Podcast
Therapy, Tech and Takeout
Hosted by Jackie Toale and Toni Teixeira · EN
Therapy, Tech & Takeout is a refreshing, boundary-blurring podcast that brings together the fast-paced, innovation-driven world of technology with the grounded, human-centric approach of mental health. Co-hosted by a tech entrepreneur with a sharp wit, honed on the stand-up stage, and a seasoned therapist, who mixes compassion with bold truths-and knows how to cut through the noise, this podcast offers a unique blend of humor, insight, and practical advice.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S2E15| When We Automate Decisions, Who's Actually Responsible When Things Go Wrong?
1w ago00:28:21Tap to summarizeAn AI agent was reportedly given explicit instructions not to make unauthorized changes… and then deleted a company’s production databases and backups anyway.This week on Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni explore the ethical, psychological, and societal implications of AI systems behaving in unexpected and potentially devastating ways.Using the recent Claude AI database deletion story as a starting point, they discuss:whether AI safeguards are real or just perceivedwhy humans overtrust technologyhow automation changes our relationship with responsibilitythe psychological comfort of outsourcing decision-makingexistential fears surrounding AIthe role political leaders should play in regulating emerging technologyand how intentional technology use may protect our autonomy and mental well-beingThey also explore how cognitive bias impacts our perception of technological risk, why many tech leaders limit technology exposure for their own children, and whether AI is becoming the “junk food” of modern life.Referenced articles & resources:The Guardian article discussed in this episode: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/29/claude-ai-deletes-firm-databaseForestiere Underground Gardensin Fresno, California: https://undergroundgardens.com/#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #TechEthics #MentalHealth #Automation #DigitalWellness #Psychology #Technology #ClaudeAI
Transcribe →S2E14| Cyberbullying, Sextortion & Self-Harm: Protecting Kids in 2026
2w ago00:31:13Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni are joined by licensed mental health therapist Sheena Beach for a serious and important conversation about teen sextortion, cyberbullying, self-harm, and digital shame.Inspired by a New York Post article reporting on teen suicides connected to sextortion scams, the conversation explores how online coercion can quickly become a mental health crisis for adolescents. Sheena explains what self-harm can look like, why it is not always the same as suicidal intent, and how parents can respond with calm, connection, and choice instead of shame.We also discuss the tech side of the problem: fake accounts, disappearing messages, AI, anonymous profiles, parental monitoring tools, and the difficult balance between protecting kids and maintaining trust.This episode includes discussion of self-harm, suicide, sextortion, and child exploitation. Please take care while listening.Show Notes / ResourcesArticle discussed:Sextortion and teen suicide connection:https://nypost.com/2025/12/10/us-news/38-us-teens-died-by-suicide-in-five-years-from-sextortion-scams/Cyberbullying and sexting laws by state:https://cyberbullying.org/sexting-lawsHealthcare-based guidance on self-harm:https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/when-children-and-teens-self-harm.aspxSelf-harm and suicide information:https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/self-harm/self-harm-statistics/https://afsp.org/Cyberbullying and sextortion resources:https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-ithttps://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2023/PSA230912https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/sextortion/financially-motivated-sextortionBooks for children and teens:My Body is Private by Linda Gerardhttps://a.co/d/014SLl9sDo You Have a Secret? by Jennifer Moore-Mallinoshttps://a.co/d/0ex9FHg5Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect by Jayneen Sandershttps://a.co/d/0eoHS1scThe Internet Is Not Your Friend: Online Safety for Teens by Kyan Montaguehttps://a.co/d/09TNaHxxParental safety and monitoring tools mentioned:Bark Technology: https://www.bark.us/Qustodio: https://www.qustodio.com/en/Aura Parent: https://www.aura.com/parentsFamily Keeper: https://reasonlabs.com/platform/products/parental-control?fk_redirect=1Guest:Sheena Beach, licensed mental health therapist and founder of Canopy Counseling. Licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina, with telehealth availability in Florida. Connect with Sheena www.sheenabeach.comIf you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →S2E13| Can Technology Actually Improve Your Relationship? What the Research Says
3w ago00:32:23Tap to summarizeCan technology actually improve your relationship? Or is it just another tool that falls short when things get real?In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni break down a fascinating meta-analysis on digital relationship interventions and what the research actually says about apps, coaching platforms, and tech-driven tools designed to improve connection.👉 Study referenced: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12482273/They explore:Whether relationship apps and online programs really increase satisfactionThe difference between relationship satisfaction vs. relationship healthWhy digital tools may fail new parents (and what actually helps instead)The surprising role of coaching and accountability in digital programsHow intimacy, vulnerability, and “healthy risk” impact long-term relationshipsWhere tech helps… and where it absolutely doesn’t replace therapyPlus, a wild conversation about haptic tech (yes… remote kissing devices 😳) and what it reveals about human connection.If you’ve ever wondered whether relationship tools are worth it - or when it’s time to go deeper - this episode gives you a grounded, honest take.
Transcribe →S2E12| When Love Turns Into Surveillance: The Rise of Relationship Hackin
4w ago00:31:43Tap to summarizeThis week, we’re diving into a heavy but important topic inspired by a Wired article on how people are using hacking tools, surveillance, and AI to exploit partners and friends.We unpack how this actually happens in real life - and why it’s less about “hacking” and more about access, trust, and control.From shared passwords and location tracking to deepfakes and digital coercion, this episode explores both the tech side and the psychological impact of these behaviors.We also talk about:Warning signs to look for in relationshipsWhy people normalize control early onHow to protect yourself digitallyWhat to do if you’re concerned about a friendWhy trusting your gut matters more than you think⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses stalking, abuse, and sexual assault.A Call to Men website: https://www.acalltomen.org/Jackson Katz, The Macho ParadoxRAINN is the national organization and where people can start to help them find local resources: https://centers.rainn.org/
Transcribe →S2E11| Art Therapy in the Digital Age: How Technology is Changing Creativity and Healing
Apr 900:30:42Tap to summarizeWhat happens when creativity meets technology in the therapy room?In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni are joined by art therapist Lindsey Jonin to explore how art therapy is evolving in a digital world. From iPads and Canva to virtual sessions and screen sharing, Lindsey shares how technology is expanding access to healing while still keeping human connection at the center.We also unpack the tension many of us feel with tech - when it isolates vs. when it connects - and how creativity can be a powerful antidote to overconsumption.Whether you think you’re “not creative” or you’re already an artist, this conversation will change how you think about self-expression, mental health, and the role of technology in both. In this episode:What art therapy actually is (and what it’s not)How digital tools like Canva and drawing apps are used in therapyWhy virtual art therapy can increase accessibility and connectionThe mindset shift from consuming to creatingSimple ways to reconnect with your creativity (even if you feel stuck)Learn more + find a credentialed art therapist:Lindsey Jonin: https://www.lilycounselingandarttherapy.com/aboutPresentations | Art Workshops | Trainings www.abstractandaligned.com Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB): https://www.atcb.orgAmerican Art Therapy Association: https://arttherapy.org
Transcribe →S2E10| Fantasy on Demand: AI Sex Bots and the Future of Intimacy
Apr 200:27:13Tap to summarizeWhat happens when AI removes friction from desire… and gives you exactly what you want, instantly and without judgment?In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni explore the rise of AI intimacy tools and what a new study suggests about how AI sex bots may accelerate fantasies, reshape expectations, and impact real human relationships. From the psychology of instant gratification to the risks of unrealistic expectations, dependency, and data privacy, this conversation goes beyond the headline to unpack what this means for connection, growth, and the future of intimacy.They also dig into how recent legal pressure on social media companies could influence the guardrails AI companies are forced to build and what happens when technology doesn’t just show us content, but actively participates in our emotional and behavioral patterns.🧠 In This Episode:How AI can accelerate fantasies faster than human relationshipsThe psychology of “frictionless” intimacy and why it mattersUnrealistic expectations and the impact on real-world relationshipsLoneliness, dependency, and emotional outsourcing to AIEthical concerns, boundaries, and who defines “harm”Privacy risks - what happens to your most personal data?Could AI guardrails reshape how these tools evolve?🔗 Links & Resources:Article discussed: https://nypost.com/2025/12/19/lifestyle/ai-sex-bots-can-fuel-your-kinks-and-freaky-fantasies-faster-than-a-human-partner-new-study/Toni’s blog: https://strongatthecore.com/blog/💬 Join the Conversation:Is AI helping people explore safely… or quietly reshaping what we expect from relationships?Let us know your thoughts in the comments.🎙️ About the Podcast:Therapy, Tech & Takeout explores the intersection of mental health and technology with curiosity, humor, and real-world perspective. Hosted by a therapist and a tech entrepreneur, each episode breaks down complex topics into conversations that actually matter.
Transcribe →S2E09| How Tech Speak is Changing How We Communicate - RERUN
Mar 1300:26:56Tap to summarizeInternet slang is evolving faster than ever, and algorithms may be the reason why. In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni explore how social media feeds accelerate the spread of language, reshape meaning, and create generational misunderstandings.Drawing on insights from linguist Adam Aleksic, the conversation breaks down the rise of “algo-speak”, why people modify language to avoid moderation, and how memes and slang signal identity online. From viral phrases like “brain rot” to awkward classroom misunderstandings about the word “hookup,” this episode examines how internet culture fragments shared vocabulary while also creating new forms of creativity.If you’ve ever felt like the internet is inventing a new language overnight - or struggled to understand the words your kids are using - this episode will help you decode what’s happening and why curiosity matters more than judgment.In this episode we discuss:How algorithms accelerate slang and fracture shared vocabularyWhat “algo-speak” is and why people use it to avoid moderationHow language becomes a signal of identity and belonging online“Brain rot,” memes, and the debate over whether internet culture is art or noisePractical tips for talking with kids about internet language and media literacy
Transcribe →S2E08| The Replication Crisis: Can We Trust Science in the Age of Tech?
Mar 500:11:44Tap to summarizeHow much of what we believe about science actually holds up?In this solo episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie explores the growing conversation around the replication crisis - the discovery that many published scientific studies fail to produce the same results when researchers try to repeat them.With co-host Toni away for a couple of weeks, Jackie takes a closer look at how trust in science has become a recurring topic in conversations with friends, colleagues, and listeners. If the research keeps changing, how do we know what to believe?To unpack the issue, this episode reacts to and analyzes key moments from a recent Planet Money from NPR episode hosted by Mary Childs and Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi, which follows economist Abel Brodeur and his innovative project called the Replication Games. These events bring researchers together to test whether published social science findings actually reproduce.https://www.npr.org/2026/02/27/nx-s1-5720653/replication-crisis-games-abel-brodeurThrough short clips and commentary, Jackie explores:• What the replication crisis actually is• Why incentives in academia can reward “significant” results• How researchers sometimes unintentionally manipulate data• Why transparency and replication are essential for trustworthy science• What this means for everyday people trying to navigate health, technology, and mental health adviceThis episode also connects the issue to a broader theme we discuss often on the show: how systems and incentives shape behavior, whether in academic research, tech platforms, or social media.Most importantly, Jackie shares practical ways listeners can think about scientific claims without becoming cynical or overwhelmed.Science is not broken - but understanding how it works can help us build better trust in research, technology, and the information we rely on every day.The Replication CrisisScientific reproducibilityResearch incentives and publication pressureTech and trust in scienceMental health and information overloadHow to interpret scientific studiesTherapy, Tech & Takeout explores the intersection of technology and mental health, how tech shapes our mood, and what it means to be human in an always-online world.Hosted by Jackie and therapist Toni Teixeira, the show blends real conversations about tech mental health, emotional regulation, leadership, parenting, and modern work with thoughtful analysis of current research and cultural moments.Planet Money from NPRHosts: Mary Childs and Alexi Horowitz-GhaziTopic: Economist Abel Brodeur and the Replication GamesSubscribe for weekly conversations about tech, mood, mental health, and the systems shaping our lives.Topics CoveredPodcastSource Episode ReferencedIf you enjoyed this episode
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S2E07| CES 2026: The AI Hype Cycle vs. Real Tech Progress
Feb 1900:27:57Tap to summarizeThe hype around AI at CES is everywhere, but what is the real story? Are we genuinely solving human problems, or are we just chasing shiny new gadgets that distract us from the bigger crisis? This episode pulls back the curtain on the dazzling AI hype and asks the tough questions we all need to hear.You will discover how AI’s marketing buzz is masking a deeper truth: most innovations are not truly solving anything new. Instead, they are incremental upgrades, leveraging our craving for novelty to keep us hooked. We break down the dangerous cycle of habituation, how constant exposure makes us numb to the true impact of the tech we embrace so blindly. From AI-powered toothbrushes to shiny gadgets, it is a story of reliance, complacency, and environmental waste.We explore the hidden costs: environmental destruction, privacy erosion, economic displacement, and ethical blindness. Topics include AI fatigue, the environmental footprint of AI tools, and the urgent need for AI literacy. Plus, the episode dives into how this hype distracts us from the looming existential crisis: massive job loss, societal upheaval, and the moral questions surrounding rapid innovation.This is not just a tech talk, it is a wake-up call. It is perfect for anyone tired of superficial buzz and hungry for honest, humanity-centered conversations. Because behind every gadget, there is a chance to choose wisely, to understand deeply, and to put human well-being above shiny bells and whistles.Turn off the distraction and tap into what truly matters, your mind, your future, your humanity. This episode empowers you to see through the hype and get accountable for the tech shaping our world. Do not just consume, choose consciously. Because the greatest innovation is the one that truly serves us all.Read more about the topic in the article we discussed: CES is Drunk on AI While the Real Innovation is Somewhere Else.Chapters:Introduction and Personal UpdatesThe AI Hype at CESReal Problems vs. Marketing StrategiesThe Cycle of HabituationHidden Costs and Ethical ConcernsThe Need for AI LiteracyConclusion and Human Connection
Transcribe →S2E06 | Moltbook and Moltbots: What You Need to Know About these AI Agents and Social Media
Feb 1200:31:18Tap to summarizesummaryIn this episode of Therapy Tech and Takeout, hosts Toni Teixeira and Jaclyn Toale explore the intersection of therapy and technology, discussing current events, personal experiences, and the implications of AI in social media. They delve into the concept of Malt Bots, ethical considerations surrounding AI, and the importance of media literacy in navigating the digital landscape. The conversation highlights the emotional impact of technology on individuals and the need for critical thinking in an age where AI plays a significant role in decision-making.takeawaysThe rapid evolution of technology impacts our understanding of therapy.Emotional responses to current events can be overwhelming for therapists.Malt Bots are AI agents designed to act on users' behalf.AI can infer personal patterns and habits, raising privacy concerns.The distinction between human and AI interaction is becoming blurred.Ethical implications of AI in social media are significant.AI's confidence can lead to misplaced trust in its accuracy.Media literacy is essential in the age of AI.Understanding the cost-benefit of using AI tools is crucial.The future of AI requires careful consideration of its role in society.HELP FOR ABUSE VICTIMS:National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-373-7888, text "HELP" or "INFO" to 233733 (BeFree), or chat online at humantraffickinghotline.org.Emergency Assistance: Call 911 if there is immediate danger or an urgent situation occurring within the last 24 hours.Child Sex Trafficking: Contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or via their CyberTipline.StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8423) for Native Americans affected by domestic/sexual violence.
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