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PODCAST

Shrink The Nation

David and Robby

Where America lies on the couch — and we pour the bourbon.Hosted by board-certified psychiatrists with deep backgrounds in military leadership, tech and systems thinking, Shrink The Nation blends clinical insight with dark humor to diagnose the psychological dysfunction at the heart of American culture.From grandiosity to cognitive dissonance, narcissism to political tribalism, we explore why the country feels like it’s losing its mind — and what it would actually take to stay sane.Every episode

health & fitness mental health

All Episodes

62:35

Presidents, Projection, and the Madness of Expectations

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/08/05

Pull up a seat on the couch—bourbon not required but highly recommended—as Shrink the Nation tackles the psychological circus of presidential expectations. Why do Americans keep expecting their presidents to be Marvel superheroes (or at least build us flying cars)? Why does disappointment so often turn to scapegoating and hysteria? And what does infantile defense have to do with politics, family fights, or your group chat? Dr. David, Rob, Keith, and Amit dig into the deep end of projection—th...

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58:41

The Power and Weight of Projection... And Some Other...

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/07/31

Pour a glass of bourbon and settle in: Shrink the Nation is back with a clinical (and irreverent) deep-dive into projection—how we heap our hopes, fears, and disappointments onto presidents, partners, and pretty much anyone who’ll stand still long enough. Dr. David and Rob break down the classic Freudian defense (yes, with jokes about the “coked mind of Sigmund Freud”) and show how projection warps both politics and relationships. Why do Americans keep falling in love with presidential candid...

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61:44

Back Into the Void (With Notes this Time!)

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/07/29

Shrink the Nation is back on the couch with America for a special bonus episode—this time with bourbon, Gen Z anxiety, and a full unpacking of nihilism in modern life. David, Rob, and guest psychiatrist Amit pour up (literally—Basil Hayden, Bulleit, and Tin Cup all make cameos) and dive deep into why every generation thinks the next one is hopeless—and why we keep handing them the same script. From the infamous “bicycle man” episode of Different Strokes to Jonathan Haidt’s The Coddling of the...

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57:40

Is Anything Even Real Anymore? (The Nihilism Episode)

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/07/25

Is anything even real anymore? Or have we all just become the meme? In this episode, three psychiatrists pour a drink and psychoanalyze America’s creeping wave of nihilism—from institutional mistrust and generational cynicism, to why so many of us now look for meaning in conspiracy theories, anti-heroes, and online chaos. The crew debates whether cultural nihilism is a symptom or a cause, how Gen Z’s outlook was shaped, why our institutions are crumbling in public trust, and how dopamine, mem...

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63:34

"The Moops": A Cultural Reference

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/07/20

In this wide-ranging episode of Shrink the Nation, Drs. David and Rob dive into the psychological underpinnings of modern American life. From the nation's grandiosity complex to the cognitive dissonance simmering beneath our politics and self-perception, the hosts weave together psychiatry, history, humor, and cultural critique. They reflect on the role of social media in distorting reality, unpack the national identity crisis, and introduce the powerful concept of ego integrity — the ability...

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61:22

Cognitive Dissonance Nation

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/07/18

Why do we cling to beliefs we know don’t make sense? Why is it so hard to admit when we’re wrong — especially in politics? In this episode, we break down cognitive dissonance: the psychological discomfort of holding contradictory beliefs, and how it’s fueling an identity crisis across American society. From ego and empathy to national pride and political tribalism, the crew explores: Why we double down instead of backing downHow media and social platforms keep us locked in dissonanceWhat cogn...

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55:47

America's Grandiosity Complex

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/07/11

Welcome to the couch. In our official kickoff, the full Shrink The Nation crew of psychiatrists dives into America’s most flamboyant coping mechanism: grandiosity. What happens when a country builds its identity around being “the greatest”? How do narcissism, exceptionalism, and social media shape our politics, culture, and sense of self? And what does it say about us when our leaders aren’t just grandiose — but rewarded for it? In this episode, we explore: The psychological roots...

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55:08

Why are we even doing this?

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/07/07

In this inaugural episode, Drs David and Rob crack open a bottle of bourbon and a conversation about what it means to stay sane in a culture that feels like it's unraveling. They dig into: Why this podcast even existsHow political disengagement became the default setting for the exhausted middleThe anxiety ripple effects of AI in healthcareThe weaponization of social media and disinformationAnd why sometimes, pouring a drink is the most human thing you can doThis is part confession, part cult...

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61:01

Pre-Launch Episode

Shrink The Nation ·

2025/07/07

In this rebooted pre-launch test episode, the full team of psychiatrists pour the bourbon and open up a wide-ranging conversation on what the hell is happening to America — and why we still believe in the mission of this show. From the symbolism of Superman to the emotional charge behind protests, the crew dissects: The cultural role of bourbon and what it says about our national psycheWhy Americans are craving strong leadership (and what that really means)How media and social platforms shape...

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