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.
Living with food allergies brings a daily struggle of anxiety, uncertainty, and real risk—but it also offers powerful lessons about courage, resilience, and managing fear. In this revealing episode, we’re joined by Tamara Hubbard, a licensed clinical professional counselor and leading expert on the psychological impact of food allergies. Tamara draws on her personal journey and professional expertise to uncover how constant vigilan...
What happens when connection feels both necessary and terrifying? In this intimate episode, Dr. James Cordova explores how warmth, authenticity, and mindful space shape human relationships. With wisdom from Chris McCurry and Emma Waddington, you'll hear how vulnerability, presence, and self-compassion create space for healing — whether in therapy, family life, or personal growth.
Topics Discussed in this episode:
We often treat anger like a villain, but what if it’s simply trying to tell us something important?
In this episode of Life’s Dirty Little Secrets, Dr. Russell Kolts, clinical psychologist and compassion-focused therapy pioneer, joins hosts Emma Waddington and Chris McCurry to reimagine our relationship with anger. He shares powerful insights into how anger is often a response to threat, helplessness, or dismissal, not simply aggres...
In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Steven C. Hayes challenges the idea that mental health care should follow rigid, one-size-fits-all models. He explores why our obsession with efficiency, like the standard “8 session” treatment plan, can miss the mark and even harm those it is meant to help. Instead, Steven invites us to sit with uncertainty, discomfort, and even panic, recognizing that true healing is rarely linear.
If yo...
It’s never been a more promising yet complicated time to raise boys, as shifting stereotypes and societal pressures redefine what it means to grow up male. In this lively and insightful roundtable, host Emma Waddington is joined by leading experts including adolescent nurse Ana Waddington, parenting author Jennifer Fink, clinical psychologist Emily Edlynn, and men’s health counselor Nike Oruh to rethink boyhood in today’s world.
The...
Are you struggling with how much to help—or how much to back off—when it comes to your child’s motivation, schoolwork, and screen time? Dive into this insight-packed episode as leading neuropsychologist Dr. William Stixrud and tutoring expert Ned Johnson reveal game-changing research on autonomy-supportive parenting, fostering resilience, and why letting kids solve their own problems builds lifelong confidence.
Hosts Chris McCurry a...
Navigating difficult conversations at home, work, or in our polarized world can feel overwhelming—but what if building conflict resilience is the key to deeper connection and transformative growth? In this eye-opening episode, hosts Emma Waddington and Chris McCurry dive into the science and art of facing conflict head-on with nationally recognized conflict resolution expert Bob Bordone and behavioral neurologist Dr. Joel Salinas, ...
Are you searching for a deeper sense of connection, purpose, and meaning—beyond the confines of organized religion? This powerful episode of Life’s Dirty Little Secrets dives into the world of modern spirituality, uncovering why so many people crave meaning without religious labels and how spiritual practices can transform resilience, mental health, and even our everyday relationships.
Join leading psychologist, author, and ACT trai...
Feeling like you don’t truly belong—no matter how hard you try—can leave you lonely, anxious, and questioning your self-worth. In this transformative episode of Life’s Dirty Little Secrets, we unravel the real nature of belonging: what it means, why we ache for it, and how to find it from the inside out.
Hosts Emma Waddington and Chris McCurry is joined by licensed clinical psychologist Meg McElvie, an expert in cognitive behavioral...
Chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue are some of life’s most stubborn challenges—but what if the true cause, and the path to lasting relief, lies not in your body, but in your brain? In this eye-opening episode of Life’s Dirty Little Secrets, we uncover the groundbreaking science of pain with renowned mind-body physician Dr. Howard Schubiner.
Learn how cutting-edge neuroscience reveals that most chronic pain and related co...
Are you feeling overwhelmed by modern life, increasingly stressed, isolated, or disconnected from the natural world? This enlightening episode uncovers the hidden crisis at the heart of our well-being—how today’s hyper-connected, fast-paced society is fundamentally at odds with our biological and emotional needs.
Join us as we dive deep with entrepreneur, writer, and systems thinker Alex Graybar, founder of the civic tech platform V...
Are you caught in the never-ending race for perfection, feeling burned out by hustle culture and the constant pressure to optimize every corner of your life? In this eye-opening episode, we reveal the truth about toxic striving, uncovering why it’s so hard to break free from relentless self-improvement, comparison traps on social media, and the modern epidemic of never feeling “good enough.”
Clinical psychologist and intuitive eatin...
Grief is an inevitable part of life, but do we truly understand its complex nature and the different ways it affects us? Dive into this enlightening episode as Dr. Ray Owen, a seasoned clinical and health psychologist, unravels the multifaceted world of grief. With over forty years in the National Health Service, Dr. Owen brings unparalleled insights into the universality of grief, its manifestations beyond just sadness, and how cu...
Achieve more while living joyfully—it's possible! In this insightful episode, Dr. Mary Anderson, a clinical psychologist and author, discusses the transformative concept of being a "Happy High Achiever." Dr. Anderson explores how the relentless pursuit of excellence can often entangle individuals in anxiety and stress and offers cognitive-behavioral strategies to rewrite this paradigm.
Listeners will learn to redefine...
Navigating the turbulent waters of parenting an anxious child might just hold the key to fostering resilience and emotional growth in both parents and kids alike. In this episode, hosts Emma Waddington and Chris McCurry engage in a meaningful dialogue about the reality of anxiety in parenting and how it not only affects parents but also their children.
They explore the evolutionary roots of anxiety, emphasizing that it's a natu...
Uncovering the tree that bends and thrives may just redefine how you approach mental well-being amidst life's storms. In this episode, Dr. Ross White, an acclaimed clinical psychologist, takes us on a journey through the metaphor of a tree that bends during turbulent times, drawing from his extensive work with high-performing individuals and culturally diverse populations. He shares how the Tanzanian proverb, "the wind do...
Unveil the secret to crafting a fulfilling life even amid turmoil. In this episode, Dr. Jenna LeJeune, a distinguished psychologist, engages in a profound conversation about what truly constitutes a meaningful life. She emphasizes the power of choice, challenging the notion that there is an inherent purpose to discover, and instead advocates for consciously deciding what principles and values we want our lives to embody.
The episode...
In this episode, Dr. Eric Morris, an associate professor at Latrobe University and Consultant Clinical Psychologist, challenges our traditional understanding of psychosis and mental health. With over 30 years of experience in both Australia and the UK, Morris brings a fresh perspective on how we view and treat unusual experiences often labeled as psychosis.
The conversation explores how the boundaries between what we consider "...
Unlocking the complexities of ADHD and perfectionism can be a game-changer for many seeking self-understanding and balance. In this episode, Michaela Thomas, a senior clinical psychologist, delves into how self-identification and formal diagnosis can transform lives in therapeutic and group coaching settings. She sheds light on the nuanced relationship between ADHD and perfectionism, explaining how perfectionism often suppresses jo...
In this episode of Life's Dirty Little Secrets, hosts Chris McCurry and Emma Waddington welcome back clinical psychologist Debbie Sorensen to discuss the growing issue of parental burnout.
Sorensen, an expert on chronic stress and burnout, elaborates on the overwhelming pressures faced by modern parents and how societal expectations, economic pressures, and lack of support contribute to their exhaustion. The conversation also t...
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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.
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
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!