• 51 minutes 16 seconds
    Tsvety Roo: Healing Through Solo Travel and Finding Yourself Again

    What happens when you’ve done everything society says you should, but still feel completely lost? In this episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Tsvety Roo to talk about emotional healing, overcoming fear, and how one six-hour walk led to a life-changing solo travel journey that helped her rediscover confidence, purpose, and the courage to live on her own terms.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “What if I gave myself permission to go after it?” — Tsvety Roo

    Episode Description

    Imagine living in one of America's sunniest cities and still feeling completely lost. That was Tsvety Roo’s reality in San Diego after a career layoff, years of following the “checklist life,” and the growing belief that she was somehow falling behind. She had checked all the boxes—college, career, bigger opportunities—but happiness wasn't showing up just because she did everything “right.”

    Then came a six-hour walk. Tsvety cried, questioned what actually made her feel alive, and asked herself something powerful: What if she gave herself permission to pursue it? Nine months later, she sold her car, stored her belongings, and booked a one-way ticket to Málaga, Spain. What she thought would be a three-month adventure became three and a half years of predominantly solo travel.

    With G-Rex and Dirty Skittles, Tsvety gets real about loneliness, self-worth, fear, and the pressure to hit life's milestones on someone else's timeline. She shares how meeting new people and experiencing different cultures helped her reconnect with herself—and how those small acts of courage eventually gave her the confidence to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, a dream she'd carried since age 12.

    She also shares lessons from her photobook, 21 Small Acts: Lessons in Living Boldly from Around the World, including how a candle shop in Finland changed her understanding of home.

    You'll hear practical ideas for starting small: take yourself to lunch, try a weekend trip, connect with new people, and challenge the beliefs holding you back.

    Because finding yourself again doesn't require a passport. Sometimes it starts with one brave question and the courage to listen to your own answer.

    Keywords: Tsvety Roo, healing through solo travel, mental health and travel, finding yourself again, self-discovery journey, overcoming fear, building self-confidence, emotional healing, loneliness versus solitude, redefining success, personal growth, women traveling solo, overcoming societal expectations, 21 Small Acts, intentional living

    Meet Our Guest — Tsvety Roo

    Tsvety Roo is a speaker, visual storyteller, designer, photographer, and creator of 21 Small Acts: Lessons in Living Boldly from Around the World. After three and a half years of mostly solo travel and visits to 46 countries, she has transformed her experiences with loneliness, fear, and self-doubt into powerful lessons about courage, connection, and personal growth. Through photography, storytelling, speaking, and her book, she encourages others to question limiting beliefs, redefine success, and discover how small, intentional actions can create meaningful change.

    Connect with Tsvety:

    Key Takeaways

    • You can do everything “right” and still feel lost. Tsvety discovered that career success, financial goals, and following society’s checklist couldn't replace a genuine sense of purpose and connection with herself.
    • Loneliness and solitude aren't the same thing. Feeling isolated in San Diego taught Tsvety that being surrounded by people doesn't guarantee connection. Solo travel helped her discover the difference between feeling alone and becoming comfortable with herself.
    • Confidence grows through small acts of courage. From booking her first one-way ticket to eventually climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Tsvety learned that taking action despite fear helped her recognize abilities she'd underestimated for years.
    • You're not behind in life because your timeline looks different. Whether you're 22, 39, or 62, there's no single right age to travel, change direction, pursue a dream, or redefine success.
    • Home can be a feeling, not just an address. An emotional moment in a candle shop in Finland taught Tsvety that belonging can come from rituals, meaningful relationships, and the communities we build wherever life takes us.
    • Healing doesn't require changing your entire life overnight. Tsvety's transformation began with a six-hour walk and honest self-reflection, proving that even the biggest personal changes can start with one intentional step.

    Actionable Items

    • Take yourself on a small solo adventure. Start with lunch, a movie, or a day trip by yourself. Notice what feels uncomfortable, what feels freeing, and what you learn about your own company before considering bigger adventures.
    • Challenge the “shoulds” in your life. Think about one expectation you've been carrying around your career, relationships, age, or personal milestones. Ask yourself whether it's something you genuinely want or something you've been taught you're supposed to achieve.
    • Create your own sense-of-home ritual. Borrow inspiration from Tsvety's candle tradition. Choose a small, meaningful object or routine that helps you feel grounded and connected, especially during periods of uncertainty or transition.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:02:32 — The Childhood Dream of Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
    • 00:07:24 — Reaching the Summit and Experiencing Every Emotion
    • 00:11:08 — Emotional Disconnection and the Beginning of Tsvety's Healing Journey
    • 00:12:52 — The Six-Hour Walk That Changed Everything
    • 00:15:35 — Breaking Free From the Checklist Life
    • 00:18:00 — The One-Way Ticket to Spain That Started It All
    • 00:24:29 — Challenging Age Expectations and Society's Timeline
    • 00:28:23 — Letting Go of Shame and Redefining Success
    • 00:34:57 — Building Confidence Through Small Solo Adventures
    • 00:38:08 — Creating 21 Small Acts and Turning Travel Into Life Lessons
    • 00:41:52 — Finding Home and Belonging in Unexpected Places
    • 00:44:12 — The Hardest Lesson: Learning to Believe in Yourself
    • 00:47:05 — Where to Connect With Tsvety Roo

    Closing CTA

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    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
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    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #TsvetyRoo #21SmallActs #SoloTravelHealing #SelfDiscoveryJourney #OvercomingFear #EmotionalWellness #BuildingConfidence #RedefiningSuccess #FindingYourself #LonelinessToSolitude #MentalHealthJourney #PersonalGrowth #IntentionalLiving

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


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    5 November 2026, 8:00 am
  • 41 minutes 58 seconds
    Stop Trying to Fit In: Eric Gee on Personality Types, Self-Acceptance, and Mental Health

    After years of wondering why he felt different from everyone else, Eric Gee turned his curiosity into a way to help people better understand themselves and each other. In this episode, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Eric to talk about personality types, self-acceptance, emotional wellness, and why trying to fit into someone else's version of normal can hold us back.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    "I don't think it's always healthy to try to be like others." — Eric Gee

    Episode Description

    Why do we spend so much of our lives trying to become the person everyone else expects us to be? For Eric Gee, Author of The Power of Personality, that question started when he was young and felt different from the people around him. Instead of accepting that he needed to fit in, he became curious about what makes each of us unique.

    In this funny, refreshingly honest conversation, Eric joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to explore personality types, self-acceptance, and the connection between understanding ourselves and emotional well-being. He introduces his animal-based personality framework, which groups 16 personality types into four packs: gatherers, hunters, smiths, and shamans.

    But this isn't about slapping another label on yourself. It's about recognizing your natural strengths, understanding your struggles, and realizing that someone else's way of doing things might not work for you.

    G-Rex shares why her butterfly personality feels ridiculously accurate, while Dirty Skittles opens up about her frustration with traditional personality assessments. Eric explains how his work with students, teachers, and parents revealed the limits of one-size-fits-all expectations.

    The conversation also gets personal. Eric discusses self-doubt, confidence, the fear of not being good enough, and the advice he'd give his younger self about worrying less about other people's opinions.

    Whether you've struggled with fitting in, questioned your strengths, or wondered why certain relationships feel complicated, this episode offers a different perspective on personal growth.

    Because understanding who you are isn't about becoming someone better than everybody else. It's about becoming more comfortable being yourself.

    Keywords: Eric Gee, The Power of Personality, personality types, self-acceptance, mental health, self-awareness, emotional wellness, self-discovery, personality assessment, confidence building, personal growth, understanding personality differences, healthy relationships, parenting and personality, overcoming self-doubt

    Meet Our Guest — Eric Gee

    Eric Gee is an Author, life coach, and writing coach with more than 20 years of experience in personality-based coaching. Through his education company, he developed and applied a personality typing method that has helped more than 20,000 students, parents, and teachers better understand individual differences. His book, The Power of Personality, brings together decades of research and practical experience to help people recognize their strengths, understand others, and embrace what makes them unique.

    Connect with Eric:

    Key Takeaways

    • Being different doesn't mean something is wrong with you. Eric's journey reminds us that personal growth starts with understanding our natural tendencies, not constantly trying to meet someone else's expectations.
    • Personality types are tools, not limitations. Eric encourages people to recognize their strengths and motivations without assuming they can only behave in one particular way.
    • Your greatest strengths can also become your biggest struggles. Eric's concept of "deviant roles" explores how our natural tendencies can work against us when they're taken too far.
    • Understanding personality differences can strengthen relationships. Parents, teachers, partners, and coworkers can communicate more thoughtfully when they stop expecting everyone to think and respond the same way.
    • Self-doubt doesn't have to define your confidence. Eric openly discusses questioning whether he's good enough and why reminding ourselves of our abilities matters.
    • Self-acceptance requires letting go of outside expectations. One of Eric's most important life lessons is learning that other people's opinions shouldn't determine how we live.

    Actionable Items

    • Get curious about your personality. Explore Eric's personality framework and reflect on which descriptions resonate with you. Use the results as a starting point for self-reflection, not a permanent label or clinical assessment.
    • Question one: An expectation you're trying to meet. Think about something you do because you believe you're supposed to. Ask yourself whether it genuinely supports your goals or whether you're trying to fit someone else's definition of success.
    • Practice understanding before judging. The next time someone approaches a problem differently, ask what might motivate their perspective instead of assuming your way is the only right one.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:00:36 — Meet Eric Gee: Personality, Humor, and Finding Your Own Way
    • 00:04:18 — Why Eric Became Interested in Personality Types
    • 00:07:42 — Understanding Personality Through Animal Types
    • 00:09:58 — The Four Personality Packs: Gatherers, Hunters, Smiths, and Shamans
    • 00:12:07 — Why Being Yourself Matters for Emotional Health
    • 00:15:29 — How Personality Awareness Can Help Students and Teachers
    • 00:17:47 — G-Rex Discovers Her Butterfly Personality
    • 00:19:00 — Deviant Roles: When Personality Strengths Become Weaknesses
    • 00:24:47 — Challenging Traditional Personality Tests and Labels
    • 00:26:04 — Using Personality Awareness to Understand Others
    • 00:27:52 — Eric's Baboon Personality and the Search for Self-Knowledge
    • 00:30:46 — Understanding Personality Differences Between Parents and Children
    • 00:35:14 — What Eric Would Tell His 12-Year-Old Self
    • 00:36:53 — Life's Hardest Lessons: Expectations and Disillusionment
    • 00:37:23 — Anxiety, Self-Doubt, and Learning to Feel Good Enough
    • 00:39:24 — Where to Find Eric's Personality Assessment and Book

    Closing CTA

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    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
    https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #EricGee #ThePowerOfPersonality #PersonalityTypes #SelfAcceptance #SelfDiscovery #EmotionalWellness #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #ConfidenceBuilding #OvercomingSelfDoubt #HealthyRelationships #UnderstandingYourself #PersonalityAssessment #BeYourself

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    3 November 2026, 8:00 am
  • 45 minutes 58 seconds
    Holly Porter: Near-Death Experience, Long COVID & Mental Health Recovery

    Holly Porter survived 70 days in the hospital battling COVID-19, but surviving was only the beginning of her emotional and mental health journey. In this powerful conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Holly to explore her near-death experience, the devastating mental health impact of long COVID, and how she found purpose, peace, and hope after two of the darkest years of her life.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “Love them where they're at.” — Holly Porter

    Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

    Content Notice: This episode includes conversations about near-death experiences, serious illness, medical trauma, chronic pain, profound emotional distress, family loss, and wishing for death during difficult periods of recovery. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit:
    https://988lifeline.org/

    For crisis resources outside the United States:
    https://findahelpline.com/

    Episode Description

    What happens when you survive something that nearly kills you, only to discover that staying alive is an entirely different battle? For Holly Porter, surviving COVID-19 meant 70 days in the hospital, two intubations, a tracheotomy, sepsis, and a near-death experience that changed everything she believed about life, purpose, and healing.

    In this deeply personal episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, Holly joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to share the mental health struggles that followed her hospitalization. Long COVID, chronic pain, hair loss, and losing her singing voice were devastating enough. But the emotional aftermath brought nearly two years of darkness, broken relationships, overwhelming grief, and moments when Holly questioned why she had survived at all.

    Holly opens up about her spiritual experiences, the questions she faced about her legacy, and how finding meaning in her suffering became part of rebuilding her life. She also shares the heartbreaking family challenges that tested her resilience and the lessons she learned about surrender, forgiveness, judgment, and loving people exactly where they are.

    Through her personal development framework, SHIFT—Surrender, Hope, Intuition, Faith, and Transformation—Holly offers a perspective on navigating adversity without pretending healing happens overnight.

    This conversation isn't about magically fixing everything. It's about surviving the messy middle, recognizing that emotional recovery takes time, and finding one small way to move forward.

    If you're navigating long COVID, medical trauma, grief, or the emotional weight of starting over, Holly's story reminds us that progress doesn't have to be dramatic to matter. Sometimes, better is simply better.

    Keywords: Holly Porter, near-death experience, long COVID mental health, mental health recovery, COVID-19 survivor story, medical trauma recovery, emotional healing, chronic illness and mental health, resilience after trauma, finding purpose after illness, mental health struggles, spiritual transformation, surrender and healing, grief and recovery, mental health podcast

    Meet Our Guest — Holly Porter

    Holly Porter is an international speaker, bestselling author of 18 books, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of the International Retreat Association. With more than 30 years of entrepreneurial experience, she also hosts the All Things Retreat podcast and wrote The Near Death SHIFT, a deeply personal exploration of what her near-death experience taught her about life, business, and purpose. Following her 70-day battle with COVID-19 and the emotional challenges that followed, Holly has dedicated herself to helping others transform adversity into purpose, meaningful connection, and positive change.

    Connect with Holly Porter:

    Key Takeaways

    • Survival and recovery aren't the same thing. Holly's 70-day hospitalization was only the beginning. Long COVID, chronic pain, and profound emotional struggles demonstrated how complicated life after a medical crisis can become.
    • Mental health struggles can follow physical trauma. Losing her hair, singing voice, independence, and sense of normalcy affected Holly's emotional well-being in ways she never anticipated.
    • Purpose can help you move forward through uncertainty. Holly found motivation in the commitments and projects she believed she needed to fulfill, even when the rest of her life felt overwhelming.
    • Surrender doesn't have to mean giving up. Through her SHIFT framework, Holly explains how accepting uncertainty and letting go of the need to control everything reshaped her perspective.
    • Compassion matters more than judgment. One of Holly's most meaningful lessons is to love people where they are, even when their choices, beliefs, or experiences differ from yours.
    • Progress doesn't require perfection. Holly's personal reminder, "Better's better," encourages you to focus on small improvements instead of expecting immediate transformation.

    Actionable Items

    • Ask yourself what you need right now. When life feels overwhelming, borrow Holly's reflective question: "What do I need to learn out of this experience?" Consider what support, information, or change might make today a little more manageable.
    • Practice loving people where they are. When someone triggers frustration or judgment, pause before reacting. Approach the situation with compassion while still respecting your own boundaries.
    • Make "better's better" your daily reminder. Identify one small thing you can do today to support your mental or emotional well-being. It might be reaching out to someone, taking a break, or acknowledging progress you've already made.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:02:27 — Holly Introduces Her Near-Death Experience
    • 00:03:22 — 70 Days in the Hospital: COVID-19, Sepsis, and Survival
    • 00:04:09 — Understanding Near-Death Experiences and Spiritual Transformation
    • 00:06:32 — Facing Mortality, Self-Worth, and Questions About Legacy
    • 00:09:19 — Being Present Versus Simply Being There
    • 00:10:38 — The Meaning of 11:11 and Holly's New Purpose
    • 00:15:42 — Two Years of Emotional Darkness After Surviving
    • 00:19:09 — Rebuilding Purpose Through Entrepreneurship and Service
    • 00:22:41 — Long COVID, Chronic Pain, and the Mental Health Toll
    • 00:25:55 — What Holly Learned About Moving Through Difficult Times
    • 00:28:48 — Life Review, Forgiveness, and Loving People Where They Are
    • 00:31:09 — The SHIFT Framework: Surrender, Hope, Intuition, Faith, and Transformation
    • 00:32:32 — Online Judgment, Harsh Comments, and Emotional Boundaries
    • 00:38:46 — Family Heartbreak and One of Holly's Hardest Lessons
    • 00:41:19 — Better's Better: Finding Strength in Small Steps
    • 00:42:29 — Why Peace Became Holly's Favorite Word
    • 00:43:20 — Where to Find Holly and Her Closing Message

    Closing CTA

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    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
    https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #HollyPorter #NearDeathExperience #LongCOVID #MentalHealthRecovery #MedicalTrauma #ChronicIllnessSupport #EmotionalHealing #ResilienceAfterTrauma #FindingPurpose #GriefAndHealing #SelfCompassion #SurrenderAndHealing #COVIDSurvivor #MentalHealthJourney #HealingAfterTrauma

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    29 October 2026, 7:00 am
  • 46 minutes 59 seconds
    Steve Collins: Living with vEDS, Health Anxiety, and Letting Go of Control

    What happens when a life-threatening medical diagnosis forces you to rethink everything you thought you could control? In this deeply personal episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Steve Collins to explore his journey through vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS), medical trauma, job loss, and the powerful role of faith, humor, and resilience in finding purpose after life changes overnight.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “Your identity isn't defined by what you can do. Sometimes your greatest purpose comes from learning to let go, accept help, and show up for others in a different way.” — Inspired by Steve Collins

    Content Notice & Crisis Resources

    This episode includes discussions of life-threatening medical emergencies, chronic illness, medical trauma, fear of death, and the emotional impact of losing independence and employment. Please listen with care.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit:
    https://988lifeline.org/

    For crisis resources outside the United States:
    https://findahelpline.com/

    Episode Description

    Steve Collins thought he had a stubborn stomach issue. Instead, persistent abdominal pain led to an artery dissection, a 32-day hospital stay, and a diagnosis he'd never heard of: vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS), a rare connective tissue disorder that changed what everyday life could look like. His decision to ask doctors to re-examine his scan became a powerful lesson in speaking up for your health.

    But surviving the medical crisis was only the beginning.

    Steve tells G-Rex and Dirty Skittles what happened when he returned home and realized he couldn't simply muscle through life the way he always had. The guy who fixed everything, jumped in to help others, and took pride in showing up at work now had to ask for help, accept physical limits, and reckon with a terrifying question: Who am I if I can't do what I used to do?

    At the same time, layoffs and the uncertainty of contract work challenged his sense of security. Steve opens up about the emotional fallout of job loss, the urge to control outcomes, and the anxiety that can follow a diagnosis when ordinary aches suddenly feel loaded with meaning. He also talks honestly about how medical emergencies affect spouses and families, not just patients.

    Through it all, his faith in God, his family's support, a sense of humor, and connections with others living with rare conditions helped him rethink what purpose looks like. You'll hear why he wears a medical alert bracelet, keeps health information handy, and believes that a respectful second question can matter.

    This isn't a story about pretending fear disappears. It's about learning to live with uncertainty without letting it run the whole damn show.

    Keywords: Steve Collins, vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, vEDS awareness, health anxiety, chronic illness mental health, rare disease diagnosis, medical trauma recovery, patient self-advocacy, faith over fear, letting go of control, job loss trauma, emotional resilience, chronic illness identity, caregiver mental health, finding purpose after illness

    Meet Our Guest — Steve Collins

    Steve Collins is a husband, stepfather, business leader, and man of faith living with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS), a rare genetic connective tissue disorder. As Strategic Partner and Principal Consultant at PADE HCM Services, he brings his professional experience into a new chapter of entrepreneurship while navigating the physical and emotional realities of his diagnosis. Through his story, Steve encourages others to advocate for their health, recognize the impact of medical trauma, and find meaning through faith, connection, and accepting what they cannot control.

    Connect with Steve:

    Company: PADE HCM Services
    Website: https://www.padeservices.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevevEDS
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-collins-shrm-cp-ms-b47a2538a/

    Key Takeaways

    • Self-advocacy can change everything. Steve's decision to ask for another review of his medical scan helped uncover a dangerous arterial dissection. Asking questions and speaking up about persistent concerns can be essential to getting appropriate care.
    • Medical trauma doesn't end when you leave the hospital. Living with vEDS means navigating uncertainty, physical restrictions, medication effects, and the emotional weight of knowing that serious complications can occur unexpectedly.
    • Your diagnosis doesn't define who you are. Steve struggled when activities that once gave him purpose became unsafe. He learned that helping others doesn't always require physical strength; sometimes encouragement and simply being present are just as meaningful.
    • Job loss can leave emotional scars even before it happens to you. Watching colleagues lose their jobs affected Steve's sense of security and led him to seek greater control over his financial future. His story reminds us that employment uncertainty can affect confidence, relationships, and emotional well-being.
    • Caregivers carry their own invisible burdens. While Steve was hospitalized, his wife managed their family, work, and the fear of potentially losing someone she loved. Supporting the people standing beside someone in crisis matters just as much.
    • Faith and community can help create purpose within uncertainty. Steve's relationship with God, his family, and others facing rare diagnoses helped him shift from focusing only on what he'd lost to recognizing how his experiences could encourage others.

    Actionable Items

    • Advocate for yourself during medical appointments. Track your symptoms, ask questions when something doesn't make sense, and request clarification or a second opinion when concerns remain unresolved. Follow your medical team's guidance for urgent symptoms; don't delay emergency care.
    • Identify where you're holding on too tightly. Think about a situation involving work, health, finances, or relationships where you're trying to control every outcome. Ask yourself what you can genuinely influence, what you cannot, and where accepting support might make life easier.
    • Check on the caregivers, too. When someone you know is facing a health crisis, reach out to their spouse, partner, or family. Offer something specific, such as helping with a household task, bringing a meal, or simply listening without expecting them to have everything figured out.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:01:33 — Job Loss, Financial Uncertainty, and Finding Gratitude
    • 00:02:37 — The Abdominal Pain That Changed Steve's Life
    • 00:03:58 — Discovering an Arterial Dissection and a Rare Diagnosis
    • 00:06:23 — Medical Trauma and the Hidden Struggles of Caregivers
    • 00:08:47 — Finding Purpose in the Middle of Suffering
    • 00:12:28 — Layoff Trauma, Fear, and the Need for Control
    • 00:17:11 — Genetic Testing and Understanding Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
    • 00:23:41 — The Importance of Medical Self-Advocacy
    • 00:26:53 — Living with Health Anxiety and a New Normal
    • 00:30:11 — Chronic Illness, Identity Loss, and Learning to Accept Help
    • 00:33:59 — Parenting, Stress, and the Fear of Physical Complications
    • 00:36:12 — Work-Life Balance and Learning to Prioritize Health
    • 00:38:25 — What Steve Would Tell His Younger Self About Control
    • 00:40:35 — Faith Over Fear and Trusting God Through Uncertainty
    • 00:44:27 — Finding Community and Supporting Others with vEDS

    Closing CTA

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
    https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #VascularEDS #VEDSAwareness #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #RareDiseaseAwareness #MedicalSelfAdvocacy #ChronicIllnessJourney #HealthAnxiety #MedicalTrauma #FaithOverFear #JobLossRecovery #LettingGoOfControl #CaregiverSupport #LivingWithVEDS

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    27 October 2026, 7:00 am
  • 44 minutes 3 seconds
    You Are More Than Your Worst Mistake: Ranae on Healing After Prison, Resilience, and Second Chances — Part 2

    Can prison become the place where someone finally begins to heal from a lifetime of trauma? In Part 2, Ranae Van Roekel returns with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to discuss surviving a serious mental health crisis, discovering healthier coping skills during incarceration, rebuilding relationships, and creating a new purpose through Connecting to Cope.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “You are not the worst thing you ever did.” — Ranae Van Roekel

    Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

    Content Notice: This episode includes discussions of suicidal thoughts, severe depression, childhood sexual trauma, incarceration, and mental health treatment. The conversation also explores recovery, self-worth, and the importance of supportive relationships.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit: https://988lifeline.org/

    For crisis resources outside the United States: https://findahelpline.com/

    Episode Description

    Imagine walking into prison carrying decades of shame, untreated childhood trauma, and the belief that your worst decisions are all you'll ever be remembered for. Now imagine discovering that healing is still possible.

    In Part 2, Ranae Van Roekel returns to Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads for a powerful conversation with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles about mental health recovery, resilience, incarceration, and rebuilding a life after devastating choices.

    Before entering prison, Ranae experienced severe depression and suicidal thoughts that led to a stay at a mental health treatment facility. Although she had begun recognizing her need for help, it wasn't until incarceration that she started confronting the childhood trauma she had spent decades suppressing.

    Ranae shares how therapy, psychiatric care, physical activity, self-esteem classes, and meaningful friendships helped her challenge deeply ingrained beliefs about herself. A mental health professional who refused to accept her avoidance became especially important in helping her recognize destructive thinking patterns.

    After serving 36 months, Ranae returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reconnecting with her husband and sons, setting healthier boundaries, and welcoming her beloved dog, Cope, helped shape her next chapter.

    That journey inspired Connecting to Cope, her platform for emotional wellness, self-care, and compassionate support.

    Together, the trio explores how forgiveness differs from accountability, why healing requires ongoing effort, and how supportive relationships can help people rebuild without erasing the harm they've caused.

    Ranae's message is simple but powerful: your past is part of your story, not your entire identity.

    No matter how far you've fallen, the next step still matters.

    Keywords: Ranae Van Roekel, healing after prison, mental health recovery, trauma healing, resilience and recovery, prison rehabilitation, second chances, suicide prevention, emotional resilience, mental health treatment, self-worth and shame, coping skills, rebuilding after incarceration, Connecting to Cope, personal transformation

    Meet Our Guest — Ranae Van Roekel

    Ranae Van Roekel is a mental health advocate, justice reform advocate, and founder of Connecting to Cope, an initiative focused on helping people find healing and growth beyond their circumstances. Drawing from her experiences with childhood trauma, federal incarceration, mental health treatment, and rebuilding her life, she encourages others to recognize their worth while taking responsibility for their actions. Ranae is also a wife, mother, grandmother, and devoted dog lover who believes that empathy, honest conversations, and ongoing personal work can create meaningful change.

    Connect with Ranae:

    Key Takeaways

    • Healing can begin in unexpected places. Ranae started confronting decades of unresolved childhood trauma while serving her prison sentence, although she acknowledges that incarceration itself does not guarantee healing.
    • Mental health recovery happens one step at a time. Counseling, physical activity, better sleep, and learning new ways of thinking helped Ranae build a healthier foundation.
    • Your past does not have to define your identity. Ranae encourages people to recognize the full picture of who they are rather than reducing themselves to their worst decisions.
    • Healthy boundaries are essential to rebuilding relationships. Returning home meant recognizing which friendships were supportive and which relationships were no longer healthy for her.
    • Real support includes accountability. Ranae credits her husband and sons with loving her while also challenging her when she slips into old people-pleasing patterns.
    • Recovery is an ongoing practice, not a finish line. Ranae openly acknowledges that she still experiences anxiety, makes mistakes, and must continually practice healthier coping skills.

    Actionable Items

    • Start with one manageable step. Identify one small action that supports your well-being today, whether that's taking a walk, reaching out for support, or creating space to rest.
    • Challenge all-or-nothing self-judgment. When shame tells you that one mistake defines your entire life, remind yourself that you are responsible for your choices but are also capable of making new ones.
    • Strengthen your support system. Identify people who can listen without judgment, respect your boundaries, and lovingly hold you accountable when old habits return.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:00:46 — Finding Hope Before Entering Prison
    • 00:01:44 — Severe Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, and Getting Help
    • 00:03:39 — Recognizing the Connection Between Trauma and Choices
    • 00:05:05 — Saying Goodbye to Her Husband at Prison Intake
    • 00:05:59 — The Moment Ranae Decided to Find Herself
    • 00:06:30 — Therapy, Self-Esteem Classes, and Healthier Coping Skills
    • 00:08:35 — Adjusting to Life Inside Federal Prison
    • 00:11:35 — Finding Friendship and Support Behind Bars
    • 00:14:26 — Discovering the Prison Service Dog Program
    • 00:15:43 — The Mental Health Professional Who Challenged Her Thinking
    • 00:18:52 — Escaping the Prison of Your Own Mind
    • 00:20:22 — Coming Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic
    • 00:24:00 — Friendship, Rejection, and Learning Healthy Boundaries
    • 00:27:13 — Advice for Anyone Who Thinks They've Ruined Their Life
    • 00:29:39 — Rebuilding Family Life After Incarceration
    • 00:30:35 — Meeting Cope and Finding a New Purpose
    • 00:34:02 — What Ranae Would Tell Her Younger Self
    • 00:35:00 — Why You Shouldn't Push Away the People Who Love You
    • 00:38:03 — Resilience, Self-Worth, and the Power of Words
    • 00:39:21 — Connecting to Cope and Ranae's Children's Book
    • 00:41:15 — You Are Not the Worst Thing You've Ever Done
    • 00:42:07 — Family Accountability and Continuing the Work

    Closing CTA

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website: https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #RanaeVanRoekel #HealingAfterPrison #MentalHealthRecovery #TraumaHealing #ResilienceMatters #SecondChances #PrisonReform #SuicidePrevention #SelfWorth #HealthyCopingSkills #EmotionalResilience #LifeAfterIncarceration #ConnectingToCope #OvercomingShame #KeepDoingTheWork

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    22 October 2026, 7:00 am
  • 34 minutes 1 second
    You Are More Than Your Worst Mistake: Ranae on Childhood Trauma, People-Pleasing, and Accountability — Part 1

    What happens when unresolved childhood trauma, decades of people-pleasing, and the fear of being judged lead you down a path you never imagined? In Part 1, Ranae Van Roekel joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles for a deeply honest conversation about childhood sexual trauma, anxiety, shame, financial fraud, and the life-changing decision to take responsibility for her actions.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “I’m not saying I’m stupid. I’m saying I made a stupid choice.” — Ranae Van Roekel

    Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

    Content Notice: This episode includes discussions of childhood sexual assault, rape, suicidal thoughts, depression, financial fraud, and the emotional impact of incarceration. Please listen with care and take a break if you need one.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit: https://988lifeline.org/

    For crisis resources outside the United States: https://findahelpline.com/

    Episode Description

    What happens when the trauma you've spent your entire life hiding starts shaping decisions you never thought you'd make?

    In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles welcome Ranae Van Roekel, a wife, mother, grandmother, and founder of Connecting to Cope, for an unfiltered discussion about childhood sexual trauma, people-pleasing, shame, and taking accountability when everything falls apart.

    As a young girl, Ranae experienced sexual assault and tried to tell trusted adults what happened. Instead of receiving the support she needed, she learned to associate her experience with being "bad." That belief followed her into adulthood, contributing to a pattern of overcommitting, seeking approval, and struggling to face difficult truths.

    Years later, what began as a small ticket-reselling business spiraled into fraudulent transactions. Ranae admits she made illegal choices while desperately trying to fix a situation that kept getting worse. The pressure, anxiety, and fear became overwhelming. Eventually, she faced a terrifying crossroads: end her life or come forward and take responsibility.

    She chose to tell the truth.

    Ranae shares what happened when she voluntarily contacted authorities, confessed to her husband, and began reaching out to the people she had harmed. The conversation also explores the emotional cost of apologizing, the impact of public judgment, and how her family's reactions changed everything.

    This isn't a story about using trauma to excuse wrongdoing. It's about understanding how unresolved pain can shape behavior while recognizing that accountability and healing can coexist.

    Sometimes, the first step toward changing your life is admitting that you can't keep living the way you have been.

    Keywords: Ranae Van Roekel, childhood trauma recovery, people-pleasing, mental health and shame, sexual assault survivor, unresolved trauma, trauma responses, anxiety and depression, accountability and healing, overcoming guilt, mental health crisis, emotional resilience, family support, Connecting to Cope, mental health podcast

    Meet Our Guest — Ranae Van Roekel

    Ranae Van Roekel founded Connecting to Cope, a platform that helps people navigate trauma, emotional struggles, and personal growth through education, self-care, and community. After serving 36 months in federal prison, Ranae transformed her experiences with unresolved childhood trauma, accountability, and mental health recovery into a mission centered on compassion and second chances. Today, she also advocates for justice reform and a greater understanding of the human experiences behind incarceration.

    Connect with Ranae:

    Key Takeaways

    • Unresolved trauma can affect choices decades later. Ranae's childhood experience shaped how she saw herself, handled conflict, and sought others' approval.
    • People-pleasing can become a damaging coping pattern. Constantly trying to make everyone happy made it harder for Ranae to acknowledge problems and set boundaries.
    • Trauma explains context, not responsibility. Ranae distinguishes between the experiences that influenced her thinking and the criminal decisions she ultimately made.
    • Shame can keep people trapped in unhealthy cycles. Believing she was inherently "bad" fueled Ranae's fear of judgment and her avoidance of difficult conversations.
    • Taking accountability doesn't guarantee forgiveness. Ranae's apologies were important, even when the people she harmed remained understandably angry.
    • Support can make confronting the truth possible. Her husband's eventual willingness to face the consequences alongside her became a significant source of stability.

    Actionable Items

    • Notice your people-pleasing patterns. The next time you're tempted to say yes when you're already overwhelmed, ask yourself whether you're acting from genuine willingness or fear of disappointing someone.
    • Separate your behavior from your identity. When you make a mistake, acknowledge what happened and what needs to change without automatically deciding that you are a terrible person.
    • Tell someone when you're struggling. If shame, anxiety, or an unresolved problem feels too heavy to handle alone, reach out to a trusted person or qualified mental health professional rather than trying to fix everything yourself.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:01:08 — Ranae Opens Up About Her Story and Her Mission to Help Others
    • 00:01:38 — The Prison Doors That Changed Everything
    • 00:04:03 — The Decision to Stop Hiding and Come Forward
    • 00:05:45 — Choosing to Tell the Truth During a Mental Health Crisis
    • 00:07:26 — The Federal Fraud Conviction
    • 00:09:27 — Childhood Sexual Trauma and the Shame That Followed
    • 00:11:11 — How a Small Ticket Business Became Financial Fraud
    • 00:14:08 — People-Pleasing, Dissociation, and Trying to Fix Everything
    • 00:18:15 — Telling Her Husband and Family the Truth
    • 00:21:05 — A Husband's Anger, Love, and Decision to Stay
    • 00:22:05 — Apologizing to the People She Harmed
    • 00:23:55 — Federal Sentencing and Justice System Concerns
    • 00:29:27 — The Emotional Toll of Shame and Apologizing
    • 00:30:51 — Community Judgment and Protecting Her Family

    Closing CTA

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website: https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #RanaeVanRoekel #ChildhoodTrauma #TraumaRecovery #PeoplePleasing #BreakingTheShameCycle #SexualAssaultSurvivor #AccountabilityAndHealing #MentalHealthRecovery #AnxietyAwareness #OvercomingShame #EmotionalHealing #FamilySupport #ConnectingToCope #SecondChances #HealingFromTrauma

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    20 October 2026, 7:00 am
  • 50 minutes 29 seconds
    D E Foster: The Hidden Reality of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal and Long-Term Healing

    What happens when a medication prescribed to help you becomes the beginning of a life-changing health battle? In this powerful episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with D E Foster to uncover the hidden realities of benzodiazepine withdrawal, chronic anxiety, and living with Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND). From 12 years on Klonopin to becoming a voice for patients navigating withdrawal, D shares a story of resilience, medical advocacy, and learning that healing doesn't always follow a straight line.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “Kindness to ourselves, take care of yourself, be good to yourself, treat yourself well, and equal kindness to others.” — D E Foster

    Content Notice & Mental Health Crisis Resources

    Content Notice: This episode includes discussions of benzodiazepine dependence, prolonged withdrawal symptoms, chronic anxiety, medical trauma, loss of independence, and suicide. Please take care of yourself as you listen.

    D shares the heartbreaking loss of two close friends to suicide while discussing the emotional and physical challenges some people experience during prolonged benzodiazepine withdrawal.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit:
    https://988lifeline.org/

    For crisis resources outside the United States:
    https://findahelpline.com/

    Important Medication Safety Reminder: Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be medically dangerous, particularly when medication is stopped abruptly. Do not stop or change a prescribed medication without working with a qualified healthcare professional. This episode shares lived experiences and educational information, not individualized medical advice.

    Episode Description

    Imagine taking a prescribed medication for 12 years, trusting that it's helping you, only to discover that coming off it could change your life in ways you never expected.

    That's exactly what happened to D E Foster.

    In this eye-opening conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles welcome D, an author, podcaster, medical researcher, and patient advocate who has dedicated more than a decade to helping people understand benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal.

    Originally prescribed Klonopin for chronic stomach distress, D spent 12 years taking the medication without being warned about the potential complications of long-term use. When he eventually learned about those risks, he began an 18-month taper. His final dose was August 20, 2014, but his journey was far from over.

    D opens up about living with Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND), including cognitive challenges, physical symptoms, and the emotional toll of losing his career and independence. He also explains the critical difference between physical dependence and addiction, why individualized medical guidance matters, and how his lived experience helped shape benzodiazepine research and clinical guidelines.

    But this conversation isn't just about medication.

    It's about what happens when life doesn't return to normal, and you have to figure out what normal looks like now.

    From meditation and mindfulness to his wife's unwavering support, D shares the coping tools, relationships, and sense of purpose that have helped him navigate his toughest moments.

    He also gets real about people-pleasing, setting boundaries, and stepping away from advocacy work to protect his own well-being.

    Because sometimes the strongest thing you can do isn't push harder. It's recognizing when you need to take care of yourself.

    Keywords: D E Foster, benzodiazepine withdrawal, Klonopin withdrawal, benzodiazepine dependence, BIND, Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction, protracted withdrawal, chronic anxiety, benzodiazepine tapering, anxiety medication, mental health advocacy, medication withdrawal support, long-term healing, mindfulness for anxiety, self-compassion

    Meet Our Guest — D E Foster

    D E Foster is an author, podcaster, medical researcher, and mental health advocate specializing in chronic anxiety, benzodiazepine dependence, and the complications of long-term withdrawal. After his own difficult experience discontinuing Klonopin, he wrote Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal, created the Benzo Free Podcast, and helped advance research identifying Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND).

    As co-founder and co-chair of the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group, D has contributed to medical education, peer-support training, and research initiatives, including helping develop the American Society of Addiction Medicine's 2025 benzodiazepine tapering guidelines. He also founded Uneven Life, a community organization that supports people affected by BIND, and continues sharing his knowledge while prioritizing his own health.

    Connect with D E Foster:

    Key Takeaways

    • Physical dependence and addiction aren't the same thing. D explains how people taking benzodiazepines exactly as prescribed can develop physical dependence without the behaviors associated with addiction, and why understanding that difference matters for compassionate care.
    • Benzodiazepine withdrawal isn't always a short-term experience. While many people recover without prolonged difficulties, D's experience with BIND reveals why persistent symptoms deserve medical attention, research, and understanding.
    • Being informed changes the conversation with your doctor. D discusses the 2025 ASAM benzodiazepine tapering guidelines and why informed, collaborative conversations between patients and healthcare providers are essential.
    • Healing requires more than managing physical symptoms. Meditation, mindfulness, breathing exercises, meaningful activities, and supportive relationships helped D cope with anxiety and the ongoing challenges of withdrawal.
    • Supporting others shouldn't come at the expense of your own well-being. After years of community leadership, D stepped away from running support groups and coaching services to focus on his health, reminding us that boundaries matter even when the work is deeply personal.
    • Kindness and compassionate responsibility can exist together. D's approach recognizes that people deserve understanding and support while still having agency in how they respond to difficult circumstances.

    Actionable Items

    • Prepare for a more informed medication conversation. If you have questions about a prescribed benzodiazepine, write down your symptoms, concerns, and medication history. Discuss them with your prescribing clinician and ask about the ASAM benzodiazepine tapering guidelines when relevant. Never adjust your dosage independently.
    • Experiment with a small anxiety-management practice. D found meditation especially helpful during his hardest moments. Try a few minutes of mindful breathing, a gentle relaxation exercise, or another grounding activity that feels comfortable for you. The goal isn't to eliminate anxiety instantly; it's to discover tools that support you.
    • Practice kindness with boundaries. Think about one responsibility you've taken on because you don't want to disappoint someone. Ask whether it's sustainable and consider where you might need more rest, support, or a compassionate boundary.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:00:37 — Meet D E Foster: From Patient to Benzodiazepine Advocate
    • 00:02:37 — Why D Was Prescribed Klonopin for Stomach Problems
    • 00:05:27 — The 18-Month Taper and the Reality of Withdrawal
    • 00:07:30 — Living With BIND and Choosing Self-Care
    • 00:11:26 — Neurological Symptoms and the Loss of Independence
    • 00:13:17 — The Emotional Toll of Withdrawal and Losing Friends to Suicide
    • 00:14:59 — Why Peer Support Matters During Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
    • 00:17:21 — Finding a Doctor Who Understands Benzo Tapering
    • 00:19:53 — ASAM Guidelines and Changing Medical Conversations
    • 00:21:35 — Why D Decided to Stop Taking Klonopin
    • 00:23:15 — Understanding Slow Tapers and Protracted Withdrawal
    • 00:25:36 — Meditation, Mindfulness, and Relearning Anxiety Management
    • 00:27:55 — The Power of Marriage, Purpose, and Emotional Support
    • 00:30:25 — Why Honest Podcasting Creates Real Human Connection
    • 00:35:08 — Physical Dependence vs. Addiction
    • 00:37:32 — What D Would Tell His Younger Self
    • 00:39:06 — Kindness, People-Pleasing, and Setting Boundaries
    • 00:41:28 — If Anxiety Had a Theme Song
    • 00:43:29 — Everybody Has Their Shit: Finding Perspective
    • 00:45:15 — Kindness, Blame, and Compassionate Responsibility
    • 00:47:19 — Where to Find D and Benzodiazepine Support Resources

    Closing CTA

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
    https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #DEFoster #BenzodiazepineWithdrawal #BenzoAwareness #KlonopinWithdrawal #BINDRecovery #ChronicAnxiety #AnxietyManagement #MentalHealthAdvocacy #MedicationAwareness #ProtractedWithdrawal #BenzoTapering #MindfulnessForAnxiety #SelfCompassion #PatientAdvocacy #LongTermHealing

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    15 October 2026, 7:00 am
  • 50 minutes 48 seconds
    Alexis: You Are Not Your Diagnosis — Redefining Mental Health

    Who gets to define who you are? Your diagnosis, your past, or someone else's expectations? In this hilariously honest and deeply meaningful episode, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Alexis, a special education teacher, mental health advocate, and founder of Permission to Define, to talk about living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), challenging mental health stereotypes, finding the right therapist, setting boundaries, and taking back the power to define yourself.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    "The hardest lesson I've ever learned is disclosure is not access." — Alexis Kur

    Content Notice & Mental Health Crisis Resources

    This episode includes conversations about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), trauma, mental health stigma, difficult therapeutic experiences, discrimination related to a mental health diagnosis, and a brief mention of a past suicide attempt. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit:
    https://988lifeline.org/

    For crisis resources outside the United States:
    https://findahelpline.com/

    Episode Description

    What if everything you've been told about your mental health, your identity, and what success should look like isn't the whole story?

    In this powerful, funny, and unapologetically honest episode, Alexis joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), challenging mental health stigma, and refusing to let anyone else define who you are.

    Diagnosed with DID at 26, Alexis opens up about navigating nearly two decades of therapy, confronting misconceptions about her diagnosis, and building a trusted team of three therapists she affectionately calls her "Justice League." From equine-assisted therapy to exploring EMDR, she shares why finding the right mental health support matters and why healing sometimes requires questioning the language and expectations surrounding it.

    Alexis also shares the remarkable career change that took her from a successful, six-figure environmental consulting career to teaching high school special education. For her, success is no longer measured by money or professional recognition. It's watching a struggling student find the confidence to walk into class or discover a strength nobody else noticed.

    Things get especially real when Alexis discusses having her diagnosis used against her by someone she trusted professionally. That painful experience reinforced one of her most important lessons: Disclosure is not access. Sharing your story doesn't give someone permission to weaponize it.

    Through laughter, vulnerability, and plenty of colorful language, Alexis reminds us that lived experience matters, boundaries are essential, and only you get to decide what your diagnosis or your life means.

    Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for your mental health is stop trying to fit someone else's definition of normal.

    Keywords: Alexis Kur, Permission to Define, Dissociative Identity Disorder, DID awareness, living with DID, mental health stigma, mental health advocacy, trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, equine-assisted therapy, therapy relationships, mental health boundaries, self-advocacy, redefining success, lived experience

    Meet Our Guest — Alexis

    Alexis is a high school special education teacher, mental health advocate, speaker, writer, and founder of Permission to Define, a platform dedicated to challenging labels, amplifying lived experiences, and changing conversations about mental health.

    After 15 years in environmental consulting, Alexis traded a six-figure salary for something far more meaningful: helping teenagers recognize their strengths, build confidence, and believe in themselves. Now, working with high school students who receive special education services for emotional impairments, she brings compassion, authenticity, and her lived experience into the classroom.

    Diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) at 26, Alexis has spent nearly two decades navigating therapy, confronting mental health stereotypes, and discovering what it means to live authentically. Through Permission to Define, she champions the value of lived experience, challenges limiting language, and encourages others to take ownership of how they define themselves.

    With sharp humor, unapologetic honesty, and a refreshing willingness to question the status quo, Alexis reminds us that a diagnosis is information, not an identity, and that everyone deserves the freedom to tell their own story.

    Connect with Alexis:

    Key Takeaways

    • Your diagnosis doesn't define your identity. Alexis challenges misconceptions about Dissociative Identity Disorder and reminds us that a diagnosis may help explain someone's experiences, but it never tells their entire story.
    • Disclosure is not access. Sharing personal mental health information doesn't give anyone permission to weaponize that information, cross your boundaries, or demand access to parts of your life you've chosen to keep private.
    • Finding the right therapist can change your mental health journey. Alexis's trusted "Justice League" of three therapists demonstrates how collaboration, respect, and a strong therapeutic relationship can make difficult emotional work feel more manageable.
    • Success is about purpose, not just a paycheck. Leaving a lucrative environmental consulting career helped Alexis realize that watching a student overcome a challenge can be more rewarding than professional status or financial success.
    • Lived experience deserves a voice in mental health conversations. Alexis uses her experiences with DID and therapy to help educators, mental health professionals, and others better understand the perspectives of people living with mental health conditions.
    • You have permission to challenge the language of healing. Whether she's questioning the word "resilient" or pushing back against scripted therapy phrases, Alexis reminds us that we can choose words and definitions that genuinely reflect our experiences.

    Actionable Items

    • Redefine a label you've been carrying. Choose one word others have used to describe you, such as anxious, difficult, or resilient, and consider whether it reflects who you are or whether it's time to create your own definition.
    • Practice setting boundaries around personal disclosure. Before sharing something about your mental health, decide what you're comfortable revealing and remind yourself that being honest doesn't mean giving someone unlimited access to your personal experiences.
    • Evaluate whether your support system respects your needs. Think about whether the people supporting your mental health listen without judgment, respect your boundaries, and encourage you to participate in decisions about your well-being.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:00:37 — Meet Alexis: Mental Health Advocate and Educator
    • 00:01:22 — Overcommitting, Perfectionism, and Mental Health
    • 00:04:29 — Living With DID and the Art of Multitasking
    • 00:07:54 — Finding Balance and Learning to Protect Your Time
    • 00:11:30 — Leaving a Six-Figure Career to Redefine Success
    • 00:14:13 — Building Trust With Special Education Students
    • 00:19:45 — How Lived Experience Shapes Alexis's Teaching
    • 00:23:05 — Receiving a Dissociative Identity Disorder Diagnosis
    • 00:24:27 — The Therapy Justice League: EMDR and Equine-Assisted Therapy
    • 00:27:24 — Why Alexis Challenges Traditional Therapy Language
    • 00:30:01 — Finding the Right Therapist and Building Trust
    • 00:33:19 — Overcoming Fear Through Equine-Assisted Therapy
    • 00:37:05 — Why Therapy Is Hard Work
    • 00:37:51 — Creating Permission to Define
    • 00:39:32 — Living Authentically Beyond Mental Health Labels
    • 00:42:48 — Advice to Her Younger Self: Finding Your People
    • 00:43:34 — Disclosure Is Not Access: Learning Difficult Boundaries
    • 00:44:56 — Mental Health Advice That Misses the Mark
    • 00:46:13 — Anxiety Theme Songs, Humor, and the Power of Words
    • 00:49:02 — Connecting With Alexis and Permission to Define
    • 00:49:54 — Closing Thoughts and Mental Health Reminder

    Closing CTA

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    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


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    13 October 2026, 7:00 am
  • 51 minutes 34 seconds
    Amy & Avery: Rebuilding After Life Changes — Caregiving, Self-Advocacy, and Finding Your Voice | Part 2

    What happens when chronic pain doesn’t only change the person hurting — it changes the marriage, the money, the business, the caregiver, and everybody’s identity? In Part 2, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles continue their conversation with Amy and Avery Nubson about caregiver burnout, asking for help, surviving the darkest chapters of a relationship, rebuilding independence, letting go of shame, and creating a life that looks nothing like the one they originally planned.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “Doing nothing was just not an option.” — Avery Nubson

    Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

    This episode includes discussion of suicidal concern, severe chronic pain, caregiver burnout, depression, medication complications, medical trauma, and significant relationship and financial stress. Please take care while listening.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit:
    https://988lifeline.org/

    For crisis resources outside the United States:
    https://findahelpline.com/

    Episode Description

    Part 2 of Amy and Avery Nubson’s story asks a question we don’t talk about nearly enough: what happens to the caregiver when someone they love becomes consumed by pain?

    Amy gets brutally honest with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles about the period when she felt like a car accident had stolen her husband, best friend, business partner, and financial security all at once. Their clients disappeared. Medical bills landed on credit cards. She became Avery’s caregiver while trying to keep their lives afloat — and eventually reached a point where she knew something had to change.

    Avery shares the other side: the shame of needing help, the frustration of invisible disability, difficult treatment decisions, setbacks that sent his mental health spiraling, and the exhausting process of learning to advocate for himself. Together, they explain how pain journals helped reveal progress that was otherwise almost impossible to see.

    But this episode isn’t only about surviving. It’s about becoming.

    Amy found independence and her voice. Avery returned to art, creativity, illustration, and board-game design. They learned to travel differently, spend time apart without fear, ask for help, tell the truth about what they were experiencing, and stop measuring their lives against someone else’s timeline.

    Twelve years after the accident, Avery says something remarkable: he feels like he is coming back better.

    Keywords: caregiver burnout, chronic pain recovery, caregiver mental health, self-advocacy, men’s mental health, invisible disability, relationship resilience, asking for help, medical trauma, chronic illness marriage, emotional healing, storytelling and shame, self-discovery, pain journaling, finding your voice

    Meet Our Guests — Amy & Avery Nubson

    Amy Nubson turned one of the most difficult periods of her life into a mission to help other women rediscover their voices, courage, and confidence through storytelling, coaching, conferences, and her Rebrand You work. Avery Nubson is a longtime designer, marketer, illustrator, web and SEO professional whose life after a 2014 accident expanded his creative work into board-game design while giving him a deeply personal reason to speak about chronic pain, men’s pelvic health, PTSD, and the importance of refusing to give up on finding care.

    Together, Amy and Avery offer two sides of the same story: the person living with pain and the person loving, supporting, and sometimes struggling beside them.

    Website:
    http://www.nufiremarketing.com

    Amy Nubson on LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/amynubson-business-coach/

    Avery Nubson on LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/averynubson/

    Avery’s Games:
    https://humerusgames.com

    Key Takeaways

    • Chronic illness affects relationships and families, not only the person experiencing the physical symptoms.
    • Caregivers need care too, and ignoring their needs can create resentment, exhaustion, isolation, and emotional collapse.
    • Progress can be so gradual that you miss it unless you intentionally look backward and notice how far you’ve come.
    • Asking for help is not failure. Sometimes the most useful request is incredibly simple: mow the lawn, carry the bag, sit with me, or listen.
    • Independence can strengthen a relationship. Amy and Avery learned that doing things separately helped them rediscover themselves outside their roles as patient and caregiver.
    • Telling the story you once hid can transform shame into connection and give somebody else permission to speak.

    Actionable Items

    • Write down one specific thing someone could help you with instead of waiting until you are completely overwhelmed. Make the request concrete.
    • Track your progress. Whether you’re dealing with emotional healing, chronic illness, caregiving, or another long-term challenge, periodically compare where you are now with where you started.
    • Put something on the calendar to look forward to — a creative project, trip, conversation, class, walk, or small experience that reminds you your life contains more than the hard thing.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:00:46 — Pride, Wheelchairs, and Invisible Disability
    • 00:02:06 — Learning to Advocate for Yourself
    • 00:05:56 — A Medical Setback Hits Mental Health Hard
    • 00:09:44 — Where Do You Find the Strength to Keep Going?
    • 00:10:47 — Why Avery Kept Pain Journals
    • 00:12:06 — The Caregiver Story Nobody Was Asking About
    • 00:14:44 — The Conversation That Changed Their Marriage
    • 00:16:43 — Rebuilding Amy, Not Just Avery
    • 00:18:17 — Stop Waiting for Retirement to Live
    • 00:20:10 — The Moment Amy Heard Avery Laugh Again
    • 00:22:19 — Creativity Comes Back Online
    • 00:27:42 — “I Think I’m Coming Back Even Better”
    • 00:30:23 — Turning Pain Into Art and Shame Into Story
    • 00:33:52 — You Never Know What Someone Is Carrying
    • 00:35:58 — Getting Lost and Learning You’ll Be Okay
    • 00:39:43 — Advice to Their Younger Selves
    • 00:42:19 — Asking for Help, Perfection, and Not Giving Up
    • 00:44:38 — Theme Songs, Favorite Words, and a Little Fun

    Closing CTA

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
    https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #CaregiverBurnout #CaregiverSupport #ChronicPain #MensMentalHealth #InvisibleDisability #PatientAdvocacy #RelationshipResilience #AskingForHelp #FindingYourVoice #SelfDiscovery #TraumaRecovery #EmotionalHealing #ChronicIllness #StorytellingHeals #MentalHealthRecovery

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    8 October 2026, 7:00 am
  • 55 minutes 59 seconds
    Amy & Avery: Rebuilding After Life Changes — Chronic Pain, PTSD, and Fighting to Be Heard | Part 1

    One car accident changed everything for Amy and Avery Nubson — their health, their marriage, their business, and the future they thought they had planned. In Part 1, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Amy and Avery for a raw conversation about invisible injuries, chronic pain, PTSD, medical trauma, and what happens when you know something is wrong but getting someone to listen becomes a battle of its own.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “Pain doesn’t have to be visible to be real, and progress doesn’t have to be fast to matter.” — Inspired by Avery Nubson

    Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

    This episode includes discussion of chronic pain, PTSD, medical trauma, medication dependence and withdrawal, invasive medical treatment, and suicide risk. Please take care while listening.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit:
    https://988lifeline.org/

    For crisis resources outside the United States:
    https://findahelpline.com/

    Episode Description

    A car accident that looked minor on paper changed nearly every part of Amy and Avery Nubson’s lives.

    After Avery was hit from behind while stopped at a red light in 2014, he walked away without broken bones or obvious external injuries. But what followed was anything but minor: debilitating pain, PTSD, panic attacks, flashbacks, bladder and pelvic health complications, sleep problems, mobility limitations, and eventually a traumatic brain injury diagnosis that took years to uncover.

    In Part 1 of this deeply honest conversation, Avery tells G-Rex and Dirty Skittles what it was like to have his body become unfamiliar territory while repeatedly hearing that tests looked normal or providers didn’t know what came next. He opens up about male pelvic floor therapy, the shame surrounding intimate health problems, opioid withdrawal after insurance coverage changed, EMDR, implanted medical devices, and the exhausting reality of having to continuously advocate for care.

    Amy shares the other side of that journey: watching the person you love disappear beneath pain, trying to understand symptoms nobody prepared you for, and learning how to support someone through a recovery that doesn’t follow a clean timeline.

    This isn’t a story about magically “getting better.” It’s about persistence, invisible disability, medical self-advocacy, and finding hope in inches, not miles.

    Keywords: chronic pain, PTSD recovery, medical trauma, invisible disability, traumatic brain injury, EMDR therapy, men’s mental health, pelvic floor therapy, chronic illness, pain management, healthcare advocacy, anxiety after car accidents, caregiver support, mental health recovery, patient advocacy

    Meet Our Guests — Amy & Avery Nubson

    Amy and Avery Nubson have spent more than two decades building a life, businesses, and creative projects together, but a 2014 car accident forced them to completely rethink what partnership, healing, and success looked like. Amy now helps women reclaim their voices and tell their stories, while Avery brings his background in design, web development, marketing, SEO, illustration, and game design together with a growing desire to speak openly about chronic pain, men’s pelvic health, PTSD, and the treatments that helped him rebuild his life.

    Website:
    http://www.nufiremarketing.com

    Amy Nubson on LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/amynubson-business-coach/

    Avery Nubson on LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/averynubson/

    Avery’s Games:
    https://humerusgames.com

    Key Takeaways

    • An injury does not have to be visible on a scan for the pain and trauma surrounding it to be real.
    • PTSD can show up in waves, through flashbacks, panic attacks, sleep disruption, avoidance, and triggers that may make everyday life feel unsafe.
    • Physical pain and mental health are deeply connected, and treating one without acknowledging the other can leave major pieces of recovery untouched.
    • Men’s pelvic health remains difficult to talk about, and shame can make an already isolating medical problem even harder to navigate.
    • Self-advocacy sometimes means asking again, getting another opinion, and refusing to stop simply because the first answer was “we don’t know.”
    • Healing may be measured in tiny changes: driving around the block, skiing again, traveling, sleeping better, or simply experiencing less pain than yesterday.

    Actionable Items

    • Keep a symptom or pain journal. Track changes, triggers, treatments, medication reactions, and small improvements so you have something concrete to reference when progress feels invisible.
    • If you feel dismissed or your symptoms remain unexplained, consider asking what the next appropriate referral or specialty might be instead of accepting “nothing is wrong” as the end of the conversation.
    • When traveling with medical devices, mobility challenges, or other medical needs, research passenger-support options ahead of time and create a plan that reduces unnecessary stress.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:01:57 — From Art School to 26 Years Together
    • 00:04:10 — The Accident That Changed Everything
    • 00:07:07 — When PTSD Arrived in Waves
    • 00:14:57 — Portugal, Pain Relief, and Feeling Safe Again
    • 00:20:05 — EMDR and Life After Panic Attacks
    • 00:22:03 — The Medical Problems Nobody Could Explain
    • 00:27:01 — The Reality of Men’s Pelvic Floor Therapy
    • 00:33:15 — Fighting Insurance While Fighting to Heal
    • 00:36:04 — Why Men Need Somewhere to Talk About This
    • 00:42:51 — Pain Medication, Withdrawal, and the Pain Pump Decision
    • 00:47:32 — Traveling With Medical Devices

    Closing CTA

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
    https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #ChronicPain #PTSDRecovery #MensMentalHealth #InvisibleDisability #MedicalTrauma #PelvicFloorTherapy #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicPainAwareness #EMDRTherapy #TraumaRecovery #HealthcareAdvocacy #PainManagement #CaregiverSupport #InvisibleIllness #MentalHealthRecovery

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    6 October 2026, 7:00 am
  • 31 minutes 22 seconds
    Tiphany Kane: Medical Gaslighting, Women’s Health, and Fighting to Be Heard

    Season 20 continues with Part 2 of our conversation with Tiphany Kane, where finding your voice becomes more than personal growth. Tiphany joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to share what happened when she had to fight to be heard while living with dangerously uncontrolled hypertension and repeatedly being told anxiety was the problem.

    Awards & Downloads

    Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

    Feedback

    We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

    Mental Health Quote

    “You’re supposed to share your story. You’re supposed to be heard and seen.” — Tiphany Kane

    Episode Description

    What do you do when you know something is wrong with your body, but you keep hearing that it’s anxiety?

    You keep fighting to be heard.

    In Part 2 of our Season 20 opener, Tiphany Kane takes G-Rex and Dirty Skittles deeper into the medical journey that turned her hard-won voice into one of her most important tools.

    Tiphany was dealing with dangerously uncontrolled hypertension alongside lifelong congenital organ abnormalities. After one medical appointment left her sobbing before she could even make it to her car, she found a clinical trial through UCI Health for people with resistant hypertension.

    Two days after an appointment where she felt completely dismissed, she walked into a room where people listened.

    Tiphany was accepted into the clinical trial and eventually underwent renal denervation. Months later, she says her blood pressure was controlled with medication, and she had something back that she’d desperately missed: quality of life.

    But those years came with consequences. Tiphany discusses lasting damage involving her eyes, kidneys, and heart.

    This conversation isn’t about pretending every doctor is terrible or that anxiety can’t affect the body. It’s about recognizing that mental and physical health can exist in the same damn body at the same time.

    Having anxiety doesn’t make every physical symptom anxiety.

    Tiphany’s story is a powerful reminder to ask questions, document what you’re experiencing, bring support when you need it, and keep advocating for yourself when something doesn’t feel right.

    Keywords: Tiphany Kane, medical gaslighting, women’s health, patient advocacy, self-advocacy, anxiety stigma, chronic illness, resistant hypertension, healthcare trauma, trusting your body, women’s mental health, medical dismissal, emotional resilience, finding your voice, patient empowerment

    Meet Our Guest — Tiphany Kane

    Tiphany Kane, M.Ed., is an award-winning producer, entrepreneur, public speaker, and storyteller whose own medical journey has added another powerful chapter to her work: speaking openly about what happens when people have to fight to be heard and believed.
    • CEO & Co-Founder, KaSa Media Productions — Tiphany produces podcasts, video, live events, and other story-driven media.
    • Founder, J4F MORE Foundation — Her work reaches beyond production into advocacy, storytelling, and creating opportunities for other voices to be heard.
    • Medical Advocacy — After navigating lifelong complex health issues and feeling dismissed during her medical journey, Tiphany began publicly sharing what happened so other people would know they aren’t alone.
    • Just 4 Feet Studio — She is building a 5,500-square-foot state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos recording and post-production studio in Orange County, California.
    • Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts — Tiphany is an AIVA member and serves as an AIVA juror.
    • Website — http://www.kasamediapro.com
    • Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/tiphanykane/
    • Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/tiphany.k
    • YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@J4Fstudio
    • LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiphany-kane-m-ed-514264175/

    Key Takeaways

    • Mental health and physical illness can exist at the same time. One doesn’t automatically explain away the other.
    • You live in your body every damn day. If something feels wrong and keeps feeling wrong, it’s okay to keep asking questions.
    • Self-advocacy isn’t about picking a fight with your doctor. It’s about being an active participant in your own care.
    • Sometimes you need another person in the room. An advocate can listen, take notes, ask questions, and help when you’re too sick, exhausted, or overwhelmed to do everything yourself.
    • Being listened to changed Tiphany’s medical experience. Feeling heard shouldn’t have to feel like winning the lottery.
    • The voice Tiphany spent decades learning not to suppress became exactly the voice she needed when the stakes got serious.

    Actionable Items

    • Walk in prepared. Keep a simple timeline of your symptoms, medications, relevant medical history, changes you’ve noticed, and the questions you don’t want to forget.
    • Bring backup when you need it. Ask someone you trust to attend an appointment with you, and tell them beforehand exactly how you’d like them to support you.
    • Ask one more question. If a physical symptom is being attributed to anxiety, ask what physical causes have been considered and what findings support that conclusion.

    Important Chapters

    • 00:00:45 — What Happened After the Appointment?
    • 00:01:14 — Finding the Clinical Trial
    • 00:02:58 — Renal Denervation and Getting Her Blood Pressure Controlled
    • 00:04:06 — The Lasting Physical Damage
    • 00:05:03 — Getting Her Quality of Life Back
    • 00:06:33 — Why Did Tiphany Have to Find the Answer Herself?
    • 00:08:57 — Finally Being Taken Seriously
    • 00:12:44 — When Trust in Healthcare Breaks Down
    • 00:14:20 — Insurance, Chronic Illness, and Access to Care
    • 00:19:51 — Why Having an Advocate Matters
    • 00:20:59 — Anxiety and Physical Illness Can Coexist
    • 00:22:17 — What Tiphany Wishes She Had Said
    • 00:23:43 — Using Her Voice to Help Others
    • 00:24:40 — What She Would Tell Her Younger Self
    • 00:26:21 — Divorce and One of Life’s Hardest Lessons
    • 00:29:27 — Where to Find Tiphany

    Closing CTA

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

    Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
    https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

    #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #Season20 #TiphanyKane #MedicalGaslighting #WomensHealth #PatientAdvocacy #SelfAdvocacy #ChronicIllness #HealthcareTrauma #AnxietyAwareness #TrustYourBody #WomensMentalHealth #FindingYourVoice #HypertensionAwareness #HealthcareAdvocacy #InvisibleIllness #EmotionalWellness

    ***************************************************************************

    If You Need Support, Reach Out

    If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

    Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

    Audio Editing by NJz Audio


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1 October 2026, 7:00 am
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