Psych Up Live

We are all aware through movies, series and the sensational lives of celebrities of the transitions made by transgender men and women. The increased media coverage has invited compassion and support by some and critique, violence and political rejection by others. This episode will clarify the myths and give you an insider’s experience of the transgender journey. Guest Kristin Collier will share her personal story of being a young mother with a toddler and infant son who learns that the husband she loves can no longer carry the secret of his gender identification as a woman. She will bring you into the emotional steps of her husband’s transition while facing you with the day-to-day details of her own necessary transformation. If your husband is a woman- who are you? Can you love and support the woman he becomes? What do you tell your little boys? How do you meet your needs? Kristin Collier’s story of strength, compassion and unexpected answers is one you won't forget.

While the #metoo culture has rallied women in every work situation, there a many women working in factories, farms, or are employed as caregivers and domestic workers who can't speak out because their work circumstances leave them invisible and vulnerable. Their need for a livelihood coupled with fear of retaliation is still too much to risk. In this episode you are going to hear from Sheerine Alemzadeh Co-director, Co-founder Healing to Action a non-profit organization building a worker-led movement to end gender violence. This is a movement that recognizes that what these women need is not legal representation; but a sense of empowerment that comes from support and strategies to heal, to connect, and become work leaders. Listen in to hear how Healing to Action has fostered leadership and steps to connect with both labor movements and anti-violence coalitions to make all voices count with men and women who want workplace accountability and change.

In this episode, Gaea Logan, Executive Director and Founder of the International Center for Mental Health and Human Rights, brings her expertise and experience to Psych Up Live. Drawing upon her training of humanitarian workers across the globe, she invites listeners to build resilience in the face of traumatic life events by strengthening their capacity for self-regulation and building protective internal factors that reduce burnout. She redefines trauma, offers the latest neurobiological findings on trauma's impact on body, brain and mind and invites us to examine our " window of tolerance" for stressful life events. Drawing upon her online training, The Portable Calm, she discusses and demonstrates skills to become more self-regulated, mindful, grounded and compassionate. Whether you are a parent, teacher, therapist or friend, Gaea believes that central to your resilience and effectiveness is developing your own capacity to reset, regulate and find calm.

Building on an earlier show on Psych Up Live " Porn on the Brain" with Gary Wilson, this show features Gabe Deem who shares his personal story of Internet Porn Addiction and recovery. As an activist for better sex education, a writer, public speaker and the founder of Reboot Nation, Gabe Deem offers lessons learned and research findings on the physical, neurological and sexual consequences of Internet porn addiction. Recognizing the possibility of rebooting the brain to again be capable and responsive in sexual functioning with a partner, Gabe Deem discusses his creation of RebootNation.org, a free, online community with over 11,000 members, which helps addicts and their partners overcome problems related to porn use. Gabe Deem also shares his concerns with porn's impact on youth and recommendations for educating parents to speak with young people about Internet porn.

In this show Jennie Kramer, LCSW-R draws upon her experience in treating all forms of eating disorders and her co-authored book, Overcoming Binge Eating for Dummies to offer expert and useable information on Binge Eating Disorder (BED). With sensitivity and realistic perspective, she answers questions like-What is Binge Eating? Does it differ from compulsive eating or overeating? Who binges and why? She underscores the health risks associated with Binge Eating Disorder and describes first steps to change for those struggling. She accounts for the physical, psychological and social factors involved in change and highlights questions like the difference between emotional and physical hunger. She considers pros and cons of treatment options while at the same time offering 10 things to do now instead of bingeing. If you or someone you love needs clear and expert information on Binge Eating, this is the show to hear.

In this show Gary Wilson, presenter of the popular TEDx talk 'The Great Porn Experiment,' and author of Your Brain on Porn, addresses the ever-increasing problem of internet porn addiction in young male teens as well as men of every age. Drawing upon scientific research and the reports of countless men seeking help for porn related sexual dysfunction, Gary Wilson clarifies the impact of chronic overconsumption of internet porn on the brain. His message is powerful in the clarity with which he discusses the nature of the sexual problems resulting from addictive internet porn use; how and why the brain keeps us bingeing; and detailed steps to reverse compulsive use and regain control. Everyone will be informed and I hope many will be helped by hearing this important show.

Have you ever been dismissed because you were considered too young, or ignored because you were deemed too old? If so, you have experienced Ageism, stereotyping and discrimination based on age. In this show, author activist, Ashton Applewhite will raise our consciousness about age discrimination with research, humor and personal references. Drawing upon her acclaimed book, This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, her powerful discussion and examples will make it clear “that chronological age is an increasingly unreliable benchmark of pretty much anything about a person.” You will wonder how you missed the degree of age bias we tolerate and the myths about age we perpetuate in our culture. You will recognize that demeaning stereotypes about age threaten the best of us at any age. Don't miss this!

In this Episode, Dr. John Duffy, the author of the best selling book, The Available Parent: Expert Advice for Raising Successful and Resilient Teens and Tweens, addresses the questions and concerns that parents always ask or are too afraid to ask “Where did we go wrong?” “Why is her goal to torture us?” John Duffy defines and describes the role of an Available Parent in the context of adolescent development. He clarifies the common parent/teen clashes in terms of the physical, social and psychological challenges that make teens as wonderful as they are complicated. With humor and examples he describes what “ Never Works” as well as “What Does Work.” Throughout, he shows parents how to be available is a way changes and improves the parent/teen relationship and fosters the resilience and growth of their teen.

We live in a time when an understanding of power and the abuse of power has tremendous importance. In this show, Dr. Dacher Keltner, psychologist, Faculty Director of the Berkeley Greater Good Science Center, and acclaimed researcher, awakens us to The Power Paradox. Drawing upon his latest book, The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence, Dr. Keltner defines power that gives and power that grabs. Citing fascinating studies, he discusses the ways in which a person, be it a teen, a teacher or a world leader, gets power and then faces the Power Paradox - the choice of keeping it or being corrupted by it. As an honored professor, researcher with over 190 publications, consultant on emotions for Facebook, Google, and the Disney Pixar movie, “ Inside Out,” Dr. Keltner’s discussion of the Power Paradox is one we need to hear.

A wonderful example of the spirit of giving for the Holiday Season is the message of the Hit Broadway Musical "Come From Away." For this episode, Host Suzanne Phillips is joined by Sue Frost, the producer and Joel Hatch, a cast member of this remarkable show. Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the show is based on the events of 9/11 when the US shut down its airspace in response to the terrorist attacks. Thousands of passengers on international flights could not land in the US. They landed in Gandar, Newfoundland and the way they were received is the essence of this story. Producer Sue Frost shares why she produced this unique musical, special moments, the unexpected, and overwelming responses by audiences. Joel Hatch, shares his feelings of being in the cast and the emotional experience of going to Gandar to perform and meet the actual people the cast portrayed. This show pulls you into the kindness of strangers, laughter and musical excitement. You'll love "Come From Away."