The EmotionAlly Podcast

In this episode, I discuss gaslighting—what it is, and what we can do with it. I explain the history of the term itself, how to recognize this kind of emotional abuse in a relationship, and I give tips for restoring relational balance and emotional health. Give it a listen!

In this episode I chat with fifteen-year-old Noah about his perspective on the teen experience. We discuss the effects of social media, the importance of friends and finding your passions, and how to be humble, even when we don't want to be. As a child of divorced parents, Noah also gives excellent insights for both teens and parents dealing with the effects of divorce. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss how to cope when even the anchors in our lives get pulled, leaving us floundering and overwhelmed. I give four tips to endure such jolting experiences, to find peace despite uncertainty, and to allow emotions to inform, rather than overwhelm, your thoughts. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I'm joined by therapist Kate Alcamo to discuss how parents can help their teen & tween daughters thrive. We discuss how to create open lines of communication, tips for establishing healthy body image, and why learning to embrace short-term discomfort can lead to long-term benefits in our children's lives. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I chat about what makes and breaks a relationship and how to avoid common pitfalls. I discuss codependency vs. effective dependence, the healing power of vulnerability, and the real meaning of love in lasting relationships. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I debunk several parenting "untruths," including the prevailing idea that "more is better" in the parenting world. I discuss various popular parenting myths and their realities, explain effective emotional processing with kids, and discuss how to develop an attachment-based parenting style that focuses on true, lasting meaning. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I'm discussing emotional paralysis and how to free ourselves from feeling stuck, regardless of our circumstances. I discuss five underlying needs that feed into emotional paralysis, how to fill those needs, and the importance of tapping into our emotions to give our lives deeper context and meaning. Give it a listen!    

In this episode, I discuss boundaries and their role in mitigating feelings of resentment and burnout. I explain how to know when boundaries are necessary, the fears we often face in setting boundaries, and how facing those fears and recognizing our own needs can actually draw us closer to those we love. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss 6 tips to make your Valentines Day more meaningful, regardless of your budget or personal situation. I'll chat about connection and vulnerability, the true meaning of romance, and how to better see each other three-dimensionally and with grace. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Michael Voss to discuss the realities of self-harm and suicide, and how families and friends can best help those who suffer. We discuss the underlying motivational structure of self-harm, the complexities of suicidality and its relationship with self-harm, the many resources available and when to seek such resources, and real hope for long-term healing. Give it a...

In this episode, I'm joined by sex therapist Braxton Dutson to discuss how to address pornography with kids and teens. We chat about when and how to start sexual conversations, what not to do, and how to seek real understanding even in the midst of the most awkward or difficult sexual questions. Give it a listen!

In the wake of a tumultuous year and a difficult new year, I discuss how to bridge the divide with the many people around us who think differently than we do. Rather than distancing ourselves from our neighbors, family, and friends, I discuss the importance of reaching out, acknowledging the good, and loving anyway. Extending empathy to others doesn't mean we agree, but it allows us to come togeth...

In this New Years episode, I discuss the problems in our lives and relationships that we may have mislabeled. I talk about how to recognize what is beneath our struggles that upset us, the process of how to better address them, and how seeing ourselves 3-dimensionally can help us get out of our own way when it comes to finally stepping forward in our lives. This episode will help you start your ye...

In this episode, I chat with Lincoln, my 9 year-old son, about his take on big emotions and living our best lives. We discuss how he manages those big emotions, how parents can help kids open up, and what it means to feel loved. Prunes, moms escaping to closets, and astronauts might also sneak into the conversation. You don't want to miss this one—give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss ways in which we can retake control of our emotional lives, even if we feel trapped in our current situations. I chat about the power of nostalgia, identifying our needs in order to better meet them, and the importance of being intentional with our time and connection. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I ask my brother, psychiatrist Dr. Michael Voss, all about the medical side of anxiety & depression diagnosis. We discuss the relationship between therapy & medication to address anxiety/depression, how to recognize common experience vs. clinical diagnosis, what's happening in the brain & how anxiety/depression medication works, and the immense hope and help that is available for...

In this episode, I chat with content creators Chelsie & Bedford Dort about the complexities that come with being a blended, mixed family in the social media spotlight. We discuss the realities and struggles of marriage (& remarriage with kids), the power of loving anyway, and how to stay focused on the people who matter most, even in the midst of the noise & waves of life. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss the realities of people-pleasing—where it stems from and how to curb it in healthy ways. I mention root issues that often result in people-pleasing, how to distinguish between real compassion/empathy & unhealthy patterns, and tips for undoing self-sabotaging habits while also nurturing greater connection with those we love. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I'm talking about how to be patient with our own growth curve and push against the brutal thought patterns we often inflict upon ourselves. I discuss how to aim for the right stars, real ways to forgive ourselves, and how focusing on healthy process will lead to the meaningful, lasting outcomes we need. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss how to find personal fulfillment, regardless of whether we succeed or fail in our own personal checklists. I identify three core means of measuring our ultimate life meaning, how to pair ambition with outcomes that we can't control, and the value in our attempts to make lemonade out of the lemons we're dealt. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss how to take empathy to the next level in our relationships and daily interactions. I explain how loving people as if they were in crisis can guide us to love better, and I outline three categories of empathetic living that will help us to "become empathy" at our core. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I chat with Rachel about staying hopeful in the dating process. We discuss tips for online dating profiles, the importance of slowing down, and how to keep from becoming jaded while remaining true to our authentic selves. Give it a listen (and share with the single people you love)!

In this episode, I discuss how to lean into political and other difficult conversations without sacrificing our personal relationships. While many of us vacillate between lashing out and remaining silent, I discuss the importance of inviting measured conversation, how to hold to a platform without injuring the opposition, and why empathy will allow us to rise together, even with differing opinions...

In this episode, I'm chatting with mom & entrepreneur Vanessa Quigley about juggling multiple responsibilities in the midst of the hectic pace of life. We discuss crafting a narrative that matches our best selves, the struggles of maintaining connection in the midst of stress & overwhelm, and how to let our imperfections be part of our success story. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I chat with LMFT therapist Janey Komm about the role of self-care as a means for greater connection. We discuss what healthy self-care looks like; the importance of finding, maintaining, and meaningfully sharing our own personal voice; and how rediscovering ourselves and our relationships can help us find the connection we've always wanted. Give it a listen!