Advertising sells - and Don Draper knows how to sell it better than anyone: a product, the American dream, and even himself.

We look at why the ad-men of the ‘60s were so terrified of therapy, how sex is power, and why faking who you are - is actually the hardest sell of all. 

Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Mad Men to avoid spoilers.

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan.

Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/

For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/shrink Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Shrink The Box is a Somethin’ Else Production with Sony Music Entertainment.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Falling in love with a priest - whilst being deathly afraid of intimacy? What’s that about?

Join us as we delve into the world of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag and find out why she is so intent on being quite so ‘naughty’.

Don’t forget to check out Season 1 and 2 of Fleabag to avoid spoilers.

Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email [email protected]

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan.

Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/

For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/shrink Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Shrink The Box is a Somethin’ Else Production with Sony Music Entertainment.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Omar is only Barack Obama's favourite fictional character of all time. And perhaps ours too?

We find out why we're on the side of the gun-toting, duster-coat wearing stick-up badass who robs drug dealers for a living.

Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Wire to avoid spoilers.

Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email [email protected]

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan.

Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/

For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/shrink Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Shrink The Box is a Somethin’ Else Production with Sony Music Entertainment.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The often enigmatic chess genius that is Beth Harmon - is the Queen of this week’s episode.

Ben and Sasha explore why Beth feels so compelled to clean up after parties - and how her controlled prowess at the chessboard, becomes utter chaos away from it.

Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email [email protected]

Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Queen’s Gambit to avoid spoilers.

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan.

Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/.

For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk

Shrink The Box is a Somethin’ Else Production with Sony Music Entertainment.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sliding on their gloves, and stepping into their Hazmat suits, Ben and Sasha distil one of TV’s most infamous characters: The mighty Heisenburg.

On this week’s Shrink the Box we uncover why Walter White is often in his underpants, how he taps into his ‘shadow side’ and we explore if the ‘Revenge of the Nerd’ is really a thing.

Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Breaking Bad to avoid spoilers.

Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email [email protected]

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan.

Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/.

For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk

Shrink The Box is a Somethin’ Else Production with Sony Music Entertainment.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unravelling the complex (and surprisingly endearing) layers of the OG mobster: Mr Tony Soprano, all roads lead to New Jersey on the first episode of Shrink the Box!

We find out why talking to a therapist is a ‘whackable’ offence, how falling in love with your shrink is not THAT uncommon and why his mother, Livia Soprano could be the real villain of the show. 

Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Sopranos to avoid spoilers.

Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email [email protected]

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan.

Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/.

For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk

Shrink The Box is a Somethin’ Else Production with Sony Music Entertainment.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wondered why Tony Soprano’s therapist stuck with him? Why Fleabag is obsessed with sex or why Walter White is always in his underpants?

‘Shrink the Box’ is where actor comedian Ben Bailey Smith and psychotherapist Sasha Bates put their favourite fictional characters such as Shiv from Succession, Omar from the Wire and Ross from Friends on the couch to analyse why their behaviour causes them so much drama. Sasha and Ben explore why these characters make certain decisions, what would happen if they made different ones and what we can learn from their mistakes. The perfect combination of psychology, self-help and the best TV since the birth of the box-set.

A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us at @sonypodcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices