In this special crossover episode with Never Post, Unravelling host Kurt White joins writer and digital media expert Mike Rugnetta to explore how the internet shapes identity, self-perception, and mental health. From TikTok trends to the eerie accuracy of algorithmic recommendations, they unpack the tension between authenticity and performance in online spaces. How does the internet reinforce or distort who we are? What happens when our digital selves feel more real than our offline ones? They a...
Mar 26, 2025•47 min•Ep. 21
In this episode of Unravelling , host Mary Wilson is joined by Betsy Stade, research scientist and clinical psychologist at the Stanford Institute for Human Centered AI , to explore the profound ways AI is reshaping therapy, mental health support, and human connection itself. From AI-powered chatbots offering round-the-clock emotional support to cutting-edge research on how large language models like ChatGPT are used in therapy, Betsy unpacks the opportunities, risks, and ethical dilemmas of int...
Mar 12, 2025•47 min•Ep. 20
In this episode of Unravelling, psychologist Dr. Zoeann Finzi-Adams speaks with Mary about the complexities of mental health in Black women, examining how racism and sexism intersect to shape their experiences. She challenges the "Strong Black Woman" archetype, which often forces Black women to prioritize resilience over their own well-being, making it harder to seek help or even believe they deserve it. She also unpacks the concept of group-based stressors, discussing how chronic exposure to di...
Feb 26, 2025•32 min•Ep. 19
In this episode of Unravelling, Kurt White sits down with Professor Nnamdi Pole, Harold and Elsa Israel Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Psychology Department at Smith College, to discuss his course, The Psychology of the Black Experience. Professor Pole shares insights from his long-running course, delving into the role of psychology in understanding Black identity, collective experiences, and the impact of systemic forces like racism. The conversation unpacks the origins of Black psych...
Feb 12, 2025•42 min•Ep. 18
This episode of Unravelling dives into the cultural, social, and personal complexities of alcohol use. As Dry January wraps up, many are reflecting on the role alcohol plays in their lives. Mary Wilson speaks with Jeanette Hu, a California-based psychotherapist and creator of the Sober Curiosity Lab, to explore the concept of "sober curiosity." Jeanette shares her insights on how alcohol is deeply woven into our societal fabric, why it’s often glamorized, and how its subtle costs are frequently ...
Jan 29, 2025•28 min•Ep. 17
In this episode of Unravelling, Kurt White sits down with his colleague Dr. Geoff Kane, MD, MPH, Emeritus Chief of Addiction Services at the Brattleboro Retreat, to delve into the evolving understanding of alcohol’s health risks. This timely discussion comes amid growing research, including the U.S. Surgeon General’s call for alcohol warning labels and Canada’s updated guidelines, which reveal significant risks even at low levels of consumption. While the conversation touches on the most extreme...
Jan 15, 2025•39 min•Ep. 16
Start the New Year with a special thought-provoking episode of Unravelling. Hosts Kurt White and Mary Wilson are joined by Brattleboro Retreat postdoctoral psychology fellow Mary Iellamo to revisit a compelling panel from the Brattleboro Literary Festival. Moderated by Iellamo, this conversation brings together authors Anna Shechtman (The Riddles of the Sphinx) and Emmeline Clein (Dead Weight), who were each featured individually in the previous two episodes of Unravelling (episodes 13 and 14). ...
Jan 01, 2025•49 min•Ep. 15
In this episode of Unravelling , Kurt White sits down with Anna Shechtman, author and renowned crossword creator, at the Brattleboro Literary Festival to discuss her book, The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle . At age 15, Anna began crafting crossword puzzles while navigating the complexities of disordered eating—two practices tied by perfectionism, control, and language. Kurt and Anna explore the paradoxes of anorexia: the illusion of control amidst...
Dec 18, 2024•40 min•Ep. 14
In this episode of Unravelling , Mary Wilson interviews Emmeline Clein, author of Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm and a featured guest at the 2024 Brattleboro Literary Festival. Emmeline critiques the systemic failures in diagnosing and treating eating disorders, highlighting the emotional invalidation many patients face—particularly the harm of being told they don’t "qualify" for certain diagnoses. She explores how treatment centers often reinforce disordered behaviors instead of address...
Dec 04, 2024•36 min•Ep. 13
Description: In this episode of Unravelling, Mary Wilson speaks with Angel Cassin, CEO of Together Estranged, about the complex and often taboo topic of family estrangement. Angel shares her own journey of going no-contact with her mother, the stigma she encountered, and the community she found through Together Estranged. The conversation explores the spectrum of estrangement, the role of boundaries, and societal expectations around reconciliation. Angel sheds light on the diverse reasons behind...
Nov 20, 2024•42 min•Ep. 12
In this episode of Unravelling, Kurt White speaks with Dr. Kevin Smith, a political scientist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, about the connection between politics, stress, and mental health. They discuss Dr. Smith's research indicating that political engagement can trigger physiological stress responses, with increased attention to politics in our information-saturated environment correlating with higher stress and negative health impacts. Kurt prompts a conversation about the societal r...
Nov 06, 2024•41 min•Ep. 11
Description: This episode of Unravelling delves into peer-led mental health care by exploring the work of Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu, founder of Project LETS. This national grassroots organization centers the voices of individuals with lived experience through its peer support model. Mary Wilson interviews Stefanie who recounts their personal journey of founding Project LETS in high school, spurred by the suicide of a friend and the failure of traditional mental health systems to support gr...
Oct 23, 2024•32 min•Ep. 10
Description: In this episode of Unravelling , Kurt speaks with psychologist Dr. Jaakko Seikkula about his pioneering work in Open Dialogue. Developed in the 1980s in Western Lapland, Open Dialogue reshapes the way we respond to mental health crises, focusing on the power of human connection and the importance of involving a person’s entire social network in their healing process. Dr. Seikkula discusses his research in Finland, where Open Dialogue dramatically reduced relapse rates in psychosis a...
Oct 09, 2024•33 min•Ep. 9
In this episode of Unravelling , Mary interviews Anna Mueller, a sociologist and leading expert on youth suicide and prevention. Anna’s groundbreaking work examines the social roots of suicide and how these underlying factors create vulnerability in young people. Drawing from her fieldwork and new book, Life under Pressure: The Social Roots of Youth Suicide and What to Do About Them , she sheds light on suicide clusters and the social contagion of suicide. Challenging the common view of suicide ...
Sep 25, 2024•31 min•Ep. 8
Special early release of Unravelling - one day early to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, Sept. 10. In this episode of Unravelling , Kurt White interviews Kirk Woodring, a licensed social worker with extensive experience in suicide prevention. Kirk shares how his brother’s suicide and his work in crisis intervention have shaped both his personal and professional life. He discusses the stigma and discomfort that surround suicide, even among professionals, and challenges misconceptions l...
Sep 10, 2024•35 min•Ep. 7
In this episode of Unravelling , Mary interviews Pedro Fabião, a psychotherapist, psychodramatist, and clown! Pedro shares how embracing playfulness and reconnecting with one's inner child can lead to deeper self-awareness and authentic connections. Drawing from his experiences leading workshops internationally, Pedro discusses how the art of clowning invites us to shed societal roles, be fully present in the moment, and rediscover our humanity through joy and creativity. Picture of Pedro and Ku...
Aug 28, 2024•31 min•Ep. 6
In this episode of Unravelling , Kurt interviews Dr. Drew Pate, a psychiatrist, who discusses the complex nature of grief and loss. He shares his journey into understanding grief, which began early in his career and became more personal after the losses of his father and wife. He highlights how grief is often misunderstood and pathologized in society, rather than recognized as a natural part of the human experience. The conversation delves into the importance of accepting grief, the challenges o...
Aug 14, 2024•32 min•Ep. 5
In this episode of Unravelling, we delve into the emotional needs of individuals facing the end of their lives. Pamela Gasek, a certified death doula, shares her insights and experiences, explaining how a death doula supports both individuals and their families through the dying process. Hosts Kurt White and Mary Wilson discuss Kurt's personal experience with losing his mother, highlighting how the principles of death doula care help both the dying and their families navigate this challenging ti...
Jul 31, 2024•24 min•Ep. 4
The episode features an engaging interview with Dr. Katherine McLean, a writer and research scientist with expertise in mindfulness meditation and psychedelics. Dr. McLean explores the importance of being open to conversations about death and the potential for living more vibrant lives by embracing our mortality. Drawing on her research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. McLean highlights the role of psychedelics in helping people facing terminal illnesses come to terms with their death an...
Jul 17, 2024•34 min•Ep. 3
Episode 2 of Unravelling features Mary's powerful interview with Dallas Ducar, an entrepreneur, advocate, and healthcare leader who speaks with us both about her own lived experience as well as her research and advocacy within the healthcare field. Ducar is a board-certified registered nurse and psychiatric health nurse practitioner and is on faculty at Northeastern University, University of Virginia School of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Columbia University, and the MGH I...
Jul 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 2
We are thrilled to be joined on the inaugural episode of Unravelling by Dr. Karl Jeffries, chief medical officer of the Brattleboro Retreat, who talks with us about the mental health needs of the trans community, including common misconceptions among mental health providers.
Jun 26, 2024•25 min•Ep. 1
Hosted by Kurt White and Mary Wilson, Unravelling is a podcast that looks at the world through the lens of mental health.
Jun 09, 2024•1 min
