A Podcast with Charlie Swenson - To Hell and Back

In the wake of the recent killing by federal agents of two adults in Minneapolis, this podcast represents an attempt to deepen my perspective on these events, on Donald Trump, and on the forces in our country that have supported him. I close with some thoughts about how to counter him in the coming days. View video version of this podcast

In this podcast Charlie reviews the six categories of people in the United States insofar as they are actors in the drama between democracy and authoritarianism, highlighting where it might be possible to change the momentum. He then discusses the role of “bystanders” and the psychology of bystanders, with a plea to convert bystanders to more active participants View video version of this podcast

The perspective within this podcast is that our current political process is seriously dysfunctional, having been taken over by decision-makers who seem disconnected from normal human morality. After noticing the resemblance of that process to what goes on in mob organizations and families, and in some families where incest occurs, we will identify the various roles in this ugly process and consider what can be done to improve things. View video version of this podcast

In this podcast, I explore what is meant by dialectics in general, dialectics in the practice of DBT, and especially what it takes to “do dialectics-in-action.” It’s way more common and profound than simply applying dialectical strategies to certain situations. View video version of this podcast

To say NO to the forces and practices of fascism in the U.S., effectively enough to stop it, can be frightening. We will borrow from the DBT skills training model, explaining ways to acquire, strengthen, and generalize the skill of saying NO in hopes that each of us can find our voice and make a difference. View video version of this podcast

In this episode, the fourth in a series on autism and DBT, Charlie is again joined by Amara Brooke and Rachel Kraus, two DBT therapists who are autistic and who have subspecialties in working with autistic clients. Our focus here is entirely on the application and adaptation of DBT skills in the work with autistic individuals. Which skills work well as they are? Which skills require adaptation in order to work well with this population? Which skills can actually make things worse if you aren’t mindful of autistic features? Please rate, review, and write to me with comments and questions. View video version of this podcast

Charlie moderates a discussion between Amara Brook and Rachel Kraus, both of whom are DBT-informed therapists with subspecialties treating autistic and ADHD individuals, as they come of with ten things to consider when adapting DBT to autism. In the next episode after this one, the same guests will specifically address how to modify DBT skills in working with autistic clients. View video version of this podcast

It seems that the world is paying more and more attention to autism in particular and neurodiversity in general. Beginning with this episode, Charlie talks with Amara Brooke, Ph.D., about autism, neurodiversity, and ways of adapting DBT to help an autistic individual reach their life-worth living goals. Tune in for this three-episode special conversation, which will eventually lead to ten tips for adapting DBT therapy with autistic people, and then on to what is meant by the Universal Design for Learning. View video version of this podcast

In a manner that is absolutely true to these words from her DBT and life mentor, Seth Axelrod, Andrea Gold has completed her one year of prescribed treatment for breast cancer, with the best results one can hope for. Tune in to this episode to hear Andrea celebrate the completion of the year and reflect upon how she managed the suffering (a lot) and created fun and connection through it all (a lot). She brings an infectious and intelligent enthusiasm, an emotional and affiliative personality, and a bad-ass exposure and DBT lifestyle, to rather grim cancer-related events: diagnosis, staging, mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and survivorship. Listen, connect, reflect…learn from her. View video version of this podcast View Gallery

“In this episode, Nicole and Charlie tap into the wisdom that Cem Eren has gained from two decades of training elite NBA athletes, boxers, bodybuilders, beauty contestants, and ordinary humans of all ages. In examples that extend to therapy and coaching, Cem shares how he meets his clients every single day with freshness, compassion, dignity, and nonjudgmental presence, helping them connect with their strengths while building toward their goals. View video version of this podcast

In this second of our two-episode conversation with Natalia Garcia about her grieving process over the years since the death of her two-year-old son, we focus in on her altered relationship to time, rituals, and anniversaries; her remarkable use of DBT skills and dialectics to navigate the grieving process; the ways that she has made meaning out of her suffering; and a dinosaur, a gift from a fellow griever. View video version of this podcast Gallery

In 2018, Natalia Garcia spoke with me over three podcast episodes about how she was dealing with the catastrophic and traumatic death of her two year old son eight months earlier. He died in the middle of the night for unexplained reasons. In three podcasts she spoke at length of her life, of the death itself, and then the road to recovery. In this week’s podcast, we reprise selected excerpts from those podcasts, capturing her words and her wisdom that grew out of this terrible loss. She inspires.