Midday with Maria Shilaos
As a respected journalist, Maria Shilaos has earned the trust of listeners across Utah. Her show isn’t just about the news—it’s about the people behind it. Join her each weekday as she digs deeper, asks the important questions, and shares the stories that connect us all.
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Deep Dive: SCOTUS rules on Colorado's ban on conversion therapy
Celebrations and concerns... both outcomes from a major Supreme Court ruling today on conversion therapy. The high court ruled in favor of a Christian counselor who offered conversion therapy services in Colorado. The majority ruling (8-1) said that Colorado's conversion therapy ban violated the free speech rights of the therapist.
While religious groups applaud the decision, many in the mental health community are worried the decision could lead to a revival of the more dangerous practices of traditional conversion therapy, like electro-shock therapy and using nausea medication in trying to help someone change their gender identity or sexual orientation.
In this Deep Dive, Maria Shilaos gives voice to several sides of the issue and tries to understand how it could affect us here in Utah (where we also have a law banning conversion therapy). Throughout this special, she's joined by or hears from:
- Bridger Beal Cvetko, KSL.com political reporter
- State Rep. Mike Peterson
- Professor Robin Wilson, law professor at the University of Illinois
- Marina Lowe, Policy Director at Equality Utah
- Justin Utley, a survivor of conversion therapy
- Elena Kopel, licensed professional counselor candidate from Colorado
Health Matters on Midday: Dealing with early allergy season
Health Matters on Midday, where we dig into health topics you might be curious about.
Allergies have come on with a vengeance early this year! You've probably been sniffling or sneezing yoursef and if not... someone around you has. It's all a result of the warmer temperatures and the earlier bloom time for many high pollen plants.
In this segment of Health Matters on Midday, Dr. Richard Ferguson, President-Black Physicians of Utah joins Maria Shilaos to discuss ways to provide some much needed relief to allergy sufferers.
Therapists, mental health professional reaction to landmark social media lawsuit verdict
We're getting more reaction from mental health counselors and therapists today, following a landmark verdict against social media companies Meta and Google. A California jury found that the two companies harmed young users by designing their apps to be addictive.
So how are therapists and other mental health professionals reacting to the ruling? Maria Shilaos spoke with Gregory Noel, LMFT, the clinical director of Two Brothas Counseling in Ogden. He says the decision is welcomed by the mental health community, who've been warning of the addictive nature of social media for years now.
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RESOURCES:
Digital Brain Fog: How Tech Is Rewiring Your Focus and Mood (Dr. Tracey Marks):
https://youtu.be/JU3h-qzmeXk?si=7Elbb2rqIukHGqL9
Technology-induced ADHD/ digital brain fog
Mechanism 1: Attention residue (residue of the 1st task lingers even after switching from one task to another)
Mechanism 2: Dopamine hijacking (brain starts craving a quick burst of novelty, overstimulated and undersatisfied)
Mechanism 3: Default mode network disruption (time when the brain is at rest, consistent tech access keeps this offline)
Mechanism 4: Prefrontal cortex overload (this has limited fuel; tech is rapidly draining this)
Strategy 1: Set digital boundaries
Strategy 2: Attention training (focus sprints)
Strategy 3: Notification triage
Strategy 4: Transition rituals