Keyword: fear

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How We React to Catastrophe March 16, 2011

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Amhara, Anthony, Daphne Rose Kingma, Dr. Ronald Fieve, Linda Vanella, Monroe, Pat Moffitt, Vincent
Category: Anxiety & Fear, Emotions & Inner Life

Different personalities respond to mass catastrophe in recognizably different ways: some blame, some freeze, some go numb, some take action. Armand DiMele and Linda Vanella, LCSW-R, use the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami as a lens for examining these patterns, drawing on Japanese cultural values of harmony and collective responsibility along with calls from listeners.

Feelings Impulses and Behaviors December 14, 2010

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

Armand DiMele draws a sharp line between thinking and feeling, arguing that most people use thoughts as escape hatches from uncomfortable emotions. He introduces his FIB framework (feelings, impulses, behaviors) and explains how expanding your emotional range reduces obsessions, phobias, and depression.

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.

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.

Jealousy and the Limits of Self-Awareness September 22, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, The Mind & Neuroscience

Jealousy strips away self-awareness faster than almost any other emotion, and Armand DiMele argues that is no accident. He traces the biological roots of jealousy, explains the neuroscience of introspection (gray and white matter in the prefrontal cortex), and shows why even sophisticated people collapse into blame when hormones or threat responses take over.

When the Mind Stops Moving with Dr. Michael Grove July 21, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Michael Grove, Lauren Sykes, Sherri Siegel
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Personal Growth & Change

Why do people freeze mentally and physically, and how do you break that spell? Dr. Sherry Siegel, M.D. hosts alongside Dr. Michael Grove, who outlines ten categories of psychological paralysis including perfectionism, frustration freeze, and putting the cart before the horse. Callers share vivid personal examples, from job-search overwhelm to humiliation-induced shock.

The Fine Art of Catastrophizing July 1, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Angela, Christina, Reiner Heilregel, Sherry Oren King, Stephanie D'Ambra, Tony Thomas
Category: Anxiety & Fear, Depression & Mood

Catastrophizing turns small setbacks into imagined disasters, and Armand DiMele unpacks why so many people do it. Drawing on Albert Ellis, Gestalt therapy’s “and then what” technique, and co-host Stephanie D’Ambra, LCSW, the episode offers practical ways to interrupt the spiral before it paralyzes you.