Mentally A Badass

The trauma of the Holocaust didn’t end with liberation — it lived on in families, memories, and silence. Willie Handler shares how growing up as the child of Holocaust survivors shaped his sense of self and mental health. Together, we talk about inherited pain, the invisible weight of survival, and how healing begins with speaking the truth. Check out Willie: https://williehandler.com/ Connect wit...

Ever feel like your brain just won’t cooperate? Dopamine expert Andy West joins me to talk about how to reset your brain’s motivation system. She shares easy, realistic ways to boost dopamine and find your flow again—especially if ADHD makes it feel like an uphill battle. Check out Andy: https://dopaminemountain.com/ Connect with Us: Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@MentallyABadass⁠ Join our mental healt...

Actor, author, and advocate Perry Power joins me to share his story of surviving sexual abuse. While the abuse itself was painful, Perry reveals that the greatest trauma came from being told to stay silent. In this conversation, he opens up about how silence shapes survivors, why breaking it is powerful, and shares his tips on finding the courage to speak up.  Check out Perry: https://www.ins...

In this episode of Mentally a Badass , I sit down with author Tyler Kania to talk openly about his journey with Bipolar 1 disorder. Tyler shares his experiences navigating manic episodes, struggling to keep a job, and facing the challenges of a serious knee injury and time in a mental health hospital. But this conversation isn’t just about the struggles—Tyler also highlights the surprising positiv...

In this episode, Morgan Brunner shares her powerful story of surviving a domestic violence marriage. She opens up about why she stayed at first—for her daughter—and the moment she realized that leaving was the only way to protect them both. Morgan talks about the hidden aftermath of abuse: living in constant fight-or-flight, the exhaustion it caused in her body, and the long journey of healing and...

In this episode, I sit down with Brooke Deanne for an honest conversation about her time in a cult and how that experience led to CPTSD. Brooke shares what it’s really like living with trauma, how it shows up in everyday life, and the small steps she’s taking to heal and move forward. We talk about the hard stuff—control, trust, and the weight of trauma—but also the hope that comes with recovery a...

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Brittany Hansen to talk openly about panic attacks, mental health awareness, and the importance of breaking the stigma around these conversations. Brittany shares her personal experiences with anxiety and panic attacks, and why it’s so important to take them seriously. We also explore the role of boundaries in protecting our mental health, learning to embrac...

In this episode, I sit down with Zulma Williams—better known as The Swearing Therapist —to talk about what it really means to be authentic in a world obsessed with perfection. We get into why swearing isn’t a moral failure, how to stop caring about your looks, and why chasing happiness doesn’t have to mean pretending everything’s okay. If you’ve ever felt pressured to shrink yourself to fit in, th...

In this powerful and honest conversation, Laura Walton shares her experience with grief after losing her father to suicide and later a close friend. While both losses shaped her, it was the passing of her friend that hit especially hard and stirred a deeper emotional reckoning. We talk about how grief can feel different depending on the relationship, how she processed it all, and how being raised...

What happens when you realize the thing you’ve been chasing… isn’t actually what you want?  In this episode, I sit down with Catherine Crestani to talk about the quiet, powerful moments of self-awareness that shaped her journey. From building a company to prove people wrong, to realizing she no longer wants to spend her energy that way — Catherine shares what it looks like to let go of ego, e...

Ever felt like you were doing everything “right,” but still felt off? Ashley Krooks joins us to share how burnout forced her to re-evaluate her definition of success. We talk about the difference between looking successful and feeling satisfied—and how she’s working to build a more grounded, peaceful life. Check out Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/ohtheplacesashgoes https://ohtheplacesashgoes.co...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with therapist and addiction survivor Blake Hunt to discuss his personal journey with alcohol and how it led him to help others through mental health work. We dive deep into the mental health crisis facing our society—touching on everything from the fentanyl epidemic to borderline personality disorder (BPD), and how caregiver attachment plays a role in long-ter...

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Martin to talk about something so many silently face—depression. Mike opens up about his mental health journey and how reconnecting with the natural world became a key part of his healing process. From quiet walks in the woods to immersing himself in wild landscapes, he shares how nature offers more than beauty—it offers clarity, peace, and resilience. If you’...

In this deeply powerful and vulnerable episode, meditation coach Sara Thornhill shares her personal journey of survival, healing, and transformation. From surviving a brutal gang rape to navigating two divorces, Sara opens up about how she rebuilt her life and now dedicates her work to helping fellow LGBTQIA+ individuals heal from trauma. Through meditation, embodiment, and inner work, Sara guides...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Amy Vincze to explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma and how it can silently shape our adult lives—emotionally, physically, and mentally. Amy shares her personal journey and introduces us to EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) tapping, a unique and accessible healing tool that helps release deep-rooted pain and promote emotional balance. Whether you'...

Paul Davis ran away from home, lived in his car, and spent over two decades caught in a spiral of addiction, self-destruction, and heartbreak. In this raw conversation, he opens up about the moment he hit rock bottom, the pain of broken relationships, and the life-changing turning point that brought him to his knees—and ultimately to healing. We talk about: His troubled childhood and why he ran aw...

In this episode, I sit down with Katie Turner—an advocate for deep feeling and self-awareness—to talk about what it really means to be a sensitive human in a loud, often dismissive world. We unpack the differences between traditional therapy and spiritual alternatives, share personal insights on navigating mental health in both the U.S. and Canada, and get real about the damaging effects of toxic...

Why are we so hard on ourselves sometimes? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala — a psychologist, author, and expert in emotions — to talk about perfectionism, personality traits, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). We break down how your personality can shape the way you think and feel, why perfectionism shows up, and what actually helps when emotions feel too big to h...

In this honest and healing conversation, I’m joined by Kanika Vasudeva—energy healer and spiritual guide—as she shares how the heartbreaking loss of her daughter led her to a deeper path of self-discovery, soul work, and spiritual healing. We talk about how energy healing helped her move through grief, and how tapping into the Akashic Records revealed hidden patterns, karmic imprints, and generati...

In this episode, I sat down with Cali Estes — an addiction expert and counselor who works with celebrities — to talk about her own experience with addiction and why so many people in the spotlight quietly battle it too. We got into the pressure of constantly being “on,” what fame can do to your mental health, and why money and success don’t make you immune to addiction. Cali also opened up about h...

In this powerful episode, transformational coach Robert Foster opens up about how the death of his father became a turning point in both his personal journey and professional coaching style. We discuss how he helps clients manage anxiety and depression, his unique approach to mindset and motivation, and why healing is a critical part of achieving success. If you’re looking for inspiration, mental...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Holly France — a rare illness advocate and survivor, to talk about her journey with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare and often misunderstood neurological disorder. Holly opens up about what it’s really like to live with a rare disease, the challenges of navigating a medical system that often overlooks rare diagnoses, and how she found strength and pur...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Jenny Lytle — a former hospice nurse turned stress-relief and self-care coach — for a powerful conversation about the real cost of burnout. Jenny shares how losing her mother and her years of caregiving led her to deeply understand that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential. We talk about the emotional toll of always putting others first, the danger of ignoring...

When Jill McMahon was a kid, a man held her family at gunpoint—an experience that would change the course of her life. Now a trauma counselor, Jill shares what it’s like to live through something so terrifying and how trauma can stick with us for years. We talk about the long-term impact of that day, how trauma shows up in ways we don’t always expect, and what healing has looked like for her. This...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kristen Williamson to dive into what it means to have a neurodivergent brain—something she playfully refers to as neurospicy . We get real about our own experiences navigating life with neurodivergent minds and explore how neurodivergence shows up differently for everyone. Kristen breaks down the distinctions between autism and other forms of neurodivergence, a...