If you're trying to figure out how to navigate this whole adulthood thing, and maybe even do some personal growth along the way, we have the perfect episode for you this week! Listen in as Debbie talks with Satya Doyle Byock, Jungian psychotherapist, and author of the book Quarterlife: The Search for Self in Early Adulthood . Satya shares her ideas about the struggle to find both meaning and stability in adulthood, and offers ideas for fostering psychological growth. Listen and Learn: Hear Debbi...
Oct 26, 2022•58 min•Ep. 274
Doing social justice work of any kind, whether it's in our homes with their families or out in the world causes us to encounter uncomfortable feelings like confusion, shame, guilt, and overwhelm. But, according to Dolly Chugh, the author of a powerful new book, A More Justice Future , it isn't a problem to have those emotions; it's more a question of what should we do with them? Join the conversation with Dolly to gain insights into our wired-in biases, our natural emotional responses to reckoni...
Oct 19, 2022•58 min•Ep. 273
Parenting books and research on kids often lump middle schoolers together with young elementary school kids or older adolescents. This obscures the fact that middle school is its own distinct phase. Join Jill as she talks with therapist, school counselor, and middle school expert, Phyllis Fagell, about the unique challenges middle schoolers face and how parents can help them build key skills to thrive. Fagell sees middle school as parents’ “last best chance” to influence their kids at a time whe...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 272
Friendships matter deeply for our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. But unlike kids, adults generally don’t knock on their neighbors’ doors and say, “Hey wanna come outside and play?” Making and keeping friends in adulthood is tricky (to say the least). Join us for a special conversation about friendship. In the first half of this episode, Yael and Debbie discuss how they see some of the issues in cultivating friendships in adulthood. The second half of this episode features clinical ps...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 271
In this special bonus episode, we hear an excerpt from Daniel Pink, author of the book The Power of Regret, on the podcast A Slight Change of Plans , cohosted by cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Oct 03, 2022•11 min•Ep. 421
In order to show up as our best selves for others, for all the roles that matter most to us, and to make the world a better place, we need to be able to have the important conversations with ourselves. In his new book, How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself, Dr. Cory Yeager, a clinical psychologist and therapist for the Detroit Pistons, offers us 40 questions to help us start those important conversations with ourselves. Join Dr. Cory and Yael for a powerful conversation about w...
Sep 28, 2022•54 min•Ep. 270
Do you want to be a badass? Sometimes being a badass means asking for help, being vulnerable, and admitting you can’t do it all on your own. Join Jill as she talks with psychologist and ACT trainer, Rikke Kjelgaard about how to live a full and meaningful life through psychological flexibility. In this episode, Rikke and Jill get personal, sharing their own vulnerable stories and experiences in hopes of inspiring listeners to get out of their comfort zones and get brave. Listen and Learn: What it...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 269
Suicidal thoughts are a more common human experience than you may realize, and many lives are impacted by suicide. Often suicidal thoughts are an indication that a person is in emotional pain, and there are tools that can help. Talking more openly about suicide can help to reduce stigma, and encourage people to reach out for support. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and this week we are grateful to have Dr. Katie Gordon, a suicide expert and author of The Suicidal Thoughts Workbo...
Sep 14, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 268
If you think you’re a horrible parent, well, you’re not alone! Thinking we such at parenting seems to be an inherent part of parenting made worse by the pandemic, financial stressors, and general unease we live with. The wise and witty Carla Naumburg joins us to share tools from her latest book, You are Not a Sh*tty Parent . Along with some humor and spicy language, we can self-compassion to better cope with the unavoidable stressors of parenting. Listen and Learn: What is self-compassion and wh...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 267
Anxiety has long gotten a bad wrap. But maybe part of why anxiety is so much on the rise and harming so many people comes back to how we understand anxiety. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for You (Even Though it Feels Bad) joins us to discuss why re-thinking anxiety can help us out. As Adam Grant noted in his blurb, this conversation and this book “Is going smash your existing views about anxiety and replace them with more helpful ones.” Listen and Learn: The three...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 266
If you think emotions don't belong in the workplace, think again! Emotions, when welcomed and respected, are an essential part of productive and healthy workplace environments. In this episode, Debbie talks with Karla McLaren about the power of emotions at work, problems with the modern workplace environment, and her ideas for how to implement real cultural change at work. Listen and Learn: Why Debbie is such a big fan of Karla's work on emotions at work. Reasons why so many workplaces are "toxi...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 265
Many of us grew up being told we must be members of “the clean plate club” or that we shouldn’t waste food because there are starving children in other countries. The diet industry rakes in billions, profiting off messages around striving for an unattainable “thin ideal.” All of this contributes to the development of unhealty relationships with food and our bodies. As parents, we are at risk of passing along unhealthy messages and patterns. In this episode, Jill interviews Sumner Brooks and Amee...
Aug 18, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 264
Many of us grew up with or are in a current relationship with someone who is emotionally immature. And if that’s the case, you may feel anger towards that person, and a lingering sense of loneliness and anxiety in intimate relationships. Lindsay Gibson, the author of the bestselling book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents , helps us understand why these relationships cause us such pain, how to heal, and even how to navigate relationships with an emotionally immature person in our ad...
Aug 10, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 263
The world is chock full of bad news right now, and many are feeling the impacts. From war to revocation of rights , the world around us can easily (and not unreasonably) feel hopeless. On this week’s episode of POTC, Debbie, Yael, Jill, and Michael come together to discuss the psychological impact of the socio-political climate as well as practical advice for navigating these difficult times. Join us in this episode to learn expert-approved strategies for fostering hope and compassion in times o...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 262
Secrets are a double-edged sword. They can both inflict and remedy physical and psychological injury for us and our loved ones. But regardless of whether they offer benefit, keeping secrets is often burdensome for the keeper. Michael Slepian, author of The Secret Life of Secrets , has dedicated his career to the psychology of secrets and how keeping secrets affect variables that govern social and organizational life. In this episode of POTC, Michael and Yael discuss the personal and relational v...
Jul 27, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 261
It’s not uncommon to have some anxiety about your and others’ health. However, health anxiety, at its worst, can become an overwhelming, life-consuming experience that keeps you from thriving. Millions of people experience health anxiety, and the pandemic has certainly contributed to the recent rise in numbers of people who experience this . Dr. Karen Cassiday, author of Freedom from Health Anxiety , is nationally recognized as an expert clinical psychologist in the diagnosis and treatment of an...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 260
Delusional beliefs have a long and varied history, with false beliefs ranging from those as minor as imposter syndrome to those as significant as thinking we are dead or decapitated. Victoria Shepherd, author of A History of Delusions, has dedicated her career to exploring the history of fixed false beliefs and the context in which false beliefs can develop. On this episode of POTC, she and Yael discuss the importance of understanding the function of delusions within social context. Join us in t...
Jul 13, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 259
Women and gender-expansive individuals are often expected to take on the largest portion of emotional labor, home-making, and parenting work. This and a myriad of other unrealistic expectations contribute to #secretparenting and the “motherhood penalty,” leaving women and gender-expansive individuals to suffer and fall behind their white, cis-gender, male counterparts. Ericka Sóuter is a nationally recognized voice in parenting news and parenting advice. On this episode of POTC, she and Jill dis...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 258
Human beings are evolutionarily hard-wired to compete with one another, and this drive to compete encourages us to compare our standing to that of our fellows and despair when we don’t match up. This “compare and despair” mindset can lead to unworkable or harmful cycles of behavior that leave us feeling worse-than-ordinary. Ron Siegel, author of The Extraordinary Gift of being Ordinary , is faculty at Harvard Medical School and teaches internationally about mind-body medicine and the application...
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 257
Social justice involves action. In our society which has historically privileged whiteness, many racist and other prejudicial ideas are widely accepted as the standard and are pervasively practiced as the norm. Because of this, allies must engage in anti-racism and take action against racist behaviors. One form of action involves parenting practices. Traci Baxley, author of Social Justice Parenting , is an expert in child development, elementary education, curriculum and instruction, diversity a...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 256
Influence is power, but it’s a power not reserved just for the few. In fact, each of us has the power to impact those around us. Because of this, it’s incredibly important that we meaningfully hold and use that power for good! Dr. Zoe Chance, author of INFLUENCE IS YOUR SUPERPOWER , is a writer, teacher, researcher, and climate philanthropist obsessed with the topic of interpersonal influence. On this episode of POTC, Zoe and Yael discuss how to use your personal values to change the world for t...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 255
It’s incredibly easy (and completely normal) to become caught in the heat of the moment and lash out when arguing with our partners. However, it’s not always the most functional behavior, and it almost never aligns with our values. Michaela Thomas, author of The Lasting Connection , is a clinical psychologist who has centered her career around helping women develop love and compassion for themselves and their partners. On this episode of POTC, Jill and Michaela discuss the key elements to buildi...
Jun 08, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 254
The pressure to be the perfect parent and create the perfect environment for your kids to grow feels pervasive for many modern parents. Because of this, many caregivers have had the thought that they are the world’s worst parent. However, that title belongs to Lenore Skenazy, president of Let Grow and founder of the Free-Range Kids movement ( and book ), who was once nationally dubbed "America's Worst Mom" . On this episode of POTC, Yael and Lenore discuss the data behind how trusting your kids ...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 253
Asking for help can put us in a vulnerable space. For some, asking for help feels like an admission of failure or weakness. However, many (including the POTC crew) would argue that asking for help demonstrates incredible strength, intelligence, and bravery . On this episode of POTC, our co-hosts, Jill, Yael, and Debbie, gather to discuss the importance of asking for help. They provide clinician-approved methods for identifying appropriate help, asking for help, and overcoming common barriers to ...
May 25, 2022•48 min•Ep. 252
Richard Dawkins has been quoted as saying, “The feeling of awed wonder that science can give us is one of the highest experiences of which the human psyche is capable.” Many agree with him and have referred to wonder as the beginning of wisdom, the seed of science, and the basis of men’s desire to understand . When we are little, most of us are filled with wonder and experience it often. However, we tend to lose our sense of wonder as we age into adults. On today’s episode of POTC, Dr. Frank Kei...
May 18, 2022•58 min•Ep. 251
Many of us make use of control agendas and get caught up in managing our experiences to be exactly the way we want them. Sometimes this is a good, rewarding type of behavior, but more often than not, perfectionistic behavior can leave you feeling stuck in a cycle of failure. Dr. Clarissa Ong, author of The Anxious Perfectionist , is an expert in the intersection of anxiety and perfectionism. On this episode of POTC, she and Debbie discuss this intersection and explore practical strategies for ov...
May 12, 2022•56 min•Ep. 250
In the past decade, online dating has become a multi-billion dollar industry with three in ten adults in the United States claiming to have ever used a dating app. But despite all this dating, experiences of loneliness are on the rise, and three out of five U.S. adults report lacking companionship or feeling left out or poorly understood. Dr. Jenny Taitz, author of How to be Single and Happy, is passionate about helping others live meaningful, value-based lives, regardless of their relationship ...
May 04, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 249
It's hard to talk about intimacy and sex. Cultural norms around intimacy work their way into our minds when we’re young, causing us to have rigid (and often completely incorrect, unworkable, or dysfunctional) views about how we should express ourselves sexually. Zoë Kors, author of Radical Intimacy, is a sex and intimacy coach who is passionate about opening up this conversation to help people develop healthier sexuality and intimacy. On this episode of POTC, Yael and Zoë discuss the stigma and ...
Apr 27, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 418
In this psychology podcast, Jill interviews Eve Rodsky about carving out creative time separate from being in the roles of parent, partner, and professional Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Apr 21, 2022•48 min•Ep. 247
Physician Tammie Chang talks to us about burnout prevention and setting boundaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Apr 13, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 246
