UnF*ck Your Brain: Feminist Self-Help for Everyone

Kara Loewentheil

  • 35 minutes 46 seconds
    384. The Logical Case for Positive Thinking with Oliver Burkeman

    Do you constantly feel like you need to control everything in your life? Like if you could just be more organized, more productive, more perfect, then you’d finally feel at peace? What if the real secret to feeling more fulfilled was actually letting go of that control?

    This week, I’m joined by Oliver Burkeman, author of 4,000 Weeks, to talk about why embracing our limits—not fighting them—is the key to a more meaningful life. Oliver and I dive into our culture’s obsession with productivity and perfection, why it actually makes us more anxious, and how to stop chasing an impossible standard and start spending your precious time in a way that actually matters. If you’re ready to stop feeling like life is a never-ending to-do list, this episode is for you.

    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/384

    6 March 2025, 5:00 am
  • 2 minutes 10 seconds
    Take Back Your Brain!

    IT'S HERE! My new book "Take Back Your Brain: How a Sexist Society Gets in Your Head... and How to Get it Out" is officially available as an audiobook and hardcover wherever books and audiobooks are sold!

    2 March 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 23 seconds
    383. Self-Help When the World is Burning (Greatest Hits)

    Lately it has felt like the world is on fire—war, climate crises, political chaos… it’s a lot for our brains to handle. And yet, instead of stepping back, we find ourselves doom-scrolling, consuming bad news like it’s our job, and wondering why we feel so anxious and exhausted.

    Is obsessively staying informed actually helping you—or just keeping you stuck? In this Greatest Hits episode, I break down how to rewire your brain’s alarm system, recognize when “being informed” is just people-pleasing in disguise, and refocus on your actual sphere of influence—so you can take meaningful action without burning yourself out.


    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/383

    27 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 20 minutes 21 seconds
    382. How to Be Capable in Times of Crisis

    Are you feeling overwhelmed or even paralyzed by everything happening in the world right now? Do you catch yourself looking to others for answers—waiting for someone to tell you what to do or how to respond?

    Women are taught from birth that we’re too emotional, too irrational, too incapable of figuring things out on our own—especially when things get tough. But that conditioning is total BS, and it’s costing us our agency, autonomy, and ability to take action. In this short but powerful episode, I’m breaking down why it’s crucial to trust yourself, how to develop self-efficacy even when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and why waiting for permission or direction is the biggest thing holding you back.


    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/382

    20 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 41 minutes 17 seconds
    381. Be Your Own Partner: A Conversation About Singleness and Mindset with Meghan Keane

    Do you ever feel like your relationship status defines your worth? Like your life is on hold until you find a partner? What if you could stop waiting and start being your own best partner—whether you're single, coupled up, or somewhere in between?

    This week, I’m joined by Meghan Keane, founder of NPR’s Life Kit and author of Party of One: Be Your Own Best Partner, to break down the shame and stigma around singleness and how it holds so many women back from fully living their lives. We talk about how to identify your values, manage your thoughts and emotions, and create meaningful, nourishing connections—with yourself and others.


    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/381

    13 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 17 minutes 49 seconds
    380. You Don't Need to Be The Best - How to Deal with Envy, Jealousy, and Competitiveness

    Do you ever feel a stab of envy or anxiety when someone else gets something you want? Maybe you want to be happy for them, but deep down, their success makes you feel like you’re falling behind. If so, you’re not alone—this is what happens when we’ve been trained to believe there’s only room for one of us at the top.

    In this episode, I’m digging into the historical and societal roots of this mindset and sharing thought-hacks to help you break free. You’ll learn how to loosen perfectionism’s grip, stop seeing success as a zero-sum game, and shift into a mindset of true abundance—where you can actually celebrate others and yourself at the same time.


    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: http://unfuckyourbrain.com/380

    6 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 24 minutes 9 seconds
    379. Radical Self-Love & Self-Care (Greatest Hits)

    As women, we’ve been conditioned to put ourselves last, and if you hold any marginalized identities, the world piles on even more ways to tell you you’re not enough. But the tools I'm re-sharing this week, radical self-love and exquisite self-care, are your antidote—your way to reject the oppressive systems that want to keep you small and doubting your worth.

    I'm breaking down what radical self-love and exquisite self-care actually mean, why they’re deeply political acts, and how they expose the hidden, harmful beliefs you’ve been carrying. We’ll tackle the thought patterns standing between you and the self-love you deserve—and I’ll show you how to start practicing it in a way that feels radical and real.

    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/379

    30 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 25 minutes 14 seconds
    378. The Biggest Time Management Problem & How to Solve It

    Are you unknowingly sabotaging your time management? As women, we’re trained to take on responsibility for everything—other people’s feelings, outcomes we can’t control, and tasks that were never ours to begin with. The result? Exhaustion, overwhelm, and decisions that don’t serve us.

    In this episode, I’m sharing how over-responsibility snuck into my own plans for 2025 and what I did to get back on track. I’ll walk you through the self-coaching process I used to uncover and shift the sneaky thought patterns holding me back—like feeling responsible for other people’s feelings or thinking I don’t deserve to fully use my privileges. If you’re ready to ditch the overwork cycle and start reclaiming your time, this episode is for you!

    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/378

    23 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 19 minutes 18 seconds
    377. Over-Responsibility: The Spin (Greatest Hits)

    Do you feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Like you’re responsible for everyone and everything around you? Society has trained women to believe our worth depends on managing everyone else’s thoughts, feelings, and happiness. But this over-responsibility? It’s a dream stealer, an energy drainer, and a massive life suck.

    In this Greatest Hits episode, I’m diving into how over-responsibility shows up in our lives and why it keeps us stuck. From obsessing over appearances to taking on outcomes we can’t control, this constant brain spin has us chasing impossible standards instead of living the lives we want. Tune in to uncover how over-responsibility is holding you back—and learn what it takes to finally let it go and reclaim your energy for your dreams.

    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/377

    16 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 32 minutes 20 seconds
    376. Exactly How to Negotiate As A Woman, with Negotiation Expert Kathryn Valentine

    Ever felt anxious about negotiating a raise, bonus, or promotion? Worried about being labeled “difficult” or facing backlash for advocating for yourself? You’re not alone—research shows that women face unique challenges in workplace negotiations, thanks to deeply ingrained gender dynamics.

    This week, I’m joined by Kathryn Valentine, a negotiation expert who turned her own experience of facing backlash into a career teaching women how to advocate effectively. Tune in to hear Kathryn break down the roots of the gender negotiation gap and share practical strategies to help you negotiate with confidence—and get what you deserve—without fearing the fallout.

    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/376

    9 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 13 minutes 52 seconds
    375. How to Improve Instead of Give Up

    The two biggest obstacles to creating lasting change? Getting started and not quitting when things go off the rails. We all know we should just try again if we fail, but let’s be honest—that’s a lot easier said than done when you don’t understand what’s really going on in your brain.

    Tune in this week to learn what happens in your brain when you fail and why failure is a non-negotiable part of the growth process. I’ll show you how to take the sting out of shame, guilt, and anxiety so you can use every misstep as a stepping stone to the results you want.

    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/375

    1 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App