How do you make friends as an adult — REAL-DEAL friends — and how do you nurture these valued connections?

Today's guest is journalist, MODERN FRIENDSHIP author, and friendship researcher Anna Goldfarb, who has been called the "New York Times Friendship Correspondent." She's here with us to dig into the nuances of the #1 most-asked question throughout all of WANT's 10+ year history: how do I find my people?

IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT...

• The main reasons why friendships naturally shift after 30 (why that's more normal than you think, and what you can do to address it)

• Active vs memorial friendships, and how mixing them causes heartache

• How to categorize friends in a way that doesn't feel icky and actually HELPS you nurture friendships sans guilt or obligation

• Using Choice Theory to understand what keeps a friendship thriving

• How to nix the uncertainty in friendships that can cause animosity, guilt, or rifts

• Navigating common friendship challenges: long-distance friendships, introversion vs extroversion, and value differences without defaulting to a "friendship breakup"

• and SO MUCH MORE!

ABOUT ANNA:

Anna Goldfarb is a friendship journalist who has reported for outlets including the New York Times, the Atlantic, Time magazine, Vice, The Cut, Vox, and the Washington Post. Called "the New York Times friendship correspondent" by Tim Herrera, the editor of the New York Times Smarter Living section, she's written hundreds of articles that explore the nuances of friendships, relationships, and pop psychology. She lives in Philadelphia. Her first book, MODERN FRIENDSHIP: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections, is out today and available wherever books are sold.

~

SHOW NOTES:

Modern Friendship

Anna's website

Anna on IG

Anna's Substack

Anna in the NYT

~

Subscribe to SELF-TALK SUNDAYS on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch

Get WANT YOUR SELF!: http://wantyourself.com

Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com

Learn more about WANT: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com

~

IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, DON'T FORGET TO: Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and your favorite podcast platform!

Author, creative consultant, and horticultural therapy practitioner Jessica Murnane (a WANTcast favorite!) joins us today on the WANTcast to talk about discovering horticultural therapy, building an offline-first business, and the very real mental, physical, social, and emotional benefits of getting your hands in the dirt.

In this episode, we dig into (pun intended) community vs. solo practices, rethinking social media for your values (and sanity), how nature rituals can rewire scarcity mindset, and so much more.

WE TALK ABOUT:

• What horticultural therapy actually is — and why it's not pseudoscience
• Starting something new while opting out of the social media hamster wheel (and what to do instead)
• Using nature and horticultural practices as mindset shift metaphors
• Why group nature experiences often light people up more than going it alone
• Simple, accessible practices for anyone to try
• Monetization, meaning, and choosing your "hard" when your work is mission-driven
• and more!!

LINKS:

Jessica's horticultural therapy practice: Basker Gardens

Inside & Outside on Substack

Inside & Outside Podcast

One Part Plant: A Simple Guide to Eating Real, One Meal at a Time

Know Your Endo: An Empowering Guide to Health and Hope with Endometriosis

All four of Jessica's past WANTcast episodes

~

Subscribe to SELF-TALK SUNDAYS on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch

Get WANT YOUR SELF!: http://wantyourself.com

Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com

Learn more about WANT: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com

~

IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, DON'T FORGET TO: Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and your favorite podcast platform!

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) affects an estimated 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the U.S. — yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental health conditions. Too often portrayed as a "quirk" or a preference for cleanliness, OCD is actually a complex and often debilitating disorder rooted in anxiety and doubt.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Patrick McGrath, Chief Clinical Officer at NOCD, for a candid, deeply practical conversation about what OCD really is, how it shows up (far beyond stereotypes), and what actually helps. We dig into the "OCD × news cycle" spiral, break down flavors/subtypes and internal compulsions, and get specific about Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): what it looks like, why the response prevention part matters most, and how to know if you're getting the right care. You'll also hear how to find a qualified clinician, what treatment "afters" feel like, and the empowering mindset of living the life you want — not the one OCD dictates.

• The OCD–news cycle Venn diagram: why constant headlines can supercharge doubt and rumination
• What OCD actually is (and isn't) and why logic alone won't cut it
• Flavors, subtypes, and themes plus how themes can "double scoop."
• ERP in real life: the safety behaviors to drop, and why response prevention is the unlock
• Getting help + what recovery feels like: how to vet specialists, levels of care, virtual options/insurance, and building a supportive "mental-health team" for long-term wins
• and more!

Find care, learn about ERP, and explore resources: https://www.treatmyocd.com

NOCD App (free) — Community + tools on iOS/Android: https://www.treatmyocd.com/app

International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) — Education and "Find Help" directory: https://iocdf.org

Postpartum OCD episode mentioned: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-postpartum-struggle-no-one-talks-about-ocd/id1753682951?i=1000726285060

Katie on Patrick's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-inner-critic-to-inner-ally-transforming-ocd-and/id1753682951?i=1000682417350

~

Subscribe to SELF-TALK SUNDAYS on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch Get WANT YOUR SELF!: http://wantyourself.com Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com Learn more about WANT: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com

~

IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, DON'T FORGET TO: Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and your favorite podcast platform!

After a short micro-break, Katie returns with author, lawyer, leadership coach, and all-around light-maker Karen Walrond to celebrate the joy of being an INTENTIONAL AMATEUR. Instead of hustling every interest into a side-gig, Karen invites us to dabble for the love of it — no end game required. They unpack why hobbies matter, how to find ones that actually feel like relief, and the seven attributes that make play a true self-care practice.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

• Why Karen resists the "be better" subtext of self-help when it comes to hobbies
• Reclaiming the word "amateur"
• The 7 attributes of intentional amateurism
• Why it's okay (and healthy) to stay mediocre and never become an "expert"
• Dabbling vs. committing, and how to notice when something is life-giving hard (stretch) vs. depleting hard (pressure/perfectionism).
• and more!

~

SHOW NOTES:

Get the book: https://www.chookooloonks.com/in-defense-of-dabbling

Karen's website: https://www.chookooloonks.com/

THE MAKE LIGHT JOURNAL on Substack: https://chookooloonks.substack.com/

Join us in NYC on 10/14!

~

Karen on the WANTcast talking RADIANT REBELLION

Karen on the WANTcast talking about THE POWER OF NOT KNOWING

Karen on the WANTcast talking about BEING YOURSELF NO MATTER WHAT

~

Subscribe to SELF-TALK SUNDAYS on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com

Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch

Get WANT YOUR SELF! http://wantyourself.com

Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com

Learn more about WANT at: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com

~

IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, DON'T FORGET TO:

Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and your favorite podcast platform. Now get dabbling!

What if you had a guidebook for the next big hormonal transition...The Care and Keeping of You for grownup women?

In today's episode, we're talking about the next ~period~ of your life (literally and figuratively :)) with therapist and women's health advocate Lauren Tetenbaum. Her new book MILLENNIAL MENOPAUSE is part education, part empowerment, and full of real-talk about prepping for perimenopause. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

• What makes this generation uniquely suited to talk about menopause and perimenopause

• Common early signs of perimenopause

• How to self-advocate with doctors, plus red flags to look out for

• The link between reproductive health, mental health, and burnout

• How trauma, privilege, and systemic bias play a role in menopause care

• Lauren's top personal tips for preparing your mind and body NOW

• What she wants the next generation to say about how Millennials paved the way

• How to build body literacy and normalize the conversation, no matter your age

and so much more!

~

ABOUT LAUREN:

Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LCSW, JD, PMH-C is an advocate and therapist who supports millennial and young women through life transitions. She specializes in professional and personal identity shifts, including the perinatal period and perimenopause. Lauren is a go-to resource for women seeking counsel, empowerment, and connection. Her book, MILLENNIAL MENOPAUSE, is out now.

~

SHOW NOTES:

Website: thecounselaur.com

Millennial Menopause book: thecounselaur.com/millennialmenopausebook

Alloy Health: myalloy.com

Electra Health: electrahealth.com

Midi Health: joinmidi.com

Fuchsia Tent: fuchsiatent.com

Hot Pause Health: hotpawhealth.com

The Menopause Society: menopause.org

Subscribe to WANT on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com

Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch

Get the book! Want Your Self: Shift Your Self-Talk and Unearth the Strength in Who You Were All Along: http://wantyourself.com

Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com

Learn more about WANT at: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com

~

IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, DON'T FORGET TO:

Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and your favorite podcast platform! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wantcast-the-women-against-negative-talk-podcast/id1031793292

When was the last time you received a compliment without brushing it off? How about GAVE a compliment that you really, really meant...without prefacing it with "I hope this isn't weird, but..." ??

In this episode of the WANTcast, we're talking about something that seems simple on the surface but can have a huge impact on your self-talk, relationships, and confidence: COMPLIMENTS.

Whether you're great at giving them, awkward at receiving them, or somewhere in between, this episode breaks down WHY compliments actually matter a lot — and how to make compliments feel natural and meaningful (instead of weird or forced).

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Why we struggle with compliments in the first place
• The importance of compliments when it comes to shifting your negative self-talk + creating a more just, kind, and equitable world
• The anatomy of a great compliment: the three categories, and the Three "S" Equation
• How to take a compliment: EXACTLY what to say without deflecting or minimizing
• and more!

~

SHOW NOTES:

Subscribe to WANT on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com

Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch

Get the book! Want Your Self: Shift Your Self-Talk and Unearth the Strength in Who You Were All Along: http://wantyourself.com

Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com

Learn more about WANT at: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com

~

IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, DON'T FORGET TO:

Subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! And share this episode with a friend who needs a motivation boost (or total reframe)

~

WHERE TO TUNE IN:

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_-N9mS0zU1kE_sgALl_6H_RU10BqIit

Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wantcast-the-women-against-negative-talk-podcast/id1031793292

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/712oPDfF7ual3EsaerJeMz?si=f524aa9bb00a475c

As always, move forward fearlessly, spread the good word, and be the you you know you're meant to be 💛

Today on the WANTcast, we're sitting down with sustainability expert, bestselling author, and award-winning changemaker Ashlee Piper to explore her latest movement and book: No New Things.

Ashlee — whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Vogue, CNN, and Good Morning America — breaks down how a personal challenge to stop buying new stuff became a lifestyle shift, viral movement, and 30-day guide to help you save money, reduce overwhelm, and create meaningful impact.

This isn't a no-buy challenge or a guilt trip: it's an invitation to investigate how your stuff makes you feel, how to reset your consumer habits, and how to reconnect with your values in a culture of overconsumption.

IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT:

• The true meaning of "No New Things"
• How your stuff affects your time, money, and mental load
• What to do when you feel the urge to shop
• Reframing gift-giving, borrowing, and community care
• The psychology of consumption, and why shopping isn't the self-care we think it is
• and more!!

Whether you're eco-conscious, overwhelmed by clutter, or just looking to live with more intention, this episode will empower you to take simple, meaningful steps starting now.

~

SHOW NOTES:

Ready to try the challenge? Grab Ashlee's book No New Things wherever books are sold, and follow her journey on Instagram @ashleepiper

The Ethical Edit on Substack

AshleePiper.com

Subscribe to WANT on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com

Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch

Get the book! Want Your Self: Shift Your Self-Talk and Unearth the Strength in Who You Were All Along: http://wantyourself.com

Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com

Learn more about WANT at: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com

IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, DON'T FORGET TO:

Subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! And share this episode with a friend who needs a motivation boost (or total reframe)

WHERE TO TUNE IN:

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6UQ3hu0RtlI

Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wantcast-the-women-against-negative-talk-podcast/id1031793292

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/03yZ3QHCksjm0HpEUldWrn?si=s6BhZwGwRAamGBag6lRtsw

As always, move forward fearlessly, spread the good word, and be the you you know you're meant to be 💛

We ALL hit moments where motivation feels completely out of reach. Sometimes, it just...disappears. Whether you're struggling to start something new, feeling stuck in a rut, or just can't seem to get going, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we're doing a no-bs deep dive into not just how to spark motivation when it's barely there, but what to do when your drive to keep going is nowhere to be found (and nothing you see, hear, read, or think seems to change that).

We'll discuss:

• Why motivation isn't always necessary to make progress
• How to spark motivation when you feel stuck
• The power of zooming out
• Why your feelings about motivation might actually be irrelevant (and what to focus on instead)

...and more!

~

SHOW NOTES:

Subscribe to WANT on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com

Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch

Get the book! Want Your Self: Shift Your Self-Talk and Unearth the Strength in Who You Were All Along: http://wantyourself.com

Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com

Learn more about WANT at: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com

IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, DON'T FORGET TO:

Subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! And share this episode with a friend who needs a motivation boost (or total reframe)

WHERE TO TUNE IN:

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s8BM518rSNM

Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wantcast-the-women-against-negative-talk-podcast/id1031793292

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/00F0QCsgrrYkioiehDY21x

As always, move forward fearlessly, spread the good word, and be the you you know you're meant to be 💛

Big news: after nearly a decade of podcasting, we're finally taking the leap into video — and it's TERRIFYING.

In this solo episode, Katie gets real about what's held her back, why exactly comparison and (ironically) experience have been her biggest roadblocks, and how she's embracing beginner mode *publicly* to break free from perfectionism.

If you've ever felt stuck because you don't have it all figured out, this episode is for you. We talk about:

• The hidden fears that keep us from starting something new
• Why "manageable" can sometimes stunt our growth
• How comparison sneaks in — even when we think we're over it
• The power of taking imperfect action and leading your own life
• ...and more!

~

SHOW NOTES:

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@katiehorwitch

Listen & Subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wantcast-the-women-against-negative-talk-podcast/id1031793292

Subscribe to WANT on Substack: https://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiehorwitch/ and https://www.instagram.com/womenagainstnegativetalk/

Get Katie's book, WANT YOUR SELF: Shift Your Self-Talk and Unearth The Strength In Who You Were All Along: http://wantyourself.com

(Reading WYS for the new year in your book club? Email Katie at [email protected] and let us know!)

Love the WANTcast? We would be so grateful if you would LEAVE 5 STARS and A REVIEW the pod on iTunes!

What does it take to lead — REALLY lead — in today's world? What makes an excellent leader, and how can you become one? And in the midst of social, geopolitical, and economic crisis, what does leadership look like?

Today's guest is Dr. Christie Smith, founder of The Humanity Studio and author of the new book, ESSENTIAL.

In this episode we talk about:

• Building trust at work and beyond
• Human Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence, and the future of A.I. at work
• Understanding the current state of DEI and what it means to live your values
• What is the difference between emotional intelligence and emotional maturity
• Why it's actually IMPORTANT to practice small talk (even if you say you hate it!!)
• How to be a leader in the middle of uncertainty and chaos
• How to be more human in an increasingly digital, fast-paced world
• and more!

ABOUT CHRISTIE:

Dr. Christie Smith is the founder of The Humanity Studio™, a multi-media leadership advisory company that works to improve the way we live by revolutionizing the way we work. She has over 35 years of experience advising the C-Suite of Fortune 500 companies, and has held global leadership positions at Deloitte, Apple, and Accenture as a highly respected expert in leadership, talent management, organizational design, workforce management, change management, and executive team performance. She is a highly sought-after speaker on business strategy, leadership and culture, DEI, people analytics, and the impact of workforce technologies and AI. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Forbes, and CNN; and she has been recognized as a Top 50 Diversity Leader and on Fast Company's Queer 50 list. Christie received her doctorate in Clinical Social Work with a focus on leadership and culture from New York University. Her new book, ESSENTIAL: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership (with Kelly Monahan; Wiley, 2025) is out now.

~

SHOW NOTES:

The Humanity Studio

Read ESSENTIAL

LinkedIn

Instagram

~

Subscribe to WANT on Substack

Join THE WANT COMMUNITY

Get Katie's book, WANT YOUR SELF: Shift Your Self-Talk and Unearth The Strength In Who You Were All Along

(Reading WYS for the new year in your book club? Email Katie at [email protected] and let us know!)

Follow Katie on Instagram

Love the WANTcast? We would be so grateful if you would SUBSCRIBE, RATE, and REVIEW the pod on iTunes!