Mood: Scared

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The Joy of Curiosity August 22, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atti
Category: Personal Growth & Change, The Mind & Neuroscience

Curiosity is a survival skill. Armand DiMele and co-host Roberta Maria Atti use a near-fatal drug interaction between Effexor and triptans to argue that patients who research their own conditions protect themselves in ways that physicians and pharmacies often fail to. The conversation ranges from mold under a microscope to the mechanics of serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

The Psychology of Immigration with Didem Atahan August 15, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Didem Atahan
Category: Society, Culture & Current Events, Trauma & Healing

Coming to a new country often means carrying trauma, losing language fluency under stress, and navigating a system that can feel hostile or invisible. Armand DiMele and Gestalt therapist and immigration psychologist Didem Atahan examine the psychological toll of displacement, the barriers immigrants face seeking help, and the legal protections many don’t know they have.

The Burning Brain of OCD August 9, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Stephanie D'Ambra
Category: Anxiety & Fear, The Mind & Neuroscience

OCD is a physical brain disorder, not just a behavioral one. Armand DiMele and Stephanie D’Ambra, LCSW, examine the neural circuitry behind obsessive loops, explain why stuck thought patterns generate what Armand calls “brain burn,” and offer practical strategies for manually shifting gears to break the cycle.

Your Nervous System and How You Communicate August 2, 2007

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Communication & Conflict, The Mind & Neuroscience

What derails an otherwise simple conversation? Armand DiMele argues the culprit is usually physiology, not psychology. Drawing on the autonomic nervous system, he traces how sympathetic overload turns minor irritations into blowups, and teaches listeners to self-monitor their nervous state before engaging the people they love.

Smiling Your Way to Calm July 3, 2007

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Anxiety & Fear, The Mind & Neuroscience

The vagus nerve, not exercise or meditation, may be the most direct route to calming stress. Armand DiMele draws on neuroscientist Stephen Porges’s polyvagal theory to argue that a genuine smile, social engagement, and facial muscle activation can switch the brain from threat mode to rest faster than a workout.

Psychiatric Medication with Dr. Alan Lanz June 27, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Alan Lanz, Kent Robertshaw
Category: Depression & Mood, The Mind & Neuroscience

Drug company payments to psychiatrists are surging, and Armand DiMele connects that corruption to broader questions about antidepressants, teen prescription drug abuse, and suicidal ideation. The day after a live debate with Dr. Kent Robertshaw, MD and Dr. Alan Lanz, Psychiatrist, a New York Times report lands confirming Armand’s concerns almost word for word.

Overmedication and the Doctor Patient Relationship with Dr. Alan Lanz June 26, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Alan Lanz, Kent Robertshaw
Category: Society, Culture & Current Events, The Mind & Neuroscience

Too many patients leave the doctor’s office with a prescription they don’t need. Armand DiMele and two psychiatrists, Dr. Kent Robertshaw, MD and Dr. Alan Lanz, MD, argue that managed care, pharmaceutical incentives, and patients’ own reluctance to do the hard work of self-examination have combined to produce a culture of quick fixes over genuine healing.

The Obsessive Side of Romantic Love May 31, 2007

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

Love may be the root of most human suffering, Armand argues, from neurosis to violence. The episode digs into stalking behavior, its statistics and psychology, the delusional belief that persistence will win someone over, and callers wrestling with infidelity, separation, and the cost of staying or leaving.

Rampage Killings and the Adolescent Male Mind April 25, 2007

Category: Society, Culture & Current Events, The Mind & Neuroscience

The Virginia Tech massacre prompts Armand DiMele and co-host Dr. Kent Robert Shaw to ask why rampage killers are almost exclusively male. They trace the pattern through testosterone surges, schizoid and paranoid personality profiles, failures of the mental health system, and a culture that worships superstars while ignoring the quietly invisible.

Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset with Dr. Carol Dweck April 24, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Carol Dweck
Category: Identity & The Self, Personal Growth & Change

Can you change how smart or capable you are, or are you stuck with what you have? Dr. Carol Dweck, Professor and Author of the book Mindset, joins Armand to explain how fixed versus growth mindsets shape success, relationships, and resilience, and why treating setbacks as information rather than verdicts changes everything.