We've probably all heard the saying "Life is not about how many times you fall down - it's about how many times you get back up." Sure, sounds good. But how do we get back up? Resilience is an essential life skill we can learn and Liana is joined by Angie Lion, Chief Soul Officer of Black River Performance Management (blackriverpm.com) to talk abou…

"If you’re anything like me, you’re tired of folding yourself into a neat little box with clean descriptors that make linear sense. Women’s lives and experiences just aren’t like that. The messiness of our lives is a main ingredient in the mysticism that is womanhood." Author & women's mentor and coach Megan Dalla-Camina https://womenrisingco.com/ …

As people have pointed out, the word 'diet' begins with 'die' - society's unhealthy focus on a person's weight has killed the self-esteem of too many men and women - too often with fatal results. The 'diet culture' messaging that bombards us is based in outdated attitudes, racial biases, perceptions of wealth and commerce. Liana talks about the pro…

When many people lean on you for emotional support, who do you lean on? This is a question that caregivers and members of the clergy wrestle with every day. US Army Lt. Colonel Rebecca D'Angelo, speaks to Liana about how military clergy face the challenge, with information that caregivers can model in their own lives.…

There is a loneliness epidemic uniquely affecting men. Why do men have fewer friends than women - and how does that affect their relationships, self-worth and potential for success? Also... why do men have fewer friends than women?? Liana talks to game designer James "Grim" Desborough of Postmortem Studios (post-mort.com) as they explore answers fo…

Canada's first female mayor, Dr. Charlotte Witten, said “Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.” With respect to Dr. Witten - yes, it really is. Dated perspectives often punish women for the very thoughts and behaviours men are celebrated for. But this isn't a man vs woman iss…

It's the 100th episode! Liana uses her Top 10 Sayings to share what she has learned from her discussions with expert guests about mental health recovery, the strengths & weaknesses of mental health systems and treatments and the essential role of peer counseling.Liana Kerzner

The media feeding frenzy and intra-party backstabbing that forced US President Joe Biden to withdraw his candidacy for the 2024 Presidential Election wasn't just politics - it was a profound example of our society's long-standing prejudice against older people. Award-winning U.S. author and psychiatrist Dr. Ravi Chandra https://ravichandramd.com/ j…

It's just a fact that all of us harbour some kind of prejudice. It doesn't need to be based on things like religion or ethnicity, it may be as small as attitudes toward movie genres or sports teams, but it's a part of the human condition. Where does it come from? Liana takes a journey through how to recognize prejudice, find its source, and disarm …

We're in an era of political bad crazy, and friendships that have lasted decades are crumbling because of political fights. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it? Liana looks at social identity threats on this episode!Liana Kerzner

Yoda is well known for saying hate leads to the Dark Side. Though it's an impulse that is human and natural, it never leads anywhere good. Liana, no novice when it comes to being a target of some peoples' enmity, talks about how to handle being hated, what to do when you're the hater, and how to stop hating yourself, in a world where everyone is en…

Ever wished you could have an owner's manual for your brain - a reference you could turn to when facing mental and emotional health issues? That book is You Will Get Through This and Liana talks to the authors, 3 mental health professionals, about their approach to getting a handle on common mental health challenges. Link to the book by Julie Radic…

What is 'Therapy-Speak'? People using mental health care terms like 'gaslighting' and 'narcissism' without knowing what they really mean. Too many people use Therapy-Speak to win arguments and marginalize people with their 'diagnoses'. Liana unpacks what the words really mean, what they don't mean, and how to deal with someone using them against yo…

Wanting attention for accomplishments, actions, outfits or just for being you is a normal healthy human desire. Everyone needs validation now and then. Narcissism is when wanting attention crosses into needing attention - and that's not good. Liana lays out a list of what separates a healthy appetite for attention from the unhealthy cravings of nar…

How we measure success or failure depends on our core values. So what are your core values? That's not the easiest thing to define. Liana is joined by Marianna Lead, founder of Goal Imagery Coaching Academy and author of the book Me, My Brand And Why, to help you name the personal values that guide your life.…

What we have here is a failure to communicate "So, what are you saying?" That's a question people get asked, but also one we should be asking of ourselves. Are we really delivering the message we intend, or has it gone (maybe horribly) awry? Communication errors plague everyone at some point, so Liana takes us through easy ways to get our message a…

Introverts Unite! Believe it or not, Liana - Youtuber, podcast host, peer counselor and former TV personality & pin-up model - is an introvert. It is possible for introverts to navigate and succeed in a world built for extroverts and communications expert and NYU educator Nancy Ancowitz, the author of Self-Promotion for Introverts (a Quiet Guide fo…

It's as simple as this - You. Matter. It's not your job, your family, your income - your value is inherent from the day you were born. So why do so many of us struggle with feelings of worthlessness? Psychologist Dr. Julie Radico, author of the forthcoming You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health First-Aid Book, talks to Liana about why we matter…

Validation - recognition that our thoughts and efforts have value - is essential for healthy self-esteem. Yet we're exposed to so much messaging that is invalidating, it's hard to fight it...but you can do it. One of the groups facing greatest public invalidation is trans people, and Liana speaks to Aquila, a military veteran and bi-racial trans wo…

The rising tide of homophobia and transphobia has made 2SLGBTQ+ people targets of surging intolerance, and nobody knows that better than Fae Johnstone. Fae is a trans woman and advocate whose face appeared on a Hershey chocolate bar celebrating International Women's Day which brought her waves of hate and derision. Why do some people fear trans men…

We all do. Our buttons get pushed, our emotions take over. But our attempts to defend ourselves often lead to offending others. And do we really need to defend ourselves? Liana walks us through the pitfalls that add fuel to an argument and some tools to use to get better results.Liana Kerzner

There was an issue with the upload the first time around! Description: According to psychotherapist and author Dr. Avrum Weiss, there's one relationship men have in common that controls their relationship with women - and most don't even know it. Liana talks with Dr. Weiss, author of Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men's Fears of Women Shape Their Intim…

According to psychotherapist and author Dr. Avrum Weiss, there's one relationship men have in common that controls their relationship with women - and most don't even know it. Liana talks with Dr. Weiss, author of Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men's Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships about exactly that.…

According to some experts, we're living in the age of narcissism. It's even been called an "epidemic". So...what is narcissism, really? How do you spot it, deal with a narcissist or find out if you are one? Jeremy Sherman, Ph.D., a self-described 'Jerkologist' and author of the book What's Up with A**holes?: How to spot them and stop without becomi…

They're Shaping Your Brain! But it's not as terrifying as it sounds! Liana talks with Branding expert Matt Johnson, author of Blindsight: The (Mostly) Hidden Ways Marketing Reshapes Our Brains, about how your brain's mental shorthand guides you to make decisions you aren't aware you're making - and how companies use this to influence our thinking.…

We live in an identity obsessed age and a lot of us are exhausted by it. However, how we define ourselves determines our self worth, self esteem, and awareness of others. But putting together our self-concept isn't like following assembly instructions from IKEA. Liana dives deep into her own difficult, heart-breaking experiences to show how the goo…

Connections - In our digital world, opportunities for human connections are growing scarce - especially if you're shy, anxious, uncomfortable in crowds or socially awkward. Yet those human connections are what keep us feeling...human. Liana talks to Bobby Calloway, an actor/writer/filmmaker and content creator for Better With Bob? on YouTube, on ho…

Massive content warning. Listener discretion advised. In the interests of disclosure, I'm putting up the entire, unedited interview Poppy and Zena did. It runs almost an hour long and contains additional details from the radio version of the show. This is the raw file, so there have been no audio level corrections or other adjustments. Because of t…

LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED. The Perfect Storm: dishonesty, violating consent, borderline personality disorder, gender issues and complex sexual politics - therapist "Poppy" and her partner Zena navigated all this together over one Christmas break. Liana hears their story, which is heartbreaking and, ultimately, uplifting. Note: the complete, unedi…

When applied to old dark houses or Scooby-Doo villains, we know what the word 'creepy' means. But what does it mean when it's weaponized against men and women? It can lead to ostracism, fear and worse. Liana talks to It's Not Therapy community facilitator Jake about how & why 'creepy' is perceived, why it's become so powerful a word and how to hand…

Do people blow up when you set boundaries? Boundaries are emotional 'guard rails' that have the ability to make us feel secure, happier and more fulfilled. Liana uses her personal experiences to illustrate how to establish better boundaries and why they are essential four our mental wellbeing... even when people react terribly to them.…

Within today's political battles and social media landscape, it seems that lying is on the rise. And not even good lies, but obvious ones! Liana delves into the different motivations for lying (they're not all bad), how to confront possible liars and how to handle it when you've been caught lying! Also - Jedis!…

Racism and bigotry are making a comeback - or at least, they're speaking much louder. We know that millions of Canadians face overt prejudice every day, but do we know what that feels like? Liana talks to award-winning Canadian-Chinese author Derwin Mak about the overt and subtle anti-Asian ignorance he's faced for decades and how he deals with it.…

'We're in this together' - Mental illness affects not just the individual, but their friends, loved ones and especially their partner. Dr. David T. Culkin, co-author (with his wife Michaela) of OCD and Marriage, has had obsessive-compulsive disorder throughout his ongoing 28 year marriage. Liana talks to David about the need for honesty, respect an…

Really, you're not! But you *are* facing a difficult life challenge that has you feeling overwhelmed. Liana talks to psychotherapist Jennifer Gerlach, author of the Psychosis & Mental Health Recovery Workbook, about how to overcome your overwhelm and live a better life.Liana Kerzner

Mistakes are inevitable, but they don't have to be insurmountable. Liana shares personal stories of her own mistakes, how & why she compounded some and learned to turn mistakes into something positive. Hear how childhood trauma, parents, friends and our work & home environments can influence what mistakes we make and how we process them - and how t…

Over the holidays we're encouraged to be grateful for what we have, and sometimes, that's not a request, it's a demand. While feeling sincerely grateful is good for mental health, no one ever feels gratitude by force. Liana goes through where the lines are, and why gratitude can become resentment when it's not freely given.…

Sometimes life isn't fair. So what do we do? Liana takes listeners through the science of how the brain responds to unfairness, and how to deal with it like a hero instead of a villain!Liana Kerzner

Prejudice and bigotry are common human failings, even among those who have experienced both. Liana talks to Gila Münster, a Toronto drag performer and charity fundraiser, about how antisemitism in the LGBTQ+ community motivated her to develop a greater sense of self and desire to help others.Liana Kerzner

INT ep 69 - Mental Health Maintenance with Howie Mandel Howie Mandel, the star of TV's America's Got Talent and Canada's Got Talent has been open about his mental health challenges. Liana talks to Howie about normalizing caring for our mental health in the same way we care for our dental health. Plus, Liana goes in-depth on her Top 10 Rules for che…

Shame. It's something that touches, and damages, us all. Liana shares her raw, honest, personal battle with shame and its childhood origins and talks to Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers, PhD, author, licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist about how to overcome shame that stunts our self-worth, infects our relationships and hurt…

Processing negative emotions is a learned skill... that a lot of people don't learn! Liana talks to psychology researcher Richard Contrada, Ph.D. of Rutgers University about how to channel being sad, angry, disappointed, ashamed or dejected into tools for positive change.Liana Kerzner

Vincent Van Gogh created many of his greatest masterpieces while in a psychiatric hospital. Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson wrote classic hits while dealing with mental illness. The list goes on. Some believe that the creative impulse and mental health challenges often go hand in hand. In this episode Liana talks with James 'Grim' Desborough (https…

The first thing to understand about Autism - there is no one-size-fits-all way to understand Autism. It's called a 'spectrum' for a reason. Though those on the spectrum are all different, Liana and her guest Ingrid, who has Autism, offer some primers to help you understand your neurodivergent friends, family and colleagues.…

"What if I F up?" It's a fear that stops conversations before they start. Beginning a conversation can stir up multiple "What if?" anxieties - but relax! Breaking the ice is easier than you think! Liana and Kevin Bennet, PhD, professor of social-personality psychology, talk about how you can overcome the pre-conversation jitters.…

"So what?" Those two words have the power to free us from the anxiety, fear and dread which keep our lives stuck in a bad place. Author and psychotherapist Richard Joelson joins Liana to relate how he helps his clients cope with and overcome obstacles and live happy, fulfilling lives.Liana Kerzner

Performance psychologists coach elite athletes to win championships by working as a team. Alex Auerbach, performance psychologist for the Toronto Raptors, joins Liana to talk about how he approaches high level well being, resilience, and teamwork in a highly competitive environment! Plus: why Liana utterly hated group work in school.…

If your understanding of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) comes through how it's presented in the media, then you don't really understand OCD. Liana talks with Sophia Florence, a comedian with OCD, about how it impacts her daily life and the strategies she's developed to deal with it.Liana Kerzner

Personality tests claim that they can assess and predict our characters, and that some things are unlikely to change. But is this true? Are our personalities anchored in our past or can they evolve..and if so, what factors will contribute to the evolution? Liana talks to Glenn Geher, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and director of the Evolutionary…

Religion can deepen our understanding of the human condition and of ourselves - except when it dissuades the critical thinking and education required to achieve it. Liana speaks to Rabbi Michael Harvey (www.rabbimichaelharvey.com) about how blind religious faith can lead to misconceptions that prove harmful to ourselves and others.…