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Explore every episode of the podcast Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin
Dive into the complete episode list for Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 362 — Feeling Drained? 3 Two-Minute Energy Fixes (And How to Pick the Right One) | 23 oct. 2026 | 00:22:54 | |
Do you ever run out of energy by the middle of the day, or feel like you’re on empty before the day even starts?
Most of us reach for the same fix every time, like more coffee, something sweet, or a quick scroll that turns into 20 minutes. But there are at least three different reasons you might feel drained, and two of them have little to do with your energy. If you reach for the wrong fix, it can backfire. Today I’m sharing three two-minute fixes that give you an energy boost, and how to tell which one you actually need.
Some of the things I talk about are:
What I do on afternoons when I’m writing a book and my brain stops working, and why another cup of coffee doesn’t help.
Why most of us use one go-to energy fix no matter what’s actually going on.
The psychology principle that explains why you can feel drained whether you’re wound too tight or too flat.
A simple 1-to-10 check-in that tells you which kind of drained you are.
Why caffeine is the worst thing to reach for when you feel wired and exhausted at the same time.
My favorite breathing exercise and the Stanford research that shows why it works.
The study that compared climbing stairs to drinking coffee, and which one gave people more energy.
An easy trick for your eyes when you’ve been staring at a screen all day.
How to tell when you’re not really tired but just dreading something, and the 10-minute rule that gets you unstuck.
Why your brain wants to finish what it starts once you hit the two-minute mark.
When a two-minute fix isn’t enough, and what to look at instead.
Related Episodes
313 — Tired of People Draining You? The Empathy Rule That Protects Your Energy Without Making You Cold With Dr. D. Ivan Young
258 - 7 Sneaky Mindset Traps Draining Your Mental Strength (And How to Stop Them)
65 — Instant Calm: The One Minute Breathing Exercise to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
244 — The Science of Motivation: How to Get Things Done When You Feel Stuck
Links & Resources
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Subscribe to The Mental Strength Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
Nobl Travel — Head to NoblTravel.com for up to 46% Off your entire order.
Hers — Visit forhers.com/morin to access personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair, menopause, and more.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 361 — You’re Not a Bad Person for Feeling Envy. Here’s What You Can Actually Learn From It With Dr. Stacy Kim | 19 oct. 2026 | 00:46:18 | |
Have you ever gotten good news from a friend and felt bad instead of happy for them? Or someone in the group chat announced they’re pregnant — and instead of feeling excited, you felt a little sick to your stomach. And then you felt guilty for feeling that way, so you typed “congratulations” and moved on.
The truth is, all of us feel envy sometimes. But most of us have been taught to get rid of it. We’ve heard that comparison is the thief of joy. G my guest today says that’s because envy isn’t a sign that there’s something wrong with you — it’s information about what you actually want.
My guest is Dr. Stacy Kim, a social scientist who has done research at Columbia University’s National Center for Children and Families and the Families and Work Institute. Her new book is Envy.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The real difference between envy and jealousy and why using them interchangeably keeps you stuck
Why “comparison is the thief of joy” is bad advice
The four components of envy that reveal what your envy is actually trying to tell you
What envy means about the gap between where you are and where you want to be
The intangible desire hiding underneath every object of your envy
Why gratitude isn’t the antidote to envy
The Korean word for envy that doesn’t exist in English and how having two words for it changes everything
Why high achievers and over-givers tend to experience more envy
The four questions to ask yourself on an index card the next time envy shows up
How to handle the hardest kind of envy
The Therapist’s Take: My top three strategies for letting your envy teach you something starting today
Related Episodes
196 — How Comparison Culture is Secretly Sabotaging Your Mental Strength
332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It
Links & Resources
Envy
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
Hers — Visit forhers.com/morin to access personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair, menopause, and more.
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Nobl Travel — Head to NoblTravel.com for up to 46% Off your entire order.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 360 — Only One Trying in Your Friendship? Why Keeping Score Backfires (And What to Do Instead) | 16 oct. 2026 | 00:22:33 | |
Are you always the one who reaches out first? You send the text, plan the dinner, and remember everyone’s birthday. At some point you start to wonder, if I just stopped trying, would anyone even notice?
So you start keeping track about who called last and whose turn it is to invite everyone. But keeping score just makes you more resentful.
Today I’m sharing three ways to stop keeping score, how to tell whether a friendship is truly one-sided, and what to do when you’ve tried everything and it still doesn’t feel reciprocal.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The way I sometimes keep score in relationships.
What my survey of couples revealed about resentment, and why the same thing happens in friendships.
How keeping score fuels resentment.
How hidden frustration can create the pattern you're trying to avoid.
The one question that tells you whether your friend is in a hard season or just not invested.
Why dropping hints backfires, and what to say when you feel taken advantage of.
The difference between making a healthy sacrifice and becoming a martyr.
What to do when you’ve tried everything and the friendship still feels one-sided.
Related Episodes
143 — Unlocking Adult Friendships and Improve Your Social Health with Kasley Killam
358 — 4 Boundaries to Stop Being the Person Everyone Takes Advantage Of
Links & Resources
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Subscribe to The Mental Strength Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
Nobl Travel — Head to NoblTravel.com for up to 46% Off your entire order.
Hers — Visit forhers.com/morin to access personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair, menopause, and more.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 359 — Always Been Told You’re “Too Sensitive”? 6 Signs You’re a Highly Sensitive Person With Psychotherapist April Snow | 12 oct. 2026 | 00:43:02 | |
Do you notice things other people miss , like a shift in someone’s tone or tension in the room before anyone says a word? Do you need more time to recover than the people around you, so even a fun party or a good work trip can leave you completely wiped out for days?
If that sounds like you, chances are someone has told you at some point that you’re too sensitive. Maybe you’ve even wondered if there’s something wrong with you.
My guest today is April Snow, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with highly sensitive people. And she shares some strategies that can help you be your best when you're a sensitive person.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The six traits that tell you whether you’re actually a highly sensitive person
What the research actually shows about the strengths that come with being a highly sensitive person
Why 90% of HSPs need more sleep
Why HSPs feel joy more intensely than other people
The difference between being a highly sensitive person and just being an introvert
How to spot the “ghosts” from the past that make a current emotion feel bigger than the moment deserves
Why “think more, worry less” is actually the right advice for HSPs
Why giving yourself more processing time can actually quiet your mind
How to set boundaries without the guilt
The Therapist’s Take: My top three strategies for working with your sensitivity instead of against it
Related Episodes
148 — How to Take Charge of Your Feelings
332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It
Links & Resources
Big Feelings, Big Joy
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
Hers — Visit forhers.com/morin to access personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair, menopause, and more.
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Nobl Travel — Head to NoblTravel.com for up to 46% Off your entire order.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 358 — 4 Boundaries to Stop Being the Person Everyone Takes Advantage Of | 09 oct. 2026 | 00:20:26 | |
Are you the person everyone comes to? Someone asks you to cover a shift, join the committee, host the gathering, or help with the move, and the yes comes out before you’ve even thought about it. Then you’re driving home wondering, why did I just agree to that?
Saying yes to everything doesn’t make people appreciate you more. It can teach them your time isn’t worth much, and it can take a toll on your health, your career, and your relationships. Today I’m sharing four boundaries that help you stop saying yes to everything, even if you’re everyone’s go-to person.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The “30-minute” favor I agreed to that kept growing, and why I didn’t speak up sooner.
The surprising reason one of my therapy clients got passed over for a promotion for 10 years.
What research says about how being the go-to person affects burnout, job satisfaction, and happiness.
The simple default phrase that buys you time before the yes slips out.
Why giving a long excuse when you say no backfires, and what to say instead.
How nodding along when you disagree teaches people your agreement doesn’t mean anything.
What “role creep” is, and how to spot it at work and at home.
Why feeling guilty doesn’t mean you did something wrong.
What to do when your boundaries have slipped and it feels too late to set them.
Related Episodes
49 — 7 Boundary Mistakes That Damage Relationships
218 — 3 Steps to Building Boundaries That Stick So You Can Reclaim Your Time and Energy
Links & Resources
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Subscribe to The Mental Strength Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
Nobl Travel — Head to NoblTravel.com for up to 46% Off your entire order.
Hers — Visit forhers.com/morin to access personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair, menopause, and more.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 357 — Short on Time? These 30-Second Habits Are as Effective as Meditating for 30 Minutes With Dr. Eli Susman | 05 oct. 2026 | 00:44:40 | |
Have you ever downloaded a meditation app you swore you were going to use? Or bought a journal that's still sitting on your nightstand? Or promised yourself that starting Monday, you'd finally do that 20-minute morning routine that was going to change everything — only to abandon it a week later?
Most of us have some version of that story. And we usually decide it means we lack self-discipline, that we're not the kind of person who follows through, that we just can't stick with anything.
But my guest today says time is the real problem. Dr. Eli Susman, a psychologist and former Harvard researcher who coined the term micropractice — well-being practices that take 30 seconds or less.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The three-breath meditation retreat moment that launched Eli's research into micro practices
The 20-second self-compassionate touch exercise that produced results comparable to much more time-intensive interventions
Why consistency matters more than duration wellness habits
The micropractice that lowers mortality risk by 44–54%
How to boost your productivity by 15% in under 30 seconds
How to develop a cue that reminds you to engage in your habit
The four types of micro practices
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for building wellness habits that actually stick
Related Episodes
260 — Temptation Bundling: The Science-Backed Trick to Make Habits Stick
232 — 5 Daily Habits To Build Unstoppable Mental Strength
Links & Resources
Micropractice
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
Hers — Visit forhers.com/morin to access personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair, menopause, and more.
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Nobl Travel — Head to NoblTravel.com for up to 46% Off your entire order.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 356 — 5 Ways to Stay Mentally Strong at Work When Your Personal Life Is Falling Apart | 02 oct. 2026 | 00:21:13 | |
Have you ever had to walk into work and act like everything was fine while your whole life was falling apart? Maybe you're going through a divorce, fielding calls about an aging parent between meetings, or you received a scary diagnosis the day before a big presentation.
Quitting usually isn't an option, and "just leave it at the door" isn't much help either. Today I'm sharing five of the biggest struggles people face when they have to keep showing up during a personal crisis, and the mental strength play that helps with each one.
Some of the things I talk about are:
How I got myself back to work, and in front of clients, after my husband died.
The difference between compartmentalizing and suppressing, and why one helps while the other catches up with you later.
Why telling yourself "don't think about it" makes intrusive thoughts worse, and the simple scheduling trick that quiets them.
How to handle kind coworkers who keep asking how you're doing (often the hardest part of the day).
What to consider before telling your boss what's going on.
Why work can suddenly feel meaningless, and how the 10-minute rule gets you moving anyway.
The "smile file" I kept in my filing cabinet, and how to build one on your phone before you need it.
The one question to ask on your drive home when it feels like you've lost all control.
Why these plays get you through a workday but not through the crisis itself, and what that bigger job requires.
Related Episodes
248 — The 3 Words That Will Make You Mentally Stronger
278 — The 3 Mindset Shifts You Will Help You Grow Mentally Stronger This Year
Links & Resources
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Subscribe to The Mental Strength Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
Lola Blankets — Head to LolaBlankets.com and use code STRONGER to get 40% OFF your order.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 355 — Why Even Mentally Strong People Sometimes Cheat, Lie and Break Their Own Rules with Dr. Glenn Hutchinson | 28 sept. 2026 | 00:47:50 | |
Have you ever done something that went against everything you believe about yourself? Maybe you think of yourself as an honest person, but you round up hours on your timesheet. Or maybe you say family is the most important thing in your life, but you spend the entire weekend working. Or maybe it's something bigger — something you still can't fully explain, even though it happened years ago.
Most of us assume that when we act against our values, it's because we're weak. But there's evidence that shows even mentally strong people might sometimes lie, cheat or break their own rules.
My guest is Dr. Glenn Hutchinson, a psychologist who has spent years studying why people's behavior isn't always in line with their values.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why the explanations we come up with for our own behavior are often completely wrong (and the famous 1977 study that proved it)
Why we judge other people more harshly than we judge ourselves for the exact same behavior
Why willpower fails almost everyone eventually
What the new GLP-1 medications reveal about how unconscious urges actually work
Why happily married people can still be unfaithful and the ancient brain systems that operate independently of our values
The dangerous "I've already blown it" thinking that turns one small slip into a full-blown spiral
The story of the man who left an inpatient facility convinced he was a narcissist when he wasn't even close
The chilling examples of how our conscious mind fails us
Why insight and behavior change are two completely different things
The two questions to ask about any bad habit
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for getting your behavior in line with your values
Related Episodes
132 — Understand Your Habits by Uncovering the Emotional Thread That Drives Your Behavior
49 — 7 Boundary Mistakes That Damage Relationships
Links & Resources
Unfaithful Minds
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
Lola Blankets — Head to LolaBlankets.com and use code STRONGER to get 40% OFF your order.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 354 — How to Stop a Negative Thought Spiral in 2 Minutes (Backed by Science) | 25 sept. 2026 | 00:20:02 | |
Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Maybe you replay a conversation that already happened, second-guess a decision you already made, or keep going back over what you should've done differently. A negative thought spiral is hard to break and the more you try to suppress a thought, the more it will keep popping back up.
So today I'm sharing one of my favorite mental strength plays to literally get unhelpful thoughts out of your head. I'll walk you through the play, the surprising study on why it works, and exactly how to do it right.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why you usually can't think your way out of a negative loop (the thing keeping it going is the thinking itself).
The study that shows how to change which thoughts you believe.
The one version of this that doesn't work at all, no matter how hard you try it.
How to run the play, step by step.
Why you have to write the ugly, honest version of the thought.
The mistakes that make this play backfire.
Why this isn't for every negative thought—and how to know when it's the wrong play and you need a different one.
Related Episodes
284 — Overthinking? Here’s the 3-Word Fix You Need to Stop the Spiral
328 — The Best Way to Solve a Problem When You Feel Hopeless: Brainstorm the Worst Ideas First
Links & Resources
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Subscribe to The Mental Strength Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro atDrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
Lola Blankets — Head to LolaBlankets.com and use code STRONGER to get 40% OFF your order.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 353 — The Hidden Childhood Wound Behind the Relationships You Keep Ending Up In with Trauma Therapist Dr. Gillian O'Shea Brown | 21 sept. 2026 | 00:49:17 | |
Have you ever wondered why you attract the same type of person over and over or wondered why you keep ending up in the same situation? You might tell yourself you never want to change but end up right back in a similar situation again.
My guest today says there's a reason for that. Every one of us has what she calls a psychological Achilles heel — a tender spot formed early in life around a belief like I'm not lovable or I'm not good enough — and it lies dormant until something or someone presses on it. And we're often unconsciously drawn to the people who press on it, because part of us is trying to go back and finally get it right.
My guest is Dr. Gillian O'Shea Brown, a psychotherapist and complex trauma specialist who authored the textbook Healing Complex PTSD, used at NYU graduate schools.
Some of the things we discuss are:
What a psychological Achilles heel is and why it lies dormant until the wrong person or situation presses on it
Why we unconsciously seek out the people who reopen our oldest wounds
Why your brain will pick familiar chaos over unpredictable peace and how that shows up in dating
Why the butterflies you feel around certain people were never really about attraction
The I AM inventory that reveals who you actually become around specific people
What your body is trying to tell you about the people you spend time with
The Erotic Emotional Map for tracing your relationship patterns back to their earliest source
Why "pruning" your relationships is only half the work and what to do with the empty space that scares most people back into old patterns
How to have the "updated conversations" most married couples never actually have
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for breaking the patterns that keep repeating in your life
Related Episodes
249 — The Hidden Link Between Childhood Trauma and Chronic Health Issues with Dr. Aimie Apigian
302 — Why You Choose Familiar Pain Over Unfamiliar Peace (and How to Break Free From Those Patterns)
Links & Resources
Psyche's Awakening
Get Your Pre-Order Bonus
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
AG1 — Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DrinkAG1.com/mentallystronger.
Lola Blankets — Head to LolaBlankets.com and use code STRONGER to get 40% OFF your order.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 352 — Not Sad, Not Happy, Just... Nothing? Why You Feel Numb—and How to Come Back | 18 sept. 2026 | 00:19:05 | |
Have you ever felt like you just don't feel anything at all? Not exactly sad, but not happy either. Something good happens and you think, well, that's nice. Something bad happens and you think, okay. And you move through your days feeling sort of flat.
That's emotional numbness. And while it might seem like a good thing to numb yourself to discomfort, there are some downsides to it too.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The winter I couldn't even feel the cold—and how the feeling came back so slowly I almost missed it.
The four different kinds of numb, and why the right response depends on which one you're in.
Why you can't selectively numb the hard feelings without dimming joy and excitement along with them.
The reason feeling numb leaves so many people exhausted—even though it seems like they're not doing anything at all.
Why the feelings you push down don't disappear—and how they resurface two years later in the grocery store.
Why coming back to life isn't a dam bursting, but a dimmer switch your brain controls on purpose.
Why chasing a big emotion (the sad movie, the old photos) often backfires and the small thing to reach for instead.
The "flicker" to watch for, and why motivation follows action here, not the other way around.
Related Episodes
272 — How to Handle Big Emotions: 5 Science-Backed Skills to Stay in Control
332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It
Links & Resources
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Subscribe to The Mental Strength Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
Lola Blankets — Head to LolaBlankets.com and use code STRONGER to get 40% OFF your order.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 351 — How to Build the Self-Worth You Need to Feel Good Enough (Without Faking It, Affirming It, or Achieving It) With Dr. Marisa Franco | 14 sept. 2026 | 00:45:25 | |
Have you ever finally gotten something that you thought would make you feel worthy, like a degree or a promotion, and you still felt like you weren't good enough? Or maybe when someone gives you a genuine compliment, you feel worse instead of better.
My guest is Dr. Marisa Franco, a psychologist, professor at the University of Maryland, and New York Times bestselling author. And she says we've been lied to about what really builds self-worth. But the good news is, once we learn the truth, we can all increase our self-worth without achieving more.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why compliments and success can actually feel threatening when you're struggling with self-worth
The difference between the two kinds of high self-esteem (and how to tell which one you actually have)
Why "I only date secure people" misses how humans actually work — and the case for being "secure-ish" instead
Why memories are the "database of self-esteem" — and how the brain uses your past to predict your future
How to go back to a painful memory and give your younger self exactly what they needed
Why you don't have to remember what happened to heal past wounds
The three-step framework to try the next time you feel bad about yourself
Healthy ways to handle hard feelings
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for building real self-worth starting today
Related Episodes
219 — Stop Hating Yourself: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaiming Your Worth with Dr. Blaise Aguirre
104 — What Your Sentimental Keepsakes Reveal About Your Self-Worth
Links & Resources
Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment
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| 350 — How to Stay Mentally Strong in the Age of AI | 11 sept. 2026 | 00:20:37 | |
When's the last time you asked AI to help you with something personal? Maybe you pasted in a text message and asked what the person really meant by it. Maybe you laid out both sides of a hard decision and asked what you should do.
AI can be genuinely helpful for quick answers—but if you're not careful, it may be quietly draining your mental strength. I'm already seeing this unfold in my therapy office as people hand over more and more. And I fell into it myself, running my own emails through Claude before I realized I wasn't getting better information—I was just getting a stamp of approval. In today's episode, I'll explain how leaning on AI can weaken your ability to trust your own judgment, the three things you should never outsource to it, and the simple rule that protects your mind in the age of AI.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The moment I caught myself defaulting to a chatbot instead of my own voice—after decades of writing my own emails without a second thought.
The MIT study on what happens in your brain when you lean on AI to think for you—and the "cognitive debt" you rack up without noticing.
The one simple rule that changes everything about how you use AI (and why the order you do things matters more than you'd think).
Why asking AI about your feelings is really asking for permission to feel them—and the mental strength skill you lose when you do.
The friend who let AI choose between two jobs, moved across the country, and later couldn't explain how he'd made the decision.
Why AI is at its absolute weakest on the decisions that matter most about your life.
The woman whose relationship AI called "avoidant" one day and "securely attached" the next—and what it reveals about outsourcing your read on other people.
Why AI makes an old trap easier than ever: the friend who'd eventually push back at 3am, and the chatbot that never will.
Related Episodes
248 — The 3 Words That Will Make You Mentally Stronger
204 — 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do in Today’s World
Links & Resources
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Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Subscribe to The Mental Strength Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
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| 349 — 7 Uncomfortable Truths That Are Keeping You Stuck (And What to Do About Each One) With Psychotherapist Kier Gaines | 07 sept. 2026 | 00:50:56 | |
Most people wait for the right moment, the right feeling, the right amount of information before they change. But my guest today says it all starts when you confront the seven uncomfortable truths that are holding you back.
My guest is Kier Gaines, a licensed professional counselor who reaches more than 40 million people on social media every month. His new book is It All Starts When You Do.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why waiting for the right moment costs you the life you want
The difference between accountability and self-blame
Why self-awareness alone almost never leads to change (and what actually does)
The seven uncomfortable truths and why the first step isn't fixing them, it's getting curious about them
Why affirmations can make you feel worse
Why overwhelm is often a failure of systems, not a failure of your capabilities
The five stages of behavioral change and why knowing which one you're in changes what you should actually do next
Why "I only date healed people" misses how humans actually work
Why distress tolerance might be the single most important skill for growing mentally stronger
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for starting when you're not ready
Related Episodes
86 — The 6 Stages of Change: How to Transform Your Life
332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It
Links & Resources
It All Starts When You Do
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Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
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| 348 — Still Cringing About Something You Did Years Ago? Here's Why (And How to Stop). | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:22:52 | |
Is there a moment from your past that still makes you cringe? Something you said at a party years ago, a text you wish you could unsend, a version of you that you can't believe you ever were? And does that moment ever run through your mind when you don't wish to replay it?
In today's episode, I'll share a cringe moments that my brain loves to replay, explain why certain moments get cemented in there forever, and give you three strategies to move through them—so you can stop feeling the pain all over again and stop letting those memories shrink your life.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The on-camera interview I've never once been able to bring myself to watch—and the part I left out that still makes me cringe.
Why your brain files a social slip-up like a physical injury, and treats an awkward comment like a threat to your survival.
Why embarrassment and shame stick when almost every other bad feeling fades—and what that says about the moments you can't shake.
How replaying cringe can shrinks your life.
Why "cringe" may stem from three different feelings and why it's so important to label them correctly.
The reason your brain replays the worst four seconds on a loop instead of the whole scene—and how to change the story it's telling.
The "spotlight effect," and the research showing how badly we overestimate how many people even noticed.
Related Episodes
59 — 3 Ways to Take Back Your Power When Negative People Try to Drag You Down
199 — Can You Really Change Who You Are? The Surprising Truth About Personality With Olga Khazan
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| 347 — The One Question That Will Tell You Whether Your Go-To Coping Skill Is Actually Helping You With Dr. Celeste Birkhofer | 31 août 2026 | 00:48:42 | |
When something goes wrong in your day—bad news, a disagreement with a loved one, or a tough rejection—what do you actually reach for to cope?
Most of us have one move. We drink, we scroll, we run, we clean, we call someone. And it probably works—which is why we keep doing it.
But my guest today says that's where the trouble starts. Every coping strategy you have began as your best attempt at getting a need met. And when you only have one move, even a good one can turn into something that no longer serves you.
My guest is Dr. Celeste Birkhofer, a licensed clinical psychologist and adjunct clinical faculty at Stanford Medical School's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Her new book is Beyond Quick Fixes.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why your one go-to coping skill probably started as a solution — and how to tell when it's crossed into something that's costing you
The difference between a quick fix that helps you (like slow breathing when your heart is pounding) and one that's harming you
Why some of your greatest strengths—being driven, being independent, being agreeable—might also be the things holding you back
The two ingredients every real change requires (and why insight alone almost never gets you there)
Dr. Birkhofer's story of using food to cope in college — and how she traced it back to what she learned about handling emotions as a kid
The writing exercise that helps you connect the dots between your childhood and your current patterns without shame
The three parts of yourself and why one of them needs to be in the driver's seat
Why the people closest to you sometimes push back when you try to change and how to tell if they're drawing out your best or keeping you stuck
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for building coping skills that actually work
Related Episodes
330 — The Real Reason Your Coping Skills Aren't Helping (It's Not You)
332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It
Links & Resources
Beyond Quick Fixes
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| 346 — How to Stop Taking Things So Personally (And Stop Giving Away Your Power) | 28 août 2026 | 00:20:43 | |
Have you ever sent a text and expected a fun response but all you got was a word one answer and then you spent the rest of the day wondering what you did wrong? Or heard a comment in a group chat and felt it was aimed at you? Most of the time, the thing you're taking personally has almost nothing to do with you—but your brain will work hard to convince you otherwise.
I've done this too, during the hardest stretch of my life, even though I'm a therapist who teaches people not to. In today's episode, I'll walk you through what's really happening when you take something personally, why it costs you more than you might think, and three things you can do the next time your brain insists you're the reason someone acted the way they did.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The story I built about myself to explain what happened when I was grieving.
Why your brain reaches for the one explanation that puts you at the center, out of a hundred it could have picked.
What the research says about the critical feedback people give.
Why taking things personally goes beyond just feeling bad.
The surprising study on reaching out to someone you've lost touch with, and what your brain gets wrong about it.
How to separate hurt feelings from beliefs about yourself.
Related Episodes
59 — 3 Ways to Take Back Your Power When Negative People Try to Drag You Down
278 — The 3 Mindset Shifts You Will Help You Grow Mentally Stronger This Year
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| 345 — How to Overcome Anxiety by Changing How You Use Your Imagination With Dr. Cassandra Vieten | 24 août 2026 | 00:45:44 | |
You've probably been told that anxiety is a reaction to what's happening in your life. But my guest today says that's not the whole story. Most of your anxiety isn't a reaction to what's actually happening — it's a reaction to what you're imagining might happen.
You get an email that says "can we talk tomorrow?" and your mind writes an entire disaster. Your brain then releases the same stress hormones whether the threat is real or imagined.
My guest is Dr. Cassandra Vieten, a licensed clinical psychologist and director of research at the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at UC San Diego. Her new book is Imagine That.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why you're imagining far more than you think — and how your brain reacts as if what you're imagining is actually happening
The Mark Twain quote about worry that will stop you in your tracks
Why "just think positive" backfires — and what to do with your imagination instead
Your imagination profile — why some people see vivid pictures, others hear narrated stories, and both are valid ways of imagining
How to visit your future self — and the surprising question to ask when you get there
How to tell the difference between rumination and imagination
The dragon-in-the-village metaphor Dr. Vieten uses for addiction — and why a good story can reach truths your logical mind can't
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for using your imagination to grow mentally stronger
Related Episodes
318 — How to Turn Anxiety Into a Competitive Advantage With a 2-Minute Play That Tricks Your Brain
144 — 7 Surprising Strategies That Fix Anxiety (Even Though We Fear These Things Will Make Anxiety Worse)
Links & Resources
Imagine That
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| 344 — 5 Reasons Imposter Syndrome Doesn't Go Away (And Why That's Usually a Good Sign) | 21 août 2026 | 00:23:58 | |
Have you ever achieved something big and, instead of feeling proud, felt like an imposter? Imposter syndrome is common, yet no one wants to talk about it.
But imposter syndrome isn't necessarily a bad thing. And there are steps you can take when you experience it to ensure that it doesn't become an obstacle. Some of the things I talk about today are:
The invitation-only event I earned my way into—and how I still questioned if I belonged.
Why imposter syndrome doesn't go away even when you have concrete proof you are good at what you do.
The sneaky credit trap and why it matters.
Why your self-image can lag years behind your actual life and the only thing that actually updates it.
Why the feeling itself isn't the real problem—and the specific things people do to manage it that costs them.
Four things that actually help when you experience imposter syndrome.
Related Episodes
304 — Got Rejected? Here's the One Thing You Need to Do to Get Your Confidence Back Fast
283 — How to Stop Feeling Invisible and Start Feeling Like You Matter with Journalist Jennifer Wallace
Connect with the Show
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| 343 — The Real Reason You Keep Doing the Thing You Swore You'd Quit (And How to Break the Shame Spiral) with Dr. Frank Spinelli | 17 août 2026 | 00:47:04 | |
Have you ever done something you swore you wouldn't do again? Maybe you had too many drinks, ate the whole thing when you meant to have a bite, or started texting that ex you swore you wouldn't talk to again. And then instead of feeling bad for a minute and moving on, you spiral into a cycle of shame, secrecy and self-destruction.
My guest is Dr. Frank Spinelli, a physician with more than 20 years of clinical experience. He's also survivor of childhood sexual abuse and a shame expert who now works with hundreds of clients who working through shame.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The difference between guilt and shame
The four archetypal shame responses (avoid, attack self, attack other, withdraw)
Why shame lives in silence
The connection between shame and the behaviors we can't stop (drinking too much, secret eating, doomscrolling, the habits we swear we'll quit)
What "shame literacy" is — and why most of us were never taught it
Why the internal script "what's wrong with me?" makes shame worse
The unexpected forms of shame
Why "I should be over this by now" is one of the most damaging things we say to ourselves
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for breaking the shame spiral starting today
Related Episodes
64 – Heal From Shame and Transform Your Self-Worth with Therapist Sheila Rubin
124 — Stop Self-Sabotage: 7 Reasons You Are Holding Yourself Back and How to Stop Once and For All
Links & Resources
The Shame Compass
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| 342 — 5 Reasons You've Got a Short Fuse Lately (and How to Lengthen It) | 14 août 2026 | 00:23:16 | |
Have you lost your cool lately over something small? Maybe you snapped at your partner about the dishes in the sink. Or maybe you didn't say a word—you just let a coworker's question irritate you all day—and afterward you thought, "What's wrong with me? This isn't who I am."
If this sounds familiar, today's episode is for you. There are many reasons we can develop a short fuse. Fortunately, there are also many ways to lengthen it once you know how.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why a short fuse is a gauge—and what it's actually trying to tell you.
How to recognize when your fuse is getting short.
What one night of bad sleep does to the alarm center of your brain
The "file folder" of small things you never said out loud and what happens when it's full.
Why open loops drain your patience—and the surprising fix.
The voodoo-doll study on married couples that reveals a surprising reason you might snap at your partner.
How suppressed anger often comes out.
How to lengthen your fuse.
Related Episodes
272 — How to Handle Big Emotions: 5 Science-Backed Skills to Stay in Control
145 — Calm Your Nervous System With Therapist Liz Kelly
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| 341 — How to Overcome Your Fear of Rejection: What 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Taught Jia Jiang | 10 août 2026 | 00:47:14 | |
Have you ever been afraid to ask for something because you were afraid you'd get rejected? Whether you want to invite someone on a date or ask for a raise, the fear of hearing "no" can keep you from trying.
But according to my guest today, the sting of rejection probably isn't as painful as you think. But the cost of avoiding rejection might be worse.
My guest is Jia Jiang, the founder of 100 Days of Rejection, where he set out to get rejected on purpose every single day for 100 days straight. He's the author of Rejection Proof, and his new book Easy Discipline is coming out soon.
Some of the things we discuss are:
What Jia learned from asking a stranger for $100, requesting a burger refill, and knocking on random doors to ask if he could play soccer in the yard
The Krispy Kreme Olympic donuts story that went viral (and briefly moved the company's stock)
The mental script that runs in your head before you ask for something — and why it's almost always wrong
The single shift that turns you from someone who mirrors other people's energy into someone whose energy sets the tone
Why "no" isn't the end of a conversation — it's the start
The one line that lowers the temperature on any high-stakes ask (and gets you more yeses)
The story of Mike, whose fear of rejection nearly cost him the ability to advocate for his wife when she was diagnosed with cancer
Why "you either get a yes or an epic story" might be the most freeing thing you'll hear all week
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for becoming more rejection-proof starting today
Related Episodes
20 — Why Rejection Stings and What to Do About It with Harvard Professor/Author Dr. Ronald Siegel
152 — Conquer Any Fear with These Science-Backed Steps
Links & Resources
Rejection Proof
Easy Discipline
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| 340 — How to Calm Health Anxiety and Stop Googling Your Symptoms | 07 août 2026 | 00:27:48 | |
Do you ever feel really anxious about a potential health issue? Maybe you Google your symptoms frequently. Or maybe you ask for constant reassurance or just keep checking on the same spot that hurts to see if it feels better.
Health anxiety is a common problem but sometimes people are embarrassed to talk about. But, there are some strategies that can help you regain control over your time and mental energy so you stop worrying about your health.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The four ways health anxiety shows up
"Cyberchondria," and the research showing how quickly an everyday symptom turns into something rare and terrifying in your search results.
Why the relief you get from reassurance backfires
Why you shouldn't suppress your anxiety and what you should do instead
Related Episodes
208 — Coping With Anxiety: An Anxiety Toolkit for Fast Relief
253 — How Hypnosis Could Help You Break Bad Habits, Reduce Anxiety, and Relieve Your Pain with Dr. David Spiegel
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| 339 — Your Happiness Doesn't Have to Bottom Out at 47. Here's How to Make Midlife the Best Time of Your Life With Top Midlife Researcher Dr. Margie Lachman | 03 août 2026 | 00:49:09 | |
Have you been bracing for a midlife crisis? Maybe you've believed that once you hit 40 or 50, you're supposed to hit a wall — get restless, buy the sports car, blow up your life, or slide into a slow decline. And even if you haven't hit that wall yet, part of you might be waiting for it.
But my guest today has spent more than 30 years studying midlife, and she says most of what you've heard is wrong. In fact, treating midlife like a decline might turn it into one. Your sense of control, your self-esteem, and your life satisfaction can actually peak in midlife.
My guest is Dr. Margie Lachman, a psychology professor at Brandeis University who directs the Lifespan Lab and is one of the leading researchers on adult development in the country.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The truth behind the famous "happiness dips at 47" claim — and why the researchers behind it are now walking it back
Why the millennial midlife crisis might not actually be about midlife at all
Why your personality isn't locked in the way you were taught — and how to change it in your 40s, 50s, and beyond
The midlife review: three questions that can help you figure out what you actually want next
The "shelve it" approach
Why "sense of control" might be the single most important mindset in midlife (and how it lowers inflammation and dementia risk)
Why childhood struggles sometimes resurface in midlife — and what to do about it
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for making midlife your prime starting today
Related Episodes
296 — 5 Ways to Build Emotional Strength When Life Keeps Knocking You Down
336 — The "Social Clock" That's Making You Feel Behind—and How to Stop
Links & Resources
Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife
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| 338 — How to Break a Bad Habit Without Any Willpower at All | 31 juil. 2026 | 00:20:44 | |
Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Do you think you lack willpower? Whether you can't stop snacking or you keep checking your ex's Instagram, bad habits can be tough to break.
But what if willpower isn't your problem? What if it's an environmental problem that you can actually fix?
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why willpower is a limited resource—and how you burn through it hundreds of times a day without realizing it.
The 2025 Microsoft study on how many times the average worker gets interrupted in a single day.
Why the people who break bad habits don't actually have more discipline than everyone else.
The simple friction tricks that make temptation harder to reach—from the cookie shelf to your saved credit card.
How I keep my own phone from hijacking my writing (and why it's not about discipline at all).
My client who was sure she had ADHD—and the creative 15% solution that changed her whole workday.
The three simple steps to build a temptation blocker for whatever is draining your energy.
Why fixing your environment is about being more present in the moments that matter.
Related Episodes
184 — Stop Relying on Willpower and Create Habits for Lasting Mental Strength
204 — 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do in Today’s World
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| 337 — Overwhelmed by Self-Improvement Advice? 5 Strategies From a Guy Who's Interviewed 700 Top Performers with Ryan Hawk | 27 juil. 2026 | 00:53:49 | |
Are you overwhelmed by all the self-improvement advice out there? Every book, every podcast, every social media post is telling you a different thing you should be doing and all those things might leave you feeling exactly the same as when you started.
My guest today has spent the last decade interviewing more than 700 top performers to figure out what actually moves the needle. His book has hundreds of strategies, but I picked out the five that work best for anyone who wants to build confidence, reduce anxiety, or become a stronger version of themselves.
My guest is Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show and USA Today bestselling author. His new book is The Price of Becoming.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why confidence comes from evidence and how it transfers to every other area of your life
Why it's okay to copy other people when you're starting out (and the surprising fact about The Beatles that proves it).
Curiosity as a skill disguised as a personality trait and why Ryan says it might be his number one love language.
The line Ryan's dad said that reframes almost every anxious thought
The Adam Sandler story about the professor who told him he'd never make it and the surprising way Sandler chose to remember him
The difference between "clean fuel" and "dirty fuel"
The three journaling prompts Ryan uses every night to compound growth over time
The Therapist's Take: M quick take on how to apply each strategy starting today
Related Episodes
248 — The 3 Words That Will Make You Mentally Stronger
330 — The Real Reason Your Coping Skills Aren't Helping (It's Not You)
Links & Resources
The Price of Becoming
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| 336 — The "Social Clock" That's Making You Feel Behind—and How to Stop | 24 juil. 2026 | 00:22:36 | |
Do you ever feel like everyone else is a few steps ahead of you? Maybe you thought you'd have the job, the house, the relationship, or the retirement account figured out by now—and the fact that you don't feels like proof you've fallen behind.
It's easy to feel like everyone else is doing better and you can't catch up. But there are some strategies that can help you feel better about wherever you are right now.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why the word "behind" is the thing that trips us up—and the question that changes everything.
The "social clock" researchers have identified, and the surprising finding about what actually causes people distress.
The moment that completely shattered the timeline for me—and left me feeling fifty years ahead of schedule.
The first move to make when you feel behind
The Holocaust survivor who published her first book at 89, her second at 92, and kept going until 96.
Why there's no single racetrack—and what to ask yourself the next time the feeling creeps back in.
Related Episodes
196 — How Comparison Culture is Secretly Sabotaging Your Mental Strength
332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It
Connect with the Show
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| 335 — "I Know Better — So Why Do I Keep Doing It?" Here's the Loop You're Actually Stuck In With Dr. Elisha Goldstein | 20 juil. 2026 | 00:52:50 | |
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, I know better than this — so why do I keep doing it? Whether you stay up too late scrolling or you snap at people you leave, we all do things that don't help sometimes.
Most of us assume we need to create a lifestyle overhaul to fix the issue. But my guest today says that's exactly why so many of us stay stuck. He says a series of tiny shifts is the key to breaking free from emotional loops.
My guest is Dr. Elisha Goldstein, a clinical psychologist and the host of the Emotional Longevity podcast. His new book is Tiny Shifts.
Some of the things we discuss are:
What an emotional loop is — and how the four parts of it (thoughts, emotions, sensations, actions) trap you before you notice
Why your most convincing thoughts are often the least accurate — and how your brain evolved to make it that way
Why overhauling your life almost never works — and what "tiny shifts" do instead
The 4R method and how Dr. Goldstein used it in real time when he got scammed on Facebook
Why overthinking is a nervous system problem
Why shame is baked into our culture and how to work with it instead of getting trapped by it
The "slippery moment" when one loop turns into another and you assume nothing's working
Why healing your childhood wounds doesn't require years of therapy
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for making tiny shifts starting today
Related Episodes
305 — How to Make the Biggest Changes With the Smallest Steps With Author Eric Zimmer
194 — The Science of Small Wins: Why They Matter More Than Big Goals
Links & Resources
Tiny Shifts
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| 334 - Change Is Great. But So Is Everything About You That Never Changed. | 17 juil. 2026 | 00:16:23 | |
I've spent my whole career helping people change. Someone walks into my therapy office stuck in a pattern they don't want, and together we figure out how to get them unstuck. I've written books about it. This whole podcast is about it.
But after almost 25 years as a therapist, here's what strikes me: how much we actually stay the same. The things that made you light up at 5 are probably the same things that light you up at 55. The impulses you had at 7 are still there at 47. We change in real ways—but underneath, something steady keeps us being us.
Today's episode is a little different. Instead of a mental strength play to change your life, I want to talk about the parts of you that were never going to change—and why that might be one of the more beautiful things about being a person. We live in a world constantly telling you to become a new version of yourself. But sometimes there's no problem to fix. Sometimes it just means there's a reliable part of you that's been there all along.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The daily habit I've kept for years—and the moment I realized I've been playing the exact same game since I was five years old.
What happened when I asked my Instagram audience what they loved as a kid and still love today (the list is oddly comforting).
Why so much of the self-improvement world gets this wrong—and why "always upgrade yourself" isn't the whole story.
The crucial difference between an impulse and a response—and why you don't have to fix the impulse to change your life.
What I still do when a speaker asks for a volunteer from the audience, almost 40 years after I was the shy kid dreading book report day.
The question I ask therapy clients who feel like they've lost themselves—and why no one has ever failed to answer it.
Why recognizing what's stayed the same can be one of the most healing moments in a whole stretch of therapy.
The question I want you to sit with this week—and why you don't have to fix the answer.
Related Episodes
308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment
306 — You Don't Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
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| 333 — You're Doing 'Delayed Gratification' Wrong. Here's What Actually Makes You Happier with Professor Ian Bogost | 13 juil. 2026 | 00:50:56 | |
You've heard people say, "Good things come to those who wait." Most of us absorbed that lesson somewhere along the way — save the good stuff, delay the pleasure, wait until you've earned it. But my guest today says that idea backfires.
My guest is Ian Bogost, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. His new book is The Small Stuff.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The three different types of contentment — and why we tend to overlook the most available one
What the famous marshmallow test actually got wrong about delayed gratification
Why saving the perfume, the outfit, or the "good china" for a special occasion might be backfiring
The one-step trick to noticing small pleasures without having to add anything new to your routine
Why gratification isn't the same as mindfulness — and why Ian has issues with how mindfulness gets sold to us
How modern life has quietly stripped away small sensory pleasures (Ian calls it "dematerialization")
Why you don't have to choose between being present and taking a picture — you can do both
How stacking tiny moments of gratification can build a buffer that makes hard days hurt less
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for finding more small pleasures starting today
Related Episodes
322 — This 60-Second Mental Strength Play Will Help You Stop Procrastinating (And It Doesn't Require Willpower)
270 — You Don't Need More Self-Discipline: 2 Strategies to Succeed Without It
Links & Resources
The Small Stuff
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| 332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It | 10 juil. 2026 | 00:18:54 | |
Have you ever been upset and had one person tell you to just sit with your feelings—while someone else insists you should snap out of it and take control? Which approach is right?
The answer is that it depends on the situation. In today's episode, I'll show you that the most important emotional strength skill is knowing which one the moment calls for.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why "sit with it" and "change it" aren't actually contradictory—and the framework that ties them together.
Why an emotion isn't positive or negative on its own, and what actually determines whether it helps you or hurts you.
How the exact same anxiety can be your friend while you pay a stack of bills and your enemy on the way to the stage.
The surprising research on how a "good" emotion like excitement can push you into a decision you'd never make calmly.
The personal story of returning to work after losing my husband—and what grief taught me about when to feel a feeling and when to turn the volume down.
The three questions that tell you, in the moment, whether a feeling is your friend or your enemy (you only need to answer one).
What to actually do once you have your answer—and why changing a feeling isn't avoiding it, and sitting with one isn't weakness.
Related Episodes
308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment
306 — You Don't Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
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| 331 - Why You Can't Stop Overthinking — and the 30-Second Trick That Interrupts the Spiral with Science Journalist Donna Jackson Nakazawa | 06 juil. 2026 | 00:55:33 | |
Have you ever spent hours replaying a conversation in your head that didn't go well? Maybe you said something you wish you hadn't. Maybe someone made a comment you can't stop thinking about.
But the more you think about it, the worse you feel — and you can't seem to stop. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.
My guest is Donna Jackson Nakazawa, an award-winning science journalist and author of nine books. Her new book is Mind Drama and she has uncovered some surprising strategies that can help you stop overthinking.
Some of the things we discuss are:
What's actually happening in your brain when you can't stop replaying something — and what showed up on Donna's own brain scan
Why "just think about it a little more" is a lie your brain tells you (and the part of your brain that's terrible at solving problems is the one running the show)
Why we're all overthinking more than we used to — and the perfect storm making it worse
How a single anxious thought sends a stress signal all the way down to the energy centers of your cells
The MIST framework — a step-by-step way to decode the pattern behind whatever you keep replaying
The "ballistic interrupter" — a neuroscience-backed trick that stops the spiral by changing one small thing about how you talk to yourself
Quick physical moves that signal safety to your brain and break the loop fast
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for breaking out of an overthinking loop starting today
Related Episodes
284 — Overthinking? Here’s the 3-Word Fix You Need to Stop the Spiral
258 - 7 Sneaky Mindset Traps Draining Your Mental Strength (And How to Stop Them)
Links & Resources
Mind Drama
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| 330 — The Real Reason Your Coping Skills Aren't Helping (It's Not You) | 03 juil. 2026 | 00:21:01 | |
Want more plays to help you stay mentally strong? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Have you ever tried a mental strength strategy that everyone swears by, and it didn't work for you? Maybe you tried to meditate in the middle of a panic attack and felt worse, or started a gratitude journal while your life was falling apart and just ended up feeling guilty about your list.
The same coping skills that saves you in one moment can backfire in another. Fortunately, you can sharpen your ability to reach for the right coping skill at the right time once you know how.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why the strategy that "doesn't work for you" might just be the right tool used at the wrong time.
The friend whose gratitude journal, packed weekend schedule, and constant busyness looked like strength from the outside—but were actually keeping her stuck.
How three plays we talk about all the time on this show can backfire, and the exact moments when each one turns from helpful to harmful.
Why "What's the best mental health technique?" is the wrong question—and the better one to ask instead.
How to run the same problem through your thoughts, your emotions, and your actions so you always have more than one way in.
The three-step Pause, Pick, Play process for choosing the right play in the moment—even when your usual go-to isn't working.
Related Episodes
308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment
306 — You Don't Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong
Connect with the Show
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Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
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| 329 — How to Stop Beating Yourself Up for How You Feel With Psychotherapist Daniel Smith | 29 juin 2026 | 00:49:01 | |
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "I should be over this by now"? Maybe an old fear or insecurity shows up, and instead of just feeling it, you feel bad about feeling that way.
Most of us were taught that hard feelings — shame, envy, anger, boredom — are problems to be solved or character flaws to fix. And when they don't go away, we pile on a second layer of distress. But my guest today says that's exactly where we go wrong. The goal isn't to get rid of hard feelings. It's to get more curious about them.
My guest is Daniel Smith, a writer turned therapist whose new book is called Hard Feelings.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why hard feelings aren't problems to solve — and what happens when you stop trying to optimize them away
Why shame is the master uncomfortable emotion, and how it often gets passed down through families in silence
The trap of asking "why do I feel this way?" — and the better question that actually helps
Why decades of personal work doesn't make old anxieties disappear
The hidden cost of the positivity industry — and how well-meaning advice can become unintentionally shaming
What boredom, envy, and even anger are trying to teach you if you're willing to listen
The difference between sitting with a feeling and needing to shift one — and how to know which moment calls for which
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for getting curious about hard feelings starting today
Related Episodes
224 - 8 Myths About Feelings That Can Sabotage Your Emotional Intelligence
148 — How to Take Charge of Your Feelings
Links & Resources
Hard Feelings
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| 328 — The Best Way to Solve a Problem When You Feel Hopeless: Brainstorm the Worst Ideas First | 26 juin 2026 | 00:16:18 | |
Want more plays to help you stay mentally strong? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Have you ever felt stuck trying to solve a problem? Maybe you're trying to figure out how to attract more customers, smooth things over with someone you love, or finally dig out of debt—but you just can't figure out what to do?
Well, sometimes pushing harder for an answer in the same direction is exactly what's keeping you stuck. And that's why brainstorming the worst ideas might be the key to getting unstuck.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The online jewelry store I built knowing nothing about jewelry—and the backwards question that finally cracked my customer problem.
Why trying harder to find a good idea often keeps you stuck, and what to do instead.
The exact reversal I use with therapy clients who say "I've tried everything and nothing works."
Why this play makes group brainstorms come alive—and finally gets the quiet people to speak up.
The real reason asking "how do I make this worse?" knocks your brain out of its stuck loop.
The five simple steps to turn a list of terrible ideas into a blueprint for what to actually do next.
When to run this play—from a business decision to a standoff at home to a meeting you're leading.
Related Episodes
31 — Friday Fix: These 5 STEPS Will Sharpen Your Problem-Solving Skills to Get Through Challenges with Ease
316 — How Talking to a Rubber Duck Will Solve Any Problem Fast (And Why Thinking Harder Fire Backfires)
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
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| 327 — Why You Can't Make Up Your Mind (and How to Finally Decide) with Bestselling Author Simone Stolzoff | 22 juin 2026 | 00:44:32 | |
Think about the last time you couldn't make up your mind about a big decision. Maybe you made a pro-and-con list, read every review, and talked it through with other people — and still couldn't decide.
We tell ourselves that just a little more information will finally bring the certainty we need to choose. But my guest today says more research can fuel your anxiety and the certainty we're chasing doesn't actually exist. If you're indecisive, you overthink every choice, or you freeze up for fear of making the wrong decision, this episode is for you.
My guest is Simone Stolzoff, a journalist and the author of The Good Enough Job. His new book, How to Not Know, is all about making hard decisions and learning to tolerate uncertainty.
In this episode on decision-making and uncertainty, we discuss:
Why our tolerance for uncertainty is shrinking at the exact moment the world is becoming more uncertain
The two surprising ways people dodge hard decisions — and why impulsive decision-makers may be just as avoidant as obsessive researchers
The study that showed we'd rather face a guaranteed painful event than sit with the uncertainty of one
Why the best leaders aren't "know-it-alls" but "learn-it-alls"
The Only Option Test — a fast way to break a stuck decision when both choices look equally good
The Chinese farmer parable, and why "maybe yes, maybe no" is one of the most freeing things you can tell yourself
The line from an oncology doctor that can change how you face anything uncertain in your future
The Therapist's Take: my top three strategies for making decisions and living with uncertainty, starting today
Related Episodes
60 — Face Fear and Embrace Uncertainty So You Can Live a Good Life with Best-Selling Author Jonathan Fields
321 — How to Use Constraints to Spark Better Ideas, Make Faster Decisions, and Live With Less Regret With Bestselling Author David Epstein
Links & Resources
How to Not Know
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| 326 — The Fastest Way to Feel Better When Everything's Going Wrong (It's Not Self-Care) | 19 juin 2026 | 00:16:17 | |
Want more mental strength plays? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Have you ever had one of those days—or one of those weeks—where everything seems to be going wrong, and no matter what you try, you just feel discouraged?
Fortunately, there's a play you can run when you don't know what to do. And on the surface, it seems a little backward.
In today's episode, I'm sharing a play that sounds completely backward. But it's one of the best ways to get out of your head and prove to yourself that you have some power, even during your worst days.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The week before my book launch when everything fell apart at once—and the unexpected errand that turned out to be the best use of my afternoon.
Why "self-care" can actually keep you stuck, and the shift from self-care to other-care that does the opposite.
The body chemistry behind kindness—what it does to your hormones.
The science behind why this play is so effective.
The three simple steps to throwing a good vibes boomerang (and why speed matters more than size).
The one thing to do after that teaches your brain to reach for this play again.
Two ways this play can backfire—including the well-meaning move that can get misread at work.
How to grab a free printable list of boomerang ideas so you never have to brainstorm kindness on your worst day.
Get the free Good Vibes Boomerang List - AmyMorinLCSW.com/326
Related Episodes
114 — Break Free From a Bad Mood by Identifying the Mood Boosters That Will Help You Feel Better Fast
258 - 7 Sneaky Mindset Traps Draining Your Mental Strength (And How to Stop Them)
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
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Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
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Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
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| 325 — Harvard Psychiatrist: The #1 Mistake People Make When They Try to Work on Themselves with Dr. Paul Conti | 15 juin 2026 | 00:50:58 | |
Think about the last time you tried to work on yourself. Chances are you started with a list of everything that's wrong with you — what you don't like, what you should be doing, and what you want to "fix."
But what if thinking about yourself as "broken" is the thing that's keeping you stuck? My guest today is Dr. Paul Conti, a Harvard- and Stanford-trained psychiatrist who runs the group practice Pacific Premier Group. He started out in the business world, but after losing his brother to suicide, he turned to mental health full-time. He's the author of Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic and his new book, What's Going Right.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why leading with "what's wrong with me" might make you avoid looking at your mental health altogether
How losing his brother to suicide changed how Dr. Conti sees high-functioning people who are silently struggling
The three drives that shape your mental health — and the one that determines whether you actually feel happy with your life
Why high-functioning, hard-working people often have a low generative drive without realizing it
Why doing more isn't always the answer — and when doing less is a better choice
The two completely opposite stories you can tell about your own life (and why you get to choose which one is true)
The question to ask yourself every morning that shifts you out of dread
Related Episodes
236 — 10 Myths About Mental Health That Are Holding You Back
308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment
Links & Resources
What's Going Right
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
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| 324 — Nervous Before a Big Moment? The Ritual That Gets You in the Right Headspace | 12 juin 2026 | 00:20:56 | |
Want more mental strength plays? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Have you ever had a big moment coming up, like a presentation or an interview, and spent the final few minutes frantically cramming? We often tell ourselves if we just review our notes one more time, we'll feel confident when we walk in.
But research shows that last-minute cramming is probably making you perform worse, not better. And if you're a crammer like I am, I have good news—there's a much better way to spend those final few minutes before a high-pressure moment.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why cramming before a big moment quietly raises your anxiety instead of lowering it—and the interview that taught me this the hard way.
The play that works for athletes at the foul line and for the rest of us before a sales call, a performance review, or dinner with the in-laws.
The three science-backed reasons a simple ritual calms your nerves and sharpens your focus (no lucky socks or magical thinking required).
My own two-step pregame ritual—and how I leaned on it when Good Morning America gave me less than an hour's notice to go live on national TV.
The three pieces of a ritual that actually works
The one mistake that makes most people make
Related Episodes
278 — The 3 Mindset Shifts You Will Help You Grow Mentally Stronger This Year
318 — How to Turn Anxiety Into a Competitive Advantage With a 2-Minute Play That Tricks Your Brain
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
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AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
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Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
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| 323 — Always Bracing for the Worst? Here's Why Becoming a Realistic Optimist Is Better for Your Health with Dr. Deepika Chopra | 08 juin 2026 | 00:51:10 | |
Have you ever told someone, "I'm not an optimist, I'm a realist" because the whole "good vibes only" thing seems irritating, and you don't want to set yourself up for disappointment?
A lot of us brace for the worst on purpose. We think if we expect the worst, we'll either be right or pleasantly surprised. But bracing for disaster can be bad for your health.
My guest today is Dr. Deepika Chopra — a clinical health psychologist known as The Optimism Doctor® and the author of The Power of Real Optimism.
Some of the things we discuss are:
What real optimism actually looks like in the middle of grief, stress, or a bad diagnosis
The difference between real optimism and toxic positivity — and why "just think positive" can make people feel worse
The question that opens the door to a different outcome without forcing you to fake a feeling
The surprising physical health benefits of optimism
Why optimism is a learnable skill
The a one-minute end-of-day practice that rewires your brain to become more optimistic
Why awe is even more powerful than gratitude for shrinking anxiety
My top three strategies for becoming a real optimist starting today
Related Episodes
259 - Feel Hopeless? 5 Habits That Bring Hope Back Fast with Dr. Julia Garcia
306 — You Don't Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong
Links & Resources
The Power of Real Optimism
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
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Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
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Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
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| 322 — This 60-Second Mental Strength Play Will Help You Stop Procrastinating (And It Doesn't Require Willpower) | 05 juin 2026 | 00:20:01 | |
Want more mental strength plays? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Do you procrastinate more than you'd like to admit? You've probably told yourself the problem is willpower, motivation, or self-discipline. But, procrastination usually has nothing to do with those things.
It has to do with trying to avoid an uncomfortable feeling. Fortunately, there's a simple mental strength play that can help you start taking action fast. And the best news is, in less than a minute you can get yourself working on that project. It's backed by science and it can help you get moving on those tasks you dread.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why calling yourself "lazy" or "undisciplined" is the exact story that keeps you stuck—and what's really driving your procrastination.
How dread quietly turns a small task into a huge source of dread.
Why procrastination thrives in isolation.
The "Text a Motivation Buddy" play—and how I used it to finally edit the section of my book I'd been avoiding for weeks.
The three science-backed reasons a single text message can do what willpower can't.
How to run the play in five steps, including the specific way to word your text so it actually works.
The buddy you should never pick (the lovable friend who'll talk you into lunch instead).
The simple "time swap" variation that gets you and a friend both unstuck at once.
Related Episodes
118 — How to Do Something You Hate
244 — The Science of Motivation: How to Get Things Done When You Feel Stuck
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter
Sponsors
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AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
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| Bonus Episode - How To Manage Your Anger with Mike Pesca | 03 juin 2026 | 00:30:12 | |
This week we’re sharing a special episode from our friends at How To!, the 2026 Ambie Award-nominated “Best Personal Growth Podcast” that’s back with a new host and new topics to fuel your curiosity.
Each week on How To!, award-winning journalist Mike Pesca tackles a listener’s question – on topics ranging from travel and finance to health and relationships – with help from world-class experts who actually know what they're talking about. Think of it as eavesdropping on someone else's therapy session, without the co-pay or awkward silence.
And today, we’re sharing their recent episode “How To Manage Your Anger” where Mike interviews psychologist Dr. Ryan Martin, known as the Anger Professor, who helps Tyler, a science teacher and dad to a blended family, understand the core principles that spark Tyler’s frustration.
Tyler holds himself to high expectations, placing a deep value on self-sufficiency and the social contract. However, he gets incredibly frustrated when others do not hold themselves to those same standards. I’m excited about this one - it’s not something we’ve covered on the show before.
And for more interviews like this, make sure to follow How To! on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And tell them we sent you.
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| 321 — How to Use Constraints to Spark Better Ideas, Make Faster Decisions, and Live With Less Regret With Bestselling Author David Epstein | 01 juin 2026 | 00:55:04 | |
Have you ever scrolled Netflix for 25 minutes, finally picked something—and then couldn't enjoy it because you kept wondering if there was something better? Or told yourself that if you just had more time, more space, or more freedom, you'd finally write the book, start the business, or get serious about the creative work you keep putting off?
We've been sold the idea that more options and more freedom make us happier and more creative. But what if the opposite is true—what if all that freedom is actually making you stay stuck?
My guest is David Epstein, a New York Times bestselling author whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times. His new book, Inside the Box, makes the case that the limits we resent might be the very thing standing between us and our best work.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why "think outside the box" is actually terrible advice—and what your brain does instead when you hand it a blank page.
The reason too much freedom raises your anxiety.
The jazz pianist who turned a near-disaster into the best-selling solo piano album of all time.
The "satisficing" rule a Nobel Prize winner used to free up his mind—and why he owned only three sets of clothes.
Why "maximizers" who hunt for the best option end up less satisfied, more regretful, and unhappier with their lives.
David's simple three-letter framework (BCS) for putting useful constraints into your work and your day.
The almost embarrassingly simple trick David uses to become a morning person and never skip a workout.
The Therapist's Take: my three favorite strategies for using constraints to think more creatively, make faster decisions, and grow mentally stronger.
Related Episodes
126 — Overcome Choice Overload to Make Smarter, Faster Decisions without Regret
316 — How Talking to a Duck Will Solve Any Problem Fast (And Why Thinking Harder Fire Backfires)
Links & Resources
Inside the Box
Connect with the Show
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| 320 — Dreading a Difficult Person? This Play Makes Them Less Draining—and Almost Entertaining | 29 mai 2026 | 00:19:17 | |
Want more plays to help you stay mentally strong? PIck up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Have you ever wasted a whole day dreading a one-hour meeting? Or braced yourself for a family gathering because you dreaded seeing the family member who makes inconsiderate comments?
The interaction with difficult people usually don't wear you out. It's the anticipation of seeing them that is draining. A meeting might only last an hour, but you can lose six hours dreading it.
Fortunately, a simple mental strength play can turn everything around. If you run it well, and the people who used to drain you might actually start to feel a little entertaining.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why my therapist sister and I started playing Behavior Bingo at family gatherings.
Why dread is so exhausting, and what your nervous system is actually doing while you brace for impact.
How shifting from being a participant in a stressful situation to being an observer of it changes the way your brain processes the whole thing.
The surprising reason the people who get under your skin are also the most predictable people on the planet.
The four steps to building and running your own Behavior Bingo game.
The four pitfalls that can make this play backfire (including the one mistake that turns emotional distance into office drama).
When Behavior Bingo is the wrong play—and the harder conversation to have instead.
Related Episodes
298 — The Gray Rock Strategy: How to Handle Toxic People Without Losing Your Mind
89 — Dealing With a Narcissist? How to Empower Yourself with Dr. Ramani Durvasula
Connect With the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
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One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
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Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
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| 319 — How to Beat Brain Fog and Prevent Dementia With Harvard-Trained Dr. Majid Fotuhi | 25 mai 2026 | 00:53:54 | |
Most of us don't think about brain health until something goes wrong. We think it's normal to experience brain fog or we just accept cognitive decline is inevitable as we age.
Science shows you can physically change your brain at any age. You can grow new neurons, build stronger connections, and even shrink your risk of Alzheimer's — and it doesn't require anything mysterious or extreme.
My guest is Dr. Majid Fotuhi, a renowned neurologist and one of the world's leading experts in brain health. He received his MD from Harvard Medical School and his PhD in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he now serves as an adjunct professor at the Mind/Brain Institute. He's also the author of the new book The Invincible Brain.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why your brain is an organ you can care for like your teeth or your heart — not a mysterious black box you're stuck with
The 12-week brain fitness study that showed older adults physically grew their brains by 1–3%, making them up to three years younger on an MRI
Why genetics play a surprisingly small role in late-life Alzheimer's — and how exercise can cancel out the effects of the highest-risk gene
The exact amount of exercise that strengthens your brain (and why doing more than this won't help)
Why sleep is an active brain-cleaning process — and what 20+ years of insomnia does to the memory center of your brain
The one rule about food Dr. Fotuhi cares about more than keto vs. Mediterranean vs. vegetarian
How chronic stress physically shrinks your brain, plus the perspective shift his daughter learned that keeps her calm under pressure
Simple daily ways to challenge your brain — from memorizing names to license plates in traffic
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for building a physically stronger, younger brain starting today
Related Episodes
91 — The Biggest Threats to Your Brain Health and the Lifestyle Changes You Should Make Today to Stay Sharp with Dr. Austin Perlmutter
212 — What Are You Feeding Your Brain? Here’s What You Need to Know About Your Mental Diet
Links & Resources
The Invincible Brain
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
MUDWTR — Get up to 43% off your entire order, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code STRONGER at Mudwtr.com.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
First Day — Get up to 57% off and a free gift with code stronger at FirstDay.com
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER
Cozy Earth — Head to cozyearth.com and use code STRONGER20 to get 20% off your order.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 318 — How to Turn Anxiety Into a Competitive Advantage With a 2-Minute Play That Tricks Your Brain | 22 mai 2026 | 00:22:29 | |
Want strategies to help you stay mentally strong right now? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Have you ever been about to walk into something important — a big presentation, a tough call, a conversation you've been dreading — and your body just completely betrays you? Your heart is pounding, your palms are sweaty, your stomach is in knots. And no matter how many times you tell yourself to just calm down, it doesn't work?
When they physical symptoms of anxiety spike, telling yourself to calm down is usually the worst thing you can do. So today I'm sharing a play that does the opposite of what your instinct tells you to do.
Some of the things I talk about are:
What was really happening backstage at my TEDx talk — and why I deliberately didn't try to calm down
Why "just calm down" backfires when your anxiety is giving you physical symptoms, like a racing heart
Why the label your brain puts on your physiological symptoms matters and how to assign it a different label
How a threat mindset quietly sabotages your performance, and what flips you into an opportunity mindset instead
The story of an NBA player whose game-day jitters were wrecking his performance — and the small change that turned his nerves into fuel
The four steps to run the play so you can calm down fast
The two mistakes that wreck this play ( including the subtle one almost everyone gets wrong)
Why your racing heart isn't proof that something's wrong or that you're not ready
Related Episodes
208 — Coping With Anxiety: An Anxiety Toolkit for Fast Relief
73 — Calm Intense Anxiety in 30 Seconds
Connect With the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
MUDWTR — Get up to 43% off your entire order, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code STRONGER at Mudwtr.com.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
First Day — Get up to 57% off and a free gift with code stronger at FirstDay.com
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER
Cozy Earth — Head to cozyearth.com and use code STRONGER20 to get 20% off your order.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
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| 317 — The Goal You Keep Setting and Not Following Through On? Here's What's Actually Wrong With Bestselling Author Chris Bailey | 18 mai 2026 | 00:58:23 | |
Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Do you ever set a goal you genuinely cared about — get healthier, write the book, finally save money — and two weeks later you can't make yourself take any action? Even when you have motivation and a good plan, sometimes, the action doesn't happen.
Closing the gap between what you intend to do and what you actually do has far less to do with trying harder than you'd expect, and far more to do with a smarter approach.
My guest today is Chris Bailey, a productivity expert and the bestselling author of Intentional. He draws on years of research — and conversations with Buddhist monks — to explain what actually moves us from intention to action, and why forcing yourself is the least effective tool you have.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The reason your goal keeps turning into disappointment and the one word Chris uses to describe what a goal actually is
The simple subtraction problem happening in your brain every time you choose the couch over the goal
How to conduct an "aversion audit"
The five things that make a task feel impossible to start and why naming them is half the battle
Why the early-rising, tea-drinking version of you in your head is sabotaging you and what the research says about whether 5am people are actually more successful
The 12 values and how to instantly tell if a goal is even yours
What it means when you can't connect a goal to anything you value — and the uncomfortable truth about whose goal it might be
Why guilt isn't the enemy and what it's actually trying to tell you
My three favorite strategies that will help you start to get more intentional today
Related Episodes
194 — The Science of Small Wins: Why They Matter More Than Big Goals
112 — These 7 Tiny Changes That Lead to Big Results When You’re Working on Your Goals
Links & Resources
Intentional
Take the Values Test
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
MUDWTR — Get up to 43% off your entire order, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code STRONGER at Mudwtr.com.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
First Day — Get up to 57% off and a free gift with code stronger at FirstDay.com
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER
Cozy Earth — Head to cozyearth.com and use code STRONGER20 to get 20% off your order.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
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| 316 — How Talking to a Rubber Duck Will Solve Any Problem Fast (And Why Thinking Harder Fire Backfires) | 15 mai 2026 | 00:23:41 | |
Buy a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Whether you're trying to figure out how to address a problem with a friend or you're struggling to make a decision about what to do next week, thinking about a problem can be exhausting. And the more you think about solutions, the more you struggle to find an answer.
Fortunately, there's a simple strategy that can help you uncover the solution fast. Not only is it backed by science, but it's also used by engineers at companies like Amazon and Toyota. Today, I'm walking you through exactly how to run this play.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why thinking harder actually keeps you stuck — and the surprising shift that breaks the loop fast.
The community college student who walked into class with a brightly colored rubber duck — and what happened to her grades after that.
Why engineers swear by this exact strategy when they hit a wall on a tough problem.
The cognitive psychology behind the "self-explanation effect" — and three specific things that happen in your brain the moment you start talking out loud.
How I used this play while writing The Mental Strength Playbook — when I'd been stuck on the structure for weeks.
The four-step play you can run anywhere, with any object, anytime your brain locks up.
Why this strategy works just as well for tough boundary conversations and tangled family decisions as it does for work problems.
The two mistakes that wreck this play — plus one pro tip for when you can't talk out loud in a shared space.
Related Episodes
106 — Get Instant Stress Relief by Gaining Psychological Distance from Your Problems
258 - 7 Sneaky Mindset Traps Draining Your Mental Strength (And How to Stop Them)
Connect With the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
MUDWTR — Get up to 43% off your entire order, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code STRONGER at Mudwtr.com.
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One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
First Day — Get up to 57% off and a free gift with code stronger at FirstDay.com
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER
Cozy Earth — Head to cozyearth.com and use code STRONGER20 to get 20% off your order.
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| 315 — Can't Let Go of Your Stuff? The Sticky Note Trick That Reveals What's Really Holding You Back with Faith Roberson | 11 mai 2026 | 00:50:40 | |
Want to be mentally stronger today? Buy The Mental Strength Playbook.
Take a quick look around your home. How many piles of mail are sitting on the counter? How many clothes are in your closet that you haven't worn in two years? How much stuff is shoved in the garage, the spare room, or the storage unit you're still paying $200 a month for?
Most of us are drowning in stuff, and it's costing us more than we realize. The research is clear that clutter drains your energy, fragments your attention, and quietly raises your stress levels every single day. But it doesn't stop there. Clutter eats up your weekends, strains your relationships, and keeps you tethered to a version of yourself you've already outgrown. And the worst part is that buying more bins or spending another Saturday cleaning rarely fixes it.
My guest today is Faith Roberson, an organizing expert and author of What Stays and What Goes. She believes clutter isn't actually a discipline problem at all. It's an emotional one. And once you understand what's really keeping you stuck, letting go gets a whole lot easier.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why clutter is almost never about laziness or discipline (and what it actually is)
The "emotional tagging" exercise that reveals what your stuff is really doing to you
How holding on to old belongings keeps you stuck in an identity you've outgrown
Why "does it spark joy?" isn't enough, and the better question to ask
The myth that selling your stuff is worth the time it takes
How to handle sentimental items without feeling like you're betraying someone you love
The three types of boundaries that determine whether your home actually feels like home
Why your stuff is probably worth a lot less than you think (and why that's good news)
The simple question to ask before keeping anything: can I actually care for this?
How clearing your space creates room for the person you're becoming next
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Related Episodes
104 — What Your Sentimental Keepsakes Reveal About Your Self-Worth
40 — The Minimalists: Why You Should Declutter Your Life with Joshua Fields Millburn
Links & Resources
What Stays and What Goes
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
MUDWTR - Get up to 43% off your entire order, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code STRONGER at Mudwtr.com.
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| 314 — Beating Yourself Up? The 10-Second Play That Outsmarts Your Inner Critic | 08 mai 2026 | 00:19:12 | |
Pre-order a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook.
Have you ever rewritten an email five times before hitting send because you keep telling yourself it's not quite right? Or beaten yourself up over something you said and convinced yourself you've ruined everything? That's your inner critic .
We all have one—and while that little voice is meant to protect you, it can easily get in the way of thinking, feeling, and doing your best.
Fortunately, you don't have to silence it. There's a simpler play that takes the power out of that voice almost instantly.
Some of the things I talk about are:
The story of how my inner critic almost talked me out of doing something important this past week
Why your inner critic isn't actually trying to ruin your life (and what's really going on)
The fascinating research on writers with imposter syndrome who became more productive simply by naming the voice in their head
The psychological concept of "self-distancing" and why it helps you make better decisions, regulate emotions, and take action even when you're scared
A 3-step play for naming your inner critic
The critical pitfall to avoid when naming your inner critic
Why the goal isn't to eliminate that voice—it's to stop letting it run your life
Related Episodes
128 — 5 Ways to Deal with Negative Thoughts So You Can Train Your Brain to Become Mentally Stronger
284 — Overthinking? Here’s the 3-Word Fix You Need to Stop the Spiral
Connect With the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
MUDWTR - Get up to 43% off your entire order, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code STRONGER at Mudwtr.com.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders
First Day - Get up to 57% off and a free gift with code stronger at FirstDay.com
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
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