Are tech companies paying therapists to train their automated replacements?

In this episode of Wonder and the Weeds, I expose the troubling reality of artificial intelligence infiltrating the mental health space.

From electronic health records pushing AI note-taking to the alarming rise of social media self-diagnosis, I examine why human connection cannot be automated. Discover the critical difference between true therapeutic pattern recognition and the echo chamber of chatbot advice. I also discuss how normal trauma responses are frequently mislabeled as major personality disorders online.

In this episode, I cover:

• The AI Replacement Threat: Why tech companies are recruiting therapists to train language models.
• Privacy Concerns in Therapy: The risks of using AI software for patient notes and sensitive data.
• The TikTok Diagnosis Epidemic: Why you should stop letting the internet convince you that you have ADD, bipolar disorder, or narcissistic traits.
• Trauma vs. Red Flags: How to tell the difference between a trauma response and an actual toxic situation.
• My Weekly Recommendations: I share my current favorites, including a review of Abby Jimenez's book The Night We Met, the movie Is This Thing On, and live music highlights from Bruce Springsteen.

Connect with the Community: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.

Join the Women of Wonder community and get full episodes delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing to my new Substack!

In this episode of Wonder in the Weeds, I sit down with my daughter, Faith, to talk about the realities of being a woman in the world today. As a therapist and a mother, I started noticing the deep societal conditioning that taught me to constantly read a room and accommodate others to keep the peace. I brought Faith on the show to get her take on this as a 23-year-old navigating the dating world.

We discuss the pressure to fit a specific mold and what happens when you decide to show up as an unapologetic, confident woman. We also explore the struggle to set boundaries without feeling like you are failing, and we take time to rethink what feminism actually means across different generations.

In this episode, we discuss:

* My realization about accommodating men to keep the peace.

* Why taking up space and dominating a conversation can make people uncomfortable.

* Setting boundaries and refusing to engage in toxic arguments.

* Faith's experience with dating and the societal pressure to find a steady partner.

* Our weekly media recommendations, including the books, shows, and music we are loving right now.

Connect with Us:

* Follow Kristy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcritzking/

* Follow Faith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenofkings912/

* Join our community on Substack: Wonder in the Weeds

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment below!

Welcome to Wonder in the Weeds, the show where we talk about how we are living, thriving, and surviving in a world full of constant change, challenge, and grief, and learning how to live and love right in the middle of it all.

Today, the weeds are feeling pretty heavy. We are talking about the sheer exhaustion of just being a woman in the world today. I am raising two daughters, navigating a huge time of transition in my fifties, and watching the news with a completely new set of feminist lenses.

In this episode, I share a story from my high school days about an after-prom party that completely changed my perspective on how women are treated. A male teacher shamed me for a choice my boyfriend made, and looking back, it was a glaring symbol of a lesson I carried for decades: women are expected to make the right choices for men, accommodate their feelings, and take the fall when things go wrong.

But here is where the wonder comes in. I am watching my girls navigate the world, and they take so much less nonsense than I did at their age. They show up authentically, without making themselves small or trying to be "palatable" to fit into a room. Inspired by them, I am unlearning my own conditioning. I am finding incredible joy and power in women-only spaces, from learning golf and pickleball with other women to cheering at sports bars dedicated entirely to female athletes.

There is so much strength when we do things together, and we have every right to take up space.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your fifties can feel like a total do-over of your teenage years.
• The high school story that opened my eyes to the double standards women face.
• How we are subtly conditioned to make our lives "easier" by accommodating men.
• The "boiling frog" effect of noticing the slow loss of our rights.
• How finding female-only community spaces in sports is bringing me hope and energy to keep fighting the good fight.

Take care of yourselves out there, keep looking for the wonder in the weeds, and I will see you next time!