THE LATEST CRAZE: A Forensic Analysis of Pop Culture

Good science fiction has always been a reflection of the cultural moment we live in, depicting the fantasies and possibilities of our collective future. Recently, we’ve witnessed the birth of a new sci-fi microgenre, in which the future is directed inward, hewing much closer to our current world, but with much more psychological and philosophical questions at it’s core.In this episode, we’ll discuss the common theme of two new shows, Pluribus and Severance, both on Apple TV, which depict a science fiction that is much more psychology than technology. Dr. Karen has labeled the condition at the center of both shows “neurological conformity,” and we’ll unpack what it is and why it might be the current trend in science fiction storytelling.Additional Links:“Is Neurological Conformity the Next Era of Streaming?” - Medium article by Karen B. Rosenbaum, MDMusic by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Blame is tricky. It can be a tool of justice. It can be a weapon. All too often, blame transforms victims into perpetrators, further exacerbating tragedies and increasing the blast radius of damage.In this episode, Dr. Karen and Josh analyze Peacock’s 2025 episodic series All Her Fault, a child abduction thriller that effectively uses blame as a vehicle to develop the story and it’s characters, while shedding light on what can lie behind it. The psychological vectors of blame coursing through the characters of the story act as doors into their traumas, biases, and intentions, all of which makes for a pretty good watch, and plenty of juicy themes to talk about!Additional Links:The gendered division of housework in NorthAmerica: A systematic review from 2014 to 2024The Blaming NarcissistNanny Faces Tough Insanity Test: Did She Know Killing Was Wrong?Music By ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Therapy gets intimate. It has to be, in order to work. Therefore, the doctor-patient relationship is uniquely dependent on trust, honesty, and discretion. There are rules and guidelines therapists must follow to ensure a professional relationship, and to protect both parties from harm. But, as we all know, those rules are sometime broken, and sometimes harmful consequences come as a result.In this episode, Dr. Karen and Josh will discuss the second season of an entertaining series on Netflix called Nobody Wants This, in which a new subplot illustrates the complexities of the boundaries between therapist and patient. It’s treated with humor, but it demonstrates the contours and pretty effectively calls out some things to be aware of when witnessing someone, as the saying goes, “dating their therapist!”Additional Links:Podcast: The Shrink Next DoorApple TV Show: The Shrink Next DoorAmerican Psychiatric Association Ethics GuidelinesLiterature on Boundary Crossings and Violations:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3361837/#:~:text=A%20boundary%20crossing%20is%20a,the%20patient%20and%20the%20therapy.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32047383/Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Pop culture is full of psychopaths. Countless stories have featured (sometimes) real, (often) fictional, (mostly) men or (the occasional) women who do the unthinkable to their victims… and we eat it up.The third installment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster series, now out on Netflix, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, is a biopic (with some creative license) of the O.G. American psychotic murderer Ed Gein, who shocked the nation with his murders and mutilations in the 1950’s and early 1960’s and inspired many a gruesome character in cinema for decades to come.Eventually, he was adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity and lived out most of his adult life in a forensic psychiatric hospital, unlike the fictional serial killers inspired by his gruesome story.Listen in as we discuss the more clinical and psychological aspects of psychopathy, and shed a little light on what’s some pretty dark stuff.Additional Links:Beyond Monster: 6 Grisly Films Inspired by Serial Killer Ed GeinMusic by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

The Amanda Knox story is one for the ages. Charged with murder while studying abroad in Italy, she fought for years in Italian courts to prove her innocence while locked up in prison after being found guilty on circumstantial and contrived evidence. Her story illustrates an extreme example of bias, both in the media and in the courts, which played an outsized role in her court proceedings and subsequent guilty verdicts.After finally being acquitted on appeal years later, Amanda has told her story in a riveting memoir, “Amanda Knox: Waiting to be Heard”, and the recent Hulu series “The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox” is a well crafted series depicting the tragic events that lead to her long journey seeking justice.Additional Links:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=amanda+knox+freehttps://prisonsandjustice.georgetown.edu/false_confessions/Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

According to the burgeoning field of relationship science, every individual behaves in one of three ways when in a relationship. Which category you fall into is a reflection of your attachment style.In this episode, we’ll talk about adult attachment styles as illustrated in “Too Much,” Lena Dunham’s latest Netflix series. It’s a quality show, with rich characterizations of each type served in a show typically, well… Lena Dunham!Additional Links:https://www.amazon.com/Attached-Science-Adult-Attachment-YouFind/dp/1585429139https://www.netflix.com/title/81671844Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, has become a very treatable condition thanks to medications like Adderall. Adderall has been widely prescribed and available for several years, until the pandemic triggered a series of conditions that led to a shortage of the drug’s availability, which remains the case even today.In the HBO Max series “And Just Like That,” our favorite Sex and the City crew are back for another season of New York flavored drama. And this time, ADHD and the Adderall shortage finds its way into the storyline, which means it’s officially part of the pop cultural zeitgeist! That means it’s time to talk more about it on The Latest Craze!Additional Links:What is ADHD?What is Adderallhttps://www.drugs.com/adderall.htmlMusic by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

In the early 2000’s, innovations in DNA sequencing technology enabled “shotgun metagenomics,” which involves sequencing random DNA fragments from environmental samples. The result was a new, powerful set of tools for exploring the granular and highly complex world of the gut microbiome.This relatively new science is providing deep insights into how the foods we eat can have major effects on our mental and physical well being. If health and nutrition are meaningful to you, there has never been a better time to learn about the connections between your diet, body, and mind.One new study recently completed by some Stanford University professionals has been documented and turned into a Netflix series called “You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.” In this short and entertaining series, several sets of identical twins were put on two different strict diets - one omnivorous and the other plant based - and observed over eight weeks to track various physiological and mental changes. The results reveal that even within a short amount of time, our bodies will adjust to what we put in them in significant ways.Additional Links:Dr. Karen has provided a list of some of her favorite plant-based cookbooks, in case anyone decides (like Josh) they want to give a plant based diet a try after watching the show…https://www.amazon.com/Isa-Does-Amazingly-Delicious-Recipes/dp/0316221902https://www.amazon.com/Chloes-Kitchen-Delicious-Recipes-Making/dp/1451636741https://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/https://emeranmayer.com/blog/Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

To be human is to need attention. But in 2025, attention itself has become a commodity, a cultural force, and a valuable resource driving capitalism and shaping our lives.In this episode of The Latest Craze, we’ll unpack what attention means today, how it affects our everyday lives, and question if it’s something we need to become more aware of in order to mitigate it’s possible effects on society.We will discuss a recent book by Chris Hayes, The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource, which does a nice job illustrating all the different dimensions attention has taken on in the past couple decades. It’s definitely a recommended read!Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

The new series we will be discussing shares the name of our topic of conversation today. And what a series it is! This one gets a three thumbs up! Adolescence is an incredibly acted and directed short series on Netflix that demonstrates the complexities of social media influences surrounding young people. It’s a gripping take on an all-too-real scenario, and we highly recommend watching.And we have our first special guest to help us explore this topic! Dr. Katie-Joy Zimmerman-Winslow, DO is a Psychiatrist with specialties in forensic and child & adolescent psychiatry. She has a depth of specialized knowledge that will help us unpack the unique considerations regarding mental health in children and several factors that demand unique attention when it comes to issues of law and justice.Additional Notes:Monsters: The Eric and Lyle Menendez Story (Netflix, 2025)Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Change can be tough, and these days, we’re all dealing with a hefty dose of it. In this episode, we’ll talk about the challenges of living through change, and get into some of the particulars around what kind of changes are happening in the media and information landscape. People often turn to trusted sources of truth to help avoid and assuage the anxieties that often come with the unknown, but what happens when the information landscape itself is part of the changing cultural landscape?We’ll discuss a thoughtful drama recently launched on Broadway entitled “Good Night and Good Luck,” written and starring George Clooney. The importance of truth in journalism isn’t new, but the theme takes on a brand new relevance today.Additional Links:* Good Night and Good Luck (the movie, 2005)* The Truth in Journalism Project Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Formerly known as "Munchhausen Syndrome,” Factitious Disorder is the name of a particularly tricky condition in which people believe they are sick, and use their fictitious illness for personal benefit. In the case of the two real-world characters featured in “Apple Cider Vinegar” (Netflix) and “Scamanda,” (ABC/Hulu) we’ll see how sometimes those suffering from this condition leverage it with malicious intent, creating scams and scandals that wind up hurting others, and eventually, themselves.Additional Information and Links:https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/factitious-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356034Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

The meaning, understanding, and power of creativity is vast. As humans we all share the capability to be creative, and we’ve learned that practicing creativity can be therapeutic.In this episode we’ll discuss a fascinating story depicted in the Greg Kwedar’s film Sing Sing (2024, Apple TV) which demonstrates the power of creativity as a transformative process for a group of inmates at a maximum security prison. A true story about a theater program within the prison, the film does an excellent job of taking us along the journey of several inmates who found creative freedom within the restrictive walls of their incarceration.Additional Information:John Whitfield has an Oscar nomination for the film based on his time in the New York prison. But more important to him is overturning his conviction. Read more…Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition all too many people are familiar with. In this first episode of Season 2, we'll learn more about how severe traumatic events, like the real-life tragic wildfires being experienced in California as we speak, can have lasting psychological effects on different people. No Good Deed is a new series on Netflix which does a good job of demonstrating PTSD in one of the main characters, played by Lisa Kudrow.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

To wrap up our first season of The Latest Craze (how exciting!) we're finishing up with an in-depth discussion about dissociation. There's much to unravel here, and plenty of films and characters going back generations demonstrate the evolution of what was once called "split personality," now formally referred to as "Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)." Dr. Karen will get technical on this one, but we'll also lean on several references in our shared pop cultural history in film and entertainment, including Crowded Room (AppleTV, 2024), Sybil (1976), The Three Faces of Eve (1957), and others (see more links below). This is a topic with so much to discuss, debate, and consider, and we're sure you'll enjoy this last episode of our season. And for all of you listeners who have joined us along this journey so far, THANK YOU for your support! We hope this has been as much fun for you as it has been for us! Additional Links: Moon Knight (Disney, 2022) https://www.verywellmind.com/what-moon-knight-gets-right-about-dissociative-identity-disorder-5248670 Split (M Night Shyamalan, 2016) Debate over DID being real: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/202302/the-debate-over-whether-dissociative-identity-disorder-is-real       This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

In life, and especially in the times we now live in, it's clear there can be two (or more!) sides to every story. How different people percieve the same experience can be similar, or wildly different. In everyday life, relationships, or a court of law, this seems to be a universal truth - and perhaps one of the most compelling reasons we enjoy storytelling. When applied to storytelling, this device has become known as Roshemon. Named after the 1951 Akira Kurosawa film entitled Roshomon, there have been countless stories told utilizing this method to create conflict, tension, mystery, and lead the audience along a path where there is no choice but to engage and become an active participant in the journey. We'll discuss the Roshemon technique as applied to a few modern films and series, including Disclaimer (2024, AppleTV), The Affair (2014, Paramount+), and the series (not the 1987 movie) Fatal Attraction (2024, Peacock).   Additional Articles: https://jaapl.org/content/47/1/130.  The Affair https://jaapl.org/content/52/2/273.   Fatal Attraction https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1039856220901468.  Roshomon Effect and eye witness testimony This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Forensic analysis isn't limited to psychology. To demonstrate that, we're going to change it up in this episode and talk more deeply about how filmakers, directors and cinematographers can leverage their craft to bring characters and stories to life.  Leaning on decades of experience as a filmmaker, Josh will walk us through a deep dive into the outstanding cinematography of the new series Ripley (Netflix), and talk about how the high contrast, black and white film noir treatment reflects the psychopathic main character and enhances the viewer experience by creating a world that almost subconsciously draws us into the character's mind. We'll also talk a little more about the series vs. the 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley (Hulu), Catch Me If You Can (2003 - Netflix), and learn more about psychopathy along the way. If you are a film geek, this is the episode for you! Music by: ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Psychopathy is the fancy word for all things psychopath-related! In this fun episode, we'll discuss a few psychopathic characters from the recent series YOU (Netflix), Tell Me Lies (Hulu), and a little from the classic series Dexter (Netflix). Always fun to dig into the worst of the worst when it comes to characters and try and understand what makes them tick, and why we sometimes love to hate them! Dr. Karen and Josh will run these fictional creeps through the Hare checklist, which is an actual assessment tool professionals can use to help during their analysis of individuals who express history or behaviors related to psychopathy. Will Stephen and Joe's score meet the threshhold? Listen in and find out! (Hint... They do!)   Additional Links:   Antisocial personality Disorder https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546673/   YOU:   https://www.netflix.com/title/80211991 https://jaapl.org/content/47/2/267 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36430011-you   Tell Me Lies:  https://press.hulu.com/shows/tell-me-lies/bios/ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32735369-tell-me-lies" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32735369-tell-me-lies&source=gmail&ust=1732464674147000&usg=AOvVaw3BZuV7WNIviNcCFW0

In this episode we're going to take a moment to talk spooky stuff! It's Halloween, so Dr. Karen is going to introduce a couple concepts and tropes that are common in the Horror genre, and tell us a little more about some of the research she's been working on for her Forensic Psychiatry practice, as well as some nifty extra-curricular pursuits. Links of interest: American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law aapl.org Graduate Writing for Film and Television (MFA – Low Residency) emerson.edu "The Crazies" 1973 Film by George Romero - IMDB This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

In Part 2 of our Addiction episodes we'll focus in on the tragedy of Matthew Perry's journey with addiction, which recently ended with his unfortunate passing from an overdose after decades of grappling with substance abuse. Dr. Karen and Josh will discuss many aspects of his battle as depicted in his recent memoir, "Friends, Lover, and the Big Terrible Thing" which he wrote shortly before his death. His case was one of extremes, and his story hopefully will provide insight into how complex addiction can be and how it can have a long and devastating affect on those we care about who suffer from addiction. Should you or anyone you know need help with addiction, we encourage you to seek more information and support from these or other resources: AA: https://aa-intergroup.org/meetings/ https://www.caron.org/   Additional links: https://matthewperryfoundation.org/homepage/ https://www.annalembke.com/drug-dealer-md   https://www.annalembke.com/dopamine-nation   https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250866448/friendsloversandthebigterriblething   <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/the-ketamine-queen-and-matthew-perrys-hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirectur

In our first episode discussing addiction, we start big. Like, really big. Dr. Karen and Josh will talk about the opioid epidemic that's victimized our country and so many communities and individuals across the US.  It all started with a diabolical effort by the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma to launch and push their "timed release" opioid drug OxyContin. As depicted in the Hulu series Dopesick, based on the non-fiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy, the devestating outcome of one company's efforts to push a dangerous product and take advantage of just about everyone, from doctors to pharmacists to individuals suffering from pain, is something we are all, as Americans, still contending with to this day. Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Gaslighting has become part of the cultural lexicon in recent years. But what does it mean, and where does the term come from? Dr. Karen and Josh will unpack this insidious behavior and lean on the Starz series "Gaslit" to help illustrate how destructive and harmful gaslighting can be.   Music by ROSSER This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

It's a David and Goliath dynamic when organizations, institutions, even industries deny victims their rights. Whether through bias, gaslighting, or outright deception, victims of institutional betrayal can suffer repeated traumas beyond the incident in which they were first victimized. In this episode, we'll discuss several aspects of institutional betrayal, and use the Netflix docuseries "Simon Biles Rising" to give context to a real world example. "Simone Biles Rising" is a docuseries about Simon Biles, a modern US Gymnastics superhero, in which she shares her challenges, traumas and experiences throughout her stunning career.  CONTENT WARNING: Along with scores of other young women gymnasts, Simone fell prey to the sexual victimization of convicted criminal Dr. Larry Nassar. Themes and discussions about sexual assault are included in this episode. If you, or anyone you know is a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assalut Hotline can help. Call 1-800-656-4673 or visit RAINN.org for assistance. Additional Links: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-36500-001 https://dynamic.uoregon.edu/jjf/institutionalbetrayal/ https://www.netflix.com/title/81700902 https://www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/msu/recent-news/judge-sentences-larry-nassar-to-40-to-175-years-in-prison-for-sexual-assault <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/gene-wilder-death-gilda-radner-cancer-awareness-comedy-relationship-we-need-to-talk-about-it-a7217966.html" target="_blank" rel="noo

Of course, there's so much narcissism to talk about we needed two episodes to do it! In this chapter, Dr. Karen and Josh continue discussing narcissism but focus this time on how it's expressed and experienced through female characters. Using the characters of Anna Delvey (Sorokin) and Elizabeth Holmes, from the hit shows "Inventing Anna" on Netflix and "The Dropout" on Hulu, we'll take a deep dive into the wild world of these two convicted criminals, and talk about how narcissism helped - and hurt - their plans to change the world. Here is the clip referenced in the episode showing the brilliant Julia Garner walking us through her brilliant construction of Anna's wild accent... worth a watch! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

It seems the world is filled with large egos, ambitious people, and social climbers. It's likely you know someone who fits this description in your own life! But what's behind it? What drives people like this, and what are the effects of this behavior to those around them? Well, there's a name for the trait that's all too familiar in today's cultural landscape - Narcissism. In this episode, Dr. Karen and Josh take a look at many of the characteristics, behaviors, and outcomes of people who express the traits of narcissism, and how it's demonstrated through various characters on the crime drama serial "Presumed Innocent", starring Jake Gyllanhal, currently available on AppleTV+.   Additional Links: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/presumed-innocent/umc.cmc.5hnqrhwtzt3esr7rb1wq2ppvn https://jaapl.org/content/33/1/55.long https://www.amazon.com/Presumed-Innocent-Harrison-Ford/dp/B001EBYMAS https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/425029.Presumed_Innocent This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com

Welcome to Episode 1 of The Latest Craze: A Forensic Analysis of Pop Culture. Meet your hosts Dr. Karen Rosenbaum and Josh Rosenbaum, and learn a little bit about how these two cousins plan to explore different psychological themes and human nature as demonstrated in the most popular and compelling characters and stories we all experience in the media.   Links: Dr. Karen Rosenbaum https://www.drkarenbrosenbaum.com/ "Presumed Innocent": https://tv.apple.com/us/show/presumed-innocent/umc.cmc.5hnqrhwtzt3esr7rb1wq2ppvn   Music by ROSSER: https://www.thebandrosser.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelatestcrazepodcast.substack.com