Male Intimacy: The Benefits of Cultivating Authentic and Fulfilling Connections

Hey guys— this one’s for you!

In this episode, Rafael and Jim join forces again to help men discover the rewards of lasting male intimacy and friendships. These connections have been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation - - and can even lead to a longer life.

Humor also helps. Comedian, Hunter Duncan, in one of his standup bits, shared that the dating app Bumble has a BFF version where you can just swipe your way into a male friendship. He admitted to trying it out to make new guy friends and confessed it was semi-disastrous: “People are looking at my profile like, I wouldn’t even throw a frisbee with this guy.” Hence, shrinks (including your hosts) stress the importance of men’s groups…. and other activities where men can cultivate authentic connections with other guys.

Don’t give up hope, comrades: turns out men are teachable, and we can

learn to get out of their own way. We can be re-socialized to be less competitive, ego-driven, approval-seeking, inauthentic, and stoic. Men can also learn to stop engaging in “one-upmanship” behavior (except maybe while watching sports, like say a football game between the

Lions and the 49er’s (a random example that may or may be based on a lived experience between Jim and Rafael)).

EBMC Psychology Inc. and WCMI (which sponsor this podcast) can link you to an active Men’s Group (contact Eti Kaminsky if you are interested: etimft@gmail.com or ebmcpsych@gmail.com).

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Dr. Jim Bramson and Lisa Rosenthal interview Maddy Dychtwald

If you are a woman (or man) and find yourself in the second half of life (or first), you will not want to miss this podcast. Maddy Dychtwald, co-founder of Age Wave and author of the new book “Ageless Aging,” expertly guides us through some key health hacks that can help us all live healthier and longer. We stand at the precipice of a longevity revolution. And Maddy, based on decades of research and countless interviews with thought leaders in the fields of aging, health, and wellness, tells us what we need know to make the most of it.

Turns out most research on maximizing our health is conducted by, about, and for cisgender men. Even the data analysis is curated by cis men. But Maddy Dychtwald breaks the mold. She explores the latest science uniquely catered to cis women. She discusses the benefits of hormone replacement and the need to focus on brain health, as women are more likely to experience cognitive decline later in life. And she explores topics that our society fails to teach women, like the importance of financial planning.

Do you feel doomed by your genetics? Well Maddy offers up some good news. Did you grow up without healthy women role models? Maddy identifies many you can look to now. Do you attend to everyone else’s needs before your own? Maddy has some suggestions. And finally, are you so overwhelmed by all the guidance, how-to books, and supplement pushers that you don’t know where or how to get started? Maddie will show the way!

Tune in to this conversation between Maddy Dychtwald, Jim Bramson, and Lisa Rosenthal to learn how you can take advantage of everything from routine dental checkups and warm lemon water to a friendly exchange with your neighborhood barista to feel stronger and better, for longer. Her book “Ageless Aging” is available now, and warrants a spot at the top of your nightstand book pile.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Bramson on Bramson.

Drs. Bramson finally record a podcast together. Dr. Jim interviews his father Dr. Allan Bramson, on the occasion of his 88th birthday.

Who is Dr. Allan Bramson? Besides being the senior Bramson who had to deal with Jim’s recalcitrance and shenanigans in high school, he was a storied professor and pioneer in the areas of death and dying, video wills, and euthanasia. He even started a career institute that catered to under-resourced students.

Allan fought alongside Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the famous advocate for the right to choose how and when to end our life in the face of chronic and intractable diseases. Allan came to know him personally, as an artist, not just as an empathic physician. Allan also came to know Kevorkian’s attorney, Jeffrey Fieger (famous brother of the possibly more famous lead singer of the Knack, Doug Fieger). Like his pal Jeffrey Fieger, Allan studied law and advocated for social justice, self-determination, and dignity in death.

During the interview, Allan gets real and discusses his stage 4 cancer, his divorce, and his long separation from his son Jim (your host) and their timely reconciliation. Perhaps it is a testimony to forgiveness, loving-kindness, acceptance, and transcending ego. Perhaps it offers a lesson in self-determination, i.e. whether we choose to invest in important historical people we have long lost contact with. Do we embrace family and friends who left us? Can we overcome feelings of abandonment and/or pride? When does it make sense to lean into relationships when others might advise us to lean out? Tune in, as it may help you grapple with answers to these questions in your own life.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Live From Boulder Colorado, an Interview with Dr. Paul Bretz

Jim catches up with his long-time friend and colleague from his halcyon days at the University of Chicago. Dr. Paul Bretz (a.k.a. Reverend Paul). Paul is still prolific after all these years —and is still doing his part to make the world a better place. Paul is the CEO of Centus Counseling Center (Centus.org). He is passionate abut high quality, cost effective, spiritually integrative behavioral healthcare. He is also a surveyor for the Joint Commission, whose mission is to continuously improve healthcare. (A real slacker…)

In this episode, Paul discusses the stages of psychological, moral, and spiritual development and its impact on individuals and couples. He compares a cosmic consciousness framework with a dualistic framework. Paul delves deep into the importance of Imago Therapy for doing couples work, and shares how it improved his own relationship. Paul makes a strong case for how spiritual development and Imago therapy can be combined to conduct highly effective couples therapy. Paul believes the intensive format is particularly efficacious for doing deep work. Paul is the embodiment of emotional, psychological, spiritual, and intellectual sophistication. He continues to be an inspiration and teacher for me and many others.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Dr. Jim Bramson interviews Charlie & Linda Bloom

The Blooms are back. They tuned in from a writing retreat to discuss their latest book “An End to Arguing.” They also introduce their forthcoming book project on exemplary relationships. (In sharp contrast to their slacker podcast host who has been toiling over one book for over five years, the Blooms are churning out incredible books in rapid fire.)

In this interview we explore some spicy content areas in their “End to Arguing” book: transforming desire into intention; why winning doesn’t work; why it’s better to say nothing sometimes, who’s got the power?; and why it’s never too late have a happy childhood. The book devotes a chapter to each of these topics.

The Blooms also opine in this episode about the nexus between arguing, sex, and intimacy. They go into some detail about how the cessation of arguing can lead to greater intimacy and connection.

Charlie and Linda Bloom will be featured presenters at the upcoming Human Potential Conference” Sex, Love and RockNRoll (Nov 1st, 2024 at the Hillside Club, Berkeley, CA from 5pm - 9:30pm). Go to Eventbrite for ticket information on the conference and visit Bloomwork.com to learn more about the Blooms.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Robby Kendall not only spearheads the nonprofit film production company Fishnets & Film, Inc. He is also a psychologist. Indeed, Robby is an educator, entertainer, writer, director, connector, humorist, and consummate problem solver. In this podcast episode, Robby shares his drag origin story as well as his psychologist origin story. Apparently he “therapized” his mother for years before becoming a shrink. And now he helps students and individuals solve their own problems. The conversation offers a fascinating look into sex education, the queer community, and the travails of wardrobe malfunctions as a drag queen.

Robby has created an impressive collection of short films and feature length film projects. His filmography includes: “Victoria Place, Sweet Nothing, (Un)Free Will, The Other Side of Eden: A Modern Testament, and Drag Queens Must Die.” Yours truly (Dr. Jim) will be on a panel for Robby’s Queer Film Festival on March 2nd, 2024 at the New Parkway in Oakland, featuring the film, Sexplanation (Alex Liu). This film offers a humorous look at the dearth of comprehensive sex education in our country, what we know, and perhaps most significantly what we should know.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Panel Discussion Interview with Louie Kangeter and Christine Benvenuto

Louie Kangeter and Christine Benvenuto are both experts in their respective fields. They participated in a live panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the field of psychology and the human psyche. This WCMI (West Coast Mindfulness Institute) sponsored event is part of the annual Human Potential Conference series.

Louie and Christine both took a bold look at the impact of AI on the human experience. Louie covers myriad topics including AI and surveillance, laws, regulation, transparency, etc. Christine explores the confluence of psychedelics and AI on human potential.

Christine and her husband Dr. Pepper (featured on a previous Podcast with Christine) spoke at this conference, but did not participate in the recorded panel discussion. David Pepper, M.D. and Christine run the DBT center in Oakland, California. Christine and David believe plant based medicine and Ketamine can be an effective treatment approach. They do not believe in the “pharmaceutical industrial complex.” Hence, their interest in psychedelics and psychotherapy.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Dr. Ken Dychtwald is an entrepreneur, author, lecturer, gerontologist, and psychologist. He is the co-founder and CEO of Age Wave. In this live recording Ken presents his memoir “Radical Curiosity” at the Human Potential Conference in Berkeley, California, sponsored by WCMI (West Coast Mindfulness Institute). You will find yourself mesmerized and inspired by Ken’s story — and will want to run, not walk, to buy one of his books.

Ken artfully discusses his meetups with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jimmy Carter, along with some luminaries in the field of psychology. You will learn about his storied (and often humorous) journey form Jersey to Big Sur and beyond. Very much like Forest Gump (the movie), Ken always seems to be at the right place at the right time to “influence or be influenced by the influencers.”

Ken is an expert on aging and mind-body healing. His seminal book Bodymind has been translated into countless languages over the years (so if you speak Mandarin like his son Zak, also a thought leader in his own right, you are all set). Interestingly, there were some naked illustrations or pictures in the original edition that have been edited out (sorry Marjorie Taylor Greene). So I guess my original copy of Bodymind is a collectors item, much like my cherished Draymond Greene T-Shirt.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here