the tara bixby podcast
If you’re tired of struggling alone in silence and crave real, unfiltered conversations about the good, the hard, the messy, and the inspiring parts of life, you’re in the right place. Hi, I’m Tara — wife, momma, therapist, and the voice behind the tara bixby podcast. Nothing is off limits here. We talk about mental health, motherhood, addiction, trauma, holistic healing, spirituality, personal growth, and everything in between. This podcast is a safe space to heal. My hope is that every episode leaves you feeling seen, supported, and just a little more empowered. Whether you're working through the hard stuff, regulating your nervous system, or simply searching for more joy and calm, you’ll find conversations here that meet you where you are. New episodes drop every Thursday, with quick tip episodes on Tuesday. If you’re enjoying these conversations, please follow, leave a review, and share with someone who needs to hear these chats, too. Come say hi on Instagram @thetarabixby. I always love meeting new friends.
Episodes
Poor sleep doesn’t just make you tired — it can fuel anxiety, worsen depression, and leave you stuck in survival mode. The good news? You can improve your sleep quality, and today’s guest is here to teach you how.
I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Silverman, a Stanford-trained sleep psychologist and insomnia expert, to unpack the powerful connection between sleep and menta...
Feeling like something is wrong with you? Mary O’Malley — author, teacher, and counselor — knows that struggle all too well. After a painful childhood, three suicide attempts, and multiple hospitalizations, she learned that healing isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about being present with what hurts.
In this conversation, Mary shares how a yoga class changed he...
Today’s quick tip isn’t about what to do — it’s about what not to do.
If you’ve ever tried using affirmations or talking yourself out of anxiety when anxious, you’ve probably noticed it doesn’t really work. Here’s why... when your nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode, your amygdala takes your thinking brain offline — it’s like taking a phone off the hook (re...
At 35, Erica Lugo’s world went dark — depression, OCD, and suicidal thoughts took over, and she kept being dismissed by doctors. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Erica shares how she connected the dots between her mental health and her hormones, and how HRT completely shifted her life. This episode is full of hope for anyone who’s been dismissed, overprescribed, or feels like they’ve “tried everything.”
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Hey friends — today’s episode wasn’t the one I had planned.
I had a fertility and prenatal nutrition interview ready to go, but when I sat down to edit it, something felt off. It didn’t align with where I’m at or what I want this podcast to be right now (disclosure: It was recorded a year ago). And since I’ve been working hard to actually trust my intuition, I li...
If you’ve ever tried to think your way out of anxiety only to end up more stuck in worry and rumination, this tip is for you. In this quick tip tuesday, Dr. Russell Kennedy — doctor, neuroscientist, and one of the world’s most respected voices on anxiety Read more
Hey friends, it’s just you and me today! No guest, no script — just me, sitting on the floor with my mic, following a nudge I couldn’t ignore.
I’m diving into a topic I’m so fired up about... what anxiety really is (and what it isn’t). There’s a ton of noise out there about anxiety, but I want to cut through the confusion and share my perspective with you (one that I truly believe will finally help you fin...
Hey friends.
If you’re tired of feeling anxious and want a quick, practical way to calm your nervous system, this tip is for you. Today, I’m breaking down how to use visualization to reduce anxiety and shift your nervous system out of a sympathetic state of “fight-or-flight.”
📱This tip’s too good to keep to yourself — text this episode to a friend who needs to hear it.
✨ Tired of feeling anxious? Craving more calm and joy? I’d lov...
Hey, my friends!
Parenting can feel like a mirror—reflecting not just our child’s behavior, but our own wounds, patterns, and triggers. What if the biggest shifts didn’t start with our kids, but with us?
Today, I’m chatting with Bryana Kappadakunnel, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, mother, and author of Parent Yourself F...
Hey friends. 👋
Today, we’re talking about something you might not realize is fueling your anxiety... blood sugar.
When your morning starts with cereal, bagels, or pastries, your blood sugar spikes and then crashes—sending your nervous system into fight-or-flight. That crash triggers stress hormones, which can leave you feeling ...
Today’s guest is the very reason I fight so hard for a better mental health narrative.
Dr. Cathy Wield shares her extraordinary mental health journey — from years of hospitalizations, 100+ ECT treatments, and 33 medications, to the retraumatization she endured and the moments she felt the system failed her. She opens up about her suicidal thoughts, what it took to relearn how to sit with her emotions, an...
Hey, friend.
Today, I’m hanging out with Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a psychiatrist and former pharmaceutical researcher who now dedicates his career to helping people safely taper off psychiatric medications. He’s one of the few voices in medicine willing to speak out — and what he shares may just change the way you think about mental health treatment forever.
In today’s conversation, we’re talking about.....
Hey friend.
In a world that never slows down, stillness isn’t just nice — it’s necessary. Today I’m sharing why stillness is so important for calming your nervous system, easing anxiety, and reconnecting with your inner knowing. I also walk you through my three favorite ways to invite more stillness into your day.
Loved this t...
Hey friend.
Are you an anxious soul who’s hell-bent on making your anxiety disappear? If you’re nodding your head yes, this episode is for you.
Today, I’m joined by Dr. David Rosmarin — Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, program director at McLean Hospital, and founder of the Center for Anxiety. He’s a clinical psychologist, scientist, author, educator, and keynote speaker who’s...
Hey, friend.
Welcome to the very first quick tip tuesday! 🥳
Today's tip is all about how to send signals of safety to your amygdala — so you can calm your nervous system, reduce your anxiety, and find a little more joy in life.
If you find this helpful, please share it with a friend who's feeling a little anxious, a touch stressed out, or just craving more joy and calm in their life.
Hey friends. If you’re a working mom feeling stretched too thin, drowning in demands, and simmering with that all-too-familiar mom rage… this episode is for you.
Today, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Whitney Casares — a Stanford-trained pediatrician, speaker, mom of two, and founder of Modern Mommy Doc and the Modern Mamas Club app. She’s also the host of the Modern Mommy Doc Podcast and a powerful voic...
Hey friend.
Today, I’m opening up about my history with anxiety, panic attacks, and my journey with psych meds. I’m sharing how anxiety first showed up in my life, what I think was really triggering my nervous system to stay stuck in survival mode, and the moment things got so dark, I started having thoughts of not wanting to live. This episode is raw, honest, and...
Today, I’m hanging out with Dr. Claire Plumbly — Clinical Psychologist, EMDR Consultant, and author of The Trauma of Burnout. She’s also the founder of Plum Psychology, a UK-based center specializing in trauma-informed care.
...Today I’m joined by Dr. Jessica Zucker — clinical psychologist, author of "Normalize It" and "I Had a Miscarriage", and a powerful voice in the movement to help women speak openly about what’s often left unsaid. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Vogue, and Harvard Business Review, among others. She’s been featured on NPR, CNN, The Today Show, and Good Morning Ameri...
Hey friend.
Today's chat comes straight from my heart to your ears. I'm opening up about why I think we're overcomplicating healing, the 6(ish) things I want you to focus on, why I really dislike when professionals act like they have it all together, and—yes—my strong craving for friendships too
Can you do me a favor? I’d love your honest feedback. What do you think about solo episodes? Ar...
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