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The Social Work Podcast

by Jonathan B. Singer, LCSW

Join your host, Jonathan Singer, LCSW in an exploration of all things social work, including direct practice (both clinical and community organizing), research, policy, education, and everything in between. The purpose of the podcast is to present information in a user-friendly format. Although the intended audience is social workers, the information will be useful to anyone in a helping profession (including psychology, nursing, psychiatry, counseling, and education). The general public might also find these podcasts useful as a way of learning what social workers understand to be important.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Dec 11, 2022. Source feed.

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Episodes

  1. 150: The Grand Challenges for Social Work: 10 Year Update with Dr. Carrie Pettus

    Episode 150: In today's episode I'm talking with Carrie Pettus, chair of the executive board for the Grand Challenges for Social Work. Today's episode explores the 10-year journey of the Grand Challenges for Social Work, reflecting on its evolution, its measurable impacts, and the critical…

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  2. 149: Getting the Social Work Job You Want: Interview with Jennifer Luna, Michelle Woods, and Cindy Snell

    Episode 149: In today’s episode of the Social Work Podcast, I spoke with Jennifer Luna, Michelle Woods, and Cindy Snell - co-authors of the NASW Press book The Social Work Career Guidebook: How to Land Your Ideal Job and Build a Legacy. We spoke about the arc of the social work career. Jennifer...

  3. 148: Psychodynamic Theory and Human Development: Interview with Dr. Terry Northcut

    Episode 148: In today's episode of the Social Work Podcast, I spoke with Dr. Terry Northcut, Lucian and Carol Welch Matusak Endowed Professor at Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work about psychodynamic theory as a framework for understanding human development. She talks about how...

  4. 147: Neurobiology for Social Work: Interview with James Marley, Ph.D.

    Episode 147: In today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is about a topic that's often glossed over in social work education: neurobiology and the brain. I spoke with Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work associate professor James Marley, Ph.D. In today’s interview, we talk about how...

  5. 146: The Evolving Landscape of Social Work Practice: Technology, Advocacy, and the Interstate Compact with NASW CEO Dr. Anthony Estreet

    Episode 146: In today’s episode of the Social Work Podcast I talk with NASW CEO, Dr. Anthony Estreet, about what he sees as some of the most pressing issues shaping the future of social work. These include the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the urgent need for social workers to...

  6. 145: Experimental Research Design (Part 2): Interview with Bruce Thyer, PhD, LCSW

    Episode 145: Today's episode is the third of a three-part series on research design (and the second of a two-part series on Experimental Research Design) with Dr. Bruce Thyer, Distinguished Research Professor and former Dean with the College of Social Work at Florida State University. In today's...

  7. 144: Experimental Research Design (Part 1): Interview with Bruce Thyer, PhD, LCSW

    Episode 144: In today's episode, I spoke with Dr. Bruce Thyer, Distinguished Research Professor, former Dean with the College of Social Work at Florida State University, founding and current editor of the journal Research on Social Work Practice, and author of the 2023 Columbia University Press...

  8. 143: The Power of One: Single System Design with Bruce Thyer, PhD, LCSW

    Episode 143: In today's episode, I spoke with Dr. Bruce Thyer, is Distinguished Research Professor and former Dean with the College of Social Work at Florida State University about Single System Design. We start our conversation diving into why social workers should know about single system…

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  9. 142: Social Roots of Youth Suicide: Interview with Anna Mueller, PhD

    Episode 142: In today's episode, I spoke with sociologist, Anna S. Mueller, PhD. Luther Dana Waterman Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and the Senior Research Program Leader of the Mental Illness, Suicide, and Addiction Section of the Irsay Institute at Indiana University. Anna...

  10. 141: How Do You Feel?: Interview with Jessi Gold, MD

    Episode 141: In today's episode I speak with Jessi Gold, MD about her 2024 book, How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine, a powerful, honest, and often funny exploration of mental health and well-being, both in and outside of healthcare. Today's conversation covers the...

  11. 140: The Greatest of All Plagues: David Lay Williams, PhD on Economic Inequality

    Episode 140: In today's episode I talk with David Lay Williams, Professor of Political Science at DePaul University about his 2024 book, The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to Marx. Today's conversation will provide you with a deeper...

  12. 139: An Update of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Interview with Tia Dole, PhD

    Episode 139: In today's episode, I speak with Tia Dole, PhD, Chief 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Officer, about updates to 988. We talk about how 988 provides services to Deaf and hard of hearing people, crisis support in Spanish, and the September 17, 2024 launch of geo-routing for T-Mobile…

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  13. 138: Embracing Therapeutic Complexity: Interview with Patricia Gianotti, Psy.D.

    Episode 138: In today's episode of the Social Work Podcast, I speak with Dr. Patricia Gianotti, author of the book, Embracing Therapeutic Complexity, and Academic Director of The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy at Loyola University Chicago. Patricia and I speak about the neurobiology of…

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  14. 137: The Role of AI in Child Welfare and Community Organizing: Interview with ChatGPT-4o

    Episode 137: In today's Social Work Podcast, I speak with ChatGPT-4o about the role of AI in child welfare and community organizing and how we can use Bronfenbrenner's ecosystems framework and an antiracist perspective. That's right. I'm interviewing OpenAI's LLM, ChatGPT-4o. This is the first…

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  15. 136: Living with Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease: Interview with Allan Cole, PhD

    Episode 136: In today's Social Work Podcast, we speak with Allan Cole about his experiences with Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease affects nearly 1 million people in the United States and more than 6 million people worldwide. It is a a progressive neurological disorder that...

  16. Social Work Pioneer

    I am humbled and honored to let you know that I have been selected as one of 25 Social Work Pioneers for starting the first podcast by and for social workers. The NASW Social Work Pioneers program celebrates some of the most influential social workers in the nation. There is no way I would have...

  17. 135: The Emotional Lives of Teenagers – Part 2: Interview with Lisa Damour, PhD

    Episode 135: Today's episode is the second of a two-part series with Lisa Damour about her 2023 book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents. In today’s episode we talk about how decades of research on the gender binary can provide insight into...

  18. 134: The Emotional Lives of Teenagers – Part 1: Interview with Lisa Damour, PhD

    Episode 134: Today's episode is the first of a two-part series with Lisa Damour about her 2023 book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents. In today’s episode we talk about the difference between adolescent distress and adolescent mental...

  19. 133: Eliminating the ASWB exam from the Illinois LSW law: Interview with Joel Rubin, LSW

    Episode 133: In today's interview, NASW-IL Executive Director, Joel Rubin, and I talk about the legislative process that NASW-IL went through to eliminate the requirement that BSW and MSW graduates from accredited social work programs in Illinois had to take the ASWB licensing exam in order to…

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  20. 132: Loving someone with suicidal thoughts: Interview with Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

    Episode 132: In today's interview, Stacey and I talk about how she drew on her personal and professional experiences to write a book for families, friends and parents of someone who is suicidal. She talks about why and how families can create support teams, when and why it might not be…

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  21. 131: Feedback Informed Treatment: Interview with Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.

    Episode 131: In today's episode, I speak with Scott Miller, Ph.D. about how we can use feedback to improve client outcomes. Scott is one of the developers of Feedback Informed Treatment, or FIT - an "empirically supported, pantheoretical approach for evaluating and improving the quality and...

  22. 130: Self-care and Cultural Humility in the 2021 NASW Code of Ethics: Interview with Allan Barsky, MSW Ph.D.

    Episode 130: Today’s episode is about the 2021 revision of the NASW Code of Ethics to include self-care and cultural humility. To unpack these two new additions, I spoke with Allan Barsky, Professor of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University and former Chair of the National Ethics Committee of...

  23. 129: The Power of Podcasting in Social Work Education

    Episode 129: Today's episode is about the Power of Podcasting in Social Work Education. Shimon Cohen, founder and host of Doin' The Work: Frontlines of Social Change, and I read the article we wrote for New Social Worker Magazine about podcasting for social work education You can read a…

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  24. 128: Religion and Spirituality: Interview with Holly Oxhandler, Ph.D.

    Episode 128: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is a conversation with Dr. Holly Oxhandler (https://hollyoxhandler.com/). I speak with Holly about the definitions of religion and spirituality, similarities and differences in religious and spiritual affiliation between social work...

  25. 127: Both/And or Either/Or: Social Work and Policing

    Episode 127:Today's episode is the audio recording of a Facebook Live discussion that happened on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 called Both/And or Either/Or: Social Work and Policing. My guests were Alan Dettlaff, Laura Abrams, Charles E. Lewis, Jr., and Terry Mizrahi. You can read a transcript of…

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  26. 126: Shared Trauma in the COVID19 Pandemic: Interview with Carol Tosone, Ph.D.

    Episode 126:In today's episode of the Social Work Podcast I speak with Carol Tosone, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work and Director, DSW Program in Clinical Social Work at NYU's Silver School of Social Work. In today's episode we talked about how the concept of shared trauma can help us to…

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  27. [Rebroadcast] Lonely at the Top: Interview with Thomas Joiner, Ph.D.

    One of the solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic is physical distancing. Because there is a relationship between physical and social distancing, I am rebroadcasting Episode 70 from 2011 which deals with loneliness. I hope you enjoy. Today’s episode of the Social Work Podcast is about loneliness....

  28. 125: From Suicidal to Inspired: Interview with Kevin Hines, Greg Van Borssum, and Matt Runnells

    Episode 125: In today's social work podcast, I speak with three men on a mission to prevent suicide. Matt Runnells, Kevin Hines, and Greg Van Borssum shared their stories of managing suicidal thoughts, self-care, caring for others, and building a global network of support for suicide prevention.…

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  29. [Rebroadcast] Sex Addiction: Rebroadcast of Interview with Chris Wolf

    [Rebroadcast] Episode 24: In today's podcast I talked with Chris Wolf about Sex Addiction. Sex addiction has been defined as "engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior despite increasingly negative consequences to self and others" (Ewald, 2003). Chris is a licensed…

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  30. 124: Therapists as Writers: Interview with Lori Gottlieb

    Episode 124: Today’s episode is Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is an interview with Lori Gottlieb - NY Times best-selling author, advice columnist for The Atlantic, and therapist. We talked about how her experience as a writer influences her work as a therapist, and how her therapy...

  31. 123: Under Pressure (Part 2): Interview with Lisa Damour, Ph.D.

    Episode 123: Today’s episode is the second of a two-part conversation with Dr. Lisa Damour, author of the 2019 book Under Pressure. In today's episode we talk about rape culture; the problem with the word "consent"; and how society's criticisms of the way girls speak is really just another way of...

  32. 122: Under Pressure (Part 1): Interview with Lisa Damour, Ph.D.

    Episode 122: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is the first of a two part-series about Dr. Lisa Damour's 2019 text Under Pressure. In today’s episode we talk about the difference between stress, anxiety and trauma; what "good" and "bad" pressure look like; how schools, parents, and...

  33. 121: The Special Commission on Macro Practice: Interview with Dr. Darlyne Bailey and Dr. Terry Mizrahi

    Episode 121: In today's episode of the Social Work Podcast, I speak with Dr. Darlyne Bailey and Dr. Terry Mizrahi about the Special Commission on Macro Practice. We talk about how their social work experiences led them to co-chairing the Special Commission, the relationship between case and…

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  34. 120: Using simulation to teach holistic competence: Interview with Marion Bogo and Toula Kourgiantakis

    Episode 120: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is an interview with Marion Bogo and Toula Kourgiantakis from the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. We talk about how simulation can be used to teach holistic competence. Marion and Toula talk about how in the…

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  35. 119: Helping the Suicidal Person: Interview with Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., LCSW

    Episode 119: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is an interview with Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., LCSW about her book, Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals. we talk about five tips: Tip #10 - Embrace a Narrative Approach: "Suicidal Storytelling" Tip #35 - Know...

  36. 118: Self-care for Social Workers: Interview with Erlene Grise-Owens, Justin "Jay" Miller, and Mindy Eaves

    Episode 118: In today’s episode, I talk to Erlene Grise-Owens, Justin "Jay" Miller, and Mindy Eaves, the editors of the The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals, published by The New Social Worker Press. We talk about self care plans, organizational care…

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  37. 117: Happy Social Work Month 2018

    Episode 117: NOTE: This has the correct MP3 file. Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is an introduction to the Social Work Month 2018 essay I wrote for the New Social Worker online called "Open Letter to Social Work Professors Who Love Social Work Month." You can connect with other social...

  38. 116: Social media and gang violence: Interview with Desmond Patton, Ph.D.

    Episode 116: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is about the intersection of offline gang violence and online gang activity. I spoke with Dr. Desmond Patton about his research on cyberbanging, and his thoughts about social workers and social media. You can connect with other social…

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  39. 115: 2018 NASW Code of Ethics (Part 3): Interview with Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD

    Episode 115: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is the third of a three-part series on the 2018 National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. I spoke with Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD. In today's episode, Allan and I talked about 1.06(g) – professional affiliations and the removal…

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  40. 114: 2018 NASW Code of Ethics (Part 2): Interview with Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD

    Episode 114: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is the second of a three-part series on the 2018 National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. I spoke with Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD. We talk about Section 1.05, cultural competence and whether online communities fall under the...

  41. 113: 2018 NASW Code of Ethics (Part 1): Interview with Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD

    Episode 113: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is the first of a three-part series on the 2018 National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. I spoke with Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD (whom you might remember from Episode 78 on social work ethics and Episode 76 about social workers...

  42. 112: Social Work Superheroes: Interview with John Vassello, MSW

    Episode 112: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is about the parallels between social workers and superheroes. I spoke with John Vassello. John is the Associate Director of Field Education and Admissions in the Binghamton University Department of Social Work. He also serves as the...

  43. 111: Engaging People At Risk for Suicide: Interview with Dana Alonzo, Ph.D.

    Episode 111: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is about engaging people who are suicidal into professional mental health services. I spoke with Dr. Dana Alonzo from Fordham University. We talked about some of the reasons why people might not want to seek professional mental health…

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  44. 110: The Arc of Therapy: Beginnings (Part 1)

    Episode 110: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is the first of a three-part series on the arc of therapy – the beginning, middle and end. In today’s episode I’m going to talk about the beginning phase of therapy. I'll talk about some conceptual issues like what do people want when they...

  45. Death and Grief in the Digital Age: Interview with Carla Sofka, Ph.D.

    Episode 109: Today’s episode of the Social Work Podcast is about Death and Grief in the Digital Age. In today’s episode I spoke with Dr. Carla Sofka about the role of social media in how, why, where and when, who we grieve. She shares stories of people whose loved ones have died, only to find out...

  46. [Rebroadcast] So you want to work abroad? An interview with David Dininio

    Episode 58: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is a rebroadcast of a 2010 interview with international social work recruiter David Dininio. I'm rebroadcasting Episode 58 because Kai Searle with Amicus Recruit has a fantastic opportunity for licensed social workers from the USA, Canada,...

  47. Self Psychology for Social Workers: Interview with Tom Young, Ph.D.

    Episode 107: Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is about self-psychology. Tom is a retired professor of social work from Widener University and the author of several publications on social work and self psychology. In today's episode Tom talks about the role of empathy in self psychology,...

  48. A #ZeroSuicide World: Interview with David W. Covington, LPC, MBA

    Episode 106: Today's Social Work Podcast is about "Zero Suicide" an effort to make suicide a "never event" in health care settings. I spoke with David W. Covington, LPC, MBA about how he went from clinician to health care executive, from running a crisis service to evangelizing Zero Suicide…

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  49. Recovery High Schools: Interview with Lori Holleran Steiker, Ph.D.

    Episode 105: Today's Social Work Podcast is about Recovery High Schools. I spoke with Dr. Lori Holleran Steiker, Distinguished Professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Social Work, and author of the 2016 book, Youth and Substance Use: Prevention, Intervention and Recovery. We…

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  50. Guardian of the Golden Gate: Interview with Kevin Briggs

    Episode 104: Today's guest, Kevin Briggs, is a retired motor Sargent from the California Highway Patrol. His patrol included the Golden Gate Bridge, which has between 25 - 60 suicide deaths every year. Kevin has talked down hundreds of people from the bridge. Kevin and I talk about what it was…

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About this show

Join your host, Jonathan Singer, LCSW in an exploration of all things social work, including direct practice (both clinical and community organizing), research, policy, education, and everything in between. The purpose of the podcast is to present information in a user-friendly format. Although the intended audience is social workers, the information will be useful to anyone in a helping profession (including psychology, nursing, psychiatry, counseling, and education). The general public might also find these podcasts useful as a way of learning what social workers understand to be important.

Hosted by

Jonathan B. Singer, LCSW

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does The Social Work Podcast have?

The Social Work Podcast has 138 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on March 29, 2026.

What is The Social Work Podcast about?

Join your host, Jonathan Singer, LCSW in an exploration of all things social work, including direct practice (both clinical and community organizing), research, policy, education, and everything in between. The purpose of the podcast is to present information in a user-friendly format. Although the...

How often does The Social Work Podcast release new episodes?

The Social Work Podcast publishes about every 51 days, based on its 138 episodes since January 2007.

Who hosts The Social Work Podcast?

The Social Work Podcast is created and hosted by Jonathan B. Singer, LCSW.
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