Is the fastest way to get over someone really to get under someone else? Can a relationship ever be successful if one or both of the people in it feel like one of them is settling for the other? And when will “bonker balls” be added to the DSM?

To answer some of these questions, Aurora Brown is joined by healthy choices, Clinical Psychologist Nazneen Firfirey and Biodiversity and Conservation Biologist – and musical theatre extraordinaire – Lyle Wilson. Together they break down the music and mental health themes in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 1 Episode 4, titled “I’m Going on a Date with Josh’s Friend!” That’s right, we’re discussing PAP smears with Mom, sex with a stranger, ideal partner preferences, and fear of intimacy.

Let's get weird.

Nazneen Firfirey: nazfirefly@gmail.com Lyle Wilson on Insta: @lylewilson1

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00:00:00 Short introduction to the representation of mental health in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend S01E04 00:01:12 Land acknowledgement 00:01:40 Title credits: I'm Not Ready for a Health Relationship! 00:02:20 Guest introductions and their orientation to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CXG) 00:06:09 Recapping the plot of CXG S01E04 "I'm Going on a Date with Josh's Friend!" 00:08:30 "The [kosher] salt in the wound." Rebecca's Mommie Dearest 00:12:45 "Come back to my place and please don't be a murderer." Sex with a Stranger & a date with a friend 00:31:04 "If he's your broken condom, I'm Plan B." Settle for Me 00:45:01 OMG we're heading for middle age: We all love Greg Serrano 00:51:12 To diagnose or befriend [Rebecca]? 01:04:45 "I'M SO CHILL!!!" Josh's application to Aloha Tech 01:11:16 Rating CXG S01E04 on the Fanon Test 01:23:23 "I can hear your face." Exit stage right 01:29:27 End credits

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Bloom, R., & Schlesinger, A. (2015, November 2). Settle for Me (Reprise). MMXV CBS Studios; Warner Bros. Entertainment. Bloom, R., Schlesinger, A., & Dolgen, J. (2015, November 3). Settle for Me [Music Video]. YouTube. Bloom, R., Schlesinger, A., Dolgen, J., & Patel, S. (2015, November 2). Sex with a Stranger [Music Video]. YouTube. Eastwick, P. W., Finkel, E. J., & Joel, S. (2023). Mate evaluation theory. Psychological Review, 130(1), 211–241. https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000360 Eastwick, P. W., Luchies, L. B., Finkel, E. J., & Hunt, L. L. (2014). The predictive validity of ideal partner preferences: A review and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 140(3), 623–665. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032432 Ehrlich, E. (Writer), & McDonald, S. (Director). (2015, November 2). I'm Going on a Date with Josh's Friend! (Season 1, Episode 4) [TV series episode]. In R. Bloom, A. Bosh McKenna, & M. Webb (Executive Producers), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. MMXV CBS Studios; Warner Bros. Entertainment. Finkel, E. J. (2025). Romantic relationships. In D. T. Gilbert, S. T. Fiske, E. J. Finkel, & W. B. Mendes (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology (6th ed.). Situational Press. https://doi.org/10.70400/NELF6116 Groves, J. M., & Chan, A. H. (2017). Love in the time of ‘settling’: Forbidden knowledge and modern singles advice. Journal of Sociology, 54(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783317721351 Spielmann, S. S., MacDonald, G., Maxwell, J. A., Joel, S., Peragine, D., Muise, A., & Impett, E. A. (2013). Settling for less out of fear of being single. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105(6), 1049–1073. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034628 “Settling for less out of fear of being single”: Correction to Spielmann et al. (2013). (2018). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 115(5), 804. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000227

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How is Rebecca ever going to rekindle her romance with Josh, now that Valencia has warned her to stay away from them both? Will we ever learn more about Rebecca’s childhood and the obvious trauma she’s experienced? And is this burgeoning relationship between Rebecca and Paula simply a one-way street – or will Rebecca ever do something for Paula?

To answer these questions, Aurora is joined by her definite friends, Student Clinical Psychologists HuiMei Lu and Darryn Williams. On this episode of the We're All So Broken Inside series, they analyse the representation of mental health and psychology in "I Hope Josh Comes to My Party!", Episode 3 of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. So swallow the barf and press play!

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00:00:00 Short introduction to representation of psychology in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend S01E03 00:01:01 Land acknowledgement 00:01:30 Title credits: I Hope Rebecca Faces Her Real Fears! 00:02:09 Guest introductions and their orientation to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CXG) 00:06:38 Recapping the plot of CXG S01E03 "I Hope Josh Comes to My Party!" 00:09:32 "If you're gonna sweat, can you put down a towel?" The garbage disposal chicken scene. 00:13:48 "You don't understand. This was the worst party of all time." Face Your Fears 00:27:23 "Not even a revolving barbershop pole revolves around barbershop." Intro to Paula's family 00:38:10 "On it, doin' it, crushin' it, bye." We Have Friends 00:44:49 "Baby, you can kiss all your childhood traumas goodbye." Not Just A Boy Band Made Up of 4 Joshes 01:14:48 Rating CXG S01E03 on the Fanon Test 01:27:12 "Party like it's Weekend Tuesday!" In closing 01:29:46 End credits

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Bloom, R. (Writer), Brosh McKenna, A. (Writer), & Davis, T. (Director). (2015, October 26). I Hope Josh Comes to My Party! (Season 1, Episode 3) [TV series episode]. In R. Bloom, A. Bosh McKenna, & M. Webb (Executive Producers), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. MMXV CBS Studios; Warner Bros. Entertainment. Bloom, R., & Schlesinger, A. (2015, November 1). Not Just A Boy Band Made Up of Four Joshes [Music Video]. YouTube. Bloom, R., Schlesinger, A., Dolgen, J., & Patel, S. (2015, October 29). Face Your Fears [Music Video]. YouTube. Bloom, R., Schlesinger, A., & Hitchcock, M. (2015, October 30). I Have Friends [Music Video]. YouTube.

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Can Rebecca freely admit that she moved to West Covina for Josh, now that Paula has discovered her secret? What is Paula's damage, that she is encouraging Rebecca to pursue Josh? What type of codependent relationship will develop between these women? And speaking of types, what type is Josh's girlfriend?

To answer these questions, Aurora is joined by her "cazh buds" Counselling Psychologist Rekha Kangokar and Student Clinical Psychologist Cailen Jonker. On this episode of the We're All So Broken Inside series, they analyse the representation of mental health and psychology in "Josh's Girlfriend Is Really Cool!", Episode 2 of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. So ready your resting Maggie Smith face and press play!

Learn about Rekha's practice on her website: https://harmonyunbound.co.za/ Cailen is on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cailen-jonker-3683a02b8/

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00:00:00 Short introduction to representation of psychology and mental health in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend S01E02 00:01:10 Land acknowledgement 00:01:37 Title credits: Rebecca's Ex-Boyfriend Is Really Manipulative! 00:02:17 Welcome and guest introductions 00:03:33 Content note 00:03:54 Orientation to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CXG) 00:11:26 Recapping the plot of CXG S01E02: "Josh's Girlfriend Is Really Cool!" 00:13:42 "She's so broken inside." The Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season One theme song. 00:18:25 "I'm just watching my ex-boyfriend make out with the hottest girl I've ever seen." The supermarket scene. 00:29:15 "I've never met anyone in my life who lies to themselves as much as you do." The relationship between Rebecca and Paula. 00:36:12 "I'm so much better than you." I'm So Good At Yoga. 00:55:13 "Wanna own you and consume you." Feeling Kinda Naughty. 01:06:27 Rating CXG Season 1, Episode 2, "Josh's Girlfriend is Really Cool!" on the Fanon Test. 01:21:57 "Pursued by a bear." In closing. 01:24:20 End credits

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Bloom, R. (Writer), Brosh McKenna, A. (Writer), & Scardino, D. (Director). (2015, October 19). Josh's Girlfriend Is Really Cool! (Season 1, Episode 2) [TV series episode]. In R. Bloom, A. Bosh McKenna, & M. Webb (Executive Producers), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. MMXV CBS Studios; Warner Bros. Entertainment. Bloom, R. Dolgen, J., & Schlesinger, A. (2015, October 21). Feeling Kinda Naughty [Music Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHoopcEz_IU Bloom, R., Schlesinger, A., Dolgen, J., Gregor, D., & Wauchope, A. (2015, October 21). I'm So Good At Yoga [Music Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFUk79fBOiQ Schlesinger, A. (2015, October 31). Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 1 Theme Song [Music Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzY3EaJTuJk

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Aurora Brown is joined by Registered Counsellor and Student Clinical Psychologist HuiMei "Lulu" Lu and award-winning actor, singer, director, and vocal coach Richard White to kick off We're All So Broken Inside -- a deep dive into the portrayal of mental health and psychology in the CW musical dramedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Together, they unpack the pilot episode, in which Rebecca Bunch quits her high-powered New York law firm and moves across the country to reconnect with a summer camp ex -- a decision that is, on paper, a terrible idea, and yet somehow completely compelling. So weird, right?!

The episode closes with the panel's first Fanon Test ratings for the series, scoring Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 1, Episode 1 across all five scales. The verdict? A surprisingly strong opener -- with a few notable caveats.

Connect with Richard on Instagram at @RichardLloydWhite, and check out his LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/richardlloydwhite

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00:00:00 Short introduction to representation of psychology and mental health in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend S01E01 00:01:18 Land acknowledgement 00:01:47 Title credits: Glitter Just Happened to Explode Inside of Me! 00:02:29 Welcome and guest introductions 00:04:48 Content note 00:05:10 "SO WEIRD, RIGHT?!" Orientation to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CXG) 00:10:58 Recapping the plot of CXG S01E01: "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!" 00:14:45 "In that moment it was like everyone was my mom." Summer camp scenes 00:24:46 "When was the last time you were truly happy?" New York City scenes 00:33:31 "I'm hopelessly, desperately in love with..." West Covina 00:36:40 "This is where I live. Yay for me." Office and Home Base scenes 00:47:07 "Ass blood!" The Sexy Getting Ready Song 01:01:33 "To broken people." The party scenes 01:10:21 Rating CXG S01E01 on the Fanon Test 01:30:25 Conclusion: "This is that time to obey the ticking clock of destiny." 01:36:31 End credits

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Bloom, R. (Writer), Brosh McKenna, A. (Writer), & Webb, M. (Director). (2015, October 12). Josh Just Happens to Live Here! (Season 1, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In R. Bloom, A. Bosh McKenna, & M. Webb (Executive Producers), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. MMXV CBS Studios; Warner Bros. Entertainment. Bloom, R., Dolgen, J. & Geier, M. (2015, October 6). Sexy Getting Ready Song [Music Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky-BYK-f154 Bloom, R. & Kurtenbach, J. (2015, October 23). West Covina [Music Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92538NJ0lbE Bloom, R. & Kurtenbach, J. (2015). West Covina Reprise [Song]. On Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Original Television Soundtrack (Season 1 - Volume 1). WaterTower Music. Brogan, C. (2020). "That's a sexist term!": how Crazy Ex-Girlfriend flips mental illness and misogyny. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7, 396–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30160-7 Shine, J. (2020). "I'm on My Own Path": Musical Development of the Musical in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015–2019). Music and the Moving Image, 13(3), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.5406/musimoviimag.13.3.0015 Veilleux, J. (2025). The psychology lessons of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. University of Arkansas. https://tempt.uark.edu/the-psychology-lessons-of-crazy-ex-girlfriend/

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In this episode of Intersectional Psychology, we explore how religion shapes our understanding of justice in South Africa, particularly in relation to gender. From early moral teachings about "right" and "wrong", to the ways religious doctrine influences law, relationships, and social norms, faith plays a far more political role than it often admits.

Drawing on personal experience, psychological insight, and feminist and decolonial perspectives, this episode unpacks both the liberatory and harmful roles religion can play. This is not a conversation about whether religion is "good" or "bad".

It's about asking a more uncomfortable question: When religion speaks about justice — who is it actually protecting?

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| 00:00:00 Short introduction | 00:01:46 Land acknowledgement | 00:02:14 Title credits: Gender, power, and the very selective pursuit of justice | 00:02:39 Welcome and introduction continued | 00:05:43 How religion influences the pursuit of justice | 00:07:44 When religion does promote justice (Yes, it happens... Sometimes) | 00:10:28 Religion as a tool for gender justice | 00:12:44 When religion undermines justice | 00:14:11 Doctrine, power, and the body | 00:17:07 Religion, politics, and the post-apartheid gap | 00:18:18 Where do we go from here? | 00:23:02 End credits

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Content Note: This episode discusses gender-based violence and femicide. Please take care of yourself while listening.

Gender-based violence is often described as a crisis. But what if it’s also a system?

In this episode of Intersectional Psychology, we examine how patriarchal ideology helps produce and sustain gender-based violence in South Africa. From early childhood socialisation to cultural practices, institutional failures, and historical inequalities, violence against women does not emerge in isolation — it grows out of deeply embedded power structures.

The episode also examines the profound psychological, social, and economic consequences of domestic violence for survivors, families, and communities. Finally, we explore what research tells us about prevention: why community-driven interventions are often more effective than isolated policy responses, and what it might take to dismantle the systems that allow gender-based violence to persist.

Because ending gender-based violence requires more than responding to individual acts of harm. It requires confronting the structures that make that harm possible.

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| 00:00:00 Short introduction | 00:01:09 Land acknowledgement | 00:01:37 Title credits: Femicide nation: The psychology of gender-based violence | 00:02:01 Welcome and introduction continued | 00:07:02 Patriarchy: Not just an individual problem | 00:09:57 How violence gets normalised early | 00:12:29 "Boys will be boys" and other dangerous myths | 00:16:40 Intersectionality: Violence has a history | 00:19:36 What violence does to people | 00:21:29 What actually works | 00:24:21 Dismantling patriarchy is prevention | 00:27:47 Conclusion | 00:31:08 End credits

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Gqola, P.D. (2015) Rape: A SA Nightmare. Johannesburg: MF Books. Gqola, P.D. (2021) Female Fear Factory: Gender and Patriarchy Under Racial Capitalism. Johannesburg: MF Books. Pretorius, L. (2025). South Africa declared gender-based violence a national disaster. But how will frontline workers be kept safe? The Conversation [online]. December 9, 2025. Available at: https://theconversation.com/south-africa-declared-gender-based-violence-a-national-disaster-but-how-will-frontline-workers-be-kept-safe-271323 Ramaphosa, C. (2025). Violence against women is a national disaster that demands national action. South African Government [online]. December 8, 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.za/blog/violence-against-women-national-disaster-demands-national-action Rasethaba, L. (dir.) (2018) The People vs. Patriarchy. MTV South Africa [online]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAoPFeObqe4 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Uguru, H. (2025). South Africa finally declares GBV a national disaster. The New Humanitarian [online]. December 2, 2025. Available at: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2025/12/02/south-africa-finally-declares-gbv-national-disaster

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