You know the exact thing that would help. The phrase, the reframe, the tool your therapist gave you that one time. And in the moment your brain gets loud, it goes blank. Emily and Lindsay Stetzer are sisters. They both live with OCD and anxiety, and during COVID, in matching sweatsuits, they built a company called Presently that puts the reminders from therapy on your wrist, your keys, and your bathroom mirror. Alysse and Amy Liz Harrison met them at OCDCon in Seattle, bought one of everything, and brought them on to talk about why "good vibes only" is the enemy, why everyone has these thoughts, and what it is like to run a business with your sister when one of you has the 'tude. In this episode: - The OCDCon origin story: stickers, fidget spinners, and then a disco light at the end of the tunnel - Lindsay on lining up shoes and light switches, and Emily on the anxious kid who confessed to things that didn't need confessing - Why OCD is not about cleanliness, and why every single person has had these thoughts - Alysse's green-light rule, Amy's 20 lightsabers, and the "border hoarders" theory - The "Good vibes only" sign over Emily's bed, and why those mantras hand OCD exactly what it wants - The six phrases, whiteboarded: passing clouds, embrace uncertainty, brave the uncomfortable - Feelings are like gas (clouds are a nicer way to say it) - The iPad quiz, why Presently is the name, and the invisible brother - What we're watching: "Ted Lasso" season four, Hilary Duff, "Silo," and why a scary show is good exposure therapy CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: the reminder you can't remember 01:58 Why sobriety doesn't fix the blank 02:58 Meet Emily and Lindsay Stetzer 03:10 OCDCon and the disco light at the end of the tunnel 05:21 Amy buys one of everything 06:40 Lindsay: shoes, light switches, existential OCD 09:38 Emily: the anxious kid and relationship OCD 11:22 A word from Aura House 12:12 Alysse's green-light rule and magical thinking 14:01 Why this is on a sobriety podcast 14:57 Border hoarders and 20 lightsabers 16:49 "What if" and the need for certainty 19:08 Not a live, laugh, love situation 20:36 The "Good vibes only" sign over the bed 24:41 The matching sweatsuit pitch 27:17 The six phrases, whiteboarded 30:39 Feelings are like gas 31:18 Why "Presently" 39:04 Working with your sister 41:52 What they didn't see coming 44:27 Watching: "Ted Lasso," Hilary Duff, "Silo" 46:29 ERP: facing the fear on purpose 47:38 Backstage, and why merch starts conversations 49:29 Where to find Presently Sober Shots: "We are not in a live, laugh, love situation here, okay?" (Alysse Bryson) "Every single person has had the same thoughts that we have. It's just to the extreme that you take them to." (Lindsay Stetzer) Mentioned in this episode: - Presently Bracelets - Take the Presently "find your reminder" quiz - Alysse's feature on Presently - Backstage with The Sober Curator - International OCD Foundation Presently's products are reminders, not treatment. If you think you might have OCD or anxiety, talk to a licensed professional. Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more. SEASON 2 MERCH: https://shopthesobercurator.com/ This episode is brought to you by Aura House. Save 10% with code TSC10: https://go.shopmy.us/p-64140200 SC RESOURCES: - Meet the Contributors - Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder Guide - Recovery Nonprofit Resource Guide - LGBTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide www.thesobercurator.com | The Sober Sip newsletter: https://www.thesobercuratornewsletter.com/ | @thesobercurator on Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube + Pinterest Love the show? Rate, review + follow. It takes 60 seconds and helps more people find us. Feedback + guest ideas: thesobercurator@gmail.com Hosted by Alysse Bryson with co-host + producer Tamar Routly. For informational and entertainment purposes only; not a substitute for professional advice. Music: TSC S2 theme "Sober Shots" created by Alysse Bryson using Suno AI, under Suno's commercial license.
