Unlicensed Therapist | Ali A. Rizvi

Ali A. Rizvi

Exploring the human experience in the twenty-first century — how we think, how we relate, and how we believe.With author, musician, and physician Ali A. Rizvi

  1. E09 | Can Machines Master Creativity? George Carlin's Daughter Sues Over Fake AI Special

    03/26/2024

    E09 | Can Machines Master Creativity? George Carlin's Daughter Sues Over Fake AI Special

    Kelly Carlin — daughter of the legendary late comedian George Carlin — joins me to talk about her lawsuit against the creators of a fake AI-generated "special" of her dad, the future of AI and human creativity, "manufactured humanity," what her father might have thought about the world today, and the experience of making the HBO Max documentary "George Carlin's American Dream" with Judd Apatow. Watch Kelly's previous conversation with me, "Humor, Healing, and Hanging On," here: https://www.youtube.com/live/FuXiPTbR... Get Kelly's memoir, "A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up With George," here: https://www.amazon.com/Carlin-Home-Co... Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

    51 min
  2. E08 | Mark Zuckerberg Is Right About Social Media & Mental Health

    03/26/2024

    E08 | Mark Zuckerberg Is Right About Social Media & Mental Health

    Mark Zuckerberg outraged Senators and parents in a Judicial Committee hearing by claiming that there is "no causal link" between social media and mental health. The Senators also made Mark Zuckerberg apologize to the families of children who died or ended their lives because of experiences on social media. Here's the problem: Mark Zuckerberg is right. And this hearing is just another case of lawmakers and parents shifting the blame for their own failure onto others. Who should really be apologizing? Let's break it down and dig in. Resources mentioned in the episode: American Psychological Association May 2023 report: https://www.apa.org/topics/social-med... The Forgotten Lessons of the Recovered Memory Movement: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/27/op... Sabine Hossenfelder on the global mental health crisis:    • The Global Mental Health Crisis: All ...  @sabinehossenfelder Emma McAdam (Therapy in a Nutshell) on self-diagnosis:    • The Essential Lesson You Missed in Ps...  @therapyinanutshell Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

    26 min
  3. E07 | Vishnu Vaka: The Indian Comedian Taking America by Storm

    03/26/2024

    E07 | Vishnu Vaka: The Indian Comedian Taking America by Storm

    Vishnu Vaka is KILLING it. His clips have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram. Russell Peters (a fan) has taken him on tour. Bill Burr has shared his bits online. He has gotten "passed" at New York's elite Comedy Cellar, one of the world's toughest clubs to get into. If you're one of the few people who haven't heard Vishnu yet, trust me—you soon will. Vishnu came to the U.S. as a teenager, but kept his Indian accent because he loves it. He faces stereotypes about Indians in America head-on and uses his uniquely smart comedic talents to shatter them. He joins me in this episode to talk about comedy, being Indian in America, his continuing meteoric success, his friendship with Russell Peters, the role of social media in making artists' careers, why he is optimistic about technology (including AI), the personal experiences behind his most viral bits, and lots more. Enjoy! [As promised, here is the coveted clip behind his Self-Driven campaign—I shall say no more: • Self Driven] If you're watching this on YouTube or Facebook, please take a quick second to like this video, subscribe, and hit the notification bell. If you're listening on Apple or Spotify, please give us a rating. These simple actions really help support the show and put it in front of more people. And remember to share this episode with family and friends. Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

    54 min
  4. E06 | A Gaza War Survivor Tells Her Story

    03/26/2024

    E06 | A Gaza War Survivor Tells Her Story

    In this episode, I speak to May Salam from Gaza. Although she was able to leave, her family is still trapped in the war, living in a tent on a street in Southern Gaza after their home was leveled by Israeli bombing. Her brother is badly injured, with no access to medical treatment. May has had no contact with her family for three weeks.  You will hear May tell her story as she has seen and experienced it. We talk about what it was like growing up in Gaza, life under Hamas, surviving Israel's bombing, the blockade, living through five wars in fifteen years, resisting the occupation, the deadly consequences of failed leadership, where your aid money is going, the "fees" that Gazans must pay Egyptian brokers to leave through the Rafah border crossing (prepare to be shocked), and the one thing above all else that keeps May going — her unwavering love and commitment to her family. Read May's story on her GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/averting-leg-amputation-aid-for-gaza-victims Every dollar helps. Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

    59 min
  5. E05 | Ask an Israeli, Ask a Palestinian

    01/13/2024

    E05 | Ask an Israeli, Ask a Palestinian

    The whole world is talking about Israel and Palestine — but what do people on the ground there really think? In this episode, I speak with Corey Gil-Shuster, who joins me from Tel Aviv, Israel. Corey has spent more than a decade taking a camcorder (and translators as needed) into the cities and towns in the West Bank and in Israel, asking questions to ordinary people on the street sent to him from those on the other side. He records their answers and posts them unedited to his channel. The results are often surprising and eye-opening. With over 300,000 subscribers, over a thousand videos, and over 130 million views, Corey’s “Ask an Israeli, Ask a Palestinian” project, or The Ask Project, has become one of the most compelling, riveting, and educational channels online today — and his perspective on the situation is unique and informed in a way that very few commentators today are. Subscribe to Corey's "The Ask Project" YouTube channel here. You can also follow Corey on Instagram @gilshuster My 2014 HuffPost article on the conflict: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pickin... If you’re watching on YouTube, please take a quick second to like this video, subscribe to the channel, and hit the notification bell so you can be informed when we have future episodes. If you’re hearing listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other streaming platform, please give us a rating. All of this helps get this show in front of more people. I really, really appreciate your support. Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

    1h 24m
  6. E04 | Christian Nationalism: The Biggest Threat to America?

    01/13/2024

    E04 | Christian Nationalism: The Biggest Threat to America?

    Is Christian Nationalism the biggest threat to America today? James Carville, political guru and strategist who got Bill Clinton elected president twice, thinks it’s "more dangerous than Al-Qaeda." Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said the separation of church and state is a “misnomer.” Congresswoman Lauren Boebert thinks it’s “junk.” And the US Supreme Court itself is insidiously inching towards their premise. With MAGA evangelicals more enthusiastic than ever about the Second Coming of Donald Trump, it’s time to talk about why 2024 could be one of the most defining years in America’s history. In this episode of Unlicensed Therapist, we speak to constitutional attorney and widely acclaimed author Andrew Seidel — his books "The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American" and "American Crusade: How the Supreme Court is Weaponizing Religious Freedom," are essential reading. We also have with us Seth Andrews, the famous podcaster, speaker, and author of several fantastic books, including the eye-opening “Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian.” We talk about the threat of Christian Nationalism, the future of American democracy, and what needs to be done to save it. Please like and subscribe on YouTube, and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it will help us a great deal and we really appreciate your support. Follow Andrew Seidel at @andrewlseidel everywhere. Follow Seth Andrews by visiting https://www.sethandrews.com/ Get Andrew's "The Founding Myth" here. Get Seth's "Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian" here. Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

    1h 16m

  7. 01/13/2024

    E03 | Did a Jewish Author and Muslim Illustrator Just Write the Best Christmas Book of the Year?

    It isn't just a Christmas book — it's a raucous, fun, biting statement on our world at the end of 2023. Christmas Mubarak! Author Mookie Spitz (American Jew) and illustrator and artist Rusty Yunusoff (Russian Muslim) talk about their fantastic new book about Santa Claus (North Pole Christian). But that's not all there is to it. Listen and find out. Get Super Santa here: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Santa-Rise/dp/B0CH25G4DJ Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

    1h 7m
  8. E02 | Comedy in the Age of D.E.I.

    12/14/2023

    E02 | Comedy in the Age of D.E.I.

    After a killer first episode (thanks to all who watched/listened/shared), we’re on to Episode 2 of Unlicensed Therapist, featuring one of my favorite rising standup comedians, Noor Kidwai. You may have seen Noor in one of his viral Instagram sketches with fellow comics Andrew Oporto and Edworld Kim, all of who perform standup together on their Diversity Hires comedy tour — one of the funniest and most brilliant comedy shows in Toronto right now. I speak to Noor about everything comedy, particularly his biting and hilarious take (as a person of color) on many of the inanities that permeate our discourse on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will also talk about what it was like for Noor to open for Nick Offerman and perform alongside Sam Morril and other living comedy legends at the recent Great Outdoors Comedy Festival. Noor Kidwai on Instagram: @noorkidwai Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Exploring the human experience in the twenty-first century — how we think, how we relate, and how we believe.With author, musician, and physician Ali A. Rizvi

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