Pete vs. Anxiety

This episode of "Pete Versus Anxiety" features a conversation with Stacey Schaefer, a licensed professional counselor. The discussion covers various topics, including: Introduction to PsychPal: An AI companion designed to help users process thoughts and manage mental health. Stacey's Background: Stacey shares her journey into therapy,therapy by her own childhood trauma. She discusses her work in s...

This episode of "Pete vs. Anxiety" features a conversation with Joy from Joyce Family BBQ, a positive and influential figure on TikTok. The discussion covers a range of topics, including: Introduction to PsychPal: An AI companion designed to help with mental health by offering support and organization. Joy's Journey: Joy shares her experience of starting on TikTok and how it became a significant p...

Most of us are ahem quite dependent on AI these days—some turning it into a “friend,” others not realizing it’s more like a digital snake oil. Want to see how AI’s creeping into your life — from ghostwriting your book to whispering your secrets? Catherine Crestani’s got the scoop on how tech is shaping our minds, bodies, and even our relationships, all while warning us about the fine line between...

Most of us think trauma, stress, and anxiety are just mental hurdles — but Cindy Costley knows better. She’s cracked the code to healing trauma at the cellular level, turning your body from a Battle Zone into a Zen Garden. After 34 years of mysterious reactions and near-death experiences, she developed EBDT — a process that helps you release deep-seated trauma without reliving it. And yes, it’s as...

Most people think therapy is just about talking through problems. Holly Haag’s story? It’s about surviving a childhood filled with abuse, mental health battles, and then rebuilding a life worth living—one traumatic layer at a time. Spoiler alert: she’s here, she’s strong, and her journey destroys any myth that you have to stay broken. Brace yourself for a raw, unfiltered dive into a woman’s decade...

Most of us are walking around like emotional gymnasts—trying to balance stress, anxiety, and negativity without falling flat on our faces. But what if the secret to feeling better wasn’t a big leap, but a series of tiny, doable baby steps? Deborah Mallow, positivity powerhouse and author of Six Steps to a Fewer Days that Suck Less, drops some reality-check science and simple hacks that can flip yo...

Most people hide their trauma behind a curtain of "everything’s fine," but Christi Wedel blows that curtain wide open—sharing her raw, unfiltered journey from childhood hell to 11 years sober and deeply inspired to help others do the same. Imagine surviving abuse, addiction, and the devastating loss of a close friend—and somehow turning it into a mission to save lives. Christi’s story isn’t just a...

Most relationships seem to be built on opposites attracting, but when it comes to true emotional wholeness, the magic lies in the harmony — even when you're yin and yang. Terry and Carol Moss reveal how embracing your authentic self and deep connection can turn “opposites” into lifelong partners in harmony. This episode dives into the surprising power of emotional maturity, and how understanding y...

Sometimes, the biggest obstacle to a joyful life is just us pretending we’re okay when we’re really not. Elizabeth Jane, emotional wellbeing expert and author of Free and First, reveals how the most powerful act — putting yourself first — can flip your entire world. Spoiler: it’s not selfish, it’s survival. In this episode, Elizabeth takes us on a raw, real journey from heartbreak to healing, shar...

Most people think faith and mental health are unrelated — Dr. Laurette Willis shatters that myth with a story of transformation that’s more miracle than method. She went from channeling spirits on mountain tops to discovering her true source of power—faith in God—and the results are nothing short of life-changing. Her journey from a starving artist and alcoholic to a fully delivered believer prove...

When one act of kindness can change a life—no, seriously—Joy from TikTok's positivity universe reveals how a simple smile and a sprinkle of faith could be the mental health superpower we all need. Forget doom scrolling and lurking in the shadows—Joy turned her online presence into a ministry of good vibes, proving that a little positivity can make the dark days a whole lot brighter. From growing u...

Most of us think mental health issues are a sign of weakness — Jessica Shaker flips that script. This educator, mom, and TikTok mental health advocate opens up about battling anxiety, depression, and the brutal stigma that keeps us silent. Her raw stories about surviving a suicide attempt, the chaos of social media censorship, and the amazing ways kids can learn emotional regulation will make you...

Most guys aren’t told it’s okay to not be okay. Uncle Jimmy and Pete rip open that stigma, sharing their raw battles with anxiety and depression — and how men especially need to hear: it’s strength, not weakness, to speak up. Jimmy, the fun uncle turned mental health champion, casually drops truth bombs about losing everything because of mental health struggles and how he’s finally learning to hea...

Most of us are walking around with a toxic inner voice disguised as "shame," but what if I told you shame isn’t just a feeling — it’s the puppet master fueling societal chaos, addiction, and even genocide? Emma Lyons, trauma-informed healer and creator of the Trauma Matrix, drops truth bombs about how shame is the real virus driving our dysfunction and how we’ve been led to think it’s “normal.” Sp...

Most people think muscle pain is just about knots and stretching—but it’s really a mirror reflecting your mental state. Diane Cherico, a licensed massage therapist turned holistic wellness guru, reveals how active isolated stretching and mind mastery have transformed her life and her clients’ lives in ways that therapy alone can’t touch. Imagine a world where your body heals itself with just a few...

Most people think hypnosis is mind control magic, but Lawrence Bartley – the Autistic Hypnotist – reveals it’s really about freeing your mind from trauma, anxiety, and self-doubt in just 20 minutes. If you’ve ever wondered how tapping into your subconscious can turn your darkest struggles into your greatest strengths — this episode delivers the inside scoop, minus the movie theatrics. Lawrence sha...

Most people think mental health is just about diagnosis and medication — Fred Moss flips that script, revealing why human connection is the real cure everyone overlooks. Imagine a psychiatrist who left the conventional, systemized world of diagnosis to become a healer who undiagnoses, unmedicates, and all about reconnecting through authentic communication. That’s Fred Moss, aka the Undoctor, and i...

Most of us are just walking time bombs of unprocessed feelings—until someone like Catherine Eiple comes along with a dose of emotional honesty and a toolkit for handling the chaos. If you’ve ever wondered why we’re so bad at talking about feelings, or why men’s tears are still seen as a sign of weakness, this episode is your new emotional survival guide. Catherine’s journey from addiction and sile...