I had the immense honor of speaking with a guest I have admired for well over a decade: author, retired broadcaster, and advocate Jeff Bell. Discovering Jeff’s groundbreaking books—his memoir Rewind, Replay, Repeat and his invaluable guide When in Doubt, Make Belief—profoundly shaped my own perspective on navigating life after my own OCD diagnosis.

During our conversation, Jeff openly shared his powerful journey of navigating an elaborate "double life" while hosting a major radio program in the Bay Area, the terrifying vulnerability of sharing his diagnosis publicly in 2007, and the incredible, open-armed warmth he found within the mental health advocacy community.

We discuss the core mechanics of OCD, discussing how the disorder fundamentally drives a grueling search for absolute certainty, and why learning to actively live in the gray area is the key to managing it. Using a brilliant swimming pool metaphor to illustrate the realities of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, Jeff highlighted that while sitting with your worst fears is undeniably hard work, the payoff of a reclaimed life is entirely worth it. Whether you are living with OCD yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to understand the disorder beyond the common stereotypes, Jeff’s insights on paying kindness forward are deeply inspiring. Check out the full episode and visit jeffbellonline.com to learn more about his incredible work and upcoming advocacy events.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• Jeff Bell's Website
• Information on the 2026 IOCDF Conference in Seattle (July 9-12)