Nuance Needed

Today we are tackling two listeners questions about sex! Questions we answer: * "I'm 28 and I've never had sex - the shame is paralyzing me and I feel like I've missed the window. How do I get past this when everything in our culture says I'm weird?" * "My husband and I fight about sex constantly. The more he pushes, the less I want it, but when I just do it to avoid the fight, I feel gross after....

When did masturbation become an "addiction" that requires recovery? Licensed therapists Amanda White and Sam Dalton tackle the viral story of former Bachelor contestant Maddie Prewett's claims about overcoming her "sexual sin addiction" to masturbation and porn. In deeply personal conversations, they share their own experiences with sexual shame and explore how shame-based messaging around sexuali...

In this episode, Sam realizes she might have had OCD as a teenager - an unedited, real-time processing session. For a year as a teenager, Sam was secretly convinced she was hitting people with her car. She'd loop back to check for bodies, research vehicular manslaughter, and visualize police at her house waiting to arrest her. Amanda shares her own parallel experiences with health anxiety and magi...

Licensed therapist and OCD expert Kimberly Quinlan joins us for a raw, honest conversation about what OCD really is. In a vulnerable discussion, both Kimberly and Amanda share their personal experiences with OCD and intrusive thoughts, breaking down the walls between expert and experiencer. We dive deep into the difference between the intrusive thoughts we all have and clinical OCD, explore lesser...

Your questions about suicide answered with honesty and nuance. In this follow-up episode, we're tackling the questions you were brave enough to ask - from living with chronic suicidal thoughts to the impossible task of explaining suicide to children. CW- This episode discusses suicide, and suicidal thoughts. Questions we answer: * "I've had chronic suicidal thoughts for years - how do I build a li...

In this deeply personal episode, we're getting real about the topic nobody wants to discuss - suicide and suicidality. Drawing from both our professional training and Amanda's raw personal experiences, we're breaking down what it actually feels like, why it happens, and what truly helps (spoiler: it's not telling someone how selfish they are). CW- This episode discusses suicide, suicidal thoughts,...

From "feminine energy" dating tips to refusing to tie your own shoes - we're unpacking how Princess Treatment content is actually political messaging in a pretty package. In conversation, we tackle: * The TikTok video that sent us over the edge: a woman who won't speak to waitstaff or check in for reservations * How "feminine energy" morphed from dating advice into political messaging * Why Prince...

When did "no is a complete sentence" become the ultimate boundary flex? In this episode, we're unpacking why this oversimplified advice might actually be hurting your relationships. In conversation, we tackle: * Why "no is a complete sentence" works for sexual boundaries but not for declining dinner plans * The uncomfortable truth that closer relationships require more explanation (and that's actu...

Today we chat with misinformation researcher Matthew Facciani, PhD to explore the psychological factors behind how we process information in our increasingly polarized world. From social media algorithms to the comfort of echo chambers, we dive into why challenging our beliefs feels so threatening and what we can do about it. In conversation, we discuss— * The evolution of "misinformation" from a...

In this follow-up episode, we dive into your most pressing questions about navigating the complicated world of mental health labels. When is a diagnosis helpful? When might it be limiting? And what should you do when you're convinced you (or someone else) has a specific condition? In conversation, we tackle: * Why your therapist might hesitate to confirm your self-diagnosis (even after working tog...

In this very NUANCED episode, we're diving into the the pros and cons of self-diagnosis and why that moment of clarity might be both helpful and misleading. In conversation, we tackle: - The fine line between empowering self-awareness and misdiagnosis in the age of mental health social media - Why mental health symptoms are like horoscopes – specific enough to feel personal, but general enough tha...

In this episode, we discuss our thoughts on a recent NYT article claiming a link between therapy culture and childlessness. In conversation, we explore: * Why the article misses the mark by focusing on "therapy culture" rather than addressing the real accountability crisis * The problematic suggestion that having children would fix estranged relationships with parents * How simple acknowledgment—n...

In this rant-y episode, we dive into the intersection of wellness culture, toxic positivity, and women's reproductive health after a viral clip from Lauryn Bosstic claiming her positive mindset was the reason she got pregnant on her first try. In conversation, we tackle: * The harmful impact of telling women their fertility struggles are due to not being "positive enough" * How wellness influencer...

Feeling exhausted despite your nightly "relaxation" routine? In this episode, Sam challenges our collective delusion about what true rest actually looks like in a world of constant stimulation. In conversation, we explore: Why your "cool girl summer" aesthetic might be missing the most important element: actual rest The uncomfortable truth about how scrolling TikTok is stimulation, not recovery Ho...

What’s really happening behind the dreamy farmhouse aesthetic of tradwife content? In this episode with journalist Jo Piazza, we're exploring the complex reality behind the perfectly curated images of traditional womanhood. In conversation, we tackle: * Why tradwives are a "political branding machine designed to make women participate in their own oppression" * How many of these women are renting...

Today we examine the explosion of "shadow work" content on social media and why psychological tools in untrained hands may do more harm than good. * The commercialization of shadow work through viral journals, courses, and TikTok content * How spiritual coaches adopt psychological concepts without proper training or oversight * The origins of shadow work in Jungian psychology and its connection to...

Ever wanted a therapist's take on reality TV? In this episode, we're breaking down "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”. We discuss- * The emotional immaturity masked as empowerment * The missed opportunity to explore the repressive religious culture these women were raised in * Why claiming to "change the world" while engaging in manufactured drama feels particularly hollow * How that barbecue scen...

How do we raise children who can navigate life's challenges when our instinct is to protect them from every discomfort? We are not parenting experts, but Amanda is a parent and together we come up with some ideas for how we may be able to parent without losing our minds and falling into intensive parenting. In this conversation, we tackle: * The "harbor and ship" metaphor: how parents can provide...

When did raising children become a high-stakes competitive sport? In this extremely nuanced conversation, we are examining the culture of intensive parenting from a parent (Amanda) and a non-parent (Sam). In this conversation, we tackle: * How social media algorithms reinforce parental anxiety by promoting rigid, conflicting approaches * The rise of intensive parenting and the pressure to optimize...

Tired of the stigma and oversimplification around BPD? In this episode with trauma therapist Britt Frank, we're diving into why this controversial diagnosis deserves a complete rethinking. In conversation, we tackle: * Why BPD may be better understood as a response to trauma rather than a "personality disorder" * How clinicians' fear of "difficult clients" perpetuates harmful stigmas * The problem...

Is the 'cool girl’ trope just a patriarchal trap designed to exhaust women? Amanda and Sam tackle this question while sharing their drastically different approaches to being unpopular in school. In conversation, we explore: The phenomenon of "coolness" and how it shapes our identities How social media has created a never-ending popularity contest that extends far beyond high school Breaking down t...

In the second part of our conversation about Sam's Mormon deconstruction, we dive into her emotional journey leaving Utah and the church. In conversation, we explore: - The powerful moment of driving away from Utah and feeling unprecedented relief - The unexpected grief that followed - not about leaving, but about staying so long - The complicated process of deciding what beliefs and values to kee...

In this deeply personal episode, Sam shares her experience growing up Mormon in New York and her eventual move to Utah, where she spent 15 years navigating a much more intense religious culture. In conversation, we explore: - Sam's unique experience as a "non-Utah Mormon" and how her family's more relaxed approach differed from the mainstream - The cultural quirks of Mormonism that most people don...

In this preview episode of Sam's History Corner, Sam shares why she's launching this special series on Substack and gives us a deep dive into the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. In this episode, Sam explores: Eleanor Roosevelt's tragic childhood marked by parental loss and emotional abuse - Why Eleanor's lifelong insecurities never stopped her from taking meaningful action - How we can apply Eleanor's...

Tired of hearing everyone labeled a "narcissist"? In this episode with therapist Britt Frank, we're diving into the nuanced reality of narcissism and why this term is both overused and misunderstood. In conversation, we tackle: * Why labeling everyone a "narcissist" gives too many people too much credit * The key difference between narcissism, being narcissistic, and actually having NPD * The "Nar...