Braaains

Braaains Podcast

A podcast exploring the inner workings of our brains, mental health, & disabilities and how film & television portray them. Each episode, hosted by sisters Heather & Sarah Taylor, has an expert talk about a specific facet of our brains. Guests include therapists, scientists, and those with lived experiences and they share facts, insights, and how-tos with our listeners. We then discuss TV series and films that capture this specific aspect of our brains and tell it as it really is. Please follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast app, listen to new episodes biweekly on Tuesdays (every two weeks), and let us know your thoughts about the show. If you enjoy Braaains, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For more information or to suggest a topic, please visit: https://www.braaainspodcast.com. read less
TV & FilmTV & Film
Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness
Mental HealthMental Health

Episodes

Men's Mental Health within the Black Community
Nov 5 2024
Men's Mental Health within the Black Community
Today our special guests are writer/ director Bernard Gray and actor Dwain Murphy. We discussed Men's Mental Health within the Black Community and how they explored this topic in the film, The Other Stuff, which recently premiered at the Reelworld Festival in Toronto. The film offers an honest exploration of how Black men, especially those from environments of crime, straddle the paths of good and evil as they attempt to transition into healthier, more fulfilling lives. The film follows Winston played by Dwain Murphy (CROSS, DIGGSTOWN), and Shannon played by Golden Madison (CROSS, LAW & ORDER TORONTO: CRIMINAL INTENT) who embark on a journey of self-discovery through couples therapy before preparing to start a family. However, their journey takes an unexpected and intense turn when Winston’s suppressed childhood trauma surfaces. Under immense emotional strain, Winston confronts his uncle—the source of his abuse—in an effort to find healing and closure. The film highlights the critical role of therapy in helping men face their pain and work through the deep emotional scars that often remain buried. Content warning: we talk about homophobia and physical and sexual abuse in this episode.   DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-podcast-transcript_-EP066-Mens-Mental-Health-within-the-Black-Community.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
Exploring Family Dramas & How Anxiety Manifests in Relationships
Jul 16 2024
Exploring Family Dramas & How Anxiety Manifests in Relationships
Our last episode before our summer break is one of the first guests our listeners asked us to have on the show! We had the absolute pleasure of talking to DR. KATHLEEN SMITH, a licensed therapist and writer who lives in Washington, DC. Her books include Everything Isn't Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down, as well as her latest book, True to You: A Therapist's Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself.  Today we’re talking about anxiety through the lens of how it functions in relation to others and how you can manage different forms of anxious behavior within relationships. We cover the three As that manifest because of anxiety -- Avoiding, accommodating, and acting out -- and imagine what it would be like to let that go and be yourself and let other people be the same. We discuss how we can get stuck in patterns and what it takes to break out of them while dealing with the accompanying uncomfortableness. We also talk about the impact of over-functioning and under-functioning roles in relationships and how we are responsible TO someone and not FOR them. Such an important distinction! DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-Ep060-Exploring-Family-Dramas-and-How-Anxiety-Manifests-in-Relationships.pdf ORDER True to You: A Therapist's Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195790863-true-to-you Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
The Big C: Breast Cancer and Mental Health
Jul 2 2024
The Big C: Breast Cancer and Mental Health
We have the pleasure of talking with filmmaker and journalist, Traven Rice, about her experiences with Breast Cancer. We talk about how she discovered she had cancer, her treatment, the effects breast cancer can have on your mind and body, and the importance of community.   We discuss how breast cancer can impact your view of your identity and how a mastectomy is not just a “boob job.” We also talk about seeing the experience of Breast Cancer on screen and why Traven wanted to create a comedic film about having a memorial for her left breast called Lay Lefty Down, which she is currently raising funds for at LayLeftyDown.com.   Content warning – today we discuss terminal cancer and death.   Listen to our conversation on breast cancer representation in film and TV: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/breast-cancer-representation   DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript_-Episode-58-The-Big-C_-Breast-Cancer-and-Mental-Health.pdf   Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com   Follow: @BraaainsPodcast   Music: @_Deppisch_   Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast   00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgment 00:36 Exploring Traven Rice's Experience with Breast Cancer 06:18 The Emotional Impact of Discovering Breast Cancer 08:37 Navigating Treatment Decisions and Medical Team 10:54 Camp Breastie and the Importance of Supportive Communities 13:41 The Need for Open Conversations and Awareness 19:26 Creating a Comedic Film about Breast Cancer 23:08 Emotional Journey and Healing through Filmmaking 26:30 Breast Cancer Myths and Realizations 29:25 The Importance of Sharing Experiences 30:22 Addressing the Emotional and Psychological Aspects of Breast Cancer 31:17 Finding Support and Building a Community 34:35 Utilizing Resources for Support 38:55 Advocating for Comfortable Medical Care 43:15 The Power of Laughter and Sharing Stories 44:13 Lay Lefty Down: Starting Conversations and Providing Support with Film 49:17 Sarah Received a Grant for a Personal Film Project -- Hoorah! 51:46 The Need for Diverse Stories and Voices