The Sexy Lie: An Interview with Dr. Caroline Heldman, political scientist and gender in media expert

Welcome to season four of The Nature of Nurture with Dr. Leslie Carr, which is being filmed with video for the first time! Buckle up for this season, which covers topics including surviving suicidal feelings, issues with psychiatric medications, the impact of cultural and political aspects on mental well-being, unexplored scientific questions, and more. 

Links mentioned in the episode:

• The Nature of Nurture trailer

Show Credits:

• Show created and produced by Leslie Carr with the help of:
  • Carly Quellman, Production assistant
  • Raphaello, Post-production supervisor
  • Sarah Carefoot, Media Manager
• Recorded at WTF Studios, Los Angeles

Season 4 of The Nature of Nurture is on its way, and there are some exciting changes you’ll want to know about! Please listen to this welcome message to find out more.

Written & narrated by Leslie Carr

Edited by Amanda McGrane at Cassiopeia Studio

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

The Nature of Nurture YouTube channel

Your host Leslie sits down with the founder of Sapien Labs, Tara Thiagarajan, to discuss their cutting edge research. The role that technology and environmental toxins play in mental health, among other things, are discussed.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

SapienLabs.org  

Nature.com: The impact of socioeconomic and stimulus inequality on human brain physiology = https://sapienlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-impact-of-socioeconomic-and-stimulus-inequality-on-human-brain-physiology.pdf

You, Rewired: How Modernity Changes the Brain = https://interestingengineering.com/science/you-rewired-how-modernity-changes-the-brain

Vox: A survey on global mental well-being shows that the kids are not all right = https://www.vox.com/23013483/mental-health-pandemic-young-people-sapien-labs

World Economic Forum: Our world is in the grip of a mental health crisis - here’s what we can do to help = https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/world-mental-health-crisis-covid-19/

The Washington Post: The crisis of student mental health is much vaster than we realize = https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/12/05/crisis-student-mental-health-is-much-vaster-than-we-realize/ 

Leslie sits down with British filmmaker Liz Smith to talk about two of her documentaries which focus on the role that the internet is playing in our changing world. They begin by talking about I Am Gen Z (now available on Amazon Prime), and how social media has impacted this generation of people that have never lived without it. They continue with the next film that’s in development called The Deadline, which will explore how social media is creating a politically polarized society, and the impact that will have on our ability to solve big problems like climate change.

Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Liz’s website: https://liz-smith.com/
• I Am Gen Z on Amazon Prime in the US: https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Gen-Jamie-Bartlett/dp/B0B6T22PS6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V6WZV6MJCG7Z&keywords=i+am+gen+z&qid=1676377092&sprefix=i+am+gen+z,aps,156&sr=8-1
• How to see I Am Gen Z outside of the US: https://iamgenzfilm.com/screenings/
• To learn more about The Deadline and how to support the film: https://thedeadlinefilm.org/
• The Nature of Nurture is produced by Amanda Mayo at Cassiopeia Studio 

Host Leslie sits down with Tracey Higgins to explore Tracey’s full recovery from schizophrenia without medication. They discuss the role that trauma played in her symptoms, and the controversy that surrounds her message that recovery from schizophrenia is possible. 

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Tracey’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Bridge-Memoir-Tracey-Higgins/dp/1777595215
• Tracey’s website: www.fullrecoveryfromschizophrenia.ca
• Eleanor Longden TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/eleanor_longden_the_voices_in_my_head?language=en
• The relatively low rate (33%) of concordance in identical twins indicates that other factors besides genetics are at play in schizophrenia development: https://www.verywellhealth.com/is-schizophrenia-genetic-5104852
• The Nature of Nurture is produced by Amanda Mayo at Cassiopeia Sudio

Host Leslie talks about the psychology of money with expert Barbara Stanny Huson. They talk about how a person’s personal history impacts their relationship with money - about how to change it.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Barbara Ehrenreich: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. In 2001 when the book was published, 60% of US citizens made less than $68k per year.
• Real median US household income was $70,784 in 2021: https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2022/demo/p60-276.html
• Barbara’s books are an excellent resource and all of them can be found right here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Barbara-Stanny/author/B00IZU358G?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
• Leslie’s other favorite books about money and personal finance are You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero and The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist.
• The Nature of Nurture is produced by Amanda Mayo at Cassiopeia Studio.

Leslie interviews wellness icon Quentin Vennie about his life growing up in West Baltimore on the front lines of the drug trade, and his journey to wellness. They discuss panic attacks and the nature of anxiolytic drugs, and the role that juicing, yoga, and meditation played in his mental health recovery. 

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Equitea.com
• Quentin’s memoir is Strong in the Broken Places: A Memoir of Addiction and Redemption Through Wellness.
• www.quentinvennie.com
• The Nature of Nurture is produced by Amanda Mayo at Cassiopeia Studio 

Your host Leslie sits down with political scientist Dr. Caroline Heldman to discuss the role that female body objectification plays in sex and a woman’s role in society at large. Issues related to advertising, media, and culture are discussed. Warning: This discussion contains graphic discussions of pornography that includes descriptions of sexual assault. This conversation isn’t suitable for very young children, and survivors of sexual assault should listen with caution.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• The release of the book has been delayed (as of 1/30/23) but you can follow Caroline on Amazon here to be alerted when it’s published.
• drcarolineheldman.com
• The Nature of Nurture is produced by Amanda Mayo at Cassiopeia Studio.

Exploring the different facets of the human condition in Season 3. Some of those facets include, sex, drugs, and technology. Tune in now! 

Links: 

• drlesliecarr.com
• The Nature of Nurture is produced by Cassiopeia Studio 

Connect with Contributors:

Dr. Leslie Car: lesliecarr.com