Feeling Things with Amy & Kat

Amy and Kat respond to a voicemail from a listener who just found out she’s pregnant, but instead of excitement, she’s overwhelmed with doubts about being a good mom to the stress of a husband deploying and starting PA school…she’s in full ‘future tripping’ mode!! Their advice? Wait to Worry (WTW). Wait To Worry (WTW) [noun] A recurring segment, framework, and...

Amy shares how it actually went when her boyfriend met her ex-husband (spoiler: strong handshakes were exchanged) and Kat breaks down the psychology behind why we deflect praise (especially as women) and shares tips for how to receive compliments without cringing (even if a compliment journal sounds weird). They also discuss the Karen Read trail (Body in the Snow), a couple of listener emails, how...

What do you do when someone you love is struggling and shutting you out? Amy and Kat respond to a heartfelt email from a college student whose roommate is battling an eating disorder. She’s heartbroken, overwhelmed, and unsure how to support her friend without completely losing herself in the process. Kat shares thoughts on grief, boundaries, and “wise compassion,” while Amy offe...

Amy shares the cringey thing she did (and why being annoyed with yourself can actually be helpful), while Kat explains the psychology behind why we start using the same phrases as our closest friends. Plus: a listener’s bird encounter with a powerful message, brainspotting 101, and what Amy & Kat would say to get out of jury duty. Call and leave a voicemail: 877-207-2077 Email:  hey...

Amy and Kat share a listener email from Julia in Wisconsin. Julia is getting ready to hike 1,200 miles solo (a dream she’s been chasing for years) and she’s tired of people asking what her husband thinks about it. Amy and Kat talk about how to respond when people project their fears or outdated ideas about relationships onto your dreams, and why you don’t need to defend living a...

Amy and Kat dive into the important reminder that feelings aren’t facts. Yes, feelings give us information, but they don’t always tell us the whole truth. They also talk about why confusion might actually be a sign you're growing, why talking to yourself out loud is a good thing (according to science!), and how to build curiosity instead of judgment when emotions get messy. Plus: Amy s...

Amy and Kat respond to an email from a listener navigating a tough post-divorce situation. Her ex-husband’s behavior (especially around their daughter’s upcoming wedding) is testing her patience. He hasn’t offered a dime to help, and their adult kids are pulling away from him for a long list of reasons. Now she’s asking: Do I stay in my lane… or finally say something...

Amy shares a personal story about the fears she had dating her boyfriend (a widower with three kids) and how her primal question of "Am I wanted?" came to the surface. Kat takes us through the emotion of gladness and why joy can sometimes feel just as scary as fear.  Fear and gladness are the final 2 core feelings, so make sure to listen to the previous episodes if you missed the other 6 feel...

Amy & Kat are answering a question from a listener who’s considering a breast augmentation. She’s navigating that familiar tension of wanting to feel more confident in her body…while also wanting to accept it as it is. Kat (who happens to be a therapist specializing in body image) offers insight on how to explore the why behind a choice like this, the difference between need...

Amy & Kat are feeling embarrassed…and not just because Amy had to squat near tortillas at the grocery store to avoid peeing her pants. Amy & Kat also dig into 2 more core feelings: Shame and Guilt. They unpack the difference between the two (spoiler: they get confused a lot), share personal stories (both Amy & Kat have fertility journeys) and talking about how these feelings can...

Amy & Kat respond to a listener email from a mom who set firm boundaries with her husband’s family after ongoing disrespect. It’s been 2 years of no contact, but now her kids are starting to ask questions. How much do you tell them? How do you keep it age-appropriate? And how do you model healthy boundaries without blaming or bashing? Amy & Kat share thoughts, personal stories,...

We're back with 2 more core feelings: Sad & Angry! Plus, our feeling of the day: Energized (even though Amy wanted it to be “sore” because she’s on a sprinting-for-hormones journey!) Somehow childhood memories come up about naked pool parties + doors getting removed from hinges + blow up dolls + the infamous frog paper weight (with a very funny body part situation!!) Also: Am...

Amy and Kat respond to a heartfelt message from a listener who’s re-entering the dating world after a stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. She asks a vulnerable and powerful question: “At what point do I tell someone I have breast cancer?” They offer encouragement to anyone navigating dating with a complicated backstory. Whether you're dealing with illness, grief, or anoth...

Kat runs Amy through a ‘con artist checklist’ to see if Amy’s fallen for a scam with all of her face fitness investments. Amy and Kat also go over 2 of the 8 core feelings: lonely and hurt (sharing gifts, impairments and relatable stories for each feeling—which the story that came up with hurt is something that recently happened between Amy and Kat!)  Feelings can eith...

Have you ever found yourself crying over something like mustard being put on your burger when you asked for ketchup or getting tots instead of fries? How about getting cream cheese on your bagel when you asked for butter? Chances are...you know exactly what we are talking about!! In an effort for y'all to get to know Kat better (since she is joining Amy as a full-time co-host next week) Amy is pla...

4 Things with Amy Brown is getting a makeover! Starting April 1st, the podcast will change to Feeling Things with Amy & Kat. It'll still be on the same feed (you don’t need to change a thing), but now Kat Van Buren, the therapist you already know and love from our 5th Thing episodes and host of You Need Therapy podcast, is officially joining Amy as full-time co-host. In this episode, Amy...

OUTWEIGH: Why do we turn to food, alcohol, shopping, or even busyness when life feels overwhelming? In this episode, Chip and Leanne dive into the real reason we numb—what we’re actually trying to escape or avoid—and how society conditions us to suppress rather than process emotions. They break down the neuroscience behind coping mechanisms, revealing why they provide short-term...

Amy was inspired by a conversation with her girlfriends at her birthday party this week to share a chat that Kat had with Justin Baldoni about some of the harmful messages that our culture's idea of masculinity creates. Justin came out with a book, titled Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity, and started the Man Enough Podcast in 2021 in an effort to further undefine masculinity and offer freedom...

Not only does Amy bring the craziest story about her niece and her boyfriend, she also has a breakthrough as to why celebrating her birthday is a little uncomfortable. Kat provides today’s quote: “Don’t be so attached to who you are in the present that you don’t give your future self a chance” from Vin Jang after she heard him on another podcast. This quote leads to c...

OUTWEIGH: Addiction isn’t just about substances—it’s about the ways we cope with pain, stress, and unmet needs. In this episode, Chip Dodd and Leanne unpack how behaviors like emotional eating, over-exercising, workaholism, and social media addiction follow the same addictive patterns as substances. They explore the difference between coping mechanisms that help us heal versus th...

Fresh off her family therapy retreat, Amy reflects on the importance of quick, effective ways to create moments of refuge throughout the day. She goes over 4 simple ways to help reset and reconnect. First thing is a concept from therapist Katie Gustafson: hosting emotions like guests at a dinner party! Second thing is dopamine dressing: how intentional outfit choices can boost mood...

This week, Amy shares her experience at a therapy retreat she attended over the weekend—with her kids and ex-husband, Ben—including a powerful moment when something she said may have been exactly what someone needed to hear. She and Kat also dive into a listener email about childhood bullying, sparking a conversation about the importance of close friendships—not just in school, b...

OUTWEIGH: Two years after our case study from last week, Suzanne came back to share what’s happened since her  Stressless Eating journey—and the transformation goes far beyond food and body image. In this powerful follow-up, she reveals how healing her self-image not only gave her peace with food but also opened the door to calling in true love. What once held her back—her d...

Spring isn’t just for cleaning out your closet...it’s also the perfect time for a  heart reset . Breakup coach Sarah Curnoles joins Amy to talk about the power of a  Breakup Detox and how to turn heartbreak into healing. From surprising ways to let go of an ex to the biggest mistakes people make post-breakup, Sarah shares expert advice on moving forward with clarity and confi...

Amy and Kat always feel the need to give the full backstory when telling a story. Sometimes their friends can get bored with all the details, so Amy and Kat chat about ways that will help them be more concise (If you have ADHD, this might help you too!)  They also discuss an interesting question that Kat’s husband asked her over dinner: “What is something you thought was normal wh...