Have you ever caught your reflection, noticed a new grey hair or a random ache, and felt that sudden wave of existential dread about where the time has gone?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack the physical realities of ageing, explore how death anxiety fuels our worries, and share healthier ways to relate to the passage of time.

You’ll also learn:

• Why your biological age doesn’t always match how old you feel
• How to slow the “quickening” of time by breaking out of rigid routines
• How to acknowledge and process the quiet grief of outgrowing your younger self
• Ways to find perspective and empowerment by connecting with your elders

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

GET IN TOUCH

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here!

Win a $2,000 Bed Threads voucher. Subscribe to Mamamia here before April 30 to be automatically entered. Current subscriber? You're already in the draw. T&Cs apply.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you noticed the word narcissist being thrown around a lot lately and found yourself wondering whether someone’s actually a narcissist… or just unpleasant?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis breaks down what narcissism really is, how to recognise it, and what you can do if there’s a narcissist in your life.

You’ll also learn:

• Where Narcissistic Personality Disorder comes from
• The key red flags and behaviours to watch for in a narcissistic relationship
• How to navigate life with a narcissist, whether it’s a partner, friend, or family member
• The difference between a narcissist you can manage and one who can't be reasoned with

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic, family, or sexual violence, you can contact 1800RESPECT — the national counselling and support service — on 1800 737 732.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on. 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been told you’re “too much” or “too sensitive,” only to find yourself caught in an exhausting cycle - loving someone intensely one moment, then wanting to push them away the next?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with clarity and compassion. They explore the why behind the intense emotional swings and relationship struggles that define BPD, shifting the conversation away from judgment and toward real clinical understanding.

You’ll also learn:

• How BPD develops
• What’s happening in the brain and body when emotions take longer to settle after a trigger
• How healing involves balancing self-acceptance with meaningful behavioural change
• Why BPD isn’t a fixed “label,” and what recovery can actually look like

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

GET IN TOUCH

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here!

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever notice that inner voice—the one that’s quick to judge or put you down, even though you’d never speak to a friend that way?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis talks about how to deal with your inner critic, especially when it starts affecting your mental health, and how to start building a more supportive voice instead.

You'll also learn:

• Where that critical voice comes from
• Whether it gets easier to manage as we get older
• Signs someone might be struggling with self-worth
• Practical ways to build self-compassion

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do you stand on AI? Are you all in, a little nervous, or still figuring it out? Maybe you’re somewhere in the middle - curious, cautious, and ready to see what it really means for us.

In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis go past the headlines to explore the psychology of AI. They look at how these tools aren’t just changing what we do - they’re changing how we think, solve problems, and even seek emotional connection.

You’ll also learn:

• Why leaning on chatbots might be weakening your problem-solving skills
• How reflecting more and embracing messy drafts can protect your creativity
• Why AI can make us feel so “seen”
• How AI voices, not just text, can trigger the brain’s bonding chemicals

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

GET IN TOUCH

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here!

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we form one-sided bonds with people we've never met?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on parasocial relationships and how the digital age has blurred the lines between "fan" and "friend."

You'll also learn:

• Practical questions to ask yourself if your celeb obsession is getting… unhealthy
• Why we turn to one-sided relationships to meet emotional needs
• How most parasocial relationships aren't actually "creepy" - they're just an extension of our social evolution (until they aren’t)
• How to cultivate healthy engagement with online personalities

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

Get a 50% OFF DISCOUNT to see us at DomeFest. Link here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

GET IN TOUCH

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here!

Get 25% off Nala with your Mamamia subscription. Click here to get your code ends April 1st.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why am I reacting exactly like my mother right now?”

In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on intergenerational trauma. We’re moving beyond the surface level to explore the "ghosts" in your DNA - the ones that make you react to a minor inconvenience like it’s a family-wide emergency.

You'll also learn:

• How trauma is physically passed down through your genes
• Why the goal isn't to "delete" your difficult parts
• How to determine if you grew up in a "military-grade" or "survival of the fittest" household
• Ways to notice the patterns of intergenerational trauma to avoid repeating them 

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

Get a 50% OFF DISCOUNT to see us at DomeFest. Link here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

GET IN TOUCH

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

Get 25% off Nala with your Mamamia subscription. Click here to get your code ends April 1st.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like you’re falling behind in life?

You’re not the only one quietly wondering about the timeline.

In this episode, Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis explore the “quiet grief” that can arise when life looks different from the one you once planned.

You'll also learn:

• How to embrace "identity plasticity"
• Practical ways to distinguish between being "behind" your own goals versus someone else's
• Why it’s valid to mourn the "alternate version" of your life
• How to balance self-compassion with taking steps toward the things you can control 

Watch the podcast on YouTube here. 

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

GET IN TOUCH

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you happy? Oh. Sorry. Was that too direct?

It’s a simple question, but it tends to make people shift in their seats.

In this episode of But Are You Happy?, Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Anastasia Hronis finally unpack the very question that inspired the podcast and, somehow, until now, we’ve never properly answered.

Together, they explore:

• The difference between hedonic and eudaimonic happiness
• Why contentment might matter more than constant joy
• How social media and external validation can distort our idea of happiness
• A simple framework to help you cultivate more intentional, values-aligned joy

Watch the podcast on YouTube here. 

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does your chest tighten every time you open your phone lately? Do you feel like the world is on fire and you’re somehow supposed to just keep going to work, answer emails, and “stay informed”?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, host Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack what it actually means to live in the age of information overload. From clickbait headlines and doom-scrolling at 11pm, they explore how constant exposure to bad news impacts our nervous systems and why so many of us are feeling helpless, hopeless, or just emotionally exhausted.

You'll also learn: 

• The psychological difference between helplessness and hopelessness

• Why your brain is wired to latch onto threatening news

• How chronic exposure to bad headlines activates your stress response

• Practical ways to buffer yourself without becoming disengaged

Watch the podcast on YouTube here. 

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. 

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.