What To Do When

Kathleen McBride
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

For overthinkers, feelers & recovering chill girls. This podcast is part voice note, part pep talk, part “I probably shouldn’t tell this story, but here we are.” We spiral, we cry, we self-reflect and then we figure out what the hell to do next. Messy, hilarious, real-AF healing for people who are tired of pretending they’re fine. Created by Kathleen McBride, a coach, counsellor-in-training & emotionally intelligent chaos human navigating the messy middle too.

  1. 6d ago

    93. Why you keep sweeping things under the rug (and what to say instead).

    If there’s a conversation you keep putting off, and a specific face just came to mind, this episode is for you. A month ago I was in a moment with one of my closest friends and felt my brain offer me two doors: say nothing, or say the scary thing out loud. In this episode I share what I did, the friendship I let go quiet for years, and why avoiding hard conversations is a protective instinct rather than a character flaw. We get into why your brain expects the worst, what research says about how these conversations actually tend to go, why closeness helps your nervous system through hard moments, and a simple three-part way to open the conversation you’ve been dreading without blame. Your homework: name the conversation you’ve been putting off, get honest about what you’re really afraid of underneath it, and write down one time a hard conversation went better than you feared. Ready to start building self-trust? Grab the Trust Yourself mini-course. Want to go deeper with me? Learn more about 1:1 coaching here and book a HEAL connection call here. Research and sources mentioned: Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Finkenauer & Vohs (2001), “Bad Is Stronger Than Good”Kardas, Kumar & Epley (2021), “Overly Shallow? Miscalibrated Expectations Create a Barrier to Deeper Conversation,” Journal of Personality and Social PsychologyCoan, Schaefer & Davidson (2006), “Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat,” Psychological ScienceBrené Brown, Dare to Lead

  2. Oct 18

    92. You're not lazy, you're at capacity.

    If you’re tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix, and you’re scared that stopping means losing momentum, this one is for you. I just came back from New Zealand after two weeks off social media, and I’m sharing the signs of burnout I missed (including the fact that my HEAL link was broken for three months). We get into why your brain is wired to always want more, what burnout does to the brain and body, and why putting something down is what gives you momentum in the first place. You’ll also hear how a full-time working mum rearranged her week so she could start studying again. Your homework: name your honest capacity right now (low, medium or high), then choose one thing to put down or get support with, so you can pick up what matters. Ready to start building self-trust? Grab the ⁠Trust Yourself mini-course⁠ for $47AUD. Want to go deeper with me? Learn more about 1:1 coaching ⁠here⁠ and ⁠book a HEAL connection call here.⁠ Free resource: ⁠The Messy Middle Starter Pack⁠ This episode is for education and reflection, not medical advice. If you think you’re experiencing burnout, please speak with your doctor or a mental health professional. New episodes every Monday. Instagram: ⁠@kathleen.mindsetcoach

  3. Oct 11

    91. Why You Can Never Just Decide (too many options?)

    Decision paralysis. The paradox of choice. They're all real, lets look at the research. If you've ever wondered why you can't decide or why you're always wondering if the grass is greener on the other side, RIGHT after you've made a decision, this episode is for you. In today's episode I share the worst night of my life (speed dating, my friend Courtney, and a scream in a parked car), what a famous study about jam reveals about why too many options leaves us frozen and less satisfied, and the real reason I think so many of us live half in, half out: it's not indecision, it's self-protection. Your homework: pick one area where you're half in, ask what you're protecting yourself from, and give it a 30-day commitment window with no re-evaluating. Ready to start building self-trust? Grab the Trust Yourself mini-course. Want to go deeper with me? Learn more about 1:1 coaching here and book a HEAL connection call here. Free resource: The Messy Middle Starter Pack New episodes every Monday. Instagram: @kathleen.mindsetcoach

  4. Oct 4

    90. A Long Overdue YAP - I've recorded this 4 times...

    I'm back, and I owe you an honest explanation. I recorded this intro four times, waiting for it to feel perfect. In this episode I share what the last 9 months looked like (studying counselling, the YAP challenge, a trip to Spain, turning 30), what finally got me to hit publish, and why I'm switching to a 10-episode arc instead of chasing weekly perfection. Your homework: what are you starting or stopping, and where do you need to adjust your expectations so you can actually begin? Ready to stop waiting and start? Learn more about 1:1 coaching here and book a HEAL connection call here. Free resource: The Messy Middle Starter Pack New episodes every Monday. Instagram: @kathleen.mindsetcoach

  5. Jan 12

    89. Monday Motivation: Do It Messy

    If you’ve been waiting to feel ready before you begin, this episode is for you. In this Monday Motivation, I’m talking about perfectionism, fear, and the quiet ways we talk ourselves out of the life we actually want. I share honestly about love, failure, shame, and the moments that forced me to choose between hiding… or trying again. This is your permission slip for 2026.To stop waiting.To make peace with getting it wrong.To begin anyway. Do it messy.

  6. Jan 5

    88: 2026 - The Year You Give Yourself Permission to Fail

    What if 2026 wasn’t about getting it right…but about giving yourself permission to fail? In this episode, I’m sharing a softer way to enter the new year, one that doesn’t require a perfect plan, endless goals, or burning yourself out trying to do everything. We talk about: Why trying to hold everything as “important” leads to overwhelm How to use your values to decide what actually matters in 2026 Why making mistakes might be the most powerful thing you do this year Letting go of pressure, perfection, and unrealistic timelines Allowing the year ahead to be a dance, not a performance If you’re feeling hopeful and overwhelmed as the new year approaches, this episode is a reminder: you don’t need to have it all figured out, you just need to do what matters.

  7. 12/14/2025

    87. You Achieved Enough This Year: Crawling to the Finish Line of 2025…

    If you’re crawling to the finish line of 2025 and your brain is doing that end-of-year thing where it starts tallying everything you didn’t do, this episode is your permission slip to exhale. We’re shifting out of measuring success through productivity, and into something softer: self-compassion, acceptance, and noticing the small moments that added up, even if it didn’t look “impressive” from the outside. Because if you’re feeling fear, shame, comparison, loneliness, Christmas triggers, or that quiet “I let myself down this year” ache, you are so not alone. Gentle reflection questions (no pressure, no perfection): What did this year ask of me? What did I survive that I don’t give myself credit for? Who did I become because of what I went through? Where did I keep going, even quietly, even imperfectly? Want coaching in 2026?If you want to be added to the waitlist, DM the word COACHING to @kathleen.mindsetcoach on Instagram, or email the word coaching to kathleenmindsetcoach@gmail.com See you in 2026!

  8. 10/12/2025

    86. Where does it hurt? For when you’re not ‘fine.’

    I know we all say “it’s okay not to be okay” but when it’s actually you who’s not okay, it usually doesn’t feel that way, does it? This week I’ve been sitting in that space, the one where your brain is desperate to minimise, distract, and pretend everything’s fine, when it’s really not.And honestly, it’s been confronting to notice how fast I want to move on, fix, support everyone else, and avoid my own pain. In this episode I talk about what happens when we can’t just “get on with it,” how our protective parts try to save us from feeling, and what it looks like to slow down and ask ourselves: “Where does it actually hurt?” This one’s tender. It’s honest. It’s not tied up with a bow.But if you’ve been trying to hold it together lately, this one’s for you. From my tender heart to yours.

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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

For overthinkers, feelers & recovering chill girls. This podcast is part voice note, part pep talk, part “I probably shouldn’t tell this story, but here we are.” We spiral, we cry, we self-reflect and then we figure out what the hell to do next. Messy, hilarious, real-AF healing for people who are tired of pretending they’re fine. Created by Kathleen McBride, a coach, counsellor-in-training & emotionally intelligent chaos human navigating the messy middle too.

Information

  • Creator
    Kathleen McBride
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kathleen McBride
  • Show Website
    What To Do When

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