But Are You Happy?

Have you ever been told you’re “too much” or “too sensitive,” only to find yourself caught in an exhausting cycle - loving someone intensely one moment, then wanting to push them away the next?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with clarity and compassion. They explore the why behind the intense emotional swings and relationship struggles that define BPD, shifting the conversation away from judgment and toward real clinical understanding.

You’ll also learn:
How BPD develops
What’s happening in the brain and body when emotions take longer to settle after a trigger
How healing involves balancing self-acceptance with meaningful behavioural change
Why BPD isn’t a fixed “label,” and what recovery can actually look like
Watch the podcast on YouTube here.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.
GET IN TOUCH
Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!
Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.
Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here!
CREDITS:
Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis
Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman
Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever notice that inner voice—the one that’s quick to judge or put you down, even though you’d never speak to a friend that way?
In this episode of But Are You Happy, clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis talks about how to deal with your inner critic, especially when it starts affecting your mental health, and how to start building a more supportive voice instead.
You'll also learn:
Where that critical voice comes from
Whether it gets easier to manage as we get older
Signs someone might be struggling with self-worth
Practical ways to build self-compassion
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.
Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!
CREDITS:
Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis
Executive Producer: Naima Brown
Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do you stand on AI? Are you all in, a little nervous, or still figuring it out? Maybe you’re somewhere in the middle - curious, cautious, and ready to see what it really means for us.
In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis go past the headlines to explore the psychology of AI. They look at how these tools aren’t just changing what we do - they’re changing how we think, solve problems, and even seek emotional connection.
You’ll also learn:
Why leaning on chatbots might be weakening your problem-solving skills
How reflecting more and embracing messy drafts can protect your creativity
Why AI can make us feel so “seen”
How AI voices, not just text, can trigger the brain’s bonding chemicals
Watch the podcast on YouTube here.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.
GET IN TOUCH
Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!
Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.
Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here!
CREDITS:
Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis
Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman
Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we form one-sided bonds with people we've never met?
In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on parasocial relationships and how the digital age has blurred the lines between "fan" and "friend."
You'll also learn:
Practical questions to ask yourself if your celeb obsession is getting… unhealthy
Why we turn to one-sided relationships to meet emotional needs
How most parasocial relationships aren't actually "creepy" - they're just an extension of our social evolution (until they aren’t)
How to cultivate healthy engagement with online personalities
Watch the podcast on YouTube here.
Get a 50% OFF DISCOUNT to see us at DomeFest. Link here.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.
GET IN TOUCH
Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!
Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.
Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here!
Get 25% off Nala with your Mamamia subscription. Click here to get your code ends April 1st.
CREDITS:
Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis
Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman
Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why am I reacting exactly like my mother right now?”
In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on intergenerational trauma. We’re moving beyond the surface level to explore the "ghosts" in your DNA - the ones that make you react to a minor inconvenience like it’s a family-wide emergency.
You'll also learn:
How trauma is physically passed down through your genes
Why the goal isn't to "delete" your difficult parts
How to determine if you grew up in a "military-grade" or "survival of the fittest" household
Ways to notice the patterns of intergenerational trauma to avoid repeating them
Watch the podcast on YouTube here.
Get a 50% OFF DISCOUNT to see us at DomeFest. Link here.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.
GET IN TOUCH
Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!
Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.
Get 25% off Nala with your Mamamia subscription. Click here to get your code ends April 1st.
CREDITS:
Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis
Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman
Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.