The OCD Stories

The OCD Stories

Welcome to The OCD Stories, hosted by Stuart Ralph. The podcast has been heard over 7million times globally. Check out your first episode from our existing hundreds of episodes featuring experts, and people experiencing symptoms just like you today. If you do, you may just feel understood, heard and possibly help you identify your next step in your own personal journey to healing. Disclaimer - this podcast is not a replacement for therapy. Please seek treatment from a licensed mental health professional.

Episodes

July 6, 2025 54 mins

In episode 493 I chat with Braden Smith who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. Braden is a offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL).

We discuss his OCD story, religious scrupulosity OCD, how OCD affected his professional career as an NFL athlete, how OCD focused on his faith, using psychedelic treatments, exposure and response prevention therapy (ER...

Mark as Played

In episode 492 I chat with Sheva Rajaee. Sheva is a psychotherapist who specialises in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other related anxiety disorders. She is the founder of the Center for Anxiety and OCD (CAOCD). Sheva authored the book Relationship OCD: A CBT-Based Guide to Move Beyond Obsessive Doubt, Anxiety, and Fear of Commitment in Romantic Relationships.

We discuss an update on...

Mark as Played

In episode 491 I chat with Rowen who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.

We discuss her story, compulsively confessing, sexual orientation themed OCD, relationship themed OCD, the possibility of her birth control (IUD) affecting her mental health, words of hope and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/rowen-491

The podcast is ma...

Mark as Played

In episode 490 chat with Jan Stewart. Jan is a mental health and neurodiversity advocate. She authored the book, ‘Hold on Tight: A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness’.

We discuss Jan’s parenting OCD story, neurodiversity, getting help for herself and her kids, why the patient is the whole family, separating her son from his diagnosis, reducing parental accommodation, advice for loved o...

Mark as Played

In episode 489 I chat with Dr Michael Greenberg. Michael is a clinical psychologist who specialises in Rumination-Focused ERP (RF-ERP). 

We discuss an update on Michael, rumination-focused exposure and response prevention therapy (RF-ERP), OCD as a defense mechanism, a psychoanalytical view of OCD, digesting feelings, some different psychological defenses, attachment and early experiences, clinical examp...

Mark as Played

In episode 488 I chat with Dr Steven Phillipson. Steven is a licensed clinical psychologist who specialises in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for OCD. Steven is the Clinical Director at the Center for Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy in New York.

We discuss the worries that come up around getting obsessed with others responses to us - what Steve calls look at you looking at me, olfactory obsessions, body...

Mark as Played

In episode 487 I chat with Justin Hughes, Valerie Andrews, Dr Alan Noble, and Chelsea Risko.

We discuss  how OCD can latch on to faith, scrupulosity, finding the line between compulsive prayer and valued prayer, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), inference-based cognitive behavioural therapy (I-CBT), how faith was a support for them, worrying about therapy and faith, working with a non faith...

Mark as Played

In episode 486 I chat with Stephen who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us.

We discuss his story, his early memories, how OCD affected his work, existential themed OCD, medication, a detrimental psychedelics experience, religious scrupulosity, derealisation, getting admitted to a psychiatric ward, therapy, agoraphobia, boundaries, trauma work, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show...

Mark as Played

In episode 485 I chat with Jonny Say. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. 

We discuss the importance of the therapeutic relationship, the benefits of it to outcomes, functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP), how compulsions can get in the way of the therapeutic relationship, how a good therapeutic relationship can help acceptance and commitment therapy ...

Mark as Played

In episode 484 I chat with Patrick who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, suicidal themed OCD, dreams, his early OCD memories, panic, contamination, opening up to his partner, shame, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), we rift about OCD, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps. Read more

Mark as Played

In episode 483 I chat with Dr Jonathan Abramowitz. Jonathan is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Chapel Hill, NC specializing in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He is also Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina. And author of several books including Getting over OCD, The family guide to getting over OCD, and Living well with OCD.

Mark as Played

In episode 482 I chat with Rebekah who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her early compulsions, trauma, an eating disorder, social anxiety and depression, agoraphobia, panic, being told she wouldn’t recover, her mum advocating for her, involuntary hospitalisation, diagnosis, joining support groups, exposure and response prevention th...

Mark as Played

In episode 481 I chat with Zoey who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss fears of choking and swallowing, obsessing over her partners porn use, therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy therapy (ERP), aligning therapy with her values, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), seeing her therapist through NOCD, and much more. Hope it helps...

Mark as Played

In episode 480 I chat with Chrissie Hodges. Chrissie is a Peer Support specialist, founder of OCD Gamechangers, and Author of ‘Pure OCD: The Invisible Side of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder’. Chrissie was awarded the hero award at the 24th IOCDF conference in San Fran.

We talk advocacy, censorship, stigma, the need for advocates to talk about all experiences of OCD to normalise all experiences including t...

Mark as Played

In episode 479 I chat with Jonny Say. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. 

We discuss an update on him, we talk about ideas for when people struggle with therapy for OCD. We discuss the length of therapy, he normalises the time frame, trying other approaches, therapists, or a combination of therapies. Increasing motivation through active reflection, bu...

Mark as Played

In episode 478 I chat with Dr Josh Spitalnick. Josh is a licensed psychologist, owner and clinical director at the Anxiety Specialists of Atlanta, an outpatient clinic. He is co-author of “The Complete Guide to Overcoming Health Anxiety”.

We discuss what’s new with him, his book, the title of the book, this idea of mental health - health anxiety, acceptance and commitment therapy ...

Mark as Played

In episode 477 I chat with Jakob who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, panic, derealisation, the fear of ‘going crazy’, existential OCD, his advocacy work, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), and much more. Hope it helps.  

Show notes: ht...

Mark as Played

In episode 476 I chat with Megan who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her story, worries of choking, hyperawareness of swallowing, her compulsions, other themes including existential and religious OCD, accepting and navigating relapses, OCD getting in the way of medication, health anxiety and fears of other mental health conditions,...

Mark as Played

In episode 475 I chat with Nate Gruner and Meaghan Cleary. Nate is a staff behavioural therapist at the obsessive-compulsive disorder institute at McLean hospital. Meaghan is a licensed mental health counselor and a registered dance and movement therapist. She is also a behavioural therapist and group facilitator at the obsessive-compulsive disorder institute at McLean hospital. 

Mark as Played

In episode 474 I chat with Catherine Goldhouse. Catherine is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) who specialises in anxiety, OCD, and relationships. 

We discuss Catherine’s OCD story, inference-based CBT (I-CBT), exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), reality sensing, the idea that I-CBT cares about the why, this concept of the feared...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.