Compassion in a T-Shirt

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I’m joined by Professor Ross G. White — clinical psychologist, researcher, and author of The Tree That Bends: How a Flexible Mind Can Help You Thrive. Together, we explore what it really means to live well in high-pressure, high-performance cultures, and why psychological flexibility may be one of the most important skills for thriving rather than burnin...

In the final guest interview of 2025, I’m joined by someone whose work has profoundly shaped the way we think about compassion, connection, and healing in groups: Dr Derek Griner, Clinical Professor and Associate Training Director in Counseling Psychology at Brigham Young University. Derek is one of the leading voices in developing Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) for groups, co-authoring the CFT...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I’m joined by someone whose work I’ve admired from afar for a very long time – Dr Robyn D. Walser. Robyn is a clinical psychologist, Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Director of Research at Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services, and on staff at the National Center for PTSD at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System...

Have you ever felt torn between a part of you that wants to change and a part that absolutely doesn’t? Or felt “held hostage” by a critical inner voice telling you what you should be doing? In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with my dear friend and motivational interviewing trainer, Patrick Berthiaume, to explore ambivalence, discord, and how compassion can transform both our r...

Join me on Compassion in a T-Shirt as I sit down with clinical psychologist, author, and CFT pioneer Dr Mary Welford for a rich and surprising conversation about self-criticism — what it is, why we do it, and the unexpected functions it serves. Mary reflects on her early journey into Compassion Focused Therapy, including the profound influence of Professor Paul Gilbert’s work on shame and self-cri...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with Sydney-based psychotherapist Megan Buys to explore the rich and evolving world of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. Megan recently published a landmark paper, Exploring the Evidence for Internal Family Systems Therapy: A Scoping Review of Current Research, Gaps, and Future Directions, in Clinical Psychologist—the first comprehensive...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with Michelle Becker, a licensed marriage and family therapist, international teacher, and co-founder of the Wise Compassion Program. Michelle shares her remarkable journey from certified public accountant to compassion-focused therapist, and how that path led her to create the groundbreaking Compassion for Couples program. We explore how comp...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Audra Horney , a licensed psychologist from Arizona, USA, who specialises in men’s mental health. Audra brings a refreshing mix of humour, honesty, and deep compassion to her work, helping men feel that therapy is a place where they truly belong. We explore how to make therapy relevant, comfortable, and safe for men — and what happens when men start to connect w...

What if healing emotional pain could start with the simple act of tapping?  In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with Carol Look, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and pioneering EFT Master, for an inspiring conversation about Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), psychotherapy, and gratitude. Carol shares her journey from traditional psychotherapy to discove...

What if compassion, not punishment, was at the heart of how we respond to drug use? In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, Dr. Stan Steindl welcomes Dee-Dee Stout, a renowned counselor, educator, and leading advocate for harm reduction. Dee-Dee discusses her groundbreaking book Coming to Harm Reduction Kicking and Screaming, which shares powerful stories of people who use drugs and the famili...

Is your empathy helping you—or wearing you down? If you’re in a helping profession, this conversation will speak to your heart and your nervous system. In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt , Dr. Stan Steindl speaks with Tanya Cooper, a Melbourne-based clinical psychologist, Motivational Interviewing trainer, and longtime member of MINT. With over 25 years of experience, Tanya offers profound...

What if parenting wasn’t just about raising children—but also about becoming more human yourself? In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt , I speak with Shevonne Hunt —presenter, producer, writer, and longtime champion of human stories. Shevonne shares her journey from radio and Kinderling Conversation to creating the podcast A Better World Blueprint , a show that offers hope, insight, and insp...

What does it take to have a truly compassionate conversation—one that heals, connects, and even bridges deep divides? In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Stephen Andrew—a seasoned therapist, trainer, storyteller, and the warm, wise voice behind the podcast Conversations in Compassion. Based in Portland, Maine, Stephen has spent decades working wit...

What if the greatest act of courage in a group is creating the psychological safety for all to have a voice? In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with Majella Greene—social worker, therapist, trainer, and thought leader in psychological safety. We explore what it really means to create spaces where people can show up authentically, speak openly, and feel safe enough to take risks...

What does it really mean to teach mindfulness with integrity, compassion, and care? In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with Professor Rebecca Crane — a true pioneer in the field of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and director of the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University. Together, we explore the heart of MBCT: where it came from, what make...

Can we hold people accountable and meet them with compassion? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt , I sit down with my friend and colleague Ken McMaster , a social worker, trainer, author, and founder of HMA in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ken has spent over four decades working at the frontline of domestic and family violence intervention, and brings a wealth of ins...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with psychiatrist Dr Warren Ward and clinical nutritionist and recovery coach Lexi Crouch—co-authors of the new book Renourish, a compassionate, three-phase guide to eating disorder recovery. Together, they explore the brain, body, and soul of recovery: . Dr Ward unpacks the neuroscience of brain starvation, the cultural roots of the eating di...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, Dr. Stan Steindl sits down with Dr. Chia-Ying Chou, a UCSF-trained psychologist and leading specialist in hoarding and cluttering. Chia-Ying combines Compassion Focused Therapy with years of clinical and research expertise to help people move beyond shame, self-criticism, and avoidance. Together, we explore: . What hoarding really is — beyond just “too m...

What if the most powerful question a leader could ask was: “How can I best be helpful?” In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I’m joined by Gabriela Jones and Alexandra Thomas, co-authors of the compelling new book Compassion-Focused Leadership. Nominated for HR Book of the Year in Sweden, their work explores how compassion—defined as empathy in action—can transform leadership, organisations...

What does it mean to live a good life—and how do we find our way there, even through pain? In this deeply thoughtful and delightfully down-to-earth conversation, I’m joined by clinical psychologist, ACT trainer, and author Dr. Jenna LeJeune, co-author of Values in Therapy.  Together, we explore how reconnecting with our values—those freely chosen ways of being—can guide us toward a life that...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I’m joined once again by Clinical Psychologist, writer, and podcast host Shannon A Swales. Shannon is the founder of Burnout Psychology Support, host of the Midlife Reclaimed podcast, and author of Nothing Left to Give: A Psychologist’s Path Back from Burnout. Shannon first appeared on the channel on 15 July 2023, where she share...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Dr Ashley Seidel Potvin—educator, researcher, and lead author of the truly important book Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities: Leading Together to Address Everyday Suffering in Schools. Ashley brings such depth and heart to this conversation, drawing on her work at the Renée Crown Wellness Institu...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I’m joined by Dr Inês Trindade from Örebro University in Sweden—an accomplished researcher in compassion, self-compassion, acceptance and commitment therapy, and health psychology. Together, we explore the psychological toll of living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and how self-compassion can act as a protective force against depression, anxiety,...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with Nicola O’Neill — a transformational mindset coach, spiritual teacher, and founder of a unique training program that helps people harness the power of thought to create meaningful, lasting change. Nicola shares her own personal journey of overcoming significant life challenges — from financial hardship to emotional distress — and how she u...

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with Professor Michael Inzlicht from the University of Toronto and the Rotman School of Management to explore a question that feels both inspiring and unsettling: Can a machine be more compassionate than a human? Michael’s recent study, Third-Party Evaluators Perceive AI as More Compassionate than Expert Humans, found that people consistently...