According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have already been more than 240 mass shootings in 2022 in the United States. A striking 98% of Mass Shooters are men. This show asks the question “WHY?” In a fascinating discussion with social psychologist, Dr. Frank T. McAndrew, he draws upon his research and additional findings on Gender, Aggression and Violence to offer answers. Dr. McAndrew begins with a consideration of the innate aggression even early man needed to survive, establish dominance, to mate and protect offspring. Aggression and dominance has always found ways in cultures to establish pecking orders.

Dr. McAndrew distinguishes this with the desperate violence of the mass shooter who rarely holds a place of prominence.. He also distinguishes different motives for Mass Shooters and School Shooters. He underscores that while we account for social factors in Mass Shootings, we often overlook biological factors. He presents a fascinating study that he and colleagues conducted entitled, “ Guns, Testosterone and Aggression” and in the final segment discusses the difference between the way men and women show aggression and the focus on mental illness as a way to disregard other factors like the availability of guns in the tragic violence of Mass Shooters. This is an important show to hear.

In a manner that is personal, specific, at times funny and underscored with thirty years of writing and talking about sex, Tracey Cox invites us to age-proof our sex lives. Drawing upon her 17th and newest book, Great Sex Starts at 50, Tracey invites listeners, across gender and sexual orientation to consider that an understanding of the reality of body changes from hormone depletion, sensitivity, dryness, erectile difficulties etc. are inevitable and need not be a stop sign to sexual connection and intimacy. She discusses the six truths about sex that will never change regardless of age; four steps that will revolutionize your sex life; the challenges of menopause; what to do or say if you haven’t had sex in a number of years with your partner; the differences in sexual desire between men and women; the stages in a couple’s relationship from lust to love; being over fifty, single and sexual and the Media Misperceptions of Sex that impact all of us. Listen in.

This show will turn up your understanding of Holidays and Depression. Dr. Deborah Serani, Psychologist and award winning author of Living with Depression and Depression and Your Child, will discuss what fuels Depression during the Holidays, the distinction between Holiday Depression and Clinical Depression, the unexpected finding that clinical depression may actually drop at the holiday time and much more. Dr. Steven Hanley will consider if there is a gender difference in Holiday Depression and whether men and women respond differently to holiday expectations and events. Christopher Scott Downing, author of Van Gogh in Peppers: A Self-portrait of Male Depression will add his personal perspective on the Holidays. Does he feel differently at the Holidays as compared to the days when he was fighting and denying depression? Does he worry about relapse? All of these guests will then share tips for coping and dealing with the Holidays.

How much do you depend on your intuition and how much do you trust it? In this show psychologist, Dr. Frank McAndrew will define and offer a close look at what intuition is, how we develop it and why we need it. He will invite you to consider those situations where intuition will lead you astray by exemplifying common errors like “Hindsight Bias” or “the Power of the Particular.” He will consider whether there are gender differences in the use of intuition and the role of intuition in responding to misinformation. Importantly he will take on the question and value of making use of what famous Economist, Dan Kahneman calls “ Thinking Fast and Slow” – the use of both intuition and collected data – facts. Dr. McAndrew never fails at offering a wealth of knowledge in an interesting way. Listen in.

We continue to hear of the benefits of mindfulness but many still wonder-What exactly is it? How can I best use it? In this episode, Dr Elisha Goldstein, author of many books on mindfulness including Uncovering Happiness,The Now Effect and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, will offer a mini-course on Mindfulness that teaches steps, rationale and technique. He will guide us to use breathing,catch the negative thinking, resist anxious problem solving and enhance resilience. You will understand why something that seems simple can be so powerful.

If you are lucky enough to be the parent, teacher, babysitter or grandparent of a “little one”- you must hear this show. In it, psychologist, Dr. Rebecca Schrag Hershberg draws upon her invaluable new book, The Tantrum Survival Guide to clarify, inform deconstruct and offer strategies for managing a toddler or young child’s tantrums. She answers the What, Why and What to do Next about tantrums; considers the magic of “ Love and Limits,” exemplifies the power of Planning and Predictability and underscores the Problem of Inconsistent Limits. Drawing upon clinical material as well as “scenes from her own little ones,” Dr. Hershberg invites us to consider the ABC’s of tantrums and the possibility that we might be causing or re-enforcing them. In his forward of her book, Dan Siegel MD, renowned professor and mindfulness expert, describes Dr. Rebecca Hershberg as a brilliant translator of science and an astute, humble and hilarious observer of human nature. He’s right! Listen in.

On this show you will have the opportunity to learn about Canine Companions for Independence. This is the organization that breeds, trains and provides amazing dogs for people. Be they children, adults, veterans, or facilities, these dogs give the gift of independence. You will hear about the many programs, volunteers and services of Canine Companions from Executive Director Megan Koester. Program Manager and Instructor Gwen Dudek will offer a look at the training of these dogs. Puppy raiser, Marty Marlatt will give you the inside story of being a puppy raiser. She is raising her 22nd puppy and Josiah Lanning who received Service Dog, Charlice more than 5 years ago, will give you a close and personal look at what a service dog brings to his life. If you have ever wondered about the dogs with the blue and yellow capes that seem smarter than the rest of us, this is the show to hear. This is an opportunity to ask questions. Don’t miss this show.

Someone has finally found a way to address opioid misuse and addiction among people with chronic pain. In this show, Dr. Eric Garland, the world’s leading expert on the use of mind-body therapies to treat opioid misuse for pain will discuss the recently proven effectiveness of “MORE” – “Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement.” Dr. Garland will define opioid use disorder (OUD), its relationship to chronic pain and what makes opioids so addictive. He will discuss the treatment components of “MORE” ‘the differences between this and other treatments and the research design used to test this treatment model. In the second segment Dr. Garland will invite the audience to hear and feel what it would be like to be in a Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement Group. In the back and forth with Host Dr. Phillips, he will consider why the group format matters and why he believes a significant number of those who received this treatment to reduced their opioid use without being specifically directed to do so. Given the danger of Opioid Use Disorder, the number of people suffering, the importance of these findings and the need for available effective treatment, this becomes a show everyone needs to hear.

“Almost Sunrise” is a compelling documentary which follows two Iraq veterans, Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson, both tormented by the scars of moral injury and the accompanying anger and depression years after their return home. Close to the edge of suicide, the two embark on an extraordinary journey – a 2,700 mile walk across the country from Wisconsin to California, in order to reflect on their haunting experiences of war and to ultimately, save themselves. In this episode, we are privileged to have Tom Voss as our guest and to have the opportunity to hear his thoughts and perspectives on moral injury, the aspects of his journey that afforded steps toward remembering, feeling, connecting, self-compassion, connection with nature, breathing and forgiving, across miles and modalities. We will also hear what it meant to return home emotionally, where Tom has come and his on-going mission to help other veterans.

In this show we take a close look at the meaning, causes, prevalence and prevention of Bullying. The reality of bullying spans nations and we are joined in this show by Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt, A Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in School- Based Mental Health and Violence Prevention at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Vaillancourt has researched and written on the causes and prevention of Bullying and will be discussing the social and psychological dynamics that foster bullying, the gender differences in bullying behavior, the explicit and implicit powers of the bully and the likely targets. We will be asking Dr. Vaillancourt what can be done about school bullying. Is it really possible to change the social climate of a school? What makes a program successful for the early grades? Is it too late to intervene with High School Students? What about Cyberbullying which expands the bully’s reach beyond the school and leaves the victim feeling there is no safe place? Who are the Bystanders? Who are the Upstanders? What are the keys to Bully Prevention. Listen in.