Savvy Psychologist

559. The diploma is in hand. Now what? For millions of new graduates — and the parents watching from the sidelines — what comes next isn't a launch. It's a stall. This week, Dr. Judy Ho unpacks the psychology of 'failure to launch': what it actually is, why it's happening more than ever, and why the answer isn't pressure or tough love — it's understanding what's really getting in the way. Plus: practical tools for...

559. You scroll past a photo of someone's vacation, someone's promotion, someone's body — and something in you quietly deflates. That's not weakness. That's your brain doing exactly what it evolved to do. This week, Dr. Judy Ho breaks down the neuroscience of social comparison — why we do it, why social media has made it exponentially harder to resist, and three evidence-based tools to break the ranking cycle and find y...

557. Financial stress isn't just about money — it's rewiring your brain. A new term is capturing what 83% of Americans are living right now: stressflation. This week, Dr. Judy Ho breaks down the neuroscience of economic anxiety, why financial stress makes you literally less capable of solving the problem, and three evidence-based tools for protecting your mental health when the economic climate feels out of your control.

H...

556. "Narcissist" has become one of the most overused words in pop psychology — applied to anyone selfish, difficult, or emotionally unavailable. This week, Dr. Judy Ho brings her clinical and forensic lens to provide a science-backed take on narcissism. We look at what it actually is, what it isn't, what it looks like in real life and in legal settings, and what to do if you think you're dealing with someone high in narcissi...

555. When Justin Bieber confronted his past on the Coachella 2026 stage, it did more than just go viral—it acted as a mirror for our own needs. This week, Dr. Judy Ho explores what our reactions to "healing moments" reveal about our own complex emotions. We get into the science-backed difference between a public performance and private progress, offering actionable insights into building emotional fitness without the pressure...

554. This week, Dr. Ho reveals that people-pleasing isn't a personality trait—it’s a survival strategy. If you constantly say "yes" while feeling a quiet sense of self-betrayal, you’re likely stuck in the fawn response, a nervous system reflex designed to keep you safe by keeping others happy.

Dr. Judy breaks down:

• Kindness vs. Compulsion: Why true generosity feels good, but people-pleasing feels like fear.
• The "...

553. Ever wonder why you stall out just when things are going well? It’s not laziness—it’s your brain’s ancient survival system misfiring. This week, neuropsychologist Dr. Judy Ho breaks down the science of self-sabotage.

You’ll learn:

• The L.I.F.E. Factors: The four core reasons we hold ourselves back.
• The 6 Thought Triggers: How to spot the mental shortcuts that lead to "misfires."
• 3 Practical Tools: ...

552. Have you ever felt a sudden wave of dread and wondered, "Is this it?" If you’re wrestling with big questions about your purpose, you aren’t broken—you’re experiencing a universal part of being human.

In this episode, Dr. Judy Ho explains that existential anxiety isn't a malfunction; it's a message from your brain to pay attention to your life. Whether you are navigating a quarter-life crisis, a midlife t...

551. In this special "passing of the baton" episode, founding host Dr. Ellen Hendriksen welcomes the newest voice of Savvy Psychologist, Dr. Judy Ho. Dr. Ho is a triple board-certified clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, a tenured professor at Pepperdine University, and the author of "Stop Self-Sabotage" and "The New Rules of Attachment".

Together, they dive into the fascinating world of forensic psychology and the critical imp...

Meet Dr. Judy Ho, your new host of Savvy Psychologist!

A clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, tenured professor, and published author, Dr. Ho brings an evidence-based, judgment-free approach to everyday mental health, pop culture, and true crime through a forensic psychology lens.

First episode drops on Tuesday!!! Follow or subscribe now so you don't miss the premiere!

Watch the official trailer on YouTube: https://www...

242. Whether your graduation is coming up this spring or twenty years behind you, we all have moments when we wonder if we’re cut out for this adulthood thing. This week, based on the questions of many college seniors over many graduations, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen brings you the 5 biggest gems in the psychological crown of adulting.

Find a transcript at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on&nb...

300. Every human feels inadequate sometimes. Whether the whispers of “You’re not good enough” come from someone in your life or from inside your own head, these seven tips will help you feel more self-assured.

Find Dr. Jade Wu here.

Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter ...

Almost everybody struggles with it. But no one talks about it. What is it? How to discreetly sniff your own armpits in public? How not to buy the free sample after you just ate three of them? Not quite; it’s the mysterious process of making friends as an adult. This week, in a twist on the usual episode, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen presents an audio excerpt from her debut book, How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner...

218. Are you harder on yourself than 40-grit sandpaper? Do you feel like you’re falling short, no matter how high you’ve climbed? Are you tough as nails on yourself, but soft as mashed potatoes with others? Welcome to the esteemed yet insecure club of the highly self-critical.

Find a transcript at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickandd...

228. Hold on to your handbasket! Every day, the headlines push our buttons of alarm, despair, and fury all at once. What’s a thinking, feeling human to do, besides invest in a Hunger Games-style bow and arrow? This week, in an episode that originally ran in January 2019, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 4 tips to be happy in a world that can feel like a Mad Max chase through the headlines. As true today as the day this episode fir...

192. Whatever you call it—self-doubt, insecurity, inadequacy—it’s a universal phenomenon. We can all relate to feeling as insecure as a newly-launched cryptocurrency. Luckily, there is lots we can do. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen covers how to feel better about yourself in the moment (plus what NOT to do). 

Find a transcript here. 

Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

Have a mental h...

9. When all that’s left of the fa-la-las is rock-hard fruitcake, the winter blahs creep up, settle in, and hang around until spring. In this episode from the very early days of the podcast (2014!), Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 8 tips to deal with the blahs and their more serious cousin, Seasonal Affective Disorder. This classic feels as timely as ever. We hope you enjoy!

Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

Have a mental healt...

200. In this fan-favorite episode from 2018, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen celebrates her 200th episode by giving us a much-needed makeover using five pieces of classic happiness advice.

Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of ...

550. Continuing our two-part series on speaking up at work, this week's episode tackles how to talk with someone intimidating—a boss, professor, or anyone who makes your adrenaline spike. You’ll learn how to recognize dominance signals, mentally humanize scary people, use your own body language to project calm confidence, and prepare for tough conversations without overpreparing. Regardless of your intimidating situatio...