Shows
3 Parallels PodcastI Outgrew My Therapist: What Growth Really RequiresIn this episode, Dr. Jason Branch takes listeners on a personal journey into his basement. Building on the three parallels of the Attic, Living Room, and Basement, Dr. Branch explores the space we avoid most. The basement represents the hidden places. The darkness, the clutter, the moisture, the drama, the trauma, and the moments shaped by our relationships with parents and the people who came in between. Dr. Branch shares his own healing process, including the decision to upgrade his therapist because he has grown into a different version of himself. As he cleans out his own basement, he i...
2026-01-0833 min
3 Parallels PodcastI Went to Bermuda for One Reason… and Everything ChangedSeason 3 of The 3 Parallels Podcast kicks off with a powerful return for 2026. In this opening episode, Dr. Jason Branch takes listeners behind the scenes of an unexpected journey that led him to Bermuda at the end of 2025. What started as a clear desire to become a TEDx speaker turned into a life changing pivot after attending a TEDx event and meeting someone who would shift his trajectory in ways he never saw coming. Dr. Branch shares how choosing to pour into someone else without expectation created ripples that came back as breadcrumbs, opening doors he could not have planned. F...
2026-01-0550 min
3 Parallels PodcastAlignment Brings People: The Role of Destination Helpers in BecomingIn this episode, Dr. Branch introduces a concept that has played a meaningful role in his journey of becoming HIM: the idea of a Destination Helper. A destination helper is someone who enters your life to support you along your path. That support may last for a moment, a season, or a lifetime. Dr. Branch shares personal examples of his own destination helpers and reflects on how both intention and alignment shape who shows up in our lives. This conversation invites listeners to consider how the people, places, and opportunities they attract are often connected to who they are...
2026-01-0143 min3 Parallels PodcastWhat Healing Makes Possible: A Christmas StoryIn this episode, Dr. Branch invites listeners into a deeply personal reflection on Christmas 2025, a moment that marked a first in his life. For the first time, he experienced Christmas with both of his parents under one roof.As a product of divorce, Dr. Branch shares what it was like growing up navigating the holidays with one parent in Ohio and the other in Alabama. He opens up about the emotional complexity of those experiences and the quiet impact they had over time. This episode captures a powerful healing moment in his adult life, one he never had the...
2025-12-2943 min3 Parallels PodcastHow High Achievers Actually GrowIn this episode, Dr. Branch invites listeners and viewers into The Lab, a weekly virtual space for high achieving professionals committed to becoming the best version of themselves. He offers an inside look at the experience, the conversations, and the shared exploration that happens within this community. Dr. Branch introduces The Lab through the lens of his long standing 3EM Model, which focuses on designing life with intention by being Exposed, Educated, Engaged, and Mentored. This framework applies across every area of human life and growth. Along the way, he connects ideas through unexpected places, f...
2025-12-2558 min3 Parallels PodcastThe Version of Me I Was Afraid to Become with Alicia BrownIn this episode, Dr. Branch welcomes back Ms. Alicia Brown one year after her first appearance. She returns to share how deeply her life has shifted by choosing to invest in herself and by learning to approach life in a new way. Alicia talks openly about becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable and how that decision changed everything.She reflects on the beliefs, habits, and patterns that no longer served the future version of herself. As a former perfectionist, Alicia shares how perfectionism once blocked her from receiving what she truly deserved and how...
2025-12-2253 min3 Parallels PodcastA Fly on the Wall in The Lab: Rethinking Holidays, Mental Health & TraditionIn this episode of the 3 Parallels Podcast with The Dr. Jason Branch, Dr. Branch allows listeners in to an experience being a fly on the wall in “The Lab”. The Lab is a group of high performing and high achieving millennials and beyond share stories, lived experiences, advice, feedback, love and support for each other while Dr. Branch serves as the facilitator. In this episode Dr. Branch shares insight and information from a new and different perspective related to the holidays. We are all experiencing different aspects of life as we come to the close of the year. There are sev...
2025-12-1838 min3 Parallels PodcastWhy Showing Up Here Is an Investment in YourselfIn this episode Dr. Branch shares his excitement for Season 3 of the 3 Parallels Podcast and gives listeners a look at what is coming next. He talks through new updates, the experiences listeners can tap into, and why showing up for the podcast is an investment in themselves.Dr. Branch gets into the holidays, beliefs, ideas, and the challenges many people face during this time of year. He also explains the language, culture, and community that continue to grow around the podcast along with his own personal growth. You will hear about honeybuns, breadcrumbs, and ripples, along with the Gator...
2025-12-1528 min3 Parallels PodcastSeeing Myself Through a New Lens: Meg’s Neurospicy Journey of Becoming with Meg CaseyIn this episode of The 3 Parallels, Dr. Branch sits down with a former student and now colleague, Meghan Sullivan Casey, who many listeners already know and appreciate. Meg opens up about what it means for her to stay flexible and flowing. She talks about staying focused on herself while being open to who she was, who she is, and who she is becoming. Meg describes life as a neurospicy person, with layers of ideas and constant shifts that have helped her grow with intention. She shares how she stepped into a new chapter by seeing herself through a different l...
2025-12-0858 min3 Parallels PodcastCelebration 1 Year Old PodcastBuckle up, buttercup. On this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, The Dr. Jason Branch celebrates with the listeners one year of podcasting and reflects on the life lessons, challenges, and growth that came from stepping outside his comfort zone. He shares personal stories of transformation, showing how starting the podcast helped him evolve into a different version of himself.Dr. Branch takes a deep dive into the 3 Parallels framework and explores how listeners can join him on this journey of self-investment, growth, and becoming their best selves. He shares the inspiration behind the podcast, including influences from his long-lost...
2025-12-0444 min3 Parallels PodcastThe OutKast Effect with Dr. Julian MageeOn this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Jason Branch sits down once again with a favorite visitor of the show, Dr. Julian Magee. Together, they travel through the past, present, and future as they unpack their shared love and appreciation for one of the greatest hip-hop duos ever, OutKast.They trade stories and connections tied to the music, culture, energy, and vibe. The conversation moves in ways that spark nostalgia for longtime fans and offer new insights for listeners who may not know the full OutKast story. They explore how this music shaped their lives from the early 90...
2025-12-011h 103 Parallels PodcastWhen Belief Becomes Deadly: A Journey Into Power and PrivilegeIn this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Jason Branch dives beneath the surface—literally and figuratively—to explore how our beliefs, emotions, and lived experiences shape the way we live, work, play, and take action. Dr. Branch examines a tragic event rooted in belief rather than fact, highlighting the reality that human conviction in their beliefs has cost lives.He introduces the concept of the “Fivefecta,” a term he coined to describe people in power who can take lives and evade accountability. Through stories, experiences, and incidents, Dr. Branch illustrates how this combination of belief, power, and privilege can alter...
2025-11-2739 min3 Parallels PodcastWhen Imposter Syndrome Runs the Show with Dr. Sharon BeattyIn this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Sharon Beatty for a real conversation about identity, doubt, and growth. She walks us through her path as a clinician and school counselor who decided in the middle of a full career and family life that she was ready to go further and earn her doctorate.Dr. Beatty opens up about the moment she recognized that imposter syndrome was running the show. Starting her doctoral program pushed her to face old stories that no longer served her and build new beliefs that supported the woman she was...
2025-11-2454 min3 Parallels PodcastInside the Mind of 100 Episodes: The Blueprint You Never SawIn this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch reflects on the many layers of the podcast and the journey to becoming the best version of ourselves. He takes a creative spin by inviting listeners and viewers to connect to a visual and audio experience that guides the audience on a journey, connecting all the dots of the 3 Parallels. Discover the breadcrumbs—things hidden in plain sight—and the ripples that come from throwing a pebble in the pond by investing in yourself and your future. Dr. Branch calls in the audience to share a moment of reflection on 100 episo...
2025-11-2015 min3 Parallels PodcastHe Lived 6 Lives Before 30: Parker’s Wild Journey of Becoming with Parker HiltonIn this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch sits down with Parker, once a student and mentee, now a colleague and business partner. Parker has lived many lives. His dad encouraged him to explore, which pushed him toward experiences that most people only dream about.He went from competitive snowboarding to photography and travel journalism. At one point he was living in a van, then he landed in Ecuador and built a different path entirely. Parker opens up about grief, loss, and major transitions that shaped his identity. He shares honest stories about who he has been, who he...
2025-11-1745 min3 Parallels PodcastUnderstanding the Foundation of ConnectionIn this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch invites you into a real conversation about relationships using a simple cake and icing analogy. He digs into what we build at the core of our connections and what we often treat as decoration. The goal is to help you see where things feel solid and where they feel sweet but shallow. You will hear honesty, vulnerability, and a different way of thinking about how we show up for the people in our lives. Dr. Branch guides you to reflect on your own relationships, how you categorize them, and how you...
2025-11-1352 min3 Parallels PodcastHaunted or Healed? Facing Ourselves with CourageIn this Halloween episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch celebrates the night with former student and colleague Denisse Mireles. Join The Joker and The Unmasked Killer Jason as they explore the 3 parallels. Denisse shares her journey of discovering that she is allowed to be her authentic self and continues to learn about herself and others along the way. She offers insight into family systems, culture, belief systems, and identity. Dr. Branch provides space and grace for Denisse to speak her truth, embracing authenticity in a place where she is celebrated and welcomed.Throughout the conversation, Denisse reflects...
2025-11-1044 min3 Parallels PodcastBack to the Basement: What the Honeybun Really MeansDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch takes us back to where it all started. Episode one gets a fresh visit with new insight, new lived experience, and a stronger sense of purpose. The lessons have grown since the first time the story was told and so have you.This is where honeybuns, breadcrumbs, gators, and salamanders show up with deeper meaning. Dr. Branch talks about the courage it takes to look in the mirror, to step into discomfort, and to understand the parts of yourself that helped you survive. He speaks with honesty about...
2025-11-0632 min3 Parallels PodcastThe Courage to Keep Becoming with David PattyDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch sits down for a real conversation with Mr. David Patty. David is a former student and a true renaissance man. Before becoming a therapist, he spent years acting, writing and producing. He brings that same creative spark and courage to the work he does today.David’s gift is storytelling. He lets us into moments from his life that shaped who he has become and who he is still becoming. He talks about being adopted by two mental health therapists and what it was like to grow up in...
2025-11-031h 093 Parallels PodcastUnderstanding Perspectives: Diversity, Bias & The Human ExperienceDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch delivers an engaging, webinar-style experience focused on understanding and identifying diverse perspectives. As a clinical mental health counselor and counselor educator, he invites listeners and viewers to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion through a fresh and thoughtful lens.Dr. Branch breaks down the impact of stereotypes, biases, and the treatment of individuals across different cultures, communities, and perspectives. This psychoeducational conversation encourages new ways of thinking about self and others while promoting empathy, awareness, and growth for anyone who invests in the episode. With his signature mix of humor, f...
2025-10-301h 033 Parallels PodcastQuestion Everything: How to Redefine Your Beliefs & Become YouDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch takes listeners and viewers on a journey of self-awareness and exploration inside The Gator Lab. This group experience creates a safe and supportive space for helping professionals to examine different versions of themselves during weekly Zoom sessions held every Wednesday at 9 am PT/12 pm EST. Come have lunch or brunch with us in the lab. Review the information below for more details. Dr. Branch unpacks the Salamander vs. Gator concept, showing how people can grow into their best selves by challenging old beliefs, cultural norms, and traditions. He inv...
2025-10-3041 min3 Parallels PodcastThrowback Wednesday: The Gator Scales JournalDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch takes listeners and viewers on a journey to explore the three parallels of life: who we were, who we are, and who we are becoming. In this episode, Dr. Branch unpacks perfectionism and insecurity tied to our past selves, the lack of trust and honesty we often have with our present selves, and the tools needed to evolve into our best selves—the gator version of who we are meant to be. Listeners will also get an inside look at The Gator Scales Journal and how to use it as...
2025-10-2532 min3 Parallels PodcastTherapy, Transformation, and Becoming Your Best Self with Jamie Paris Description: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch welcomes his former student and current colleague, Jamie Paris. Jamie opens up about her personal and professional transformation through the lens of the Three Parallels. She shares her experience as a first-generation college student raised in a single-parent household, learning to navigate life and figure things out along the way. Jamie discusses the value of therapy and the importance of finding a therapist who truly fits. She offers honest insight into what it’s like to be a therapist while having one, reminding listeners that growth is a con...
2025-10-2046 min3 Parallels PodcastTry Different: Growth Through Discomfort (Gator Talk Q&A)Description: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch takes us back to the very first Gator Talk Q&A Session—a live show that invites listeners and viewers to connect with him every Friday at 9:00am PT/12pm:00 pm EST on Instagram Live (@Dr.JasonBranch).He shares his approach to becoming the best version of ourselves through the evolution from Salamander to Gator. Along the way, Dr. Branch answers questions, challenges the audience to try new, different, and uncomfortable things, and explores how growth happens in that process. Through real stories and passionate insight, he dives into mental...
2025-10-161h 023 Parallels PodcastHealing Out Loud: A Black Woman’s Mental Health Journey with Alicia BrownDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch sits down with Ms. Alicia Brown, who shares an authentic and transformational story about her journey with mental health and wellness as a Black woman. Alicia opens up about the ups and downs of healing, exploring family patterns, cultural influences, systems, and community dynamics. She also discusses her experience working with a therapist, the deep inner work required to overcome past challenges and beliefs, and the realities of medication management, grief, and loss. This episode highlights the importance of prioritizing your well-being and challenges the stigma and stereotypes s...
2025-10-1353 min3 Parallels PodcastParallels Podcast Presents: Tha Lab Session #1Description: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch gives listeners an inside look at Tha Lab, a community he is building to support helping professionals on their journey to becoming the best version of themselves. He shares insights on boundaries, balance, self-care, and the Gator versus Salamander analogy, as well as the importance of becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. Through his unique approach, Dr. Branch breaks down complex topics into simple, easy-to-understand concepts. Tune in to explore these ideas, gain practical takeaways, and see how investing in yourself and your wellness can create lasting change. Bring a...
2025-10-1159 min3 Parallels PodcastFrom Burnout to Balance:How to Give Without Losing Yourself with Dr. LaTasha ToneyDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch sits down with his colleague and friend, Dr. LaTasha Toney, entrepreneur, clinician, and social worker. Dr. Toney shares what inspired her to pursue a career in the helping professions and the lessons she has learned along the way. She explores the importance of connection and community, using the metaphor of the Red Sea versus the Dead Sea, pouring into others who can give back versus those who cannot. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Toney shares stories of growth, transition, and transformation, emphasizing the role of healthy self-care practices in pr...
2025-10-0639 min3 Parallels PodcastHow Systems Shape Our Minds and Cultures with Dr. Sherritta HughesDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch is joined by his colleague and friend, Dr. Sherritta Hughes, entrepreneur, clinician, and counselor educator. Dr. Hughes shares her journey growing up on the East Coast, the influence of family and education, and how moving to Alabama shaped her perspective on life and culture. She reflects on the challenges of often being the only one in certain spaces, the lessons she gained from 90s hip hop, and the importance of connecting with community. Dr. Hughes also unpacks how systems and culture can lead people to become “internal col...
2025-10-0252 min3 Parallels Podcast3 Parallels of WisdomDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch sits down with his colleague and friend, Dr. Michael Jones. Growing up in the South with parents in the ministry, Dr. Jones had to carve out his own identity as a Black man rather than accept the labels others tried to place on him. He opens up about his perspective on mental health and wellness, faith, innovation, and technology. In a candid and insightful conversation, Dr. Jones reflects on the many roles he has held throughout his life and how those experiences continue to shape his present...
2025-09-291h 053 Parallels PodcastLiving My Best LifeDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Branch sits down with one of his former mentees, Dr. Kalesha Jenkins. Growing up in Philadelphia, Dr. Jenkins faced and overcame countless obstacles on her path to earning a doctorate in counselor education and supervision. Today she continues that journey as a researcher and professor. She opens up about her background, community, and culture, reflecting on how her perspective on life has shifted over the years. Dr. Jenkins also shares the raw truth of becoming a mother in the middle of her dissertation and the challenge of balancing...
2025-09-2547 min3 Parallels PodcastLiving Life On My Own Terms with JessieDescription: In this episode, Dr. Branch has an in-depth conversation with Jessie Pham, a former student in the Clinical Mental Health Master’s Program. Jessie opens up about overcoming challenges both personally and professionally, and the role family and culture have played in shaping his journey. He reflects on leaning into authenticity, speaking to his future self, and making the choice to live life on his own terms. Jessie shares a pivotal moment when he had a difficult conversation with his mother, risking rejection to speak his truth. He also talks about the importance of inviting others in...
2025-09-2252 min3 Parallels PodcastFrom a Kendrick Concert to Paris: Destination Helpers w/ Dr. Natalie WilliamsDescription: In this episode, Dr. Branch has a basement conversation with Dr. Natalie Williams, who opens up about the power of stepping outside her comfort zone. She shares an intimate story about going to a concert alone, an experience that led to an unexpected connection with a mentor she now calls her Big Sister. With ten years of wisdom ahead of her, this Big Sister has guided Natalie through lessons on life, travel, food, music, books, research, and the art of living authentically while practicing self-care.Dr. Williams reflects on how choosing to do what is new, different...
2025-09-1857 min3 Parallels PodcastDon't let these Degrees Fool You featuring Dr. Vincent SearsDescription: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Jason is joined by Dr. Vincent Sears for a rich and vulnerable conversation about identity, advocacy, and healing as Black men. Dr. Sears shares his journey through academia and counseling, the challenges of navigating systems not built for him, and the ways faith, resilience, and self-care shaped his path. He opens up about how music has been a mirror, map, and medicine in his life, from helping him push through personal struggles to becoming the focus of his PhD dissertation on Black male graduates in counseling. Together, D...
2025-09-151h 003 Parallels PodcastThe Monday Standard: “Fuck You Dan!”Description: In this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast, Dr. Jason Branch sits down with his cousin, Chef Dan from SoNapa, for a conversation that blends food, family, culture, and truth. Together, they explore the love of community and connection through cooking, music, and shared experiences.Dan opens up about his journey into culinary arts and the origin of the Monday Standard, while also reflecting on his life as a professor, restaurant owner, husband, and future author of a cookbook that weaves stories with recipes from his lived experiences. Dr. Branch takes the conversation deep into “the basement,” uncovering the ma...
2025-09-111h 243 Parallels PodcastWe make MEaning out of Everything!Description: On this episode of The 3 Parallels Podcast Season 2, Dr. Branch takes a deeper dive into the three parallels: who we were, who we are, and who we are becoming. He explores how we, as human beings, assign meaning to everything—and when meaning or understanding is missing, we often create it and live according to beliefs rather than facts.Dr. Branch opens up about how the podcast came to life and how creativity can be used as a tool to build the life you want, instead of following someone else’s blueprint. This candid conversation connec...
2025-09-0831 min