The unqualifiedtherapists's Podcast

Pittsburgh most loved neighbor, Mr. Rogers, just posthumously celebrated what would have been his 96th birthday this past week.  As a tribute, we wanted to re-share this beautiful conversation with two of our favorite neighbors, Ryan & Gregg.

  

Two of Pittsburgh's kindest men, Ryan Rydzewski and Gregg Behr, join us to talk about what we love most: learning how to be better humans.  Their book, When You Wonder You're Learning, centers itself around America's favorite neighbor, Fred Rogers.  As Gregg's role model, Mister Rogers holds that title for so many others as well as holding a special place in countless people's hearts, including ours.  Fred's philosophies, use of science, and genuine kindness made him a safe and magical being.  So magical in fact, that everything he taught us, the blueprints he left for us, are more relevant now than ever before proving time holds no bounds on love.  So grab a cardigan (and possibly some tissues), cozy up, and listen in as we slow down long enough to embrace the lessons that have been laid in front of us for over 50 years.

 

Our Guests:

Gregg Behr is a father, children’s advocate, and director for the Grable Foundation whose work is inspired by his hero, Fred Rogers. For more than a decade, he has helped lead Remake Learning—a network of educators, scientists, artists, and makers he founded in 2007—to international renown. Formed in Rogers’ real-life neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Remake Learning has turned heads everywhere from Forbes to the World Economic Forum for its efforts to ignite children’s curiosity, encourage creativity, and foster justice and belonging in schools, libraries, museums, and more. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and also Duke University, Gregg holds honorary degrees from Carlow University and Saint Vincent College. He’s an advisor to the Brookings Institution and the Fred Rogers Center, and has been cited by Barack Obama, Richard Branson, and the Disruptor Foundation as an innovator and thought leader.

 

Website: GreggBehr.com

Twitter: @greggbehr

Ryan Rydzewski is a writer whose science and education reporting has garnered several awards and fellowships. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, he taught elementary school in south Louisiana before earning an MFA in nonfiction writing from Chatham University. As a freelancer, his magazine stories focus on everything from schools to space travel to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and his poems and other pieces appear in several journals. A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Ryan lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Jacqueline.

 

Website: RyanRydzewski.com

Twitter: @RyanRydzewski

As we take some time for Amy to recover from surgery and prepare for our conversation around Purity culture (yikes!) we felt it was important to revisit this conversation with Sex and Relationship Expert Lauren Joyce.  So hold on folks, this is a spicy one!  Grab your glass of whatever gets you through and take notes...she is dropping knowledge left and right!

Definitely NSFW or children!

We have “The Qualified” back on pod this episode! Dr. Katie joins us to discuss the Netflix docuseries American Nightmare, which tells the true story of Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn. This is a wild story where the truth is stranger than fiction. 

The police initially did not believe Aaron's report of Denise's kidnapping, leading to victim blaming and confirmation bias. Then they didn’t believe Denise when she returned and explained the story of her kidnapping. Why aren’t victims believed? We don’t solve that one, but have a few ideas. This is a difficult story with no real answers, but we are grateful for the police officer who solved this case and brought justice for Denise and Aaron.

We love you Warriors! 

Amy & Sarah

 

Takeaways

Confirmation bias can lead to victim blaming and a failure to believe victims' accounts of traumatic events.

Trauma can cause a variety of reactions, and there is no one 'correct' way for a victim to behave.

The impact of trauma and personality issues on behavior is complex and requires further study.

Denial and lack of information can contribute to a lack of understanding and empathy for victims.

 

Please help us continue to make these podcasts. We need your support.

This podcast means the world to us and hopefully to many of you out there. We hope to continue to put out episodes for you each week, share stories, bring on professionals, and create a tool box of mental health tools to help you on your journey. In order to do that we need your help. Would you please consider joining our exclusive community on Patreon? Not only will you help to keep the mics on for us, but you will also get the inside tea with everything UT.  Check it out here: Patreon  If you would rather not join the community, but would like to give a one time gift, you can do that here! The biggest THANK YOU to our supporters–you are the reason we can do what we do.

Find all things UTI here.

Have a story to share? Contact us here.

Help us out with a short survey for what you want to hear next on the pod.

Starting your own podcast and want an easy and affordable platform? Get your first month FREE by using this link.

*The Unqualified Therapists Podcast is not giving medical advice as they are not actual doctors (Hence the name: Unqualified 😉). This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and all medical advice should be taken from a Qualified Doctor. UT shares stories and resources, not medical advice.

It’s February! 😍 ❤️The month of love and we are asking the question, do you need to love yourself before you love others? 

Believe it or not Sarah and I have different opinions on the subject. 🙂It certainly makes for a good discussion and one that can push us all to reflect a little more on our own lives when it comes to our love of selves and others. 

You also get a new segment this week that we are calling “Not News.” It’s news to us, but not really news at all. Just some things that won’t stop living in our head.

What do you think, do you need to love yourself before you love others? Weigh in on our Instagram stories, send an email ([email protected]) or our favorite, leave a voicemail and let us know.

Xo,

Amy & Sarah

 

This podcast means the world to us and hopefully to many of you out there. We hope to continue to put out episodes for you each week, share stories, bring on professionals, and create a tool box of mental health tools to help you on your journey. In order to do that we need your help. Would you please consider joining our exclusive community on Patreon? Not only will you help to keep the mics on for us, but you will also get the inside tea with everything UT.  Check it out here: Patreon  If you would rather not join the community, but would like to give a one time gift, you can do that here! The biggest THANK YOU to our supporters–you are the reason we can do what we do.

Find all things UTI here.

Have a story to share? Contact us here.

Help us out with a short survey for what you want to hear next on the pod.

Starting your own podcast and want an easy and affordable platform? Get your first month FREE by using this link.

*The Unqualified Therapists Podcast is not giving medical advice as they are not actual doctors (Hence the name: Unqualified 😉). This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and all medical advice should be taken from a Qualified Doctor. UT shares stories and resources, not medical advice.

Our goal with this podcast has always been to stop the stigma surrounding mental health, to normalize the conversation and to share stories so people feel less alone. Often men’s mental health is stigmatized even more than women, but the truth is we all struggle and all need help. When we recorded this episode it was in November, which was Movemeber: Men’s Mental Health month. We love that there is a specific month to put the spotlight on men’s mental health, but it is a topic that we should be talking about all year long.

Eric shares his journey from childhood to present day. This is a story of resilience, broken cycles of abuse, vulnerability, asking for help, and rising above adversity. The tools he uses are ones that many resist because of their background, upbringing, or beliefs, but Eric shares with us how therapy and medication truly changed his life. 

Taking care of our mental health day to day, when tragedy strikes, when we are broken down, when we are in crisis, or all of the above is hard to do. We hope that Eric’s story can bring you hope, encouragement, and feel less alone.

Also…be sure to check out Eric and his band, The Altered Egos  incredible music (which you hear in this episode) and their Instagram.

Xo,

Amy & Sarah

TW: Discussion of physical abuse and substance abuse 

This podcast means the world to us and hopefully to many of you out there. We hope to continue to put out episodes for you each week, share stories, bring on professionals, and create a tool box of mental health tools to help you on your journey. In order to do that we need your help. Would you please consider joining our exclusive community on Patreon? Not only will you help to keep the mics on for us, but you will also get the inside tea with everything UT.  Check it out here: Patreon  If you would rather not join the community, but would like to give a one time gift, you can do that here! The biggest THANK YOU to our supporters–you are the reason we can do what we do.

 

Find all things UTI here.

Have a story to share? Contact us here.

Help us out with a short survey for what you want to hear next on the pod.

Starting your own podcast and want an easy and affordable platform? Get your first month FREE by using this link.

*The Unqualified Therapists Podcast is not giving medical advice as they are not actual doctors (Hence the name: Unqualified 😉). This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and all medical advice should be taken from a Qualified Doctor. UT shares stories and resources, not medical advice.

Happy 2024 Warriors! 

Resolutions are hard to keep; they can feel big and overwhelming. They often cause us to feel like we failed, which can often lead us to sadness, depression, or anxiety. And we don’t need anymore things in our lives to make us feel that way! 

“In and Out lists” are something fun we came across on social media and decided to try ourselves. We got reflective and deep on some and a little silly on others, but that is the point–have fun with it. What do YOU want more of for this year? What can you let go of and what do YOU want less of? 

Check out the episode and as always, we would LOVE to hear from you. Leave a voicemail at www.unqualifiedtherapists.com or DM us on Instagram. What are your Ins and Outs for 2024?

Xo,

Amy & Sarah

This podcast means the world to us and hopefully to many of you out there. We hope to continue to put out episodes for you each week, share stories, bring on professionals, and create a tool box of mental health tools to help you on your journey. In order to do that we need your help. Would you please consider joining our exclusive community on Patreon? Not only will you help to keep the mics on for us, but you will also get the inside tea with everything UT.  Check it out here: Patreon  If you would rather not join the community, but would like to give a one time gift, you can do that here! The biggest THANK YOU to our supporters–you are the reason we can do what we do.

Find all things UTI here.

Have a story to share? Contact us here.

Help us out with a short survey for what you want to hear next on the pod.

Starting your own podcast and want an easy and affordable platform? Get your first month FREE by using this link.

*The Unqualified Therapists Podcast is not giving medical advice as they are not actual doctors (Hence the name: Unqualified 😉). This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and all medical advice should be taken from a Qualified Doctor. UT shares stories and resources, not medical advice.

Special Episode: Missing Person Eva Masin Prather

We need your help. 

Eva Masin Prather went missing on December 30th in the early morning hours from Missoula, Montana. She is said to be in a mental health crisis experiencing mania. We need your help locating her. 

Please listen to the episode for details, share this information, and report any possible sightings to police: 406-552-6300 Case #2023-56230

Here is the Facebook page for more information: Search for Eva 

Thank You Warriors for your help.

Xo,

Amy & Sarah

This podcast means the world to us and hopefully to many of you out there. We hope to continue to put out episodes for you each week, share stories, bring on professionals, and create a tool box of mental health tools to help you on your journey. In order to do that we need your help. Would you please consider joining our exclusive community on Patreon? Not only will you help to keep the mics on for us, but you will also get the inside tea with everything UT.  Check it out here: Patreon  If you would rather not join the community, but would like to give a one time gift, you can do that here! The biggest THANK YOU to our supporters–you are the reason we can do what we do.

 

Find all things UTI here.

Have a story to share? Contact us here.

Help us out with a short survey for what you want to hear next on the pod.

Starting your own podcast and want an easy and affordable platform? Get your first month FREE by using this link.

*The Unqualified Therapists Podcast is not giving medical advice as they are not actual doctors (Hence the name: Unqualified 😉). This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and all medical advice should be taken from a Qualified Doctor. UT shares stories and resources, not medical advice.

The holidays provide some stressful days, never ending to do lists, not so nice people, grief creeping back up for lost loved ones or memories of holidays past, and the worry of...will I get it all done?

But...there is also the kindness of strangers, the glow of the tree in your living room, the fun to be had with friends, and the knowing that it really will all be okay. 

Sarah and I share a few things that are getting us through the holidays this month. We would love to hear what you are doing to "get through" too. Send us an email at [email protected], DM us on Instagram, or leave a comment in our IG stories. 

We hope you and your loved ones have a beautiful holiday season full of rest, FUN, love, peace, and joy!

 

Remember to Stay Wild and Weird Warriors this holiday season. 

Xo,

Amy & Sarah

This podcast means the world to us and hopefully to many of you out there. We hope to continue to put out episodes for you each week, share stories, bring on professionals, and create a tool box of mental health tools to help you on your journey. In order to do that we need your help. Would you please consider joining our exclusive community on Patreon? Not only will you help to keep the mics on for us, but you will also get the inside tea with everything UT.  Check it out here: Patreon  If you would rather not join the community, but would like to give a one time gift, you can do that here! The biggest THANK YOU to our supporters–you are the reason we can do what we do.

Find all things UTI here.

Have a story to share? Contact us here.

Help us out with a short survey for what you want to hear next on the pod.

Starting your own podcast and want an easy and affordable platform? Get your first month FREE by using this link.

*The Unqualified Therapists Podcast is not giving medical advice as they are not actual doctors (Hence the name: Unqualified 😉). This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and all medical advice should be taken from a Qualified Doctor. UT shares stories and resources, not medical advice.

Both Netflix and Prime Video have released new Docuseries about the Twin Flames Universe, which turns out to be a dangerous cult.  These docuseries will leave you with your jaw on the floor, but truly there are sad stories of human's lives being destroyed.  

We all want to belong, we all want love from another person, and do not want to be alone. Sometimes in wanting those things, we can get desperate and join situations that don't initially seem dangerous, but turn out to be.

Listen in to hear our takes on this organization and the docuseries. You can check them out for yourself on Netflix: Escaping Twin Flames and on Prime Video: Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe.

Articles we reference in the episode:  

Is a ‘twin flame’ a soulmate? The meaning of the term, and why it’s controversial

 

Remember to Stay Wild and Weird Warriors, but not so wild or weird that you join a cult!

Xo,

Amy & Sarah

This podcast means the world to us and hopefully to many of you out there. We hope to continue to put out episodes for you each week, share stories, bring on professionals, and create a tool box of mental health tools to help you on your journey. In order to do that we need your help. Would you please consider joining our exclusive community on Patreon? Not only will you help to keep the mics on for us, but you will also get the inside tea with everything UT.  Check it out here: Patreon  If you would rather not join the community, but would like to give a one time gift, you can do that here! The biggest THANK YOU to our supporters–you are the reason we can do what we do.

 

Find all things UTI here.

Have a story to share? Contact us here.

Help us out with a short survey for what you want to hear next on the pod.

Starting your own podcast and want an easy and affordable platform? Get your first month FREE by using this link.

*The Unqualified Therapists Podcast is not giving medical advice as they are not actual doctors (Hence the name: Unqualified 😉). This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and all medical advice should be taken from a Qualified Doctor. UT shares stories and resources, not medical advice

* The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

As we get older, it is challenging to create new authentic friendships and relationships. Where do we meet them? What do we talk about? What questions do we ask to get the conversation going? How do we push through the awkward? What happens if it isn't an instant connection?

We all need connection and community. There are healthy ways to do that regardless of whether you are an introvert or extrovert. We get into it with Michele Colella from the Beauty Boost Pittsburgh and she shares her expertise with us. You will definitely take away some tips and tricks from Michele's experience.

A little information about our guest: Michele Colella is the City Owner of The Beauty Boost Pittsburgh, a vibrant community for those who identify as women to become their most healthy, empowered, and beautiful selves through regular events and activities–from fitness sessions to empowerment and entrepreneur workshops, social gatherings, and weekend retreat getaways–creating opportunities for personal growth, genuine connection, and a good time. With over 100 active small business collaborations and a community and event attendee base of over 1,000, The Beauty Boost is reshaping how women in Pittsburgh connect.

Michele, a former fitness competitor and health and life coach with over a decade of counseling experience, found herself at a transitional point. Grappling with career changes, a breakup, and outgrown friendships, she yearned for friendship with like-minded women and took a brave step by attending a coffee meet-up she found online alone. The Beauty Boost hosted that meetup, and Michele walked away with more than she could have imagined. She took ownership of the Pittsburgh chapter, one of 25 nationwide, within two years of her first experience. Michele’s journey from member to owner underscores one of her strongest beliefs: monumental change often starts with small, courageous steps.

She rekindled her passion for empowering women to create joy-filled, healthy lives. She fell back in love with fitness, food, and life through her own personal journey. She did things that scared her–things she didn't think she was strong enough to do–and discovered she was more than capable. Michele began living in her authentic self. There's magic in connecting with other women; you never know how one interaction could impact your lifeEmail: [email protected]: https://www.thebeautyboost.net/pittsburghInstagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/thebeautyboost_pgh/Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/thebeautyboostpittsburghDiscord Link: https://heylo.group/the-beauty-boost-pittsburghTiktok Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeautyboost

 

Remember to Stay Wild and Weird Warriors, we love you! 

Xo,

Amy & Sarah

This podcast means the world to us and hopefully to many of you out there. We hope to continue to put out episodes for you each week, share stories, bring on professionals, and create a tool box of mental health tools to help you on your journey. In order to do that we need your help. Would you please consider joining our exclusive community on Patreon? Not only will you help to keep the mics on for us, but you will also get the inside tea with everything UT.  Check it out here: Patreon The biggest THANK YOU to our supporters–you are reason we can do what we do.

 

Find all things UTI here.

Have a story to share? Contact us here.

Help us out with a short survey for what you want to hear next on the pod.

Starting your own podcast and want an easy and affordable platform? Get your first month FREE by using this link.

*The Unqualified Therapists Podcast is not giving medical advice as they are not actual doctors (Hence the name: Unqualified 😉). This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and all medical advice should be taken from a Qualified Doctor. UT shares stories and resources, not medical advice.