Ruthless Compassion with Dr. Marcia Sirota
Psychology & Relationships
About
Ruthless Compassion is a podcast that shows you how to become fiercely kind. Host, Dr. Marcia Sirota gets into it — with experts and regular folks — about the heavy stuff that gets in the way of what we want. Heavy stuff like addiction and mental health, isolation, and loneliness, difficult family and work relationships and the importance of self-care.Dr. Marcia‘s clear, human, and accessible approach helps you to become a powerful kindness warrior. For more, visit http://marciasirotamd.com/ Dr. Marcia Sirota is a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in Toronto, Canada. She has more than 25 years of meal health experience and specializes in wellness, healing trauma, unblocking creativity, and supporting people to become kindness warriors. She promotes empowerment and self-awareness. She has two podcasts, Ruthless Compassion and Reel Mental. She is a popular workshop presenter and keynote speaker at conference
Episodes
- 208 - A Simple Technique for Calming an Angry Person with Doug Noll
Doug Noll, author of "De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less," shares insights on conflict resolution and teaching emotional literacy, drawing from his experience with programs like Prison of Peace and teaching at P…
- 207 - Unleashing Your Full Potential with Matt Young
Matt Young shares his extensive experience studying peak performers in mind and body, drawing from his background as a professional footballer and ultra-marathon runner. His life mission is to help individuals overcome mental and emotional…
- 206 - Creating Community with Florence Ann Romano
Florence Ann Romano, author of "Build Your Village," shares insights on creating community to feel seen, heard, and understood. The episode explores cultivating meaningful connections across life stages.
- 205 - One Woman's Journey of Forgiveness with Gayle Kirschenbaum
Gayle Kirschenbaum, an Emmy-winning filmmaker and author, shares her journey of forgiveness as detailed in her memoir "Bullied to Besties." Her work includes the Netflix film "Look at Us Now, Mother!" and a TED talk on family dynamics.
- 204 - Robert Coplan Discusses The Joy of Solitude
Dr. Robert Coplan, a psychology researcher with over 30 years of experience, discusses his work on the costs and benefits of solitude. He is the author of "The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World." He…
- 203 - Diane Dreher Presents a Positive Approach to Combating Chronic Stress
Diane Dreher, author and positive psychology researcher, discusses her work on hope and strategies from psychology and neuroscience for meeting life's challenges with courage and hope. Her books, including "Pathways to Inner Peace," blend…
- 202 - Making Sense of Our Current Political Climate with Stephen Marche
Stephen Marche, an author known for works like "On Writing and Failure" and "The Next Civil War," discusses the current political climate. He has contributed essays to publications such as The New Yorker and The Atlantic.
- 201 - Thriving as a Highly Sensitive Person with Todd Smith
Todd Smith, host of a podcast for Highly Sensitive People, shares his inquiry-based method for managing chronic stress and emotional overload, enabling individuals to find peace without altering external circumstances.
- 200 - Robert A. Neimeyer on a Mindful, Meaningful Approach to Grieving
Dr. Robert Neimeyer, a psychologist specializing in death, grief, and loss, discusses a mindful and meaningful approach to grieving. A Professor Emeritus at the University of Memphis, he has authored 37 books and over 600 articles, and is…
- 199 - Ira Chaleff On how to be an Informed, Empowered Citizen
Ira Chaleff, author and executive coach, discusses his extensive experience in government, including directing the Congressional Management Foundation and authoring resources for new Members of Congress. He also shares insights from his bo…
- 198 - A Novel Approach to Treating Trauma with Dr. Eugene Lipov
Dr. Eugene Lipov, an expert in trauma treatment, pioneered the use of Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) to alleviate PTSD symptoms. He also developed the Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR) protocol and advocates for viewing trauma as a post-traumati…
- 197 - Supercharge Your Communication with Nick Brancato
Nick Brancato, a personal development coach and educator, shares his approach to improving communication and connection in relationships. With over 25 years of experience, he utilizes practical tools, data-driven frameworks, and holistic p…
- 196 - Jonathan Kemp's Healing Journey Through Mental Illness
Jonathan Kemp shares his experience with mental illness, having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, and dyslexia at age 39. He is a mental health advocate and entrepreneur, and the creator of the SmartWisdom note-taking techn…
- 195 - Tools for Writers with Chelene Knight
Chelene Knight, author and founder of Breathing Space Creative, details her bespoke writing mentorships designed to help writers elevate their craft, deepen self-connection, and build a supportive ecosystem for emotional and financial retu…
- 194 - Compassionate Change in the Classroom with Dr. Ashley Seidel-Potvin
Dr. Ashley Seidel-Potvin joins Ruthless Compassion to discuss her experience as a former middle and high school social studies teacher and her current work in curriculum leadership and research. She shares insights from her PhD focusing on…
- 193 - Overcoming Obstacles, Big and Small, with Navy Seal David Brown
David W. Brown, a former Navy SEAL and federal agent, discusses his extensive career in service, including BUD/S training, SEAL Team 4 deployment, and leadership positions within NCIS, EPA, and the Department of Interior. He is also the au…
- 192 - How to Reclaim Our Joy with Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald
Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald, a trauma expert, discusses six barriers to joy and how to overcome them, based on her 15 years of research and her book, 'The Joy Reset'.
- 191 - Processing Grief Through Art, With the Musician, Muted Circus
Benny of Muted Circus shares his experience of creating a 50-song music project exploring themes of death, mourning, and aging, prompted by his father's terminal cancer diagnosis. He discusses processing grief through art and his return to…
- 190 - Perspectives on Mental Health with Ross Ellenhorn
Ross Ellenhorn, a sociologist, psychotherapist, and social worker, discusses the role of social worth and connections in psychiatric recovery. His work includes founding Ellenhorn, a program for individuals experiencing extreme mental and…
- 189 - The Extraordinary Power of Fireflies with Julie Wignall
Julie Wignall, acclaimed for environmental and animal care work, introduces her concept of "Fireflies"—visionaries who create meaningful change. Her book, "The Extraordinary Power of Fireflies," shares stories and empowers individuals to a…
- 188 - The Psychology of High-Performance Athletes with Dr. Hillary Cauthen
Dr. Hillary Cauthen, a clinical sport psychologist, shares insights on the mental health and performance of high-achievers. She previously developed programs for the San Antonio Spurs and Austin FC and founded Texas Optimal Performance & P…
- 187 - Being a Calm Mother with Darlynn Childress
Darlynn Childress, a parenting expert and certified life coach, discusses her transformation from an overwhelmed mother to a parenting expert. She shares insights on her Calm Mama Club, which offers tools and support for parents to find ca…
- 186 - Healing Through Dual-Brain Psychology with Dr. Fredric Schiffer
Dr. Fredric Schiffer, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, developed the theory of Dual Brain Psychology, detailed in his book "Goodbye Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, & PTSD." This theory, supported by research at Harvard and Mc…
- 185 - Using Movement to Transform Your Life with Toni Bergins
Toni Bergins, an embodiment trailblazer and educator at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, discusses her book "Embody: Feel, Heal, and Transform Your Life through Movement," which focuses on using movement for personal transformation.
- 184 - Loving Someone with a Mental Illness with Michelle Sherman
Dr. Michelle Sherman, a licensed clinical psychologist and co-author of "Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma," shares her expertise on supporting families facing mental illness and trauma. She draws from her extensive…
- 183 - Deprogram Diet Culture with Dr. Supatra Tovar
Dr. Supatra Tovar, a clinical psychologist and registered dietitian, offers holistic mind-body treatment for various conditions. Her work includes addressing disordered eating, weightism, and mindfulness, and she authored "Deprogram Diet C…
- 182 - The Healing Power of Psychotherapy with Sacha Mardou
Graphic novelist Sacha Mardou discusses her work, which delves into themes of mental illness, family dynamics, and trauma healing through comics and autobiography. Her latest book, Past Tense, focuses on uncovering family secrets and self-…
- 181 - An Unconventional Approach to Coping with Mental Illness with Stacy Blemaster
Stacy Blemaster, author of 'To Be or Not To Be: Shedding an As-If Personality', discusses her unconventional methods for coping with mental illness. The episode includes a trigger warning regarding mentions of suicide.
- 180 - Finding Your Flow with Diane Allen
International speaker Diane Allen, author of "Flow: Unlock Your Genius, Love What You Do", shares insights on accessing the flow state to enhance meaning, joy, and fulfillment. Drawing from her experience as a violinist and educator, she e…
- 179 - Recovery Road Trip with Patti Clark
In this episode of Ruthless Compassion, host Dr. Marcia Sirota speaks with author Patti Clark about her new book, "Recovery Road Trip: Finding Purpose and Connection on the Journey Home." Clark shares reflections on her personal recovery e…
- 178 - Standing at the Back Door of Happiness with David Roche
David Roche, a motivational speaker and performer known for his one-man show
- 177 - Modern-Day Sex Trafficking with Brian Joseph
In this episode, investigative journalist Brian Joseph discusses his book "Vegas Concierge: Sex Trafficking, Hip Hop, and Corruption in America." He shares insights from his career and his research into sex trafficking.
- 176 - The Dark Side of Being a Smith in Utah with Lyn Smith Gregory
Lyn Smith Gregory, a descendant of Joseph Smith, shares her experience growing up in a large Mormon family in Utah. She details leaving the Church at 19, pursuing an MBA, and transitioning from a 20-year tech career to a full-time writing…
- 175 - 52 Weeks To A Sweeter Life with Doctor Farzana
Dr. Farzana, a psychotherapist and author, shares insights from her career in social work and mental health, her advocacy against female genital cutting, and her recently released workbook, 52 Weeks To A Sweeter Life.
- 174 - Women's Mental Health with Misty Pratt
Misty Pratt, author of All In Her Head, discusses how personal and systemic biases impact the scientific understanding of women\
- 173 - The Devastating Impact of Addiction on Families with Patricia Roos
Patricia Roos, a sociology professor, shares her journey to understand her son's heroin overdose death. She discusses the devastating impact of addiction on families, combining her personal experience with sociological insights in her memo…
- 172 - Navigating Intergenerational Trauma with Tracey Yokas
In this episode, Dr. Marcia Sirota talks with Tracey Yokas about her family's experience with addiction and mental illness. Yokas shares her advocacy for compassionate, public health-oriented approaches to substance use, emphasizing harm r…
- 171 - The Power of Empathy with Michael Tennant
Michael Tennant, founder of Curiosity Lab and author of "The Power of Empathy," discusses using empathy to foster happier lives and inclusive environments. His work has been featured in major publications and includes the empathy card game…
- 170 - Purposeful Empathy with Dr. Anita Nowak
Dr. Anita Nowak, an expert in purposeful empathy, shares insights from her book and work with organizations on fostering empathy and social impact. She also discusses her teaching roles at McGill University and her podcast series.
- 169 - Jessi Kneeland Discusses Body Neutrality
In episode 169 of Ruthless Compassion, Dr. Marcia Sirota speaks with Jessi Kneeland, a body image coach and author, about body neutrality. This concept involves consciously removing imposed meanings from our bodies to foster individual emp…
- 168 - Alysson Bourque on Creative Problem Solving for Kids
Award-winning author Alysson Bourque, formerly a teacher and lawyer, discusses her transition to writing children's books, aiming to inspire self-belief in young readers. Her newest book in the Alycat series is set to release on March 18.
- 167 - Keeping Our Children Safe with Dr. Leslie Dobson
Dr. Leslie Dobson, a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, shares her expertise in psychological evaluations, particularly concerning sexual abuse allegations, and her focus on trauma and empowering clients, especially women, to set…
- 166 - The Truth About Our Mammalian Brain With Loretta Breuning, PhD
Loretta Breuning, PhD, explains how understanding the brain chemistry shared with mammals can clarify human motivation. An author and founder of the Inner Mammal Institute, her work offers resources to help individuals understand and accep…
- 165 - Revolutionary Optimism with Dr. Paul Zeitz
Dr. Paul Zeitz, a physician and activist, joins Ruthless Compassion to discuss his work in global justice and his book "Revolutionary Optimism." He shares insights on healing, self-compassion, and fostering optimism to address personal and…
- 164 - Conscious Parenting with Dr. Liza Finlay
Dr. Liza Finlay, with a background in psychology and research, discusses conscious parenting. She is involved with the charity ALFREDS and provides parenting advice on CBC's Here & Now.
- 163 - The Truth About Adoption with Rebecca Wellington
Rebecca Wellington, a writer and educator, discusses her work on the history of adoption in the United States, focusing on the adoptee perspective and honoring brave women. Her memoir, "Who Is a Worthy Mother? An Intimate History of Adopti…
- 162 - The Importance of Empathy with Judith Orloff
Judith Orloff, MD, author of The Genius of Empathy, shares practical skills for using empathy as a daily healing practice in life and relationships. Dr. Orloff is a psychiatrist, empath, UCLA faculty member, and specializes in treating hig…
- 161 - Releasing the Inner Artist with Jodie King
Jodie King, an artist and educator with 20 years of experience, shares her mission to help others find the healing power of art and empower artists globally to build successful businesses from their passion.
- 160 - Finding the Words to Talk About Grief and Loss with Colin Campbell
Colin Campbell, writer and director, shares his journey through profound loss after his children
- 159-Nya Abernathy on Living with Dignity and Wonder
Nya Abernathy, an emotional health educator and founder of The Dignity Effect, discusses her book 'Welcome, Wonder' and living with dignity and wonder. The episode also touches on her work with actors and her publication 'Of Earth & Of Sta…