The Dude Therapist

What does it really take to go from sobbing on a bathroom floor, heart rate at 30 beats per minute, to building a mental health platform that reaches thousands? This week on The Dude Therapist, Eli sits down with mental health advocate and content creator Tori Peyton (@growwithtori) for a raw, unfiltered conversation about eating disorder recovery, the hidden gap between social media and reality,...

What if the question you've been asking your whole life is the wrong one? Not "How do I become successful?" but something quieter and far more dangerous: "Am I enough?" This week, Eli marks a milestone, 300 episodes of The Dude Therapist, by sitting down with Joseph King Barkley, a partner at Novus Global and president of the Meta Performance Institute. Together, they have an honest, wide-ranging...

What does it actually take to become brave? Not fearless, but brave? Not a personality trait you're born with, but a muscle you build one uncomfortable rep at a time. This week, Eli interviews Jill Schulman, one of the first female Marine combat engineer officers, a leadership researcher, and the author of The Bravery Effect. Together, they dig into what the science actually says about fear, coura...

What does it take to build a following of millions without a viral moment, shortcuts, or a college degree? Just years of consistent effort when no one else is watching. This week, Eli interviews Luke Elsman, a Gymshark athlete, Ghost Energy ambassador, and one of the most relatable fitness content creators online. Together, they dive into the unglamorous, patient, and deeply personal journey behin...

What if the way you're defending yourself in every argument is actually the thing keeping you stuck? This week, Eli interviews Dr. Christian Conte, a licensed professional counselor and one of only four Level 5 anger management specialists in the world, for a wide-ranging conversation on emotional control, communication, and mental toughness. With 27 years of experience working inside maximum secu...

What if the diet you started to feel better about your body is the same thing that's quietly damaging your relationship with it? This week, Eli interviews Dr. Brad Smith, a board-certified psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer at Accanto Health, the parent organization of the Emily Program, for an open and clinically informed conversation on eating disorders, diet culture, and the hidden dangers...

What if the hardest part of being sick isn't the illness itself, but convincing the world you actually have one? This week, Eli sits down with Nicole Pedra, chronic illness advocate, model, and host of the podcast Seen, Not Fixed, for a raw and honest conversation about living with Multiple Sclerosis since age 10. It's a conversation about what happens when your body is fighting a war that nobody...

What if everything you've been told about anxiety is wrong? This week, Eli sits down with Dr. David Rosmarin, Harvard Medical School faculty, McLean Hospital clinician, and author of Thriving with Anxiety. It's a conversation that reframes one of the most misunderstood forces in modern life. With over 10,000 patients treated through his Center for Anxiety and a viral TEDx Talk that reached million...

How much of who you are is actually yours, and how much was handed to you by the stories, expectations, and cultural myths you grew up believing? In this episode, therapist Eli Weinstein sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and Jungian depth psychology practitioner Vanessa Bennett for a powerful conversation about identity, codependency, motherhood, relationships, and the...

How do we actually build healthy relationships in a world where most people were never taught how to love well? And why do so many relationships fail, not because people don't care, but because they never learned the skills required to sustain connection? In this episode, therapist Eli Weinstein sits down with relationship educator, podcast host, and author Robin Ducharme for a deeply thoughtful c...

What does it actually take to be happy? And why are so many of us chasing it the wrong way? In this episode, Eli Weinstein sits down with happiness researcher, professor, and author Dr.  Gillian Mandich for a deeply honest conversation about what science says happiness really is, and what it isn't.  From toxic positivity and emotional suppression to social connection, discipline, and daily habits,...

What does it really mean to be "enough" as a man, and why do so many men feel like they're falling short? In this episode, Eli Weinstein sits down with therapist, podcaster, and founder of Rugged Counseling, Trey Tucker, for a direct and deeply honest conversation about the internal battles men face but rarely talk about. From anxiety and identity to life transitions and emotional suppression, Tre...

In this episode, Eli Weinstein sits down with therapist and bestselling author Nicole Sachs, LCSW, for a powerful conversation about the mind-body connection and how our emotional world directly shapes our physical health. Nicole shares her deeply personal journey from being diagnosed with a debilitating spinal condition at just 19 years old to becoming one of the leading voices in mind-body medic...

In this episode, Eli Weinstein sits down with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, a pediatric psychologist, parent coach, and author of the upcoming book Love the Teen You Have, for her second appearance on The Dude Therapist!  Together, they take a grounded, honest look at parenting through the teen years and why this stage is often misunderstood, under-resourced, and emotionally charged for both parents an...

In this episode, Eli opens up about his and his wife’s personal infertility journey and sits down with Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a double board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York and author of The Lucky Egg (out January 13). Together, they explore why conversations around infertility have become more mainstream and the emotional weight so many couples quietly carry, inclu...

In this interview, psychotherapist Jessica Baum returns to discuss her second book, "Safe," which expands beyond her first book "Anxiously Attached" to cover all attachment styles through a "Wheel of Attachment," embedded attachment wounds, and the neuroscience of healing. She explains how attachment patterns shape nervous system responses during conflict. Anxious tendencies can include people-ple...

On this episode of Dude Therapist, host Eli sits down with certified dating coach and relationship strategist Damona Hoffman, the official love expert for The Drew Barrymore Show and Access Hollywood, to break down the biggest shifts in dating over the past 20 years.  From the rise of texting replacing face-to-face connection to the myths of “instant chemistry,” Damona reveals why modern love ofte...

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging episode of The Dude Therapist Podcast, Mayim Bialik reflects on a life lived at the intersection of intellect, faith, fame, and mental health. You may know Mayim as the young star of Beaches or the beloved lead of Blossom, and later as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory. But this conversation goes far beyond the screen. Mayim opens up about...

In this deeply vulnerable and transformative episode of The Dude Therapist Podcast, Alyson Stoner shares the truth behind child stardom, identity, trauma, and reclaiming your voice. You may know Alyson from the iconic Work It video with Missy Elliott, or films like Camp Rock, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Step Up, but this conversation reveals the person behind the performances. Alyson opens up about...

After five years of transformative conversations, host Eli Weinstein returns with the show that's been changing lives through honest, raw discussions about mental health, relationships, and personal growth. This isn't your typical therapy podcast. The Dude Therapist brings you unfiltered conversations with the biggest names in health and wellness. We have had Dr. John Delony, Dr. Nicole LePera to...

In this episode of The Dude Therapist, I sit down with Sarah Michelle Boes, a family nurse practitioner, mother, and advocate, who opens up about her powerful journey of navigating OCD and parenting a child with congenital heart defects. Sarah shares how her professional background as a healthcare provider shifted when she became the parent of a child with complex health needs, and how her own men...

In this episode of The Dude Therapist, I sit down with Melissa Osorio—author, transformational speaker, and advocate for psychedelic-assisted healing. Melissa opens up about her raw and powerful journey from childhood trauma and hidden memories to self-discovery, empowerment, and purpose. We talk about how psychedelics, curiosity, and self-awareness can serve as powerful tools in reclaiming your l...

In this powerful and practical episode of The Dude Therapist, Eli Weinstein sits down with licensed clinical psychologist, keynote speaker, and burnout expert Dr. Jessica B. Stern to unpack the toxic traps of hustle culture—and how to escape them. Together, they explore what it really means to be “productive” in a way that aligns with your personal values, mental health, and life goals. Dr. Stern...

🎙️ Why We Crave Control—and How to Let Go with Kati Morton, LMFT Why do we cling to control even when it keeps us stuck? In this powerful episode of The Dude Therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist and bestselling author Kati Morton joins me to break down the psychology of control, the root of self-sabotaging habits, and how we can start unlearning patterns that no longer serve us. Kati...

Episode Summary:In this eye-opening episode of The Dude Therapist, Eli Weinstein sits down with clinical child psychologist and trauma expert Dr. Robyn Koslowitz to explore the powerful concept of Post-Traumatic Parenting. As the founder of the Post-Traumatic Parenting model and author of the acclaimed book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle, Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be, Dr. K...