We know that healthcare workers are burned out and exhausted. Provider mental health is a huge issue… but are the institutions listening? This week on It’s OK, burnout expert Dr. Jessi Gold talks to us about (obviously) burnout, but also ways HCW* can start to change the workplace culture into one that actually values the human workforce. Sound unlikely? Listen in for Dr. Gold’s ideas for a grassroots movement - using the language of capitalism to get the c-suite to listen. *We talk a bunch abou...
Jul 01, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 64
The world is such a hot mess: every day a new disaster, a new human rights catastrophe. It can just feel… endless. Illustrator Aubrey Hirsch joins us to talk about outrage and trauma and community building - it’s like the greatest hits of modern culture. But mostly, she joins us to talk about art - specifically, the ways that storytelling helps us band together and work towards the world we all want. PS: Listen all the way through so you don’t miss Aubrey’s slightly sinister but ultimately funct...
Jun 24, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 63
If you look at social media with its reliance on meme-based psychology, you’d think that the Buddhist approach to life is to not let things get to you - that the true spiritual path helps you rise above such limited, unenlightened human feelings like grief, greed, and resentment. This week on It’s OK, Zen teacher Koshin Paley Ellison is here to tell you that your suffering deserves your attention. In this episode we cover: - How an experience of targeted violence shaped Koshin’s childhood, and w...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 62
On the outside, veteran Jason Kander had everything going for him: successful political career, lovely family, the respect of his peers. But on the inside, he was struggling: nightmares, depression and suicidal thoughts were constant companions. Jason joins us to talk about his new book, Invisible Storm , and what it really takes to go from post traumatic stress to post traumatic growth. (Don’t let that ‘post traumatic growth’ turn you away from this episode! There are no shortcuts to happiness ...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 61
Dr. Errol Pierre is a corporate executive, leader, mentor, and outspoken advocate for healthcare equity in the US and Haiti. HIs book, The Way Up , helps underrepresented individuals from all ethnic backgrounds achieve their professional goals and elevate their careers in today's workplace. What you probably don’t know is that grief - in one form or another - plays a part in every one of those roles. In this episode we cover: Why a book about climbing the corporate ladder gets the spotlight on a...
Jun 03, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 60
Nobody likes to talk about pet loss… but everybody wants to talk about pet loss. What a difficult scenario that is! Veterinary oncologist Dr. Renee Alsarraf, author of Sit, Stay, Heal , joins us to talk about grief, professionalism, and the importance of being human - on the job and off. In this episode we cover: The whole truth about loving - and losing - your pets The terrible advice Dr. Renee Alsarraf’s grad school teacher gave her (and why she refused to listen) Why vets and other profession...
May 27, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 59
Can you hide in plain sight? From trans beauty pageants in the Philippines, to the catwalks of New York City fashion week, to the Ted Talk mainstage – Filipina-American model Geena Rocero has lived an astounding life. This week on It’s OK that You’re Not OK, the author of Horse Barbie: A Memoir shares what it costs to suppress your true self in order to find safety and success, and why joy is powerful medicine. Geena Rocero is a trans advocate, speaker, and author of the new book, Horse Barbie ....
May 20, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 58
Have you ever put on a face mask, expecting it to solve all your mental health problems? That seems…unrealistic, but it’s what self-care marketing tells us: get your self-care right, and all your difficulties will evaporate. This week on It’s OK, Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, author of Real Self-Care , breaks down what “self-care” actually means when we’re living in a complex, capitalistic world. It’s an exploration of grief, burnout, and exhaustion, and what it takes to care for yourself inside systems t...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 57
We’re in a massive climate crisis, but it’s hard to think about it, isn’t it? It’s a great temptation to shut our eyes to climate change. It’s overwhelming. This week on the show, climate activist and author Bill McKibben on facing the reality of the climate crisis, understanding what needs to change, and what you can do - not just to change the course of humanity and the planet, but to feel more hopeful and connected as this all unfolds. In this episode we cover: Is halting climate change reall...
May 06, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 56
Can grief be an opportunity for growth and self-understanding? The answer, of course, is yes: but it’s a bit more complex than that. This week, author, philanthropist, activist Rachel Cargle on survival optimism, the resilience narrative, and why questioning the stories you tell yourself - with curiosity and kindness - is a powerful path of healing. In this episode we cover: How was grief modeled for you growing up, and how does that affect later grief? Can your memory of childhood grief be… ent...
Apr 29, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 55
What would a meaningful life look like for you? According to Death Doula Alua Arthur, conversations about death can be the most enriching conversations we have. It’s not about accepting death, or avoiding grief - it’s about building a relationship with yourself and others that doesn’t hold anything back. Why should you listen? Yeah, because you’re mortal and one day you'll die, but more importantly: because one day, hopefully in the far off future, you’ll look back at this life you’ve lived. Con...
Apr 22, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 54
What do we lose when we’re not allowed to be angry? In a lot of ways, anger is more taboo than grief. They’re deeply related, as you’ll hear in this two-part episode: both grief and anger are considered “negative” emotions, things you shouldn’t feel, and definitely shouldn’t express in polite company. But what if reclaiming our anger was the way to build the world - and the relationships - we most want? All of that and more with the best selling author of Rage Becomes Her , Soraya Chemaly. In th...
Apr 15, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 53
What do we lose when we’re not allowed to be angry? In a lot of ways, anger is more taboo than grief. They’re deeply related, as you’ll hear in this two-part episode: both grief and anger are considered “negative” emotions, things you shouldn’t feel, and definitely shouldn’t express in polite company. But what if reclaiming our anger was the way to build the world - and the relationships - we most want? All of that and more with the best selling author of Rage Becomes Her , Soraya Chemaly. In th...
Apr 08, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 52
What should you do if someone wants to be friends, but you’re not into it? Boundaries are part of all human relationships, but they are TRICKY. Welcome to part two of our show about boundaries - how to make them, how to keep them, and sometimes, how to breach them - with special guest Dr. Alexandra Solomon, host of Reimagining Love. In this episode we cover: Starting over in a new place with new friends Why we so often confuse boundaries with being mean or rude The power of social observation to...
Apr 03, 2024•25 min•Season 3Ep. 51
What do you do when someone cuts you out of their life? How do you back away slowly from someone you really don’t want to be around? Boundaries are part of all human relationships, but they are TRICKY. This week on It’s OK, part one of our show about boundaries - how to make them, how to keep them, and sometimes, how to breach them - with special guest Dr. Alexandra Solomon, host of Reimagining Love. In this episode we cover: Why relational self-awareness is the key to all good relationships Can...
Apr 01, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 50
If you’ve lived through horrific trauma or abuse, is it really fair of us to say that the ways you’ve learned to cope are “bad,” or to use clinical speak, “maladaptive”? This week on It’s OK, Stephanie Foo, author of What My Bones Know , joins me to talk about complex PTSD and the ways we pathologize human responses to trauma. You’ll also hear how claiming your own messy, complex coping mechanisms can help you build a community that sees you and loves you. If you’re haunted by any type of trauma...
Mar 25, 2024•44 min•Season 3Ep. 49
There’s no denying the grief that permeates everyday life. It’s in the news, in our communities, and in our personal lives. The thing is - we never really talk about how much this grief connects us. This episode is STUNNING. It has gifts for everyone - whether you’re grieving a personal loss or you’re an activist of any kind. It was recorded in the summer of 2023, so you will not hear us mention P*lestine - you can bet if we’d recorded it now, that grief, and that need for belonging, would be pr...
Mar 18, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 48
PROLONGED GRIEF DISORDER! It’s everywhere - social media, The New York Times , The Washington Pos t… it’s the hot new medical condition everyone’s talking about. But why is everyone so mad about it? This week on the show, an overview of this hotly contested “new” human disorder, and what it means for the average person, for healthcare providers, and honestly - for the whole world. This is one medical diagnosis that affects everyone. In this episode we cover: Why anyone should care what the APA t...
Mar 11, 2024•24 min•Season 3Ep. 47
Sam Sanders is a well known and well loved radio and podcast host. He went a little extra-viral for a recent episode of his show, Vibe Check , in which he and his co-hosts openly discussed grief. Maybe you heard that episode: Life Has Been Lifing Lately. This week on It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Sam joins us to talk about being open with his grief, and the ongoing relationships we have even after death. In this episode we cover: What happens if you give grief a voice? The double-edged sword of ch...
Mar 04, 2024•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 46
Ever wonder what doctors say about their patients when they think no one can hear? Dr. Rana Awdish doesn’t have to wonder - as a patient, she overheard a lot of distressing things. Her experience led her to change how medical providers speak about - and to - their patients, spreading compassion through communication (which we know is a mission dear to my heart). Listen in to hear Dr. Awdish’s take on the pressure on healthcare workers, too. Content note: mention of life-threatening illness, preg...
Feb 26, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 45
It’s no secret that healthcare professionals and caregivers of all kinds are stretched beyond their limits. We can’t look to healthcare systems themselves to give us the care and attention we need, so where CAN we go for support (and answers)? Don’t miss this week’s episode with guests Koshin Paley Ellison and Chodo Robert Campbell of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. In this episode we cover: Why it’s important to look beyond the identified patient to the invisible web of caregive...
Feb 19, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 44
The world can feel like such a lonely place sometimes. You ever feel like there’s not enough love and support to go around? Like, there’s a severe shortage of compassion in the world, both for you and well, everyone? Me too, friends. To get us into this topic, this week on It’s OK, we cover grief comparisons, like whether divorce and death should be compared, or if the death of anyone should be compared to the loss of a pet. Of course the short answer is no: grief comparisons are never useful. F...
Feb 12, 2024•24 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Tembi Locke lived an amazing love story: she met a handsome chef during a study abroad year in Italy when she was just 20 years old. They moved to LA to pursue Tembi’s acting career, and built a life around their love of food, family, and each other. And then leiomyosarcoma arrived. Is it still a Hollywood love story if it doesn’t have a happy ending? In this episode we cover: Who’s the real couple behind the hit Netflix series, From Scratch ? Why Tembi made sure From Scratch was an honest guide...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Did anyone teach you that understanding your grief is the key to being (or becoming) a healthy human being? Probably not. In this expansive episode, Megan speaks with world-renowned author and physician Gabor Maté about the role of trauma and grief in our personal lives and in society at large. Dr. Gabor Maté on grief, this week on It’s OK that You’re Not OK. In this episode we cover: What is “personal agency” and why does losing personal agency create disease? Why calling grief a disorder has s...
Jan 29, 2024•48 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Can you heal pain by focusing on joy? Baratunde Thurston gave what’s been called “ the greatest TED talk of all time .” He’s written about being Black in America , he’s got a podcast about community involvement called How to Citizen , and he’s got a PBS television show that explores the beauty and diversity of America. There’s a duality running through all of this work, and in Baratunde’s personal life: mourning and celebration. From the early death of a parent, to men’s emotional health, to vio...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Have you ever wanted to just SMASH things? Leanne Pedante and her husband Miles’ relationship was built on bravery and communication - they worked so hard to reach the next step together, excited to explore the edges of possibility in love and in life. On his way back to see Leanne after several months away, Miles’ car veered off the road, and he was killed. In the just under three years since, Leanne has continued to grow the virtual reality fitness community, Supernatural. As a late-comer to f...
Jan 15, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 39
The holidays are over - you made it. By the looks of our inbox, the season wasn’t easy. This week, a holiday debrief, including bad behavior from therapists, why religion is not the answer to grief, and some true facts about dating after loss. In this episode we cover: How to say “I can’t work with you” without accidentally shaming your patients or clients Why “but your (dead relative) is all around you, just in a new form!” maybe isn’t the most supportive thing to say Questions to ask yourself ...
Jan 08, 2024•24 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Is acceptance overrated? What happens when you have to face a new year without your person in it (or without the health you used to have!)? In this special two-part episode, we face the new year together - with special guest, historian, author, and queen of awkward conversations, Kate Bowler. In part 2 of this episode we cover How do you have hope for the year to come when right now maybe isn’t so great? Acceptance, moving forward, and ferocious self-advocacy The Math of Suffering: this year, la...
Jan 01, 2024•25 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Is acceptance overrated? What happens when you have to face a new year without your person in it (or without the health you used to have!)? In this special two-part episode, we face the new year together - with special guest, historian, author, and queen of awkward conversations, Kate Bowler. In this episode we cover: How do you have hope for the year to come when right now maybe isn’t so great? Acceptance, moving forward, and ferocious self-advocacy The Math of Suffering: this year, last year, ...
Dec 25, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 36
My dad used to read ‘‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” every Christmas Eve when I was a kid, after dinner and before we opened our Christmas pjs. So many of you are missing your dads, or grandparents, or the father of your kids. This year, I asked my dad to record the Christmas Eve classic for the show. I wanted you to have a stand-in grandpa, in case you were missing one of your own. From my family to yours, may you have the best holiday season available to you. (‘Twas the Night Before Christma...
Dec 23, 2023•6 min•Season 3Ep. 35
