But Are You Happy?

Have you ever replayed a conversation over and over in your head, convinced someone was criticising you? Or spiralled after your boss said, "Can we have a chat?" only to discover it was nothing at all? The truth is, our brains are wired to take things personally. But that doesn't mean every awkward interaction, delayed reply or offhand comment is actually about you. In this episode of But Are You...

Have you ever wondered why modern life can leave us feeling so disconnected, even when we're doing everything we're told should make us feel well? This NAIDOC Week, But Are You Happy? explores a different way of understanding mental health — one grounded in connection, community and relationships rather than simply treating illness. In this episode, host Ashani Dante is joined by proud Gamil...

You’ve probably heard the advice to "trust your gut." But what happens when your gut missed something that broke your heart? Whether you've been cheated on, lied to, blindsided by someone you loved, or simply had your trust shaken, rebuilding it can feel impossible. Not just trust in other people, but trust in yourself. In this episode of But Are You Happy? , host Ashani Dante is joined once...

You’ll want to send this episode to your friends who are perpetually exhausted, overcommitted, or anyone whose version of "rest" is actually just deep scrolling on the couch while their mind continues to run at 100 miles an hour. Did you know that sleep doesn't automatically equal recovery? Or have you noticed that after a supposedly lazy weekend, you sometimes wake up on Monday morning feel...

You’ll want to send this episode to every friend who casually drops the phrase "I'm so depressed" when they're just having a bad day, or anyone trying to figure out where normal sadness ends and something much heavier begins. Have you noticed how casually we throw around major mental health terms over coffee, accidentally minimizing a condition that deeply impacts both the brain and the body...

Are you being "breadcrumbed" (do you even know what 'breadcrumbing" is?). Are you trapped in a loop of romantic ambiguity, where you're getting just enough intimacy to stay hooked, but left staring at your phone wondering if you're even allowed to call them when you're having a bad day? In this episode of But Are You Happy , host Ashani Dante talks with clinical psychotherapist Sarah Bays to pull...

You will want to send this episode to your husband, brother, boyfriend, son and all the men in your life.  Did you know that some online influencers use a rented facade of Lamborghinis and mansions just to trap young men into harmful algorithmic loops? Or have you noticed the boys in your life changing how they act the second they are in a group? In this episode of But Are You Happy, host Ash...

Ever feel like staying up for hours perfecting a single email, or completely paralyzed by the fear of failing at a new project? In this episode of But Are You Happy, host Ashani Dante pulls back the curtain on the sneaky reality of chronic perfectionism. We’re moving beyond the surface level to explore the inner turmoil and emotional load that comes with tying your entire self-worth to your...

A new season of But Are You Happy? Is coming your way. You told us you wanted deep-dive, informative conversations with leading experts about all the things impacting your self-development and mental health. We got you. You’ll be hearing from experts such as Sarah Bays, Millie Rose Bannister and Ben Vasilou, on topics ranging from situationships, navigating tricky group chats, and pushing ba...

Struggling to say no... to anyone? In this bonus episode, Ashani delivers the pep talk you need to start advocating for yourself and setting healthier boundaries, whether it’s at work, with friends, or with the people asking a little too much of you right now. Watch the podcast on YouTube here . If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22...

In this bonus episode, Ashani gives you a reassuring pep talk for when you're feeling anxious before a presentation, event, or any situation that feels overwhelming, and the self-talk shifts that can help you calm your nerves and show up anyway. Watch the podcast on YouTube here . If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 . Both services...

In this bonus episode, Dr Anastasia Hronis offers a calming 10-minute reset to help you step out of the chaos of daily life. This guided exercise invites you to engage your senses: sight, touch, and sound, to ground your attention. If your mind wanders, that’s okay. Gently bring it back and continue. A practical, soothing way to reconnect with the present moment. Watch the podcast on YouTube...

Have you ever “set a boundary” because a TikTok told you it was the only way to protect your peace? In this episode of  But Are You Happy , hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack the idea of weaponised boundaries and explore how to tell whether yours are healthy gates or rigid walls that might be keeping people out unnecessarily. You’ll also learn: How to identif...

Have you ever caught your reflection, noticed a new grey hair or a random ache, and felt that sudden wave of existential dread about where the time has gone? In this episode of  But Are You Happy , hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack the physical realities of ageing, explore how death anxiety fuels our worries, and share healthier ways to relate to the passage of time. You&rsqu...

Have you noticed the word  narcissist being thrown around a lot lately and found yourself wondering whether someone’s actually a narcissist… or just unpleasant? In this episode of But Are You Happy , clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis breaks down what narcissism really is, how to recognise it, and what you can do if there’s a narcissist in your life. You’ll al...

Have you ever been told you’re “too much” or “too sensitive,” only to find yourself caught in an exhausting cycle - loving someone intensely one moment, then wanting to push them away the next? In this episode of But Are You Happy , hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with clarity and compassion. They explore the wh...

Do you ever notice that inner voice—the one that’s quick to judge or put you down, even though you’d never speak to a friend that way? In this episode of But Are You Happy , clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis talks about how to deal with your inner critic, especially when it starts affecting your mental health, and how to start building a more supportive voice instead. Yo...

Where do you stand on AI? Are you all in, a little nervous, or still figuring it out? Maybe you’re somewhere in the middle - curious, cautious, and ready to see what it really means for us. In this episode of But Are You Happy , hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis go past the headlines to explore the psychology of AI. They look at how these tools aren’t just changing what we do...

Why do we form one-sided bonds with people we've never met? In this episode of  But Are You Happy , hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on parasocial relationships and how the digital age has blurred the lines between "fan" and "friend." You'll also learn: Practical questions to ask yourself if your celeb obsession is getting… unhealthy Why we turn to one-...

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why am I reacting exactly like my mother right now?” In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on intergenerational trauma. We’re moving beyond the surface level to explore the "ghosts" in your DNA - the ones that make you react to a minor inconvenience like it’s a family-wide...

Do you ever feel like you’re falling behind in life? You’re not the only one quietly wondering about the timeline. In this episode, Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis explore the “quiet grief” that can arise when life looks different from the one you once planned. You'll also learn: How to embrace "identity plasticity" Practical ways to distinguish...

Are you happy? Oh. Sorry. Was that too direct? It’s a simple question, but it tends to make people shift in their seats. In this episode of But Are You Happy?, Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Anastasia Hronis finally unpack the very question that inspired the podcast and, somehow, until now, we’ve never properly answered. Together, they explore: The difference between hedonic an...

Does your chest tighten every time you open your phone lately? Do you feel like the world is on fire and you’re somehow supposed to just keep going to work, answer emails, and “stay informed”? In this episode of But Are You Happy , host Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack what it actually means to live in the age of information overload. From clickb...

Does the idea of a networking event make your stomach do backflips while your friends seem to thrive in the chaos?  In this season finale of But Are You Happy , host Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on our social personalities. We’re moving beyond the simple labels to find out where you actually sit on the spectrum and why "summer social...

Have you ever looked at a fandom, wellness community, or online movement and thought… this feels a little culty ? In this episode of But Are You Happy, host Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr Anastasia Hronis unpack why the word cult gets thrown around so easily and what actually separates cults from fandoms like Swifties, Beliebers, or other high-devotion communities. You’ll a...