Rebel Therapy: w/ Katie and Michelle

Rebel Culture - 'Dark Matter' (Apple TV+) and the Psychology of Regret: The Lives You Didn’t Choose

On this episode of the Rebel Therapy Podcast, we discuss Apple TV+’s Dark Matter (showrunner/author Blake Crouch; starring Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly), centred on a “box” that enables access to parallel lives via superposition. We unpack the premise of “Evil/Entitled Jason,” who abducts another version of himself to steal the life he regrets not choosing, and use it to explore real-life crossroads: how choices inherently involve loss, why unacknowledged grief can fuel “grass is greener” thinking and midlife dissatisfaction, and how staying present and making incremental conscious decisions can reduce regret.

We also connect the show to relationship dynamics, arguing that partners and friends “choose apart” through small missed bids, conflict avoidance, and skipped repair conversations: tiny course shifts that eventually create major distance. We close by reflecting on whether they’d revisit past choices and the desire to “tour” alternate tracks without harming anyone.

#RebelTherapyPodcast #RebelCulture #darkmatter

00:00 Choose Your Adventure Opener

00:17 Welcome To Rebel Culture

01:00 Dark Matter Premise Explained

02:15 Season One Clip Setup

03:25 Jason Switch And Fallout

05:49 Crossroads And Conscious Choice

07:00 Presence And Course Corrections

11:08 Grief And The Roads Not Taken

17:05 Relationship Bids And Ruptures

22:39 Would You Choose Differently

25:40 Choose Your Adventure Callback

27:28 Wrap Up And Subscribe

RTP Guests: Third Acts: Losing the Safety Net and Finding Your Story Again

In this episode we welcome writer and longtime friend Robyn Burnett for a spontaneous conversation about “third acts” in life - what happens when stability ends and you’re pushed back into uncertainty. Robyn shares how her creative first act shifted into a “witness protection” second act focused on stability, benefits, and raising her kids, then changed again as she felt it was time to leave her long-term school role.

They explore fear of repeating past “failures,” reframing success vs. failure as experimentation, and using baby steps and present-moment awareness...especially when anxiety spikes at 3 a.m.

Robyn discusses returning to writing after years of trauma, performing a family show at the Calgary Fringe Festival, and using a patched jean jacket as a metaphor for integrating life experiences into a new chapter.

#RebelTherapyPodcast #RobynBurnett #storyteller #rebeltherapyguests

Find Robyn Burnett:'East Hill Boys' on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hBrGPCO'Crash Into Me: The World of Roswell' on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0he2puU1www.robynsburnett.com

00:00 Three Act Life Setup

00:34 Meet Robyn Burnett

02:01 From Writing to Stability

04:10 Leaving the Safe Life

06:31 Designing a Third Act

11:53 Fringe Festival Leap

14:38 Safety Net vs Self Support

16:31 Reframing Failure as Experiments

17:30 Writing Trauma and East Hill Boys

18:53 When Writing Became Work

19:16 Returning to the Manuscript

20:46 Baby Steps and Experimentation

22:37 Letting Go of Outcomes

24:04 3AM Fear and Grounding

30:21 Trauma and Rewriting the Story

31:15 The Story Jacket Metaphor

34:36 Badges of Honor Wrap-Up

35:19 Where to Find Robyn

Rebel Culture: Ted Lasso, Bad Coaching, and Why You Shouldn’t “Blossom” Without Support

Rebel Therapy Podcast

We use a Ted Lasso halftime scene—featuring the “risk to remain tight in a bud” quote—to explore when growth and vulnerability are worth the risk and when self-protection makes sense. We contrast Ted’s supportive coaching with his assistant Alice’s criticism-driven approach, linking “bad coaching” to authoritative, shame-based parenting that blocks healthy development.

We argue resilience and self-discipline are learned skills that require time, structure, and safe support from coaches, parents, or therapists, and that people who feel stuck usually aren’t choosing to stay small; they often lack alternatives, skills, or support.

We discuss how internalized criticism becomes an “internal bad coach,” and how therapy can help replace it with a more encouraging, effective inner voice.

#RebelTherapyPodcast #RebelCulture #tedlassoseason4

00:00 Blossoming Is Risky

00:11 Welcome and Ted Lasso Setup

01:06 The Bud to Blossom Quote

02:36 Coaching vs Parenting Styles

04:48 Gentle Growth and Timing

06:59 When You Never Blossomed

09:05 Safety and Vulnerability

11:29 Internalized Bad Coach

14:55 Helping Parents Change

16:28 Fear vs Inspiration

17:43 Wrap Up and Reflection

Rebel Takes: Hope, Bad Faith, and the Poisoned Room: When Conflict Isn’t Negotiation

We return to the Rebel Therapy Podcast after time away and discuss a “weird summer” feeling that’s like daytime turning to twilight, then anchor the episode in recent Canada–U.S. talks where Canada pulled out because the issue shifted from trade to sovereignty. Using that as a lens, we distinguish healthy conflict, ie. disagreement handled through negotiation in good faith, from situations where the other party isn’t acting in good faith.

We describe the visceral moment you realize intentions have shifted, and explore choices at that crossroads: severing ties when possible, or staying while protecting yourself, like wearing a gas mask in a room of poisoned air, by limiting transparency and exposure.

We emphasize pausing, taking stock, adjusting expectations and “hope,” and moving through acceptance, grief, and disappointment to regain clarity, ending with Maya Angelou’s reminder to believe people when they show you who they are.

#rebeltherapypodcast #healthyconflict #lakeontario

00:00 Hope That Keeps You Stuck

00:13 Welcome Back And Rebel Take

01:09 Twilight Summer Mood

01:52 Trade Talks And Good Faith

02:36 Healthy Conflict Skills

04:00 When Intentions Feel Off

07:28 Poisoned Air And Gas Masks

08:52 Agreements Transparency And Safety

12:03 The Cost Of Staying

13:22 Pause Take Stock And Pivot

16:54 Shock Acceptance And Grief

19:47 Letting Go Of Dead Hope

21:16 Believe Them And Wrap Up

22:39 Like Subscribe And Goodbye

Denial, “Fake It Till You Make It,” and the Cost of Avoiding Feelings, ft. Widow’s Bay

In this Rebel Therapy “Rebel Culture” episode, we react to a comedic clip from Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay, using the mayor’s rigid denial of obvious paranormal events as a lens to discuss denial as a protective strategy.

We explore why people deny reality when the truth feels too scary or threatens identity, and how denial (and the “fake it till you make it” mindset) can damage relationships by creating barriers to intimacy, especially between parents and teens.

From a Gestalt perspective, we emphasize not forcing feelings, honouring resistance and fear, and learning to tolerate emotions with support. We also note suppression can be useful short-term but carries costs if it becomes the only tool, arguing for flexible coping strategies instead of rigid default responses.

#RebelTherapyPodcast #RebelCulture #widowsbay

00:00 Denial Cold Open

00:12 Meet The Hosts

01:31 Widow's Bay Setup

02:20 Why We Deny

04:45 Denial Hurts Bonds

06:16 Feelings And Resistance

07:18 Therapy Support Matters

09:21 Fake It Till You Make It

12:12 Flexible Coping Toolbox

13:42 Back To Widow's Bay

14:32 Consequences And Choice

16:02 Rigidity In Real Life

16:50 Wrap Up And Next Week

🗣️ Rebel Therapy Podcast: Episode 56

🎙️Why the World Cup Feels Like a Magic Spell: Collective Effervescence, Fandom, and Community

On this episode of Rebel Therapy Podcast,we talk about football/soccer and what the World Cup reveals about human connection, while noting we’re aware of FIFA corruption but choosing not to focus on it.

Michelle introduces the concept of “collective effervescence,” describing the intense emotional unity that can emerge in crowds, and references a journal article arguing that football emotions are co-created through players, fans, chanting, anticipation, and the unfolding game.

We compare watching sports alone versus in a bar or stadium, explore fleeting affinity, tribalism, and the rarity of shared “monocultural” experiences post-internet, including Katie’s World Cup conversation with a Moroccan Canadian Uber driver.

We frame sports as a potential container for community, sportsmanship, and disagreement, then close with where to find oour merch and how to follow, and Michelle says she’s cheering for Messi and “magic.”

#RebelTherapyPodcast #worldcup2026

00:00 Welcome and Hosts

00:16 Merch and Website Plug

00:47 World Cup Focus Disclaimer

02:07 Collective Effervescence Explained

04:12 Watching Together vs Alone

05:43 Magic Spell of Fandom

09:30 Rare Shared Cultural Moments

11:44 World Cup as Connection Catalyst

13:13 Sportsmanship and Disagreement

19:33 Community Takeaway and Wrap

21:57 Final Match Predictions and Messi

22:53 Goodbye

🗣️ Rebel Therapy Podcast: Episode 55

🎙️Silo S3:E1 Therapy Breakdown: Memory, Identity, and the Gut Feeling You’re Being Gaslit

In this episode of Rebel Therapy Podcast, we react in real time to a spoiler-filled breakdown of Silo Season 3, Episode 1, where Juliette’s memory is being chemically suppressed and a doctored video is used to “prove” a false story about where she went.

We use the scene - especially Camille’s physical, intimate redirection and denial of Juliette’s felt sense - to unpack how memory ties to identity, how curiosity drives truth-seeking, and why gas-lighting can feel nauseating or suffocating in the body.

The conversation explores how people learn to distrust themselves for safety and relational survival, how trust gives others power, and why intentional manipulation is harder to repair than mistakes. We end by emphasizing autonomy, safety planning, and reconnecting with your own internal signals.

#rebeltherapypodcast #Episode55 @siloseason3

00:00 Podcast Surprise Setup

00:33 Silo Recap And Spoilers

01:32 The Cafeteria Memory Trap

02:52 Themes Memory Curiosity Gaslighting

03:59 Visceral Reaction Body Signals

06:28 Why We Doubt Ourselves

09:21 Trust Betrayal And Gaslighting

11:53 Repair Vs Abuse Boundaries

15:27 Therapist Lens Safety Planning

16:35 Rebuilding Trust In Yourself

18:04 Wrap Up Like Subscribe

🗣️ Rebel Therapy Podcast: Episode 54

🎙️House of the Dragon, Misogyny, and Power...Plus a Real-Time Lesson in Healthy Conflict

In this episode, we break down the House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere (spoilers included), using Rhaenyra’s pivotal moment: when her son locks her away to prevent her from going to battle, only to die in her place, as a lens to explore the tension between “theoretical” and “practical” power. We dig into the gendered weight of her line, “I may appear to have the weak and feeble body of a woman, but I possess the heart and spirit of a king,” and question whether the series is critiquing or quietly reinforcing systems of patriarchy, monarchy, and misogyny. But this episode isn’t just about the show…it’s about what happens between us. As therapists, we find ourselves in a genuine, in-the-moment disagreement. Katie names the show as classist, misogynistic, and potentially harmful, struggling to tolerate its framing. Michelle, while not dismissing those concerns, shares her appreciation for fantasy as a genre, the show’s production value, political complexity, and its attempt at women-centred storytelling. What unfolds is more than a debate - it’s a live demonstration of healthy conflict. We stay engaged without collapsing into defensiveness or disconnection. We name judgments as they arise, take responsibility for our reactions, and remain curious about each other’s perspectives. There’s tension, but also repair. Difference, without rupture. The conversation becomes a case study in how relationships can hold opposing views without eroding trust, highlighting the role of vulnerability, respect, and emotional regulation in navigating conflict well. We end not in agreement, but in willingness: Katie agrees to keep watching, and we commit to revisiting the conversation. Because sometimes, the goal isn’t resolution…it’s staying in relationship while we disagree.

#rebeltherapypodcast #episode54 #houseofthedragon #healthyconflict

00:00 Welcome Back Hosts

00:08 Why Dragons Matter

01:22 Rhaenyra Locked In

03:44 Power Versus Prejudice

05:02 Rejecting The Premise

07:30 Why The Show Appeals

10:48 Healthy Conflict Demo

15:56 Judgment And Insecurity

19:35 Staying Connected In Disagreement

24:55 Offer To Watch Part Two

27:00 Wrap Up And Subscribe

🗣️ Rebel Therapy Podcast: Episode 53

🎙️Would You Become a Vampire? Immortality, Toxic Love, and Who Gets to Tell the Story

This episode we discuss the enduring pull of vampires through the lens of AMC’s Interview with the Vampire (season two and the rebrand toward The Vampire Lestat), using the series to explore human themes like immortality, meaning, loneliness, and connection.

Katie recounts being terrified of vampires as a child after reading a “true-life” style book, and we unpack why vampires feel both seductive and dangerous because they mirror humanity and morality. We examine Lestat and Louis’ toxic, enduring relationship, including unequal power dynamics tied to who “created” whom, and connect this to parenting, mentorship, and shifting roles as kids become adults.

We also explore narrative control, bias, memory, and the idea that two perspectives can be true, emphasizing contact over agreement and apologizing for impact versus intent. The episode ends with a debate on whether we’d choose vampirism - what would you choose???

#rebeltherapypodcast #episode53 #thevampirelestat #interviewwiththevampire

00:00 Vampire Therapy Setup

01:17 Childhood Vampire Fear

04:21 Loneliness and Immortality

05:15 Toxic Love Patterns

07:39 Power and Parenting Parallels

11:11 Whose Story Is True

14:05 Bias Memory and Contact

18:13 Mortality Pain and Meaning

23:34 Gestalt and Agency

25:21 Would You Become One

26:44 Show Themes and Wrap Up

🗣️ Rebel Therapy Podcast: Episode 52

🎙️Well & Mortal: Why “Fixing Your Body” Might Be the Problem

This episode we talk with osteopath Jill Bodak about the unusual intimacy of long-term bodywork and how it creates a space for honest conversations about what it means to be well.

Jill describes bridging the divide she sees between therapists and movement professionals, arguing that pain, movement patterns, nervous system tone, and lived experience are inseparable. We explore how touch, mirroring, and relationship can restore people’s ability to feel and sense themselves, especially when they’re cut off from bodily data.

Jill critiques wellness culture’s “optimization” promises and the fantasy of outrunning aging, illness, and death, sharing why she renamed her practice “Well and Mortal” to insist that wellness must include vulnerability and reality - an idea echoed in Gestalt therapy’s focus on flexibility, balance, and working with what is.

#rebeltherapypodcast #episode52 #jillbodak #osteopathy #wellness

Connect with Jill Bodak: wellandmortal.comInstagram: @wellandmortal

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:50 Osteopathy and Boundaries

03:06 Therapists vs Movement Pros

05:49 Gestalt Meets the Body

07:42 How We Learn to Feel

13:36 Mirroring and Sensing Tools

14:34 Trust Built Over Time

21:02 Wellness Myths and Well and Mortal

25:52 Mental Health and Being Human

29:16 Rebel Therapy and Reality

32:00 What It Means to Rebel

34:43 Where to Find Jill

35:22 Final Thanks and Wrap Up