Send us Fan Mail

Back-to-school season brings more than new backpacks and fresh supplies; it can also bring big feelings for kids and parents alike.

Sarah and Crystal talk about first-day nerves, attachment and separation, fitting in, bullying, academic pressure, neurodivergence, IEPs and 504 plans, and the financial and emotional stress parents carry while trying to help their kids adjust.

🎒 A rough first day does not mean a rough year, and needing support does not mean anyone is failing.

Helpful Resources:
Back-to-School Tips: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/back-to-school-tips.aspx
Bullying Support: https://www.stopbullying.gov/
IEP Resources for Families: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/parents-families/
Mental Health Crisis Support: Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/

Marionette Dolls Podcast 🎪🖤 — Pulling back the curtain on the human mind.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Sarah and Crystal are back with a life update and podcast reset after missing two episodes. Sarah shares about grief, a new narcolepsy diagnosis, medication changes, chronic pain, and learning to pace herself while starting an intensive grad school season.

They also pull back the curtain on podcasting as a passion project: the costs, the behind-the-scenes work, Buzzsprout, subscriptions, and why having a podcast does not automatically mean making money.

It’s honest, funny, a little messy, and very human. Because sometimes you have main-character energy… but your body, budget, and schedule are still running on side-quest capacity.

Content note: grief, medication side effects, serotonin syndrome, mania symptoms, narcolepsy, chronic pain, and mental health.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

This week, Sarah and Crystal descend into the strange, whisper-filled world of ASMR. Why do some people drift off to sleep listening to tapping, page turning, and soft voices, while others feel irrational rage, discomfort, or the overwhelming urge to throw their headphones into the nearest wall?

We explore the history of ASMR, what researchers think is happening in the brain, the connection to relaxation and sleep, and why certain sounds and visuals can trigger fear, disgust, sensory overload, or even phobias. From misophonia and medical fears to trypophobia, personal space, awkward roleplays, and the psychology of why one person's comfort is another person's nightmare, we're pulling back the curtain on one of the internet's most misunderstood phenomena.

Listener Warning: This episode contains discussions of phobias, needles, medical procedures, trypophobia, sensory triggers, misophonia, anxiety, and other topics that may be uncomfortable for some listeners. No triggering sounds are played, but they are discussed throughout the episode.

Want to learn more?

• ASMR Research Review: National Library of Medicine ASMR Study
• ASMR and Mood/Relaxation Research: More Than a Feeling: ASMR Research
• Understanding Phobias: NHS Phobias Guide
• Phobia Self-Help Information: NHS Inform Phobia Guide

Because sometimes a whisper feels like a lullaby... and sometimes it feels like a threat. 🎪🖤

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Fireworks can represent celebration to one person and danger to another. Sarah and Crystal explain PTSD using the DSM-5-TR, explore how the brain reacts to trauma reminders, and discuss why fireworks may affect veterans, first responders, survivors of violence, people with sensory sensitivities, children, and animals.

They also share ways individuals, families, neighbors, and pet owners can prepare for the holiday with greater awareness and compassion.

Content note: This episode discusses PTSD, combat, gun violence, domestic violence, trauma, substance use, and suicide-prevention resources.

This episode is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care.

Resources

VA: Fireworks and PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/fireworks_ptsd.asp

VA National Center for PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov

PTSD Coach App and Online Tools
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/ptsdcoach_app.asp

National Institute of Mental Health: PTSD Information
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

SAMHSA Treatment Locator
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/locators

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 in the United States.
https://988lifeline.org

Veterans Crisis Line
Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net

AVMA Fourth of July Pet Safety
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/july-4-safety

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

What if the brain begins showing warning signs before memory loss becomes obvious?

Sarah and Crystal break down Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, mild cognitive impairment, EEG, and early screening in clear, everyday language. Sarah also shares her connection to the research as a student who has taken several classes with University of West Florida professor Dr. James Arruda and completed coursework related to FVEP-P2.

Dr. Arruda’s research studies how quickly the brain responds to flashes of light and whether that response could become one useful clue for detecting early Alzheimer’s-related changes. The episode also recognizes the years of patience, testing, and persistence behind his recent patent milestone.

This is Part One of a two-part series. Send us your questions about memory loss, Alzheimer’s, caregiving, early screening, or common misconceptions for our planned interview with Dr. Arruda in Part Two.

[email protected]

This episode is educational and is not medical advice.

Research and News

UWF patent announcement:
https://news.uwf.edu/uwf-professor-receives-u-s-patent-for-early-alzheimers-detection-technology/

2020 FVEP-P2 research review:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32562653/

2021 FVEP-P2 wavelength study:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33610644/

WUWF Pensacola news coverage:
https://www.wuwf.org/local-news/2024-01-03/early-alzheimers-detection-is-a-team-effort-at-uwf

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Fatherhood is often reduced to stereotypes the grill master, the provider, the guy who falls asleep in the recliner halfway through a movie. But behind those stereotypes are real people navigating responsibility, identity, mental health, relationships, and the lasting impact they have on the lives of their children.

In this Father's Day special, Sarah and Crystal explore the psychology of fatherhood, from the fathers who stayed to the fathers who were absent, the men breaking generational cycles, and the challenges many fathers carry silently. We discuss paternal mental health, emotional expression, attachment, grief, father figures, and what children actually remember long after childhood ends.

Whether you have a great relationship with your father, a complicated one, or are still healing from what was missing, this episode examines fatherhood as a deeply human experience messy, meaningful, imperfect, and incredibly influential.

Resources for Fathers and Mental Health

• National Fatherhood Initiative
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Postpartum Support International – Fathers & Partners Resources
• Mental Health America
• SAMHSA National Helpline
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Disclaimer: Marionette Dolls Podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not provide medical, psychological, or legal advice. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact 988 or seek emergency assistance in your area.

🎪 Marionette Dolls Podcast
🖤 Pulling back the curtain on the human mind.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Why do people get tattoos?

For some, they're works of art. For others, they're reminders of the people they've loved, the battles they've survived, or the identities they've built along the way. In this episode of Psycho Babble, Sarah and Crystal explore the fascinating psychology behind tattoos and why humans have been marking their bodies for thousands of years.

From ancient tattoo traditions and cultural identity to memorial tattoos, trauma recovery, self-expression, belonging, and even tattoo regret, we examine what tattoos can reveal about human behavior and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.

Along the way, we discuss grief, healing, pain, stereotypes, first impressions, and why a simple piece of ink can carry a lifetime of meaning.

Whether you're covered in tattoos, have one you've been hiding from your parents for years, or have never considered getting one at all, this episode explores the psychology behind one of humanity's oldest forms of self-expression.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Birthday's are supposed to be fun... right?

So why do so many people feel anxious, awkward, overwhelmed, guilty, lonely, or emotionally exhausted when their birthday comes around?

In this episode, Sarah and Crystal pull back the curtain on the psychology behind birthdays, gift-giving, social expectations, and the surprisingly complicated emotions tied to celebrations. From the history of birthday traditions to the anxiety of opening gifts in front of a crowd, they explore why a day meant to celebrate us can sometimes feel like a social performance.

Whether you're the person planning the party, hiding from the party, or trying to survive being sung to in public, this episode is for you.

Resources

Social Anxiety & Anxiety Information

• Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA)
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Anxiety Disorders

Autism & Neurodiversity Resources

• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
• Autism Society of America

Mental Health Support

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Mental Health America

The Marionette Dolls Podcast is educational and discussion-based and is not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric care. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to a qualified healthcare professional or one of the resources listed above.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Sarah and Crystal discuss childhood behavioral disorders, emotional dysregulation, ODD, Conduct Disorder, trauma, school systems, parenting stress, and the barriers families face trying to access mental healthcare for children.

This episode explores behavioral escalation, labeling, school discipline, trauma, evaluations, therapy access, and why early intervention matters before children fall through the cracks.

Resources & More Information

• 988 Lifeline
• NAMI
• Child Mind Institute
• AACAP — ODD in Children
• Conduct Disorder Information

Educational discussion only. Not a substitute for professional care.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Motherhood is often described as magical but rarely honest.

In this Mother’s Day special, Sarah and Crystal talk about the realities people don’t prepare women for: pregnancy complications, labor trauma, postpartum depression, anxiety, rage, identity loss, feeding struggles, relationship changes, burnout, and the overwhelming pressure placed on mothers to survive all of it silently.

This episode discusses maternal mental health, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding pressure, formula stigma, invisible labor, and the psychological realities of becoming a parent.

You are not failing because motherhood is hard.

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available:

• Postpartum Support International
  
  
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  
  
• SAMHSA National Helpline
  
  
• March of Dimes — Postpartum Depression Resources
  
  
• Office on Women’s Health — Pregnancy & Mental Health
  
  

This episode includes discussions of traumatic birth experiences, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, feeding struggles, and maternal burnout.

The Marionette Dolls Podcast is educational and discussion-based and is not a replacement for medical or mental health care.

Support the show