Mind If We Talk?

What makes us happy is often misunderstood. And in the age of AI, it's easier than ever to seek quick and easy answers to some of life’s biggest questions.

In this episode, host and licensed therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with happiness expert and Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos. Dr. Santos illuminates the mountains of research about what tends to make us happy (spoiler: it isn’t that fast car). Together, they sift through tips and tricks on how to make each day better and let go of perfection. The two also discuss how happiness is a practice and where AI can assist—or impede—our mental health.

0:00 Intro: Why Success Doesn't Always Make You Happy
00:53 Welcome & Introducing Dr. Laurie Santos
02:38 AI, Therapy & the Importance of Human Connection
03:26 The Hidden Risks of Using AI for Advice
08:10 Why Relationships Matter More Than We Think
12:23 Vulnerability, Friction & Asking for Help
15:05 Can AI Help Us Be More Vulnerable?
18:07 The Arrival Fallacy & the Science of Happiness
20:52 Gratitude, Presence & Finding Joy in Everyday Life
22:56 Simple Habits That Improve Mental Well-Being
25:28 Why Therapy Is a Journey, Not a Quick Fix
28:52 Practical Tools for Anxiety & Depression
33:10 Why Every Emotion Has a Purpose
35:49 Social Media, Comparison & Protecting Your Happiness
40:18 Why High Achievement Doesn't Guarantee Happiness
43:41 Dr. Laurie Santos' Daily Happiness Rituals
44:57 Key Takeaways
46:00 Credits
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We all want to help the people we love, but when someone is struggling, knowing what to say or do isn’t always easy.

In this episode, host and licensed therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down the BetterHelp therapist Hannah Heitz to explore how to support someone through a difficult time without trying to “fix” them. Drawing on insights from BetterHelp’s latest State of Stigma report, the two discuss why so many people still hesitate to seek how, how to recognize the subtle signs that someone may be struggling, and why simply showing up with curiosity, compassion and consistency can make all the difference.

00:00 Opening Story: “How Have I Waited This Long to Get Help?”
00:32 Why It's So Hard to Ask for Help
03:02 Why We Believe in Therapy—but Avoid It Ourselves
04:05 How to Support Someone Who May Be Struggling
06:06 Recognizing the Signs of Emotional Distress
09:07 Why Anger Can Mask Deeper Emotions
10:33 Supporting Without Trying to Fix
13:43 What Not to Say to Someone Who's Struggling
16:02 How Mental Health Stigma Is Changing
20:44 What Starting Therapy Really Feels Like
21:34 It's Never Too Late to Seek Help
22:57 Final Reflections on Support, Stigma, and Showing Up

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Menopause isn’t just a physical experience; it’s a mental one, too. In this episode, host and therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with the mother-daughter duo Dr. Amy Shah and her mother, Rekha, to explore the mental shifts that accompany this change and why the conversation around menopause can be so hard to start.
In her midlife, Rekha’s anxiety began to feel unbearable. It wasn’t until years later that she and her daughter Amy realized that this and other symptoms were due to menopause.
Later in the episode, Dr. Natalie Crawford, a reproductive endocrinologist, author, and a leading voice in women’s hormone health, joins Sreela to dive further into the science of menopause. Dr. Crawford unpacks the hormonal shifts, the connection between the brain and the ovaries, how to optimize your health before perimenopause, and how to advocate for yourself when you are not getting the support you need.

00:00 Introduction: Why We Need to Talk About Menopause
02:32 Meet Our Guests and Rekha’s Menopause Journey
07:23 Understanding the Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Menopause
12:23 Mental Health, Relationships, and Life During Menopause
18:49 Why Women's Health Has Been Overlooked
24:45 Supporting Loved Ones Through Menopause
26:09 Introducing Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Natalie Crawford
33:41 How Hormonal Fluctuations Impact Women’s Mental Health
35:43 Feeling Heard: Validation and Women's Healthcare
37:18 How Women Can Prepare for Midlife Changes
49:50 Advice for Navigating Menopause with Confidence
52:08 Closing Reflections on Menopause, Community, and Support

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How does bullying shape the way we see ourselves, connect with others, and move through the world? In this episode, host Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with trailblazing comedian Margaret Cho and her younger comedian friend, Dylan Adler. Together, they reflect on their distinct journeys with queer identity, childhood bullying, and finding acceptance as adults. Plus, they reflect on a key mechanism of using humor to transform pain and shame. Later, Sreela is joined by organizer, author, and activist Hope Giselle. Hope breaks down the profound psychological impact of positive representation, how bullying shapes the nervous system, and how to start healing from the things we were taught to never talk about.If you or someone you love is struggling with bullying, sexual assault, or suicidal ideation, you can find resources at https://www.betterhelp.com/gethelpnow/.

00:00 Introduction: Identity, Representation, and Belonging
02:31 Margaret Cho on Growing Up Queer and Feeling Like an Outsider
09:31 Dylan Adler on Bullying and Finding Community
12:48 Finding Hope Through LGBTQ+ Representation
14:45 Building Confidence and Reclaiming Your Story
19:34 Therapy, Humor, and the Healing Process
21:53 Margaret and Dylan’s Advice for Navigating the Coming Out Journey
26:43 The Importance of Visibility and Community
27:31 Hope Giselle on the Importance of Representation
32:08 Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth
42:16 Creativity as a Tool for Healing and Self-Expression
44:53 Processing Shame and Seeking Validation
48:09 Closing Reflections: Self-Worth, Resilience, and Belonging
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Many men grow up receiving the same messages: be strong, stay tough, don’t show too much emotion. But what actually happens when vulnerability, creativity, or sensitivity start to feel like things that need to be hidden?

In this episode, host and therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with author and podcast host Cory Allen, as well as writer and poet James McCrae for a deeply personal conversation about masculinity, emotional suppression, and learning how to reconnect with themselves. As a child, James felt he had to hide his love of poetry, while Cory was raised by a father he calls a “Texas Tony Soprano.” Together with Sreela, they each explore how vulnerability ultimately became a path toward deeper connection and understanding their childhood traumas.

Later in the episode, BetterHelp therapist David Yadush joins Sreela to unpack the psychology behind emotional literacy, affect labeling, and why so many men struggle to express what they’re feeling.

00:00 The Challenge of Emotional Expression for Men
01:42 Cory Allen on Childhood, Safety, and Emotional Development
05:35 Why Vulnerability Feels Risky
10:16 Masculinity, Trauma, and Cultural Expectations
12:34 A Practical Framework for Understanding Emotions
16:51 Emotional Armor and Its Impact on Relationships
20:00 Rethinking Strength and Healthy Masculinity
24:42 How Vulnerability Creates Connection
30:57 What Cory and James Wish You Knew About Emotional Expression
32:45 Why Many Men Struggle to Express Their Feelings
33:31 Expert Perspective: Shame, Self-Protection, and Emotional Openness
40:53 Movement, Mental Health, and Emotional Processing
44:54 Recognizing Emotional Safety in Relationships
54:07 Closing Reflections and Key Takeaways
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.