Why do we cling to beliefs we know don’t make sense? Why is it so hard to admit when we’re wrong — especially in politics? In this episode, we break down cognitive dissonance: the psychological discomfort of holding contradictory beliefs, and how it’s fueling an identity crisis across American society.

From ego and empathy to national pride and political tribalism, the crew explores:

• Why we double down instead of backing down
• How media and social platforms keep us locked in dissonance
• What cognitive dissonance reveals about our personal and political identities
• How empathy might be the antidote to ego-fueled delusion

This is more than theory — it’s a real-time diagnostic of a country stuck in contradiction. And we’re not just talking politics. We’re talking identity, connection, and what it takes to stay sane in a fractured culture.

🧠 Keywords: cognitive dissonance, psychology, ego, identity, political identity, American society, empathy, national beliefs, contradictions

"Got Thoughts? Outrage? A Diagnosis of Your Own? Send us a text"

Shrink The Nation is where America lies on the couch — and we pour the bourbon.
Hosted by board-certified psychiatrists and mental health pros with backgrounds in military, media, and systems thinking, we break down the psychology behind politics, culture, and public dysfunction.
Smart. Funny. Clinically sharp. Slightly buzzed.

Subscribe, rate, and share if you’re part of the exhausted middle looking for sanity in the noise.

Send us your questions (or your defense mechanisms): [email protected]
Follow us everywhere: @shrinkthenation on X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok

Shrink The Nation — On the Couch With America.

Welcome to the couch. In our official kickoff, the full Shrink The Nation crew of psychiatrists dives into America’s most flamboyant coping mechanism: grandiosity.

What happens when a country builds its identity around being “the greatest”?
 How do narcissism, exceptionalism, and social media shape our politics, culture, and sense of self?
 And what does it say about us when our leaders aren’t just grandiose — but rewarded for it?

In this episode, we explore:

• The psychological roots of American exceptionalism
• How WWII and historical dominance seeded national narcissism
• Why social media turned everyone into a brand
• What happens when grandiosity replaces genuine leadership
• How empathy, self-awareness, and therapy can be antidotes to cultural delusion

It’s smart, sharp, bourbon-fueled analysis with just enough gallows humor to keep things grounded.

🧠 Keywords: Shrink the Nation, psychiatry, grandiosity, narcissism, American identity, social media, mental health, political discourse, self-awareness, therapy

"Got Thoughts? Outrage? A Diagnosis of Your Own? Send us a text"

Support the show

Shrink The Nation is where America lies on the couch — and we pour the bourbon.
Hosted by board-certified psychiatrists and mental health pros with backgrounds in military, media, and systems thinking, we break down the psychology behind politics, culture, and public dysfunction.
Smart. Funny. Clinically sharp. Slightly buzzed.

Subscribe, rate, and share if you’re part of the exhausted middle looking for sanity in the noise.

Send us your questions (or your defense mechanisms): [email protected]
Follow us everywhere: @shrinkthenation on X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok

Shrink The Nation — On the Couch With America.

In this rebooted pre-launch test episode, the full team of psychiatrists pour the bourbon and open up a wide-ranging conversation on what the hell is happening to America — and why we still believe in the mission of this show.

From the symbolism of Superman to the emotional charge behind protests, the crew dissects:

• The cultural role of bourbon and what it says about our national psyche
• Why Americans are craving strong leadership (and what that really means)
• How media and social platforms shape — and often distort — our identity
• The danger of mistaking disagreement for disloyalty
• How cultural narratives like Superman reflect evolving national values

There’s humor, depth, disagreement, and real dialogue — exactly the kind of conversation this country needs more of.

🧠 Keywords: Shrink the Nation, psychiatry, bourbon, protests, leadership, American identity, social media, dialogue, cultural symbols, politics

"Got Thoughts? Outrage? A Diagnosis of Your Own? Send us a text"

Support the show

Shrink The Nation is where America lies on the couch — and we pour the bourbon.
Hosted by board-certified psychiatrists and mental health pros with backgrounds in military, media, and systems thinking, we break down the psychology behind politics, culture, and public dysfunction.
Smart. Funny. Clinically sharp. Slightly buzzed.

Subscribe, rate, and share if you’re part of the exhausted middle looking for sanity in the noise.

Send us your questions (or your defense mechanisms): [email protected]
Follow us everywhere: @shrinkthenation on X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok

Shrink The Nation — On the Couch With America.

In this inaugural episode, Drs David and Rob crack open a bottle of bourbon and a conversation about what it means to stay sane in a culture that feels like it's unraveling.

They dig into:

• Why this podcast even exists
• How political disengagement became the default setting for the exhausted middle
• The anxiety ripple effects of AI in healthcare
• The weaponization of social media and disinformation
• And why sometimes, pouring a drink is the most human thing you can do

This is part confession, part cultural diagnosis, and all about reconnecting — to our communities, our values, and our ability to think critically in a polarized world.

🧠 Keywords: podcast, mental health, bourbon, AI, social media, political engagement, anxiety, healthcare, disinformation, culture

"Got Thoughts? Outrage? A Diagnosis of Your Own? Send us a text"

Support the show

Shrink The Nation is where America lies on the couch — and we pour the bourbon.
Hosted by board-certified psychiatrists and mental health pros with backgrounds in military, media, and systems thinking, we break down the psychology behind politics, culture, and public dysfunction.
Smart. Funny. Clinically sharp. Slightly buzzed.

Subscribe, rate, and share if you’re part of the exhausted middle looking for sanity in the noise.

Send us your questions (or your defense mechanisms): [email protected]
Follow us everywhere: @shrinkthenation on X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok

Shrink The Nation — On the Couch With America.