Dr Aaron Kaplan, 438 Hobron Lane Suite 311, Honolulu, HI (2026)

02/25/2026

Episode 85: Don't Take It Personally!: -- Breaking Down The Cognitive Distortion of Personalization, with guest co-host Dr. Tyler Ralston

In this episode of Mind Tricks Radio, I sit down once again with guest co-host Dr. Tyler Ralston for a lively, practical conversation about the cognitive distortion of personalization — that sneaky mental habit of assuming that other people’s behavior, moods, or even major life events are somehow about us. Together, we unpack what personalization really is (and what it isn’t), including why “don’t take it personally” can sometimes feel invalidating if we’re not careful. From not getting invited to dinner, to a boss’s sour expression in a meeting, to waiting anxiously for a text that doesn’t come — we explore how quickly the mind can jump to “This must be because of me.”

Dr. Ralston and I also dig into why personalization is so compelling. We talk about how our brains crave certainty, even if that certainty comes in the form of self-blame. We explore how childhood experiences — especially environments involving criticism, emotional abuse, or chronic blame — can prime people to over-attribute responsibility to themselves. Along the way, we examine the emotional costs of personalization, including guilt, shame, anger, relationship strain, and even road rage. Yes, we go there.

Most importantly, we offer practical tools. We walk through core CBT strategies like examining the evidence, generating alternative explanations, reality-testing assumptions, and even running behavioral experiments to challenge distorted beliefs. We also touch on mindfulness-based approaches that help us step back from our thoughts rather than automatically believing them. Whether you’re a clinician, a student, or someone who occasionally wonders, “Was that about me?”, this episode will give you concrete strategies — and a few laughs — to help you stop taking responsibility for things that may never have been yours in the first place.

Podcast Episode · Mind Tricks Radio · February 25 · 42m

02/25/2026

Don’t Take It Personally!: — Breaking Down The Cognitive Distortion of Personalization

In Episode 85 of Mind Tricks Radio, I sat down with Dr. Tyler Ralston to talk about a cognitive distortion that quietly shapes a surprising amount of mental anguish: Personalization. That conversation inspired this post. Personalization is the tendency to assume that external events, other people’s moods, or ambiguous situations are happening because of us. Usually, we add a negative interpretation....

In Episode 85 of Mind Tricks Radio, I sat down with Dr. Tyler Ralston to talk about a cognitive distortion that quietly shapes a surprising amount of mental anguish: Personalization. That conversation inspired this post. Personalization is the tendency to assume that external events, other people’...

01/17/2026

When Earth Blinked (a novel) cover announcement!

I’m excited to announce that the book cover survey for my upcoming debut novel, When Earth Blinked, is officially complete! Huge thanks to everyone who took the time to vote and share feedback. Your input genuinely mattered, and it was exciting to see such strong engagement across all the designs. After reviewing the results, the winning cover has now been selected—and you can check it out on my website under the tab…...

I’m excited to announce that the book cover survey for my upcoming debut novel, When Earth Blinked, is officially complete! Huge thanks to everyone who took the time to vote and share feedback. Your input genuinely mattered, and it was exciting to see such strong engagement across all the designs....

01/07/2026

Please vote for my book cover!

I’m excited to share that my debut novel, WHEN EARTH BLINKED, published by Koehler Books, is scheduled for release in April 2026.

We’re down to the final two cover designs, and the publisher is asking for reader input—so I’d love yours.

Please click the link below and simply vote for the cover you prefer. It takes about 10 seconds.

WHEN EARTH BLIKED is a post-apocalyptic novel set in Hawaiʻi after a global plague wipes out most of Earth’s population, following the psychological and moral aftermath of survival in a radically altered world.

Thanks in advance for helping out—and I’ll be sharing more updates soon.

Köehler Books welcomes all kinds of stories and authors, and combines the award-winning creativity and flexibility of a small publishing house with marketing muscle and distribution power.

12/15/2025

Episode 84: Critical Thinking -- Beyond Basics, with Dr. Christopher Dwyer.

In Episode 84 of MindTricks Radio, I’m joined by critical thinking researcher Dr. Christopher Dwyer for a wide-ranging and lively conversation that goes well beyond the basics of what it means to think well. We explore his provocatively titled new book, Knowledge Doesn’t Exist, and unpack what that claim really means. Rather than arguing that truth is meaningless, Dwyer challenges the way we casually treat “knowledge” as something fixed and certain, inviting listeners to examine how information, memory, emotion, and context shape what we think we know.

Our discussion moves through some of the most pressing cognitive issues of everyday life, including the unreliability of memory, the seductive pull of intuition, and the difficulty of navigating information in an online world driven by algorithms, misinformation, and hidden biases. We also explore how critical thinking relates to creativity and intuition, why uncertainty is not a weakness but a strength, and how science advances by questioning rather than proving. Along the way, we even touch on the perception of time and why novelty and attention shape how quickly life seems to move.

This episode is an invitation to rethink certainty, slow down automatic judgments, and develop a more flexible, honest relationship with what you believe. Whether you’re interested in psychology, education, or simply making better decisions in a noisy world, this conversation offers practical insights and thought-provoking challenges that will stay with you long after the episode ends. Thanks for Tuning in!

Podcast Episode · Mind Tricks Radio · 12/15/2025 · 1h 22m

12/14/2025

Critical Thinking — Beyond Basics, a conversation with Dr. Christopher Dwyer

In a recent MindTricks Radio conversation with critical thinking researcher Dr. Christopher Dwyer, we kept returning to a deceptively simple question: what does it actually mean to know something? His new book title, Knowledge Doesn’t Exist, is intentionally provocative, not as a nihilistic claim that nothing is real, but as a challenge to how casually we treat “knowledge” as something solid and owned....

In a recent MindTricks Radio conversation with critical thinking researcher Dr. Christopher Dwyer, we kept returning to a deceptively simple question: what does it actually mean to know something? His new book title, Knowledge Doesn’t Exist, is intentionally provocative, not as a nihilistic claim ...

11/07/2025

Episode 83: AI and the Future of Psychotherapy, with Dr. Nya Smith

In this episode of MindTricks Radio, Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Nya Smith dive into a lively and at times heated conversation about the future of artificial intelligence in psychotherapy. With Dr. Smith’s full consent, the discussion itself was generated through AI using cloned versions of both hosts’ voices. The episode takes a bold look at the rapidly changing landscape of mental health technology and challenges listeners to consider where AI fits in the world of human connection and healing.

Together, Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Smith explore some of the most provocative questions facing the field. Can AI simulate empathy well enough to support real therapeutic change? Where does simulated presence break down when compared to the felt, intuitive experience between two people? How should clinicians think about ethics, emotional nuance, and the potential for AI to reshape access to care? Their debate moves from the promise of AI supported CBT to the limits of deep relational work and the risks that emerge when technology begins to feel almost human.

This is a nuanced and evolving topic, one that is sure to stir strong feelings among therapists, technologists, and anyone curious about the future of mental health care. The conversation is candid, cordial, and intellectually charged. Whether you are excited about AI or deeply skeptical, this episode will leave you thinking about where we are headed and what role human connection should play in a world where our digital tools are becoming more emotionally convincing every day.

Podcast Episode · Mind Tricks Radio · 11/07/2025 · 32m

11/07/2025

Artificial intelligence is pushing deeper into the mental health world, and it is forcing all of us to reconsider what therapy actually is. Tools like Woebot and Wysa are already helping people regulate anxiety and depression at any hour of the day. They are accessible, consistent, and often surprisingly effective for certain types of distress. When someone feels calmer at two in the morning after talking to a chatbot, it raises an important question about whether the power of therapy comes from the content of the interaction or from the human presence behind it....

Artificial intelligence is pushing deeper into the mental health world, and it is forcing all of us to reconsider what therapy actually is. Tools like Woebot and Wysa are already helping people regulate anxiety and depression at any hour of the day. They are accessible, consistent, and often surpris...

11/03/2025

Episode 82: Understanding and Supporting Children Who Grieve

In today’s episode of MindTricks Radio, I sit down with veteran grief counselor and author Cynthia White to explore how children experience and heal from loss. Drawing from over four decades of work with grieving children and families, Cynthia shares her “quantum model” of grief—an approach that views grief as living energy in the body, best understood through movement, play, and connection.

Together, we unpack the differences between how children and adults grieve, the importance of honesty and safety in supporting young mourners, and the transformative power of allowing children to express emotion in their own way. Cynthia also reflects on the founding of Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, her years leading grief programs across the U.S. and Japan, and the universal human need to be seen, comforted, and believed in after loss.

This heartfelt conversation offers parents, teachers, and clinicians fresh insight into the world of childhood grief—and reminds us that sharing grief is, in itself, an act of love and strength.

Podcast Episode · Mind Tricks Radio · 11/03/2025 · 1h 3m

11/03/2025

Few experiences are more difficult to witness than a grieving child. Adults often feel helpless, uncertain of what to say or how to provide comfort. Yet, as clinician and grief expert Cynthia White has shown through decades of work with bereaved children, grief in childhood follows its own unique patterns. It is rooted not in words or reasoning but in the body, energy, and movement....

Few experiences are more difficult to witness than a grieving child. Adults often feel helpless, uncertain of what to say or how to provide comfort. Yet, as clinician and grief expert Cynthia White has shown through decades of work with bereaved children, grief in childhood follows its own unique pa...

10/17/2025

When people hear “PTSD,” they often picture combat veterans or first responders — those who’ve faced life-threatening situations and come home with invisible scars. But as Dr. Tyler Ralston and I explored in our recent Mind Tricks Radio conversation, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is both broader and more misunderstood than most realize. It’s one of the few mental health conditions that requires an ...

When people hear “PTSD,” they often picture combat veterans or first responders — those who’ve faced life-threatening situations and come home with invisible scars. But as Dr. Tyler Ralston and I explored in our recent Mind Tricks Radio conversation, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is both br...

10/17/2025

Episode 81: PTSD and Differential Diagnosis, with guest co-host Dr. Tyler Ralston

In this episode of Mind Tricks Radio, I meet up with guest co-host Dr. Tyler Ralston for a fast-moving deep dive into one of the most recognize, and often misunderstood, diagnoses in mental health: PTSD. Together they trace its fascinating evolution from “shell shock” and “combat fatigue” to today’s broader understanding that trauma comes in many forms. Then they get practical, unpacking what really counts as trauma, what the four PTSD symptom clusters look like in real life, and how to tell PTSD apart from its close cousins: acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, depression, even OCD.

Whether you’re a clinician, a student, or just curious about why the word trauma seems to be everywhere, this episode will leave you smarter about how clinicians actually diagnose, and sometimes misdiagnose, post-traumatic stress.

Podcast Episode · Mind Tricks Radio · 10/17/2025 · 52m

Dr Aaron Kaplan

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