Dr. Marcia Sirota MD hosts Ruthless Compassion
by Dr. Marcia Sirota MD
From a medical perspective, Ruthless Compassion explores the power of honesty and accountability as acts of real kindness — hosted by psychiatrist and author @DrMarciaSirotaMD Ruthless Compassion is a podcast that shows you how to become fiercely kind. Host, Dr. Marcia Sirota MD gets into it — with experts and regular folks — about the heavy stuff that gets in the way of what we want. Heavy stuff like addiction and mental health, isolation, and loneliness, difficult family and work relationships and the importance of self-care. Her clear, human, and accessible approach helps you to become a powerful kindness warrior. For more, visit http://marciasirotamd.com/ Dr. Marcia Sirota MD is a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in Toronto, Canada. She has more than 25 years of meal health experience and specializes in wellness, healing trauma, unblocking creativity, and supporting people to become kindness warriors.
Episodes
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221 - Creating Real Connections with Kirsten Davidson
Kirsten Davidson is a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario and founder of Mind The Gaps Psychotherapy. She works with adults, couples, and families through a relational, trauma-informed, and whole-person lens, helping people better understand the patterns that shape how they cope, connect, and...
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220 - Naked Out Loud with Machan Taylor
Machan Taylor is a singer, songwriter, teacher, and author with a four-decade career in music. She has performed with artists including Sting, Pink Floyd, Pat Benatar, and George Benson, and was the lead vocalist for the Grammy-nominated group Hiroshima. She now teaches at NYU and is the author…
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219 - The Long Journey Home with Amber Martin Smith
Audio Note: Due to significant echo and reverb present during the recording of this episode the voices in this episode have an irregular cadence at times. Although the echo and reverb was successfully cleaned-up in post-production, the irregular cadence was left intact in some sections in order…
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218 - Making a Difference in Other People's Lives with Karen Olson
Karen Olson, the founder and CEO emeritus of Family Promise has dedicated her life to transforming the present and futures of homeless and low-income families. Karen has rallied more than a million volunteers nationwide, fostering an extensive network of support for the vulnerable. Also, because…
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217 - The Power of Caring with Dr. Tony Nader
Dr. Tony Nader is a Harvard- and MIT-trained neuroscientist, physician, and internationally recognized expert in consciousness, human development, and mind-body health. He serves as the global leader of the Transcendental Meditation® organizations, guiding their educational, health, and...
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216 - Becoming Boundless with Carolyn Flynn
Memoirist, novelist, journalist and essayist Carolyn Dawn Flynn is the author of the memoir Boundless and seven books of transformational nonfiction; longtime editor of Sage magazine; and a trauma-informed book coach. Boundless was longlisted for the 2021 Mslexia International Memoir Prize and…
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215 - Restoring Meaningful Connections with Erica Gerard Di Bona
Erica Gerard Di Bona generates one thousand letters a year with an impressive speed of 110 words per minute (on a typewriter). She may very well be the United States Postal Service's consumer of the year. A former producer in network news, The Playboy Channel, documentaries, and kids' game shows,...
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214 - The Sex-Positive Ageing Woman with Dr. Julie Merriman
Dr. Julie Merriman is a licensed mental health clinician, counselor educator, burnout researcher, author and speaker. As the founder of the Soul Joy™ brand, she serves as a premier authority for women over 50 navigating the intersection of professional burnout and personal intimacy. With over 30...
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213 - The Benefits of Self-Knowledge with Dr. Jeremy Thompson
DR. JEREMY THOMPSON is a medical practitioner working on the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia. He has a counseling background in Cognitive, Narrative, and Solution-Based Therapies and for two years was the president of the Australian Society for Psychological Medicine. He spent 10 years...
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212 - Insights on Addiction with Dr. I. Michael Kaufmann
I. Michael Kaufmann MD Medical Director Emeritus, Physician Health Program, Ontario Medical Association Physician Health Consultant Author Dr. Kaufmann, a Fellow and life member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, practised family and addiction medicine in rural Ontario for 14 years...
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211 - When Your Father is a Father with Tony Beadle
Tony Beadle grew up in a household full of music and pursued a career as a professional musician for sixteen years after which he enjoyed a career in performing arts administration for 30 years. He served in several positions at major US orchestras, including the Boston Pops, where he had...
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210 - Letting Go of the Shame of Addiction with Jowita Bydlowska
Jowita Bydlowska is the author of Unshaming (March 2026). She is also the author of Monster (September 2024), Possessed, the best-selling memoir Drunk Mom, and the best-selling novel GUY. She's also a prolific short-story writer, journalist and a mentor. Her favourite review on Goodreads is a...
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209 - One Man's Experiences with Psychedelics with Mark A. Michaels
Mark A. Michaels belongs to the first generation of test tube babies, as so-called sperm donor offspring were known in the 1950s. He has published in a variety of fields, from law to ornithology to self-help, and has written for theater and film. He came of age at CBGB and Max's Kansas City in…
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208 - A Simple Technique for Calming an Angry Person with Doug Noll
Doug Noll, JD, MA is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, the world's most prestigious mediation organization, and recipient of IAM's Syd Leezak Award of Excellence. Named California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (2012) and Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year...
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207 - Unleashing Your Full Potential with Matt Young
MATT YOUNG: For the past 15+ years, I have earnestly studied the peak performers of both mind and body and been fortunate enough to have been coached by some of the worlds leading coaches. My background spans from having been a professional footballer for 8 years, playing with full England...
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206 - Creating Community with Florence Ann Romano
Florence Ann Romano is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and author, known for her ability to cultivate meaningful connections. She is passionate about helping others create their own community to be seen, heard, and understood. As an acclaimed author, Florence Ann's insights are captured in...
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205 - One Woman's Journey of Forgiveness with Gayle Kirschenbaum
Gayle Kirschenbaum is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, photographer, writer, and coach. Her film LOOK AT US NOW, MOTHER! premiered on Netflix and has been credited with transforming lives. Her TED talk is "No More Drama with Mama." Gayle co-authored MILDRED'S MINDSET: WISDOM FROM A WOMAN CENTENARIAN…
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204 - Robert Coplan Discusses The Joy of Solitude
ROBERT J. COPLAN, PhD, is a psychology, researcher, teacher, and author who has been studying solitude for more than thirty years. He is a Chancellor's Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University. Over the course of his career, he has extensively explored the costs and…
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203 - Diane Dreher Presents a Positive Approach to Combating Chronic Stress
Diane Dreher, PhD, is the author of eight nonfiction books including the best-selling Tao of Inner Peace and her new book, Pathways to Inner Peace. She is an award-winning university professor and positive psychology researcher whose work on hope has been recognized internationally. Her books,...
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202 - Making Sense of Our Current Political Climate with Stephen Marche
Stephen Marche is a novelist and essayist, and the author of, among other works, On Writing and Failure and The Next Civil War. He has written features and essays for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Esquire, The Walrus and many others. He has collaborated with artificial...
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201 - Thriving as a Highly Sensitive Person with Todd Smith
Todd Smith is the creator of one of the most popular podcasts for Highly Sensitive People. He's helped hundreds of HSPs break free from chronic stress and emotional overload using a powerful inquiry-based process that brings lasting peace—without needing the world around you to change. Website:...
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200 - Robert A. Neimeyer on a Mindful, Meaningful Approach to Grieving
We've reached an amazing milestone: our 200th episode of the Ruthless Compassion podcast! Dr. Robert A. Neimeyer is a luminary in the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of death, grief, and loss. As Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Memphis, Dr. Neimeyer's...
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199 - Ira Chaleff On how to be an Informed, Empowered Citizen
Ira Chaleff (Chay-leff) is an author, speaker and executive coach in the greater Washington, DC area. • His extensive experience with government includes directing the non-partisan Congressional Management Foundation, where he is now Chair Emeritus. • Ira co-authored the original handbook for new...
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198 - A Novel Approach to Treating Trauma with Dr. Eugene Lipov
Dr. Eugene Lipov is a leading expert in treating posttraumatic stress and the pioneer of using Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) to alleviate PTSD symptoms. Inspired by his own family’s struggles with trauma, he has dedicated his career to restoring hope for those affected. In 2006, he adapted SGB—an...
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197 - Supercharge Your Communication with Nick Brancato
NICK BRANCATO is a seasoned personal development coach and educator with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and couples connect, communicate, and thrive. With a master's degree in education and a background as a Microsoft systems engineer, Nick blends practical tools with data-driven...
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196 - Jonathan Kemp's Healing Journey Through Mental Illness
JONATHAN KEMP is a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and creator of SmartWisdom, a scientifically validated note-taking technique. Born into privilege as the future 3rd Viscount Rochdale, he built careers in law enforcement and entrepreneurship and undertook postgraduate study, unaware that...
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195 - Tools for Writers with Chelene Knight
Chelene Knight is the author of five books including Safekeeping: A Writer's Guided Journal For Launching a Book With Love (Anansi 2025), and Let It Go: Free Yourself From Old Beliefs and Find a New Path To Joy (HarperCollins Canada 2024). She is founder of her own holistic creative studio,...
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194 - Compassionate Change in the Classroom with Dr. Ashley Seidel-Potvin
Dr. Ashley Potvin was drawn to the Crown Institute by the mission, approach to research, and the dedicated and amazing faculty and staff. She was eager to work in a community that strives to live out its commitments to collaboration, inclusiveness, and equity. She was also excited to collaborate...
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193 - Overcoming Obstacles, Big and Small, with Navy Seal David Brown
David W. Brown's career reflects resilience and service. He began in 1980 at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, earning the Navy League award and later graduating as honor student from Radarman School. He completed BUD/S training with class 115 and earned Army Airborne wings…
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192 - How to Reclaim Our Joy with Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald
Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald is a researcher, author, and trauma expert who's been studying the mind's response to overwhelming experiences for 15 years. She holds a PhD, has written four books and over a dozen research articles, and specializes in reframing trauma through the lens of neurobiology,...
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191 - Processing Grief Through Art, With the Musician, Muted Circus
**Thank you to this episode's guest, Benny of Muted Circus, for permission to use a clip of his song ("Wait for What") in this podcast episode. ** In the latest episode of the Ruthless Compassion podcast I speak with Benny, who makes music under the name Muted Circus. Benny is a trained musician...
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190 - Perspectives on Mental Health with Ross Ellenhorn
A sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker, Ross Ellenhorn's work focuses on the importance of social worth and connections in psychiatric recovery. In 2002, he founded Ellenhorn, the robust program in the country serving individual experience extreme events of mind and mood outside of...
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189 - The Extraordinary Power of Fireflies with Julie Wignall
Julie Wignall received international acclaim for her trailblazing accomplishments in environmental practices, animal care, and leadership working with Mirage Resorts, a Fortune 500 company. Her unconventional career path has given her first-hand experience working with innovators in national...
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188 - The Psychology of High-Performance Athletes with Dr. Hillary Cauthen
Dr. Hillary Cauthen is a clinical sport psychologist based in Austin TX. Hillary was a division 1 college track athlete, before embarking on a career focusing on the mental health and mental performance dimensions of high performers. She studied and competed at the University of New Hampshire…
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187 - Being a Calm Mother with Darlynn Childress
Darlynn is a recovering "mad mom". After spending the first 5 years of parenting yelling at her kids and feeling like crap, she massively transformed herself and her approach to parenting by diving into a self-healing journey that led her to become a certified life coach and parenting expert.…
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186 - Healing Through Dual-Brain Psychology with Dr. Fredric Schiffer
Fredric Schiffer is an assistant professor of psychiatry, part-time, at Harvard Medical School and a research associate at McLean Hospital. He has developed a theory of psychology that is the subject of his recent book Goodbye Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, & PTSD: The Life-Changing Science of...
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185 - Using Movement to Transform Your Life with Toni Bergins
Toni Bergins, M.Ed., is an embodiment trailblazer who has taught at the premier holistic healing centers for the last 27 years. She is on the faculty at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, and has worked there as a movement artist, dance educator, expressive arts workshop leader, and expert in...
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184 - Loving Someone with a Mental Illness with Michelle Sherman
Michelle D. Sherman, PhD LP ABPP (she/her) is the co-author of Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma (written with her mother) and a licensed clinical psychologist who has dedicated her career to supporting families dealing with a mental illness or trauma/PTSD. She has worked…
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183 - Deprogram Diet Culture with Dr. Supatra Tovar
Dr. Supatra Tovar is one of the only clinical psychologists in the country who is also a registered dietitian and accredited fitness expert. Dr. Tovar's unique background and integrated specializations allow her to provide holistic mind-body treatment for trauma, eating disorders, depression, and...
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182 - The Healing Power of Psychotherapy with Sacha Mardou
Sacha Mardou is a cartoonist and long-form graphic novelist who lives in St Louis, Missouri with her family. Working in both fiction and autobiography, her comics explore interior experiences such as mental illness, emotional dynamics within families, and healing from trauma. Her latest book is...
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181 - An Unconventional Approach to Coping with Mental Illness with Stacy Blemaster
*Trigger Warning: This episode mentions suicide. If you or anyone you know are struggling with thoughts of suicide please reach out to the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8 (available anywhere in Canada).* Stacy Blemaster grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She received a BA from Brown University in...
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180 - Finding Your Flow with Diane Allen
International Speaker and Violinist Diane Allen is a TEDx/TED Speaker, and Thought Leader who speaks on increasing the meaning, joy, and fulfillment in one's work and life by accessing the flow state. As the author of Flow: Unlock Your Genius, Love What You Do, Diane shares her insights on how to...
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179 - Recovery Road Trip with Patti Clark
Author Patti Clark has been described as a cross between Elizabeth Gilbert and Julia Cameron. Patti is an award-winning author, accomplished speaker and workshop leader. As the author of This Way Up: Seven Tools for Unleashing Your Creative Self and Transforming Your Life, Patti has been featured...
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178 - Standing at the Back Door of Happiness with David Roche
DAVID ROCHE is a popular motivational speaker and performer, and he has taken his one-man show, The Church of 80% Sincerity, on tour across the world, performing from Sydney to Moscow, London to Los Angeles, and even at the White House. He has also had several roles in films and documentaries. A...
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177 - Modern-Day Sex Trafficking with Brian Joseph
Brian Joseph is the author of Vegas Concierge: Sex Trafficking, Hip Hop, and Corruption In America. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and investigative journalist for about 20 years, writing for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Orange County Register, and the Sacramento Bee, among other...
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176 - The Dark Side of Being a Smith in Utah with Lyn Smith Gregory
LYN SMITH GREGORY grew up in Utah as one of nine children in a devout Mormon family. Her great, great uncle was Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church. At 19, she left the Church and moved to New York City, eventually obtaining an MBA at NYU. After a 20-year career in the tech industry, she...
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175 - 52 Weeks To A Sweeter Life with Doctor Farzana
Dr. Farzana is a Toronto-based author, activist and psychotherapist. Since 1993, Farzana has been a social worker at community based agencies and a mental health hospital. She is now in private practice where she provides psychotherapy to individuals and couples and clinical consultation to other...
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174 - Women's Mental Health with Misty Pratt
lMisty Pratt is a science communicator and author of the book All In Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women's Mental Health. With over a decade of experience working in the field of biomedical research, Misty unpacks how personal and systemic biases have shaped our scientific understanding of...
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173 - The Devastating Impact of Addiction on Families with Patricia Roos
Patricia Roos was a professor of sociology at Rutgers University when in 2015 her 25-year-old son Alex died from a heroin overdose. Her training as a sociologist led her on a quest to better understand what happened to her family. Building on her professional and academic perspectives, she wrote…
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172 - Navigating Intergenerational Trauma with Tracey Yokas
Tracey Yokas creates stuff. When she isn't writing about mental health and wellness, she can be found playing with paint, glitter, and glue. She shares about her family's journey with mental illness so others will know they are not alone. She is dedicated to supporting women in the journey…
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About this show
From a medical perspective, Ruthless Compassion explores the power of honesty and accountability as acts of real kindness — hosted by psychiatrist and author @DrMarciaSirotaMD
Ruthless Compassion is a podcast that shows you how to become fiercely kind. Host, Dr. Marcia Sirota MD gets into it — with experts and regular folks — about the heavy stuff that gets in the way of what we want. Heavy stuff like addiction and mental health, isolation, and loneliness, difficult family and work relationships and the importance of self-care. Her clear, human, and accessible approach helps you to become a powerful kindness warrior. For more, visit http://marciasirotamd.com/
Dr. Marcia Sirota MD is a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in Toronto, Canada. She has more than 25 years of meal health experience and specializes in wellness, healing trauma, unblocking creativity, and supporting people to become kindness warriors.
Hosted by
Dr. Marcia Sirota MD
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