The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova
If your mind keeps looping, second-guessing, or making things feel too real — this podcast is for you. The OCD Whisperer Podcast explores OCD, anxiety, and the patterns that keep us stuck — including perfectionism, overthinking, fear, and self-doubt. Through honest conversations and personal stories, the show looks at how these experiences shape our lives and how people begin to relate to them differently. Hosted by Kristina Orlova, a licensed therapist with lived experience of OCD, the podcast brings together clinicians, creatives, athletes, and everyday people. Episodes are reflective, human, and grounded in approaches that are known to help — while still making space for nuance, curiosity, and real-life complexity. This is a space for anyone who has questioned themselves, felt overwhelmed, or wondered what’s actually happening beneath the surface — and how to move forward without feeling trapped in your own mind.
Episodes
Ever wonder why people with OCD can seem incredibly strong... yet still feel completely alone?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Tom Smalley, MS, CMPC—mental performance consultant, OCD advocate, and speaker.
Together, they explore the hidden impact of OCD stigma, why uncertainty is at the heart of OCD recovery, and how community, education, and self-compassion can change lives.
Tom o...
Every OCD spiral begins the same way... with one moment of self-doubt.
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist. Together, they break down exactly how Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) is applied to some of the most common OCD themes—including Harm OCD, Relationship OCD, Contamination OCD, Health OCD, and Pedophilia OCD.
Catherine explains how O...
What if the thing you trust most… your own mind… is the very thing that's tricking you?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, therapist and ICBT expert. Together, they explore one of the most confusing parts of OCD recovery: how OCD pulls you away from reality and convinces you to trust your imagination instead.
Catherine opens up about:
• Why people with OCD d...
Why does OCD feel more convincing than your own eyes?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist.
Together, they explore one of the most powerful concepts in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT): how OCD overrides your mind by convincing you that possibility is evidence.
Catherine breaks down:
• Why intrusive thoughts are not the...
Could OCD be tricking you into trusting your imagination more than reality?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist.
Together, they explore one of the most powerful concepts in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT): how OCD overrides your mind by convincing you that possibility is evidence.
Catherine breaks down:
• Why intrusiv...
A guided meditation to help with overthinking, anxiety, and a mind that just won’t slow down.
Some days your head feels on overdrive. You sit down to relax and the thoughts keep racing anyway. This meditation doesn’t ask you to stop the thoughts. You’ll rest your attention on your breath, lose it, get pulled into a thought, and come back. That’s it. That’s the skill of mindfulness, and it gets stronge...
Why do OCD thoughts feel so real? What if the problem is not the intrusive thought itself… but the conclusion your brain makes about it?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, therapist and ICBT specialist, to explore a powerful shift in understanding OCD through Inference Based CBT (ICBT).
Together, they unpack why OCD may not be about random intrusive thoughts at all...
You thought it was bad behavior… but your child was secretly terrified.
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Keesha Scott, mom, entrepreneur, podcast host, and author, about her daughter’s deeply personal journey with OCD, emetophobia (fear of vomiting), panic disorder, and recovery.
Together, they explore what it’s really like to parent a child with OCD, the painful road to...
*What is intensive treatment for OCD — and who is it actually for?*
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Chad Brandt, clinical psychologist and OCD specialist. Together, they explore intensive ERP treatment for severe OCD, the Bergen 4-Day Treatment model, and why longer-form exposure therapy can create rapid breakthroughs in recovery.
Dr. Chad Brandt opens up about:
• His background...
Can OCD therapy actually make OCD worse if it’s done incorrectly?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Fugen Neziroglu, one of the pioneers in OCD treatment and the founder of the BioBehavioral Institute. With over 50 years of experience and more than 4,000 OCD patients treated, Dr. Neziroglu shares what most people still misunderstand about OCD therapy, ERP, CBT, and recovery.
Dr. N...
The Hidden OCD Behind “Normal” Routines in Kids...
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Julie Lustig, clinical psychologist and founder of CBT Tools for Life Center. Together, they explore how childhood OCD and anxiety often hide in plain sight—and why so many parents miss the early signs.
Dr. Lustig opens up about:
• Why OCD can take 14–17 years to be properly diag...
Why does it feel like everyone else can manage their OCD… but you just can’t seem to make it stick?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Rachel LaFleur.
Together, they unpack the often-missed overlap between ADHD and OCD—and why you might feel stuck in your recovery even when you’re doing “everything right.”
Dr. LaFleur opens up about:
• Why so many adu...
I thought I was just “anxious”… until my thoughts started scaring me.
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Alicia and Liam, hosts of OCD Confessionals. Together, they explore how OCD can go unrecognized for years, how it impacts relationships and family life, and what changes when you finally understand what’s really going on.
Alicia and Liam open up about:
• Being und...
Is it OCD… or autism? And how do you actually treat both?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Jenna Stone, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of SideQuest Psychotherapy. Together, they explore the complex overlap between OCD and autism, and how proper evaluation and therapy can change everything.
Jenna opens up about:
• Her personal journey with OCD and lived experience in the...
Does Your Brain Feel Like It’s Been Hijacked?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Maggie Duret, LPCC, an OCD specialist who integrates DBT, ERP, and ICBT into her practice. Together, they explore how to manage the "Red Alert" of high-distress OCD and the specific nuances of moral and religious scrupulosity.
Maggie opens up about:
• The Misdiagnosis Trap: Her journey from years of being ...
Can you build a global movement and lead a team while navigating the "fangs" of OCD
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Pavel Reppo, founder of A Fine Mind and a leader in international mental health. Together, they explore the intersection of high-stakes leadership, cultural expectations, and the persistent drive required to turn a diagnosis into a catalyst for social impact.
Pavel opens up ...
Can you be terrified of the future and still move forward to build it?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Lauren Cook, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of Generation Anxiety. Together, they explore the unique mental health pressures facing Gen Z and Millennials, and how to navigate big life transitions without letting anxiety hold the steering wheel.
Dr. Cook opens up about:
•...
Can you stop being a "fixer" and start building your feeling muscle?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jenn Rapkin, a Naturopathic Physician, bodyworker, and author of The Feeling Muscle. Together, they explore the powerful intersection of mindfulness, parenting a child with OCD, and learning how to sit with the "just right" discomfort that keeps so many of us stuck in rituals.
Dr. Jenn...
Is it OCD, or is your brain just wired differently?🧠
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jeremy Shuman, a psychologist and specialist in the intersection of Autism and OCD. Together, they explore the complex overlap between neurodevelopmental traits and obsessive-compulsive patterns.
Dr. Shuman opens up about:
• The definition of Autism and the shift toward the Neurodiversity Movement.
...
Is it OCD, or is your brain just wired differently?🧠
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jeremy Shuman, a psychologist and specialist in the intersection of Autism and OCD. Together, they explore the complex overlap between neurodevelopmental traits and obsessive-compulsive patterns.
Dr. Shuman opens up about:
• The definition of Autism and the shift toward the Neurodiversity Movement.
...
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