113. Mental Fitness & Emotional Resilience with Jake Wiskerchen, Zander Keig & Jason Littlefield
06/10/24 • 90 min
Many cultural critics have expressed a mounting concern about prevalent attitudes that promote fragile mentalities, potentially crippling a generation and leaving them underprepared for the demands of adult life. Today’s roundtable panel brings together experts in mental health, social work, and social-emotional learning to discuss these concerns. How do narratives about our ability to bounce back from adversity shape our mental health and impact our outcomes?
The discussion touches on the importance of self-awareness and the practice of mindfulness in strengthening our emotional resilience. But what happens when our nervous system goes haywire, and we can't trust our emotions? How do we navigate through moments of distress and disorientation?
The guests share personal experiences and insights on how to cultivate mental fitness in a world filled with fear and self-censorship. Join us as we unravel the complexities of emotional well-being and resilience in the modern age.
Jake Wiskerchen, LMFT owns and operates Zephyr Wellness in northern Nevada and serves on the board of Walk the Talk America. His emotional functioning videos mentioned in this episode can be found here. Follow him at Twitter/X: @jakewisk
Zander Keig, LCSW, is an award-winning social worker, speaker, caregiver, and educator who presents sought-after emotional well-being webinars and hosts the popular Umbrella Hour podcast. Zander co-founded the LGBTQ Caregiver Center, publishes change-maker stories at Third Space Press, and serves as a Caregiving.com LGBT Expert and Pride 365 Champion.
Jason Littlefield is an educator and advocate for personal well-being and societal well-being. He is the author of Empowered Humanity Theory: A Framework For An Empowering And Dignified Life. He's served more than years in public education in the capacity of teacher/coach, assistant principal and Social Emotional Learning. Jason has impacted students globally, including in Taiwan, China, and Benin, Africa. He works to reduce human division and promote personal well-being through EmpowerED Pathways, Free Black Thought, and The Institute for Liberal Values.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Previous episodes mentioned:
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Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.
MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my
Many cultural critics have expressed a mounting concern about prevalent attitudes that promote fragile mentalities, potentially crippling a generation and leaving them underprepared for the demands of adult life. Today’s roundtable panel brings together experts in mental health, social work, and social-emotional learning to discuss these concerns. How do narratives about our ability to bounce back from adversity shape our mental health and impact our outcomes?
The discussion touches on the importance of self-awareness and the practice of mindfulness in strengthening our emotional resilience. But what happens when our nervous system goes haywire, and we can't trust our emotions? How do we navigate through moments of distress and disorientation?
The guests share personal experiences and insights on how to cultivate mental fitness in a world filled with fear and self-censorship. Join us as we unravel the complexities of emotional well-being and resilience in the modern age.
Jake Wiskerchen, LMFT owns and operates Zephyr Wellness in northern Nevada and serves on the board of Walk the Talk America. His emotional functioning videos mentioned in this episode can be found here. Follow him at Twitter/X: @jakewisk
Zander Keig, LCSW, is an award-winning social worker, speaker, caregiver, and educator who presents sought-after emotional well-being webinars and hosts the popular Umbrella Hour podcast. Zander co-founded the LGBTQ Caregiver Center, publishes change-maker stories at Third Space Press, and serves as a Caregiving.com LGBT Expert and Pride 365 Champion.
Jason Littlefield is an educator and advocate for personal well-being and societal well-being. He is the author of Empowered Humanity Theory: A Framework For An Empowering And Dignified Life. He's served more than years in public education in the capacity of teacher/coach, assistant principal and Social Emotional Learning. Jason has impacted students globally, including in Taiwan, China, and Benin, Africa. He works to reduce human division and promote personal well-being through EmpowerED Pathways, Free Black Thought, and The Institute for Liberal Values.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Previous episodes mentioned:
TALK TO ME: book a discovery call.
LOCALS: Ask questions of me & guests; get early access to new episodes + exclusive content. Join my community.
SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.
DO NO HARM: join our community of concerned professionals.
EIGHTSLEEP: Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST.
ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.
MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my
Previous Episode
112. How to Communicate Concerns About Gender Clinics: Sidewalk Steve on Skills Activists Need
Sidewalk Steve earned this nickname from boldly positioning himself on the streets of New Hampshire to discuss what’s wrong with pediatric sex trait modification with hundreds of passers-by. How has an introvert like Steve worked up the courage to speak in public about the most controversial issue of our time, despite fear of cancel culture and even assault? What communication techniques does he use to reach people? And what has he observed changing in the public consensus over the past several years?
Join us as we explore the communication techniques and talking points essential for challenging gender clinics, puberty blockers, and pediatric sex trait modifications. How do we navigate the delicate balance of engaging with those who vehemently oppose our views? And what about the suicide narrative that often clouds discussions on this topic? Can we break through the barriers of cognitive dissonance to truly connect with individuals who may have been hurt by gender ideology, while they project that hurt onto those of us trying to help?
Discover the power of listening, not lecturing, as we uncover the emotional and psychological complexities that drive individuals to cling onto identities that may not serve their best interests. How do we address the need for belonging and reassurance in a world where online forums can easily groom vulnerable youth into irreversible decisions? Tune in to gain insights into the nuanced challenges of advocating against harmful gender practices and the importance of creating safe spaces for individuals to question and explore their true identities.
Stephen Scaer is a special education teacher and an activist fighting sex-trait modifications for children. SidewalkSteve.org
Books mentioned in this episode:
Also mentioned:
- My testimony against a proposed Oregon bill banning misleadingly named “conversion therapy”
- My testimony in favor of Alaska House Bill 338
00:00 Start
[00:00:37] Activist fighting sex trade modifications.
[00:05:29] Overwhelmingly positive responses to activism.
[00:08:15] Autism and transgender activism.
[00:11:33] Children and puberty blockers.
[00:16:57] Cognitive dissonance and reactions.
[00:19:08] Cognitive dissonance and defense mechanisms.
[00:22:33] Millennial movements throughout history.
[00:27:36] Listening and understanding diverse perspectives.
[00:30:39] The balance of information overload.
[00:34:43] Regret rates in medical procedures.
[00:39:39] Detransition and autism in identity.
[00:42:51] Gender identity exploration journey.
[00:49:25] The suicide narrative.
[00:52:08] Gender Affirming Care.
[00:54:56] Suicide rates among trans youth.
[01:00:29] Suicide rates among genders.
[01:06:26] Teaching kids about suicide.
[01:08:08] Manipulation and mental health.
[01:11:59] Gender identity and autism.
[01:16:27] Speaking up in public forums.
[01:20:09] Personal stories in advocacy.
[01:23:03] Speaking up for a cause.
TALK TO ME: book a discovery call.
LOCALS: Ask questions of me & guests; get early access to new episodes + exclusive content. Join my community.
SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.
DO NO HARM: join our community of concerned professionals.
EIGHTSLEEP: Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST.
ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.
MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on
Next Episode
114. Breast-Binding in a Bomb Shelter? Maia Poet on Surviving War in the Middle East and Within
I sit down with Maia Poet, a 24-year-old Israeli-American writer, researcher, and public speaker with an extraordinary story. Maia began identifying as transgender at the tender age of 12 and recently desisted from this identity after living as a man in the Middle East for several years. What led her to this profound change? How did her experiences in Israel and Palestine shape her understanding of gender and identity?
Maia shares her harrowing escape from the October 7th attacks, narrowly avoiding the chaos due to a last-minute change in plans. What was it like to be on the brink of such a life-altering event? How did her involvement in peace activism between Jewish and Arab children influence her worldview? Maia paints a vivid picture of the optimism and innocence that existed just before the world around her was shattered.
We delve into Maia's unique cultural background, exploring how her Russian Jewish roots and her deep connection to Arab culture influenced her journey. How did studying Arabic and immersing herself in Middle Eastern culture help her reconnect with her Jewish identity? And what role did her trans identification play in her integration into both religious Muslim-Palestinian and Orthodox-Jewish communities?
Join us as we navigate through Maia's compelling narrative, from her early intellectual obsessions to her life-changing experiences in Israel. How did a chance encounter in a West Bank coffee shop and an unexpected Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall cement her male identity? And what ultimately led her to desist from her trans identity? Tune in to hear Maia's fascinating story and gain insights into the complex interplay of culture, identity, and survival.
Maia Poet is a 24 year old Israeli-American writer, researcher and public speaker. She began identifying as transgender at the age of 12, and has recently desisted from a trans identity which has lasted for half of her life. Maia is reflecting on her experiences of desistance, in hopes of providing insight for young people struggling with gender distress and, for their parents.
Twitter/X: @thepeacepoet99
Speech for Detrans Awareness Day
Book co-authored with Israeli social worker, Tal Croitoru, based on Maia’s life and journey of desistance, Lia's Journey
00:00 Start
[00:00:21] Challenging beliefs about body image.
[00:03:50] Peaceful coexistence among Israeli kids.
[00:10:25] Youthful optimism in challenging times.
[00:15:32] Building bridges between communities.
[00:18:53] Interconnectedness of Jewish and Arab cultures.
[00:21:52] An intergenerational longing for connection.
[00:24:18] A rare pituitary tumor.
[00:29:10] Discovering newfound physical sensations.
[00:33:14] Cultural and social influences.
[00:37:16] Identity and political alignment.
[00:41:09] Gender identity realization.
[00:43:49] Bar Mitzvah surprise.
[00:49:29] Maia is looking to mingle.
[00:51:50] LARPing as an Orthodox Jewish man.
[00:55:39] Pro-Palestinian views and differences.
[00:57:54] Paradigm-shifting realization about anti-Zionism.
[01:03:34] Regrets of transition journey.
[01:06:14] Detransitioning experiences.
[01:09:14] Gender identity realization.
[01:13:18] Re-envisioning identity post-transition.
[01:19:34] Gender ideology and children's books.
[01:20:16] Gender identity exploration journey.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!
Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.
Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.
Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.
Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
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