The Verywell Mind Podcast

Dave Hollis is a New York Times best-selling author. He’s also the host of the Rise Together podcast, a keynote speaker, and a life and business coach. He has a new book coming out in October of 2021 called Built for Courage where he shares how he is rebuilding his life again after divorce. Some of the things Dave talks about on the show include the lessons he's learned from going through his best...

Hosting a podcast from a sailboat in the Florida Keys is fun, but it certainly poses a few challenges (like tropical storms). But we’ve met some incredible people. From authors and experts to celebrities and musicians, I’ve interviewed some amazing people who graciously shared their time, their stories, and their wisdom with our audience. To celebrate our first 100 shows, I countdown 10 of my favo...

Brian Pilecki is a psychologist based in Portland, Oregon. He’s passionate about the potential for psychedelic substances to be used in a therapeutic environment — something that is likely to happen in Oregon soon.  He has spent more than 20 years studying psychedelics such as psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca and their potential role in mental health treatment. On today's show, he talks about the d...

The link between financial health and mental health goes both ways. Debt may increase your risk of mental health issues, but mental health issues may also increase your risk of getting into debt.  When you’re experiencing both a mental health issue and some serious financial strain, it’s tough to know how to even get started addressing either issue. On today’s Friday Fix, I talk about the link bet...

Celeste Headlee is a journalist, speaker, and co-host of Retro Report, a weekly series on PBS.  She’s also the author of several books including We Need to Talk and Do Nothing.  Her TED Talk, "10 ways to have a better conversation," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. She’s a well-respected expert in communication and how to hold uncomfortable conversations. Some of the things she talks a...

Whether you’ve gone through a bad breakup or you’re struggling with a financial situation, tough times make it tempting to feel sorry for yourself. But self-pity is self-destructive. It’s much different than sadness.  Allowing yourself to feel sad can be part of the healing process. Feeling sorry for yourself, however, will keep you stuck in a place of pain. So on today’s Friday Fix, I share why i...

Most of us feel pressure to keep going when things feel hard. In fact, we sometimes think that the harder something is to do, the longer we should stick with it.  We’ve been told things like, “Quitters never win,” and “Never ever give up!” Certainly pushing yourself even when things get hard can build character. Grit, perseverance, and hardiness are all key components of mental strength. But does...

LeAnn Rimes is one of the most successful recording artists of all time, selling over 37 million records worldwide to date. She also hosts a podcast called Wholly Human which is dedicated “to helping others overcome the fragmentation that keeps us from feeling more complete and connected in today’s world.” On today's show, LeAnn talks about how she takes care of herself and what it means to be 'wh...

Justin Baldoni is best known for his acting role on Jane the Virgin. He's also a filmmaker, author, and podcast host. His new book, Man Enough, talks about how we can redefine masculinity. In a world where "acting tough" is often confused with "being strong," Justin is paving the way to understanding what it really means to be a man.  He’s open about his struggles and the ways in which he gains su...

Have you ever thought about how you deal with uncomfortable emotions? Do you start scrolling through your smartphone whenever you feel the slightest bit bored? Do you text an ex who isn’t good for you whenever you feel lonely? We usually don’t think much about these habits we’ve established in life. And we rarely reflect on how little habits affect us so much in the big picture.  The way you respo...

Today's guest is Dr. Mark Goulston, a psychiatrist who learned the value of listening to people. His wisdom has led him to become a consultant to many major organizations as well as a hostage negotiator trainer. He is also the author of several best-selling books, including Just Listen, Get Out of Your Own Way, and Talking to Crazy.  On today's episode, Dr. Goulston explains the benefits you'll ga...

Whether you lost your cool when a telemarketer called you at an inconvenient time or you sent a scathing email you wish you could take back, it’s likely that all of us have had times when our anger caused us to act in an irrational manner. Anger is a normal, healthy emotion. But it needs to be managed. If it isn’t, it can lead to aggressive and destructive behaviors.  Whether your anger is a big p...

Jessica Lahey has spent more than 20 years as a teacher, including five years teaching in a drug and alcohol rehab center for adolescents. She is a New York Times Best-Selling author. She's also a self-described alcoholic who set out on a quest to learn how to prevent her kids from falling into a generational cycle of addiction. In this episode, she talks about her new book, The Addiction Inoculat...

Why would a med student party all night before a big test? And why would someone who has almost all their debt paid off go out and buy a car they can’t afford?  Self-sabotage is a strange concept. We claim we want to reach a goal, and we complain about the obstacles that threaten our chances at success. Yet more often than not, the biggest hurdle to achievement is ourselves. We sabotage ourselves...

Dr. Ramsey is a psychiatrist. But rather than focus solely on prescribing antidepressants or antianxiety medications, he helps people change their diet. He's a firm believer in the fact that most people can help themselves feel better by changing what they eat. In this episode, he talks about his new book, Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety. Some of the things he talks about are the most important...

Mindfulness is about learning how to live in the present moment. That’s hard to do in today’s world, though. So often, we miss out on things because our minds are wandering. We don’t pay attention to someone who is talking to us because we’re thinking about all those things on our to-do list. Or we miss what’s going on in our kids’ basketball games because we’re so worried about whether we offende...

The conversations you have with yourself matter. If you beat yourself up, call yourself names, or tear yourself down, you'll struggle to feel good and perform well. That's why self-compassion is so important. But self-compassion isn't just about using nice words. Sometimes, it involves taking action. On this episode, Kristin Neff, a pioneer in self-compassion research, explains how to practice fie...

It’s tough to know how you’re doing unless you have someone to compare yourself with. Do you earn a lot of money? Are you tall? Are you a good basketball player? It all depends on who you’re comparing yourself to. But comparisons can be harmful to your psychological well-being.  Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help you stop comparing yourself to other people. In this Friday Fix ep...

Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez opens up about how she found the courage to face depression.  She discusses how she discovered she was depressed, the steps she took to get treatment, and the strategies she uses to stay mentally strong.  Just five days prior to this interview, she injured her knee and learned that she would not be able to compete in the 2021 Olympics. But you'll see how her...

When you’re feeling nervous about something at work or you’re feeling down for no reason at all, well-timed kind words from someone else can help you feel better. But, there won’t always be someone available with helpful words at just the right moment.  And in those moments, it’s tough to remind yourself of the kind things you could say to yourself. That’s why writing yourself a kind letter can be...

John Burns is the CEO of TB12, the wellness company founded by Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. John shares what it takes to develop the mindset of a champion. Some of the things he talks about are realistic optimism, redefining your limits, and focusing on the things you can control.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone experiences grief. Yet we rarely talk about our experiences. Grief is the process by which we heal. And staying strong through grief isn’t about not crying or not feeling sad. It’s about allowing yourself to work through uncomfortable emotions so you can heal.  On today’s Friday Fix, I clear up some of the biggest misconceptions about grief. I also share how to stay mentally strong when y...

Jillian Michaels is a fitness expert and renowned life coach. Her fitness videos and apps have helped hundreds of millions of people get in shape around the globe. She is best known for her role as a coach on the TV show, The Biggest Loser, where she helped people lose weight week after week. She’s also a New York Times bestselling author and the host of a popular podcast called, “Keeping It Real....

Whether you said something out of anger and hurt your partner’s feelings or you completely forgot about a deadline for work, your next move is critical. Saying, “I’m sorry,” doesn’t automatically make things better. Apologies often fall short—or even make things worse.  But there is a way to make an apology effective.  In fact, when an apology is delivered well, you might make things better than t...

If you ever have unhelpful thoughts that run through your head, this episode is for you. I talk to bestselling author Jon Acuff about how to replace the the broken soundtracks in your head.  Some of the things he shares are how to tell when you're overthinking, how to replace unhelpful soundtracks with healthier ones, how to shift your mindset, and much much more.  Learn more about your ad choices...