EPISODES
Ambiguous Loss and the 2020 Pandemic
How can we make sense of the tumult and tragedy of this moment – the loss of lives and jobs from the COVID-19 pandemic, the
Cultural Complexes & the Soul of America
What underlying preoccupations – or “cultural complexes” – shape our country’s politics and collective psyche? On this premiere episode of season 2, we welcome Mind
Season 2 Trailer
Get ready for season two of Mind of State, a podcast at the intersection of politics and psychology. Tune in, as co-hosts Betty Teng and
Politics & the Teenage Mind
New York Times bestseller Dr. Lisa Damour lends her expertise in child and adolescent psychology to discuss how current events impact the teenage mind. Join us
The Trauma of Syria
Veteran war correspondent Anne Barnard — Murrow Fellow at the Council on Foreign Affairs and NY Times Beirut Bureau Chief from 2012-2018 — discusses the
Anger & Racial Politics
University of Maryland professor Antoine Banks joins us to talk about how anger — specifically white anger — impacts everything from opinions on Obamacare to
The End of Truth?
What is truth in the post-modern world, where facts are in the eye of the beholder and partisans turn to their own tribes for reporting
The Perilous Path to Asylum
What does our Statue of Liberty stand for, when we reject so many asylum seekers fleeing torture, war and persecution? We explore this vital topic
Trump On the Couch
Is Donald Trump mentally and emotionally unfit to execute the duties of President? Join us for a conversation about narcissism, misogyny, deception, racism, and more
Democracy & the Decline of Reason
Do facts matter when experts are dismissed as partisan propagandists or out-of-touch elitists? Political economist William Davies, author of Nervous States, joins us to discuss Trump,
White Identity Politics Is Bigger Than the KKK
Amidst ongoing tension over America’s growing diversity, white identity is on the rise as a force in US politics. Are Americans who embrace their whiteness
Partisan Politics, Toxic Identities, Dangerous Divides
What do Duck Dynasty and The Family Guy have to do with US politics? And what happens when we so identify with a group that we want it to
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Tweet (Bonus)
Peter Glick returns for a bonus episode to help us unpack and understand the week’s controversy surrounding Representative Ilhan Omar’s tweet about the pro-Israel lobby,
Why Everyone Hates the Jews
Recently, the US has seen a disturbing uptick in hate crimes, especially those directed against Jewish people and institutions. From neo-Nazis in Charlottesville to the
Breaking the Impasse of Entrenched Partisan Politics
How do we move forward, when each party feels wronged, while also being cast as the wrongdoer? In this episode, renowned psychoanalyst Dr. Jessica Benjamin
The Symbolic Power of Trump’s Wall
When is a wall not just a wall? When it’s Donald Trump’s Wall. Dr. Thomas Singer, a Jungian psychoanalyst, argues that the Wall needs to
Delusions & Lies — the Mind of Trump
What’s the difference between a lie and a delusional lie? It’s a matter of perspective—especially when you’re talking about Donald Trump. In this episode of
We Are All Going to Die — Someday
Humans are uniquely aware of our own mortality. Someday, hopefully later rather than sooner, each of us is going to die. For our guest, Dr.
Make America Sane Again (Teaser)
Mind of State is a weekly podcast where politics and psychology meet. Each episode features lively commentary on current events, policymakers, and the body politic,