Polly Campbell, Simply Said

What makes an emotion "toxic," and when is it simply part of being human? Psychologist Dr. Toni Cooper joins Polly Campbell to discuss boundaries, expectations, family dynamics, and practical ways to manage difficult emotions. For more on how to live well, do good, and be happy, join the Simply Said community at https://pollycampbell.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

Fun is not a luxury. It's an important part of well-being and a clue to who you really are. In this episode of Simply Said, Polly explores why doing what you genuinely enjoy can improve happiness, support resilience, and help you live more authentically. You'll learn five practical ways to discover what you truly enjoy, especially if you've spent years focused on responsibilities, expectations, or...

Health psychologist, author, and researcher Dr. Laurel Mellin joins Polly to discuss Emotional Brain Training (EBT), a method designed to help people move from stress and survival mode toward greater calm, resilience, and joy. Dr. Mellin explains how emotional patterns become wired into the brain and how EBT techniques can help rewire those circuits in just a few minutes a day to ease stress and t...

In this episode of Simply Said, Polly explores what it really means to age well and why our mindset may matter more than we think. After seeing a photo of herself with more gray hair than expected, she dives into research showing that worries about aging can influence health, well-being, and even longevity. She shares practical ways to challenge negative assumptions, stay engaged with life, manage...

Polly Campbell talks with Sherry Richert Belul about living well and leaving a legacy of love. Richert Belul, the author of The Love List of a Lifetime, talks about how taking practical and personal steps now can ease the burden on loved ones after our death. She suggests memory keeping and decluttering as well as organizing legal documents, medical and banking information, and creating a legacy o...

In this episode of Simply Said, we talk about what it means to move through hard moments without letting them define us. Life brings loss, disappointment, uncertainty, and change we never asked for. The goal is not to avoid difficulty, but to learn how to respond to it with clarity, resilience, and self-trust. For more on how to live well, do good, and be happy, join our Simply Said Community at ⁠...

Polly Campbell talks with meditation teacher and author Oneika Mays about self-reflection, mindfulness, and compassionate living. They discuss Oneika’s book Sit With Me and her practical, no-frills approach to lovingkindness meditation, emphasizing awareness over perfection. The conversation explores loving-kindness (metta) practice, releasing self-judgment, and cultivating empathy for ourselves a...

Journaling is a simple tool for clearing your mind, processing emotions, and gaining perspective. It can even help us strengthen our focus and attention. In this episode, we look at how writing things down can help you spot patterns, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and feel more grounded day to day. We also cover how to start a practice that fits your life, along with a few easy approaches you can t...

Polly talks with Robert Taibbi about shifting from goal-chasing to building a life you love. Instead of focusing only on outcomes like career or financial milestones, Robert suggests asking, How’s my life? and adjusting from there. The focus moves to daily choices and processes we can control, rather than distant results we can’t. Ready to create a daily vision for your life, tune in, and learn ho...

In this episode, we explore how our behavior shapes our identity. Who we are isn’t fixed. It’s built through what we do each day. Drawing on self-perception theory, embodiment, and brain plasticity, we see how our actions become evidence of who we are and even reshape the brain over time. For more on how to live well, do good, and be happy, join our Simply Said Community at pollycampbell.substack....

In this episode, we talk about how to write simple, meaningful thank-you notes that strengthen connection and leave the recipient and the writer feeling good. We cover when to write a thank-you note, what to include, and how to keep your message genuine and focused so that the meaning is sincere and felt. A thank-you note is a little reminder that others matter, that they made a meaningful contrib...

Polly talks with psychotherapist Phil Lane about the quiet comeback of analog hobbies. From gardening and model railroading to journaling and building Lego sets, these hands-on activities help us slow down, step away from screens, and calm an anxious mind. Phil explains why analog practices create a sense of structure and presence, while Polly shares how simple habits like writing by hand can boos...

Overthinking can turn a simple decision into a mental marathon that leaves you drained and stuck. In this episode of Simply Said, we explore what overthinking really is, how it begins, and the subtle signs that your thoughts have shifted from problem-solving to rumination. Then we'll offer practical ways we can interrupt those spiraling thoughts and move forward feeling better. If your brain feels...

What does it really mean to choose your own well-being? In this episode of Simply Said, Polly Campbell talks with Emily Florence about her decision to leave law school after just four days to pursue a life more aligned with her happiness. The conversation looks at both external influences, such as digital habits and social media boundaries, and internal ones, including the thoughts we rehearse eve...

Mental toughness is often mistaken for force. For grinding yourself down in the name of achievement. But that’s not it. In this episode of Simply Said, we look at what mental toughness really is: a skill we can build to meet adversity without hardening ourselves in the process. It’s the steadiness that helps us adapt, cope with stress, and keep going when things get hard. For more on mental toughn...

Dr. Corey Seemiller, relationship coach, leadership expert, and author of The Soulmate Strategy, talks about what it takes to find love, deepen existing relationships, and overcome heartbreak. And why self-love and emotional intelligence are essential to developing our best relationships and finding our soulmates. For more on how to live well, do good, and be happy, join our Simply Said community...

Are you constantly feeling the pressure of a loaded To-Do List, or are you time rich? In this episode, we explore what "time affluence" is and why it matters more than a bigger paycheck. You’ll learn how time poverty fuels stress, why agency over your hours restores ease, and how small daily rituals can expand your sense of time. We also explore research showing that awe, presence, and choosing ex...

Polly welcomes Feng Shui Master Lisa Morton to the show to offer some simple ways to improve energy flow at home. Furniture arrangements, lighting, and even plants can encourage positive energy and flow around the house. Listen for more about space clearing and practical approaches to enhancing your home office or cubicle. For more on how to live well, do good, and be happy, join our Simply Said C...

You don’t need to fix your whole life today. You just need to shape this day. In this episode, we break daily well-being into three gentle spheres: body, mind, and spirit. You’ll learn how small, intentional choices around nourishment, movement, learning, mindfulness, stillness, and gratitude can steady your energy, focus, and mood. No perfection. No overwhelm. Just simple practices that help you...

Legacy isn’t something you leave behind. It’s something you build daily through your choices, attention, and values. This episode explores the science of “starting at the end,” from research on future selves to a simple practice that brings clarity, steadiness, and purpose. You’ll learn how imagining who you’re becoming can guide small decisions now and help you live in alignment with what matters...

In this episode of Polly Campbell Simply Said, Polly welcomes Bonnie Buckner, author of The Secret Mind and founder of the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery. Together, they explore how dreams can guide personal growth, creativity, and self-understanding. Bonnie explains that dreams are the language of the inner self—images that communicate directly with the subconscious—and offers p...

In this episode, we slow down to recap, review, and reset. Now is the time to reflect on the accomplishments and challenges you’ve moved through this year. Celebrate even the small, quiet wins, offer gratitude for what supported you, and look ahead with curiosity. What’s lighting you up as you move into the new year? Because the questions we ask shape the lives we build, Polly shares a series of g...

Manifestor, oracle expert, intuitive, and author Colette Baron-Reid joins Polly in this episode to talk about the deeper meaning behind manifestation and the importance of focusing on growth, mindset, and emotional well-being rather than material gain. Colette shares insights from her 36-year spiritual journey and her book The Art of Manifesting, explaining how intentional art and meditative drawi...

Feeling worn down or unsure how to help in a world that feels heavy? In this episode, we talk about simple, ways to create real change without burning out. Drawing on research about authenticity and altruism, we explore how small acts of kindness, honest conversations, and value-driven choices can restore hope and strengthen community. You don’t have to fix everything to make a difference — you ju...

In this episode of Polly Campbell, Simply Said, Polly talks with Holly Shaw—stand-up comic, actor, and the author of Queen Lessons —about learning, laughter, and living truthfully and boldly as we age. Holly shares how comedy helps us face life’s “hecklers,” both onstage and off, by revealing truths we’re often afraid to say out loud. This uplifting conversation reminds us that it’s never too late...