Navigating the complexities of the U.S. mental health care landscape can be challenging, which is why we’ve invited Dr. Cleo Booker to share her insights on this week's episode.

Dr. Booker, a licensed clinical psychologist, currently spearheads as the Chief Clinical Operations Officer at Forge Health. Her diverse professional journey has included pivotal roles such as the Behavioral Health Advisor for the State of Virginia, focusing on their State Medicaid Agency, and overseeing the integration of behavioral health into preventative care at Optum Health within UnitedHealth.

This episode should be helpful for you if you're seeing a therapist, contemplating therapy, or simply eager to comprehend the broader mental health scene in the U.S.

Host: Brent Franson, Founder & CEO, Most Days

Guest: Dr. Cleo Booker

Music: Patrick Lee

Producer: Patrick Godino

Navigating the complexities of the U.S. mental health care landscape can be challenging, which is why we’ve invited Dr. Cleo Booker to share her insights on this week's episode.

Dr. Booker, a licensed clinical psychologist, currently spearheads as the Chief Clinical Operations Officer at Forge Health. Her diverse professional journey has included pivotal roles such as the Behavioral Health Advisor for the State of Virginia, focusing on their State Medicaid Agency, and overseeing the integration of behavioral health into preventative care at Optum Health within UnitedHealth.

This episode should be helpful for you if you're seeing a therapist, contemplating therapy, or simply eager to comprehend the broader mental health scene in the U.S.

Host: Brent Franson, Founder & CEO, Most Days

Guest: Dr. Cleo Booker

Music: Patrick Lee

Producer: Patrick Godino

In this episode, we speak with Sir Simon Baron-Cohen about autism. Simon is a Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge and the Director of the Autism Research Centre. He is also the author of over 600 peer-reviewed scientific articles and many books, including most recently ‘The Pattern Seekers’. Recently knighted, he is also the Vice-President of the National Autistic Society and a National Institute of Health Research Senior Investigator.

During our conversation, Simon sheds light on key topics surrounding autism, helping to demystify common misconceptions and provide a deeper understanding. We delve into essential discussions about diagnosis, intervention timelines, communication variances, and the spectrum of functionality among individuals with autism.

Whether you’re directly affected by autism or simply wish to broaden your knowledge on the matter, this episode offers valuable insights and understanding directly from a leading expert in the field.

Host: Brent Franson, Founder & CEO, Most Days

Guest: William Porter

Music: Patrick Lee

Producer: Patrick Godino

In this episode, William Porter, author of Alcohol Explained, tackles the common myths and misconceptions about alcohol that many of us hold. 

William, a former addict turned lawyer and veteran, brings a unique perspective grounded in both personal experience and a rational, objective analysis of alcohol. His approach isn’t about promoting absolute abstinence or vilifying drinkers but rather providing you with straightforward facts to help you understand and reassess your relationship with alcohol.

Throughout the conversation, William methodically deconstructs the falsehoods often believed about alcohol - that it aids sleep, serves as a crucial social lubricant, or offers relaxation after a stressful day. With a candid and no-nonsense approach, this episode illuminates the actual effects of alcohol on our bodies and minds, equipping you with valuable information to navigate your drinking habits consciously and mindfully. 

Whether you are considering moderation, quitting, or merely reflecting on your drinking, this episode offers essential insights for everyone.

Host: Brent Franson, Founder & CEO, Most Days

Guest: William Porter

Music: Patrick Lee

Producer: Patrick Godino

This episode features Dr. William Selig on Bi-Polar Disorder.  

Dr. Selig is a clinical psychologist with a doctorate from Stanford. He is currently in private practice at The Wise Mind Institute and previously co-founded and coordinated the Dialectical Behavior Therapy program at Kaiser in Oakland. He is also the author of the book "When Your Partner has Bipolar Disorder."

In this conversation, we explore various facets of Bipolar Disorder ranging from its impact and prevalence to its different types and treatment options.  The episode is intended to provide a nuanced understanding of bi-polar, empowering you with the information you need for yourself or to support others.

Upon reflecting on my only previous solo episode, “The Story of Most Days”, I realized that I had narrated my personal journey of transformation primarily through the lens of habit change. This perspective, while important, is not all-encompassing.

The decisions that greatly influence the quality of our lives span a spectrum. On one end, we have our habits – the choices we make (or avoid) on most days. On the other, there are the pivotal life decisions we make only a few times in our lifetime. These encompass fundamental questions each of us grapples with:

• Who do we choose to share our life with?

• Where do we decide to live?

• What career path do we pursue?

• Do we choose to have children?

• How do we allocate “off the grid” time for personal growth?

Finding the right answers to these questions and making the necessary life changes is as important as it is difficult and scary.  In this episode, I delve into my own experiences and the thought process behind my answers to these questions.

In this week’s episode, we're joined by Dr. Nzinga Harrison, a board-certified physician specializing in psychiatry and addiction medicine. Serving as the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Eleanor Health, a mental health and addiction treatment entity, Dr. Harrison also holds an adjunct faculty position at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

During our discussion, Dr. Harrison elaborates on the distinction between psychologists and psychiatrists, and offers a comprehensive definition of addiction, emphasizing its nature as "a treatable, chronic medical disease" that is deeply rooted in complex interactions involving genetics, brain circuits, environment, and individual life experiences. 

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Tyler Johnson about cancer prevention. 

We begin by exploring the essence of cancer before delving into the multifaceted ways we can address its prevention - both through lifestyle choices and proactive screening approaches. 

Dr. Johnson is a clinical assistant professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine  He is also a practicing medical oncologist who sees patients with all types of gastrointestinal malignancies and particularly focuses on patients with neuroendocrine tumors, colon cancer, and pancreas cancer.

The reality is that cancer touches all our lives in one form or another. But, by deepening our understanding of it and learning how to either prevent it or detect it early, we empower ourselves for a healthier future.

In this episode with dive into the complex topic of psychopaths and psychopathy with Dr. David Kosson. Dr. Kosson obatined his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was as an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has had an ongoing faculty position at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago since 1994. Dr. Kosson has also was the president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy from 2011 to 2013. Currently, he serves as the president of the Aftermath: Surviving Psychopathy Foundation, which is focused on educating the public about psychopathy and its societal implications.

In this episode, Dr. Kosson guides us through an in-depth understanding of psychopathy. We clarify definitions, debunk myths, and explore its prevalence. We discuss how to identify psychopathy around us, its impact on relationships and daily life, and the underlying genetic and environmental factors.  We hope this episode offers a thorough yet digestible perspective on the complex subject of psychopathy.

Today’s episode is without a guest–it is simply me sharing how my own life experience led to starting Most Days.  I did not rehearse, nor were there multiple takes, so please forgive the unfiltered thought to microphone nature of the episode.

I’ve yearned to share candidly about my own struggles and failures for sometime, likely to make sense of my life as much for myself as anybody else.  I’ve hesitated because I fear that my failures are too small for those who have endured more or too much for those who have been lucky enough to trod a gentler path.

I do believe that the treasures of life are discovered on the other side of the ominous door you find at the end of the dark cave.  They start to reveal themselves the moment you decide to step through the door, after you feel your heart rate rise, take a deep breath, and plunge forward into the unknown.

I don’t mean to overstate the courage of sharing some of my many weaknesses or convey that this is some great artifact. There are unequivocally far more courageous acts and stories better told.

I do hope you can see yourself in me in the same way I see myself in so many others who have shared their stories.  If not, I just hope to have not wasted your most precious resource.