In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Douglas Novotny, a clinical psychologist with more than 25 years of clinical experience and over 15 years of teaching and supervising therapists.

Together, we explore a deceptively simple question:

What do we mean when we say "culture"?

Over time, the meaning of culture has shifted dramatically. Once centered around shared values, traditions, and ways of living, culture is increasingly discussed through categories, identities, and labels. Dr. Novotny examines how these changes influence psychology, education, relationships, and the broader social fabric.

In this episode, we discuss:

Drawing from decades of clinical experience, interdisciplinary training, and his work through Your Positive Sum, Dr. Novotny offers a thoughtful perspective on how we can move beyond division and build healthier relationships, stronger communities, and a more constructive public conversation.

This episode is for anyone interested in psychology, culture, identity, education, leadership, and the future of human flourishing.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this powerful and deeply human episode, we sit down with Tim McDonald, a Stage IV colorectal cancer survivor, advocate, and author, to hear his extraordinary story of resilience, courage, and self-advocacy.

Tim opens up about the emotional, physical, and psychological realities of navigating a life-changing cancer diagnosis—and how learning to advocate for himself became one of the most important parts of his journey. Through his experience, he discovered that surviving serious illness often requires more than treatment alone: it requires finding your voice, asking hard questions, and refusing to disappear inside the system.

In this episode, we discuss:

This conversation is not only for those affected by cancer, but for anyone navigating hardship, caregiving, or personal transformation. Tim’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, people can reclaim agency, meaning, and hope.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this episode, we sit down with Jake Freeman — licensed marriage and family therapist, Marine Corps veteran, and organizational development consultant known by many as “The People’s Therapist.”

Based in Montana, Jake brings a unique blend of military leadership, systems thinking, and clinical insight into the therapy room. After serving over a decade as a Marine Corps officer in Civil Affairs, legal, and HR roles, he transitioned into mental health with a mission: to create the kind of therapist he himself could never find.

Through his practice, CareerFlex, Jake works with high-performing couples, executives, and men who often feel disconnected from traditional therapy models. His approach is direct, relational, and grounded in accountability — focusing not just on insight, but on meaningful transformation.

In this conversation, we explore:

This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, responsibility, and creating spaces where people can engage honestly without performance or pretense.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Malphrus, a Licensed Certified Social Worker (Clinical) with over a decade of experience helping adolescents and adults navigate meaningful personal growth—especially men who often feel underserved by traditional mental health care.

We begin with a critical and timely topic: why so many boys are labeled with behavioral issues in school—and what might be misunderstood beneath the surface. From there, the conversation expands into the broader mental health challenges facing men and boys, and why many struggle to find support that truly resonates.

Ryan shares his psychodynamic approach to therapy, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s full life story and building a real, honest therapeutic relationship where nothing is off-limits.

In this episode, we explore:

Ryan’s work is rooted in the belief that true growth happens not just through insight—but through experiencing a different kind of relationship, one built on honesty, curiosity, and acceptance.

This episode is for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of men’s mental health, therapy, and personal growth—whether you're a client, parent, or practitioner.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this important and nuanced episode, we welcome back Adam Coleman III to explore a complex and often overlooked issue within the U.S. supply chain: the realities surrounding undocumented labor in the trucking industry.

This conversation goes beyond headlines. It examines the human, economic, and ethical layers behind how goods move across the country—and the people who make it possible.

Together, we discuss:

At its core, this episode is not about division—it’s about awareness, responsibility, and empathy. It asks us to consider the unseen human stories behind everyday systems and to approach these realities with both clarity and compassion.

This episode is for anyone interested in labor ethics, immigration, supply chains, and human dignity.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Leslie Elliott Boyce, an independent coach and consultant with a background in clinical mental health counseling, to explore how the counseling profession has evolved—and how graduate education has played a central role in shaping it.

Leslie, co-founder of Solid Ground and host of The Radical Center, brings a thoughtful and balanced perspective to the conversation, examining how training programs, academic frameworks, and institutional cultures influence the way therapists are taught to think, practice, and engage with clients.

In this episode, we explore:

This episode is for clinicians, students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the systems behind therapy—and how they impact both practitioners and the people they serve.

🎧 Explore more of Leslie’s work:

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this timely and necessary conversation, we speak with Soad Tabrizi, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of clinical experience and the founder of Conservative Counselors—a growing directory connecting clients with reality-based therapists who reject ideological capture in mental health.

Together, we explore what the term “Conservative Counselors” actually means, why it has emerged, and why it matters in today’s therapeutic landscape. Soad explains how increasing ideological pressure within the counseling profession has left many clinicians and clients feeling unseen, unheard, or silenced—and why intellectual diversity and moral courage are essential for ethical, effective therapy.

In this episode, we discuss:

What defines a Conservative Counselor (and what it does not)

How ideology has shaped modern therapy culture

Why clients are actively seeking therapists grounded in realism, truth, and personal responsibility

The risks of ideological conformity for both clinicians and mental health outcomes

How restoring balance, integrity, and open inquiry can strengthen the profession

Soad writes on Substack and for Human Events, where she unapologetically argues that conservative clinicians not only belong in mental health—but play a vital role in its future. Her work centers on truth, courage, and protecting the therapeutic space as one of genuine inquiry rather than indoctrination.

This episode is for clinicians, clients, students, and anyone concerned with the future of mental health care and the importance of preserving therapeutic neutrality, honesty, and human dignity.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this returning conversation, we welcome back Ann de Passos, leadership consultant, coach, and facilitator who specializes in nervous system–informed leadership. Drawing on 15+ years across charity, corporate, and social enterprise sectors, Ann guides leaders and teams to operate from clarity, relational intelligence, and embodied resilience.

We take a deep dive into the nervous system and Polyvagal Theory to answer a simple but powerful question: How do we learn to be human? Ann explains why understanding the body’s wiring is the essential first step to changing how we lead, communicate, and respond under pressure. Topics include:

The basics of Polyvagal Theory and why the nervous system shapes behavior at work

Somatic practices leaders can use to reduce burnout and recover faster from stress

Systems thinking + emotional intelligence: designing cultures that sustain people and performance

Practical tools for strengthening team connection, psychological safety, and values-led decision making

If you’re a leader, manager, coach, or anyone who wants to lead from steadiness instead of reactivity, this episode offers grounded science, practical exercises, and real-world strategies to build healthier, high-performing organisations.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this deep, mythic conversation, we welcome Brant Elwood, author of Gods, Heroes and Groups: Relational Dynamics through Mythic Archetypes and an MA in social-organizational psychology. Brant blends mythopoetic lineage with practical organizational insight to reveal the unconscious dynamics that govern how groups behave — in communities, workplaces, and treatment settings.

We explore:

How mythic archetypes (gods, heroes, tricksters) show up in group roles and organizational life

Rites of passage work with young men during the pandemic and what that revealed about leadership, belonging, and responsibility

The group unconscious — patterns we enact without awareness and how they shape decision-making, conflict, and culture

Practical ways leaders and community members can be mindful of their roles so they don’t unconsciously repeat damaging patterns

Why integrating mythic thinking helps organizations surface the undiscussed and rediscover healthier relational dynamics

This episode is for leaders, therapists, organizational consultants, and anyone curious about the hidden stories that run our groups. Brant’s approach offers a poetic but practical map for recognizing the forces that shape group life — and for acting with conscious intention instead of falling into unconscious roles.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes. 

In this timely episode, Dr. Chloe Carmichael — clinical psychologist, USA Today bestselling author of Nervous Energy, and longtime educator — returns to Noggin Notes to explore why free speech matters in therapeutic settings and how self-censorship can damage both therapists and clients.

We dig into the practical and ethical stakes: how open dialogue supports accurate diagnosis, trust, and psychological growth; how fear of controversy or professional consequences leads clinicians to self-censor; and the downstream mental-health costs when people (therapists or clients) silence honest thought and feeling. Dr. Chloe draws on clinical experience, research, and her work teaching clinicians to explain why courageous, curious conversation is often central to healing — and how constricted speech can worsen anxiety, shame, and isolation.

Whether you’re a clinician, student, or someone seeking therapy, this conversation is an urgent, compassionate case for protecting honest speech in the therapy room — and for noticing how self-silencing affects mental health in everyday life.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. To take your Free Mental Health screening visit https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ or click the following link. 

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH TEST

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Today’s show is brought to you by Audible and Zephyr Wellness. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership.

Just go to www.audibletrial.com/9WOGmy and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening..

If you have any questions or request send us a message at [email protected] / [email protected]

Hope you enjoy the podcast and please go ahead subscribe and give us a review of our show. You can write a review on iTunes.