The SelfWork Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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The SelfWork Podcast

Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD

Health & Fitness

Education

Frequency: 1 episode/6d. Total Eps: 551

I'm Dr. Margaret, a psychologist for over 30 years, TEDx speaker, and the author of Perfectly Hidden Depression. I created The SelfWork Podcast in 2016 to explain mental health treatment and to give you the chance to consider therapy without thinking it's weird or that it somehow suggests you can't fix your own problems. My team is very honored that nine years later, SelfWork has earned nearly 5 million downloads! Each episode features the popular listener question as well as interviews with outstanding guests, authors, and experts, adding to the wide diversity of topics listeners so appreciate. Regularly rated as one of the top mental health/depression podcasts out there (ranked as a top .5% internationally) I keep it short, casual, and focused on "what you can do about it." I'd love to hear from you. Please join me.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
11/06/2026
#93
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
29/11/2025
#90
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
28/11/2025
#81
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
27/11/2025
#73
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
26/11/2025
#56
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
25/11/2025
#52
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
06/11/2025
#93
🇬🇧 Great Britain - mentalHealth
20/10/2025
#86
🇬🇧 Great Britain - mentalHealth
19/10/2025
#56
🇬🇧 Great Britain - mentalHealth
18/10/2025
#39

Spotify

No recent rankings available

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RSS feed quality and score

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Score global : 53%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

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Latest published episodes

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418 SelfWork: Step Into Your Inner Power: A Conversation with Jessica Zweig

Episode 418

Friday, November 1, 2024 • Duration 46:22

This special episode of SelfWork will guide you to step into your inner power as we talk with author and personal branding expert... Jessica Zweig.

I usually don’t have spiritual authors or leaders on SelfWork – not because I don’t believe in the importance of spirituality – but I’ve always kept my own spiritual beliefs more private from my work.

This time, Ashley Stahl - who not only has been on SelfWork as a guest, but has hosted for me – introduced me to our guest today. So I got very interested! And I’m delighted I read this book and met this woman.

Her name? Jessica Zweig. And her new book is The Light Work: Reclaim Your Feminine Power, Live Your Cosmic Truth and Illuminate the World.

How Jessica stepped into her inner power:

"I’ve spent the last 9+ years helping industry giants (hello Google and Pinterest!) discover their superpowers and harness magnetic personal brands at my award-winning agency SimplyBe.

But I’ll let you in on a secret — behind the scenes, I was broken.

Completely and utterly burned out. I had built my business on a relentless cycle of toxic masculine energy and in 2022 I hit rock bottom — an insurmountable depression and physical depletion.

My path to “burning bright” began with a transformative journey to Egypt and a profound spiritual experience that changed who I am and my entire purpose in life.

It is this enlightenment, combined with my personal branding expertise, that enables me to guide you in stepping into the next, fully-lit, brightly shining version of yourself."

Advertiser's Link and Special Offer:

Have you been putting off getting help? BetterHelp, the #1 online therapy provider, has a special offer for you now!

You can hear more about this and many other topics by listening to my podcast, SelfWork with Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Subscribe to my website and receive my weekly newsletter including a blog post and podcast! If you’d like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click here and answer the membership questions! Welcome!

My book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression is available here! Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life.

There’s another way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You’ll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you’re giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORK

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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409 SelfWork: When Emotional Distancing and Detachment Are Healthy

Episode 402

Friday, August 30, 2024 • Duration 24:59

Today’s we’re going to focus on emotional detachment and distancing. I'll explain what it is and when it's healthy - and maybe even necessary - to do just that. I'm also going to bring forward a harsh criticism of a blogpost on unconditional love that I wrote years ago, after having the experience with parents and adult children needing to distance themselves from family, sometimes painfully, sometimes with relief.

What are some of the situations when emotional distancing or detachment is healthy?

When expressed boundaries or basic respect for those boundaries isn’t given
When someone won’t take any responsibility for their hurtful actions or their impact on you or others
When there’s been a pattern of ‘honeymoon’ with many “I’m sorry’s” and “that’ll never happen agains” – but it does
When you need a break from neediness
When others that you love and need to protect are being affected by the chaos
When you’re getting divorced

Today’s listener email is from a woman from Poland who describes that she’s been scared about the schizophrenia that runs in her family. And she also talks about detaching from an abandoning and abusive dad – but could only allow herself to do that this past year. I’m always so touched when someone takes the time to write – and I’d love to hear from you.

Vital Links:

The podcast on unconditional love being used up

Advertiser's Link:

Have you been putting off getting help? BetterHelp, the #1 online therapy provider, has a special offer for you now!

You can hear more about this and many other topics by listening to my podcast, to and receive my weekly newsletter including a blog post and podcast! If you’d like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click and answer the membership questions! Welcome!

Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

321 SelfWork: When You Feel Guilt Over Wasted Time

Episode 321

Friday, January 20, 2023 • Duration 25:18

First of all, I cannot express how grateful I am to be back and to be healthy. Fear was very much a part of the weeks before my surgery. I had to realize and accept that I wasn’t in control of what might or might not happen. I was only in control of my response to those things. So that’s what I tried to focus on – how was I going to respond? But all has turned out very well... and I feel intense gratitude.

The topic for today was brought to my attention by a wonderful voice mail I got over the break. This listener asks about how to handle a strange sort of guilt she feels when she's not doing a purposeful activity and feeling confusion over what to say to someone who innocently asks, "Whatcha been doing?" After you haven't been doing anything much of importance.

We'll focus on three sources of this guilt: Self-reproach. Fear or anxiety about how you might be judged or perceived as lazy or incompetent. And last... "time anxiety" itself, which is anxiety over how you're spending your time - and how to quell that anxiety with one simple question. "How would I define 'time well-spent?'

Vital Links:

The Clockify Article on time anxiety

Click Here for the fabulous offer from Athletic Greens - now AG1 - with bonus product with your subscription!

Start fresh in 2023! BetterHelp, the #1 online therapy provider, has a special offer for you now!

Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

320 SelfWork: New Trauma Treatments with Guest Host Doc Shauna Springer

Episode 320

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 • Duration 39:08

I first met Shauna Springer - or Doc Springer as her military clients call her - when I interviewed her for one of her books, Warrior. There was something about her that I really warmed to and now am glad to call her a friend. Her books demonstrate what an incredible therapist she is, as well as being widely known as an expert on psychological trauma, military transition, and suicide prevention. So she was an obvious pick to guest host here at SelfWork!

Her guest is another phenomenal woman. Alexa James who’s the CEO of NAMI Chicago. Under different Chicago mayors, she’s started mental health programs in the police department and worked closely on police accountability, She helped with Chicago’’s response to Covid, and now continues to bring mental health treatment to the far under-served.

What you’ll hear today are two very caring and very knowledgable and very experienced women talking about innovative treatments that are being used more and more: ketamine infusions and SGB or stellate ganglion block. You can learn more on her website stellacenter.com. They offer great hope!

Vital Links:

Click Here for the fabulous offer from Athletic Greens - now AG1 - with bonus product with your subscription!

Start fresh in 2023! BetterHelp, the #1 online therapy provider, has a special offer for you now!

Shauna ‘Doc’ Springer is a co-founder and the Chief Psychologist for STELLA, a leading, trusted authority on innovative trauma treatments. Dr. Springer is responsible for developing STELLA's trauma informed approach to care across its international network of more than 50 clinics. She leads training and public speaking engagements for Stella and is the host of the podcast "The Story of Our Trauma." She is a best-selling author of two books on trauma ( and and is widely considered to be one of the world's leading experts on psychological trauma, military transition, suicide prevention, and close relationships.

Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

319 SelfWork: What's Really Going To Make You Happy? A Conversation with Bob Waldinger

Episode 319

Friday, January 13, 2023 • Duration 40:24

Bob Waldinger's publicist used these words to describe him - "warm and humble." That can be hard to find… and I knew I wanted him to be our guest here on SelfWork.

He has plenty of things he could crow about (as we’d say in Arkansas). He’s a Harvard professor, 20-year director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development? And his TED Talk is one of the ten most popular of all time, with over 43 million views. What’s the Harvard study all about it? It’s the longest scientific study of happiness every conducted. Here’s what they say: “Radical for its time in 1938, this first -of-its-kind study is now in its 84th year, with an 84% retention rate. Even JFK was a participant!

He’s understandably proud of the wide range of data the study has amassed through the years – as they wanted to focus on what keeps you healthy rather than what makes you sick. His new book came out three days ago – it’s called THE GOOD LIFE.

It explains in detail:

The most common misconceptions about happiness.
What social fitness is and how to exercise it.
How to understand the influence of your childhood on your adult relationships.
What you’re likely getting wrong about achievement.
The first step you can take if you want to live a good life.

We had a wonderful conversation – but not only do I hope you enjoy it, I hope that you’ll learn more about what will truly bring you happiness.

Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

YGTG SelfWork: I'm Back And I Have Two Opportunities for You To Hang Out With Me!

Tuesday, January 10, 2023 • Duration 03:53

Hello everyone in 2023! I wanted to tell you all that my surgery went perfectly – and I’m getting back into gear! I cannot say how grateful I am without tearing up – and have so many thanks for the guest hosts that have filled in so far, Kimberley Quinlan, Lewis Howes and this week Ashley Stahl. Shauna Springer is coming on a week or two – and then I’ll be back! I’ll be back live and kicking on January 20th – a full week before I’d planned – and I can’t wait!

I want to tell you about two opportunities today to interface with me. First, I’m going to be running a study group on the book Perfectly Hidden Depression – and it will be free – for my facebook group starting hopefully in February. Several of them had expressed that they were either stuck somewhere in the book or it was overwhelming to get started – so I want to lend my support. If you're interested, join my FB closed group here because that’s where all the communication about the study group will be. And you’d need to buy the book.

And here ‘s the second opportunity! Last fall, I was approached by a new app called Meomind. Their mission is to provide an online experience where users can hear sessions between real people and real therapists. What’s hoped is that you can hear very useful techniques and ideas from the therapists – and hear how the client is affected by seeing themselves from a different perspective. Yes, the clients are paid as are the therapists. And I was a little afraid it would be false-seeming. It is far from that. You can pick the topics you’re most interested in – and if you’ve ever wondered what being in therapy with me would be like – now you can find out! It has to be downloaded on an Android or Iphone. But again – it’s totally free – and you can find the two sessions I have on there now under that tab “New”. I’ve loved being involved and hope you head over to Meomind.

I have other ideas for this year and am filled with a new sense of purpose and drive. Thank you to all who have thought about me, prayed for me, and kept me in your heart! It has meant so very much.

Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

318 SelfWork: Ashley Stahl Is Guest Host! Eleven "Mind Shifts" For 2023

Episode 318

Friday, January 6, 2023 • Duration 28:22

Ashley Stahl and I met when her book You Turn came out – and to prepare for her interview on SelfWork, not only did I read her book, I watched a couple of her TedTalks – yes she has two! And I thought her advice was solidly based on the importance of values in choosing a career. I saw that she’d established herself extremely well in the entrepreneurial world, giving career advice to many world wide – while at the same time, being very transparent and giving of herself. So I wanted to feature her and her work – so that SelfWork listeners could approach their professional lives more clearly.

Here's her actual bio:

Ashley Stahl is a counterterrorism professional turned career coach, an international bestselling author, a Fortune 500 spokesperson, and expert on intuition, personal branding, and fulfillment. Daymond John (Shark Tank, Fubu, NYT bestselling author) says Ashley’s bestseller, You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, Design Your Dream Career, is “the ultimate guide to discover your path in the workforce.” Between her online courses, subscribers, and show “The You Turn Podcast,” (with 2M downloads), she’s been able to support clients in 78 countries in self-discovery, upgrading their confidence, and finding career fulfillment.

When I asked her to be a guest host, she energetically jumped right in – which was more than meaningful for me. And I loved listening to her episode! She’s going to share eleven what she calls “mindshifts” that have been vital for her to learn in 2022 and take now into 2023. Here’s a sneak peak into her list… she’s learned the difference between a “connection” and a true relationship – the first being highly seductive perhaps but the second holding within it security and consistency , which is so needed by us all. I’m honored she’s here – as I have been with all my guest hosts!

Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

317 SelfWork: Lewis Howes Is (Again) Guest Host! With Dr. Margaret Is His Guest!

Episode 317

Friday, December 30, 2022 • Duration 39:20

2022 is coming to a close – and 2023 is on its way! So Happy New Year to all!

So today’s SelfWork episode turns the tables on me – as I’m being interviewed by Lewis Howes on his incredibly successful podcast, School of Greatness.

I listen almost every week to his interviews when I’m out walking, and learn so much from them. And since I was honored to be on (that story you can hear in last week’s episode…), I know what it feels like to talk with Lewis. He’s one of those people that can make you feel as if you’re the most interesting person he’s ever talked to – you know those kinds of people? He’s very approachable and even with all of his success, responded to my asking for him to be a guest host this month with a, “Let me see what my team can come up with.”

What you’re about to hear is the second half of my interview with him – as we continue to talk about what therapy is all about, and other issues that are common in mental health. His last question is one he asks every guest (of course, I’d listened to his other interviews but was still unprepared for this) – What are the three things that you’d want others to remember about you or what you’ve learned in life? That one was tough.

Vital Links:

Click Here for the fabulous offer from Athletic Greens - now AG1 - with bonus product with your subscription!

BetterHelp, the #1 online therapy provider, has a special offer for you now!

Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

316 SelfWork: Lewis Howes Is Guest Host! (And Dr. M. Is His Guest!)

Episode 316

Friday, December 23, 2022 • Duration 38:22

I first met Lewis Howes in 2019, the year Perfectly Hidden Depression was published, as I was a guest on his incredible podcast The School of Greatness. I was flabbergasted to be asked – listen to their own description of the show! "Lewis Howes is a New York Times best-selling author, 2x All-American athlete, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur. The School of Greatness shares inspiring interviews from the most successful people on the planet—world-renowned leaders in business, entertainment, sports, science, health, and literature—to inspire YOU to unlock your inner greatness and live your best life."

I’m certainly not one of the most successful people on the planet so how did I get on the show? One of his producers loved the book and asked me on. It was a tremendous experience. But the funny thing.. they were busy building a new studio for Lewis, so our interview took place in his kitchen, sunlight streaming into his breakfast room early in the morning. He didn’t feel well but I guess he knew I’d come all the way from Arkansas to be on – so he soldiered through. He was also kind enough to be on SW himself, talking about his early sexual abuse as a child and how that had impacted him for years. For all of his success, when I reached out to see if he could be a guest host this month (fully expecting “sorry I’m too busy”), he contacted another of his producers, Chris, who took over. And he offered to provide my interview with Lewis from December of 2019. I was blown away! And then, there were Chris’ words.

"I first want to say that your interview on the show was actually one that deeply impacted me and how I view mental health so thank you for all the work you do in the world. I hope your upcoming surgery goes great!"

So on this episode of SelfWork, you’re going to listen in on the first half of my interview with Lewis Howes.

Vital Links!

Click this link to try out some of the best CBD out there! Ozark Mountain Medicine's CBD products and get 10% off!

BetterHelp, the #1 online therapy provider, has for you now!

Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

315 SelfWork: Kimberley Quinlan Is Guest Host! Seven Steps to Intervene In Your Response to Anxiety

Episode 315

Friday, December 16, 2022 • Duration 30:09

I first met Kimberley as a guest on her incredible podcast, Your Anxiety Toolkit, after the book Perfectly Hidden Depression came out. She's also been on SelfWork to discuss her own book The Self-Compassionate Workbook for OCD and was an obvious pick to lead off these guest episodes. Why? Because she’s not only an expert at treating anxiety and I knew whatever she chose to talk about would be pragmatic and useful from the very moment you heard it – but she’s very caring, open, and organized.

When I listened to the episode you’re about to hear, I found myself much more calm at the end than when I’d begun listening! You’ll learn fun facts, like having the strong urge to poop when you’re anxious is quite normal, as well as seven hard-earned but unbeatable steps to help you intervene with your response to anxiety. The point is not to stop anxiety. It’s to become aware of your own very unique response to it and choose what Kimberley calls “a values-based response to your anxiety” and to “ride its wave.” Not easy to do. But she’s also known for her oft-stated mantra, “Today is a beautiful day to do a hard thing.” Now that’s a fabulous mantra for anyone, but especially for those of us struggling with depression and/or anxiety.

You can find her through her book, her website where you can find treatment options for many types of anxiety, and her podcast Your Anxiety Toolkit! But she also is founder of the CBTschool.com, an online psycho-education platform that provides online courses for those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors.

Vital Links: Our Sponsors:* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/SELFWORKAdvertising Inquiries:

The SelfWork Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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The SelfWork Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

Apple Podcast22

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RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

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Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

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