Within today's political battles and social media landscape, it seems that lying is on the rise. And not even good lies, but obvious ones! Liana delves into the different motivations for lying (they're not all bad), how to confront possible liars and how to handle it when you've been caught lying! Also - Jedis!
Racism and bigotry are making a comeback - or at least, they're speaking much louder. We know that millions of Canadians face overt prejudice every day, but do we know what that feels like? Liana talks to award-winning Canadian-Chinese author Derwin Mak about the overt and subtle anti-Asian ignorance he's faced for decades and how he deals with it. Plus, how not to hate...Hate.
'We're in this together' - Mental illness affects not just the individual, but their friends, loved ones and especially their partner. Dr. David T. Culkin, co-author (with his wife Michaela) of OCD and Marriage, has had obsessive-compulsive disorder throughout his ongoing 28 year marriage. Liana talks to David about the need for honesty, respect and compromise in a partnership with someone with mental health challenges.
Really, you're not! But you *are* facing a difficult life challenge that has you feeling overwhelmed. Liana talks to psychotherapist Jennifer Gerlach, author of the Psychosis & Mental Health Recovery Workbook, about how to overcome your overwhelm and live a better life.
Mistakes are inevitable, but they don't have to be insurmountable. Liana shares personal stories of her own mistakes, how & why she compounded some and learned to turn mistakes into something positive. Hear how childhood trauma, parents, friends and our work & home environments can influence what mistakes we make and how we process them - and how to turn those mistakes into fuel for positive growth. A special extended version of this episode with extra information...
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.
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!
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.
INT ep 69 - 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.
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.
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.
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 ( https://post-mort.com/ ), UK tabletop game writer and artist, about how he manages the relationship between his depression and his creative work....
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.
"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.
"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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Denise's website is https://deniseglee.com/
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.
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.
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. Get Healthy Conflict workshop tickets here: https://its-not-therapy.ticketleap.com/healthy-conflict-workshop/
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"! Get tickets for Sherry's show here: https://www.thewestdale.ca/event/i-am-enough/
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.
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.
