The Work of Being Human

Vanessa Bentley
  • 4.8 (81)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

This is a podcast about facing truth in a world that keeps offering better-sounding lies. We talk about the ideas people organize their lives around—spiritually, psychologically, relationally, and culturally—and what those ideas actually do to real human beings when lived out. Some episodes lean clinical, some philosophical, some cultural, some theological—but the backbone is the same: human beings heal when we face reality and embrace our humanity. We believe Truth is discoverable, and orienting our lives around it — that's the Work of Being Human.

  1. 1d ago

    LESSONS LEARNED from Yellowstone National Park

    What if better mental health has less to do with controlling life and more to do with encountering reality? After returning from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, I realized this wasn’t just a vacation—it was an education. The wilderness exposed habits I carry every day: chasing experiences, avoiding fear, relying on quick answers, and comparing reality to expectations. Along the way, nature became one of my greatest teachers. In this episode, I share four unexpected lessons from the American West that changed how I think about courage, anxiety, presence, and the way we navigate life: Borrow courage when fear isn't telling you the truth.Stop chasing experiences and start encountering reality.Learn to read a trustworthy map instead of depending on someone else's GPS.Stop comparing life to the pictures and experience it for yourself.We also explore why social media fuels anxiety, how efficiency can become an emotional escape, what Yellowstone taught me about worldview, and why true mental health requires orienting ourselves to reality—not fighting it. Sometimes the greatest lessons don't come from a therapist's office. Sometimes they come from mountains, rivers, silence... and a moose at a boat dock. In this episode, we'll tackle: Why fear isn't always realityThe difference between tourists and travelersHow chasing experiences robs us of presenceWhat Yellowstone taught me about anxiety and comparisonWhy your worldview is the "map" you live byHow nature points us toward humility, truth, and GodWhy mental health begins by orienting ourselves to realityIf this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a fresh perspective on what it means to live well.

    46 min

  2. Jun 22

    How To Do Your Own Work When Therapy Isn't Working

    You've been to therapy. You've read the books. You've tried to "work on yourself." So why are you still stuck? In this episode of The Work of Being Human, I break down the psychology of healing through a fictional client named "Scott." Together, we'll explore: ✓ Original wounds✓ Negative belief systems✓ Coping mechanisms✓ Defense mechanisms✓ People pleasing and self-abandonment✓ Anxiety and emotional suppression✓ How to uncover the real source of your suffering This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered: "Why do I keep doing this?" The answer may not be in your symptoms. It may be hidden in the story you've been living since childhood. Therapy can help. But understanding yourself changes everything. If this episode resonates with you, subscribe and share it with someone who needs it. TRUTH heals us.REALITY grounds us.And HUMANITY is where truth and reality meet. This is The Work of Being Human. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/theworkofbeinghuman/ Want to request a topic? Email us at admin@vanessabentley.co

    38 min

  3. Jun 15

    What a VETERAN THERAPIST Thinks After 50 Years: Dr. Jeffery Smith

    What does fifty years of psychotherapy teach you about human nature?In this fascinating conversation, veteran therapist Dr. Jeffrey Smith joins me to explore what really happens in therapy—and why so many people remain stuck despite years of trying to change.We talk about the difference between good therapy and what Dr. Smith jokingly calls "How ya doin' therapy"—the kind of pleasant conversation that never quite touches the deeper work. We explore resistance, the role of painful emotions in healing, and why real growth often requires us to face the very feelings we've spent our lives avoiding.Dr. Smith introduces his concept of the "inner mind"—the deeply protective, survival-oriented part of ourselves that forms early in life and can quietly shape our decisions decades later. We discuss how trauma, deprivation, and old survival strategies become entrenched patterns, and how therapy helps bring these unconscious processes into awareness.We also dive into one of the most misunderstood aspects of psychotherapy: attachment to the therapist. What happens when clients long for a parent they never had? Can therapy repair those wounds? Where are the limits of the therapeutic relationship—and why are those limits actually part of healing?Along the way, we discuss:• Why discomfort is often evidence that therapy is working• The difference between conscience and an internalized rule book• Why adults absolutely do have needs• How our nervous systems drive behavior more than we realize• Why therapists must resist the temptation to become saviors• The healing power of being deeply known by another human beingThis episode is an invitation to stop running from difficult emotions and begin approaching them with curiosity, courage, and compassion.Because sometimes the work of being human is simply this:To tell the truth about what hurts—and discover that you can survive it.

    1h 6m

  4. Jun 8

    INCOMPATIBLE: Where Modern Psychology and Christianity Collide

    This episode starts with a simple question: What exactly is a human being? Not what are our symptoms. Not what's our diagnosis. Not what's our attachment style. What are we? The more time I spend in the field of psychology, the more I realize something important: psychology is very good at describing pain. It's somewhat capable of helping people heal. But when it comes to personhood—to human dignity, worth, identity, and why any of it matters—it gets strangely quiet. So in this episode, I'm comparing two very different views of what it means to be human: modern psychology and Christianity. One sees us primarily as biological, psychological, and social organisms. The other says we're something much more. We're going to talk about identity, consciousness, human nature, suffering, healing, and the question underneath all of it: Why does a human being have dignity in the first place? Because if therapy helps people reclaim their personhood—and I believe it does—then sooner or later we have to ask where personhood came from. It's a little philosophical. It's a little theological. It's definitely psychological. And if you're willing to think with me for an hour, I think you'll find the question is far more important than it first appears. Write us a message about the podcast: https://www.vanessabentley.co/contact This podcast is: Produced: Jared Bentley and Madison Thompson Music: Vanessa Bentley Arrangement: Winston Philip

    52 min

  5. Jun 1

    TRAUMA: What It Actually Is (And How to Really Heal)

    Trauma is one of the most misunderstood concepts in modern mental health. In this episode, I challenge the idea that every painful experience is trauma and offer a clear, reality-based framework for understanding what trauma actually is, how it changes us, and what genuine healing requires. Drawing parallels between physical injury and psychological injury, we'll explore why trauma is more than pain, disappointment, or hardship. Trauma creates damage. It alters how we see ourselves, other people, and the world around us. You'll learn: • What distinguishes trauma from normal suffering • Why trauma changes our perception of reality • The connection between trauma, shame, fear, and fragmentation • Why healing requires expansion rather than avoidance • Why wisdom is essential when rebuilding trust and relationships• The five stages of trauma recovery: Stabilize Name Grieve Integrate Reconnect I'll offer you a definition of trauma that sits at the center of the conversation:"Trauma is the forced contraction of human personhood under overwhelming conditions, which leads to fundamental changes in one's perception of reality." Whether you're working through your own trauma, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to understand the human experience more deeply, this episode offers practical insight, compassion, and hope. If this conversation resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may benefit. Produced and Edited by Jared Bentley Music by Vanessa Bentley Arranged by Winston Philip Recorded in Nashville, TN Follow me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessathetherapist/ Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/theworkofbeinghuman/ Send us an email on content you want to see: admin@vanessabentley.co

    36 min

  6. May 11

    Dr. Adam Urato: The Weaponization of Empathy

    This week I speak with maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Adam Urato, and unpack a growing cultural phenomenon: the weaponization of empathy. From antidepressants in pregnancy to gender medicine, we explore how emotional appeals are often used to shut down scientific scrutiny and moral dissent. Rather than rationally addressing questions about evidence, risk, and efficacy, critics are accused of lacking compassion altogether. This episode examines the psychology of fear mongering, moral manipulation, and “conversation stopping” tactics that overwhelm critical thinking with emotional pressure. What happens when empathy becomes detached from truth? What happens when critical thinking is replaced with authoritarianism masquerading as compassion? Follow the show to learn more: https://www.instagram.com/theworkofbeinghuman/

    1h 9m

  7. May 4

    What Man-Hating Does to Your Mental Health

    I recently saw a meme posted by a mental health professional and it said, "Every woman has a story about a man who harmed her." It got me thinking... In a culture where contempt toward men is increasingly normalized, even framed as "female empowerment," we have to ask a more honest question: what does that kind of thinking actually do to our mental health? In this episode, we examine misandry (the hatred of men) through three lenses—the individual, the relational, and the societal—and expose the distorted thinking that sustains it. Because even though something can feel justified, it may still not be true. And if we build our lives on ideas that distort reality and dehumanize others, we don’t become stronger, we simply live as victims of our own faulty thinking. This is a call back to reality, to clear thinking, and to a more human way of relating. If this made you think, please share it! And follow/subscribe to the podcast for more. Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessathetherapist/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkofbeinghuman/ For more info: www.vanessabentley.co (not .com)

    31 min

  8. Apr 27

    Eli Singer: Stop Blaming the Algorithm and Take Your Life Back From Your Phone

    We all know our phones are a problem. But knowing it hasn’t changed it. In this episode, I sit down with Eli Singer, founder of Offline Now, to explore what’s really happening in our relationship with technology—and why most solutions fall short. We move beyond surface-level advice and into the deeper questions: Is the phone the problem, or is it revealing something about us? Where does responsibility actually lie? And what does it look like to take real ownership of our behavior in a world designed to keep us distracted? This isn’t a conversation about screen time limits. It’s about self-accountability, agency, and the uncomfortable truth that no algorithm can control us without our participation. If we want our lives back—our attention, our relationships, our humanity—we have to face reality and act accordingly. Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessathetherapist/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkofbeinghuman/ Eli's website: https://offline.now/

    1 hr
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4.8
out of 5
81 Ratings

About

This is a podcast about facing truth in a world that keeps offering better-sounding lies. We talk about the ideas people organize their lives around—spiritually, psychologically, relationally, and culturally—and what those ideas actually do to real human beings when lived out. Some episodes lean clinical, some philosophical, some cultural, some theological—but the backbone is the same: human beings heal when we face reality and embrace our humanity. We believe Truth is discoverable, and orienting our lives around it — that's the Work of Being Human.

Information

  • Creator
    Vanessa Bentley
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    196
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vanessa Bentley
  • Show Website
    The Work of Being Human

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