Mood: Sad

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Serotonin and the Danger of Too Much with Kent Robichaud February 27, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Kent Robichaud, Stephanie D'Ambra
Category: Depression & Mood, The Mind & Neuroscience

Too little serotonin causes depression and PMS symptoms, but too much can kill you. Armand and Dr. Kent Robichaud, joined by Stephanie D’Ambra, LCSW, trace serotonin’s role in mood, the menstrual cycle, and the deadly drug combinations, including SSRIs, triptans, Demerol, and ecstasy, that can trigger serotonin syndrome.

Cold Weather and the Human Psyche February 21, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atti
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Society, Culture & Current Events

Cold weather does far more than chill the body. Armand DiMele and co-host Roberta Maria Atti trace how dropping temperatures raise blood pressure, suppress serotonin, trigger overeating, and historically fueled human violence and territoriality, while also arguing that cold is the unlikely cradle of creativity, intimacy, and art.

A Conversation with Sonny Rollins February 20, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Kent Robertshaw, Sonny Rollins
Category: Identity & The Self, Meaning, Spirituality & Philosophy

Legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins talks with Armand and Dr. Kent Robertshaw, MD, Psychiatrist, about growing up on Sugar Hill, marching alongside his activist grandmother, the role of artists in social change, and the deep grief of losing his wife of 40 years, Lucille. Music and loss intertwine throughout.

Separation and the Chemistry of Love February 14, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atin
Category: Love & Romantic Relationships, The Mind & Neuroscience

Why do couples lose their spark, and can separation actually rekindle it? Armand DiMele and co-host Roberta Maria Atti trace the rise and fall of phenylethylamine in romantic love, argue that emotional distance restores chemistry, and connect childhood neurological gaps to adult attraction patterns and the need for containment.

When Your Partner’s Pain Becomes Yours February 13, 2007

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Love & Romantic Relationships

Can you stay well when someone you love is suffering? Armand DiMele argues that emotional contagion between bonded people is not weakness but chemistry, and that pretending otherwise may be the real pathology. Callers bring raw stories of toxic supervisors, estranged children, and the cost of staying present.

The Burden of Manhood with Neil Chetnik January 17, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Neil Chetnik, Terry Jones
Category: Depression & Mood, Identity & The Self

Men are trained as warriors from birth, and that mission is killing them. Armand DiMele argues that male burnout, emotional numbness, and early death trace back to a broken model of manhood. Author Neil Chetnik joins to discuss his research on father loss and how absent fathers leave sons hungry for male validation throughout their lives.

Living with Chronic Pain with Dr. Kent Robertshaw December 27, 2006

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Kent Robertshaw
Category: Addiction & Compulsion, Emotions & Inner Life

Chronic pain sufferers are blamed, disbelieved, and undertreated, and that abandonment can be as damaging as the pain itself. Armand DiMele and Dr. Kent Robertshaw, MD, Psychiatrist, trace how physical pain acquires an emotional life, how opiates seductively treat both, and why escalating narcotic use often signals depression and loneliness as much as bodily suffering.

The Science and Soul of Crying December 21, 2006

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Depression & Mood, Emotions & Inner Life

Crying is not the cause of being upset but the sign of having already been upset, a release of accumulated stress hormones and toxins. Armand DiMele walks through the biochemistry of emotional tears, the handicap syndrome in animals, why suppressing tears feeds depression, and how to actually be present with someone who is crying.

Eating Well Through the Holidays December 20, 2006

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atin
Category: Personal Growth & Change, Society, Culture & Current Events

Why do Mediterranean immigrants gain weight in America but not at home? Armand and co-host Roberta Maria Atti open with a theory about American wheat before ranging into the psychology of celebration, how to handle holidays alone without turning sadness into anger, and practical remedies for holiday overindulgence.

The Pain of Being Ostracized December 7, 2006

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Trauma & Healing

Being cast out hurts in ways that go beyond simple rejection. Armand DiMele traces ostracism from its ancient Athenian roots through race, family exile, and sexual abuse survivors silenced by the people who should protect them. Callers share raw personal experiences of being pushed to the margins.