The Broken Brain

Popped Collar Productions

A Psychology & Psychotherapy podcast. Get a therapist's perspective on a variety of topics, some silly and some self-helpy. the Broken Brain is an organized panel discussion, an hour (ish) of therapeutic POV for you.

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22 episodes
weekly
Avg 43 min
English

Episodes 22

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Wednesday · 51 min
Hanging with the Debt Heads
Jamie Alyson Feldman & Rachel Webster noticed that it was difficult to talk about debt...even with a best friend.This led them to create "Debt Heads: A Podcast About Money," taking a true crime approach to answer the mystery: who murdered our bank account? A lively and fun team, they join me today to discuss societal and psychological elements of dealing with finances, stress, and (of course) Debt Itself. Follow their work at www.debtheadspodcast.com and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Join me and Izzy Tehran this upcoming Monday, 8/31, as we host the Broken Brain's annual live stream for International Overdose Awareness Day! Give us a listen or JOIN the stream, by going to www.dwighthurst.com/live
August 17 · 58 min
What is Emotional Intellegence? Emily Morash Explains it All
Emily Morash is an expert in the use of Emotional Intelligence to resolve conflict and enhance leadership. She also teaches the under-appreciated role that self-awareness plays in developing and applying empathy. Check out her new book, "Unfunk Yourself: Leading Mindfully in the Midst of Mayhem." Please join the Broken Brain's 5th annual live stream for International Overdose Awareness Day, Monday August 31st. Go to www.dwighthurst.com/live to learn more!
August 12 · 49 min
Snooping For Healing
Mychel "Snoop" Dillard is a doer. When she worked in hospitality she opened nightclubs. When she was asked for tips she began speaking. When she wanted to help others she started mentorship programs. When she lost her daughter she invested heavily into grief recovery. You can read about her experince in her new book, "Grieve. Grow. Go." and check out her memoir "Who Is Snoop." You can also watch her reality series, "Snooping For Love," on Amazon Prime & Tubi. A dynamic individual with a lot to share, it is exciting to welcome her onto the program. Monday August 31 is the annual Broken Brain LIVE Stream for International Overdose Awareness Day. Join me and Izzy Tehran for the stream, find links to watch (or join) us at www.dwighthurst.com/live
August 7 · 54 min
Psychiatrist & Novelist Jess Wright
Returning guest Jess Wright returns to talk about his new book "Dance In A Madhouse," a about a young doctor in the early 1900s committed to an asylum, and engrossed in a murder mystery. Dr Wright is a renowned expert in psychiatry, and is the author of award winning books on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He is also a Novelist, applying his background in medicine & psychology into fiction. This is his second novel. Follow Jess' work and upcoming books at www.jesswrightMD.com Tune in on Monday 8/31 for The Broken Brain's 5th annual live stream for International Overdose Awareness Day! Go to www.dwighthurst.com/live for details.
July 22 · 47 min
Louder Than Guns-Talking about Gun Violence
Doug Pray created the documentary "Louder Than Guns" to chronicle the work of Ketch Secor, lead singer of the band Old Crow Medicine Show, and David Greene, NPR Reporter & Host. Following a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Secor and Greene started a musical tour focused on getting community members to sit down and share their tragedy and beliefs with each other, with the belief that vulnerability can lead to healing. Visit www.louderthangunsfilm.com to learn more about this film Go to www.preblestreet.org to follow this month's highlighted Charity. Preble Street is a food service hub providing healthy meals to citizens of Portland Maine suffering with food insecurity. Get involved and share this wonderful organization today.
July 17 · 59 min
What its like for a Hero Child with the creators of What Tomorrow Brings
"What Tomorrow Brings" is a story about 2 sisters who are left to care for themselves with no parental supervision, with the burden of running the household securely on the shoulders of 17 year old Clara. Filmmaker Matthew Engelbert and star Joely Engelbert join me to talk about their approach to telling this story as a father-daughter team. Every member of their family joined to make this movie, with the intention of showing the struggles of a strong kid trying to solve overwhelming problems. Follow this film @whattomorrowbringsmovie on Instagram Check-out our highlighted charity: Preble Street Food Hub, a nonprofit providing thousands of healthy meals to individuals in need in the Portland Maine area. www.preblestreet.org
July 3 · 52 min
Earth Centered Psychotherapy with Julie Brams
Julie Brams is an Earth Centered Psychotherapist, specializing in incorporating nature into therapeutic healing. She is also the author of "The Nature Embedded Mind," recent winner of the Nautilus Gold Award. As both a licensed mental health therapist and Forest Therapy Guide, Julie shares lessons learned from research into what science is finding about therapy and our connection to the rest of the world. Follow her work at www.experienceelemental.com This month's charity of focus is Preble Street Food Security Hub, providing thousands of free meals daily to citizens on Maine facing homelessness and food insecurity. Go to www.preblestreet.org to support them.
June 24 · 56 min
Episodic & Serialized Storytelling with Christian Hurst
Do you like reading or watching media that is an episodic/anthology style one-off story? Or do you prefer the more frequent modern storytelling that follows an overarching arc? Sci-Fi Auhtor Christian Hurst joins to discuss different approaches to creating stories, how they speak to us differently, and how we someitmes can throw the good out with the bad when we fail to balance things out. Read Chris' Lily Starling Series wherever books are sold, and follow him @churstpublishing to learn more about the release of the 3rd book in the series, Lily Starling and the Death Machine. Goto www.prismunited.org to view this month's highlighted charity. Prism United helps LGBTQ+ youth with leadership training, meaningful activities, medical, mental health treatment, and more. Get involved in their work today!
June 5 · 49 min
Financial Therapy, with Erika Rasure
What is Financial Therapy? Dr Erika Rasure is here to tell us about it. Many sources of financial advice neglect the emotional/psychological components of money troubles. She shares how fear, self-perception, hope, and the lack of or presence of security interact with finding financial solutions, and some tips to face those issues. Learn more about Erika's work at www.beyondfinance.com, and check out the Financial Therapy Association, www.financialtherapyassociation.org The highlighted nonprofit this month is Prism United, local charity in Alabama focused on mental health, healthy development, and parental education for LGBTQ+ youth. Go to www.prismunited.org to learn more and support their work.
May 29 · 51 min
Psychiatric Elements in Unexplained Medical Problems, with Dr Susan Trachman
Dr Susan Trachman is a Psychiatrist with 30 years of experience specializing in treating medically unexplained illnesses through the lens of psychiatry. She helps patients delves into the brain-body connection, and addresses the damaging misconception that a condition is "all in your head. Follow her work at www.susanbtrachmanmd.com, and check out her new book, It's Not Just in Your Head: Demystifying the Brain-Body Connection in Medical Illness. Go to www.kidsandart.org to follow and support this month's highlighted nonprofit, helping children with cancer and their families through Art.
May 19 · 41 min
Achievement as a Trauma defense mechanism, with Lena Fein
Lena Fein is the author of Shattering The Mirror, a story of her experience with abuse. From an early age Lena Fein coped with abuse and neglect by trying to achieve. She believed that if she could do well enough in school, meet everyone's expectations, and especially avoid anything that would trigger her mother, that she would finally feel safe and happy. Her book tells her story of masking with achievement, suppressing difficult emotions, and how she learned to break that cycle. Our highlighted charity for April and May is Kids & Art, helping pediatric cancer patients through Art. Go to www.kidsandart.org to learn more about this wonderful nonprofit.
May 11 · 44 min
Flesh and Blood: A Psychological Thriller with EMDR, by Nathan Presley
Many films are related to psychology. Nathan Presley's short film, "Flesh and Blood," puts therapy directly in the spotlight. This film recently won the Audience Award for best short film at the Dallas International Film Festival. It is the story of an EMDR therapist trying to help a young girl with selective mutism...or is there something more going on? Follow Nathan's work @nathanpresley on IG. Go to www.kidsandart.org to support this month's highlighted nonprofit, helping children in cancer treatment through the arts.
April 28 · 45 min
Experiencing Dementia Ryan Noufers Mary The Widow
Ryan Noufer created his indie short film "Mary The Widow," to tell a story about Dementia from a unique perspective of a woman attending a speed-dating seminar for widowed seniors. In the interview he shares his experiences with his own grandmother, feelings on mental health, and how art can help to process emotion, including our worst fears. You can follow his work @ryannoufer on Instagram. Please go to www.kidsandart.com to support and share this month's highlighted charity. Kids & Art is a nonprofit using Art to help patients with Pediatric Cancer, a perfect charity to go along with this month's focus on independent storytellers using film to share perspectives on mental health, relationships, and being a human being.
April 23 · 46 min
Repairing Parental Estrangement, in the Indie Film "Last Shot"
One of the most anticipated films being screened at the 2026 Dallas International Film Festival, Last Shot tells the story of a young basketball prodigy who faces grief over the death of his father and an estranged relationship with his mother. Producer/Writer Tod Friedman & Director Andy Palmer join me to talk about this film and the personal elements that are there, especially for Friedman. Follow the film @hemlockcircle on IG and other platforms or go to www.hemlockcircle.com The highlighted charity this month is Kids & Art, using art to help children in cancer treatment. visit www.kidsandart.org to learn more an support their work. New patrons of the Broken Brain will have 50% of their monthly donation go to Kids & Art as long as they remain donors. www.patreon.com/brokenbrain
April 22 · 22 min
Real People Being Hurt by "Natural" Gas Production, shown in the Documentary GASLIT
Katie Comosy is the director of the new independent documentary GASLIT, showcasing people impacted by the practices of oil and natural gas production in Texas and the Gulf Coast. Hosted by Jane Fonda, the film follows their work to fight rising cases of cancer, economic collapse, and damage to food production. The film is now showing at the Dallas International Film Festival. Follow the film on social media @gaslitdoc, or go to www.gaslitdoc.com for updates of festival screenings and distribution. The Broken Brain's highlighted charity this month is Kids & Art, helping children with cancer through arts education and activity. Go to www.artandkids.org to learn more and support this wonderful nonprofit.
April 9 · 42 min
Interview with the creators of Born To Lose, a film about Self-Destructive Choices, Mentoring, and Escaping Patterns
Filmmakers Joe Zentil and Pierce Csurgo created the independent film Born To Lose, currently making the way around the film festival circuit. Set in the genre of motorcycle culture, this movie depicts a young man caught up in problems related to fractured relationships, self-destructive choices, and the dangers of addiction and the drug trade. Our highlighted charity this month is Kids & Art, a California based nonprofit that uses Art to support children with cancer. Go to www.kidsandart.org to learn more about this amazing organization.
April 7 · 26 min
Friendship, Communication, and Change in the film Travel Companion
Alex Mallis and Travis Wood join me to discuss their new film "Travel Companion." The story focuses on Simon, an indie filmmaker who's roommate helps him travel with free airline tickets, and the potential loss of this perk. Kids & Art is the highlighted charity for April. This organization helps kids with cancer through use of art. go to www.kidsandart.org to learn more about this important organization.
April 6 · 12 min
Monday Mental Tip: Affinity & Autism
A quick look at the shifting vocabulary and perspectives on the hyper-interest associated with Autism. This month's highlighted charity is Kids & Art, an organization based in California using art activities and education to help children with cancer. Go to www.kidsandart.org to follow and support this amazing nonprofit.
March 30 · 51 min
Heavens: The Boy and His Robot, with Writer/Director Rich Ho
Another great conversation from the Cinequest Film Festival! Rich Ho spent the past 13 years making his movie "Heavens: The Boy and His Robot," a coming of age story centered on bravery, community, and dedication, set in sci-fi world. He talks to us about story telling and how he learned to overcome personal fear and dedicate himself to a project. The making of this film is a story of goals, follow through, and Rich's relationship with his children. Please visit www.CHIRLA.org to support the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, our highlighted charity for the month of March.
March 24 · 52 min
Helping Children in Grief with Dr Korie Leigh
Grief is a complex thing, and can be difficult to approach with children. Dr Korie Leigh is one of the nation's leading experts on childhood grief & pediatric palliative care, a consultant to the Sesame Street Workshop, and the author of the new book "When Everything Changes: Parenting Through Loss and Grief." Today she shares principles to help children through the most difficult times, whether they are coping with loss or suffering from serious illness of their own. Follow her work and check out the book: www.korieleighphd.com The highlighted charity this month is the Coalition for Humane Rights for Immigrants. Go to www.chirla.org to support & share this important nonprofit.

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