The Arkham Sessions

Brian and Drea focus on Pearl, the maternal or "big sister" figure to the group. Best characterized as very organized, mature, and responsible, Pearl is also seen as overly rigid, perfectionistic, stern, and domineering. In our discussion, we share why this personality profile can lead to rejection; and yet, when more deeply investigated, Pearl's personality is quite layered and nuanced.

In this episode, we dive into the psychology of Amethyst! Is she lazy? Aggressive? Or just misunderstood? Dr. Drea and Brian take on the Purple Puma herself; and even uncover which of the Crystal Gems Drea fears she may be!  

The podcast embarks on a new chapter, as we begin the journey of exploring the beloved animated show, Steven Universe! Using the Big 5 Personality traits as a model, we discuss Steven's strengths and features; taking into account how much of his personality may have been shaped by his environment and past life events.

In our coverage of the third and final film in the Nolan trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, Drea and Brian connect the events surrounding Bane's violent coup to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that took place on January 6, 2021. With a focus on explaining the fundamental causes of real-world terrorism, Drea outlines the psychological mechanisms involved in political radicalization and extremism, and clarifies widely held myths about the role of mental illness as a factor.

"And here we go!" After several years of exploring the psychology of Batman, Brian and Drea finally discuss Christopher Nolan's acclaimed film, The Dark Knight.

Brian and Drea take listeners back to 2005 to revisit the well-received live-action film, Batman Begins. What does Batman Begins teach us about our relationship with fear? What can we do when we are stifled by fear, worry, or panic? Listen to the show for suggestions on how to manage and maintain emotional well-being.

It's the finale of Doom Patrol's inaugural season. How have our characters progressed? Or regressed? Is Niles the ultimate baddie? We cover one last episode, before moving onto brand-new things!

In the realm of narrative psychology, our life story isn't just a mundane list of facts--it's the way we integrate our experiences and events internally. Drea and Brian explore the second-to-last episode in their analysis of Doom Patrol: Season 1!

The Doom Patrol finally meets Flex Mentallo, Man of Muscle Mystery! As we continue to discuss these characters and their feelings of deep regret, we talk about the importance of looking back at mistakes and the dilemma of "cancel culture." With Doom Patrol giving us good--yet still chaotic--role models, we address these challenges and give some tips that might help listeners manage their own spaces toward safety and self-betterment. 

  To celebrate Juneteenth, we've decided to analyze the first episode of HBO's WATCHMEN; which introduced many people to the existence of the very real Tulsa Race Riots (or "Black Wall Street Massacre") of 1921. In this episode, we take a look at this historical event and discuss its use in this series, by showrunner Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers). We also cover what it means to be an ally, correctly and incorrectly.

How reliable are our memories? Science and fiction intersect in interesting ways in this episode of The Arkham Sessions!

In this episode, we draw upon the experiences of Doom Patrol heroes, Negative Man and Robot Man, as they revisit their mistakes and discover how to end the pain they're holding onto. For Cliff, this means meeting his estranged daughter and facing some hard decisions about whether to be in her life. For Larry, he has an opportunity to tell the man he has loved all his life what he truly meant to him. And Cyborg? Well, he's doing a little psychological dissecting of his own as he forcefully slices into his bicep out of fear of finding out whether he is more machine than man. Hear what we have to say by listening to the show! Sideshow Batman Statue: https://www.sideshow.com/collectibles/dc-comics-batman-sideshow-collectibles-200542?var=2005421

The term pogonophile refers to a person who has an obsessive love of beards. We discuss this concept and go down a few hairy rabbit holes in this episode centering around a new character, The Beard Hunter.  TeePublic: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-arkham-sessions?ref_id=11228

This episode of Doom Patrol centers entirely around (and in) Jane's psyche. With 64 different personalities, Jane could easily be a textbook example of the mental health condition known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (or Multiple Personality Disorder). But there's far more to this story.  Hero's Journey Fitness can be found here. 

When asked for help, Larry and Vic visit Danny the Street, a benevolent, sentient street--yes, street--that acts as a mecca for the disenfranchised; with abilities to help you become the person you truly are. Additionally, Cliff and Rita find themselves trying to stop the wedding of Karen--a lovesick alter of Jane's--and the poor soul she has trapped in her spell. This episode is about the importance of honoring your true, authentic self and we even explore the possibility of a familiar disorder for Karen.   As mentioned in the show, we're supporting some folks whose businesses are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please consider visiting their sites and social media to show some love. Fanbase Press: https://fanbasepress.ecrater.com/ Livio Ramondelli: @LivioRamondelli The Kill Lock, from IDW Publishing: https://www.idwpublishing.com/product/the-kill-lock-1/ Hero Within: https://herowithinstore.com/

The gang has learned that Mr. Nobdy is using its members' sordid pasts against them. Determined to avoid collapsing the way the original Doom Patrol once did, Cliff demands the group sits down for "therapy." Drea discusses the concept of group therapy, while she breaks down each member's own trauma. Plus, we unveil the options for what we analyze next! Tune in, to learn how you can help us decide! And, yes; you heard correctly... Brian's dad has written a book! If you love the idea of dragons existing in the real, present-day mountains of North Carolina, you're gonna love A Dragon Under the Mountain. Finally, this episode is dedicated to our dear friend, a brilliant writer of animation, David Wise, who passed away earlier this week.

In examining this episode of Doom Patrol, we talk about the ethics of entangling romance with psychotherapy. We also discuss the field of psychology and the emerging counseling interventions known under the umbrella of "energy psychology."  From healing crystals to tapping, we examine various fringe psychotherapeutic practices in order to better understand the real from the fantasy.

Add a little dark humor, several talking animals and insects, and a some intense flashbacks, and you'll get this bizarre episode of Doom Patrol! Our dark heroes are struggling to save the world, now that the apocalypse they were warned about begins to emerge as a real threat. Do the needs of the many truly outweigh the needs of the few? We discuss the trolley problem and announce our brand-new Patreon - a special treat for Gothamites who listen to the Arkham Sessions!     Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ArkhamSessions Fandom - Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad: https://www.fandom.com/articles/harley-quinn-psychology-suicide-squad-birds-of-prey   Trial by Trolley Game: https://www.skybound.com/trial-by-trolley  

Inter-dimensional portals. A battle with an army made of unsent letters. A singing horse head. Cyborg's inflated ego. Our examination of the show Doom Patrol moves forward with one of the oddest episodes yet!

The team goes to Paraguay to rescue the Chief, but instead, come across the infamous lab created by Heinrich von Fuchs--which is now a spa-like experience for all of your customized metaphysical needs. This episode is all about control. Who's in it? And who's not? Visit our new shop (https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-arkham-sessions?ref_id=11228) for t-shirts, stickers, totes, and more!