Checking In with Dr. Therese Mascardo

You’re not broken — adult friendship really is harder now.

In this episode, psychologist Dr. Therese Mascardo explains four barriers making friendship difficult — no built-in structure, initiative anxiety, impatience with the process, and self-doubt — and exactly what helps, so you can build the connections you’ve been missing.

You’ll learn why adult friendship changed, what gets in the way, and how to start creating meaningful connections right where you are.

Quotes from this episode:

“We’re trying to make friends with childhood strategies in an adult world that plays by different rules.”

“Most adult friendships die not from conflict, but from inconvenience.”

“Great friendships are built through accumulated ordinary moments — not instant magic.”

Most self-help podcasts talk at you. This one sits with you.

You know how sometimes you wish you could just call up your therapist when you're having a moment? When you're overthinking something, feeling stuck, or just need someone who gets it to remind you that you're going to be okay? That's what this podcast is.

I'm Dr. Therese Mascardo, a Filipino-American psychologist and author of Love The Journey. For over a decade, I've been in therapy rooms noticing patterns most people never get to see: what happens right before someone breaks through to genuine joy, what keeps people stuck, what actually helps when everything feels heavy.

This podcast is for high-achievers who look like they have it all together but are silently struggling: the overthinkers, the perfectionists, and the eldest daughters who are tired of being the strong one.

In Season 1, we're diving into: why adult friendship feels impossible, what to do when you've wrapped your entire identity around your business or achievement, and how to find your way back when joy feels completely out of reach. Plus, I'm talking with incredible guests like psychologist and author Dr. Zoe Shaw about complex shame, and other leading voices in wellness who are changing how we think about mental health. These are the conversations I wish I could have with every client—and now I can have them with you.

My mission is simple: to help you build a life you don't need to escape from. You'll walk away feeling less anxious, more connected, and better equipped to build a life you actually love. New episodes every Thursday. Video on YouTube, audio everywhere you listen. Subscribe and join a community of women who are done pretending they have it all figured out.

✨ WHAT YOU’LL HEAR:

-Why this podcast isn’t your typical self-help show

-Who “Checking In” is for (and how it can help you)

-The story behind the show and what inspired it

-What to expect from future episodes: joy, connection, purpose, and real talk

If you’re ready to feel less alone and more grounded, you’re in the right place. Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a new episode—new conversations every Thursday.

🔹 CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome — What Checking In Is All About

🔹 LINKS

Connect with me!

Instagram: @exploring.therapy

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