Magical Overthinkers

Episodios

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  Overthinking About Starting Over 22.07.2026 43m

  This week, Amanda is joined by entrepreneur, former supreme court attorney and professional poker player, and author of You Can Just Do Things, Cate Hall, to unpack why starting over feels so terrifying and why it might be the very thing that leads us toward a more authentic life. Together, they chat about the fear of quitting, the sunk cost fallacy, why we crave a tidy life story, and how to tell the difference between running away from something and running toward yourself. They also answer listener thought spirals about toxic jobs, divorce, changing careers, moving across the world, getting "too old" to begin again, and whether it's ever really too late to start over.Further Reading: You Can Just Do Things by Cate Hall with Sasha Chapin - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. - If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/3OdtU5X ⁠- Download Whatnot today and get $20 Off and free shipping on your first purchase.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Aging 08.07.2026 45m

  Why are we so afraid of getting older? Is it really about wrinkles... or are we actually afraid of losing our purpose, our identity, and the people we love? This week, Amanda is joined by oncologist, bioethicist, and Eat Your Ice Creamauthor Dr. Ezekiel "Zeke" Emanuel (@drezekielemanuel) to unpack our culture's obsession with staying young. Together, they explore why the wellness industry's promises of longevity miss the point, why curiosity matters more than looking 25 forever, and why some of the happiest, most meaningful years of life may still be ahead of us. They answer listener thought spirals about Botox, becoming "invisible," feeling behind in adulthood, retirement, and whether getting older has to mean becoming less yourself. A hopeful spiral about learning to fear aging a little less... and living a little more. Further Reading: Eat Your Ice Cream by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Thanks to our Sponsors: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at ⁠⁠https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Failure 24.06.2026 41m

  Why does failure feel so much bigger than it actually is? This week, Amanda is joined by entrepreneur, author, and leadership coach Jane Marie Chen (@janemarie.chen) to spiral about failure: why we're so terrified of it, why we avoid it at all costs, and why it often hurts so much more than the thing that actually happened. Together, they explore perfectionism, rejection, burnout, imposter syndrome, and the childhood experiences that shape our relationship to failure long before we ever encounter it. And what if failure isn't evidence that we're unworthy? What if it's simply the price of catching bigger waves? A reflective spiral about risk, resilience, and learning to love yourself even when things don't go according to plan. Further Reading: Like a Wave We Break by Jane Marie Chen - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. - If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/3OdtU5X ⁠- Download Whatnot today and get $20 Off and free shipping on your first purchase.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Mommy Issues 10.06.2026 46m

  No matter how old we get, there’s a decent chance a small part of us is still trying to impress, understand, forgive, rebel against, or be comforted by our mothers. This week, Amanda is joined by writer and editor Ashley Oerman (@ashleyoerman), author of Motherf*cked, to spiral about one of the most loaded relationships in the human experience: the one between mothers and their children. Together, they unpack the impossible expectations placed on mothers, the ways our earliest relationships shape our adult identities, and why "mommy issues" have become both a punchline and a profound psychological reality. A tender spiral about the stories we spend a lifetime trying to rewrite. Further Reading: Motherf*cked: How to Stop Your Mothers Toxic Drama from Ruining Your Life by Ashley Oerman - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Thanks to our Sponsors: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at ⁠https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical⁠ Shop plans at ⁠https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Burnout 27.05.2026 1h 5m

  When we first aired this episode in 2024, burnout felt like the defining emotional state of modern life. Two years later… honestly, not much has improved. If anything, burnout has shape-shifted. The girlboss hustle era may be less aspirational than it once was, but it’s been replaced by new flavors of exhaustion: constant digital overwhelm, economic anxiety, doomscrolling, and the strange pressure to be “healing” productively at all times. So this week, we’re revisiting Amanda’s conversation with the brilliant Amelia Nagoski (@burnoutbookgroup), co-author of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, for a much-needed refresher on what burnout actually is. Together, they unpack what happens when our bodies get stuck in an incomplete stress response cycle, why modern life keeps us there, and what it actually takes to start feeling better. If you’re emotionally fried, physically depleted, or somehow both overstimulated and numb, this one’s for you. We’ll be back in two weeks with a brand new episode.Further Reading: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Thanks to our Sponsors: If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order at ⁠bit.ly/3OdtU5X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Critical Thinking 13.05.2026 40m

  What does “thinking critically” actually mean and why is everyone so convinced they’re already good at it? This week, Amanda is joined by psychologist and author of Radical Thinking, Peter Lamont to explore how all of our beliefs are shaped by a limited slice of what we notice and how we interpret it, which means disagreement is inevitable. Peter reframes critical thinking as something quieter and more uncomfortable: recognizing the limits of your own perspective and being willing to engage with people who see the world differently. From the role of the internet and social media to why curiosity might matter more than certainty, this episode is a grounded spiral about attention, interpretation, and learning to question your own thinking before anyone else’s. Further Reading: Radical Thinking: How to See the Bigger Picture by Peter Lamont - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Thanks to our Sponsors: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order at bit.ly/3OdtU5X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About "Healthy" Relationships 29.04.2026 45m

  What does a healthy relationship actually look like, and who gets to decide? This week, Amanda is joined by relationship expert Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh (@dr.saranasserzadeh) to overthink "healthy" relationships. Together, they unpack why “healthy” can feel impossible to define, and why a more useful question might be: Does this relationship leave you feeling fulfilled? They explore how many people waste energy trying to fix the wrong things, and Sara breaks down the six ingredients she believes help relationships thrive. From situationships that feel surprisingly safe to whether healthy couples are “boring,” this episode is a grounded spiral about connection, boundaries, and giving yourself permission to believe you deserve the kind of love that feels steady. Further Reading: Love by Design: 6 ingredients to build a lifetime of love by Dr. Sara Further Viewing: The 6 Essential Ingredients of Loving Relationships  - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical For 15% off your first order. Go to https://ZENNI.com/PODCAST and use code PODCAST15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Insecurity 15.04.2026 34m

  What if the antidote to insecurity isn’t looking inward, but reaching outward? This week, Amanda is joined by psychiatrist and attachment expert Dr. Amir Levine to overthink insecurity; where it comes from, why it can feel so consuming, and how it shapes the way we love. Together, they explore how healing happens in connection and how leaning on your support system and surrounding yourself with secure people can help reshape those patterns over time. From overanalyzing texts to fearing abandonment or pulling away entirely, this episode is a thoughtful spiral about connection, self-trust, and learning how to feel safe in community. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Doing Your Own Research 01.04.2026 50m

  “Do your own research.” It sounds empowering… so why does it so often lead us straight into confusion, conspiracy, or complete information overload? This week, Amanda is joined by pharmacist and science communicator Dr. Harini Bhat (@tilscience) to overthink what it really means to “do your own research” in the age of the internet. They unpack how a phrase rooted in curiosity became a cultural catchphrase for skepticism, distrust, and DIY fact finding. Why do we feel so confident after reading a few threads or watching a couple of videos? How do algorithms, bias, and the illusion of understanding shape what we think we “know”? And where’s the line between healthy questioning and going down the rabbit hole? A brain bending spiral about knowledge, misinformation, and why thinking critically might be harder (and more necessary) than ever. Further Viewing: Today I Learned Science by Dr. Harini Bhat - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at⁠ https://SHOPIFY.COM/⁠⁠magic⁠⁠al⁠ Shop plans at ⁠https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Flirting 18.03.2026 54m

  Why does flirting feel so natural for some people and completely impossible for the rest of us? This week, Amanda is joined by dating coach and relationship expert Francesca Hogi (@dearfranny) to overthink the art and anxiety of flirting. Together they unpack why flirting often gets misunderstood as manipulation or performance, how modern dating apps have scrambled our instincts, and why genuine curiosity might be the most underrated flirting skill of all. From the fear of coming on too strong to the panic of missing signals entirely, they explore the psychology behind attraction and the subtle ways we communicate interest. A playful spiral about eye contact, mixed signals, and why flirting might actually be less about being charming and more about being present. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Feeling Doomed 04.03.2026 25m

  This week, host Amanda Montell takes the mic solo to overthink the creeping sense of doom that seems to hum beneath modern life. Drawing from her Esquire essay on “doomslang,” she unpacks the language we use to joke about collapse, catastrophe, and existential dread... and what those jokes might be revealing about how we’re actually coping. From ironic nihilism to memeified despair, Amanda explores why we’ve turned apocalypse into punchline, how constant crisis reshapes our nervous systems, and whether calling everything “doomed” is a defense mechanism… or a warning. A short spiral about dread, dark humor, and the strange comfort of saying the quiet part out loud.   - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Workaholism 18.02.2026 48m

  This week, Amanda is joined by psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch (@guywinch) to overthink workaholism. Why being “busy” feels virtuous, why burnout can masquerade as success, and how overworking often hides deeper emotional needs. Together, they unpack the psychology behind overwork and the quiet ways it can become a socially acceptable addiction. The conversation offers a new lens on why so many of our attempts at “work/life balance” leave us feeling even more depleted and what it might actually take to build a life that feels sustainable instead of performative. A reflective spiral about rest, self-worth, and learning that you are more than what you produce.  - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Being A Flake 04.02.2026 48m

  When did canceling plans become a personality trait... and at what cost? This week, Amanda is joined by writer and internet culture expert Kate Lindsay (@kathrynfiona) to overthink being a flake... not as a quirky coping mechanism, but as a habit that can quietly shrink our lives. Together, they explore how chronic flakiness can lead to isolation, weaken our relationships, and negatively impact mental health, especially in the burnout aftermath of the pre-COVID girlboss era that taught us to overextend and then retreat. The conversation traces how exhaustion, overwork, and digital culture have reshaped our tolerance for social effort, and when “protecting your peace” starts to look like opting out entirely. A sobering but compassionate spiral about burnout, loneliness, and the hard work of choosing connection again. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at⁠ https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical⁠ Get 50% off Unlimited premium wireless at ⁠https://MintMobile.com/magical To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Confrontation 21.01.2026 46m

  Why does speaking up feel so terrifying even when we know we’re right? This week, host Amanda Montell (@amanda_montell) is joined by happiness researcher and psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky (@sonjalyubomirsky) to overthink confrontation: why we avoid it, why we rehearse it endlessly in our heads, and why it so often feels riskier than staying silent. Together, they explore what confrontation does to our nervous systems, how fear of conflict gets tangled up with people pleasing and self worth, and when avoiding hard conversations actually costs us more in the long run. A gentle spiral about courage, communication, and learning to trust yourself enough to say the thing out loud. Further Reading: How To Feel Loved by Sonja Lyubomirsky - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Horniness 07.01.2026 54m

  Welcome to 2026, overthinkers! A question to start off the new year: Are you weirded out by your relationship to your own horniness? This week, Amanda is joined by sex educator, author, and cultural translator Shan Boodram to unpack how physical desire gets shaped by culture, social media, gender, power, and self-image, and why it can feel empowering one moment and deeply shameful or confusing the next. Tune in as they discuss unfiltered listener-submitted questions about wanting too much, wanting too little, and wanting all the “wrong” things. This episode is a gentle spiral about learning to trust what your body is trying to tell you. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up a copy of Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical This January, quit overspending on wireless with 50% off Unlimited premium wireless at https://MintMobile.com/magical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Nostalgia 10.12.2025 22m

  Why does looking back feel so sweet, so painful, and so irresistible this time of year? In this special short episode, Amanda takes a moment to reflect on the year of Magical Overthinkers from the fan favorite episodes to the conversations that changed us. Then she reads her Los Angeles Times essay on nostalgia, exploring why we cling to the past, how memory both comforts and distorts us, and what it means to long for a version of life that never quite existed the way we remember it. A gentle closing spiral for the year, filled with gratitude, bittersweetness, and a little hint of what’s coming next season. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up a hard copy of Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/MAGICAL Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Ragebait 26.11.2025 46m

  Why does it feel like every time we open our phones, something is begging us to get angry? This week, just in time for Thanksgiving, host Amanda is joined by theologian, ethics professor, and No Small Endeavor host Lee C. Camp (@leeccamp) to overthink about ragebait; the outrage optimized content designed to divide us, drain us, and keep us doomscrolling. Together, they explore how polarization has turned irritation into entertainment, why we’re so easily pulled into cycles of collective fury, and the surprising antidotes. A reflective spiral about anger, attention, and the radical act of meeting each other beyond the algorithm. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at⁠ https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical⁠ - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up a hard copy of Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Crying 12.11.2025 47m

  Amanda is joined by wellness educator and founder of The Being Method MJ Renshaw (@beingmethodbreathwork) to gently spiral about crying: the science, the stigma, and the quiet relief that comes after the tears. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up a hard copy of Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/MAGICAL to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About The Algorithm 29.10.2025 42m

  If the algorithm knows what we want before we do… who’s really in charge? This week, host Amanda Montell(@amanda_montell) is joined by linguist, creator, and internet culture observer Adam Aleksic (@etymologynerd) to spiral deep into the invisible yet all powerful force shaping our attention, creativity, politics, and identities: The Algorithm. Why do we talk about it like it’s a god, a ghost, or an ex? Why does it shove us into hyper specific digital rabbit holes no matter how much we resist? And what happens when our digital realities start to diverge so wildly, we can’t agree on the same version of truth? Further Reading: Algospeak by Adam Aleksic    - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up a hard copy of Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/MAGICAL to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Overthinking About Therapy-Speak 15.10.2025 49m

  We’re all “holding space,” “setting boundaries,” and “doing the work”, but when does the language of healing start to feel like another script we’re performing? This week, host Amanda Montell is joined by writer and therapist Joe Nucci (@joenuccitherapy) to overthink therapy speak, the vocabulary of mental health that’s seeped into everyday life and the internet alike. Together, they explore how this language can empower us to name our needs, but also how it can flatten complex emotions, mask avoidance as self care, and turn genuine vulnerability into content. A soft spiral about self-awareness, semantics, and the messy truth hiding underneath all those polished words for pain.Further Reading: Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free by Joe Nucci, LPC  - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers.- To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack.- Pick up a hard copy of Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices