You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist

Why does your teen tune you out? It might have to do with the role your message unconsciously casts her in. "Alter-casting" refers to the way every message you send implicitly assigns a role or identity to the person you're speaking with. If the role you cast your child in conflicts with how they want to see themselves, your message will be rejected — no matter how accurate, loving, or urgent it is.I walk through a concrete example: a mother warning her teenage daughter about predators online. The mother's intention is protective love. What the daughter hears is: "You think I'm a naive, helpless child." That identity is intolerable to an adolescent fighting for autonomy — and so the message fails entirely. I explain how this same dynamic plays out when parents share detransitioner videos with their kids, and why that approach almost always backfires for this exact reason.The episode also covers practical tools from ROGD Repair, including the alter-casting Venn diagram (mapping the overlap between what you see in your child, and what they see in their idealized self-image, even if aspirational); the strategic use of self-deprecating humor and strategic naivete; and the accusation audit — a technique for front-loading anticipated criticism in a way that actually invites your child into a more generous, gracious response. I close with a broader reflection on what this work really is: seeing beneath the performance to the real person underneath, and helping them become who they're meant to be.This podcast episode doubles as an ROGD Repair bonus lesson. It can be found in the course here, along with homework questions to help you personalize the material. If you're a parent navigating these issues in your family, ROGD Repair can help you work smarter, not harder, to get through to your teen. Get access to over 120 lessons like this and more. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take half off your first month at ROGDrepair.com.[00:00:00] Start[00:01:00] What Altercasting Is and Why It Matters[00:02:15] The Teen and the Predator Warning: A Case Study[00:05:00] Why Sharing Detransitioner Content Backfires[00:07:00] How to Cast Your Child in a Role They'll Accept[00:07:45] The Altercasting Venn Diagram Exercise[00:11:00] Why Failed Conversations Make the Next One Harder[00:12:00] Strategic Naivete and Self-Deprecating Humor[00:13:00] The Accusation Audit Tool[00:15:30] Reading Your Child's Self-Presentation Without Reacting[00:18:00] Early Intervention and the Cost of Waiting[00:26:30] Accepting Reality as the Path to Self-ActualizationROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesPRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Today I sit down with investigative reporter Benjamin Ryan, who was the only journalist present for the entirety of the historic Varian v. Einhorn trial — the first detransition malpractice lawsuit in the world to reach a jury verdict. Ben has been covering pediatric gender medicine for three years for outlets including the New York Times, NBC News, the New York Sun, and the Free Press, and he brings an extraordinary level of detail to this conversation.We dive into the case of Fox Varian, a young woman diagnosed with autism who underwent a double mastectomy at age 16 after her psychologist, Kenneth Einhorn, wrote a referral letter riddled with errors and omissions — including listing body dysmorphic disorder instead of gender dysphoria. We discuss how the jury found Einhorn 70% responsible and plastic surgeon Dr. Chin 30% responsible for a $2 million award, the devastating testimony from Fox's mother about being coerced with suicide threats, and the critical communication failures between the psychologist and surgeon. We also explore what this verdict means for the nearly 30 other detransition lawsuits currently pending, why WPATH's standards of care were largely sidelined in the trial, and the broader implications for the field of pediatric gender medicine. I also share my own perspective as a therapist who worked for a group practice later acquired by the same company that employed Einhorn.Benjamin Ryan is an independent reporter who has been covering pediatric gender medicine for the past three years, including on his Substack: benryan.substack.com. He writes for publications such as The New York Times, NBC News and The New York Sun and covered the detransitioner trial for The Free Press. Follow him @BenRyanWriter on X or BlueSky.BenRyan.netBenjamin's article in the Free Press, A Legal First That Could Change Gender Medicine[00:00:00] Start[00:00:54] Introducing Reporter Benjamin Ryan[00:09:38] Fox Varian's Background and Rapid Transition[00:18:35] Were WPATH Guidelines Actually on Trial?[00:25:30] Disturbing Revelations From Einhorn's Treatment[00:35:15] Changing the Body to Treat the Mind[00:46:41] The Joanna Olson-Kennedy Lawsuit[00:55:32] The Jury Verdict Question by Question[01:06:41] Einhorn's Visible Devastation in Court[01:13:04] Q&A: Technicality or Broader Indictment?[01:31:31] What If WPATH Were Followed Perfectly?ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this inaugural roundtable discussion, I dive headfirst into one of the most contentious topics at the intersection of faith and science: psychedelics and Christianity. As a relatively new Christian myself, I've been wrestling with what believers should think about these powerful substances—especially after interviewing guests whose lives were transformed by psychedelic experiences, including detransitioners who credit these substances with helping them see through lies they'd built their lives upon.I've gathered four fascinating voices for this conversation, each bringing unique expertise and perspectives. Louie Locke, a pastor of 26 years from Reno, Nevada, rates himself a one out of ten—firmly opposed to psychedelic use from a Christian perspective. He explains his concerns about entering the "second heaven" or spirit realm through means other than Jesus, warning of spiritual doors that may be opened through such substances.Cameron English, a science journalist and director of biosciences at the American Council on Science and Health, brings skepticism from both scientific and theological angles, noting the poor quality of research and drawing parallels to problematic harm reduction movements.Daniel Elliot, an Air Force veteran and counselor who has conducted research on psilocybin and spiritual wellbeing, offers a cautious middle ground as a five, distinguishing between natural substances like psilocybin and synthetic ones like MDMA.Dr. Liza Lockwood, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist, presents the highest rating at seven, explaining her interest in the therapeutic potential for treating refractory depression while sharing the fascinating history of ergot poisoning from the Salem Witch Trials to the discovery of LSD.Together we explore the Greek concept of pharmakeia, whether psychedelics might be connected to the tree of knowledge of good and evil, what harm reduction really means in practice, and whether Christians should be involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy settings. This is just the first in a series exploring these questions—questions that don't have easy answers but deserve thoughtful Christian engagement.Books mentioned:-Imagine Heaven and Imagine The God of Heaven by John Burke-The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis---WHERE TO FIND THE GUESTSLouie D Locke is the Lead Pastor of Hillside Church in Reno, Nevada, where he has served for 26 years, and also oversees eight churches across Northern Nevada and Eastern California as an Area Pastor. Married to Joni for 36 years with three adult children and eight grandchildren, Louie's life mission is to help people understand and follow God's plan, guiding them toward spiritual wholeness and mature discipleship grounded in biblical integrity. A lifelong learner with passion for history, theology, and thoughtful discussion, he enjoys exploring complex biblical topics and applying Christian principles to everyday life.- X/Twitter: @scoeyd- Church website: hillside4.orgCameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project, a nonprofit committed to aiding the public, media, and policymakers by promoting science literacy.- X/Twitter: @CamJEnglish- Website: acsh.org (American Council on Science and Health)- Podcast: Science Facts and Fallacies (with Dr. Liza Lockwood)Daniel Mark Elliott Jr., LMHCA, is a Protestant psychoanalytic counselor specializing in psychosis, dissociation, and cultural fragmentation. An Air Force veteran, psychedelic researcher, and founded Mad River Counseling. He is currently writing a book titled My Psychosis while developing a framework on how minds form reality, coherence, and meaning in fragmented societies.- X/Twitter: @Olaf_The_Third- Website: mad-river.orgDr. S. Eliza Lockwood is an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist who completed her fellowship at NYU in 2006 and went on to establish an ACGME-accredited program at Washington University in St. Louis. Driven by a passion for sustainable global health solutions, she has organized humanitarian relief efforts, founded a global health scholar track, and now serves as Medical Affairs Lead for Bayer, focusing on innovative approaches to malnutrition and disease prevention in developing countries. She lectures nationally and internationally on medical toxicology, tropical medicine, and global health.- X/Twitter: @DrLizaMD- LinkedIn: Liza Lockwood- Podcast: Science Facts and Fallacies (with Cameron English)- Weekly X Space: Thursdays 4-6 PM Central (with Cam and John Entine) discussing science and faith topics[00:00:00] Start[00:00:47] Introduction to Psychedelics and Christianity Roundtable[00:02:30] Rating Scale Explained: One to Ten[00:03:25] Louie Locke Introduction: Pastor, Rating One[00:05:23] Cameron English Introduction: Science Journalist, Rating Two[00:07:13] Daniel Elliot Introduction: Veteran and Counselor, Rating Five[00:08:14] Dr. Liza Lockwood Introduction: Toxicologist, Rating Seven[00:09:16] Why This Topic Matters to Stephanie[00:11:30] Louie Explains His Opposition to Psychedelics[00:19:22] Defining Pharmakeia and Biblical Sorcery[00:25:26] Cam's Journey Through Depression to Faith[00:38:17] Daniel on Natural vs Synthetic Substances[00:55:50] Dr. Liza's Scientific Perspective as a Seven[00:57:22] Salem Witch Trials to LSD: A History[01:10:32] Mid-Episode Break[01:19:45] Defining Harm Reduction and Its Failures[01:35:01] Psychedelics and the Tree of Knowledge[01:47:30] Brian Johnson's Psilocybin and Transhumanism[02:01:06] Seeking God in Mistaken Ways[02:05:20] Final Thoughts from the Panel[02:12:45] Where to Find the GuestsROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pe...

Social psychology expert Brant Elwood joins me to explore the fascinating and often troubling world of unconscious group dynamics. Brant brings a unique perspective, having spent four years as a field guide in wilderness therapy—accumulating over 10,000 hours working with small groups—before transitioning into organizational psychology and leadership consulting.We dive deep into the phenomenon of scapegoating: why groups unconsciously select certain members to carry their collective anxiety, how the scapegoat often cooperates with this unspoken contract, and what happens when that person leaves. Brant shares compelling examples from Tavistock group relations conferences and primate research to illustrate how these dynamics play out across species.I also share my own experience of being scapegoated in a T-group during grad school, and we explore how our childhood wounds create "Velcro" for these projections to stick. We discuss the role of humor as a potential escape route, what healthy leadership looks like, and why some organizations become addicted to crisis. The conversation takes a meaningful turn toward Nathaniel Brandon's work on self-esteem—what it truly means beyond the smarmy 90s version—and how a leader's unintegrated material gets amplified throughout an organization. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone navigating workplace dynamics or seeking to understand group psychology.Brant Elwood has a MA in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. He has held consulting roles and leadership positions within several therapeutic treatment organizations. During the pandemic, he directed a non-profit that utilized myth and archetypal theory to conduct rites of passage work with young men in the southeast US. Brant draws from the mythopoetic lineage of Robert Bly, Robert Johnson, and others in an attempt to establish a novel style of thinking about groups in communities and organizations. He first attended a Tavistock-style group relations conference in 2015. Follow him on X @thegrouplens. Find his book on Amazon: Gods, Heroes, and Groups: Relational Dynamics Through Mythic Archetypes.[00:00:00] Start[00:00:38] Introduction to Brant Elwood[00:01:40] Background in Wilderness Therapy[00:04:01] Tavistock Group Relations Conferences[00:15:59] The Psychology of Scapegoating[00:28:19] Projective Identification and Personal Wounds[00:40:47] Qualities of Healthy Organizations[00:45:30] Toxic Workplace Dynamics Case Study[00:54:21] Nathaniel Brandon's Self-Esteem Framework[01:09:00] Christian Perspective on Self-Worth[01:15:45] Crisis of Faith in Therapy Field[01:17:29] Where to Find Brant and His BookROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Licensed clinical social worker Tammy Weitzman dedicated 23 years of her career to caring for cancer patients—from the moment of diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and sometimes end of life. But her stellar track record as a source of comfort to ailing patients in their hour of need wasn’t enough for her to keep her job. Tammy’s story reveals how DEI ideology can infiltrate even the most sacred spaces in healthcare, ultimately costing her everything she'd worked for.Tammy describes how her workplace at Seattle's Fred Hutch Cancer Center transformed after 2017, when self-described "social justice warriors" entered her department. She was called a "white kike" by a colleague, harassed for her friendship with someone in the Trump administration, and subjected to mandatory DEI sessions that dismissed her own experiences with antisemitism. When she pushed back against an email encouraging therapists to bring political conversations into patient care, she received a three-page complaint accusing her of "white privilege"—and was terminated ten days later for "lack of ethnic sensitivity."We explore what it means when institutions prioritize ideology over their core mission, how the female-dominated helping professions have become breeding grounds for social aggression masked as compassion, and what it takes to rebuild after your career and character have been destroyed. Tammy shares how she filed a lawsuit that settled quickly, relocated across the country, and rebuilt her practice from the ground up—all while becoming a source of support for others experiencing similar persecution.A licensed clinical social worker for 25 years, Tammy Weitzman has presented her work around the world. Born and raised in Toronto, she completed her graduate degree in New York. Tammy spent most of her career caring for cancer patients and their families, particularly those undergoing treatment of hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and stem cell transplantation. Although gifted at her job, her career took a downturn when “woke” colleagues created a hostile working atmosphere, harassing her with antisemitic slurs. After she objected to a colleague sending a biased political article to social workers over company email, Tammy was abruptly terminated from her job in Seattle. Tammy now counsels in private practice as an LCSW in North Carolina.Tammy's counseling websiteEmail: tammyw@wefixbrains.comBooks mentioned in this episode:- Imagine Heaven by John Burke- Imagine the God of Heaven by John Burke[00:00:00] Start[00:07:22] Why Oncology: Father's Death from Cancer[00:11:57] Wisdom from a Dying Patient[00:20:41] 2017: Social Justice Warriors Arrive[00:34:28] Called a "White Kike" by Colleague[00:44:00] Friend in Trump Administration Exposed[00:54:19] Terminated for "Lack of Ethnic Sensitivity"[00:56:01] Decision to Fight Back[01:09:52] Filing Lawsuit and Rebuilding LifeROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★