she persisted

sadie sutton
  • 4.8 (197)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

your life can change, even when you can’t imagine what better looks like yet. sadie sutton started she persisted at 15 while in intensive treatment for severe depression and anxiety. now 23 and a university of pennsylvania psychology graduate, she combines lived experience with evidence-based psychology to make the hard parts of mental health feel less confusing—and a little less lonely. today, she persisted is an nyt-recommended, top-charting gen z mental health podcast with 500k+ downloads. new episodes weekly for anyone struggling, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand themselves better. @shepersistedpodcast hello@shepersistedpodcast.com shepersistedpodcast.com

  1. Sep 7 ·  Video

    262. your life isn’t going to feel like this forever (feat. dr. blaise aguirre)

    want to hear an expert’s opinion on the teen mental health crisis?! today’s guest is dr. blaise aguirre—an assistant professor in psychiatry at harvard medical school in the department of psychiatry. he is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founding medical director of the 3east dialectical behavior therapy continuum of care at harvard affiliated mclean hospital.  in part two of last week’s conversation, dr. aguirre reflects on his 25 years of experience in the treatment of mood and personality disorders in adolescents to share what teens in 2026 are struggling with most. he also shares actionable steps that gen z can take to improve their mental health– ranging from residential treatment to social media and ai use! if you want to make changes with your mental health, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone– while also providing you with actionable steps you can take to build your life worth living.   we talk about: 01:40 whether residential mental health treatment is the right choice for young adults 04:35 red flags to avoid when choosing a mental health treatment option 07:20 how teen mental health has changed (and stayed the same!) over time 09:55 pros + cons of using ai as a mental health resource 14:50 the role of social media in today's teen mental health crisis 19:05 mental health advice that every young person needs to hear mentioned: • part 1 with blaise • blaise’s first episode • @blaisemd on instagram • blaise’s books • 3east at mclean hospital ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter: 1. leave a review on apple or spotify 2. dm me a screenshot on instagram 📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags! @shepersistedpodcast shepersistedpodcast.com hello@shepersistedpodcast.com  © 2026 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

    262. your life isn’t going to feel like this forever (feat. dr. blaise aguirre)

  2. Aug 22 ·  Video

    261. what if part of you doesn’t want to get better? (feat. dr. blaise aguirre)

    why are some people afraid to ask for help, even when their mental health is getting WORSE?! today’s guest is dr. blaise aguirre—an assistant professor in psychiatry at harvard medical school in the department of psychiatry. he is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founding medical director of the 3east dialectical behavior therapy continuum of care at harvard affiliated mclean hospital.  in this episode, i’m reuniting with dr. aguirre to discuss how my treatment at 3east saved my life– and why this program worked for me when nothing else did. dr. aguirre also draws his clinical expertise to unpack all things teen mental health, breaking down topics including self-hatred, agency, family dynamics, & more!  whether you’re struggling with your mental health or love someone who is, this episode is your guide to what makes treatment actually work.  we talk about: 03:27 what makes teenagers more likely to accept help for their depression 08:57 finding agency as a teen in inpatient treatment  12:52 why mental health challenges aren’t an intelligence issue 17:13 the role of self-hatred in depression  20:38 how depression can impact our relationships  23:40 what really motivates us to change our worst habits  mentioned: • dr. aguirre’s previous episode • dr. aguirre’s instagram • dr. aguirre’s books • mclean 3east ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter: 1. leave a review on apple or spotify 2. dm me a screenshot on instagram 📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags! @shepersistedpodcast shepersistedpodcast.com hello@shepersistedpodcast.com  © 2026 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

    261. what if part of you doesn’t want to get better? (feat. dr. blaise aguirre)

  3. Aug 7 ·  Video

    260. you don’t have to be in crisis to need help (feat. hailey hardcastle)

    if you want to learn more about how our generation can create lasting change in mental health, this episode is for you! today’s guest is hailey hardcastle—a gen z mental health advocate who helped pass landmark legislation in oregon allowing students to take mental health days off from school. she was honored by teen vogue as one of the "21 under 21: young women changing the world," and her ted talk on student mental health has been viewed more than 4 million times. fun fact: this episode was recorded live at the active minds 2026 mental health conference—the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults! during this conversation, we discuss our personal mental health journeys, how hailey’s advocacy helped turn an idea into a state law, the most effective ways to advocate for gen z mental health, and so much more– including answering audience questions!  we talk about: 1:52 why hailey became a mental health advocate at a young age 4:50 how she helped passed a bill allowing student mental health days 7:34 effective ways to open up to your parents about your mental health 12:44 what stops people from asking for help with their mental health 19:04 maintaining our mental health as adults vs. as teens 21:50 the future of mental health policy + advocacy 23:54 advice for people wanting to become mental health advocates 25:22 finding local mental health advocacy opportunities 27:10 what motivates us to speak up about mental health 29:06 tips on pushing forward mental health legislation mentioned: • hailey hardcastle • hailey’s ted talk • active minds • mental health conference • house bill 2191 (student mental health days)  ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter: 1. leave a review on apple or spotify 2. dm me a screenshot on instagram 📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags! @shepersistedpodcast shepersistedpodcast.com hello@shepersistedpodcast.com  © 2026 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

    260. you don’t have to be in crisis to need help (feat. hailey hardcastle)

  4. Jul 23 ·  Video

    259. why you feel LOST after graduation (what actually helps!)

    i’ve recently made a big career change and learned a LOT about my mental health along the way… so let’s talk about it!  in this solo episode, i’m explaining what sparked this transition in my life & how i’m planning on optimizing this period of change to improve my routines, habits, and overall mental health.  so, if you’re also going through a major life shift in your 20s– or are wanting to figure out whether you should take the plunge into a new chapter of life– here’s how to do so while optimizing your mental health! i talk about: 1:52 the career shift i’m making & why! 12:56 my advice for college students & post-grads facing career uncertainty 14:47 why new beginnings are the perfect time to work on your mental health 15:57 mental health areas i’m prioritizing in this new season of life 22:42 staying motivated as a post-grad (vs. as a college student) 26:04 a mindset shift for improving your mental health habits 29:25 defining what makes my life worth living 31:22 journal prompts for goal-setting, career planning, & more!  mentioned: • succeeding as a psych major (pt. 1) • succeeding as a psych major (pt. 2) • dr. angela duckworth’s episode • mental health book club episode • how to change ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter: 1. leave a review on apple or spotify 2. dm me a screenshot on instagram 📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags! @shepersistedpodcast shepersistedpodcast.com hello@shepersistedpodcast.com  © 2026 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

    259. why you feel LOST after graduation (what actually helps!)

  5. Jul 16 ·  Video

    258. why you never feel good enough (even when you're doing everything right) dr. marisa g franco

    how can someone have high self-esteem but low self-worth??! today’s guest is dr. marisa g. franco— a psychologist, author, professor, and friendship expert. she writes about how to build relationships with yourself and others for psychology today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like the new york times, the telegraph, and vice. in this episode, we continue last week’s conversation on self-worth and relationships. this time, we’re focused on the internal factors behind self-worth, such as your emotions, identity, and more! we talk about: 2:11 why it can be easier to validate someone else's feelings instead of our own 3:28 the two different types of self-esteem (& which one leads to better relationships) 5:04 how to process your emotions to improve your self-worth 7:10 why gaining self-worth can change your life for the better 8:26 ways we reinforce our insecurities without even realizing 12:58 pushing back against our own (& other people's!) insecurities 16:08 misconceptions about self-worth 17:06 if gen z struggles with self-worth more than other generations mentioned: • dr. franco’s previous episode • dr. franco’s instagram • dr. franco’s website • pre-order worth ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter: 1. leave a review on apple or spotify 2. dm me a screenshot on instagram 📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags! @shepersistedpodcast shepersistedpodcast.com hello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2026 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

    258. why you never feel good enough (even when you're doing everything right) dr. marisa g franco

  6. Jul 4 ·  Video

    257. why you can be loved and still feel unlovable (feat. dr. marisa franco)

    why do some people struggle to accept love?? today’s guest is dr. marisa g. franco— a psychologist, author, professor, and friendship expert. she writes about how to build relationships with yourself and others for psychology today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like the new york times, the telegraph, and vice. in this episode, we talk about how our self-worth impacts our ability to love ourselves– and receive love from others.  we talk about: 01:38 how self-worth and relationships are tied together 05:16 how you can be loved but not feel loved 06:16 how memories become the database of your self-worth 08:50 external vs. internal validation 10:10 how to rewrite the memories that shaped you 14:20 supporting someone who can't accept your love 15:38 low self-worth and feeling misunderstood 18:46 how i found 1% of hope in recovery 20:50 what we get wrong about attachment styles 26:02 the one thing to take away from this episode mentioned: • dr. franco’s previous episode • dr. franco’s instagram • dr. franco’s website • pre-order worth ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter: 1. leave a review on apple or spotify 2. dm me a screenshot on instagram 📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags! @shepersistedpodcast shepersistedpodcast.com hello@shepersistedpodcast.com  © 2026 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

    257. why you can be loved and still feel unlovable (feat. dr. marisa franco)

  7. May 4 ·  Video

    256. 10 years of therapy in 20 minutes (what i wish i learned sooner!)

    wanna know what over a decade of therapy, a psychology degree, and my own podcast have taught me about mental health?! in this solo episode, i’m breaking down the key takeaways that i’ve learned throughout my mental health journey. in honor of it being mental health awareness month, i’m condensing everything i’ve learned from receiving intensive mental health care and years of dbt therapy as a suicidally depressed teenager– combined with my psychology education at upenn and my experience creating this very podcast– to make your 12-step guide to maintaining your mental health. by the end of this episode, you’ll know all the mental health tips + tricks i wish i’d known when i was struggling! i talk about: • why avoidance is impacting your mental health  • how to start getting better at recognizing your emotions • my mantra for dealing with conflict more effectively • relationship changes + how to navigate them  • the power of secondary emotions  • effective ways to reach your goals + stabilize your mental health • a mental health quote that changed my life • an underrated aspect of managing your mental health  • whether we can use our mental health to predict our futures • the mindset that was stopping me from building a life worth living • how distraction can actually save lives • what i learned in therapy that changed my self-esteem forever mentioned:  • atomic habits • dr. blaise aguirre episode ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter: 1. leave a review on apple or spotify 2. dm me a screenshot on instagram 📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags! ⁠@shepersistedpodcast⁠ ⁠shepersistedpodcast.com⁠ ⁠hello@shepersistedpodcast.com⁠  © 2026 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

    256. 10 years of therapy in 20 minutes (what i wish i learned sooner!)

  8. Apr 17 ·  Video

    255. why it’s so hard to ask for help (and how to start!)

    if your mental health is getting worse, but asking for help feels like too much, this episode is for YOU.  in this solo episode, i explain why so many of us can be reluctant to open up about our mental health before breaking down the techniques you can try to be more vulnerable.  by the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to lower your anxiety around asking for help– because vulnerability is the key to recovery!  i talk about: • why i didn’t ask for help when my mental health started struggling • how our environment + upbringing shape our mental health  • the impact of depression on our self worth + anxiety • using exposure therapy to try actually being vulnerable  • a communication technique that helped me open up to my parents • easier ways you can practice being vulnerable on a regular basis • choosing the right people to share with + setting clear expectations mentioned: • ep.254 (why they’re not getting help) ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter: 1. leave a review on apple or spotify 2. dm me a screenshot on instagram 📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags! 🍿 watch on ⁠spotify⁠ & ⁠youtube⁠ 💌 ⁠ask me a question⁠ or leave feedback on the podcast! ⁠@shepersistedpodcast⁠ ⁠shepersistedpodcast.com⁠ ⁠hello@shepersistedpodcast.com⁠  © 2026 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

    255. why it’s so hard to ask for help (and how to start!)
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Trailer

Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
197 Ratings

About

your life can change, even when you can’t imagine what better looks like yet. sadie sutton started she persisted at 15 while in intensive treatment for severe depression and anxiety. now 23 and a university of pennsylvania psychology graduate, she combines lived experience with evidence-based psychology to make the hard parts of mental health feel less confusing—and a little less lonely. today, she persisted is an nyt-recommended, top-charting gen z mental health podcast with 500k+ downloads. new episodes weekly for anyone struggling, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand themselves better. @shepersistedpodcast hello@shepersistedpodcast.com shepersistedpodcast.com

Information

  • Creator
    sadie sutton
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    285
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © sadie sutton
  • Show Website
    she persisted

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