Rejection Rehab

Tom Flaherty
  • 4.9 (7)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Rejection Rehab is the podcast that helps you turn fear of rejection into lasting, unshakable confidence. Hosted by EMMY award winning producer and doctor Tom Flaherty, each episode brings you real people sharing real stories — of heartbreak, setbacks, and closed doors — and how those moments became rocket fuel for true confidence. Whether you’re pivoting careers, dating, or finding your voice, rejection isn’t the end — it’s the start of something better. Tune in weekly and learn to flip rejection into your biggest advantage — you might be just one “no” away from your dream life.

  1. 4D AGO

    “1,000 Nos” Gabriella Carr on the 1000 Rejections Challenge and Building Unbreakable Confidence | Rejection Rehab Ep. 32

    What if the life you want is hiding behind a thousand uncomfortable moments? Most people spend their lives trying to avoid rejection. Gabriella Carr decided to chase it. At just 22, and recently featured in The New York Times, she has taken on a radical public experiment: collect 1,000 rejections by deliberately putting herself in situations where she might hear “no.” Auditions. Brand pitches. Asking strangers for help. Putting herself on the line again and again. Because she believes something most of us secretly fear might be true: Confidence is built through exposure, not protection. In this week’s Rejection Rehab, Emmy-winning producer Dr. Tom sits down with Gabriella Carr, creator, actor, and the force behind the viral “1,000 Nos” challenge, to unpack what happens when you stop avoiding discomfort and start leaning into it. We explore a deeper tension that defines modern life: Are we becoming more confident… or just more dependent on validation? Gabriella Carr shares how facing rejection repeatedly has changed her nervous system, reshaped her identity, and taught her to separate self-worth from outcomes. If rejection is unavoidable, learning to metabolize it may be the ultimate psychological skill. In this episode: 🧠 Why deliberately seeking rejection reduces fear and anxiety 📈 The psychology behind the 1000 Rejections Challenge 📱 Social media, approval, and the trap of external validation 🔥 “Delusional confidence” vs grounded confidence 💡 Why rejection is feedback, not failure 🎭 Exposure, resilience, and emotional adaptation 🤝 How persistence compounds into opportunity ⚠️ The hidden cost of playing small If you have ever held yourself back… feared judgment… or wondered how confident people think… this conversation will reframe how you see risk. 🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram 🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — rejection-rehab.com | Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X  👤 Guest: Gabriella Carr — Instagram | TikTok #RejectionRehab #FearOfRejection #Confidence #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #1000Nos #ExposureTherapy #Psychology #SelfDevelopment #Podcast

    23 min

  2. FEB 7

    “The Death of the Meet Cute” Claire Warner on Dating Apps, Social Fear, Alcohol, and Real World Confidence | Rejection Rehab Ep. 31

    We used to meet by accident. At bars. At parties. Through friends. Now we meet on screens. But what have we lost in the process? In this week’s Rejection Rehab, Emmy-winning producer Dr. Tom sits down with Claire Warner, hospitality expert, social connection advocate, and one of the most thoughtful voices in the global conversation around alcohol and human behavior. Claire has spent over two decades at the center of drinking culture as a bartender, consultant, educator, spirits judge, and writer. She understands the science that tells us alcohol is toxic to the body. But she also understands something many modern conversations ignore: 👉 Human beings are wired for connection. And historically, pubs, bars, and shared drinks have played a powerful role in lowering social fear, reducing rejection anxiety, and creating the kinds of spontaneous interactions that shape our lives. So what happens when those spaces disappear? When dating moves to apps? When social muscles weaken? And does alcohol create confidence… or just temporarily mute the fear response? In this episode, we explore the tension between health, psychology, modern dating, and real-world connection. In this episode: 🧠 Why humans are biologically wired to socialize 📉 The quiet disappearance of the “meet cute” 🍸 Alcohol as a social accelerator, not necessarily a confidence builder 📱 How dating apps may be reshaping courage and rejection 🔥 The difference between authentic confidence and chemical disinhibition 🤝 Why social connection may be one of the strongest predictors of long-term health ⚠️ How younger generations are losing opportunities to build social confidence 🏛️ Why pubs and bars may be more psychologically important than we realize If you have ever hesitated to approach someone… avoided a social situation… or wondered whether modern life is making us less socially brave… this episode will change how you think about connection. 🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram 🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — rejection-rehab.com | Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X  👤 Guest: Claire Warner — Instagram | LinkedIn #RejectionRehab #SocialConnection #DatingApps #Confidence #FearOfRejection #HumanConnection #Psychology #ModernDating #PersonalGrowth #Podcast

    51 min

  3. FEB 1

    Why Confidence Is Built Through Experience, Not Thinking | Dr. Tom, Rejection Rehab Ep. 30

    Confidence isn’t something you think your way into. It’s something you build through experience. In this week’s Rejection Section, Emmy-winning producer Dr. Tom breaks down one of the most influential psychology papers ever published: “Self-Efficacy: Toward a Unifying Theory of Behavioral Change” by Albert Bandura. This landmark paper reshaped how psychologists understand confidence, motivation, fear, and resilience. It explains why some people persist after failure while others shut down. At the center of it all is one concept: self-efficacy — your belief in your ability to handle difficulty. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🧠 What self-efficacy really is 💡 Why confidence doesn’t come from positive thinking 📉 Why failure doesn’t destroy confidence unless you interpret it that way 💪 How confidence is built through experience, not motivation 🛠️ Practical ways to rebuild confidence after rejection If rejection has ever made you doubt yourself, this episode explains exactly why — and how to change that. 🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X  🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram #RejectionRehab #Confidence #SelfEfficacy #FearOfRejection #PersonalGrowth #PsychologyPodcast #MentalStrength

    4 min

  4. JAN 26

    Why Some Rejection Builds Confidence and Some Destroys It | Dr. Tom, Rejection Rehab Ep. 29

    Why does some rejection make you stronger, while other rejection completely knocks the wind out of you? In this week’s Rejection Section, EMMY winner Dr. Tom breaks down a fascinating psychology study published in PLoS ONE that explains why rejection affects people so differently, and why not all rejection leads to growth. The study explored how the intensity of rejection, combined with a person’s sensitivity to rejection, influences what happens next. Whether people lean back into connection or withdraw and shut down entirely. And the findings challenge a lot of common self help advice. You will learn: • Why mild or moderate rejection can actually build confidence • Why intense rejection often causes withdrawal rather than growth • How your nervous system interprets rejection as either feedback or threat • Why exposure alone does not always build resilience • How to tell whether a rejection is helping you grow or overwhelming you • A practical way to build confidence without pushing yourself too far This episode explains why confidence is not built by toughening up, but by expanding your tolerance to discomfort at the right pace. 🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X  🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram #RejectionRehab #ConfidenceBuilding #FearOfRejection #PsychologyPodcast #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #MentalHealthAwareness

    3 min

  5. JAN 19

    From Freelance Rejection to Viral Success: Johno Verity, the Pink-Hatted London Cycling Historian (Dawn of History) | Rejection Rehab Ep. 28

    What happens when you stop worrying about being seen and start showing up anyway? In this week’s Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winning producer Dr. Tom sits down with Johno Verity, creator of Dawn of History, the wildly popular early-morning history cycling series that has taken social media by storm. Riding through London at dawn in his trademark pink hat, Johno uncovers the hidden history behind everyday streets, buildings, and landmarks. What started as a personal project to stay mentally sharp and creatively engaged has grown into a global following of nearly a quarter million people. But behind the success is a familiar story of doubt, rejection, and persistence. In this episode, we talk about: 🚴‍♂️ How Dawn of History began as a personal experiment 🧠 Using learning and curiosity to build mental resilience 🎥 The fear of putting yourself out there creatively 💬 How rejection shows up in freelance and creative careers 📉 Why most people quit right before momentum arrives 🔥 How showing up consistently builds confidence over time 🎩 Why leaning into what makes you different is your advantage If you’ve ever hesitated to share your voice, worried you were too late, or felt unsure whether your ideas were “worth it,” this episode is a reminder that confidence is built through action, not perfection. 🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram 🎙️Host: Dr. Tom: Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X  👤 Guest: Johno Verity: Instagram  #RejectionRehab #Confidence #FearOfRejection #Creativity #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #Podcast #History #Cycling

    32 min

  6. JAN 12

    Why Romantic Rejection Hurts the Most — Dr. Tom on the Psychology of Rejection Sensitivity | Rejection Rehab Ep. 27

    Rejection hurts — but it hurts most in romantic relationships. Not a job interview. Not a stranger. But someone you care about — or want to care about you. In this week’s Rejection Section, EMMY-winning producer Dr. Tom breaks down a landmark psychology study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology that explains why small moments in relationships can feel devastating — and why your reactions might be driven by something called rejection sensitivity. Rejection sensitivity is a learned protective pattern where the brain: anxiously expects rejection, quickly interprets ambiguous signals as personal rejection, and then overreacts in ways that quietly sabotage connection. And here’s the tragic twist: those reactions often create the very relationship problems people fear most. In this episode, you’ll learn: 💔 Why rejection feels more painful in romantic relationships than anywhere else 🧠 What rejection sensitivity really is — and why it’s not “neediness” or insecurity ⚠️ How neutral signals (silence, space, tone changes) get misread as rejection 🔁 Why fear-driven reactions can destabilize otherwise healthy relationships 💪 A simple, science-backed way to reduce rejection sensitivity without suppressing emotion 👉 If rejection in relationships ever makes you spiral, overinterpret, or pull away — this episode will help you understand what’s happening and how to respond differently. 🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X  🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram #RejectionRehab #RejectionSensitivity #FearOfRejection #RelationshipPsychology #EmotionalIntelligence #DatingPsychology #ConfidenceBuilding #AttachmentStyles #MentalHealthAwareness #PersonalGrowth #PsychologyPodcast #RelationshipAdvice

    4 min

  7. JAN 4

    “It’s Always a No Unless You Ask” — Daily Rejection Founder Herman Jagpal on 365 Days of Rejection Therapy | Rejection Rehab Ep. 26

    He started with a paperclip. Now he’s trading his way up to a house. But the real story isn’t about the paperclip — it’s about what happens when you stop being afraid to ask. In this week’s Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winning producer Dr. Tom sits down with Herman Jagpal, founder of Daily Rejection, who spent 365 straight days deliberately putting himself in the line of fire for rejection — asking strangers outrageous, uncomfortable, and deeply human questions every single day. From asking a stranger to get a matching tattoo… to requesting a billboard for himself… to walking into a restaurant and asking to cook his own steak in the kitchen… Herman’s year of rejection therapy didn’t just rewire his confidence — it changed his entire life, helped him travel the world, build a community of over 1 million followers, and prove something most of us forget: 👉 Rejection is almost never about you. In this conversation, we break down what rejection really does to the brain, why avoidance quietly shrinks our lives, and how repeated exposure to “no” builds real, durable confidence — in dating, career, friendships, and everyday human connection. In this episode: 🧠 What rejection therapy actually is — and why it works 🚪 Why it’s “always a no unless you ask” 💥 The hardest and easiest rejections Herman faced (and why they surprised him) 🌍 How asking strangers changed the way he sees humanity 📉 Why rejection usually has nothing to do with you 🧪 Rejection as real-world exposure therapy 🏠 How he’s trading a paperclip all the way up to a house 📈 How consistency (not confidence) built a 1M+ following 💬 Why most people regret what they don’t ask far more than rejection itself If you’ve ever been afraid to put yourself out there — socially, romantically, or professionally — this episode will permanently change how you think about rejection. 🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram 🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X  👤 Guest: Herman Jagpal — Instagram YouTube   #RejectionRehab #DailyRejection #RejectionTherapy #Confidence #FearOfRejection #SocialAnxiety #ExposureTherapy #PersonalGrowth #Podcast

    38 min

  8. 12/24/2025

    Your Brain Is Lying to You About Rejection — Dr. Tom on the New Neuroscience That Explains Why | Rejection Rehab Ep. 25

    Rejection doesn’t mean they don’t want you. Your brain just thinks it does. In this week’s Rejection Section, EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom breaks down a brand-new 2024 neuroscience study published in PNAS showing that rejection isn’t just emotional pain — it’s your brain learning. And here’s the twist: Your brain tracks two different signals after rejection — who actually values you, and who simply gave you a yes. When those get mixed up, you chase the wrong people, doubt the wrong relationships, and quietly erode your confidence. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🧠 Why the brain treats rejection as information, not judgment 🔍 The difference between relational value and reward outcomes — and why confusing them hurts confidence ⚠️ How your brain overvalues people who give intermittent “yeses” 💔 Why rejection feels personal even when it isn’t 💪 How to use rejection to build clarity, self-trust, and lasting confidence 👉 If rejection ever makes you spiral, overinterpret, or question your worth — this episode will permanently change how you see it. 🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X  🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram #RejectionRehab #Confidence #FearOfRejection #Neuroscience #Mindset #PsychologyPodcast #EmotionalHealth #PersonalGrowth

    9 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Rejection Rehab is the podcast that helps you turn fear of rejection into lasting, unshakable confidence. Hosted by EMMY award winning producer and doctor Tom Flaherty, each episode brings you real people sharing real stories — of heartbreak, setbacks, and closed doors — and how those moments became rocket fuel for true confidence. Whether you’re pivoting careers, dating, or finding your voice, rejection isn’t the end — it’s the start of something better. Tune in weekly and learn to flip rejection into your biggest advantage — you might be just one “no” away from your dream life.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Flaherty
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tom Flaherty
  • Show Website
    Rejection Rehab

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