『A Chat with Uma』のカバーアート

A Chat with Uma

A Chat with Uma

著者： Uma R. Chatterjee M.S. MHPS
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 Hi! I'm Uma - a neuroscientist, researcher, board-certified Mental Health Peer Specialist, mental health advocate, organizer, community builder, communicator... and most importantly, someone with vast lived experiences with mental health, chronic illness, young-adult cancer, & survivorship. On this show, I bring all of my identities together to bring you honest and unfiltered conversations exploring our true human experiences in their fullest form. We bridge the gap on all things neuroscience, psychology, mental health, lived experience, advocacy, psychedelics, research, & more!Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS 心理学 心理学・心の健康 衛生・健康的な生活
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  • 57. Why Brains Need Friends: Turning Rejection Into Resilience, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, & The Neuroscience of Empathy with Dr. Ben Rein

    57. Why Brains Need Friends: Turning Rejection Into Resilience, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, & The Neuroscience of Empathy with Dr. Ben Rein
    2025/10/14
    On episode 57 of A Chat with Uma, I sit down with my dear friend & role model, Dr. Ben Rein: neuroscientist, author of Why Brains Need Friends, & award-winning science communicator. A Stanford-trained researcher who has published 20+ papers on the neurobiology of empathy, autism, & social behavior, Ben has also pioneered the use of social media to teach millions, dismantle misinformation, & humanize the brain.But this episode isn’t just about his work: for the first time, Ben shares his story in full—raw, vulnerable, & unfiltered. He opens up about finding his voice through shyness in childhood, the rejection that nearly made him give up, the imposter syndrome that followed him for years, & the nightmare that forced him to confront his deepest fears. He shares what it felt like to fail publicly, to question his worth, & to rebuild from that place with nothing but persistence & purpose. We also go behind the scenes of his debut book,Why Brains Need Friends—from the personal stories that shaped its pages to the emotional cost of living between the microscope & the mirror.Across two hours, we dive deep into the biology of empathy & belonging, how MDMA & oxytocin illuminate the brain’s circuitry for connection, and how kindness itself is a neurochemical process. We talk about burnout, authenticity, & the paradox of being “seen” by millions while still staying true to yourself. This episode is part masterclass, part mirror—a rare look at what it means to be a scientist, a communicator, & a whole human being trying to do good in the world.Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Welcome & introduction to Dr. Ben Rein, PhD!(00:12:25) Who is Ben really behind the titles?(00:18:40) Growing up in Buffalo: the quiet, book-obsessed kid who found confidence through connection(00:26:55) The turning point — rejection, redirection, & the first spark of real scientific purpose(00:33:20) College reinvention: rebuilding after failure, discovering neuroscience, & earning a 4.0 GPA(00:39:50) Grad-school rejection letters → perseverance & persistence as scientific superpowers(00:54:42) Understanding empathy in the brain: oxytocin, MDMA, & the neurobiology of connection(01:05:10) Lessons from autism models: what social behavior looks like at the level of the neuron(01:23:16) The nightmare that changed everything: confronting fear, failure, & what really matters(01:33:12) The birth of Ben's SciComm: first TikTok video, the mask moment, & going viral overnight(01:42:30) Balancing science & storytelling: rigor, relatability, & respecting your audience’s intelligence(01:52:00) The invisible cost of visibility: burnout, criticism, & finding your moral center online(02:02:40) Writing Why Brains Need Friends: translating warmth, data, & humanity into words(02:11:45) Gratitude, friendship, & staying grounded: why connection is both his message & his methodConnect with Ben!⁠⁠⁠WebsiteWhy Brains Need Friends: Grab your copy today!⁠Instagram: @dr.benreinTikTok: @dr.benrein⁠LinkedIn⁠X/Twitter: @dr_benrein⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try CURED Nutrition's CBN Night Oil, Serenity Gummies, & all of their other fantastic products--Use code 'UMA' for 15% off of all products!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try CLEARSTEM's amazing skincare products, including VITAMINSCRUB, CELLRENEW, CLEARITY, HYDRAGLOW, and HYDRABERRY--Use code 'UMA' for 15% off all products!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me!My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support my work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Request? 👉🏾 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    2 時間 15 分
  • 56. Mental Illness IS Physical Illness: Why True Mental Health Awareness Starts with the Brain

    56. Mental Illness IS Physical Illness: Why True Mental Health Awareness Starts with the Brain
    2025/10/06
    On episode 56 of A Chat with Uma, I’m here for a solo episode to kick off Mental Illness Awareness Week 2025 with a bold claim: that the most powerful way to raise awareness for mental illness — & to change how it’s perceived, treated, & supported — is to reconceptualize it as what it actually is: a brain disorder — a physical illness.For generations, “mental illness” has been misunderstood as something of the "mind" rather than the brain — & that misunderstanding has fueled catastrophic stigma, under-funding, & inequity in care.In this episode I trace how that split between “mental” & “physical” emerged, why it still pervades our language & systems, & what it will take to undo it—from historical misclassifications to modern neuroscience establishing that these are all brain disorders. Here, I unpack my staunch belief of how reframing mental illness as a physical illness can transform stigma, funding, & compassion.Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Mental Illness Awareness Week & why this is one of my most important messagesContextual episodes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠02-05. My Mental Health Journey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Part 4⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Part 5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠06. Yes, I've Done Psychedelics: Pt 1,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠07-08. The Ketamine Diaries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part. 1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠55. My Chronic Suicidality Journey(00:04:00) The premise: why the term “mental illness” is a misnomer &how it has shaped stigma, funding, & treatment inequity(00:07:16) Why surface-level awareness is no longer enough if the core construct remains misunderstood as “non-biological”(00:09:00) How “mental” implies choice or character instead of biological brain dysfunction(00:11:00) What I’ve seen as a patient, researcher, + advocate — & how cancer taught me society treats “physical” & “psychiatric” illnesses entirely differently(00:16:02) The root problem with the word “mental” & the false divide between mind & brain(00:20:00) Why psychotherapy is biological: Rewiring the brain through cognition & behavior(00:23:40) The mind–brain relationship: the brain is the organ; the mind is the process it creates — & why this matters for shame vs. science(00:26:40) Defining mental health vs. mental illness through a biological lens: transient vs. chronic brain dysfunction(00:33:12) Neurobiology 101: How the brain creates symptoms — from genes to molecules to cells to circuits to behavior(00:38:00) “The brain doesn’t respect the boundaries of the DSM”: rethinking diagnoses as temporary placeholders until we can map mechanisms in real time(00:41:56) The neurology vs. psychiatry split: why visible vs. invisible symptoms should never have defined fields of medicine(00:46:00) Consequences of the false divide: how it has infiltrated insurance, education, & employment systems(00:53:00) The paradigm shift we need: a new era of mental illness as physical illness(00:57:00) A call to action for scientists, clinicians, & advocates to change our language + systems to match biologyTry CURED Nutrition's CBN Night Oil, Serenity Gummies, & all of their other fantastic products--Use code 'UMA' for 15% off of all products!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try CLEARSTEM's amazing skincare products, including VITAMINSCRUB, CELLRENEW, CLEARITY, HYDRAGLOW, and HYDRABERRY--Use code 'UMA' for 15% off all products!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me!My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support my work:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest request? 👉🏾 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 時間 2 分
  • 55. My Chronic Suicidality Journey: Active vs. Passive Suicidal Ideation, Reflections on Survival, Redefining Recovery, & Hope Beyond Stigma

    55. My Chronic Suicidality Journey: Active vs. Passive Suicidal Ideation, Reflections on Survival, Redefining Recovery, & Hope Beyond Stigma
    2025/09/29
    On Episode 55 of A Chat with Uma, I'm here with a deeply personal, long-requested solo episode for Suicide Prevention Month. For years, I've woven pieces of my story into different episodes-OCD, PTSD, depression, advocacy, research-but I've never dedicated an entire conversation to suicidality itself: what it's been like to live with it chronically, what the terms we use really mean, and the realities of growing up navigating both acute crises and a lifetime of persistent suicidal thoughts.This episode isn't about a neat before-and-after or a story wrapped in a bow. It's about the truth: surviving childhood and adolescence with unrelenting mental illness, learning the language to name what I was experiencing, and the stigma, shame, and systemic failures I encountered along the way. My hope is that this conversation brings visibility to what's too often silenced-because naming it, honestly and without judgment, is part of how we save lives and make others feel less alone.If you've ever felt unseen in your experience, or you love someone who struggles, this episode is for you.Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Welcome & why this episode matters for Suicide Prevention Month 00:02:20) How this topic has threaded through my story across past episodes(00:04:10) Why chronic suicidality needs its own conversation & breaking the silence around it(00:05:40) The taboo of speaking honestly about living with ongoing suicidal thoughts(00:09:20) Listener questions & why this episode felt overdue(00:11:10) What I hope this conversation gives to anyone listeningContextual episodes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠02-05. My Mental Health Journey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Part 4⁠⁠, ⁠Part 5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠06. Yes, I've Done Psychedelics: From Psychonaut to Researcher⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Pt 1,⁠⁠ ⁠Part 2⁠⁠07-08. The Ketamine Diaries - OCD, PTSD, Depression, & Chronic Pain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part. 1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠(00:18:54) Defining key terms: passive vs. active, chronic vs. acute suicidality, and why language matters(00:21:40) The beginning of my story: OCD, depression, PTSD, and mental illness showing up in childhood(00:23:50) First memories of suicidal thoughts & what I understood about death as a kid(00:26:40) From passive to active suicidality: abuse, self-harm, & my first attempts at 12 years old(00:30:20) Teenage years: multiple attempts, hospitalization, surviving crisis after crisis(00:36:10) How involuntary hospitalization taught me to mask what I was feeling(00:42:00) Systemic failures: what happens when the mental health system punishes honesty(00:45:50) Why so few models exist for chronic suicidality & what needs to change(00:48:20) How I live with it now: skills, supports, and what healing actually looks like(00:52:40) What I want people to know about supporting someone living with suicidality(00:57:10) Final reflections: breaking shame, creating language, and honoring survivalTry CURED Nutrition's CBN Night Oil, Serenity Gummies, & all of their other fantastic products--Use code 'UMA' for 15% off of all products!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try CLEARSTEM's amazing skincare products, including VITAMINSCRUB, CELLRENEW, CLEARITY, HYDRAGLOW, and HYDRABERRY--Use code 'UMA' for 15% off all products!⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me!My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support my work:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest request? 👉🏾 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 時間 18 分
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