Thursday Thistory: Dr Solomon Carter Fuller
The Broken Brain
Patreon sample: This week in our history deep dive we are examining the life of Dr Solomon Carter Fuller, credited as the first Black Psychiatrist in the USA. Born of formerly enslaved parents, Dr Fuller grew up to become a psychiatrist, neurologist, and professor at Boston College. His groundbreaking research in the discovery of Alzheimer's disease is still the foundation of much research and treatment today. Go to to support this month's highlighted nonprofit, providing legal and practical assistance for Black Trans Americans. 50% of donations from Patreon members who join this month...
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Parenting and Disabilities, with Jane Fischer, Author of "If You Knew Suzy"
The Broken Brain
Jane Fischer is a Teacher, Special Educator, Learning Consultant, and the Author of "If You Knew Suzy: Pushing Past the Boundaries of Never." Jane's daughter Suzy was diagnosed at a young age with rare brain abnormalities and Joubert Syndrome. The book tells the story of what types of acceptance, grieving, and hope can exist when a parent and a child have to decide how to respond to a long list of "nevers," and how to help Suzy build her own fulfilling life. Go to to support this month's highlighted charity, a lovely nonprofit helping Black Trans individuals to thrive through legal...
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Monday Mental Tip: Staying Aware & Healthy
The Broken Brain
It is hard to navigate day-to-day with all of the bullshit going on in the USA right now. How. dowe stay informed, do our part to help, advocate, and avoid burnout, avoidance, or self-destructive coping mechanisms? Go to to get aware and involved with this month's highlighted nonprofit. Lavender Rights Project helps Black Trans people with community advocacy, increasing safety, and practical needs such as housing.
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Dr Inez Beverly Prosser, the first Black Woman to gain a PhD
The Broken Brain
With Black History month I have been looking into some of the underreported Black pioneers in the field of education and psychology, and was very impressed with the impact of Dr Inez Beverly Prosser. An educator, researcher, psychologist, she is the first Black woman to earn a PhD in the United States, in 1933. Her research into the emotional, cognitive, and psychological effects of segregation on Black children was vital to the Brown v Board of Education case, 20 years after her death. This is the first half of this week's dive into psychological history, available to all. The entire episode...
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The role of Clinical Hypnosis in managing health, with Garrett Wood
The Broken Brain
Garrett Wood, Clinical Hypnotherapist and National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, joins to talk about the role that hypnotherapy can play in treating burnout, anxiety, chronic pain, and overall health management. He discusses the difference between medically sound, best practice ways hypnosis is used to find solutions to health problems. Check out his practice, Gnosis Therapy, at This month the Broken Brain is focused on Stand In Pride, a charity helping connect LGBTQ+ individuals to community and found family after facing abandonment from their support systems when...
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Thursday Thistory: When Frank Sinatra Jr was kidnapped
The Broken Brain
Patreon sample: the first half of the true story of the bungled, ridicolous kidnapping of Frank Sinatr Jr in the sixties, and the role that scrupilosity. grandiosity, and delusion played in this scheme. This month's charity is Stand In Pride, a nonprofit helping LGBTQ+ individuals to establish friends and found family, especially when facing rejection from their family of origin. Go to to learn more.
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Sufi Philosophy and Finding Peace, with Salima Adelstein
The Broken Brain
Salima Adelstein is the first woman to become a Murshida, a spiritual guide in the Shadhiliyya Sufi Tradition, the mystical dimension of Islam. She has 35 years guiding people in meditation, spirituality, and using the Shadhiliyya principles. Follow her and her work at The highlighted charity this month is Stand In Pride, a nonprofit organization helping members of the LGBTQ+ community to build their own support community after facing rejection from friends and family. Go to or find their app in your app store to get involved.
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Finding Hope Through Action: Responding To Social Injustice
The Broken Brain
This week for Monday Mental Health Tip I want to share the use of action as a form of self-care and service, finding ways to support and help during times of political and social injustice, targeting of immigrants and marginalized populations, violation of civil rights, and even public executions. Anxiety can be managed through purposeful action, here are some ideas about funneling the emotional energy into areas that can help these situations, and will more so the more of us that join in. Highlighted charities in this episode include: Immigrant Legal Resource Center: ...
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Thursday Thistory: The Chess Machine
The Broken Brain
In 1770 a weird and amazing machine known as "The Chess Machine," or "The Mechanical Turk," was created by Civil Servant and Engineer Wolfgang von Kempelen. He claimed it could play chess as an automated machine, and indeed it played and defeated many talented players and well-known people, including Napolean and Benjamin Franklin. This device kicked off the type of thinking that influenced the development of the computer, and probably even AI. Unfortunately it was all a hoax... Thursday Thistory is a look at psychological or cultural history. Half today's episode is available to all...
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AI & Delusion, with Dr Ian Gold, Dr Joel Gold, and Sean King O'Grady
The Broken Brain
Psychiatrist Joel Gold & Philosopher Ian Gold wrote "Suspicious Minds: How Culture Shapes Madness," examining the effects of culture and social media on delusions. Cue the creation of Artificial Intelligence, with quickly increasing presence and impact. The brothers teamed up with Award Winning Filmmaker Sean King O'Grady to create the docuseries "Suspicious Minds," interviewing researchers, AI engineers, and individuals who have experienced what is increasingly being called "AI Delusion." This is a fascinating discussion about the relationship with new technology, and how it can impact...
info_outlineThe way in which we diagnose mental health conditions has been key to the treatment world. Much of this has historically been done through patient report and observable behavior. As time has gone by assessment instruments and tools have been developed to help, but the individual assessment will always be important. Dr Barry Herman, medical director for Mentavi, joins today to share information about diagnosis, particularly for ADHD and related issues. Go to www.mentavi.com to follow his work.
The Because Organization is a nonprofit dedicated to helping those who have survived human trafficking to build up their lives in a healthy and managable way, and is this month's charity-of-focus. Visit www.becauseorganization.org to support them and to learn more.