick Middleton. “The Rise and Fall of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation.” ISSTD News, 21 Jan. 2020, International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, https://news.isst-d.org/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-false-memory-syndrome-foundation. Richards, Laura. False Memory Expert Testified for the Defence. Laura Richards, 8 Feb. 2020, https://www.thelaurarichards.com/my-two-cents/false-memory-expert-testified-for-the-defence. Stollznow, Karen. “False Ideas About False Memories.” Psychology Today, 3 Mar. 2022, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/speaking-in-tongues/202203/false-ideas-about-false-memories. Winton, Richard. “ ‘False Memory’ Expert Testified for O.J., Bundy; Now, Harvey Weinstein.” Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2020, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-06/false-memory-expert-testify-harvey-weinstein-trial. “Ghislaine Maxwell Trial: ‘False Memory’ Expert Testifies for Defence.” BBC News, 17 Dec. 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59688787. “Misinformation Effect.” ScienceDirect Topics, Elsevier, 2026, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/misinformation-effect. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E140
    September 4 · 29 min

    137. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: British Things That Do or Don’t Deliver

    There is a strong connection between dopamine and the things we find entertaining. Our brains release dopamine when we anticipate we’re going to enjoy something, like playing a game or watching a movie. It pushes us to take action. When we find something we like, we get another little shot of dopamine to reinforce the behavior. But, when it turns out we don’t enjoy that which we pursued, well, cue the sad trombone. In this week's HYPERFOCUS BONUS, Marcus and Esme discuss some recent experiences they’ve had while chasing that rewards anticipation cycle. In Marcus’ case, he describes his lifelong interest in a 600-year-old English legend that has NEVER ONCE delivered for him, no matter how much he hopes it will. For her part, Esme shares her relative success with two British shows she discovered recently. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E139
    September 3 · 1 hr 8 min

    136. False Memories, Abuse, and Power: Part 1

    How would you react if someone told you they could link such seemingly disparate topics as the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and ‘90s, the discrediting of a once popular form of psychotherapy, and the criminal trials of Robert Durst, Harvey Weinstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell all in one podcast episode? Would you say “that’s crazy”? Well, it’s not crazy. It’s Crazy Together. Please enjoy the sudden burst of goosebumps. In today’s episode, Marcus and Esme discuss the work of Elizabeth Loftus, PhD. Dr. Loftus, in addition to being the link to the aforementioned topics above, is best known for her contributions to our understanding of the malleability and fallibility of human memory. Through decades of research and advocacy, she has reshaped how the mental health and the criminal justice system now thinks about repressed memories and recovered memory therapy. These contributions have helped exonerate a great number of people who had been falsely accused and convicted of crimes they did not commit. She has also provided expert testimony for the defense in the trials referenced previously. You read that right: defense attorneys for Epstein and Maxwell hired Loftus to provide expert testimony at trial about the unreliable nature of human memory. They then used her research and findings as part of their efforts to discredit survivors’ accounts of the abuse they suffered at the hands of the most prolific sex traffickers in modern history. Oh, and she also sold her services to the defense team who represented that guy who burped a murder confession into a hot mic. So . . . yeah, it's probably fair to say she has a complicated legacy. And in today’s episode (and next week’s episode for that matter, because there’s a lot of ground to cover), Marcus and Esme try to discuss that legacy with the nuance and perspective it deserves. However, they also acknowledge that . . . dude, this sh*t just feels wrong. This is the second high profile and highly influential mental health professional they’ve covered in relatively short order who – one might argue* -- have commoditized their life’s work for financial gain**. And so Marcus and Esme find themselves asking: a) What is the role of mental health professionals when it comes to identifying and calling out the systemic injustices that are negatively impacting people’s mental health and wellbeing, and, b) What should we expect mental health professionals to do when their treatments or research are used by the wealthy and powerful for their own purposes (e.g., exploiting workers, avoiding accountability, etc.)? *Additional notes *These Em dashes are NOT AI generated. They were entered by someone who thinks and writes in asides and REFUSES to sacrifice much needed punctuation marks just to prove he’s not a frickin’ robot. ** See episodes 131 and 133 about the rise and fall of Positive Psychology for the first example. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Marsh, Ann, and Greta Lorge. “How the Truth Gets Twisted.” Stanford Magazine, Nov.–Dec. 2012, https://stanfordmag.org/contents/how-the-truth-gets-twisted. “Ghislaine Maxwell Trial: ‘False Memory’ Expert Testifies for Defence.” BBC News, 17 Dec. 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59688787. Otgaar, Henry, et al. “The Return of the Repressed: The Persistent and Problematic Claims of Long-Forgotten Trauma.” Perspectives on Psychological Science, vol. 14, no. 6, 2019, pp. 1072–1095. PubMed Central, PMC6826861. “Misinformation Effect.” ScienceDirect Topics, Elsevier, 2026, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/misinformation-effect. Memon, Amina, and Mark Young. “Desperately Seeking Evidence: The Recovered Memory Debate.” Legal & Criminological Psychology, vol. 2, no. 2, 1997, pp. 131–154. Cogprints, University of Southampton Web Archive, https://web-archive.southampton.ac.uk/cogprints.org/642/1/memon.rec_mem_review.html. “Dispatch From the Repressed-Memory Legal Front.” Psychiatric Times, https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/dispatch-repressed-memory-legal-front. Luna, Kaitlin. “Speaking of Psychology: How Memory Can Be Manipulated, with Elizabeth Loftus, PhD.” American Psychological Association, last updated Aug. 2023, https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/memory-manipulated. Stollznow, Karen. “False Ideas About False Memories.” Psychology Today, 3 Mar. 2022, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/speaking-in-tongues/202203/false-ideas-about-false-memories. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E138
    August 26 · 1 hr 15 min

    135. Movie Night: Title Redacted!

    It’s time for another Movie Night! What are Marcus andEsme watching, and why have they decided to leave the name of the film out of the episode title? Well, it’s not that they don’t trust you. They are just a little worried that their audience, who they know to be educated, refined, and highly responsive to specific stimuli and subject matter, might hesitate to press play if they knew what (and who) the movie was about.. They know this because it’s the same experience Marcus ran into when he first attempted to get Esme to watch the very same film. “A documentary about [REDACTED]? Why would I want to watch that?” Fortunately, Esme has a good heart and an open mind, because watch the documentary they did. And now it’s one of their all-time favorites. It tells the story of three emotionally stunted but successful (and, yes, talented) artists who find themselves at a turning point in their careers. Their audience’s tastes are changing and they’ve made their fair share of enemies. To make matters worse, they’re also realizing that after 20 years of working together, they might not know each other or themselves all that well. So the stakes are clear: they need to figure out how to continue working together, overcome some personal demons, and find age-appropriate hairstyles or break up and, most likely, fade away. And the truly amazing thing is, they’re successful! They meet their challenges head on and, with a little bit of professional support, achieve some honest to god emotional growth in the process. It is an unlikely feel-good story, even if you’re not a fan of the biggest thrash metal band in the world. Shoot. That’s a bit of a giveaway. Oh, well. Whatever. Just listen. You’ll like it. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E137
    August 21 · 24 min

    134. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Going All in on Watercolors and Medieval Lore

    What does it mean to go all in on something? Well, sometimes you have to go all in if you want to get all out. And even though the previous sentence made absolutely no sense whatsoever, we’re keeping it in the description because writing introductory paragraphs can be difficult. In this week’s HYPERFOCUS BONUS, Marcus and Esme share two stories of going all in to achieve a goal. In part 1, Esme shares some strategies she’s employed to overcome the painting inertia she described in last week’s episode. That’s right. In one week, Esme identified and developed a strategy to keep the dopamine flowing so she could follow through on not one but multiple watercolor projects. Suck it, executive function issues! She also explains how she has been helping their daughter get ready to go back to school, which can always be a challenge for those of us who have trouble switching gears or dealing with the sensory overload of seasonally themed shopping excursions. In part 2, Marcus tries to get to the bottom of a question that’s been bugging him for some time now. Why did the city of Lancaster, PA. go all in on gothic, medieval, and fantasy themes? He shares his research, all of which is backed up by firsthand accounts and information from mostly reputable sources. He also shares some original research on the movie Witness (1985), and the origins of the Amish community in Lancaster County. Warning: his findings from the latter research feel somewhat less reliable, but are still worthy of entertaining. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: “Lancaster, Pennsylvania.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Aug. 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster,_Pennsylvania. unchartedadam. “Lancaster’s Surprising Royal Connection.” Uncharted Lancaster, 15 Jan. 2020, https://unchartedlancaster.com/2020/01/15/pop-quiz-lancasters-surprising-royal-connection. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E136
    August 19 · 1 hr 3 min

    133. The Rise and Fall of Positive Psychology: Part 2

    WARNING! This episode discusses the positive psychology movement’s fall from grace. As such, listeners who have endured the “horrors” wrought by positive psychology in schools and in the workplace might feel some degree of Schadenfreude, a fancy German word that means you’re happy because someone or something else is getting the shaft. Then again, you’re the one who’s been forced to bottle up your emotions and put on a fake smile, so maybe your joy won’t be quite so shameful. In part 2 of their series on positive psychology, Marcus and Esme discuss the fall of the popular field of inquiry and movement. In doing so, they explain how Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology, was influenced by his own contributions to the theory of learned helplessness . . . some of which, it turns out, were eventually proven wrong by decades of neuroscientific research. They also identify what they believe is positive psychology’s biggest flaw: a seeming lack of regard or consideration for the impacts of trauma, genetics, and environmental factors on peoples’ mental health and wellbeing. Some problems can’t be fixed with a smile and a can-do attitude. Finally, Marcus and Esme share their thoughts on how we can begin to move forward in (what they hope will be) a post-positive psychology world, and what we might be able to salvage from the movement. They also share their contact information if, for some unlikely reason, Martin Seligman hears about this episode and wants to yell at them. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: van Zyl, Llewellyn E., et al. “The Critiques and Criticisms of Positive Psychology: A Systematic Review.” The Journal of Positive Psychology, vol. 19, no. 2, 2024, pp. 206–235. Taylor & Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2023.2178956. Gruman, Jamie. “Is This the End of Positive Psychology?” Psychology Today, 13 June 2024, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dont-forget-the-basil/202406/is-this-the-end-of-positive-psychology. van Zyl, Llewellyn E. “Is Positive Psychology Science or Snake Oil?” Psychology Today, 6 July 2023, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happybytes/202307/is-positive-psychology-science-or-snake-oil. Gibbon, Peter. “Martin Seligman and the Rise of Positive Psychology.” Humanities, vol. 41, no. 3, Summer 2020, National Endowment for the Humanities, https://www.neh.gov/article/martin-seligman-and-rise-positive-psychology. Ackerman, Courtney E. “What Is Positive Psychology & Why Is It Important?” PositivePsychology.com, 20 Apr. 2018, https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-positive-psychology-definition. Shpancer, Noam. “Action Creates Emotion.” Psychology Today, 25 Oct. 2010, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/201010/action-creates-emotion. Ferraro, David. “Biopower and Subjection: The Strange and Disturbing Case of Martin Seligman.” Archives of a Divided Subject, 10 Jan. 2015, https://melbournelacanian.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/biopower-and-subjection-the-strange-and-disturbing-case-of-martin-seligman. Nolen, Jeannette L. “Learned Helplessness.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/science/learned-helplessness. Kumar, Adarsh, et al. “Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Depression within the Spectrum of Mental Health.” International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, vol. 14, no. 6, June 2025, pp. 15–22. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393901612_Biopsychosocial_Perspectives_on_Depression_within_the_Spectrum_of_Mental_Health. Lowery, George. “A Campus Takeover That Symbolized an Era of Change.” Cornell Chronicle, 16 Apr. 2009, https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2009/04/campus-takeover-symbolized-era-change. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E135
    August 14 · 29 min

    132. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: When Two Things are the Same Thing but Different

    In defiance of the laws of grammar and common sense, Marcus and Esme ask the question, “What is the difference between two things that are very similar to one another, except in the ways in which they are different?” In Esme’s case, she explores the ways in which two activities (watercolor painting and landscape design) can share very similar goals (artistic and aesthetic enhancement) but trigger her hyperfocus differently. In Marcus’ case, he describes how the act of realizing two different pieces of art or entertainment are thematically linked compels him to compare the two and determine which one is “better.” By way of example, Marcus pits multiple pieces of thematically similar content in head-to-head match-ups and declares a “winner” for each one. Who’s on the card? In round one, we have Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road vs. Bob Seger’s Night Moves. In round two, Hamlet vs. The Lion King. And finally, for the main event, it’s the various Game of Thrones tv series vs. The Last Kingdom series on Netflix. Who will win? You’ll have to listen to find out. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E134
    August 13 · 1 hr 4 min

    131. The Rise and Fall of Positive Psychology: Part 1

    Do you feel pressured to maintain a super positive attitude in the workplace? Are you sick of engagement surveys? Do you wish that the word “grit” was only used to describe the relative coarseness of sandpaper? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you might have a bone to pick with a scientific discipline and research movement known as positive psychology. According to Psychology Today, “positive psychology is the study of optimal human functioning.” It’s also the brainchild of psychologist and former president of the American Psychological Association Martin Seligman. Seligman believed psychologists should do more to study and promote the factors that make life more meaningful instead of only focusing on the more ‘negative’ aspects of mental health and treatment (such as alleviation of suffering). That sounds okay, right? Well, it might have been; but then the movement's most passionate and industrious followers decided to turn their beloved science into a commodity. Research and education soon gave way to the development of plug-and-play solutions that could be sold to schools and corporations. As a result, what began as a scientific discipline about human flourishing became part of a corporate ideology that prizes efficiency above all else. Positive psychology became a tool employers could use to demand that employees put on a happy face, ignore structural problems, and manage their crippling anxiety and depression with breathwork during bathroom breaks. BUT! As Marcus and Esme discuss in this week’s episode, the tide appears to be turning on positive psychology. A new generation of psychologists and researchers have begun questioning the movement, its methodologies, and its motivations. Could this be, at long last, the end of this influential, disruptive, and (somewhat conveniently) business-friendly endeavor? That’s the question Marcus and Esme will try to answer in this two-part episode of Crazy Together. In part one, they identify the origins of positive psychology and discuss factors that encouraged its spread. They also explore how corporate America ultimately weaponized positive psychology in ways that served organizational efficiency over any concept of human well-being or flourishing. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: van Zyl, Llewellyn E., et al. “The Critiques and Criticisms of Positive Psychology: A Systematic Review.” The Journal of Positive Psychology, vol. 19, no. 2, 2024, pp. 206–235. Taylor & Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2023.2178956. Gruman, Jamie. “Is This the End of Positive Psychology?” Psychology Today, 13 June 2024, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dont-forget-the-basil/202406/is-this-the-end-of-positive-psychology. van Zyl, Llewellyn E. “Is Positive Psychology Science or Snake Oil?” Psychology Today, 6 July 2023, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happybytes/202307/is-positive-psychology-science-or-snake-oil. Gibbon, Peter. “Martin Seligman and the Rise of Positive Psychology.” Humanities, vol. 41, no. 3, Summer 2020, National Endowment for the Humanities, https://www.neh.gov/article/martin-seligman-and-rise-positive-psychology. Ackerman, Courtney E. “What Is Positive Psychology & Why Is It Important?” PositivePsychology.com, 20 Apr. 2018, https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-positive-psychology-definition. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E133
    August 7 · 29 min

    130. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Glitzy Travel Journal Raises Questions About Esme’s Street Cred

    Has Esme been lying about an important biographical detail? Longtime listeners will know that Marcus and Esme both come from the same county in southeast Pennsylvania, but they grew up on “different sides of the tracks.” For her part, Esme grew up in a part of Delaware County she lovingly refers to as “Deep Delco,” and enjoys pointing out the many ways in which Marcus’ upbringing was far cushier than her own. However, a recent article from a fancy travel site casts a shadow of doubt over Esme’s street cred. According to Islands.com, Upper Darby Township, PA, a town so close to Esme’s hometown that it actually surrounds it on all sides, is a tourist hot spot, and well worth the cost of adding a few days to your itinerary the next time you visit Philadelphia. So, has Esme been lying to us this whole time? Probably not. Marcus and Esme make a few educated guesses about how this strange article came to be published. And, while they acknowledge that calling Upper Darby a tourist destination is a bit of a stretch, they refuse to take any shots at the township or its people. They even wax nostalgic about the old Tower Theater, a legendary live music venue located in the heart of Upper Darby that closed its doors in 2022 because Live Nation hates you, hates music, and hates the idea of you listening to your favorite music in a venue with less than 50,000 seats. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E132
    August 6 · 44 min

    129. Psychedelics and Mental Health Treatment

    Is it possible that the same mind-altering drugs you turned down in college because you hated jam bands (or the drugs you gladly accepted because that’s what college is for) could have tremendous potential as treatments for a whole host of mental health issues and challenges? As it turns out, yes, it is very possible. In this episode, Marcus and Esme discuss psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), a psychiatric treatment model that combines the use of controlled doses of psychedelic substances with professional psychotherapy. While neither of them has any practical, hands-on experience with the substances in question, they do read an awful lot about the interesting things other people do. In this case, they’ve read quite a bit about the exciting potential of PATs, the relative successes of PAT-related clinical trials, and the extent to which such treatments are available. As always, they are happy to share their findings with you, their beloved listeners. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Daniel, Jeremy, and Margaret Haberman. “Clinical Potential of Psilocybin as a Treatment for Mental Health Conditions.” Mental Health Clinician, vol. 7, no. 1, 23 Mar. 2018, pp. 24–28. PMC6007659, National Library of Medicine, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6007659/. Zeifman, Richard, et al. “Psychedelic Therapy, Positive Emotional Experiences, and the Central Role of Self-Compassion.” Research Square, preprint, 22 Aug. 2025, doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-7420529/v1. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC12393679, <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12393679>. Gukasyan, Natalie, et al. “Attenuation of Psilocybin Mushroom Effects During and After SSRI/SNRI Antidepressant Use.” Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 37, no. 7, 2023, pp. 707–716. PubMed, doi:10.1177/02698811231179910. Grieco, Steven F., et al. “Psychedelics and Neural Plasticity: Therapeutic Implications.” Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 42, no. 45, 9 Nov. 2022, pp. 8439–49. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC9665925. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1121-22.2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665925/ Cavarra, Mauro, et al. “Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy—A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, 10 June 2022, article 887255. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC9226617, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.887255. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9226617/ Townsend, Tracy Kim. Doctor Explains Psilocybin Therapy. YouTube, uploaded by Tracy Townsend MD, 10 months ago, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGynr1mB2ds Insider Science. “What Ketamine Actually Does to Your Brain.” YouTube, uploaded by Insider Science, 7 years ago, www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_ey_a_yN6Q Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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  • S1 · E131
    July 31 · 22 min

    128. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: HYPERFOCUS BONUS: We Saw the Summer Blockbuster Everyone is Talking About and it’s Okay!

    What happens when you mix epic poetry, big budget filmmaking, a huge marketing budget, and the very loud opinions of some of the internet’s dumbest trolls? You get The Odyssey, a 3-hour long action-adventure extravaganza from the reigning champion of summer blockbuster movies Christopher Nolan. Marcus and Esme, who only get to the theater once or twice a year (not including times they take their daughter to watch more kid-friendly fare), decided to step into the zeitgeist and see if the film everybody is talking about is worth all the hype. Were they blown away? Did the movie meet all of their expectations? Did Nolan breathe new life into a 3,000-year-old text? What is their verdict? “It’s fine.” Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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