This week, Margaret and I sat down with Dr. Jhilam Biswas, psychiatrist and expert on the intersection of law and mental health, for one of the hardest—and most important conversations we’ve had on the show. Together, we take a close look at how our justice system responds to mental illness: what h…
Is it all in your head or is pain more complex than we’ve been led to believe? In this episode, Margaret and I dig into the psychological and biological factors that shape our experience of pain, including how the brain processes physical discomfort, the emotional toll it takes, and what role medic…
Margaret took the captain’s chair for this one, and I was just along for the ride—straight into the deep waters of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy. We start with the basics: what do these words actually mean, and why do they still make some clinicians roll their eyes while others swear by …
This episode might feel like a gut punch, in the most important way. Margaret and I sat down with Alyson Stoner to talk about what it means to be raised in the spotlight, what happens when systems prioritize performance over people, and how we reckon with that legacy in healthcare. There’s a vulner…
Margaret and I sat down to speak on a topic we rarely hear spoken plainly: suicide, and more specifically, suicide risk assessments. We didn’t plan to tidy anything up or wrap it in easy language. Instead, we tried to sit with it—the fear, the responsibility, the human ache behind it all. We talk a…
This episode felt like a deep exhale. Margaret runs solo today, as she sat down with Dr. Hillary McBride—psychologist, author, and researcher—to talk about embodiment, trauma, and the radical act of tuning back into ourselves. We talked about what it means to feel your feelings in your body, why…
This is the episode I wish we never had to make—and also the one I wish I’d had from the beginning. Margaret and I talk about suicide from inside the profession: what it’s like to lose a patient, how we carry that grief (or numbness), and why the aftermath is rarely as clear-cut as people think. …
It’s Part 2 of our deep dive into eating disorders—and this time, we’re going even deeper. We kick off by unpacking our mock therapy session with Dr. Helen Liljenwall, which unexpectedly hit close to home for all of us. Then we take a sharp turn into the medical realities of starvation, including r…
This is Part 1 of our two-part deep dive into eating disorders—and we’re starting at the beginning. Margaret and I sit down with psychiatrist and eating disorder specialist Helen Sanon, MD to walk through the basics: What are the major types of eating disorders? What do they actually look like in r…
This episode hit harder than I expected. Margaret and I talk about what it feels like to care for patients who remind us a little too much of ourselves, especially when we’re also the ones filling out the paperwork for a psychiatric hold. We dig into what a 5150 (or 5585) really means, how to sit w…
In this episode, Margaret and I take on burnout—what it actually is, where the term came from, and how to tell when you’re not just tired, but something deeper is cracking. We dig into the history, the Maslach Inventory, moral injury, and why burnout isn’t in the DSM (yet). We also share our own un…
Season 1: complete! In this wrap-up episode, Margaret and I reflect on what it’s been like building this show from scratch—while also being full-time psychiatry residents. We talk about favorite episodes, unexpected challenges, what we’re still figuring out, and what’s ahead for Season 2. We also a…
In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Nikki Haddad, we went from couples therapy theory to Simpsons cosplay, and yes—it was as chaotic and illuminating as it sounds. Margaret and I roleplay Homer and Marge in a fictional session while Nikki breaks down what’s actually happening between us (emotion…
In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Nikki Haddad —Margaret's residency best friend, couples and sex therapist, and one of the most thoughtful psychiatrists I know—to break down what makes romantic relationships so damn hard. We get into myths we’ve carried (and tried to shake), how sexual issues …
We opened up the inbox and wow… y’all really came through. In this first-ever Q&A episode, Margaret and I answer your questions about coping during med school, surviving feedback, dealing with emotional exhaustion in residency, and why outpatient goodbyes feel like actual breakups. I also overshare…
This week, I learned I have a pelvic floor. And yes, I realize I’m a doctor and should’ve known that already. Margaret and I talk with pelvic floor physical therapist and viral educator Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, who somehow made me breathe through my butt on mic. We cover everything from incontine…
In the last episode, Preston demonstrated to Margaret how to properly conduct a mindfulness meditation session. Due to popular demand, the sage spiritual guide is back.
In Episode 16, Preston and Margaret dive into the chaos of overnight residency, the reality of sleep deprivation, and how mindfulness can backfire when your brain just won’t sit still. From ruined meditations to hot girl walks through hospital hallways, they unpack what real-world coping actually l…
In Episode 15, Preston and Margaret open a bottle—of questions, stories, and science—about alcohol use disorder. What do we get wrong about “moderate” drinking? Why is detox more dangerous than most people realize? And how does alcohol quietly reshape identity, relationships, and the brain itself? …
In Episode 14, Preston and Margaret dive into social anxiety disorder and the loneliness epidemic. From embarrassing childhood memories to awkward club encounters, they explore how social anxiety shows up in everyday life and how it differs from normal nerves. They also discuss the surgeon general’…
In this episode Margaret takes the lead as she welcomes art therapist, psychotherapist, and author Amelia Knott to discuss the ethics of being online, parasocial relationships, and the impact of social media on mental health. We explore the blurred lines between personal and professional identities…
In this episode we are joined by Priyanka Patel, a pharmacist, content creator, and soon-to-be author, to discuss mental health misinformation, ADHD, and the challenges of navigating online discourse about mental health. Priyanka shares her personal journey with ADHD, the barriers she faced in gett…
In this episode Preston and Margaret explore the endocannabinoid system, cannabis, and its impact on mental health. They break down the science behind CB1 and CB2 receptors, explain why marijuana affects people so differently, and discuss the complex relationship between THC, CBD, and dopamine. Alo…
In this episode Preston and Margaret are joined by Dr. David Roberts to explore the fascinating world of motivational interviewing (MI)—a counseling technique designed to help patients navigate ambivalence and commit to meaningful change. Dr. Roberts shares insights from his years of experience tra…