Mind Tricks Radio

Episode 81: PTSD and Differential Diagnosis, with guest co-host Dr. Tyler Ralston

In this episode of Mind Tricks Radio, I meet up with guest co-host Dr. Tyler Ralston for a fast-moving deep dive into one of the most recognize, and often misunderstood, diagnoses in mental health: PTSD. Together they trace its fascinating evolution from “shell shock” and “combat fatigue” to today’s broader understanding that trauma comes in many forms. Then they get practical, unpacking what really counts as trauma, what the four PTSD symptom clusters look like in real life, and how to tell PTSD apart from its close cousins: acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, depression, even OCD.

Whether you’re a clinician, a student, or just curious about why the word trauma seems to be everywhere, this episode will leave you smarter about how clinicians actually diagnose, and sometimes misdiagnose, post-traumatic stress.

Please find a Blog post and the full transcript of this episode at my website: https://waikikihealth.com/blog/

Episode 80: How Exposure to Different Cultures Expands the Mind, with Dr. Aditi Subramaniam

What happens in the brain when we step outside our cultural bubble? In this week’s episode of Mind Tricks Radio, I sit down with neuroscientist and science writer Dr. Aditi Subramaniam to explore how cross-cultural experiences literally reshape the mind. From creativity and cognitive flexibility to empathy and resilience, we dig into the neuroscience behind what happens when we immerse ourselves in unfamiliar languages, customs, and perspectives.

Dr. Subramaniam, who trained at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in India and now works with the Neuroscience Education Institute, shares fascinating insights about how bilingualism sharpens cognition, how rituals act as “neural training,” and why diverse cultural exposure can reduce prejudice and expand empathy. It’s an engaging, hopeful conversation about what it means to stay mentally agile in an increasingly interconnected world.

Tune in for a lively blend of psychology, culture, and neuroscience, and discover why broadening your cultural horizons might be the best brain workout you’ll ever have.

Please see my Blog post and full transcript of the episode here, at my website:

https://waikikihealth.com/how-exposure-to-different-cultures-expands-the-mind-a-conversation-with-neuroscientist-dr-aditi-subramaniam/

 

Episode 79: I Feel Therefore It's True -- or is it?: Deconstructing Emotional Reasoning, with guest co-host Dr. Tyler Ralston

Ever catch yourself thinking, “I feel anxious, so something must be wrong” or “I feel guilty, so I must’ve screwed up”? In this episode, Dr. Aaron and Dr. Tyler Ralston unpack the sneaky distortion known as emotional reasoning—the habit of mistaking feelings for facts. They dive into how anxiety, guilt, and anger can trick us into believing our emotions are evidence of truth, explore why our brains fall for it, and share practical tools to break the cycle. From everyday examples to mindfulness and cognitive reframing, this episode will help you learn to see emotions as data, not directives.

Episode 78: Core Principles for Psychological Well-Being, with Dr. Noam Shpancer

Today I had a blast interviewing Dr. Noam Shpancer on this episode of Mind Tricks Radio. We talked about his upcoming book, Mental Fitness 101: Principles for Psychological Well-Being, and the timeless psychological lessons he’s distilled from decades of research, teaching, and clinical work. Dr. Shpancer explained how good mental health rests on two fundamental human needs: the need to belong and the need to be. From there, he shared practical principles that can help anyone strengthen their psychological resilience—embracing knowledge and competence, honoring but not overvaluing experience, developing flexibility instead of rigidity, and learning to face fear directly rather than avoiding it.

What I loved most about this interview is how Dr. Shpancer makes these big ideas both accessible and immediately useful. He broke down how to manage emotions without being ruled by them, why we should treat our thoughts like “shoes in a store,” and how love, attachment, and even awareness of mortality can guide us toward a healthier and more meaningful life. Our conversation was both insightful and fun, with plenty of memorable examples and a few laughs along the way. If you’re looking for wisdom you can put into practice right now, this episode is a great place to start.

 

Please see my related Blog post and the Full Transcript of the episode here:

https://waikikihealth.com/ten-core-principles-for-psychological-well-being/

 

Episode 77: The Amygdala Whisperer: Managing Fear and Anxiety, with Dr. Catherine Pittman

In this episode of Mind Tricks Radio, I sit down with Dr. Catherine Pittman, a psychologist, professor, and author of Taming Your Amygdala. We explore one of the brain’s most fascinating players: the amygdala. Sometimes called the brain’s “alarm system,” the amygdala is central to how we experience fear, anxiety, and even panic. Dr. Pittman brings warmth and clarity as she explains how this tiny almond-shaped structure drives the fight, flight, and freeze responses—and how understanding it can help us take back control when our emotions feel overwhelming.

Through engaging stories, science, and practical insights, Dr. Pittman breaks down why some people have more reactive amygdalas than others, how fear conditioning works, and what it means to truly “tame” this ancient part of the brain. She emphasizes that while our amygdala may be instinctual and automatic, it can also learn and adapt, giving us powerful tools for overcoming anxiety and reshaping old fear patterns.

Whether you’re a clinician, a student of psychology, or just someone who’s ever felt hijacked by worry, this conversation offers an accessible and encouraging guide to building a healthier relationship with your own amygdala.

Please check out my Blog post on this episode which contains an abridged transcript: https://waikikihealth.com/taming-the-amygd…atherine-pittman/ ‎

 

Episode 76: How We Use Playing-It-Safe-Moves to Cope with Anxiety, with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona

In this episode of Mind Tricks Radio, I sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona to explore the concept of Playing It Safe Moves. Growing up in Bolivia during political unrest shaped her early understanding of fear, and her path from philosophy to psychology brings a rich, thoughtful lens to her work. We talk about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive-behavioral tools, and her unique “Advisory Board” metaphor for understanding the chatter of our anxious minds.

Dr. Zurita explains how values-based living and mindfulness can transform the way we approach anxiety—from public speaking jitters to everyday worry. Instead of “playing it safe,” she shows how to take meaningful action even when discomfort shows up, and why aligning our choices with what matters most is the real path to growth. Engaging, insightful, and practical, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on how to live more fully and how to challenge ourselves when we "play it safe."

A Blog Post and Full Transcript on this subject and the about my interview with Dr. Zurita Ona can be found on my website at: https://waikikihealth.com/how-we-use-playi…ope-with-anxiety/

Episode 75: The Weaponizing of Therapy Speak, with Dr. Isabelle Morley

In this episode of Mind Tricks Radio, I sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Isabelle Morley to talk about her eye-opening new book, They’re Not Gaslighting You. We dive into the world of “therapy speak” gone wild—how words like narcissist, toxic, gaslighting, and OCD are being thrown around on social media and in relationships, often in ways that do more harm than good. Dr. Morley unpacks the real meanings behind these terms, why accuracy matters, and how over-pathologizing can wreck our connections with others. We also chat about setting boundaries, the impact of armchair diagnosing, and what rom-coms get hilariously wrong about relationships. Smart, insightful, and seriously refreshing—this is one you don’t want to miss.

Blog post and full transcript at: https://waikikihealth.com/the-weaponizing-of-therapy-speak/

Episode 74: Why We Believe Things That Aren’t True, with Dr. Joseph Pierre

I had a blast interviewing psychiatrist and author Dr. Joseph Pierre, who joined me to explore why false beliefs are so compelling—and so hard to shake. We dive into his book False: How Mistrust, Disinformation, and Motivated Reasoning Make Us Believe Things That Aren’t True, and talk delusions, the slippery boundary between pathology and normal belief, and how the internet, identity, and algorithms shape what we think is true. From cognitive biases to the power of repetition, and from free speech dilemmas to AI’s role in misinformation, this episode is a fast-paced tour through the psychology of belief—and what it takes to think critically in a post-truth world.

Episode 73: Learned Helplessness, Optimism, and Escaping the Doom Spiral, with Dr. Aaron Kaplan and guest co-host Dr. Tyler Ralston

In this lively episode, Dr. Aaron Kaplan teams up with psychologist and friend Dr. Tyler Ralston to unpack one of psychology’s most curious and relatable phenomena: learned helplessness—why we sometimes just give up even when the door’s wide open. From Seligman’s shocking (literally) dog experiments to how pessimism shows up in everyday life—relationships, work, personal setbacks—they explore how helplessness gets wired into us…and more importantly, how we can rewire it. Along the way, they riff on learned optimism, cognitive therapy, and the art of getting unstuck. Equal parts insight and banter, this episode might just nudge you toward a more hopeful outlook—no toxic positivity required.

Episode 72: Obedience to Authority and the Banality of Evil, an Interview with Dr. Stanley Milgram

In this thought-provoking episode of Mind Tricks Radio, we conduct a simulated conversation with legendary social psychologist Dr. Stanley Milgram, brought to life through AI. Best known for his groundbreaking—and deeply controversial—obedience experiments at Yale University in the early 1960s, Milgram explored the unsettling ease with which ordinary people comply with authority, even when it leads to harming others. Drawing from his real writings, lectures, and legacy, this imagined interview delves into the origins of his work, the ethical firestorm it ignited, and the disturbing psychological mechanisms that enable systemic cruelty. We also explore the modern-day implications of Milgram’s findings—how obedience plays out in today’s world of social media, algorithmic control, corporate hierarchies, and mass surveillance. With sharp insight and sobering relevance, this episode invites listeners to reflect on the conditions that give rise to blind compliance—and the courage it takes to say "no."

Thanks for tuning in!