72. Stop Fighting Your Anxiety (What to Do Instead)

We started talking about building community but ended up discussing personal transitions, knowing when to make big changes, and trusting yourself through those decisions.In conversation, we explore:* Sam's announcement: she’s moving just one year in Florida* How everyone’s a critic these days, and its easy to critique, but being in community and doing other hard things requires being vulnerable and actually showing up* "Which option feels most expansive?" - the question that changed Sam's decision-making* The difference between forcing something to work and being in the wrong place* "Throwing your hat over the wall" - why committing before you're ready creates momentum* When your inner knowing conflicts with what you think you "should" want* The radical acceptance needed to say "I've done enough trying here"* Building self-trust by doing things that require trustWe are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! THANK YOU! We have some incredible BONUS episodes on our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? You can email us [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

We're unpacking the internet's reaction to Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend" album cover - which sparked intense debate about feminism, sexuality, and artistic expression.In conversation, we explore:* The disconnect between the provocative album cover and the actual music (and whether that matters)* An interesting discovery: women say she's pandering to men, but men apparently find her "trying too hard"* The complexity of critiquing art without making it a moral panic* How conversations about kink and power dynamics got simplified into "is this harmful?"* How our reactions to art can teach us about ourselves* Whether we're accidentally reinforcing conservative ideas while trying to be progressiveWork Cited- https://thedigitalmeadow.substack.com/p/men-dont-even-like-sabrina-carpenter?r=uc664&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=trueWe are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! THANK YOU! We have some incredible BONUS episodes on our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? You can email us [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

If you want to feel less anxiety, the key is acceptance and tolerance rather than trying to eradicate it!In conversation, we discuss* The difference between feeling anxious and having generalized anxiety disorder* Why your brain isn't designed for happiness - and how accepting this changes everything* The white polar bear problem: why "don't think about it" is terrible advice* How mental compulsions (checking, reassurance-seeking, ruminating) keep you trapped in anxiety cycles* Why some of you need to push harder while others need to rest (and how to know which)* How we actually manage our own anxiety without letting it run our lives* The case for adding "good friction" back into your frictionless life* Real strategies that work because they stop the fight, not fuel itWe are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! THANK YOU! We have some incredible BONUS episodes on our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? You can email us [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Tired of analyzing your way to nowhere? In this pep talk with Sam she shares about the concept of messy consistency aka how to break free from perfectionist paralysis and actually start building the life you want.Sam explores:* Why perfectionism traps you in endless planning without action* How "analysis paralysis" keeps you stuck in the same place year after year* The impossibility of analyzing your way to success (especially with algorithms)* Why showing up imperfectly beats not showing up at all* How to do weekly check-ins that honor your actual energy levels* The difference between sprint mentality and marathon mindset* Why small, consistent wins build confidence better than perfect execution* How to show up for your life even when you don't have all the answersThe core message: Stop waiting for the perfect plan and start taking messy action. You can't predict your way to progress—you have to build it one imperfect step at a time.We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! THANK YOU! We have some incredible BONUS episodes on our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? You can email us [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Feeling overwhelmed by the political moment and unsure how to channel your anxiety into meaningful action? In this conversation with political content creator Amanda Nelson (@amandasmildtakes), she and Sam explore how to move from paralyzing fear to sustainable resistance.In conversation, we tackle:- Why historical perspective matters- The difference between being informed and doom scrolling yourself into paralysis- How to get involved in local politics- The collapse of community and why building coalition requires tolerating disagreement- Why action is the most effective antidote to anxiety- How to filter your media consumption to stay informed without losing your mind- The importance of hope as a strategic choice, not naive optimismAmanda Nelson shares her journey from abortion clinic escort to political commentator, offering practical advice for sustainable political engagement and community building. A conversation about finding your lane, protecting your mental health, and remembering that democracy requires participation!We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! THANK YOU! We have some incredible BONUS episodes on our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? We are imperfect and make mistakes. You can email us [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

What's the line between self-expression and conformity when it comes to how we present ourselves? Per usual, we have no definitive answers, but we honestly dive into the complex world of beauty standards, personal style, and cosmetic procedures.In conversation, we tackle:* Why finding your personal style is actually identity-building work, not vanity* How to tell the difference between self-expression and people-pleasing in your appearance choices* Why Amanda gets Botox and how she thinks about the "slippery slope" of cosmetic procedures* The Mormon culture contradiction: breast implants are fine, but tattoos are forbidden* How influencer culture has created unprecedented surveillance of people's appearances over time* The importance of asking "Why am I doing this?" before any beauty decisionA nuanced look at beauty culture. Per usual, we don’t have any definitive answers!We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! If you’d BONUS episodes, check out our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? We are imperfect and make mistakes. You can email us [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

The world is burning, are you allowed to feel joy? In this episode, we dive into the complex balance between staying informed and protecting your mental health, inspired by Taylor Swift's latest career moves and our own struggles with ambition.In conversation, we talk a lot about Taylor Swift but more as a metaphor to discuss:* The lost art of sustained effort vs. instant gratification culture* The difference between good and bad stress* Sam's concept of "messy consistency" and why perfectionism paralyzes us* Why wanting things (ambition, partnership, success) has become shameful for women* The difference between "having it all" and "having what you want"* How to care deeply without burning out your nervous system* Why effort gives things meaning, even something as simple as making your bed* The importance of focusing on what you can control in your immediate orbit* Why we need to ask "is this helpful?" instead of "is this right?"* Finding sustainable ways to stay engaged without drowning in doomA passionate defense of earnestness, hard work, and allowing yourself to find joy—even when everything feels heavy.We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! If you’d BONUS episodes, check out our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? We are imperfect and make mistakes. You can email us [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

We tried to stay out of this one, we REALLY DID. But when a 50+ part TikTok series about a woman falling in love with your psychiatrist becomes the perfect storm of everything wrong with social media, mental health misinformation, and AI feedback loops, we had to wade in. Spoiler alert: it's messier than we thought. This convo was a wild ride... we started with yoga breaths and ended up dissecting the future of AI-induced psychosis. Did we stick the landing? Let us know!In conversation, we tackle:- How we wrestled with whether to even discuss this (and why Amanda watched EVERY video for "research purposes")- The difference between psychiatry and therapy that everyone is missing- Why "transference" doesn't mean what you think it means (and neither does "countertransference")- How AI chatbots are literally creating closed feedback loops that reinforce delusions- The armchair diagnosis Olympics happening in the comments and why it's harmful to actual people with ADHD and autism- How people are treating this like reality TV they can influence instead of someone's mental health crisis- Why Amanda and Sam are questioning their own social media consumption after thisWE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Tired of feeling anxious about every friendship interaction? In this episode with friendship expert Danielle Jackson, we're breaking down how to actually connect without all the overthinking.In conversation, we tackle:* Why that picture-perfect friend group you're chasing might be more about logistics than love* The uncomfortable truth about why friend groups require secure attachment (and what happens when you don't have it)* How social media surveillance culture is making us police each other's friendships* Why "cutting people off" has become our default conflict resolution strategy* The case for small talk (and why hating it might just be performative depth signaling)* How reduced friction in modern life is making us friendship weaklings who can't handle disagreement* Why friendship apps work for meeting people but fail at building actual relationships* The difference between chemistry, closeness, and intimacy (and why we keep confusing them)* How to escape conversations without being rude (because we've all been trapped by a rambler)* Why your friendship anxiety might be about you, not your lack of friendsDanielle Bayard Jackson is a friendship expert and coach, and author of the bestselling book “Fighting for our friendships”.WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Tired of waiting for the "right" circumstances to start living your life? In this episode, we're diving into the difference between being alone and being lonely—and why your solo season might be exactly what you need.In conversation, we tackle:Why getting married or finding a partner won't cure your loneliness (sorry!)The three levels of loneliness and why you need all of them fulfilledHow to tell if you're avoiding your life or actually living itWhy "am I taking advantage of my life right now?" is the question that changes everythingThe empowering truth about doing things alone (yes, even travel and concerts)How to build trust with yourself for whatever life throws at youWhy your current season—even if it feels lonely—still has meaning and purposeThe difference between making decisions from scarcity vs. self-awarenessHow routine and showing up for yourself can fill the void better than waiting for external validationWE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- [email protected] or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!