It’s our very first guest episode on the show and WHAT A GUEST! I have mentioned Dr Amy Johnson in a number of episodes so it was a dream to chat with her. Dr Amy is a coach, teacher, author, psychologist, speaker and all-round-amazing human. She’s an expert on helping people end habits and anxiety with her no-willpower approach and it was through Amy’s work that I first came to the understanding that I share on the show. 

Are you checking this out before 12th September 2022? Amy's giving YOU an enormous 25% discount off the next Little School of Big Change, her flagship programme (which I did many years ago!). Details for the School here: https://dramyjohnson.com/lsbc-fall-registration-page/
Enter code: LSBCCLUB at checkout to get the discount. 

Please join Dr Amy and me to explore:  

• Amy’s first insight into our true nature as humans
• Her last experience of ‘anxiety’ and how that looks different to her now
• What anxiety even is and how we innocently make it ‘bad’
• Dr Amy answers a listener question about ‘when a behaviour becomes a habit’.

And: 

• It’s LOVE BINGO! Tell me how many times I use the word ‘love’ in the episode and you’ll win a prize** 
• What would Dr Amy spend $475 on?
• Want to be a guest on the show or want to nominate one? Email me at [email protected] 
• **Only kidding. There is no prize. 

Question, comment, idea? Contact me here.

It's time to put together everything we've been exploring on the show so far into a yummy recipe. If you want to experience WAY LESS anxiety, worry, overwhelm, insecurity, doubt and overthinking, and WAY MORE peace, calm, ease and joy....this one's for you.  

Come and explore: 

• A romp through the main themes of the show so far 
• Why do we overthink and have the shitty feelings anyway?
• The misunderstanding around why it sucks so much 
• How to see through the things that are keeping us stuck to feel all the good shit 

And: 

• We are making a cake so grab your apron!
• Anxious Alice talks with her mouth full 
• I have a special announcement!

Mentioned:

• Grab the recipe booklet and video at siobhanfriel.com/freething20 
• Want to be a guest on the show or want to suggest one? Email me at [email protected] 

Question, comment, idea? Contact me here.

If you like the sound of not having to believe your crappy, hurtful, mean and scary thoughts but you want to know for sure that it works this way, or you need 'proof', then this episode is for you. 

Come and explore: 

• How do we know that our shitty thoughts can't be trusted?
• Where's the proof?
• Come to think of it, what is proof?
• The enormous difference that our relationship with our thinking makes in our life 
• How to explore this 'safely' without missing out on any important messages from your brain

And: 

• Why a puddle of gooey brain-melt is a good thing 
• What pudding has to do with all this stuff 
• The hangout is soon! Head to siobhanfriel.com/hangout to get details and join us if you want to, or you can submit a question if you can't make it live.

Question, comment, idea? Contact me here.

Do you suffer from repetitive, ultra-distressing, shit-feeling thoughts? You're not alone, friend. Today we're talking about those peace-stealing intrusive thoughts.  Join me. 

Come and explore: 

• Why we get intrusive thoughts  
• How we innocently keep them in place by adding extra meaning to them (again, innocently)
• How to see intrusive thoughts in a fresh way and find a new freedom
• What a hologram hedge maze and BBQ-fork-wielding murderers have to do with intrusive thoughts

And: 

• Massive overshares from me including my intrusive thoughts 
• Anxious Alice doesn't listen at all and goes in to a spiral of despair. Oh, Alice. 
• The hangout is soon! Head to siobhanfriel.com/hangout to get details and join us if you want to. 

Question, comment, idea? Contact me here.

Gosh, it sure looks like those other humans can make life hard sometimes. It's because of them that we get upset, angry, anxious and annoyed. If they were different, we'd be happier. Right?

Erm, nope. We got that wrong. 

Let's take a fresh look at our relationships and interactions and see if we can all have a nicer time co-existing on Earth. 

Come and explore: 

• The ways in which ALL humans are exactly the same 
• The only difference we have (it's a big one though)
• OK I can't hold it in: the difference is our thinking (bet you guessed that, right?) 
• How understanding how the other humans work can help us all get along 
• Also, why we should definitely not change our appearance, or do anything at all, in response to being ghosted 

Question, comment, idea? Contact me at siobhanfriel.com

If your brain is always hurling itself toward the Worst Possible Outcome with no regard for likelihood, reason or reality, then HIGH FIVE my friend! You have a healthy, normal brain.

Come and explore: 

• How predicting the worst possible thing was a key driver in the evolution of our entire species 
• Catastrophising and doom-forecasting are normal....but totally suck
• Learn about the amazing way us humans are designed to suffer a lot less when it comes to this stuff 
• Seeing something new about our true nature can connect us back to peace 
• Is Anxious Alice stepping on Siobhán's toes? 
• Does every other country apart from New Zealand have the Door Dash service?

What's your relationship style...with your brain? Take the quiz at siobhanfriel.com/quiz

Mentioned:
It's been a minute since Dr Amy Johnson was mentioned on the show. Check out the podcast episode referred to here. 

Question, comment, idea? Contact Siobhán here.

I answer a few of your questions about the stuff we're talking about on the podcast. Y'know, stuff like seeing thoughts and feelings in a new way and how this helps with anxiety and uncovering inner peace and all that. Right?

Come and explore the answers to...

• "But what about when thoughts are true...?
• "I don't have time to let my mind settle"
• "My life sucks!"
• "I'm still not taking action even when I feel better"

Also

• A few ponderings that might help in frenzied problem-solving mode
• And - are YOU Anxious Alice? 

For details about the free live sessions mentioned in the show, get your butt on the mailing list at siobhanfriel.com/subscribe.

Question, comment, idea or suggestion? Email me at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram @siobhanfriel

Thought is so much more than our personal, me-me-me thinking. Thought creates our life and understanding this incredible ....energy....thingy....means we can use it to our advantage to have a life of more peace and ease, and less anxiety and stress. 

Sound good?

Come and explore: 

• How - yep! - thought is creating every darn thing 
• How seeing thought on a bigger, more expansive level can help us understand what's going on 
• Learn about a simple distinction which can free us from tangled overthinking 
• Metaphors this week include novelty penis ice cubes. 

Question, comment, idea or suggestion? Email me at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram @siobhanfriel

Tried all the things to calm your frantic mind but you're still not fixed? Are you earnestly on the lookout for the next tool, technique, strategy or program to be a less f*cked-up human?

Stop! There's nothing you need to do. 

I'm doggy-sitting for this one and you'll hear some considerable tail-thumps. If you're ok with that, then...

Come and explore: 

• Why a tool, technique or strategy looks really compelling and we keep going back for more
• How they look like they work...sometimes...but this is an illusion 
• If not a tool or technique, how do we find freedom from worry, anxiety, overwhelm and all of that horrid-feeling humanness? 
• Metaphors this week include burnt pizzas and sacrificing goats 

Question, comment, idea or suggestion? Contact me on Instagram @siobhanfriel or siobhanfriel.com

If you are like: "yeah, I kinda see anxiety and worry is just a speedy mind but what about when a Real Life Bad Thing Happens?"...then this is the episode for you. 

Come and explore: 

• Bad Things are part of being human and we'll all feel pain (sorry)...but we don't have to suffer 
• What even is a Bad Thing?
• How do we innocently make a thing Bad?
• How to see the nature of experience in a new way to help navigate times of f*cking terribleness
• All explored through a very questionable metaphor of lakes and hailstones 
• ...with free cuddles at the end 

Question, comment, idea or suggestion? Contact me at siobhanfriel.com or Instagram @siobhanfriel