エピソード

  • 50. My Husband Interviews ME: Celebrating Our 50th Episode!
    2025/08/18
    On episode 50 of A Chat with Uma, we flip the script: my husband, Zac, takes the host chair and interviews me—for our first-ever in-person recording! To celebrate 50 episodes, we go wide and deep; and what he pulls out surprised even me. We trace how I went from barely hanging on to betting my life on the brain; the awe (and pressure) of studying the most complex thing in the universe; what I’d do with myself if science vanished tomorrow (hello, cheese); and the version of me that only exists when the door is closed.We pull apart internet myths about “bought” science and where NIH money actually goes; why diagnoses are both blunt instruments and lifelines; and the chapter I almost never reopen—the singer I was before cancer changed my voice. Zac asks the one question I’d ask the universe. And yes, we lock in a carrot for interviewing HIM on episode 100. Plus, our doggy Beans makes a cameo! This is the deepest cut yet: Zac’s questions pull threads I’d never tug on by myself, and tune in to hear the most open, unmasked conversation I’ve recorded.Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) He finally said yes!: A little bit about Zac, my (VERY private & offline) husband & why he's here today(00:05:12) Rapid-fire kickoff questions... that of course, stump me(00:09:18) Top 5 Dream Guests + WHY—the most interesting person I know, 2 scientists, a novelist, & a grunge legend…and Beans joins us!(00:14:10) The next 25 years of brain science I’m betting on: precision, prevention, seeing the unseen(00:18:46) If I lost it all tomorrow: the soft life, making cheese, and a totally different mission(00:26:40) When the mic turns off: how I act when no one’s around(00:30:56) For anyone who feels “unworthy”: thoughts aren’t facts—and what kept me here(00:36:06) Is science “bought”? The truth about NIH grants, salaries, and where the money goes(00:54:20) The take most people avoid: diagnoses are blunt tools—and still lifesaving(01:05:36) The chapter I rarely reopen: the singer I was before surgery changed my voice (ft. how I opened for Morgan Wallen)(01:11:32) If we cured mental illness, what happens to art?(01:18:40) The one question I’d ask the universe—and why it feels like cheating(01:21:12) Why this episode felt different than any other—and the carrot we just hung for interviewing Zac on episode 100!Try 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/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 時間 28 分
  • 49. Unmasking the "High-Functioning" Myth: Life Updates on Mental Illness, Psychedelics, & Upcoming Cancer Treatment
    2025/08/04
    On episode 49 of A Chat with Uma, I’m back for a solo heart-to-heart with you about the painful circumstances I've been navigating recently. The show has been growing fast (hi, Ologies friends!), & I’ve been prioritizing platforming other voices. But I never want that to crowd out the core of this show: honest conversation about the realities living with serious mental illness, even while building a life in recovery. Today, I walk you through the last two months—an abrupt depressive crash, masking vs. unmasking with people in my life, navigating crisis at the IOCDF conference, & what I learned when I whispered, “Can anybody even hear me?” in the middle of the worst trip I’ve had in years.I also share a major health update: I’m starting a two-week course of radiation to image/treat my metastatic thyroid cancer. I explain what that entails (going temporarily hypothyroid), how I’m preparing, & why I’m treating this forced pause as an exposure for unstructured time—leaning into skills, not compulsions. I hope this honest episode helps you feel seen, & helps the people around you understand the reality beneath a functioning exterior. I promise, you're NOT alone.Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Intro to the episode: Unmasking on a new level, combatting the shame & isolation of severe mental illness, & the core of this showContextual 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(00:17:34) Where I’ve been: severe treatment-resistant depression history & OCD/comorbidity context(00:22:04) The psilocybin cycle: why I delay it, growing windows of relief…until a sudden crash this June(00:26:00) From anxiety to full-blown unexpected depression episode: hormones, paralysis, & masking through obligations(00:31:58) Everything collides: upcoming IOCDF conference, busiest season of my nonprofit, grants, PhD experiments, friends visiting, & cancer treatment news(00:35:40) My breaking point & why I posted the “in-it” photo (being believed vs. pedestal-ing)(00:43:28) IOCDF while depressive crisis: unmasking in real time, doing the psychedelics panel, & what you didn’t see... being stuck in my room, unable to speak, paralyzed, & at the brink of leaving daily(00:54:54) After the con: finishing lab work on fumes & needing to intervene with psilocybin(00:59:00) The trip: worst yet, loss of insight, & the moment of “I need help—can anyone hear me?”(01:05:28) The realization: feeling deeply unseen + invalidated, the pedestal effect, & finally asking for help in all parts of my life(01:12:04) Cancer treatment update: 2 weeks of radiation & what the results will show(01:16:20) Using forced rest as ERP for unstructured time, intrusive thoughts, & rumination(01:18:00) What’s next: Ep. 50, the crux of this show, & our journey togetherTry 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/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 時間 21 分
  • 48. Everything You Need to Know About DBS & TMS: Precision Targeting, Biotypes, & the Brain Basis of OCD & Depression with Dr. Martijn Figee
    2025/07/28
    On episode 48 of A Chat with Uma, I sit down with psychiatrist–neuroscientist Dr. Martijn Figee, MD., PhD—director of Mount Sinai’s Interventional Psychiatry Program & a groundbreaking pioneer in neurostimulation (e.g. DBS, TMS) for psychiatric disorders, especially OCD & depression—for a clear, grounded tour of circuit‑based psychiatry. This is the science companion to last week’s episode with Jon Nelson (ep. 47): today's episode builds on Jon's lived experience to explain how & why the brain can change (in minutes!) when the right circuit is engaged. We unpack deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery & transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), what “target selection” actually means, & how phenotyping (motor, cognitive, & negative‑affect circuits) guides targeting.We also get practical: access & eligibility, what insurers & clinicians look for, when to choose TMS first, & how accelerated TMS paired with ERP can fast‑track change. We bust myths (OCD ≠ “just the amygdala”) & look ahead to biotyping work designed to match people to the right target the first time--a real step toward precision psychiatry. If you want a rigorous, hopeful explainer of why electricity can be medicine & what that means for folks suffering, this episode shares everything you need to know from the world's expert!Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Welcome & introduction to Dr. Martijn Figee!(00:11:50) Who is Martijn beyond titles: psychiatrist–scientist mindset & science as the backbone(00:17:00) From Amsterdam to DBS: imaging arrives, early OCD DBS cases, & changes in minutes(00:30:00) Circuit basics: motor–cognitive–limbic loops across OCD, Tourette, depression(00:35:52) Evidence‑based OCD care: ERP + adequate‑dose meds; why misdiagnosis/mistreatment delays recovery(00:45:30) Comorbidity vs. one driver: how untreated OCD breeds depression—& why it changes the treatment plan(00:51:00) From presentation to target: phenotyping (negative affect vs compulsion/motor vs cognitive) to pick a target(01:10:00) TMS before DBS? Standard vs accelerated TMS & pairing every session with ERP; access & insurance(01:21:20) DBS candidacy & access: OCD is FDA‑approved; depression is trial‑only; what insurers & teams look for(01:25:40) Targeting, not guessing: ALIC/internal capsule, STN, BNST & fiber‑map guidance pushing outcomes toward ~80%(01:27:40) Where to go: Sinai, Baylor, UCSF—why experience & proximity matters(01:29:50) Biotyping with in-scan tasks: motor/cognitive/limbic dominance; what scans can (& can’t) diagnose—yet(01:33:50) Who isn’t a fit & plan B: non‑ambulatory severity, hoarding‑only presentations, & the role of lesions(01:35:30) Myth‑busting: OCD ≠ an “amygdala disorder,” & why the amygdala isn’t a sensible target(01:38:10) Depression biotypes: switching off pathological “grief” loops; interview‑driven med algorithms & next stepsConnect with Dr. Martijn Figee!⁠⁠Email: martijn.figee@mssm.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠TRANSCEND Trial: DBS for treatment-resistant depression⁠⁠⁠⁠DBS for OCD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try 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/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a guest request? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    2 時間 10 分
  • 47. The Pacemaker in My Brain: Treatment‑Resistant Depression, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), & Pulverizing the Stigma with Jon Nelson (ft. Dr. Martijn Figee)
    2025/07/21
    On episode 47 of A Chat with Uma, I sit down with my dear friend Jon Nelson—lived-experience mental health expert & longtime healthcare comms exec—whose decade of treatment-resistant depression nearly killed him before an experimental deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery flipped the circuit & brought instant remission in 2022. Jon shares the unfiltered, brutal reality of suicidal depression & how anger became fuel for advocacy. We trace his decade of every failed treatment—while his wife & kids bore the invisible trauma of caregiving.He breaks down the difference between sadness & clinical disease, the neurological reality of “choosing life,” & why suicidality is a symptom—not a character flaw. Mid-episode, his psychiatrist Dr. Martijn Figee joins to unpack their shared experience of navigating DBS. Equal parts remission, reclamation, and rebellion—Jon turns survival into a movement to pulverize the stigma of serious mental illness. And come back next week for a solo episode with Dr. Figee, deep-diving into the science of DBS!Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Introduction & welcome to Jon!(00:08:40) Where does Jon come from? Upbringing, background, formative years(00:18:50) Dislocation at 16 → situational depression, honing empathy; college & NYC healthcare advertising years(00:30:40) The descent: depression as cellular “poison,” initial denial, & suicidality as symptom—not weakness, drama, or moral failing(00:49:30) The caregiver toll: bathtub breakdowns, kids’ confusion, insurance combat, financial strain(00:57:30) A decade of failed interventions: 10+ meds, ketamine (IV & nasal), 36 TMS, 11 ECT (memory loss), residential & PHP/IOP cycles(01:22:00) Absolute hopelessness, stigma, & the slim reason to stay(01:28:40) Deep Brain Stimulation prep: trial entry, consent, mindset, surgical risks(01:34:00) Switch flipped: activation, instant remission, and the shock of neutral daily life(01:37:10) Relief & righteous anger: gratitude colliding with a decade of preventable suffering(01:41:00) Dr. Martijn Figee, Jon's psychiatrist: translating “poison” affect into subcallosal cingulate circuit target(01:48:10) Phenotype → target: differentiating negative affect circuitry from OCD loops, guiding lead (or TMS coil) placement(01:52:30) Toward precision psychiatry: circuit diagnostics over trial‑and‑error pharmacology(01:55:00) Pulverize The Stigma: public truth‑telling, rejecting “difficult to treat,” anger as disciplined fuel(01:57:30) Centering caregivers: invisible labor, secondary trauma, & shared remission(01:59:40) Advocacy blueprint: accountability for insurers, institutions, & language reform(02:02:00) Redefining recovery as access to ordinary life & collective responsibilityConnect with Jon!⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: Pulverize The Stigma⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@PulverizeTheStigma⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠Email: jon@pulverizethestigma.com⁠Connect with Dr. Martijn Figee:⁠Email: martijn.figee@mssm.edu⁠⁠TRANSCEND Trial: DBS for treatment-resistant depression⁠⁠DBS for OCD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try 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/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    2 時間 23 分
  • 46. From Foster Care to Harvard Neuroscientist: The Choice to Live, Maternal Psychedelics, & Post-Viral Chronic Illnesses with Dr. Ya’el Courtney
    2025/06/30
    On episode 46 of A Chat with Uma, I speak with Dr. Ya’el Courtney—a neuroscientist whose life traverses extreme circumstances that most only read about. Removed from an abusive, violent, fundamentalist household at 15, she spent her teen years couch-surfing, battling eating disorders & self-harm, working night shifts, & finishing high school coursework as her own teacher. She forged a transcript to escape poverty, later confessed, earned a GED, &—after years of 40-hour workweeks in fast food & bartending—won a full scholarship to Kent State. Ya’el’s love of science carried her to Harvard for a PhD in Neuroscience, where she discovered how serotonin-sensing cells in the fetal brain release “packets” of growth signals—& why activating that pathway with certain drugs (including psychedelics) can derail neurodevelopment.Today, she is a Jane Coffin Childs postdoctoral fellow at Stanford, studying how infections such as Epstein–Barr, Lyme, & SARS-CoV-2 spark long-term neurological illness. We talk frankly about the cost of doing science while poor, eating disorder recovery, post-viral chronic illnesses, & the quiet solidarity required to push for better funding & fair wages inside elite institutions. Ya’el’s story is a testament to the power of showing up anyway—of choosing truth, carving out possibility where none existed, & daring to build a future no one handed you. Her courage & brilliance make this one of the most unforgettable conversations we’ve had.Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Introduction & welcome to Dr. Ya’el Courtney!(00:13:20) State intervention, bouncing between homes, & the decision to stay alive(00:20:30) Shoplifting for food & clothes; straight-A validation at school(00:27:10) Anorexia ➝ bulimia ➝ binge eating: control in chaos(00:33:50) Self-harm as dopamine; reading the DSM & misdiagnosing herself a “psychopath”(00:42:00) Forged transcripts, expulsions, confession, & landing at Kent State(00:49:30) Working 40 h/week while carrying a full course load & unpaid lab hours(00:58:00) Strep + mono, months of cognitive fog, & a commitment to protect sleep(01:05:30) Summer REUs, research productivity, & graduating debt-free(01:12:10) Seven grad school offers—strategy, letters, & the essay that changed everything(01:20:30) Choosing a PhD mentor who defended boundaries & a 50-hour work cap(01:28:40) PhD findings: choroid plexus secretory “balloons,” 5-HT2C signaling, & prenatal drug risk(01:38:10) LSD, psilocybin, & why pregnant or breastfeeding people should avoid them (for now)(01:44:30) COVID’s silver lining: new funding for post-viral brain research(01:49:00) Stanford postdoc: unraveling immune-triggered neurodegeneration in long COVID & Lyme(01:54:00) Making science accessible: “Let the Data Speak”(01:59:20) Closing reflections: turning survival skills into a blueprint for the next generationConnect with Ya'el!⁠⁠WebsiteInstagram: @Yael.Carmel, @LetTheDataSpeakLinkedInX/Twitter: @ScienceYaelBluesky: @ScienceYaelYouTubeTikTok: @LetTheDataSpeakFacebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try 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/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    2 時間 12 分
  • 45. From Pro Athlete to Peer Support: Surviving a TBI, Men’s Mental Health, & Building Shareapy with Scott Kelsey
    2025/06/23
    On episode 45 of A Chat with Uma, I sit down with Scott Kelsey—mental health advocate, former pro-hockey player, fellow One Mind Lived Experience Council member, and founder + CEO of Shareapy, a platform dedicated to transforming mental health support through peer-driven connections. Scott opens up about his decades-long journey with anxiety & depression, unfolding during & after his five-season run in professional hockey during a time when “mental health” wasn’t spoken of. From mislabeling early symptoms as “just post-concussion stuff” to confronting depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and substance use, he shares what it took to finally acknowledge his mental health and start healing.A near-fatal brain injury in 2018 became the turning point that sparked sobriety, therapy, and ultimately, the creation of Shareapy—born from a realization that we all need easier, safer ways to feel truly seen, heard, and supported. What started as a simple experiment in peer connection is now a global community breaking stigma around mental health and wellness. This episode shares Scott’s profound story of transforming the pain of suffering in silence into a purpose rooted in vulnerability, connection, & helping others share their authentic selves.Scott Kelsey is the Founder & CEO of Shareapy. With over 20 years of leadership experience in the financial and mortgage sectors, he has a strong track record of driving innovation and growth. He is also a passionate advocate for reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. He has served on several nonprofit boards and is actively involved in mentoring emerging leaders. He’s a dedicated volunteer and often participates in initiatives aimed at improving community well-being.Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Introduction & welcome to Scott Kelsey!(00:05:26) Early childhood: Gratitude, reflections, & growing up in the 70's with no mental health awareness(00:13:28) Finding hockey: following his inspiration in his big brother & progressing into college hockey(00:19:00) Signing pro hockey contracts, frequent transitions, & navigating his 5 season career(00:25:26) 1995 neuro-psych eval: mislabeling concussion symptoms vs. clinical anxiety & depression(00:33:14) Coping with booze, locker-room culture & “taking the edge off”(00:43:00) First full-blown panic attack, ER visit, pericarditis—and finally trying medication(00:52:30) Mortgage-industry rise, marriage, kids…and the slow burn of unmanaged mental load(01:02:00) April 7 2018: falling down the basement stairs, three brain hemorrhages & a second chance at life(01:10:00) A complete transformation: Immersing himself in therapy, sobriety, & peer support(01:18:00) “Why isn’t there an easier way to do this?” The founding origin story of Shareapy(01:22:00) Scaling Shareapy worldwide: the reality of founding a company, training facilitators, specialized affinity groups, & Men’s Mental HealthConnect with Scott!⁠Check out Shareapy today!Instagram: @SKelsey18, ⁠@ShareapyLinkedIn: Scott Kelsey, ShareapyEmail: ⁠scott@shareapy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Try 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/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 時間 51 分
  • 44. MY LIFE IN 2025: Major Updates in Mental Health Research, Advocacy, Science Communication, & Leadership Roles
    2025/06/16
    On episode 44 of A Chat with Uma, I'm here for an (unexpected) solo episode to give you a full-length, 360° “State-of-the-Union” of my life for 2025. 2.5 years have flown by since my original intro episodes, and new listeners are still meeting a 2023 snapshot that’s quite outdated. Today I lay out—clearly and in one place—everything I’m doing now and why it matters: my neuroscience research, science communication, lived experience advocacy (plus the intersection of all 3), and my current leadership and service roles.I trace the through-line from my lived experience to every research question, keynote, grant review, and board seat, and I end with the mission that stitches it all together: shrink the treatment gap, save lives, and make myself obsolete. If you’re new, this is the ground-floor tour; if you’ve been here since episode 1, it’s the missing chapter that connects every choice I’ve made in the past several years!Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Introduction and reason for today's episode(00:07:06) Road-map for this “State-of-the-Union” + core mission statement(00:15:24) My lived-experience backstory and WHY that drives every decisionContextual 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(00:20:48) PhD Research Update: An overview of my OCD (+ bipolar & schizophrenia!) research projects–genes, neurobiology, signaling pathways, psychedelics, & more(00:38:06) Science communication: closing the researcher–lived experience gap(00:43:42) Mental health advocacy: using my story to raise large-scale awareness in the public and within research populations(00:53:06) Service & leadership: President of OCD Wisconsin, One Mind Lived Experience Council, board member of Society for Neuroscience-Upper Midwest Chapter, ad-hoc advising + grant reviewer + committee roles, strategic consulting for companies(01:11:34) Pulling all the strands together—my mission and what comes nextTry 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/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 時間 18 分
  • 43. My Therapist Is Moving Across the World... What Happens To My Recovery?
    2025/06/09
    On episode 43 of A Chat with Uma, you have me for a solo episode where I share a huge life update that I'm living through in real time: after two solid years of showing me that recovery is actually possible, my therapist is moving across the world. Cue the whiplash of shock, grief, fear, and every intrusive “I-told-you-so” thought my OCD could cook up. In this episode, I walk you through the journey to and through here:the graveyard of 22 misdiagnoses and sketchy therapists that led me herethe two-year miracle run that dragged my OCD from extreme to moderate, and finally let me do PTSD treatment for the first timethe absolute terror of starting over when your brain insists your healing is completely dependent on one personplus the messy, beautiful chance to practice everything I preach about uncertainty, self-trust, and living in the gray area.If you’ve ever lost a clinician, feared your progress would vanish, or just need someone to hold the gray with you—you're not alone. I’m processing this in real time, and so grateful to move through this with you.Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):(00:00:00) Welcome to today's solo episode and why I'm sharing this today, in the midst of it all unfoldingContextual 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(00:11:08) Well... my therapist is moving overseas.(00:15:45) The past that led me here: 22 ineffectual clinicians, past abusive therapy, and insurance purgatory(00:22:10) Finding the clinician in Wisconsin & betting my last hope on her(00:28:05) Progress report: moderate Y-BOCS (!!), but back-door spikes are real(00:31:40) First sustained PTSD written exposures—childhood SA target, SUDS going down for the first time!(00:34:25) Why losing this therapist feels like losing gravity(00:42:50) Letting myself grieve this therapeutic relationship (permission granted)(00:55:30) Transition plan: new ERP clinician (who mentored my current one!) + somatic work(01:02:00) Exposure inside the exposure: trusting that this safe experience taught me what to look for in the future(01:06:40) The transition countdown, practicing radical acceptance, holding the both-and, living in the gray areaTry 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/umarchatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 時間 12 分