Practical Psych

Imagine living in a home so full of belongings that there’s barely room to walk — a space where daily life becomes unsafe and overwhelming. Hoarding Disorder affects 2–6% of the population, and it’s far more than just clutter. In this episode of Practical Psych , I speak with an expert whose first experience with hoarding came from her own childhood home. We explore what Hoarding Disorder really i...

If your brain loves to spiral, rehearse worst-case scenarios, or treat every decision as if it’s life or death—you're in good company. If you're worried, anxious, and overthinking, this episode is for you! Join me and my guest—an author and therapist—as we unpack the mental habits of worry and rumination that can take over our inner world. We’ll explore why these thought patterns feel so automatic...

At some point in your life, you’ve probably asked the question: Who am I, really? If you’re like many of the people I meet in my therapy office, your sense of self can sometimes feel clouded—obscured by your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. We often fuse with our inner monologue, losing sight of the broader perspective. In the process, we may start to define ourselves through the eyes of a cri...

Flying can feel really scary, especially in light of recent events. If you are someone who “white knuckles” all your flights - or you have NEVER taken a flight - this episode is for you. Take a peak behind the cockpit door and join me as I talk to Captain Kyle Koukol, a commercial airline pilot who additionally provides education and support for anxious travelers. Even if you are NOT anxious, our...

Wake up—time for a brand-new day! ☀️ The alarm clock sounds a lot more tolerable after a restful eight hours of sleep. But if you’ve spent the night tossing and turning, it might just be the worst sound in the world. While occasional sleeplessness happens to everyone, for some, insomnia is a relentless beast lurking in the shadows—stealing rest, night after night. In this episode of Practical Psyc...

Happy 2025, listeners! Practical Psych is kicking off the new year with a fresh challenge for you. Forget those New Year’s resolutions you’ve probably already ditched—yes, I’ve abandoned one myself, and it’s only January 5th as of this recording. Instead, let’s focus on something bigger: a new way of living. This year, I’m challenging you to lean into discomfort—maybe even embrace it. Joining me f...

Did you know you’ll spend about a third of your life sleeping? At least, that’s the goal, but for most of us, adequate sleep is elusive. Sleep is one of the most vital pillars of health, yet it’s often overlooked. The truth is, many of us—especially kids and teens—aren’t getting nearly enough rest. In this episode, I’m joined by a sleep expert to uncover the fascinating science behind sleep and wh...

We've all heard some of the basic advice for keeping a long-term relationship alive. “Don't go to bed angry.” “You have to resolve every conflict.” “Love is all you need.” (according to the Beatles) While none of these are accurate, the latter point, sadly, is especially off the mark. Love is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for a satisfying relationship. We have to have a whole lot more...

A LOT has changed in the past two decades, perhaps more than any other time in history, leading some of us to question - what are we doing to ourselves? Will technology beat us at our own game, or will our human need for connection prevail? I sat down with my guest, Dr. Brianna Lane, an expert on the impact of technology on relationships, to talk about this and more. Listen in as we chat about the...

Whether or not you have depression, this episode is for you! If you have never been depressed, chances are you know and love someone who has. Listen in as I talk to Dr. Len Lantz, a psychiatrist and expert on this topic. We talk about what depression is, who is impacted, and how it is effectively treated - because it’s treatable! Along the way, we’ll dispel some myths about the disorder and it’s t...

Don’t be led astray by the noise between your ears! We can all make some common thinking errors that then influence our perception of reality and our emotions…and also our perspective on other people. Listen in as Kyrie covers errors like overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, mental filtering, all or nothing thinking, personalization, emotional reasoning, and inverse inference. She also discusses the...

Psychology often focuses on what’s wrong, but in this episode, we’ll focus on what’s right! My guest, Dr. John Sommers-Flanagan, is an expert on the topic of “evidence-based happiness.” Join us in a meaningful conversation on the age old question - what is happiness, and how can I get more of it? Some topics covered include the harms of over-labeling, the practice of gratitude, the “three good thi...

We've all felt it…that sinking feeling in the gut, the visceral sense of wanting to escape your own skin, the feeling of being broken or flawed. It’s shame, one of the most difficult emotions to carry. Join me (Kyrie Russ) as I talk to Mike Heady, an expert on this topic. We talk about the differences between healthy shame and toxic shame, common behavioral responses, and how to change our relatio...

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a widely misunderstood, often stereotyped condition, and this prevents people from getting the help they need. Join your host, Kyrie Russ, as she shares her personal history and discusses the true meaning and impacts of OCD and reviews treatment options. Even if you don't struggle with this issue, chances are that someone you know does! Check out this episode to le...

Listen in on my interview with a friend, Dawn DiMicco, as she talks about her work in mindset and performance coaching. Many of Dawn's strategies draw from cognitive behavioral psychology, as well as her background as an elite college athlete, whose life shifted when a serious injury took her out of the game. I hope you enjoy our chat and pick up a few tips and tricks to make the small changes tha...

 If you've listened to Practical Psych, you've heard me say that you can do anything if you are willing to do it scared. Anxiety doesn’t need to stop you. In fact, letting yourself lean in to anxiety producing contexts creates the opportunity for new learning. Join me as I dive in to one of my favorite topics, the science of fear and how to master it. Listen here at practicalpsychpod.substack.com...

Listen in on a conversation between your host, Kyrie Russ, and her colleague, Kelli Smith, as they discuss the things they’ve learned about people in the course of their careers. We are all fellow travelers in this thing called life! Listen here at practicalpsychpod.substack.com , or on your favorite Podcast apps. Listen on Apple . Listen on Spotify . Please feel free to leave a comment about the...

When life tries to give you a pretzel, you should hold out for a marshmallow! In this episode of Practical Psych, I’ll dive in to the classic Stanford marshmallow experiment and discuss how it applies to you. Good things come to those who wait! We just have to learn how to wait… Listen here at practicalpsychpod.substack.com , or on your favorite Podcast apps. Listen on Apple . Listen on Spotify ....

Learn to take a bird’s eye view of your own thoughts so that you aren’t held back by the noise in your mind. Listen here at practicalpsychpod.substack.com , or on your favorite Podcast apps. Listen on Apple . Listen on Spotify . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit practicalpsychpod.substack.com

Check out the trailer to learn more about Practical Psych! Meet Kyrie, your host, as she discusses the general theme of the podcast and gets you inspired to listen to future episodes. Subscribe directly to the pod so that episodes get delivered straight to your inbox; check it out at practicalpsychpod.substack.com . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...