Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin
Amy Morin
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Therapist Amy Morin hosts a podcast about building mental strength, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Each episode offers science-backed strategies to improve mental health and tackle life's challenges. Morin, a bestselling author and TEDx speaker, shares insights from her personal journey and professional expertise. The show aims to help listeners gain a competitive edge and reach their greatest potential.
Afleveringen
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339 — Your Happiness Doesn't Have to Bottom Out at 47. Here's How to Make Midlife the Best Time of Your Life With Top Midlife Researcher Dr. Margie Lachman 03.08.2026 49minHave you been bracing for a midlife crisis? Maybe you've believed that once you hit 40 or 50, you're supposed to hit a wall — get restless, buy the sports car, blow up your life, or slide into a slow decline. And even if you haven't hit that wall yet, part of you might be waiting for it. But my guest today has spent more than 30 years studying midlife, and she says most of what you've heard is wrong. In fact, treating midlife like a decline might turn it into one. Your sense of control, your self-esteem, and your life satisfaction can actually peak in midlife. My guest is Dr. Margie Lachman, a psychology professor at Brandeis University who directs the Lifespan Lab and is one of the leading researchers on adult development in the country. Some of the things we discuss are: The truth behind the famous "happiness dips at 47" claim — and why the researchers behind it are now walking it back Why the millennial midlife crisis might not actually be about midlife at all Why your personality isn't locked in the way you were taught — and how to change it in your 40s, 50s, and beyond The midlife review: three questions that can help you figure out what you actually want next The "shelve it" approach Why "sense of control" might be the single most important mindset in midlife (and how it lowers inflammation and dementia risk) Why childhood struggles sometimes resurface in midlife — and what to do about it The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for making midlife your prime starting today Related Episodes 296 — 5 Ways to Build Emotional Strength When Life Keeps Knocking You Down 336 — The "Social Clock" That's Making You Feel Behind—and How to Stop Links & Resources Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Lola Blankets - Head to LolaBlankets.com and use code STRONGER to get 40% OFF your order. AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER. Dupe — Go to Dupe.com to finally feel confident about what to buy. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
338 — How to Break a Bad Habit Without Any Willpower at All 31.07.2026 20minPick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook. Do you think you lack willpower? Whether you can't stop snacking or you keep checking your ex's Instagram, bad habits can be tough to break. But what if willpower isn't your problem? What if it's an environmental problem that you can actually fix? Some of the things I talk about are: Why willpower is a limited resource—and how you burn through it hundreds of times a day without realizing it. The 2025 Microsoft study on how many times the average worker gets interrupted in a single day. Why the people who break bad habits don't actually have more discipline than everyone else. The simple friction tricks that make temptation harder to reach—from the cookie shelf to your saved credit card. How I keep my own phone from hijacking my writing (and why it's not about discipline at all). My client who was sure she had ADHD—and the creative 15% solution that changed her whole workday. The three simple steps to build a temptation blocker for whatever is draining your energy. Why fixing your environment is about being more present in the moments that matter. Related Episodes 184 — Stop Relying on Willpower and Create Habits for Lasting Mental Strength 204 — 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do in Today’s World Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep — Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER. Dupe — Go to Dupe.com to finally feel confident about what to buy. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
337 — Overwhelmed by Self-Improvement Advice? 5 Strategies From a Guy Who's Interviewed 700 Top Performers with Ryan Hawk 27.07.2026 53minAre you overwhelmed by all the self-improvement advice out there? Every book, every podcast, every social media post is telling you a different thing you should be doing and all those things might leave you feeling exactly the same as when you started. My guest today has spent the last decade interviewing more than 700 top performers to figure out what actually moves the needle. His book has hundreds of strategies, but I picked out the five that work best for anyone who wants to build confidence, reduce anxiety, or become a stronger version of themselves. My guest is Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show and USA Today bestselling author. His new book is The Price of Becoming. Some of the things we discuss are: Why confidence comes from evidence and how it transfers to every other area of your life Why it's okay to copy other people when you're starting out (and the surprising fact about The Beatles that proves it). Curiosity as a skill disguised as a personality trait and why Ryan says it might be his number one love language. The line Ryan's dad said that reframes almost every anxious thought The Adam Sandler story about the professor who told him he'd never make it and the surprising way Sandler chose to remember him The difference between "clean fuel" and "dirty fuel" The three journaling prompts Ryan uses every night to compound growth over time The Therapist's Take: M quick take on how to apply each strategy starting today Related Episodes 248 — The 3 Words That Will Make You Mentally Stronger 330 — The Real Reason Your Coping Skills Aren't Helping (It's Not You) Links & Resources The Price of Becoming Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER. Dupe — Go to Dupe.com to finally feel confident about what to buy. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
336 — The "Social Clock" That's Making You Feel Behind—and How to Stop 24.07.2026 22minDo you ever feel like everyone else is a few steps ahead of you? Maybe you thought you'd have the job, the house, the relationship, or the retirement account figured out by now—and the fact that you don't feels like proof you've fallen behind. It's easy to feel like everyone else is doing better and you can't catch up. But there are some strategies that can help you feel better about wherever you are right now. Some of the things I talk about are: Why the word "behind" is the thing that trips us up—and the question that changes everything. The "social clock" researchers have identified, and the surprising finding about what actually causes people distress. The moment that completely shattered the timeline for me—and left me feeling fifty years ahead of schedule. The first move to make when you feel behind The Holocaust survivor who published her first book at 89, her second at 92, and kept going until 96. Why there's no single racetrack—and what to ask yourself the next time the feeling creeps back in. Related Episodes 196 — How Comparison Culture is Secretly Sabotaging Your Mental Strength 332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep — Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER. Dupe — Go to Dupe.com to finally feel confident about what to buy. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
335 — "I Know Better — So Why Do I Keep Doing It?" Here's the Loop You're Actually Stuck In With Dr. Elisha Goldstein 20.07.2026 52minHave you ever caught yourself thinking, I know better than this — so why do I keep doing it? Whether you stay up too late scrolling or you snap at people you leave, we all do things that don't help sometimes. Most of us assume we need to create a lifestyle overhaul to fix the issue. But my guest today says that's exactly why so many of us stay stuck. He says a series of tiny shifts is the key to breaking free from emotional loops. My guest is Dr. Elisha Goldstein, a clinical psychologist and the host of the Emotional Longevity podcast. His new book is Tiny Shifts. Some of the things we discuss are: What an emotional loop is — and how the four parts of it (thoughts, emotions, sensations, actions) trap you before you notice Why your most convincing thoughts are often the least accurate — and how your brain evolved to make it that way Why overhauling your life almost never works — and what "tiny shifts" do instead The 4R method and how Dr. Goldstein used it in real time when he got scammed on Facebook Why overthinking is a nervous system problem Why shame is baked into our culture and how to work with it instead of getting trapped by it The "slippery moment" when one loop turns into another and you assume nothing's working Why healing your childhood wounds doesn't require years of therapy The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for making tiny shifts starting today Related Episodes 305 — How to Make the Biggest Changes With the Smallest Steps With Author Eric Zimmer 194 — The Science of Small Wins: Why They Matter More Than Big Goals Links & Resources Tiny Shifts Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
334 - Change Is Great. But So Is Everything About You That Never Changed. 17.07.2026 16minI've spent my whole career helping people change. Someone walks into my therapy office stuck in a pattern they don't want, and together we figure out how to get them unstuck. I've written books about it. This whole podcast is about it. But after almost 25 years as a therapist, here's what strikes me: how much we actually stay the same. The things that made you light up at 5 are probably the same things that light you up at 55. The impulses you had at 7 are still there at 47. We change in real ways—but underneath, something steady keeps us being us. Today's episode is a little different. Instead of a mental strength play to change your life, I want to talk about the parts of you that were never going to change—and why that might be one of the more beautiful things about being a person. We live in a world constantly telling you to become a new version of yourself. But sometimes there's no problem to fix. Sometimes it just means there's a reliable part of you that's been there all along. Some of the things I talk about are: The daily habit I've kept for years—and the moment I realized I've been playing the exact same game since I was five years old. What happened when I asked my Instagram audience what they loved as a kid and still love today (the list is oddly comforting). Why so much of the self-improvement world gets this wrong—and why "always upgrade yourself" isn't the whole story. The crucial difference between an impulse and a response—and why you don't have to fix the impulse to change your life. What I still do when a speaker asks for a volunteer from the audience, almost 40 years after I was the shy kid dreading book report day. The question I ask therapy clients who feel like they've lost themselves—and why no one has ever failed to answer it. Why recognizing what's stayed the same can be one of the most healing moments in a whole stretch of therapy. The question I want you to sit with this week—and why you don't have to fix the answer. Related Episodes 308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment 306 — You Don't Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
333 — You're Doing 'Delayed Gratification' Wrong. Here's What Actually Makes You Happier with Professor Ian Bogost 13.07.2026 50minYou've heard people say, "Good things come to those who wait." Most of us absorbed that lesson somewhere along the way — save the good stuff, delay the pleasure, wait until you've earned it. But my guest today says that idea backfires. My guest is Ian Bogost, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. His new book is The Small Stuff. Some of the things we discuss are: The three different types of contentment — and why we tend to overlook the most available one What the famous marshmallow test actually got wrong about delayed gratification Why saving the perfume, the outfit, or the "good china" for a special occasion might be backfiring The one-step trick to noticing small pleasures without having to add anything new to your routine Why gratification isn't the same as mindfulness — and why Ian has issues with how mindfulness gets sold to us How modern life has quietly stripped away small sensory pleasures (Ian calls it "dematerialization") Why you don't have to choose between being present and taking a picture — you can do both How stacking tiny moments of gratification can build a buffer that makes hard days hurt less The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for finding more small pleasures starting today Related Episodes 322 — This 60-Second Mental Strength Play Will Help You Stop Procrastinating (And It Doesn't Require Willpower) 270 — You Don't Need More Self-Discipline: 2 Strategies to Succeed Without It Links & Resources The Small Stuff Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
332 — Should You Sit With Your Feelings or Change How You Feel? The One Question That Decides It 10.07.2026 18minHave you ever been upset and had one person tell you to just sit with your feelings—while someone else insists you should snap out of it and take control? Which approach is right? The answer is that it depends on the situation. In today's episode, I'll show you that the most important emotional strength skill is knowing which one the moment calls for. Some of the things I talk about are: Why "sit with it" and "change it" aren't actually contradictory—and the framework that ties them together. Why an emotion isn't positive or negative on its own, and what actually determines whether it helps you or hurts you. How the exact same anxiety can be your friend while you pay a stack of bills and your enemy on the way to the stage. The surprising research on how a "good" emotion like excitement can push you into a decision you'd never make calmly. The personal story of returning to work after losing my husband—and what grief taught me about when to feel a feeling and when to turn the volume down. The three questions that tell you, in the moment, whether a feeling is your friend or your enemy (you only need to answer one). What to actually do once you have your answer—and why changing a feeling isn't avoiding it, and sitting with one isn't weakness. Related Episodes 308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment 306 — You Don't Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
331 - Why You Can't Stop Overthinking — and the 30-Second Trick That Interrupts the Spiral with Science Journalist Donna Jackson Nakazawa 06.07.2026 55minHave you ever spent hours replaying a conversation in your head that didn't go well? Maybe you said something you wish you hadn't. Maybe someone made a comment you can't stop thinking about. But the more you think about it, the worse you feel — and you can't seem to stop. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. My guest is Donna Jackson Nakazawa, an award-winning science journalist and author of nine books. Her new book is Mind Drama and she has uncovered some surprising strategies that can help you stop overthinking. Some of the things we discuss are: What's actually happening in your brain when you can't stop replaying something — and what showed up on Donna's own brain scan Why "just think about it a little more" is a lie your brain tells you (and the part of your brain that's terrible at solving problems is the one running the show) Why we're all overthinking more than we used to — and the perfect storm making it worse How a single anxious thought sends a stress signal all the way down to the energy centers of your cells The MIST framework — a step-by-step way to decode the pattern behind whatever you keep replaying The "ballistic interrupter" — a neuroscience-backed trick that stops the spiral by changing one small thing about how you talk to yourself Quick physical moves that signal safety to your brain and break the loop fast The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for breaking out of an overthinking loop starting today Related Episodes 284 — Overthinking? Here’s the 3-Word Fix You Need to Stop the Spiral 258 - 7 Sneaky Mindset Traps Draining Your Mental Strength (And How to Stop Them) Links & Resources Mind Drama Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
330 — The Real Reason Your Coping Skills Aren't Helping (It's Not You) 03.07.2026 21minWant more plays to help you stay mentally strong? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook. Have you ever tried a mental strength strategy that everyone swears by, and it didn't work for you? Maybe you tried to meditate in the middle of a panic attack and felt worse, or started a gratitude journal while your life was falling apart and just ended up feeling guilty about your list. The same coping skills that saves you in one moment can backfire in another. Fortunately, you can sharpen your ability to reach for the right coping skill at the right time once you know how. Some of the things I talk about are: Why the strategy that "doesn't work for you" might just be the right tool used at the wrong time. The friend whose gratitude journal, packed weekend schedule, and constant busyness looked like strength from the outside—but were actually keeping her stuck. How three plays we talk about all the time on this show can backfire, and the exact moments when each one turns from helpful to harmful. Why "What's the best mental health technique?" is the wrong question—and the better one to ask instead. How to run the same problem through your thoughts, your emotions, and your actions so you always have more than one way in. The three-step Pause, Pick, Play process for choosing the right play in the moment—even when your usual go-to isn't working. Related Episodes 308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment 306 — You Don't Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
329 — How to Stop Beating Yourself Up for How You Feel With Psychotherapist Daniel Smith 29.06.2026 49minHave you ever caught yourself thinking, "I should be over this by now"? Maybe an old fear or insecurity shows up, and instead of just feeling it, you feel bad about feeling that way. Most of us were taught that hard feelings — shame, envy, anger, boredom — are problems to be solved or character flaws to fix. And when they don't go away, we pile on a second layer of distress. But my guest today says that's exactly where we go wrong. The goal isn't to get rid of hard feelings. It's to get more curious about them. My guest is Daniel Smith, a writer turned therapist whose new book is called Hard Feelings. Some of the things we discuss are: Why hard feelings aren't problems to solve — and what happens when you stop trying to optimize them away Why shame is the master uncomfortable emotion, and how it often gets passed down through families in silence The trap of asking "why do I feel this way?" — and the better question that actually helps Why decades of personal work doesn't make old anxieties disappear The hidden cost of the positivity industry — and how well-meaning advice can become unintentionally shaming What boredom, envy, and even anger are trying to teach you if you're willing to listen The difference between sitting with a feeling and needing to shift one — and how to know which moment calls for which The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for getting curious about hard feelings starting today Related Episodes 224 - 8 Myths About Feelings That Can Sabotage Your Emotional Intelligence 148 — How to Take Charge of Your Feelings Links & Resources Hard Feelings Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
328 — The Best Way to Solve a Problem When You Feel Hopeless: Brainstorm the Worst Ideas First 26.06.2026 16minWant more plays to help you stay mentally strong? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook. Have you ever felt stuck trying to solve a problem? Maybe you're trying to figure out how to attract more customers, smooth things over with someone you love, or finally dig out of debt—but you just can't figure out what to do? Well, sometimes pushing harder for an answer in the same direction is exactly what's keeping you stuck. And that's why brainstorming the worst ideas might be the key to getting unstuck. Some of the things I talk about are: The online jewelry store I built knowing nothing about jewelry—and the backwards question that finally cracked my customer problem. Why trying harder to find a good idea often keeps you stuck, and what to do instead. The exact reversal I use with therapy clients who say "I've tried everything and nothing works." Why this play makes group brainstorms come alive—and finally gets the quiet people to speak up. The real reason asking "how do I make this worse?" knocks your brain out of its stuck loop. The five simple steps to turn a list of terrible ideas into a blueprint for what to actually do next. When to run this play—from a business decision to a standoff at home to a meeting you're leading. Related Episodes 31 — Friday Fix: These 5 STEPS Will Sharpen Your Problem-Solving Skills to Get Through Challenges with Ease 316 — How Talking to a Rubber Duck Will Solve Any Problem Fast (And Why Thinking Harder Fire Backfires) Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
327 — Why You Can't Make Up Your Mind (and How to Finally Decide) with Bestselling Author Simone Stolzoff 22.06.2026 44minThink about the last time you couldn't make up your mind about a big decision. Maybe you made a pro-and-con list, read every review, and talked it through with other people — and still couldn't decide. We tell ourselves that just a little more information will finally bring the certainty we need to choose. But my guest today says more research can fuel your anxiety and the certainty we're chasing doesn't actually exist. If you're indecisive, you overthink every choice, or you freeze up for fear of making the wrong decision, this episode is for you. My guest is Simone Stolzoff, a journalist and the author of The Good Enough Job. His new book, How to Not Know, is all about making hard decisions and learning to tolerate uncertainty. In this episode on decision-making and uncertainty, we discuss: Why our tolerance for uncertainty is shrinking at the exact moment the world is becoming more uncertain The two surprising ways people dodge hard decisions — and why impulsive decision-makers may be just as avoidant as obsessive researchers The study that showed we'd rather face a guaranteed painful event than sit with the uncertainty of one Why the best leaders aren't "know-it-alls" but "learn-it-alls" The Only Option Test — a fast way to break a stuck decision when both choices look equally good The Chinese farmer parable, and why "maybe yes, maybe no" is one of the most freeing things you can tell yourself The line from an oncology doctor that can change how you face anything uncertain in your future The Therapist's Take: my top three strategies for making decisions and living with uncertainty, starting today Related Episodes 60 — Face Fear and Embrace Uncertainty So You Can Live a Good Life with Best-Selling Author Jonathan Fields 321 — How to Use Constraints to Spark Better Ideas, Make Faster Decisions, and Live With Less Regret With Bestselling Author David Epstein Links & Resources How to Not Know Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
326 — The Fastest Way to Feel Better When Everything's Going Wrong (It's Not Self-Care) 19.06.2026 16minWant more mental strength plays? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook. Have you ever had one of those days—or one of those weeks—where everything seems to be going wrong, and no matter what you try, you just feel discouraged? Fortunately, there's a play you can run when you don't know what to do. And on the surface, it seems a little backward. In today's episode, I'm sharing a play that sounds completely backward. But it's one of the best ways to get out of your head and prove to yourself that you have some power, even during your worst days. Some of the things I talk about are: The week before my book launch when everything fell apart at once—and the unexpected errand that turned out to be the best use of my afternoon. Why "self-care" can actually keep you stuck, and the shift from self-care to other-care that does the opposite. The body chemistry behind kindness—what it does to your hormones. The science behind why this play is so effective. The three simple steps to throwing a good vibes boomerang (and why speed matters more than size). The one thing to do after that teaches your brain to reach for this play again. Two ways this play can backfire—including the well-meaning move that can get misread at work. How to grab a free printable list of boomerang ideas so you never have to brainstorm kindness on your worst day. Get the free Good Vibes Boomerang List - AmyMorinLCSW.com/326 Related Episodes 114 — Break Free From a Bad Mood by Identifying the Mood Boosters That Will Help You Feel Better Fast 258 - 7 Sneaky Mindset Traps Draining Your Mental Strength (And How to Stop Them) Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
325 — Harvard Psychiatrist: The #1 Mistake People Make When They Try to Work on Themselves with Dr. Paul Conti 15.06.2026 50minThink about the last time you tried to work on yourself. Chances are you started with a list of everything that's wrong with you — what you don't like, what you should be doing, and what you want to "fix." But what if thinking about yourself as "broken" is the thing that's keeping you stuck? My guest today is Dr. Paul Conti, a Harvard- and Stanford-trained psychiatrist who runs the group practice Pacific Premier Group. He started out in the business world, but after losing his brother to suicide, he turned to mental health full-time. He's the author of Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic and his new book, What's Going Right. Some of the things we discuss are: Why leading with "what's wrong with me" might make you avoid looking at your mental health altogether How losing his brother to suicide changed how Dr. Conti sees high-functioning people who are silently struggling The three drives that shape your mental health — and the one that determines whether you actually feel happy with your life Why high-functioning, hard-working people often have a low generative drive without realizing it Why doing more isn't always the answer — and when doing less is a better choice The two completely opposite stories you can tell about your own life (and why you get to choose which one is true) The question to ask yourself every morning that shifts you out of dread Related Episodes 236 — 10 Myths About Mental Health That Are Holding You Back 308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment Links & Resources What's Going Right Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
324 — Nervous Before a Big Moment? The Ritual That Gets You in the Right Headspace 12.06.2026 20minWant more mental strength plays? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook. Have you ever had a big moment coming up, like a presentation or an interview, and spent the final few minutes frantically cramming? We often tell ourselves if we just review our notes one more time, we'll feel confident when we walk in. But research shows that last-minute cramming is probably making you perform worse, not better. And if you're a crammer like I am, I have good news—there's a much better way to spend those final few minutes before a high-pressure moment. Some of the things I talk about are: Why cramming before a big moment quietly raises your anxiety instead of lowering it—and the interview that taught me this the hard way. The play that works for athletes at the foul line and for the rest of us before a sales call, a performance review, or dinner with the in-laws. The three science-backed reasons a simple ritual calms your nerves and sharpens your focus (no lucky socks or magical thinking required). My own two-step pregame ritual—and how I leaned on it when Good Morning America gave me less than an hour's notice to go live on national TV. The three pieces of a ritual that actually works The one mistake that makes most people make Related Episodes 278 — The 3 Mindset Shifts You Will Help You Grow Mentally Stronger This Year 318 — How to Turn Anxiety Into a Competitive Advantage With a 2-Minute Play That Tricks Your Brain Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
323 — Always Bracing for the Worst? Here's Why Becoming a Realistic Optimist Is Better for Your Health with Dr. Deepika Chopra 08.06.2026 51minHave you ever told someone, "I'm not an optimist, I'm a realist" because the whole "good vibes only" thing seems irritating, and you don't want to set yourself up for disappointment? A lot of us brace for the worst on purpose. We think if we expect the worst, we'll either be right or pleasantly surprised. But bracing for disaster can be bad for your health. My guest today is Dr. Deepika Chopra — a clinical health psychologist known as The Optimism Doctor® and the author of The Power of Real Optimism. Some of the things we discuss are: What real optimism actually looks like in the middle of grief, stress, or a bad diagnosis The difference between real optimism and toxic positivity — and why "just think positive" can make people feel worse The question that opens the door to a different outcome without forcing you to fake a feeling The surprising physical health benefits of optimism Why optimism is a learnable skill The a one-minute end-of-day practice that rewires your brain to become more optimistic Why awe is even more powerful than gratitude for shrinking anxiety My top three strategies for becoming a real optimist starting today Related Episodes 259 - Feel Hopeless? 5 Habits That Bring Hope Back Fast with Dr. Julia Garcia 306 — You Don't Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong Links & Resources The Power of Real Optimism Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
322 — This 60-Second Mental Strength Play Will Help You Stop Procrastinating (And It Doesn't Require Willpower) 05.06.2026 20minWant more mental strength plays? Pick up a copy of The Mental Strength Playbook. Do you procrastinate more than you'd like to admit? You've probably told yourself the problem is willpower, motivation, or self-discipline. But, procrastination usually has nothing to do with those things. It has to do with trying to avoid an uncomfortable feeling. Fortunately, there's a simple mental strength play that can help you start taking action fast. And the best news is, in less than a minute you can get yourself working on that project. It's backed by science and it can help you get moving on those tasks you dread. Some of the things I talk about are: Why calling yourself "lazy" or "undisciplined" is the exact story that keeps you stuck—and what's really driving your procrastination. How dread quietly turns a small task into a huge source of dread. Why procrastination thrives in isolation. The "Text a Motivation Buddy" play—and how I used it to finally edit the section of my book I'd been avoiding for weeks. The three science-backed reasons a single text message can do what willpower can't. How to run the play in five steps, including the specific way to word your text so it actually works. The buddy you should never pick (the lovable friend who'll talk you into lunch instead). The simple "time swap" variation that gets you and a friend both unstuck at once. Related Episodes 118 — How to Do Something You Hate 244 — The Science of Motivation: How to Get Things Done When You Feel Stuck Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Bonus Episode - How To Manage Your Anger with Mike Pesca 03.06.2026 30minThis week we’re sharing a special episode from our friends at How To!, the 2026 Ambie Award-nominated “Best Personal Growth Podcast” that’s back with a new host and new topics to fuel your curiosity. Each week on How To!, award-winning journalist Mike Pesca tackles a listener’s question – on topics ranging from travel and finance to health and relationships – with help from world-class experts who actually know what they're talking about. Think of it as eavesdropping on someone else's therapy session, without the co-pay or awkward silence. And today, we’re sharing their recent episode “How To Manage Your Anger” where Mike interviews psychologist Dr. Ryan Martin, known as the Anger Professor, who helps Tyler, a science teacher and dad to a blended family, understand the core principles that spark Tyler’s frustration. Tyler holds himself to high expectations, placing a deep value on self-sufficiency and the social contract. However, he gets incredibly frustrated when others do not hold themselves to those same standards. I’m excited about this one - it’s not something we’ve covered on the show before. And for more interviews like this, make sure to follow How To! on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And tell them we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
321 — How to Use Constraints to Spark Better Ideas, Make Faster Decisions, and Live With Less Regret With Bestselling Author David Epstein 01.06.2026 55minHave you ever scrolled Netflix for 25 minutes, finally picked something—and then couldn't enjoy it because you kept wondering if there was something better? Or told yourself that if you just had more time, more space, or more freedom, you'd finally write the book, start the business, or get serious about the creative work you keep putting off? We've been sold the idea that more options and more freedom make us happier and more creative. But what if the opposite is true—what if all that freedom is actually making you stay stuck? My guest is David Epstein, a New York Times bestselling author whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times. His new book, Inside the Box, makes the case that the limits we resent might be the very thing standing between us and our best work. Some of the things we discuss are: Why "think outside the box" is actually terrible advice—and what your brain does instead when you hand it a blank page. The reason too much freedom raises your anxiety. The jazz pianist who turned a near-disaster into the best-selling solo piano album of all time. The "satisficing" rule a Nobel Prize winner used to free up his mind—and why he owned only three sets of clothes. Why "maximizers" who hunt for the best option end up less satisfied, more regretful, and unhappier with their lives. David's simple three-letter framework (BCS) for putting useful constraints into your work and your day. The almost embarrassingly simple trick David uses to become a morning person and never skip a workout. The Therapist's Take: my three favorite strategies for using constraints to think more creatively, make faster decisions, and grow mentally stronger. Related Episodes 126 — Overcome Choice Overload to Make Smarter, Faster Decisions without Regret 316 — How Talking to a Duck Will Solve Any Problem Fast (And Why Thinking Harder Fire Backfires) Links & Resources Inside the Box Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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