It’s been a while since there was a new podcast episode! In this episode, I give a brief update on what’s going on with the show!

A while ago, I received a listener request to do an episode about dealing with people staying at your house--houseguests. Here it is!

When I started this podcast, my #1 dream guest was Susan Cain. So, I'm very happy to bring this episode to you today.

Susan's 2012 book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking was my first introduction to introversion. The book changed my life (and thousands of others worldwide) because it changed how I saw myself.

It was through learning about introversion that I learned about high sensitivity; I wouldn't be typing this to you today without her book as the inception.

More about Susan Cain:

Susan is the co-founder of Quiet Revolution, a site that features advice and stories for introverts and extroverts alike on how to appreciate our quiet sides. She is the author of the bestsellers Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts, and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking, which has been translated into 40 languages and been on the New York Times bestseller list for over four years. Her record-smashing TED talk has been viewed over 15 million times. She is an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School.

Some of the topics covered in this episode include:

• What it was like to be a Wall Street lawyer and an introvert
• If she's an HSP
• How Susan dealt with the huge popularity of her book and TED talk
• The difference between HSPs and introverts
• Her Quiet Leadership Institute
• The introvert backlash
• ....and more.

Susan's books:

• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking 
• Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts (A guide for teens and kids)

You can also find her on Twitter.

Podcast music attribution: Bust This Bust That (Professor Kliq) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 

Today's episode features Andy Mort of the Gentle Rebel podcast (formerly known as the Sheep Dressed like Wolves podcast).

We talk about what it's like to be a Highly Sensitive Person and a podcaster. (He interviewed me on his show recently, too: listen here!)

Some of the topics covered in this episode include: receiving negative feedback, making money, and tips for people who want to start their own show.

You can get in touch with Andy on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and find his music here.

As mentioned in this episode, Andy's HSP community, The Haven, is open for registration from Nov. 4-10, 2016.

The Haven is a private membership site completely dedicated to HSPs. There's two years of great content available--like high-quality videos, interviews, collaborative projects, and blog posts--which have been created specifically to help support, encourage, and inspire HSPs in a range of areas, and Andy's always coming out with new content, too.

My favorite part might be the safe and supportive Facebook community that's exclusive to members.

There is no obligation or commitment. It's just $1 to try it out for the first month and you can cancel anytime, so there's really no reason not to give it a try and see if it's for you!

Learn more about The Haven at highlysensitiveperson.net/haven.

Podcast music attribution: Bust This Bust That (Professor Kliq) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 

Recently someone posted this question in the introvert subreddit on reddit: "How to deal with half wanting new friends and half wanting to be a hermit?"

I hear and read questions like this all the time from introverts and introverted HSPs. We cherish being alone, and then sometimes wonder if we can get along without worrying about having relationships. After all, relationships are time consuming, difficult, and can be painful.

But then we often realize that we cannot exist alone. It might seem easier to avoid relationships, but it is bad for our mental and physical health. Humans were built to need and thrive on connection with others.

A Vice.com interview with Amy Banks, PhD, titled, "An Expert Explains Why You Feel So Lonely All the Time" really piqued my interest in this topic. I loved Dr. Banks' scientific explanation of why having quality relationships is so important.

Dr. Banks was an instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is now the Director of Advanced Training at Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at the Wellesley Centers for Women. Her newest book is called Wired to Connect: The Surprising Link Between Brain Science and Strong, Healthy Relationships.

On this episode, we talk about:

• The health impact of loneliness and disconnection
• Why American society values the "do-it-alone" mindset so strongly
• The dopamine reward system and relationships
• Online bullying
• How a boss or manager can use good relationships to improve the workplace
• Connections with animals
• And....communism?!? (Note: communism is discussed simply for the concept of community vs. individualism. We are not saying we want to live in a communist society!)

Amy recommends that those looking to improve their relationships first take her free Relational Assessment. You can get in touch with Amy on Twitter, Facebook, and check out her column on Psychology Today: Wired to Love Other books recommended by Dr. Banks in this episode:

• Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert Putnam
• Love and Survival: 8 Pathways to Intimacy and Health by Dean Ornish

Want to support the podcast?

If you enjoy my podcast and blog, if you find it helpful, uplifting, or entertaining, that's awesome! Would you consider giving just $1 per episode? Check out my Patreon page to see how it works. A special thank you to Gloria, the newest supporter!

Podcast music attribution: Bust This Bust That (Professor Kliq) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 

This episode is for those who have never tried meditation, are curious about it, or who have tried it but felt like they didn't "get" it. Meditation has helped me a lot over the past year. There was a time when I didn't think I could do it. I didn't understand what meditation was and whether I was doing it "right". I hope to reach other people, like me, who didn't think meditation would work for them. I hope this will inspire you to give it another try, because it can be rewarding.

My favorite meditation apps:

• Calm
• Headspace
• Meditation Studio by Gaiam

Want to support the podcast? If you enjoy my podcast and blog, if you find it helpful, uplifting, or entertaining, that's awesome! Would you consider giving just $1 per episode? Check out my Patreon page to see how it works. A special thank you to S.W., the newest supporter!

Podcast music attribution: Bust This Bust That (Professor Kliq) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 

Discovering the concept of high sensitivity and learning you are a Highly Sensitive Person can be a major life moment for some people.

It was for me!

Now that I've been living with this knowledge for a few years (and learning more all the time!), I reflected in this episode on some positive realizations I've had about myself since learning I'm an HSP.

Making this list felt really good; I hope it may serve as a prompt to consider your own experiences. How has your life changed since learning about HSPs?

Want to support the podcast? If you enjoy my podcast and blog, if you find it helpful, uplifting, or entertaining, that's awesome! Would you consider giving just $1 per episode? Check out my Patreon page to see how it works. 

Podcast music attribution: Bust This Bust That (Professor Kliq) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 

Today's guest, Al Motter, is one of the hosts of the excellent Introvert Extrovert podcast. He's the "Introvert" out of the two hosts, but he doesn't have the trait of high sensitivity.

In this episode, Al talks about how he sometimes wishes he was more sensitive, and how a recent bout of medication gave him a few weeks of heightened sensitivity--resulting in some fascinating insights into our world. H

is perspective, as an outsider to the HSP world, can help HSPs see the larger picture: there ARE a lot of great things about being able to feel deeply!

He also talks about tutoring crying kids, why physically larger males are "allowed" to cry, and loving Benihana restaurant (which I hate).

Want to support the podcast? If you enjoy my podcast and blog, if you find it helpful, uplifting, or entertaining, that's awesome! Would you consider giving just $1 per episode? Check out my Patreon page to see how it works. A special thank you to Rebecca Hilder, the newest supporter!

Podcast music attribution: Bust This Bust That (Professor Kliq) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 

Overstimulation. Noise, chaos, bright lights, smells, crowds. These are the highly sensitive person's kryptonite.

I've brainstormed a list of what I think are the worst places on earth for HSPs.

This episode is a little different than most—this isn’t advice, or a serious topic. It is sort of tongue-in-cheek, a little sarcastic, and even a bit silly. It’s more about pondering all the things that set off HSPs and then thinking which places have a lot of those things. So, disclaimer: don’t take this too seriously. Not everyone will agree with this list.

1. In the next week or two, I'm doing a call-in show! You can call me on Skype and ask questions or just share your thoughts and comments on high sensitivity. Make sure you're on my twice-monthly mailing list to get the details and times. Visit highlysensitiveperson.net.

2. I'm creating an HSP Entrepreneur Mastermind group! This small, select group will be facilitated by me, and will meet virtually on a regular basis to share and get support for projects and businesses. Just subscribe to my newsletter to get all the details and find out how to sign up in the near future!

Did you know that highly sensitive people and narcissists tend to be attracted to each other?

I've welcomed Nikki Eisenhauer onto the show today to discuss what a narcissist is and why HSPs can be drawn to people with narcissistic personality disorder.

I think it's important for HSPs to be aware of this topic so they can identify and deal with harmful relationships.

Nikki is an engaging guest and does a great job of explaining this topic in a digestible way. She is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), chemical dependency counselor (LCDC), yoga and meditation teacher, and possible budding comedian. In this episode, we talk about:

What is a narcissist vs. sociopath personality, The difference between anxiety and intuition, What it's like to be an HSP and a therapist, What most therapists don't know about HSPs, Why improv might be good for HSPs, and more!

Nikki specializes in trauma, grief and loss, addiction, and has come to understand what wounds, drives, and heals Highly Sensitive People. Her most recent passion project is Wise Owl Within, where she offers Sensitive and Healers support, evolution, and the life they desire. Get in touch with her on Facebook and Twitter!

Want to support the podcast? If you enjoy my podcast and blog, if you find it helpful, uplifting, or entertaining, that's awesome! Would you consider giving just $1 per episode? Check out my Patreon page to see how it works. http://www.patreon.com/hsp

Sign up for my twice-monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on new podcast episodes, blog posts, and HSP news.

Podcast music attribution: Bust This Bust That (Professor Kliq) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 

I'm thrilled to have on the podcast Oliver Burkeman, author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking.

Oliver is a writer for The Guardian. In his column titled, "This column will change your life", he explores ideas around social psychology, self-help culture, productivity, and the science of happiness.

The Antidote was one of those books that came at the right time in my life. I was struggling with insomnia, brought on by anxiety....brought on by feeling like I wasn't achieving enough every day. This book helped me feel a lot more at peace about the "glass half empty" personality I've always had. It explains powerful concepts from Buddhism, Stoicism, Eckhart Tolle, Alan Watts (and more) in his entertaining, accessible, and lovely writing style.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why traditional "positive thinking" doesn't work,
• The downside of goal-setting,
• Embracing uncertainty,
• Meditation,
• Whether thinking too much makes you depressed,
• The answers he's still looking for,
• and more!

You can find Oliver on his website and Twitter (let him know you liked this interview!) And of course, you should buy his wonderful book. Want to support the podcast? If you enjoy my podcast and blog, if you find it helpful, uplifting, or entertaining, that's awesome! Would you consider giving just $1 per episode? Check out my Patreon page to see how it works. Sign up for my twice-monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on new podcast episodes, blog posts, and HSP news.

Podcast music attribution: Bust This Bust That (Professor Kliq) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0