Crazy Together

Marcus & Esme O’Kayvius
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

If you’re sick and tired of listening to the negative talk track playing in your head, then why not listen to us instead? We are Marcus and Esme O’Kayvius (not our real names), a married, neurodivergent couple with a lot of experience managing our own mental health issues while raising a daughter and navigating the dystopic hellscape that is corporate America. Join us each week as we discuss trending mental health issues and explore how they impact our health and wellness. We’ll also examine the myths and misconceptions associated with mental health and what we can do about them. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com

  1. 1d ago

    134. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Going All in on Watercolors and Medieval Lore

    What does it mean to go all in on something? Well, sometimes you have to go all in if you want to get all out. And even though the previous sentence made absolutely no sense whatsoever, we’re keeping it in the description because writing introductory paragraphs can be difficult. In this week’s HYPERFOCUS BONUS, Marcus and Esme share two stories of going all in to achieve a goal. In part 1, Esme shares some strategies she’s employed to overcome the painting inertia she described in last week’s episode. That’s right. In one week, Esme identified and developed a strategy to keep the dopamine flowing so she could follow through on not one but multiple watercolor projects. Suck it, executive function issues! She also explains how she has been helping their daughter get ready to go back to school, which can always be a challenge for those of us who have trouble switching gears or dealing with the sensory overload of seasonally themed shopping excursions. In part 2, Marcus tries to get to the bottom of a question that’s been bugging him for some time now. Why did the city of Lancaster, PA. go all in on gothic, medieval, and fantasy themes? He shares his research, all of which is backed up by firsthand accounts and information from mostly reputable sources. He also shares some original research on the movie Witness (1985), and the origins of the Amish community in Lancaster County. Warning: his findings from the latter research feel somewhat less reliable, but are still worthy of entertaining. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: “Lancaster, Pennsylvania.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Aug. 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster,_Pennsylvania.  unchartedadam. “Lancaster’s Surprising Royal Connection.” Uncharted Lancaster, 15 Jan. 2020, https://unchartedlancaster.com/2020/01/15/pop-quiz-lancasters-surprising-royal-connection.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

  2. 3d ago

    133. The Rise and Fall of Positive Psychology: Part 2

    WARNING! This episode discusses the positive psychology movement’s fall from grace. As such, listeners who have endured the “horrors” wrought by positive psychology in schools and in the workplace might feel some degree of Schadenfreude, a fancy German word that means you’re happy because someone or something else is getting the shaft. Then again, you’re the one who’s been forced to bottle up your emotions and put on a fake smile, so maybe your joy won’t be quite so shameful.  In part 2 of their series on positive psychology, Marcus and Esme discuss the fall of the popular field of inquiry and movement. In doing so, they explain how Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology, was influenced by his own contributions to the theory of learned helplessness . . . some of which, it turns out, were eventually proven wrong by decades of neuroscientific research.  They also identify what they believe is positive psychology’s biggest flaw: a seeming lack of regard or consideration for the impacts of trauma, genetics, and environmental factors on peoples’ mental health and wellbeing. Some problems can’t be fixed with a smile and a can-do attitude. Finally, Marcus and Esme share their thoughts on how we can begin to move forward in (what they hope will be) a post-positive psychology world, and what we might be able to salvage from the movement.  They also share their contact information if, for some unlikely reason, Martin Seligman hears about this episode and wants to yell at them. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: van Zyl, Llewellyn E., et al. “The Critiques and Criticisms of Positive Psychology: A Systematic Review.” The Journal of Positive Psychology, vol. 19, no. 2, 2024, pp. 206–235. Taylor & Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2023.2178956.  Gruman, Jamie. “Is This the End of Positive Psychology?” Psychology Today, 13 June 2024, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dont-forget-the-basil/202406/is-this-the-end-of-positive-psychology.  van Zyl, Llewellyn E. “Is Positive Psychology Science or Snake Oil?” Psychology Today, 6 July 2023, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happybytes/202307/is-positive-psychology-science-or-snake-oil.  Gibbon, Peter. “Martin Seligman and the Rise of Positive Psychology.” Humanities, vol. 41, no. 3, Summer 2020, National Endowment for the Humanities, https://www.neh.gov/article/martin-seligman-and-rise-positive-psychology.  Ackerman, Courtney E. “What Is Positive Psychology & Why Is It Important?” PositivePsychology.com, 20 Apr. 2018, https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-positive-psychology-definition.  Shpancer, Noam. “Action Creates Emotion.” Psychology Today, 25 Oct. 2010, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/201010/action-creates-emotion.  Ferraro, David. “Biopower and Subjection: The Strange and Disturbing Case of Martin Seligman.” Archives of a Divided Subject, 10 Jan. 2015, https://melbournelacanian.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/biopower-and-subjection-the-strange-and-disturbing-case-of-martin-seligman.  Nolen, Jeannette L. “Learned Helplessness.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/science/learned-helplessness.  Kumar, Adarsh, et al. “Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Depression within the Spectrum of Mental Health.” International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, vol. 14, no. 6, June 2025, pp. 15–22. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393901612_Biopsychosocial_Perspectives_on_Depression_within_the_Spectrum_of_Mental_Health.  Lowery, George. “A Campus Takeover That Symbolized an Era of Change.” Cornell Chronicle, 16 Apr. 2009, https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2009/04/campus-takeover-symbolized-era-change.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

  3. Aug 14

    132. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: When Two Things are the Same Thing but Different

    In defiance of the laws of grammar and common sense, Marcus and Esme ask the question, “What is the difference between two things that are very similar to one another, except in the ways in which they are different?” In Esme’s case, she explores the ways in which two activities (watercolor painting and landscape design) can share very similar goals (artistic and aesthetic enhancement) but trigger her hyperfocus differently. In Marcus’ case, he describes how the act of realizing two different pieces of art or entertainment are thematically linked compels him to compare the two and determine which one is “better.” By way of example, Marcus pits multiple pieces of thematically similar content in head-to-head match-ups and declares a “winner” for each one. Who’s on the card? In round one, we have Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road vs. Bob Seger’s Night Moves. In round two, Hamlet vs. The Lion King. And finally, for the main event, it’s the various Game of Thrones tv series vs. The Last Kingdom series on Netflix. Who will win? You’ll have to listen to find out. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

  4. Aug 13

    131. The Rise and Fall of Positive Psychology: Part 1

    Do you feel pressured to maintain a super positive attitude in the workplace? Are you sick of engagement surveys? Do you wish that the word “grit” was only used to describe the relative coarseness of sandpaper?   If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you might have a bone to pick with a scientific discipline and research movement known as positive psychology.  According to Psychology Today, “positive psychology is the study of optimal human functioning.” It’s also the brainchild of psychologist and former president of the American Psychological Association Martin Seligman. Seligman believed psychologists should do more to study and promote the factors that make life more meaningful instead of only focusing on the more ‘negative’ aspects of mental health and treatment (such as alleviation of suffering).  That sounds okay, right? Well, it might have been; but then the movement's most passionate and industrious followers decided to turn their beloved science into a commodity. Research and education soon gave way to the development of plug-and-play solutions that could be sold to schools and corporations. As a result, what began as a scientific discipline about human flourishing became part of a corporate ideology that prizes efficiency above all else. Positive psychology became a tool employers could use to demand that employees put on a happy face, ignore structural problems, and manage their crippling anxiety and depression with breathwork during bathroom breaks.  BUT! As Marcus and Esme discuss in this week’s episode, the tide appears to be turning on positive psychology. A new generation of psychologists and researchers have begun questioning the movement, its methodologies, and its motivations. Could this be, at long last, the end of this influential, disruptive, and (somewhat conveniently) business-friendly endeavor?  That’s the question Marcus and Esme will try to answer in this two-part episode of Crazy Together. In part one, they identify the origins of positive psychology and discuss factors that encouraged its spread. They also explore how corporate America ultimately weaponized positive psychology in ways that served organizational efficiency over any concept of human well-being or flourishing. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: van Zyl, Llewellyn E., et al. “The Critiques and Criticisms of Positive Psychology: A Systematic Review.” The Journal of Positive Psychology, vol. 19, no. 2, 2024, pp. 206–235. Taylor & Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2023.2178956.  Gruman, Jamie. “Is This the End of Positive Psychology?” Psychology Today, 13 June 2024, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dont-forget-the-basil/202406/is-this-the-end-of-positive-psychology.  van Zyl, Llewellyn E. “Is Positive Psychology Science or Snake Oil?” Psychology Today, 6 July 2023, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happybytes/202307/is-positive-psychology-science-or-snake-oil.  Gibbon, Peter. “Martin Seligman and the Rise of Positive Psychology.” Humanities, vol. 41, no. 3, Summer 2020, National Endowment for the Humanities, https://www.neh.gov/article/martin-seligman-and-rise-positive-psychology.  Ackerman, Courtney E. “What Is Positive Psychology & Why Is It Important?” PositivePsychology.com, 20 Apr. 2018, https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-positive-psychology-definition.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

  5. Aug 7

    130. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Glitzy Travel Journal Raises Questions About Esme’s Street Cred

    Has Esme been lying about an important biographical detail?  Longtime listeners will know that Marcus and Esme both come from the same county in southeast Pennsylvania, but they grew up on “different sides of the tracks.” For her part, Esme grew up in a part of Delaware County she lovingly refers to as “Deep Delco,” and enjoys pointing out the many ways in which Marcus’ upbringing was far cushier than her own. However, a recent article from a fancy travel site casts a shadow of doubt over Esme’s street cred. According to Islands.com, Upper Darby Township, PA, a town so close to Esme’s hometown that it actually surrounds it on all sides, is a tourist hot spot, and well worth the cost of adding a few days to your itinerary the next time you visit Philadelphia. So, has Esme been lying to us this whole time? Probably not. Marcus and Esme make a few educated guesses about how this strange article came to be published. And, while they acknowledge that calling Upper Darby a tourist destination is a bit of a stretch, they refuse to take any shots at the township or its people. They even wax nostalgic about the old Tower Theater, a legendary live music venue located in the heart of Upper Darby that closed its doors in 2022 because Live Nation hates you, hates music, and hates the idea of you listening to your favorite music in a venue with less than 50,000 seats. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

  6. Aug 6

    129. Psychedelics and Mental Health Treatment

    Is it possible that the same mind-altering drugs you turned down in college because you hated jam bands (or the drugs you gladly accepted because that’s what college is for) could have tremendous potential as treatments for a whole host of mental health issues and challenges?  As it turns out, yes, it is very possible. In this episode, Marcus and Esme discuss psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), a psychiatric treatment model that combines the use of controlled doses of psychedelic substances with professional psychotherapy. While neither of them has any practical, hands-on experience with the substances in question, they do read an awful lot about the interesting things other people do. In this case, they’ve read quite a bit about the exciting potential of PATs, the relative successes of PAT-related clinical trials, and the extent to which such treatments are available. As always, they are happy to share their findings with you, their beloved listeners. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Daniel, Jeremy, and Margaret Haberman. “Clinical Potential of Psilocybin as a Treatment for Mental Health Conditions.” Mental Health Clinician, vol. 7, no. 1, 23 Mar. 2018, pp. 24–28. PMC6007659, National Library of Medicine, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6007659/.  Zeifman, Richard, et al. “Psychedelic Therapy, Positive Emotional Experiences, and the Central Role of Self-Compassion.” Research Square, preprint, 22 Aug. 2025, doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-7420529/v1. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC12393679, .  Gukasyan, Natalie, et al. “Attenuation of Psilocybin Mushroom Effects During and After SSRI/SNRI Antidepressant Use.” Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 37, no. 7, 2023, pp. 707–716. PubMed, doi:10.1177/02698811231179910. Grieco, Steven F., et al. “Psychedelics and Neural Plasticity: Therapeutic Implications.” Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 42, no. 45, 9 Nov. 2022, pp. 8439–49. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC9665925. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1121-22.2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665925/  Cavarra, Mauro, et al. “Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy—A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, 10 June 2022, article 887255. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC9226617, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.887255. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9226617/  Townsend, Tracy Kim. Doctor Explains Psilocybin Therapy. YouTube, uploaded by Tracy Townsend MD, 10 months ago, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGynr1mB2ds  Insider Science. “What Ketamine Actually Does to Your Brain.” YouTube, uploaded by Insider Science, 7 years ago, www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_ey_a_yN6Q  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

  7. Jul 31

    128. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: HYPERFOCUS BONUS: We Saw the Summer Blockbuster Everyone is Talking About and it’s Okay!

    What happens when you mix epic poetry, big budget filmmaking, a huge marketing budget, and the very loud opinions of some of the internet’s dumbest trolls? You get The Odyssey, a 3-hour long action-adventure extravaganza from the reigning champion of summer blockbuster movies Christopher Nolan.  Marcus and Esme, who only get to the theater once or twice a year (not including times they take their daughter to watch more kid-friendly fare), decided to step into the zeitgeist and see if the film everybody is talking about is worth all the hype. Were they blown away? Did the movie meet all of their expectations? Did Nolan breathe new life into a 3,000-year-old text? What is their verdict? “It’s fine.” Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

  8. Jul 29

    127. Is Workday’s AI Making Biased Hiring Decisions?

    This episode is dedicated to anyone who has submitted a job application through Workday. Marcus and Esme want you to know they see you. All 100,000 or 500,000 or several million of you (it’s difficult to say exactly how many people have used the platform, but it’s safe to say it’s a lot).   Workday, Inc is currently at the center of a federal class action suit. Plaintiffs allege that its AI-driven hiring software is discriminating against job applicants based on protected characteristics such as race, age, and disability. The lawsuit could redefine how courts treat algorithmic hiring, potentially holding tech vendors and employers accountable for bias built into AI systems. Naturally, since the platform is allegedly targeting people with “mental disabilities” (among others), Marcus and Esme think it’s a really important story to share with their listeners. As such, they walk through the lawsuit to the best of their abilities (for educational and entertainment purposes!) and describe how “proxy indicators” and personality tests are allegedly being used to filter out protected groups without explicitly asking for a candidate's age or medical history. Speaking of personality tests . . . Marcus and Esme inform and/or remind their listeners that they actually discussed the use of these assessments in job hiring platforms in Episodes 31 and 32 (a.k.a. Business Horoscopes: Parts I and II). They invite their audience to go back to those episodes for a deeper dive into the failings of personality tests to accurately predict job performance among applicants. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Wilson, Quinn. “Workday Loses Bid to Toss AI Discrimination Suit in California.” Bloomberg Law, 22 June 2026. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/workday-loses-bid-to-toss-ai-discrimination-suit-in-california  Shumway, Emilie. “Workday Can’t Shake California AI Discrimination Claims.” Yahoo Finance, 23 June 2026.  https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/workday-t-shake-california-ai-164200851.html  Cowley, Stacy. “Job Applicants Sue A.I. Recruitment Tool Company.” The New York Times, 21 Jan. 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/business/ai-hiring-tools-lawsuit-eightfold-fcra.html.  Fellows, Sunshine. “The Workday AI Litigation Moves Forward: What Employers Should Learn Before the Courts Decide Vendor Liability.” Freeman Mathis & Gary, 2 July 2026. https://www.fmglaw.com/employment-law-blog-us/the-workday-ai-litigation-moves-forward-what-employers-should-learn-before-the-courts-decide-vendor-liability.  Edmondson, Elizabeth. “Emerging Liability for AI-Driven Hiring Tools: Key Developments in Mobley v. Workday, Inc.” Maynard Nexsen, 23 Apr. 2026. https://www.maynardnexsen.com/publication-emerging-liability-for-ai-driven-hiring-tools-key-developments-in-mobley-v-workday-inc  “Mobley v. Workday: 1.1 Billion Rejected Applications Put AI Hiring Under the Microscope.” AI HR Institute, 2026 https://www.aihr-institute.com/mobley-v-workday-11-billion-rejected-applications-put-ai-hiring-under-the-microscope.  Kang, Weixi, et al. "Big Five Personality Traits in the Workplace: Investigating Personality Differences between Employees, Supervisors, Managers, and Entrepreneurs." Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 14, 28 Mar. 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10089283/.  Hardy, Benjamin. “Personality Isn't Permanent—Or Is It? The Answer Is No.” Psychology Today, 12 June 2020, https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/quantum-leaps/202006/personality-isnt-permanent-or-is-it-the-answer-is-no.  “1 in 6 Companies Are Hesitant To Hire Recent College Graduates.” Intelligent, 13 Sept. 2024. https://www.intelligent.com/1-in-6-companies-are-hesitant-to-hire-recent-college-graduates “New Hire Survey: Retention Hard When Job, Description Don’t Match.” HR Executive, 2024. https://hrexecutive.com/new-hire-satisfaction-plunges-when-jobs-dont-match-expectations.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

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About

If you’re sick and tired of listening to the negative talk track playing in your head, then why not listen to us instead? We are Marcus and Esme O’Kayvius (not our real names), a married, neurodivergent couple with a lot of experience managing our own mental health issues while raising a daughter and navigating the dystopic hellscape that is corporate America. Join us each week as we discuss trending mental health issues and explore how they impact our health and wellness. We’ll also examine the myths and misconceptions associated with mental health and what we can do about them. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com

Information

  • Creator
    Marcus & Esme O’Kayvius
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Crazy Together

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