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1

Welcome to the The Mental Fitness Podcast

September 9, 2025
18 min

The Opening trailer of The Mental Fitness Podcast, Dave and Luke set the stage for a journey through history, culture, and the ongoing struggle to understand what it really means to be mentally strong.

Show Notes & Chapters

Dave and Luke ask listeners to step back, question assumptions, and prepare for the deeper conversations ahead. With each episode, the podcast will move beyond awareness to focus on practical strategies for building true mental fitness.Chapters
00:00 – The Origins of Care and Control: Exploring early 20th-century responses to mental illness and the rise of asylums.
03:30 – War, PTSD, and Federal Legislation: How World War II veterans, “shell shock,” and the founding of the National Institute of Mental Health reshaped the conversation.
07:00 – Medication, Therapy, and the Revolving Door: The rise of SSRIs, CBT, deinstitutionalization, and their unintended consequences.
10:30 – The Wellness Era and Toxic Positivity: Examining the digital paradox, wellness commercialization, and the modern challenge of self-compassion.Links and Resources