Spill Your Guts

Ever feel like you're not as capable as others think you are, or that it's only a matter of time before someone figures out you don't belong? You're not alone. In this episode of Spill Your Guts, clinical psychologist, author, and ACT expert Dr. Jill Stoddard joins us to unpack the imposter phenomenon, why it's so common, and why calling it a "syndrome" may be doing more harm than good.

Drawing from her book Imposter No More, Dr. Stoddard explores how self-doubt can persist even in the face of success, the role of marginalization and social comparison, and the different ways we try to compensate for feeling like a fraud. She also shares practical strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help us respond differently to difficult thoughts and feelings, get more comfortable with discomfort, and take meaningful action even when self-doubt shows up.

Connect with Dr. Jill Stoddard: https://jillstoddard.com. Explore her book Imposter No More, take her imposter quiz, and learn more about her new podcast We the Sunlight on her website.

To support our work, find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media. 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access 24/7 mental health support, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.  

Generosity isn't just beneficial for the people on the receiving end. Research suggests that giving to others can also boost our own happiness, strengthen our connections, and bring more meaning to our lives.

In this brief skills episode, we talk about the many ways we can be generous beyond donating money, how a scarcity mindset can hold us back, and why giving without expecting anything in return can be so rewarding. We also discuss the importance of balancing generosity with healthy boundaries and remembering to extend that same kindness to ourselves.

Download the free infographic and worksheet! www.gutsnonprofit.org/infographics/generosity

To support our work, find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media. 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access 24/7 mental health support, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room. 

Dr. Taylor Kahn shares the deeply personal experience of losing her mom while she was in graduate school and learning how to live with grief over time. Taylor talks about the physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and existential sides of grief, what actually helped her feel supported, and why common messages like “it gets easier” or “at least…” can miss the mark.

We also talk about the limits of the traditional “stages of grief” model, the importance of finding other people who understand loss, and why Taylor believes in grieving out loud rather than hiding or minimizing what you’re going through. 

It’s a conversation about loss, connection, making space for difficult emotions, and finding ways to carry the people we love with us even after they’re gone.

Connect with Taylor:

• Join Taylor’s Instagram community @grief.interruptions 

• Located in CA or OH? Schedule a free therapy consultation with Dr. Kahn at The San Francisco Center for Compassion-Focused Therapies: [email protected]; https://www.sfcompassion.com/our-team/taylor 

To support our work, find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media. 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access 24/7 mental health support, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.  

Talking about suicide can feel scary, especially when you’re worried you’ll say the wrong thing or won’t know what to do if someone says “yes.”

In this episode, we break down how to talk to someone you love when you’re worried they may be thinking about suicide. We introduce CLEAR, a simple framework to help you notice warning signs, ask directly about suicide, listen and validate, connect someone with support, and follow up afterward. We also tackle common fears, including what to do if they get angry, refuse to talk, or you worry that what you do won’t be enough.

You don’t need to be a therapist or have the perfect words. You just need to know how to start the conversation, and what you can do next.

Resources

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988.

The Trevor Project: 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678.

Trans Lifeline: Peer support by and for trans peopleCall 877-565-8860.

If someone is in immediate, life-threatening danger, seek emergency help.

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media. 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access 24/7 mental health support, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.  

What happens when you grow up believing that mental health struggles aren’t something people like you are supposed to have?

In this episode of Spill Your Guts, mental health activist Dior Vargas shares her deeply personal journey from experiencing depression, trauma, and suicidal thoughts at a young age to becoming an outspoken advocate for more inclusive conversations about mental health.

Dior talks about the cultural messages that taught her to be strong rather than vulnerable, how a lack of representation shaped her understanding of mental illness, and why she created the People of Color and Mental Illness Photo Project. We also talk about the barriers marginalized communities still face in accessing quality mental health care, the healing power of community, and what Dior has learned about taking ownership of her own mental health.

It’s a conversation about vulnerability, representation, finding connection, and having the guts to keep showing up, even when it’s hard.

Connect with Dior: https://www.diorvargas.com/; @dior_vargas

To support our work, find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media. 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access 24/7 mental health support, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.  

In this practical and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Paige Thompson joins Spill Your Guts to explore why vulnerability is one of the most powerful paths to deeper connection. Drawing from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), she explains why opening up can feel so risky, and how learning to reach for the people we love can help us build safer, more connected relationships.

Dr. Thompson breaks down what it means to be accessible, responsive, and engaged with a partner, and shares simple ways to practice these skills in everyday life. We also explore what happens when vulnerability isn’t met well and how couples can repair after moments of disconnection.

This episode is a reminder that needing other people isn’t a weakness. Connection requires the courage to let ourselves be seen, and to show up with care when someone else takes that risk with us. 

Connect with Dr. Paige Thompson: https://www.drpaigethompson.com/; @couplestherapypaige

Download the free infographic and worksheet! www.gutsnonprofit.org/infographics#connection

To support our work, find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media. 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access 24/7 mental health support, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.  

In this honest and thought-provoking conversation, Hensley, a death coach and founder of Inure Planning, shares how a series of personal losses led her to a career focused on helping people build a healthier relationship with death and dying. She opens up about the emotional and logistical realities of navigating death, including planning her mother’s funeral and witnessing the impact of meaningful vs. disconnected memorials, and how these experiences reshaped the way she thinks about grief, legacy, and living. 

We discuss practical ways to start conversations about death, alternative end-of-life options, and why planning ahead can be a gift to the people we love. This conversation challenges the idea that talking about death is something to avoid and instead shows how facing it can help us clarify what matters, appreciate our relationships, and live more intentionally. 

Connect with Hensley & Inure Planning: https://www.inureplanning.com

To support our work, find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media. 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access 24/7 mental health support, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room

When something difficult is on the horizon—a hard conversation, a medical diagnosis, a job interview, or the loss of a loved one—our minds often prepare by imagining everything that could go wrong. But what if there was a more effective way to prepare? 

In this episode, we introduce the DBT skill of Coping Ahead, an evidence-based strategy that helps you stop rehearsing catastrophe and start practicing how you'll respond effectively, no matter what happens. You'll learn why our brains default to worst-case scenarios, how mental rehearsal can build confidence, and a simple five-step exercise you can use before your next difficult life event. 

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media

To support guts’ work, visit our ⁠⁠⁠website: www.gutsnonprofit.org 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access the free 24/7 Crisis Hotline, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room. 

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mohamed Abdallah Elnakib shares how activism became a way to survive, cope, and stay grounded in his values. He unpacks what activism means beyond protests, describing it as living in alignment with your “why” and taking action in ways both big and small.

Dr. Elnakib opens up about the emotional toll of navigating injustice, including his experiences being arrested during the George Floyd protests, and how those moments were both traumatic and transformative. He reflects on the tension between burnout and empowerment, showing how activism can be both deeply draining and deeply nourishing, and how learning to shift between frontline and behind-the-scenes advocacy is key to sustainability.

This episode is a reminder that doing something, however small, can restore a sense of agency, connection, and purpose. And that showing up for what matters, takes guts.

Read the article: Elnakib, M. M., & Turner, M. (2023). The power of activism as self-care: An autoethnography of the arrest of activists in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Women & Therapy, 46(4), 391–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2023.2286056

To support our work, find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media. 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access 24/7 mental health support, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.  

When we’re stressed, overwhelmed, or going through a difficult period in life, it can become harder to feel joy, look forward to things, and stay connected to what matters most.

In this episode, we explore anhedonia - when it becomes harder to feel interest, enjoyment, or pleasure in things that used to feel meaningful - and skills that help us notice, appreciate, and create more positive experiences.

Drawing from Positive Affect Training, developed by Dr. Michelle Craske and colleagues (2019), we discuss how we can train our brains to make more space for moments of joy, connection, gratitude, accomplishment, and meaning.

This isn’t about forcing happiness or pretending everything is okay. It’s about learning how to reconnect with the moments that remind us life can still feel meaningful.

Resources

Craske, M. G., Meuret, A. E., Ritz, T., Treanor, M., Dour, H. J., & Rosenfield, D. (2019). Positive affect treatment for depression and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial for a core feature of anhedonia. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(5), 457–471. 

Loving-kindness practice from Dr. Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org/practices/loving-kindness-meditation-2/

Music Credit: Nathan Byrne with Reel Byrne Media

To support guts’ work, visit our ⁠⁠⁠website: www.gutsnonprofit.org 

Note: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical/therapeutic advice. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be mental health advice or a substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health or medical professional. If you become distressed and need support, call 988 to access the free 24/7 Crisis Hotline, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.