Best Braaains Podcasts (2025)

1
Youth and Suicide in American Cinema 1:16:10

8d ago1:16:10

1:16:10

Our co-host, Heather had the pleasure of interviewing sociologist and artist Alessandra Seggi about her latest book Youth and Suicide in American Cinema: Context, Causes, and Consequences. Alessandra is a Fulbright grantee with a PhD in Sociology and MA in Media Studies and the analysis in her book is both a personal and professional reflection on …

1
Ontario Place and the Importance of Third Places 53:20

2M ago53:20

53:20

Today we delve into the importance of public and free third places and how they impact your mental health. We had the pleasure of talking with filmmaker, Ali Weinstein about her first observational documentary, Your Tomorrow, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024. The film is about the last year in the life of Ontario P…

1
How Family Separation via Migrant Labour Work Impacts Mental Health 49:25

3M ago49:25

49:25

Welcome back to another season of Braaains. We’re so excited to start the season with a fantastic interview with filmmakers, Thea Loo and Jeremiah Reyes, about Thea’s latest documentary, INAY With the desire to help answer unresolved questions and heal lingering wounds, INAY (MAMA) investigates the flawed immigration pathways between the Philippine…

1
Brilliant Minds and the Realities of Face Blindness 51:24

5M ago51:24

51:24

Today’s our last episode before our Christmas break. Sad, I know, but we have such a great guest: Sadie Dingfelder. She wrote the most excellent book “Do I Know You? A Faceblind Reporter’s Journey into the Science of Sight, Memory, and Imagination.” Our conversation not only delved into face blindness (prosopagnosia) but also covered neurodivergenc…

1
Disney+'s Out of My Mind and the Importance of Being Heard 41:52

6M ago41:52

41:52

Sarah had the pleasure of interviewing Amber Sealey, director of the newly released Disney+ film OUT OF MY MIND, alongside the movie's star, Phoebe-Rae Taylor. Out of My Mind is based on the best-selling novel of the same name and tells the story of Melody Brooks, a sixth grader with cerebral palsy, who has a quick wit and a sharp mind, but because…

1
TIFF Special: Building Inclusive Futures 42:48

6M ago42:48

42:48

We're doing something a little different today. When we were at TIFF, we had the opportunity to go to the perspectives panel -- Building Inclusive Futures: The Means of Accessibility. The panel was a discussion on accessibility and redefining perceptions of disability within the industry and beyond. The panel included Kyla Harris (chair of We Crip …

1
Men's Mental Health within the Black Community 57:27

7M ago57:27

57:27

Today our special guests are writer/ director Bernard Gray and actor Dwain Murphy. We discussed Men's Mental Health within the Black Community and how they explored this topic in the film, The Other Stuff, which recently premiered at the Reelworld Festival in Toronto. The film offers an honest exploration of how Black men, especially those from env…

1
TIFF Special: Horror, disability, and access 49:50

7M ago49:50

49:50

It's Halloween and we're talking about horror, disability, and access with filmmaker and navigator of the creative multiverse, Ariel Baska. We deep dive into A Nightmare on Elm Street, Ginger Snaps, and Wait Until Dark, and discuss how each film made Ariel feel seen in some way. We also discuss their horror documentary Monsterous Me and their work …

1
TIFF Special: SAD JOKES and the Perspective of Being a Carer 43:36

8M ago43:36

43:36

SAD JOKES is the story of Joseph, a gay filmmaker, who co-parents with Sonya who is struggling with depression. The film captures a moment in time when Joseph has to juggle his family life, love life, and artistic ambition while Sonya's away at a clinic during a mental health crisis. Writer, director, and star, Fabian Stumm, tells us about the maki…

1
Empire Waist’s Exploration of Body Image and Teen Friendship 56:45

8M ago56:45

56:45

Today we have a special guest and dear friend of Heather’s, Claire Ayoub. Claire is a writer, a director, an advocate, an educator, a leader, and an amazing friend to all – she also has the debut of her feature film, EMPIRE WAIST, coming out THIS FRIDAY, September 27th at a theater near you! Empire Waist follows a group of teens learning to love th…

1
Suicidal Ideation in The Bear, Modern Love, and Nadine Crocker's Continue 52:14

9M ago52:14

52:14

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and we have a wonderful interview with writer, director, and actress, Nadine Crocker. We talk about her film, Continue, and the importance of representing depression and suicidal ideation on film and TV. We also talk about shows like The Bear and Modern Love (amongst many). CONT;NUE is based on true events from…

1
Summer break and Edmonton event! 3:54

10M ago3:54

3:54

We have decided to take a summer break and will be back in September with an interview with writer, director, and advocate, Claire Ayoub. For those of you in Edmonton, we're having an in-person event for our guests and listeners in August. Keep an eye on social media for our invite if you're interested in meeting us in person! DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT H…

1
Exploring Family Dramas & How Anxiety Manifests in Relationships 1:04:17

11M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Our last episode before our summer break is one of the first guests our listeners asked us to have on the show! We had the absolute pleasure of talking to DR. KATHLEEN SMITH, a licensed therapist and writer who lives in Washington, DC. Her books include Everything Isn't Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm D…

1
The Family Stone and other Breast Cancer Stories 19:55

11M ago19:55

19:55

We deep-dive into the films and television that best represent the different experiences of having breast cancer with our guest filmmaker and indie journalist, Traven Rice. We look at how things can change for people experiencing recurrence, why you need a support network, and Traven’s wish for a trigger warning for films and TV with cancer stories…

1
The Big C: Breast Cancer and Mental Health 52:51

11M ago52:51

52:51

We have the pleasure of talking with filmmaker and journalist, Traven Rice, about her experiences with Breast Cancer. We talk about how she discovered she had cancer, her treatment, the effects breast cancer can have on your mind and body, and the importance of community. We discuss how breast cancer can impact your view of your identity and how a …

1
The Stigmas of Facial Differences 14:20

11M ago14:20

14:20

This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with Alim Somji, the Chairperson of AboutFace, a Canadian non-profit organization that strives to eliminate the stigma and discrimination encountered by individuals with facial differences. We dig into some of the stigmas surrounding facial differences and what Alim’s biggest personal turning …

1
Understanding Facial Differences in Deadpool 43:02

11M ago43:02

43:02

Today’s guest is Alim Somji, the Chairperson of AboutFace, a Canadian non-profit organization that strives to eliminate the stigma and discrimination encountered by individuals with facial differences. Today’s conversation revolves around what facial differences are, the impact having a facial difference can have on mental health, and the journey t…

1
Five Types of Imposter Syndrome 17:33

12M ago17:33

17:33

This mini-episode is a continuation of our imposter syndrome conversation with Communication Skills Trainer, Ottillie Parfitt. This episode covers the five types of imposter syndrome and ways people with imposter syndrome misinterpret what it means to be competent. (NOTE: These five subcategories were originated by Dr. Valerie Young and based on he…

1
A Bridgerton Episode - Part 1: Actually so much representation (and also Pitbull) 54:57

12M ago54:57

54:57

TRANSCRIPT HERE My Dear Readers (I mean listeners, you get it) Welcome to a surprise episode of Psychocinematic, where we cast all serious topics to the wind and focus on what makes us feel safe and protected right now from a world falling apart - trashy, romancey, sexy, gossipy Bridgerton. But did you think I would NOT have disability and mental i…

1
Impostor Syndrome in Cyrano de Bergerac 1:06:29

12M ago1:06:29

1:06:29

Today, we’re excited to talk to Communication Skills Trainer, Ottillie Parfitt, about all things imposter syndrome!! That’s right, we’re talking about that little voice in your head that tells you that you’re a fraud, a phony, or just not good enough (even when you are). We go into what imposter syndrome is, what some of the triggers are, how it sh…

1
Depression in Film and TV 18:04

1y ago18:04

18:04

This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with Rabiya Mansoor and Marushka Jessica Almeida, two of the creators of Get Up, Aisha now streaming on CBC Gem. Today we talk about the other films and TV series about depression that inspired Rabiya and Marushka and how important it is to get it right when you are dealing with subjects surro…

1
Depression: A conversation with the creators of CBC Gem’s Get Up, Aisha 41:28

1y ago41:28

41:28

Today we’re talking with two of the creators of Get Up, Aisha, Rabiya Mansoor and Marushka Jessica Almeida. Get Up Aisha is a compelling dramedy series following the intricate life of Aisha Rehman, a Pakistani Canadian student who grapples with her compulsive need for control as she deals with depression. The series, streaming on CBC Gem in Canada,…

1
Breaking the Stigmas and Preparing for Menopause 9:51

1y ago9:51

9:51

This mini-episode is a continuation of our conversation with board-certified ObGyn, Dr. Sophia. Today, we talk about the stigmas surrounding menopause, what Dr. Sophia would like to see represented on TV, film, and in the media, and how to prepare for menopause - the more you know, the less scary it is! DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://braaain…

1
Navigating Menopause: Fleabag, Sex and the City, and Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce 50:32

1y ago50:32

50:32

Today we’re talking with Dr. Sophia Lubin about menopause and perimenopause. Dr. Sophia has been a board-certified ObGyn for over 15 years and as a women’s health and well-being enthusiast, she spreads her knowledge and care through her “Dr. Sophia, ObGyn Podcast” where she helps women learn about their bodies and embrace themselves. Our conversati…

1
Dispelling Myths of Transracial Adoption in Media w/ Dr. Jill L. Creighton 30:16

1y ago30:16

30:16

Today’s mini-episode is a conversation with Dr. Jill L. Creighton, a higher education professional and the host of SA Voices from the Field Podcast. She came to talk with us about her experience as a transracial adoptee and how she would like to see adoption represented on film and television. Also be sure to listen to our other episode on adoption…

1
The Handmaid’s Tale, This is Us, and Adoption w/ research sociologist and author, Gretchen Sisson 56:44

1y ago56:44

56:44

Today we’re talking with Gretchen Sisson, a research sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. She is the author of Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood, a c…

1
Working with disability and mental health consultants 9:40

1y ago9:40

9:40

Today’s mini-episode is all about working with consultants and team members with lived experience on projects about mental health and disability. Our conversation is with Karen and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, sisters and the co-creators of the new CW and CTV show, SIGHT UNSEEN. The series is about a homicide detective who rapidly loses her vision and ha…

1
Vision Loss and Blindness on Sight Unseen 58:01

1y ago58:01

58:01

Today's guests, Karen and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, are the co-creators of the new CW and CTV show, SIGHT UNSEEN. The series is about a homicide detective who rapidly loses her vision and has to quit the homicide force. When she leaves, she’s haunted by the cases she’s left behind and is determined to solve them with the help of her visual guide via a…

1
BPD and Mental Health Representation in My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 15:21

1y ago15:21

15:21

For today's mini-episode, we're chatting with New York Times best-selling author Bassey Ikpi about the depiction of mental illness (specifically Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD) in The CW's musical comedy-drama series My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015–2019) by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna. Our guest Bassey Ikpi is a Nigerian-American, ex-…

1
The Future of Psychocinematic Podcast 12:38

1y ago12:38

12:38

TRANSCRIPT HERE Just a little update on the future of Psychocinematic Podcast... Don't worry, it's not all bad news! Follow Asiatu on insta and connect with them here Follow Psychocinematic on insta here. SUPPORT INDIE PODCASTS!By Stephanie Fornasier

1
Atlanta, Insecure, and Bipolar Disorder 54:57

1y ago54:57

54:57

Welcome to season three of Braaains! Today we have the pleasure of talking with New York Times Best Selling author Bassey Ikpi about Bipolar II disorder, how she got her diagnosis, and the representation of bipolar and depression on shows like Atlanta, Insecure, and Dave. Bassey is a Nigerian-American, ex-poet, current writer, mental health advocat…

1
Episode 68: Two Backbrace Girls, and Romy & Michele’s Highschool Reunion (with Lauren Edwards) 1:28:45

1+ y ago1:28:45

1:28:45

TRANSCRIPT HERE Join us for the last episode of the year with the vivacious comedian and musical theatre actor Lauren Edwards. Lauren and Steph bond over their shared experience with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and being backbrace girls in highschool. We go through the limited selection of scoliosis-based media until we get to the beloved comed…

1
A Little Advice for the Holidays 1:03:20

1+ y ago1:03:20

1:03:20

Today is our last episode of 2023 just in time for the holidays. We bring all of the Taylor/Deppisch siblings together – our little sister, Becky Taylor, and our little brother, Jonathan Deppisch – who is also our composer – to discuss how to deal with stress and protect your mental health over the holidays! We’re especially grateful for all of our…

1
Episode 67: Why Santa Claus IS Autistic, and making theatre more inclusive (With Oliver Hetherington-Page) 1:27:45

1+ y ago1:27:45

1:27:45

TRANSCRIPT HERE Happy early Christmas Psychocinemaniacs! It's been a hell of a year, but one thing that brings us joy is the work of disabled creators blazing the trail in inclusivity, such as our guest Oliver Hetherington-Page. Oliver joins us to talk about how he's working to make theatre more inclusive and what that looks like, what he wants to …

1
Causeway and Traumatic Brain Injury 57:04

1+ y ago57:04

57:04

In the penultimate episode of our second season, we’re looking at the experiences and representation of Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs with our guest, Naomi Mellor. Naomi is an equine veterinarian and podcaster, who not only runs a podcast production company but also founded the amazing International Women’s Podcast Awards. We discuss how a TBI …

1
Investigating Inequality Across Film and TV with the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative 41:31

1+ y ago41:31

41:31

We’re mixing things up today with a conversation about the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and their research on representation in film and TV. We spoke with Katherine Pieper, the program director at the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. As the leading global think tank studying inclusion in media, the initiative examines the prevalence and portrayal …

1
Episode 65: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: The Haunting of Hill House, or, problems that could be solved by simply talking? (with Braaains Podcast) 1:36:21

1+ y ago1:36:21

1:36:21

TRANSCRIPT HERE In a perfect meeting of minds, Steph is joined by Braaains podcast hosts Heather and Sarah Taylor, sisters of podcasting, filmmaking and mental health & disability awareness. Which means of course it’s just a light casual chat about the devastatingly terrifying Mike Flanagan series The Haunting of Hill House. We get deep into what m…

1
The Conjuring, Paranormal Activity, and Our Obsession with Ghost Stories 56:03

1+ y ago56:03

56:03

Happy Halloween!! In our second SPOOOKY episode for October, we’re talking all about ghosts with the spooktacular host of Geist, Danielle Matar. We discuss why we, as a society, have such a fascination with ghost stories, the paranormal, and what happens to us after we die. We also look at the impact on our brains when we experience these types of …

1
Episode 64: Crohn’s Disease representation in Boldly Go, and Pete Davidson just trying to spread awareness (with Chris Cosgrove) 1:28:28

1+ y ago1:28:28

1:28:28

TRANSCRIPT HERE Just in time for Invisible Disabilities Week; Steph is blessed to have the talented filmmaker Chris Cosgrove today to discuss all things Inflammatory Bowel Disease and his personal experience with Crohn's disease. Chris takes us through the process of his acclaimed film Boldly Go (watch on ABC Iview here), what IBD and ostomy repres…

1
Midsommar, Charlie Says, and the Reality of Cults 59:55

1+ y ago59:55

59:55

As part of SPOOOOOOKY month, we touch on topics in the next two episodes that are often the subject of horror films – and we look at their impact on our brains. Today, we have the fabulous Guinevere Turner as our guest. She is the screenwriter of films like American Psycho and Charlie Says, and has recently published ‘When the World Didn’t End,’ a …

1
You're Not Alone: When and How to Disclose 31:21

1+ y ago31:21

31:21

Steph is a psychologist and host of the Psychocinematic podcast who currently works in Disability Inclusion in schools in Naarm (Melbourne) and has her own mental illness lived experience. Steph joins us to discuss how you approach disclosure, concerns around discrimination about disclosure and how to address it, and why some people incorporate the…

1
Episode 63: A Star is Born - love, trauma and addiction in the journey of fame (with Alex Steed) 1:33:45

1+ y ago1:33:45

1:33:45

TRANSCRIPT HERE Steph is thrilled to be joined by one of her favourite podcasters from one of her favourite podcasts, Alex Steed from You Are Good. He is good! You are Good is good. All goodness all the time. Steph and Alex discuss the 2018 version of an oft told tale, A Star Is Born, where Bradley Coopers fame story is winding down as Lady Gaga’s …

1
You're Not Alone: The Road to Diagnosis 44:06

1+ y ago44:06

44:06

Dr. Lily Le, a registered psychologist and Director of Clinical Innovation at the mental health tech company, DiveThru, discusses how to take the next step when you need help with a mental illness or are looking to improve your mental health. We also get advice on what to do when it’s difficult to see a therapist due to affordability or long wait t…

1
You’re Not Alone: How Stigma Hurts Everyone 38:14

1+ y ago38:14

38:14

Amie Archibald-Varley, Nurse, Health Equity Specialist, and co-host of the Gritty Nurse Podcast, joins us to talk about stigma, where it comes from, and how it leads to discrimination. This episode (which is part one of our three-part series) will inform you on how to prevent and address stigmas as well as be a good ally. You're Not Alone: Navigati…

1
Episode 62: Let’s fold in the cheese as we confabulate on ND coded characters in Schitt’s Creek (with Marie Camin) 1:34:09

1+ y ago1:34:09

1:34:09

TRANSCRIPT HERE This is no time for pettifogging! I am bombilating with anticipation to bring you the most impulsive, capricious and melodramatic episode yet! The scintillating winsome clinical psychologist Marie Camin joins Steph as they discuss with great vigour the beloved Schitts Creek. Marie shares her thoughts on who in the cast she would sug…

1
You're Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness (trailer) 1:00

1+ y ago1:00

1:00

Launching October 3rd, Braaains's three-part mini-series, You’re Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness, explores mental illness, the barriers that can block your journey to good mental health, and how stigmas, diagnoses, and disclosure are represented on film and television. It's out October 3 - 5 for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2023. Se…

1
Blindspotting and life after incarceration 1:00:28

1+ y ago1:00:28

1:00:28

A counselor and advocate, Mark Power works with former inmates to help them reintegrate into life after prison. In Mark’s words, the slippery slope around “the company we keep” or worse “relational disconnection” re-emerges in most second chancer's stories. The pull to reunite with old associates, friends, and even criminal families is often the pa…

1
Episode 61: The Kings Speech and other screen royals with a stutter (with Priya) 1:10:46

1+ y ago1:10:46

1:10:46

TRANSCRIPT HERE Welcome to episode 61 with a very special guest, podcaster, writer, disability advocate and YEAR 12 STUDENT, Priya from Stutter Conversation! Priya tells us all about stuttering and what it's like to have a stutter, and which on screen depictions she likes and loathes. We also take a deep dive into The Kings Speech (2010), and how a…

1
Sense8, The Politician, and Gender Freedom 52:09

1+ y ago52:09

52:09

Our guest Rae McDaniel is a non-binary Speaker, Author, Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Coach, and Transgender Diversity and Inclusion Educator. In this episode, we talk about gender identity, exploration, expression, AND freedom and how your mental health is overwhelmingly better when you can authentically be yourself. We also discuss TV shows…

1
Episode 60: The truth about Tourette’s and Tiktok (with Monica Nguyen) 1:08:00

2y ago1:08:00

1:08:00

TRANSCRIPT HERE Join the enigmatic tiktok star and disability advocate Monica Nguyen as she chats with Steph about all things Tourettes Syndrome in film and TV, on social media, and on those wonderfully nuanced* feature stories on programmes such as 60 Minutes. We get to the bottom of whether Tiktok has created a Tourette’s epidemic, and Mon tells …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Braaains Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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