The Work of Being Human

What if anxiety and depression aren't always the problem—but symptoms of something deeper? In this conversation, I sit down with psychotherapist and founder of The Collective, Courtney Grimes, LCSW, to explore a dimension of healing that our mental health system often overlooks: social health . We talk about why so many people make tremendous progress in therapy, only to "face plant"...

What if better mental health has less to do with controlling life and more to do with encountering reality? After returning from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, I realized this wasn’t just a vacation—it was an education. The wilderness exposed habits I carry every day: chasing experiences, avoiding fear, relying on quick answers, and comparing reality to expectations. Along the way, na...

You've been to therapy. You've read the books. You've tried to "work on yourself." So why are you still stuck? In this episode of The Work of Being Human , I break down the psychology of healing through a fictional client named "Scott." Together, we'll explore: ✓ Original wounds ✓ Negative belief systems ✓ Coping mechanisms ✓ Defense mechanisms ✓ People pleasing...

What does fifty years of psychotherapy teach you about human nature? In this fascinating conversation, veteran therapist Dr. Jeffrey Smith joins me to explore what really happens in therapy—and why so many people remain stuck despite years of trying to change. We talk about the difference between good therapy and what Dr. Smith jokingly calls "How ya doin' therapy"—the kind of pleasant conversatio...

This episode starts with a simple question: What exactly is a human being? Not what are our symptoms. Not what's our diagnosis. Not what's our attachment style. What are we? The more time I spend in the field of psychology, the more I realize something important: psychology is very good at describing pain. It's somewhat capable of helping people heal. But when it comes to personhood—to...

Trauma is one of the most misunderstood concepts in modern mental health. In this episode, I challenge the idea that every painful experience is trauma and offer a clear, reality-based framework for understanding what trauma actually is, how it changes us, and what genuine healing requires. Drawing parallels between physical injury and psychological injury, we'll explore why trauma is more than pa...

This week I speak with maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Adam Urato, and unpack a growing cultural phenomenon: the weaponization of empathy. From antidepressants in pregnancy to gender medicine, we explore how emotional appeals are often used to shut down scientific scrutiny and moral dissent. Rather than rationally addressing questions about evidence, risk, and efficacy, critics are accused...

I recently saw a meme posted by a mental health professional and it said, "Every woman has a story about a man who harmed her." It got me thinking... In a culture where contempt toward men is increasingly normalized, even framed as "female empowerment," we have to ask a more honest question: what does that kind of thinking actually do to our mental health? In this episode, we e...

We all know our phones are a problem. But knowing it hasn’t changed it. In this episode, I sit down with Eli Singer, founder of Offline Now, to explore what’s really happening in our relationship with technology—and why most solutions fall short. We move beyond surface-level advice and into the deeper questions: Is the phone the problem, or is it revealing something about us? Where does responsibi...

What if mental health isn’t about managing symptoms—but about facing reality? In this episode, I challenge the dominant narratives of the mental health industry and offer a clear definition: mental health is your ability to live in reality—without denial or deception—and thrive within it. Using a personal story about healing chronic knee pain as a metaphor, I explore and expose the difference betw...

In this episode, I sit down with David Lea, a trauma-informed polarity coach, to explore how childhood experiences shape identity, relationships, and healing. While we find common ground around personal responsibility and the lasting impact of early life, the conversation quickly moves into deeper—and more consequential—territory. David’s framework centers on the idea that all suffering is rooted...

We all know celebrity culture is a little ridiculous… but have you ever stopped to ask why we’re so drawn to it? Why we admire celebrities, follow their lives, and sometimes even love to hate them? In this episode, in the wake of the Oscars and "awards season" in general, I explore the deeper psychology behind our fascination with the "rich and famous" — why human beings have a...

Why do we act in ways we later regret? In this episode, I explore the psychology and neuroscience of impulsivity — why human beings often act before they think, and how those split-second decisions can shape the entire trajectory of a life. We’ll look at: the brain systems involved in impulse control the role trauma and emotional conditioning can play in impulsive behavior and why so many people f...

Not all depression looks like sadness. Sometimes it looks like success. Productivity. Responsibility. Strength. In this episode, we explore the hidden face of depression—the high-functioning person who never stops moving because slowing down would mean facing what has been buried for years. Why do some people outrun their own grief? What happens when achievement becomes a defense against pain? And...

The Epstein Files have reopened a question most of us would rather not ask: How do people slide into this kind of evil? Your outrage is sane—but outrage alone won’t help us understand how power, access, secrecy, and rationalization can slowly dismantle a human conscience, in individuals and in systems. In this episode, we trace the psychological mechanics of moral collapse—from small compromises t...

Dr. Chloe Carmichael is a psychologist and best selling author of "Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety. " This week she joins The Work of Being Human to discuss her new book -- "Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use it Fearlessly." We dive into topics that matter today: What constitutes free speech and what does not. Why free speech is not only es...

Judith Belmont is a veteran therapist, a mental health coach, and the prolific author of 11 books on mental health. Her message is simple: make sure your thoughts are rational . In this episode of the Work of Being Human , Judith guides us through the basics of cognitive behavioral therapy and discusses how our thoughts can easily lead us astray. Irrational thoughts become unwanted emotions and un...

Most of us say we want peace—but what we’re really longing for is a regulated nervous system. In this episode of The Work of Being Human , we explore what’s actually happening beneath our anxiety, reactivity, numbness, and exhaustion, and why so many of us feel worse—not better—when life finally gets quiet. Through a personal story of silence, stillness, and unexpected internal chaos, I unpack how...

We’ve heard it and said it: “I had a happy childhood.” What does this really mean? This week we explore the importance of childhood, what NEEDS to happen in childhood that will lead to a healthy adulthood, and how the goal of happiness can actually stunt our growth. Topics we cover in this episode: - trauma and reducing the harmful effects of a traumatic experience - how identity is achieved - wha...

Has therapy become our religion? In this winter episode of The Work of Being Human, I explore what happens when a deeply good and necessary tool is asked to carry weight it was never meant to bear. Using winter as a metaphor for inward attention, stillness, and self-knowledge, I reflect on my own psycho-spiritual journey and the powerful role therapy played in my healing. Drawing from psychology,...

Happy New Year to all! In this opening episode, Foundations: The Two Things You Need in Order to Grow , we begin the year by doing something countercultural: slowing down. Instead of rushing into resolutions and forced change, we look to winter — and the natural rhythms of the seasons — as an honest model for how growth actually works. Drawing from the agricultural calendar, psychology, and Christ...

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, near and far! This week, we discuss the essence of what it means to be present. Too often, we offer parts of ourselves and not the whole, and we wonder why we feel lonely and disconnected. The truth is: all healing culminates in the ability to be fully present. We'll look at what it is, what it's not, and why it's the greatest gift we can give anot...

As we continue our series, Ending the Year Well, we look at a very important question we could ask ourselves at the close of the year: what does the healthiest version of myself look like? If I'm as healthy as I want to be, what does that look like emotionally, physically, mentally, professionally, sexually, and so on. Then we do some inventorying: who is going to help me get there and who isn...

As the year winds down to a close, it’s time to take some inventory and think through how we want to close 2025 out. Starting a new year with a clean slate is one of the greatest gifts you can supply to your mental health. No baggage. No loose ends. No unfinished business. Just a clear mind and an open heart. So we need to ask ourselves: Am I holding on to hurt, bitterness, or resentment? Is there...

Happy thanksgiving to all! I wanted share the gratitude in my heart for you, the audience, some thoughts on how to cultivate a life that overflows with thankfulness, and a prayer for all who listen. Many thanks for keeping this podcast going in its fourth year!