My guest this week is Brent Franson, an entrepreneur and founder and CEO of a company called Most Days. I met Brent a while back when he had me on his podcast. I really wanted to talk with him after I listened to an episode of his podcast where he described the things that led him to the work he does now, which is focused on helping people make positive changes in their lives. Brent talked about his history of addiction and what helped him overcome it. We talked about self-compassion, which is b...
Nov 08, 2023•41 min
My guest this week is Dr. Mitch Abblett. Mitch and I talked about how we can move through anxiety and stress by what he calls “owning the moment.” We explored what that means, how to do it, and maybe most important of all, how to remember to do it. The process itself is really simple—we just bring our attention to the present and let things be as they are. But as I’m sure you know, that’s much easier said than done. Mitch has some really helpful ways to practice more of this style of being in th...
Nov 01, 2023•40 min
My guests this week are Drs. Kelly Yanek and Michel Kinderman. I was truly excited to learn more about their dual therapist model where they see each client together—two therapists with a single client. They described how this approach keeps them interested and engaged at work, and makes them look forward to Monday mornings. I think you’ll find this conversation as fascinating as I did. Topics we discussed included: Kelly and Michele’s unique Dual Therapist Model (DTM) of psychotherapy What led ...
Oct 25, 2023•39 min
My guest this week is psychologist and author Dr. Jill Stoddard, who recently wrote a book called Imposter No More: Overcome Self-Doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career . Jill and I had a great discussion about feeling like an imposter—why it happens, who’s likely to have the experience, and most important, how to deal with those thoughts and feelings. The solution probably won’t be what you expect because the answer is not to force yourself to think and feel differently. Most of...
Oct 18, 2023•38 min
I’m all alone for this episode. This week I wanted to talk with you about finding the courage you need to take a bold step forward in your life. It could be anything, from continuing your education to changing jobs or starting to date. Anxiety and uncertainty often hold us back when we know we need to make an important change. But they don’t have to. There are effective ways to move through our hesitation so that nothing stops us from living the life we know is calling us. I hope you get a lot o...
Oct 11, 2023•12 min
This week I'm continuing my series with Dr. Joel Minden, and we discussed a fun and interesting topic: psychotherapists in popular media, including film, TV, and comic strips. We explored what these depictions get right, the challenges of presenting therapy accurately, and why therapists so often are portrayed as buffoons. Specific topics we touched on included: Common therapist tropes in movies and TV shows The movie Mumford Richard Dreyfuss as Leo Marvin in the 1991 film What About Bob? The ac...
Oct 04, 2023•53 min
This week I'm continuing my series with Dr. Joel Minden, and there's no one I'd rather talk with about how to handle worry. Joel is a true expert on this topic. He offers a compassionate, realistic, and effective set of tools for worrying less so you can redirect your energy toward living well. Specific topics we touched on included: Anxiety vs. worry The implicit goal of anxiety The similarities between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Intolerance of un...
Sep 27, 2023•59 min
This week I’m continuing my series with Dr. Joel Minden. This time we discussed how much can be accomplished in a single psychotherapy session. Joel and I explored single-session interventions, one-session treatments for phobias, and sudden gains. Topics we touched on included: Goals for the first therapy session The hope that often follows a first session One as the modal number of therapy sessions Shorter treatment protocols, including single session interventions (SSIs) The work of Dr. Jessic...
Sep 20, 2023•46 min
My guest once again this week is Dr. Joel Minden. This time we discussed psychotherapy, drawing on the years that each of us has been a therapist. Good therapy has the power to improve thinking patterns, relationships, habits, and even personality, so we explored the unique aspects of the therapy relationship that facilitate these changes. This conversation is the second in a series of several episodes with Joel, with more to come. Topics we touched on included: A Washington Post piece that insp...
Sep 13, 2023•49 min
My guest this week is Dr. Joel Minden, a regular on the Think Act Be podcast. This time we switched roles and Joel interviewed me, mostly about my approach to therapy that I describe in my latest book, Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (affiliate link). This conversation is the first in a series of several episodes with Joel, so stay tuned for more to come. Topics we touched on included: The traditional approach in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) The medical model of therapy My background ...
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr 19 min
My guest this week is Matt Zemon, editor of the excellent new book Psychedelics for Everyone: A Beginner’s Guide to These Powerful Medicines for Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Expanding Consciousness (affiliate link). Matt also contributed several chapters to this book. This conversation is a great introduction to the world of psychedelics, and Matt is an excellent guide. He’s knowledgeable, compassionate, and he presents a balanced view of the potential place of psychedelics in our l...
Aug 30, 2023•41 min
My guest this week is Thomas Moore, a psychotherapist and author of a new book entitled The Eloquence of Silence: Surprising Wisdom in Tales of Emptiness (affiliate link). I was so pleased to have the opportunity to speak with Thomas, since I’ve appreciated his work for about 25 years, going back to Care of the Soul . Topics we discussed included: The role of emptiness in religion and spirituality The possibilities that emerge with emptiness Fostering emptiness as emptiness, not as a space to fi...
Aug 23, 2023•58 min
My guest this week is psychologist Dr. Noam Shpancer, author of the novel The Good Psychologist (affiliate link). We explored the ongoing crisis in mental health among young people, and discussed possible ways to address it. I really enjoyed talking with Noam and hearing his insights and nuanced perspective on these issues. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe...
Aug 09, 2023•44 min
My guest this week is Dr. Steve Hayes, one of the most influential psychologists of our time. The first time I had Steve on the podcast back in 2020 we discussed the fundamentals of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This time you’ll see what those ideas look like in action. The second half of our discussion is Steve leading me through a series of invitations and explorations. It was a pretty incredible experience that I can’t really capture by trying to describe it, so I’m glad I can shar...
Jul 19, 2023•1 hr 22 min
My guest this week is Dr. Mark Karris, author of the new book, The Diabolical Trinity: Healing Religious Trauma From a Wrathful God, Tormenting Hell, and a Sinful Self . Mark shared about the damaging effects this trio of doctrines can have on people, himself included, and how to heal. Topics we discussed included: How certain religious beliefs themselves can be traumatic, apart from abusive, authoritarian leaders Differing effects of indoctrination in these beliefs early in life vs. later My gu...
Jul 05, 2023•45 min
My guest this week is Thomas Sterner, whose latest book is It’s Just a Thought (affiliate link). As you know, your thoughts aren’t always helpful or true. In this conversation Tom and I talked about how to change your relationship with thoughts, which I think about a lot as CBT therapist. Just knowing that we’re thinking is a huge part of what’s helpful, but awareness alone is usually not enough. We need specific ways to practice new thinking. Tom shares some really interesting techniques for de...
Jun 21, 2023•37 min
My guest this week is Dr. John Astin, author of the excellent book, This Extraordinary Moment (affiliate link). John has a really mind-blowing way of seeing all of reality, as you’ll hear in this great conversation. We talked about familiar concepts from meditation and mindfulness—for example, awareness of reality and finding equanimity—but John expands the frame in a way that’s truly liberating. He shows again and again how the reality we usually take for granted is way more stunning than we ca...
Jun 07, 2023•53 min
My guest this week is Colin Campbell. He wrote an amazing book called Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose (affiliate link), about his experience of incredible grief and loss. I really enjoyed talking with Colin—as you'll hear, he's frank, down-to-earth, compassionate. I know you'll get a lot out of this conversation. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe...
May 24, 2023•39 min
My guest this week is Dr. Mitch Greene. Mitch is a sport psychologist and this is his third time on the podcast. This time we talked about his great new book, which I enjoyed reading, called Courage Over Confidence: Managing Mind Chatter and Winning the Mental Game (affiliate link). This is a great conversation for any competitive athlete, at any level—from doing weekend 5Ks to Olympic competition. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe...
May 10, 2023•37 min
My guest this week is Dr. Brie Turns-Coe, an associate professor of marriage and family therapy and author of the excellent new book, Parent the Child You Have, Not the Child You Were (affiliate link). Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
May 03, 2023•42 min
My guest this week is Dr. Jonah Paquette, author of Happily Even After (affiliate link), who is back for the fourth time on the podcast. Jonah is the happiness guru I turn to for exploring the science of well-being and flourishing. This time we focused on how to cultivate happiness more consistently in our lives—and why we tend to wait till we're seriously unhappy before using the practices that build positive emotions. As always it was a great discussion. Get full access to Think Act Be with Se...
Apr 26, 2023•41 min
My guest this week is Dr. Willa Blythe Baker, author of an excellent book called The Wakeful Body (affiliate link) . Willa and I had a great conversation about how the body draws us into connection with ourselves and with this moment. She had recently arrived in Hawaii, and you can hear the sounds of birds singing in the background! Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe...
Apr 12, 2023•40 min
My guest this week is Acharya Shunya, author of the recent book, Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman’s Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful (affiliate link). We had a great conversation about the divine feminine, finding your authentic voice, and living wholeheartedly and without apology. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe...
Mar 22, 2023•39 min
Growing up with a highly critical parent can have long-lasting effects. In this week's episode I discuss 16 signs that you were raised with a lot of criticism. Toward the end of the episode I offer reason to hope, because these tendencies aren’t written in stone. With attention and practice you can learn new patterns. With that in mind, I describe a simple 3-step practice to learn a new way of relating to yourself. This exercise is adapted from my latest book, Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therap...
Mar 08, 2023•25 min
My guest this week is Amanda Gilbert, a meditation teacher, speaker, and author of a book called Kindness Now: A 28-Day Guide to Living with Authenticity, Intention, and Compassion (affiliate link) . This was Amanda’s second time on the podcast and it was great to catch up with her. This time we focused our discussion around how to develop a consistent meditation practice. If you’ve felt drawn to meditation but have struggled to do it regularly, this conversation is for you. Get full access to T...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr
My guest this week is Dr. Joel Minden, a regular on the Think Act Be podcast. This time we focused on taking things less personally, whether we’re assuming people are upset with us when they’re not, or we’re blaming ourselves when things don’t work out, or anything else. We also talked about thinking errors, or cognitive distortions, that lead us to take things too personally. Toward the end we explored why we don’t have to see our own faults and limitations as personal failings. I think you’ll ...
Feb 15, 2023•39 min
My guest this week is Dr. Jonah Paquette, back for his third time on the podcast. As always it was great to speak with Jonah. This time we focused on his new book, Happily Even After (affiliate link), and especially on how gratitude contributes to happiness. I don’t know about you but I often feel like gratitude is an obligation—something that we’re supposed to do. So Jonah and I explored how to practice gratitude that’s freely given. I think you’ll take a lot from this discussion. Get full acce...
Feb 01, 2023•50 min
My guest this week is Dr. Carla Naumburg, whose new book is called You Are Not a Sh*tty Parent (affiliate link) . We talked about how rare it is for parents to practice self-compassion, which can be a transformative experience. We also explored the difficulty with finding room for self-care, and how to make peace with the chaos that is parenting. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe...
Jan 18, 2023•32 min
Stress is unavoidable, but we don’t have to be overwhelmed by it. In this week’s episode I offer three simple techniques for managing stress and finding true rest. These tools come from Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Simple Path to Healing, Hope, and Peace (affiliate link). I hope you find them useful! Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe...
Jan 04, 2023•18 min
My guest this week is Dr. Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco. She’s a clinical psychologist and author of Mom Brain: Proven Strategies to Fight the Anxiety, Guilt, and Overwhelming Emotions of Motherhood—And Relax Into Your New Self (affiliate link). Ilyse specializes in helping parents, moms in particular, navigate the challenge and adventure of parenting. I love how she adapts the tools of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for parents. Ilyse obviously gets parenting from the inside, and offers recommendati...
Dec 21, 2022•39 min
