This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with Alim Somji, the Chairperson of AboutFace, a Canadian non-profit organization that strives to eliminate the stigma and discrimination encountered by individuals with facial differences. We dig into some of the stigmas surrounding facial differences and what Alim’s biggest personal turning point was when it came to his own facial difference.  Listen to the full interview with Alim here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/facial-differences DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP057_-The-Stigmas-of-Facial-Differences.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today’s guest is Alim Somji, the Chairperson of AboutFace, a Canadian non-profit organization that strives to eliminate the stigma and discrimination encountered by individuals with facial differences. Today’s conversation revolves around what facial differences are, the impact having a facial difference can have on mental health, and the journey that Alim took toward the acceptance of his own facial difference. We also talk about facial differences in movies like Deadpool and how some companies have been instrumental in creating awareness around facial differences in their advertising. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript_-Episode-056-Understanding-Facial-Differences-in-Deadpool.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast   TIMECODES 00:37 Guest Introduction: Alim Somji and AboutFace 01:28 Alim's Background and AboutFace's Mission 06:13 Discussion on the Representation of Facial Differences in Deadpool 10:29 The Changing Landscape of Advertising 14:43 Alim's Personal Experience with Discrimination 24:19 Desired Representation in Film and TV 28:12 The Isolation and Support for Individuals with Facial Differences 32:03 Resources and Organizations for Facial Differences

This mini-episode is a continuation of our imposter syndrome conversation with Communication Skills Trainer, Ottillie Parfitt. This episode covers the five types of imposter syndrome and ways people with imposter syndrome misinterpret what it means to be competent. (NOTE: These five subcategories were originated by Dr. Valerie Young and based on her research). We also delve into the myths that persist around the universal experience of imposter phenomenon. Listen to our full interview with Ottillie Parfitt: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/imposter-syndrome DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP055-Transcript_5-Types-of-Imposter-Syndrome.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today, we’re excited to talk to Communication Skills Trainer, Ottillie Parfitt, about all things imposter syndrome!! That’s right, we’re talking about that little voice in your head that tells you that you’re a fraud, a phony, or just not good enough (even when you are). We go into what imposter syndrome is, what some of the triggers are, how it shows up in the workplace, and some techniques for overcoming Imposter Syndrome. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP054_ImposterSyndrome.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with Rabiya Mansoor and Marushka Jessica Almeida, two of the creators of Get Up, Aisha now streaming on CBC Gem. Today we talk about the other films and TV series about depression that inspired Rabiya and Marushka and how important it is to get it right when you are dealing with subjects surrounding mental health, depression, and suicide. Get Up Aisha is a compelling dramedy series following the intricate life of Aisha Rehman, a Pakistani Canadian student who grapples with her compulsive need for control as she deals with depression. The series, streaming on CBC Gem in Canada, follows Aisha’s story as she is diagnosed with depression after living through a suicide attempt and applies a checklist approach to curing the incurable. CW: Discussions of depression and suicide Listen to our full interview with Rabiya and Marushka here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/depression DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Transcript-EP053_-Depression-in-Film-and-TV.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today we’re talking with two of the creators of Get Up, Aisha, Rabiya Mansoor and Marushka Jessica Almeida. Get Up Aisha is a compelling dramedy series following the intricate life of Aisha Rehman, a Pakistani Canadian student who grapples with her compulsive need for control as she deals with depression. The series, streaming on CBC Gem in Canada, follows Aisha’s story as she is diagnosed with depression after living through a suicide attempt and applies a checklist approach to curing the incurable. Our conversation looks into what depression is, the signs (or lack of signs) that present, what you can do to get help, and how to reframe your experience to allow you to choose yourself. We also discuss using your personal stories of mental health to inform your material as a film and television creator and how to use this work to address the stigmas of mental health both broadly and specifically in the South Asian community. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP052-Transcript-Depression_-A-Conversation-with-the-Creators-of-CBC-Gems-Get-Up-Ai.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with board-certified ObGyn, Dr. Sophia. Today, we talk about the stigmas surrounding menopause, what Dr. Sophia would like to see represented on TV, film, and in the media, and how to prepare for menopause - the more you know, the less scary it is! DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP51-Transcript_-Breaking-the-Stigmas-and-Preparing-for-Menopause.pdf Listen to our longer interview with Dr. Sophia on navigating menopause: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/menopause Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today we’re talking with Dr. Sophia Lubin about menopause and perimenopause. Dr. Sophia has been a board-certified ObGyn for over 15 years and as a women’s health and well-being enthusiast, she spreads her knowledge and care through her “Dr. Sophia, ObGyn Podcast” where she helps women learn about their bodies and embrace themselves. Our conversation covers a wide range of information about what menopause really is, the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, how to ask for treatment, and what representation of menopause looks like in film and TV. We deep dive into shows like Fleabag, Sex and the City, and Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce as well as conversations on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live! READ TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP50-transcript-Navigating-Menopause_-Fleabag-Sex-and-the-City-and-Girlfriends-Guid.pdf Listen to our mini-episode with Dr. Sophia on breaking the stigmas of menopause: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/menopausestigma  Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today’s mini-episode is a conversation with Dr. Jill L. Creighton, a higher education professional and the host of SA Voices from the Field Podcast. She came to talk with us about her experience as a transracial adoptee and how she would like to see adoption represented on film and television. Also be sure to listen to our other episode on adoption with research sociologist, Gretchen Sisson -- braaainspodcast.com/episodes/adoption DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP049-Transcript_-Dispelling-Myths-of-Transracial-Adoption.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today we’re talking with Gretchen Sisson, a research sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. She is the author of Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood, a critical, ten-year examination of domestic adoption. Centering on the stories of relinquishing mothers, the book chronicles America's refusal to care for families at the most basic level, and instead allows cultural and political ideas of adoption to advance an individual, private solution to large-scale social problems. In our conversation, we discuss the function of adoption in society, its representation in popular culture, and the experiences of birth mothers. We explore the stereotypes and tropes perpetuated by modern adoption stories in TV and film like in shows like This is Us and 16 and Pregnant, and the impact of these narratives on societal biases and policies. We also talk about how the women who Gretchen spoke with feel like The Handmaid’s Tale is the closest representation of their experience of relinquishing their child. We then delve into the complexities of adoption, the historical context of pre-Roe adoption, and the consequences for birth mothers and relinquished children. This discussion explores the complexities of adoption, highlighting the experiences and perspectives of birth mothers as captured in Gretchen Sisson's new book. It delves into the emotional journey of birth mothers, their hopes and expectations, as well as the challenges and grief they face. The conversation also touches on the impact of adoption on adoptees, particularly in terms of trauma and identity. It further discusses the connection between adoption and reproductive justice, and the need to critically examine the narratives and beliefs surrounding adoption. Our discussion concludes with a discussion on the potential of pop culture to shape a more nuanced and inclusive narrative around adoption. Here is a link to find out more about Gretchen's book: https://www.relinquishedbook.com/ DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP048-transcript-The-Handmaids-Tale-This-is-Us-and-Adoption.pdf Listen to our companion episode on Dispelling Myths of Transracial Adoption in Media here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/transracialadoption  Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today’s mini-episode is all about working with consultants and team members with lived experience on projects about mental health and disability. Our conversation is with Karen and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, sisters and the co-creators of the new CW and CTV show, SIGHT UNSEEN. The series is about a homicide detective who rapidly loses her vision and has to quit the homicide force. When she leaves, she’s haunted by the cases she’s left behind and is determined to solve them with the help of her visual guide via a visual assistance app. If you want to hear our full episode with Kat and Niko about low vision, vision loss, and the representation of it in their show and beyond, listen here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/visionloss DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/EP047-Braaains-Podcast-transcript-Working-with-disability-and-mental-health-consultants.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today's guests, Karen and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, are the co-creators of the new CW and CTV show, SIGHT UNSEEN. The series is about a homicide detective who rapidly loses her vision and has to quit the homicide force. When she leaves, she’s haunted by the cases she’s left behind and is determined to solve them with the help of her visual guide via a visual assistance app. In this episode, we discuss sight loss, the representation of vision loss and blindness on SIGHT UNSEEN, and what considerations had to be made when creating a television show for viewers across the entire vision spectrum.  DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT - https://braaainspodcast.com/https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Episode-046-TRANSCRIPT-Vision-Loss-and-Blindness-on-Sight-Unseen.pdf Listen to the mini-episode with Niko and Kat on Working with Disability and Mental Health Consultants: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/visionlossconsultants  Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast   KEY POINTS 05:21 The Genesis of Sight Unseen 06:44 The Plot and Characters of Sight Unseen 07:35 The Importance of Sight Loss Representation 24:04 The Visual Representation of Sight Loss 34:15 Challenging Stigmas and Representing Vision Loss 36:07 Filming Challenges with an Immersive Point of View

For today's mini-episode, we're chatting with New York Times best-selling author Bassey Ikpi about the depiction of mental illness (specifically Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD) in The CW's musical comedy-drama series My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015–2019) by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna. Our guest Bassey Ikpi is a Nigerian-American, ex-poet, current writer, mental health advocate, underachieving overachiever, and memoir procrastinator. Her best selling book I’m Telling the Truth But I’m Lying is available in both print and audio at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/im-telling-the-truth-but-im-lying-bassey-ikpi. Listen to our full interview with Bassey: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/bipolardisorder DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP045-transcript-BPD-and-Mental-Health-Representation-in-My-Crazy-Ex-Girlfriend.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Welcome to season three of Braaains! Today we have the pleasure of talking with New York Times Best Selling author Bassey Ikpi about Bipolar II disorder, how she got her diagnosis, and the representation of bipolar and depression on shows like Atlanta, Insecure, and Dave. Bassey is a Nigerian-American, ex-poet, current writer, mental health advocate, underachieving overachiever, and memoir procrastinator. Her best selling book I’m Telling the Truth But I’m Lying is available in both print and audio at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/im-telling-the-truth-but-im-lying-bassey-ikpi. DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-Episode-44-bipolar-disorder-transcript.pdf Listen to our mini-episode with Bassey on BPD in My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/bpdincrazyexgirlfriend  Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Today is our last episode of 2023 just in time for the holidays. We bring all of the Taylor/Deppisch siblings together – our little sister, Becky Taylor, and our little brother, Jonathan Deppisch – who is also our composer – to discuss how to deal with stress and protect your mental health over the holidays! We’re especially grateful for all of our listeners, friends, and family who submitted voice recordings, and text messages with advice on how to deal with your mental health over the holidays and throughout the year. We’re grateful to have so much to share today to hopefully make the upcoming weeks a little lighter. Our conversation explores the topics of creating healthy expectations, setting boundaries, saying no, and reconciling your capacity with your expectations during the holiday season. Our advice emphasizes the importance of appreciating simple things and respecting boundaries. The conversation also highlights the value of creating alone time and quiet spaces. As the holidays approach, find a way to find joy in everyday moments and cherish happy memories. Thank you to Mary-Anne Taylor (our mom!), Marcie Peterson, Blair Drover, Nicole Tersigni, Julia Rowland, Lilly Waterfield, Amanda Smith-Kolic, Sarah Snyder from Adulting ADHD, Susan Madigan, Leah Iwaniuk, Leah Simmons, Lisa Lutes, Erin Davis, Kathleen Smith (The Anxious Overachiever), Stephanie Fornasier from Psychocinematic, Pete Whemby, and Celeste Koon. DOWNLOAD OUR TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-EP043_a-little-advice-for-the-holidays_transcript.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_  Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

In the penultimate episode of our second season, we’re looking at the experiences and representation of Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs with our guest, Naomi Mellor. Naomi is an equine veterinarian and podcaster, who not only runs a podcast production company but also founded the amazing International Women’s Podcast Awards. We discuss how a TBI can impact you with symptoms like headaches, neuro exhaustion, double vision, depth perception issues, sensory stimulation overload, and how Naomi spent 23 hours a day in bed after her accident. Lastly, we talk about the representation of TBIs in film and TV and how Naomi would love to see more stories about the subtlety and variety of the effects of TBIs and what the long-term impact is on your brain, body, and mental health. We also talk about the film Causeway and how it is one of the few films dealing with some of the lasting effects of TBIs. DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

We’re mixing things up today with a conversation about the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and their research on representation in film and TV. We spoke with Katherine Pieper, the program director at the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. As the leading global think tank studying inclusion in media, the initiative examines the prevalence and portrayal of groups such as: girls and women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and mental health conditions. They analyze who is on-screen and behind the camera across film, episodic, and short film content. As part of our conversation, we discuss the results of one of their latest studies – Inequality in 1600 popular films examining portrayals of gender, race, ethnicity, LGBTQ+, and disability in Films from 2007 - 2022, as well as dive into the Inclusion Index, and learn more about their new study on indigenous representation in film. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-EP041_Investigating-Inequality-Across-Film-and-TV-with-the-Annenberg-Inclusion-Initiative_t.pdf Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Instagram: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Happy Halloween!! In our second SPOOOKY episode for October, we’re talking all about ghosts with the spooktacular host of Geist, Danielle Matar. We discuss why we, as a society, have such a fascination with ghost stories, the paranormal, and what happens to us after we die. We also look at the impact on our brains when we experience these types of unexplainable experiences and how to avoid trauma after an experience with something you think is supernatural. TRANSCRIPT Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

As part of SPOOOOOOKY month, we touch on topics in the next two episodes that are often the subject of horror films – and we look at their impact on our brains. Today, we have the fabulous Guinevere Turner as our guest. She is the screenwriter of films like American Psycho and Charlie Says, and has recently published ‘When the World Didn’t End,’ a book about her experiences growing up in a cult. In this episode, we do a deep, deep dive into the representation of cults in film and TV and look at what filmmakers get right and what they get wrong. We also discuss the characteristics of a cult, who is susceptible to them, their impact on one's mental health, and how to help family and friends who may find themselves deeply entwined in a cult community. Lastly, we talk about why it’s hard to find the right therapist if you are a cult survivor and why the world is so obsessed with cult stories. DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT Key moments in this episode: 00:01:12 - Representation of Cults in Film and TV 00:03:58 - Defining a Cult 00:06:17 - Warning Signs of Being in a Cult 00:08:16 - Changing Perceptions of Cults 00:15:27 - Humanizing David Koresh & His Followers in the series Waco 00:16:48 - Exploring Characters Trying to Escape Cults 00:17:14 - Understanding the Vulnerability of Cult Followers 00:18:36 - Living in a "Cult-Ready Culture" 00:29:00 - When Guinevere Realized She Grew Up in a Cult 00:35:32 - Therapy and Recovery Process 00:41:59 - Changing Coercion Laws and Law Enforcement Training 00:42:53 - Supporting Someone in a Cult 00:45:17 - Cult Documentaries and Awareness 00:48:13 - Society's Obsession with Cults 00:55:02 - Creating a Unique Movie about the REAL Cult Experience Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast

Steph is a psychologist and host of the Psychocinematic podcast who currently works in Disability Inclusion in schools in Naarm (Melbourne) and has her own mental illness lived experience. Steph joins us to discuss how you approach disclosure, concerns around discrimination about disclosure and how to address it, and why some people incorporate their mental illness or disability into their identity after disclosure. This is episode three of our three-part series, You're Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness. This is for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2023 (October 1 - 7) and it explores mental illness, the barriers that can block your journey to good mental health, and how stigmas, diagnoses, and disclosure are represented on film and TV. TRANSCRIPT  Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast GUEST BIO Stephanie (Steph) Fornasier is a psychologist currently working in Disability Inclusion in schools in Naarm (Melbourne), with her own mental illness lived experience. She has a 13-year career so far, including working with kids and adults with disabilities, in private practice, and in the education system. A passionate mental health advocate and disability ally, Steph is also a big film and TV nerd and loves to overthink even the most basic media portrayal of a thing. She's a mum of a toddler human, an adult cat Myf, and also a bit of a music snob with no right to be. Psychocinematic Podcast - Psychocinematic Podcast was a concept formed back in 2019 when Steph decided she'd like to put her passion for psychology together with her passion for cinema. But as a full-time psychologist working with kids, when was she going to get the time to work on it? Then the pandemic hit... just as she was about to have a baby... suddenly time was limitless! Psychocinematic officially launched in September 2020. But over 2 years later, Psychocinematic is only growing with every episode and has become more than just a passion project. Psychocinematic Podcast is a form of entertainment, education, and a connection point with a community of people who desperately wish to smash mental health and disability stigma and end ableism in media.