111. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Voices in our ears and directors in our neighborhood

112. Why is Whimsy Trending?

Internet and social media trends come and go, and many of them are pretty stupid. But could it be true that there is one current trend that might actually be somewhat beneficial for our mental health and well being? Join Marcus and Esme as they discuss whimsy, the rare social media trend that doesn’t seem to want to kill us. Marcus and Esme discuss why the trend has taken off, and whether or not there is any hard, scientific evidence to suggest that it might be a good thing (spoiler alert: believe it or not, there kinda’ is). They also share some of the whimsical interests and activities that bring a little fun to their lives, encourage straight guys to give whimsy a chance (it might actually encourage women to choose you and not the bear), and encourage listeners to not overthink whimsy, because then it won’t be whimsical anymore.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com [http://crazytogetherpod.com] Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact [https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact] Sources for this episode include: * “Whimsy.” Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, 2026, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/whimsy [https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/whimsy]. * Caramela, Sammi. “The Surprisingly Powerful Benefits of Adding a Little Whimsy to Your Life, According to Science.” VICE, 30 May 2026, https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-surprisingly-powerful-benefits-of-adding-a-little-whimsy-to-your-life-according-to-science [https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-surprisingly-powerful-benefits-of-adding-a-little-whimsy-to-your-life-according-to-science].  * Gray, Peter. “The Value of Play I: The Definition of Play Gives Insights.” Psychology Today, 19 Nov. 2008, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/200811/the-value-play-i-the-definition-play-gives-insights [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/200811/the-value-play-i-the-definition-play-gives-insights].  * Hart, Tori, and Robyn M. Holmes. “Exploring the Connection Between Adult Playfulness and Emotional Intelligence.” Journal of Play in Adulthood, vol. 4, no. 1, Aug. 2022, pp. 28–51. University of Huddersfield Press.  * Magnuson, Cale D., and Lynn A. Barnett. “The Playful Advantage: How Playfulness Enhances Coping with Stress.” Leisure Sciences, vol. 35, no. 2, 2013, pp. 129–144. Taylor & Francis Online, https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2013.761905 [https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2013.761905].  Our theme music * Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM4k2HNgnDo&t=0s]  Free Download / Stream: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGZ0T2g0LVBjZkxERXFYbElNNDFSUktIdFJzUXxBQ3Jtc0tuT08zVW90bVJuYW1VcWJlUlZlRlVESkpCNGhrellrbEwyeEFrbUZVbUJ3Z2hFUkFTdEFVci1uMjdPbXhCcUVXV2RXalRwYzRtTnBCdWtKUnY2T0YtVkpndnB4TlJLWU5sUTRudkU3TWZDckdyX2NzZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Falplus.io%2Fmidnight-declan-dp&v=eM4k2HNgnDohttps://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp [https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp]

111. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Voices in our ears and directors in our neighborhood

Are the narrators of audiobooks the final authority on how to pronounce the names of people and places in sci-fi/fantasy novels? What is the likelihood a noteworthy director of independent cinema has moved to Marcus and Esme’s small town in southeastern Pennsylvania? And what does it mean if Marcus is hearing the voice of an entirely different director in his head when he goes grocery shopping?  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com [http://crazytogetherpod.com] Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 [https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887]  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact [https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact] Our theme music * Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM4k2HNgnDo&t=0s]  Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGZ0T2g0LVBjZkxERXFYbElNNDFSUktIdFJzUXxBQ3Jtc0tuT08zVW90bVJuYW1VcWJlUlZlRlVESkpCNGhrellrbEwyeEFrbUZVbUJ3Z2hFUkFTdEFVci1uMjdPbXhCcUVXV2RXalRwYzRtTnBCdWtKUnY2T0YtVkpndnB4TlJLWU5sUTRudkU3TWZDckdyX2NzZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Falplus.io%2Fmidnight-declan-dp&v=eM4k2HNgnDo]

110. The Cerebellum’s Surprising Role in Mental Health

Is it possible that the cerebellum plays a much larger role in our mental health than was previously known? And if so, what are the implications for the future of how mental health and neurodivergent conditions are diagnosed and treated going forward? Well, after an exhaustive review of recent breakthroughs in the field of neuroscience, Marcus and Esme are prepared to say, “Wow, those are some tough questions.” The truth of the matter is that the cerebellum has been the subject of a lot of fascinating research and discoveries in the past few years (it has long been dismissed as less important than the flashier, “thinky-thinky” parts of the brain). Scientists are only now beginning to grasp how intertwined this fist-sized portion of the human brain is with practically every aspect of neurological functioning and mental health.  What does it all mean? Well, that’s what Esme and Marcus attempt to figure out in this episode. While they acknowledge there are no definitive answers to these questions yet, they also think it’s a fascinating topic with a lot of potential implications for how mental health and neurodivergent conditions are diagnosed and treated going forward. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com [http://crazytogetherpod.com] Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact [https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact] Sources for this episode include: * Braga-Neto, Pedro, et al. “The Cerebellum and Psychiatric Disorders: Unraveling Its Role in Mental Health.” Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, vol. 83, no. 8, 31 Aug. 2025, pp. s00451810408. PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12399322/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12399322/].  * Mitoma, Hiroshi, et al. “Recent Advances in the Treatment of Cerebellar Disorders.” Brain Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, 23 Dec. 2019, article 11. PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7017280 [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7017280].  * Radiolab. “Song of the Cerebellum.” Radiolab, 30 Jan. 2026, https://radiolab.org/podcast/song-of-the-cerebellum [https://radiolab.org/podcast/song-of-the-cerebellum].  Our theme music * Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM4k2HNgnDo&t=0s]  Free Download / Stream: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGZ0T2g0LVBjZkxERXFYbElNNDFSUktIdFJzUXxBQ3Jtc0tuT08zVW90bVJuYW1VcWJlUlZlRlVESkpCNGhrellrbEwyeEFrbUZVbUJ3Z2hFUkFTdEFVci1uMjdPbXhCcUVXV2RXalRwYzRtTnBCdWtKUnY2T0YtVkpndnB4TlJLWU5sUTRudkU3TWZDckdyX2NzZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Falplus.io%2Fmidnight-declan-dp&v=eM4k2HNgnDohttps://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp [https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp]

109. HYPERFOCUS BONUS: Never gonna resolve musical differences

Most great works of art defy simple interpretation. Some pieces are so complex and so deeply rousing that two people (who are otherwise very much alike in temperament and tastes) can walk away from the same composition with very different interpretations. Such is the case with the timeless blue-eyed soul standard Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley. Marcus and Esme discuss their specific point of contention and ask for the listeners' help to resolve the dispute. Also, a family of birds has taken up residence in a planter on the O’Kayvious’ front porch, which has had some surprising impacts on each of the human members of the household. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com [http://crazytogetherpod.com] Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887 [https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887]  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact [https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact] Our theme music * Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM4k2HNgnDo&t=0s]  Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGZ0T2g0LVBjZkxERXFYbElNNDFSUktIdFJzUXxBQ3Jtc0tuT08zVW90bVJuYW1VcWJlUlZlRlVESkpCNGhrellrbEwyeEFrbUZVbUJ3Z2hFUkFTdEFVci1uMjdPbXhCcUVXV2RXalRwYzRtTnBCdWtKUnY2T0YtVkpndnB4TlJLWU5sUTRudkU3TWZDckdyX2NzZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Falplus.io%2Fmidnight-declan-dp&v=eM4k2HNgnDo]

108. Object Permanence and the Neurodivergent “Identity”

Do neurodivergent people really struggle with object permanence? Generally speaking, no. Babies and dogs may struggle to understand that something still exists even if they can’t see it anymore (which explains the rush babies get playing peek-a-boo). However, most older children and adults – regardless of neurotype – tend to understand that mommy has not exited this earthly plain just because she threw a blanket over her head.  That being said, Marcus and Esme think there is one very specific area of neurodivergent peoples’ lives where they might struggle with something similar to object permanence. Specifically, if neurodivergent people: * Acknowledge they live in a world that was built for neurotypical people . . . * And respond to these structural inequities by focusing on improving their “flaws” and “defects” ONLY . . . * Then they are denying the existence of all the ways in which systems are structured against them. This is a natural reaction for neurodivergent people. After all, they’re raised to believe that being neurodivergent is a condition, and as such they must be “fixed” to be successful in school and at the office. But what if neurodivergence isn’t a condition? What if being neurodivergent just meant a person was different?  In other words, what if neurodivergence was an identity? That’s the question Marcus and Esme explore in this episode: what would it mean if we thought of neurodivergence as an identity, and how might that change the way we think not only of our developmental needs, but of the systems and structures that weren’t built with us in mind?   Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com [http://crazytogetherpod.com] Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact [https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact] Sources for this episode include: * Issitt, Micah. “Object Permanence.” EBSCO Research Starters: Psychology, EBSCO Information Services, 2022, https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/object-permanence [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/object-permanence].  * Guy-Evans, Olivia. “Object Permanence & ADHD: ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’.” Simply Psychology, 20 May 2025, https://www.simplypsychology.org/object-permanence-and-adhd.html [https://www.simplypsychology.org/object-permanence-and-adhd.html].  * Robison, John Elder. “Neurodiversity Is an Identity, Not a Disorder.” Psychology Today, 14 Jan. 2024, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/my-life-with-aspergers/202401/neurodiversity-is-an-identity-not-a-disorder [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/my-life-with-aspergers/202401/neurodiversity-is-an-identity-not-a-disorder].  Our theme music * Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM4k2HNgnDo&t=0s]  Free Download / Stream: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGZ0T2g0LVBjZkxERXFYbElNNDFSUktIdFJzUXxBQ3Jtc0tuT08zVW90bVJuYW1VcWJlUlZlRlVESkpCNGhrellrbEwyeEFrbUZVbUJ3Z2hFUkFTdEFVci1uMjdPbXhCcUVXV2RXalRwYzRtTnBCdWtKUnY2T0YtVkpndnB4TlJLWU5sUTRudkU3TWZDckdyX2NzZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Falplus.io%2Fmidnight-declan-dp&v=eM4k2HNgnDohttps://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp [https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp]