The Courageously.u Podcast

I'm back (at least I think I am). Man, have I missed you!! After a year away, I'm so excited to be back. In today's minisode, I'm sharing my postpartum experience. Man, did it kick my butt! I'm talking about navigating postpartum during a season when I already struggle with seasonal depression, the horrific anxiety that sank in as soon as the sun set, how attempting to go to a Christmas party left me on the bathroom floor crying, and so much more.  I hope this conversation helps at least one new momma feel a little less alone.  Can you do me a favor? If you know a new momma or know someone about to have a baby, could you please share this episode with them? Your shares are the biggest form of thanks a girl can get.  Appreciate you, my friend! 

Hey, friend! Today we're chatting about why we need to normalize hard and stop expecting people to "suck it up." If you've ever felt alone in a struggle or are navigating a hard season of life, this episode is for you. When you're ready, hit play, and I'll be waiting for you inside today's minisode. Biggest hugs! 

Well, hello, friend! It's been a hot minute since I've shown up here. In today's minisode, I'm discussing why I went mia from the courageously.u podcast. If you're curious, go ahead and hit play, and I'll be waiting for you inside today's minisode. Biggest hugs!

Tara Schuster is an author, contributor to InStyle, The New Yorker, and Forbes, among others, and former vice president of talent and development at Comedy Central. Her latest book, Glow in the F*cking Dark, is a guide to healing your deepest wounds, getting off your “good enough” plateau, and creating the spectacular life that you most desire. We're talking about...  - What it was like growing up in a neglectful psychologically abusive household - How Tara used weed to cope - How she uses meditation and journaling to find safety - What her reparenting process looked like - How being raised by emotionally immature parents impacted her mental health - Why it's important to heal your trauma - How establishing boundaries with her parents helped her heal - Where her fear around money and loss stems from - How she used exercise to improve her depression ...and so much more!  ✨ If you loved today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it with them (even better if you share on social).  ☕️ Click here to save 10% off your Kion coffee order when you use code COURAGE at checkout.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM TODAY'S SHOW NOTES

March is endometriosis awareness month, and If you know me, you know I'm passionate about women's hormonal health. That's why I invited the wonderful Morganne Skinner onto the show to help me spread more awareness about endo. Morganne Skinner is a registered nurse, freelance nurse writer, and fertility awareness educator. Her experience with endometriosis led her to discover the wonders of fertility awareness, as it helped her get diagnosed and manage her symptoms. Now she is passionate about sharing this knowledge and life-long skill with women looking for answers.  In today's episode, we talk about... - What endometriosis is - How long it took her to be diagnosed with endometriosis - Where her endometriosis was located - How common endometriosis is - What her symptoms of endometriosis looked like - My experience with endometriosis - Why endometriosis causes pain - Why birth control isn't the answer to reducing your symptoms - What Morganne did to help heal her endometriosis and reduce pain - Why it's common to be exhausted when you live with endometriosis - How endometriosis impacted how she exercised - Her thoughts on using CBD for endometriosis pain - What mental health symptoms are common with endometriosis   ...and so much more!  ✨ If you loved today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it with them (even better if you share on social).  ☕️ Click here to save 10% off your Kion coffee order when you use code COURAGE at checkout.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM TODAY'S SHOW NOTES

Today Deb Dana is hanging out with us to chat all things Polyvagal Theory.  Deb Dana is a clinician, consultant, author, and speaker who specializes in complex trauma. Her work is focused on using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma and in creating ways of working that honor the role of the autonomic nervous system.  In today's episode, we talk about...  - What polyvagal theory is - How we move through the three autonomic states - How your nervous system takes in cues of safety and danger - How your nervous system is shaped - What it means to be dysregulated - What you can do to move out of a dorsal state of freeze - How the nervous system builds resilience through ruptures and repair - Why some people are better able to tolerate stress - What role the nervous system plays in social anxiety - How you can nourish your nervous system - Why people struggle to co-regulate - How our brain creates stories to match our nervous system state - Why the word “should” provokes survival energy in our nervous system - How you can support someone who is anxious, and so much more ...and so much more!  ✨ If you loved today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it with them (even better if you share on social).  ☕️ Click here to save 10% off your Kion coffee order when you use code COURAGE at checkout.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM TODAY'S SHOW NOTES

Today Scott Stossel is helping me create a conversation around anxiety and psych meds. You might recognize his name if you watched the Netflix documentary Take Your Pills: Xanax as he was featured in it.  Scott is the National Editor of The Atlantic, the author of My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind and Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver. We're talking about...  - Why he wanted to share his mental health experience inside a documentary - Where his mental health journey began - What his experience with psych meds looked like - What he believes is at the root of his anxiety - Why being a man has made his anxiety worse  - How benzodiazepine use can lead to addiction - How benzos impact GABA production - The role the nervous system plays in anxiety - What you can do to shift your nervous system back into a ventral state of calm - How benzodiazepines impact your amygdala ...and so much more!  ✨ If you loved today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it with them (even better if you share on social).  ☕️ Click here to save 10% off your Kion coffee order when you use code COURAGE at checkout.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM TODAY'S SHOW NOTES

Did you know that most Americans are deficient in several essential vitamins and minerals - vitamins and minerals that can help improve your mental health? Today the brilliant Chris Kresser is hanging out with us to discuss the role nutrient deficiencies play in mental health and what we can do about it.  Chris is the co-founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine, the founder of Kresser Institute, the host of the top-ranked health podcast Revolution Health Radio, and the New York Times best-selling author of The Paleo Cure and Unconventional Medicine. He is one of the most respected clinicians and educators in the fields of Functional Medicine and ancestral health and has trained over 2,000 clinicians and health coaches from more than 50 countries in his unique approach.  In today's episode, we talk about... - How years of struggling with chronic illness led to Chris to help others improve their health - Where conventional medicine is going wrong in regards to mental health treatment - The role nutrient deficiencies play in mental health - Why you can eat healthy and still be deficient in nutrients - Why nutrient levels in food is declining - Why it's hard for you to gain insight into your nutrient levels  - What nutrients we could all benefit from having more of - The benefits of adding seafood to your diet - Why supplementation can be a problem - What foods you can eat to get the biggest bang for your nutrient buck - Why you need a good mix of plants and animal foods in your diet - How to prepare veggies to get the most nutrients out of them  ✨ If you loved today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it with them (even better if you share on social).  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM TODAY'S SHOW NOTES

Today the wonderful Donald Altman is hanging out with us to discuss his newest book, Travelers - a story about overcoming grief while finding hope, healing, and renewal.  Donald Altman is a psychotherapist, Award-winning writer, international workshop trainer, former Buddhist monk, and past Vice-President of The Center for Mindful Eating. In today's episode, we talk about...  - Donald's experience as a Buddhist monk - Why he wrote Travelers - What you can do when struggling with intrusive thoughts - Why we need to get beyond labeling people with diagnoses - What mindfulness looks like - Why people struggle to sit in stillness with their thoughts - The power of sitting in nature - How science doesn't show us the whole picture - The controversy with diagnosing grief - Why I was resistant to going to therapy ...and so much more.  ✨ If you loved today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it with them.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM TODAY'S SHOW NOTES  

Class is officially in session! Dr. Paul Bloom is hanging out with us on the show to discuss his new book Psych, The Story of the Human Mind, which is a book he built around his Yale introduction to psychology course. In today's episode, we talk about...  - Why he wanted to turn his class into a book - Why he calls psychology a young science - What people get wrong in regard to memory - What you need to know about implicit bias - Why you can't overcome biases on your own - What makes us unique - How appropriate amounts of anger can be useful - What makes people happy - Why we tend to go along with the crowd - Why people tend to join “evil” groups ...and so much more!  ✨ If you loved today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it with them.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-paul-bloom/

Hit play to hear why I think so many people are struggling with their mental health today. I talk about when the Jetsons met the Flintstones, why your nervous system is freaking out, and what you can do to help it feel safe.  P.S. Love this minisode? Feel free to share it with a friend who would benefit from hearing it.

Are you ready to overcome negative thinking, discover deep healing, and find lasting peace? If you're nodding your head yes, then this episode is for you.  Dr. Seth Gillihan is a practicing psychologist, author, former professor, and podcast host of the Think Act Be podcast. He is the author of multiple books on mindfulness and CBT, with his latest being Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers a fresh, welcome approach for treating mental health issues that speaks to our times, blending mindfulness and spirituality with CBT. In today's episode, we talk about...  - How Dr. Gillihan's struggles inspired him to write Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy  - What traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks like  - How Dr. Gillihan adds mindfulness to CBT  - What you can do if you struggle with fear-based or intrusive thoughts  - Why pushing thoughts away isn't the goal - What makes harm-related OCD thoughts unusual  - What the think act be model looks like - How thoughts drive our emotions  - The importance of exploring beneath the surface level thought  - Why you should find gratitude in the “suck” - Dr. Gillihan shares his thoughts on toxic positivity  - What you can do if you're struggling with catastrophic thinking ...and so much more! ✨ If you loved today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it with them.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-seth-gillihan/

Do you feel lazy when you rest? Do you feel like you always have to be productive? If you can relate, this minisode is for you, my friend!  Hit play, and I'm going to tell you why it's time to change your definition of productivity.  P.S. Love this minisode? Feel free to share it with a friend who would benefit from hearing it.

Today the courageous Sadie Sutton is hanging out with us on the show to share how she navigated her mental health as a teen.  Sadie is a 19-year-old psychology student at the University of Pennsylvania. After receiving a year and a half of intensive treatment for severe depression and anxiety, and since fully recovering from severe depression and anxiety, she was inspired to share her story with fellow teens going through their own personal growth. Sadie started the She Persisted podcast in 2019. Inside her episodes, she conducts impactful and inspirational interviews with subject matter experts, fellow teenagers, and social media personalities to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and inspire teens to create a life worth living.  In today's episode, we talk about...  - What Sadie's mental health struggles looked like - What her mental health treatment looked like - How she engaged in self-harm as a means of getting validation and attention - What mindset shifts she had to make to help improve her mental health - What she feels was not helpful in her healing journey - What Dialectical behavior therapy looks like - Why sleep is crucial to improving your mental health - Why she started the She Persisted Podcast - What she'd suggest to a parent whose teen is struggling with their mental health - What tool you can use to help with intense emotions - What she'd say to a teenager struggling ...and so much more!   ✨ If you love today's conversation, and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing it, please share it.    HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/sadie-sutton/

Anxiety and agitation are signs that your nervous system has shifted into a sympathetic state of fight-or-flight, and stress hormones are now flowing in your body.  Sihing is a fantastic way to shift your nervous system out of a sympathetic state and back into a ventral state of calm.  If you're new to nervous system work, you want to be in a ventral state (anxiety and agitation don't live there). 

Today the fabulous Dr. Joanna Moncrieff is hanging out with us to help me create a conversation about all things psychiatric medications. If you're on meds or are considering getting on meds, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Moncrieff is a psychiatrist, researcher, professor, and best-selling author. She is a professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London and works as a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS in London. Dr. Moncrieff researches the rational use and understanding of psychiatric drugs and the history, politics, and philosophy of psychiatry more generally. Her books include The Bitterest Pills, The Myth of the Chemical Cure, and A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs. She is also co-founder of the Critical Psychiatry Network, which consists of a group of psychiatrists from around the world who are skeptical of the idea that mental disorders are simply brain diseases and of the dominance of the pharmaceutical industry. In today's episode, we talk about...  - What Dr. Moncrieff believes is the problem with drug treatment for mental health problems - How the chemical imbalance theory was turned into a marketing message - The downside to believing in the chemical imbalance theory - How antidepressants change your brain chemistry - The implications of using antidepressants longterm - How improvement after someone starts taking a psych med is due to a placebo effect - How antipsychotics help people who are acutely psychotic - How we should approach psychosis - What you need to know about stopping your mental health medications - Why stopping a benzodiazepine can leave you even more anxious than before you started the med ✨ If you found this episode helpful and you think someone else would find it valuable, spread a little bit of cyber love and share it on your Instagram stories. HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-joanna-moncrieff/

Ready to get off the diet roller coaster? Jenna Hollenstein is hanging out with us today to discuss how mindfulness can deepen and sustain your intuitive eating practice.  Jenna is a nutrition therapist, meditation teacher, and author of five books. Her work combines intuitive eating, trauma-sensitive mindfulness, Polyvagal theory, and other embodied modalities. As someone who has struggled with yo-yo dieting and emotional and binge eating, I can't recommend this episode enough.  We talk about...  - What intuitive eating is - What it looks like to intuitively eat - Why it's important to eat enough food   - What tends to drive binge behaviors - How to reach satisfaction through food - What happens when you restrict food - Why intuitive eating is not a diet - What makes diet culture so sneaky  - Why having a perfect body is not your job - How the thought of restriction can trigger chaotic thinking around food   ✨ If you found this episode helpful and you think someone else would find it valuable, spread a little bit of cyber love and share it on your Instagram stories.   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/jenna-hollenstein/

Stuart Sandeman is hanging out with us inside Episode 132 to talk all things breathwork. Stuart is a globally recognized breathing expert, performance coach, and author. He is the founder of Breathpod, which helps individuals and groups reach their full potential through the power of breathing. We talk about...  - Why controlling your breath is important - The difference between reactive and proactive breath - How to use breath to manipulate your nervous system - How you can use breathwork to trigger a relaxation response - How you're supposed to breathe when speaking - What the benefits of mouth taping are - Why it's important to hold your breath during a breathing exercise - How congestion can tell you which nervous system state you're in He also walks us through a few of his favorite breathing techniques. ✨ If you found this episode helpful and you think someone else would find it valuable, spread a little bit of cyber love and share it on your Instagram stories. HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/stuart-sandeman-2/  

Donna Jackson Nakazawa is hanging out with us to discuss how we can help girls thrive in an era of increased anxiety and depression.  Today's conversation is more important than ever because in case you didn't know, girls are more prone to depression and anxiety than ever before and Donna's here to help you understand the science of why this is.  Donna is an award-winning science journalist, author, and internationally-recognized speaker whose work explores the intersection of neuroscience, immunology, and human emotion. Her mission is to translate emerging science in ways that help those with chronic conditions find healing. We're talking about.. - Why girl's mental health is worsening - How chronic stress impacts girl's brains differently than boys - Why it's important to know the science - How losing the in-between years negatively impacts girl's mental health - How social media impacts adolescent girl's mental health - The role puberty plays in a girl's mental health - Why we're seeing a sharp rise in self-harming behaviors in young girls - Why you need to develop a safe and stable relationship with your daughter - What you can do to help improve your daughter's mental health - Why you need to be regulated if you hope to help regulate your daughter If you know someone who'd benefit from hearing this conversation, please share it with them.

Did you know that on average, people keep as many as thirteen secrets at any given time? Today Michael Slepian is hanging out with us to discuss all things secrets. Michael studies the psychology of secrets and how keeping secrets affect variables that govern social and organizational life. He's also a professor at Columbia Business School, author of The Secret Life of Secrets, and an elected fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology.  In today's episode, we talk about... - What a secret is - How secrets can become a burden - Why people keep secrets - Why someone might feel compelled to share their secret - Why some people are better secret keepers than others - Whether or not you should keep a secret - Why keeping secrets can feel hard - What you can do if you're struggling with a secret - When secrecy starts to impact a kid's well-being  ___________________________________________ ✨ If you loved this episode, please share it with a friend. Your shares help grow this small but mighty community.  ✨ Also, if you haven't done so already, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus minisodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss them.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/michael-slepian/  

I don't know about you, but I feel like there's not enough time in the day to do all the things I want to do. If you feel like you're in the same canoe as me, this is an episode you'll definitely want to hit play on.  Inside today's minisode, I'm sharing my favorite practice on how to be more efficient with your time while also making it richer.   If you want to learn more about making your time richer, be sure to hit play on my conversation with Dr. Cassie Holmes inside Episode 124... https://courageouslyu.com/dr-cassie-holmes/ If you know someone who'd benefit from hearing this minisode, can you please share it with them? Your shares are the best form of thanks.  I hope you enjoy this minisode, my friend!

Today's guest is here to share how her struggle with unbearable insomnia led to an accidental descent into prescription benzodiazepine dependence. Melissa Bond is a narrative journalist and poet. In the years of her dependence on benzodiazepines, Melissa blogged and became a regular contributor for Mad in America. ABC World News Tonight interviewed her for a piece in January 2014. Melissa is a respected writer on the perils of over-prescribing benzodiazepines and has been featured on PBS Story in the Public Square, Radio West, the podcasts Risk!, IGNTD, and Psychology Unplugged. The Salt Lake Tribune and the New York Post have both done features on her book Blood Orange Night, her memoir about becoming dependent upon and then withdrawing from benzodiazepines.  In this episode, we talk about... - Melissa's descent into prescription benzodiazepine dependence - What her insomnia looked like - How she knew her symptoms were more than momma exhaustion - What her withdrawal from benzodiazepines looked like - How her struggle impacted her marriage - What her mental health looks like today - Why you should never cold turkey your psych meds - What literature says about benzodiazepines - Why everyone needs to read Anatomy of an Epidemic - Why you need to know what stopping benzodiazepines can look like If you loved this episode, please share it with a friend. Your shares help grow this small but mighty community.  Also, if you haven't done so already, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus minisodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss them.    HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/melissa-bond/  

Do you struggle with driving anxiety? If you're nodding your head yes, this episode is for you, my friend! Inside this minisode, I'm sharing eight things that help reduce my anxiety when driving. Yup, even I experience anxiety when driving sometimes. If you loved these tips and you know someone who'd benefit from hearing them, please share this minisode with them. Your shares are the best form of thanks.

Dr. Robin Stern is the go-to gaslighting expert. She's a licensed psychoanalyst, speaker, author, and co-founder and associate director for the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. She's also an associate research scientist at the Child Study Center at Yale. In 2007, Dr. Robin Stern published the critically acclaimed, The Gaslight Effect: How to spot and survive the hidden manipulation others use to control your life. The second edition was released in 2018. Her work is frequently published in popular media outlets, such as Psychology Today, The Huffington Post, Time.com, The Washington Post, The Hill, and Harvard Business Review. We talk about... - What gaslighting is and what it is not - What the gaslight tango looks like - How the gaslight effect works - How you can decide which relationships can be saved and which you have to walk away from - Why gaslighters gaslight - How to know if you're being gaslighted - What you can do to get out of the gaslight tango - What it looks like to be medically gaslighted And sooooo much more!  _______________________________________________ Episode goodies...  Ready for a clean cup of coffee without a side of anxiety? Click here to save 10% off your order when you use code courage at checkout. Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-robin-stern/  

Dr. Palmer is a Harvard Medical School Physician, researcher, author, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and consultant working at the interface of metabolism, metabolic disorders, and what we call mental disorders. In today's episode, we talk about... - Why Dr. Palmer believes mental health disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain  - What one of the biggest flaws in our current mental health field is - What role mitochondria and metabolism play in mental health - How our current approaches to mental health treatment are failing people - Why Dr. Palmer is so excited about the brain energy theory - What causes metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction - How mental health disorders share one common pathway - The two things you can do today to begin restoring mitochondrial health   Like the show? Please leave the show a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-christopher-palmer/          

Dr. Glenn Schiraldi is an author, graduate of West Point, Vietnam-era veteran, and founder of Resilience Training International. He has served on the stress management faculties at the pentagon, the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and the University of Maryland School of Public Health, where he received the Outstanding Teaching Award. In today's episode, we talk about... - What self-esteem looks like - Why we tend to focus on the parts of ourselves we don't like - How self-esteem develops - Whether or not perfection is actually attainable - Why harsh self-criticism keeps you from changing - How to respond differently to your imperfections - How people who have no regrets are less prone to traumatic wounding Episode goodies...  Ready for a clean cup of coffee without a side of anxiety? Click here to save 10% off your order when you use code courage at checkout. Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.  HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/ TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-glenn-schiraldi/

Brooke Siem is a speaker, author, award-winning chef, and Food Network “Chopped” Champion. She was among the first generation of teens to be medicated with antidepressants. After spending half her life—and her entire adult life—on antidepressants, she wondered: Who might I be without them? Six years after taking her last antidepressant and now fully healed from what was once assumed to be lifelong depression, Brooke's mission is to share the story of what happened after she booked a one-way ticket to Malaysia and got off all the psychiatric drugs.  We talk about...  - What was happening in Brooke's life when she accessed antidepressants for the first time - How many terrible narratives there are about stopping psychiatric medications - What psychiatric drug withdrawal looked like for her - Why we need to start discussing the reality of psychiatric withdrawal - How Brooke navigated Chopped while in severe antidepressant withdrawal - How a one-way ticket to Malaysia helped her heal - What she's doing today to prioritize her mental health - What Brooke believes needs to happen for real healing to occur   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/brooke-siem/

Hey, friend! In today's minisode, I'm talking about why it's important to explore the root cause of your symptoms. If you find this minisode helpful, please share it with someone who'd benefit from listening.  If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future minisode, don't hesitate to send me a DM on Insta.  Biggest hugs,  Tara 

Dr. Cassie Holmes is here to help you feel empowered with your time and to also help you design your hours to be more in alignment with what matters to you. Dr. Cassie Holmes is one of the world's leading authorities on time and happiness. She is a social psychologist, author, researcher, and professor at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. Her work on the intersection of time and happiness has been widely published in lead academic journals and featured in such outlets as NPR, The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and more. In today's episode, we talk about... - Why having more time isn't the answer - How you can make the time you have richer - How time tracking can help you gain insight into the activities that make you happy - Why it's important to carve out a no-phone zone - How to make the not-so-fun activities of life fun - Why is it important to recognize that our remaining time is limited  - Why it's important to have a genuine sense of belonging - How you can use time crafting to prioritize your time - Why you should take a broader perspective of your time in years rather than hours Episode goodies...  Ready for a clean cup of coffee without a side of anxiety? Click here to save 10% off your order when you use code courage at checkout. Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/   TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-cassie-holmes/  

In today's minisode, I'm talking about... How overwhelm had me crying in a coffee shop  What I did about it Why overwhelm is a normal response What you can do when you feel overwhelmed If you enjoyed this minisode, please rate and review The Courageously.u Podcast, and if you liked what you heard, be sure to press follow and share it with a friend.

Kristina Holtz is a wife, momma to two adorable kiddos, and nurse. Today Kristina Holtz is hanging out with us on The Courageously.u Podcast to discuss how she and her husband, Tyler, are navigating life with a 5-year-old who meets criteria for a DSM diagnosis of ADHD.  Over the past couple of years, I've watched how she and her husband have approached their son's mental health, and I've just been blown away by what I've seen. In a world where medications are pushed as the answer, they didn't settle. We talk about...  The behaviors she noticed Zeke struggling with The holistic treatments they tried What Kristina recommends you try if your kiddo struggles with ADHD Their family trip to the Amen Clinics How she prioritizes her mental health   If you know someone who'd benefit from listening to this episode, please share it with them. Text them the episode or screenshot it and share it on social. Changing the mental health narrative requires many courageous humans, and I couldn't think of anyone better to have by my side on this mission than you. TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/kristina-holtz/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/  

Dr. Joshua Coleman is a psychologist in San Francisco and a Senior Fellow with the Council on Contemporary Families. He has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, NBC THINK, The Behavioral Scientist, CNN, the San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post, Psychology Today, Variety, and more. He's also given talks to the faculties at Harvard, the Weill Cornell Department of Psychiatry, and other academic institutions. A frequent guest on the Today Show and NPR Dr. Coleman has also been featured on Sesame Street, 20/20, Good Morning America, PBS, and numerous news programs for FOX, ABC, CNN, and NBC television. Dr. Coleman is also the author of four books: The Rules of Estrangement, The Marriage Makeover, The Lazy Husband, and When Parents Hurt. We talk about...    Why a parent and child might become estranged How common estrangement is Why it's now the parent's job to earn the love and respect of their child What the rules of estrangement look like Whether or not today's children are too hard on their parents The role boundaries play in estrangement What the reconciliation process looks like How parents can navigate shame that might arise with estrangement What not to do when trying to reconcile How estrangement can impact grandparent's relationships with their grandkids Why reconciliation therapy looks different than marriage therapy    Episode goodies...  Get a FREE bonus sample pack with your first order of LMNT when you click here.    Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-joshua-coleman/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/  

Hey, you! This minisode is all about the power of movement and why I need you to move your body. I talk about the importance of moving your body for your mental health and not your pants size. I also touch on choosing forms of movement that support your hormonal health, which is very important for the ladies.  If you found this episode helpful, please share it with your friends. Your shares are the best way to support me and The Courageously.u Podcast.  Also, I mentioned an episode I did with Alisa Vitti in today's minisode, so I'm linking it here for you: https://courageouslyu.com/alisa-vitti/ Enjoy the episode, my friend!

Dr. Elaine Fox is a psychologist, author, and the Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide, Australia. Before her move to Australia, Dr. Fox founded and directed the Oxford Centre for Emotions & Affective Neuroscience (OCEAN) at the University of Oxford, a renowned research center exploring the nature of resilience and mental well-being. A cognitive psychologist by training, she is a leading mental health researcher combining genetics, psychology, and neuroscience in her work. Dr. Fox also runs Oxford Elite Performance, a consulting group bringing cutting-edge science and psychology to those at the top levels of sport, business, and the military. She's also the author of Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain and Switch Craft. We talk about...  Why mental agility is important  How multi-tasking drains us of energy Why you need to get comfortable with uncertainty How worrying about the unknown fuels anxiety Why it's important to challenge your beliefs and interpretations Why it's important to switch up your routines How switch craft can help you identify what might work best in different situations What you can do to improve your mental agility   Episode goodies...  Did you know that 97% of the coffees out there are full of pesticides, toxins, and mold? Gross right?! This is why I made the switch to Kion Coffee. Wanna try it for yourself and save some money? Save 10% off your Kion order when you click here and use code COURAGE at checkout.   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-elaine-fox/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

If you know me, you know I'm terrified of being home alone at night. In this bonus episode, I'm breaking down how fearful thoughts and images in my mind leave me anxious. If you're someone who believes your anxiety is due to the thoughts and images in your mind, you're going to want to hit play on this episode. Enjoy, my friend!   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Daniel Bergner is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and the author of six nonfiction books - Sing for Your Life, What Do Women Want, The Other Side of Desire, In the Land of Magic Soldiers, God of the Rodeo, and his latest book, The Mind and the Moon. In addition to the New York Times Magazine, Daniel's writing has appeared in the Atlantic, Harper's, Mother Jones, Talk, and the New York Times Book Review, and on the op-ed page of the New York Times.  We talk about...  The mental health journey of three individuals How JFK declared science would take us to the moon and also cure psychiatric illness The problem with medications being a default approach to treatment Why we need to stop comparing psychiatric medications to insulin Why we need to reframe how we view suicide What happens when we attempt to control situations Why psychiatries notion of permanence might not be quite right Scientist's reflections on mental health   Episode goodies...  Toss the toxins today and save $10 off your Branch Basics order when you click here.   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/daniel-bergner/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Jessica Baum, LMHC is the founder of the Relationship Institute of Palm Beach, a group practice providing couples therapy, family counseling, and addiction therapy in South Florida since 2011. As a therapist for over 10 years, Jessica has helped thousands of clients with her unique approach to healing, the Self-full® Method.  Jessica's work is focused on developing a meaningful connection with oneself and in understanding our own core patterns so that we can better understand how we relate in our relationships. Without this meaningful connection to oneself and others, we find ourselves feeling isolated. Jessica opened a sister company, Be Self-full, that offers online coaching with a team of experts and courses worldwide.  Her debut book, Anxiously Attached, offers a practical and holistic approach to overcoming anxious attachment issues to discover happier, more fulfilling relationships. We talk about...  What attachment theory is The difference between anxious and avoidant attachment Why anxious and avoidant attachment tend to gravitate towards each other Why failed relationships are not a sign that you're a bad judge of character  What a core wound looks like What it looks like to become Self-Full How you can heal your little me The role co-regulation plays in your ability to self-regulate Why you need to focus on setting internal boundaries   Episode goodies...  Get a FREE bonus sample pack with your first order of LMNT when you click here.    Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/jessica-baum/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

In today's bonus episode, I'm getting honest about why I choose to work in a prison. I'm also sharing the insights that help drive my desire to change the current mental health narrative. I can't wait to hang out with you in today's episode. See you there! 

Dr. Carl Erik Fisher is an addiction psychiatrist, bioethicist, and assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, who understands addiction in a deeply personal way. At 29 he was a psychiatrist-in-training fresh from medical school when his own addiction crisis nearly cost him everything. Desperate to make sense of the condition that had plagued him and his family for generations, he turned to the history of addiction. Today we're talking about...  Why trying to trace addiction to one single cause can be misleading Why people keep using despite wanting to stop How Freud championed cocaine as a “wonder drug” Why trying to eradicate addiction causes harm Cultures' permissive attitude toward alcohol Why we need to get curious about the role our addiction plays in helping us cope with pain The role corporations play in the way people think about addiction Why holding onto diagnostic labels too tightly can become more harmful than helpful Why we should be careful with psychedelics   Episode goodies...  Toss the toxins today and save $10 off your Branch Basics order when you click here.   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/carl-erik-fisher/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today we are spicing things up a bit and trying something new. I invited the creator of my fave sound bath onto the show and guess what? He's playing it here today for you. Consider this episode part podcast and part gift to your nervous system.  So who is Ben Holt? Ben is a professional wellness facilitator, healer, and coach that specializes in breath work, meditation, psychedelic therapy, and sound healing. In today's episode, we talk about...  What sound healing is How listening to a sound bath can help you heal How breath and sound healing go together like Lucy and Ethel What's happening in your brain when you listen to a sound bath  What the practice of sound healing looks like How Ben uses instruments to open your chakras Why Ben encourages you to practice yoga before listening to a sound bath And soooo much more! Ben's also sharing the recording from the live sound bath he did in Sedona, Arizona (It's at 24:41 if you want to skip straight to it). This sound bath goes through your chakra system and it's the one that I'm currently obsessed with. Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/ben-holt/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/  

Have you ever wanted to do therapy but had no clue where to start? Have you struggled to find a therapist who was a good fit? Need help finding a therapist who specializes in the very thing you're struggling with? If you're nodding your head yes then you're in luck. Today's episode is for you. If you love this episode and find it helpful, please share it with your favorite humans. Your shares are the best form of thanks.  Alrighty, friend! Happy listening! 

Dr. Chantel Prat is a psychologist, neuroscientist, professor, and author. She teaches at the University of Washington with appointments in the departments of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Linguistics; with affiliations at the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, the Center for Neurotechnology, and the Institute for Neuroengineering. Her debut book, Neuroscience of You, was recently released and it's a goodie.  We talk about... How our brains interpret the world Why it's important to be aware of what sources of information are feeding your brain How social media strengthens our current beliefs Why it's important to understand the relationship between the mind and the brain How our brain creates a subjective reality Why your brain doesn't look like the one in textbooks How the traditional neuroscientific paradigm glosses over our differences What causes us to choke under pressure Why we have bogus out there thoughts Why we don't do better when we know better Episode goodies...  Get a FREE bonus sample pack with your first order of LMNT when you click here.    Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-chantel-prat/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

I'm in a serious funk right now, are you? Inside today's bonus episode, I process through what my "funk" looks like, my plans for getting out of it, and why I feel so many people are self-imprisoned.  If you love this episode, please share it with a friend. Your shares help ensure no one struggles alone in silence.  Happy listening, my friend! 

Dr. Lisa Miller is a clinical psychologist, award-winning researcher, and New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child. She's also a professor of psychology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and the Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, which is the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology. Dr. Miller's innovative research has been published in more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She's also appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and Weekend Today as an expert. Her latest work, The Awakened Brain, is a groundbreaking exploration of the neuroscience of spirituality that sets a bold new paradigm for health, healing, and resilience. We talk about...  What working in a psychiatric inpatient unit was like for Lisa How synchronicity helps us better understand what life is showing us Why it's important to say yes to synchronicity What Dr. Miller would say to someone who believes synchronicity is merely coincidence What role spirituality plays in depression The difference between achieving and awakened awareness How not saying what's on your heart could be a missed opportunity The three questions you should be asking yourself   Dr. Miller also does two guided practices in today's episode. One that helps you see where synchronicity has been at play in your life and one that helps awaken you to your natural spiritual awareness. Episode goodies...  Did you know that 97% of coffees out there are full of pesticides, toxins, and mold? Gross right?! This is why I made the switch to Kion Coffee. Wanna try it for yourself and save some money? Save 10% off your Kion order when you click here and use code COURAGE at checkout.   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-lisa-miller/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Allan is a professor and author who earned a doctoral degree in Sociology from Yale University where he was trained in psychiatric epidemiology and in deviance and social control. He has studied a variety of aspects of mental health and illness, including the social response to mental illness, family caretaking for dependent populations, the impact of social roles and statuses on mental health, and the social construction of mental disorders. We talk about...  What the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is Who influences what goes in and out of the DSM Where the DSM started and where it is today The pros and cons of the DSM Whether or not Allan believes the DSM is credible Why Allan believes the DSM is a straitjacket The increase of people self-identifying with their diagnosis Why premenstrual dysphoric disorder was so controversial The subjectivity in diagnosing The lack of validity with the current DSM What role pharmaceutical companies play in diagnosing Why clinicians depend on the DSM   Episode goodies...  Toss the toxins today and save $10 off your Branch Basics order when you click here.   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/allan-horwitz/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Mary-Frances O'Connor, Ph.D is a renowned grief expert, neuroscientist, author, and psychologist who has devoted decades to researching the effects of grief on the brain. She's an associate professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress Lab, which investigates the effects of grief on the brain and the body. In her new must-read book, The Grieving Brain, Mary-Frances shares groundbreaking discoveries about what happens in our brain when we grieve, and she sets a new paradigm for understanding grief on a neurological level.  We talk about... The problem with the five stages of grief model What happens in our brain when we grieve The difference between grief and grieving Why processing grief can feel so hard The role rumination plays in grieving How grieving is a form of learning The difference between grief and depression The importance of therapy while grieving What you can do to help improve insomnia after a loss How to best support someone who is grieving   Episode goodies...  Get a FREE bonus sample pack with your first order of LMNT when you click here.    Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/mary-frances-oconnor/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Do you struggle with a feeling of “stuckness?” Do you feel like you can't move past what's holding you back in life, love, and work? Many of us know what we need to do to move forward, but we find ourselves unable to take the leap to make it happen. Today's guest is here to let you know that you're not lazy, crazy, or unmotivated for feeling stuck. Britt Frank is a therapist, teacher, speaker, and trauma specialist who is committed to dismantling the mental health myths that keep us feeling stuck and sick. She's also the author of The Science of Stuck, which is an empowering, action-oriented guide that helps you break through what's holding you back. We talk about...  Britts struggle with being stuck What being stuck looks like The hidden benefits of staying stuck Questions to ask yourself if you're feeling stuck in friendships The role trauma, self-talk, and shame play in keeping you stuck The reason laziness and lack of motivation are attributed to stuckness Why anxiety is one of the most important ingredients to getting out of stuck mode What happens when you try to avoid or repress aspects of yourself Why you need to look at your menu of options if you feel stuck in your job Three things you can do today to move out of stuckness   Episode goodies...  Use code "COURAGE" at checkout to save 10% off your Kion order today!   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/britt-frank/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Shira Gill is a home organizing expert, author, coach, and founder of the #15minwin productivity hack. Her online makeover programs, popular lifestyle blog, and Instagram feed have inspired a global audience to get rid of the excess in their lives and focus on what really matters. Shira's work centers around the intimate relationship between people's homes and lives and how they inform and inspire each other. Her work and home have been featured in Apartment Therapy, Domino, Forbes, Goop, Harper's Bazaar, HGTV, InStyle, Parents, Real Simple, and many more. We talk about... The importance of reframing the thoughts you have about your clutter How clutter and disorganization negatively impact your mental health What you can do to make your space feel better without buying new things Why we all should purchase with the mentality of fewer but better things What you can do to slow down the volume of stuff coming into your home Actionable steps you can take to tackle your clutter How we can be environmentally conscious by purchasing less How you can build a year-round capsule wardrobe How to practice minimalism when it comes to beauty products Where to start if you don't identify as an organized person   Episode goodies...  Get $10 off your Branch Basics purchase today!   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/shira-gill/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Shannon is a world-renowned spiritual and self-love teacher, speaker, and empowerment coach. She's also a bestselling author of five books on the psychology of happiness and fulfillment. Shannon's newest book, Return to You: 11 Spiritual Lessons for Unshakable Inner Peace, is a complete guide to Shannon's most effective strategies for tapping your innate wisdom and stepping into your true power. Shannon is on a mission to help guide people to awaken and align to their true selves so they can live the life they are meant for.  We talk about... Our inner nudge How in an attempt to fit in we split from ourselves How beliefs shape our reality How we can best navigate comparison What the seasons of the soul look like The 11 spiritual lessons that can lead to inner peace How you can find calm in a chaotic world Why you need to let go of control How trauma can lead to an I don't need anyone attitude Mantras you can use when feeling overwhelmed   Episode goodies...  Click here to get a free bonus sample pack of LMNT with your LMNT purchase today!    Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/shannon-kaiser/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Leslie Becker-Phelps is a psychologist, author, speaker, and teacher with the goal of guiding people toward happier, more productive lives. She does this by focusing on improving their relationships with themselves and others through compassionate self-awareness.  We talk about...  What rejection looks like Why some people are more sensitive to rejection than others Why we need to remove self-judgment when we feel rejected How we can best navigate feelings of rejection The four basic attachment styles The importance of labeling your emotions The five domains of awareness Why you're not flawed for feeling the sting of rejection   Episode goodies...  Save 10% off your order of Kion coffee when you use code COURAGE at checkout.   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/dr-leslie-becker-phelps/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/    

Andrew Scull is an award-winning author, sociologist, historian of psychiatry, and distinguished Professor of Sociology and Science Studies. He received his B.A. from Oxford University and his Ph.D. from Princeton. He taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton before going to the University of California San Diego. His books include Museums of Madness, Decarceration, Madhouses, Mad-Doctors, and Madmen, Social Order/Mental Disorder, The Most Solitary of Afflictions: Madness and Society in Britain, and many more. His latest book, Desperate Remedies tells the story of psychiatry in the United States from the 19th-century asylum to 21st-century psychopharmacology. We talk about...  The different beliefs surrounding the origins of mental illness The desperate remedies psychiatry has used to cure mental illness What happened to mental health patients when asylums closed The impact the psychopharmacological revolution had on mental health The role drug companies played in perpetuating the chemical imbalance theory What Andrew thinks the future of psychiatry will look like Why it's easy to be seduced by the idea that there is an effective remedy to mental health struggles   Episode goodies...  Save 10% off your order of Kion coffee when you use code COURAGE at checkout.   Like the show? Please leave me a review here. Even just one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag me at courageously.u so I can send you a virtual hug.    TODAY'S SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/andrew-scull/   HANGOUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/