What if the bravest thing you can say is, “I became a psychologist to save myself”? That line from Dr. Jana Otterbridge sets the tone for a conversation that moves with heart and precision, from adoption and identity to trauma, triggers, and the radical act of finding a therapist who truly fits. We don’t stay on the surface. We talk about the unnamed questions adoptees carry, the long tail of psychological injury, and how healing starts when we stop calling our wounds a personality and start building new responses with care.

We also zoom out to the systems shaping us. Jana shares how UK training sharpened her voice when leadership curricula erased Black examples, and why representation isn’t a buzzword, it’s a map. We get honest about the multigenerational workplace: Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z colliding over “work ethic” and mental health. Instead of the tired “work-life balance” script, Jana offers a practical capacity framework, adjustable daily “bubbles” that match energy to commitments without guilt. It’s a mindset shift leaders can operationalize and individuals can practice right now.

Threaded through it all is purpose. Jana describes peace as the sign she’s on path, able to teach in a boardroom at noon and mentor on a street corner by dusk. She speaks to her younger self with tenderness, “you’re safe, you’re free”, and imagines a next chapter that includes anonymous giving and wider impact. If you care about mental health, organizational culture, representation, or simply living with more truth and less noise, this one will stay with you.

If this conversation moved you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more honest stories, and leave a review to help others find the show. What capacity are you honoring today?