Dr. Lisa Gives a Sh*t

I was really excited about having Laura, the owner of THE FOOTLIGHT BAR - (The Bushwick Daily's readers' choice award for best live music venue). ANYWAYS- Laura and I wind up having a long, revealing and inspiring session about suicide. We also talk about how she met her husband, performer Tim Shea six years ago. They're getting married soon-in 2 months-September 10! The trajectory of how Laura and Tim met and developed their relationship is unusually healthy, but still offbeat. I'm hoping to get them back on the show together! Laura is a musician and Berklee School of Music full-scholarship student and we get to hear some of her music at the end: Bridgetandthesquares.bandcamp.com www.thefootlightbar.nyc @thefootlightbar #music #psychotherapy #suicide #wedding #inspiration

David Kramer has a session with me, Dr. Lisa, on the eve of the opening of his solo show, "Hooking Up With Dave." at the LMAK Gallery, http://lmakgallery.com/blog/ projects/hooking-up-with-dave/ Here's the video of "Hooking up with Dave" which is on display on the gallery as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Uk75MuL8PPo It's also a great way to learn how to make hooked rugs. David Kramer is a visual artist whose works in a wide variety of mediums. And in his show at LMAK he set about to make a lavish bachelor pad, only to wind up making something a lot more dog eared and strange. His show at LMAK Gallery is basically "Dave's apartment" the character he plays in his video. Dave is, according to David, "...a guy who has gone so far to give up on his dreams of being an artist, that he is now actually pursuing a new career, as a YouTube Personality with his own fledgling Hook Rug channel." The installation and the video blend together to make a really MUST SEE gallery show this month, in NYC! Kramer and I have been friends for years and still it is a surprise to me when we dig into what's behind the character that is "Dave," the rug-hooking fanatic. Also we covered a lot of bases including some aspects of David's life at home managing to be an artist and a father and also a son. The ensuing discussion of Kramer's relationship with his father brings out a level of emotion on air that Dr. Lisa wasn't expecting. Also, Kramer and I both agree that we are jealous of his son, Martin for having so much love and encouragement that he is already a success as a 16-year old comedian. The exhibition at LMAK Gallery, 298 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002, is up until Dec. 16, 2016

Dr. Judith Zelikoff is a rare bird—a woman—highly accomplished and well regarded in science. She is entertaining and full of stories about her interesting, humbling and sometimes terrifying journey which has led her to become a role model for women and the women that work with her today. She and I both entered the workforce in the 80's and we agree that not enough has changed for women in the workplace today. Lots to learn here, lots of compassion and great advice for women in any field. Follow Judith and her department on Instagram @nyucieh Dr. Zelifoff has a partnership with one of our excellent RFB sister shows, Objection to the Rule. She and her team have coordinated a series of interviews with the NYU National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Center for Investigating of Environmental Hazards (CIEH). Objection to the Rule is hosted by Emily Scott, Jasmin Smith and Theresa Robinson. Episodes are available HERE: More about Dr. Zelikoff: Dr. Zelikoff is a professor in the Dept. of Environmental Medicine at the Grossman School of Medicine in NYC. She has over 25 years of experience in toxicology and environmental health which is that branch of public health concerned with reducing those factors in the environment like air and water pollution that affect human health and disease. Her scientific research focuses on the toxic health effects of inhaled air pollutants like ozone and air particles, as well as effects from toxic materials from tobacco and electronic cigarettes, fires and diesel exhaust. Over the last decade, studies in her laboratory have also focused on the effects of inhaled environmental toxic materials, including electronic cigarettes during pregnancy and their effects on neurodevelopment, cardiovascular disease, birth outcomes, obesity, behavior and reproductive success. Her studies have revealed that early life exposure to e-cigarette aerosols can affect childhood behavior, brain function and lung disease in the adults and that such effects can occur even without nicotine present. In addition to a very active research program, Dr. Zelikoff is a Director for Community engagement in the Center for Investigational and Environmental Hazards working with underserved populations and Native Americans in the NYC metropolitan area. Over the last 20 years, she has also guided over 50 graduate and undergraduate students in the field of environmental health. 

In this episode Dr. Lisa gets Sean to spill a bit about his sex life and learns about Sean's experience with meet ladies on the web. It seems Sean kinda maxed out on it fairly quickly but makes for some good insights. We also realize that Sean has the most nagging superego ever. It's also fun hearing about Sean's music career which is moving well. I'm still wondering if Sean got that gig on the largest cruise ship in the world. #music #art #comedy #psychotherapy http://seanspada.bandcamp.com/ http://www.thenuclears.com http://www.deathrowtull.com

Artist Thedra Cullar-Ledford is super out-there and fabulous as is her work, but I'll bet she wasn't prepared to elaborate on her sex life in front of her 15-year old son, Sage. Check out Thedra's work: http://www.independenceartstudios.com/thedra/ which is explicit and you'll get a taste of why this mother/son relationship is not like the ones you see on TV. #art #breasts #mother #son #psychology #ContemporaryMuseumofArtHouston

Melissa Roth is classically trained stage, film, and voice over actress and writer. Her career is going great right now—she’s playing the romantic lead in a play at the Theater for the New City which opens soon. https://theaterforthenewcity.net/?vh_show=the-bohemians (I saw it, it was FABULOUS and packed!!!) Melissa had a tough 2017. She broke up with her boyfriend and contracted a scary, difficult to diagnose illness. I noticed her resolution and gratitude on a recent facebook post, so I invited her in to talk about what she’s gone through and how she is now in a great place career-wise. When Melissa and I dig in we get to talking about how she missed some waving red flags in her last relationship. She then shares a story about how at age 16, she had a 21 year old boyfriend who turned out to be schizophrenic. His older friends unwittingly involved Melissa in an intervention to get him into a hospital. After that Melissa and I discuss how it’s a worthwhile endeavor to get out and meet people to continue dating, which seems like something she hasn’t made a priority. We agree that she will be making an effort, while keeping an eye on not repeating her patterns. https://melissabethroth.com/

My BFF of thirty years, bestselling author and professional tarot card reader, Margot Berwin reads my cards for the first time in two years. I want to find out from her/the cards how my art career is doing. I am frustrated with my career, like every other artist and in this session, I begin to see that it's not always my actual career, it's my emotional problems getting in my way, and things are much better than I have internalized. There's really good thinking about creative careers and a view into my blind spots. You likely have some of the same issues. I felt SO MUCH better after this session. Also, Margot sees a big opportunity in store for me in October too, stay tuned. More about Margot here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/85206/margot-berwin https://www.margotreadstarot.com/ Get your cards read by Margot in person or electronic method of your choice: Skype, phone, Facetime, text, up to you! Set up an appointment: [email protected] Don't let my haranging Willy Hartland, the call in guest in the first few minutes, get in your way. This exchange turns out to be completely relevant to the reading! The day after this aired I actually had a marketing meeting with him and he completely changed the direction of his pitch and poster. Help support a great animated film by a former Daria + Beavis and Butthead artist. on his Kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artichoke/the-artichoke

I think this was fairly brave of me. I invited my BFF of the last 30 years, writer http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2739653.Margot_Berwin, to come on the show and answer honestly some tough questions about myself. If you're curious about my shortcomings-this episode is for you. Also, Margot tells me which old boyfriends were the most likely match-tho absolutely NONE comes anywhere near the match Phil is for me. https://www.margotreadstarot.com/

Dr Grant Brenner is a board certified physician-psychiatrist, an entrepreneur, author, teacher, speaker and not-for-profit board member. He has been featured on a variety of top ranked psychology resources and media as a thought leader and contributor. In other words, he’s a highly qualified professional unlike myself. At least I have people to call on! Dr. Brenner has been involved with many traumatic situations including 9/11—he wrote a book based on his experience and knowledge, so it was great to get his valuable insights. We discussed a range of subjects including how people in different circumstance, parents, single people, couples can effectively cope. And he talked about what he’s been seeing in his practice as well. I found this session reassuring since simply hearing from a pro that this is indeed as crazy as it feels and we are all developing from it together in real time—that’s all anyone can do. But there is an opportunity for growth in all of us. The bonus of the episode is that Grant has a worthy sense of humor, so he makes it easy(ier?) to talk about dark shit. Here's another great resource that Dr. Brenner is deeply involved with, Neighborhood Psychiatry— a great organization that is affordable and takes insurance. Also I LOVE his writings for Psychology Today—you can find them here. Here's a recent article about psychology in context of the Covid 19 pandemic, "What can 9/11 teach us about mental health for COVIS-19?" based on Dr. Brenner's experience in the wake of 9/11. Also it becomes obvious that I have no control over my dog. Bio: Grant Hilary Brenner MD, FAPA Grant Hilary Brenner, MD, FAPA is a psychiatrist and an expert on mental health, relationships, and self-care and wellness who has been featured on CBS Radio, NPR, and more. Dr. Brenner brings nearly two decades of consultation, workshops, speaking engagements, therapy, and coaching to his clients, who range from individuals seeking to overcome emotional obstacles and build resilience to executives seeking to optimize their performance in the workplace. He writes Psychology Today’s popular “ExperiMentations” blog and he is the co-author of Relationship Sanity: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Relationships and Irrelationship: How We Use Dysfunctional Relationships to Hide from Intimacy and an author and editor of the book Creating Spiritual and Psychological Resilience: Integrating Care in Disaster Relief Work. He is a 2004 recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation for his disaster mental health work in New York City following September 11th, and he also received the Ivan Goldberg Distinguished Service Award for his efforts to bring mental health awareness to a wider and more diverse audience. He is co-founder of Neighborhood Psychiatric Associates of Manhattan and serves on the faculty of the Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital and on the Board of Directors of Vibrant Emotional Health (formerly MHA-NYC). He lives in New York.

Leigh Celent is dropping her new LP. This powerhouse of a front women talks about her life and journey from the last EP to this one. It’s inspiring to understand what it’s like for someone who is CEO of her own band and managed 2 tours, a new EP a band change, a growing bond with her audience, a brief dalliance with a man—all in 6 months. She’s as active as Beyonce but without the staff. Inspirational for all of us who want to make shit happen in our lives! http://www.castleblackmusic.com/