Fear isn’t just about the chills—it’s about what our minds, bodies, and cultures do with it.

In this episode of Wit and Reason, licensed clinical social worker Alex and community psychologist Dr. Alexis unpack the psychology of fear through strange encounters and cultural stories. From childhood trauma mistaken for ghost sightings to Tesla tech glitches misread as hauntings, they explore how fear shapes memory, perception, and resilience.

Why do some people love horror for the thrill, while others can’t escape the weight of terrifying memories? Alex and Dr. Alexis break down the science, the folklore, and the impact on our mental health—while reminding us that the goal isn’t to prove or disprove the paranormal, but to process fear in ways that keep us safe, validated, and curious.

Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions of trauma, hallucinations, psychosis, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

Dr. Alexis Moreno and guest expert, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist, Alex Honigman, expand their conversation about Love & Dating to emphasize practical steps that promote healthy intimate relationships in your life.

Over the past few years we’ve heard more celebrities publicly disclose their personal challenges with anxiety and even panic attacks. Dr. Alexis Moreno and guest expert, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Alicia Hodge, review who has been quoted talking about anxiety and how it relates to any of the 6 different types anxiety disorders. Dr. Alexis and Dr. Alicia answer your Anxiety & Coping questions with Healthy Lifestyle Tips to increase your ability to take on whatever life throws at you.

Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care and it has been linked to restrictions in daily activities, dependence on opioids, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life (CDC, 2018). But here’s the thing, psychological interventions for chronic pain often provide more relief than prescription drugs or surgery without the risk of side effects but are used much less frequently than traditional medical treatments (APA, 2014)! Dr. Alexis Moreno and guest expert, Clinical Health Psychologist and Mind Body Coach, Dr. Kelly Donahue, review the psychological treatments that actually work to resolve Chronic Pain.

Dr. Alexis partners up with Marriage & Family Therapist, Jordan Madison, to breakdown Breakups into 3 phases: Deciding to Break Up, Your Brain During a Breakup & Grieving, and Healing. A beautiful, beginning, middle, & end - If only breakups were that clean and structured. Listen is as Dr. Alexis and Jordan provide practical tips on how to heal from a breakup.

Dr. Alexis Moreno and guest expert, licensed clinical social worker (and hubby) Alex Honigman, bring psychological expertise to provide smart and practical explanations for human behavior. Dr. Alexis & Alex discuss today’s ever evolving love and dating culture and answer DC’s own questions on anything from love to hardships. Listen in and bring a little bit of positive mental health to your day.

The internet loves quick labels — but calling every ex a “narcissist” isn’t helping anyone. In this episode of Therapy or Trash, Dr. Alexis Moreno and therapist Alex Honigman unpack the rise of “Diagnostic Divas” dishing out diagnoses with zero credentials. From viral clips to chaotic comment sections, they reveal why these snap judgments are harmful, how real therapists actually assess behavior, and what you can do to protect your relationships from bad advice. Expect expert insights, unfiltered reactions, and some much-needed myth-busting.

Friendships in adulthood can be lifelines—or emotional sinkholes. In this Therapy Or Trash episode, Dr. Alexis Moreno and Alex Honigman explore viral takes on friendship, boundaries, ghosting, and vulnerability. From ADHD distraction guilt to the grief of one-sided relationships, they unpack the neuroscience, psychology, and emotional cost of navigating adult connections.

A whites-only settlement in the Ozarks is using ancestry rules, pseudo-legal loopholes, and cult-like tactics to build an exclusionary community. In this episode of Wit and Reason, therapist couple Alex Honigman, LCSW, and Dr. Alexis Moreno break down the psychology behind Return to the Land—exploring why people join extremist groups, how identity threats and fear fuel them, and the dangers they pose to society.

Join Dr. Alexis and Alex as they unpack the legal, psychological, and community consequences of ICE raids in Los Angeles and beyond. This powerful episode features expert insights, emotional reflections, and reactions to public discourse. It sheds light on the lived experiences behind the headlines. Listener discretion advised.

In this podcast episode, host Dr. Alexis sits down with her business and life partner, Alex Honigman, LICSW, for a heartfelt discussion about working in the Entertainment Industry. They explore the crucial importance of mental health support in coping with the intense demands of film and TV production. Tune in to discover how mental health coordination is shaping a more balanced and sustainable path for those in the spotlight.

In this captivating podcast episode, join Dr. Alexis Moreno as she sits down for an enlightening radio interview with the renowned psychologist, Dr. Ali Mattu. Together, they delve into the fascinating world of media and its influence on our lives. Dr. Alexis and Dr. Ali, discuss the impact of media on mental health, their personal mental health experiences, the 2024 presidential elections, and tips for managing election and news anxiety.

Let’s keep the conversation going!

In this engaging podcast episode, join host Dr. Alexis and her life partner, Alex Honigman, LICSW, as they delve into the intricate connections between mental health, activism, and emotional recovery following the 2024 U.S. elections

The media doesn’t have a great track record for accurately or even compassionately representing mental illness. But today, we have the pleasure to talk with close friends, writers and producers, Dara Sanandaji and Freddie Bell. Dara shares what it’s like to live and function in today’s world with mental illness and has partnered up with Freddie to create "Breaking the Silence" a refreshingly open and honest documentary about Dara's process with Bipolar Disorder with psychotic features, now streaming on Amazon video.

Dr. Alexis talks with Emma G, a musician and songwriter who has been sharing her creative gifts to help empower teens and adults. Emma G shares the many challenges teens and adults face in their life and how getting creative and writing our own song can help. Listen in to learn tips & recommendations to boost your wellness via music!

Dr. Alexis talks with Hayden, a Wellness Coach with Wit & Reason focusing on (among a few areas) youth’s academic wellness. Hayden shares the many challenges teens experience in testing, applying, and remaining in college. Learn tips & recommendations to support youth through college readiness challenges!

Our Wit & Reason therapist, Rueben Steele and Dr. Alexis dive into drive and answer, What is a Healthy Sex Drive? We're not here to characterize levels or brands of sexuality as pathological or "bad" instead we would like for you to use this show as a guide to help you increase your ability to figure out what's healthy, sexy, and compatible for you.

Dr. Alexis Moreno interviews Julia Petryk on March 1, 2022 in Ukraine. Julia openly describes her experiences living in Kyiv leading up to and during Putin's and Russia's continued invasions. She also shares various ways you can support her communication efforts and Ukrainian aid.

Dr. Alexis interviews Phillip Bazemore, Judge Carlos Moore, and Charles Tucker, authors of The Five Brothers, all about the benefits of creating and maintaining meaningful adult friendships. More so, they dive into how to break through toxic masculinity and the stereotypes that hold back men’s ability to express and receive love.

Psychologist, Dr. Alexis from Wit & Reason, shares mental health recommendations for those living alone amid COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.