Awake at the Wheel

About Awake at the Wheel

Join Clinical Psychologist Dr. Oren Amitay and Registered Psychotherapist Malini Ondrovcik each week as they tackle hot-button issues from every angle. With sharp clinical insights, lived experience, and a bit of out-of-the-box thinking, Malini and Oren dive deep into today’s social and psychological trends, leaving you ready to form your own take. Malini runs a multidisciplinary clinic and specializes in trauma, ADHD, anxiety, chronic pain, and more, with a strong focus on culturally competent care. She’s worked extensively with first responders and even serves as an expert witness in trauma cases. Dr. Amitay brings nearly 30 years of expertise in therapy, assessment, and university lecturing, focusing on mood, personality, and relationship issues. He’s a frequent expert witness, well-versed in psychological evaluations, and has a few academic publications under his belt. Disclaimer: Awake at the Wheel is a platform for open dialogue, critical thinking, and the exploration of diverse perspectives. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts, Dr. Oren Amitay and Malini Ondrovcik, or their affiliated organizations. The inclusion of a guest or discussion of a particular viewpoint does not constitute agreement with, support for, or endorsement of that guest's statements, beliefs, or positions. The purpose of these conversations is to encourage thoughtful examination of complex issues, not to advocate for any particular ideology or position.

Publisher

Dr Oren Amitay and Malini Ondrovcik

Category

education · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

1 Mar 2023

Latest episode

15 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

107 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Jul 2026

   The 5 Stages of Grief Are Wrong | Thomas Attig on Life After Loss

   What if grief is not something you “get over,” complete, or bring to closure? Applied philosopher and grief scholar Thomas Attig joins Malini Ondrovcik and Dr. Oren Amitay to challenge some of our most common assumptions about death, bereavement, and healing. Attig argues that the familiar five stages of grief were never designed to explain the experience of grieving after someone has died. Grief is not simply a sequence of emotions that eventually ends in acceptance. It is the active and dee...

2. 

   9 Apr 2026

   Social Media Turned Bullying Into Content

   In this episode, Malini and Dr. Amitay delve into the alarming rise of the "flip the camera" trend, a form of online bullying that blends in-person humiliation with digital permanence. They explore how this behavior dehumanizes victims, amplifies cruelty, and the societal and developmental implications behind it. Main Topics: -The mechanics and evolution of the "flip the camera" bullying trend -The psychological impact on victims and the role of social media algorithms -The societal and deve...

3. 

   25 Mar 2026

   Is Healthy Masculinity Even Possible Anymore?

   Awake at the Wheel | Ep 103 In this episode, Malini Ondrovcik and Dr. Oren Amitay unpack the confusing and often damaging messages men receive about masculinity, sexuality, hygiene, and emotional expression. From online shame and cultural stereotypes to bias in therapy and mental health training, this conversation explores how young men are being shaped by fear-based narratives rather than nuance, confidence, and self-awareness. The discussion examines how social stigma around men’s bodies,...

Who has been a guest on Awake at the Wheel

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Malini Ondrovcik
• Melanie Bennett
• Helen Pluckrose
• Barbara Kay

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

265,878

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

3.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

58

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

68

Contact Awake at the Wheel

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.