Josh Richardson
@schizosemia.bsky.social
skitsau'si:mje / skit-so-SEM-EE-uh / writing on madness, mental illness, & culture • registered psychotherapist • i also take photos of things on my head #selfportraitwithblank
Pinned
Josh Richardson
@schizosemia.bsky.social
· Jul 14
Awais Aftab on Substack
Emil du Bois-Reymond & Ignorance in Science: @Josh Richardson ‘s Interview with Gabriel Finkelstein
“we are ignorant and we will remain ignorant”
https://www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/emil-du-bois-rey...
substack.com
It was a privilege to interview @gabrielfinkelstein.bsky.social for @awaisaftab.bsky.social’s Psychiatry on the Margins, where we discuss the 19th C scientist Emil Du Bois-Raymond’s famous dictum regarding consciousness: “Ignoramus et ignorabimus“, or “we are ignorant and we will remain ignorant.”
Reposted by Josh Richardson
This was my first favourite mad memoir, representing complex relationships with her hallucinations rather than one dimensional horror.
Was delighted to find this autobiography of a “self-cured schizophrenic,” pen name Barbara O’Brien, originally published in 1958. I believe RD Laing mentions, or cites the book in his book the Divided Self.
December 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
This was my first favourite mad memoir, representing complex relationships with her hallucinations rather than one dimensional horror.
Couldn’t track down the citation. My memory looks incorrect. Instead I think it was in Gregory Bateson: Bateson, G. (1971). The cybernetics of “self”: A theory of alcoholism. Psychiatry, 34(1), 1-18. It’s reprinted in his book Steps to and Ecology of Mind.
Was delighted to find this autobiography of a “self-cured schizophrenic,” pen name Barbara O’Brien, originally published in 1958. I believe RD Laing mentions, or cites the book in his book the Divided Self.
December 15, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Couldn’t track down the citation. My memory looks incorrect. Instead I think it was in Gregory Bateson: Bateson, G. (1971). The cybernetics of “self”: A theory of alcoholism. Psychiatry, 34(1), 1-18. It’s reprinted in his book Steps to and Ecology of Mind.
Was delighted to find this autobiography of a “self-cured schizophrenic,” pen name Barbara O’Brien, originally published in 1958. I believe RD Laing mentions, or cites the book in his book the Divided Self.
December 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Was delighted to find this autobiography of a “self-cured schizophrenic,” pen name Barbara O’Brien, originally published in 1958. I believe RD Laing mentions, or cites the book in his book the Divided Self.
My favourite chapter so far in @manvir.bsky.social ‘s compelling new book is the one on the oracles of finance. Highly recommended.
December 10, 2025 at 10:43 PM
My favourite chapter so far in @manvir.bsky.social ‘s compelling new book is the one on the oracles of finance. Highly recommended.
“… Comrade Josh - that’s a fuckin’ ridiculous name for a revolutionary.” - Rocketman aka Bob Ferguson aka ‘Ghetto’ Pat Calhoun
December 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
“… Comrade Josh - that’s a fuckin’ ridiculous name for a revolutionary.” - Rocketman aka Bob Ferguson aka ‘Ghetto’ Pat Calhoun
Mystical and religious experiences are not magical, or metaphysical, but grounded in the human evolution of moral and reflective thought.
December 9, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Mystical and religious experiences are not magical, or metaphysical, but grounded in the human evolution of moral and reflective thought.
Reposted by Josh Richardson
December 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I'm almost always amazed how incredibly clarifying something is when I am able to write it out.
December 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I'm almost always amazed how incredibly clarifying something is when I am able to write it out.
This documentary shows highlights from a 36-hour marathon encounter session, conducted by psychologist Paul Bindrim, the founder of nude psychotherapy. Participants are encouraged to remove all their clothes on the theory that this defuses their defenses. boxd.it/l7Oo
Out of Touch (1971)
This Canadian documentary film shows highlights from a 36-hour marathon encounter session, conducted by psychologist Paul Bindrim, the founder of nude psychotherapy. Participants are encouraged to rem...
boxd.it
December 8, 2025 at 12:11 AM
This documentary shows highlights from a 36-hour marathon encounter session, conducted by psychologist Paul Bindrim, the founder of nude psychotherapy. Participants are encouraged to remove all their clothes on the theory that this defuses their defenses. boxd.it/l7Oo
Fascinating book. It is striking to see the complexity of chimp behaviour and relationships and reflect on our own. No wonder the book has been considered something of a touchstone. I’m now watching the film ‘The Family of Chimps’ based upon the group studied by De Waal.
December 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Fascinating book. It is striking to see the complexity of chimp behaviour and relationships and reflect on our own. No wonder the book has been considered something of a touchstone. I’m now watching the film ‘The Family of Chimps’ based upon the group studied by De Waal.
Reposted by Josh Richardson
Checking out the new @subvert.fm platformn I'm actually excited for this. I've followed a few bandcamp alternatives over the years and this one hits all the marks for me. Artist co-op, simple layout, seems to work well too. Anyone else been checking out their alpha platform launch?
November 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Checking out the new @subvert.fm platformn I'm actually excited for this. I've followed a few bandcamp alternatives over the years and this one hits all the marks for me. Artist co-op, simple layout, seems to work well too. Anyone else been checking out their alpha platform launch?
Easily one of my top three faviurite albums of the year. A beautiful realization of ancient misic in modern form. music.apple.com/ca/album/%D0...
Гільдеґарда by Heinali & Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko on Apple Music
Album · 2025 · 2 Songs
music.apple.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Easily one of my top three faviurite albums of the year. A beautiful realization of ancient misic in modern form. music.apple.com/ca/album/%D0...
Reposted by Josh Richardson
A talk I gave earlier this year has, unfortunately, become relevant again this week so I've published it here.
open.substack.com/pub/neurodiv...
open.substack.com/pub/neurodiv...
The Fascist Echo in Labour's "Over-diagnosis" Inquiry
Why Wes Steeting's new inquiry is about more than just renewed austerity
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A talk I gave earlier this year has, unfortunately, become relevant again this week so I've published it here.
open.substack.com/pub/neurodiv...
open.substack.com/pub/neurodiv...
The history of autism and the schizoid typology is complex and intertwined. A helpful article on some complicated stuff.
Autism’s Confusing Cousins
A differential diagnosis for the weird and the awkward
www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/autisms-co...
A differential diagnosis for the weird and the awkward
www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/autisms-co...
Autism’s Confusing Cousins
A differential diagnosis for the weird and the awkward
www.psychiatrymargins.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The history of autism and the schizoid typology is complex and intertwined. A helpful article on some complicated stuff.
3rd annual watching of the Holdovers. Just here to sing the praises of Da’ Vine Joy Randolph. boxd.it/vHza
The Holdovers (2023)
A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually, he forms an unlikely bond...
boxd.it
December 6, 2025 at 1:22 AM
3rd annual watching of the Holdovers. Just here to sing the praises of Da’ Vine Joy Randolph. boxd.it/vHza
Incredible story of psychiatrist Douglas Kelley who worked with the Nazi defendants at Nuremberg; now dramatized in the movie Nuremberg. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
Ep. 67- Nuremberg Trials with Jack El-Hai
Podcast Episode · The Holocaust History Podcast · 2025-12-01 · 1h 17m
podcasts.apple.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Incredible story of psychiatrist Douglas Kelley who worked with the Nazi defendants at Nuremberg; now dramatized in the movie Nuremberg. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
Would love for @leftofphilosophy.bsky.social to read and do an episode on this book, not *just* for its name, but its prescient diagnosis of the left.
December 5, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Would love for @leftofphilosophy.bsky.social to read and do an episode on this book, not *just* for its name, but its prescient diagnosis of the left.
I spent this morning writing a sentence. If you’ve heard me talk before, you could appreciate why this may be the case.
December 5, 2025 at 2:57 AM
I spent this morning writing a sentence. If you’ve heard me talk before, you could appreciate why this may be the case.
Rewatching Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and I miss Val Kilmer. 😢 boxd.it/23c8
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
A petty thief posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl and a detective who'...
boxd.it
December 5, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Rewatching Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and I miss Val Kilmer. 😢 boxd.it/23c8
Reposted by Josh Richardson
On Dec. 4, 1969, Chicago Black Panthers Fred Hampton and Mark Clark were assassinated by Chicago Police and the FBI
December 4, 2025 at 1:31 PM
On Dec. 4, 1969, Chicago Black Panthers Fred Hampton and Mark Clark were assassinated by Chicago Police and the FBI
I am writing about how the screenwriter of Taxi Driver has made a film in the transcendental style, which Ibelieve can elicit an experience akin to a secular religious experience.
December 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I am writing about how the screenwriter of Taxi Driver has made a film in the transcendental style, which Ibelieve can elicit an experience akin to a secular religious experience.
Work music (Car Bomb, Meshuggah) meets home (Eliane Radigue, Glenn Gould). And yes, Natalie Portman.
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#carbomb #meshuggah #glenngould #elianeradigue #natalieportman
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#carbomb #meshuggah #glenngould #elianeradigue #natalieportman
December 3, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Work music (Car Bomb, Meshuggah) meets home (Eliane Radigue, Glenn Gould). And yes, Natalie Portman.
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.
.
#carbomb #meshuggah #glenngould #elianeradigue #natalieportman
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#carbomb #meshuggah #glenngould #elianeradigue #natalieportman
Reposted by Josh Richardson
It might or might not - it's all relative to traditions, and bear in mind that some traditions may have their own idea of "false visions" or similar. It's never a simple as what the believer believes.
Take the Pope's view of Medugorje for example
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lad...
Take the Pope's view of Medugorje for example
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lad...
Our Lady of Medjugorje - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
It might or might not - it's all relative to traditions, and bear in mind that some traditions may have their own idea of "false visions" or similar. It's never a simple as what the believer believes.
Take the Pope's view of Medugorje for example
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lad...
Take the Pope's view of Medugorje for example
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lad...
Reposted by Josh Richardson
You'd have to narrow down different kinds of "religious experience" and whether they entail specific claims and actions about the world, rather than being a general sense of wellbeing (or otherwise).
December 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
You'd have to narrow down different kinds of "religious experience" and whether they entail specific claims and actions about the world, rather than being a general sense of wellbeing (or otherwise).
This morning I'm thinking about the question: what if, any implications does the history of religious, or mystical experience have for contemporary psychotherapy?
December 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This morning I'm thinking about the question: what if, any implications does the history of religious, or mystical experience have for contemporary psychotherapy?