The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy
The Thinking Mind Podcast explores the mind through conversations on psychiatry, psychotherapy, self-development, spirituality, and mental health philosophy. Hosted by psychiatrists Dr. Alex Curmi, Dr. Anya Borissova, and Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson, the show features experts, clinicians, authors, and individuals with lived experience. It aims to make complex mental health ideas accessible to both professionals and a general audience.
Episodes
Update: Major Changes Expected for ADHD Diagnosis in the NHS
This is a shorter Thinking Mind update on a developing story - our usual long-form episodes will continue as normal.Dr Alex discusses reports that a forthcoming government review could significantly change how ADHD is assessed and supported in England. He explains the proposed shift toward a more "needs-based system", why it is being considered, and the potential implications for people
E188 | Why The 70Up Documentary Feels Like Years of Therapy
Why does watching the 70 Up documentary feel like years of therapy? Watching lives unfold over six decades can make you reconsider your own: what you’re chasing, what you’re postponing and what really matters.In this episode Dr. Alex explores ITV’s 70 Up from his perspective as a psychiatrist and therapist. Through the participants’ ambitions, relationships, disappointments and everyday joys, we e
E187 | Can Psychiatrists Predict the Unthinkable? | The Lindsay Clancy Case
The Lindsay Clancy case has prompted an enormous debate about postpartum psychosis, criminal responsibility, psychiatric treatment and whether severe mental illness can ever be reliably predicted.In this episode Dr. Alex examines the case not to deliver a verdict on Lindsay Clancy, but to explore what it reveals about the realities and limitations of psychiatry.The episode looks at Lindsay Clancy’
How AI Shapes Our Beliefs (Key Moment w/ Dr. Tom Pollak)
How do you arrive at your beliefs?In this clip from E182 of the podcast, Dr Alex speaks with consultant neuropsychiatrist Dr Tom Pollack about what AI-associated delusions may reveal about human belief itself. Rather than treating belief as something purely rational (a simple matter of evidence, logic or facts) they explore how beliefs are also shaped by emotion, meaning, charisma, relationships a
Update on Channel 4's: The Great ADHD Myth?
In this update to last week’s episode, Dr Alex reflects on the response to Channel 4’s The Great ADHD Myth? and on an important new development. He also discusses what that means for the documentary, the wider ADHD debate, and the importance of discussing complex mental health issues without stigma, contempt or oversimplification.Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist
E186 | Channel 4’s New ADHD Documentary Missed a Huge Opportunity
In this episode of The Thinking Mind Podcast, Dr. Alex responds to Channel 4’s new documentary The Great ADHD Myth? Presented by psychiatrist Dr Max Pemberton, this film asks whether ADHD is really a neurodevelopmental disorder, and whether ADHD diagnosis and medication have gone too far. He discusses this documentary and examines where it raises important questions, and where its conclusions go b
E185 | How Psychiatry Became Fixated on Chemical Imbalance (w/ Prof. Justin Garson)
What if one of psychiatry’s most influential ideas began with LSD, amphetamines and a handful of experiments that would be difficult to imagine today?In this episode, Dr. Alex speaks with philosophy Professor Justin Garson about his new book, The Madness Pill: One Doctor’s Quest to Understand Schizophrenia. They explore the remarkable story of neuroscientist Solomon Snyder, whose work helped estab
Why Tradwife Content Feels Dangerous (Key Moment w/ Dr. Rosy Blunstone)
Is being a tradwife really just about baking bread, homemaking and traditional femininity, or is there something deeper going on?This clip is an except from E181 of the Thinking Mind Podcast. In this episode, Dr Alex is joined by Dr Rosy Blunstone to explore the psychology of the tradwife phenomenon: why tradwife content has become so popular online, what it offers women psychologically, and why i
Podcast Announcements & Housekeeping!
The Thinking Mind is taking a short break, but there is plenty happening behind the scenes.In this quick update, Dr Alex shares what listeners can catch up on now, what is coming next, and why the podcast is making a move towards YouTube. There are also new episodes on meditation, doing difficult things, schizophrenia and more already in the works.If you want to support the show like, comment and
What the Manosphere Gets Wrong About Evolutionary Psychology (Key Moment w/ Dr Paul Eastwick)
In this exceprt from E179 of the Thinking Mind Podcast, Dr Paul Eastwick explains the “EvoScript” — the popular version of evolutionary psychology that many people have absorbed from online dating advice, red pill content, the manosphere and social media.Dr Eastwick argues that while “mate value” can matter in first impressions, the idea that your romantic fate is determined by looks, height, mone
E184 | Thinking Films: Obsession (2026)
Can we really love another person, or only the version of them we have created in our minds?Today Dr Alex explores Obsession, directed by Curry Barker, a psychological horror film about desire, consent, fantasy and the darker side of romantic love.Using the film’s central premise (a young man wishes for the woman he loves to become completely devoted to him) Alex examines the difference between lo
E183 | Finding Your Life's Meaning (w/ Dr. Joel Vos)
This week Dr Alex speaks with psychologist and philosopher Dr Joel Vos about what it really means to live a meaningful life. They explore why modern culture can leave people feeling distracted, disconnected and overly focused on external goals, and how existential psychotherapy can help people reconnect with what matters most to them.The conversation also examines the relationship between meaning,
Key Moment: What We Get Wrong About Depression (and Anti-Depressants)
This is an excerpt from E178 of the Thinking Mind Podcast. In this clip, Alex speaks with neuroscientist and author Dr Dean Burnett about whether depression should really be understood as a disease.They discuss the disease model of mental health, why depression is more complicated than a simple biological fault, and why mental health problems cannot always be treated in the same way as physical il
E182 | Can AI Cause Psychosis? (w/ Dr. Tom Pollak)
Today Dr Alex speaks with consultant neuropsychiatrist and immunopsychiatry researcher Dr Tom Pollack about one of the strangest and most urgent questions emerging in mental health today: can AI chatbots contribute to delusions, psychosis, conspiracy thinking and changes in belief?They discuss the rise of so-called “AI psychosis” or AI-associated delusions, and how prolonged conversations with too
Key Moment: How To Break the Habit of Negative Thinking
This is an excerpt from E175 of the Thinking Mind Podcast.In this episode, Alex is joined by Professor Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia and one of the world’s leading researchers on the neuroscience of thought.We explore why our relationship with thought may be one of the most important factors in our wellbeing. Kalina explains why spontan
E181 | Are Trad Wives Feminists? (w/ Dr. Rosy Blunstone)
Is being a tradwife really just about baking bread, homemaking and traditional femininity, or is there something deeper going on?In this episode, Dr Alex is joined by Dr Rosy Blunstone to explore the psychology of the tradwife phenomenon: why tradwife content has become so popular online, what it offers women psychologically, and why it may also be more complicated (and less traditional) than it f
Key Moment: The Three Faces of Self-Hate
This is an excerpt from: E177 - Why You Must Deal With Self-Hate.Low self-esteem doesn’t always look like insecurity. In this clip, Dr. Alex explains three patterns of low self-esteem and self-hate: becoming aggressive, becoming submissive, or becoming avoidant. Drawing on Karen Horney’s ideas in *Neurosis and Human Growth*, he explores how poor self-esteem can show up as narcissism, people-pleasi
E180 | Thinking Films: Another Woman (1988)
In this episode of The Thinking Mind, Dr. Alex is joined by Michael Cohen and Jonathan Kirschner, hosts of That ’70s Movie Podcast, to discuss Woody Allen’s 1988 film Another Woman, starring Gena Rowlands, Ian Holm, Mia Farrow and Gene Hackman.Another Woman is a quiet but devastating psychological drama about Marion Post, a philosophy professor whose life begins to unravel when she overhears the t
Key Moment: How Dating Apps Break Male Confidence (LooksMaxxing Explained)
This is an excerpt from E174 about LooksMaxxing. Looksmaxxing has become one of the most talked-about trends among young men online — but what does it actually mean, and when does self-improvement become harmful?This conversation looks at the deeper psychological forces behind the looksmaxxing trend: fear of rejection, low self-esteem, the desire to become more attractive, the pressure to “ascend,
E179 | Why Attraction Isn't What You Think - Dr. Paul Eastwick
Dr. Paul Eastwick is a Professor at UC Davis where he runs the Attraction and Relationships Research Laboratory. Dr. Eastwick’s research investigates how people initiate romantic relationships and the psychological mechanisms that help romantic partners to remain committed and attached. He is one of the hosts of the Love Factually podcast. Today we discuss his 2026 book Bonded by Evolution - to ex
Key Moment: Make Your Life a Work of Art (w/ Emmy Van Deurzen)
This is an excerpt from E172 of the Thinking Mind Podcast. Emmy van Deurzen, one of the leading figures in existential therapy in the UK and internationally. Emmy has over fifty years’ experience as a psychotherapist, has published more than thirty books, and was the first chair of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy when it was created in 1993.In this conversation, we discuss existential
E178 | Our Idiot Brains, Happiness & Antidepressants (w/ Dr. Dean Burnett)
Today Dr. Alex is joined by neuroscientist and author Dr Dean Burnett for a wide-ranging conversation about the strange, flawed and fascinating human brain.Dr Dean Burnett is the author of The Idiot Brain, The Happy Brain and several other books exploring neuroscience, psychology and the weird ways our brains shape our lives.They discuss why the brain is not the perfect machine we often imagine it
Sleep Series E4 | The Sleep Disorders No One Talks About (w/ Dr. Hugh Selsick)
For the final episode of our Sleep Series, Dr. Anya welcomes back Dr Hugh Selsick, consultant psychiatrist and lead for the UCLH Sleep Clinic in London. This episode covers sleep disorders we didn’t discuss previously on the last episode with Hugh (E128). They discuss the different stages of sleep, strange things can happen during sleep such as sleep paralysis (parasomnias), narcolepsy, sleep apno
E177 | Why You Must Deal With Self-Hate
In this episode, Alex explores self-esteem, self-hate and self-criticism, not just as emotional issues, but as forces that can shape the quality of a person’s life.He discusses how poor self-esteem can affect relationships, work, ambition, risk-taking and the ability to build a life that feels authentic. Alex also examines how people can develop a defensive “neurotic self” in response to fear, sha
Sleep Series E3 | How Do Children Sleep? (w/ Dr Anya McLaren-Barnett)
This episode in the sleep series is with Dr Anya McLaren-Barnett. Dr Anya is a pediatric respirologist, sleep medicine physician and creator of The Sleep Health Intelligence Program (SHIPTM).In this episode, we discuss how our sleep patterns develop from birth, how Dr Anya addresses children’s sleep disorders in her clinic and we get some pointers on how to choose a sleep consultant. Thinking abou
E176 | LSD, Narcissism & the Science of the Self (w/ Dr. Anjali Bhat)
Dr Anjali Bhat is a neuroscientist, therapist and writer. Today we discuss the science of the self, the future of therapy, and what altered states of consciousness can teach us about the mind. Anjali explains her work in psychedelics research, including an upcoming study that involves giving people high doses of LSD in a high-resolution brain scanner. We also talk about the promises and limitation
Sleep Series E2 | The Psychology of Insomnia (w/ Heather Darwall-Smith)
Heather Darwall-Smith is a UKCP Registered and Accredited Psychotherapist, specialising in CBT for insomnia and psychotherapy for sleep. She is the author of How To Be Awake (So You Can Sleep Through the Night), The Science of Sleep and The ADHD Sleep Book. She has been featured on The Guardian, BBC and Forbes. You can find out more about Heather here https://www.heatherdarwallsmith.com/.This epis
E175 | How to Stop Fighting Your Mind (w/ Professor Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva)
In this episode, Alex is joined by Professor Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia and one of the world’s leading researchers on the neuroscience of thought.We explore why our relationship with thought may be one of the most important factors in our wellbeing. Kalina explains why spontaneous thought — mind-wandering, daydreaming, creativity and
Sleep Series E1: How Does Sleep Work? (w/ Prof. Russell Foster)
This is the first episode on our special mini-series on sleep. Professor Russell Foster is Professor of Circadian Neuroscience, Director of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and the Head of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford. He is the author of the Sunday Times bestseller 'Life Time'.In this episode, we take a whirlwind tour of how we’ve de
Key Moment: What People Get Wrong About Sobriety (w/ Catherine Gray)
This is an excerpt from: E170 | The Unexpected Joy of Sobriety (w/ Catherine Gray)Catherine Gray is the best selling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober (2017). In addition to her books she has also been published in The Guardian, Stylist, The Telegraph, Grazia and The Lancet Psychiatrist. Her most recent book Little Addictions (2026) is out now. Today we discuss her journey to sobriety, t
E174 | Looksmaxxing Uncovered: The Dark Side of Self-Improvement (w/ Dr. Rosy Blunstone)
Looksmaxxing is an online subculture that has moved from niche online forums into mainstream conversation, but what does it actually mean, and when does looksmaxxing become concerning, if not disturbing? In this episode, Alex is joined again by psychiatry and psychotherapy registrar Dr Rosy Blunstone to explore the world of looksmaxxing: from grooming, fitness and “softmaxxing” to more extreme pra
E173 | Thinking Films: Network (1976) w/ Tom Shkolnik
Today Alex and special guest Tom Shkolnik discuss the 1976 film Network directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Paddy Chayefsky and starring Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, William Holden and Faye Dunaway. In this episode we discuss Lumet's film-making style, how Network predicted the future, the evolution of the media landscape, the impact of systems and media on how we think and behave, technolog
E172 | How to Live Courageously (Existential Psychotherapy w/ Emmy van Deurzen)
Emmy van Deurzen, one of the leading figures in existential therapy in the UK and internationally. Emmy has over fifty years’ experience as a psychotherapist, has published more than thirty books, and was the first chair of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy when it was created in 1993.Her new book, Beginning to Live: The Art of Existential Freedom, is a guide to existential therapy. Not
E171 - Taking Your Life Back (w/ Tom Shkolnik)
Tom Shkolnik returns to discuss his upcoming film A Life of One’s Own, based on the life of psychoanalyst and writer Marion Milner. Today he explains Milner’s undogmatic, exploratory style, rooted in her rejection of post–World War I societal norms. Tom and Alex explore key ideas from A Life of One’s Own, including Milner’s practice of tracking happiness, her distinction between “wide” versus “nar
E170 - The Unexpected Joy of Sobriety (w/ Catherine Gray)
Catherine Gray is the best selling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober (2017). In addition to her books she has also been published in The Guardian, Stylist, The Telegraph, Grazia and The Lancet Psychiatrist. Her most recent book Little Addictions (2026) is out now. Today we discuss her journey to sobriety, the hidden role alcohol can play in mental health, and why giving it up can lead to
E169 | From Depression to Elite Athletic Performance (w/ Fergus Crawley)
Fergus is a hybrid athlete and mental health advocate, known for world-first endurance feats including ultra marathons and extreme triathlon challenges. His upcoming Project TENacity will see him complete 10 Iron-distance triathlons in 10 cities over 10 days, marking 10 years since a suicide attempt and raising awareness for men's mental health.Fergus' YouTube channel - https://www.youtu
We're on Break this week! Announcements, Future Episodes & Housekeeping
This week, The Thinking Mind is taking a short break. In this brief update, we highlight some recent favourite episodes, including conversations on Nazi psychology, the manosphere, mastering emotions, and a Thinking Films discussion on Taxi Driver - plus a preview of what’s coming next on the podcast. Here is the link to the crowdfunding campaign for Tom Shkolnik's upcoming film A Life of Own
E168 | Thinking Films: Taxi Driver (1976) w/ Tom Shkolnik
Today Alex and special guest Tom Shkolnik discuss the 1976 film Taxi Driver directed by Marin Scorcese and starring Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster. Tom is the director of the 2012 British drama The Comedian nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2012 London film festival. He is the director of an upcoming film based on the book A Life of One's Own by psychoanalyst Marion Milner. In this episode
E167 | Inside the Manosphere (w/ Dr. Rosy Blunstone)
Today Alex discusses the Louis Theroux documentary for Netflix Inside the Manosphere with psychiatry and psychotherapy registrar Dr. Rosy Blunstone - who also leads the the Thinking Mind Substack. The Manosphere is defined as a varied collection of onlne content made by men, for men to promote masculinity. Communities within the manosphere include mens rights activitists (MRAs), incels (involunta
E166 | The Nazi & The Psychiatrist (w/ Jack El-Hai)
Jack El-Hai is an American journalist and author who focuses most of his work on the history of medicine, the history of science, and other historical topics. He is the author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist (2013) which has since been adapted into the 2025 film Nuremberg starring Russel Crowe. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherap
E165 | Why Do Your Goals Make You Miserable? (w/ Dr. Paul Goldsmith)
Dr Paul Goldsmith is a Consultant Neurologist with a special interest in evolutionary biology and its application to the challenges of modern life. In his new book The Evolving Brain, Dr Goldsmith draws on cutting-edge neuroscience and case studies from his clinical practice to accessibly explain how our brains work and how they evolved the way they did.On this episode expect to learn:- Why we wer
E164 | Thinking Films: Nightcrawler (2014)
Today Alex discusses the 2014 film Nightcrawler directed by Dan Gilroy. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an unhinged freelancer who seeks out violent events late at night in Los Angeles, so he can film them and sell the footage to a local TV news station.We discuss the anti-social personality, the danger of bad incentives, how language can be used as a manipulative tool, the subtle insidiousness of con
E163 | How Can We Master Our Emotions? (w/ Prof Laith Al Shawaf)
Dr. Laith Al-Shawaf is an award-winning professor, research psychologist, and writer at the University of Colorado. His research focuses on emotions, cognitive biases, and personality & individual differences. He is the primary editor and curator of the 70-chapter Oxford Handbook of Evolution and the Emotions, published in 2024.You can find his scholarly work, popular science writing, and podc
E162 | Training Your Mind to Break World Records (w/ Neil Agius)
Neil Agius is a Maltese former Olympian and world record-breaking ultra long-distance swimmer. Neil has completed some of the longest unassisted open-water swims in history, including record-breaking crossings between Sicily and Malta and a 142km non-stop world record in 2024. Most recently Neil completed the Gozo 7, swimming around the island of Gozo 7 times in 7 days. Expect to learn: - What it
E161 | How do Psychedelics Help with Depression? (Professor Emma Robinson)
Professor Emma Robinson is Professor of Psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol. Professor Robinson conducts research with rodents, which can help us to better understand how emotions get formed by the brain and how novel fast-acting antidepressants like ketamine and psilocybin (aka the active ingredient of magic mushrooms) could cause antidepressant effects. We discuss how animal research
E160 | How AI Hacks Your Mind (w/ Jacob Ward)
Jacob Ward is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering technology, power, and the unintended consequences of innovation. He’s currently a reporter-in-residence at Omidyar Network and the founding editor and host of The Rip Current, a newsletter and podcast about the hidden forces shaping modern life.He previously served as a technology correspondent for NBC News and Al J
E159 | The Fundamentals of Weight Loss
Today Alex discusses the fundamentals of weight loss and sustainable weight management including: - How to approach the problem of being overweight or obese- The role of nutrition, exercise, sleep and alcohol - Understanding different phases of weight management- How to measure your progress- The psychology of weight loss- How to get started .. and much more.Disclaimer: This podcast is not appropr
E158 | Thinking Films: Blue Valentine (2010)
Today Alex discussed the 2010 film Blue Valentine, directed by Derek Cianfrance and starring Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams. Including themes of attachment, regret, addiction and unmet potential. With important takeways such as how relationships commonly fail, how to maintian healthy relationships and why you always hurt the ones you love. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultan
E157 | How can AI Technology help Therapists? (w/ Sean Ruane)
Sean Ruane is the founder and CEO of Mind Data. A lifelong entrepreneur, Sean's goal is to combine his business accumen with his own experiences of mental health difficulties to form a company than can help practitioners deliver high quality mental healthcare. Disclaimer: The Thinking Mind does not have any financial affiliation with Mind Data.Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a cons
E156 | How Should We Prepare for the Future? (feat. the Examined Life Podcast)
This week Alex presents his conversation on the Examined Life podcast with Kenneth Primrose. Alex discusses the more troubling aspects of modern life, and how we might prepare for an uncertain future. The question which formed the spine of our conversation was ‘ In a world where technology has been quite disruptive psychologically for a lot of people, how do we prepare for an increasingly technolo
E155 | A Holistic Approach to Mental Health Treatment (feat. the Lively Minds Podcast)
This week Alex returns to the Lively Minds Podcast to chat to hosts Will and Ellie. They discuss what it means to take a patient-centred approach, and the differences between seeing clients as a psychiatrist, therapist or coach. He elaborates on his diverse experiences across various mental health settings and the importance of recognising biological, psychological, and social inputs in mental hea
E154 | Thinking Films: Mulholland Drive (w/ David Shariatmadari)
Today Alex discusses David Lynch's 2001 classic Mulholland Drive with David Shariatmadari. David is a writer and editor at the Guardian and is the author of Don't Believe A Word: The Surprising Truth About Language.Including themes such as splitting, repression, the shadow, and the effects of guilt and moral injury - this film remains a beautiful, dark and enigmatic look at human psychol
E153 | Does AI Make us Dumber? (w/ Sophie McBain)
Sophie McBain is an award-winning freelance writer based in Boston. She writes longform narrative nonfiction, profiles, book reviews and essays for the Guardian, the Observer, the Times, New Statesman magazine and others.Today she discusses her recent Guardian article: Are We Living in a Golden Age of Stupidity? - about the potential cognitive affects of AI overuse. Link to article: https://www.th
E152 | How Brain Stimulation Cured Lifelong Depression (w/ Prof. Ziad Nahas)
Prof. Ziad Nahas is a psychiatrist and researcher who treats adult patients with mood disorders and treatment resistant depression and specializes in performing deep brain stimulation and electro-convulsive therapy. Dr. Nahas is Professor and Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School.Today we discuss a case study of a 44 year old
E151 | Thinking Films: The Truman Show (1998)
Today Alex discusses the 1998 high-concept drama The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey and directed by Peter Weir, about a man unknowingly trapped in a reality tv show. Including themes such as control, trauma, truth over comfort, paranoia and the price of freedom. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like
E150 | Addiction, ADHD and the Price of Success (w/ Paul Flynn)
Paul Flynn is the founder and CEO of Harbor London, with over 25 years of experience in building and leading organisations. His core focus is on the clinical management and development of high-performing mental health services, overseeing a multidisciplinary team that includes over 100 Consultants delivering care across a broad range of psychiatric and psychological specialties.Disclaimer: The Thi
E149 | Cognitive Analytic Therapy (w/ Hilary Beard)
Hilary Beard is a psychotherapist at the South London and Maudsley NHS trust. She is a practicing CAT therapist and trainer. She was a founding member of the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT) and was the chair for ACAT from 1994 - 1997. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite
E148 | Is Modern Life Making Us Sick? (w/ Prof. Derek Tracy)
Professor Derek Tracy is the Chief Medical Officer of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Derek is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, and an honorary Professor at Brunel Medical School. He has published over 140 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 20 book chapters.Prof. Tracy has written two chapters in Evolutionary
E147 | Thinking Films: The Wolf of Wallstreet (2013)
Today Alex discusses the classic 2013 financial crime epic the Wolf of Wallstreet directed by Martin Scorcese and starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Margot Robbie and Jonah Hill. Including themes such as narcissism, behaviour control, addiction and moral disengagement. This episode does not contain financial advice. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered
E146 | Should We Decriminalise Drugs? (w/ Prof. David Nutt)
Professor David Nutt is a Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London and Chair of Drug Science, an organisation which aims to educate the public about drugs and their effects. A world-leading researcher on how drugs affect the brain, he’s published over 500 papers and 34 books — including Drugs Without the Hot Air and his autobiography Nutt Uncut. A former Chair of the UK Advi
E145 | Surviving a Cult (part 2 of 2 w/ Gillie Jenkinson)
Gillie is a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor with more than 30 years’ experience. She specialises in working with survivors of coercive, cultic or spiritual abuse, trauma including rape and sexual abuse, thought-reform (brainwashing) and undue influence. She works with former cult members, including those brought up in a cult (second and multi-generation) and those who joined or were recru
E144 | Brain Stimulation Headsets for Depression (w/Daniel Månsson)
Daniel Månsson is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Flow Neuroscience, a medical device comapny which produces transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) headsets for depression. Today we discuss: What may be happening neurologically in certain cases of depressionDifferent research studies that have looked into the effectiveness of TDCS treatment for depressionThe ethical challenges of
E143 | Does ChatGPT Make a Good Therapist? (w/ Jared Moore)
Jared Moore is a computer science Ph.D. student at Stanford University. There he recently taught a course about AI called on How to Make a Moral Agent. He has previously been lectured at the University of Washington School of Computer Science where he taught a class on the philosophy of AI.He is the lead author of a research paper which came out in 2025 examining whether chat gpt and other LLMs co
E142 | Thinking Films: Her (2013)
Today Alex discusses the classic 2013 sci-fi romance Her directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Chris Pratt. Including themes such as loneliness, attachmement , artifiical intelligence, dating, falling in love, overreliance on technology and the most socially acceptable form of insanity. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP regi
E141 | Are Dating Apps Ruining Love? (Modern Relationships w/ Prof. Viren Swami)
Professor Viren Swami is an international expert on attraction and body image and has written and edited several books on these topics. He is a chartered psychologist and associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and is ranked in the top 2% of the most-cited scientists in the world.Viren is the author of Attraction Explained: The Science of how we Form Relationships, which deconstruct
E140 - Surviving a Cult (part 1 of 2 w/ Gillie Jenkinson)
Gillie is a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor with more than 30 years’ experience. She specialises in working with survivors of coercive, cultic or spiritual abuse, trauma including rape and sexual abuse, thought-reform (brainwashing) and undue influence. She works with former cult members, including those brought up in a cult (second and multi-generation) and those who joined or were recru
E139 - Can Ozempic Cause Depression? (Talking Science with Dr. Anya Borissova)
Today Alex and Anya break down mental health studies to deliver fascinating insights from research, discuss the difference between good and bad science, and understand how science can be (for better and worse) leveraged to market products. Papers discussed today:Flow neuroscience for depression: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03305-yOzempic and depression:https://www.nature.com/article
E138 What Does Science Reveal About Therapy? (w/ Prof. Pim Cuijpers)
Pim Cuijpers. Ph.D. is professor emeritus of Clinical Psychology at the Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He is also director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions in Amsterdam.Professor Cuijpers is specialised in conducting ra
E137 - How do Romantic Relationships Work? (w/ Dr. Paul Eastwick)
Dr. Paul Eastwick is a Professor at UC Davis where he runs the Attraction and Relationships Research Laboratory. Dr. Eastwick’s research investigates how people initiate romantic relationships and the psychological mechanisms that help romantic partners to remain committed and attached. He is one of the hosts of the Love Factually podcast. https://www.lovefactuallypod.com/Interviewed by Dr. Alex C
We're on Break this week! Announcements, Future Episodes & Housekeeping
We're on holiday this week! Today we briefly mention some recent episode recommendations, future episodes and other announcements. The Thinking Mind Podcast is hosted by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speakin
E136 - Are we Over-Diagnosing Mental Illness? (w/ Dr. Alastair Santhouse)
Dr. Alastair Santhouse is a consultant psychiatrist and author with over 20 years of experience in the field. He has worked at both Guy’s Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital in London, treating a wide range of mental health conditions.His clinical expertise includes the psychological impact of physical illness and persistent physical symptoms, as well as more typical psychiatric conditions such as
E135 - Are we Failing Patients with Psychosis? (w/ Dr. Patte Randal)
Dr. Patte Randal is a doctor trained in psychiatry, now retired from practice after working for over 30 years in mental health. She has lived experience of recovery from psychosis, and has told her story publicly in many contexts, including her published book, Finding Hope in the Lived Experience of Psychosis: Reflections on Trauma, Use of Power, and Re-visioning Psychiatry - co-authored with Dr.
E134 - Is Psychiatry Making Things Worse? (w/ Marieke Bigg)
Marieke Bigg is an author of fiction and nonfiction in the areas of women’s health, mental health, and the history of science. She holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Cambridge where her research focused on the debates on human embryo research in Britain. She is currently also training as a psychotherapist and works as a peer support coordinator and client liaison at the mental health
E133 - How Does Your Personality Affect Your Life? - Live at Imperial College
What if you finally had a road map to your psychology?This week Alex shares a talk he gave at the MRC institute at Imperial College - Personality: How the Science of Who We Are Can Help Us Lead Better Lives.This talk describes how we can define personality, why its useful to have an understand of personality for career, relationships and quality of life, how personality affects our political leani
E132 - Does Acceptance Lead to Change? (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy w/Dr. Joe Oliver)
Dr Joe Oliver is a consultant clinical psychologist and founder of Contextual Consulting, an organisation providing training, supervision and therapy in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). He is also an associate professor and overall programme director for the University College London CBT for Severe Mental Health Problems post graduate programme.He has written 6 ACT books, and has his own Y
E131 - What if Nothing Felt Real Anymore? (Depersonalisation & Derealisation w/ Dr. Elaine Hunter)
Dr. Elaine Hunter is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked with Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder since 1999. She has conducted research into improving psychological treatment of the condition and worked clinically to try to help many people with the condition. In March 2019 she set up The Depersonalisation Clinic to allow her freedom to see a wider range of clients. She i
E130 - What Should You Know about Anti-depressants? (feat. the Lively Minds podcast)
This week Alex goes on the the Lively Minds Podcast to chat to hosts Will and Ellie. They take a deep dive into anti-depressants and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which is the most commonly prescribed form of antidepressant in the UK.They discuss what we know about the effectiveness of SSRIs, what we don't, and why there is so much debate about their use.You can check out L
E129 - Living with Bipolar Disorder (w/ Shreevatsa Nevatia)
Shreevatsa Nevatia is an independent journalist. He has worked as the editor of National GeographicTraveller, and has written for the NationHindustan Times, and the Mumbai Mirror and Outlook. He is the author of How to Travel Light: My Memories of Madness and Melancholia, which among other things describes Shreevata's experiences coming to terms with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in his ear
E128 - How do we Treat Insomnia? (w/ Dr. Hugh Selsick)
Dr Hugh Selsick is a consultant psychiatrist treating adults with sleep disorders, he has been involved in Sleep and Sleep Medicine for nearly 30 years. He has also founded and ran the Insomnia and Behavioural Sleep Medicine Clinic at UCLH, having worked for over a decade in the Sleep Disorders Centre at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals. Dr. Selsick founded and chaired the Sleep Special Interest G
E127 - Can Tony Robbins Cure Depression? (Talking Science with Dr. Anya Borissova)
Can Tony Robbins self-help course cure depression? Do people prefer ketamine or electroconvulsive treatment for depression and does preference matter? Today Alex and Anya break down mental health studies to deliver fascinating insights from research, discuss the difference between good and bad science, and understand how science can be (for better and worse) leveraged to market products. Tony Robb
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