I’m Fine, It’s Fine

Some conversations leave you buzzing long after they’re over, and this one with Derrek Phillips is exactly that. Derrek has spent his life behind the drums, from jazz clubs in New York to studio sessions with Mumford & Sons and Little Big Town, and now to creating from his own home studio in Nashville. But what makes this episode special isn’t just the music—it’s Derrek’s honesty about the struggles, lessons, and healing that have shaped him as a husband, father, and artist .

He talks about the hustle of taking $25 gigs while raising babies, the hard truth of growing up while trying to grow a marriage, and the deeper work that pulled him through shame and back toward love and authenticity. Derrek doesn’t shy away from the messy parts, and that’s exactly what makes this conversation so full of heart.

And if you’ve been following us a while, you’ll recognize the last name: Derrek is the dad of comedian Zavior Phillips, one of our past guests. Hearing how their creative worlds overlap; jokes and rhythms, timing and flow. It all makes this story even richer.

This is one of those episodes that feels like sitting with a friend who tells the truth in a way that makes you want to do the same.

Follow Us!

💌 Subscribe to the pod on Substack: imfineitsfine.substack.com

📸 Instagram: @imfineitsfinepodcast

🎤 Follow Amber: @amberautrycomedy

🧠 Follow Melanie: @traumatherapynashville @melaniereeselmft

We loved this episode so much that we are re-releasing it for all of our listeners! You can access 16 episodes and counting just like this one by becoming a paid subscriber!

In this deeply honest episode, Amber and Melanie crack open the complicated relationships we have with our moms. From laughing about cough-sneezing in public to exploring how childhood wounds show up in adulthood, this conversation gets real. Melanie shares how therapy and psychedelic experiences helped her shift from resentment to empathy, and Amber reflects on what it means to love your mother fully, even after realizing she’s not perfect.

We talk emotional connection (or lack thereof), navigating boundaries with toxic or distant parents, and the grief that comes with letting go of the fantasy mom. Whether you have a strained relationship, an idealized one, or you’re somewhere in between, this episode invites you to look at your own “mom stuff” without shame.

If you liked this episode, share it with someone who’s got a complicated mom story too.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to join us on Substack at imfineitsfine.substack.com for bonus content, behind-the-scenes chaos, and more ways to support the show.

Follow us on Instagram

@imfineitsfinepodcast @amberautrycomedy @traumatherapynashville

Lee Kimbrell is back, and he’s glowing. Not with sweat, but with impending fatherhood panic, marital bliss, and just the right amount of self-aware spiraling. In this episode, we talk about what it means to shift from main character energy to background dad vibes, how childhood friend wounds show up in green rooms, and why being a chill guy isn’t always chill on the inside.

Lee shares stories about meeting his now-wife on the open mic circuit, navigating male friendships, watching her hips literally move to make room for their daughter (hi Frankie!), and questioning how comedy fits into this next chapter. It’s sweet, funny, a little existential, and filled with the kind of grounded energy that makes you want to be a better person or at least finally call your mom back.

If you’ve ever worried about who you’ll be on the other side of a big life change, or if you just love a good love story with jokes, this one’s for you.

Follow Us!

💌 Subscribe to the pod on Substack: imfineitsfine.substack.com

📸 Instagram: @imfineitsfinepodcast

🎤 Follow Amber: @amberautrycomedy

🧠 Follow Melanie: @traumatherapynashville @melaniereeselmft

In this episode, Amber and Melanie dig into the emotional dynamics of relationships, especially when one partner (usually a man) seems emotionally avoidant—or at least a little too chill for comfort. They explore how culture, family systems, gender norms, and trauma responses shape how we show up (or shut down) in relationships. With plenty of laughs, real-life stories, and therapist-backed insights, they ask: What actually creates emotional safety? Why is silence so damn triggering? And can couples truly connect if one person refuses to get reflective? Spoiler: therapy might be involved.

Whether you’re the “fixer” who wants your partner in therapy yesterday or the one trying to explain that you’re “just fine,” this episode’s for you.

Follow us:

@amberautrycomedy | @traumatherapynashville | @imfineitsfinepodcast

Promo:

Use code IFIF for 40% off at cozyearth.com. Your loungewear should feel like a treat you get to wear after your beauty routine.

In this vulnerable and funny episode, Amber dives into the mess of beauty standards, insecurity, and being in the public eye. From teen wounds and goofy photos to nose bumps and laser hair removal, she gets real about the need to feel beautiful. and how complicated that can be.

Melanie brings her trauma therapist wisdom to the table, exploring inner-child work, body image, and how to define beauty on your own terms.

Topics Include:

* Why compliments don’t always land

* Objectification vs. affirmation

* Chronic illness and body changes

* Plastic surgery, boundaries, and why it’s never “just a bump”

* The role of intention in self-image decisions

Follow us:

@amberautrycomedy | @traumatherapynashville | @imfineitsfinepodcast

Promo:

Use code IFIF for 40% off at cozyearth.com. Your loungewear should feel like a treat you get to wear after your beauty routine.

In this episode, we sit down with Shannon Ford Middleton, comedian, influencer, and soon-to-be mom, for a funny and brutally honest conversation about what it means to be seen. We talk about the emotional toll of online hate, navigating snark forums, the identity crisis of being “too much,” and why stand-up comedy feels more vulnerable than anything else. Shannon opens up about bombing in front of friends, and how pregnancy changed the way she speaks to herself. This one is hilarious, real, and deeply affirming for anyone learning to take up space.

We’re big fans of sleeping well and not losing our minds, so we’re partnering with Cozy Earth, our go-to for insanely soft loungewear and bedding. Try them risk-free for 100 nights and get 40% off with our code IFIF at CozyEarth.com. Studio pants, we see you.

Follow us on Instagram at @imfineitsfinepodcast,

Amber at @amberautrycomedy,

and Melanie at @traumatherapynashville.

Join the conversation and get future episodes sent straight to your inbox:

imfineitsfine.substack.com

This week, we’re joined by the wildly funny and refreshingly grounded Heather Shaw, and we honestly didn’t stop laughing. From her plans for escaping Kentucky after finding love, to what it’s like headlining road gigs surrounded by 60-year-old retirees in Naples, Heather shares how she built a successful comedy career without the classic trauma origin story. She talks ADHD, getting sober in Austin (no small feat), resisting anxiety culture, and living life with zero pressure and maximum rest.

If you’ve ever felt like comedy only belongs to the broken and bruised, this episode is your permission slip to just be funny and whole. It’s smart, unhinged, and a little too honest, just how we like it.

SPONSOR DETAILS

Treat yourself or the dad in your life to something actually cozy this Father’s Day with Cozy Earth—luxury bamboo sheets, loungewear, and more!

Use code IFIF for 40% off all men’s apparel at CozyEarth.com (Yes, 40%. You’re welcome.)

Amber and Melanie dive deep into the underrated magic of boredom. The two of them, no guests, no snacks, and apparently no dopamine. They talk about how the pressure to constantly produce and perform robs us of the stillness needed for true creativity. From setting boundaries as entrepreneurs to unlearning toxic hustle culture, they explore what it means to rest on purpose, reclaim quiet moments, and stop mistaking productivity for worth. Expect honest laughs, a few existential wake-up calls, and maybe even a coloring book recommendation. Take a breath, put your phone down, and let your brain get bored, it might just be the most productive thing you do today.

I'm Fine It’s Fine Podcast is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. https://imfineitsfine.substack.com/

Comedian Alex Kumin joins us for a raw, funny, and deeply honest conversation about trauma, healing, and the comedy world. Alex talks about navigating stand-up as a woman, teaching at Chicago’s Lincoln Lodge, and what it was like to work in sexual violence prevention before comedy. We go deep into how sexual trauma shaped her early life and relationships, how she uses therapy and psychedelics for healing, and the very real struggle of trying to make dark material work on stage. This episode covers heavy topics like childhood sexual trauma, so please take care and listen when you’re ready. We also laugh (a lot) about bad sex-ed, weird comedy audiences, and the eternal quest for good nail art.

Check out Alex’s podcast Into the Mud and follow her at @alex.kumin.

In this episode of I’m Fine, It’s Fine, hosts Amber and Melanie sit down with musician Molly Grace for a conversation full of laughter, honesty, and sneak peeks into her rising career. Molly shares how her Bonnaroo performance led to a major pinch-me moment, the process of creating her first full-length album, and the emotional journey behind some of her most personal songs. They dive into attachment styles, the highs and lows of being a full-time artist, navigating social media pressure, and why therapy is on Molly’s radar for the first time. Plus, Molly treats us to an exclusive sneak preview of a new song from her upcoming album. It’s a funny, heartfelt, and inspiring chat you won’t want to miss!