Introduction

Hi friends! My name is Ali O’Grady and I’m so excited to introduce you to Thoughtful Human, the podcast.

I lost my favorite human to colorectal cancer in 2011 and have been on a complex journey with grief ever since. I have watched many family members and friends struggle with addiction and other mental health issues, and seen firsthand the devastating effects for everyone involved.

I began to notice the glaring communication issues all around me and started asking others about their experiences. Two things became very clear: 1) people are absolutely desperate to talk about their pain and struggles and 2) people are absolutely terrified to ask or bring it up. I wanted to change that.

Join me, as I talk with individuals and expert to explore uncomfortable subjects and how we can show up for the people we love within challenging circumstances. We’ll explore why certain topics are so hard to discuss, and how we can break down barriers to communication. We will talk about shame and its role in isolating us and exacerbating many of these challenges. We’ll talk about what has and hasn’t helped for certain people, and some specific sensitivities and vocabulary to consider along the way.

Learn more about us at thoughtfulhuman.co. and help make this podcast your own — share your story, share your feedback, share your needs — we're listening: [email protected]

P.S. If you or someone you love need access to a month of free online therapy: betterhelp.com/thoughtfulhuman