[CW: discussions of suicide] Happy Pride! Join us as we discuss Portrait of a Lady on Fire! We break down the themes of autonomy & actualization represented by the various female leads. We also explore the idea of abstract grief and have a lengthy discussion on suicide, specifically within the LGBTQIA+ community. If you are experiencing suicidal th…

In today's episode we break down the animated classic Batman: Mask of the Phantasm! This film was truly ahead of its time and the stellar voice cast masterfully covered the mental anguish Bruce Wayne experiences as he battles his internal family system about whether upholding an oath of vengeance sworn as a child or living a happy life best honors …

Join us today as we discuss one of Hannah's favorite movies of all time, Arrival! We break down the use of communication in the film and how it relates to communication both in and out of therapy. We also explore the film's theme of existentialism and radical acceptance. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/popcorn-p…

Hi Barbie! In this episode, we are once again joined by our beloved friend, fellow therapist, and real life Barbie: Rachel Harrison. We discuss sense of self vs systemic identity. We also explore the themes of codependency and life changes. So put on your favorite pink outfit and join us! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com…

Welcome to Season 7! We have heard your cries and we are starting with Saltburn! [content warning: this episode includes discussions of abuse] We attempt to understand Oliver Quick through the lens of antisocial personality disorder. We also discuss the Catton family as a model for dysfunctional family systems. Become a supporter of this podcast: h…

[CW: Discussions of predatory relationships including references to assault] This year's winner of our Valentine's Day poll is Never Been Kissed! Listener beware if you are precious about this movie because we truly rip it apart. We first break down the characters of Josie and Rob. We discuss the potential of neurodivergence in regards to Josie and…

Would it be better to forget than remember when pain is involved? We try to answer that question in our PATREON picked episode on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. We analyze the two main characters: Clementine & Joel. We also rip apart the ethics (or lack thereof) behind the “medical professionals” responsible for the forgetting procedure. Jo…

Happy December 23rd! Or how its known in the Costanza household: HAPPY FESTIVUS! Join us as we round out 2023 by getting out our metal poles and discussing the Festivus episode of Seinfeld. We discuss how trauma is represented by George Costanza as well as how Festivus is a holiday made by and for someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. We …

Merry Christmas! This holiday season we break down (and hate on) the 90s kid classic, Jingle All The Way! We discuss the representation of parenting via Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad. We also explore the destructive nature of consumerism. Hope you all don’t mind our ribbing of a modern classic that unfortunately does not hold up in any way. Beco…

Join us as we discuss the 90s classic: Fried Green Tomatoes! We are once again joined by Rachel Harrison, our close friend and art therapist. We discuss identity through the experiences of the three main characters: Idgie, Ruth, and Evelyn. We also discuss the importance of chosen family and community. Tawanda!! Become a supporter of this podcast: …

In this episode we are joined by Tessa Marie Hoffman as we break down the 2014 critically acclaimed film, Whiplash. We discuss the “teaching” tactics displayed in the movie and evaluate the differences between preparing students for the realities of a difficult career and narcissistic abuse. We also explore the power dynamics of mentor/student rela…

[CW: This episode contains lengthy discussions throughout about domestic violence] Happy Halloween! We are finally taking the windy mountain road to the Overlook Hotel to discuss The Shining! We are joined by Dr. Scott Jordon (aka Zombie Scotty)! We ask the question, would seeing ghosts give you PTSD? We have a very serious discussion about the dom…

Are you creepy, spooky, mysterious, or kooky?? Well you've come to the right place because we are talking about The Addams Family!! We are specifically diving into the 1991 film and we are joined by Benjamin Taitz! We ask the eternal question: are the Addams Family a family of "psychopaths"? We also break down the relationship between Fester and hi…

Enjoy this live episode from Fan Expo Chicago 2023! Ben and Brittney chat with a live audience about a variety of topics from the portrayal of therapists in film/tv to surprising places that we have found positive mental health messaging. We touch upon several different pieces of media, from Ted Lasso to Bluey to the MCU. Thank you to everyone who …

Stay awake! Because we are finally delving into the multilayered dream space of Inception! We are joined by a super knowledgable guest on therapeutic dreamwork: Dr. Isaac Taitz. We discuss the real components of dreams and consciousness demonstrated in this sci-fi movie. We also continue our discussions on grief, specifically when grief is tangled …

Wakanda Forever! This will come as no surprise to anyone but this episode will be mainly about grief and the myriad of ways we can experience grief and process grief. We discuss grief not only through the fictional characters of this movie but also through the significant real-life loss of Chadwick Boseman. So bring your tissues and an open heart a…

Hello!! We are doing a very special crossover episode with Raiders of the Lost Podcast, hosted by twin brothers Anthony and James Deveney who break down your favorite movies from the past and present. We are finally talking about Pixar's Up, a highly requested film by fans. As this is a hyrid episode, we get a bit more into the actual making of the…

Hello our fellow adventurers! After many many many fan requests, we are jumping on our camels and venturing into 1999's The Mummy! We are joined by an awesome guest, Charlene MacPherson, as we explore the psychology behind exploration. We also discuss the difference between individualism and collectivism as well as how this movie compares to a D&D …

Join us as we swing into 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, the third Spider-Man installment with Tom Holland. We wanted to discuss this movie and this character due to Ben's contribution to the recently published book, Spider-Man Psychology: Untangling Webs. You can find the link below! In this episode we will be discussing corrective experiences, gr…

Well Garsh! We have a new episode today with the beloved animated 90s movie, A Goofy Movie! We break down the four commonly known parenting styles as well as discuss the difficult journey of parenting a child into adolescence. Ayuck! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/popcorn-psychology--3252280/support.…

Hello! We venture back into the cinematic universe of Wes Anderson with the stop motion animated feature, Fantastic Mr. Fox! We discuss the diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder and how it presents in our main charater, Mr. Fox. We also explore how this diagnosis not only affects Mr. Fox but his nuclear family, extended family, and his ent…

Today, we have a special treat for you as we feature an episode from the new podcast "Richard Wiseman's On Your Mind," co-hosted by Richard Wiseman, Britain's only professor in the Public Understanding of Psychology, and science journalist Marnie Chesterson. Together, they delve into the captivating topic of persuasion, exploring how the power of p…

We are once again joined by the fantastic Justine Mastin as we complete our LOTR journey with The Return of the King. We discuss the theme of chosen family seen throughout the film as well as purpose and heroism. There may be a day that we stop watching this film, but it is not this day! So get it over with and throw that ring in that mighty big vo…

[CW: mild references to SA] Come with me if you want to live! In this episode we time travel into Terminator 2. We discuss the movie's diagnosis of Sarah Connor having schizoaffective disorder. We dive into the movie's portrayal of mental health services within an intensive institutionalized setting. We also break down John Connor as a kid who was …

Welcome to Season Six of Popcorn Psychology!! We are kicking off this season with the 2023 Oscar winner for Best Picture: Everything Everywhere All At Once! We deep dive into the subject of intergenerational trauma between the main character Evelyn with both her father and her daughter. We also explore the movie’s themes on nihilism and existential…

Happy Valentine’s Day! Let’s travel back in time to the height of quirky hipsterdom, 2009, and dive into 500 Days of Summer! This movie has been heavily requested for almost the entire time we’ve been doing the podcast. As the movie reminds us several times, this is NOT a love story! So we will be breaking down the concept of “Situationships”, what…

Surprise! In this episode we are joind by Dr. Andy Luttrell, Psychology Professor at Ball State University and host of Opinion Science Podcast. We are talking about the 2005 film, Thank You For Smoking! We mainly discuss the main character played by Aaron Eckhart. We break down the themes of gaslighting and moral flexibility that are heavily featur…

Happy Holidays as we land in Whoville to talk about The Grinch!! In this episode we focus the 2018 animated adaptiation from Illumination! We include aspects of the 1966 an 2000 versions to be inclusive of their genius! We are joined by Stanford professor and host of Know What You See podcaset, Dr. Brian Lowery for this epsiode! We discuss PTSD and…

[Content Warning: mentions of sexual assault and violence towards women] In a special bonus episode, we have an interview with the creators of the new movie The Retaliators! We are joined by the screenwriters, Darren Geare and Jeff Allen Geare, and the lead actor, Michael Lombardi! We discuss the inspiration for the movie as well as the psychologic…

Happy Holidays! In our first holiday episode of 2022, we traveling to NeverNeverLand in Steven Spielberg's Hook!! We mainly break down the characters of adult Peter Pan and Captain Hook. We discuss a variety of topics: anxiety and irritability, dissociative amnesia, parenting when you never had parents, cluster B diagnoses, grooming, and more. Join…

Welcome back to the Tolkien-verse! We are diving back into the Lord of the Rings trilogy with The Two Towers. We are joined by Justine Mastin, therapist and author of Starship Therapise and The Grieving Therapist. We touch upon a variety of themes: grief and loss, ecological grief, individuation, Jung. We also discuss Internal Family Systems and ho…

[Content Warning: In depth discussion on suicide] In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we are discussing the critically acclaimed tv series, Reservation Dogs! Specifically we explore the first season but there are mild spoilers for season two, so listen with caution if you are not caught up. This is also a pretty heavy episode as ou…

[Content Warning: In-depth discussion on the abuse tactic of grooming] In our second Spooky Season episode of 2022, we are going into the claymation world of Coraline! We are joined by a live action guest, Eric Wesselmann, to discuss some heavy topics for a child based movie so listen with caution if there are young ears around. We dive deep into t…

Get your two favorite sisters and your skin-bound spell book because we are talking about Hocus Pocus!! We discuss Adjustment Disorder and how it presents with the character of Max as he adjusts to moving to Salem. We also examine the importance of listening to children when they share about bullying, feeling unsafe, etc. And last but certainly not…

By popular demand, we are dropping an extra episode before our Spooky Season starts on the newly beloved movie, Encanto!! We are joined by a dear friend and excellent therapist, Paulina Chirinos. We explore the theme of perfectionism within the Madrigal family and how it is a response to the intense trauma experienced by their matriarch, Alma. We a…

Do you ever look at someone and wonder, ‘What is going on inside their head?’” That’s right folks! We are finally discussing Inside Out! We tackle the eternal question: Why Do We Have Feelings?? We also discuss emotional intelligence, the idea of good feelings vs bad feelings, and what it means to “grow up”. So hold on tight to your imaginary frien…

We are finally discussing our first Wes Anderson movie, Moonrise Kingdom! We focus on the two main characters, Suzy and Sam. We break down the movie’s idea of an “emotionally disturbed child” and discuss the following topics: intermittent explosive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder; as well as the significant impact of both characters’ home l…

In this episode we are firing up the Nirvana and exploring the theme of Something In the Way as we travel back to Gotham City to discuss the newest iteration of the caped crusader in 2022’s The Batman. We are joined by Dr. Travis Langley, author of Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight. We explore the theme of trust in how we can be betra…

We have another bonus episode for ya! Recorded live at Fan Expo Chicago 2022, our panel on Marvel and Mental Health. We primarily discuss Moon Knight and its depiction of Dissociative Identity Disorder but we also revisit some other Marvel Disney+ favorites. Hope you enjoy! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/popcor…

We finally did it! We are talking about Gone Girl!! This is a very special episode for two reasons. Firstly, we have a special guest, Rachel Harrison, an art therapist and our friend who did the art for our logo. Secondly, It’s a pATREON patron requested video! Don’t forgot, one of the perks for becoming a top tier patron is the privilege of pickin…

!!SPOILERS and Content Warning for Physical and Emotional Abuse!! Check out our live episode on Stranger Things Season 4 recorded live at Fan Expo Chicago 2022! We focus on the trauma, dissociation, and grief symptoms that are present in Eleven and Max throughout Season 4. We also discuss the relationship dynamics that evolve between the other char…

[CW: discussions of hate crimes and intense violence] Join us for a heavier episode today as we discuss the 2005 award-winning movie, Brokeback Mountain. We are joined by the host of the Lifetime Uncorked podcast, Patrick Serrano. We focus on the two main characters, Ennis and Jack, and explore how homophobia, trauma, and their families of origin i…

[CW: Discussions about domestic abuse] Hello and Happy Pride! Hop in our Cadillac DeVille as we discuss the 1995 comedy “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar”. We explore the role of community in the various ways it is demonstrated in the movie, both in the LGBT+ community and in the small town our main characters end up in. We also exa…

Hop in our Aston Martin and join us as we break down the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale! We explore the question: Does James Bond have Antisocial Personality Disorder or is he in a career that encourages antisocial behaviors? We also examine his relationship with the Bond girl of this movie and the trauma that comes with being a 00. And rememb…

In this episode, we are jumping into our private jet to discuss the modern day rom com classic, Crazy Rich Asians. We explore the varied ways that culture shock can present via classism, immigration status, assimilation, etc. We also, unfortunately, tear apart the ways that Nick does not show up as a partner for Rachel when it comes to managing the…

Jump into the multiverse with us as we discuss Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse! We discuss the chronic trauma of being a superhero through constant exposure to grief and loss. We also discuss how to find empowerment in yourself and by helping others, group therapy, and trauma bonding. And remember, “anyone can wear the mask”. Become a supporter o…

Welcome to Season 5!! We are riding our carriage to Jane Austen’s England to discuss the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. We are breaking down the theme of Anxiety through the characters of Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth Bennett. We explore the difference between anxiety that is a diagnosable disorder vs anxiety brought on by the envir…

In this year’s holiday episode, we are heading up to Arendelle to discuss Frozen 1 & 2! We are joined by Dr. Shelly Clevenger to breakdown the themes of empowerment and self-acceptance. We also examine the parenting choices of Anna and Elsa’s parents and it’s impact on their identity as adults. Happy Holidays!! Become a supporter of this podcast: h…

The Fellowship of the Ring: Shame, Dissociation, and Trauma Bonds: One does not simply discuss Lord of the Rings….so we teamed up with Southgate Productions and headed to Mordor to discuss the first Lord of the Rings film, Fellowship of the Rings! We discuss the impact of shame in the decision making and sense of identity amongst the fellowship. We…

Ghostbusters: Psychology Experiments, Social Skills, & The Innovation Mindset—- In this episode we discuss the social skills of our main characters, the truth behind psychology experiments in college, and the inspiring message of innovation in the movie. Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/…