This Isn’t Therapy

This Isn't Therapy...it's a flirty, fun, fab *compilation* episode of our greatest hits - featuring convos about family dynamics! Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a cheeky convo about solving problems and dealing with change and the mental biases that hold us back.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about astrology and the coaching vs. therapy debate. In this episode, Jake and Simon tackle the relationship between astrology and mental health and the long-time-coming debate about therapy vs. coaching.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... its a fun flirty fab conversation about a lovely listener's experience with loneliness, despite having online friends and the impact of main character energy. Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Sources:Main Character Syndrome" is Making Gen-Z the Loneliest Generation by Coco MocoeFollow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... its a fun flirty fab conversation about the (ironic) mental health struggles occurring at Calm and a reddit user's question about learning how to trust your gut. Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Sources:“Calm’s CEO on the mental health struggle at the top of big companies”by Andrew Edgecliffe-JohnsonFollow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... its a fun flirty fab conversation about sibling relationships, inspired by Hilary Duff's "We Don't Talk" (off her latest album),  and the growing risk of sports betting. Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... its a fun flirty fab conversation about Robyn's latest album "Sexistential" (out now!) and the growing "soft-girl" & Trad Wife trend.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Articles:The Falsehood of Soft Girls and Trad Wives, Time MagazineFollow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... its a conversation about that feeling you get when you give and receive gifts and the pressure we put on ourselves to be a good person.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about all things Gen Z: from oversharing online to going sober and drinking less.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... its an episode about anger in all its forms and the pressure we put on ourselves to be productive (sometimes to the point of guilt!)Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a convo about the tricky and delicate balance between being high maintenance and being low maintenance.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the long-time-coming episode about the social ins-and-outs of Survivor and the TikTok trend "Hot Girl Walks."Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn’t Therapy… it’s an episode about how self-care is now being seen as equivalent to chores for certain groups of people. Next, Jake and Simon take the lovely listeners through The Mindset Quiz to help you reflect on your general mindset on certain topics; from love and belonging to managing change and control. The Mindset QuizAsking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about finding love and the phenomenon of Sexy AI companions. In this episode, Jake and Simon tackle a question from a lovely listener and dive into the emerging world of AI-generated romantic relationships.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn’t Therapy… it’s the episode about The Default Mode Network, responsible for helping us be bored, self reflect, and go into real rest. From there, Simon and Jake talk about what it might mean if you’re feeling muted emotions or blunted emotional reactions all too often.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's an episode about the extinction of essential human experiences and what to do when you and your friends are on shaky ground.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's an episode about decision overwhelm and being attracted to your therapist.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's an episode about The Drama Triangle by Stephen Karpman and chronically online terminology, from brainrot to bedrot. Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's an episode about goal setting and the careless need to create carnage in the name of profit.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

Tune in to the NOW HOLIDAY CLASSIC, Rizzdolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and hang around for the past two years of holiday remixes: 'Twas The Night Before Therapy and How The Grinch Stole Therapy.

This Isn't Therapy... it's an essential guide for detoxing from our digital devices and a discussion about the roles of social change. Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a discussion about this Fall's most popular Netflix show, Wayward, and therapeutic treatment programs. Then we discuss the controversial identity of "the performative male" and what that means for modern masculinity.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a convo about fans and fandoms, trends and crazes, and the recent fanaticism about Labubus. Next up, we'll cover JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out and how that differs from FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a long-awaited discussion of Wicked: For Good! But first, we discuss the emerging phenomenon of touch deprivation and how skin hunger keeps us locked into cycles of disconnection.Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

We're back!! This Isn't Therapy...this is a fun, flirty, fab convo about K-Pop Demon Hunters and Mushroom Mommies. Both have more therapy themes than you think…Asking for a Friend:https://forms.gle/LofZNaNzGe22W7XG7Follow us!Instagram & TikTok | @thisisnttherapypodJake | @mswjakeSimon | @directedbysimonListen to This Isn’t Therapy:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0gvAhpRsaI8lDip7B1Jpi9?si=HIWUpJYbRiuxpuMABa4I_A⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-isnt-therapy/id1528399646

This Isn't Therapy...this is an episode about some hard truths learned in therapy. Ever wonder how to give your therapist some feedback?! Or even how would my therapist react if I gave them some feedback?! Through a story posted by an anonymous reddit user, Jake and Simon examine a therapists' struggle after they received some challenging feedback from a client. Then, through some lovely listener submissions, we flip the script and explore some hard truths some folks have taken away from their therapists. Grab a bib coz baby this episode is juicy!!!!!P.S. Don't forget: Submit a quandary, query, or question with our newest segment Asking For A Friend...Contact: [email protected] & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonEpisode mixed by Jordan Paluck

This Isn't Therapy... it's an *encore* episode about the pursuit of endless bliss. Many people arrive to therapy with a "fantasy goal" thinking they want to be calm, happy, and relaxed all the time. Through two #lovelylistener stories, Jake and Simon talk about how to find a realistic sense of joy, happiness, purpose, and pleasure and what we can (or should) expect from life. This episode is for those wondering why the pursuit of endless bliss doesn’t produce the feelings (and lasting results) they promise.Read more: The Pursuit of Endless Bliss by Jake Ernst.Don't forget, Mary: Submit a quandary, query, or question with our newest segment Asking For A Friend...Contact: [email protected] & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonEpisode mixed by Jordan Paluck

This Isn't Therapy...this is an *encore* critical look at the argument that children need less therapy, not more, and how this "mental heath culture" is stripping parents of autonomy, ultimately causing more harm than good. In this episode, Jake and Simon dive into a review (written by Anna Nordberg for Slate) for a book by a right-leaning conspiracy theorist titled Bad Therapy. "In Bad Therapy, Shrier [the book's author] ladles heavy helpings of anecdote over some scientific research to argue that therapists, school counselors, and the language of therapy that has influenced parenting in the past decade or so are, in her view, harming kids." So, what really is harming the kids? Is it therapy or maybe, just maybe, it's something else...Source: Who’s Making The Kids Cry by Anna Nordberg for SlateP.S. Don't forget: Submit a quandary, query, or question with our newest segment Asking For A Friend...Contact: [email protected] & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonEpisode mixed by Jordan Paluck

This Isn't Therapy... it's the *encore* episode about the pressure to be happy. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about how to feel authentically happy when there's a lot of pressure to perform positivity or force happy feelings. Jake and Simon hear from two Lovely Listeners who wonder about the true meaning of happiness and how to spot the difference between authentic joy versus fake happiness. In a culture that might encourage us to "just think positive!" we're asking "...should we?"Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Validate us by...Following us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Following us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimon

This Isn't Therapy... it's the *encore* surprise solo session with Jake! In this episode, Jake shares two snippets from his weekly newsletter Just Trying To Help. Jake walks us through his theories for how social media is re-wiring our brains, reshaping our moods, and changing how we connect.P.S. Happy Leap Year! Ribbit Ribbit!Read the full articles here:How Social Media Re-Wired Us AllThe Rise of Algorithmic MoodsGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Validate us by...Following us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Following us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimon

This Isn't Therapy... it's an *encore* doomy episode about the ever-evolving landscape of doomslang. Doomslang, coined by author and linguist Amanda Montell, is a term used to describe dystopian jargon like “dumpster fire” and “doomscroll” and “bed rot”. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about how the constant conjuring of End Times is having surprising, unintended, and maybe even dangerous, consequences. From bed rot to brainrot, this episode sure packs a doomsday punch! Oh... and be sure to tune in this week for a very imporant Summertime announcement!Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Validate us by...Following us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Following us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimon

FROM THE VAULT: This Isn't Therapy... it's the *encore* episode about AI therapists and if they can ever replace the real thing. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss a recent BBC article about why teens are seeking out AI therapist bots and what that means for the future of mental health. Conversational AI or, in other words, "chatbots with a personality" are gaining more attention and users are finding new therapy-ish use-cases on platforms like Character.ai and Replika. The pros, the cons, the risks, and the benefits. All that and more!BBC Article discussed: Young people turning to AI therapist botsGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Validate us by...Following us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Following us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimon

This isn't therapy... and it's not working out, either! In this *encore* episode, Jake and Simon discuss what to do when therapy isn't working. Importantly, they talk about how to know if therapy is actually working and what to do when you feel like it's not. This episode is based on a Lovely Listener question: "If I cry in therapy, does that mean it's working?" Strap in!Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Validate us by...Following us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Following us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about the four F's: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss the four threat responses and how to move through tough situations and face what's in front of us. This episode is for anyone who feels trapped by their reactions or is left feeling overwhelmed by stressful situations. These responses are what make us human; it is better to embrace them and face them rather than become ruled by them.Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a long overdue convo about the two most essential skills in relationships. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss a statistic about emotional availability: on average, we are only emotionally available for our partners about 9% of the time. With that in mind, they discuss how to get closer to the 9% using the two essential skills of attunement and repair. Throughout the episode, they discuss how to implement these skills through the development of micro-skills.Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about one of the things that robs kids of a care-free childhood: being parentified. When kids are forced to grow up too soon and become adults in childhood, kids can take on adult-like responsibilities and burdens. In this episode, we talk about the difference between healthy responsibility for kids and parentification and talk about the impact of having childhood stolen from us and being burdened before we're developmentally ready.Article: Were you a ‘parentified child’? What happens when children have to behave like adults By Nivida ChandraGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about parasocial relationships; the one-sided emotional connections we have with casual acquaintances, people we "know" online, characters we watch in television and movies, and people we admire from afar. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about some examples from pop culture, such as Chappell Roan's desire to set boundaries as a celebrity and Sabrina Carpenter's previous relationship. In addition, they pull examples from two articles to answer one curious question: Have we reached Peak Parasocial?Article 1: In a Celebrity-Obsessed World, Have We Reached Peak Parasocial? By Anna CafollaArticle 2: What are parasocial relationships doing to our brains? By Allegra RosenbergGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This isn’t therapy… it’s part three in our series about the war on human connection. In this episode, we talk about how overwhelming people with tragic and distressing information about the world leads to a decline in empathy. Jake and Simon discuss how a decline in rates of empathy affect our ability to practice perspective taking and experience empathic concern.Article: Empathy Is Dying And So Are We by Rita JabbourGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a follow up to last week's episode about the attention wars. In this episode, we explore the concept of "agree to disagree" and how there seems to be a war of opinions playing out in our culture. Is it really possible to find common ground when opinions clash? We discuss strategies for navigating disagreements and the key differences between opinion-based and values-based conflicts. Can we respectfully acknowledge opposing views, or does disagreement signal a deeper divide?Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a frank discussion about the "attention economy"—where companies compete to capture our focus to sell us products. We break down the difference between attention, focus, and concentration, and examine how the constant battle for our attention impacts our mental health, productivity, and relationships. We discuss the hidden costs of a world where attention is monetized, and how we can reclaim control in this distraction-driven landscape.Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's our *encore* eppy from our first episode BACKKKK (from last year!!) This week, we're talking about why finding hope can often feel so hopeless in hopeless in times. We peel back the curtain on an article from The New Yorker called "Do you have hope?" which looks at the ways hope can live alongside despair, pain, and grief. We discuss what hope is, how hope can be active or passive, and how to use active forms of hope as a way of coping with challenging times and taking effective action on your goals.Article: Do you have hope? By Joshua RothmanCreators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a thought-provoking *encore* episode about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in our personal lives. We ask the big question: Can AI truly replace human relationships? From AI companions and virtual therapists to chatbots that promise emotional support, technology is reshaping the way we connect. But what happens when machines become more accessible, predictable, and even more “reliable” than people?Are we building a world where technology enhances relationships—or one where it erodes the need for them altogether?Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy...this is a flirty fab *encore* conversation about loneliness versus being alone. Through two #lovelylistener stories, Jake and Simon explore feelings around how we can feel lonely even though we're surrounded by people we love. Also, how being alone does not always mean you are lonely. P.S. Don't forget: Submit a quandary, query, or question to Asking For A Friend...Contact: [email protected] & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonEpisode mixed by Jordan Paluck

This Isn't Therapy...it’s the ENCORE to our episode about emotions and emotionality. Am I overacting? Under-reacting? In this conversation, Jake and Simon chat about the normal, human, everyday emotions that show up in our lives. How do we know if our reactions are within a healthy range? They use the Window of Tolerance model to discuss big and small emotions, how to widen our windows, and what to do when emotions don’t seem to match the situation in front of us.Don't forget, Mary: Submit a quandary, query, or question with our newest segment Asking For A Friend...Contact: [email protected] & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us:: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonEpisode mixed by Jordan Paluck

This Isn't Therapy... it's a discussion about the mind-body connection~ wooOOoO!! Nah, in all seriousness, Jake and Simon unpack some interesting data about the gut and how it's being considered a second brain for its ability to drive instinct, help us refocus, and hone in on what really matters. In this episode, we discuss through some final lovely listener submissions and hear what y'all are thinking about as it pertains to this important, and often overlooked, piece of the mental health puzzle!P.S. This is our final episode of the season. Stay tuned for epic encore replays all summer long and keep your eyes peeled for an announcement about our next season in Fall 2025!Got an episode idea? Or maybe even a quandary, query, or question? Submit your thoughts (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about emotions! In this episode, Jake and Simon respond to a listener question... so what are emotions, anyway? They break down the core emotions and how to distinguish emotions from feelings, thoughts, and moods. This episode is def for you if you've ever wondered how to control your emotions (or can you?) and what to do when the social emotions like guilt, shame, jealousy, pride, and indignation come into the mix. Come on in... emotions don't have to be scary! ;)Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a juicy convo about what it takes to become self-led. In this episode, we talk about self-leadership and how to build a sturdy and reliable self-esteem that doesn't dissolve under the sometimes-crushing weight of criticism, negative feedback, shame and self-doubt. This is an active episode so grab your pens and notebooks. Jake walks the lovely listeners through a four-part journalling exercise, rooted in four reflective questions, to help you create authentic self-leadership.Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's an episode about seeking validation (online). Are we becoming obsessed with our quest for constant reassurance, approval, and external validation? In this episode, Jake and Simon explore the sugar high that comes with too much external affirmation and how this weird, wacky, online world is eroding our sense of self. But is it vain to want a compliment? How can I become a more secure and confident person? Is it bad to want to look to others for approval? Or is that... survival? All this and more on this week's juicy, juicy episode!Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...VOX Article: Validate Me, Please! by Allie VolpeCreators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Validate us by...Following us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Following us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about the pressure to be happy. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about how to feel authentically happy when there's a lot of pressure to perform positivity or force happy feelings. Jake and Simon hear from two Lovely Listeners who wonder about the true meaning of happiness and how to spot the difference between authentic joy versus fake happiness. In a culture that might encourage us to "just think positive!" we're asking "...should we?"

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about parasocial relationships; the one-sided emotional connections we have with casual acquaintances, people we "know" online, characters we watch in television and movies, and people we admire from afar. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about some examples from pop culture, such as Chappell Roan's desire to set boundaries as a celebrity and Sabrina Carpenter's previous relationship. In addition, they pull examples from two articles to answer one curious question: Have we reached Peak Parasocial?Article 1: In a Celebrity-Obsessed World, Have We Reached Peak Parasocial? By Anna CafollaArticle 2: What are parasocial relationships doing to our brains? By Allegra RosenbergGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.