In this week’s episode of Unravelling, we have a bit of a special episode: a roundtable discussion with our hosts Mary and Kurt, joined by our producers Hans and Andrew, and our guest, Professor Sean Duffy.  Sean is a psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at Rutgers-Camden, and together, we share a bit of a metaphorical meal of a discussion about something that unites us all:  food.  We caught up with Prof. Duffy in Paris on Bastille Day, and he was fresh back from the Louvre researching food:s depiction in art. Together we explore questions such as: How food can bring us closer to family, culture, identity, our history? Can we know ourselves through what we eat? Can it help us keep the past alive in us, and give us a felt sense of our personal and cultural identities? Can we know each other better through the sharing of a meal? Join us in this feast of a discussion, as we explore all of this and more.

Website for more about Prof. Duffy:  

https://duffy.camden.rutgers.edu/

Resources:

High on the Hog 

This episode of Unravelling has Dr. Kevin Volkan, psychologist, psychoanalyst, professor, and author of Human Aggression, War, and Genocide joins Kurt to talk about large group psychology and continue the conversation about what drives so much of the great evils of world. Dr. Volkan shares insights on a vast array of associated topics, as they together work to approach and understand the darker side of human nature... and the potential power of psychological insight to give the hope in dark times.

Some resources:

Dr. Volkan, has authored and co-authored many books, including these with his father Vamik Volkan:

Human Aggression, War, and Genocide

Schizophrenia: Science, Psychoanalysis, and Culture

How the Mind Works: Concepts and Cases in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy

Webpage for Dr. Volkan

Resource to find some of Dr. Volkan's books, free of charge:

https://www.freepsychotherapybooks.org/?ebook_author=volkan-kevin

In today’s episode of Unravelling, host Kurt White sits down with Alette Smeulers, Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology, and International Crimes at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands.  Professor Smeulers has spent decades trying to answer the question: What is it that makes people perpetrators of mass atrocities, and why do people follow such leaders?  Together, they unravel the specifics of the Milgram Experiment, the mental health implications thereof, and what we can learn about ourselves from that field of work and research.

Alette is the author of the book “Perpetrators of Mass Atrocities: Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal?” (Routledge, 2024), as well as the co-host of a podcast by the same title.  She believes that if we understand the true nature and causes of violence and mass atrocities, and understand who the perpetrators are, and why they commit such crimes, we may be in a much better position to prevent such horrific things from happening.

First They Came
Pastor Martin Niemöller

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

Website: 

https://alettesmeulers.org/en/home/

Book:

https://www.routledge.com/Perpetrators-of-Mass-Atrocities-Terribly-and-Terrifyingly-Normal/Smeulers/p/book/9781032568027?srsltid=AfmBOorPR1Ke5X_-mx2P8s8rOqQM19OAGa1xqF8phur7TR3W-bRRlCbW

Podcast:

https://www.rug.nl/rechten/actueel/in-de-media/podcasts/terribly-and-terrifyingly-normal/?lang=en

https://open.spotify.com/show/2Bt5Wg5nbekeSo8UBDI5MY

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/terribly-and-terrifyingly-normal/id1708596464

In this Disability Pride Month episode of Unravelling, hosts Mary Wilson Kurt White sit down with Cat Milo, former Coordinator of Accessibility and Diversity at Hampshire College and Dr. Madeline Peters, former longtime Director of Disability Services at the University of Massachusetts, to discuss the intersection of mental health and disability. They explore the concept of disability justice, emphasizing that societal barriers, not inherent conditions, are what truly disable people. Cat Milo and Dr. Peters highlight the importance of accommodations and the need for a shift in societal attitudes towards disability. They discuss the challenges of invisible disabilities and the benefits of community and care networks. The conversation underscores the need for inclusive policies and spaces that support all individuals, regardless of their abilities.

Links
Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, 4th Edition

In the third installment of Unravelling's 2025 Pride series, Mary speaks with Dr. Marley Balasco, an inpatient psychology specialist at the Brattleboro Retreat, about how to support young people as they explore and affirm their gender identities.

Dr. Balasco breaks down the difference between gender and sexuality, and offers insight into how children and adolescents come to understand who they are. She highlights the vital role that family support plays in mental health outcomes, and explains why curiosity, validation, and open-mindedness are essential when working with gender-diverse youth.

Together, they explore how gender development is a natural and expected part of growing up, and how cultural, societal, and political forces can either uplift or deeply harm young people in the process. Whether you're a parent, provider, educator, or ally, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and concrete ways to support the well-being of trans and gender-expansive youth.

Links -
The Trevor Project - The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people, providing information and support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round.

Gender Spectrum - Gender Spectrum's mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth. To accomplish this, we help families, organizations, and institutions increase their understanding of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us.

In this episode of Unravelling, host Kurt speaks with Evelyn Lee, a music therapist based in Singapore, about how music can be a powerful tool for identity, healing, and connection, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Evelyn shares insights from her work with queer clients in a country where homosexuality was only recently decriminalized. Together, they explore how music supports self-expression, the evolving landscape of queer-affirming care, and the role of social media in shaping how we experience and share music.

We want to know what you're listening to and what it might say about you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a voice memo by emailing [email protected] or calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!

Links
Evelyn's website - prospectmusictherapy.com
Prospect Music Therapy on Instagram
Sign up for Prospect Music Therapy's mailing list. 

In this episode of Unravelling, Kurt White sits down with poet, playwright, and social worker Britt Billmeyer-Finn to unpack the ideas and impact of queer theory. Far from being just an academic concept, queer theory is presented as a lens that challenges societal norms around gender and sexuality, invites curiosity, and honors fluidity in how we relate to ourselves and others. Kurt and Britt delve into the pressures of hetero-cisnormativity, the psychological toll of rigid social expectations, and the role of agency, joy, and community in healing and liberation. This conversation is part of our special Pride Month series.

Britt is accepting clients in Massachusetts and can be reached at [email protected].

Also check out the Stonewall Center at UMass Amherst

The conversation on YouTube between James Baldwin and Maya Angelou that Brit mentioned can be found here.

***
This episode version replaces an earlier recording, and includes some re-recorded segments. This is due to a mistake explained in the intro segment. 

In this episode of Unraveling, Mary Wilson talks with psychotherapist and group facilitator Donna Harris, LCSW, CGP, about the challenging work of healing across lines of difference. Donna explains that real connection in group settings isn’t built by avoiding discomfort, but by risking it with care, curiosity, and accountability. She speaks to the importance of confronting bias, honoring impact over intent, and working through the mistrust that often exists in diverse spaces.

Donna highlights the power of affinity groups, spaces where people with shared identities can speak freely without navigating broader societal dynamics. She also pushes back on the idea that simply being surrounded by diversity equates to engaging with it, and critiques traditional therapy models for overlooking systemic forces like racism and sexism. For Donna, group work is a powerful, small-scale practice in collective healing, one that helps us truly see and connect across the lines that too often divide us.

Resources:

• Donna's private practice website, Intercultural Counseling
• The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, a national, multiracial, anti-racist collective of organizers and educators, is dedicated to building a movement for social transformation.
• Stir Fry Seminars, cross-cultural and communications training programs for managers, supervisors, H.R., admin executives, education professionals, social services leaders and agencies.  

If you enjoy Unravelling, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us and tell you friends about us!

And listeners, take note! We always want to hear from you with reactions, topic ideas, stories or other suggestions. Send us an email, an old fashioned voice message, or a voice memo by using [email protected] or by calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!

What makes a therapy group more than just a room full of people? In this episode, group psychotherapist J. Scott Rutan, Ph.D. joins Kurt to explore the transformative power of group therapy. Drawing on Dr. Rutan's decades of experience, he shares how people often reenact personal dynamics in groups, sometimes unconsciously, which gives therapists and peers the opportunity to reflect those patterns back in real-time. Rutan emphasizes that group therapy doesn't just talk about problems—it lives them, revealing defenses that protect against deeper vulnerability.

Dr. Rutan highlights the unique power of group therapy, where multiple members act as mirrors, making interpersonal patterns more visible than in individual therapy. Group dynamics often bring to light behaviors that individuals can describe but not fully demonstrate one-on-one. He and Kurt explore the deep human need for belonging, the therapist’s role as both leader and participant, and why groups so often become the place where the most profound change happens.

Links
Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy by J. Scott Rutan, Walter Stone, & Joseph Shay
This widely adopted text and clinical reference covers the "whats," "whys," and "how-tos" of setting up therapy groups and making them work.

If you enjoy Unravelling, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us and tell you friends about us!

And listeners, take note! We always want to hear from you with reactions, topic ideas, stories or other suggestions. Send us an email, an old fashioned voice message, or a voice memo by using [email protected] or by calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!

In this episode of Unravelling, Mary sits down with Lane Gardner, musician, educator, and founder of Thread, a nonprofit using collaborative songwriting to help communities heal from trauma. Lane shares the story of a powerful workshop with students affected by a school shooting, illustrating how music became a lifeline and a symbol of resilience.
Through personal reflection and professional insight, Lane explains how creativity can serve as a powerful tool for self-expression, emotional release, and connection. Whether it's a simple drumbeat, a line of lyrics, or a moment of movement, Lane shows us how tapping into our innate creativity can help us navigate pain and reclaim our voice.

This episode highlights the transformative power of the arts, the importance of safe spaces, and why creativity isn't just for artists but for all of us.

Links
Lane's website: https://lanegardner.com/
Song written by Marjory Stoneman Douglas students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLrgTEJm__w
Lane's album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/49dPMfbxhXlBhd9154hRne

If you enjoy Unravelling, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us and tell you friends about us!

And listeners, take note! We always want to hear from you with reactions, topic ideas, stories or other suggestions. Send us an email, an old fashioned voice message, or a voice memo by using [email protected] or by calling 802-258-POD3 (802-258-7633)!