Best Schizo Podcasts (2024)

1
Chekhov urself before u wreck-ov urself (The Little Trilogy) 1:44:33

13h ago1:44:33

1:44:33

This week we're reading three of Anton Chekhov's most beloved short stories: The Man in the Case, Gooseberries, and About Love (The Little Trilogy, 1898). We get a minor assist from George Saunders and his fantastic book A Swim in the Pond in the Rain but have no shortage of stuff to discuss. Talking big 5 personality traits, the degree to which pe…

1
Understanding Anosognosia (Lack of Awareness) in Schizophrenia 44:00

13d ago44:00

44:00

A common symptom of schizophrenia is anosognosia. Anosognosia is when a person is unaware that they have mental health condition or cannot perceive their condition accurately. It is believed that between 50% to 98% of people with schizophrenia have some form of anosognosia. Is anosognosia that common? Could it be confused with denial? And how can c…

1
Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms: War and love 1:00:49

14d ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Hemingway's 1929 semi-autobiographical classic tackles two big timeless themes: love and war. Two out of three of us can relate to the first one, but war feels pretty alien to us. How would the boys do if they were conscripted? What made WWI so uniquely dispiriting? What is it about this novel that so faithfully captures the experience of war? We a…

1
Crime and Punishment finale: is Dostoevsky...overrated?? 1:31:50

1M ago1:31:50

1:31:50

Not too much plot to cover in parts 5 and 6; mostly we're hashing out our final thoughts on the book and Dostoevsky's legacy. First up is the controversial epilogue. The boys are not sure how believable Rodya's redemption is. It feels kinda cheap? Dostoevsky is not very good at character development but maybe it doesn't matter. Sonya is a perfectly…

1
Innovations in Schizophrenia Treatment 40:23

1M ago40:23

40:23

Since the 1950s, the go-to treatment for schizophrenia has been oral antipsychotics. However, the landscape of schizophrenia treatment is changing and evolving, from advancements in antipsychotic long-acting injections to promising new treatments targeting muscarinic receptors to different types of neuromodulation stimuli of the brain, and even new…

1
Crime and Punishment, part 2: Three extraordinary men 1:09:10

2M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

we're just normal men. We're just innocent men! In parts 3 and 4 of Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1866 Crime and Punishment we get a lot more meat on Raskolnikov's 'extraordinary man' thesis. How does it overlap with the concept of the Übermensch in Nietzsche and Hegel? Are we too deeply steeped in Christian morality to become 'extraordinary' without destroy…

1
Crime and Punishment, part 1: Mister Schizo and the First Trad 1:27:10

2M ago1:27:10

1:27:10

Cracking into the first two parts of Dostoevsky's 1866 classic Crime and Punishment. The first surprising thing is that this is a conservative/reactionary book: it mocks the fancy new ideas of the youth, the spirit of revolution, naive utilitarianism, etc. Jordan Peterson laps this shit up. But did the moral panic over materialism hold up? Does mod…

1
Susanna Clarke's Piranesi: Gaslight gatekeep girlboss 1:25:36

3M ago1:25:36

1:25:36

The beauty of this book is immeasurable, and its kindness is infinite. We all love Susanna Clarke's 2012 metaphysical thriller, which feels like a mashup of Borges/C.S. Lewis/Gone Girl. Venture deeper into the labyrinth with us: Piranesi as amateur scientist: On indigenous knowledge, the dangers of naïve empiricism, achieving dominion over nature, …

1
What is ‘Schizoposting’ and Why it’s Dangerous 49:15

3M ago49:15

49:15

“Schizoposting” is a growing internet trend that involves posting violent images, videos, text posts, and memes as if the creator is having a mental breakdown. It has become associated with hate movements, and people are using schizoposting as a medium to desensitize and encourage others to violent impulses and unpredictable behavior. In this episo…

1
The Tragedy of Hamlet: The O.G. annoying theatre kid 1:10:14

3M ago1:10:14

1:10:14

holy shit this was hard. Our first attempt at shakespeare and it was a doozy! Rich struggled through the original text and only had the vaguest idea what was going on. Cam watched every single movie adaptation and studied for two weeks but still got casually mogged by his girlfriend. By the time we got done with the discussion we were all actually …

1
Albert Camus' The Fall: Signalling, scrupulosity, and pathological self-awareness 1:44:14

3M ago1:44:14

1:44:14

This one starts slow but it ends up being one of my favourite book clubs ever. Camus' last finished novel was The Fall (1956). It has a lot of personal resonance for Rich and the other boys loved it too. Loss of innocence: how much of our behaviour comes down to signalling? Is there such a thing as genuine altruism? Is it dangerous to learn about t…

1
Philip K. Dick's paranoid classic Ubik: Fluttering at the windowpane of reality 1:18:21

3M ago1:18:21

1:18:21

Philip K. Dick is a sci-fi legend, but the boys have only ever seen the film adaptations of his work (Blade Runner, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly). Dick's 1969 classic Ubik has us divided. Benny is mad that major premises are introduced and then abandoned, internal logic is sloppy, and the twist ending is lazy writing. Rich and Cam are charmed …

1
Does Language Matter When Discussing Schizophrenia and Psychosis? 44:01

3M ago44:01

44:01

How do you refer to a person who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia? “Person with schizophrenia” or “schizophrenic?” What about other words, for example, “crazy, insane, psycho, or schizo?” The words we use carry meaning and stigma but also information and identity. Hosts Rachel Star Withers and Gabe Howard explore person-first language versus c…

1
Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis: A Bug's Life 1:04:09

3M ago1:04:09

1:04:09

“As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into an enormous insect.” (who amongst us, etc) This week we're talking Kafka's 1915 novella The Metamorphosis. Rich swoons over Gregor and is deeply moved by his plight. Cam wonders whether the giant freaky bug might bear some responsibility for events. B…

1
Frankenstein, part 2: Nature vs nurture 1:04:43

4M ago1:04:43

1:04:43

Wrapping up Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which we all loved. Nature vs nurture: the monster as proto-incel, to what extent do we feel sympathy for him, should Victor have made him a bride, self-loathing and recrimination, and whether hot people are actually more virtuous than ugly people. Also: why rousseau was a giant piece of shit, the monster as…

1
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, part 1: Post-nut clarity and forbidden knowledge 1:16:48

4M ago1:16:48

1:16:48

Discussing chapters 1-10 of Mary Shelley's 1818 genre mash-up Frankenstein. On Mary Shelley's stacked genetics, the 'scenius' with Lord Byron and Percy Shelley, questions over authorship including a suspiciously accurate depiction of post-nut clarity. Forbidden knowledge: are infohazards real, taking accountability for new technology, guilt and the…

1
Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot: The One TRUE Interpretation 42:52

4M ago42:52

42:52

Wandering through Samuel Beckett's 1953 absurdist play Waiting for Godot. Did Beckett actually have an interpretation in mind, or did he deliberately write a maximally vague story that everyone could map their own interests onto? How well does the humour hold up over time? Where does Beckett rank in the canon of absurdist and existentialist writers…

1
The Razor's Edge, part 3: Climbing off the wheel of suffering 1:03:20

5M ago1:03:20

1:03:20

Our final session with W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge (chapters 5-7). Elliot Templeton as the last relic of a dying age. Was he really happy? We consider his self-worship and clout-chasing Catholicism as a counterpoint to Larry's spirituality. Rest in power queen. Sophie MacDonald attempts to climb off the wheel of suffering via more prosai…

1
Dealing with Weight Gain in Schizophrenia 54:25

5M ago54:25

54:25

People with schizophrenia are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than the general population. Diabetes is seen in 1 in 5 people with schizophrenia. Metabolic syndrome occurs in 1 in 3 people with schizophrenia. What is causing these physical illnesses in people with schizophrenia? Is this just due to our lifestyle factors? How signific…

1
The Razor's Edge, part 2: Lay your hands on me Larry 47:11

5M ago47:11

47:11

Discussing chapters 4 and 5 of W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge. Larry becomes aloof and reserved. Is he really bringing anything to the table besides his sexy forearms? Has he gone full woo-woo granola cruncher? Why can Kosti only talk about spirituality when he's drunk? Why aren't muses a thing these days? CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Synopsis (00:0…

1
W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge, part 1: Nobody loafs like Larry 39:26

5M ago39:26

39:26

Cracking into the first three chapters of Maugham's 1944 spiritual odyssey. Why do we love Larry so much? Rich talks about his own years of loafing around. Is Larry's decision to take a step off the beaten path less admirable given his 'trifling' $54,000 inflation-adjusted stipend? Talking about the spergy drive to collect All the Knowledge, and ho…

1
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, part 3: Was David Foster Wallace a hideous man? 1:37:03

5M ago1:37:03

1:37:03

Starts with light and breezy over-sharing of our masturbatory habits, ends with a downer discussion about how we should re-contextualise Wallace's work thru the lens of the abuse allegations against him. The main stories we talk about: Brief Interview #59: Logically coherent masturbation fantasies (00:01:34) is this a universal experience, why are …

1
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, part 2: If you can fake sincerity you've got it made 41:41

5M ago41:41

41:41

This week's discussion is loosely based around the story Octet, but really we just drill down on what David Foster Wallace is trying to achieve in this collection. How much metafiction is too much metafiction, does DFW stray into self-indulgence, the leap of faith he asks from his readers, is it possible to tactically and deliberately try to be sin…

1
David Foster Wallace's Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, part 1: Weaponised therapy-speak 46:17

5M ago46:17

46:17

Wallace's 1999 collection of short stories takes us to some uncomfortable places (and as always, is eerily prescient). In this week's discussion we talk about his 'juvenilia' coming-of-age story Forever Overhead, his famous piece The Depressed Person, and a smattering of the titular brief interviews. We kinda fucked up the format on this by trying …

1
Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse, part 3: We finally get to the fucking lighthouse 47:13

5M ago47:13

47:13

An anticlimactic final discussion to an anticlimactic book. We are confused and afraid. Cam is on the brink of quitting reading altogether. This discussion covers Parts 2 and 3 of To The Lighthouse. Actual book-related content starts at 11 minutes. CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Normative ethics and incest cold open (00:11:00) Infectiousness of social energy …

1
Involuntary Treatment Options in Schizophrenia 51:44

6M ago51:44

51:44

Treatment for schizophrenia is a tough journey for people with the illness but also for caregivers and loved ones. Due to cognitive symptoms, hallucinations, and delusions, a person with schizophrenia may not be able to make decisions on treatment or take care of themselves. When should caregivers step in to legally take control over a person with …

1
Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse, part 2: Portrait of the autist as an old man 1:05:46

6M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

Rich waxes lyrical about the dinner party scene. Do men have impaired theory of mind, or are they just assholes? On the invisible mastery of social reality, and capturing subjective experience in literature. It goes well enough that the boys decide to actually read the rest of the book. CHAPTERS (00:00:00) pre-roll jibber jabber (00:12:55) a man mo…

1
Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse, part 1: Skill issue 50:28

6M ago50:28

50:28

A fragmented jumble of multiple shifting perspectives, punctuated by abrupt jumps between topics and timelines, infused with the frustration of trying to express intensely-felt experiences within the bounds of mere words. (oh and we also talked about a Virginia Woolf book) CHAPTERS (00:00:00) - we are NOT going to the lighthouse (00:11:16) - Rich m…

1
Borges' Garden of Forking Paths: a ramble through the multiverse 1:58:38

6M ago1:58:38

1:58:38

These days the 'multiverse' idea is standard marvel slop. But if we read this story in 1941 it would have blown our tiny little minds. how tf did Borges sit at the cutting edge of philosophy and physics without doing the classic info-dump spergy thing? We read one of our favourite stories in search of Clues (actual plot-related analysis starts arou…

1
John Williams' sleeper hit Stoner: Finding perfection in mediocrity 1:31:10

6M ago1:31:10

1:31:10

Our critical consensus on John William's sleeper bestseller Stoner: There is almost no plot The main character doesn't get the girl, or really succeed at anything Gigantic violation of 'show don't tell', starting on literally page one WE FUCKING LOVE THIS BOOK could it be...a perfect novel? we try figure out why we relate so hard to Mr William Ston…

1
Michel Houellebecq's Map and the Territory, part 3: The world is weary of me and I am weary of it 1:01:01

6M ago1:01:01

1:01:01

closing out the last section of the book with death, entropy, and thwarted ambitions: Why David Deutsch wouldn't approve of Houellebecg True artists impose their vision upon the world Sacred values and euthanasia Should kanye get back on his meds Not sure why the audio cuts off abruptly at the end but it does feel appropriate CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Th…

1
Michel Houellebecq's Map and the Territory, part 2: Post-industrial society and its discontents 1:02:31

6M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

This section is light on plot but we do get a coherent theme: the perversions that emerge from consumer capitalism's relentless optimisation process. will our hero Jed maintain his artistic integrity and stop feeding the beast? does Houellebecq think of himself as a kind of ethnographer? Does the g-spot actually exist? etc benny's audio still sucks…

1
Michel Houellebecq's Map and the Territory, part 1: Memeing big fat juicy asses into reality 1:23:10

6M ago1:23:10

1:23:10

Some good stuff coming up already in part 1 of The Map and The Territory: how our models of the world can change underlying physical reality is modern art a psyop? why plato would hate 'brand-name' tourism experience benny's audio is completely cooked on this. I lost the files so I can't fix it sorry CHAPTERS (00:00:00) playdough’s cave (00:04:01) …

1
How Suicide Intersects with Schizophrenia 54:41

7M ago54:41

54:41

People with schizophrenia have a 10% rate of suicide compared with the general population population’s 1.3% rate of suicide. Suicide is the biggest reason for the decreased life expectancy of people with schizophrenia. Around 40–79% of people with schizophrenia have reported having suicidal thoughts. Why is the rate of suicide higher among people w…

1
Community Involvement in Recovery with Schizophrenia 39:38

7M ago39:38

39:38

There is a huge gap in how people with schizophrenia are expected to recover and then integrate back into society. Many of us are in active treatment and managing symptoms. Now what? How do we function in life? How do we fit into society? We all want friends, to have a purpose, to belong. These desires fall under community involvement. Integration …

1
Disturbing Thoughts in Schizophrenia 53:40

9M ago53:40

53:40

Impulsive thoughts to harm yourself or others, confusing delusional thoughts, thoughts commanding you to do things — all of these are terrifying to experience. A breakdown in the thought process is a hallmark of schizophrenia. When does an intrusive thought become delusional and something a person might act upon? If a person has disturbing violent …

1
Grieving the Life You Lost Due to Schizophrenia 47:53

10M ago47:53

47:53

Living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia means that you and those around you will experience multiple losses as you navigate the disorder. It can take away relationships, employment, education, performance, independence, and sense of self. Will I keep getting worse? What happens if I have another psychotic episode? What will my life look like in 10…

1
Emma Kenny 54:52

10M ago54:52

54:52

Emma Kenny is a renowned psychotherapist and broadcaster appearing on This Morning. In this last episode, she speaks with Pamela about her relationship with her father, his mental health struggles, and coping with his loss. If you would like to support children and young people living with parental mental illness, please donate to Our Time here: ht…

1
Rachel Bruno-Hardy 50:55

10M ago50:55

50:55

Rachel Bruno-Hardy is a pre and postnatal physical trainer and daughter of British boxing legend Frank Bruno. In this episode, she discusses growing up during her father's boxing career and his struggle with bipolar disorder. If you would like to support children and young people living with parental mental illness, please donate to Our Time here: …

1
Tom Ward 54:02

10M ago54:02

54:02

Tom Ward is a stand-up comedian, voice over artist, and host of the ‘Bad Boys Done Good’ podcast. He talks to Pamela about his father’s mental health issues, and how they affected his family growing up. If you would like to support children and young people living with parental mental illness, please donate to Our Time here: https://www.justgiving.…

1
Jon Rees 49:42

11M ago49:42

49:42

Jon Rees is a street photographer and artist who runs therapeutic photography workshops. He speaks with Pamela about his father having bipolar disorder, and his mum's interlinked mental health struggles. If you would like to support children and young people living with parental mental illness, please donate to Our Time here: https://www.justgiving…

1
Helping Caregivers Navigate Schizophrenia 58:14

11M ago58:14

58:14

When a mental health crisis hits, it can catch everyone off guard—the person experiencing the crisis and those around them. For many with schizophrenia, this is a person’s first psychotic episode. As a caregiver, friend, or loved one, how do you get help for them? And how does the system work? Today, host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophre…

1
Lord James Bethell 44:57

11M ago44:57

44:57

James Nicholas Bethell, Baron Bethell, is a British hereditary peer and Conservative politician in the House of Lords, who is also a former Health Minister. He talks with Pamela about his mother, who struggled with postnatal depression. If you would like to support children and young people living with parental mental illness, please donate to Our …

1
Alyx Steele 54:59

11M ago54:59

54:59

Alyx Steele is an outstanding dancer and choreographer, who has worked on live shows with the likes of Sugababes, Coldplay, Jesse J, and many others. In this episode, Alyx talks to Pamela about her mother’s blindness and mental health decline. If you would like to support children and young people living with parental mental illness, please donate …

1
Cyrus Pattinson 42:52

11M ago42:52

42:52

Cyrus Ramone Pattinson is a rising star in the world of professional boxing. In this episode, Cyrus tells Pamela about his experiences growing up in an unstable living condition, and with a mother who has a mental illness. If you would like to support children and young people living with parental mental illness, please donate to Our Time here: htt…

1
Mya-Rose Craig 52:44

12M ago52:44

52:44

Mya-Rose Craig, also known as 'Bird Girl', is a British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, campaigner and author. She talks with Pamela about her untraditional upbringing, and how her family's shared love of birdwatching has helped them cope with difficult times, including her mother's bipolar disorder. If you would like to support children and young peopl…

1
LGBTQIA+ Community and Schizophrenia 49:05

12M ago49:05

49:05

The LGBTQIA+ community and psychiatry have had a very troubled past, especially when it comes to schizophrenia. Some of the first theories for the causes of schizophrenia actually centered around bisexual desires. There were even theories that people living with schizophrenia were all asexual due to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. And those…

1
Emma Kennedy 54:01

12M ago54:01

54:01

Author, screenwriter and comedian Emma Kennedy has written about how her mother Brenda's mental illness was undiagnosed in her lifetime, in her book Letters From Brenda: My Mother's Lifetime of Secrets. She speaks with Pamela about the isolation and uncertainty she felt growing up. If you would like to support children and young people living with …

1
Stigma in the Medical Community Against Schizophrenia 51:32

1y ago51:32

51:32

When managing schizophrenia, many of us have come to accept that there is a stigma around the disorder. But what happens when the stigma is from the medical professionals who are supposed to be treating, diagnosing, and helping you? Mental health professionals can even turn away people with a schizophrenia diagnosis. When we've been turned away by …

1
Early Indicators of Schizophrenia 41:30

1y ago41:30

41:30

Up to 80% of people with schizophrenia aren't aware they're experiencing early schizophrenia symptoms. Most people with schizophrenia go through a prodromal stage, where there's subtle changes in mood, thinking, and behavior. It's an evolution of the symptoms to come. Early indicators vary based on the age they start. An adult who develops schizoph…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Schizo Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide