Memorial Day Salute

Memorial Day Salute

In this episode of Therapy Is Life, recorded at Studio 28 in Beachwood (Cleveland), the hosts sit down with CJ to discuss everyday routines, fatherhood, and his military journey. CJ shares what he does for fun, his approach to raising three sons with patience and emotional expression, and perspectives on supporting daughters’ emotions. He explains why he joined the Army as a 31B Military Police soldier, and describes being hit by an IED in Iraq on May 23, 2009, leading to severe injuries, a near-death experience, and nine months at Walter Reed relearning basic functions.  00:00 Welcome to Studio 28 02:21 CJ’s Fun and Fitness 02:57 Porch Mornings and Coffee 05:05 Fatherhood Advice for Boys 07:23 Raising Daughters and Emotions 10:59 CJ’s Book and Breakthrough 13:45 Why He Joined as an MP 14:37 Black Service and Military Pride 23:41 Ranks and the E-4 Mafia 25:02 Iraq Deployment and IED Blast 31:43 Rescue, Morphine Mishap 32:58 Near Death and Blood Donors 35:11 Waking Up In Germany 35:59 Cavs Call Home 36:39 Walter Reed Rehab 37:24 Hand Sewn Recovery 39:09 PTSD And Nightmares 42:12 Breaking Point And Help 44:23 Triggers And Confidence 49:21 Advice For Veterans 50:33 Gym As Therapy 51:59 Bodybuilding Pro Journey 56:08 Understanding Veterans Trauma 01:04:37 Book Count It Out 01:09:31 Warriors And War Movies 01:15:05 Unit Named After Him 01:17:12 Final Mental Health Message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

War, Politics and Wellness

In this episode of Therapy is Life, the hosts unpack the emotions war brings up, drawing from family military history and a veteran’s perspective. They discuss how politics, media narratives, and historical context shape how people understand conflict and who they see as the “enemy,” while questioning the costs and interests behind war. The conversation closes with ways to stay grounded amid constant news and global crises, including limiting exposure to social media, getting outside, unplugging from electronics, building supportive routines, leaning on community or faith spaces, and seeking help when needed. 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 01:26 War Emotions and Family PTSD 03:07 Veteran Perspective and Fear 06:48 War as Metaphor and Costs 09:29 Politics Values and War Views 13:05 Aggression Survival and Meaning 14:16 Media Narratives and Research 16:23 History Oil and Power Games 20:25 Nuclear Escalation and Superpower Curse 24:01 Humanity Compassion in Power 25:50 Soft Power vs Force 27:52 Doomscrolling and Boundaries 29:39 Grounding Outside and Affirmations 30:39 Digital Detox and Meditation 32:32 Somatic Tools and Rituals 36:43 Curate Your Home Space 38:03 Asking for Help 39:13 Music Playlists and Joy 40:22 Faith Community and Hope 41:46 Art Inspires Movements 42:53 Wrap Up and Call to Action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Normalizing War and Vicarious Trauma

In this episode of Therapy Is Life, the crew discusses how the nervous system responds to violent war visuals in movies and media, questioning how we distinguish entertainment from reality. They explore desensitization from long-term exposure, the difference between fictional violence and real footage, and how war imagery can trigger flashbacks for people who grew up in war-torn environments. The conversation connects constant exposure to hypervigilance, stress responses, and emotional numbness, and highlights how media narratives can dehumanize victims and normalize violence. 00:00 War and Welcome 01:36 Violence on Screen 02:44 Desensitized vs Real 04:43 Trauma Triggers 06:19 Media Normalization 10:30 Exposure and Nervous System 11:53 Vicarious Trauma Explained 16:39 Numbness and Self Harm 19:09 Reality of War 23:24 War Footage Impact 23:53 Wrap Up and Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

War, Doomscrolling and Our Mental Health

On this episode of Therapy is Life, host Gerald McGee opens with Kate Daniels’ “War Photography” from the Vietnam War to frame a discussion about being the first generation with instant, nonstop access to war images and news and how that impacts wellbeing. The panel talks about how social-media algorithms shape what we see, how platforms have become “interest media,” and how even attempts to stay informed can turn into doomscrolling that pulls people off task. They explore subtle psychological and physical effects like heightened stress and cortisol, shifts in mood, loss of safety, compassion fatigue, desensitization, and hypervigilance, connecting today’s real-time alerts to memories of 9/11 and later fears like anthrax.  00:00 Welcome And Poem 01:56 War Media Impact 02:57 Social Media Habits 05:00 Algorithms And Interests 07:45 Animal Feed Tangent 14:09 From Fun To War Alerts 16:23 Defining Doomscrolling 18:08 Balancing News Intake 22:43 Hidden Stress Effects 23:55 Compassion Fatigue Begins 24:08 Desensitized by the Feed 25:43 Spotting Emotional Triggers 27:19 War Anxiety and Safety 28:42 9/11 Memories in Real Time 32:41 Trauma Imprints and Compassion 35:14 Talking to Kids About Violence 36:54 Age Appropriate Parenting Talks 40:42 Cultural Talks for Black Families 42:56 Hope Spirituality and Resilience 44:06 Generational Discipline Shifts 46:20 Series Wrap and Subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Stay Woke

In this Therapy’s Life episode, the hosts unpack “stay woke” as an age-old survival practice for Black people, using Lead Belly’s Scottsboro Boys song and the wrongful rape accusations, imprisonment, and posthumous pardons as a starting point. They connect Black wokeness to historical communication and resistance—from the Middle Passage, drums, Negro spirituals, and Harriet Tubman’s coded songs to writers and leaders like David Walker, Frederick Douglass, Carter G. Woodson, and Dr. Frances Cress Welsing—arguing that awareness is tied to freedom, education, and mental health.  00:00 Stay Woke Intro 02:53 Scottsboro Boys Story 05:12 Survival Through Song 10:36 Woke Music Lineage 11:21 Early Black Thinkers 14:47 Education And Awareness 16:35 Defining Racism 22:55 Power And Policy Examples 27:41 Stereotypes And Dehumanization 32:49 Civil Rights And The Church 36:40 Warrior Spirit Woke 37:43 Hidden Black Genius 40:24 Timbuktu NASA Credit 41:12 Slavery Sites Lessons 44:59 Woke Survival Skills 48:48 Self Love Origins 52:02 When Woke Hurts 59:25 Hip Hop Truth Seekers 01:02:36 Protect Black History 01:06:26 Social Media Algorithms 01:07:39 Read Stay Woke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]