Tatev Talks

Divested Psychology, Creative Masochism, and The Powers That Be, with Dr. Asil Yassine

Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:00 -0700

In Episode 7, Tatev sits down with Dr. Asil Yassin — UCLA-trained psychologist and founder of Dynamic Dreaming — to talk about her path from middle school classroom to PhD, researching Lebanon in real time as the war unfolded, and why mainstream therapy training isn't built for ethnic minorities. We also get into joy as resistance, community, and the small daily containers that keep us going.

00:00 Welcome — meeting Dr. Asil Yassin
01:25 From the middle school classroom to UCLA's PhD
05:30 Going clinical mid-program: how Asil added therapy hours
09:00 Researcher vs. therapist: two kinds of presence
11:30 When a student opens up: holding the weight
13:30 Studying Lebanon in real time as the war unfolds
17:00 Telling the whole narrative, not just the appeasing parts
21:00 Capitalism, PhD timelines, and taking the scenic route
28:30 Why mainstream therapy training fails ethnic minorities
32:30 Inside Dynamic Dreaming — how Asil's practice is different
35:30 Learning to trust yourself in big decisions
39:30 "Tell me something good": joy as resistance
43:30 Community, recognition, and acts of resistance
49:30 Spaces invested in liberation vs. spaces invested in civility
53:30 Movement, seasons, and containers for self-care
57:30 Goodbyes & where to find Asil

Check Out Previous Episode!
https://youtu.be/lt8UF_JI-fs

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TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tatevtalkspodcast

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Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drsarkissyan/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drsarkissyan

Guest: Asil Yassine’s PHD Divested Psychologist

Asil Yassine’s website:
https://dynamicdreaming.earth/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dynamicdreaming?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Asil's Dissertation:
https://escholarship.org/content/qt564295wh/qt564295wh.pdf

Credits:
Recorded and Produced by: @omnitherealproductions

Creative Consultant/Talent Booker: @diannneekara
Recorded at @mettameditationstudio
Music by @gorgeouzbeats‬

To Cast or Not to Cast with Faith Abraham

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0700

In this episode of TatevTalks, host Tatev Sarkissyan sits down with Faith Abraham. Faith is a producer, writer, director and currently works in casting. We talk about her hilariously funny YouTube series called Birth Order and explore the intricacies of the entertainment industry. Faith discusses if she would ever go back to school and the way she manages her mental health.

Check Out Previous Episode!
https://youtu.be/U3DlWVxhAq0

Follow Tatev Talks:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tatevtalkspodcast/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tatevtalkspodcast

Follow Dr. Sarkissyan:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drsarkissyan/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drsarkissyan

Guest: Faith Abraham | Casting Associate | Writer, Director, Producer

Faith’s insta:
https://www.instagram.com/anneorfaith?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Birth Order insta:
https://www.instagram.com/birthordershow?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Link to Birth Order Youtube page:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtmcnyc5aNkQinASnS79zKQHcdVNnECsU&si=8r3VSUkpZoeAU_49

Credits:
Recorded and Produced by: @omnitherealproductions

Creative Consultant/Talent Booker: @diannneekara
Recorded at @mettameditationstudio
Music by @gorgeouzbeats‬

Two PH.D. Candidates, A Microphone, and Some Opinions.

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Tatev Sarkissyan is joined by Zahra Mesrizadeh, author of The God of the Gaps: Understanding Science Through the Lens of Religion and Politics. Zahra is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Bioengineering at UCSD where her primary research revolves in breast cancer. They discuss research, academia, phd life, and their friendship. Follow along!

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U3DlWVxhAq0

Check Out Previous Episode!
https://youtu.be/KEJrp07OJCw

Follow Tatev Talks:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tatevtalkspodcast/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tatevtalkspodcast

Follow Dr. Sarkissyan:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drsarkissyan/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drsarkissyan

Guest: Zahra Mesrizadeh UCSD PhD candidate in Bioengineering.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author__tgoftg__book

Zahra's Book "The God of the Gaps: Understanding Science through the Lens of Religion and Politics": https://a.co/d/05N0YvVJ

Links & resources:

How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it) - Katherine Hampsten: https://youtu.be/gCfzeONu3Mo?si=TfpsTFzJCiXCQVD8

Credits:
Recorded and Produced by: George Purtseladze
Recorded at @mettameditationstudio
Music by @gorgeouzbeats‬

PhD or Not? Overcome Rejection, Embrace Armenian Roots, Become the Best Version of Yourself!

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0800

In this solo Q&A episode, I’m excited to answer all your questions about navigating grad school, handling rejection, and figuring out if a PhD is really the right path for you! We also dive deep into my Armenian heritage, the power of self-love, and why showing up as your authentic self is the absolute key to success. Join me for some real talk and remember that no matter what you're feeling right now, this too shall pass!

Check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KEJrp07OJCw

Check Out Previous Podcast Episode With Albert Babayan!
https://youtu.be/1qQNnGZYOgo

Follow Tatev Talks:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tatevtalkspodcast/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tatevtalkspodcast

Follow Dr. Sarkissyan:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drsarkissyan/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drsarkissyan

Links & resources:

Jobs to do in psych with a bachelors degree: https://psychology.ucsd.edu/undergraduate-program/careers/#psychology-related-careers-to-consider-with-a-bach

Psychology Careers with a Bachelor’s Degree:
https://tinyurl.com/4wcxcy9u

Armenian Resources:
https://tinyurl.com/y2wu5sak

Credits:
Recorded and Produced by: @omnitherealproductions
Recorded at @mettameditationstudio
Music by @gorgeouzbeats‬

The Seven Pillars of Success: A Masterclass in Intentional Living (Feat. Albert Babayan)

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0800

In this episode of Tatev Talks, host Tatev Sarkissyan sits down with Albert Babayan, a real estate professional who successfully pivoted from a career in electrical engineering to real estate. The conversation explores Babayan's unique journey, his structured philosophy on life, and his deep-rooted passion for music and meditation.

Follow Tatev Talks:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tatevtalkspodcast/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tatevtalkspodcast

Follow Dr. Sarkissyan:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drsarkissyan/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drsarkissyan

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/1qQNnGZYOgo

Guest: Albert Babayan is a prominent real estate broker and the CEO of Real Estate People, Inc., a division of JohnHart Real Estate based in Glendale, California. With a career spanning over 35 years beginning in 1990, he has facilitated the sale of more than 2,000 properties, specializing in condos, single-family homes, and multi-family units.

Links & resources: Check out Albert Babayan!

Instagram: @therealestateandcondopeople
Facebook: The Condo People.
Official Website: TheCondoPeople.com.

Credits:
Recorded and Produced by: George Purtseladze @george_is_georg8
Recorded at @mettameditationstudio
Music by @gorgeouzbeats‬

Find Your North Star (Feat. Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas)

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0800

In this episode, Tatev Sarkissyan sits down with Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas to unpack how researchers turn big questions into practical impact—and how students (especially first-gen) can find their North Star and thrive. We talk about explaining research in plain language, why belonging and motivation matter for student success, and how real programs and grants translate into opportunity on campus. You’ll also hear Jessica’s candid path—from preschool teacher to STEM-motivation researcher—plus what she wishes every grad-school applicant knew about mentors, unwritten rules, and mental health along the way.

Follow Tatev Talks:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tatevtalkspodcast/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tatevtalkspodcast

Follow Dr. Sarkissyan:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drsarkissyan/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drsarkissyan

Guest: Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas. Tenured Professor & Ph.D. in Education | STEM Education & Equity Researcher | Consultant bridging research + practice

Links & resources: Check out Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas @dr.morales_chicas

Credits:
Recorded and Produced by: George Purtseladze @george_is_georg8
Recorded at @mettameditationstudio
Music by @gorgeouzbeats‬

Watch full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q1rMgtKFyP0

Science and Spirituality: Two Teachers Discussing the Balance Between Both

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0800

Science and Spirituality: Two Teachers Discussing the Balance Between Both
Dr. Debra Moreno Garcia and Tatev Sarkissyan unpack how Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness translate into everyday decisions. They get into evidence vs. lived experience, what “multiple truths” really means, and how culture, community, and equity shape mental-health outcomes. Along the way, they talk about closing the research to practice gap, teaching through a social-justice lens, and how to stay curious without losing your compass.

Times:
00:00 – Cold open & show intro
00:30 – Meet Dr. Garcia (background, teaching, research)
05:00 – Why start with “science and spirituality”?
10:00 – DBT basics: the four skill families in plain English
15:00 – Mindfulness & emotion regulation in an always-on world
20:00 – Distress tolerance: navigating crises and chronic stress
25:00 – Research → practice: making skills usable (workbooks, classrooms)
30:00 – Community mental health, stigma, and belonging
35:00 – “Multiple truths”: data vs. lived experience (how both can be valid)
40:00 – Culture & equity: why representation changes outcomes
45:00 – Indigenous/folk practices and what research often misses
50:00 – Teaching through a justice lens; accountability + compassion
55:00 – Takeaways & next steps