212 episodes

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.

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown Mayim Bialik

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.8 • 139 Ratings

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.

    From Beauty School to First Lady, with Cheryl Hines!

    From Beauty School to First Lady, with Cheryl Hines!

    Could Cheryl Hines become America's next FIRST LADY? 


    On this BRAND NEW episode of MBB, we break down her journey from Comedian to possible political royalty.


    Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) joins us in the MBB studio this week to say goodbye to her long-running character in the final season of CURB, and to discuss how she still manages to find the comedy and fun in the midst of her husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s campaign for president! 


    They chat about Mayim’s guest role on CURB and her out-of-the-box audition process, whether Cheryl ever wishes her own character had the opportunity to evolve, and the huge loss of Cheryl’s close friend and longtime co-star Richard Lewis.


    Cheryl also opens up about:
    - The hilarious way Larry David introduced her to her now husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
    - Why Larry didn’t think her relationship with Robert would last
    - What it was like marrying into the Kennedy dynasty, especially as someone who didn’t grow up with politics
    - How Robert Kennedy’s bid for the presidency has changed their relationship + how Cheryl is fitting into the world of politics now
    - What it feels like to know there’s a chance she could be the First Lady?!
    - The struggle to reel in her comedy instincts while she’s on the campaign trails
    - Navigating security threats & ways she manages the stress of her new life in the political realm


    PLUS Cheryl reflects on the ways her improv background translates to other areas of her life, her humble beginnings growing up in Florida, and she and Mayim share their O.J. Simpson bar stories!

    • 1 hr 52 min
    RESPONSE TO: She Met God & Saw the Future

    RESPONSE TO: She Met God & Saw the Future

    Will you take the red pill with us?

    Join Mayim and Jonathan as they reflect on our widely popular episode, "She Met God & Saw the Future", where Elizabeth G. Krohn details her near-death experience after being struck by lightning, her 2-week experience in heaven, and the newfound knowledge and abilities she returned with.

    Mayim and Jonathan discuss transformative experiences that challenge our scientific understanding and open doors to new realms of consciousness, from aura reading and near-death experiences, to the non-linear nature of time and the curious phenomenon of déjà vu.

    Discover powerful reflections on interconnectivity and expanded consciousness on this special Thursday Edition of MBB!

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Response to QUIET ON SET: THE DARK SIDE OF KIDS TV

    Response to QUIET ON SET: THE DARK SIDE OF KIDS TV

    EXCLUSIVE REACTIONS: Mayim, Jenna von Oy, and Christy Carlson Romano dive deep into the explosive QUIET ON SET documentary, from the heartbreaking abuse exposed by some of their peers, to their own firsthand accounts of the pressures they faced as child actors.

    Mayim, Christy, and Jenna reflect on how the model for kids’ tv made child actors particularly vulnerable, the dangers of children working in the high pressure entertainment industry, the trauma-bonding nature watching the doc has had for their peer community, whether the system can truly be reformed, and ways to effectively pivot the conversation from sensationalistic gossip to promoting real change in the industry.

    Christy reveals why she has currently chosen NOT to watch the documentary, breaks down her reservations about the exploitative nature of "trauma tourists," and explains more about the important advocacy work organizations like the Looking Ahead program (@alifeinthearts) are doing to connect child actors and their families with essential resources.

    THEY ALSO DISCUSS: 
    - The dangers of dangling fame in front of child actors
    - The role parents have to play, even if a studio tries to remove them
    - The importance of teaching children to use their voices
    - The crucial need for female representation and trauma-informed care in the entertainment industry

    This episode is a must-listen, from revealing the dark side of how the entertainment millions love was actually made, to the exploration of what we can all do to ensure the safety of children everywhere. 

    • 1 hr 42 min
    Ask Mayim Anything #6: Earworms, Love’s Effects on the Brain, Outgrowing Your Therapist, ADHD & Age, The Breastfeeding Bond

    Ask Mayim Anything #6: Earworms, Love’s Effects on the Brain, Outgrowing Your Therapist, ADHD & Age, The Breastfeeding Bond

    What are the effects of love on the brain?
    Can ADHD worsen as we age?
    Why do we crave certain foods at certain times?
    How do I know when I've outgrown my relationship with my therapist?

    Mayim answers these questions and MORE on another episode of Ask Mayim Anything!

    SHE BREAKS DOWN:
    - "Stuck Song" Syndrome, AKA "Earworms"
    - The correlation between head injuries and mental illness (including treatments to help!)
    - Sensory Processing Disorder and when to seek support for it
    - The differences between hyper- and hyposensitivity
    - Why oxytocin can lead to attachment
    - The effects of low levels of serotonin

    PLUS we have a SPECIAL GUEST this episode.....

    Nurture Neuroscientist, Infant Sleep Educator, & Doula Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum joins us to explain how breastfeeding promotes the bond between parent and child, and her TOP 5 REASONS your baby isn’t sleeping!

    Mayim also tackles your ADHD questions, from why more women are being diagnosed with ADHD to the causes of exacerbated ADHD symptoms.

    She also reflects on her animated voiceover roles and the risks of being friends with your therapist.

    TUNE IN to see if your question was answered this episode!!!

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Stuck Emotions Are Making You Sick, with Dr. Peter A. Levine!

    Stuck Emotions Are Making You Sick, with Dr. Peter A. Levine!

    Dive deep into the world of Somatic Experiencing with Dr. Peter A. Levine, the revolutionary developer of this transformative approach designed to help us access the body's stored memories in order to heal trauma.

    Dr. Levine explains why releasing trauma is so IMPORTANT to our overall health, wealth, and ability to connect with others. He shares how traditional doctors initially didn't understand somatic experiencing and how the alarming prevalence of sexual trauma in our society impacts the way we communicate with one another.


    DR. LEVINE ALSO BREAKS DOWN: 
    - How the brain compartmentalizes trauma as a survival mechanism
    - The use of hallucinogens to process death
    - The dangers of exposure therapy
    - How the mechanism of dissociation can protect our mind-body from overwhlem
    - What sexual trauma looks like emotionally & spiritually
    - The role of creative imagination in determining our true selves
    - Collective consciousness and his posthumous conversations with Albert Einstein
    - How the mind-body holds memory of preverbal trauma, such as abandonment
    - Dissipative & Catastrophe Theories and Premature Cognition
    - What prevents us from returning to equilibrium after a traumatic event
    - How play opens creativity
    - Why we should have compassion for the child within us



    This episode will change how you view your body's memories and the hidden power they hold in healing. From exploring the brain's survival mechanisms to unlocking the secrets of sexual trauma healing, don't miss this chance to discover the key to healing trauma!

    • 1 hr 49 min
    I Was Enmeshed with My Mom, with Brett Gelman

    I Was Enmeshed with My Mom, with Brett Gelman

    This week we're sitting down with the fearless, hilarious, and thoughtful Brett Gelman (Stranger Things, Fleabag) as he opens up about the challenges that have shaped him, from his early battles with OCD and questioning his identity, to intense enmeshment with his mother and overcoming those tendencies as he navigates adult relationships.

    Brett opens up about:
    - The ways he felt different growing up
    - His early experiences with drug use
    - His OCD around numbers and fear of the future
    - Why questioning his sexuality as a kid led him to have a breakdown

    He also shares insights on method acting, the importance of creating space for men to challenge toxic masculinity, and the importance of infusing all of your endeavors with a little bit of yourself.

    PLUS Mayim explains why self-centeredness may actually be at the root of our attempts at caring for others!

    This conversation is a must-watch for anyone seeking to understand the intricate dance between our past experiences and our present selves.

    TUNE IN to find out how facing your past can dramatically reshape your future!

    • 1 hr 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
139 Ratings

139 Ratings

Sapk06 ,

One of the best podcasts

So interesting, funny and thought provoking

KTB' ♥ ,

It’s a big YES!

Love everything about what this podcast has to offer! Comedy, authenticity and deep dives into the experiences of people who share their raw experiences and insights. Mayim and Johnathan, when do we get deep dives into your areas of expertise, experiences and insights? Bring on 2024!

AnnaKas12 ,

Thank you for giving us…. YOU

I cannot put my finger on what it is exactly that is so incredibly special about you, because there is just too much goodness all in one human. Fun, humour, authenticity, intellect, retable stories, incredible ability to communicate feelings that I refer to as “bleh” or “eeeeehhh”. I think what I am trying to say is that my brain feels like there are lights turning on in its different “rooms” from the conversations on your podcast. Brain = happy. Thanks for that - great work!

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