Mayim Bialik's Breakdown - podcast cover

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

Mayim Bialikmayim.simplecast.com
Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown is a quirky, informative, and interactive podcast breaking down the myths and misunderstandings about mental health and emotional well-being. Neuroscientist Mayim Bialik combines her academic background with vast personal experience to provide listeners with valuable practical advice focusing on removing the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging an understanding of the mind-body connection. Nothing is off limits as Mayim breaks it down with an amazing collection of guests.

Episodes

Melissa Rauch: Amy Farrah Fowler & Bernadette Rostenkowski Reunite!

Melissa Rauch ( The Big Bang Theory, Night Court, True Blood ) joins us for a TBBT reunion! She and Mayim reminisce about the series, from their bond at joining the cast together at the same time and the origins of Melissa’s Bernadette voice to their favorite on-set memories. Melissa opens up about the awkwardness that ensued when she tried to confess her deep love of Blossom to Mayim and what it was like to come of age in their acting careers just as social media was taking off. She discusses h...

Jul 18, 202351 minEp. 164

Revisit: Trauma, Depression & Self-Discovery, with Wil Wheaton

We're revisiting another episode from the MBB vault! Wil Wheaton helps us break down the importance of setting boundaries, getting to the root of emotional pain instead of self-medicating, and the beauty of becoming the parent you never had. He opens up about his tumultuous relationship with his parents, his lifelong battle with depression, anxiety, & addiction, and his breakdown at the airport that led him to seek help. We also hear how sobriety and therapy became his “escape hatch” and his exp...

Jul 13, 202324 minEp. 163

R.K. Russell: Debunking the Myths of Bisexuality

R.K. Russell (former professional NFL football player, author, advocate) breaks down what it was like to be the first active NFL player to come out of the closet, the complexity around bisexuality, and compartmentalization as a survival mechanism. He reflects on his football beginnings, his close relationship with his single mother, and his struggles with internalizing society’s flaws and feeling “othered.” Russ opens up about his watershed moment when he first realized he was bisexual and his i...

Jul 11, 20231 hr 13 minEp. 162

Ask Mayim Anything #4: Oversharing, Highly Sensitive People, & The Dangers of Self-Diagnoses

It’s another episode of Ask Mayim Anything! Mayim answers your questions about her ear piercings, the dangers of self-diagnosis, why we overshare with strangers, advice for sending your adult children into the world, and ways to navigate a relationship with a parent who won’t acknowledge their abuse. She breaks down Highly Sensitive People, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, and the “Gifted” label. Mayim shares tips for combating feelings of worthlessness, managing a highly active brain, coping with...

Jul 06, 202350 minEp. 161

Joel McHale: Conquering Dyslexia & Imposter Syndrome

Joel McHale ( Community, The Soup, Animal Control ) joins us in studio to discuss his struggles with dyslexia, ADHD, and imposter syndrome. He shares his experiences working on The Soup and Community , opens up about what it was like to work with Chevy Chase, and his fears about never being taken seriously as an actor. Joel recalls how his challenges with dyslexia impacted him in school and his ability to perform, how he was able to channel his imposter syndrome into positive motivation, and how...

Jul 04, 202354 minEp. 160

Dr. Neil Theise: Overcome the Illusion of Separation

Dr. Neil Theise (professor of pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine) joins us to discuss how his adult stem cell and interstitium research led him to his "theory of everything", how complexity actually helps simplify our understanding of the universe, the illusion that humans are separate individual beings, and the scientific explanation of mysticism. He explains why philosophy, religion, and quantum mechanics fall short without incorporating intuition and human experience, how low-le...

Jun 27, 20231 hr 47 minEp. 159

Eric Hutchinson: We Inherit What’s in the Air

Eric Hutchinson (singer/songwriter), one of Mayim’s favorite musicians, stops by for an impromptu jam session with Mayim! He discusses harnessing depression to influence his musical creativity, the effects of his father’s muscular dystrophy on his family, and what he admires about the younger generations’ attitude toward mental health. Mayim opens up about what Eric’s music has meant to her and they reflect on their struggles in high school. They also consider how the eldest sibling can set the ...

Jun 20, 20231 hr 23 minEp. 158

The Holistic Approach to Living

Drs. Alona Pulde & Matthew Lederman (WeHeal Co-Founders) break down practical ways to combine eastern & western medicine, lifestyle medicine, and nonviolent communication into a holistic approach to improve mental and overall wellness. They take us through their personal evolution toward incorporating self-care, play, and connection into wellness regimens, the importance of checking in with yourself, and what’s not working in the conventional model of primary care. Matthew and Alona explain how ...

Jun 15, 202355 minEp. 157

Jenna von Oy (Blossom's Best Friend!): Don't Live in Your Own Shadow

Jenna von Oy (“Six” from Blossom !) reunites with Mayim to discuss coming of age on television, their mixed feelings about 90’s nostalgia, and the evolution of Jenna’s sexuality. They reminisce about all things Blossom - the origins of its “hat culture”, their on-set inside jokes & pranks, the groundbreaking nature of the show, why the odds were stacked against them, and their excitement about a potential Blossom reboot. Jenna explains how she cultivated emotional agility to handle rejection as ...

Jun 13, 20231 hr 21 minEp. 156

[Revisit] Reframe Your Anxiety, with Glennon Doyle

We're revisiting another episode from the MBB vault! Glennon Doyle helps us break down the emotional toll it takes to share authentically, the evolution of love in her life, how to improve communication when both parts of a couple are in recovery, and the shame that comes from simply existing as a human. She also discusses the benefits of being an introvert and how she learned to reframe her anxiety. Enjoy the best moments of Glennon Doyle, and tune in on Tuesday for a brand new full episode of ...

Jun 08, 202320 minEp. 155

Atsuko Okatsuka: I Was Kidnapped and Brought to the U.S.

Atsuko Okatsuka (stand-up comedian) joins us in studio to discuss her “Scooby-Doo” brand of comedy, her parents meeting on a Japanese dating show, and how her mom’s schizophrenia impacted her childhood. She opens up about why it’s difficult for her to identify her own needs, how navigating the uncertainty of her childhood led her to disordered eating, and rebelling against her family with her first romantic relationship. Atsuko also explains first bonding with her husband over his own mother’s s...

Jun 06, 20231 hr 10 minEp. 154

Is There a Science of Belief?

We're recapping the best moments from Mayim's appearance on Rabbi David Kasher's Best Book Ever podcast! Mayim and Rabbi Kasher discuss how and why the human brain is wired for belief, how we can function in a world gone mad, and how mystical and spiritual structure help us navigate life. You know, light stuff! They also consider the scientific, physiological basis for emotions and spiritual experiences, why there is room for both science and spirituality to exist, what biological functions alle...

Jun 01, 202348 minEp. 153

Jesse Tyler Ferguson: I Was the Puzzle Piece That Didn’t Fit

Jesse Tyler Ferguson ( Modern Family, Dinner’s On Me Podcast) discusses why Modern Family was a pop culture touchstone, being bullied as a child and typecast as an adult, and the importance of having well-rounded gay characters. Jesse reveals he used to have a crush on Mayim as a kid, he and Mayim discuss being on competing shows at the same time, and their shared friendship with Jim Parsons. He opens up about why he resonated with Modern Family ’s premise and cast, the show’s fears about showin...

May 30, 202357 minEp. 152

David Lascher & Christine Taylor: Blossom, Brady Bunch, & 90’s Nostalgia

David Lascher ( Blossom, Hey Dude ) & Christine Taylor ( Zoolander, Hey Dude ) discuss David’s experience playing Mayim’s boyfriend on Blossom , how the pandemic brought Christine and husband Ben Stiller back together, and they help us break down the deeper psychological layers of nostalgia. They reflect on the cult following of their show Hey Dude on the early days of Nickelodeon, Christine’s comedy trajectory and her legendary role as Marcia Brady in the Brady Bunch movies, and what David thin...

May 23, 202355 minEp. 151

[Revisit]: Stay Present & Know Yourself, with Kunal Nayyar

Revisiting one of our most popular episodes from the early days of the podcast - an oldie but a goodie with Kunal Nayyar! Kunal and Mayim had a little Big Bang Theory reunion. Kunal shares the dangers of overidentifying with anxiety, including his own experiences with debilitating panic attacks while driving on the highway and eventually riding in elevators, and how that led him to therapy and a modern day path of self-discovery. He also explains the importance of spirituality as it ties to mind...

May 18, 202319 minEp. 150

Dr. Theresa Larson: Stop Pain - The Most Common Myths

Dr. Theresa Larson (movement health & inclusive wellness expert, Movement RX founder) joins us to discuss her work with adaptive athletes, what it was like to join the U.S. military after 9/11 and as a woman, and what you need to take full ownership over your pain. Mayim discusses first learning breathwork through Dr. T and they break down movement healing, downregulating the nervous system to improve mental wellness, why social support is so crucial to recovering from physical and emotional wou...

May 16, 20231 hr 27 minEp. 149

[Revisit] I'm Glad My Mom Died, with Jennette McCurdy

A collection of the best moments from our conversation with writer, director, actor, and singer Jennette McCurdy! Join us as we revisit all of Jennette's empowering nuggets of wisdom, from disordered eating and her enmeshed relationship with her mother to the profound revelations she experienced following her mother’s death. Jennette also helps us break down harmful coping mechanisms, the pressures and anxieties she faced as a child actress and the source of financial support for her family, why...

May 11, 202313 minEp. 148

Rosie O’Donnell: Love People Back to Life

Rosie O’Donnell (The Rosie O’Donnell Show, A League of Their Own, Onward podcast) discusses the ripple effects of her mom passing when Rosie was a child, the emergence of the first LGBTQ movement, and the emotional highs and lows of becoming an activist for gay parents. She explains how she got into stand-up comedy as a teenager, the prevalence of alcoholism and abuse on her father's side of the family, and how losing mother made her strive to please the adults in her life and putting on a tough...

May 09, 20231 hr 18 minEp. 147

Stop Ignoring What Your Body is Telling You

Are you ignoring your true desires, and is your body paying the price? Mayim and Jonathan break down how stress can cause frequent infections, what our bodies are trying to tell us with physical pain & muscle aches, and the potential sinister origins of having low energy. They explain the importance of feeling excited in day-to-day life, how not living the life you want can lead to depression and anxiety, and the underlying psychological conditions that can lead to disordered eating. They also d...

May 04, 202328 minEp. 146

Kyla Pratt & Julian Gant: Call Me Kat, Grieving Leslie Jordan, & Exploring Empathic Energy

Kyla Pratt (The Proud Family, One on One) & Julian Gant (As They Made Us, Oddballs) join us in the studio to discuss working with Mayim on Call Me Kat, their shared grief journeys after losing their friend and co-star Leslie Jordan, and not conforming to society & the entertainment industry. Julian opens up about losing jobs in Hollywood because of his refusal to cut his hair and his alarming racially motivated police interactions. He compares his skills as a professional fighter with performing...

May 02, 20231 hr 31 minEp. 145

Carla Naumburg: Your Parenting Wakeup Call

Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW (clinical social worker & bestselling author) helps us break down "sh*tty parent syndrome", the evolution in parenting methods from generation to generation, and practical ways to practice self-care. Mayim and Carla discuss the unusual origin story of their friendship after Carla wrote an article criticizing Mayim’s parenting techniques. They explain the importance of honesty when sharing parenting struggles and not comparing yourself to other parents, how meditation i...

Apr 25, 20231 hr 19 minEp. 144

[Revisit] Who Gets Sick and How to Prevent it, with Dr. Gabor Maté

The Dangers of Being Too Nice: Dr. Gabor Maté (renowned speaker and bestselling author) on another Thursday Bite-Sized Breakdown. Revisit the powerful nuggets of wisdom from our episode with Dr. Gabor that could literally change how you understand health and well-being. Many people have said this is their favorite episode of MBB! Dr. Maté explains who's most prone to chronic illness and practical ways our childhood trauma is impacting us now and might lead to disease. Dr. Gabor breaks down how a...

Apr 20, 202323 minEp. 143

Danny Trejo: I Was As Sick As My Secrets

Danny Trejo (actor, Machete, Breaking Bad, Boba Fett & author) joins us in-studio to discuss how the culture he was raised in contributed to his early drug and alcohol use, the evolution of his relationship with a higher power from one of fear to one of love, and his transition from convict to actor/author/restaurateur. He opens up about being conditioned as a child to use rage and violence to survive, what early sobriety taught him, and why he feels like he can reach troubled youth better than ...

Apr 18, 20231 hr 22 minEp. 142

[Revisit] Turn Your Life Around One Thought at a Time, with Jewel

Welcome to our very first Thursday Bite-Sized Breakdown with Jewel (multi-platinum recording artist & mental health advocate)! We wanted to make it easy to revisit the enlightening moments and inspiring words of wisdom from our episode with Jewel. From her lifelong spiritual relationship with nature to practical ways to get in touch with our inner observer, Jewel captivated us with powerful advice to anyone struggling with mental health. Enjoy the best moments of Jewel, and tune in on Tuesday fo...

Apr 13, 202317 minEp. 141

Ask Mayim Anything #3: Sex & Love Addiction, Repressed Memories, ADHD and Imposter Syndrome

It’s another episode of Ask Mayim Anything! This time, Mayim answers your questions about ADHD, hoarding, and what it really means to be triggered. She breaks down misophonia, Borderline Personality Disorder, and the importance of taking news breaks. Mayim shares tips for combating imposter syndrome and burnout, advice for new parents, and how to get the most out of therapy. She explains the effects of mold poisoning on mental and overall well-being, the differences between mood swings and bipol...

Apr 11, 20231 hrEp. 140

Mayim & Jonathan React to: Marc Maron

Mayim and Jonathan react to our recent episode with Marc Maron! They reflect on Maron’s vulnerability as he shared how his relationship with his parents set a daunting standard for what his future relationships would look like, how he turned to music and drugs to cope, and the origins of his anger. They also consider Maron’s introspection behind his podcast microphone and how he used it to recreate himself, what happens when we’re denied a fundamental sense of self, and the benefits of being raw...

Apr 06, 202334 minEp. 139

Dr. Sarah Schewitz: How Your Childhood Wounds Are Affecting Your Relationships

Mayim and Jonathan do therapy with Dr. Sarah Schewitz, licensed psychologist specializing in love & relationships! Dr. Schewitz leads a real time Imago workshop with Mayim and Jonathan to illustrate the benefits of Imago dialogue. She helps them get to the root of their podcast disagreements, from interrupting and correcting each other to cracking jokes at inappropriate moments, learning why they react the way they do. Dr. Schewitz also helps us break down healing attachment trauma, the impact o...

Apr 04, 20231 hr 39 minEp. 138

DaRa Williams: Integrate Your Mind, Body, Heart & Soul

DaRa Williams (meditation teacher, psychotherapist) helps us break down the importance of unpacking past personal and intergenerational trauma, misdiagnoses that come from cultural misunderstandings, and her integrative meditation practice. She opens up about why she chose a path that set her up to fight the dominant culture wave, how microaggressions gave her the opportunity to fortify the skills of her meditation practice, and the strength that comes from integrating perspectives when we celeb...

Mar 28, 20231 hr 24 minEp. 137

Eric Kaplan: Does Everything Happen for a Reason?

Eric Kaplan (EP on The Big Bang Theory , Co-EP on Young Sheldon , M.A. in philosophy) joins us to break down the funniest moments from The Big Bang Theory , philosophy as it relates to mental health, and practical ways to avoid being consumed by fear. He shares the differences between spirituality and religion, his experience as a monk for a brief period of time, and his concerns about selling out when he became a tv writer. Eric opens up about the passing of his older brother and how it affecte...

Mar 21, 20231 hr 27 minEp. 136

Marc Maron: Humor Gave Relief from Grief

Marc Maron (stand-up comedian, host of WTF with Marc Maron podcast, actor, author) joins us to break down the arc of grief, the effects of growing up with detached parents, and his journey toward sobriety and defining himself. We discuss Marc’s foray into podcasting, how it enabled a generation of podcasters including MBB, and how his show has evolved over time. He reflects on his past struggles with alcohol and drugs including "cocaine psychosis", his experiences with rehab and therapy, and the...

Mar 14, 20231 hr 28 minEp. 135
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