Alphabet Soup: A Mental Health & Medicine Podcast

Hey! I’m your host Neva Hidajat and I’m thrilled to begin creating season 2 of Alphabet Soup. If you follow me on Instagram, @alphabetsoup.podcast, you’ll know that the theme of this season will be Cancer. According to 2020 Global Cancer Statistics, the disease affects an estimated 19.3 million people worldwide. Of course, these numbers are devastating not only to the victims themselves but also to their loved ones. But amid the discouraging rates, there are also millions of people around the globe working for the cancer cause through research, care, advancing medical treatments, raising funds, and spreading awareness.  

My goal for season 2 of the podcast is to join the cancer cause by using this platform to invite guests who have valuable information on cancer and stories about the disease, and to share these precious conversations with as many people as I can. If you remember from the trailer for season 1, in which my goal was for alphabet soup to be a gateway to discovery, that vision has not changed. By having a theme this season, I believe we can truly gain a deeper understanding of a subject. 

You can look forward to these engaging episodes which are to come in the near future. But first, I hope you’ll join me as I kick off season 2 with an episode about growth, featuring a very special guest: the host of the podcast Let’s Talk About Mental Health. Because it’s always nice to start something new with a reminder that as long as you believe you can do it, you will!

Why is it important to reflect? Learn about reflecting on Alphabet Soup today. 

A new mental health curriculum law was passed in the State of California on January 10th, 2022. How will this law change the mental health conversation? and how can we also contribute to the growing mental health movement. Never underestimate the power of conversation. Press play! 

Holliday- induced stress is the worst. Today's episode covers ways to ease your holiday stress through simple methods! Also covered is a list of scientifically-proven healthy gift ideas for your loved ones.




Some NY Times recommended books for healthy living:
-        How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be – Katy Milkman

-        Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity – Joesph G. Allen and John D. Macomber

-        Poetry RX: How 50 Inspiring Poems Can heal and Bring joy to Your Life – Dr. Norman Rosenthal

-        The New Normal: A Roadmap to Resilience in the Pandemic Era – Dr. Jennifer Ashton

-        Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind – Dr. Judson Brewer. 

Join Neva as she talks about the intriguing possibility of ghost surgeries. What kind of dilemma would propel a surgeon to swap patients mid-surgery, without the consent of the patient?  Ultimately, could ghost surgery be the right decision depending on the circumstance? Listen to the episode to find out how Neva reasons through this moral gray area. What would you do in this situation?

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not intended to discredit the merit of the healthcare industry in any way. Rather to explore the possibilities of a rare medical scenario. 

As over 20 school districts extend Thanksgiving Break to a full 10-day holiday, some teenagers may be experiencing something reminiscent to the isolation of quarantine, this time, with the heightened anxiety of FOMO! Neva talks about how she is trying to make this Thanksgiving break a therapeutic reset by setting some goals. Listen for more! 

It always seems like new problems pop up every time we solve an old one. We can't get rid of this problem loop, but we can improve the quality of our problems! 

Today we explore the ancient practice of bathing in mineral waters! Balneotherapy is one of the most luxurious ways to relax and has evolved into a popular method in many countries from Belgium to Japan today! We'll also talk about how you can experience balneotherapy from the comfort of your own home. Hit play to learn more! 

Neva talks about 5 spooky, but real medical conditions including Alien Hand Syndrome, sleep paralysis, Porphyria, hypertrichosis and exploding head syndrome. 

Children's games, debt-ridden players, and a death penalty... These are a few of the components that make up Squid Game's satirical plot. But what exactly made the show so addicting to watch? The answer lies in the psychology of addictive behavior. Listen to find out more!