State of Mind with Debra Sloss

Episode 95: Student leader and mental health advocate Sophia Krish guest hosts this teen-centered conversation about what eating disorders can look like beneath the surface — even in teens who appear successful, athletic, social, or “fine.” With eating disorder expert Dr. Charlotte Markey and lived-experience guests Mia Perry and Austin Gautreau, the episode explores how social media, perfectionism, stigma, and misunderstanding can shape the path to illness and recovery. In Your Voice stories from Katherine and Ellie-Kate add powerful teen perspectives on asking for help, being seen, and finding hope.

Episode 94: What’s it like to navigate work and adulthood as an autistic person? In this remixed episode, host Debra Sloss is joined by psychotherapists and autistic self-advocates Lou Ursa and Jasmeen Miah to challenge stereotypes about autism and explore identity, work, support, and inclusion. Plus, in a new In Your Voice story, Paul Bondonno shares how, as an autistic adult, he worked through challenges on the job—and why he wishes he had asked for help sooner.

Episode 93: Why do so many devoted mothers feel like they are falling short? In this episode, host Debra Sloss explores the emotional pressure mothers face when real parenting collides with idealized images of what motherhood is supposed to be. She is joined by psychotherapist and author Jessica Tomich Sorci, creator of the “Mom Parts Method,” and guests Amber Reis and Karen McWilliam. Using an Internal Family Systems lens, they explore guilt, shame, anger, anxiety, and self-criticism as “Mom Parts” that carry pain and unmet needs. They also discuss how meeting these parts with curiosity can support repair, self-compassion, and healing.

Episode 92: Traumatic brain injuries can affect far more than the body. In this episode, host Debra Slossexplores how TBI can impact mental health, identity, memory, concentration, sleep and emotional well-being. Guest JoAnne Jones, author of Headstrong: Surviving a Traumatic Brain Injury, shares her experience of surviving a violent assault and adapting to life after a severe brain injury. Rehabilitation physician Dr. Jennifer Yu explains symptoms, treatment, and recovery. The episode also features an “In Your Voice” story from Jinx Deruisa about being heard, believed, and supported after brain injury.

Episode 91: People can grow in meaningful ways after trauma. In this episode, host and psychotherapist Debra Sloss, explores the concept of Post-Traumatic Growth with Richard G. Tedeschi, PhD, one of the researchers who coined the term, and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who shares how losing her husband to suicide shaped her life and public service. Beginning with a moving opening story from Holocaust survivor Gitta Ryle we then explore how people make meaning after trauma, why suffering and growth can coexist, and how connection, purpose, and support can help people rebuild after profound suffering.

Episode 90: Films don’t just entertain—they can shape how we understand ourselves and our lives. In this episode, media expert Yalda T. Uhls joins host and psychotherapist Debra Sloss to explore the psychological impact of cinema, especially during childhood and adolescence. Community members share powerful stories about films like Inside Out 2 and Annie Hall that helped them better understand their emotions and relationships. Join us for a thoughtful and moving conversation about how the stories we watch can help us heal.

Episode 89: Sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s a foundation for mental health. In this episode, behavioral sleep medicine specialist Muriel Rose and guest Allyson Makuch explore the powerful connection between sleep and emotional well-being. Allyson shares how protecting her sleep has been critical to managing Bipolar I disorder. The episode also includes listener stories about navigating sleep disruption and using mindfulness to calm the nervous system. Join us for a practical and hopeful conversation about why protecting your sleep helps protect your mind.

Episode 88: Originally recorded in 2023 and re-released for its continued relevance, this episode explores how parents go on after the death of a child. Father and author Colin Campbell shares how he is living with “hope and purpose” after losing his two teenage children in a drunk-driving crash, alongside stories from parents grieving losses to suicide and overdose and insights from psychotherapist and grief specialist Kara Bowman. A tender, honest, and unexpectedly hopeful conversation about life after unimaginable loss.

Episode 87: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is one of the most misunderstood mental health diagnoses. In this remixed episode, Dr. Alisa Brady and guest Clay Whitten—who lives with DID—offer an inside look at the condition that separates myth from reality. The conversation explores how DID develops, the challenges of misdiagnosis, and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can support healing.

Episode 86: Writing can be a powerful tool for healing. This episode explores how storytelling, poetry, and journaling help people clarify emotions, process trauma, and make meaning from life experiences — both painful and joyful. It opens with a powerful Holocaust survival story that highlights writing as an act of healing, and continues with reflections on identity, resilience, and self-discovery, including a personal story about turning inward during the pandemic and finding a voice through poetry.