How can they possibly think like that? If you've asked that question lately — about a family member, a friend, someone you used to feel close to — this episode is for you.

The truth is, we don't come to our beliefs the way we like to think we do. We don't gather the facts, weigh the evidence, and arrive at a thoughtful conclusion.

Most of the time, we feel our way into a belief first, and then we explain it to ourselves. And once we understand that, a lot of what feels so confusing right now — about ourselves and about each other — starts to make more sense.

This episode is about how propaganda works, what cognitive dissonance actually feels like from the inside, and why fear makes us reach for certainty before we reach for truth. But more than that, it's about the question underneath all of it: is what you believe actually yours?

In this episode:

• Why our brain feels before it thinks — and what that costs us
• How propaganda works without us realizing it's happening
• What cognitive dissonance feels like from the inside
• How to slow down enough to let your thinking brain catch up

Full show notes and links here:

https://drloristevic.com/propaganda

I became real in August of 1988. On my first day as a clinical intern at Henry Ford Hospital, I walked into Room Three and met a young man named Nelson — and nothing I had been trained to do prepared me for what happened next.

This episode is the story underneath this entire podcast. It's about imposter syndrome, yes. But more than that, it's about the moment we face a choice: put the mask back on, or walk back in as ourselves. Nelson taught me that people don't need a perfect version of you. They need a real one.

In this episode:

• What the Velveteen Rabbit taught me about becoming real
• My first day as a clinical intern and the room I wasn't ready for
• Nelson — and what he said when I stood to leave
• The question underneath all of it: who are you when you stop performing?

  
  

Read the full blog-style show notes, links, and reflections from this episode here:

https://drloristevic.com/imposter-syndrome/

Want to go deeper than the podcast? The REAL Conversation is my free monthly live gathering for women who want thoughtful, honest conversations about life, identity, relationships, caregiving, confidence, and what it means to live more truthfully.

https://drloristevic.com/real-womens-collective/

Are you a caregiver for somebody you love, particularly someone with dementia, and you feel overwhelmed and isolated? Consider joining our online, live supportive community. We are here to share the journey with you.

https://drloristevic.com/caregiver-circle/

In this episode:

• Why this podcast was born out of restlessness
• How grief and joy can live side by side
• Why division affects us emotionally
• Why slowing down and telling the truth matters
• How real conversation helps us find our way back to ourselves

Chapters:
00:00 — The Birth of a Podcast Idea
03:14 — Navigating Personal Turmoil
06:12 — The Impact of Division and Disconnection
09:01 — The Need for Honest Conversations
11:49 — Embracing Restlessness and Seeking Clarity
12:18 — Engagement and Community Building

Enjoying the show? Plese consider leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other women find us.

Read the full blog-style show notes, links, and reflections from this episode here:

https://drloristevic.com/real-conversations/

Want to go deeper than the podcast?

Want to go deeper than the podcast? The REAL Conversation is my free monthly live gathering for women who want thoughtful, honest conversations about life, identity, relationships, caregiving, confidence, and what it means to live more truthfully.

https://drloristevic.com/real-womens-collective/

Are you a caregiver for somebody you love, particularly someone with dementia, and you feel overwhelmed and isolated? Consider joining our Online, live supportive community. We are here to share the journey with you.

https://drloristevic.com/caregiver-circle-membership/

This is not another podcast full of quick tips and polished advice. This is an invitation to something more honest than that.

Something happens when we stop pretending — when we put down the performance and start paying attention to what we actually know, feel, and need. Things begin to change.

Dr. Lori Stevic-Rust is a clinical health psychologist with over 40 years in the therapy room, and she's here for the hard parts of being human that we don't say out loud — and the courage it takes to live honestly in a complicated world.

If you're tired of faking it, pull up a chair. New episodes dropping May 12th.