SuperPsyched with Dr. Adam Dorsay

SuperPsyched ©
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SuperPsyched is an award-winning podcast dedicated to improving your life with tools gained from interviewing world-class experts inside and outside the field of psychology. SuperPsyched will help get you more of what you want as well as gentle warnings to help you avoid things you don’t. See you there! The content on SuperPsyched is for informational use only and not intended to diagnose or provide any type of healthcare treatment.

  1. #317 Howard Schubiner, MD | A Cure for Pain

    3H AGO

    #317 Howard Schubiner, MD | A Cure for Pain

    Dr. Adam Dorsay introduces an episode of SuperPsyched featuring physician Dr. Howard Schubiner discussing his updated book, Unlearn Your Pain, and evidence-based approaches to chronic pain that avoid medication or surgery. Schubiner recounts his path from academic medicine to learning from Dr. John Sarno and explains how pain can persist without tissue damage due to neuroplastic neural circuits shaped by stress, emotion, and life experiences, with pain sometimes worsening via nocebo effects from medical messaging and MRI interpretations. He describes criteria suggesting non-structural pain and research indicating most chronic back/neck pain cases may be neuroplastic despite abnormal imaging. Schubiner outlines treatment steps: accurate diagnosis, education about brain-based pain, pain reprocessing therapy to reduce fear and build safety signals, and emotional awareness and expression therapy to address underlying emotions and trauma, citing clinical stories and randomized controlled trial support. 00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched 00:28 Chronic Pain Problem 01:13 Meet Howard Schubiner 02:33 Sarno Origin Story 04:37 Sarno Theory Explained 06:53 How Pain Is Learned 11:21 Compassion and Root Causes 12:34 Pain as Social Justice 15:43 Placebo Nocebo Power 19:17 MRI Words and Nocebo 21:09 Adam Sciatica Story 22:27 When Surgery Helps 23:10 Fibromyalgia Is Real 23:17 Neuroplastic Pain Evidence 23:56 MRI Study Contradiction 26:35 Is It All In Head 27:30 Brain Creates Pain 29:12 Back Pain Recovery Story 31:50 Sensitivity And Temperament 34:02 Peacemaker Pain Pattern 35:33 Endometriosis And Boundaries 39:40 Treatment Steps Overview 42:25 Emotional Expression Therapy 45:05 Movement And Farewell Helpful Links: Unlearn Your Pain Website Unlearn Your Pain Book Episode 84 - Unlearning Your Pain | Howard Schubinder, MD The Science Behind The Symptoms Podcast

    47 min
  2. #316 The Magic Ingredient: Psychological Safety | Minette Norman

    MAY 19

    #316 The Magic Ingredient: Psychological Safety | Minette Norman

    Dr. Adam Dorsay introduces SuperPsyched and interviews leadership consultant Minette Norman about psychological safety and her co-authored book, The Psychological Safety Playbook for Changemakers. Norman defines psychological safety as the belief that in a group you can ask questions, make mistakes, and voice differing views without embarrassment, exclusion, or repercussions, and contrasts it with environments where people agree publicly but dissent privately. They discuss high-stakes consequences of low psychological safety (healthcare errors, the Challenger disaster), organizational costs (reduced innovation and performance, increased burnout and disengagement, reputation management and groupthink), and links to inclusion and hearing from introverts and neurodivergent thinkers. Norman shares practical leadership actions such as redesigning meetings, inviting dissent, asking “What am I missing?”, admitting mistakes, using blameless learning after failures, and sustaining safety through mutual respect; she highlights “the power of the pause” to respond thoughtfully when triggered. 00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched 00:27 Why Safety Matters 03:15 Defining Psychological Safety 05:00 Real World Stakes 06:47 How the Book Happened 11:37 What It Is Not 15:19 The Hidden Costs 21:35 Reputation and Inner Circles 23:34 Building It Day by Day 30:57 Inclusive Meetings for All 36:51 Top Practices to Try 39:30 The Power of the Pause 43:07 Final Takeaways Helpful Links: Minette Norman Minette Norman LinkedIn Minette Norman Instagram The Psychological Safety Playbook for Changemakers Book

    44 min

  3. MAY 12

    #315 Solo Short: A Few Good Shows | Adam Dorsay, PsyD

    Dr. Adam Dorsay’s Psychologically Rich TV Picks: Bill Lawrence, Ray Donovan, and Jury DutyDr. Adam Dorsay, Silicon Valley psychologist and host of the SuperPsyched podcast, shares recent TV recommendations he finds psychologically rich. He highlights Bill Lawrence as a hero behind comfort shows like Scrubs and Ted Lasso, praises Lawrence’s new series Rooster with Steve Carell, and recommends the darker, mysterious comedy Bad Monkey starring Vince Vaughn on Apple TV. He discusses Scrubs returning with recreated sets in British Columbia and renewed cast dynamics, noting its modern medical themes and its reputation for medical accuracy. He also enjoys Shrinking for its relationships despite questionable psychotherapy realism. Moving darker, he recommends Ray Donovan for its pitch-perfect portrayal of family dysfunction and standout performances by Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight, comparing its quality to The Sopranos. He closes with Jury Duty, a Truman Show-like semi-reality comedy, and invites listener feedback and subscriptions.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:27 TV Geek Picks00:51 Bill Lawrence Highlights01:33 Bad Monkey Spotlight02:13 Scrubs Returns03:35 Why Shrinking Works04:34 Going Dark Ray Donovan07:03 Wild Comedy Jury Duty08:18 Wrap Up and Subscribe

    9 min
  4. #314 ADHD & Productivity - Ari Tuckman, PhD

    MAY 5

    #314 ADHD & Productivity - Ari Tuckman, PhD

    Dr. Adam Dorsay introduces SuperPsyched and interviews psychologist and ADHD expert Dr. Ari Tuckman about ADHD and productivity, focusing on the gap between knowing and doing and the consequences of untreated ADHD, including broad health and life risks. Tuckman distinguishes ordinary forgetfulness from ADHD as an exacerbation of universal problems, urges taking ADHD seriously without taking it personally, and explains why impatience and shame can build from repeated “missing the mark” moments. They discuss practical strategies for reliability and punctuality, emphasizing intention, realistic planning, saying no, and “feeling the future.” Tuckman contrasts evidence-based treatments (especially stimulant medication, plus therapy, sleep, exercise, mindfulness) with largely unsupported alternatives (supplements, brain training, dietary fixes, chiropractic claims). He outlines differential diagnosis considerations (sleep issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar, autism) and recommends thorough interviews over costly testing batteries, offering tools like analog clocks to externalize time. 00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched 00:28 Why ADHD Matters 01:12 Meet Dr Ari Tuckman 02:50 Forgetfulness vs ADHD 03:58 Why Ari Chose ADHD 05:34 Adult ADHD Then and Now 07:40 Impatience and Self Criticism 10:18 Actually Being On Time 12:40 Planning Paradox Tips 16:47 Feeling the Future 19:12 Treatments vs Alternatives 21:14 Costs of Untreated ADHD 22:23 Medication Without Shame 23:59 Glasses Denial Story 24:56 Diet and Microbiome Reality 26:39 Supplements and Other Myths 28:50 Ruling Out Lookalikes 32:51 Getting a Proper Diagnosis 34:54 Practical Time Tools 36:54 Living Well With ADHD 39:16 Intentions Versus Impact 42:12 Closing Thanks and Subscribe Helpful Links: Dr. Ari Tuckman The ADHD Productivity Manual Book

    43 min
  5. #313 Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents | Valerie Fridland, PhD

    APR 28

    #313 Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents | Valerie Fridland, PhD

    Dr. Adam Dorsay hosts SuperPsyched and interviews University of Nevada, Reno linguistics professor and author Dr. Valerie Fridland about her book "Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents" and how accents shape identity. Fridland explains the title stems from how people label unfamiliar speech as “funny,” drawing on her upbringing in the South with French-speaking parents and the stigma and pride tied to Southern speech. She describes how children first learn language rhythms and sounds from parents (even in utero), then around ages four to five shift toward peer influence through “vernacular reorganization,” often retaining small traces of family speech. Fridland outlines how American regional dialects developed from settlement patterns and later cultural inputs, and discusses how comedians and politicians use marked accents to invoke stereotypes and solidarity. She also notes psycholinguistic research on cognitive fluency affecting judgments of trustworthiness, plus links between personality and speech features like fillers, and how familiarity drives perceptions of linguistic beauty. 00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched 00:28 Why Accents Fascinate Us 01:21 Meet Valerie Fridland 02:40 Growing Up With Accents 06:23 Parents vs Peers 10:50 How Kids Shift Accents 14:50 Origins of US Dialects 17:09 Colonies and Cultural Roots 23:11 Melting Pot and Language Loss 25:03 Why Accents Sound Funny 29:50 Solidarity and Authenticity 33:15 Accent Bias and Fluency 38:10 Closing Thanks and Subscribe Helpful Links: Valerie Fridland, PhD Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents Book

    39 min
  6. #312 What Makes Attraction Magic Happen | Paul Eastwick, PhD

    APR 21

    #312 What Makes Attraction Magic Happen | Paul Eastwick, PhD

    Dr. Adam Dorsay hosts UC Davis psychology professor Dr. Paul Eastwick to discuss his book "Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection" and what research shows about attraction and relationship longevity. Eastwick contrasts stated mate preferences with what predicts attraction and satisfaction in real interactions, highlighting the importance of feeling supported and subjectively finding a partner sexy, even long-term. They discuss how vulnerability, listening, and reciprocal disclosure can spark early intimacy, and how an evaluative “shopping” mindset can undermine dating. Eastwick argues humans are a pair-bonding, often serially bonding species, citing motivated biases that favor current partners and genetic evidence suggesting low historical nonpaternity rates (~1%). They cover mixed-gender friendships as predictors of later relationship formation, relationship “construction” around shared elements, research on consensual non-monogamy (including jealousy/compersion differences), similarities across same- and mixed-gender couples with contextual challenges, and the value of grace during breakups.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:28 Why Attraction Matters02:20 Traits That Predict Love03:56 Support and Desire05:28 Keeping Sex Alive07:57 Vulnerability Is Attractive10:00 Dating Without Judgment13:59 Monogamy Myths17:09 Biases That Protect Bonds19:47 Jealousy and Infidelity21:48 Humans as Pair Bonders24:45 Infidelity Context25:19 Mixed Gender Friends29:16 Relationship Growth Tips33:31 Jealousy And Polyamory38:29 Same Sex Relationship Data40:12 Dating Apps To Groups43:47 Graceful Breakups Skill47:30 Final Thanks And Wrap Helpful Links: Paul Eastwick, PhD Bonded by Evolution Book

    49 min
  7. #311 The Nazi & The Psychiatrist | Jack El-Hai

    APR 14

    #311 The Nazi & The Psychiatrist | Jack El-Hai

    Dr. Adam Dorsay introduces SuperPsyched and interviews author Jack El-Hai about his book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, adapted into the film Nuremberg starring Rami Malek and Russell Crowe. El-Hai explains how he discovered psychiatrist Dr. Douglas Kelley through earlier research, then located Kelley’s son Doug, who shared 15 banker boxes of Nuremberg materials, including defendant records and artifacts such as a vial labeled “Herman Göring’s Paracodeine.” El-Hai describes Kelley’s doctor-patient, transactional relationship with Göring, his role as a military psychiatrist working without precedent, and the ethical conflicts involved. He discusses Kelley’s conclusion that the Nazi leaders were “normal” and that this shook his faith in psychiatry, plus parallels between Göring’s cyanide suicide and Kelley’s later death the same way. El-Hai says his key insight is rejecting “monsters” as categories while still supporting justice. 00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched 00:28 Nazi Minds at Nuremberg 03:34 Why Jack Wrote It 04:19 Unearthing Kelly's Archives 10:41 Shaping the Story 14:01 Evil Without Madness 18:45 Doug Kelly the Survivor 20:05 Göring and Kelly Dynamic 27:57 Ethics in Uncharted Territory 30:21 Leon Goldensohn Connection 32:30 From Book to Film 38:22 Living With Dark Stories 48:38 No Monsters Just People 51:57 Closing and Subscribe Helpful Links: Jack El-Hai The Nazi and the Psychiatrist Book The Nuremberg Interviews Book

    53 min

  8. APR 7

    #310 Solo-300 Episodes and Counting | Adam Dorsay, PsyD

    Dr. Adam Dorsay, Silicon Valley psychologist and host of the SuperPsyched podcast, reflects on reaching episode 300 and how the show began during COVID when he suddenly had extra time. He explains that “SuperPsyched” is about being deeply connected to one’s psyche, not toxic positivity, and shares that he books guests largely by simply asking, citing the Franklin Effect. He highlights the show’s wide-ranging catalog—from athletes, musicians, and Nobel laureate Robert Lefkowitz to a Holocaust survivor, an undertaker, a cat psychologist, and Daryl Davis—along with milestone episodes featuring his father (episode 150) and mother (episode 300). Key takeaways include intimacy as “vulnerability well met” (Dr. James Cordova), the importance of psychological safety (Dr. Amy Edmondson), and evidence-backed self-compassion (Chris Germer), plus research suggesting luck increases with the number of people you meet. 00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched 00:29 Episode 300 milestone 00:38 Starting during COVID 01:32 Meaning of SuperPsyched 02:53 Asking for guests 03:26 Franklin Effect explained 04:36 Favorite guests and range 06:59 Standout episodes and heroes 10:32 Top downloads and animal minds 11:12 Three key gleanings 14:18 Miracle question themes 15:17 Active luck through people 16:00 Thanks and subscribe

    17 min
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SuperPsyched is an award-winning podcast dedicated to improving your life with tools gained from interviewing world-class experts inside and outside the field of psychology. SuperPsyched will help get you more of what you want as well as gentle warnings to help you avoid things you don’t. See you there! The content on SuperPsyched is for informational use only and not intended to diagnose or provide any type of healthcare treatment.

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