In this episode of Let's Get Emotional, hosts Tatiana Rojas and Dr. Jennifer Martin Schantz take a deep, compassionate look at one of our most universally human emotions: sadness. Sometimes the hardest part isn't feeling the emotion — it's finding the words for it. This episode gives you those words, along with the science, the context, and the tools to understand and work with sadness rather than push it away.

Sadness is not weakness. It's information. It shows up when something meaningful has been lost, when we're disappointed, disconnected, or overwhelmed and it signals that something mattered. This episode breaks down what sadness actually is, how it differs from depression, and why learning to name and acknowledge it can be genuinely life-changing.

You'll hear the clinical and neurobiological side of sadness, including what's happening in the brain and body when we feel it, alongside relatable, practical descriptions of how sadness shows up at every age, from toddlers to adults. The hosts also share research-backed tools to help you move through sadness with greater self-compassion and emotional clarity.

Whether you're navigating grief, burnout, loneliness, or a low mood you can't quite explain, this episode offers a grounding and validating look at what sadness is really asking of us.

In This Episode:

• What sadness is and why it's a signal, not a flaw
• The many faces of sadness: grief, loneliness, numbness, overwhelm, and more
• How sadness shows up physically in the body
• How children, teens, and adults experience and express sadness differently
• The neurobiology of sadness and what's happening in the brain
• The key distinction between normal sadness and clinical depression
• Research-backed tools: behavioral activation, self-compassion, emotion labeling, and social connection
• Age-appropriate language and phrases to help name sadness across the lifespan
• A simple 2-minute bubble-blowing reset tool you can try today

Links & Resources:
Tatiana Rojas - https://getherapyservices.com/

Let's Get Emotional is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not therapy and does not replace mental health care. If you are in crisis or need immediate support, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your area.

What is anger really and what is your body trying to tell you when you feel it?

In Episode 2 of Let's Get Emotional, hosts Tatiana Rojas and Dr. Jennifer Martin Schantz dive deep into one of the most misunderstood emotions: anger. Whether you're a parent trying to support a frustrated child, a teen learning to name what you feel, or an adult who wants to communicate more effectively under stress, this episode gives you the language, science, and practical tools to work with anger instead of against it.

Anger isn't a character flaw. It's a signal and learning to read that signal can transform your relationships, your communication, and your emotional health.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The neuroscience of anger: why it's a threat-response emotion and how it differs from fear
• How the brain and nervous system (including the amygdala) activate anger and prepare your body to move toward a problem, not away from it
• How anger physically shows up in the body: tight chest, racing heart, tunnel vision, flushed skin, muscle tension, and more
• Why anger is often a secondary emotion masking deeper feelings like grief, shame, fear, or loneliness
• Age-by-age language guide for describing and teaching anger, from toddlers and kids to teens and adults
• Phrases that help you communicate anger clearly and respectfully without shutting down or lashing out
• The A.N.G.E.R. Check-In: a 30-second grounding tool you can use the next time you feel overwhelmed or emotionally activated
• Why emotional vocabulary is one of the most powerful tools for emotional regulation, mental health, and better relationships

Topics Covered: Anger management | Emotional regulation | Nervous system | Amygdala and threat response | Secondary emotions | Anger in children | Emotional vocabulary | Parenting and big emotions | Stress and burnout | Setting boundaries | Trauma and emotional processing | Mental wellness | Therapy and emotional health

Whether you're navigating co-parenting challenges, workplace stress, relationship conflict, or just trying to understand why you snap sometimes this episode meets you where you are with compassion, research, and real talk.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share this with someone who needs better words for what they feel.

Links & Resources:
Tatiana Rojas - https://getherapyservices.com/

Let's Get Emotional is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not therapy and does not replace mental health care. If you are in crisis or need immediate support, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your area.

In the very first episode of Let's Get Emotional, hosts Tatiana Rojas and Dr. Jennifer Martin Schantz lay the foundation for understanding emotions, feelings, and moods and why naming them clearly can improve emotional regulation, mental health, communication, and relationships.

Many people struggle not because they have emotions, but because they were never taught how emotions actually work. This episode breaks down the science and psychology behind emotions in a practical, approachable way, helping listeners better understand what’s happening in both the body and mind.

You’ll learn the key differences between emotions, feelings, and moods, how emotions show up physically in the body, and why expanding your emotional vocabulary can help you respond to stress, anxiety, grief, overwhelm, anger, and other difficult experiences with greater clarity and self-awareness.

The hosts also discuss the connection between the nervous system, trauma, emotional processing, and therapy, while sharing relatable real-life examples and practical emotional wellness tools you can begin using immediately.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, burnout, stress, trauma, relationships, parenting, or simply trying to better understand yourself, this episode offers a compassionate introduction to emotional awareness and mental wellbeing.

In This Episode:

• The difference between emotions, feelings, and moods
• Why emotions are signals and not problems
• How the body experiences emotions before the mind labels them
• The role of emotional vocabulary in emotional regulation
• How trauma, culture, and past experiences shape emotional responses
• Why naming emotions accurately improves communication and relationships
• Research-backed insights into the nervous system and emotional processing
• Simple emotional check-in questions you can use daily
• Common misconceptions about therapy and emotional health

Links & Resources:
Tatiana Rojas - https://getherapyservices.com/

Let's Get Emotional is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not therapy and does not replace mental health care. If you are in crisis or need immediate support, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your area.