It’s Not Therapy!

I’m Liana Kerzner and I am not a therapist! I navigate the madness of mental health with interesting guests, inspiring stories and real questions from regular people!

Gratitude - When it's good, when it's bad 12/20/2023

Gratitude - When it's good, when it's bad Over the holidays we're encouraged to be grateful for what we have, and sometimes, that's not a request, it's a demand. While feeling sincerely grateful is good for mental health, no one ever feels gratitude by force. Liana goes through where the lines are, and why gratitude can become resentment when it's not freely given. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/29174713

When Life Isn't Fair 12/14/2023

When Life Isn't Fair Sometimes life isn't fair. So what do we do? Liana takes listeners through the science of how the brain responds to unfairness, and how to deal with it like a hero instead of a villain! /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/29068188

Can Drag Shows Make You A Better Person? 12/01/2023

Can Drag Shows Make You A Better Person? Prejudice and bigotry are common human failings, even among those who have experienced both. Liana talks to Gila Münster, a Toronto drag performer and charity fundraiser, about how antisemitism in the LGBTQ+ community motivated her to develop a greater sense of self and desire to help others. Tickets for Gila's show can be found at Gilamunster.com /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28852833

Mental Health Maintenance with Howie Mandel 11/21/2023

Mental Health Maintenance with Howie Mandel Howie Mandel, the star of TV's America's Got Talent and Canada's Got Talent has been open about his mental health challenges. Liana talks to Howie about normalizing caring for our mental health in the same way we care for our dental health. Plus, Liana goes in-depth on her Top 10 Rules for checking in with your best self. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28746613

Moving Past Shame 11/17/2023

Moving Past Shame Shame. It's something that touches, and damages, us all. Liana shares her raw, honest, personal battle with shame and its childhood origins and talks to Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers, PhD, author, licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist about how to overcome shame that stunts our self-worth, infects our relationships and hurts our intimate and sexual connections. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28654128

INT ep 67 - How to Feel Better About Feeling Bad 11/10/2023

INT ep 67 - How to Feel Better About Feeling Bad Processing negative emotions is a learned skill... that a lot of people don't learn! Liana talks to psychology researcher Richard Contrada, Ph.D. of Rutgers University about how to channel being sad, angry, disappointed, ashamed or dejected into tools for positive change. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28558700

INT ep 66 - Creativity + Depression: friends or foes? 10/27/2023

INT ep 66 - Creativity + Depression: friends or foes? Vincent Van Gogh created many of his greatest masterpieces while in a psychiatric hospital. Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson wrote classic hits while dealing with mental illness. The list goes on. Some believe that the creative impulse and mental health challenges often go hand in hand. In this episode Liana talks with James 'Grim' Desborough, UK tabletop game writer and artist, about how he manages the relationship between his depression and his creative work. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28421039

INT ep 65 - Autism - it's not a Disease! 10/17/2023

INT ep 65 - Autism - it's not a Disease! The first thing to understand about Autism - there is no one-size-fits-all way to understand Autism. It's called a 'spectrum' for a reason. Though those on the spectrum are all different, Liana and her guest Ingrid, who has Autism, offer some primers to help you understand your neurodivergent friends, family and colleagues. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28340642

INT ep 64 - Break the Ice! How to Start Meaningful Conversations 10/10/2023

INT ep 64 - Break the Ice! How to Start Meaningful Conversations "What if I F up?" It's a fear that stops conversations before they start. Beginning a conversation can stir up multiple "What if?" anxieties - but relax! Breaking the ice is easier than you think! Liana and Kevin Bennet, PhD, professor of social-personality psychology, talk about how you can overcome the pre-conversation jitters. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28274489

INT ep 63 - New Strategies For Dealing With Anxiety 09/29/2023

INT ep 63 - New Strategies For Dealing With Anxiety "So what?" Those two words have the power to free us from the anxiety, fear and dread which keep our lives stuck in a bad place. Author and psychotherapist Richard Joelson joins Liana to relate how he helps his clients cope with and overcome obstacles and live happy, fulfilling lives. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28176143

INT ep 62 - Teamwork! What elite athletes can teach us about mental health 09/29/2023

INT ep 62 - Teamwork! What elite athletes can teach us about mental health Performance psychologists coach elite athletes to win championships by working as a team. Alex Auerbach, performance psychologist for the Toronto Raptors, joins Liana to talk about how he approaches high level well being, resilience, and teamwork in a highly competitive environment! Plus: why Liana utterly hated group work in school. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/28174259

INT ep 61 - What It’s Really Like To Have OCD 09/08/2023

INT ep 61 - What It’s Really Like To Have OCD If your understanding of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) comes through how it's presented in the media, then you don't really understand OCD. Liana talks with Sophia Florence, a comedian with OCD, about how it impacts her daily life and the strategies she's developed to deal with it. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976647

INT ep 60 - The Problems With Personality Tests 09/01/2023

INT ep 60 - The Problems With Personality Tests Personality tests claim that they can assess and predict our characters, and that some things are unlikely to change. But is this true? Are our personalities anchored in our past or can they evolve..and if so, what factors will contribute to the evolution? Liana talks to Glenn Geher, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and director of the Evolutionary Studies program at the State University of New York at New Paltz, about the influences that affect our personality development and the pros and cons of 'perso /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976650

INT ep 59 - Religion and Critical Thinking! (Why Smart People Do Dumb Things Part 4) 08/18/2023

INT ep 59 - Religion and Critical Thinking! (Why Smart People Do Dumb Things Part 4) Religion can deepen our understanding of the human condition and of ourselves - except when it dissuades the critical thinking and education required to achieve it. Liana speaks to Rabbi Michael Harvey (www.rabbimichaelharvey.com) about how blind religious faith can lead to misconceptions that prove harmful to ourselves and others. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976653

INT ep 58 - Impostor Syndrome (Why Smart People Do Dumb Things Part 3) 08/11/2023

INT ep 58 - Impostor Syndrome (Why Smart People Do Dumb Things Part 3) The series on why smart people do stupid things continues! Ever feel like a phony? That you're not nearly as good as people think you are - and any day now, you're going to be exposed? If so, you're not alone - Imposter Syndrome can get to anyone. Liana talks to impostor syndrome expert Dr. Wendy Boring-Bray (https://wendyboringbray.com/) about how we can break free of this mental trap. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976656

INT ep 57: (Male) EGO! Why Smart People Do Dumb Things Part 2 08/04/2023

INT ep 57: (Male) EGO! Why Smart People Do Dumb Things Part 2 We all have to fake it until we make it sometimes, but the things we pretend to be to cover up our insecurities can get out of control. Men's issues expert Jeff Perera of HigherUnlearning.com joins Liana to talk about why some men's egos control their lives, with sometimes disastrous results. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976659

INT ep 56 - Why Smart People Do Dumb Things 07/28/2023

INT ep 56 - Why Smart People Do Dumb Things Why do smart people do dumb things? Often it's because faulty thoughts reinforced by our internal dialogues lead us to make faulty decisions. Liana talks with award-winning psychologist and author Dr. Jeff Nevid about how taking charge of our inner voice leads to clearer thinking and better results. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976662

INT ep 55 - Mental Health and Guns 07/21/2023

INT ep 55 - Mental Health and Guns Guns in America is a hotly debated topic, often generating more heat than light. Liana is joined by Aquila, a 3-tour US army veteran who explains the different types of US gun owners, the real facts behind American gun deaths and offers, as a gun owner, a perspective on the role of guns in American society that is rarely accorded serious consideration in the media. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976665

INT ep 54 - Stop Making Excuses! 07/14/2023

INT ep 54 - Stop Making Excuses! Excuses. We've all made them. But when they become a pattern, they cause more problems than they solve. Liana talks to business coach Denise Lee, a survivor of incest and substance abuse, about how she faced facts and took back control over her life. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976668

INT ep 53 - Achievement Addiction 07/07/2023

INT ep 53 - Achievement Addiction Achievements should bring us satisfaction and confidence, but in our 24/7 culture, the drive to succeed can become like an addiction that requires constant and ever-bigger hits. Award-winning educator Jason Bradshaw returns to talk to Liana about toxic attitudes about 'success' and how to get off the hamster wheel. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976671

INT ep 52 - Why We Fight? 06/23/2023

INT ep 52 - Why We Fight? Conflict happens for a reason. Disputes are inevitable and most people don't like them. But conflicts give us the opportunity to clear the air, resolve misunderstandings and grow closer. Liana and her panel of "Bubbleheads" offer personal examples of when conflict helped them learn, grow and live a happier life. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976674

INT ep 51 - The Accidental Pride Month Episode 06/16/2023

INT ep 51 - The Accidental Pride Month Episode The Bubbleheads are back and it's hilarious chaos! Aquila, Jake and Merryjest are back, and what starts as a discussion about family histories and conflict becomes a discussion about gender transition, coming out, getting outed, and... canoes. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976677

INT ep 50 - F*ck Normal 06/09/2023

INT ep 50 - F*ck Normal What's 'Normal'? Who cares? F*ck 'Normal'! Liana talks with Sherry Garner, an actress, playwright and single mom of two daughters (one of whom has Down Syndrome) She also has bipolar disorder! Listen to Sherry revel in her unconventional life through her upcoming autobiographical stage play, "I Am Enough"! /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976680

INT ep 49 - How To Explain Your Crazy 06/02/2023

INT ep 49 - How To Explain Your Crazy Forget Freud and Jung - think Superman and The Hulk! South Park and That 70s Show screenwriter-turned-therapist and author Phil Stark and Liana discuss how pop culture symbols can help us better understand and overcome our mental health challenges. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976683

INT ep 48 -What Is Self Worth and How Do I Get It? 05/26/2023

INT ep 48 -What Is Self Worth and How Do I Get It? With so many negative messages swirling around us, building a healthy sense of self-worth can seem a daunting challenge. Liana takes us on her own personal journey to achieving her positive sense of self and offers life lessons and guidance to help you realize your own inherent value. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976686

INT ep 47: Borderline Personality Disorder - Separating Myth From Fact 05/12/2023

INT ep 47: Borderline Personality Disorder - Separating Myth From Fact What is borderline personality disorder and what is it like to live with it? A doctor who treats the condition and a person who has it join Liana in a candid, humanizing discussion about this serious mental health concern. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976689

INT ep 46: Teen Mental Health 05/05/2023

INT ep 46: Teen Mental Health Teen mental health is a subject near and dear to Liana's heart. She shares what she learned starting as a peer counsellor as a teenager. Guest Dr. Betsy Holmberg https://betsyholmberg.com/ talks directly to teens about how their brains work, and we do a dive into the data showing the kids are not alright, especially LGBTQ+ teens. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976692

INT Ep 45 - Fixing the Mental Health Care System 04/28/2023

INT Ep 45 - Fixing the Mental Health Care System Okay there isn't just one system, but the various systems are broken. What's wrong? (Like you need to be told) and the beginnings of what to do about it, with speaker, advocate, and author of "So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience", Mark Henick! /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976695

INT ep 44- I’m Not Disabled. The World Disables Me. 04/21/2023

INT ep 44- I’m Not Disabled. The World Disables Me. Nicer terms for disabled people don't help much while the world is still disabling our ability to contribute. Liana shares some of her own story, a comment from a listener, and chats with Forbes Advisor Canada lead editor Aaron Broverman (@Broverman) about disability issues. /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976698

INT ep 43- What I Wish I’d Been Told About Trauma 04/14/2023

INT ep 43- What I Wish I’d Been Told About Trauma If I knew then what I know now. Inspired by the movie Creed III, Liana talks about some of the things she wishes she'd been told when she was in trauma therapy. Guest Dr. Robert T. Muller PhD and author of Trauma and the Struggle to Open Up joins to talk about his work with https://traumapractice.org/ /episode/index/show/2cbf6733-48db-4c69-92b2-5524c5ead627/id/27976701

It’s Not Therapy!

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