Season 1: complete! In this wrap-up episode, Margaret and I reflect on what it’s been like building this show from scratch—while also being full-time psychiatry residents. We talk about favorite episodes, unexpected challenges, what we’re still figuring out, and what’s ahead for Season 2. We also answer listener questions about training, creativity, psychedelics, and the eternal search for balance when your brain wants art and your calendar says “clinic.” There’s some honesty, some gratitude, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes chaos.

Takeaways:

This podcast started as exposure therapy—and became a little bit of everything.

Talking into a mic is not the same as talking into a TikTok. (Spoiler: I struggled way more than I thought I would.)

My favorite episodes? The ones that made us play. Guest experts, weird improv scenes, and stuff we’ll probably regret saying on camera.

We’re learning in public—about psychiatry, about medicine, and about ourselves. And yeah, we definitely got some things wrong along the way.

We’re not stopping. Season 2 is coming, and we’re getting even weirder (and maybe wiser) next time.

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

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In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Nikki Haddad, we went from couples therapy theory to Simpsons cosplay, and yes—it was as chaotic and illuminating as it sounds. Margaret and I roleplay Homer and Marge in a fictional session while Nikki breaks down what’s actually happening between us (emotionally, not just cartoonishly). Along the way, we talk about heteronormativity, escapism, parenting exhaustion, and the red flags that get mistaken for romance. It’s part improv, part therapy, part meltdown. But somehow, it makes sense.

Takeaways:

Couples therapy gets real fast when you’re pretending to be Homer Simpson. And somehow, the emotional truth still lands.

Escapism isn’t always the problem—sometimes it’s the signal. Nikki helps us unpack how conflict, withdrawal, and resentment show up underneath the surface.

Heteronormativity shows up even when you think you’re past it. From breadwinner guilt to emotional labor, we talk about the roles we don’t realize we’re playing.

Being a therapist in the room with two people pretending to fall apart is harder than it looks. Nikki walks us through what she watches for—and what she doesn’t say out loud.

Yes, we were roleplaying. No, we were not okay. But that’s what makes this one worth listening to.

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Want more Dr. Nikki Haddad:

IG: @nikkiiiirose

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In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Nikki Haddad—Margaret's residency best friend, couples and sex therapist, and one of the most thoughtful psychiatrists I know—to break down what makes romantic relationships so damn hard. We get into myths we’ve carried (and tried to shake), how sexual issues are rarely just about sex, and why our training in medicine doesn’t prepare us to talk about any of this. Nikki then walks us through the five developmental stages of a relationship and this is only Part 1. Be sure to stay tuned next week for Part 2 of the conversation!

Takeaways:

I used to think the right relationship should feel easy. Turns out, the real ones take work, discomfort, and occasionally arguing over ice cream.

Nikki taught us that sex issues aren’t just about the act—they’re a doorway to everything else we avoid.

I finally learned what “differentiation” means in a relationship—and why it feels like breaking up with your past self.

Couples therapy isn’t just two people yelling about chores. It’s a roadmap, a mirror, and a lot of basketball metaphors.

Yes, Margaret and I roleplayed a fictional couple. Yes, I did an accent. No, we will not be taking questions.

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Want more Dr. Nikki Haddad:

IG: @nikkiiiirose

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

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We opened up the inbox and wow… y’all really came through. In this first-ever Q&A episode, Margaret and I answer your questions about coping during med school, surviving feedback, dealing with emotional exhaustion in residency, and why outpatient goodbyes feel like actual breakups. I also overshare about marathon training (again), Margaret brings the wisdom and the theater metaphors, and we all learn what bald eagles actually sound like. It’s a mix of serious, strange, and unexpectedly honest—basically, peak us.

Takeaways:

What if taking feedback wasn’t about defending yourself—but just... listening? It took me a while to get there. Still working on it.

Graduating patients from therapy might be the hardest part of residency. Margaret gets into what that really feels like.

Coping doesn’t always look like wellness. Sometimes it looks like boundary-setting, running way too far, or just... wearing real pants again.

The match will mess with your head. But six months into residency? You’ll probably be right where you need to be.

Can we measure healing in showers taken, not symptoms cured? Asking for a friend. And all of psychiatry.

Watch on YouTube: @itspresro

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

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This week, I learned I have a pelvic floor. And yes, I realize I’m a doctor and should’ve known that already. Margaret and I talk with pelvic floor physical therapist and viral educator Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, who somehow made me breathe through my butt on mic. We cover everything from incontinence and pelvic pain to TikTok fame, trauma-informed care, and the surprisingly emotional world of core stability. Alicia breaks down the science and the stigma behind one of the most misunderstood parts of the body—and I try to keep up while sitting on a pillow and trying not to Kegel too hard.

Takeaways:

I didn’t know I had a pelvic floor until this episode. Spoiler: everyone has one. Yes, even you.

Turns out, anxiety might live in your hips. Alicia explains how mental health and physical tension are way more connected than I realized.

We talk about peeing “just in case” more than I ever expected to on this podcast. And it’s weirdly important.

Margaret brought the neuroscience, Alicia brought the pelvic models, and I brought... confusion and curiosity. It actually worked.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, this one’s for you. And if you haven’t—congrats on being a floating brain, I guess.

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Want more Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas:

IG / TT: @thepelvicdancefloor

Website: http://www.thepelvicdancefloor.com

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

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In the last episode, Preston demonstrated to Margaret how to properly conduct a mindfulness meditation session. Due to popular demand, the sage spiritual guide is back.

Takeaways:

Preston can’t lead a meditation

Margaret shouldn’t let him try

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Watch on YouTube: @itspresro

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

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Music: “Peaceful, Reiki, Meditation, Calm, Healing Music [ NO COPYRIGHT ]” by Moon Meditation Music // License: Creative Commons Attribution License 

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In Episode 16, Preston and Margaret dive into the chaos of overnight residency, the reality of sleep deprivation, and how mindfulness can backfire when your brain just won’t sit still. From ruined meditations to hot girl walks through hospital hallways, they unpack what real-world coping actually looks like—before, during, and after the hardest moments.

Takeaways:

Coping doesn’t always look like calm. Sometimes it looks like sour gummy worms, a midnight hospital lap, or an espresso ritual that holds your brain together.

Mindfulness is hard—especially when you need it most. Preston and Margaret explore why stillness can feel unbearable and what that reveals.

The ‘right’ tool at the wrong time can make things worse. They break down when distraction works, when it doesn’t, and why guilt shouldn’t be part of the equation.

Safety plans might be broken. What happens when you’re just checking boxes—and how can we make them matter again?

Sometimes the coping skill is just surviving. This episode redefines success as doing what you can with what you’ve got, even if it's messy.

Watch on YouTube: @itspresro

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

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In Episode 15, Preston and Margaret open a bottle—of questions, stories, and science—about alcohol use disorder. What do we get wrong about “moderate” drinking? Why is detox more dangerous than most people realize? And how does alcohol quietly reshape identity, relationships, and the brain itself? With their signature blend of honesty and humor, they explore the unexpected ways drinking shows up in medicine, the myths that keep us stuck, and the messy, meaningful path to redefining recovery.

Takeaways:

What if “just a drink” isn’t so simple? Preston and Margaret explore how subtle patterns can blur the line between social drinking and something more.

Could quitting be more dangerous than drinking? There’s a reason detox needs to be taken seriously—and it’s not what you think.

What does alcohol really do to your brain? Let’s just say it’s a little more complicated than relaxation and red wine.

Why don’t we talk about medication for alcohol use disorder? The answers are as cultural as they are clinical.

Is recovery a destination—or something else entirely? Margaret and Preston unpack a version of success that doesn’t always fit the script.

Watch on YouTube: @itspresro

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

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In Episode 14, Preston and Margaret dive into social anxiety disorder and the loneliness epidemic. From embarrassing childhood memories to awkward club encounters, they explore how social anxiety shows up in everyday life and how it differs from normal nerves. They also discuss the surgeon general’s definition of loneliness, the role of social media in increasing perceived judgment, and the neuroscience behind facial recognition, fear responses, and serotonin's impact on the amygdala.

Takeaways:

Social Anxiety Is More Than Shyness: It becomes a disorder when it causes persistent distress, distorted perceptions of judgment, and leads to avoidance of meaningful activities.

Loneliness Is Subjective—and Epidemic: According to the U.S. Surgeon General, loneliness stems not just from solitude but from perceived lack of meaningful connection, and it has major mental and physical health consequences.

Social Media Can Amplify Anxiety: Being constantly seen—and judged—online may intensify social anxiety, even for those who appear confident or well-known.

Your Brain Is Wired to Care: Structures like the amygdala, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex play key roles in social fear, facial recognition, and rejection sensitivity—and they’re all modifiable with therapy and medication.

Healing Is Gradual and Personal: CBT, SSRIs, and compassionate exposure therapy can retrain the brain’s fear circuits—but treatment must match the individual’s goals, beliefs, and readiness for change.

Watch on YouTube: @itspresro

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

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In this episode, Preston and Margaret take a deep dive into the science of running, exercise culture, and its impact on mental health. They explore the history of running, how it went from an obscure activity to a cultural phenomenon, and the physiological and psychological mechanisms that make it such a powerful mental health tool. They also unpack the identity crisis that can come with being an athlete, how running became the millennial version of church, and why dance might actually be a better form of exercise for mental health than running (gasp!).

Takeaways:

Running Changes the Brain: It increases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), neuroplasticity, and ketone metabolism, all of which may protect against depression and cognitive decline.

The History of Running is Wild: Running wasn’t always a mainstream activity—it went from being a niche Olympic event to one of the most popular fitness trends of the modern era.

Exercise Culture Shapes Identity: Many athletes struggle to transition after competitive sports, often searching for structure, purpose, and a new relationship with movement.

Dance Might Actually Be Better for Mental Health: Research suggests dancing has stronger effects on mood and cognition than running, likely due to its social, rhythmic, and sensory components.

The Best Exercise is the One You’ll Do: While running has profound mental health benefits, the most effective workout is one that is enjoyable and sustainable for the long term.

Watch on YouTube: @itspresro

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content

Get in Touch: howtobepatientpod.com

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