Kelly Carlin — daughter of the legendary late comedian George Carlin — joins me to talk about her lawsuit against the creators of a fake AI-generated "special" of her dad, the future of AI and human creativity, "manufactured humanity," what her father might have thought about the world today, and the experience of making the HBO Max documentary "George Carlin's American Dream" with Judd Apatow. Watch Kelly's previous conversation with me, "Humor, Healing, and Hanging On," here: https://www.youtube.com/live/FuXiPTbR...Get Kelly's memoir, "A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up With George," here: https://www.amazon.com/Carlin-Home-Co...Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Mark Zuckerberg outraged Senators and parents in a Judicial Committee hearing by claiming that there is "no causal link" between social media and mental health.The Senators also made Mark Zuckerberg apologize to the families of children who died or ended their lives because of experiences on social media.Here's the problem: Mark Zuckerberg is right. And this hearing is just another case of lawmakers and parents shifting the blame for their own failure onto others. Who should really be apologizing?Let's break it down and dig in.Resources mentioned in the episode:American Psychological Association May 2023 report: https://www.apa.org/topics/social-med...The Forgotten Lessons of the Recovered Memory Movement: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/27/op...Sabine Hossenfelder on the global mental health crisis:    • The Global Mental Health Crisis: All ...  @sabinehossenfelderEmma McAdam (Therapy in a Nutshell) on self-diagnosis:    • The Essential Lesson You Missed in Ps...  @therapyinanutshellWatch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Vishnu Vaka is KILLING it. His clips have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram. Russell Peters (a fan) has taken him on tour. Bill Burr has shared his bits online. He has gotten "passed" at New York's elite Comedy Cellar, one of the world's toughest clubs to get into. If you're one of the few people who haven't heard Vishnu yet, trust me—you soon will.Vishnu came to the U.S. as a teenager, but kept his Indian accent because he loves it. He faces stereotypes about Indians in America head-on and uses his uniquely smart comedic talents to shatter them. He joins me in this episode to talk about comedy, being Indian in America, his continuing meteoric success, his friendship with Russell Peters, the role of social media in making artists' careers, why he is optimistic about technology (including AI), the personal experiences behind his most viral bits, and lots more. Enjoy![As promised, here is the coveted clip behind his Self-Driven campaign—I shall say no more: • Self Driven]If you're watching this on YouTube or Facebook, please take a quick second to like this video, subscribe, and hit the notification bell. If you're listening on Apple or Spotify, please give us a rating. These simple actions really help support the show and put it in front of more people. And remember to share this episode with family and friends.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

In this episode, I speak to May Salam from Gaza. Although she was able to leave, her family is still trapped in the war, living in a tent on a street in Southern Gaza after their home was leveled by Israeli bombing. Her brother is badly injured, with no access to medical treatment. May has had no contact with her family for three weeks. You will hear May tell her story as she has seen and experienced it. We talk about what it was like growing up in Gaza, life under Hamas, surviving Israel's bombing, the blockade, living through five wars in fifteen years, resisting the occupation, the deadly consequences of failed leadership, where your aid money is going, the "fees" that Gazans must pay Egyptian brokers to leave through the Rafah border crossing (prepare to be shocked), and the one thing above all else that keeps May going — her unwavering love and commitment to her family.Read May's story on her GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/averting-leg-amputation-aid-for-gaza-victimsEvery dollar helps.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Is Christian Nationalism the biggest threat to America today? James Carville, political guru and strategist who got Bill Clinton elected president twice, thinks it’s "more dangerous than Al-Qaeda." Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said the separation of church and state is a “misnomer.” Congresswoman Lauren Boebert thinks it’s “junk.” And the US Supreme Court itself is insidiously inching towards their premise.With MAGA evangelicals more enthusiastic than ever about the Second Coming of Donald Trump, it’s time to talk about why 2024 could be one of the most defining years in America’s history. In this episode of Unlicensed Therapist, we speak to constitutional attorney and widely acclaimed author Andrew Seidel — his books "The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American" and "American Crusade: How the Supreme Court is Weaponizing Religious Freedom," are essential reading. We also have with us Seth Andrews, the famous podcaster, speaker, and author of several fantastic books, including the eye-opening “Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian.” We talk about the threat of Christian Nationalism, the future of American democracy, and what needs to be done to save it.Please like and subscribe on YouTube, and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it will help us a great deal and we really appreciate your support.Follow Andrew Seidel at @andrewlseidel everywhere.Follow Seth Andrews by visiting https://www.sethandrews.com/Get Andrew's "The Founding Myth" here.Get Seth's "Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian" here.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

The whole world is talking about Israel and Palestine — but what do people on the ground there really think?In this episode, I speak with Corey Gil-Shuster, who joins me from Tel Aviv, Israel. Corey has spent more than a decade taking a camcorder (and translators as needed) into the cities and towns in the West Bank and in Israel, asking questions to ordinary people on the street sent to him from those on the other side. He records their answers and posts them unedited to his channel.The results are often surprising and eye-opening. With over 300,000 subscribers, over a thousand videos, and over 130 million views, Corey’s “Ask an Israeli, Ask a Palestinian” project, or The Ask Project, has become one of the most compelling, riveting, and educational channels online today — and his perspective on the situation is unique and informed in a way that very few commentators today are.Subscribe to Corey's "The Ask Project" YouTube channel here. You can also follow Corey on Instagram @gilshusterMy 2014 HuffPost article on the conflict: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pickin...If you’re watching on YouTube, please take a quick second to like this video, subscribe to the channel, and hit the notification bell so you can be informed when we have future episodes.If you’re hearing listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other streaming platform, please give us a rating. All of this helps get this show in front of more people. I really, really appreciate your support.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

It isn't just a Christmas book — it's a raucous, fun, biting statement on our world at the end of 2023. Christmas Mubarak!Author Mookie Spitz (American Jew) and illustrator and artist Rusty Yunusoff (Russian Muslim) talk about their fantastic new book about Santa Claus (North Pole Christian).But that's not all there is to it. Listen and find out.Get Super Santa here: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Santa-Rise/dp/B0CH25G4DJWatch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

After a killer first episode (thanks to all who watched/listened/shared), we’re on to Episode 2 of Unlicensed Therapist, featuring one of my favorite rising standup comedians, Noor Kidwai. You may have seen Noor in one of his viral Instagram sketches with fellow comics Andrew Oporto and Edworld Kim, all of who perform standup together on their Diversity Hires comedy tour — one of the funniest and most brilliant comedy shows in Toronto right now.I speak to Noor about everything comedy, particularly his biting and hilarious take (as a person of color) on many of the inanities that permeate our discourse on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will also talk about what it was like for Noor to open for Nick Offerman and perform alongside Sam Morril and other living comedy legends at the recent Great Outdoors Comedy Festival.Noor Kidwai on Instagram: @noorkidwaiWatch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Mookie Spitz is the Jewish-American son of Hungarian Holocaust survivors.I was born to a Pakistani Muslim family and grew up in Saudi Arabia.In North America, we're friends. Elsewhere, we may not have been.In the inaugural episode of Unlicensed Therapist, we'll do more than just talk to each other: we will listen.Join us as we get into how our backgrounds shaped our views on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the current war between Netanyahu and Hamas, and whether peace can provide justice.Further reading:Mookie Spitz on Medium: A Message for American Jews from an American Jew about Israel & HamasAli A. Rizvi's latest on Quillette: You Can Be Pro-Hamas or Pro-Palestinian. You Can't Be Both.Ali A. Rizvi's seminal 2014 HuffPost Piece, 7 Things to Consider When Choosing Sides in the Middle East ConflictUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali HamzaWatch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Kelly Carlin is the only daughter of legendary comedian George Carlin and author of "A Carlin Home Companion." Kelly is an inspirational public speaker, a writer of books and screenplays, radio host, podcaster, and a declared asker of big questions, with a graduate degree in Jungian psychology and a refreshingly unique perspective on life and living. In this episode, we talk about personal healing in these pandemic times, secular spirituality, the role of comedy in the age of wokeness, her life as the daughter of a complex comedic icon, and her powerful new coaching initiative, Women on the Verge, among other things. Check it out.Check out Women on the Verge here: https://womenonthevergecoaching.com/Kelly Carlin's website: https://thekellycarlinsite.com/ Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Going through a divorce is always difficult and complicated, no matter what your circumstances. And when there are children involved, it can be even more fraught and heartbreaking. If you are a divorced dad who is fortunate enough to have shared or full custody of your child(ren), you might be surprised at the lack of resources available to help you navigate your new life as a single father. My guest today is trying to help change that.Elena Locker-Torres is a licensed master social worker and family counselor who works with divorced parents—especially fathers—and their children. She is also a clinical forensic specialist who works with children undergoing the most adverse of circumstances. She is the founder of Together Family Wellness, a counseling and support service for parents and families. Having grown up as an only child whose own parents divorced when she was little, she brings both her professional and personal insights to this important topic.For more on Elena and her work, check out https://www.togetherfamilywellness.com/ and follow her on Instagram @togetherfamilywellnessWatch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Suicide is an occupational hazard for physicians. It is the only cause of death that occurs with more frequency in physicians than non-physicians, at double the rate of the general population. For perspective, 400 physicians take their own lives every year in the US — that's more than one doctor a day. And a survey by the Canadian Medical Association showed that 1 in 3 physicians screened positive for symptoms of depression last year and at least 8% thought about killing themselves during the same time. Recent data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation. What is going on? Dr. Anwar Khokhar is an internist and hospitalist who is now training in nephrology. He's going to join me to talk about this urgent topic, sharing both his professional and personal experiences.[If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline — https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ — for 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.]Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have banned the sitting President of the United States for directly inciting the unprecedented violent attack on the Capitol by his supporters on January 6. Filmmaker Jay Shapiro joined me to talk about censorship, free speech, the role of media in a post-Trump world, and a lot more — with a perspective you may not have heard before. This episode was recorded just before Trump was impeached, but as you'll see, we assumed it anyway.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Seth Andrews was a fundamentalist Christian radio host for ten years. Today he is a secular humanist and atheist activist based in Oklahoma. He is the author of the excellent book, "Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian" — more relevant than ever today — and joins me to talk about a lot of things that have been on both our minds: his first-hand insights into the mind of the Christian pro-Trump Fox News viewer; how to achieve unity and common purpose after the deep divisions, racism, and bigotry of the last four years; the future of secular liberalism as it stands today; and more.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

It's OVER. Strategist Mookie Spitz and filmmaker Jay Shapiro join me again to talk about what happened. Yes, Trump lost. But he got 71 million votes. No, there was no voter fraud. But SCOTUS is 6-3 conservative. Trump's gone—but is Trumpism dead? And did he take pollsters down with him? Is it incumbent upon liberals now to reconcile with and reach out to Trump supporters? We talk about all of this and more in our autopsy episode of the 2020 election.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Are you confident Biden will win on November 3? Or are you terrified that it's 2016 all over again? Mookie Spitz — a strategist who consulted for the Andrew Yang campaign — thinks Trump will win. Jay Shapiro — filmmaker and director of "Islam and the Future of Tolerance" — is confident that Trump will lose. Both join me in this episode to duke it out. Let's do this!Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

With two weeks left to go before the election, Democrats are more anxious than ever about a repeat of 2016, despite polling and fundraising numbers that are dramatically more favorable to Joe Biden than Donald Trump. My friend Jay Shapiro—the extraordinarily talented director and producer behind documentaries like Islam and the Future of Tolerance and Opposite Field—joins me to talk about why 2020 will not be a repeat of 2016. Jay is also host of the philosophy podcast, Dilemma.Follow Jay on Twitter: @Jay_ShapiroDiscussed in this episode: Donald Trump and Vince McMahon's Battle of the Billionaires as a representation of the Trump presidency.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

After his exposed tax returns, his first debate with Biden, and his diagnosis and hospitalization with COVID a month before the election, conventional wisdom would say that Donald Trump is on the trajectory to almost certain defeat. But 4 weeks is still a long time in US politics, and Mookie Spitz makes a persuasive case for why Trump STILL has a good shot — and why we should be cautious about polls. We'll talk about the state of the race now, and why (or whether) Trump can still pull this off.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

Can Trump win again? Talking to strategist Mookie Spitz has seriously shaken me out of my complacency. Spitz is a marketing and PR strategy maestro who specializes in healthcare, non-profits, and politics. He is also a writer, rock guitar player (who can seriously SHRED), and was fired by Presidential candidate Andrew Yang (a story you'll definitely want to hear). We talked about the election, the polls, the pandemic, and got into the weeds on what Dems have to do to get it right this time. Spitz is my go-to guy when I want to cut through the noise and really understand what's happening in the wild world of American presidential politics. After you listen to this episode, I bet he'll be yours too.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

You're lazy. You have little motivation. You don't want to go to the gym. And you're stuck at home in these COVID-19 times. But you want to be healthy and look good. Is that even possible? Armin Navabi — the controversial Iranian-Canadian atheist activist whose organization, Atheist Republic, has over 2 million followers and counting — describes himself as all of those things, but has also gotten totally jacked these last few months while the rest of us piled on the pounds. What's more, he did it with minimal to no equipment. No gym membership required. What you may not know about Armin is that his success is rooted in a unique strength: pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and always asking "Why not?" instead of "Why?"  The best news of all? He promises that you can do it too, and is ready to spill his secrets.Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodesFollow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcastFollow Unlicensed Therapist on FacebookFollow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTokUnlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: PakkheeUnlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza