This bonus episode features my very first guest: my partner, my best friend, and easily the least likely person to volunteer for podcast duty.The one who’s been quietly supporting this from the very beginning. We talk about how our relationship has changed, what parenting has taught us, and how we try to keep showing up for each other even when things get loud (literally and figuratively).

It’s raw. It’s honest. It’s full of interruptions. But maybe, actually, it might help.

The final episode of Season One is here! In this holiday special, Let's talk a few hard-earned tips on surviving family gatherings, differing opinions, and the emotional chaos that comes with “togetherness.” It’s part reflection, part reality check, and part reminder that it’s okay to protect your peace and still enjoy the pie.

Thank you for being part of Season One of Actually, This Might Help. Catch ya in Season Two.

You do everything and somehow still feel bad for needing a break. In this episode, we’re talking about where that guilt comes from, why being good at holding it all down often makes you invisible, and how to stop waiting for permission to rest, be seen, or breathe.

A real talk episode on what accountability actually looks like... not just in relationships, but in how we show up for ourselves. No guilt trips. No perfection. Just honest reflection and tiny steps forward.

Ever walk into a room and immediately sense the tension or joy or weird energy, even if no one says a word? Yeah, same.

This week, we’re exploring the difference between empathy and hyper-awareness. We’ll touch on three types of empathy, a bit about hypervigilance (aka being always on alert), and talk through what to do when you absorb other people’s energy like a sponge.

This one blends lived experience and a little research because sometimes the “why” helps us release the “what now.”

Actually, this might help: the next time you feel like you’re managing everyone else’s mood… ask yourself, “Is this mine?” If it’s not, let it pass.

Referenced Articles

1. Greenberg et al., “Empathy and Childhood Trauma” — PLOS ONE
   https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266821

2. The Wave Clinic, “Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Empathy”
   https://thewaveclinic.com/relationship-between-childhood-trauma-and-empathy/

3. Cleveland Clinic, “What Is Hypervigilance?”
   https://health.clevelandclinic.org/hypervigilance

Boundaries are easy to talk about but hard to actually hold. In this episode, we unpack why they matter, why they feel so tough, and how even small quiet ones can change everything. 1

Ever have someone say they will do something for you, only to stall, dodge, and eventually ghost you? In this episode, we'll discuss how frustrating it is when people don't own up to the simple fact that they aren't able to follow through. We'll talk about how a quick, honest no can save everyone time, energy, and sanity.

Burnout doesn't always show up loud... it creeps in while you're trying to hold it all together. In this episode, I talk about my own burnout spiral. The moment I realized I had pushed myself too far, and the slow crawl out (so very slow and usually with snacks).