Shrinks Rap

James Bramson, Psy, D & Rafael Cortina, MFT
  • 5,0 (19)
  • МЕНТАЛЬНОЕ ЗДОРОВЬЕ

Shrinks Rap welcomes psychologists and healers to share their journeys - both personal and professional. James H. Bramson, licensed Psychologist and Social Worker, and Rafael J. Cortina, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist "rap" with a variety of guests, including new and seasoned therapists, thought leaders, creative artists, and lifestyle experts about how their paths brought them to the field of healing and what they've learned along the way. 

  1. High Potency Cannabis, Fentanyl, and Teens: What Parents Need to Know — A Conversation with Dr. Veronika Mesheriakova

    -2 ДН.

    High Potency Cannabis, Fentanyl, and Teens: What Parents Need to Know — A Conversation with Dr. Veronika Mesheriakova

    Dr. Veronika Mesheriakova is an adolescent medicine physician, addiction specialist, and founder of the Northern California Adolescent Specialty Center. She previously served as an Associate Professor in the Division of Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine at University of California, San Francisco, where she founded the UCSF Youth Outpatient Substance Use Program and conducted research focused on adolescent substance use and addiction. Dr. Mesheriakova completed her pediatrics residency at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at UCSF. She will also be a featured speaker at the Human Potential Conference. In this timely episode of Shrinks Rap, Dr. James Bramson speaks with Dr. Veronika Mesheriakova about the growing mental health and addiction crisis facing today’s teens. Together, they explore the rise of high-potency cannabis, fentanyl exposure, vaping, and polysubstance use among adolescents—many of whom appear outwardly “fine” while quietly struggling emotionally. Dr. Mesheriakova explains how today’s cannabis differs dramatically from earlier generations, with higher THC concentrations linked to anxiety, depression, psychosis risk, emotional dysregulation, and addiction in developing brains. The conversation also examines the growing danger of fentanyl contamination in counterfeit pills and recreational drugs, making experimentation increasingly life-threatening. The episode highlights practical ways parents can approach teens without escalating shame, secrecy, or power struggles around substances and screen time. Dr. Mesheriakova emphasizes the importance of family involvement, the role medications can play in treatment, and how recovery ultimately depends on helping adolescents reconnect with hope, purpose, belonging, and a future worth showing up for. The conversation balances science, compassion, and humor—because parenting teenagers sometimes requires both evidence-based care and an excellent breathing practice. Credits: River is High, Ticketless Traveler Carl Reisman, guitar, singer, and songwriter Jenny Goodwine, vocals James Singleton, bass Johnny Vidocovich, drums Dave Easley, steel guitar Produced by Morgan Orion Reisman for more information, carlreisman@gmail.com Copyright 2025 WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

    46 мин.
  2. Leading Like Mandela: Storytelling, Presence & Authentic Leadership with Ingrid Gavshon

    16 МАЯ

    Leading Like Mandela: Storytelling, Presence & Authentic Leadership with Ingrid Gavshon

    What do documentary filmmaking, executive leadership, and Nelson Mandela have in common? According to Ingrid Gavshon — everything. This week on Shrinks Rap, Dr. James H. Bramson sits down with Ingrid Gavshon — leadership communications expert, executive coach, award-winning filmmaker, and faculty member at University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business — for a conversation about storytelling, human connection, and the kind of leadership people actually want to follow. Ingrid has spent her career helping leaders find their authentic voice — whether behind a camera, in a boardroom, or standing in front of a terrified MBA class trying not to die during a presentation. Drawing from her work producing a thirteen-part documentary series on Mandela, she shares the leadership qualities that made him transformational: presence, humility, deep listening, moral courage, and the ability to make people feel seen even in conflict. Together, Jim and Ingrid explore:  • What modern leaders misunderstand about charisma • Why storytelling is more powerful than authority • How empathy changes workplace culture • The surprising overlap between filmmaking and executive coaching They also discuss how Ingrid uses filmmaking techniques, experiential learning, and coaching to help aspiring leaders at Haas develop confidence, emotional intelligence, and authentic executive presence — without sounding like corporate robots reading from LinkedIn posts. Part leadership masterclass, part creative exploration, part value clarification for overachieving professionals, this episode asks a timely question: In a world full of noise, what does it mean to truly connect? Credits: River is High, Ticketless Traveler Carl Reisman, guitar, singer, and songwriter Jenny Goodwine, vocals James Singleton, bass Johnny Vidocovich, drums Dave Easley, steel guitar Produced by Morgan Orion Reisman for more information, carlreisman@gmail.com Copyright 2025 WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

    1 ч. 3 мин.
  3. From Theatre-in-the-Round to the Boardroom: How Dr. Mark Rittenberg Humanized the C-Suite

    16 МАЯ

    From Theatre-in-the-Round to the Boardroom: How Dr. Mark Rittenberg Humanized the C-Suite

    This week on Shrinks Rap: what happens when a theater guy walks into the boardroom and accidentally teaches Fortune 100 executives how to have feelings? Dr. James H. Bramson sits down with Dr. Mark Rittenberg — executive coach, leadership whisperer, former actor, Fulbright Scholar, South African bridge-builder, and possibly the only man alive who can quote Shakespeare while fixing your corporate culture. From Harvard to Soweto to Silicon Valley, Mark has spent decades teaching leaders how to communicate like actual humans instead of PowerPoint templates with pulse rates. We talk about his journey from the theater to the boardroom, the profound influence of Angeles Arrien, and why empathy may be the most radical leadership skill left in modern civilization. Somewhere between authentic leadership, multicultural transformation, executive coaching, and stories that sound too cinematic to be real, we also explore:  • Why the best leaders know how to listen — and actually know their employees • How acting and presentation skills can rescue broken organizations • The origin story behind his Executive Coaching program at University of California, Berkeley Credits: River is High, Ticketless Traveler Carl Reisman, guitar, singer, and songwriter Jenny Goodwine, vocals James Singleton, bass Johnny Vidocovich, drums Dave Easley, steel guitar Produced by Morgan Orion Reisman for more information, carlreisman@gmail.com Copyright 2025 WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

    1 ч. 3 мин.
  4. My Dinner with Peter: Infinite Compassion, Infinite Jest

    16 АПР.

    My Dinner with Peter: Infinite Compassion, Infinite Jest

    When you walk into the elegant home of Dr. Peter Carnochan, you’re greeted by a statue of  Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion. Over the course of our dinner together and podcast conversation, it becomes clear that the figure is not decorative. It’s emblematic of Peter himself. Peter Carnochan is something of a paradox. He describes himself as half California hippie and half East Coast WASP. He came up through alternative schooling that centered art and creativity. From there, he studied at Harvard University, earning a degree philosophy—an intellectual backbone that now undergirds everything he does. Both in real life, and in the award-winning documentary, Andre Is an Idiot, Peter played the real life role of Andre Ricciardi’s psychologist.  His client, Andre, is dying of colon cancer and, in many ways, becomes a kind of embodiment of “infinite jest”—finding humor in everything, even in the face of death, while documenting the experience. Peter’s defining qualities are on full display: infinite compassion paired with grounded wisdom. The result is a remarkable film that captures humor, courage, and an almost defiant vulnerability. In several scenes, Peter offers guidance that is both clinically precise and deeply human, gently expanding Andre’s capacity to face reality while staying connected to the people he loves. Today, Peter has returned to his Silicon Valley roots, working as an executive coach to some of the titans of the tech world. He brings to that ecosystem not just strategy, but a grounded life philosophy that blends compassion, insight, and a deep respect for the complexity of being human. Credits: River is High, Ticketless Traveler Carl Reisman, guitar, singer, and songwriter Jenny Goodwine, vocals James Singleton, bass Johnny Vidocovich, drums Dave Easley, steel guitar Produced by Morgan Orion Reisman for more information, carlreisman@gmail.com Copyright 2025 WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

    1 ч. 1 мин.
  5. From Self-Conscious to Worth-Conscious: Rewiring the Inner Narrative

    7 АПР.

    From Self-Conscious to Worth-Conscious: Rewiring the Inner Narrative

    What if the real issue isn’t that you lack confidence—but that you’ve been living from the wrong kind of consciousness? And what if worth isn’t something you earn, but something you are born with? In this episode, I sit down with Dawna Daigneault, author of Understanding Self-Worth: A Guide to Worth-Conscious Theory and Psychotherapeutic Practice (Routledge, 2026), to explore a fresh and clinically compelling framework for understanding self-worth. Dawna introduces Worth-Conscious Theory (WCT), a model she has been developing for over a decade, which distinguishes between self-consciousness—a state rooted in evaluation, comparison, and performance—and worth-consciousness, a more grounded, inherent sense of being enough. We unpack how many individuals struggle with what Dawna calls “systemically denied self-worth,” and how this shows up in anxiety, perfectionism, relationships, and the relentless pressure to prove oneself. She also walks us through the “Conscious Moment” technique—an accessible, ACT-informed intervention designed to help clients (and the rest of us) shift out of self-judgment and into a more stable, compassionate awareness of worth. This conversation bridges theory and practice, offering clinicians and everyday listeners a powerful lens—and practical tools—for rewiring the inner narrative from “Am I enough?” to a deeper, quieter knowing that you already are. If you’ve ever felt caught in the loop of self-doubt or driven by the need to earn your worth, this episode offers a meaningful way out. Credits: River is High, Ticketless Traveler Carl Reisman, guitar, singer, and songwriter Jenny Goodwine, vocals James Singleton, bass Johnny Vidocovich, drums Dave Easley, steel guitar Produced by Morgan Orion Reisman for more information, carlreisman@gmail.com Copyright 2025 WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

    54 мин.
  6. Can AI Bots Cause Delusions?

    24 ФЕВР.

    Can AI Bots Cause Delusions?

    Dr. Jim interviews Dr. Julia Sheffield, professor at Vanderbilt University and clinician specializing in psychotic and delusional disorders. She discusses her research and her interview with The New York Times on how AI chatbots may unintentionally reinforce or contribute to delusional thinking. Dr. Sheffield explains how AI can mirror and amplify distorted beliefs by bypassing reality testing, raising concerns about vulnerable users forming unhealthy attachments — reminiscent of Her starring Joaquin Phoenix where a man falls in love with a bot and slowly loses his grounding. Invoking the image of being “10 feet tall” — a nod to - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - people ask Dr. Sheffield how not to fall into the rabbit hole. How altered perception, magnified meaning, and distorted reality can take hold in both human psychology and AI-mediated experience. Dr. Sheffield frames psychosis on a spectrum and challenges the field’s overreliance on the medical model, emphasizing that therapy can be highly effective. She calls for clinicians to engage more confidently with this often-avoided yet deeply treatable population. A timely conversation at the intersection of AI, attachment, delusion, and reality. Credits: River is High, Ticketless Traveler Carl Reisman, guitar, singer, and songwriter Jenny Goodwine, vocals James Singleton, bass Johnny Vidocovich, drums Dave Easley, steel guitar Produced by Morgan Orion Reisman for more information, carlreisman@gmail.com Copyright 2025 WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

    50 мин.
  7. It Is Not Your Fault: What Parents, Clinicians, and Educators Should Know About Treating Eating Disorders

    08.12.2025

    It Is Not Your Fault: What Parents, Clinicians, and Educators Should Know About Treating Eating Disorders

    Featuring Dr. Lauren Hartman M.D. Dr. Jim sits down with Dr. Lauren Hartman, a double board-certified specialist in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics, contributor to Psychology Today, and author of the forthcoming book Freeing Children & Young Adults from Shame, Scales & Stigma. In this episode, Dr. Hartman breaks down what every parent, clinician, and educator needs to understand about eating disorders—and why it’s not your fault. She highlights the essential role families can play in the healing process and offers practical guidance for supporting adolescents with compassion and clarity. We explore the Barbie effect, the rise of GLP-1 medications, and how social media and comparison culture fuel distorted body image and perfectionism. Dr. Hartman underscores the absurdity of our societal ideals: the original 1959 Barbie, scaled to human size, would stand 5’9”, weigh 110 pounds, measure 39–18–33, and—ironically—would meet criteria for anorexia. And Barbie’s measurements haven’t improved much since. Zooming out, we look at the cultural forces that perpetuate body shaming and misunderstanding about what “healthy” truly means. Dr. Hartman shares how to talk with adolescents about their eating disorders, what treatments show the strongest evidence, and how to navigate parental shame without derailing recovery. Finally, we discuss the powerful role of Internal Family Systems (IFS) as an integrative therapeutic approach for adolescents and families—an essential model for clinicians working in this space. This episode is a must-listen for anyone supporting young people on the path toward healing, nourishment, and self-compassion. WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

    49 мин.
  8. Mindful Parenting During Times of Uncertainty: Human Potential Conference

    01.12.2025

    Mindful Parenting During Times of Uncertainty: Human Potential Conference

    Featuring Drs. Benton-Hardy, Freed, Peterson, and Ehrensaft • Hosted by Dr. Jim Bramson In this special episode, four brilliant clinicians explore what it means to parent mindfully in an age of rapid change, digital overload, and cultural uncertainty. Each expert brings a unique blend of curiosity, expertise, humor, and heart to the conversation. Dr. Lisa R. Benton-Hardy reflects on the risks of “Dr. Google” and the gap between online advice and true clinical expertise—especially when parents are overwhelmed by information. Dr. Dan Peters challenges the term “failure to launch,” offering a compassionate reframing: young adults often need more time to find their place in today’s complex world, and that’s not a failure. He also dives into the experiences of twice-exceptional (2E) children in dialogue with Dr. Hardy. Dr. Diane Ehrensaft discusses current research on gender-affirming care, the stressful political climate facing transgender youth and the professionals who support them, and what all parents can learn from the resilience and wisdom of queer and gender-diverse clients. Dr. Richard Freed brings his signature wit and clarity to the topic of persuasive design, attention hacking, and the addictive architecture of modern video games. He unpacks how Silicon Valley profits from keeping kids online—and why mindful parenting requires understanding the commoditization of a child’s attention span. This episode offers grounded, practical, and deeply human guidance for navigating parenting in our increasingly uncertain times. WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

    1 ч. 24 мин.
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Shrinks Rap welcomes psychologists and healers to share their journeys - both personal and professional. James H. Bramson, licensed Psychologist and Social Worker, and Rafael J. Cortina, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist "rap" with a variety of guests, including new and seasoned therapists, thought leaders, creative artists, and lifestyle experts about how their paths brought them to the field of healing and what they've learned along the way. 

Информация

  • Автор
    James Bramson, Psy, D & Rafael Cortina, MFT
  • Годы выхода
    2021 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    86
  • Ограничения
    Без ненормативной лексики
  • Авторские права
    © 2026 Shrinks Rap
  • Сайт подкаста
    Shrinks Rap