The Dr. Joe Show

Celebrating their upcoming 50-year class reunion, classmate Thomas "Boysh" Beuscher joins Dr. Joe to reflect on a 35-year career in international education, exploring how cultural diversity, student independence, and respectful engagement shape trust, connection, and growth in young people!

Brian Hampton of Youth For Tomorrow joins Dr. Joe to share his journey from adolescent substance use to recovery and advocacy, exploring how self-esteem, faith, and understanding the I-M Approach can help young people feel valued, build resilience, and make small changes that lead to lasting transformation! Get in touch with Brian by email at [email protected]!

Dr. Mel Pohl joins Dr. Joe to explore how trauma, chronic pain, and addiction are deeply interconnected, and how innovative approaches like polyvagal theory and pain reprocessing therapy can help patients feel safe, reduce suffering, and reclaim meaningful lives beyond pain! Learn more about his work and check out his books on his website!

Nurse anesthesiologist Stephanie Leopold and finance executive Aaron Miles, co-founders of KNEW Integrative Health, join Dr. Joe to share how they are blending Western medicine with psychedelic therapies and holistic practices to transform mental health and addiction care from symptom management into deeper, more sustainable healing! Learn more about KNEW on their website and check them out on Facebook and Instagram!

Author and financial expert Tari K. Vickery joins Dr. Joe to explore how our earliest memories and deepest emotions shape our relationship with money, and why understanding that emotional side is the first step toward true financial wellness! Pre-order your copy of The Emotional Side of Money: A Roadmap to Financial Wellness!

Dr. Jan Widerman, a pediatrician with over 40 years of experience, joins Dr. Joe to reframe addiction and ADHD as treatable medical conditions rooted in genetics and trauma, and to explore how compassion, understanding, and small biological changes can restore hope and transform lives!

Dr. Elena Lister returns to guide parents through the hardest conversations; talking with children about suicide, terminal illness, and the tragedies they see in the news, and why honest dialogue is the key to creating safety, connection, and hope. Link to order Giving Hope: Conversations with Children About Illness, Death, and Loss

The cast of The Company Theatre Center for the Arts' production of Cabaret joins Dr. Joe to discuss the timelessness of the iconic musical, its haunting relevance today, and what it means to be asleep or awake as the world changes around us. Get your tickets to Cabaret, running March 6-22 at The Company Theatre!

Dr. Joe sits down with Professor Jonathan Kahn to examine the surprising ways race, genetics, and public policy intersect, and what that means for how we understand diversity, justice, and each other! Get your copy of The Uses of Diversity: How Race Has Become Entangled in Law, Politics, and Biology!

Executive coach Karen Thrall rejoins Dr. Joe to share her strategy for slowing down, rebuilding trust in the workplace, and why forgiveness and trust aren't the same thing, offering leaders a new path to connection and clarity! Get your copy of Karen and Dr. Joe's new book, Don't Lose Your Sh*t at Work!

Adult and child psychiatrist and grief specialist Dr. Elena Lister joins Dr. Joe and Mark to share why talking openly with children about death and grief, drawn from her own profound losses, can transform fear into connection, resilience, and hope. Link to order Giving Hope: Conversations with Children About Illness, Death, and Loss  

Dr. Joe and Mark sit down with business psychologist Stan Sewitch to explore how values-driven leadership, respect, and small intentional changes can transform organizational culture and amplify positive influence at work and beyond! Learn more about Stan's work and check out his books on his website!

Dr. Joe and Mark are joined by former NFL athlete and keynote speaker Gaelin Elmore to explore why belonging is a fundamental human need, and how resilience grows not from toughness alone, but from connection, accountability, and the small, intentional ways we help others feel truly seen!

In the 2026 kickoff episode, Dr. Joe and Mark reflect on a fresh start and explore how trust, gratitude, and small everyday acts of respect can reduce stress and rebuild community in an uncertain, media-saturated world!

Dr. Joe welcomes back executive coach and co-author Karen Thrall to celebrate the release of Don’t Lose Your Sh*t at Work, unpacking how anger shows up on the job, why “nows vs. laters” collide in conflict, and the small, practical shifts that help you stay calm, be heard, and lead with respect under pressure!

Mark and Dr. Joe celebrate their accomplishments in 2025, from the promising work being done at Joze.ai to the release of Dr. Joe and Karen Thrall's new book, Don't Lose Your Sh*t at Work!

Mark and Dr. Joe break down the science of stress and anxiety, exploring how cortisol affects trust and connection, how to use the Four R’s (Recognize, Rate, Remember, Reflect) to calm the nervous system, and why community support and helping others are key to building a more cooperative, emotionally intelligent world! Check out Dr. Joe's Psychology Today article, "A Simple Technique to Manage Anxiety"!

Mark and Dr. Joe welcome attorney-author Christopher Earley in the studio to explore how vulnerability, mindfulness, and the I-M Approach can help us heal from childhood trauma, resolve conflict, and choose growth over repeating the past! Get your copy of Scaling the Wall: One Man's Journey of Healing Childhood Trauma to Find Fulfillment and Success and get in touch with Chris on his website!

Dr. Joe and Mark are joined by Connect2Recovery Program Director Alan Meister and Drug Story Theater COO Kathleen Wright to discuss the progress in the effort against opioid addiction, from prevention to recovery!

Mark and Dr. Joe welcome back business consultant and author Karen Thrall to unpack anger vs. aggression at work, the “now vs. later” conflict styles, simple brain-based shifts from limbic to logic, and how kindness (and even AI tools like Mark’s Joze.ai) can turn workplace tension into real resolution! Learn more about Karen and keep an eye out for the release of Don't Lose Your Sh*t at Work on her website!

After another successful PMC ride, Mark and his fellow riders share their favorite memories, how cancer has effected each of their lives, and their plans for future rides! Get involved for next year at pmc.org!

Mark and Dr. Joe welcome back The Company Theatre’s Zoe Bradford to talk about the artistry and passion behind their production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the magic of live performance, and the community it brings together! Remaining performances are Aug 14, 15, 16 at 7:30 PM and Aug 17 at 3:00 PM. Get your tickets at companytheatre.com!

We continue the discussion of this year's Pan Mass Challenge with Mark's fellow riders Paul and Gabby Reardon, who reflect on the PMC as both a personal mission and a family tradition, sharing stories of community, purpose, and the lasting impact of riding for cancer research! Support Gabby's ride at pmc.org!

We hear from Mark and his long-time Pan Mass Challenge teammates, who share personal stories of hope, gratitude, and how small acts of support can make a big impact in the fight against cancer! Support their ride at pmc.org!

Dr. Joe sits down with veteran music editor Tom Kramer to discuss the craft of film music, the behind-the-scenes process on projects like The Queen's Gambit, and how streaming, COVID-19, and mentorship are reshaping the film industry!

Mark and Dr. Joe dive into the promise and pitfalls of artificial intelligence, exploring how empathy, creativity, and the I-M Approach can guide us toward a future where AI enhances - rather than replaces - human connection!

Mark and Dr. Joe talk about this year's Pan Mass Challenge, the sense of guilt one might feel for enjoying acts of altruism, and the brain science of the Ic Domain! Support Mark's ride at pmc.org!

We hear from writer, poet, and critic Dan Schneider about his incredible childhood, his thoughts on the corporate world, and the power the written word has on all of our lives! Check out Dan's work at Cosmoetica!

Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott discusses her memoir Nightbird, sharing her journey through religious guilt, domestic abuse, and personal trauma - including the revenge suicide of her husband - to illuminate the path from inherited pain to healing and resilience. Get your copy of Nightbird and learn more about Shavaun's work on her website!

We talk with author Elizabeth Birkelund about personal growth, the art of translation, and the universality of love as explored in her novel, A Northern Light in Provence! Get your copy of A Northern Light in Provence!

We're joined by Meredith Johnson, who tells us how her family's tragic loss of her cousin by suicide led them on a mission to spread greater awareness of mental health issues that effect countless lives! Learn more about her family's work at kylecaresinc.org!

Mark and Dr. Joe give a shout out to the amazing team at Veterans' Voice, followed by a discussion on the state of the housing market in Massachusetts and abroad, with a focus on common-sense solutions to address the affordability crisis!

After hearing about a local event honoring Vietnam veterans, Mark and Dr. Joe speak with psychotherapist and author Carol Odell about trauma and equine therapy, both subjects in her memoir, Girl, Groomed. Get your copy of Girl, Groomed!

Mark shares some of his favorite memories from his recent trip through Canada, Wolfie from Veteran's Voice calls in to share how he applies the I-M Approach in his daily life, and Dr. Joe reminds us that respect isn't about agreement, but trying to understand different perspectives without judgement!

Dr. Joe sits down with father-daughter writing duo Mike and Grace Liebowitz to explore the thought-provoking themes of their new book, The Second Door—from the power of friendship and the dangers of complacency to the very nature of evil. Get your copy of The Second Door!

Mark and Dr. Joe are honored to speak with writer and photographer Andrea Simon about the research and writing process of her profound historical novel, Esfir Is Alive. Get your copy of Esfir Is Alive and learn more about Andrea and her work on her website!

Mark and Dr. Joe review some of their successes in 2024 before sharing their hopes for 2025, including the wider adoption of the I-M Approach! Get your copy of Unleashing the Power of Respect: The I-M Approach and Dr. Joe's other books! Learn more and let Dr. Joe know your thoughts at drshrand.com!

Mark and Dr. Joe welcome author William F. Carter on to hear about his first published novel Fire and Wrath, including the intense research of the subject matter, how can channel anger in less-than-productive ways, and what a little bit of encouragement can do to someone's entire life trajectory! Get your copy of Fire and Wrath!

After a discussion on the tensions being felt throughout the country, Mark and Dr. Joe welcome actor, playwright, and director at The Company Theatre, Michael Hammond!

We welcome business coach Karen Thrall to hear her wisdom about emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and leadership! Listen for an exciting announcement from her and Dr. Joe!

We're joined by author Melissa Connelly to discuss her new book, What Was Lost, which delves into the importance of understanding exploitation, recovery, and the journey to self-worth! Get your copy of What Was Lost!

We're joined by music legends "Cowboy" Mach Bell and Gary Sohmers to hear about their new project, Beasties: A Sci-Fi Rock Opera! Learn more and get your tickets at beastiesrockopera.com!

We hear speaker and author Jodi Tolman's amazing story of how she recovered from childhood trauma, utilized her anger for positive change, and became a mother to three children by three different means! Order your copy of One From Each Column: My 46-Year Trek From Abusive Childhood To Elusive Parenthood! Watch Riverside Community Care's 5th Annual Recovery Celebration! Get your tickets to Drug Story Theater's UMass performance, the Riverside CARE Awards, and Road to Responsibility's 36th Annual Making Lives Better Gala! Hear Dr. Joe's talk at Levitate Backyard on Elements of Stiles!

We're honored to welcome psychotherapist and author Jane Seskin to hear her musings on aging in her latest poetry collection, Older Wiser Shorter: The Truth and Humor of Life After 65!

Mark and Dr. Joe catch up on recent events, such as the NAR settlement and what it means for realtors, the upcoming summit on September 12th, and Drug Story Theater's new show about the lifesaving power of Narcan, Back to Life! Read Dr. Joe's Psychology Today article, "You Are the Ultimate Lie Detector"! Get your tickets for The Future of Real Estate at Levitate Backyard, September 12th at 3:00 PM EST!  

We welcome Steve Gross, Chief Playmaker at Life is Good! Hear how Life is Good has grown into so much more than a t-shirt company, and how the Playmaker Project invests in our greatest natural resource - our children!

For the final show before the Pan Mass Challenge, we bring on rider Judson Hill, who shares how a recent diagnosis in a close friend fuels not only him, but his whole team. Read Dr. Joe's recent Psychology Today articles, "6 Simple Truths of Lasting Relationships" and "The 2 Most Important Words to Say in a Relationship"! Learn more and get involved in next year's ride at PMC.org!

We keep the spotlight on the Pan Mass Challenge with riders Paul Reardon and Stephen Waisgerber! Hear what motivates them to keep riding and support them at pmc.org!

We continue our discussion on the Pan Mass Challenge with riders Jim O'Leary and Dave Laudermore, who share their unique stories of their first ride, and what keeps them coming back year after year! Support their ride at pmc.org!

We're joined by Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois, who updates us on the progress in fighting the opioid pandemic, the danger of xylazine and its resistance to narcan, and how he and his team employ a community-centered approach in keeping people safe!