Show Notes
In this episode, we’re talking to Jonah Bayer, LMHC. Jonah is a writer, podcaster, musician and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. We talked to him about his career change from working in music journalism to becoming a therapist, which he wrote about in this great article. The books we discuss are The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and Band People by Franz Nicolay.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, is a spiritual self-help book that emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment to achieve inner peace and enlightenment. The book suggests that much of human suffering stems from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, and that by focusing on the "now," one can transcend these negative emotions and connect with their true self.
Band People offers a close look at the lives of working musicians who aren’t the center of their stage. Through interviews and incisive cultural critique, writer and musician Franz Nicolay provides a portrait of the musical middle class. Artists talk frankly about their careers and attitudes toward their craft, work environment, and group dynamics of being in a band.
You can find us: Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTube: @booksfromyourtherapist Podcast: Acast, iTunes, Spotify, wherever you listen! Follow Tara on Substack Work with Amanda (California residents)
Also check out How Did We Get Weird with Vanessa Bayer and Jonah Bayer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Books From Your Therapist
In this episode we’re joined by therapist, author, and somatic practitioner Simone Saunders to explore what it means to truly feel our feelings and reconnect with our bodies. Simone shares how somatic therapy can help us understand safety, regulation, and connection as embodied experiences, and introduces the framework from her book Where Do You Feel That In Your Body?. We also dive into bell hooks’ The Will to Change and explore masculinity, emotional intimacy, and the ways patriarchy teaches men to disconnect from their emotions.
In this episode, Amanda and Tara explore the “fawn” response to trauma—the lesser-known fourth F alongside fight, flight, and freeze. We discuss Meg Josephson’s Are You Mad at Me?, a trauma-informed guide to people-pleasing, boundaries, and the fear of disappointing others, before turning to Sally Rooney’s Normal People to explore how fawning, self-worth, intimacy, and class anxiety show up in fiction. Plus, we ask the big question: will Connell and Marianne ever learn to be honest about what they really need?
This month, we're joined by award-winning journalist Amanda McCracken to talk about her debut book, When Longing Becomes Your Lover alongside the classic psychology text Love and Limerence by Dorothy Tennov.
This month we're joined by Dr. Juli Fraga, psychologist and co-author of Parents Have Feelings, Too, to explore emotional honesty, why repair matters more than perfection and how understanding our own emotions helps us raise emotionally healthy children.
In this episode of Books From Your Therapist, we’re joined by therapist and author Dr. Han Ren to discuss her debut book The Hyphenated Life. Dr. Ren is committed to making mental health accessible and resonant, especially for historically overlooked communities and her book is a powerful reflection on navigating identity, belonging, and the complexities of living between cultures.