Psychologists Off the Clock Debbie Sorensen, Jill Stoddard, Michael Herold, & Emily Edlynn

Burnout from endless household chores? Meet KC Davis, the brilliant author behind How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing who we had to get on the podcast to share her wisdom with you!
Most of us constantly juggle house cleaning, personal grooming, and what can feel like a million other responsibilities. It can feel like a relentless backdrop to our lives. But KC, who you may have seen making waves on social media, gives us a whole new way of looking at domestic labor. Her insights are transformative and so much more than just chores—they're about life-changing perspectives and even touch on social justice issues.
If you’re overwhelmed by endless household to-do lists, this episode and KC’s book are invaluable. Tune in and revolutionize your approach to household tasks. Trust us, your future self will thank you!
Listen and Learn: 

Balancing a normal daily life with the unexpected recognition and success of her new book, How to Keep House While Drowning


Why did KC make her book so accessible and simple to read?

Why basic self-care like doing the dishes or taking a shower is often overlooked 

KC recalls her daily struggles as a new mom facing postpartum depression during the pandemic, with escalating exhaustion and an unmanageable household

The common feeling of failure when overwhelmed by basic care tasks and why these challenges don’t reflect one's character

How mainstream self-help often leads to initial motivation but ultimately causes shame when people can't sustain the impractical systems

Navigating domestic work and fairness in shared living spaces and making sure that everyone gets time to rest and recharge

Resources: 

https://www.strugglecare.com/

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing

Listen to KC’s Podcast: https://www.strugglecare.com/podcast-rss 

Follow KC on social media: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strugglecare


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StruggleCare/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@domesticblisters 

Article on scruffy hospitality referenced by Debbie: https://www.treehugger.com/in-priase-scruffy-hospitality-4868485


About KC Davis:
KC Davis is a licensed professional counselor, author, speaker, and the person behind the mental health platform Struggle Care. KC’s compassionate and practical approach to self and home care for those dealing with mental health, physical illness, and hard seasons of life has drawn over a million followers on social media in less than a year. Her book, How to Keep House While Drowning, has sold over 300,000 copies and is currently an Amazon bestseller.https://www.treehugger.com/in-priase-scruffy-hospitality-4868485
KC Davis began her therapy journey at 16 when she entered treatment for drug addiction and mental health issues. After getting sober she became a speaker and advocate for mental health and recovery. Professionally, KC has worked most of her career in the field of addiction in roles such a therapist, consultant, and executive director. She lives in Houston with her husband and two daughters. 
Learn more about the radical philosophy of Struggle Care that’s changing lives here.
Related episodes: 

176. Fair Play with Eve Rodsky176. Fair Play with Eve Rodsky

206. Fair Play Part 2 with Eve Rodsky

306. Screaming on the Inside: The Challenges of American Motherhood with Jessica Grose

215. How to Change with Katy Milkman

318. Your Path to Personal Change with Michelle Drapkin

348. Sustainable Exercise with Michelle Segar

346. Self-compassion Daily Journal with Diana Hill

33. Couples with Young Children: Relationship Challenges and Strategies with Yael Schonbrun


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If you’ve ever pondered questions like, "Should I follow my passion or chase after money? How can I strike the right balance between work and life? What legacy will my work leave behind?" then this episode with the insightful duo of Christopher Wong Michaelson and Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, coauthors of the terrific book Is Your Work Worth It? How to Think About Meaningful Work, will not only challenge your perception of work but also spark an exploration of deep introspection into the role of work in your life.

Listen and Learn: 

The story of how Christoper and Jen merged their backgrounds in psychology and philosophy to come together to coauthor Is Your Work Worth It? How to Think About Meaningful Work


What Christopher and Jen learned about the meaning of work through studying The New York Times Portraits of Grief 


What are the lasting effects of COVID-19 and how are they shaping how we work? 

What are the traits of work and how does social construction come into play?

Fairness in work

Are there downsides to working in a field that's a “calling” and what toll might that take on a person? 

What would we do if we weren’t working? 


Resources: 


Is Your Work Worth It? How to Think About Meaningful Work: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781541703407


Christopher’s Website: https://www.christopherwongmichaelson.com/


Connect with Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wong-michaelson-41b85611/


Connect with Jen on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jentostikharas and Twitter: https://twitter.com/jentosti (@jentosti)

 

About Christopher Wong Michaelson 
Christopher Wong Michaelson is co-author, with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, of Is Your Work Worth It? How to Think About Meaningful Work. He is a philosopher with 25 years of experience advising business leaders pursuing meaning and providing work with a purpose. He is the Opus Distinguished Professor and Academic Director of the Melrose and The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership at the University of St. Thomas and on the Business and Society faculty at NYU’s Stern School of Business. Christopher lives in Minneapolis with his wife, three kids, and two dogs.

About Jennifer Tosti-Kharas
Jennifer Tosti-Kharas is co-author, with Christopher Wong Michaelson, of Is Your Work Worth It? How to Think About Meaningful Work. Jen is the Camilla Latino Spinelli Endowed Term Chair and Professor of Management at Babson College. She teaches, researches, and coaches others about what it means to craft a meaningful career, and appreciate the risks and rewards of work as a calling. Jen lives outside Boston with her husband and two kids.
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In this episode, we talk about a topic that touches so many of our lives: caregiving. Whether it’s something we’ve already experienced or might face in the future, caring for a loved one with an disease or illness is a profound journey.
Allison Applebaum, who is the founder of the Caregivers Clinic and Author of the beautifully titled, Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving comes on board to enlighten us about the realities of caregiving—the stress, the work, the emotional burden—but also the unexpected rewards. She talks about discovering strengths you didn’t know you had and finding deeper connections with those you care for. 
Allison’s perspective is holistic and empathetic, offering a well-rounded view of caregiving. We cover everything from the emotional impact to practical tips and the broader societal issues like ageism and bias against those with neurocognitive challenges. It’s a conversation full of perspectives that you may not have even considered before. Let’s dive in!

Listen and Learn: 

The Allison Applebaum definition of family Caregiving 

How Allison founded a clinic to support caregivers, cared for her father, coped with her mother's unexpected death, and dealt with the challenges of illness and loss in the healthcare system

The moving tale behind the title of Allison’s book, Stand by Me  

Recognizing the significance of a person's identity and dignity in healthcare 

Combating ageism and elder speak in the health system 

Tips for beginning the caregiving journey for a loved one facing a health decline

Navigating through conflicts and disagreements within families regarding care for a loved one

What is caregiver burden? How can we prevent or address it? And, is it the same as caregiver burnout?

The challenge of uncertainty for caregivers and helpful strategies for dealing with this 

Can meaning and suffering coexist? 



Resources: 

Allison’s website

Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving

Connect with Allison on Instagram and X




About Allison Applebaum
Dr. Allison Applebaum is an Associate Attending Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and an Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. She is the Founding Director of the Caregivers Clinic at MSK, the first program of its kind in the United States to provide comprehensive psychosocial care to family members and friends of patients who are in the caregiving role. Dr. Applebaum is also the author of the recently published narrative nonfiction book, Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving.


Related Episodes:

354. A Family Guide to Dementia with Brent Forester

241. Emotion Coaching Skills for Families with Mindy Solomon (EFFT Part 2 of 2)

327. Thriving on Overload with Ross Dawson

310. The Expectation Effect with David Robson

351. You Only Die Once with Jodi Wellman

338. ACT for Burnout with Debbie!

116. Building a Meaningful, Values-based Life with Jenna LeJeune

138. Exploring Existence and Purpose: Existentialism with Robyn Walser


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You may have heard whispers about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, which has gained popularity for treating symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and depression. Although the eye movement component of EMDR is still not fully understood, it involves stimulating the brain through bilateral eye movements, sounds, or taps. Despite several studies finding no evidence that bilateral stimulation improves therapy, anecdotal evidence suggests that EMDR can be very effective in certain cases, and has been a real game changer for some. Here to chat with us and shed some light on this form of therapy, we are excited to have Jamie Marich, a leader in trauma recovery. Curious about EMDR therapy's transformative potential for healing trauma and mental health challenges? Tune in!
Listen and Learn:

The origin story of EMDR 

The skepticism around EMDR 

Are trauma and PTSD related? 

Distinguishing between "big T" traumas and "small t" traumas 

Why might talk therapy not work well for treating trauma and/or PTSD?

What are the phases of an EMDR session? 

Can EMDR be done through video therapy?

Resources:


Jamie’s website: https://jamiemarich.com/


Visit Redefine Therapy https://redefinetherapy.com/


EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client

EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care

Connect with Jamie on social media: 

https://www.instagram.com/drjamiem/

https://www.facebook.com/drjamiemarich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemarich/

About Jamie March
Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they) inspires people and systems to heal the wounds that keep them stuck, allowing for authentic transformation free of shame and stigma. A TEDx speaker, clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, lay spiritual director, short filmmaker, Reiki master, yoga teacher, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to redefine therapy. She is a woman in long-term recovery from an addictive disorder and lives with dissociative identities. As a queer woman who survived multiple spiritually abusive experiences in childhood and adulthood, Jamie is passionate about helping people to recognize where religion and spirituality may be causing harm in their lives so that they can chart a course for personalized healing.
Marich is the author of EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the 12 Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012/2020), Creative Mindfulness (2013), Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors, Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015), EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care (with Stephen Dansiger, 2018), Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery (2019), Healing Addiction with EMDR Therapy: A Trauma-Focused Guide (with Stephen Dansiger, 2022), The Healing Power of Jiu-Jitsu: A Guide to Transforming Trauma and Facilitating Recovery (with Anna Pirkl, 2022), Dissociation Made Simple: A Stigma-Free Guide to Embracing Your Dissociative Mind and Navigating Life (2023), and Trauma and the 12 Steps: The Workbook (with Stephen Dansiger, 2023). Her long-time publisher, North Atlantic Books, is releasing her memoir of spiritual abuse and recovery, You Lied to Me About God, in October 2024.
Related Episodes

210. Strategies for Becoming Safely Embodied with Deirdre Fay

37. Post-Traumatic Growth with Diana and Debbie

25. Resilience: Bouncing Back After Difficulty with Debbie and Rae


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Dementia is a complex topic that requires a delicate balance of understanding, compassion, and expertise. With the prevalence of dementia on the rise, healthcare providers, caregivers, and individuals themselves must have a solid grasp on how to navigate these challenging conditions. Our guest Brent Forester is an expert in geriatric psychiatry and dementia care, bringing almost three decades of experience supporting individuals with dementia and older adults facing mental health challenges. Discussing his co-authorship with Tom Harrison of "The Complete Family Guide to Dementia: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Parent and Yourself", we hear about his proactive approach to caregiving and education for families and his journey into geriatric psychiatry. Through his insights into the nuances of dementia care, early diagnosis, treatment, the importance of distinguishing between various types of dementia, and grief in caregiving, Brent guides us in developing resilience and adapting to the emotional complexities of caring for a loved one with dementia.  

Listen and Learn: 

The admiration for his role model grandmother and fascination with problem-solving in medicine that influenced Brent's career in Geriatric psychiatry 

The process of diagnosing dementia and the benefits of early diagnosis

The difference between the clinical syndrome, which we call dementia, and the disease of dementia

What are the causes and symptoms of dementia? 

The multifaceted challenges dementia presents and the need for comprehensive healthcare approaches that consider these complexities

Goal setting and the importance of self-care for caregivers of people suffering from dementia 


Resources: 

More about Brent:

The Complete Family Guide to Dementia: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Parent and Yourself


About Brent P. Forester
Brent P. Forester, MD, MSc. is the Dr. Frances S. Arkin Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, Psychiatrist in Chief and Chairman for the Department of Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center and Director of Behavioral Health for Tufts Medicine. 

Dr. Forester spent a quarter of a century of his professional career at McLean Hospital and Mass General Brigham where he served as the Chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean Hospital and Senior Medical Director for Value Based Care Solutions in the Population Health Management department at Mass General Brigham. Dr. Forester is an expert in geriatric psychiatry, specializing in the treatment of older adults with depression, bipolar disorder, and behavioral complications of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. He is a Past President of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP), a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and has previously served on the board of directors of the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts/New Hampshire and chair of their Medical Scientific Committee.

Dr. Forester’s research focuses on novel treatment approaches to manage the disabling behavioral complications of dementia, such as agitation and aggression. Dr. Forester’s work also includes the implementation and evaluation of collaborative care models for comprehensive dementia care within primary care medical settings

Related Episodes: A Family Guide to Dementia

338. ACT for Burnout with Debbie!

207. Burnout with Debbie and Jill

204. Ageless with Andrew Steele

13. Healthy Aging and the Brain


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Ever think about how powerful asking questions can be? It's kinda mind-blowing when you think about all the insights, knowledge, and experiences we can tap into just by asking. So in this episode, we’ve got Jeff Welzer on board to talk about his book ASK: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life. Jeff enlightens us on how asking thoughtful and well-crafted questions that seek to learn can unlock a treasure trove of wisdom, ideas, and deep understanding. And it can even help you achieve your goals in both your personal and professional lives! You have to check out this awesome chat! Trust us, it's packed with gems that'll shift how you connect with others and enable you to grow as a person!

Listen and Learn: 

Are you missing out on valuable insights and hidden wisdom by not asking questions?

How asking well-crafted questions can help you achieve your goals and benefit you both in your personal and professional lives

Why do we withhold information? 

Tips to navigate speaking up when you might fear the reaction you could get

How Jeff’s ASK Approach can help you tap into other people's knowledge, thoughts, wisdom, and ideas

Ways you can make it safer for someone to open up more 

Transforming crummy questions into quality questions that promote meaningful discussion and insight

How you can get better at listening to learn

How can we pass the skillset of curiosity onto our kids 


Resources: 

Jeff’s website: https://www.askapproach.com/


https://transcendeducation.org/


ASK: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780306832697



Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781250235374



About Jeff Wetzler 
JEFF WETZLER is co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized innovation organization, and an expert in learning and human potential. Wetzler combines unique leadership experiences spanning more than 25 years in business and education, as a management consultant to the world’s top corporations, a learning facilitator for leaders around the world, and as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America. Jeff earned a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in psychology from Brown University. Based in New York, he is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and is an Edmund Hillary Fellow.
https://www.askapproach.com/
Book: ASK: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life 

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329. The Power of Curiosity with Scott Shigeoka


281. Belonging Uncertainty and Bridging Divides with Geoffrey Cohen 

276. Assertive Communication Skills with Randy Paterson

255. Influence is Your Superpower with Zoe Chance

165. How We Talk and Why It Matters with Katherine Kinzler


96. Effective Conversations About Diversity with Anatasia Kim and Alicia del Prado 


302. Say the Right Thing with David Glasgow 


185. Good Guys: Allies in the Workplace with Brad Johnson and David Smith 


299. Leadership and the Changing Workplace with Chris Shipley 

168. Everyday Conversations: How Conversational Style Impacts Relationships with Deborah Tannen


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