Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads

What if the things you’ve always called “quirks” were actually your brain asking to be understood? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Dr. Kristen Williamson to discuss autism, ADHD, parenting neurodivergent kids, and the deep relief of finally feeling seen.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to normalize unfiltered conversations about mental health, trauma, and emotional survival.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us written or voice feedback here:

https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Help Us Bring This Award Home

We’re incredibly honored to share that Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads has been shortlisted for the Podcast Awards – Best Mental Health Podcast.

If this show has ever made you feel seen, less alone, or helped you understand your mental health a little better, we’d be grateful for your vote.

Voting is quick and easy:

You do not need to sign up for Patreon

Once you hit submit, your vote is sent

Vote here:
https://shorturl.at/mpReA

Winners will be announced on February 28th, 2026. Thank you for being part of this community and helping us break stigma one conversation at a time.

Mental Health Quote

“We’re different, not less — and understanding your brain can turn overwhelm into empowerment.”
— Dr. Kristen Williamson

Episode Description

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles welcome Dr. Kristen Williamson, licensed professional counselor, neurodivergent advocate, and proud ringleader of a self-described “neurospicy” family. What begins as a conversation about autism and ADHD quickly turns into a deeply validating discussion about identity, masking, sensory overload, and self-acceptance.

Dr. Kristen shares what it was like to be diagnosed with autism and ADHD later in life — and how that diagnosis reframed decades of confusion, anxiety, and self-blame. She opens up about parenting a neurodivergent child before fully understanding her own neurodivergence, and why women are so often overlooked or misdiagnosed.

Together, the trio talks honestly about sensory overwhelm, everyday burnout, and why “functioning” doesn’t always mean thriving. From food textures and crowds to noise and emotional regulation, this episode gives language to experiences that many people have struggled to explain.

This conversation isn’t about labels for the sake of labels. It’s about understanding your nervous system, honoring your needs, and letting go of the belief that you’re broken. Part 1 is about awareness, permission, and the power of finally realizing there’s nothing wrong with you — your brain just works differently.

SEO Keywords: Dr. Kristen Williamson, neurospicy, autism, ADHD, neurodivergent adults, late autism diagnosis, women and ADHD, sensory overload, mental health podcast, parenting neurodivergent kids, masking, self-acceptance, emotional wellness

Meet Our Guest — Dr. Kristen Williamson

Dr. Kristen Williamson is a licensed professional counselor, neurodivergent advocate, and speaker specializing in autism, ADHD, and mental health. Diagnosed later in life herself, she blends clinical knowledge, lived experience, and humor to help individuals and families understand their brains and thrive without shame.

Connect with Dr. Kristen:
Website: http://www.empowermindsolutionsllc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573292573273#
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowermindsolutionsllc/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkristenwilliamson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empowerminds.solu?_t=ZT-8uIRNSOAKvW&_r=1

Key Takeaways

Neurodivergence often presents differently in women and is frequently missed.

Late diagnosis can bring relief and grief at the same time.

Sensory overwhelm is information, not a personal failure.

Masking may help you survive, but understanding helps you heal.

Feeling seen can reduce anxiety, burnout, and shame.

 

Actionable Items

Start tracking what overstimulates you, including sounds, textures, crowds, and environments.

Build in decompression time after social or sensory-heavy situations.

Practice leading with curiosity instead of judgment — especially with yourself.

 

References Mentioned

Neurodivergent-affirming mental health care

Sensory regulation strategies

Autism and ADHD advocacy concepts

 

Important Chapters

00:00 – Welcome and why this is a two-part conversation
Setting the stage for a deeper discussion on neurodiversity and mental health.

04:30 – Dr. Kristen’s late autism and ADHD diagnosis
How adulthood finally brought clarity to a lifetime of unanswered questions.

09:45 – Autism and ADHD in women
Masking, perfectionism, and why so many women go unnoticed.

15:00 – Sensory overload in everyday life
Noise, crowds, food textures, and nervous system burnout.

22:30 – Parenting neurodivergent kids
Advocacy, accommodations, and releasing parental shame.

30:00 – The impact of feeling seen
Why understanding your brain can change everything.

 

Closing CTA

Subscribe, rate, and review.
Remember to subscribe for more real conversations around mental health. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch
#Neurodivergent #Neurospicy #AutismAcceptance #ADHDAwareness #LateDiagnosis
#WomenAndADHD #SensoryOverload #ParentingNeurodivergent #NormalizeMentalHealth

***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: Sign Up Here
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trigger Notice + Crisis Support

This episode includes discussion of sudden cardiac arrest, near-death experiences, suicidal ideation, and mental health crises. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you love is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Call or text 988 (U.S.) — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Or visit https://findahelpline.com for global resources.

What happens to your mind when your heart stops and you come back? In this powerful conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Jeff Luther, a father and athlete who survived sudden cardiac arrest, to talk about fear, trauma, resilience, and how rebuilding life sometimes starts in 30-second increments.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to normalize unfiltered conversations about mental health, trauma, and emotional survival.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us written or voice feedback here:
https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“You still choose. Even when everything is taken away, you still get to choose.” — Jeff Luther

Episode Description

Jeff Luther was fit and competitive, training alongside his teenage son, when his heart suddenly stopped. No pulse. No breath. Two shocks from an AED brought him back — but life as he knew it was over.

In this raw and deeply human episode, Jeff joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about surviving sudden cardiac arrest, living with trauma, and the mental health fallout no one prepares you for. From the fear of his own body betraying him again, to the shame of pretending to be strong instead of being honest, Jeff opens up about what it really means to rebuild a life after death.

This conversation goes beyond survival. Jeff shares what it felt like to truly believe he was dying, why gratitude felt impossible at first, and how resilience didn’t come from pushing harder — but from choosing again and again to stay. Sometimes for a year. Sometimes for a day. Sometimes for just 30 seconds.

They also explore how trauma reshapes identity, how children carry invisible fear, and why connection — not toughness — is the real currency of healing. Jeff’s story is a reminder that mental health struggles don’t always come from weakness. Sometimes they come from surviving something that should have ended you.

If you’ve ever faced a life-altering event, lived with anxiety after trauma, or wondered how to keep going when fear takes over, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

SEO Keywords: Jeff Luther, sudden cardiac arrest survivor, near-death experience, trauma recovery, mental health podcast, resilience, anxiety after trauma, cardiac arrest recovery, mindset healing, overcoming fear, post-traumatic growth, emotional resilience

Meet Our Guest — Jeff Luther

Jeff Luther is a speaker, mindset coach, and sudden cardiac arrest survivor who helps people question the stories they tell themselves and rebuild their lives after trauma. After collapsing in front of his teenage son and being clinically dead for eight minutes, Jeff began a journey of resilience, belief work, and intentional living — 30 seconds at a time.

Connect with Jeff:
Website: https://www.jeffluther.com
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-inspector-alliance/id1658627241
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdluther2.0/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jdluther2.0
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-luther/

Key Takeaways

Surviving trauma doesn’t automatically bring gratitude — it brings reality.

Fear often shows up after the crisis, not during it.

You don’t have to rebuild your life all at once; sometimes 30 seconds is enough.

Strength without connection can turn into silent suffering.

Children notice more than we think, even when we try to protect them.

Healing begins when we question the stories we tell ourselves.

 

Actionable Items

When overwhelmed, ask: “What can I handle for the next 30 seconds?”

Challenge catastrophic thoughts by asking: “Is that actually true?”

Check in with loved ones using open-ended questions and listen without fixing.

 

References Mentioned

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — https://988lifeline.org
Global Crisis Resources — https://findahelpline.com

Important Chapters

00:03:00 – Jeff’s daily rituals and the guilt of slowing down

00:10:30 – Collapsing at the gym and surviving sudden cardiac arrest

00:18:45 – Fear, bitterness, and losing trust in his own body

00:29:00 – Emotional rock bottom and wanting to quit

00:32:30 – The 30-second decision that changed everything

00:38:00 – Trauma, parenting, and the cost of pretending you’re okay

00:47:00 – Being shocked back to life and facing fear again

00:53:00 – Advice to his younger self and the danger of comparison

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review.
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch
#SuddenCardiacArrest #TraumaRecovery #NearDeathExperience #ResilienceJourney
#AnxietyAfterTrauma #PostTraumaticGrowth #MindsetHealing #SurvivorStories
#EmotionalWellness #988Lifeline #YouAreNotAlone

***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: Sign Up Here
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trigger Notice + Support

This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation, abuse, cancer, and trauma recovery.
If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone.
In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
For international support, visit: https://findahelpline.com

What happens when life tries to break you—and you decide not to let it? In this powerful, unfiltered conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with therapist and survivor Zulma Williams to talk trauma, healing, and why you don’t need to be “fixed” to move forward.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 3.5 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to spark unfiltered conversations about the human mind.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

 

Mental Health Quote

“If you woke up today, your mission in life is not complete.” — Zulma Williams

Episode Description

Zulma Williams has survived more than most people can imagine—breast cancer, abusive relationships, depression, and suicidal ideation. But she never saw herself as a victim. In this raw, honest episode, Zulma joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to share why survival isn’t about toughness—it’s about truth.

Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Zulma moved to the United States in her 30s, reinvented herself in midlife, and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker after cancer forced her to stop and reevaluate everything. Along the way, she learned something powerful: trauma doesn’t mean you’re broken—it means you adapted.

Zulma opens up about emotional and verbal abuse, how subtle control can dismantle your sense of self, and why so many people don’t realize they’re being harmed until they’re already isolated. She also explains why therapy only works when you’re allowed to be fully yourself—swearing included.

As a Certified Master ART Practitioner, Zulma talks about trauma recovery, nervous system healing, and why short-term, evidence-based therapies can create real change. This conversation is bold, validating, and deeply human—especially for anyone who feels “too old,” “too damaged,” or “too far gone” to start over.

This episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t require perfection. It requires honesty, courage, and the willingness to honor your own internal hero.

SEO Keywords: Zulma Williams, trauma recovery, mental health podcast, therapy healing, PTSD support, emotional abuse recovery, anxiety and depression, ART therapy, survivor mindset, suicide prevention, healing trauma, self-worth, resilience, therapy that works

Meet Our Guest — Zulma Williams, LCSW, ACSW, CTMH

Zulma Williams is the founder of Dragonfly Therapy Services and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma recovery. A breast cancer survivor and Certified Master ART Practitioner, Zulma brings lived experience, direct honesty, and evidence-based care to help clients stop surviving and start healing.

Connect with Zulma:
Website: https://www.dragonflytherapyservices.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DragonflyTSLV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theswearingtherapist
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theswearingtherapist
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zulma-williams-ab7609214/

Key Takeaways

Trauma doesn’t mean you’re broken—it means you adapted to survive.

Emotional and verbal abuse are real, damaging, and often invisible.

You’re never “too old” to change your life or start over.

Therapy only works when you’re allowed to be your authentic self.

Being vulnerable is a strength, not a weakness.

You are allowed to choose yourself—even if others don’t like it.

Actionable Items

If therapy doesn’t feel safe or real, give yourself permission to find a better fit.

Ask yourself: “Am I honoring my internal hero—or ignoring them?”

Notice where you’re minimizing your pain and name it honestly.

 

References Mentioned

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — https://988lifeline.org

Global Crisis Resources — https://findahelpline.com

Important Chapters

00:02:00 – Zulma’s immigration journey and starting over

00:10:30 – Going back to school later in life

00:15:00 – Recognizing emotional and verbal abuse

00:22:00 – Therapy, trauma, and reclaiming your voice

00:30:00 – Why authenticity matters in healing

00:37:00 – Self-care, self-love, and choosing yourself

00:40:00 – Zulma’s message to anyone still struggling

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch
#TraumaRecovery #TherapyWorks #PTSDHealing #SurvivorStory #EmotionalAbuseRecovery
#AnxietySupport #DepressionAwareness #HealingJourney #InternalHero #ARTTherapy
#MentalHealthMatters #Resilience #SelfWorth

***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: Sign Up Here
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trigger Notice & Support Reminder

This episode includes discussion of suicide, sexual assault, trauma, addiction, and cancer.
If you or someone you love is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Call or text 988 in the U.S. or visit https://findahelpline.com for global resources.

What if forgiveness wasn’t about letting someone off the hook — but about finally setting yourself free? In this powerful conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Katherine Giovanni to talk about trauma, anger, and how forgiveness can be a deeply personal, life-changing act of self-healing.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 3.5 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to spark unfiltered conversations about the human mind.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“Forgiveness isn’t about them. It’s about getting your life — and your peace — back.”
— Katherine Giovanni

Episode Description

Forgiveness gets thrown around a lot — but nobody really teaches us how to do it, or what to do when we don’t want to. In this deeply human and eye-opening episode, Katherine Giovanni joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to flip the script on forgiveness, trauma, and healing.

A three-time award-winning author, transformation mentor, and stage 3 breast cancer survivor, Katherine shares her powerful personal journey through childhood trauma, addiction, loss, and survival — and how forgiveness became the tool that helped her reclaim her life. Not as a pass for harmful behavior, but as a boundary-setting, self-preserving act of freedom.

Katherine introduces her practical, step-by-step forgiveness process, including her unique approach to forgiving not only people but also the energy around painful memories. Together, the trio explores why forgiveness is selfish (in the best way), why you don’t owe anyone a relationship, and why some things may never be forgivable — and that’s okay.

They also dive into forgiving yourself, releasing guilt and shame, and even unpack why our relationship with money often needs forgiveness, too. This conversation is raw, insightful, and unexpectedly empowering — especially for anyone who feels stuck replaying old wounds or carrying anger that’s quietly draining their joy.

If you’ve ever said, “I’ll never forgive them,” this episode might just change how you think about healing — and about yourself.

Keywords: Katherine Giovanni, forgiveness, emotional healing, trauma recovery, self-forgiveness, mental health podcast, letting go, emotional freedom, healing from abuse, guilt and shame, boundaries, cancer survivor, addiction recovery, forgiveness process

Meet Our Guest — Katherine Giovanni

Katherine Giovanni is a three-time award-winning best-selling author, speaker, and one of the original founders of the independent concierge industry. A stage 3 breast cancer survivor and transformation mentor, she helps people release guilt, shame, and emotional blocks through forgiveness, intuition, and self-awareness.

Connect with Katherine:
Website: https://www.katharinegiovanni.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katharine.giovanni
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katharinegiovanni
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0PPtlSUPldGNl9mIRRtAmA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharinegiovanni/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kathgiovanni
Substack: https://katharinegiovanni.substack.com/

Key Takeaways

Forgiveness is not weakness — it’s a powerful act of self-protection.

You can forgive someone without allowing them back into your life.

Holding onto anger keeps you stuck in the past; forgiveness restores your freedom.

Forgiving the energy around a memory helps stop emotional triggers.

Self-forgiveness is often the hardest — and most important — healing step.

Healing is a marathon, not a sprint.

Actionable Items

Write a forgiveness list and start with the easiest people first — not the biggest wounds.

Practice forgiving the energy around painful memories, not just the people involved.

Check in with your body after forgiveness work and pace yourself gently.

References Mentioned

The Ultimate Path to Forgiveness by Katherine Giovanni

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — https://988lifeline.org

Global Crisis Resources — https://findahelpline.com

Important Chapters

00:03:00 – Why forgiveness is misunderstood and rarely taught

00:06:30 – The truth about forgiving without reconnecting

00:10:00 – Katherine’s step-by-step forgiveness process

00:14:30 – Forgiving trauma, abuse, and the “unforgivable.”

00:23:00 – Why forgiving yourself is often the hardest part

00:31:00 – Forgiving money and breaking old survival patterns

00:38:30 – Freedom, peace, and reclaiming your life

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch
#ForgivenessHealing #EmotionalFreedom #TraumaRecovery #SelfForgiveness
#LettingGo #HealingJourney #BoundariesMatter #CancerSurvivor
#AddictionRecovery #EmotionalWellness #InnerPeace #HealingTools

***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: Sign Up Here
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when you do everything right, earn the degrees, land the title, and build security, yet still feel empty inside? In this powerful Season 16 opener, G Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Dr. Esther Zeldon to talk honestly about burnout, anxiety, people pleasing, and the moment you realize the life you built is slowly eroding your mental health.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 3.5 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to spark unfiltered conversations about the human mind.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“There is no such thing as real safety if you are betraying yourself to keep it.” — Dr. Esther Zeldon

Episode Description

Burnout does not always come from failure. Sometimes it comes from success. In this raw and deeply human conversation, Dr. Esther Zeldon joins G Rex and Dirty Skittles to unpack what happens when a lifetime of chasing stability, titles, and external validation leads straight to anxiety, depression, and disconnection from purpose.
Esther shares her powerful story, from surviving a life-threatening illness as a child, to becoming a high-achieving diplomat and international development professional, to realizing that the “safe” life she built was quietly damaging her mental health. Together, they explore how childhood trauma can disguise itself as ambition, why people pleasing keeps so many of us stuck in toxic jobs, and how fear of failure often hides a deeper fear of finally being honest with ourselves.

This episode is not about reckless quitting or overnight success. It is about alignment. It is about learning to say no. It is about recognizing that security is often an illusion, and that true safety comes from knowing you can rebuild, pivot, and survive hard seasons without abandoning who you are.

Esther also opens up about anxiety, financial fear, boundaries, and the realities of entrepreneurship, including losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts and choosing purpose anyway. If you are quietly burning out, questioning your career, or feeling guilty for wanting more meaning in your life, this conversation will resonate.

Keywords: Esther Zeldon, career burnout, anxiety, mental health, toxic workplace, purpose-driven life, people pleasing, trauma healing, entrepreneurship stress, alignment, emotional wellness, burnout recovery, meaningful work

Meet Our Guest, Dr. Esther Zeldon

Dr. Esther Zeldon is a coach, best-selling author, social entrepreneur, and former diplomat dedicated to helping people uncover their unique superpower and live purpose-driven lives. With global experience spanning governments, nonprofits, and communities, Esther blends strategy, science, and compassion to help individuals and organizations create sustainable impact without sacrificing mental health.
Website: https://beactchange.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beactchange/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be.act.change/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beactchange

Key Takeaways

Burnout can come from success just as easily as failure.

Anxiety often stems from living out of alignment, not weakness.

Safety is often a trauma response, not a true motivator.

People pleasing keeps you stuck in toxic environments.

Saying no is a mental health skill, not a personality flaw.

Purpose is not found; it is remembered.

 
Actionable Items

Write down what safety really costs you emotionally.

Identify one boundary you need to set this month and honor it.

Ask yourself, am I chasing security, or am I chasing alignment?

 
References Mentioned

Purpose-driven coaching and alignment work: https://beactchange.com
 

Important Chapters

00:02 - Esther’s childhood trauma and how safety became her driving force
06:30 - High achievement, toxic workplaces, and silent burnout
12:45 - Anxiety, depression, and people pleasing patterns
18:00 - Leaving security and facing fear head-on
25:30 - Financial fear, entrepreneurship, and redefining success
33:00 - Boundaries, saying no, and protecting your peace
40:00 - Purpose, joy, and mental health alignment

Closing Call to Action

Subscribe, rate, and review.
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #CareerBurnout #AnxietySupport #PurposeDrivenLife #ToxicWorkplace #EmotionalWellness #BurnoutRecovery #PeoplePleasing #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthMatters #AlignmentOverAchievement #HealingJourney
***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: Sign Up Here
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.