Crazy Together

Why do neurodivergent and neurotypical people often think and behave differently from one another, and why do they struggle to see things from each other’s perspective? While there are a variety of reasons that might explain these differences, Marcus and Esme explore one that they think is particularly impactful: thinking styles. In this special, vacation week edition, Marcus and Esme revisit the topics of bottom-up and top-down thinking. In doing so, they ask the audience to help them figure out:  1) Do Marcus and Esme hate jigsaw puzzles, or are they just mildly annoyed by the imperfect use of jigsaw puzzle assembly as a metaphor for bottom-up thinking? 2) What  is tiger derangement syndrome, and how does it reflect society’s attitudes towards and assumptions about bottom-up thinking? 3) How does Boeing’s recent difficulties keeping some of their planes from plummeting to earth represent a worst-case scenario for the outcomes of enforced top-down thinking? Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com   Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact   Sources for this episode include: McCann, Sam. “Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Thinking: Why Autistic Brains Process the World Differently.” Green Coast Counseling, 2026, https://www.greencoastcounseling.com/green-coast-counseling-therapy-blog/top-down-vs-bottom-up-thinking-why-autistic-brains-process-the-world-differently.  Lee, Crystal I. “Bottom-Up Thinking and Autism: A Different Way of Processing the World.” LA Concierge Psychologist, 2020, https://laconciergepsychologist.com/blog/bottom-up-thinking-and-autism.  Main, Paul. “Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Processing: How Learners Think.” Structural Learning, 2026, https://www.structural-learning.com/post/top-down-processing-and-bottom-up-processing.  Blackmore, Laura. “Top-Down Vs Bottom-Up Approach In Management: Key Differences.” Cascade, 17 Mar. 2025, https://www.cascade.app/blog/top-down-vs-bottom-up.  Josephs, Leslie, and Thomas Franck. “Boeing Survey Showed Employees Felt Pressure from Managers on Safety Approvals.” CNBC, 20 Oct. 2019, updated 21 Oct. 2019, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/20/boeing-survey-shows-safety-workers-felt-pressure-from-managers-report.html.  Singh, Laura, et al. “The Effect of Optimistic Expectancies on Attention Bias: Neural and Behavioral Correlates.” Scientific Reports, vol. 10, article no. 6495, 2020, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61440-1.  Sharot, Tali. “The Optimism Bias.” Current Biology, vol. 21, no. 23, 6 Dec. 2011, pp. R941–R945. ScienceDirect, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982211011912.  Suster, Mark. “The Benefits of Top-Down Thinking & Why It Is Critical to Entrepreneurs.” Both Sides of the Table, 14 July 2010, https://bothsidesofthetable.com/the-benefits-of-top-down-thinking-why-it-is-critical-to-entrepreneurs-bec7789659a7.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

She’s back! Esme and Marcus continue the discussion about the Power of Novelty (episode 122) as they recall some of the lessons they learned on a trip to Paris. Later, Esme shares a recommendation for a book series about a group of witches, vampires, and demons who make a solemn pact to keep their existence hidden from regular people and each other. But can any pact really stop a couple of attractive academics (and secret supernatural beings) from falling in love?  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Esme-heads: prepare to be disappointed. Or, prepare to be delightfully surprised! Such is the power of novel experiences. Marcus is flying solo this week. And while he realizes the throngs of Esme fans out there might be loath to listen to him meander his way through an episode without the patient guidance of his better half, he has endeavored to keep it (relatively) short and sweet. In this week’s episode, Marcus discusses the concept of novelty and its impact on the reward pathways in our brains. He also describes the positive impact novel experiences have on our attention and well-being, differentiates novelty from novelty-seeking behavior, and provides some helpful tips for adding some novelty to your daily routine. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Reichardt, Richárd, Bertalan Polner, and Péter Simor. “The Graded Novelty Encoding Task: Novelty Gradually Improves Recognition of Visual Stimuli under Incidental Learning Conditions.” Behavior Research Methods, vol. 55, no. 4, 2022, pp. 1587–1600. PMC10250520, doi:10.3758/s13428-022-01891-8. Accessed via PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10250520/.  Hall, Karyn. “The Magic of Novelty: Why It Matters and How to Embrace It.” Psychology Today, 6 Jan. 2025, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pieces-of-mind/202501/the-magic-of-novelty-why-it-matters-and-how-to-embrace-it.  O’Connor, Alexander J., Charlan J. Nemeth, and Satoshi Akutsu. “Consequences of Beliefs about the Malleability of Creativity.” Creativity Research Journal, vol. 25, no. 2, 2013, pp. 155–162. Published online 17 May 2013. Taylor & Francis Online, https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2013.783739.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Just because Marcus and Esme are taking a little bit of time off to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend doesn't mean they have forgotten about you, dear listener. To ensure you get your weekly fix of their unique brand of neurodivergent meandering, they've decided to replay one of their most downloaded HYPERFOCUS BONUS episodes ever: 61. Who’s That Lady (Doing All That Sewing)? Marcus and Esme will be back with new episodes next week.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

What do you get when you cross peer-reviewed, academically rigorous neuroscience with the super-squishy feels-based world of wellness? A lot of FCC compliant (but not FDA approved) devices, a little bit of hope, and, sadly, far too many broken promises.  Marcus and Esme discuss the burgeoning trends of neurotech and neurowellness in this week’s episode and share some “yellow flags” you should consider before spending a lot of money on a miracle device or treatment. They also share their golden rule for assessing the validity of any mental health-related service or product: consult a professional before making any treatment decisions. They also watch a video of an influencer testing out a vagus nerve simulator and experiencing some . . . um . . . unexpected benefits. Surprises abound! Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Müller, Oliver, and Stefan Rotter. “Neurotechnology: Current Developments and Ethical Issues.” Frontiers in systems neuroscience vol. 11 93. 13 Dec. 2017, doi:10.3389/fnsys.2017.00093 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5733340/  Loo, Sandra K et al. “Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Cognitive and Electroencephalographic Predictors of Treatment Response.” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry vol. 60,7 (2021): 856-864.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2020.09.021 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9714960/#S14  Global Wellness Summit. Neurowellness—One of the Biggest Wellness Trends of 2026. Global Wellness Summit, 2026, https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/trendium/neurowellness-one-of-the-biggest-wellness-trends-of-2026.  “NeuroSigma Launches Next-Generation Monarch Device for Pediatric ADHD After Successful Pilot Program.” Yahoo Finance, 18 Nov. 2025, PAID PRESS RELEASE https://finance.yahoo.com/news/neurosigma-launches-next-generation-monarch-160000572.html.  Radytė, Emilė. “The Future of Neurotechnology in Mental Health: What’s Coming for Women’s Wellness.” Samphire Neuroscience, 13 Oct. 2025, https://www.samphireneuro.com/blog/the-future-of-neurotechnology-in-mental-health.  Israel, Ira. “Neuroplasticity and the Legacy of a Scientific Mistake.” Psychology Today, 24 June 2026, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/authenticity-101/202606/neuroplasticity-and-the-legacy-of-a-scientific-mistake.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Is there crying in baseball? As it turns out, yes. And Marcus tells the tale of how he learned you absolutely cannot weaponize a legendary player’s emotional farewell against a rival team’s fan base, no matter how much they might deserve it.  Also, Esme reveals the two key lessons at the heart of the Other Bennet Sister: 1) Mary Bennet doesn’t need to be featured in a rapid-fire montage in which she tries on multiple dresses – she’s fine the way she is; and 2) everybody can use a little bit of Indira Varma in their lives. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

“Do you really think you’re tougher than Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt or Lord of Winterfell, Ned Stark?” This is the seemingly nonsensical question Marcus and Esme pose to their male listeners in this week’s episode (Please note: This question will make sense once you listen to the episode). One of the central tenets of traditional masculinity is that men must be protectors and providers for their families. This is not a bad impulse in-and-of itself. Men should want to take care of the people they care about. However, manosphere grifters like to use the concept of being a protector to justify aggressive, domineering, and violent behaviors and attitudes towards women. The problem with this framing is that men – specifically husbands, boyfriends, and fathers - are the leading perpetrators of violent crime and homicide against women and children globally. In other words, these traditional beliefs might lead men to become the antithesis of protectors. But, Marcus and Esme still think that being a protector is a good impulse; and they identify two things men can do to help them become the kind of protectors who partner with their loved ones to ensure their families’ physical and emotional safety. Now, some men won’t like it when they hear what this two-step process entails. But this is when those same men must ask themselves the very peculiar question from the top of the description (which, again, will make sense once you listen to the episode . . . promise).  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: World Health Organization. Child Maltreatment. 8 May 2026, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment.  United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and UN Women. Gender‑Related Killings of Women and Girls (Femicide/Feminicide): Global Estimates of Female Intimate Partner/Family‑Related Homicides in 2022. UNODC & UN Women, 2023, https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/gender-related-killings-of-women-and-girls-femicide-feminicide-global-estimates-2022-en.pdf.  Gračanin, Asmir, et al. “Is Crying a Self-Soothing Behavior?” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 5, 2014, p. 502, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC4035568, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4035568/.  Millings, Abigail, et al. “Holding Back the Tears: Individual Differences in Adult Crying Proneness Reflect Attachment Orientation and Attitudes to Crying.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 7, 2016, p. 1003, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01003. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC4934120, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4934120/.  Murube, Juan. “Hypotheses on the Development of Psychoemotional Tearing.” The Ocular Surface, vol. 7, no. 4, Oct. 2009, pp. 171–75. Elsevier, doi:10.1016/S1542-0124(12)70184-2.  Burgess, Lana. “8 Benefits of Crying: Why Do We Cry, and When to Seek Support.” Medical News Today, updated 19 May 2026, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319631.  Grabmeier, Jeff. “Domestic Violence Often Comes From Men Who Repress Emotions, Feel Threatened, Study Finds.” Ohio State News, 8 Dec. 2002, https://news.osu.edu/domestic-violence-often-comes-from-men-who-repress-emotions-feel-threatened-study-finds.  Petts, Richard J., Chris Knoester, and Jane Waldfogel. “Fathers’ Paternity Leave‑Taking and Children’s Perceptions of Father‑Child Relationships in the United States.” Sex Roles, vol. 82, nos. 3–4, 2019, pp. 173–188, doi:10.1007/s11199-019-01050-y. PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC7030161.  Noori, Rebecca. “Paternity Leave Benefits: Important But Often Overlooked.” Benepass Blog, 30 May 2024, https://getbenepass.com/blog/paternity-leave-benefits.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Is the nighttime truly the right time for boardgame-based family fun? For the average person with ADHD, whose attention span is largely dependent on medications they take during the daytime, the answer might be “no.” That’s the conclusion Marcus and Esme have come to after a recent family game night, wherein the O’Kayvious clan attempted to play a new (and surprisingly complex) boardgame for the very first time. Marcus and Esme share their family’s story of perseverance and joy in the face of their dopamine-starved attention spans.  Plus, Marcus recalls a family game night from his childhood when his much, much older siblings roped him into a friendly game of global domination. Would an undiagnosed, unmedicated, and far too trusting Marcus fare well against his brothers, some of whom were old enough at the time to rent cars in foreign countries? And would the outcome of that experience instill in Marcus a lifelong love of board games with sophisticated and context-heavy instructions? (Spoiler alert: No). Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

What if our assumptions about the inner lives of loved ones who are living with Alzheimer’s and dementia are wrong? What if the people we love are still very much there?  These are the questions raised by today’s guest, Marilyn Raichle. Marilyn is author of Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey, a powerful and uplifting memoir about her experience as her mother’s care partner while she was living with dementia. She is also one of the most genuine and lovely people you’d ever want to talk to. While the idea of caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s can feel daunting or even heartbreaking, Marilyn’s story is one of hope, love, and understanding. It’s also a story about the power of creative expression. Marilyn describes how her mother, June, took up painting later in life, and how June’s creations helped Marilyn get to know her mother better, and remember that the woman she had always known and loved was still there. Marilyn Raichle is the founder of The Art of Alzheimer’s, an organization that celebrates the creativity of people living with dementia and the power of the creative arts to enrich and empower their lives. She is also the Executive Director of Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care.  To learn more about Marilyn – or to purchase her beautiful book – please visit her website: https://dontwalkaway.net/  You can, as always, visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Esme battles an old foe en route to restoring the O’Kayvious household’s gardens to their former glory: the sun. Will cosplaying as an ultra-refined Bryn Mawr graduate give her the tactical edge she needs? Also, Marcus courts controversy by revealing the one thing Donald Trump does right – if you’re going to re-watch the 1988 martial arts masterpiece Bloodsport, you really should fast forward through all the unnecessary dialogue. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

“Can you blame your boyfriend’s mom for making your boyfriend a bad boyfriend?” This is the hypothetical question Marcus poses at the start of the episode. Fortunately, Esme is there to ask questions and figure out what Marcus is talking about.  It turns out that Marcus wants to discuss Attachment Theory, a psychological framework that explores how young children form emotional bonds with their caregivers and how these bonds influence their future relationships. Together, they discuss the kinds of formative experiences that create attachment types, and how those attachment types strongly influence how we approach our adult relationships. They also review recommendations for parents who want to form stronger and secure attachment bonds with their kids; and, reassure the audience that with enough hard work, we can learn how to form secure attachments as adults. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Fraley, R. Chris. “A Brief Overview of Adult Attachment Theory and Research.” University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign, https://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/attachment.htm.  Huang, Stephanie. “Attachment Styles in Adult Relationships.” Simply Psychology, 20 Apr. 2026, https://www.simplypsychology.org/attachment-styles.html.  Enns, Kimberly. “5 Ways to Form Stronger Attachment With Your Children.” Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute, 2026, https://ctrinstitute.com/blog/stronger-attachment-with-children.  “Attachment Theory.” EBSCO Research Starters: Psychology, EBSCO Information Services, 2023, https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/attachment-theory.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

HYPERBOLIC TITLE WARNING: This episode does not feature stories of ACTUAL betrayal or revenge. However, it does attempt to answer the following questions: Does a former college basketball star have an obligation to his alma mater to ensure his son does not play for that school's hated rival? (Spoiler alert: in this case, yes). Is a minor character from a classic Jane Austen novel deserving of her own story? (Spoiler alert: in this case, yes). Also, Marcus and Esme provide critical updates on open questions from previous installments of the Hyperfocus Bonus. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Belated acknowledgement of a brilliant video referenced in episode 112: sagmoonmagic. “Hope this helps  #witch #witchtok #witchcraft #nature #earth.” TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@sagmoonmagic/video/7640568255018552589.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Internet and social media trends come and go, and many of them are pretty stupid. But could it be true that there is one current trend that might actually be somewhat beneficial for our mental health and well being? Join Marcus and Esme as they discuss whimsy, the rare social media trend that doesn’t seem to want to kill us. Marcus and Esme discuss why the trend has taken off, and whether or not there is any hard, scientific evidence to suggest that it might be a good thing (spoiler alert: believe it or not, there kinda’ is). They also share some of the whimsical interests and activities that bring a little fun to their lives, encourage straight guys to give whimsy a chance (it might actually encourage women to choose you and not the bear), and encourage listeners to not overthink whimsy, because then it won’t be whimsical anymore.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: “Whimsy.” Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, 2026, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/whimsy. Caramela, Sammi. “The Surprisingly Powerful Benefits of Adding a Little Whimsy to Your Life, According to Science.” VICE, 30 May 2026, https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-surprisingly-powerful-benefits-of-adding-a-little-whimsy-to-your-life-according-to-science.  Gray, Peter. “The Value of Play I: The Definition of Play Gives Insights.” Psychology Today, 19 Nov. 2008, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/200811/the-value-play-i-the-definition-play-gives-insights.  Hart, Tori, and Robyn M. Holmes. “Exploring the Connection Between Adult Playfulness and Emotional Intelligence.” Journal of Play in Adulthood, vol. 4, no. 1, Aug. 2022, pp. 28–51. University of Huddersfield Press.  Magnuson, Cale D., and Lynn A. Barnett. “The Playful Advantage: How Playfulness Enhances Coping with Stress.” Leisure Sciences, vol. 35, no. 2, 2013, pp. 129–144. Taylor & Francis Online, https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2013.761905.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Are the narrators of audiobooks the final authority on how to pronounce the names of people and places in sci-fi/fantasy novels? What is the likelihood a noteworthy director of independent cinema has moved to Marcus and Esme’s small town in southeastern Pennsylvania? And what does it mean if Marcus is hearing the voice of an entirely different director in his head when he goes grocery shopping?  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Is it possible that the cerebellum plays a much larger role in our mental health than was previously known? And if so, what are the implications for the future of how mental health and neurodivergent conditions are diagnosed and treated going forward? Well, after an exhaustive review of recent breakthroughs in the field of neuroscience, Marcus and Esme are prepared to say, “Wow, those are some tough questions.” The truth of the matter is that the cerebellum has been the subject of a lot of fascinating research and discoveries in the past few years (it has long been dismissed as less important than the flashier, “thinky-thinky” parts of the brain). Scientists are only now beginning to grasp how intertwined this fist-sized portion of the human brain is with practically every aspect of neurological functioning and mental health.  What does it all mean? Well, that’s what Esme and Marcus attempt to figure out in this episode. While they acknowledge there are no definitive answers to these questions yet, they also think it’s a fascinating topic with a lot of potential implications for how mental health and neurodivergent conditions are diagnosed and treated going forward. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Braga-Neto, Pedro, et al. “The Cerebellum and Psychiatric Disorders: Unraveling Its Role in Mental Health.” Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, vol. 83, no. 8, 31 Aug. 2025, pp. s00451810408. PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12399322/.  Mitoma, Hiroshi, et al. “Recent Advances in the Treatment of Cerebellar Disorders.” Brain Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, 23 Dec. 2019, article 11. PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7017280.  Radiolab. “Song of the Cerebellum.” Radiolab, 30 Jan. 2026, https://radiolab.org/podcast/song-of-the-cerebellum.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Most great works of art defy simple interpretation. Some pieces are so complex and so deeply rousing that two people (who are otherwise very much alike in temperament and tastes) can walk away from the same composition with very different interpretations. Such is the case with the timeless blue-eyed soul standard Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley. Marcus and Esme discuss their specific point of contention and ask for the listeners' help to resolve the dispute. Also, a family of birds has taken up residence in a planter on the O’Kayvious’ front porch, which has had some surprising impacts on each of the human members of the household. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Do neurodivergent people really struggle with object permanence? Generally speaking, no. Babies and dogs may struggle to understand that something still exists even if they can’t see it anymore (which explains the rush babies get playing peek-a-boo). However, most older children and adults – regardless of neurotype – tend to understand that mommy has not exited this earthly plain just because she threw a blanket over her head.  That being said, Marcus and Esme think there is one very specific area of neurodivergent peoples’ lives where they might struggle with something similar to object permanence. Specifically, if neurodivergent people: Acknowledge they live in a world that was built for neurotypical people . . . And respond to these structural inequities by focusing on improving their “flaws” and “defects” ONLY . . . Then they are denying the existence of all the ways in which systems are structured against them. This is a natural reaction for neurodivergent people. After all, they’re raised to believe that being neurodivergent is a condition, and as such they must be “fixed” to be successful in school and at the office. But what if neurodivergence isn’t a condition? What if being neurodivergent just meant a person was different?  In other words, what if neurodivergence was an identity? That’s the question Marcus and Esme explore in this episode: what would it mean if we thought of neurodivergence as an identity, and how might that change the way we think not only of our developmental needs, but of the systems and structures that weren’t built with us in mind?   Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Issitt, Micah. “Object Permanence.” EBSCO Research Starters: Psychology, EBSCO Information Services, 2022, https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/object-permanence.  Guy-Evans, Olivia. “Object Permanence & ADHD: ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’.” Simply Psychology, 20 May 2025, https://www.simplypsychology.org/object-permanence-and-adhd.html.  Robison, John Elder. “Neurodiversity Is an Identity, Not a Disorder.” Psychology Today, 14 Jan. 2024, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/my-life-with-aspergers/202401/neurodiversity-is-an-identity-not-a-disorder.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

All Esme wanted to do was pay homage to one of her favorite flowers. Unfortunately, Marcus had to go and ruin it with some inappropriate giggling just because the name of the flower sounds a little bit like a certain defining aspect of the male anatomy. It was childish and disrespectful and Marcus apologized profusely for it . . . every time Esme mentioned the flower’s name. Marcus then took a moment to celebrate the 84th birthday of legendary singer/songwriter Taj Mahal. Esme demonstrated far more patience and maturity than Marcus was capable of during her segment, even when he said words like “pianist” and “Ry Cooder.”  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Have you ever felt like you’ve changed so much you barely recognize yourself? If so, you might be experiencing an identity crisis. Identity crises are pretty common, but they might be an indicator that you could benefit from some professional medical assistance. In this episode, Marcus and Esme discuss the concept of identity and why having a strong, continuous sense of identity is important to our mental health and well-being. They share their own experiences navigating identity crises and the types of interventions they found most helpful (hint: it rhymes with “sherapy”). They also identify additional activities people can try if they feel like they are losing (or have lost) their sense of identity. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: “Identity.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/identity.  Korfmacher, Carsten. “Personal Identity.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://iep.utm.edu/person-i/  Olson, Eric T. “Personal Identity.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, 20 Aug. 2002, substantive revision 30 June 2023, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-personal.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In honor of Mother’s Day and his dad’s birthday, Marcus shares some fond remembrances of his parents. It’s an important reminder that we all end up talking about the people we love in therapy. It’s only natural, because they’re usually the ones who have made the biggest impacts on our lives. Life is complicated that way. But, if we’re lucky, we also have a lot of uncomplicated memories of those people that make us smile and remind us how fortunate we are to have had them in our lives. Marcus also takes a moment to reassure his audience that he and his daughter will be doing their part to make sure Esme has a very special Mother’s Day. She’s really freaking good at being a mom, so they’re happy to do it. He also pushes back on those fathers who opt out of the big day by saying, “She’s not my mother.” Maybe so, but if you’re in a relationship with your kids’ mother, or if your kids are too young to handle things themselves, you might consider doing something nice for her anyway. Chances are, she deserves it. So, get off the couch, Gerald! Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In this episode, Marcus and Esme ask a very important question: can’t we be optimistic about the future AND do something about the man-eating tiger that’s stalking us? It’s a metaphorical tiger, but it’s an important question, nonetheless. Marcus and Esme continue their exploration of bottom-up thinking (a cognitive style more prevalent among neurodivergent people) and top-down thinking (a cognitive style more prevalent among neurotypical people). They begin by taking some time to reassure their top-down thinking listeners that they are loved and that no one at Crazy Together Industries thinks they are monsters. They then explore why American society and corporate culture are so heavily biased towards top-down thinking and management models. Specifically, they reveal the links between top-down thinking and optimism bias, and discuss how one sweaty, annoying economist in the 1970s created a new model for corporate governance that supercharged the dominance of top-down models in the workplace. Marcus and Esme then close the episode by affirming that, yes, we can balance our tendency towards unrealistic optimism and deal with the many metaphorical tigers in our midst. However, they caution that it will only work if we can figure out how to balance the influence of our top-down and bottom-up thinkers. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: McCann, Sam. “Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Thinking: Why Autistic Brains Process the World Differently.” Green Coast Counseling, 2026, https://www.greencoastcounseling.com/green-coast-counseling-therapy-blog/top-down-vs-bottom-up-thinking-why-autistic-brains-process-the-world-differently.  Lee, Crystal I. “Bottom-Up Thinking and Autism: A Different Way of Processing the World.” LA Concierge Psychologist, 2020, https://laconciergepsychologist.com/blog/bottom-up-thinking-and-autism.  Blackmore, Laura. “Top-Down Vs Bottom-Up Approach In Management: Key Differences.” Cascade, 17 Mar. 2025, https://www.cascade.app/blog/top-down-vs-bottom-up.  Josephs, Leslie, and Thomas Franck. “Boeing Survey Showed Employees Felt Pressure from Managers on Safety Approvals.” CNBC, 20 Oct. 2019, updated 21 Oct. 2019, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/20/boeing-survey-shows-safety-workers-felt-pressure-from-managers-report.html.  Singh, Laura, et al. “The Effect of Optimistic Expectancies on Attention Bias: Neural and Behavioral Correlates.” Scientific Reports, vol. 10, article no. 6495, 2020, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61440-1.  Sharot, Tali. “The Optimism Bias.” Current Biology, vol. 21, no. 23, 6 Dec. 2011, pp. R941–R945. ScienceDirect, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982211011912.  Suster, Mark. “The Benefits of Top-Down Thinking & Why It Is Critical to Entrepreneurs.” Both Sides of the Table, 14 July 2010, https://bothsidesofthetable.com/the-benefits-of-top-down-thinking-why-it-is-critical-to-entrepreneurs-bec7789659a7.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus reveals that he used to be a pretty big fan of post-apocalyptic movies. They were a lot more fun in his youth, when he could more easily ignore the many real-world fears and anxieties that were the constant sub-text of the genre (e.g., nuclear holocaust, fossil fuel scarcity, climate change, etc.). The movies were fun, and there was always a glimmer of hope in each one. For example, the Road Warrior reassured us that quality leather goods and hair products will remain in abundance in the future. And Waterworld aptly demonstrated that Kevin Costner can not only survive making a really bad post-apocalyptic movie, but he can also still convince people to give him millions of dollars to make another really bad post-apocalyptic movie just a few years later.  Marcus and Esme then discuss how it became more difficult for them to enjoy the genre as they entered adulthood and the underlying fears became a little more real for them.  Marcus then reveals why he has been thinking about these movies recently, and how they tie in to a sad scene he observed while taking a walk one day. But! He and Esme then close on a high note by discussing actions we can all take to make this world a little less apocalyptic.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

This is the episode Marcus has been dying to make for a long time now (at least three weeks). Marcus and Esme discuss bottom-up and top-down processing: two different thinking styles that influence how people take in information and make sense of the world around them. Even though most people are capable of both styles, neurodivergent people are more likely to engage in bottom-up processing, while neurotypical people are more likely to employ a top-down approach. At first glance, it might appear the differences in the two styles are a matter of personal preference. But Marcus and Esme take a deeper dive to explore how these differences impact communications between neurodivergent and neurotypical people, and contribute to some of the biases and misconceptions about neurodivergent students and workers.  They also discuss the benefits of bottom-up thinking, and describe their experiences (some successful, some not) trying to position these benefits to their employers and coworkers. And, because this is top-down world, they share practical recommendations for developing skills across both thinking types. Be sure to come back next week for Part 2: Saving top-down thinkers from themselves. Marcus and Esme will discuss the societal impacts of top-down thinking and its relation to both confirmation and optimism bias. They’ll also make the case for a world that values both thinking styles, and consider what it would take to enable such a world. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: McCann, Sam. “Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Thinking: Why Autistic Brains Process the World Differently.” Green Coast Counseling, 2026, https://www.greencoastcounseling.com/green-coast-counseling-therapy-blog/top-down-vs-bottom-up-thinking-why-autistic-brains-process-the-world-differently.  Lee, Crystal I. “Bottom-Up Thinking and Autism: A Different Way of Processing the World.” LA Concierge Psychologist, 2020, https://laconciergepsychologist.com/blog/bottom-up-thinking-and-autism.  Main, Paul. “Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Processing: How Learners Think.” Structural Learning, 2026, https://www.structural-learning.com/post/top-down-processing-and-bottom-up-processing.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

As a follow-up to the “Very Special and Horrifying Announcement” released earlier this week Esme provides some much needed perspective. According to her, there’s a slight possibility that Marcus was misrepresenting the immediate danger to Crazy Together studios and the family as a whole. It turns out, the walls of their house might not be teeming with bats. That said, there’s no way to tell exactly what was crawling around behind the walls that night, and she is unable to disprove the possibility of interdimensional demons. Esme then provides a quick update of her gardening/dopamine management wins. Then, she and Marcus discuss why the world needs a little more Elisabeth Shue.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Something is lurking within the walls of the O'Kayvius household. Neither Marcus or Esme has spotted the beast yet, but they have heard it's frantic scratching. While Esme isn't prepared to hazard a guess as to the genus or species of their wall-dwelling intruder, Marcus is almost certain it's a bat (but he's also not willing to rule out the possibility of an interdimensional traveller with nefarious intent). The problem is, the scratchy tresspasser is slowly making its way through the walls to the basement, where there are multiple egress points for the creature to emerge and take over the O'Kayvius's recording space. As a consequence, the Crazy Together podcast will be going on a brief hiatus until the appropriate pest removal experts can be brought in to reclaim the space, ethically displace the offending creature, and, if necessary, exercise any offending demons. May God have mercy on us all.

As a thank you to their listeners, Marcus and Esme are celebrating the release of the 100th episode of Crazy Together with a free merch giveaway to five lucky winners. Just go to crazytogetherpod.com and complete the 100th Episode Mug Giveaway form (look for the bouncing mugs). The first five listeners to submit an entry will automatically win! Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Frisson is amazing. It’s a physical response some people experience from exposure to powerful and emotional stimuli such as music and art. While most people are capable of experiencing it from time-to-time, emerging research suggests it may be more common – and more intense – among neurodivergent individuals. In this episode, Marcus and Esme discuss their experiences and history with this incredible phenomenon. They also attempt to explain why frisson is so much more prevalent among neurodivergent people, and how we might use it to enrich our lives.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Partridge, Alex. “ADHD and autistic ‘frisson.’” Instagram Reel, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXBmDF2DcXb.  Saville, Phoebe, et al. “Exploring the Intersection of ADHD and Music: A Systematic Review.” Behavioral Sciences, vol. 15, no. 1, 2025, p. 65, doi:10.3390/bs15010065. PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11762814/.  Enright, Jillian. “ADHD and Autistic Assets.” Neurodiversity Manitoba, 10 Feb. 2022, https://neurodiversitymb.ca/advocacy/f/adhd-and-autistic-assets.  Cherry, Kendra. “How Bottom-Up Processing Works.” Verywell Mind, 26 Feb. 2026, https://www.verywellmind.com/bottom-up-processing-and-perception-4584296.  Haar Horowitz, Adam. “Frisson: Interoceptive Technologies—Inducing Emotions from the Body Up.” MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/frisson/overview.  Westmaas, Reuben. “What Getting Chills from Music Says About Your Brain.” Discovery, 1 Aug. 2019, https://www.discovery.com/science/Getting-Chills-from-Music.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus is absolutely flummoxed by the advertising campaign for a product that is being marketed to people with anxiety issues. Specifically, he can’t figure out why someone would decide the best way to motivate anxious people to buy their product is by creeping them out. Esme is so entertained by Marcus’ musings she forgets her own hyperfocus topic, but contributes gleefully to the discussion. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Hyperfocus can be a strength when it’s being applied to something worthwhile or meaningful. However, even when we’re using it “productively*” it comes at a cost: our energy. In this episode, Marcus and Esme discuss hyperfocus hangovers – the emotional and even physical exhaustion many people with ADHD experience following prolonged periods of hyperfocus. They explain why hyperfocus can be so taxing on our minds and bodies, and the extra energy people with ADHD need to expend to direct our attention to less interesting tasks. They also discuss what we can do to mitigate the effects of hyperfocus hangovers, and how even being aware of the phenomenon might help us let go of some of the shame we constantly carry around.  *Note: “Productive” use of hyperfocus is difficult to define; nevertheless, the various jagweeds who sign our checks will invariably attempt to determine this for us in ways that are both arbitrary and stupid. Therefore, whenever possible, it might be more fruitful to apply our hyperfocus to efforts we find “worthwhile” or “meaningful” rather than efforts someone else deems “productive.”  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Manos, Michael. “Understanding Hyperfocus and ADHD.” Cleveland Clinic, 9 Dec. 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/hyperfocus-and-adhd.  Cootey, Douglas. “After the Thrill: Avoiding a Hyperfocus Hangover.” ADDitude Magazine, 9 May 2025, https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-hyperfocus-crash.  Guy‑Evans, Olivia. “ADHD Hyperfocus: The Phenomenon of Intense Fixation.” Simply Psychology, 26 Jan. 2024, https://www.simplypsychology.org/hyperfocus-in-adhd.html.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Picture this: you’re actively working on something that requires a lot of attention (e.g., homework, an assignment at work, an e-mail to a boss who requires communication that is somehow both succinct and robust, etc.). But then, all of a sudden – whoosh – your mind goes blank. No thoughts. Just blank. It would be a real Zen sound of one-hand clapping moment if the timing wasn’t so inconveniant. Because, eventually, you snap back to attention. You shake your head, bewildered by the experience, and upset that you allowed yourself to lose focus again.  But what if it wasn’t entirely up to you whether you lost focus or not? In this week’s episode, Marcus and Esme review two recent studies that suggest: a) those moments where we lose focus, trail off in thought, or just go blank are a product of naturally occurring phenomena in our brains; and b) there are structural differences in our brains that differentiate our experiences from those of neurotypical people. What does it all mean? Well, maybe we can start by being a little kinder to ourselves.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Pinggal, Elaine, et al. “Sleep-like Slow Waves During Wakefulness Mediate Attention and Vigilance Difficulties in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” Journal of Neuroscience, 16 Mar. 2026, doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1694-25.2025. Currie, Jake. “Adults With ADHD Experience Sleep-Like Brain Waves While Awake.” Nautilus, 18 Mar. 2026, https://nautil.us/adults-with-adhd-experience-sleep-like-brain-waves-while-awake-1279024.  Pan N, Long Y, Qin K, et al. Mapping ADHD Heterogeneity and Biotypes by Topological Deviations in Morphometric Similarity Networks. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online February 25, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0001 Bradshaw, Helen. “There Might Be 3 Different Types of ADHD, New Brain Study Suggests.” National Geographic, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/adhd-brain-study-three-subtypes.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Esme reaches an important milestone with a new endeavor and shares a few valuable lessons she learned along the way. Marcus attempts to manpower his way through a landscaping task that is best left to machines; and much like John Henry, the "steel driving man" of legend, he pays a price for it. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

October 2023: A TikTok creator uploads a video in which she tearfully recounts her experience asking about the possibility of time blindness accommodations during a job interview and the angry rebuke she received from her prospective employer. And people descended on her comments section like a plague of locusts. “Time blindness isn’t real!” some wrote. Another 30 or so commenters wrote some variation of “what if your employer had paycheck blindness - would that be fair?” The neurodivergent came for her as well. “I have ADHD and terrible time blindness and I’ve learned to deal with it. It’s our problem. Not our employers.”  Why are we so quick to jump on someone who asks about reasonable accommodations for a legitimate issue? American workers make accommodations all the time. The only problem is, we make them for our employers. Salaried workers work 50 - 60 hours a week but only get paid for 40. Shift workers are at the mercy of algorithmic scheduling programs that optimize for efficiency and ignore employees’ personal circumstances and needs (e.g., childcare, transportation, etc.). In this episode, Marcus and Esme discuss time blindness, affirm that it is a very real thing, and make a case for accommodations. They then shift course to try to figure out why we are so willing to do our bosses' work for them and criticize anyone who dares question the status quo.     Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Ly, Adam. “Time Unbound: Managing Time Blindness at Work.” Attention Magazine, Feb. 2024, CHADD, https://chadd.org/adhd-news/adhd-news-adults/attention-time-unbound-managing-time-blindness-at-work/. Kuhn, Peter, and Fernando Lozano. The Expanding Workweek? Understanding Trends in Long Work Hours Among U.S. Men, 1979–2004. NBER Working Paper No. 11895, National Bureau of Economic Research, Dec. 2005, https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w11895/w11895.pdf.  Mishel, Lawrence. Vast Majority of Wage Earners Are Working Harder, and for Not Much More: Trends in U.S. Work Hours and Wages over 1979–2007. Economic Policy Institute, 30 Jan. 2013, https://www.epi.org/publication/ib348-trends-us-work-hours-wages-1979-2007/.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus acknowledges a common theme from the last several episodes of Crazy Together – specifically, the artistic and crafty endeavors of various members of the Irish diaspora - and promises to pursue different themes in due time. He then precedes to outline a complicated St. Patrick’s Day prank he’s always wanted to pull off that would almost certainly earn him a punch in the jaw from a drunken American reveler. Esme then bemoans the erratic nature of March weather in southeastern Pennsylvania, but is quick to reassure herself and everyone else that better days are coming now that Spring is (almost) here. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus and his daughter have a lot in common. They both enjoy crafting, storytelling, and creative problem-solving. They’re also both riddled with ADHD. In this week’s episode, Marcus shares the full story of the annual leprechaun hunt he and his daughter conduct every St. Patrick’s Day, and how this accidental tradition perfectly illustrates some of the challenges associated with ADHD (impulsivity, time blindness, hyperfocus, etc.) and celebrates the joy of overcoming those challenges by working together to create something awesome. Esme jumps in with her take on the whole operation, reflecting on what it’s like to watch the two of them disappear into this strange, funny, and surprisingly elaborate project. For her, it’s a front‑row seat to the way their brains click together and the easy connection that comes from following an idea wherever it leads. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus and Esme share one of their all-time favorite videos: The PriceMaster – a weird and wonderful recording of a 2001 performance art piece in which a handful of college kids turned an everyday, run-of-the-mill yard sale into a surreal allegory about capitalism. They also discuss how the city of Denton, Texas (the setting for that particular performance) has adopted the PriceMaster and continues to celebrate its legacy to this day. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: The article about the legacy of the PriceMaster McPhate, Christian. “From Absurd Garage Sale to Local Legend, Denton Marks 25 Years of the PriceMaster.” Denton Record‑Chronicle, 7 Feb. 2026, https://dentonrc.com/entertainment/from-absurd-garage-sale-to-local-legend-denton-marks-25-years-of-the-pricemaster/article_0a1eff6c-2dd0-495a-aca0-96278b645f40.html.  The original video (32:23) - The PriceMaster. “The PriceMaster (Full Version).” YouTube, uploaded by The PriceMaster, 7 Dec. 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUmmxW7Ksc8.  The Found Footage Fest edit (2:08) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9GBLVRPeaE  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus and Esme discuss a common condition among neurodivergent people: the fear of being perceived. This widely reported phenomena is an internal, emotional, and sometimes physical reaction to being "seen" or judged, often causing people to feel as though they are "on stage." Marcus and Esme dive into why this fear is so common, how it manifests, and what neurodivergent people can do to cope with and possibly even overcome it. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Salladin, Cat. “The Fear of Being Perceived in Neurodivergent People.” NeuroSpark Health, 11 Jan. 2026, https://neurosparkhealth.com/masking/fear-of-being-perceived.  Cook, Heather. “When You Hate Being Perceived.” Autism Chrysalis, 9 Dec. 2023, https://www.autismchrysalis.com/2023/12/09/when-you-hate-being-perceived.  “The Anxiety of Being Perceived: Navigating Identity in a Hyper‑Visible World.” Indigo Therapy Group, https://indigotherapygroup.com/the-anxiety-of-being-perceived-navigating-identity-in-a-hyper-visible-world.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Most people have at least one cringe-inducing memory: the kind of memory that can come flooding back all of a sudden and trigger a spasm of embarrassment and regret throughout your entire body. People with ADHD tend to have a lot more of those memories, especially if they were diagnosed later in life. The years we spent acting on impulses and chasing dopamine without knowing why all but guarantees we’ll have at least one or two memories we’d prefer to forget. So, what should we do if we can’t forget them? How about we try to own them instead? That’s the experiment Marcus and Esme are trying in this week’s Hyperfocus Bonus. They each take turns sharing an embarrassing memory that was the direct result of poor decisions they made with their pre-diagnosis brains in the hopes of stripping those memories of their power.  But that’s not all – they’re also inviting you, the listeners - to share your own stories if you feel comfortable. Simply send them an e-mail at [email protected] with your own cringe-inducing pre-diagnosis story and they might feature it in an upcoming episode! Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus and Esme discuss the ADHD “Tax” – a term used to describe the very real financial, emotional, and psychological consequences of living with the condition. Esme identifies some of the many transactions and decisions in which people with ADHD might incur the "tax" and offers a few suggestions for dealing with or avoiding it altogether. Marcus does his best to add value to the conversation, with somewhat limited success.  And yes, the human being who wrote the previous paragraph used an em-dash. Em-dashes do not immediately signify that something has been written by AI! I know many of us are on the lookout for non-human generated content, but please do not rob those of us who think and write tangentially of a much-needed punctuation mark. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com   Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact   Sources for this episode include: Webster, Rick. “ADHD Tax: Seeking Financial Wellness After Money Problems.” ADDitude, updated 8 Feb. 2026, https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-tax-financial-wellness-money-problems/.  Broadbent, Elizabeth. “The ADHD Tax of Late Fees, Fines, Wasted Food & More.” ADDitude, updated 9 May 2025, https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-tax-late-fees-fines-shame/?src=embed_link.  Williams, Geoff. “Managing Your Finances When You Have ADHD.” Reuters, 16 Sept. 2013, https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE98F0SK.  Mutti-Driscoll, Catherine. “The ADHD Executive Function Tax: How to Cope.” Hallowell Todaro ADHD & Behavioral Health Center, 16 Nov. 2021, https://hallowelltodaro.com/blog-raw-feed/2021/11/18/the-adhd-executive-function-tax-how-to-cope.  “The ADHD Tax.” Take Control ADHD, https://takecontroladhd.com/blog/the-adhd-tax.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Spoilers abound in this week’s Hyperfocus Bonus, as Marcus and Esme share their final thoughts on Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. But before that, Esme comes clean about foregoing sleep to finish watching the most recent season of Bridgerton the night before they recorded this episode. Will she make it to the end of the show before she passes out? You’ll have to listen to find out!  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus and Esme made a mistake. In the span of three weeks they put out two episodes about the evils of dehumanization (and the cruelty that comes along with it), and one episode in which they unironically called Epstein and all of his buddies “monsters.” You might be surprised to learn that this glaring inconsistency went unnoticed by the couple until earlier this week.  So, Marcus and Esme clarify their stance on dehumanization (spoiler alert: they’re against it) and explain how their emotional reaction to the news sparked some cognitive dissonance. They also explain that their impulse to dehumanize was rooted in their desire for justice, and their concerns that these men might not get the justice they deserve . . . unless we all do our part to hold them accountable. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Mills, Kim. “Speaking of Psychology: The Psychology of Wealth, Empathy, and Entitlement, with Paul Piff, PhD.” American Psychological Association, Episode 338, June 2025, https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/wealth-empathy.  Cunningham, Mary. “Wealth Inequality in America Just Hit Its Widest Gap in More than 3 Decades.” CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-wealth-gap-widest-in-three-decades-federal-reserve.  “Billionaire Wealth Jumps Three Times Faster in 2025 to Highest Peak Ever, Sparking Dangerous Political Inequality.”  Oxfam International, 19 Jan. 2026, https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/billionaire-wealth-jumps-three-times-faster-2025-highest-peak-ever-sparking.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In honor of Black History Month, Marcus and Esme have two fascinating stories to share about people who helped reshape history.  Esme kicks things off with the story of Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Clark, two black psychologists whose famous “doll tests” revealed how segregation shaped the self‑perception of Black children; and later provided the scientific rationale that helped the Supreme Court conclude separate educational facilities are inherently unequal in Brown vs. the Board of Education. Marcus then tells the tale of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, the eccentric, dramatic, and brilliant rock and blues singer who inspired the likes of Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and Tom Waits (to name a few). Hawkins' outlandish songwriting and stagecraft were so convincing that audiences and critics alike mistook performance for pathology and labeled him a “mad genius.” Was he actually neurodivergent, or was he simply not granted the same grace his predecessors received for “creative mythmaking?” Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact   Screamin’ Jay Hawkins resources: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – “Time After Time.” YouTube, uploaded by UnidiscMusic, n.d., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E12-STwavlI  ScreaminJayVEVO. “Screaming Jay Hawkins – I Put a Spell on You (Official Audio).” YouTube, uploaded by ScreaminJayVEVO, n.d., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82cdnAUvsw8  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Epstein was a monster; there’s no doubt about that. But he wasn’t alone.  It’s important to note that no one has been charged with any crimes yet (and with the current administration in place, it might be a while), so it’s still difficult to separate actual evidence of guilt from noise. Nevertheless, the contents of the most recent release(s) of Epstein files paint a picture of a wealthy and interconnected network of monsters who either engaged in horrific crimes or simply turned a blind eye to the crimes being committed.  In this episode, Marcus and Esme call back to a previous episode (#52. The Unwritten Rules of the Elites) in an attempt to explain how a network like this forms, and why it is that seemingly no one in that network ever spoke out or attempted to put a stop to it. The short answer: when you prioritize your agenda above your ethics, morals, or even your sense of purpose, you might just find yourself in the company of monsters.   Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Crazy Together. “52. The Unwritten Rules of the Elites!” Podbean, 15 Oct. 2025, https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-hfnaq-1994e87.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In this week’s Hyperfocus Bonus, Marcus leads the listeners on a journey that is equal parts aquatic and an algorithmic, as he describes how he went from watching placidly peaceful underwater footage from scuba divers, to quick-cut video mash-ups of weekend sea captains submerging their expensive party boats before they can even get out on the open water.  Esme counters with her own hyperfocus detour into the world of mobile strategy games, guild drama, and the existential dread of realizing you’ve accidentally joined a community that expects things from you. Marcus and Esme close by highlighting the story of Seamus Culleton, an Irish immigrant who has been held in ICE detention for five months. If you are moved by Seamus’s story (link in the show notes), Marcus and Esme encourage you to call your members of congress and senators and request that they support efforts to free ALL non-violent detainees in ICE facilities. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact   Sources for this episode include: Sky News. The Irishman Detained by ICE | Trump100. YouTube, uploaded by Sky News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6fWI2PUn6E.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In this follow‑up to last week’s episode on cruelty and dehumanization, Marcus and Esme try to figure out what happens after people buy into systems built on division, fear, and the promise of in‑group protection. Spoiler alert: those systems almost always turn on the very people who empower them. Drawing on historical examples from American slavery, the Confederacy, and Nazi Germany, the episode traces a pattern that repeats across eras and continents: political movements that rely on dehumanization don’t just brutalize their targets, they usually harm their own supporters. Or as Esme puts it, “when you vote for cruelty, don’t be too surprised when they turn that cruelty on you.” Marcus and Esme also lay out a multi-tier strategy for fighting back against dehumanization that relies on collective action, humanizing victims, and pointing out the motivations of the powerful people who seek to divide us.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Smith, David Livingstone. Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others. St. Martin's Press, 2011. Smith, David Livingstone. On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It. Oxford University Press, 2020. Merritt, Keri Leigh. “White Poverty and the Legacy of Slavery in the US South.” Tropics of Meta, 15 May 2017, https://tropicsofmeta.com/2017/05/15/white-poverty-and-the-legacy-of-slavery-in-the-us-south.  Merritt, Keri Leigh. Masterless Men: Poor Whites and Slavery in the Antebellum South. Cambridge University Press, 2017. Helper, Hinton Rowan. The Impending Crisis of the South: How to Meet It. Burdick Bros., 1857.  Horton, James Oliver. “Confronting Slavery.” The Civil War: 150 Years, National Park Service, 11 Feb. 2011, https://www.nps.gov/features/waso/cw150th/reflections/confronting-slavery/index.html.   Bouie, Jamelle, and Rebecca Onion. “Slavery Myths: Seven Lies, Half-Truths, and Irrelevancies People Trot Out about Slavery—Debunked.” Slate, 29 Sept. 2015, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/09/slavery-myths-seven-lies-half-truths-and-irrelevancies-people-trot-out-about-slavery-debunked.html.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In this week’s Hyperfocus Bonus, Marcus and Esme celebrate the life and work of the late, great Catherine O’Hara.  Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgr

In this episode, Marcus and Esme try to answer the question, “how is it that people are capable of being so cruel to one another?” Drawing on philosopher David Livingstone Smith’s groundbreaking work, they explore how political leaders, military institutions, and propagandists have learned to tap into some of our most primal instincts to overcome our sense of compassion and empathy through the process of dehumanization. Smith shows that dehumanization isn’t just an insult or a slur; it’s a psychological and political technology people and governments use to amass power through the fear of existential threats posed by the least likely sort of villain there is: our neighbors and community members.    Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Sources for this episode include: Smith, David Livingstone. Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others. St. Martin's Press, 2011. Smith, David Livingstone. On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It. Oxford University Press, 2020. Robinson, Nathan J. “The Extreme Danger of Dehumanizing Rhetoric.” Current Affairs, August 22, 2024. https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-extreme-danger-of-dehumanizing-rhetoric  Walsh, Dylan. “Imagined Otherness: Why We Dehumanize Our Political Opponents.” Phys.org, May 29, 2024. https://phys.org/news/2024-05-otherness-dehumanize-political-opponents.html.  Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In this week’s Hyperfocus Bonus, Esme shares an observation from a recent classroom experience and links it to memories from her past. Marcus, sadly, jumps to offering solutions where none were requested. For his part, Marcus explains how an offhand reference in last week’s Hyperfocus Bonus has lingered in his mind and taken on a life of its own. Will he be able to set these thoughts aside, or will he follow them all the way to Broadway?    Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In this episode, Marcus and Esme explore the concept(?), practice(?), theory(?) of mindfulness. What is it? Why can it be a helpful tool for regulating heightened nervous systems? They discuss its roots as part of the Noble Eightfold Path in the Buddhist religion, how it became popular in Western culture, and then dive into what might be considered the darker side of “Mindfulness”—the co-opted capitalist version that uses it as a lever (velvet cudgel?) to persuade employees into ignoring organizational red flags and inequities, grooming for compliance and productivity. Marcus then has Esme read a “mindfulness meditation” he’s written from the perspective of corporate culture (if they were actually transparent in their goals). It’s a ride! Come join us, on Crazy Together!   Sources for this episode include: 5 Minute Mindfulness Meditation. YouTube, uploaded by Great Meditation, 4 years ago, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssss7V1_eyA.  Carter, Thom James. “Corporate ‘Mindfulness’ Programs Are an Abomination.” Current Affairs, 06 March 2021, https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2021/03/corporate-mindfulness-programs-are-an-abomination  Purser, Ronald. “The Mindfulness Conspiracy.” The Guardian, 14 June 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/14/the-mindfulness-conspiracy-capitalist-spirituality.    Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

In this week’s Hyperfocus Bonus, Marcus and Esme celebrate the dawn of a new era where Irish actors get to use their own accents in sci-fi/fantasy movies and tv shows. Also, Esme shares an update about her own adventures in the real world. Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/C0C216B887  Contact us: https://www.crazytogetherpod.com/contact Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp

Marcus and Esme dive into one of the most misunderstood—and emotionally loaded—topics in mental health: going no contact. What is it? Why do people do it? And why is everyone from Oprah to your uncle suddenly talking about it like it’s a generational crisis? Esme opens up about her own experiences, while she and Marcus break down the difference between self‑isolation and no contact, explore the many forms it can take (from low contact to gray rocking), and unpack the cultural baggage that makes this boundary-setting choice so controversial.   Sources for this episode include: Guy-Evans, Olivia. “Going No Contact With Parents: What It Means, Why People Do It, and How to Cope.” Simply Psychology, updated 28 July 2025, https://www.simplypsychology.org/going-no-contact-with-parents.html.  Childs, Chivonna. “What It Means to Go No‑Contact With a Parent.” Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials, Cleveland Clinic, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/going-no-contact-with-parents.  DoctorRamani. What to Expect When You Go No Contact with Your Narcissistic Parent. YouTube, uploaded by DoctorRamani, 8 months ago, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBHxgx-f2A0.  No Two Children Have the Same Parents. YouTube, uploaded by Now Owned and Operated by Child Health BC (Formerly KidCareCanada), 12 years ago, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbXqSEkwOPo.    Resources referenced in this episode:  The National Domestic Violence Hotline Online: https://www.thehotline.org/  Call: 1.800.799.SAFE(7233) Text: Text “Start” to 88788. Our theme music Midnight—Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch:    • Midnight — Declan DP | Free Backgroun...   Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/midnight-declan-dp