A Chat with Uma

On episode 27 of A Chat with Uma, I share my full experience of developing a fully independent research project inspired by my lived experience as a patient. I share the full story of how this project was born, and how this idea developed into a full research project that has resulted in presentations, awards, published abstracts, acceptance into Ph.D programs, and an upcoming publication. I discuss the experience of forging my own path as a single-author presenter as a student, and how I navigated various scenarios through this journey. I reflect on how this project provided novel avenues for my advocacy as a patient, and how I bridged my identities as a researcher, patient, & advocate as a result. This episode provides tangible tips and resources for pursuing one's own independent research project, empowering anyone listening to forge their own path and believe in what's possible for them.

Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Checking in with ya'll!

(00:10:20) Introduction to the episode

Contextual episodes:

(00:19:25) EVENT REPLAY: IOCDF's OCD Con 2023 Keynote Address

(00:21:56) UPCOMING EVENTS:

(00:25:22 ) Context & background behind the inception of my independent research project

(00:38:30) How the project developed and evolved into posters, presentations, and awards

(01:00:25) How the project expedited my academic timeline, changed the course of my career, and contributed to getting into my Ph.D program

(01:22:56) Key takeaways and tangible tools to develop & pursue your own independent research project

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On episode 26 of A Chat with Uma, I dedicate a full episode to OCD awareness, in honor of OCD Awareness Week 2023. I provide a full primer on OCD 101 - all about what OCD is NOT, and what it IS. I share my full OCD story of onset, symptoms, misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, incorrect treatment, and what evidence-based treatment has looked like. I speak at length about my non-linear path within treatment, normalizing the coexistence of both suffering and recovery at once. I dismantle misconceptions and bust pervasive myths about what OCD is considered to be by popular culture, and discuss the repercussions of misinformation around OCD. Above all, I provide empowerment, validation, and hope around the OCD experience through speaking openly and honestly about all facets of living with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Intro, overview, why I am recording this episode today

(00:13:04) UPCOMING EVENT: Made of Millions OCD Socratic Seminar: BIPOC Representation in the OCD Space

(00:14:21) UPCOMING EVENT: ⁠IOCDF⁠ Live Stream Panel - Diversity Starts With UsTues. 9/26, 7 ET

(00:15:13) UPCOMING EVENT: IOCDF Advocate Instagram Live

(00:15:55) UPCOMING EVENT: OCD Gamechangers: Live Advocate Virtual Event

(00:17:04) UPCOMING EVENT + ANNOUNCEMENT: Online OCD Conference - KEYNOTE ADDRESS!

(00:18:16) ANNOUNCEMENT: Joining OCD Wisconsin's Board of Directors

(00:20:25) What OCD is NOT:

(00:38:18) What OCD actually IS:

(00:54:22) My FULL OCD story

(01:33:24) What evidence-based treatment & recovery has looked like for me

(01:45:02) Reconciling the time lost to misdiagnosis & lack of treatment

(01:55:04) Rapid-fire final OCD myth busting:

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On episode 25 of A Chat with Uma, I share my full journey of applying for graduate school as a non-traditional student with a very divergent & complicated academic + personal history. I share my experience in full detail of applying for clinical psychology Ph.D programs earlier on in my academic journey, and how + why I ultimately chose to pursue my masters in neuroscience. I discuss how vastly different my experience was as a student whose path was so divergent from anyone around me, and the resulting confusion about my future & chances due to having no basis + reference point about my own journey. I explain how I navigated the ambiguity of applying to Ph.D programs with my unique journey, and why I ultimately decided to try. I speak at length about every detail of my application experience as a non-traditional student: including disclosure in personal statements, my CV, internet/social media "outing," recommendation letters, interviews, and more. This episode serves to provide evidence & hope that pursuing academic endeavors as a non-traditional student with a divergent past IS possible. I share all of my advice, empowerment, experiences, and honest reflections from my experiences in the hopes that others feel valid & hopeful about forcing their own paths with their unique lived experiences.

Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Intro & overview of episode

(00:07:48) Update: ⁠Video + event recording repository⁠ of many past events

(00:10:18) UPCOMING EVENT: Hosting IOCDF's Community Conversations - Tues. 9/26, 7 ET

(00:11:35) EVENT REPLAY: Co-hosted IOCDF's Community Conversations with Tom Smalley

(00:12:23) EVENT REPLAY: IOCDF Diversity Roundtable on Suicide Prevention - with Dr. Darlene Davis Goodwine, Krista Reed, & Erika McCoy

(00:14:08) UPCOMING EVENT: Online IOCDF OCD Conference 2023 & ticket giveaway!

(00:16:55 ) Brief background from my undergraduate degree & considering next steps

Contextual episodes:

(00:23:33) Applying to grad school the first time

(00:32:46) Starting my masters degree in neuroscience

(00:41:55) The wide range of evaluations & judgments I received due to my unprecedented, non-traditional academic path

(00:45:48) How and why I decided to apply to Neuroscience Ph.D programs, in spite of the odds; How I "broke the rules" of the typical application process

(00:51:38) How I specifically chose schools, programs, and mentors as a non-traditional student

(01:02:53) How I "broke the rules" in navigating disclosure + talking about my non-traditional path as an applicant

(01:16:48) Recommendation letters:

(01:26:36) Ph.D Interviews: how they went, how I navigated disclosure, the results of my applications, closing out the episode

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On episode 24 of A Chat with Uma, I share a comprehensive overview of my experience and journey as a non-traditional question - informed and shaped by the many questions from listeners & this community on this topic! I first operationally define the concept of a non-traditional student, sharing the various contributing factors that give rise to holding this identity. I share my full timeline and trajectory as a non-traditional student, explaining the circumstances that contributed to my divergent journey. I speak to the unique barriers and obstacles that I faced as a non-traditional student in returning back to school, as well as further goals and aspirations that required disclosure of this identity/label. I share at length about the unique stigmas, judgments, and misperceptions placed on non-traditional students and the ways that I have navigated them so far. This episode serves to provide a voice to students who hold this title and reframe the way that we view divergent journeys. This episode also provides a safe and supportive space to validate and empower people from different walks of life to pursue this path with hope, pride, and ownership of their identities and lived experiences.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On episode 23 of A Chat with Uma, I provide an honest and unfiltered life update in light of many recent major life changes. I share openly and honestly about the difficulties I faced in moving to Wisconsin, and all that has transpired in this adjustment period. I speak about the struggles that contributed to my experience, as well as the steps I took to work through them. I talk through my most recent psychedelic experience and its contribution to the upward spiral that I have embarked upon since moving to Madison. I share from the heart about my recovery and healing process, and how it has looked far different than I ever expected. I share updates on my current treatment process, and I talk through the start of my Ph.D in neuroscience. Overall, this episode opens a window into the complexity and ever-evolving journey of recovery, discovery, healing, and growth that I am on, with the hope of creating a space for you to allow and accept the true nature of your own life experience with honesty and compassion.

Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Hello, check-in, overview of episode

(00:06:29) Update: Video + event recording repository of many past events

(00:08:53) Update: You can now support my work on Ko-Fi!

(00:11:21) Background on episode: where I was at our last life update/check-in

(00:18:47) Recap of this past summer and my state of being since graduating in May

(00:23:52) Reflections on my fear of fear, and working to accept my reality

(00:33:16) Recap of moving from Dallas to Madison

(00:39:57) My most recent psychedelic experience: why I did it, and all that resulted

(00:50:05) Reflections and updates on recovery, growth, and change post-session; Reflections on how living in Madison is unexpectedly supporting my healing

(00:58:46) Updates on where I am with therapy/treatment; Embarking on new treatment for my comorbid OCD & PTSD

(01:05:07) Updates on starting my Ph.D in Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Major changes I am making to my life & way of operating

(01:14:24) Final thoughts, reflections, calls to action, and hopes for the future

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On episode 22 of A Chat with Uma, I speak with Dr. Elizabeth Berry! Elizabeth Berry, Ph.D is a neuroscientist, addiction researcher, science communicator, artist, and digital creator. Dr. Berry just received her Ph.D in Cell Biology with a specialization in neuroscience from New York Medical College this past May. For her dissertation project, she focused on opioid addiction and the impact it has on specific neurons in the brain called orexin neurons. She is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Leonard’s lab, the lab she did her dissertation in, furthering the research she pursued during her PhD. In the future she hopes to work in an industry position as a scientist on neurodegenerative diseases. She is also the creator behind @nature.neuroscience.phd, her widely-regarded science communication and digital art platform.

In this episode, we discuss the following topics (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Introduction of episode & Dr. Elizabeth Berry

(00:04:07) Dr. Berry's journey to becoming a neuroscientist

(00:19:59) All about Dr. Berry's Ph.D experience

(00:31:49) Dr. Berry's addiction neuroscience research

(00:44:19) Dr. Berry's reflections on work/life balance as a researcher

(00:59:08) All about Dr. Berry's massively successful science communication platform

(01:08:38) All about Dr. Berry's career plans

(01:20:52) How Dr. Berry has utilized movement as a vital self-care tool through her intensive schedule

(01:25:01) DEEP rapid-fire final questions with Dr. Berry, and closing out the episode!

Connect with Dr. Elizabeth Berry:

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On episode 21 of A Chat with Uma, I speak with Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT! Kimberley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and public speaker who is the host of Your Anxiety Toolkit podcast, founder of CBT School, and owner of Kimberley Quinlan (A Marriage and Family Therapy Corporation) in Los Angeles, CA.  She is passionate about the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and related disorders, Eating Disorders and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, and provides one-on-one treatment and online courses for those who are struggling in these areas. Advocating for those with mental health disorders is also a huge part of her life mission, and she serves as a global advocate for the International OCD Foundation. She is also the founder of CBTSchool, an online psychoeducation platform where she offers support and research-based educational products to those who cannot access correct care. CBTSchool offers low-cost online courses and FREE resources for OCD, anxiety and BFRB’s. She is also the best-selling author of 'The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD: Lean into Your Fear, Manage Difficult Emotions, and Focus On Recovery' (2021).

In this episode, we discuss the following topics (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Introduction of episode & Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT

(00:04:35) How Kimberley became an OCD-specialized therapist

(00:10:39) How Kimberley's lived experience with anxiety, eating disorders, and being a personal trainer led her to becoming a mental health therapist; Being an OCD therapist without having OCD

(00:13:59): All about self-compassion

(00:30:22) About Kimberley's book: The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD: Lean into Your Fear, Manage Difficult Emotions, and Focus On Recovery' (2021)

(00:40:57) How Kimberley has made evidence-based OCD treatment education widely accessible through CBT School

(00:47:55) Discussion: does an OCD treatment provider need to have lived experience of OCD to provide the best therapeutic care?

(00:53:39): Kimberley's experience with chronic illness & having a disability

(01:10:20): Navigating boundaries and finding balance in life

(01:20:03) Kimberley's experience as an Australian immigrant; Navigating the grief + anxiety of living across the world from her family

(01:23:23) DEEP rapid-fire final questions with Kimberley, and closing out the episode!

Connect with Kimberley:

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On episode 20 of A Chat with Uma, I recap my experience at the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)'s 28th Annual OCD Conference & the 8th Annual IOCDF Research Symposium. I provide my key research takeaways from the perspective of an OCD neuroscientist & researcher with lived experience of OCD - about many important topics including psychedelics, ketamine, OCD genes, advanced epigenetic aging, comorbid OCD & PTSD + trauma, brain scans, and more. I share these research updates in accessible & digestible ways to continue bridging the gap between researchers & lived experience communities.

I also share my many experiences and reflections from my presentations and advocacy at the conference. I speak about my experience as a BIPOC patient and the influence of my identity on the ways I showed up at the conference. I also speak at length about the intersection of my identities as a researcher, trainee, and OCD survivor + advocate and the myriad of ways that my identities came together at this conference. This episode provides a comprehensive space for reflection, integration, and research updates for not only conference attendees, but those who were unable to attend in person.

Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Hello, check-in, moving update

(00:06:35) Introduction to episode

(00:09:08) Overview of OCD Con, IOCDF Research Symposium, & the unique nature + structure of this particular conference

(00:20:46) Research Update: OCD Genes & Advanced Epigenetic Aging - Dr. Evelyn Stewart

(00:28:24) Research Update: Ketamine Trials for OCD - Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez

(00:38:41) Recap: Research Symposium poster presentation; Full-circle reflection of my growth as a researcher with lived experience; Beginning at OCD Con last year

(00:46:34) Recap: BIPOC Community Support Group

(00:54:44) Recap: In My Shoes - Highlighting The Realities of the BIPOC & Cultural Road To Recovery

(00:58:32) Recap: Psychedelics & OCD - Discussing the Current State of Psychedelic Research as Potential OCD Treatments

(01:18:14) Recap + Update: OCD & Medication - Brain Scan Discussion

(01:23:27) Research Update: Comorbid OCD & PTSD + Trauma

(01:28:18) Final reflections, hopes, and future directions

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On episode 19 of A Chat with Uma, I discuss my experience and history as a disabled person, in honor of Disability Pride Month. This is a raw episode, sharing my history with physical, psychiatric, and cognitive disabilities - both lifelong and more recently developed. I share my unfiltered experiences of discrimination, stigma, ableism, and the repercussions of these chronic experiences. I speak at length about the realities of disability justice (or lack thereof) and the need for true unlearning, advocacy, rebuilding, and action. This episode is meant to be a space of reflection, solidarity, validation, and honesty for those who live with disabilities and those who truly desire to advocate for & be an ally for disabled people.

Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Introduction & what inspired this episode

(00:08:03): Operational definition & discussion of what disabilities are

(00:09:26): Overview of my physical disabilities & their effects; history of misdiagnosis, ableism, and unlearning

(00:24:40): Overview of my psychiatric mental disabilities & their effects

(00:33:14): Overview of my cognitive mental disabilities & their effects

(00:39:14): The pervasive effects of ableism

(01:01:27): Calls to action for changes, talking about future & further advocacy

Some Disability Resources & Advocates:

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On episode 18 of A Chat with Uma, I speak with Dr. Ana Maria De Souza! Ana Maria De Souza, Ph.D, is a Brazilian cognitive neuroscientist, who is passionate about bridging the gap between researchers, clinicians, and the public. She has completed an undergraduate degree and a Master's in Psychology in Brazil, and moved to the UK to pursue a Ph.D at the University of Cambridge with some of the most renowned OCD researchers in the world. She is committed to translating brain research into publicly available treatments for OCD and empowering individuals to make fully informed choices.

In this episode, we discuss the following topics (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Introduction of episode & Dr. Ana Maria De Souza

(00:4:50): Dr. De Souza's lived experience with conditions and how that led her to become a neuropsychologist

(00:13:18): How Dr. De Souza then pivoted from neuropsychology/clinical practice to cognitive neuroscience

(00:19:00): How Dr. De Souza began studying OCD

(00:27:07): Dr. De Souza's operational definition and conceptualization of OCD as a neuropsychologist, cognitive neuroscientist, and researcher (important to listen to!)

(00:34:23): The neuroscience of OCD, in the context of Dr. De Souza's research + work; Differentiating OCD from anxiety/anxiety disorders

(00:43:44): Newest unpublished findings from Dr. De Souza's lab and research!

(00:56:08): Dr. De Souza & colleagues' newest (+ groundbreaking!) Nature paper on Glutamate + GABA chemical imbalances in OCD patients

(01:07:56): The critical importance of science communication and consuming research responsibly

(01:21:37): Limitations, caveats, and considerations around Dr. De Souza & colleagues' findings; limitations on research in general, at this time

(01:25:44): DEEP rapid-fire final questions with Dr. De Souza, and closing out the episode!

Connect with Dr. Ana Maria De Souza:

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