Through the Mental Lens

Chris, Founder of The Mental Lens
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Through the Mental Lens is a podcast about mental health, productivity, and finding clarity in the chaos — one honest conversation at a time.  Hosted by Chris Cage, founder of The Mental Lens LLC, each episode brings blog-style reflections to your ears with a blend of insight, humor, and just the right amount of oversharing. Whether you're looking to reset your mindset, improve your focus, or simply feel a little less alone in the messiness of it all, this podcast offers short, thoughtful episodes you can listen to on the go. From personal stories to practical tools, Through the Mental Lens helps you slow down, zoom in, and maybe even laugh at yourself a little. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and bring your brain along.

  1. 6D AGO

    Rewire Your Mind for Good: Why Your Brain’s Adaptability Matters for Mental Health

    Once you start noticing how you feel and paying attention to your inner world, a natural question follows: can anything actually change? For a long time, we believed the adult brain was fixed. That who you were, how you reacted to stress, and the patterns in your mind were set in stone. Neuroscience has proven otherwise. In this episode, we explore neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to adapt, rewire, and change throughout life. It’s one of the most hopeful ideas in mental health, not because change is instant, but because it’s possible. We talk about: What neuroplasticity really is and what it isn’tHow repeated thoughts and habits shape the brainWhy change happens through small, consistent actionsPersonal stories of breaking mental loops and building new patternsWhy progress matters more than perfectionThis episode is a reminder that feeling stuck does not mean you’re broken. Your brain is alive, adaptable, and capable of learning new ways forward. If you want to learn more, check out the following - Rewire Your Mind For Good: Simple Ways To Harness Neuroplasticity Support the show Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page. Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens. Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources. Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts! ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

    6 min

  2. FEB 17

    Discover True Wakefulness: How to Be Fully Present Every Day

    Just because your eyes are open doesn’t mean you’re awake. Many of us move through our days alert, productive, and busy while still feeling disconnected from the moment we’re in. Our bodies show up, but our attention drifts. We respond, scroll, and rush on autopilot, mistaking motion for presence. In this episode, we explore what true wakefulness actually means and why modern life makes it harder to access. We talk about: The difference between being alert and being truly presentCommon signs you’re running on autopilotWhy constant stimulation erodes clarityHow quiet and stillness can sharpen awarenessSimple ways to practice wakefulness in everyday lifeThis episode continues the Season 2 theme of slowing down, noticing what’s actually happening beneath the surface, and gently returning to yourself when attention drifts. Looking for additional information? Read the blog article: Discover True Wakefulness: How To Be Fully Present Every Day Support the show Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page. Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens. Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources. Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts! ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

    8 min

  3. FEB 10

    Lonely in a Crowd: Why You Can Feel Disconnected and How to Heal Loneliness

    Loneliness doesn’t always look the way we expect. You can be surrounded by people, busy schedules, and familiar faces and still feel deeply disconnected. In this episode, I explore an important distinction most of us were never taught: the difference between feeling lonely and experiencing loneliness. Lonely is a temporary emotional signal. Loneliness is a longer-term state tied to belonging and connection. In this episode, we talk about: Why you can feel lonely even when you’re not aloneHow loneliness differs from momentary disconnectionWhy comparison and expectations intensify these feelingsHow to respond to lonely moments with care instead of judgmentWhat it takes to heal loneliness over timeThis is the first episode of Season 2. If you’ve ever wondered why connection can feel missing even in a full room, this conversation is for you. Want to learn more? Read the blog article: Lonely In A Crowd: Why You Can Feel Disconnected And How To Heal Loneliness Support the show Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page. Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens. Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources. Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts! ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

    6 min

  4. 12/30/2025

    Revamping Goal Setting Beyond New Year Resolutions

    We don’t quit our goals because we lack motivation. We quit because we build them on pressure, fear, and unrealistic definitions of success. In this episode, Chris breaks down why New Year’s resolutions fail, how rigid goal-setting quietly fuels burnout, and what it looks like to set goals that actually survive real life.  Chris shares personal examples from mental health, endurance training, creative work, and unfinished goals, then introduce a more flexible approach built on clarity, consistency, and adaptation.  This episode also introduces The Mental Lens Goal Setting Framework, a practical system for setting sustainable goals, and connects these ideas to his book Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI. If goal setting has ever left you discouraged instead of motivated, this episode is your reset. You can also read the blog post for more insights and access the Goal Setting Framework: Revamp Your Goal-Setting: Sustainable Strategies Beyond New Year Resolutions Support the show Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page. Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens. Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources. Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts! ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

    10 min

  5. 12/23/2025

    Toughness Isn’t What You Think It Is

    What if mental toughness is not about pushing harder, but knowing when to stop. In this episode, Chris unpacks how the traditional grind-it-out definition of toughness quietly leads to burnout, injury, and mental exhaustion. Drawing from a moment during training for his first 70.3 Ironman, he explores the blurred line between discipline and self-destruction, the psychology behind overtraining and overworking, and why grit without mental health is a losing strategy.  We talk about rest as a skill, self-compassion as a performance tool, and how real toughness is built by listening, recovering, and choosing sustainability over ego. This episode is for anyone who has ever confused resilience with exhaustion and wondered why pushing harder stopped working. You can also read the full article for more insights - The Ultimate Guide To Mental Toughness: Rest, Recovery, And Self-Compassion Support the show Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page. Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens. Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources. Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts! ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

    7 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    The Power of Mono-Tasking: Staying Human in a Machine World

    In a world where AI can juggle fifty tasks at once, our minds are struggling to keep up. This episode explores why mono-tasking is becoming a lost art and why reclaiming deep, focused attention might be the most human thing we can do. We look at the neuroscience behind task-switching, how technology is reshaping our pace of work, and practical steps to rebuild depth, presence, and meaning in a machine-accelerated world. If you’ve been feeling scattered, overstimulated, or pressured to “keep up” with your own tools, this episode offers a quieter, steadier way forward. Want more? Read the blog post: The Power Of Mono-Tasking: Staying Human In A Machine World Support the show Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page. Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens. Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources. Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts! ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

    10 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    Embracing Gratitude: Easy Ways To Feel More Thankful This Thanksgiving

    This Thanksgiving-inspired episode explores how gratitude can be more than a seasonal idea: it can be a grounding force during a year of change, growth, and vulnerability.  Chris reflects on the people who carried him, the small moments that mattered, and why support and kindness are essential to our mental wellbeing. You’ll learn how gratitude functions as a practical mental health tool, plus a simple challenge to help you slow down, reconnect, and stay human in a season that can feel both warm and overwhelming.  If the holidays feel heavy, this episode also includes resources and encouragement for getting the support you deserve. And if you’ve been considering therapy or looking for tools to support your mental wellbeing, I recently wrote a guide to five recommended online therapy platforms. It breaks down how they work, what they offer, and how to choose the right fit. Want more? Read the blog post: Embracing Gratitude: Easy Ways to Feel More Thankful This Thanksgiving Support the show Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page. Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens. Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources. Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts! ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

    7 min

  8. 10/28/2025

    Still Human Series, Part 3: Embracing Humanity in an AI World

    This is the final episode in the Still Human series on Through the Mental Lens. In Part 3: Embracing Humanity in an AI World, Chris takes a direct look at artificial intelligence — its power, its pitfalls, and what it means for our creativity and identity. You’ll hear: A personal story of how AI unlocked a long-stalled creative project and why that was both exciting and unsettlingWhy AI can be a powerful co-pilot but a terrible compassThe hidden cost of skipping the creative struggle with AI “shortcuts”Three practical ways to protect your voice and keep the human at the center of your workA reflection exercise to help you identify the parts of your life and creativity that should remain fully humanAI can speed us up, but it can’t give us meaning. Holding on to our quirks, reflections, and struggles is what keeps us truly human. You can also read the companion article, Finding Clarity in a Digital World: How to Stay Human and Sane in the Age of AI at The Mental Lens. Support the show Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page. Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens. Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources. Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts! ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

    6 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Through the Mental Lens is a podcast about mental health, productivity, and finding clarity in the chaos — one honest conversation at a time.  Hosted by Chris Cage, founder of The Mental Lens LLC, each episode brings blog-style reflections to your ears with a blend of insight, humor, and just the right amount of oversharing. Whether you're looking to reset your mindset, improve your focus, or simply feel a little less alone in the messiness of it all, this podcast offers short, thoughtful episodes you can listen to on the go. From personal stories to practical tools, Through the Mental Lens helps you slow down, zoom in, and maybe even laugh at yourself a little. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and bring your brain along.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris, Founder of The Mental Lens
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Through the Mental Lens
  • Show Website
    Through the Mental Lens