Brain Matters Radio

Brain Matters S13.E09: Mindful Breathwork

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:00:27 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Tanmayee Naik, a PhD student at UA and President of Sky Campus Happiness at UA. Sky Campus is a student organization focused on the mental well-being of students, staff, and faculty on campus.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters
(00:03:32) - Sky Campus: The University of Alabama
(00:05:07) - "Sky Campus Happiness":
(00:07:27) - How do you convince skeptics that this will work to help decrease stress
(00:10:54) - 4 Source of Energy
(00:14:07) - How to bring your mind back to the present
(00:15:36) - Mindfulness and Mental Health
(00:17:32) - How mindful breath work affects the brain
(00:21:01) - How a meditation retreat helped increase self-esteem
(00:24:38) - What is the highest fear of humans?
(00:26:25) - Sky Camp
(00:28:10) - Brain Matters
(00:29:25) - Episode 8: Sky Campus Happiness
(00:31:22) - Other Resources for Breathing and Meditation
(00:32:45) - Breathing technique for relaxation and mindfulness
(00:35:49) - The concept of Prana in Yoga
(00:36:45) - The Distance Student Retreat
(00:38:25) - How is this, I guess, retreat different from other meditation or
(00:40:02) - The Sky Retreat
(00:45:09) - Mind Matters
(00:46:05) - brain matters
(00:47:31) - How to Sleep Better with Sky Campus Happiness Program

Brain Matters S13.E08: The Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:00:45 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Denita Elder, an esthetician, who uses red light therapy to treat stress, anxiety, sleep and many more physical health issues.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters
(00:02:54) - Red Light Therapy
(00:03:31) - Esthetician Background
(00:04:49) - What Kind of Training Did You Have to Have to Become an Est
(00:06:05) - Red Light Therapy
(00:10:20) - Red Light Therapy
(00:15:18) - Red Light Therapy
(00:16:29) - Red Light Therapy
(00:19:43) - Red Light Therapy
(00:22:00) - Sleep hygiene and mental health
(00:24:57) - Red Light Therapy
(00:27:55) - Red Light Therapy
(00:33:11) - Red Light Therapy
(00:35:21) - Healthcare visits on campus, cost
(00:36:14) - How to Relax Your Skin with a Hot Thermal Treatment
(00:41:32) - Red Light Therapy

Brain Matters S13.E07: The Psychological Aspects of Cults

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:00:01 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Rick Alan Ross, one of the nation’s leading experts on cults, coercive persuasion, and controversial movements and he is the founder and executive director of the Cult Education Institute, an organization dedicated to researching, documenting, and educating the public about cults and their impact.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters
(00:02:00) - Exploring the Psychological World of Cults
(00:03:13) - Exploring Cults: What is a cult?
(00:15:04) - Heads Up! Mental Health on Campus
(00:16:07) - Brain Matters: Cults Inside Out
(00:16:44) - Are Cults More prevalent in the US?
(00:22:46) - Are College Campuses Being Used as Places for Cult recruitment?
(00:30:08) - Brain Matters: Mental Health, The Capstone
(00:31:47) - Cults and the Psychological aspects
(00:32:32) - How many Religious Cults are there in the US?
(00:39:25) - Are there warning signs that people may miss, when first encountering a
(00:41:31) - Have You Ever Been Threatened?
(00:43:07) - How to Get Out of a Cult
(00:46:25) - What's the Most Surprising Case of Brainwashed People?
(00:53:34) - "Thank You!"
(00:54:02) - Voices UA: Brain Matters

Brain Matters S13.E06: Personalized Care and Mental Health

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:00:44 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Bailey Ray, RN, and the owner of HomeRN, a concierge healthcare service that brings medical care directly to you—from IV therapy to urgent care and wellness treatments—all in the comfort of your home.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters
(00:02:30) - Home Nursing: Personalized Care
(00:03:27) - How to start a business as a nurse
(00:06:12) - Home RN: misconceptions about home RNs
(00:11:53) - Home-based IV Therapy and Urgent Care
(00:15:11) - Mental Health: Brain Matters
(00:16:51) - Home RN: What are the most common reasons clients contact you for
(00:19:55) - Mental health care for students and others
(00:22:23) - What kind of support do you provide for caregivers?
(00:24:06) - Does Medicare for Older Patients cover these visits?
(00:25:24) - How mental health is handled in the home
(00:28:05) - How many people are on staff at the nursing home? Are they
(00:29:24) - Home RNs: What clients benefit the most?
(00:32:11) - Mental Health: Caregiving and Personalization
(00:36:14) - How to treat a hangover on campus?
(00:38:50) - Visit the Home RNs Fee
(00:39:23) - Advocates for the Healthcare System
(00:42:03) - How to treat chronic illnesses on a college campus
(00:43:11) - Wrong dose of GLP
(00:44:29) - How has technology supported your care at home?
(00:46:03) - One change for the elderly each year
(00:47:13) - Brain Matters: Flu and How to Prevent it

Brain Matters S13.E05: Healing Our Pets Heals Us Too

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:00:21 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews veterinarian Dr Doug Coward about his book which focuses on how healing our pets helps our mental health.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters
(00:03:58) - Inspiring scientists: The story of Charles Finch
(00:09:50) - Doug Card on Working for Exotics Vets
(00:14:25) - Brain Matters: The Capstone
(00:15:42) - Dr. Coward on His Pet Lover Relationships
(00:17:28) - A Vet's Love of Animals
(00:21:30) - Have You Ever Worked With Animals?
(00:25:11) - How to Heal a Sad Story With a Dog
(00:31:05) - A Dog Gets the Rescue
(00:31:25) - The Suicide Rate amongst Veterarians
(00:37:17) - Mental Health: Head Matters...
(00:38:13) - Brain Matters
(00:39:55) - Do Dogs Know When They're Disturbed?
(00:42:06) - Are There Pets That Can Help Your Mental Health?
(00:46:22) - How to Keep Your Dog's Health
(00:51:50) - One Australian's Ayurvedic treatment for autoimmune diseases
(00:56:43) - "The Vet's Dog: A Memoir"
(00:57:15) - Brain Matters: Animal Issues on College Students

Brain Matters S13.E04: Career Development and Mental Health

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:58:04 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Dr Seth Hayden, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Program at Wake Forest University about how career choice affects mental health.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters
(00:01:46) - Career Challenges and Mental Health
(00:03:12) - The intersection of career and mental health
(00:10:25) - The importance of a college degree for your career
(00:13:14) - Mental Health: Career Development and Stress
(00:18:19) - Decision Making for Students
(00:24:00) - Counselors on Career Decision Making
(00:27:41) - Career and Mental Well-being
(00:32:50) - Do College Students Have
(00:37:10) - Are there Career Jobs that negatively impact mental health?
(00:41:18) - Heads Up: Career Development and Mental Health
(00:42:06) - Favorite Career Assessment and Screening Tools
(00:48:11) - Making the Transition from College to Career
(00:52:25) - Deciding on a major
(00:54:56) - Brain Matters: Seth Hayden on Mental Health

Brain Matters S13.E03: Chromotherapy: How Colors Affect Our Mental Health

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:00:36 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Denise Turner about chromotherapy, also known as color therapy. She is an internationally recognized color therapist and interior designer who specializes in color psychology and therapy.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters: Mental Health on a Campus
(00:03:49) - Does color affect the brain?
(00:04:23) - Interior Design Students: Color Psychology
(00:07:53) - How to Balance Your Body With Color
(00:10:12) - What Really Happened In My Son's Room
(00:13:56) - Mental Health: Head Matters
(00:15:17) - Brain Matters: Chromotherapy
(00:16:14) - What Colors Should Students Have In Their Dorm Rooms?
(00:17:36) - Color Trends for 2017
(00:18:45) - How Color Affects Your Body
(00:20:19) - Do Red Light Lights Help with Sleep?
(00:23:29) - How Do You Know What Your Favorite Color Is?
(00:25:11) - Paint the Clients' Rooms
(00:26:29) - Mental Health: Color Therapy
(00:30:41) - Therapy Therapy Spaces: Color Combinations
(00:32:22) - How to improve your mood with chromotherapy
(00:34:48) - How to positively impact your mood with chromotherapy
(00:36:45) - Color Therapy for People of All Ages
(00:38:49) - Color Therapy in Your Work
(00:41:57) - Does chromotherapy work? (
(00:45:26) - Does Color Therapy Help to Decrease Depression?
(00:50:06) - Colonotherapy
(00:53:58) - Mental Health: Color Therapy

Brain Matters S13.E02: Healing From Religious Trauma

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 19:00:04 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Andrea Mathews, Licensed Profession Counselor, author and speaker about religious trauma and how to heal.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters
(00:02:08) - How to Heal From Religious Trauma
(00:02:52) - Confessions of a Psychotherapist
(00:05:29) - Religious trauma and spiritual abuse
(00:07:48) - Is Religious Trauma Different from Personal Trauma?
(00:13:12) - Brain Matters
(00:14:36) - PTSD and religious trauma
(00:18:15) - Cults and Religious Trauma
(00:19:07) - Advice for Young Adults Leaving a Cult
(00:24:06) - How Long Does It Take to Heal From Religious Trauma?
(00:29:09) - What does healing from religious trauma typically involve?
(00:34:16) - Why Your Brain Matters
(00:35:24) - Brain Matters
(00:36:20) - How Many Books Have You Written?
(00:37:37) - How to Heal From Religious Trauma (without Reconversion)
(00:40:32) - What should friends or family know when supporting someone who is healing from
(00:42:36) - What Would Be the First Step for Sexual Assault Survivors?
(00:43:25) - Jim Palmer on Deconstructing Christianity
(00:46:12) - Counseling UA Edu

Brain Matters S13.E01: ADHD: Unlock Your Superhero

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:00:23 +0000

Dr. Guenther interviews Hannah Bookbinder, (ADHD coach, author, app creator) about her new book ADHD: Unlock Your Superhero. Also, strategies for treating ADHD are discussed.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Brain Matters
(00:01:58) - Unlock Your ADHD: Brain Matters
(00:03:58) - What is an ADHD Coach?
(00:11:50) - Superman in My Head?
(00:14:16) - How to Get Over ADHD: Hannah Bookbinder
(00:18:35) - How to help a child with ADHD with Just a Diagnosis
(00:20:44) - How to Manage Not Being able to Focus without Medication?
(00:23:38) - App for ADHD People Only, My Toad
(00:26:27) - Mental Health: How to Get Through the Week
(00:28:55) - Brain Matters: ADHD
(00:29:51) - How many chapters does the book have? What are some of the
(00:33:56) - The challenge of treating ADHD dysphoria with RSD
(00:36:37) - The College Challenge for Adhd Students
(00:39:23) - What are the strengths of individuals with ADHD?
(00:42:47) - When Students Experience Task Paralysis
(00:44:31) - Head Brain Matters: ADHD
(00:47:09) - Why Traditional Productivity Systems Fail for People With ADHD
(00:48:53) - Discussing Medication for Older People
(00:50:58) - Beyond Fixing Your Life: How to Love Yourself
(00:52:07) - Hannah Bookbinder on Mental Health

Brain Matters S12.E10: Helping Students Thrive

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:01:45 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Dr Laurie Schreiner, a faculty member at Azusa Pacific University and the Director of The Thrive Project. The Thrive Project focuses on enhancing student success in higher education by promoting intellectual, interpersonal, and psychological engagement. It emphasizes a holistic approach to student well-being, aiming to create an environment where students not only succeed academically but also thrive personally and socially. This project is rooted in positive psychology and aims to implement campus interventions that support students’ overall development.

Brain Matters S12.E09: Hope As A Strategy For College Students

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:00:01 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews the CEO of The Shine Hope Company about the organization’s dedication to improving lives globally by teaching scientifically informed and evidence-based methods to measure and cultivate hope.

Brain Matters S12.E08: How ALSANA Helps Rebuild Mind, Body and Spirit

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:00:35 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Katherine Jordan, Director of Nutrition Services for ALSANA. Alsana is one of the nation’s leading eating disorders treatment centers.

Brain Matters S12.E07: Inside the Honors College: Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders at UA

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 19:00:32 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Dr. Anne Franklin Lamar, Director of Honors Year One about how Honors College students contribute to UA and beyond.

Halloween Traditions Around The World

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 19:00:09 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Dr Alan Brown. Dr. Brown is a professor at The University of West Alabama and a nationally recognized author who has written extensively about hauntings and ghost lore across the country.

Brain Matters S12.E05: Balancing Justice and Compassion: Defending Students with Mental Health Challenges

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 19:00:34 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Chief Asst. Public Defender for Tuscaloosa County, Eric Snow about defending college students and individuals with mental illness.

Brain Matters S12.E04: Tide Against Suicide

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:00:43 +0000

Dr. Guenther interviews UA students Hadley Shields, Drake Bennett and Anna Mitchell about Tide Against Suicide and the upcoming Suicide Awareness Week and Out of the Darkness Walk.

Brain Matters S12.E03: Wrestling Through Adversity

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:00:54 +0000

Dr. Guenther interviews Dr. Christine Silverstein, author of the book Wrestling Through Adversity. The discussion focuses on strategies for building resilience in college students.

Brain Matters S12.E02: You Got In, Now What? 100 Insights Into Finding Your Best Life In College

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:00:48 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Dr. James “Jay” Hamilton, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education at Stanford University and author of “You Got In, Now What? 100 Insights Into Finding Your Best Life In College”.

Brain Matters S12.E01: How Crucial Is The Freshman Year In College?

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:00:40 +0000

Dr Guenther interviews Chelsea Ratcliff, Director of UA First, to discuss the pivotal freshman year, the challenges and resources on campus.

Brain Matters S11.E18: Making, And Keeping, Friends at College

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:00:52 +0000

Dr. Guenther interviews Clinical Psychologist Dr Sabrina Romanoff on the challenges of making friends in college.

Brain Matters S11.E17: Betrayal Trauma

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 19:00:13 +0000

Dr. Guenther interviews Dr Jake Porter, Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of Daring Ventures Counseling in Houston, Texas. Dr Porter specializes in helping couples who have experienced Betrayal Trauma.

Brain Matters S11.E16: Hangxiety

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 18:42:03 +0000

Dr. Guenther discusses hangxiety.

Brain Matters S11.E15: Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 19:00:06 +0000

Brain Matters S11.E14: Hypnotherapy: The Neuroscience Behind Rapid and Lasting Change

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 19:00:38 +0000

Dr. Guenther interviews Maggie Minsk, Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Hypnotherapist about the benefits of using hypnotherapy as a compliment to traditional therapy.

Brain Matters S11.E13: How To Lead And Make A Positive Impact

WVUA-FM | UA Student Media | The University of Alabama — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:00:44 +0000

Dr. Guenther interviews Lacy Gunnoe, ret. LT. Col. in US Air Force and currently Wellbeing Director at Zac Brown’s Camp Southern Ground. Discussion focuses on leadership qualities and making a positive impact on campus and in life.