PODCAST · health
Spill Your Guts
by guts.
Spill Your Guts is a weekly podcast brought to you by guts, a nonprofit organization that provides engaging, science-backed mental health content for free for the community. We know it takes guts to talk about mental health & seek support. Each episode features actionable tools, real-life stories, and downloadable resources to help you thrive. Together, we’re building a community that embraces vulnerability and fosters growth. Listen, learn, and discover the power of having “guts.”
Episodes
-
Grieving Out Loud with Taylor Kahn
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…
more -
How to Talk to a Loved One About Suicide
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...
-
You're Not the Only One, With Dior Vargas
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...
-
Small Ways to Feel Closer to Your Partner
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...
-
Why We Need to Talk About Death
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...
-
Coping Ahead: How to Feel More Prepared for Life's Hard Moments
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…
more -
Dr. Mohamed Elnakib on Activism as Self-Care
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....
-
How to Train Your Brain to Find More Joy, Connection, & Meaning
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...
-
Every Stitch Is Proof of Connection: A Conversation with Meg Burke of Cuerd@s
What if a tiny stitched dot on a piece of clothing could help someone feel grounded, supported, and connected? In this episode, Meg Burke, founder of Cuerd@s, shares how a deeply personal act of care for her sibling grew into a nonprofit creating tactile grounding clothing and unique mental…
more -
The Story Behind guts.
In this mini episode, Dr. Jenn Staples shares the story behind Spill Your Guts - from her own experience with anxiety to discovering the evidence-based skills that changed her life. She shares how she took the tools she learned as a psychologist into the community because she believes everyone...
-
What OCD Really Is (and Isn't): A Conversation with Dr. Matt Enkema
When people say “I’m so OCD,” what do they actually mean and how does that differ from the clinical reality of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? In this episode, Dr. Matt Enkema, clinical psychologist and co-owner of Evergreen Therapy in Seattle, breaks down intrusive thoughts, obsessive concerns…
more -
Movement, Recovery, & Coming Home to Your Body
In this deeply personal episode, Mel Baiser shares how physical movement became a powerful gateway to their own healing, recovery, and embodiment. Mel shares how their relationship with movement evolved from performance and discipline to something much more meaningful: a way to feel, process, and...
-
Mindful Movement
We know from research that exercise not only supports physical health, it’s one of the most powerful mental health interventions we have, and it doesn’t have to cost a dime. But, what if the way you move matters just as much as the movement itself? In this episode, we explore how combining...
-
Empowerment Is Built Together: A Conversation with Dr. Dumayi Gutierrez
What does empowerment actually look like in real life, and how do we build it together? In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist, mental health advocate, and Assistant Professor Dr. Dumayi Gutierrez breaks down empowerment in a practical, everyday way. We talk about power…
more -
Rethinking Resilience: Doing S.I.D.E.W.O.R.K. to Protect Your Mental Health
Resilience is often praised, but what if we’ve been getting it wrong? In this episode, we take a closer look at why emotional resilience isn’t about grit, grinding, or pushing through at all costs. We explore how focusing only on individual resilience can overlook burnout, grief, inequitable...
-
“If I Don’t Laugh, I Won’t Survive”: Lucia’s Breast Cancer Journey
In this raw conversation, Lucia shares her experience navigating breast cancer in her early 30s, from diagnosis and a double mastectomy to chemotherapy, IVF, medical menopause, and ongoing treatment. She reflects on how quickly her body, identity, and daily life changed, and the emotional toll of...
-
When Anger Hijacks You
Anger can feel explosive, overwhelming, or hard to control and for many of us, it shows up in ways we later regret. One person blows up. Another shuts down. The moment passes, but the tension lingers. In this episode, we unpack what anger actually is (and what it’s not), why it so often masks…
more -
The Question Every BIPOC Client Should Ask Their Therapist
What does it take to feel safe, understood, and accurately cared for in therapy, especially for Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color (BIPOC) navigating systems shaped by bias and historical harm? In this episode, clinical psychologist and multicultural mental health leader Dr. Natalie…
more -
Why You Keep Having the Same Fight (and How to Finally Interrupt It)
Having the same fight over and over can leave you feeling exhausted, disconnected, and unsure how to move forward. One person gets heated. The other shuts down. Nothing actually gets resolved, and the distance grows. In this episode, we explore an evidence-based model (Transactional Model;...
-
Trichotillomania and BFRBs: Olga’s Story
Hair pulling is one of those mental health struggles we rarely talk about, partly because so few people understand it, and partly because shame keeps it hidden. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Olga Cirlugea, a licensed clinical psychologist who shares her personal experience living with...
-
Stuck In-Between: Finding the Middle Path
Feeling torn between two truths can be exhausting. Loving someone and feeling hurt by them. Wanting closeness and needing space. Craving certainty while knowing life isn’t that simple. In this episode we introduce the concept of a dialectic: what it means, why it’s so hard, and how learning the...
-
Inside the Mental Health Crisis: A Conversation with APA President Dr. Debra Kawahara
As mental health demand grows and systems struggle to keep up, leadership matters more than ever. In this episode, Dr. Debra Kawahara, President of the American Psychological Association, joins us to talk candidly about the biggest challenges facing mental health today, from access and...
-
Sitting with Loneliness
Loneliness is something many of us experience but rarely name. In this episode of Spill Your Guts, Jenn is joined by her mom, Brenda, for an honest and deeply human conversation about loneliness, connection, and what actually helps. Together, they normalize loneliness as a biological signal, not…
more -
Non-Custodial Motherhood: Cristina Miller on Showing Up from Afar
In this deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Cristina Miller, writer, content strategist, and founder of The Mother Rogue, a growing resource and support community for non-custodial parents and families navigating autism. Cris shares her courageous story of becoming a long-distance,...
-
Guided Sensory Awareness Practice
In this special episode of Spill Your Guts, Dr. Jenn Staples, Clinical Psychologist and President of guts nonprofit, guides you through a brief sensory awareness practice that comes from Dialectical Behavior Therapy. This exercise helps you shift away from overwhelming thoughts and emotions, the...
-
Growing Gratitude: Small Habits, Big Impact
Gratitude isn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling, it’s a scientifically supported practice that boosts mood, protects against anxiety and depression, and improves life satisfaction. But in a world full of stress, conflict, and constant distraction, how do we actually practice gratitude in a meaningful...
-
Dr. Thorp on AI in Psychotherapy: Ethics, Access, and the Future of Healing
Artificial intelligence (AI) is entering nearly every corner of our lives and psychotherapy is no exception. But what happens when technology enters the therapy room? Can AI truly help us heal, connect, and feel less alone, or are we opening doors we don’t yet know how to close? In this episode,...
-
Intentional Distraction: When Checking Out Can be Skillful
We all avoid discomfort sometimes through distraction, which might look like scrolling, binge-watching, cleaning, or daydreaming when emotions feel too big. But not all distraction is bad. In this episode, we explore how to use distraction as a healthy distress tolerance skill—one that helps you...
-
Dr. Bird and the Bees: Sex, Desire, and Mental Health
Sexual health is often left out of mental health conversations, yet it profoundly shapes our quality of life and relationships. In this episode, Dr. Liz Bird — clinical psychologist, sex therapist, and owner of Evergreen Therapy — joins us to explore the overlap between sexual and mental health,...
-
10-Minute Guided Paired Muscle Relaxation
In this special episode of Spill Your Guts, Dr. Jenn Staples, Clinical Psychologist and President of guts nonprofit, guides you through a 10-minute paired muscle relaxation exercise. Together, you’ll practice gently tensing and releasing each muscle group — from your feet all the way up to your...
-
Autism, Neurodiversity, and Belonging, Part II: Lived Experience with Sarai and Zoe
In Part I of this two-week series, Dr. Sarah Edmunds shared her perspective as a researcher and clinician. In Part II, we turn to lived experience. Sarai and Zoe—both autistic, both research assistants in Dr. Edmunds’ lab—join us to share their personal perspectives navigating autism inside and...
-
Autism, Neurodiversity, and Belonging, Part I: A Conversation with Dr. Sarah Edmunds
Autism has become more visible than ever, but with that visibility comes evolving conversations about identity, diagnosis, and belonging. In this episode of Spill Your Guts, Dr. Sarah Edmunds, Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina and Director of the COLAB (Community Oriented…
more -
Play, Perspective, and Connection in the Outdoors with Dave Fatula
Join us for a conversation on the many benefits of the outdoors with Dave Fatula, founder of Guineafowl Adventure Company in the Greater Boston area. After two decades in private equity and real estate finance, Dave realized during the pandemic that he needed a change—and turned his lifelong love...
-
Avoiding Avoidance: The Guts to Face Discomfort
Avoidance is something we all do—but not all avoidance looks the same. In this episode of Spill Your Guts, we dig into experiential avoidance: the tendency to push away uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, memories, or body sensations. While it can bring short-term relief, avoidance often shrinks…
more -
Keeping Your Brain Strong: What Everyone Should Know About Dementia Prevention
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Christina Wong, board-certified Clinical Neuropsychologist, to unpack what dementia really means, how it shows up, and what steps we can all take to keep our brains strong and healthy. Dr. Wong explains the difference between normal aging and dementia, early...
-
Are You Really Listening? Active Listening, Explained
We all think we’re listening—but how often do we truly hear what someone is saying? In this episode of Spill Your Guts, we explore active listening—a skill that can strengthen relationships, deepen understanding, and help us reach our goals. We unpack what gets in the way of listening and…
more -
Josh on Surrender, Recovery, and Redefining Strength After Trauma
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Josh Chilton to explore his journey through trauma, addiction, and recovery—and how surrender, community, and self-acceptance helped him find meaning on the other side. Josh shares candidly about becoming paraplegic as a teenager after a car accident…
more -
Adults Need Soothing Too
Feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to find relief? You’re not alone. In this episode of Spill Your Guts, we are joined by Annelise Landreth, a family nurse practitioner and mom of two, to explore self-soothing—a set of DBT distress tolerance skills designed to help calm your nervous system when...
-
What Counts as Trauma? A Conversation with Dr. Joyce Yang
What does the word trauma really mean—and how is it being misunderstood in everyday conversations? In this week’s episode, we are joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Joyce Yang to explore the complex and often controversial world of trauma. Together, we unpack the clinical definition of trauma…
more -
Rest Assured: Practical Tips for Better Sleep.
So many of us lie awake at night, counting down the hours and desperately trying to will sleep to come. In this episode, we demystify insomnia and introduce a practical SLEEP acronym drawn from the latest scientific research. Hear our personal stories of nighttime anxiety, walk through a common...
-
Building Community and Mental Wellness with Live Reality Games
In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with Jesus, host of the San Diego Challenge - a fan-made live reality game inspired by shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, and MTV’s The Challenge. We explore the importance of social connection and how immersive, cooperative competitions like The…
more -
Disability, Belonging & Asking for Help with Lana Dever
In this honest and unflinching conversation, we sit down with community advocate, social worker, and graduate student Lana Dever (Ell) to explore what it means to live at the intersections of disability, race, class, gender, and neurodivergence. Drawing from a life shaped by unstable housing,...
-
DEARMAN: It Takes Guts to Ask for What You Need
So many of us struggle to ask directly for what we want—or to say no—without guilt, overexplaining, or sacrificing our self-respect. In this episode, we introduce a practical skill from Dialectical Behavior Therapy called DEARMAN, a powerful framework for making requests and setting limits while...
-
Healing Internalized Oppression with Dr. Jan Estrellado
In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Dr. Jan Estrellado, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor at Alliant International University, to explore internalized oppression—the ways systems of racism, colonialism, and white supremacy become embedded in our beliefs about ourselves…
more -
I'M SORRY: The Art of an Effective Apology
We learn how to say “I’m sorry” at a young age - but do we really know how to apologize effectively? Too often, apologies focus on our intentions rather than the impact of our actions, leaving the other person feeling unheard or invalidated. In this episode, we break down the psychology of...
-
You're Not Crazy: Why Validation Matters
In this episode, we dive into validation—what it really means, why it matters, and why it can be so hard to practice when emotions run high. We break down common myths, share personal stories, and explore how validation can shift conversations, even when you don’t agree. You’ll learn practical…
more -
Breaking the Silence: Cayce Lynch on Mental Health in Law
This week, we had the privilege of speaking with Cayce Lynch, National Managing Partner at Tyson & Mendes, about the reality of workplace mental health in the legal profession. Tyson & Mendes has become a trailblazer in prioritizing mental well-being—proving that law firms can support both high...
-
Living Your Values
Many of us move through life without ever pausing to ask: What actually matters to me? We get caught up in routines, external expectations, and the daily grind—rarely stopping to explore what we truly value. In this episode, we dive into the process of identifying, clarifying, and acting on your...
-
The Power of Radical Acceptance
Pain is an inevitable part of life—but suffering doesn't always have to be. In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative skill of radical acceptance, exploring how fully acknowledging reality can help us move forward even in the toughest circumstances. We break down what radical…
more -
Building Belonging: A Conversation with Jessica Levasseur about Community
Social support is one of the strongest protective factors for mental health—but finding the right community isn’t always easy. In this episode, we sit down with educator and community builder Jess Levasseur to talk about the power of connection. Jess shares her personal journey—from growing up...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Spill Your Guts is a weekly podcast brought to you by guts, a nonprofit organization that provides engaging, science-backed mental health content for free for the community. We know it takes guts to talk about mental health & seek support. Each episode features actionable tools, real-life stories, and downloadable resources to help you thrive. Together, we’re building a community that embraces vulnerability and fosters growth. Listen, learn, and discover the power of having “guts.”
HOSTED BY
guts.
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Spill Your Guts have?
Spill Your Guts currently has 56 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Spill Your Guts about?
Spill Your Guts is a weekly podcast brought to you by guts, a nonprofit organization that provides engaging, science-backed mental health content for free for the community. We know it takes guts to talk about mental health & seek support. Each episode features actionable tools, real-life stories,...
How often does Spill Your Guts release new episodes?
Spill Your Guts has 56 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Spill Your Guts?
You can listen to Spill Your Guts on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Spill Your Guts?
Spill Your Guts is created and hosted by guts..
URL copied to clipboard!