Freud & Felons

Can traumatic brain injury and alcohol abuse lead to destructive behaviors?Traumatic brain injury and alcohol abuse collide in this episode of Freud and Felons, as Dr. Yalda Safai interviews fellow psychiatrist Dr. Hisbay Ali on his personal journey. They break down the real-life consequences, professional pitfalls, and recovery lessons from years impacted by TBI, addiction, and the criminal justice system.Watch as they break down the sequence of events leading to Dr. Ali’s traumatic brain injury and its immediate aftermath, the challenges faced by professionals—especially doctors—seeking help for mental health and substance use issues, the reality of the criminal justice system, and the broken link between corrections and rehabilitation.00:00 The bar altercation and injury03:31 Emergency brain surgery in NYC08:56 First serious head injury11:28 CTE, impulse control, and sentencing13:46 Recovering from impulsivity challenges15:53 Recovering after a hospital scare20:18 Struggling with a brain injury24:38 Quitting alcohol and playing guitar28:27 Mental health stigma in medicine31:53 Challenges in mental health care35:07 Challenges discussing alcohol abuse37:00 Talking about medical board issues39:20 Issues with healthcare coverage43:02 Discussing mental health challenges47:54 Reflecting on lessons from prison50:07 Deinstitutionalization and its lasting impact51:48 Warning about substance misuse55:02 Closing and future discussionsFor inquiries: [email protected] out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/@YaldaSafaimd on Instagram@YaldaSafaimd on TikTok@FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62PGSr4vAXSfMTmc0?Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freud-felons/id1862484242Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes.Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses?Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean?Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines.Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

Are kids really becoming more violent, or are we just hearing about it more?In this episode of Freud and Felons, Dr. Yalda Safai dives into the rise in youth violence, the roles of entitlement, low frustration tolerance, and how instant gratification and technology may be affecting emotional development.Dive into real cases and explore the impact of modern parenting while Dr. Safai explains how modern parenting habits—such as removing obstacles too quickly and overpraising—may be undermining resilience and impulse control in kids.00:00 The case of Nathon Brooks05:02 the case of Clayton Dietz05:42 The tragic case of Abby Zwerner06:27 Factors contributing to violent behavior13:07 Impact of phones on kids16:54 How school culture is shifting19:25 Recognizing warning signs in kidsFor inquiries: [email protected] out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/@YaldaSafaimd on Instagram@YaldaSafaimd on TikTok@FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62PGSr4vAXSfMTmc0?Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freud-felons/id1862484242Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes.Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses?Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean?Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines.Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

What makes a dictator, and how do they manage to maintain such absolute control over a nation?In this episode of Freud and Felons, Dr. Yalda Safai exposes the psychology behind dictatorships. From key personality traits, opportunities created by social turmoil, enforced loyalty, and deliberate control over information and education that shape and sustain dictatorial regimes.Learn all about the psychological forces, environmental factors, and systematic manipulation that allow dictators to appear, thrive, and oppress. Understanding these dynamics isn’t just about studying the past; it’s crucial for recognizing and preventing the same patterns from emerging in the future.00:00 Iran's Dictator Khamenei Falls05:57 Dictators: Charm and Self-Obsession08:07 Safety Over Freedom: Idi Amin10:16 Dictatorship Traits and Dynamics14:44 Authority Over Science and Truth16:22 Education Will End Their RuleFor inquiries: [email protected] out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/@YaldaSafaimd on Instagram@YaldaSafaimd on TikTok@FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62PGSr4vAXSfMTmc0?Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freud-felons/id1862484242Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes.Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses?Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean?Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines.Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

In this episode of Freud & Felons, Dr. Yalda Safai breaks down the psychological forces driving powerful people to look the other way or even participate in Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.Find out how belonging, group dynamics, risk-taking, and the dangerous illusion of immunity among elites could have played a role in this terrifying scandal.00:00 Unmasking Epstein's Power Network03:41 The Allure of Power08:52 Influence and Thrill11:15 The Psychology of Crime15:50 Boundaries and Illusion16:48 Wealth, Power, ConsequenceFor inquiries: [email protected] out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/@YaldaSafaimd on Instagram@YaldaSafaimd on TikTok@FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62PGSr4vAXSfMTmc0?Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freud-felons/id1862484242Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes.Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses?Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean?Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines.Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

What draws women to some of the world’s most notorious killers?In this episode of Freud and Felons, Dr. Yalda Safai explores the unsettling psychology behind why convicted murderers like Wade Wilson, Ted Bundy, and Richard Ramirez received love, money, and attention from adoring fans while behind bars.Take a look into the patterns of control, fantasy, and desire for notoriety that drive these relationships, as well as real-life consequences faced by those who crossed the line.00:00 Deadpool Killer's Unusual Fanbase03:06 Killer Fanbases: A Psychological Mystery08:50 Infamy's Dangerous Allure12:32 Risks of Dangerous Attachments14:06 Understanding Attraction to DangerFor inquiries: [email protected] out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/@YaldaSafaimd on Instagram@YaldaSafaimd on TikTok@FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62PGSr4vAXSfMTmc0?Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freud-felons/id1862484242Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes.Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses?Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean?Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines.Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

What caused some NFL players to become violent?The relationship between brain injuries and violent behavior is likely more significant than many realize. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) can happen over time with sustained injuries of the head, it has the ability to lead to violent behavior, and it's virtually undetectable until after death (during autopsy).In this episode of Freud and Felons, Yalda Safai examines the science, cases, and consequences of repeated head trauma in athletes and inmates.If you or your child is playing contact sports or other activities where head injury is common, Dr Safai shares guidance on early identification and intervention after head trauma. 00:00 CTE's Tragic Impact 03:17 NFL Head Trauma Consequences09:23 Brain Trauma and Criminal Behavior10:21 Brain Injury and Criminal Risk15:48 Brain Injuries: Risks and Prevention17:40 Early Action Saves Young LivesFor inquiries: [email protected] out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/@YaldaSafaimd on Instagram@YaldaSafaimd on TikTok@FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62PGSr4vAXSfMTmc0?si=47023ab180f343e5&nd=1&dlsi=9d8f1f4502e54589Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freud-felons/id1862484242Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes.Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses?Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean?Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines.Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

Wondering how a tragedy like the recent Macy’s stabbing in New York City could happen—and what it reveals about our mental health system? In this episode of Freud and Felons, I explore the history behind America’s psychiatric care and why so many vulnerable individuals end up on the streets or in jail.Starting with Kerri Aherne, a woman with schizophrenia who was released from a long-term hospital only to become involved in a violent incident, I take a step back and dive into how JFK and Ronald Reagan shaped our current system, from the Kennedy family’s personal struggles with mental illness to Reagan’s deep federal funding cuts.Misguided reforms, the rise of antipsychotic medications, and the closure of state hospitals left people with severe mental illness with nowhere to turn, leaving correctional facilities to become the largest providers of psychiatric care.00:00 Mental Illness and Psychiatric Bed Shortage05:54 Mental Illness Treatment Challenges08:54 Kennedy's Mental Health Policy Failures12:15 We Need Better AsylumsFor inquiries: [email protected] out: https://yaldasafaimd.com/@YaldaSafaimd on Instagram@YaldaSafaimd on TikTok@FreudandFelons on Instagram Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTsH62PGSr4vAXSfMTmc0?si=47023ab180f343e5&nd=1&dlsi=9d8f1f4502e54589Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freud-felons/id1862484242Freud and Felons is not another true crime podcast - it's a journey into the psychology of devious human behavior. I'm Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist who works with inmates, sits through courtrooms, and, just like you, am fascinated by a good true crime story. Instead of "How", let's dive into the "Why" behind the crimes.Why do upstanding citizens just snap one day and murder their spouses?Why did Ted Bundy have so many fans? What does the word psychopath truly mean?Most importantly, why are YOU so obsessed with a good crime story? Welcome to Freud and Felons. Subscribe if you want to understand the psychology behind today’s toughest headlines.Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/

Will you do something unethical if you were ordered to do so? Most people say NO but research tells another story.In this episode, we explore the Milgram experiment, a pivotal study on obedience to authority conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s. The discussion delves into the psychological mechanisms that drive individuals to obey authority figures, even when it leads to harmful actions. We emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics to resist undue influence and highlights the complexities surrounding free will and moral responsibility in the context of obedience.

A mother kills her children. A man shoots the President to impress a movie star. Another turns human skin into furniture.They all share one shocking verdict: Not guilty by reason of insanity.In this episode, we expose the reality behind one of the most misunderstood legal defenses. From John Hinckley Jr. to Andrea Yates and Ed Gein, we uncover how the insanity plea works, why it’s so hard to prove, and what really happens when the verdict is reached.Is it justice—or a loophole?

Ted Bundy is infamous not just brute force, but for using charm, fake injuries, and simple requests for help to lure victims. In this episode, we examine how serial predators turned politeness into a weapon. Why these tactics worked, and what they reveal about the social rules women still carry today- ignoring instincts and stepping into danger despite better judgment? Why do women care so much about being polite?

Ever wonder why true crime is so popular? Why we seem to be obsessed with a good true crime story? Listen to my theories on why humans are so attracted to the dark and twisty.