The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club

Authors Corner with Christian Hurst

We are thrilled to start our new feature called The Authors Corner! The Authors Corner is where the nerds at the Nerdy Psych Book Club get the very exciting chance to interview our favorite fantasy, dystopian and sci-fi authors! 
Toda's guest is award-winning author, Christian Hurst, who is the author of the Lily Starling series -a YA science-fiction space opera. In this episode, Brandi and Christian chat about the main character Lily and really dive deep to dissect some of the big concepts-like what it means to be a human. It is a great convo-and great books! We love starting at the beginning-and we definitely recommend starting with the Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander! (It's a 4 book series everyone-with the 4th one coming out soon!!!) 
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The Authors Corner is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A.
Special Guest: Christian Hurst
Editing/Music: Deanna Boys, M.A

They Both Die at the End: Pt. 4 Post-Traumatic Growth

The Nerdy Psych Book Club gang finishes up their conversation about They Both Die at the End with our friend, Lindsay Armendariz, by talking about Post-Traumatic Growth. "Post-Traumatic Growth" is a concept where after you have experienced a stressful, or traumatic or any type of life-changing event you can experience significant shifts in thinking. 
We talk about Rufus a lot; we loved him. Throughout the book we really see him going on a journey demonstrating the 5 main domains of Post-Traumatic Growth: appreciation of life, seeking connection to others, a great feeling of self strength, looking for new possibilities, and a spiritual change. 
We cry-well Deanna does (only took a whole season!), we laugh a lot and have fun at our nerdy little book club. 
This is book club, not therapy :)  
*This is our last book of Season 1! We will be taking a break for July and starting back up with Season 2 in August. * Subscribe to us on all of the platforms and follow us on the socials so you can stay connected for next season! 
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Get your books while supporting the podcast and local bookstores! Both season 1 and season 2 are up!! 
Physical & E-books: https://bookshop.org/shop/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 
Audiobooks: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2879789&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2F   
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Special Guest: Lindsay Armendariz, M.S. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 
 
 
 

They Both Die at the End: Part 3 Avoidance

In They Both Die at the End, Mateo spends his entire life avoiding anything that could potentially mean his untimely demise. Delilah avoids the reality that her death cast call was real and not a prank by her ex Victor. Andrea, a Death Cast employee who avoids feeling feelings or processing any of the sadness that surrounds her. And Vic does it too-but we just want to avoid thinking he was even in the book ugh.  
We talk with our friend, Lindsay Armendariz about the ways avoidance shows up in this book and in our lives. And while avoidance can be helpful sometimes, too much will keep us from really enjoying the things that make us happy.  
This is book club, not therapy :) 
*This is our last book of Season 1! We will be taking a break for July and starting back up with Season 2 in August. * Subscribe to us on all of the platforms and follow us on the socials so you can stay connected for next season! 
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Get your books while supporting the podcast and local bookstores! Both season 1 and season 2 are up!! 
Physical & E-books: https://bookshop.org/shop/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 
Audiobooks: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2879789&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2F   
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Special Guest: Lindsay Armendariz, M.S. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 
 

They Both Die At The End: Part 2: Me and My Anxiety

Are you anxious? Does having to send an email send you into a cold sweat? Do you ever wonder if your anxiety is preventing you from living your full life? This book (They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera) and episode (of the Nerdy Psych Book Club) is for you!  
We are joined by friend of the podcast, Dr. Brandi Liles who is an expert in anxiety both in lived experience and work expertise. We talk about the sweet Mateo (Deanna has decided he is a Pisces), and how his anxiety prevented him from really living a full life. But on his last day on earth-with the help of his new love Rufus, he pushes past his anxiety and learns to live his life to the fullest he can....before he dies. Come along with us where we talk about different ways you can get your hands and feet to move forward when anxiety keeps you stuck.  
*This is our last book of Season 1! We will be taking a break for July and starting back up with Season 2 in August. * Subscribe to us on all of the platforms and follow us on the socials so you can stay connected for next season! 
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Get your books while supporting the podcast and local bookstores! Both season 1 and season 2 are up!! 
Physical & E-books: https://bookshop.org/shop/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 
Audiobooks: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2879789&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2F   
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Special Guest: Brandi Liles, Ph.D. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 

They Both Die At The End: Part 1-Talking About Death

Our June book of the month starts off with a bang as we parse apart the book, "They Both Die At The End" by Adam Silvera. We start off real strong-much to Deanna's annoyance, talking about death and the importance of talking about death for our collective mental health.  
The spoiler is right in the name there so you already know the ending, but the cool thing about this book is that, that is not really the message. Spoiler alert for that and for our conversation- we think the real message is that while we all will die one day; we think it is important to talk about how we can get to living and not let the fear of death overcome our ability to live a full life. Come along and listen-it’s a hoot.  
*This is our last book of Season 1!*
We will be taking a break for July and starting back up with Season 2 in August.  Subscribe to us on all of the platforms and follow us on the socials so you can stay connected for next season! 
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Get your books while supporting the podcast and local bookstores! Both season 1 and season 2 are up!! 
Physical & E-books: https://bookshop.org/shop/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 
Audiobooks: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2879789&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2F   
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 

So Let Them Burn: Pt 4-"The gods are liars"

We finish our discussion of So Let Them Burn by talking about the psychology of leadership and specifically talk about this with how the gods treat Faron in the book. Faron is powered up with god-like strength and is on speed dial with the gods, but they definitely do not trust her as far as they can throw her (and they try!).   
Throughout the book, the gods withhold important life altering information, give her half-truth answers to her questions and then when things start falling into place that maybe there is more to the story for Faron, they demand that she kill her sister (be a team player Faron)! Sound a little like your boss? Well, maybe not the killing your sister part, but kinda right? Come along with us as we have a good venting session about the book, the leaders that have let us down in the past...AND how we can be better leaders than these lying gods. 
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Get your books while supporting the podcast and local bookstores! 
Physical & E-books: https://bookshop.org/shop/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 
Audiobooks: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2879789&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2F   
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 

So Let Let Them Burn: Pt 3-"If you go, I go" -The Reeve Episode

In this episode, we continue our conversation on So Let Them Burn, focusing on the character Reeve and his role as a supportive friend to both Elara, but more specifically to Faron.  
Reeve’s strength lies in his quiet presence. He consistently “shows up” for others, especially Faron and doesn't try to fix her or tell her she is being too much, or leaves her alone. Instead, he meets her where she is emotionally, allowing her to feel anger, pain, and confusion without judgment.  
We talk a little bit about colonization, Deanna brings up Star Trek again and we talk about the crumbs of "spice" we were given with the one kiss scene between Faron and Reeve! We drink our themed cocktail-"The Ally" and have fun chatting about how Reeve is such a good model for how to show up for our friends and family members when they have been through something scary or traumatic.  
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Get your books while supporting the podcast and local bookstores! 
Physical & E-books: https://bookshop.org/shop/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 
Audiobooks: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2879789&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2F   
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Original Animation-Foley-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Follow us on the socials!  
YouTube 
Instagram 
Facebook 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 

So Let Them Burn Pt 2: People Pleasing

Episode 14: So Let Them Burn Pt. 2: People Pleasing  
In this episode of the Nerdy Psychologist Book Club, we welcome back our friend and colleague, licensed marriage and family therapist Shayla Allen for a continuation of So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole; this time, focusing on the character Elara and the psychology of people pleasing. We explore Elara’s role as the dependable older sister living in the shadow of her divinely chosen sibling, Faron, and how her self-sacrificing nature reflects classic people-pleasing patterns: overcommitment, fear of disappointing others, and postponing her own needs in the hopes of approval and stability.  
Well...we used her as a starting point to talk about our own people pleasing tendencies. So, actually, we are now the recovering people pleasers book club. All people pleasers welcome; no worries if not, whatever works best for you! 
Join us as we unpack our own issues a tiny bit, drink our fun drink, "The People Pleaser" and find out what happens when people stop being polite and start being real....with themselves. (You know we had to get that real world reference in there!). 
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Special Guest: Shayla Allen, LMFT 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Original Animation-Foley-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Follow us on the socials!  
YouTube 
Instagram 
Facebook 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 

So Let Them Burn Pt 1: Egocentrism

In this episode of The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club, we are joined by our friend and colleague Shayla Allen LMFT to start our conversation about So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole. So Let Them Burn is a fun fantasy novel with dragons, magic, and teenagers going to war imbued with god like power-it is a pretty cool story.  
We pick apart the main character, Faron, who has a direct line to the gods, can channel their power but also starts making risky and dangerous choices. With Faron as our representative of the book, we talk about a very big part of adolescent development: Egocentrism.  We explain about two big parts of egocentrism: the “imaginary audience,” and the “personal fable.”   
We talk about our own risky teen behaviors, the current impact of social media, parenting dynamics, and the challenge of forming identity during adolescence. We also explore deeper themes of truth, shame, and accountability, questioning what it means to “live in your truth” when you’ve been shaped by conflicting narratives. 
Come along with us while we sip our themed cocktail, "The Expert Liar" and chat with us about the psychology of growing up, making mistakes, and learning who you are. Oh! And Deanna did finish the book in time-just barely though! 
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Original Animation-Foley-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Follow us on the socials!  
YouTube 
Instagram 
Facebook 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub 

Episode 12: How can a parent do that? In Fable for the End of the World

In our final installment on Fable for the End of the World, the Nerdy Psychologist Book Club explores one of the story’s most frustrating characters: Inesa’s mother. In Fable for the End of the World, Inesa's mother, Janina is the one that racks up so much debt that she puts her own daughter into the Gauntlet to be hunted down by the Angel assassins. Brandi and Deanna talk about some of the reasons why a parent would do such a thing to their child. Deanna gets stuck on The Betrayal of it all (our themed cocktail!) and Brandi uses her clinical expertise to try to get Deanna to empathize with Janina –just a tiny bit.  
We talk about the whys (society, personal history and mental illnesses) that contribute to making a villain like Janina. And we touch on why it is important to get to know more about why villains do what they do but we can and should hold both empathy and accountability at the same time (dialectical thinking!) 
PS-next month we are reading "So Let Them Burn" by Kamilah Cole! We are excited to get that going in May. (PPS-Find out whether Deanna was able to finish the book in time for filming! Come join us next time!) 
*Explicit language warning-we do cuss a little ;) *
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Original Animation-Foley-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Follow us on the socials!  
YouTube 
Instagram 
Facebook 
Want to be a guest on The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club? Or want us to be a guest on yours? Send Brandi Hawk a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thenerdypsychologistbookclub