Xanyland: Comedians on the Couch

Quite possibly our funniest—and sharpest—episode yet. Comedian Katherine Blanford joins Alicia Racine Fink for a wild ride through Southern family chaos, boomer culture, and the generational silence around mental health.From her mom “napping” in the woods (spoiler: she wasn’t) to the unspoken rules of her father’s house, Katherine’s stories are laugh-out-loud funny while opening conversations about grief, toxic positivity, and how childhood chaos shapes careers.They cover the “grieving dopamine hit” of posting loss online, the evolution of comedy toward memoir-style storytelling, and riffs on stepmothers, reincarnation, and the wish for a gay dad. By the end, it’s clear Katherine channels her late mother’s magnetic energy into fearless, bold comedy that blends raw storytelling with Southern wit.Topics: Southern humor, generational trauma, grief and comedy, family chaos, memoir comedy, toxic positivity, mental health awareness.

Your adult friendships might have quietly gone crusty — and your mental health depends on fixing that. In this episode, I sit down with comedian Leslie Liao, whose hypnotic voice lulls you in until her wit snaps you out of it. She gets honest about being crusty, as we all are sometimes, and we talk about what makes adult friendships quietly dry up and what it actually takes to bring them back to life. We get into why the catch-up feels more like a quarterly review than a hangout, why voice memos feel so much more real than texts, and why I’m genuinely tempted to get a rotary phone just to bring back the mystery of picking up a call you actually want to take. We normalize boring hangs, couch days, and parallel play. We talk about needing different friends for different parts of yourself — and how diversifying your intimacy can protect your romantic relationship tooPlus mmm — Summertime Prozac.Keywords:adult friendships, friendship advice, mental health, Leslie Lau comedian, Alicia Racine Fink, Xanyland podcast, parallel play, friendship strategies, diversifying intimacy, voice memos, rotary phone, nostalgia, summertime, Prozac

Julia Jasunas thought she was in love—until she realized she was losing her sense of self inside the relationship. In this episode, Alicia and Julia get into what narcissistic dynamics actually look like from the inside while you’re still in them. They cover gaslighting, love bombing and devaluation, and the “echoist” pattern of slowly disappearing to keep the peace. Julia shares the moments that made her question her reality—and what finally pushed her to go no-contact.This episode is for anyone who’s ever stayed longer than they meant to and wondered why it was so hard to leave.

Find out why Alicia doesn't think Drew needs therapy!In this heartwarming episode of Xanyland, Alicia Racine Fink sits down with the incredibly relatable comedian Drew Dunn, and talks about mental health, comedy, trauma, and holding joy and grief at the same time. From winning local comedy competitions to opening for big names like Dane Cook, Drew shares his journey into comedy and the importance of staying true to the craft of making people laugh. They dive into how Drew's comedy is shaped by his belief in nuance and seeing the world in shades of gray, a perspective enriched by his experiences and interactions with everyday people. The conversation also touches on the power of a solid support system, as Drew reflects on the role his family and his wife’s family have played in his journey, and how the loss of his mother-in-law deeply impacted them all.As new parents, Drew and Alicia explore how having a baby changes everything, from the way you approach life to how you manage a career in comedy. The episode is a beautiful blend of humor and vulnerability, offering insights into the balancing act of pursuing your passion while navigating life’s complexities. Drew’s everyman charm and down-to-earth wisdom make this episode a must-listen!Topics: grief, parenting, comedy and mental health, fatherhood and loss, stand-up, coping through comedy and trauma.

Courtney Maginnis and Casey Salengo aren’t just comedians—they’re a couple in couples therapy, sharing what it really takes to show up for love. In this episode, Alicia Racine Fink sits down with them to talk ADHD, communication breakdowns, and how therapy helps them navigate the chaos.From a taxidermied fox to Disney villain metaphors for therapy modalities, this episode is packed with humor, insight, and real-life relationship lessons. Courtney and Casey prove that love is maintenance, and showing up—intentionally and humorously—is the work.This episode is for anyone navigating relationships, therapy, or just looking for a funny, heartwarming take on coupledom.

Andrew Orolfo came into comedy for the love of jokes, not algorithms—but social media quickly became part of the job. In this episode, Alicia and Andrew explore the mental health cost of maintaining an online presence, from burnout and trolls to cancel culture and teen mistakes. They cover comedy, social media stress, and the tools Andrew uses to protect his sanity—including therapy, emotional growth, and keeping perspective on what matters.This episode is for anyone overwhelmed by online life, curious about the comedy world, or looking for ways to survive social media without losing themselves.

Gracie Canaan stopped trying to “fix” her bipolar disorder and started building a life around it instead. In this episode, Alicia and Gracie get into what it actually looks like to live with bipolar over time—from hospitalization to creating systems that make daily life more stable. They cover managing mania and depression, using practical tools like phone lockboxes and financial boundaries, and designing a nontraditional lifestyle that supports mental health. At one point, Gracie explains what it means to “invite all your parts in for tea”—and how that shifted everything.This episode is for anyone trying to work with their mind instead of constantly fighting it.

Tommy Brennan has been in therapy for six years. He preps for each session like a podcast, journals throughout the week, and once bombed so badly in front of 30 Brooklyn comedians that it was, somehow, exactly what he needed. In this episode, Alicia and Tommy get into the mechanics of actually doing therapy right — the prep, the trust, the willingness to follow where it leads. They also cover: the LinkedIn-to-comedy pipeline, why big families produce performers, and what it means to put a room on a pedestal for years. Plus: Alicia confesses to developing real feelings for a professor who turned out to be her own therapist's husband.For comedians, creatives, and anyone who's been recommending therapy for years without actually going.

Ryan Muldoon could make millions laugh online, but getting sober forced him to figure out what was underneath that. In this episode, Alicia and Ryan get into what recovery actually looks like beyond the surface—from AA and Al-Anon to confronting anger and trying hypnotherapy. They cover the role rage plays in addiction, how sobriety changes your identity, and what happens when a comedian becomes a therapist. At one point, Ryan explains why doing real emotional work made his comedy better—not safer.This episode is for anyone who’s ever used humor to cope and wondered what’s underneath it.

Baron Vaughn started questioning whether he’s autistic after his son was diagnosed—and it sent him rethinking his entire life. In this episode, Alicia and Baron get into what it looks like to explore neurodivergence as an adult while you’re still in the middle of figuring it out. They cover late recognition, reinterpreting childhood and career, and learning compassion for yourself in real time. At one point, Baron tries to define what “being a person” even means—and you can hear the answer forming as he says it.This episode is for anyone who’s ever realized something big about themselves later than expected.

Jessica Michelle Singleton watched what happened when her mom quit her meds cold turkey—and it shaped how she thinks about treatment. In this episode, Alicia and Jessica get into what it actually looks like to find the right medication for ADHD and OCD—and why people stop taking meds the moment they start feeling better. They cover medication stigma, trial-and-error with treatment, and the mix of meds, supplements, and lifestyle changes people try along the way. At one point, they unpack why “feeling better” is often the exact moment people make the wrong call.This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if their meds are helping-or thought about quitting them too soon.

Jordana Lilly wants a therapist who will shame her—and it opens up a bigger question about what people actually need from therapy. In this episode, Alicia and Jordana get into how to find a therapist who’s the right fit and how to ask for the kind of feedback that will actually help you change. They cover what people get wrong when starting therapy, how to avoid wasting sessions, and the difference between validation and real progress. At one point, Alicia pushes back on whether “harsh” therapy is even effective.This episode is for anyone who’s thought about therapy but doesn’t know how to start—or isn’t sure it’s working.

Welcome to Xanyland, a deconstruction of the mental health world, hosted by Alicia Racine Fink, a redhead therapist with a flair for irreverence. This isn’t your typical therapy session—it’s a shrink rap experience where comedians unwind on the couch, dishing the T about their personal mental health journeys. Xanyland pulls back the curtain on the chaos and absurdity of mental health today, offering listeners a fresh perspective on the struggles we all face. Each episode is a mix of hilarious anecdotes and psychoeducation that demystifies therapy and breaks down the stigma around mental health. It’s a space where healing meets humor. Xanyland is about laughing at the mess, all while guiding people toward the resources they need. Oh, and the T? It means a lot of things. Big T and small t trauma for one. It’s the stuff you spill with your therapist. And obviously, it’s the Seinfeldian kind of T too—where the mundane meets the absurd.