The Therapist and the Wildcard

Every grief story is different, but every story deserves to be heard. In Part 1 of this special multi-part episode, we’re joined by two members of our grief support group who courageously share the stories of the people they love, the losses they’ve experienced, and what life has looked like since everything changed. Together, we talk about the moments that changed their lives forever, the challen...

Have you ever spent 20 minutes deciding what to order for dinner, only to end up with the same thing you always get? In this episode, Jen and Vit talk about why decision-making can feel so overwhelming, especially after grief, trauma, or major life changes. From everyday choices to life-altering decisions, we explore decision fatigue, fear of making the “wrong” choice, and the mental load that com...

What happens when we stop trying to define grief and start describing it? In this episode, Jen brings a series of thought-provoking prompts, and together we explore grief through metaphors and personal reflection. Sometimes grief feels impossible to explain directly, but comparing it to something else can reveal truths we didn't even realize we were carrying. Join us for a conversation that i...

For this episode, Jen and Vit talk about something many grieving people struggle with: the idea that joy and grief can exist at the same time. After a significant loss, moments of happiness can bring unexpected guilt, as if laughing, celebrating, or moving forward means leaving our loved one behind. We discuss why grief doesn't disappear when joy shows up, and why experiencing joy doesn'...

When you lose your spouse, you don't just lose the person you love—you lose the person who put you first. In this episode, Jen and Vit talk about the complicated reality of becoming the "single friend" after widowhood. We discuss what it's like to suddenly feel like the third wheel among couples, navigating social events alone, and trying to find your place in friendships that...

During one of the grief group sessions Vit runs, someone unexpected walked through the door… the manager from the hotel where Chris died. She came to the group because she was grieving a loss of her own, not realizing Vit was the one leading it. In this episode, Vit and Jen talk about the emotions that came with that moment, how grief connects people in unexpected ways, and the complicated feeling...

This week on The Therapist and The Wildcard, we talk about being actually busy vs just avoiding life, making plans and instantly wanting to cancel them, and why adulthood looked so much easier when we were kids. We also get nostalgic about growing up without technology taking over everything and talk honestly about how grief can leave you feeling a little more reckless with life. The Therapist &am...

This week we talk about Chris’ second birthday not being here and our second wedding anniversary without him. Last year felt like survival mode. This year felt different—still painful, still emotional, but not as impossible to carry. We talk honestly about how grief changes over time, the complicated feelings that come with healing, and what it’s like realizing you can miss someone deeply while al...

You asked… and the therapist and the wildcard delivered. Jen and Vit answer your questions with a mix of professional insight and unfiltered honesty—covering mental health, life, and everything in between. The Therapist & The Wildcard is a mental health podcast hosted by The Wildcard, alongside The Therapist, where real conversations meet professional insight—and nothing is off-limits. Togethe...

You asked… and the therapist and the wildcard delivered. Jen and Vit answer your questions with a mix of professional insight and unfiltered honesty—covering mental health, life, and everything in between. The Therapist & The Wildcard is a mental health podcast hosted by The Wildcard, alongside The Therapist, where real conversations meet professional insight—and nothing is off-limits. Togethe...

Grief doesn’t end-it changes. In this episode, Vit opens up about approaching the 18-month mark since the loss of her husband and reflects on what this stage of grief can feel like. The conversation explores how grief evolves over time, why comparing grief journeys can be harmful, and the reality that everyone’s path through loss is different. Through honest discussion, the episode reminds listene...

Grief changes you. Your priorities shift. Your tolerance for things changes. The way you see the world is different. But one of the hardest parts? Everyone else still expects the same version of you they had before the loss. In this episode, we talk about the weight of those expectations — being expected to act the same, show up the same, and handle things the same… even when you’re not the same p...

In this episode, you hear an honest and vulnerable conversation about suicide and what it’s like to reach a point where living feels impossible. Vit shares a deeply personal chapter of her life, opening up about a time when she didn’t want to live anymore and how, with Jen’s support, she found her way to a better place. Together, they talk about the importance of connection, the impact of being tr...

Mental health can be easy to misunderstand when it hasn’t touched your life directly. In this episode, Jen and Vit discuss stigma, assumptions, and how Vit’s perspective shifted once mental health became personal. Together, they unpack how lived experience changes understanding—and why compassion matters more than judgment. The Therapist & The Wildcard is a mental health podcast hosted by The...

This episode centers on the life-changing impact of therapy. Vit opens up about how Jen saved her life, and together they discuss why being a therapist matters—not just clinically, but personally and profoundly. It’s a conversation about trust, timing, and the ripple effect therapists have on the lives they touch. The Therapist & The Wildcard is a mental health podcast hosted by The Wildcard,...

In this episode, Vit shares what it was like finding her community after losing Chris—and how different that journey looked from what she expected. Together, Jen and Vit talk about the realities of grief, shifting relationships, and learning to accept support in unexpected forms. It’s an honest conversation about loss, connection, and redefining what “community” really means. The Therapist & T...

What happens when we stop overthinking and just ask the questions?  In this episode, Jen and Vit ditch the structure and answer questions that reveal our personalities, values, quirks, and the moments that shaped us. It’s unscripted, real, and a little unhinged—exactly the kind of conversation we’d be having if you were sitting in the room with us. The Therapist & The Wildcard is a mental heal...

In this episode, Vit shares why the words “I love you” are deeply important to her. For Vit, saying those words isn’t casual or automatic—it’s intentional, meaningful, and rooted in the understanding that life is short and time is never guaranteed. The conversation reflects on how we never truly know when the last opportunity to say “I love you” will be, or when those words might be the final thin...

At 36 years old, her life took a turn she never saw coming. In this episode, she shares her journey with endometrial cancer—how she found out, the shock of the diagnosis, and what it meant to face a hysterectomy and the reality of not being able to have children. The conversation openly explores the grief that followed—not just the physical loss, but the loss of the future she once imagined. The q...

In this episode, we dive into contamination OCD — not the watered-down version, but the reality of living with it. Vit talks openly about the fear, avoidance, compulsions, and mental toll that come with contamination OCD. This is a raw, honest conversation meant to shed light on a disorder that’s often misunderstood and minimized. The Therapist & The Wildcard is a mental health podcast hosted...

This episode focuses on the experience of going home after loss. Vit shares what it was like to move back into her house without Chris after staying with her brother, and how grief and OCD collided during that time. From safety, routines, and fear to the emotional impact of being back in a place full of memories, this is an honest conversation about a transition no one prepares you for. The Therap...

This episode continues the conversation with Kara and focuses on the aftermath — the funeral, the days that followed, and what it’s really like to be the friend of someone grieving deeply. We talk about showing up when there are no right words, navigating grief from the outside, and staying present long after everyone else goes back to their normal lives. Kara shares what it means to support someo...

In this episode, Vit is joined by her best friend Kara to talk about the month leading up to Chris’s death and the day everything changed — from the perspective of someone standing beside it all. This conversation is about what it’s like to watch someone you love go through unimaginable pain, to sense that something isn’t right, and to show up anyway. Kara shares what she noticed, what she carried...

In this episode, we discuss why we started The Therapist & The Wildcard, how Vit found Jen, and how grief isn’t just a physical loss. We talk about how grief can change a person, including Vit’s shift away from a Type A mindset, and explore virtual versus in-person therapy. An honest conversation about grief, growth, and healing. The Therapist & The Wildcard is a mental health podcast host...

In this episode, Vit shares the story of Chris — who he was, how they met, and what their relationship meant. This conversation is about more than a timeline; it’s about honoring a person, a connection, and the moments that mattered. Together, Jen and Vit talk through memories, context, and the importance of talking about someone who is no longer here — not just how it ended, but how it began. Thi...