The Harvest Moon has Meg taking a turn for the worst. She explains to Casey that she’s having a pre-birthday mid-life crisis. Or, it might be that Meg’s doctor is tapering her down from Zoloft to begin a new medication for anxiety/depression...Casey thinks it’s probably that.  Besides freaking out because she turns 40 in 82 hours from recording this episode; middle school motherhood is getting really hard (not just the math, but the block scheduling and learning an instrument.) Meg’s proud of herself because she’s still able to come up with a High Five Moment despite all of this: her kids, who have all the tech gear, are choosing “worm on a string” and these weird “fidget popper…?” things instead. Casey and Meg are baffled by what the girls are into - yet proud to raise daughters that aren’t obsessed with the internet and being online. Meg also rants about overstimulation at the gas station - ust listen to that part: there aren’t words. Enjoy! Show links: Teens Are Once Again Losing It Over “Worm On A String” How the Pop It! Invaded Your Home Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Meg schools Casey about his incorrect emoji usage (she’s a bit cocky about her knowledge since she’s been on a quest to be a “cool Mom” as she approaches 40 in a few weeks.) Apparently the Gen Z-ers are making fun of us again, this time not for side-parts, but for using the crying laughing emoji (among many others) WRONG. Meg gives Casey a quiz from Buzzfeed to assess his age, determined by which emojis he’s using the most.  Also, Meg faces a tough parenting decision - the 11 year old asked if she could watch the Tiger King documentary. Casey is adamantly against this - Meg feels it could be a great opportunity for interesting human behavior conversations.  Casey initiates a new segment called “On the couch.” He shares a range of emotions he experienced after participating in a pitching clinic with the 11 year-old. Meg provides a therapeutic analysis that leaves Casey reflecting on himself and... on how lucky he is to live with a therapist ;).  Show links: Emojis Will Allow Us To Guess Your Age What Does The Smiley Face Emoji Mean? Gen Z Say It Is Passive Aggressive   Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Meg and Casey are back after being MIA since June! Meg apologizes profusely for not being profesh about their disappearance. Find out what they’ve been up to on today’s show.  And, Meg has an official MIDDLE SCHOOLER this year. What?! How did that happen? Travel back in time with Meg and Casey as they discuss all things awkward and celebrate their most recent favorite show: Pen15, a HULU original. Remember in the year 2000 when people were jamming to Len’s “Steal My Sunshine” and the girls twisted rows of hair held in place with tiny butterfly clips? Yep, you’ll love it too. The coolest part of this show: the writers and also the two main characters, Anna and Maya are in their mid-30s playing 7th graders. Not sure how they pull it off, but they do, in the best way. Fantastically cringey for anyone who used an AIM account or wrote notes to crushes with gel pens.  Enjoy!    Show links: 'Pen15' Review – The Hollywood Reporter   Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Meg’s friend Samantha joins the show to discuss her recent dating tribulations: using dating apps in your late 30s is not for the faint of heart. Samantha explains to Meg and Casey why she made a social media post stating: “The next man who is in a relationship and friend requests me better watch out because I’m messaging their wife or girlfriend.” Listen for more on why Samantha is convinced these men are attention-seekers and are probably cheating on their significant others. Meg found a documentary on Starz network called “The Pick Up Game”  and WARNS Samantha about a multi-million dollar, underground industry that trains men to “get women into bed.” It’s a whole system created to manipulate women into dating for the intention of sex.  Also, Samantha shares some monumental High Five Moments - like how her 17 year old is now grocery shopping for the whole household….and loves it!  Meg and Casey share their enjoyment of people-watching in a box store parking lot - lots of interesting human behavior to report on. See below for links. Enjoy! Show links: Watch The Pickup Game | Prime Video The Pickup Game – Official Web Site for The Pickup Game Documentary Film Featured Contributors – The Pickup Game Why I started #TakeDownJulienBlanc   Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

During her “coma” in 2014, Meg’s adolescent celebrity crush, Andrew Keegan, was accused of starting a religious cult. As Meg has vowed - she finally investigated (aka internet searched and read a ton) to find out what her former heartthrob has been up to in the past decade.  Meg gives Casey a high-five for their improved communication when it comes to confronting each other about parenting and having difficult conversations without it turning into a fight. Score!  Also, Casey spills about jury duty. Meg’s slightly offended that she’s never been selected- (she’s never even made it past the first round!) Enjoy!   Show links: Vice article 2014 - Shyam Dodge and Shanrah Wakefield https://www.vice.com/en/article/mv55wa/andrew-keegan-started-a-new-religion-814   LA Times 2015 - Eryn Brown  https://www.latimes.com/local/westside/la-me-full-circle-venice-20150321-story.html   Nightline on ABC interview - 2015 with Dan Harris https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/andrew-keegan-90s-heartthrob-spiritual-guide-30728178   Podcast: Are You Being Real 2016  https://soundcloud.com/makeyourmarktoday/andrew-keegan   Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Casey and Meg have special guests Jessica and Jeremy on the show to discuss the various human behavior aspects, mental health issues and societal impact of the disappearance and death of 21 year old Elisa Lam in 2013. Meg is fascinated by the viral nature spawned by “Youtubers” turning this case into a conspiracy theory-paranormally fueled-cyber web sleuth-led rabbit hole. Meanwhile, back in IRL trained investigators explain what happened with concrete evidence to back it up. The group discusses how detrimental it can be when misinformation goes viral. Meg also shares why she took a year off from all things True Crime and why she’s glad to be back! Also, before diving into the case - Jess and Meg shout their allegiance to side parts and skinny jeans - no matter what those Gen Z ers say! As always - buckle up and enjoy the ride of human behavior exploration at its finest.    Show links: Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel on Netflix Is Elisa Lam's Tumblr From 'The Vanishing At The Cecil Hotel' Active? Read Elisa Lam's Tumblr, Nouvelle-Nouveau, From 'Crime Scene' Dr. Judy Ho | Licensed Clinical & Forensic Neuropsychologist  Who is Josh Dean? Where is the Cecil Hotel journalist now? Amy Price Now: Where Is the Cecil Hotel Manager Today in 2021? Judge Throws Out Suit Filed By Elisa Lam's Parents Against The Cecil Hotel   Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

***Trigger Warning*** lots of snake talk on today’s episode and a few slightly gory stories from the ER as Meg, Casey and Mickey recap the story of attempted murder by poisonous snake in Appalachian Alabama. See the article links below to get to know the director and producer of this perfectly creepy, gothic tale. Also, Meg gives a quick “where are they now…” from the last episode. Enjoy!   Show links: Get to know Alabama Snake Filmmakers: Director Theo Love and producer Bryan Storkel Snake Salvation Show by National Geographic Serpent Experts Try To Demystify Pentecostal Snake Handling Alabama Snake (2020): Official Trailer | HBO Pastor Jamie Coots Bio - Wikipedia Andrew Hamblin, Snake-Handling Pastor pleads guilty to firing gun near wife and kids www.desmoinesregister.com Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Part 2 will be released Friday! ***Trigger Warning*** lots of snake talk on today’s episode as Meg and Casey explore context and background of Pentecostal Serpent Handlers in Appalachia. Since their good friend Mickey happens to have majored in religious studies in college he joins to help explain the “Holiness Movement” which spawned this dangerous and highly controversial Serpent Handling subset of the Pentecostal church. Meg has lots of questions about what it means to ‘speak in tongues’ and Mickey has answers to that and much more.  And, find out why Meg is convinced that Serpent Handling is still easier than being a stay at home Mom.    Show links: Snake Salvation Show by National Geographic Serpent Experts Try To Demystify Pentecostal Snake Handling Alabama Snake (2020): Official Trailer | HBO Snake Salvation Reality Series by National Geographic David Hume - Scottish Philosopher "Natural Religion" James Fowler - Stages of Belief Basics on the "Holiness Movement"   Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Casey and Meg FINALLY have their good friends Cody and Christine on the show. If you’ve had escalating anxiety about 5G and the numerous conspiracies surrounding its supposed dangerous waves (like Meg has) - this is the show for you. Spoiler Alert: it’s not that big of a deal, according to Cody. And, since he’s a web developer (aka really smart tech guy/computer nerd) Meg asks him to calm her anxiety about the robots taking over. He explains going Incognito, 5G, Wikipedia, cookies and algorithms in a way that even UN-tech savvy, Meg can compute. The couples also discuss the Netflix documentary: The Social Dilemma. Christine and Meg bond over the difficulties of early motherhood and how important it is to find your “type” of mom friends. The guys discuss and agree that it takes a real man to admit he’s full of limits (especially when it comes to parenting and relationships.)  And, Meg gets Christine to share a secret confession that even Cody hadn’t heard until recording! It’s the longest episode in Mental Mom history. Buckle up. This is quite a ride.  Show links: The Social Dilemma | Official Trailer | Netflix   Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   Every Episode: WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Meg and Casey release a special edition to celebrate the END of 2020. What better way to welcome the New Year than to finish last week’s conversation about cult behavior. Meg shares cult expert’s Steven Hassan’s BITE method and how to tell if you or a loved one might be in a cult (or unhealthy relationship - Casey realizes that he’s been in a romantic relationship that’s checking off MANY of the boxes related to unhealthy control.) Meg and Casey also recap words and phrases that need to die with 2020. Enjoy! Show links: Steven Hassan, Cult Expert  The BITE MODEL Heavens Gate Documentary on HBO Have show ideas? Share with us! [email protected] Also find us on Facebook @thementalmomshow   Every Episode: WARNING: This show contains ADULT CONTENT and is NOT intended for children or adolescents!    Special Thanks to Brad Tourcette aka Brad Sucks for being a copyleft participant and allowing us to use his song “Making Me Nervous” for our intro!    Learn more about Brad Sucks and the copyleft movement at  https://www.bradsucks.net/about https://www.copyleft.org/ Disclaimer: Meghan Farr, LCSW is a licensed therapist in the state of Indiana,USA,  however, the Mental Mom show is meant to be entertaining and educational and should never replace the advice of your therapist or health care provider. The list below offers resources for crisis or emergency help.    If feeling unsafe or suicidal please call one of the numbers listed below to talk to someone who can help.   FOR A LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER GO TO: http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html   Australia: Life Crisis Support: 13 11 14   Canada: If in distress: 1 (905) 688 3711   France: 01 46 21 46 46 SOS Help for suicide prevention   UK: Mind: Mental Health Support: 0300 123 3393   USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 Or Text: text HOME to 741 741 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.