PodcastsEducationLife's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry

Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry

Christopher McCurry & Emma Waddington
Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry
Latest episode

81 episodes

  • Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry

    Secret #77: The Paradox of the Overwhelmed with Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd

    09/04/2026 | 45 mins.
    Recommended Episodes
    Secret #76: Ageism
    Secret #75: Impossible Masculinity
    Secret #72: Transforming Guilt and Shame
    Why does it feel like no matter how much we do, it’s never enough?
    In this episode, Kerry Makin-Byrd breaks down the paradox of overwhelm and why so many of us feel stuck between doing too much and still feeling like we’re falling behind. We explore the difference between stress, burnout, and overwhelm, and why overwhelm isn’t just about having too much to do.
    Kerry introduces a practical framework to navigate overwhelm in real time, helping us understand how our nervous system, environment, and expectations all contribute to feeling overloaded. This conversation is both deeply validating and immediately actionable for anyone feeling stretched too thin.
    Key Takeaways
    What overwhelm actually feels like in the body and mind
    The difference between overwhelm, burnout, and stress
    Why burnout is often driven by systems not individuals
    How to soothe, transcend, and move through overwhelm
    Why doing more is often the trap that keeps us stuck
    View extended shownotes here
    ORDER Max Cross Gets Unstuck from Anger: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook series for kids)
    ORDER Justin Case Sits with Anxiety: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
    ORDER The Glumm Twins Unhook from Sadness: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
  • Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry

    Secret #76: Ageism wtih Claudia Drossel

    26/03/2026 | 48 mins.
    Recommended Episodes
    Secret #72: Transforming Guilt and Shame
    Secret #74: The Cost of Pretending
    Secret #75: Impossible Masculinity
    What if aging isn’t the problem—but our beliefs about aging are?
    In this episode, we discuss ageism with Dr. Claudia Drossel. Together, we explore how aging is often misunderstood as decline, when in reality many of the challenges we associate with aging are shaped by cultural bias, environment, and access to support.
    This conversation reframes aging as a form of diversity, challenges common myths about loneliness, health, and capability, and explores how our environments, relationships, and societal structures influence quality of life across the lifespan.
    We also examine how subtle forms of ageism show up in everyday language, healthcare, and social systems—and what we can do to change them.
    Key Takeaways
    Why ageism is one of the most overlooked forms of bias
    The difference between aging and disease
    How culture shapes our experience of getting older
    Why quality of relationships matters more than quantity
    How to create more inclusive, intergenerational communities
    View extended shownotes here
    ORDER Max Cross Gets Unstuck from Anger: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook series for kids)
    ORDER Justin Case Sits with Anxiety: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
    ORDER The Glumm Twins Unhook from Sadness: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
  • Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry

    Secret #75: Impossible Masculinity with Ruth Whippman

    12/03/2026 | 49 mins.
    Recommended Episodes
    Secret #73: The Confidence Paradox
    Secret #72: Transforming Guilt and Shame
    Secret #74: The Cost of Pretending
    What does it actually mean to raise boys in a culture that both expects masculinity and criticizes it?
    In this episode, journalist and author Ruth Whippman joins Chris McCurry and Emma Waddington to explore the pressures boys face in the age of “impossible masculinity.” Drawing from her book BoyMom, Ruth explains how cultural narratives about masculinity shape boys’ emotional lives, relationships, and sense of identity.
    The conversation explores the surprising science of boys’ emotional development, the cultural contradictions boys must navigate today, and why many young men feel lost when it comes to friendship, vulnerability, and connection. Ruth also shares practical guidance for parents raising boys today and introduces her framework of curiosity, critical thinking, and connection.
    Key Takeaways
    Raising boys in the age of impossible masculinity
    Why boys may be more emotionally vulnerable than we assume
    How cultural stereotypes shape boys’ emotional lives
    The importance of curiosity and connection when raising boys
    View extended shownotes here
    ORDER Max Cross Gets Unstuck from Anger: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook series for kids)
    ORDER Justin Case Sits with Anxiety: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
    ORDER The Glumm Twins Unhook from Sadness: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
  • Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry

    Secret #74: ⁠The Cost of Pretending with Jonathan Kanter

    26/02/2026 | 46 mins.
    Recommended Episodes
    Secret #62: The Connection Paradox with James Cordova
    Secret #64: Moral Outrage with Kurt Gray 
    Secret #70: So Many Paradoxes with Dr. Emma Waddington and Dr. Chris McCurry
    Many of us are going about our daily lives while quietly feeling that something is deeply wrong in the world. We say we are fine. We scroll. We joke. We compartmentalize. And yet there is a sinking feeling that things are not normal.
    In this conversation, Jonathan Kanter explores the disconnection paradox and the concept of hypernormalization. Why do we pretend everything is okay when it is not? When does normalcy protect us, and when does it shrink our lives? Together, we unpack avoidance, helplessness, activism, values, and what it means to pivot toward action without collapsing into hopelessness.
    Topics Discussed:
     hypernormalization and pretending everything is fine
     emotional avoidance and shrinking behavioral repertoires
     accept, grieve, and pivot toward new goals
     values based action in times of social crisis 
    View extended shownotes here
    ORDER Max Cross Gets Unstuck from Anger: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook series for kids)
    ORDER Justin Case Sits with Anxiety: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
    ORDER The Glumm Twins Unhook from Sadness: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
  • Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry

    Secret #73: The Confidence Lie with Michael Herold

    12/02/2026 | 50 mins.
    Recommended Episodes:
    Secret #58: Raising a Self-Driven Child with Dr. William Stixrud & Ned Johnson
    Secret #61: Reimagining Anger with Russell Kolts
    Secret #70: So Many Paradoxes with Dr. Emma Waddington and Dr. Chris McCurry
    Most people believe confidence is something you either have or don’t have. In this episode, confidence coach Michael Herold explains why confidence is actually built by doing hard things while anxiety is present — not after it disappears.
    Key Takeaways
    confidence grows through action, not mindset
    anxiety signals what matters, not what must be avoided
    competence follows confidence, not the other way around
    values-based action builds real psychological flexibility
    View extended shownotes here
    ORDER Max Cross Gets Unstuck from Anger: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook series for kids)
    ORDER Justin Case Sits with Anxiety: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)
    ORDER The Glumm Twins Unhook from Sadness: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Ages 8-12 (ACT Workbook Series for Kids)

More Education podcasts

About Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry

We often find ourselves comparing our internal struggles to the flawless images others project, leaving us feeling isolated and misunderstood. But here’s the truth: you are not alone. Join psychologists Emma Waddington and Chris McCurry as they delve into the little-discussed yet incredibly common challenges that come with striving to be your best self.In each episode of "Life's Dirty Little Secrets," you'll find thoughtful conversations filled with insights, humor, and compassion that reflect the beautiful complexity of being human. Together, we’ll explore the raw realities of issues like anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief, and the nuanced journey of growing up.Whether it's confronting the pressures of modern life or unpacking emotional baggage, we provide a safe space for you to resonate with these experiences. Our intriguing discussions with expert guests will illuminate your path toward understanding and healing.Tune in for practical answers to your pressing questions, such as:How can I better manage anxiety and stress?What can help me overcome self-doubt?How do I navigate grief and find solace?How does self-compassion play a role in my journey?What steps can I take towards greater emotional clarity?Join us weekly as we embrace the messiness of life and uncover the secrets that bind us together. With every episode, you’ll feel empowered, understood, and reminded that it’s perfectly okay to not have it all figured out. Together, let’s embark on this journey of self-discovery and compassion—because we all have secrets, and it’s time to share them.
Podcast website

Listen to Life's Dirty Little Secrets Podcast | Breaking Silence Around the Secrets We All Carry, The Mel Robbins Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features