The Mad Shrink https://www.rainbowcreative.co/ en Dr. Steven Goldsmith The Mad Shrink Podcast is where psychiatry meets real conversation. Hosted by Dr. G, a board-certified psychiatrist, the show breaks down complex mental health topics with clarity, credibility, and a dose of straight talk. Each episode challenges common misconceptions, unpacks the science behind psychiatric diagnoses, and offers practical, evidence-based insights you can actually use. From ADHD and anxiety to mood disorders, trauma, and the cultural conversations shaping mental health today, Dr. G goes beyond surface-level advice to explore what’s really happening in the brain,  and in our lives. Whether you’re a clinician, a curious learner, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, The Mad Shrink Podcast delivers thoughtful, accessible conversations designed to inform, empower, and challenge what you think you know. Subscribe for grounded, science-backed mental health content, without the fluff. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/aa2d4ab6-4049-11f1-b74f-df014533771f/image/8ea9a6a02daf6268de2af7e20d965b2a.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress The Mad Shrink https://www.rainbowcreative.co/ episodic Dr. Steven Goldsmith The Mad Shrink Podcast is where psychiatry meets real conversation. Hosted by Dr. G, a board-certified psychiatrist, the show breaks down complex mental health topics with clarity, credibility, and a dose of straight talk. Each episode challenges common misconceptions, unpacks the science behind psychiatric diagnoses, and offers practical, evidence-based insights you can actually use. From ADHD and anxiety to mood disorders, trauma, and the cultural conversations shaping mental health today, Dr. G goes beyond surface-level advice to explore what’s really happening in the brain,  and in our lives. Whether you’re a clinician, a curious learner, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, The Mad Shrink Podcast delivers thoughtful, accessible conversations designed to inform, empower, and challenge what you think you know. Subscribe for grounded, science-backed mental health content, without the fluff. The Mad Shrink Podcast is where psychiatry meets real conversation.

Hosted by Dr. G, a board-certified psychiatrist, the show breaks down complex mental health topics with clarity, credibility, and a dose of straight talk. Each episode challenges common misconceptions, unpacks the science behind psychiatric diagnoses, and offers practical, evidence-based insights you can actually use.

From ADHD and anxiety to mood disorders, trauma, and the cultural conversations shaping mental health today, Dr. G goes beyond surface-level advice to explore what’s really happening in the brain,  and in our lives.

Whether you’re a clinician, a curious learner, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, The Mad Shrink Podcast delivers thoughtful, accessible conversations designed to inform, empower, and challenge what you think you know.

Subscribe for grounded, science-backed mental health content, without the fluff.

]]> Dr. Steven Goldsmith podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Functional Psychiatry Explained | A Root-Cause Approach to Depression and Anxiety Functional psychiatry may not be widely known, but it's transforming how mental health issues like depression and anxiety are diagnosed and treated. In this episode of Mad Shrink, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. G explores the key differences between functional and mainstream psychiatry, using a real patient case to demonstrate how genetic testing, nutrition, and lifestyle factors can uncover the underlying causes of treatment-resistant depression. If you've ever wondered why antidepressants don't work for everyone, this episode provides a science-based explanation you won't hear in a typical fifteen-minute med-check. Dr. G begins by contrasting the traditional psychiatric model—brief appointments focused on symptom suppression through medication—with the holistic and comprehensive approach of functional psychiatry. Functional psychiatrists spend significantly more time with patients, exploring emotional history, medical background, nutrition, sleep, exercise, toxin exposure, and light exposure before considering a prescription. This thorough evaluation is followed by extensive lab work, including tests that most patients have never encountered in conventional care. The centerpiece of the episode is a compelling case study of "Bob," a depressed advertising executive who didn't fully respond to cognitive behavioral therapy. Through functional psychiatric testing, Dr. G uncovers three key issues: a genetic variant in the MTHFR enzyme that reduces the body's ability to process dietary folate into L-methylfolate, severely low vitamin B12 levels, and elevated homocysteine. He explains how these factors directly impact the body's capacity to produce serotonin, shedding light on why standard antidepressants or therapy alone may fail, and how targeted interventions like L-methylfolate and sublingual B12 supplementation can make a profound difference. From there, the discussion expands to highlight what truly sets functional psychiatry apart: its focus on identifying and treating root causes rather than merely managing symptoms. Dr. G delves into the various factors functional psychiatrists examine, such as micronutrient imbalances, environmental toxins, gut-brain axis dysfunction, poor sleep, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and diet. Unlike conventional approaches, which often rely on a one-size-fits-all prescription, functional psychiatry tailors treatment to each individual's unique biochemistry, aiming not just to alleviate symptoms but to enhance overall vitality and resilience. The episode concludes with practical advice on finding qualified functional psychiatrists and a preview of a developing national network of practitioners. Functional psychiatry addresses root causes, not just symptoms. It investigates the biological, nutritional, and environmental drivers of mental health conditions rather than prescribing medication to simply mask symptoms. Key Takeaways Genetics can explain treatment-resistant depression. Variants in the MTHFR gene can reduce the conversion of folate into L-methylfolate by up to 70%, limiting serotonin production. "Treating a patient with antidepressants when they can't produce L-methylfolate is like trying to build a house with only 30% of the lumber." A powerful analogy illustrating why biology can hinder standard psychiatric treatments. The gut-brain axis is a two-way street. Imbalances in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) and autoimmune gut issues can significantly affect mood and mental health. Lifestyle factors matter. Sleep, exercise, nature exposure, and stress reduction are backed by robust research linking them to brain health. Treatment is highly personalized. Functional psychiatry avoids a one-size-fits-all approach, tailoring care to the individual's specific physiological profile. Chapters 0:00 — Introduction: What is functional/integrative psychiatry? 0:40 — How conventional psychiatry typically operates 1:20 — What to expect from a visit to a functional psychiatrist 3:02 — The role of comprehensive lab testing 4:38 — Case study: "Bob," depression, and anxiety 5:57 — The MTHFR gene, folate, and serotonin production 8:42 — Understanding low B12 and elevated homocysteine 10:01 — The simple solution: L-methylfolate and sublingual B12 10:57 — Defining functional psychiatry: biologically and systemically oriented 13:48 — Individualized treatment vs. one-size-fits-all prescribing 15:51 — Root causes: nutrition, environment, and toxins 17:17 — The gut-brain connection and dysbiosis 18:16 — The impact of sleep, exercise, nature, and stress reduction 20:14 — Nutrition's role in mental health 20:36 — Resources for finding a functional psychiatry practitioner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith Functional psychiatry may not be widely known, but it's transforming how mental health issues like depression and anxiety are diagnosed and treated. In this episode of Mad Shrink, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. G explores the key differences between functional and mainstream psychiatry, using a real patient case to demonstrate how genetic testing, nutrition, and lifestyle factors can uncover the underlying causes of treatment-resistant depression. If you've ever wondered why antidepressants don't work for everyone, this episode provides a science-based explanation you won't hear in a typical fifteen-minute med-check. Dr. G begins by contrasting the traditional psychiatric model—brief appointments focused on symptom suppression through medication—with the holistic and comprehensive approach of functional psychiatry. Functional psychiatrists spend significantly more time with patients, exploring emotional history, medical background, nutrition, sleep, exercise, toxin exposure, and light exposure before considering a prescription. This thorough evaluation is followed by extensive lab work, including tests that most patients have never encountered in conventional care. The centerpiece of the episode is a compelling case study of "Bob," a depressed advertising executive who didn't fully respond to cognitive behavioral therapy. Through functional psychiatric testing, Dr. G uncovers three key issues: a genetic variant in the MTHFR enzyme that reduces the body's ability to process dietary folate into L-methylfolate, severely low vitamin B12 levels, and elevated homocysteine. He explains how these factors directly impact the body's capacity to produce serotonin, shedding light on why standard antidepressants or therapy alone may fail, and how targeted interventions like L-methylfolate and sublingual B12 supplementation can make a profound difference. From there, the discussion expands to highlight what truly sets functional psychiatry apart: its focus on identifying and treating root causes rather than merely managing symptoms. Dr. G delves into the various factors functional psychiatrists examine, such as micronutrient imbalances, environmental toxins, gut-brain axis dysfunction, poor sleep, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and diet. Unlike conventional approaches, which often rely on a one-size-fits-all prescription, functional psychiatry tailors treatment to each individual's unique biochemistry, aiming not just to alleviate symptoms but to enhance overall vitality and resilience. The episode concludes with practical advice on finding qualified functional psychiatrists and a preview of a developing national network of practitioners. Functional psychiatry addresses root causes, not just symptoms. It investigates the biological, nutritional, and environmental drivers of mental health conditions rather than prescribing medication to simply mask symptoms. Key Takeaways Genetics can explain treatment-resistant depression. Variants in the MTHFR gene can reduce the conversion of folate into L-methylfolate by up to 70%, limiting serotonin production. "Treating a patient with antidepressants when they can't produce L-methylfolate is like trying to build a house with only 30% of the lumber." A powerful analogy illustrating why biology can hinder standard psychiatric treatments. The gut-brain axis is a two-way street. Imbalances in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) and autoimmune gut issues can significantly affect mood and mental health. Lifestyle factors matter. Sleep, exercise, nature exposure, and stress reduction are backed by robust research linking them to brain health. Treatment is highly personalized. Functional psychiatry avoids a one-size-fits-all approach, tailoring care to the individual's specific physiological profile. Chapters 0:00 — Introduction: What is functional/integrative psychiatry? 0:40 — How conventional psychiatry typically operates 1:20 — What to expect from a visit to a functional psychiatrist 3:02 — The role of comprehensive lab testing 4:38 — Case study: "Bob," depression, and anxiety 5:57 — The MTHFR gene, folate, and serotonin production 8:42 — Understanding low B12 and elevated homocysteine 10:01 — The simple solution: L-methylfolate and sublingual B12 10:57 — Defining functional psychiatry: biologically and systemically oriented 13:48 — Individualized treatment vs. one-size-fits-all prescribing 15:51 — Root causes: nutrition, environment, and toxins 17:17 — The gut-brain connection and dysbiosis 18:16 — The impact of sleep, exercise, nature, and stress reduction 20:14 — Nutrition's role in mental health 20:36 — Resources for finding a functional psychiatry practitioner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Functional psychiatry may not be widely known, but it's transforming how mental health issues like depression and anxiety are diagnosed and treated. In this episode of Mad Shrink, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. G explores the key differences between functional and mainstream psychiatry, using a real patient case to demonstrate how genetic testing, nutrition, and lifestyle factors can uncover the underlying causes of treatment-resistant depression. If you've ever wondered why antidepressants don't work for everyone, this episode provides a science-based explanation you won't hear in a typical fifteen-minute med-check.

Dr. G begins by contrasting the traditional psychiatric model—brief appointments focused on symptom suppression through medication—with the holistic and comprehensive approach of functional psychiatry. Functional psychiatrists spend significantly more time with patients, exploring emotional history, medical background, nutrition, sleep, exercise, toxin exposure, and light exposure before considering a prescription. This thorough evaluation is followed by extensive lab work, including tests that most patients have never encountered in conventional care.

The centerpiece of the episode is a compelling case study of "Bob," a depressed advertising executive who didn't fully respond to cognitive behavioral therapy. Through functional psychiatric testing, Dr. G uncovers three key issues: a genetic variant in the MTHFR enzyme that reduces the body's ability to process dietary folate into L-methylfolate, severely low vitamin B12 levels, and elevated homocysteine. He explains how these factors directly impact the body's capacity to produce serotonin, shedding light on why standard antidepressants or therapy alone may fail, and how targeted interventions like L-methylfolate and sublingual B12 supplementation can make a profound difference.

From there, the discussion expands to highlight what truly sets functional psychiatry apart: its focus on identifying and treating root causes rather than merely managing symptoms. Dr. G delves into the various factors functional psychiatrists examine, such as micronutrient imbalances, environmental toxins, gut-brain axis dysfunction, poor sleep, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and diet. Unlike conventional approaches, which often rely on a one-size-fits-all prescription, functional psychiatry tailors treatment to each individual's unique biochemistry, aiming not just to alleviate symptoms but to enhance overall vitality and resilience. The episode concludes with practical advice on finding qualified functional psychiatrists and a preview of a developing national network of practitioners.

Functional psychiatry addresses root causes, not just symptoms. It investigates the biological, nutritional, and environmental drivers of mental health conditions rather than prescribing medication to simply mask symptoms.

Key Takeaways

  • Genetics can explain treatment-resistant depression. Variants in the MTHFR gene can reduce the conversion of folate into L-methylfolate by up to 70%, limiting serotonin production.
  • "Treating a patient with antidepressants when they can't produce L-methylfolate is like trying to build a house with only 30% of the lumber." A powerful analogy illustrating why biology can hinder standard psychiatric treatments.
  • The gut-brain axis is a two-way street. Imbalances in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) and autoimmune gut issues can significantly affect mood and mental health.
  • Lifestyle factors matter. Sleep, exercise, nature exposure, and stress reduction are backed by robust research linking them to brain health.

Treatment is highly personalized. Functional psychiatry avoids a one-size-fits-all approach, tailoring care to the individual's specific physiological profile.

Chapters

  • 0:00 — Introduction: What is functional/integrative psychiatry?

  • 0:40 — How conventional psychiatry typically operates

  • 1:20 — What to expect from a visit to a functional psychiatrist

  • 3:02 — The role of comprehensive lab testing

  • 4:38 — Case study: "Bob," depression, and anxiety

  • 5:57 — The MTHFR gene, folate, and serotonin production

  • 8:42 — Understanding low B12 and elevated homocysteine

  • 10:01 — The simple solution: L-methylfolate and sublingual B12

  • 10:57 — Defining functional psychiatry: biologically and systemically oriented

  • 13:48 — Individualized treatment vs. one-size-fits-all prescribing

  • 15:51 — Root causes: nutrition, environment, and toxins

  • 17:17 — The gut-brain connection and dysbiosis

  • 18:16 — The impact of sleep, exercise, nature, and stress reduction

  • 20:14 — Nutrition's role in mental health

  • 20:36 — Resources for finding a functional psychiatry practitioner

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1434 Why Don't All Antidepressants Work? Functional Psychiatry Uncovers the Root Cause Why do so many people take antidepressants for months without feeling better? The problem may not be willpower or the wrong medication — it could be a single gene most patients have never been tested for. In this episode, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. G, host of Mad Shrink, explains how functional and integrative psychiatry differs from mainstream care. Using a real patient case, he shows how genetic testing, nutrition, and lifestyle factors can uncover the hidden root causes of treatment-resistant depression. Mainstream psychiatry typically relies on a brief history, a diagnosis, and a prescription. Functional psychiatry takes far longer, examining emotional history, medical background, nutrition, sleep, exercise, and toxin exposure before considering medication — backed by advanced blood, urine, and stool testing rarely used in mainstream care. The episode centers on Bob, a depressed advertising executive who saw little relief from CBT. Testing revealed a genetic variant in the MTHFR enzyme that impairs conversion of dietary folate into L-methylfolate, severely low B12, and elevated homocysteine — all of which limit serotonin production. Simple fixes, L-methylfolate and sublingual B12, led to marked improvement. Dr. G explains what sets functional psychiatry apart: it's biologically and systemically oriented, focused on root causes — micronutrient imbalances, environmental toxins, gut-brain dysfunction, poor sleep, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and diet — rather than one-size-fits-all prescribing. He closes with resources for finding a practitioner and news of an upcoming national network of functional psychiatrists. Key Highlights: The MTHFR gene variant can cut folate-to-L-methylfolate conversion by up to 70%, limiting serotonin production — one reason some patients don't respond to antidepressants or therapy. Functional psychiatry examines biological, nutritional, and environmental root causes instead of just masking symptoms with medication. Case study: Bob improved after testing revealed an MTHFR variant, low B12, and high homocysteine, treated with L-methylfolate and sublingual B12. Dr. G's analogy: "Giving an antidepressant to someone who can't produce L-methylfolate is like building a house with only 30% of the lumber." The gut-brain connection runs both ways — gut bacteria imbalances (dysbiosis) can directly affect mood. Root causes investigated: micronutrient deficiencies, environmental toxins and light exposure, gut-brain dysfunction, sleep and exercise habits, disconnection from nature, chronic stress, and diet. Treatment is personalized to each patient's biochemistry, unlike generic mainstream prescribing. Resources Mentioned: Dr. James Greenblatt, leading efforts to build a national network of functional psychiatric practitioners. MTHFR genetic testing, which identifies impaired conversion of dietary folate into L-methylfolate. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Dr. G's content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for specific individuals. Timestamps: 0:00 — Introduction: what is functional/integrative psychiatry? 0:40 — How mainstream psychiatry typically works 1:20 — What a visit to a functional psychiatrist actually looks like 3:02 — Comprehensive lab testing in functional psychiatry 4:38 — Case study: Bob, depression, and anxiety 5:57 — The MTHFR gene, folate, and serotonin production 8:42 — Low B12 and elevated homocysteine explained 10:01 — The simple fix: L-methylfolate and sublingual B12 10:57 — Defining functional psychiatry: biologically and systemically oriented 13:48 — Individualized treatment vs. one-size-fits-all prescribing 15:51 — Root causes: nutrients, environment, and toxins 17:17 — The gut-brain connection and dysbiosis 18:16 — Sleep, exercise, nature, and stress reduction 20:14 — Nutrition's role in mental health 20:36 — Resources for finding a functional psychiatry practitioner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith Why do so many people take antidepressants for months without feeling better? The problem may not be willpower or the wrong medication — it could be a single gene most patients have never been tested for. In this episode, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. G, host of Mad Shrink, explains how functional and integrative psychiatry differs from mainstream care. Using a real patient case, he shows how genetic testing, nutrition, and lifestyle factors can uncover the hidden root causes of treatment-resistant depression. Mainstream psychiatry typically relies on a brief history, a diagnosis, and a prescription. Functional psychiatry takes far longer, examining emotional history, medical background, nutrition, sleep, exercise, and toxin exposure before considering medication — backed by advanced blood, urine, and stool testing rarely used in mainstream care. The episode centers on Bob, a depressed advertising executive who saw little relief from CBT. Testing revealed a genetic variant in the MTHFR enzyme that impairs conversion of dietary folate into L-methylfolate, severely low B12, and elevated homocysteine — all of which limit serotonin production. Simple fixes, L-methylfolate and sublingual B12, led to marked improvement. Dr. G explains what sets functional psychiatry apart: it's biologically and systemically oriented, focused on root causes — micronutrient imbalances, environmental toxins, gut-brain dysfunction, poor sleep, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and diet — rather than one-size-fits-all prescribing. He closes with resources for finding a practitioner and news of an upcoming national network of functional psychiatrists. Key Highlights: The MTHFR gene variant can cut folate-to-L-methylfolate conversion by up to 70%, limiting serotonin production — one reason some patients don't respond to antidepressants or therapy. Functional psychiatry examines biological, nutritional, and environmental root causes instead of just masking symptoms with medication. Case study: Bob improved after testing revealed an MTHFR variant, low B12, and high homocysteine, treated with L-methylfolate and sublingual B12. Dr. G's analogy: "Giving an antidepressant to someone who can't produce L-methylfolate is like building a house with only 30% of the lumber." The gut-brain connection runs both ways — gut bacteria imbalances (dysbiosis) can directly affect mood. Root causes investigated: micronutrient deficiencies, environmental toxins and light exposure, gut-brain dysfunction, sleep and exercise habits, disconnection from nature, chronic stress, and diet. Treatment is personalized to each patient's biochemistry, unlike generic mainstream prescribing. Resources Mentioned: Dr. James Greenblatt, leading efforts to build a national network of functional psychiatric practitioners. MTHFR genetic testing, which identifies impaired conversion of dietary folate into L-methylfolate. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Dr. G's content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for specific individuals. Timestamps: 0:00 — Introduction: what is functional/integrative psychiatry? 0:40 — How mainstream psychiatry typically works 1:20 — What a visit to a functional psychiatrist actually looks like 3:02 — Comprehensive lab testing in functional psychiatry 4:38 — Case study: Bob, depression, and anxiety 5:57 — The MTHFR gene, folate, and serotonin production 8:42 — Low B12 and elevated homocysteine explained 10:01 — The simple fix: L-methylfolate and sublingual B12 10:57 — Defining functional psychiatry: biologically and systemically oriented 13:48 — Individualized treatment vs. one-size-fits-all prescribing 15:51 — Root causes: nutrients, environment, and toxins 17:17 — The gut-brain connection and dysbiosis 18:16 — Sleep, exercise, nature, and stress reduction 20:14 — Nutrition's role in mental health 20:36 — Resources for finding a functional psychiatry practitioner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Why do so many people take antidepressants for months without feeling better? The problem may not be willpower or the wrong medication — it could be a single gene most patients have never been tested for.

In this episode, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. G, host of Mad Shrink, explains how functional and integrative psychiatry differs from mainstream care. Using a real patient case, he shows how genetic testing, nutrition, and lifestyle factors can uncover the hidden root causes of treatment-resistant depression.

Mainstream psychiatry typically relies on a brief history, a diagnosis, and a prescription. Functional psychiatry takes far longer, examining emotional history, medical background, nutrition, sleep, exercise, and toxin exposure before considering medication — backed by advanced blood, urine, and stool testing rarely used in mainstream care.

The episode centers on Bob, a depressed advertising executive who saw little relief from CBT. Testing revealed a genetic variant in the MTHFR enzyme that impairs conversion of dietary folate into L-methylfolate, severely low B12, and elevated homocysteine — all of which limit serotonin production. Simple fixes, L-methylfolate and sublingual B12, led to marked improvement.

Dr. G explains what sets functional psychiatry apart: it's biologically and systemically oriented, focused on root causes — micronutrient imbalances, environmental toxins, gut-brain dysfunction, poor sleep, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and diet — rather than one-size-fits-all prescribing. He closes with resources for finding a practitioner and news of an upcoming national network of functional psychiatrists.

Key Highlights:

  • The MTHFR gene variant can cut folate-to-L-methylfolate conversion by up to 70%, limiting serotonin production — one reason some patients don't respond to antidepressants or therapy.

  • Functional psychiatry examines biological, nutritional, and environmental root causes instead of just masking symptoms with medication.

  • Case study: Bob improved after testing revealed an MTHFR variant, low B12, and high homocysteine, treated with L-methylfolate and sublingual B12.

  • Dr. G's analogy: "Giving an antidepressant to someone who can't produce L-methylfolate is like building a house with only 30% of the lumber."

  • The gut-brain connection runs both ways — gut bacteria imbalances (dysbiosis) can directly affect mood.

  • Root causes investigated: micronutrient deficiencies, environmental toxins and light exposure, gut-brain dysfunction, sleep and exercise habits, disconnection from nature, chronic stress, and diet.

  • Treatment is personalized to each patient's biochemistry, unlike generic mainstream prescribing.

Resources Mentioned:

  • Dr. James Greenblatt, leading efforts to build a national network of functional psychiatric practitioners.

  • MTHFR genetic testing, which identifies impaired conversion of dietary folate into L-methylfolate.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Dr. G's content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for specific individuals.

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 — Introduction: what is functional/integrative psychiatry?
  • 0:40 — How mainstream psychiatry typically works
  • 1:20 — What a visit to a functional psychiatrist actually looks like
  • 3:02 — Comprehensive lab testing in functional psychiatry
  • 4:38 — Case study: Bob, depression, and anxiety
  • 5:57 — The MTHFR gene, folate, and serotonin production
  • 8:42 — Low B12 and elevated homocysteine explained
  • 10:01 — The simple fix: L-methylfolate and sublingual B12
  • 10:57 — Defining functional psychiatry: biologically and systemically oriented
  • 13:48 — Individualized treatment vs. one-size-fits-all prescribing
  • 15:51 — Root causes: nutrients, environment, and toxins
  • 17:17 — The gut-brain connection and dysbiosis
  • 18:16 — Sleep, exercise, nature, and stress reduction
  • 20:14 — Nutrition's role in mental health
  • 20:36 — Resources for finding a functional psychiatry practitioner

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1422 Are You a Disorder or Are You a Person? Why Psychiatry Cannot Cure You Why do psychiatric illnesses continue to rise despite decades of new medications and an ever-expanding list of diagnostic categories? Could it be that the problem lies not in a lack of treatments but in psychiatry's focus on treating labels instead of individuals? In this episode, Dr. G takes a bold look at mainstream psychiatry, urging listeners to question whether the current mental health system is truly designed to promote wellness. He begins with the groundbreaking, government-funded STAR*D trial, the largest antidepressant study ever conducted, involving over 4,000 patients with depression. The study revealed that only 2.7% of participants achieved lasting recovery. Since then, rates of psychiatric disorders have only continued to climb, even as new drugs and therapies are introduced. Dr. G identifies five fundamental flaws within conventional psychiatry: isolating diagnoses from the whole person, viewing disorders as static "things" instead of dynamic processes, overlooking patients' inherent self-healing abilities, allowing diagnostic labels to become fixed identities, and relying on generic, one-size-fits-all treatments that disregard individual biochemistry and life history. Using relatable analogies such as a healing wound and a strep throat infection, he argues that no illness, including bipolar disorder, exists in isolation from the rest of the body. He highlights the elevated risks of metabolic disease and dementia in bipolar patients and points to emerging research showing that ketogenic diets can induce remission in both bipolar disorder and epilepsy. The episode concludes with two real-life patient stories showcasing the power of whole-person psychiatry. One features a college student with severe bipolar symptoms who achieved stability through homeopathic treatment. The other involves a woman whose anxiety and depression were resolved only after a functional psychiatry workup revealed a gut bacterial infection disrupting her brain chemistry. Dr. G's overarching message: true healing comes from addressing the whole person, not just managing a diagnosis. Key Highlights: The STAR*D trial, the largest antidepressant study ever conducted, found that only 2.7% of over 4,000 participants achieved lasting recovery. Rising rates of psychiatric disorders, despite decades of new drugs and therapies, highlight the limitations of the diagnose-and-medicate model. The Five Core Flaws of conventional psychiatry: Treating diagnoses in isolation from the whole person. Viewing disorders as fixed entities rather than dynamic processes. Ignoring patients' natural healing capacities. Allowing diagnostic labels to define identities. Relying on one-size-fits-all treatments. Why no illness — not even bipolar disorder — exists in isolation from the rest of the body, explained through relatable analogies. Bipolar disorder's connection to metabolic disease and dementia, suggesting it is a whole-body condition rather than just a psychiatric one. Research showing that ketogenic diets can lead to remission in both bipolar disorder and epilepsy. Case study: A college student with bipolar symptoms stabilized through homeopathy. Case study: Anxiety and depression resolved after identifying and treating a gut bacterial infection (Clostridia) that disrupted dopamine and norepinephrine balance. Dr. Albert Schweitzer's core philosophy — "the only true healing is self-healing" — as the guiding principle of the episode. Resources Mentioned: STAR*D trial: A landmark NIMH-funded study on antidepressant outcomes, the largest of its kind. Dr. Albert Schweitzer's principle: "The only true healing is self-healing." Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers. 00:00 – Introduction: Is Psychiatry Failing Us? 03:34 – The STAR*D Trial: A Damning Statistic 05:18 – The Five Flaws of Modern Psychiatry 07:43 – Bipolar Disorder as a Whole-Person Illness 18:31 – Alternative Approaches: Two Case Studies 23:48 – Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith Why do psychiatric illnesses continue to rise despite decades of new medications and an ever-expanding list of diagnostic categories? Could it be that the problem lies not in a lack of treatments but in psychiatry's focus on treating labels instead of individuals? In this episode, Dr. G takes a bold look at mainstream psychiatry, urging listeners to question whether the current mental health system is truly designed to promote wellness. He begins with the groundbreaking, government-funded STAR*D trial, the largest antidepressant study ever conducted, involving over 4,000 patients with depression. The study revealed that only 2.7% of participants achieved lasting recovery. Since then, rates of psychiatric disorders have only continued to climb, even as new drugs and therapies are introduced. Dr. G identifies five fundamental flaws within conventional psychiatry: isolating diagnoses from the whole person, viewing disorders as static "things" instead of dynamic processes, overlooking patients' inherent self-healing abilities, allowing diagnostic labels to become fixed identities, and relying on generic, one-size-fits-all treatments that disregard individual biochemistry and life history. Using relatable analogies such as a healing wound and a strep throat infection, he argues that no illness, including bipolar disorder, exists in isolation from the rest of the body. He highlights the elevated risks of metabolic disease and dementia in bipolar patients and points to emerging research showing that ketogenic diets can induce remission in both bipolar disorder and epilepsy. The episode concludes with two real-life patient stories showcasing the power of whole-person psychiatry. One features a college student with severe bipolar symptoms who achieved stability through homeopathic treatment. The other involves a woman whose anxiety and depression were resolved only after a functional psychiatry workup revealed a gut bacterial infection disrupting her brain chemistry. Dr. G's overarching message: true healing comes from addressing the whole person, not just managing a diagnosis. Key Highlights: The STAR*D trial, the largest antidepressant study ever conducted, found that only 2.7% of over 4,000 participants achieved lasting recovery. Rising rates of psychiatric disorders, despite decades of new drugs and therapies, highlight the limitations of the diagnose-and-medicate model. The Five Core Flaws of conventional psychiatry: Treating diagnoses in isolation from the whole person. Viewing disorders as fixed entities rather than dynamic processes. Ignoring patients' natural healing capacities. Allowing diagnostic labels to define identities. Relying on one-size-fits-all treatments. Why no illness — not even bipolar disorder — exists in isolation from the rest of the body, explained through relatable analogies. Bipolar disorder's connection to metabolic disease and dementia, suggesting it is a whole-body condition rather than just a psychiatric one. Research showing that ketogenic diets can lead to remission in both bipolar disorder and epilepsy. Case study: A college student with bipolar symptoms stabilized through homeopathy. Case study: Anxiety and depression resolved after identifying and treating a gut bacterial infection (Clostridia) that disrupted dopamine and norepinephrine balance. Dr. Albert Schweitzer's core philosophy — "the only true healing is self-healing" — as the guiding principle of the episode. Resources Mentioned: STAR*D trial: A landmark NIMH-funded study on antidepressant outcomes, the largest of its kind. Dr. Albert Schweitzer's principle: "The only true healing is self-healing." Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers. 00:00 – Introduction: Is Psychiatry Failing Us? 03:34 – The STAR*D Trial: A Damning Statistic 05:18 – The Five Flaws of Modern Psychiatry 07:43 – Bipolar Disorder as a Whole-Person Illness 18:31 – Alternative Approaches: Two Case Studies 23:48 – Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Why do psychiatric illnesses continue to rise despite decades of new medications and an ever-expanding list of diagnostic categories? Could it be that the problem lies not in a lack of treatments but in psychiatry's focus on treating labels instead of individuals?

In this episode, Dr. G takes a bold look at mainstream psychiatry, urging listeners to question whether the current mental health system is truly designed to promote wellness. He begins with the groundbreaking, government-funded STAR*D trial, the largest antidepressant study ever conducted, involving over 4,000 patients with depression. The study revealed that only 2.7% of participants achieved lasting recovery. Since then, rates of psychiatric disorders have only continued to climb, even as new drugs and therapies are introduced.

Dr. G identifies five fundamental flaws within conventional psychiatry: isolating diagnoses from the whole person, viewing disorders as static "things" instead of dynamic processes, overlooking patients' inherent self-healing abilities, allowing diagnostic labels to become fixed identities, and relying on generic, one-size-fits-all treatments that disregard individual biochemistry and life history. Using relatable analogies such as a healing wound and a strep throat infection, he argues that no illness, including bipolar disorder, exists in isolation from the rest of the body. He highlights the elevated risks of metabolic disease and dementia in bipolar patients and points to emerging research showing that ketogenic diets can induce remission in both bipolar disorder and epilepsy.

The episode concludes with two real-life patient stories showcasing the power of whole-person psychiatry. One features a college student with severe bipolar symptoms who achieved stability through homeopathic treatment. The other involves a woman whose anxiety and depression were resolved only after a functional psychiatry workup revealed a gut bacterial infection disrupting her brain chemistry. Dr. G's overarching message: true healing comes from addressing the whole person, not just managing a diagnosis.

Key Highlights:

  • The STAR*D trial, the largest antidepressant study ever conducted, found that only 2.7% of over 4,000 participants achieved lasting recovery.
  • Rising rates of psychiatric disorders, despite decades of new drugs and therapies, highlight the limitations of the diagnose-and-medicate model.

The Five Core Flaws of conventional psychiatry:

  • Treating diagnoses in isolation from the whole person.
  • Viewing disorders as fixed entities rather than dynamic processes.
  • Ignoring patients' natural healing capacities.
  • Allowing diagnostic labels to define identities.
  • Relying on one-size-fits-all treatments.
  • Why no illness — not even bipolar disorder — exists in isolation from the rest of the body, explained through relatable analogies.
  • Bipolar disorder's connection to metabolic disease and dementia, suggesting it is a whole-body condition rather than just a psychiatric one.
  • Research showing that ketogenic diets can lead to remission in both bipolar disorder and epilepsy.
  • Case study: A college student with bipolar symptoms stabilized through homeopathy.
  • Case study: Anxiety and depression resolved after identifying and treating a gut bacterial infection (Clostridia) that disrupted dopamine and norepinephrine balance.
  • Dr. Albert Schweitzer's core philosophy — "the only true healing is self-healing" — as the guiding principle of the episode.

Resources Mentioned:

  • STAR*D trial: A landmark NIMH-funded study on antidepressant outcomes, the largest of its kind.
  • Dr. Albert Schweitzer's principle: "The only true healing is self-healing."

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers.


  • 00:00 – Introduction: Is Psychiatry Failing Us?
  • 03:34 – The STAR*D Trial: A Damning Statistic
  • 05:18 – The Five Flaws of Modern Psychiatry
  • 07:43 – Bipolar Disorder as a Whole-Person Illness
  • 18:31 – Alternative Approaches: Two Case Studies
  • 23:48 – Closing Thoughts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1536 Anorexia Nervosa: The Deadliest Psychiatric Disorder and What Actually Works Could the reason anorexia nervosa remains the deadliest psychiatric disorder lie not in the absence of effective treatments, but in psychiatry's reluctance to embrace them? In this episode, Dr. G delves into anorexia nervosa, exploring why it carries the highest mortality rate among psychiatric conditions and why traditional approaches have consistently fallen short for those who need help the most. He reflects on his own clinical journey, starting with a 1960s medical school lecture where anorexia was viewed as a rare and almost exotic condition, and leading to 1978—a pivotal year when three groundbreaking books redefined the field: Hilde Bruch's The Golden Cage, Salvador Minuchin's Psychosomatic Families, and Mara Selvini Palazzoli's work on systemic family therapy with the Milan team. Dr. G examines two central concepts tied to the disorder: separation and individuation—the developmental process of forming an independent identity—and pseudo-mutuality, a family dynamic characterized by surface-level harmony that stifles individuality. He argues that treating anorexia as an abstract diagnosis rather than a relational and developmental issue, paired with a healthcare system that discourages team-based family therapy, has marginalized the approaches that truly make a difference. The discussion highlights key statistics: prevalence rates estimated at 0.9–4.2%, a suicide rate 18 times higher than the general population, and mortality data showing 5–10% of diagnosed patients die within a decade. Dr. G also reviews recovery insights from a 2019 UCSF study and concludes with a compelling case study where a functional psychiatry approach—addressing zinc and amino acid deficiencies—successfully resolved a teenage patient's anorexia, depression, and digestive problems simultaneously. Key Highlights: Dr. G's first encounter with anorexia nervosa, then considered a rare "exotic curiosity" during a 1960s medical school lecture The 1978 breakthrough: three landmark books that moved treatment away from ineffective psychoanalytic methods How structural and systemic family therapy, often conducted over meals, achieved far better results than individual psychoanalysis The shortcomings of conventional psychiatry: a healthcare system that discourages team-based therapy and an overemphasis on medication with limited efficacy Key statistics: 0.9–4.2% prevalence, an 18x higher suicide rate, and a 21% full-recovery rate from the 2019 UCSF study The importance of separation and individuation: fostering autonomy during adolescence and early adulthood as a cornerstone of treatment Pseudo-mutuality: how superficially harmonious, conflict-free families can hinder the development of individuality essential for recovery A functional psychiatry case study: how addressing zinc and amino acid deficiencies resolved a patient's anorexia, depression, and digestive issues by restoring serotonin production and digestive health Practical advice on finding a structural/systemic family therapist and how family-oriented therapy can be effective even with just the patient and therapist present Resources Mentioned: The Golden Cage by Hilde Bruch Psychosomatic Families by Salvador Minuchin Mara Selvini Palazzoli's systemic family therapy work with the Milan team 2019 UCSF recovery outlook study Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers. Chapters 0:00 – Introduction: Dr. G's background & topic overview 1:03 – A medical school encounter with anorexia nervosa 2:57 – Why Freudian psychotherapy failed anorexic patients 3:29 – Hilda Bruch's "The Golden Cage" and supporting autonomy 6:08 – Minuchin's structural family therapy 7:37 – The Milan team's systemic family therapy 9:14 – Why these effective therapies aren't more widely used 10:50 – Anorexia's alarming prevalence and mortality statistics 12:23 – Recovery outlook and relapse rates 13:47 – Key concept: separation and individuation 15:28 – Key concept: pseudo-mutuality in families 16:45 – The modern psychiatric view of anorexia as an "abstract noun" 17:32 – Why medications largely fail anorexic patients 20:44 – Functional psychiatry: addressing root biochemical causes 21:46 – Case study: a teen's zinc and amino acid deficiencies 26:09 – Closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith Could the reason anorexia nervosa remains the deadliest psychiatric disorder lie not in the absence of effective treatments, but in psychiatry's reluctance to embrace them? In this episode, Dr. G delves into anorexia nervosa, exploring why it carries the highest mortality rate among psychiatric conditions and why traditional approaches have consistently fallen short for those who need help the most. He reflects on his own clinical journey, starting with a 1960s medical school lecture where anorexia was viewed as a rare and almost exotic condition, and leading to 1978—a pivotal year when three groundbreaking books redefined the field: Hilde Bruch's The Golden Cage, Salvador Minuchin's Psychosomatic Families, and Mara Selvini Palazzoli's work on systemic family therapy with the Milan team. Dr. G examines two central concepts tied to the disorder: separation and individuation—the developmental process of forming an independent identity—and pseudo-mutuality, a family dynamic characterized by surface-level harmony that stifles individuality. He argues that treating anorexia as an abstract diagnosis rather than a relational and developmental issue, paired with a healthcare system that discourages team-based family therapy, has marginalized the approaches that truly make a difference. The discussion highlights key statistics: prevalence rates estimated at 0.9–4.2%, a suicide rate 18 times higher than the general population, and mortality data showing 5–10% of diagnosed patients die within a decade. Dr. G also reviews recovery insights from a 2019 UCSF study and concludes with a compelling case study where a functional psychiatry approach—addressing zinc and amino acid deficiencies—successfully resolved a teenage patient's anorexia, depression, and digestive problems simultaneously. Key Highlights: Dr. G's first encounter with anorexia nervosa, then considered a rare "exotic curiosity" during a 1960s medical school lecture The 1978 breakthrough: three landmark books that moved treatment away from ineffective psychoanalytic methods How structural and systemic family therapy, often conducted over meals, achieved far better results than individual psychoanalysis The shortcomings of conventional psychiatry: a healthcare system that discourages team-based therapy and an overemphasis on medication with limited efficacy Key statistics: 0.9–4.2% prevalence, an 18x higher suicide rate, and a 21% full-recovery rate from the 2019 UCSF study The importance of separation and individuation: fostering autonomy during adolescence and early adulthood as a cornerstone of treatment Pseudo-mutuality: how superficially harmonious, conflict-free families can hinder the development of individuality essential for recovery A functional psychiatry case study: how addressing zinc and amino acid deficiencies resolved a patient's anorexia, depression, and digestive issues by restoring serotonin production and digestive health Practical advice on finding a structural/systemic family therapist and how family-oriented therapy can be effective even with just the patient and therapist present Resources Mentioned: The Golden Cage by Hilde Bruch Psychosomatic Families by Salvador Minuchin Mara Selvini Palazzoli's systemic family therapy work with the Milan team 2019 UCSF recovery outlook study Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers. Chapters 0:00 – Introduction: Dr. G's background & topic overview 1:03 – A medical school encounter with anorexia nervosa 2:57 – Why Freudian psychotherapy failed anorexic patients 3:29 – Hilda Bruch's "The Golden Cage" and supporting autonomy 6:08 – Minuchin's structural family therapy 7:37 – The Milan team's systemic family therapy 9:14 – Why these effective therapies aren't more widely used 10:50 – Anorexia's alarming prevalence and mortality statistics 12:23 – Recovery outlook and relapse rates 13:47 – Key concept: separation and individuation 15:28 – Key concept: pseudo-mutuality in families 16:45 – The modern psychiatric view of anorexia as an "abstract noun" 17:32 – Why medications largely fail anorexic patients 20:44 – Functional psychiatry: addressing root biochemical causes 21:46 – Case study: a teen's zinc and amino acid deficiencies 26:09 – Closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Could the reason anorexia nervosa remains the deadliest psychiatric disorder lie not in the absence of effective treatments, but in psychiatry's reluctance to embrace them?

In this episode, Dr. G delves into anorexia nervosa, exploring why it carries the highest mortality rate among psychiatric conditions and why traditional approaches have consistently fallen short for those who need help the most. He reflects on his own clinical journey, starting with a 1960s medical school lecture where anorexia was viewed as a rare and almost exotic condition, and leading to 1978—a pivotal year when three groundbreaking books redefined the field: Hilde Bruch's The Golden Cage, Salvador Minuchin's Psychosomatic Families, and Mara Selvini Palazzoli's work on systemic family therapy with the Milan team.

Dr. G examines two central concepts tied to the disorder: separation and individuation—the developmental process of forming an independent identity—and pseudo-mutuality, a family dynamic characterized by surface-level harmony that stifles individuality. He argues that treating anorexia as an abstract diagnosis rather than a relational and developmental issue, paired with a healthcare system that discourages team-based family therapy, has marginalized the approaches that truly make a difference.

The discussion highlights key statistics: prevalence rates estimated at 0.9–4.2%, a suicide rate 18 times higher than the general population, and mortality data showing 5–10% of diagnosed patients die within a decade. Dr. G also reviews recovery insights from a 2019 UCSF study and concludes with a compelling case study where a functional psychiatry approach—addressing zinc and amino acid deficiencies—successfully resolved a teenage patient's anorexia, depression, and digestive problems simultaneously.

Key Highlights:

  • Dr. G's first encounter with anorexia nervosa, then considered a rare "exotic curiosity" during a 1960s medical school lecture
  • The 1978 breakthrough: three landmark books that moved treatment away from ineffective psychoanalytic methods
  • How structural and systemic family therapy, often conducted over meals, achieved far better results than individual psychoanalysis
  • The shortcomings of conventional psychiatry: a healthcare system that discourages team-based therapy and an overemphasis on medication with limited efficacy
  • Key statistics: 0.9–4.2% prevalence, an 18x higher suicide rate, and a 21% full-recovery rate from the 2019 UCSF study
  • The importance of separation and individuation: fostering autonomy during adolescence and early adulthood as a cornerstone of treatment
  • Pseudo-mutuality: how superficially harmonious, conflict-free families can hinder the development of individuality essential for recovery
  • A functional psychiatry case study: how addressing zinc and amino acid deficiencies resolved a patient's anorexia, depression, and digestive issues by restoring serotonin production and digestive health
  • Practical advice on finding a structural/systemic family therapist and how family-oriented therapy can be effective even with just the patient and therapist present

Resources Mentioned:

  • The Golden Cage by Hilde Bruch
  • Psychosomatic Families by Salvador Minuchin
  • Mara Selvini Palazzoli's systemic family therapy work with the Milan team
  • 2019 UCSF recovery outlook study

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers.

Chapters

  • 0:00 – Introduction: Dr. G's background & topic overview
  • 1:03 – A medical school encounter with anorexia nervosa
  • 2:57 – Why Freudian psychotherapy failed anorexic patients
  • 3:29 – Hilda Bruch's "The Golden Cage" and supporting autonomy
  • 6:08 – Minuchin's structural family therapy
  • 7:37 – The Milan team's systemic family therapy
  • 9:14 – Why these effective therapies aren't more widely used
  • 10:50 – Anorexia's alarming prevalence and mortality statistics
  • 12:23 – Recovery outlook and relapse rates
  • 13:47 – Key concept: separation and individuation
  • 15:28 – Key concept: pseudo-mutuality in families
  • 16:45 – The modern psychiatric view of anorexia as an "abstract noun"
  • 17:32 – Why medications largely fail anorexic patients
  • 20:44 – Functional psychiatry: addressing root biochemical causes
  • 21:46 – Case study: a teen's zinc and amino acid deficiencies
  • 26:09 – Closing thoughts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1678 Performance Anxiety Cure: 10 Mental Tricks From a Psychiatrist Could the difference between choking under pressure and performing at your best come down to how you talk to yourself before you even start? In this episode, Dr. G explores performance anxiety, a challenge that disproportionately affects creatives. Writers, musicians, public speakers, actors, and artists of all kinds are especially vulnerable. He breaks down why, tracing the problem back to cognitive distortions like fortune telling and mind reading that convince us we've failed before we've even begun. Dr. G shares ten practical, psychiatrist-approved strategies for breaking the cycle. You'll learn why writing for yourself first (as Allen Ginsberg did with Howl) can unlock creative freedom. He explains how behavioral conditioning can train your creative instincts to show up on demand, and why silencing your inner editor during the first draft matters. You'll also discover how deliberately making mistakes, a technique drawn from Alan Arkin's improv workshops, can defuse the fear of imperfection. And sometimes, simply announcing your anxiety to an audience is enough to disarm it entirely. The episode also draws on Gestalt therapy to reframe anxiety as excitement in disguise. It shares Hemingway's trick of stopping mid-sentence to make the next session easier to start. Dr. G covers how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and replace the distorted thoughts driving the fear in the first place. He closes with what may be the most powerful shift of all: moving your focus off yourself and onto the audience you're there to serve. Key Highlights: Why creatives are disproportionately affected by performance anxiety How cognitive distortions like fortune telling and mind reading fuel anxiety before you begin Writing or creating for yourself first, and how it freed Allen Ginsberg to write Howl Using behavioral conditioning to train your creative instincts to show up on demand Why the first draft should never be censored Making deliberate mistakes: lessons from Alan Arkin's improv workshops Announcing your anxiety as a "judo move" to defuse it and win over your audience Reframing anxiety as excitement through the lens of Gestalt therapy Hemingway's technique of stopping mid-sentence to ease the next day's start How CBT helps identify and replace dysfunctional, anxiety-driving thoughts Shifting focus outward: seeing yourself as your audience's helper, not their target Resources Mentioned: Howl by Allen Ginsberg - a real-world example of writing for yourself first Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)  the framework Dr. G recommends for working through cognitive distortions Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers. Chapters 0:00 Introduction & What Is Performance Anxiety? 2:14 The Root Cause: Cognitive Distortions 2:46 Common Cognitive Distortions Explained 6:18 Tip 1: Create for Yourself First 8:10 Tip 2: Use Behavioral Conditioning 8:57 Tip 3: Never Censor Your First Draft 10:14 Tip 4: Make Deliberate Mistakes 12:08 Tip 5: Announce Your Anxiety 13:58 Tip 6: Reframe Anxiety as Excitement (Gestalt Therapy) 16:38 Tip 7: The Hemingway Trick – Stop Mid-Sentence 17:39 Tip 8: Work on Your Cognitive Distortions with CBT 18:14 Tip 9: Just Start Scribbling (Let the Unconscious Lead) 22:33 Tip 10: Shift Your Focus Outward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:31:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith Could the difference between choking under pressure and performing at your best come down to how you talk to yourself before you even start? In this episode, Dr. G explores performance anxiety, a challenge that disproportionately affects creatives. Writers, musicians, public speakers, actors, and artists of all kinds are especially vulnerable. He breaks down why, tracing the problem back to cognitive distortions like fortune telling and mind reading that convince us we've failed before we've even begun. Dr. G shares ten practical, psychiatrist-approved strategies for breaking the cycle. You'll learn why writing for yourself first (as Allen Ginsberg did with Howl) can unlock creative freedom. He explains how behavioral conditioning can train your creative instincts to show up on demand, and why silencing your inner editor during the first draft matters. You'll also discover how deliberately making mistakes, a technique drawn from Alan Arkin's improv workshops, can defuse the fear of imperfection. And sometimes, simply announcing your anxiety to an audience is enough to disarm it entirely. The episode also draws on Gestalt therapy to reframe anxiety as excitement in disguise. It shares Hemingway's trick of stopping mid-sentence to make the next session easier to start. Dr. G covers how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and replace the distorted thoughts driving the fear in the first place. He closes with what may be the most powerful shift of all: moving your focus off yourself and onto the audience you're there to serve. Key Highlights: Why creatives are disproportionately affected by performance anxiety How cognitive distortions like fortune telling and mind reading fuel anxiety before you begin Writing or creating for yourself first, and how it freed Allen Ginsberg to write Howl Using behavioral conditioning to train your creative instincts to show up on demand Why the first draft should never be censored Making deliberate mistakes: lessons from Alan Arkin's improv workshops Announcing your anxiety as a "judo move" to defuse it and win over your audience Reframing anxiety as excitement through the lens of Gestalt therapy Hemingway's technique of stopping mid-sentence to ease the next day's start How CBT helps identify and replace dysfunctional, anxiety-driving thoughts Shifting focus outward: seeing yourself as your audience's helper, not their target Resources Mentioned: Howl by Allen Ginsberg - a real-world example of writing for yourself first Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)  the framework Dr. G recommends for working through cognitive distortions Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers. Chapters 0:00 Introduction & What Is Performance Anxiety? 2:14 The Root Cause: Cognitive Distortions 2:46 Common Cognitive Distortions Explained 6:18 Tip 1: Create for Yourself First 8:10 Tip 2: Use Behavioral Conditioning 8:57 Tip 3: Never Censor Your First Draft 10:14 Tip 4: Make Deliberate Mistakes 12:08 Tip 5: Announce Your Anxiety 13:58 Tip 6: Reframe Anxiety as Excitement (Gestalt Therapy) 16:38 Tip 7: The Hemingway Trick – Stop Mid-Sentence 17:39 Tip 8: Work on Your Cognitive Distortions with CBT 18:14 Tip 9: Just Start Scribbling (Let the Unconscious Lead) 22:33 Tip 10: Shift Your Focus Outward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Could the difference between choking under pressure and performing at your best come down to how you talk to yourself before you even start?

In this episode, Dr. G explores performance anxiety, a challenge that disproportionately affects creatives. Writers, musicians, public speakers, actors, and artists of all kinds are especially vulnerable. He breaks down why, tracing the problem back to cognitive distortions like fortune telling and mind reading that convince us we've failed before we've even begun.

Dr. G shares ten practical, psychiatrist-approved strategies for breaking the cycle. You'll learn why writing for yourself first (as Allen Ginsberg did with Howl) can unlock creative freedom. He explains how behavioral conditioning can train your creative instincts to show up on demand, and why silencing your inner editor during the first draft matters. You'll also discover how deliberately making mistakes, a technique drawn from Alan Arkin's improv workshops, can defuse the fear of imperfection. And sometimes, simply announcing your anxiety to an audience is enough to disarm it entirely.

The episode also draws on Gestalt therapy to reframe anxiety as excitement in disguise. It shares Hemingway's trick of stopping mid-sentence to make the next session easier to start. Dr. G covers how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and replace the distorted thoughts driving the fear in the first place. He closes with what may be the most powerful shift of all: moving your focus off yourself and onto the audience you're there to serve.

Key Highlights:

  • Why creatives are disproportionately affected by performance anxiety
  • How cognitive distortions like fortune telling and mind reading fuel anxiety before you begin
  • Writing or creating for yourself first, and how it freed Allen Ginsberg to write Howl
  • Using behavioral conditioning to train your creative instincts to show up on demand
  • Why the first draft should never be censored
  • Making deliberate mistakes: lessons from Alan Arkin's improv workshops
  • Announcing your anxiety as a "judo move" to defuse it and win over your audience
  • Reframing anxiety as excitement through the lens of Gestalt therapy
  • Hemingway's technique of stopping mid-sentence to ease the next day's start
  • How CBT helps identify and replace dysfunctional, anxiety-driving thoughts
  • Shifting focus outward: seeing yourself as your audience's helper, not their target

Resources Mentioned:

  • Howl by Allen Ginsberg - a real-world example of writing for yourself first
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)  the framework Dr. G recommends for working through cognitive distortions

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers.

Chapters

  • 0:00 Introduction & What Is Performance Anxiety?
  • 2:14 The Root Cause: Cognitive Distortions
  • 2:46 Common Cognitive Distortions Explained
  • 6:18 Tip 1: Create for Yourself First
  • 8:10 Tip 2: Use Behavioral Conditioning
  • 8:57 Tip 3: Never Censor Your First Draft
  • 10:14 Tip 4: Make Deliberate Mistakes
  • 12:08 Tip 5: Announce Your Anxiety
  • 13:58 Tip 6: Reframe Anxiety as Excitement (Gestalt Therapy)
  • 16:38 Tip 7: The Hemingway Trick – Stop Mid-Sentence
  • 17:39 Tip 8: Work on Your Cognitive Distortions with CBT
  • 18:14 Tip 9: Just Start Scribbling (Let the Unconscious Lead)
  • 22:33 Tip 10: Shift Your Focus Outward

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1675 Cures for Depression Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Could the best treatment for depression involve not a pill, but your sleep-wake cycle and exposure to light? In this episode, Dr. G explores chronotherapy, a scientifically supported yet often overlooked method for treating depression by adjusting light exposure and sleep timing. He discusses why this approach is rarely taught in medical schools or mentioned by doctors, and how the financial focus on pharmaceutical treatments has left chronotherapy underfunded and underutilized. Dr. G delves into the evidence supporting light therapy boxes, which boast remission rates of 50–80%, often surpassing antidepressants. He explains their effectiveness beyond seasonal depression, helping conditions like PMS, bulimia, ADHD, and pregnancy-related depression. Additionally, he examines wake therapy, a technique involving all-night sleep deprivation that provides significant relief to about 60% of depressed patients within 12 hours, while highlighting how even a brief nap can reverse its benefits. The episode outlines what Dr. G calls the "Blue Plate Special," a comprehensive three-part protocol combining wake therapy, light therapy, and sleep phase advance therapy. He provides a step-by-step guide to the sleep phase advance schedule and shares a compelling case study where this approach helped a patient overcome suicidal thoughts. Dr. G also identifies individuals who should avoid these treatments, especially those with mixed bipolar disorder, and recommends safe tools like dawn simulators. Key Highlights: Why chronotherapy is missing from most medical education and the financial factors behind it Comparing light therapy boxes and antidepressants: remission rate differences Wake therapy: how staying awake can alleviate depression The "Blue Plate Special": Dr. G's three-part protocol for optimal outcomes Step-by-step instructions for sleep phase advance therapy A real-life case: using sleep phase advance to aid a suicidal patient Who should avoid these treatments, particularly those with mixed bipolar disorder Light therapy applications beyond SAD: PMS, pregnancy depression, bulimia, and ADHD Dawn simulators: their benefits and how they work Important safety considerations and potential side effects Resources Mentioned: Center for Environmental Therapeutics (CET) | cetresearch.org — trusted light therapy products and research Chronotherapeutics for Affective Disorders | available on Amazon — a resource for clinicians and researchers Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers. 0:00 Introduction – Cures for Depression Your Doctor Won't Tell You About 0:24 Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) 1:03 Light Therapy vs. Antidepressants: The Stats 1:46 Why Most Doctors Don't Know About Chronotherapy 3:16 Big Pharma's Role in Suppressing This Research 3:42 How to Use a Light Therapy Box 4:44 Dawn Simulators: The Effortless Alternative 5:37 Other Conditions Light Therapy Treats (ADHD, Bulimia, PMS) 6:43 Side Effects, Safety & Who Should Avoid It 7:55 Who Should Never Use Chronotherapy 8:52 Where to Find Reliable Resources (CET Website & Book) 10:35 Wake Therapy: The Fastest Free Depression Treatment 12:01 How to Sustain the Benefits of Wake Therapy 14:04 The Blue Plate Special: The Most Powerful Protocol 14:44 Sleep Phase Advance Therapy Explained (Step-by-Step Schedule) 16:25 Closing Thoughts & Final Words from Dr. G Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith Could the best treatment for depression involve not a pill, but your sleep-wake cycle and exposure to light? In this episode, Dr. G explores chronotherapy, a scientifically supported yet often overlooked method for treating depression by adjusting light exposure and sleep timing. He discusses why this approach is rarely taught in medical schools or mentioned by doctors, and how the financial focus on pharmaceutical treatments has left chronotherapy underfunded and underutilized. Dr. G delves into the evidence supporting light therapy boxes, which boast remission rates of 50–80%, often surpassing antidepressants. He explains their effectiveness beyond seasonal depression, helping conditions like PMS, bulimia, ADHD, and pregnancy-related depression. Additionally, he examines wake therapy, a technique involving all-night sleep deprivation that provides significant relief to about 60% of depressed patients within 12 hours, while highlighting how even a brief nap can reverse its benefits. The episode outlines what Dr. G calls the "Blue Plate Special," a comprehensive three-part protocol combining wake therapy, light therapy, and sleep phase advance therapy. He provides a step-by-step guide to the sleep phase advance schedule and shares a compelling case study where this approach helped a patient overcome suicidal thoughts. Dr. G also identifies individuals who should avoid these treatments, especially those with mixed bipolar disorder, and recommends safe tools like dawn simulators. Key Highlights: Why chronotherapy is missing from most medical education and the financial factors behind it Comparing light therapy boxes and antidepressants: remission rate differences Wake therapy: how staying awake can alleviate depression The "Blue Plate Special": Dr. G's three-part protocol for optimal outcomes Step-by-step instructions for sleep phase advance therapy A real-life case: using sleep phase advance to aid a suicidal patient Who should avoid these treatments, particularly those with mixed bipolar disorder Light therapy applications beyond SAD: PMS, pregnancy depression, bulimia, and ADHD Dawn simulators: their benefits and how they work Important safety considerations and potential side effects Resources Mentioned: Center for Environmental Therapeutics (CET) | cetresearch.org — trusted light therapy products and research Chronotherapeutics for Affective Disorders | available on Amazon — a resource for clinicians and researchers Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers. 0:00 Introduction – Cures for Depression Your Doctor Won't Tell You About 0:24 Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) 1:03 Light Therapy vs. Antidepressants: The Stats 1:46 Why Most Doctors Don't Know About Chronotherapy 3:16 Big Pharma's Role in Suppressing This Research 3:42 How to Use a Light Therapy Box 4:44 Dawn Simulators: The Effortless Alternative 5:37 Other Conditions Light Therapy Treats (ADHD, Bulimia, PMS) 6:43 Side Effects, Safety & Who Should Avoid It 7:55 Who Should Never Use Chronotherapy 8:52 Where to Find Reliable Resources (CET Website & Book) 10:35 Wake Therapy: The Fastest Free Depression Treatment 12:01 How to Sustain the Benefits of Wake Therapy 14:04 The Blue Plate Special: The Most Powerful Protocol 14:44 Sleep Phase Advance Therapy Explained (Step-by-Step Schedule) 16:25 Closing Thoughts & Final Words from Dr. G Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Could the best treatment for depression involve not a pill, but your sleep-wake cycle and exposure to light?

In this episode, Dr. G explores chronotherapy, a scientifically supported yet often overlooked method for treating depression by adjusting light exposure and sleep timing. He discusses why this approach is rarely taught in medical schools or mentioned by doctors, and how the financial focus on pharmaceutical treatments has left chronotherapy underfunded and underutilized.

Dr. G delves into the evidence supporting light therapy boxes, which boast remission rates of 50–80%, often surpassing antidepressants. He explains their effectiveness beyond seasonal depression, helping conditions like PMS, bulimia, ADHD, and pregnancy-related depression. Additionally, he examines wake therapy, a technique involving all-night sleep deprivation that provides significant relief to about 60% of depressed patients within 12 hours, while highlighting how even a brief nap can reverse its benefits.

The episode outlines what Dr. G calls the "Blue Plate Special," a comprehensive three-part protocol combining wake therapy, light therapy, and sleep phase advance therapy. He provides a step-by-step guide to the sleep phase advance schedule and shares a compelling case study where this approach helped a patient overcome suicidal thoughts. Dr. G also identifies individuals who should avoid these treatments, especially those with mixed bipolar disorder, and recommends safe tools like dawn simulators.

Key Highlights:

  • Why chronotherapy is missing from most medical education and the financial factors behind it
  • Comparing light therapy boxes and antidepressants: remission rate differences
  • Wake therapy: how staying awake can alleviate depression
  • The "Blue Plate Special": Dr. G's three-part protocol for optimal outcomes
  • Step-by-step instructions for sleep phase advance therapy
  • A real-life case: using sleep phase advance to aid a suicidal patient
  • Who should avoid these treatments, particularly those with mixed bipolar disorder
  • Light therapy applications beyond SAD: PMS, pregnancy depression, bulimia, and ADHD
  • Dawn simulators: their benefits and how they work
  • Important safety considerations and potential side effects

Resources Mentioned:

  • Center for Environmental Therapeutics (CET) | cetresearch.org — trusted light therapy products and research
  • Chronotherapeutics for Affective Disorders | available on Amazon — a resource for clinicians and researchers

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for individual listeners or viewers.


  • 0:00 Introduction – Cures for Depression Your Doctor Won't Tell You About
  • 0:24 Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  • 1:03 Light Therapy vs. Antidepressants: The Stats
  • 1:46 Why Most Doctors Don't Know About Chronotherapy
  • 3:16 Big Pharma's Role in Suppressing This Research
  • 3:42 How to Use a Light Therapy Box
  • 4:44 Dawn Simulators: The Effortless Alternative
  • 5:37 Other Conditions Light Therapy Treats (ADHD, Bulimia, PMS)
  • 6:43 Side Effects, Safety & Who Should Avoid It
  • 7:55 Who Should Never Use Chronotherapy
  • 8:52 Where to Find Reliable Resources (CET Website & Book)
  • 10:35 Wake Therapy: The Fastest Free Depression Treatment
  • 12:01 How to Sustain the Benefits of Wake Therapy
  • 14:04 The Blue Plate Special: The Most Powerful Protocol
  • 14:44 Sleep Phase Advance Therapy Explained (Step-by-Step Schedule)
  • 16:25 Closing Thoughts & Final Words from Dr. G

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1115 Can't Sleep? A Psychiatrist's Evidence-Based Guide to Beating Insomnia What if trying harder to fall asleep is actually what keeps you awake? In this episode, Dr. G breaks down the science of insomnia and why so many common approaches to fixing it backfire. Sleeplessness isn't just about feeling tired. It triggers a stress response that makes the problem worse, locking millions of people into a cycle that's hard to escape on willpower alone. Dr. G draws on the work of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl and legendary hypnotherapist Milton Erickson to explain paradoxical intention, a counterintuitive technique that dissolves the internal struggle driving sleeplessness. He explains what to actually do when you wake up at 3 AM, why screens and snacks make insomnia worse, and how blue light suppresses the melatonin your brain needs to signal sleep. The episode also covers the nutritional deficiencies most people never think to check, the role of electromagnetic radiation from Wi-Fi routers, and a practical four-step framework for correcting delayed sleep phase disorder, the pattern where you simply can't fall asleep until very late no matter how tired you are. Rather than prescribing medication, Dr. G walks through the evidence behind natural supplements like magnesium, L-theanine, tryptophan, lavender, passionflower, and valerian. He explains exactly how they work and why they help. Key Highlights: Why insomnia is more than feeling tired and the serious long-term risks of chronic poor sleep The cortisol-insomnia loop: how sleeplessness creates a stress response that makes sleep even harder The paradoxical technique psychiatrists use to break the cycle of trying too hard to fall asleep What to do when you wake up at 3 AM and can't get back to sleep Why TV, phone scrolling, and late-night snacking reinforce waking behavior Natural sleep supplements backed by evidence The nutritional deficiencies (Vitamin D, B6, B9/folate, zinc, magnesium) that may be quietly sabotaging your sleep How Wi-Fi router radiation may be affecting your sleep quality Why consistent wake time and morning sunlight are among the most powerful sleep tools available And more! Resources Mentioned: Viktor Frankl | logotherapy and paradoxical intention Milton Erickson | clinical hypnotherapy; originator of the "get out of bed" insomnia technique Peter Reitzes | stuttering treatment using paradoxical exposure Uvex amber-lens goggles | available on Amazon; block 100% of blue light Functional psychiatry and primary care for nutritional deficiency testing Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for any individual listener or viewer. Chapters 0:00 Introduction – Who is Dr. G & Today's Topic 1:52 The 3 AM Problem – Why You Can't Get Back to Sleep 2:57 Why Trying Harder to Sleep Backfires 3:52 The Solution: Get Up and Do Something Useful 4:22 What "Useful" Means (and What to Avoid) 5:38 How Long to Wait Before Getting Up 10:46 Treating Stuttering with the Same Principle 11:50 Do Breathing & Relaxation Exercises Work? 12:23 Lighting Matters – Use Red/Orange Bulbs, Not Blue Light 14:00 Blue-Blocking Glasses & Filters (Uvex & More) 15:06 Natural Sleep Supplements: Magnesium & Hot Milk 16:47 L-Theanine, Lavender, Valerian & Other Aids 17:30 Nutrient Deficiencies That Block Sleep (Vitamin D, B6, Zinc) 19:05 Exercise & Brain Chemistry for Better Sleep 21:19 4 Steps to Reset Your Sleep Schedule 23:07 Morning Sunlight to Anchor Your Wake Time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:28:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith What if trying harder to fall asleep is actually what keeps you awake? In this episode, Dr. G breaks down the science of insomnia and why so many common approaches to fixing it backfire. Sleeplessness isn't just about feeling tired. It triggers a stress response that makes the problem worse, locking millions of people into a cycle that's hard to escape on willpower alone. Dr. G draws on the work of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl and legendary hypnotherapist Milton Erickson to explain paradoxical intention, a counterintuitive technique that dissolves the internal struggle driving sleeplessness. He explains what to actually do when you wake up at 3 AM, why screens and snacks make insomnia worse, and how blue light suppresses the melatonin your brain needs to signal sleep. The episode also covers the nutritional deficiencies most people never think to check, the role of electromagnetic radiation from Wi-Fi routers, and a practical four-step framework for correcting delayed sleep phase disorder, the pattern where you simply can't fall asleep until very late no matter how tired you are. Rather than prescribing medication, Dr. G walks through the evidence behind natural supplements like magnesium, L-theanine, tryptophan, lavender, passionflower, and valerian. He explains exactly how they work and why they help. Key Highlights: Why insomnia is more than feeling tired and the serious long-term risks of chronic poor sleep The cortisol-insomnia loop: how sleeplessness creates a stress response that makes sleep even harder The paradoxical technique psychiatrists use to break the cycle of trying too hard to fall asleep What to do when you wake up at 3 AM and can't get back to sleep Why TV, phone scrolling, and late-night snacking reinforce waking behavior Natural sleep supplements backed by evidence The nutritional deficiencies (Vitamin D, B6, B9/folate, zinc, magnesium) that may be quietly sabotaging your sleep How Wi-Fi router radiation may be affecting your sleep quality Why consistent wake time and morning sunlight are among the most powerful sleep tools available And more! Resources Mentioned: Viktor Frankl | logotherapy and paradoxical intention Milton Erickson | clinical hypnotherapy; originator of the "get out of bed" insomnia technique Peter Reitzes | stuttering treatment using paradoxical exposure Uvex amber-lens goggles | available on Amazon; block 100% of blue light Functional psychiatry and primary care for nutritional deficiency testing Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for any individual listener or viewer. Chapters 0:00 Introduction – Who is Dr. G & Today's Topic 1:52 The 3 AM Problem – Why You Can't Get Back to Sleep 2:57 Why Trying Harder to Sleep Backfires 3:52 The Solution: Get Up and Do Something Useful 4:22 What "Useful" Means (and What to Avoid) 5:38 How Long to Wait Before Getting Up 10:46 Treating Stuttering with the Same Principle 11:50 Do Breathing & Relaxation Exercises Work? 12:23 Lighting Matters – Use Red/Orange Bulbs, Not Blue Light 14:00 Blue-Blocking Glasses & Filters (Uvex & More) 15:06 Natural Sleep Supplements: Magnesium & Hot Milk 16:47 L-Theanine, Lavender, Valerian & Other Aids 17:30 Nutrient Deficiencies That Block Sleep (Vitamin D, B6, Zinc) 19:05 Exercise & Brain Chemistry for Better Sleep 21:19 4 Steps to Reset Your Sleep Schedule 23:07 Morning Sunlight to Anchor Your Wake Time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices What if trying harder to fall asleep is actually what keeps you awake?

In this episode, Dr. G breaks down the science of insomnia and why so many common approaches to fixing it backfire. Sleeplessness isn't just about feeling tired. It triggers a stress response that makes the problem worse, locking millions of people into a cycle that's hard to escape on willpower alone.

Dr. G draws on the work of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl and legendary hypnotherapist Milton Erickson to explain paradoxical intention, a counterintuitive technique that dissolves the internal struggle driving sleeplessness. He explains what to actually do when you wake up at 3 AM, why screens and snacks make insomnia worse, and how blue light suppresses the melatonin your brain needs to signal sleep.

The episode also covers the nutritional deficiencies most people never think to check, the role of electromagnetic radiation from Wi-Fi routers, and a practical four-step framework for correcting delayed sleep phase disorder, the pattern where you simply can't fall asleep until very late no matter how tired you are.

Rather than prescribing medication, Dr. G walks through the evidence behind natural supplements like magnesium, L-theanine, tryptophan, lavender, passionflower, and valerian. He explains exactly how they work and why they help.

Key Highlights:

  • Why insomnia is more than feeling tired and the serious long-term risks of chronic poor sleep
  • The cortisol-insomnia loop: how sleeplessness creates a stress response that makes sleep even harder
  • The paradoxical technique psychiatrists use to break the cycle of trying too hard to fall asleep
  • What to do when you wake up at 3 AM and can't get back to sleep
  • Why TV, phone scrolling, and late-night snacking reinforce waking behavior
  • Natural sleep supplements backed by evidence
  • The nutritional deficiencies (Vitamin D, B6, B9/folate, zinc, magnesium) that may be quietly sabotaging your sleep
  • How Wi-Fi router radiation may be affecting your sleep quality
  • Why consistent wake time and morning sunlight are among the most powerful sleep tools available
  • And more!

Resources Mentioned:

  • Viktor Frankl | logotherapy and paradoxical intention
  • Milton Erickson | clinical hypnotherapy; originator of the "get out of bed" insomnia technique
  • Peter Reitzes | stuttering treatment using paradoxical exposure
  • Uvex amber-lens goggles | available on Amazon; block 100% of blue light
  • Functional psychiatry and primary care for nutritional deficiency testing

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Dr. G's content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations for any individual listener or viewer.

Chapters

  • 0:00 Introduction – Who is Dr. G & Today's Topic
  • 1:52 The 3 AM Problem – Why You Can't Get Back to Sleep
  • 2:57 Why Trying Harder to Sleep Backfires
  • 3:52 The Solution: Get Up and Do Something Useful
  • 4:22 What "Useful" Means (and What to Avoid)
  • 5:38 How Long to Wait Before Getting Up
  • 10:46 Treating Stuttering with the Same Principle
  • 11:50 Do Breathing & Relaxation Exercises Work?
  • 12:23 Lighting Matters – Use Red/Orange Bulbs, Not Blue Light
  • 14:00 Blue-Blocking Glasses & Filters (Uvex & More)
  • 15:06 Natural Sleep Supplements: Magnesium & Hot Milk
  • 16:47 L-Theanine, Lavender, Valerian & Other Aids
  • 17:30 Nutrient Deficiencies That Block Sleep (Vitamin D, B6, Zinc)
  • 19:05 Exercise & Brain Chemistry for Better Sleep
  • 21:19 4 Steps to Reset Your Sleep Schedule
  • 23:07 Morning Sunlight to Anchor Your Wake Time

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1580 Trance, Meditation, Hypnosis & Truth Serum: What Your Brain Is Really Doing What if trance isn't some mysterious altered state, but something you experience every day? In this episode, Dr. G explores one of psychology's most misunderstood phenomena: trance. Far from being rare or exotic, trance is a natural state of focused attention. Most people move in and out of it throughout the day without realizing it. From becoming absorbed in a movie to driving on autopilot, Dr. G explains how trance states shape perception, memory, awareness, and behavior. He breaks down the neuroscience behind effortless focus. He also explains why meditation and hypnosis are closely related. He covers how dissociation exists on a spectrum—from completely normal experiences to severe psychiatric disorders. The conversation dives into the practical applications of clinical hypnosis, including pain management, psychosomatic symptoms, trauma treatment, and functional neurological disorders. Through real patient stories and personal experiences, Dr. G demonstrates how hypnosis can sometimes produce dramatic results where conventional approaches fail. The episode also tackles one of psychiatry's most enduring myths: truth serum. Dr. G explains what substances like sodium amytal, sodium pentothal, and scopolamine actually do. He covers how they've been used in clinical and military settings. He explains why Hollywood's version bears little resemblance to reality. Rather than presenting hypnosis as magical or mysterious, Dr. G reveals it as a natural psychological process that can be understood, practiced, and used therapeutically. Key Highlights What trance actually is and why you've likely experienced it today The psychology behind highway hypnosis and movie-theater absorption How meditation and hypnosis are similar,and where they differ Why trance involves effortless focus rather than concentration The role of dissociation in everyday life and psychiatric disorders How hypnosis can treat pain, psychosomatic symptoms, and functional neurological disorders Why patients with Dissociative Identity Disorder are often highly hypnotizable Simple self-hypnosis techniques anyone can learn The truth about so-called "truth serum" drugs How sodium amytal was used in trauma treatment and military investigations Dr. G's firsthand experience conducting a classified sodium amytal interview for the U.S. Air Force Whether you're curious about meditation, fascinated by hypnosis, interested in how consciousness works, or simply wondering why you occasionally miss your freeway exit, this episode offers a practical and scientifically grounded look at one of the mind's most fascinating abilities. This isn't about mind control or stage hypnosis. It's about understanding a natural human capacity that influences attention, perception, memory, healing, and the way we experience reality itself. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Milton Erickson and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Dissociative Disorders Sodium Amytal (Amobarbital) Sodium Pentothal (Thiopental) Scopolamine Research on hypnosis and pain management PTSD and narcosynthesis treatment approaches This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser. For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co. 0:00 Introduction 1:53 What Is Trance? Everyday Examples 5:50 Hypnosis for Dental Pain (Personal Story) 7:12 Self-Hypnosis with Dr. Milton Erickson 9:11 Clinical Case: Curing Intractable Vomiting 10:45 Hypnosis vs. Meditation: Key Differences 13:01 Dissociation & Psychiatric Disorders 16:45 How Hypnotic Induction Works 22:21 Truth Serum: Myths vs. Reality 26:50 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith What if trance isn't some mysterious altered state, but something you experience every day? In this episode, Dr. G explores one of psychology's most misunderstood phenomena: trance. Far from being rare or exotic, trance is a natural state of focused attention. Most people move in and out of it throughout the day without realizing it. From becoming absorbed in a movie to driving on autopilot, Dr. G explains how trance states shape perception, memory, awareness, and behavior. He breaks down the neuroscience behind effortless focus. He also explains why meditation and hypnosis are closely related. He covers how dissociation exists on a spectrum—from completely normal experiences to severe psychiatric disorders. The conversation dives into the practical applications of clinical hypnosis, including pain management, psychosomatic symptoms, trauma treatment, and functional neurological disorders. Through real patient stories and personal experiences, Dr. G demonstrates how hypnosis can sometimes produce dramatic results where conventional approaches fail. The episode also tackles one of psychiatry's most enduring myths: truth serum. Dr. G explains what substances like sodium amytal, sodium pentothal, and scopolamine actually do. He covers how they've been used in clinical and military settings. He explains why Hollywood's version bears little resemblance to reality. Rather than presenting hypnosis as magical or mysterious, Dr. G reveals it as a natural psychological process that can be understood, practiced, and used therapeutically. Key Highlights What trance actually is and why you've likely experienced it today The psychology behind highway hypnosis and movie-theater absorption How meditation and hypnosis are similar,and where they differ Why trance involves effortless focus rather than concentration The role of dissociation in everyday life and psychiatric disorders How hypnosis can treat pain, psychosomatic symptoms, and functional neurological disorders Why patients with Dissociative Identity Disorder are often highly hypnotizable Simple self-hypnosis techniques anyone can learn The truth about so-called "truth serum" drugs How sodium amytal was used in trauma treatment and military investigations Dr. G's firsthand experience conducting a classified sodium amytal interview for the U.S. Air Force Whether you're curious about meditation, fascinated by hypnosis, interested in how consciousness works, or simply wondering why you occasionally miss your freeway exit, this episode offers a practical and scientifically grounded look at one of the mind's most fascinating abilities. This isn't about mind control or stage hypnosis. It's about understanding a natural human capacity that influences attention, perception, memory, healing, and the way we experience reality itself. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Milton Erickson and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Dissociative Disorders Sodium Amytal (Amobarbital) Sodium Pentothal (Thiopental) Scopolamine Research on hypnosis and pain management PTSD and narcosynthesis treatment approaches This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser. For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co. 0:00 Introduction 1:53 What Is Trance? Everyday Examples 5:50 Hypnosis for Dental Pain (Personal Story) 7:12 Self-Hypnosis with Dr. Milton Erickson 9:11 Clinical Case: Curing Intractable Vomiting 10:45 Hypnosis vs. Meditation: Key Differences 13:01 Dissociation & Psychiatric Disorders 16:45 How Hypnotic Induction Works 22:21 Truth Serum: Myths vs. Reality 26:50 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices What if trance isn't some mysterious altered state, but something you experience every day?

In this episode, Dr. G explores one of psychology's most misunderstood phenomena: trance. Far from being rare or exotic, trance is a natural state of focused attention. Most people move in and out of it throughout the day without realizing it.

From becoming absorbed in a movie to driving on autopilot, Dr. G explains how trance states shape perception, memory, awareness, and behavior. He breaks down the neuroscience behind effortless focus. He also explains why meditation and hypnosis are closely related. He covers how dissociation exists on a spectrum—from completely normal experiences to severe psychiatric disorders.

The conversation dives into the practical applications of clinical hypnosis, including pain management, psychosomatic symptoms, trauma treatment, and functional neurological disorders. Through real patient stories and personal experiences, Dr. G demonstrates how hypnosis can sometimes produce dramatic results where conventional approaches fail.

The episode also tackles one of psychiatry's most enduring myths: truth serum. Dr. G explains what substances like sodium amytal, sodium pentothal, and scopolamine actually do. He covers how they've been used in clinical and military settings. He explains why Hollywood's version bears little resemblance to reality.

Rather than presenting hypnosis as magical or mysterious, Dr. G reveals it as a natural psychological process that can be understood, practiced, and used therapeutically.

Key Highlights

  • What trance actually is and why you've likely experienced it today
  • The psychology behind highway hypnosis and movie-theater absorption
  • How meditation and hypnosis are similar,and where they differ
  • Why trance involves effortless focus rather than concentration
  • The role of dissociation in everyday life and psychiatric disorders
  • How hypnosis can treat pain, psychosomatic symptoms, and functional neurological disorders
  • Why patients with Dissociative Identity Disorder are often highly hypnotizable
  • Simple self-hypnosis techniques anyone can learn
  • The truth about so-called "truth serum" drugs
  • How sodium amytal was used in trauma treatment and military investigations
  • Dr. G's firsthand experience conducting a classified sodium amytal interview for the U.S. Air Force

Whether you're curious about meditation, fascinated by hypnosis, interested in how consciousness works, or simply wondering why you occasionally miss your freeway exit, this episode offers a practical and scientifically grounded look at one of the mind's most fascinating abilities.

This isn't about mind control or stage hypnosis. It's about understanding a natural human capacity that influences attention, perception, memory, healing, and the way we experience reality itself.

Resources Mentioned:

  • Dr. Milton Erickson and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy
  • DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Dissociative Disorders
  • Sodium Amytal (Amobarbital)
  • Sodium Pentothal (Thiopental)
  • Scopolamine
  • Research on hypnosis and pain management
  • PTSD and narcosynthesis treatment approaches

This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co.


  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 1:53 What Is Trance? Everyday Examples
  • 5:50 Hypnosis for Dental Pain (Personal Story)
  • 7:12 Self-Hypnosis with Dr. Milton Erickson
  • 9:11 Clinical Case: Curing Intractable Vomiting
  • 10:45 Hypnosis vs. Meditation: Key Differences
  • 13:01 Dissociation & Psychiatric Disorders
  • 16:45 How Hypnotic Induction Works
  • 22:21 Truth Serum: Myths vs. Reality
  • 26:50 Outro

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1724 Why Trying to "Get Over" Grief Can Make Depression Worse What if grief isn’t something to “fix,” but something you have to move through? In this episode, Dr. G unpacks one of the most misunderstood areas in mental health: the difference between grief and clinical depression. With clarity, nuance, and zero clichés, he explains why grief is not a disorder, why suppressing it often makes things worse, and how our culture’s obsession with “getting over it” can unintentionally deepen suffering. Dr. G breaks down what depression actually is from a psychiatric perspective, where antidepressants help, where they fall short, and why symptom suppression alone rarely creates lasting recovery. He explores the evidence behind Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the role of distorted thinking patterns in maintaining depression, and how therapy helps retrain the mind instead of simply numbing emotional pain. The conversation also dives into functional psychiatry and the overlooked biological contributors that can quietly fuel depressive symptoms, including vitamin deficiencies, methylfolate issues, inflammation, sleep disruption, and gut health. Dr. G explains why mental health treatment should never be one-size-fits-all, and why lifestyle interventions like exercise, sleep regulation, and light therapy are far more powerful than most people realize. Rather than offering empty motivation or quick fixes, this episode focuses on understanding the mechanisms underneath emotional suffering, and the tools that actually help people heal. Key Highlights: The critical difference between grief and clinical depression Why grief is a natural healing process, not a pathology How suppressing grief can increase risk for depression and psychosomatic symptoms The real efficacy rates and limitations of antidepressants Common antidepressant side effects, including emotional blunting and sexual dysfunction Why CBT remains the gold-standard psychotherapy for depression How vitamin D deficiency, methylfolate deficiency, and gut health can impact mood Why exercise, sleep correction, and light therapy have strong clinical evidence for depression relief How resilience is built through active healing, not symptom avoidance Whether you’re navigating loss, struggling with depression, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to better understand how the mind works, this episode offers practical insight grounded in both psychiatry and real-world experience. This isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about understanding the difference between healthy suffering and clinical illness, and knowing how to respond to both. Resources Mentioned:Feeling Good by David BurnsMethylfolate supplementation for MTHFR-related deficienciesLight therapy boxes for mood and sleep regulation This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew “MoJo” Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser. For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:26 What Is Grief? Understanding Loss & Healing 3:14 How Grief Can Turn Into Depression 5:32 How Conventional Psychiatry Treats Depression 7:32 The Antidepressant Efficacy Problem 8:28 Antidepressant Side Effects 10:10 Why Antidepressants Don't Cure Depression 12:25 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Explained 14:48 Cognitive Distortions That Fuel Depression 20:48 Functional Psychiatry: Finding the Root Cause 24:29 Exercise & Sleep for Depression 25:57 Light Therapy for Depression Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:26:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith What if grief isn’t something to “fix,” but something you have to move through? In this episode, Dr. G unpacks one of the most misunderstood areas in mental health: the difference between grief and clinical depression. With clarity, nuance, and zero clichés, he explains why grief is not a disorder, why suppressing it often makes things worse, and how our culture’s obsession with “getting over it” can unintentionally deepen suffering. Dr. G breaks down what depression actually is from a psychiatric perspective, where antidepressants help, where they fall short, and why symptom suppression alone rarely creates lasting recovery. He explores the evidence behind Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the role of distorted thinking patterns in maintaining depression, and how therapy helps retrain the mind instead of simply numbing emotional pain. The conversation also dives into functional psychiatry and the overlooked biological contributors that can quietly fuel depressive symptoms, including vitamin deficiencies, methylfolate issues, inflammation, sleep disruption, and gut health. Dr. G explains why mental health treatment should never be one-size-fits-all, and why lifestyle interventions like exercise, sleep regulation, and light therapy are far more powerful than most people realize. Rather than offering empty motivation or quick fixes, this episode focuses on understanding the mechanisms underneath emotional suffering, and the tools that actually help people heal. Key Highlights: The critical difference between grief and clinical depression Why grief is a natural healing process, not a pathology How suppressing grief can increase risk for depression and psychosomatic symptoms The real efficacy rates and limitations of antidepressants Common antidepressant side effects, including emotional blunting and sexual dysfunction Why CBT remains the gold-standard psychotherapy for depression How vitamin D deficiency, methylfolate deficiency, and gut health can impact mood Why exercise, sleep correction, and light therapy have strong clinical evidence for depression relief How resilience is built through active healing, not symptom avoidance Whether you’re navigating loss, struggling with depression, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to better understand how the mind works, this episode offers practical insight grounded in both psychiatry and real-world experience. This isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about understanding the difference between healthy suffering and clinical illness, and knowing how to respond to both. Resources Mentioned:Feeling Good by David BurnsMethylfolate supplementation for MTHFR-related deficienciesLight therapy boxes for mood and sleep regulation This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew “MoJo” Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser. For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:26 What Is Grief? Understanding Loss & Healing 3:14 How Grief Can Turn Into Depression 5:32 How Conventional Psychiatry Treats Depression 7:32 The Antidepressant Efficacy Problem 8:28 Antidepressant Side Effects 10:10 Why Antidepressants Don't Cure Depression 12:25 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Explained 14:48 Cognitive Distortions That Fuel Depression 20:48 Functional Psychiatry: Finding the Root Cause 24:29 Exercise & Sleep for Depression 25:57 Light Therapy for Depression Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices What if grief isn’t something to “fix,” but something you have to move through?

In this episode, Dr. G unpacks one of the most misunderstood areas in mental health: the difference between grief and clinical depression. With clarity, nuance, and zero clichés, he explains why grief is not a disorder, why suppressing it often makes things worse, and how our culture’s obsession with “getting over it” can unintentionally deepen suffering.

Dr. G breaks down what depression actually is from a psychiatric perspective, where antidepressants help, where they fall short, and why symptom suppression alone rarely creates lasting recovery. He explores the evidence behind Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the role of distorted thinking patterns in maintaining depression, and how therapy helps retrain the mind instead of simply numbing emotional pain.

The conversation also dives into functional psychiatry and the overlooked biological contributors that can quietly fuel depressive symptoms, including vitamin deficiencies, methylfolate issues, inflammation, sleep disruption, and gut health. Dr. G explains why mental health treatment should never be one-size-fits-all, and why lifestyle interventions like exercise, sleep regulation, and light therapy are far more powerful than most people realize.

Rather than offering empty motivation or quick fixes, this episode focuses on understanding the mechanisms underneath emotional suffering, and the tools that actually help people heal.

Key Highlights:

  • The critical difference between grief and clinical depression
  • Why grief is a natural healing process, not a pathology
  • How suppressing grief can increase risk for depression and psychosomatic symptoms
  • The real efficacy rates and limitations of antidepressants
  • Common antidepressant side effects, including emotional blunting and sexual dysfunction
  • Why CBT remains the gold-standard psychotherapy for depression
  • How vitamin D deficiency, methylfolate deficiency, and gut health can impact mood
  • Why exercise, sleep correction, and light therapy have strong clinical evidence for depression relief
  • How resilience is built through active healing, not symptom avoidance

Whether you’re navigating loss, struggling with depression, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to better understand how the mind works, this episode offers practical insight grounded in both psychiatry and real-world experience.

This isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about understanding the difference between healthy suffering and clinical illness, and knowing how to respond to both.

Resources Mentioned:Feeling Good by David BurnsMethylfolate supplementation for MTHFR-related deficienciesLight therapy boxes for mood and sleep regulation

This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew “MoJo” Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser. For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co


Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:26 What Is Grief? Understanding Loss & Healing 3:14 How Grief Can Turn Into Depression 5:32 How Conventional Psychiatry Treats Depression 7:32 The Antidepressant Efficacy Problem 8:28 Antidepressant Side Effects 10:10 Why Antidepressants Don't Cure Depression 12:25 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Explained 14:48 Cognitive Distortions That Fuel Depression 20:48 Functional Psychiatry: Finding the Root Cause 24:29 Exercise & Sleep for Depression 25:57 Light Therapy for Depression

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1716 The Problem With Modern Therapy | Coping vs Actually Healing w/ Dr. G What if therapy isn’t helping because no one ever defined what “better” was supposed to look like? In this episode, Dr. G takes a hard look at modern therapy culture and challenges many of the assumptions people have been taught to accept. From endless sessions with no measurable progress to the overemphasis on insight and coping, he explains why therapy that feels productive isn’t always producing real change. Drawing from more than five decades of clinical experience, Dr. G breaks down what effective therapy should actually look like: goal-oriented, accountable, challenging, and focused on resolution rather than indefinite management. He explains why understanding your problems is not the same as solving them, why discomfort in therapy is often necessary for growth, and how patients can better evaluate whether their treatment is truly working. This conversation is direct, evidence-based, and deeply empowering for anyone currently in therapy, considering therapy, or questioning whether the process they’re in is actually helping them move forward. Key Highlights: Why the length of therapy says nothing about its effectiveness The myth that insight alone creates change Why some of the most powerful breakthroughs happen in only a few sessions The importance of having a clear therapeutic contract and measurable goals Why therapy without accountability can drift endlessly The difference between coping with a problem and actually resolving it Why being challenged, uncomfortable, or frustrated in therapy can be a positive sign Common therapist boundary violations and how to address them directly The danger of “interminable therapy” with no evidence of progress How to recognize when you may be protecting your therapist’s assumptions instead of solving your own problems Dr. G, also known as “The Mad Shrink,” is a board-certified psychiatrist and author of The Healing Paradox known for his candid, no-nonsense approach to psychotherapy and behavioral change. Through decades of clinical work and his Mad Shrink platform, he challenges conventional mental health narratives and gives people practical, evidence-based ways to think differently about healing. Whether you’ve spent years in therapy, are just beginning the process, or have quietly wondered why nothing seems to change, this episode offers a radically honest perspective on what good therapy should actually do. This isn’t about feeling understood for an hour a week. It’s about creating meaningful change. This show is Produced by Rainbow Creative with Executive Producer Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Editor Omar Foaud. 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Not All Therapists Are Equal 01:26 Longer Therapy Is NOT Better 03:09 Insight Is Overrated 05:25 Point 1: Therapeutic Contract 08:30 Point 2: Solving vs. Just Coping 09:15 Point 3: Beware Medication Pushers 11:38 Point 4: Does Your Therapist Listen? 12:30 Point 5: Are You Being Challenged? 13:20 Point 6: Healthy Frustration in Therapy 14:05 Point 7: Does Your Therapist Genuinely Care? 14:45 Point 8: Boundary & Frame Requirements 19:00 Point 9: Are You Making Progress? 20:30 Point 10: The Fallacy of Interminable Therapy 19:40 Point 11: Avoid Psychiatrists Under 65 23:00 How to Find the Right Therapist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Fri, 22 May 2026 17:40:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith What if therapy isn’t helping because no one ever defined what “better” was supposed to look like? In this episode, Dr. G takes a hard look at modern therapy culture and challenges many of the assumptions people have been taught to accept. From endless sessions with no measurable progress to the overemphasis on insight and coping, he explains why therapy that feels productive isn’t always producing real change. Drawing from more than five decades of clinical experience, Dr. G breaks down what effective therapy should actually look like: goal-oriented, accountable, challenging, and focused on resolution rather than indefinite management. He explains why understanding your problems is not the same as solving them, why discomfort in therapy is often necessary for growth, and how patients can better evaluate whether their treatment is truly working. This conversation is direct, evidence-based, and deeply empowering for anyone currently in therapy, considering therapy, or questioning whether the process they’re in is actually helping them move forward. Key Highlights: Why the length of therapy says nothing about its effectiveness The myth that insight alone creates change Why some of the most powerful breakthroughs happen in only a few sessions The importance of having a clear therapeutic contract and measurable goals Why therapy without accountability can drift endlessly The difference between coping with a problem and actually resolving it Why being challenged, uncomfortable, or frustrated in therapy can be a positive sign Common therapist boundary violations and how to address them directly The danger of “interminable therapy” with no evidence of progress How to recognize when you may be protecting your therapist’s assumptions instead of solving your own problems Dr. G, also known as “The Mad Shrink,” is a board-certified psychiatrist and author of The Healing Paradox known for his candid, no-nonsense approach to psychotherapy and behavioral change. Through decades of clinical work and his Mad Shrink platform, he challenges conventional mental health narratives and gives people practical, evidence-based ways to think differently about healing. Whether you’ve spent years in therapy, are just beginning the process, or have quietly wondered why nothing seems to change, this episode offers a radically honest perspective on what good therapy should actually do. This isn’t about feeling understood for an hour a week. It’s about creating meaningful change. This show is Produced by Rainbow Creative with Executive Producer Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Editor Omar Foaud. 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Not All Therapists Are Equal 01:26 Longer Therapy Is NOT Better 03:09 Insight Is Overrated 05:25 Point 1: Therapeutic Contract 08:30 Point 2: Solving vs. Just Coping 09:15 Point 3: Beware Medication Pushers 11:38 Point 4: Does Your Therapist Listen? 12:30 Point 5: Are You Being Challenged? 13:20 Point 6: Healthy Frustration in Therapy 14:05 Point 7: Does Your Therapist Genuinely Care? 14:45 Point 8: Boundary & Frame Requirements 19:00 Point 9: Are You Making Progress? 20:30 Point 10: The Fallacy of Interminable Therapy 19:40 Point 11: Avoid Psychiatrists Under 65 23:00 How to Find the Right Therapist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices What if therapy isn’t helping because no one ever defined what “better” was supposed to look like?

In this episode, Dr. G takes a hard look at modern therapy culture and challenges many of the assumptions people have been taught to accept. From endless sessions with no measurable progress to the overemphasis on insight and coping, he explains why therapy that feels productive isn’t always producing real change.

Drawing from more than five decades of clinical experience, Dr. G breaks down what effective therapy should actually look like: goal-oriented, accountable, challenging, and focused on resolution rather than indefinite management. He explains why understanding your problems is not the same as solving them, why discomfort in therapy is often necessary for growth, and how patients can better evaluate whether their treatment is truly working.

This conversation is direct, evidence-based, and deeply empowering for anyone currently in therapy, considering therapy, or questioning whether the process they’re in is actually helping them move forward.

Key Highlights:

Why the length of therapy says nothing about its effectiveness

The myth that insight alone creates change

Why some of the most powerful breakthroughs happen in only a few sessions

The importance of having a clear therapeutic contract and measurable goals

Why therapy without accountability can drift endlessly

The difference between coping with a problem and actually resolving it

Why being challenged, uncomfortable, or frustrated in therapy can be a positive sign

Common therapist boundary violations and how to address them directly

The danger of “interminable therapy” with no evidence of progress

How to recognize when you may be protecting your therapist’s assumptions instead of solving your own problems

Dr. G, also known as “The Mad Shrink,” is a board-certified psychiatrist and author of The Healing Paradox known for his candid, no-nonsense approach to psychotherapy and behavioral change. Through decades of clinical work and his Mad Shrink platform, he challenges conventional mental health narratives and gives people practical, evidence-based ways to think differently about healing.

Whether you’ve spent years in therapy, are just beginning the process, or have quietly wondered why nothing seems to change, this episode offers a radically honest perspective on what good therapy should actually do.

This isn’t about feeling understood for an hour a week.

It’s about creating meaningful change.


This show is Produced by Rainbow Creative with Executive Producer Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Editor Omar Foaud.


  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:33 Not All Therapists Are Equal
  • 01:26 Longer Therapy Is NOT Better
  • 03:09 Insight Is Overrated
  • 05:25 Point 1: Therapeutic Contract
  • 08:30 Point 2: Solving vs. Just Coping
  • 09:15 Point 3: Beware Medication Pushers
  • 11:38 Point 4: Does Your Therapist Listen?
  • 12:30 Point 5: Are You Being Challenged?
  • 13:20 Point 6: Healthy Frustration in Therapy
  • 14:05 Point 7: Does Your Therapist Genuinely Care?
  • 14:45 Point 8: Boundary & Frame Requirements
  • 19:00 Point 9: Are You Making Progress?
  • 20:30 Point 10: The Fallacy of Interminable Therapy
  • 19:40 Point 11: Avoid Psychiatrists Under 65
  • 23:00 How to Find the Right Therapist


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1519 Breathing and Thinking Your Way Out of Anxiety What if anxiety isn’t something you “have”, but something you’re doing? In this episode, Dr. G breaks down anxiety with clarity, precision, and zero fluff. He unpacks what’s actually happening in your brain and body when anxiety hits, why it spirals the way it does, and, most importantly, how to interrupt it in real time. From the physiology of breathing to the psychology of thought patterns, this conversation cuts through the noise and gives you tools that are both simple and clinically grounded. Dr. G walks through two of the most effective, evidence-based approaches for managing anxiety: breathwork that directly regulates your nervous system, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques that target the distorted thinking fueling the cycle. He also reframes anxiety in a way most people never consider, not as a condition to fear, but as a dysfunctional pattern you can retrain, and in some cases, even redirect as excitement. Key Highlights: What anxiety actually is (and why it always comes back to a sense of safety) The role of the autonomic nervous system and vagus nerve How your breathing changes under stress — and why it makes anxiety worse Simple breathing techniques that activate a calming physiological response Why nasal breathing and extended exhales signal safety to the brain The four core cognitive distortions driving anxiety (fortune telling, mind reading, shoulding, labeling) How CBT works to challenge and rewire anxious thinking Why performance anxiety is often just misinterpreted excitement The shift from “having anxiety” to understanding it as a changeable dysfunction Whether you’re dealing with panic attacks, social anxiety, OCD, or chronic overthinking, this episode gives you practical tools you can start using immediately. This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about understanding the mechanism so you can actually change it.This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew “MoJo” Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser. For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:40 What Is Anxiety? 2:18 The Parasympathetic Nervous System & Feeling Safe 5:46 Breathing Techniques for Anxiety 10:04 The Role of Thoughts in Anxiety 12:12 Cognitive Distortions That Drive Anxiety 15:55 Anxiety as Disguised Excitement 18:17 Anxiety as Dysfunction, Not a Thing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Wed, 06 May 2026 15:00:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith What if anxiety isn’t something you “have”, but something you’re doing? In this episode, Dr. G breaks down anxiety with clarity, precision, and zero fluff. He unpacks what’s actually happening in your brain and body when anxiety hits, why it spirals the way it does, and, most importantly, how to interrupt it in real time. From the physiology of breathing to the psychology of thought patterns, this conversation cuts through the noise and gives you tools that are both simple and clinically grounded. Dr. G walks through two of the most effective, evidence-based approaches for managing anxiety: breathwork that directly regulates your nervous system, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques that target the distorted thinking fueling the cycle. He also reframes anxiety in a way most people never consider, not as a condition to fear, but as a dysfunctional pattern you can retrain, and in some cases, even redirect as excitement. Key Highlights: What anxiety actually is (and why it always comes back to a sense of safety) The role of the autonomic nervous system and vagus nerve How your breathing changes under stress — and why it makes anxiety worse Simple breathing techniques that activate a calming physiological response Why nasal breathing and extended exhales signal safety to the brain The four core cognitive distortions driving anxiety (fortune telling, mind reading, shoulding, labeling) How CBT works to challenge and rewire anxious thinking Why performance anxiety is often just misinterpreted excitement The shift from “having anxiety” to understanding it as a changeable dysfunction Whether you’re dealing with panic attacks, social anxiety, OCD, or chronic overthinking, this episode gives you practical tools you can start using immediately. This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about understanding the mechanism so you can actually change it.This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew “MoJo” Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser. For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:40 What Is Anxiety? 2:18 The Parasympathetic Nervous System & Feeling Safe 5:46 Breathing Techniques for Anxiety 10:04 The Role of Thoughts in Anxiety 12:12 Cognitive Distortions That Drive Anxiety 15:55 Anxiety as Disguised Excitement 18:17 Anxiety as Dysfunction, Not a Thing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices What if anxiety isn’t something you “have”, but something you’re doing?

In this episode, Dr. G breaks down anxiety with clarity, precision, and zero fluff. He unpacks what’s actually happening in your brain and body when anxiety hits, why it spirals the way it does, and, most importantly, how to interrupt it in real time.

From the physiology of breathing to the psychology of thought patterns, this conversation cuts through the noise and gives you tools that are both simple and clinically grounded. Dr. G walks through two of the most effective, evidence-based approaches for managing anxiety: breathwork that directly regulates your nervous system, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques that target the distorted thinking fueling the cycle.

He also reframes anxiety in a way most people never consider, not as a condition to fear, but as a dysfunctional pattern you can retrain, and in some cases, even redirect as excitement.

Key Highlights:

  • What anxiety actually is (and why it always comes back to a sense of safety)
  • The role of the autonomic nervous system and vagus nerve
  • How your breathing changes under stress — and why it makes anxiety worse
  • Simple breathing techniques that activate a calming physiological response
  • Why nasal breathing and extended exhales signal safety to the brain
  • The four core cognitive distortions driving anxiety (fortune telling, mind reading, shoulding, labeling)
  • How CBT works to challenge and rewire anxious thinking
  • Why performance anxiety is often just misinterpreted excitement
  • The shift from “having anxiety” to understanding it as a changeable dysfunction

Whether you’re dealing with panic attacks, social anxiety, OCD, or chronic overthinking, this episode gives you practical tools you can start using immediately.

This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about understanding the mechanism so you can actually change it.
This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew “MoJo” Jones and Executive Producer Omar Foaud, with editing by Omar Foaud and graphics by Mohamed Naser. For sponsorship opportunities, contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co


Chapters

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 0:40 What Is Anxiety?
  • 2:18 The Parasympathetic Nervous System & Feeling Safe
  • 5:46 Breathing Techniques for Anxiety
  • 10:04 The Role of Thoughts in Anxiety
  • 12:12 Cognitive Distortions That Drive Anxiety
  • 15:55 Anxiety as Disguised Excitement
  • 18:17 Anxiety as Dysfunction, Not a Thing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1293 Are You Really ADHD? What Your Psychiatrist Isn't Telling You What if your ADHD diagnosis is only telling part of the story? In this episode, Dr. G challenges the way ADHD is commonly diagnosed and treated. He argues that millions of people may be managing symptoms without ever addressing the real cause. From the overreliance on stimulant medications to overlooked biological and lifestyle factors, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what's actually driving issues with focus, attention, and mental clarity. It also reveals why the system may be getting it wrong. Key Highlights: Why the current ADHD model may be flawed The truth about stimulant medications and symptom suppression Hidden drivers of ADHD symptoms (nutrient deficiencies, diet, lifestyle) The ADHD–Restless Legs connection most doctors miss Supplements and natural approaches with real research behind them How modern media is worsening attention spans Practical ways to improve focus without relying only on medication Why your environment and career choices matter more than you think This episode isn’t about rejecting treatment, it’s about asking better questions and finding deeper answers. This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer, Omar Foaud as Editor and Mohamed Naser as Graphic Designer. For Sponsorship Opportunities email podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:19:00 -0000 full Dr. Steven Goldsmith What if your ADHD diagnosis is only telling part of the story? In this episode, Dr. G challenges the way ADHD is commonly diagnosed and treated. He argues that millions of people may be managing symptoms without ever addressing the real cause. From the overreliance on stimulant medications to overlooked biological and lifestyle factors, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what's actually driving issues with focus, attention, and mental clarity. It also reveals why the system may be getting it wrong. Key Highlights: Why the current ADHD model may be flawed The truth about stimulant medications and symptom suppression Hidden drivers of ADHD symptoms (nutrient deficiencies, diet, lifestyle) The ADHD–Restless Legs connection most doctors miss Supplements and natural approaches with real research behind them How modern media is worsening attention spans Practical ways to improve focus without relying only on medication Why your environment and career choices matter more than you think This episode isn’t about rejecting treatment, it’s about asking better questions and finding deeper answers. This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer, Omar Foaud as Editor and Mohamed Naser as Graphic Designer. For Sponsorship Opportunities email podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices What if your ADHD diagnosis is only telling part of the story? In this episode, Dr. G challenges the way ADHD is commonly diagnosed and treated. He argues that millions of people may be managing symptoms without ever addressing the real cause. From the overreliance on stimulant medications to overlooked biological and lifestyle factors, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what's actually driving issues with focus, attention, and mental clarity. It also reveals why the system may be getting it wrong.

Key Highlights:

  • Why the current ADHD model may be flawed
  • The truth about stimulant medications and symptom suppression
  • Hidden drivers of ADHD symptoms (nutrient deficiencies, diet, lifestyle)
  • The ADHD–Restless Legs connection most doctors miss
  • Supplements and natural approaches with real research behind them
  • How modern media is worsening attention spans
  • Practical ways to improve focus without relying only on medication
  • Why your environment and career choices matter more than you think

This episode isn’t about rejecting treatment, it’s about asking better questions and finding deeper answers.


This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer, Omar Foaud as Editor and Mohamed Naser as Graphic Designer. For Sponsorship Opportunities email podcasts@rainbowcreative.co

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1696 Welcome to The Mad Shrink Podcast by Dr. G! Meet Dr. G, a board-certified psychiatrist and your guide to all things mental health. In this trailer, Dr. G introduces what the show is all about: cutting through the noise, offering real information and advice, and flipping everything you thought you knew about mental health on its head. Follow along on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen. The Mad Shrink is in — and the sessions are just getting started. This show is produced by Rainbow Creative https://www.rainbowcreative.co/ with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer, Omar Foaud as Editor and Mohamed Naser as Graphic Designer. For Sponsorship Opportunities email podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000 trailer Dr. Steven Goldsmith Meet Dr. G, a board-certified psychiatrist and your guide to all things mental health. In this trailer, Dr. G introduces what the show is all about: cutting through the noise, offering real information and advice, and flipping everything you thought you knew about mental health on its head. Follow along on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen. The Mad Shrink is in — and the sessions are just getting started. This show is produced by Rainbow Creative https://www.rainbowcreative.co/ with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer, Omar Foaud as Editor and Mohamed Naser as Graphic Designer. For Sponsorship Opportunities email podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Meet Dr. G, a board-certified psychiatrist and your guide to all things mental health. In this trailer, Dr. G introduces what the show is all about: cutting through the noise, offering real information and advice, and flipping everything you thought you knew about mental health on its head. Follow along on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen. The Mad Shrink is in — and the sessions are just getting started.

This show is produced by Rainbow Creative https://www.rainbowcreative.co/ with Matthew "MoJo" Jones and Executive Producer, Omar Foaud as Editor and Mohamed Naser as Graphic Designer. For Sponsorship Opportunities email podcasts@rainbowcreative.co

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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