Two Shrinks Pod : A Podcast All About Psychology
Donaldson, A. & Mulcare, H. (in press)
Aims: Two Shrinks Pod is podcast all about nerding out psychology and psychological theory. The focus is mainly on clinical issues, the kind of topics and issues that come up in psychological therapy such as anxiety, depression and personality disorders. It is a chance to listen to and understand how psychologists think about problems, how they attempt to resolve them, and what their everyday work can entail. The intent is to present discussions that are at a level that psychologists have, rather than dumbed down content that is found elsewhere.
Method: Roughly hour long podcasts presented by Amy and Hunter, both psychologists who live in Melbourne, Australia. There is about 40-50 minutes on a topic which covers theory as well as how the topic translates into clinical practice. From time to time other psychologists or professionals come on to talk about specific topics that we want to know more about. The pod always finishes with a segment called “Things We Came Across”, which is where Hunter and Amy talk about an interesting and usually odd or funny piece of research we have come across. You know, the article that comes up when doing a literature search that looks far more interesting than whatever you are researching, the one that you tell your friends about when having after work drinks, the one you can’t believe someone actually got funding for, the funny one, that article.
Results: At the time of writing 83 podcasts have been published with a clinically significant trend towards increasing levels of professionalism in presenting style and content. Highlights have been the series on the Personality Disorders (#24-#34); the “How To” series including how to respond disclosures of sexual assault (#69); disorder focused episodes such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder, #48), Factitious Disorder (Munchausen’s, #47) Autism Spectrum Disorder (#61); and answering listener questions in “You Can’t Ask a Psychologist That” (#40). It is not all serious and being pop culture nerds Amy and Hunter have analysed the analysis of psychologists on film/tv (#50, #51 and upcoming #71). They have also put all their years (decades) of university education to good use in episodes diagnosing all the Harry Potter characters with personality disorders (#41), discussed the mental health of the Skywalker family in a two hour masterpiece (#60) and outlined treatment plans for all the characters in John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club (#70). Podcasts have been accessed through a range of sources, including this website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean and other podcast apps. Clinicians, researchers, patients and their friends and family have provided positive feedback that the show helps them to understand complex psychological issues. Listeners are able to follow the show on twitter @twoshrinkspod.
Conclusions: Find a topic you think might sound interesting and have a listen. If you like the show tell someone about it. Listeners can also see ratings and reviews of the pod on apple podcasts.
Theme tune: The intro/outro music of 2SP was performed and recorded by the wonderful James Grim and is an offshoot of his project http://www.jamesgrim.com.au
James Grim is best known as one of Australia’s most engaging performers fronting formidable and infamous Brothers Grim and the Blue murders, James Grim has established himself as an authentic and powerful voice in Australia’s musical landscape. A songwriter of rare empathy and a penetrating primal growl it is difficult to avoid being drawn into his charismatic pull. From explosive and savage in Brothers Grim to dark and brooding in Woodcutters, James has now focused his attention to producing. He is also an Actor, Artist, Film Maker and Educator
His latest project JAMES GRIM BIG BAND is a collection of songs written and recorded post-Brothers Grim, that lie somewhere between the gritty soundscapes of 70's Blaxploitation Soundtracks, New Orleans Soul Blues and late 90's Hip Hop.