Doorknob Comments

In this episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Professor Mark Solms, a psychoanalyst, neuropsychologist, and pioneering figure in neuropsychoanalysis. Professor Solms discusses his new book, The Only Cure: Freud and the Neuroscience of Mental Healing, and explores what it means to translate Freud from the language of early psychoanalysis into the language of contemporary neuroscience. He brings a critical scientific perspective to psychoanalysis while asking what psychoanalysis can still offer modern psychiatry and brain science.Listeners will learn about Freud’s pioneering work in neuroscience, and what inspired his shift toward psychological methods for understanding mental and brain function. The conversation explores why subjectivity matters, how feelings and emotional drives shape behavior, and how functionalist approaches to the mind can bridge psychoanalysis, neuropsychiatry, and contemporary neuroscience. They also discuss TMS, deep brain stimulation, neuroplasticity, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and the need for an integrated psychiatry that takes biology, psychology, and lived experience seriously.We hope you enjoy it.Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Mark Solmshttps://x.com/Mark_Solmshttps://npsa-association.org/Preorder The Only Cure at https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Mark-Solms/253231176Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

Have you ever wondered about the relationship between your brain and your mind? How does that wrinkled, gel-like matter in our head dictate our understanding of ourselves and the world?On today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara are joined by Dr. Tom Froese, a cognitive scientist at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) who researches the origin and nature of the human mind by integrating philosophy of mind, computational modeling, and human subjects research.The conversation centers on what Froese calls the intention-action gap: the stubborn fact that knowing what we want to do and actually doing it are never the same thing. Why can't we simply force our bodies to comply with our intentions? And what does this mean for how long real change actually takes?Together, they explore frustration tolerance, boredom, and the role of friction in psychological development, landing on a key therapeutic insight: sitting with uncertainty rather than demanding immediate resolution.We hope you enjoy!Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Tom FroeseConsciousness may be more than the brain’s output — it may be an input, toohttps://loc.closertotruth.com/theory/froese-s-irruption-theoryhttps://www.oist.jp/research/research-units/ecsu/tom-froeseDr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

In this episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara chat with Dr. Tom Pollak about the complex relationship between the immune system, the brain, and mental illness. Dr. Pollak is a NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London and a specialty trainee general adult psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust with a specialist interest in neuropsychiatry. Listeners will learn how doctors distinguish true autoimmune brain disorders from primary psychiatric conditions, why tests like spinal fluid analysis are complicated but sometimes crucial, and how both “it’s all psychological” and “it’s all biological” explanations can miss the bigger picture. Their conversation offers a nuanced look at how mind, brain, body, and environment interact, and why good psychiatric care requires holding all of those pieces together.We hope you enjoy. Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Tom Pollakhttps://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/thomas-pollakhttps://drtompollak.substack.com/Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

On today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Siddharth Shah, the Founder and President of Greenleaf Integrative. Dr. Shah is a preventive medicine physician whose path into medicine wound through the humanities, a year traveling in India, and early work in interfaith dialogue and social justice. Siddharth talks about how he found his way into psychiatry after leaving medical school twice, the mentors who shaped his approach, and why he sees agency, curiosity, and small wins as central to healing. He also reflects on the challenges of working in a world full of injustice and how practices of rest and embodied presence help sustain both clinicians and the communities they serve.We hope you enjoy it.Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Siddharth ShahDr. Shah Guided MeditationsGreenleaf IntegrativeDr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/  

In today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara are joined by Dr. Soe Thein, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founder of the Good Enough Psychiatrist YouTube channel. On his channel, Dr. Thein creates animated videos that explain psychodynamic therapy concepts for a general audience and has won numerous awards for his work. Together, they discuss moments of rupture that can occur in relationships and the importance of repair. They emphasize that occasional ruptures are a normal part of any healthy relationship; what truly matters is how the individuals involved address these breaks and work together to mend what has been damaged.We hope you enjoy.Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Soe Theinhttps://downtownpsychiatry.com/about-soe-thein-mdGood Enough Psychiatrist YouTube ChannelWhy Conflicts Make Relationships Stronger -  VideoDr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

On today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Igor Galynker, a psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher known for his work in bipolar disorder, suicide prevention, and the role of family dynamics in psychiatric illness, who currently serves as the Associate Chairman for Research in the department of psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Dr. Galynker talks about how he got interested in exploring suicide prevention, the signs that typically appear before someone commits suicide, and how therapists can better attune themselves to these markers.We hope you enjoy.If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or is in crisis, please seek help immediately by contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, visiting the nearest emergency department, or calling 911.Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Igor Galynkerhttps://profiles.mountsinai.org/igor-galynkerhttps://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/galynkerlab/https://www.bpfamily.org/about-2Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

On today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Dr. Daven Morrison, a psychiatrist with deep expertise in organizational and occupational psychiatry. A member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry and an officer of the Academy of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry, Dr. Morrison shares insights into the psychological dimensions of workplace life. From managing mergers and downsizing to fostering self-aware leadership, he walks us through the core principles of organizational psychiatry.We hope you enjoy!Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Daven Morrisonhttps://www.ourgap.org/committees/work-organizationshttps://www.morrisonltd.com/about-us/daven-morrison-m-dhttps://www.aoop.org/Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/If you like our podcast, please leave a review! Thanks in advance!

In today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Kate Werble, a longtime friend of Fara's and founder of her own New York City art gallery. They talk about the intimidating world of contemporary art, breaking down the mystique of the gallery scene and offering practical advice on how to begin engaging with galleries. Kate emphasizes that looking at art is a skill developed over time, encouraging curiosity over expertise for newcomers interested in learning how to engage with art. Finally, they talk about what art is ultimately about and what it offers psychologically. We hope you enjoy it. Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Kate Werblehttps://www.katewerblegallery.com/https://www.instagram.com/kate_werble_gallery/?hl=enDr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

In today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara sit down with Dr. Glenn Saxe to discuss the development and impact of Trauma Systems Therapy (TST), a model that addresses both emotional regulation in traumatized children and the complexities of their social environments. Dr. Saxe highlights how TST’s open-source approach has allowed practitioners worldwide to innovate and adapt the model for diverse settings, from child welfare to refugee care. The conversation explores the importance of honoring intergenerational wisdom while adapting to new challenges like cyberbullying and the digital age. They also touch on the promise of causal data science to advance psychiatric research and the need to embrace complexity rather than oversimplify mental health solutions. We hope you enjoy. Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Glenn Saxehttps://med.nyu.edu/faculty/glenn-saxehttps://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/child-adolescent-psychiatry/trauma-systems-therapy-training-center Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/If you like our podcast, please leave a review! Thanks in advance!

On today's episode of Doorknob Comments Fara and Grant are joined by Dr. Michael Levin, the Vannevar Bush Distinguished Professor of Biology and the Director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University. Dr. Levin publishes across developmental biology, computer science, bioengineering, and philosophy of mind, with work spanning from fundamental conceptual frameworks, to applications in birth defects, regeneration, and cancer. Fara and Grant discuss Dr. Levin's groundbreaking research, how he came to his research interests, and the potential linkages or applications his research might have for the future of therapeutic care.We hope you enjoy.Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Michael Levinhttps://thoughtforms.life/https://drmichaellevin.org/Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/