In this week's solo episode, I discuss how to set healthy habits and achieve your goals this year using psychology! I'll be sharing my favorite psychology hacks on how to set achievable habits and goals before diving into my personal goals for 2025.

Today's guests are Alison Malmon and Lauren Cikara of Active Minds, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults. Active Minds has a vibrant network of chapters and award-winning programs at more than 1,000 colleges and universities, K12 schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide. Alison heads the organization as its Founder and Executive Director, while Lauren acts as the VP of School Mental Health.

Today's guest is Dr. Steven D. Hollon— the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University. His work focuses on the etiology and treatment of depression in adults, with his research showing that cognitive and behavioral interventions for depression can be as efficacious as and more enduring than antidepressant medications.

Today's guest is Dr. Mark Zachary Rosenthal—a clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor in the Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences department and the Psychology & Neuroscience department at Duke University. He is also the director of the Duke Center for Misophonia and Emotion Regulation (CMER), where he pioneers research on misophonia, emotional functioning, borderline personality disorder, virtual reality, digital health, and behavioral therapies. We are also joined by Grace Heppes, the Outreach and Education Coordinator for CMER.

In this week's solo episode, I discuss what I wish I'd known when struggling with anxiety. Through my lived experiences with anxiety as well as my psychology coursework and academic research, I've collected a lot of tips on how to manage anxiety.

Today's guest is Dr. Mariel Buqué— a first-generation Black Dominican psychologist, a world-renowned intergenerational trauma expert, and the author of the bestselling book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. Her mission is to help reduce the recurrence of Intergenerational ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) within communities of color.

Today's guest is Jonathan Rottenberg— the director of the Better Outcomes Laboratory at Cornell University, which explores long-term functioning and well-being after depression and related conditions. His research has been covered in popular outlets such as the New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.

Today's guest is Thais Gibson—a best-selling author, counselor, speaker, and founder of The Personal Development School. Based on her scientific research, she created the Gibson Integrated Attachment Theory, which empowers individuals to heal different attachments in their lives and reprogram any limiting thoughts and behaviors.

Today's guest is David Yeager— a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin who is considered “one of the world’s leading experts” on the psychology of young people, according to the New York Times Magazine. He has consulted for Google, Microsoft, Disney, the World Bank, and the White House and has recently published his book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People.

Happy episode 200!!! In this week's solo episode, I am sharing my favorite DBT skills and tricks that you can use to thrive in school.

Today's guest is Ellen Galinsky— president of the Families and Work Institute and author of several popular books researching adolescents and teenagers, including the bestselling parenting guide, Mind in the Making, and her recently published work,The Breakthrough Years. Over her career, her research has focused on work-life, children’s development, youth voice, child-care, parent-professional relationships, and parental development.

In this week's solo episode, I am sharing for the first time what my experience in the troubled teen industry was like. I was enrolled in Chrysalis School Montana in 2018 while I was struggling with my mental health in high school, unaware that I was part of a larger system that takes advantage of teens and their parents.

Today's guest is Katherine Kubler— a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and editor. She recently directed and executive produced the Netflix original documentary series The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping, which exposes the corruption and abuse of the troubled teen industry.

Today's guest is Maia Szalavitz— an award-winning author and journalist. She first advocated against the Troubled Teen Industry in her 2006 book, Help at Any Cost, and has since written several New York Times articles and appeared in the 2024 Netflix documentary, The Program, to discuss this dangerous industry further.

In this week's solo episode, I talk about how to handle family vacations this summer. The uncertainty and social dynamics that come with family vacations can be a stressor for many people— you're not alone! So, I share my favorite coping skills you can use to handle any challenges that come your way this summer.

Today's guest is Dr. Nick Nissen— a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, researcher, journalist, and expert in ADHD. In his concierge psychiatry practice, Nissen Clinic, he uses a suite of evidence-based treatments to get to the root of ADHD without using stimulant medications.

Today's guest is Yasmine Cheyenne— an author, TED TALK Motivational speaker, Air Force Veteran, and self-healing workshop leader who works to help people heal through traumatic situations. Through her work, she has guided corporate giants, including Google, NAMI, and Skillshare, and created The Sugar Jar Community to further give a space for others to offer guidance in the healing process.

Today's guest is Nita Farahany— a leading scholar and keynote speaker on the ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging technologies. She is the Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Professor of Law & Philosophy at Duke Law School, the Founding Director of Duke Science & Society, and was even appointed by President Obama to the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues where she served from 2010 to 2017.

Today's guest is Hans Schroder— a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan who currently researches beliefs and messages about mental health and their impacts. As a licensed clinical psychologist, he provides psychotherapy and exposure-based therapies to individuals and groups with anxiety and depressive disorders.

In this week's solo episode, I talk about how you can completely shift your mindset to become more optimistic. I dive into why it's so helpful for your health and well-being to be optimistic before sharing three positive psychology techniques you can try out to unlock your inner optimist.