Renegade Ape - Psychology, Philosophy, and the Overton Wasteland

Actor and meditation teacher Jessica Graham shares her journey from sexual trauma and disengagement to sexual awakening and spirituality.

We discuss the influence of social media on body image and how different environments can have positive or negative effect on our sexual self-image, common reasons why people feel self-conscious and dissatisfied with their sex lives, the importance of honesty in getting what you want in the bedroom, and how practicing mindfulness between the sheets can lead to a more satisfying sex life.

*** BOOKS MENTIONED ***

Good Sex - Getting Off Without Checking Out: http://amzn.to/2hJoVuJ

The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory: http://amzn.to/2hLlL9U

The Untethered Soul: http://amzn.to/2hL3Obi

*** SHOW NOTES ***

http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast

*** SOCIAL MEDIA ***

Facebook: http://facebook.com/myownworstenemyorg

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

*** CREDITS ***

Theme Music: Falling Down by Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Veteran science journalist Scott Anderson joins us to discuss the history of the gut-brain research, how the gut and the brain communicate with one another, why the bacteria living in your digestive system may contribute to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, how western dietary habits lead to the destruction of a healthy gut ecology, and we also discuss some of the pre and probiotic foods that you can start consuming to bring your brain and body back into balance.

*** BOOKS MENTIONED ***

The Psychobiotic Revolution: http://amzn.to/2A0dnYb

*** SHOW NOTES ***

http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast

*** SOCIAL MEDIA ***

Facebook: http://facebook.com/myownworstenemyorg

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

*** CREDITS ***

Theme Music: Falling Down by Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

Podcast Image: Hey Paul Studios https://flic.kr/p/kD7dBv & https://flic.kr/p/kD2WxW

DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Dr. Hector Garcia joins us to discuss the evolutionary psychology of warfare, how the combat theater mirrors the environment of early humans, common causes of PTSD in a military context, and the evolutionary justifications for viewing PTSD as an adaptive survival strategy.

We also explore what aspects of the military experience make it difficult for veterans to return to civilian life, what separates veterans who settle back into peacetime environments from those who don't, and in light of Hector’s TED talk, after training soldiers go to war, we ask how do we train them to come home again?

*** BOOKS MENTIONED ***

Alpha God: http://amzn.to/2iuaYRu

The Better Angels of Our Nature: http://amzn.to/2xVg3Jk

On Killing: http://amzn.to/2gpzWwZ

The Selfish Gene: http://amzn.to/2gpZ4DI

Tribe: http://amzn.to/2ipKNLu

Sex and War: http://amzn.to/2ipZu14

Fields of Combat: http://amzn.to/2yGRAom

Angst, Origins of Anxiety and Depression: http://amzn.to/2yzgBnG

*** SHOW NOTES ***

myownworstenemy.org/podcast

*** SOCIAL MEDIA ***

Facebook: facebook.com/myownworstenemyorg

Twitter: twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

*** CREDITS ***

Theme Music: Falling Down by Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

Podcast Image: The U.S Army (Spc. Breanne Pye) https://flic.kr/p/9fPCXN

DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Gary Wilson, author of "Your Brain on Porn" joins us to discuss the neuroscience of porn addiction.

We explore the role of dopamine in driving porn use, why emotions such as shock and disgust make pornography not less, but more appealing, and the links between porn usage and erectile dysfunction.

We also discuss links between porn addiction and mental health issues such as depression and social anxiety, how chronic masturbation could be responsible for feelings of fatigue and brain fog, why increasing number of men are claiming to have no interest in sex with real women, how you can tell if you're addicted to porn, and if so, what you can do to get yourself out of it.

*** BOOKS MENTIONED ***

Your Brain on Porn: http://amzn.to/2kScWvE

The Brain That Changes Itself: http://amzn.to/2gcRgoO

*** SHOW NOTES ***

http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast

*** SOCIAL MEDIA ***

Facebook: http://facebook.com/myownworstenemyorg

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

*** CREDITS ***

Theme Music: Falling Down by Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

Podcast Image: Surian Soosay https://flic.kr/p/a9Yf2K

DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Well, it had to happen sooner or later, I suppose.

In today's episode I share my own story of my decent into madness. Beginning with my early childhood flirtations with hypochondria, I take you all the way through my battles with depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, and depersonalization, right the way through to hitting rock bottom in early 2015 when I experienced a brief period of suicidal ideation.

If that doesn't sound morbid enough, on the way we'll encounter adoption, drugs, prostitution, strip clubs, brothels, lies, infidelity, gangland violence, ambition, failure, bankruptcy, nudists, modern art, tongue piercings, and my illustrious career as a dog shit picker-upper.

Enjoy!

For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org

Email: [email protected]

Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Theme Music: Falling Down - Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

Author and speaker Elaine Hanzak joins us to share her experience of postnatal depression.

Despite dreaming of motherhood her entire life, a traumatic labour, months of sleep deprivation, and the pressures of aspiring to be the perfect mum, eventually caused Elaine to spiral into a period of depression, self-harm, psychosis, and eventually being admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Having since made a full recovery, Elaine tells us what the experience has taught her about motherhood and life, and she also offers some simple self-care practices to help future mums avoid a similar fate.

For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org

Email: [email protected]

Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Podcast Image: Jake Guild https://flic.kr/p/o684LA

Theme Music: Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

Writer and activist D.J. Jaffe joins us to discuss the distinctions between serious and non-serious mental illness, why anti-stigma and anti-suicide campaigns are misguided, the damaging myths about serious mental illness perpetuated by the media, and ultimately how mental health advocates are failing the very people they profess to be trying to help.

For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org

Email: [email protected]

Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Podcast Image: MJ Klaver https://flic.kr/p/7YgY1N

Theme Music: Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

Is it time to drop your diagnosis?

In today's episode Dr. Jucy Johnstone joins us to discuss why the concept of psychiatric diagnosis is both invalid and unreliable, we weigh up the benefits and consequences of being labelled with a particular disorder, and ask whether or not it’s time to abolish psychiatric diagnosis altogether and replace it with an alternative approach.

For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org

Email: [email protected]

Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Podcast Image: Wikimedia https://goo.gl/ZktpA5

Theme Music: Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

Is there any truth to the modern caricature of psychoanalysis as an expensive waste of time exploring Oedipal issues and repressed memories? Or is there more to it?

In today's episode Prof. Elizabeth Lunbeck helps us explore some of the basic ideas of Freudian psychoanalysis, what it is and where it came from, what modern psychoanalysis looks like in practice, and whether or not Freud still has anything to offer in the the 21st century.

For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast

Email: [email protected]

Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Podcast Image: Tnarik Innael https://flic.kr/p/4DV5Gj

Could a loss of control be at the root of all mental health problems from anorexia to OCD? In today's episode Dr. Warren Mansell joins us to discuss the transdiagnostic approach to understanding psychological distress, and why Method of Levels could prove to be the Holy Grail of psychotherapy.

For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast

Email: [email protected]

Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Podcast Image: Max Pixel http://bit.ly/2vTJidc