Laugh Cry Club

True Crime, Accountability, and Enmeshment: A Psychological Look at The Crash Joy and Rebecca celebrate episode 101 of The Laugh Cry Club and discuss their backgrounds in criminal justice and psychology, emphasizing true crime as educational rather than entertainment and honoring victims Dom Russo and Davion Flanagan. They recap a documentary about Mackenzie, a 17-year-old TikTok-influencer-type w...

Laugh Cry Club Episode 100: Reflections, Recording Mishaps, and a Possible True Crime PivotJoy and Rebecca celebrate the 100th episode of the Laugh Cry Club, welcoming new listeners and reflecting as two licensed therapists with over 20 years’ experience. They discuss why they started a less “expert-y” mental health podcast despite a saturated market, imposter syndrome, and the value of sharing a...

Reacting vs. Responding: Creating Space When You’re TriggeredJoy and Rebecca, two licensed therapists with over 20 years’ experience each, return to the Laugh Cry Club after missing an episode due to Joy’s dad being hospitalized following a lawnmower accident. They discuss how modern life and social media amplify constant reactivity, and explain reacting as immediate, emotion-driven, threat-based...

Captain Rebecca’s Flight Simulator Adventure and How to Show Up as an Ally for Pride MonthJoy and “Captain Rebecca,” two licensed therapists, share recent adventures and connect them to mental health, belonging, and community. Rebecca describes an intense three-hour commercial flight simulator session with multiple takeoffs and landings, learning cockpit controls, autopilot dials, and procedures l...

Summer Adventures, The Sphere, and Catching an ArsonistJoy and Rebecca, two licensed therapists on The Laugh Cry Club, discuss taking “adventures” to break routine and boost curiosity, from micro-changes like new routes and talking to strangers to bigger plans like community classes and supporting local businesses. Rebecca shares seeing No Doubt reunite at the Las Vegas Sphere. Joy recounts a nega...

Surprising Emotions, Puppy Turn-In Grief, and Letting Feelings BeLicensed therapists Joy and Rebecca introduce the Laugh Cry Club as a non-AI, guidance-focused podcast and share weekly “laughs and cries.” Rebecca describes a horseback ride followed by a windstorm and a vivid double rainbow, then another rainbow days later. The episode topic is surprising emotions and how they can overwhelm us, lik...

Mindful Walking, Grief, and Surviving vs. Thriving at WorkJoy and Rebecca, licensed therapists, open with a mindfulness check-in and discuss mindful walking as a way to notice recurring negative thoughts, befriend them, and choose a better thought without falling into toxic positivity, while still honoring real grief such as Joy’s recent loss of JT. They celebrate nearing 100 episodes and introduc...

Mental Health Awareness Month: More Good Days TogetherJoy and Rebecca mark Mental Health Awareness Month and discuss the theme “ More Good Days Together,” reflecting on lingering pandemic effects and the value of reconnecting in “3D” relationships and community. They share resources from Mental Health America (mhanational.org) and emphasize small, realistic steps—setting intentions, scaling goals,...

Therapists Online: Ethics, Boundaries, and the Rush to CancelJoy and Rebecca discuss how mental health professionals’ growing social media presence can blur ethics and boundaries, prompted by backlash toward influencer “Therapy Jeff”. They explore how viral “hot takes,” telehealth’s shift to therapists working from home, monetization pressures in an underpaid field, and influencer branding can ero...

Diet, Disordered Eating, and Mental Health with Laura Ligos (the Sassy Dietitian) Joy Rebecca hosts Laugh Cry Club with guest Laura Ligos (the Sassy Dietitian) to discuss the crossover of nutrition, diet culture, and mental health. Laura shares how her upbringing around disordered eating and her background as a Division I athlete led her from performance nutrition to focusing on women’s health, di...

The Self-Diagnosis Craze: ADHD, Anxiety, and Why Context MattersLicensed therapists Joy and Rebecca discuss the rise of self-diagnosis, especially around ADHD, amplified by the internet and social media. They explain that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder with specific DSM criteria and note symptom overlap with anxiety, depression, trauma, and even hormonal changes. They caution against relyin...

Spring Cleaning Your Mind: Decluttering Stress, Anxiety, and Decision ParalysisJoy and Rebecca, licensed mental health therapists and coaches with over 20 years’ experience, discuss “spring cleaning” as both a physical and mental reset, including the cultural and religious origins of spring cleaning and the role of ritual in feeling connected. They focus on mind decluttering by first identifying w...

Rebuilding Connection in the Digital Age: Loneliness, Anger, and Community After the PandemicJoy and Rebecca focus on connection versus loneliness in the digital age and lingering impacts of the pandemic. Rebecca prefers working from home and feels she can have more connection digitally, while Joy misses “micro connections” from office life. They reflect on how lockdowns rewired routines, reduced...

Pet Loss, Grief, and the Compassionate Decision to Say GoodbyeTwo licensed clinical therapists discuss pet loss and grief after one host says goodbye to her therapy dog JT, a Lab/Golden mix who worked with her for years and lived to 14 years. She shares JT’s background with Canine Companions , their work as a therapy team, and how his decline led to the difficult decision for in-home humane euthan...

Sleep, Mental Health, and Revenge Bedtime ProcrastinationJoy and Rebecca open with a March check-in about shifting weather, time change, and travel, then focus the episode on sleep and its impact on mental health. Both are trained in CBT-I and discuss common barriers like phone use at night, blue light, and Rebecca’s “revenge bedtime procrastination” as a way to reclaim personal time. Joy shares s...

Covert Control: Spotting Manipulation, AI Misinformation, and Fear-Based PersuasionLicensed therapists Joy and Rebecca (each with over 20 years’ experience) discuss “covert control,” contrasting healthy persuasion—transparent, respectful of autonomy, and inviting disagreement—with manipulation driven by hidden agendas, emotional leverage, and boundary-pushing. They connect the topic to today’s med...

Why Disappointment Hurts So Much: Expectations, Meaning-Making, and Protecting Your Mental HealthLicensed therapists Joy and Rebecca discuss mindfulness, neuroscience, and how resisting emotions can intensify distress, recommending the Dharma Lab podcast, Brown University Mindfulness Program , and the Healthy Minds app . They explore how the brain “makes meaning,” often attaching judgment to neutr...

Lunar New Year Traditions, Mindfulness, and Grief: Remembering FritzJoy and Rebecca open the Laugh Cry Club episode by wishing listeners a happy Lunar New Year and sharing that they have had a difficult couple of weeks, including the loss of Rebecca’s 12-year-old rescue dog Fritz after a neurological event left him unable to walk. They then discuss Lunar New Year history and meaning, noting it dat...

Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show: Music, Culture, and Collective HealingJoy and Rebecca, licensed therapists with over 20 years in the field, discuss Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show and how music can be healing. They talk about the show’s message of love over hate and the episode explores backlash to Spanish-language performances as an example of ingroup/outgroup bias, political division, and fear-b...

Finding Purpose Amidst Passion and Life's ChallengesIn this episode of the Laugh Cry Club, Joy and Rebecca discuss the nuanced differences between purpose and passion. They reflect on the pressures of societal expectations around following one's passion, emphasizing the importance of finding meaning and stability in everyday life. The conversation touches on the significant impact of meani...

Navigating Mental Health During Turbulent TimesIn this episode of the Laugh Cry Club, hosts Joy and Rebecca discuss the heavy emotional toll and the challenges of current world events. The duo provides a heartfelt check-in, revealing their own struggles with depression, social media consumption, and the pressure to stay informed. As licensed mental health therapists with over 20 years of experienc...

A quick update from Laugh Cry Club . We’re taking a short break, but it’s not a goodbye it’s a reset! Some exciting changes are coming to the show, and we can’t wait to share what’s next with you. Hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode when we’re back.

Healing Generational Trauma: Vulnerability, Awareness, and GrowthIn this episode of the Laugh Cry Club podcast, hosts Joy, Rebecca, and Chelsea discuss the complexities of generational trauma. Chelsea shares a touching personal laugh and cry story involving her late husband, while Joy talks about her emotional experience at a recent protest. They dive deep into the nature of generational trauma, e...

Embracing Emotions: Understanding and Processing FeelingsIn this episode of the Laugh Cry Club, hosts Joy, Rebecca, and Chelsea celebrate the New Year with fresh energy and motivation. They discuss the importance of feeling and processing emotions, reflecting on personal anecdotes and therapeutic insights. The discussion highlights how societal and generational norms, particularly for Gen X, have...

Living Big in 2026: A New Year's EpisodeIn this episode of the Laugh Cry Club, Joy, Rebecca, and Chelsea welcome the New Year with reflections on their personal experiences and family traditions. They discuss the importance of assessing stress levels and setting intentional goals grounded in emotional well-being. The hosts share their laugh and cry moments, illustrating the highs and lows of l...