Hosts: Armand DiMele

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Living with ADHD Across the Lifespan September 17, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Ben Starr, Giullian Gioiello, Linda Vanella
Category: Personal Growth & Change, The Mind & Neuroscience

ADHD affects far more adults than is recognized, and Armand argues the same traits that make childhood difficult can become creative gifts. Linda Vanella, LCSW-R, draws on clinical and personal experience, while co-host Ben Starr shares his own journey through medication, video games, and self-medication to quiet the mental buzz.

The Need to Belong September 16, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Ben Starr, Giullian Gioiello, Lisa Arnone
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Identity & The Self

Possessiveness gets a bad name, but Armand DiMele argues the impulse to belong and be claimed is deeply human. With co-hosts Ben Starr and Giullian Gioiello and clinician Lisa Arnone, LCSW, the conversation moves from child development and hoarding to family alienation and the paradox that you must feel owned before you can push free.

The Obsessive Mind in Love September 10, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Ben Starr, Giullian Gioiello, Linda Vanella
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Love & Romantic Relationships

Why can’t you get someone out of your head? Armand DiMele traces romantic obsession to the brain’s danger-detection system, arguing that the amygdala treats lost love as a survival threat. Linda Vanella, LCSW-R, joins co-hosts Ben Starr and Giullian Gioiello as callers share raw stories of grief, betrayal, and letting go.

Frozen in Time by Childhood Trauma August 13, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Ben Starr, Linda Vanella, Ori Amini Morrison
Category: Family & Parenting, Trauma & Healing

Childhood trauma leaves children frozen in place, and the cure often lies in the parent-child relationship, not just the child alone. Linda Vanella, LCSW-R, draws on her work with traumatized veterans and young children to explain how creative tools like xylophone play, power cards, and the hero’s journey restore a child’s sense of agency alongside the caregiver’s.

The Feeling Beneath Rejection July 16, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Alex, Jamie, Sandra Reischus
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Personal Growth & Change

Armand DiMele argues that rejection is not a feeling but a perception of someone else’s behavior, and that the real emotional work begins when you ask what you actually felt underneath it. The episode ranges from the psychology of giving and receiving gifts to sexual withdrawal, childhood conditioning, and callers navigating depression and family pressure.

Why Soccer Captured America July 15, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Giullian Gioiello
Category: Identity & The Self, Society, Culture & Current Events

What turned millions of Americans into soccer fans almost overnight? Armand DiMele and co-host Giullian Gioiello dig into the psychology behind the 2014 World Cup frenzy, tracing fan devotion to three core needs: status, affiliation, and meaning. A caller’s story of giving without receiving brings it home.

Loneliness Is Needing Yourself July 10, 2014

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

Loneliness is not about needing someone else but about needing yourself. Armand DiMele examines this through caller stories, statistics on elderly isolation, and a discussion of how online communities, television, and spiritual connection serve as substitutes for genuine self-acceptance.

Does Anybody Really Know You July 9, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Giullian Gioiello
Category: Identity & The Self, Love & Romantic Relationships

Most people are never truly known by anyone, often because they hide their fears and frailties to avoid rejection. Armand DiMele leads listeners through a personal exercise in mapping who knows them best, and co-host Giullian Gioiello reflects on his twin sister as his one relationship free enough from fear to allow real intimacy.

Why Teenagers Take Risks July 1, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Giullian Gioiello, Lisa Arnone
Category: Anxiety & Fear, Identity & The Self

Adolescent risk-taking is rooted in brain biology: the amygdala and reward circuits mature before the prefrontal cortex, leaving teenagers flooded with sensation-seeking drive and no brake. Armand DiMele, co-host Giullian Gioiello, and Lisa Arnone, LCSW trace this from evolutionary necessity through modern dangers like cutting, substance use, and viral stunts.

The Power of Playing the Victim June 25, 2014

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Billy Ann, Giullian Gioiello, Grace, Joe, Mark, Ori Yumini-Morrison, Paul
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Personal Growth & Change

Playing the victim is a strategy, not just a feeling. Armand DiMele examines how adopting a victim stance recruits allies, deflects accountability, and keeps conflict alive, drawing on callers’ stories of family betrayal, injustice, and the hard work of forgiving those who caused real harm.