Hosts: Armand DiMele

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The Antidepressant Effects of Semen December 2, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Depression & Mood, Sexuality & Desire

Research by evolutionary psychologists Gordon Gallup and Rebecca Baruch reveals that semen contains over 50 compounds including cortisol, serotonin, oxytocin, and prolactin. Armand DiMele walks through studies showing women who have condomless sex report significantly lower depression and suicide rates, and considers the ethical weight of publicizing the findings.

The Roots of Belligerence December 1, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Communication & Conflict, Emotions & Inner Life

Beneath belligerence lies fear, not rage. Armand DiMele and co-host Linda trace the signs of belligerent behavior from nervous hyperactivity through verbal attacks, explaining the hormonal drivers and why people cannot think their way out of the state. Callers share real conflicts, and yoga is offered as a practical path back to calm.

Accessing Your Real Self: What Does It Mean to Be Real November 30, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Alberto, Charles Bavona, Karen, Kelly, Megan, Monroe, Shakara, Teresa
Category: Identity & The Self

In this episode, Armand DiMele explores the profound question of what it means to be real. Through introspective dialogue and listener call-ins, he discusses how people present either strength or weakness depending on their needs, fears, or survival instincts. Armand connects the idea of authenticity with pain, vulnerability, and presence, arguing that “crazy” behaviors are often adaptations to protect fragile selves. Excerpts from The Velveteen Rabbit and quotes from E.E. Cummings, Judy Garland, and others enrich the philosophical journey. Callers share personal experiences with trauma, depression, overthinking, and strained relationships, revealing how pain, when accepted, can guide people back to their true selves. The episode urges listeners to face discomfort, question disguises, and reclaim their real identities.

The Question Behind the Question November 10, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Identity & The Self

The questions we ask others are rarely the questions we really need to answer. Armand DiMele argues that most of our probing, deflecting, and loaded questions in relationships mask a single deeper fear: am I safe? Callers explore jealousy, marital uncertainty, and longing through this lens.

Sitting With the Question November 9, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Personal Growth & Change

Armand DiMele argues that the most powerful thing you can do is stop rushing toward answers and learn to sit with your own questions. Drawing on Zen koans, caller conversations about aging relationships and childhood sexual abuse, and a clip from The Jerk, he shows how the right question opens you to genuine self-knowledge.

What Kind of Bird Are You in Manhattan November 3, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Identity & The Self, Society, Culture & Current Events

Manhattan has a rhythm, and how you move through it reveals who you are. Armand DiMele sorts city dwellers into owls, peacocks, pigeons, hawks, eagles, and parrots, then opens the phones to callers sharing their first raw impressions of the city and what it means to call it home.

Gratitude and the Holiday Season November 1, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Society, Culture & Current Events

Gratitude is not automatic, Armand argues, and it depends on cost, intention, and empathy. He walks through the psychology of why we feel it, when we don’t, and how giving to others can unlock it. Callers share their own experiences of being alone during the holidays and finding meaning through volunteering.

My Mind Is Not Always My Friend with Stephen Fogle September 30, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Stephanie D'Ambra, Stephen Fogle
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Personal Growth & Change

The mind evolved to keep us safe, but its habit of replaying the past can turn it into an enemy. Armand DiMele sits down with author Stephen Fogle and co-host Stephanie D’Ambra, LCSW to examine how mislabeled memories trigger overreactions, why reason rarely wins against a fired amygdala, and how body awareness can break the cycle.

Overreaction and Emotional Flooding September 29, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Elisa, Feli Stengel, Lauren Sykes, Marcus, Thelma Wingate
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Love & Romantic Relationships

Why do people overreact, and what can you do when someone you love is on a tear? Armand DiMele examines the biology and culture of emotional flooding, from the moon cycle to reality TV’s exploitation of raw feeling, drawing on office manager Thelma Wingate’s experience managing flare-ups in dementia care. Callers weigh in on phobias, past life regression, and partners carrying divorce pain.

Jealousy Possessiveness and Belonging September 23, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Stephanie D'Ambra
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Love & Romantic Relationships

Jealousy is almost universal in sexually active couples, yet we treat it as pathology. Armand DiMele and Stephanie D’Ambra, LCSW, trace possessiveness from toddler toy-sharing to marriage vows, and explore how smartphones and GPS tracking are intensifying the urge to monitor partners.