A Little Help For Our Friends

Dr. Kibby McMahon
  • 4.8 (141)
  • Mental Health
  • Weekly

A LITTLE HELP FOR OUR FRIENDS is a mental health podcast hosted by Dr. Kibby McMahon, licensed clinical psychologist and CEO of KulaMind. The podcast sheds light on the psychological issues your loved ones could be struggling with and provides scientifically-informed perspectives on various mental health topics like dealing with toxic relationships, narcissism, trauma, and therapy. As a clinical psychologist from Duke University, Dr. Kibby shares her expertise on the relational nature of mental health. She mixes evidence-based learning with her own personal examples and stories from their listeners. Episodes are a range of solo episodes with Dr. Kibby, as well as with featured guests including Bachelor Nation members such as Zac Clark speaking on addiction recovery, Ben Higgins on loneliness, and Jenna Cooper on cyberbullying, as well as therapists & doctors such as sleep specialist Dr. Jade Wu, world experts on personality disorders like Dr. Zach Rosenthal, amongst many others. Additional topics covered on the podcast have included fertility, gaslighting, depression, mental health & veterans, mindfulness, and much more. Episodes are released every other week. For more information, check out www.ALittleHelpForOurFriends.com Do you need help coping with a loved one's mental or emotional problems?  Check out www.KulaMind.com, an exclusive community where you can connect other fans of "A Little Help" and get support from Dr. Kibby directly.

  1. 2d ago

    Can Psilocybin Help Heal Cancer Trauma? | Anne Hamilton

    What happens when you survive cancer, but the fear of dying doesn't go away? Cancer treatment can save your life, but the emotional aftermath can be an entirely different battle. In this episode, Dr. Kibby McMahon sits down with Anne Hamilton, founder and executive director of the Survivorship Collective, to explore cancer survivorship, trauma, and the emerging potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies. After being diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer as a young adult, Anne experienced firsthand how difficult life after treatment can be. The fear of recurrence, loss of identity, and uncertainty about the future led her to explore new approaches to emotional and spiritual healing. Today, through the Survivorship Collective, Anne works to connect cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones with safe, legal psychedelic-assisted therapies. Together, Kibby and Anne discuss: 🍄 Why the emotional aftermath of cancer can be harder than treatment itself 🍄 How psilocybin is being studied for cancer-related anxiety, depression, and trauma 🍄 Anne's personal experience confronting her fear of death 🍄 What psychedelic-assisted healing retreats actually look like 🍄 Why community, music, and human connection matter in healing 🍄 How cancer changes our relationship with identity, womanhood, and the future Kibby also shares her own experience attending one of Anne's retreats, reflecting on what it means to surrender control, reconnect with yourself, and find a sense of agency after cancer. About Anne Hamilton Anne Hamilton is the founder and executive director of the Survivorship Collective, the first nonprofit connecting the cancer community with safe, legal psychedelic-assisted therapies. A former litigator and Ninth Circuit law clerk, Anne holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a Master's Degree in Philosophy from Stanford University. She has taught at USC's School of Cinematic Arts and completed the CIIS Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research Certificate Program. She is also a 2025 Mira Fellow, certified mediator, and member of the Psychedelic Bar Association. Through her work, Anne advocates for better mental and spiritual care for cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones. Disclaimer: This conversation is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Psychedelic-assisted therapies carry risks and are not appropriate for everyone. Their legal status varies by jurisdiction. #CancerSurvivorship #Psilocybin #PsychedelicTherapy #CancerTrauma #MentalHealth #TraumaHealing

  2. Oct 21

    How to Help Someone Who Feels Lost Find Their Purpose Again

    When someone you love is struggling with depression, addiction, or simply feeling lost in life, it can be heartbreaking to watch them lose their motivation and sense of direction. You can see their potential, but how do you help them see it too? In this episode, Dr. Kibby McMahon explores why having a sense of purpose is so important for mental health and addiction recovery, and how you can help a loved one reconnect with what makes life meaningful. Inspired by her mother's personal journey to sobriety, Dr. Kibby shares how finding a reason to get better can become a powerful source of motivation, even when recovery feels difficult. You'll learn: Why purpose and happiness aren't necessarily the same thing How depression, addiction, and shame can leave people feeling stuck Why pushing someone to get a job, find a partner, or change their life can backfire Four practical ways to help a loved one rediscover their sense of purpose How small, meaningful actions can help someone begin moving forward Finding purpose doesn't mean discovering one grand calling or suddenly feeling happy. Sometimes, it starts with one small action that reminds someone their life matters. 💜 Need support helping someone you love? KulaMind provides practical skills, guidance, and community for people supporting loved ones with mental illness or addiction. Learn more: https://www.kulamind.com Subscribe for more conversations about mental health, addiction, relationships, and supporting the people you love. #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #FindingPurpose #FamilySupport #KulaMind

  3. Oct 14

    Why Young Men Are So Lonely (And Why It's Getting Worse)

    Why are so many young men feeling lonely, lost, and disconnected? And why do the things they turn to for comfort often leave them feeling even worse? In this episode, Dr. Kibby McMahon explores the loneliness trap affecting young men today. From dating struggles and social isolation to looksmaxxing, online communities, and the pressure to be successful, she breaks down how young men can get stuck in a cycle that's increasingly difficult to escape. But there's a way out, and it might not be what you'd expect. Drawing on psychology, research, and her own experiences, Dr. Kibby shares three practical ways to rebuild connection, confidence, and a sense of purpose. She also discusses how parents, partners, and loved ones can support struggling men without falling into cycles of resentment, nagging, or overfunctioning. In this episode: Why loneliness and isolation can become a self-reinforcing cycle How dating rejection and social pressure contribute to withdrawal Why money, appearance, and looksmaxxing aren't the whole answer How isolation can affect empathy and social confidence Three ways young men can build meaningful connections What parents and partners can do to help without losing themselves Whether you're a young man feeling stuck or someone who loves a man who's struggling, this conversation offers a different way to understand what's happening and how to move forward. Learn more about KulaMind: https://www.kulamind.com #MaleLoneliness #MensMentalHealth #YoungMen #MentalHealth #Relationships

  4. Oct 7

    Why Young Men Feel Lost: Looksmaxxing, Dating & the Self-Improvement Trap

    What’s going on with young men? In this episode, Dr. Kibby McMahon sits down with Connor to unpack the rise of looksmaxxing and what it might reveal about a much bigger problem: young men feeling increasingly lost, lonely, angry, and unsure of what they’re supposed to be working toward. They explore how dating apps, social media, changing career paths, AI, rising costs, and the breakdown of traditional milestones have made it harder to see a clear path forward. When the old formula of “work hard, build a career, find a partner, buy a home” feels increasingly out of reach, online communities can offer something incredibly appealing: a game you can actually win. From looksmaxxing and “mogging” to self-improvement content and extreme appearance optimization, Kibby and Connor discuss why these movements can feel empowering at first—and how they can turn toxic when optimization replaces real connection, purpose, and growth. They also dig into the uncomfortable reality behind the quick fixes social media sells us: building a meaningful life is usually slower, messier, and much less algorithm-friendly. If you love someone who is struggling with their mental health, KulaMind provides tools, education, and support to help you care for them without losing yourself in the process.

  5. Sep 30

    BPD Splitting: Why Someone Can Go From Loving You to Hating You

    One minute, you’re the person who understands them better than anyone. The next, you’re the enemy. What causes that sudden shift? In this episode, Dr. Kibby McMahon explains what’s commonly called “splitting” in borderline personality disorder (BPD), why intense emotions can lead someone to see themselves or the people they love as all good or all bad, and what’s happening psychologically when that shift occurs. She also breaks down what loved ones can actually do in the moment, including how to stay grounded, validate emotions without agreeing with hurtful behavior, set boundaries, and avoid getting pulled into the same cycle. Pasted text (2) If you love someone with BPD, intense emotions, mental illness, or addiction and you’re trying to support them without losing yourself in the process, this episode is for you. Learn more about KulaMind and support for loved ones at KulaMind

  6. Sep 23

    How Social Media Is Changing Our Personalities | Dr. Kibby McMahon & Connor Flannery

    What is social media actually doing to our personalities, relationships, and sense of self? Dr. Kibby McMahon sits down with social media strategist and Pugs Media founder Connor Flannery to explore the psychology of growing up online. They talk about why negative comments can affect us so deeply, how parasocial relationships can become a substitute for real connection, what happens to empathy when our interactions happen through screens, and why social media may reward traits like narcissism and social climbing. Connor also shares his experience building an audience that generates hundreds of millions of views, how online criticism once pushed him to step away from YouTube, and why he now recommends that creators stop reading their comment sections. They also explore a bigger question: when followers, likes, views, and social status can all be quantified, does social media fundamentally change the way we see ourselves and other people? In this episode:• Why negative comments feel disproportionately powerful• Parasocial relationships and one-sided connection• How the internet may be changing empathy• Why online interactions can feel like “junk food” for relationships• The psychology of influencers and creators• Narcissism, status, and the numbers behind social media• How growing up online can shape identity and self-esteem Learn more about KulaMind: https://www.kulamind.com

  7. Sep 17

    Why It’s So Hard to Trust Someone After Addiction

    Your loved one is sober. They’re getting help. They’re doing better. So why is it still so hard to trust them? In this episode, Dr. Kibby McMahon explains why trust doesn’t automatically return when someone enters addiction recovery. After months or years of broken promises, secrecy, unpredictability, or hurt, you may still be waiting for proof that things are really different. You’ll learn why recovery and rebuilding trust often happen on two different timelines, why constantly checking or monitoring your loved one can make things harder, and what actually helps trust grow again. Dr. Kibby also shares practical ways to rebuild trust through consistency, clear agreements, realistic expectations, and boundaries, without feeling like you have to become your loved one’s detective. If you love someone recovering from addiction, you don’t have to force yourself to trust them overnight. Trust can be rebuilt slowly, through consistent actions over time. 🔬 Join our Brown University research study KulaMind is working with Brown University on a research study supporting loved ones of people in addiction recovery. If someone you love is taking steps to cut down on drug use, you may be eligible to receive 3 months of free coaching with Dr. Kibby McMahon as part of the study. Learn more and see if you’re eligible:https://studies.buildclinical.com/bcfs002065-rih-ramsey-131

  8. Sep 9

    When You Don’t Feel Seen: Why Validation Can Change Everything

    What happens when you’re overwhelmed, triggered, or emotionally flooded and the person you love just doesn’t seem to understand? In this episode, Dr. Kibby gets personal. Fresh from an experience that left her feeling overwhelmed and unseen, she shares what it feels like to be on the other side of an empathy breakdown. She explores why feeling judged or invalidated can turn an already difficult emotion into anger, resentment, or an explosion, and why simply feeling understood can make such a powerful difference. Kibby also looks at the responsibility on both sides: how to communicate what’s triggering you without attacking the other person, and how loved ones can listen, validate, and show that they’re genuinely trying to understand. In this episode:• What an empathy breakdown can feel like• Why feeling unseen can intensify emotional reactions• The difference between validation and agreement• How judgment and shame can fuel conflict• How to communicate your triggers more effectively• Finding the balance between accommodation and learning to cope• Why feeling seen can create connection, even when the problem can’t be fixed If you love someone who struggles with intense emotions, BPD, addiction, or other mental health challenges, KulaMind teaches practical skills to help you communicate, reduce conflict, and support both your loved one and yourself.

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4.8
out of 5
141 Ratings

About

A LITTLE HELP FOR OUR FRIENDS is a mental health podcast hosted by Dr. Kibby McMahon, licensed clinical psychologist and CEO of KulaMind. The podcast sheds light on the psychological issues your loved ones could be struggling with and provides scientifically-informed perspectives on various mental health topics like dealing with toxic relationships, narcissism, trauma, and therapy. As a clinical psychologist from Duke University, Dr. Kibby shares her expertise on the relational nature of mental health. She mixes evidence-based learning with her own personal examples and stories from their listeners. Episodes are a range of solo episodes with Dr. Kibby, as well as with featured guests including Bachelor Nation members such as Zac Clark speaking on addiction recovery, Ben Higgins on loneliness, and Jenna Cooper on cyberbullying, as well as therapists & doctors such as sleep specialist Dr. Jade Wu, world experts on personality disorders like Dr. Zach Rosenthal, amongst many others. Additional topics covered on the podcast have included fertility, gaslighting, depression, mental health & veterans, mindfulness, and much more. Episodes are released every other week. For more information, check out www.ALittleHelpForOurFriends.com Do you need help coping with a loved one's mental or emotional problems?  Check out www.KulaMind.com, an exclusive community where you can connect other fans of "A Little Help" and get support from Dr. Kibby directly.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Kibby McMahon
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    209
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Kibby McMahon
  • Show Website
    A Little Help For Our Friends

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