Young Adults & The Explorer Mindset with Tess Brigham

If you're a young adult feeling stuck, a parent trying to support one or someone rethinking your path at any age, this episode is packed with real talk, practical advice and permission to figure it out as you go.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/tess-brigham

In this episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart, MommaFoxFire sits down with Tess Brigham, a psychotherapist, certified coach and author dubbed “The Millennial Therapist” by CNBC. Tess shares her insights on young adults, mental health and the concept she calls the “explorer mindset” - a way to approach life with curiosity instead of fear.

Tess has spent over 20 years working with people, and about 12 years ago, she found her niche when a wave of 20-somethings started showing up at her San Francisco office. These were mostly millennials who had followed the rules - good schools, good jobs - but still didn’t feel fulfilled. That disconnect between expectations and reality sparked her passion for helping young adults figure things out.

She saw firsthand how technology, social media, and shifting workplace norms were taking a toll on this generation. Millennials were criticized as lazy or entitled, but what Tess saw was burnout, confusion, and a real lack of guidance. Gen Z, she says, is facing many of the same struggles - just with a digital twist. They’ve grown up online, and they’re entering a workforce that often misunderstands them.

The “explorer mindset” is Tess’s answer to all of this. It’s about dropping the pressure to have everything figured out and instead focusing on small steps and curiosity. Instead of saying “I need to know exactly what I want to be before I move forward,” Tess encourages young people to just start. Want to be a lawyer? Don’t sign up for the LSAT right away - talk to lawyers, sit in on court, explore. The idea is to try things with low stakes and use that experience to gather information about what feels right.

MommaFoxFire shares how this mindset could’ve helped her younger self, and how she sees it play out with her own kids - one of whom is already confident in wanting to be a teacher, while the other will likely need space to explore different paths. Tess reminds listeners that it’s okay to change course, at any age. Reinvention isn’t just for your 20s.

They talk about the pressure of social media, how everything feels urgent, curated and overwhelming. Tess points out that it’s hard to grow and learn when you’re constantly comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. The conversation also touches on relationships, boundary setting and the challenges of adult friendships after high school or college.

Throughout the episode, Tess emphasizes taking action - even if it’s small, even if it’s imperfect. The goal isn’t to map out your whole life in one shot, but to keep moving, learning and reflecting. Whether you're 18, 28 or 48, it’s not too late to start exploring.