The Self in Sync

theselfinsync
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement

The Self in Sync is a podcast about concepts the pop psychology community loves to villainize and why they're more nuanced than we've been led to believe. I explore topics like perfectionism, rigidity, and black-and-white thinking—not to defend them blindly, but to examine when they help, when they hurt, and how to use them intentionally.  If you've ever been told you're "too much" of something—too rigid, too perfectionistic, too in your head—this podcast is for you. Those traits aren't inherently bad, as pop psychologists often tout. It depends on how you use them. That said, this podcast isn't limited to criticizing pop psychology. Some episodes will be about books, art, philosophy--whatever rabbit hole I've fallen into that week. If it's something I find interesting, it's fair game. New episodes every few weeks. Mini-episodes in between. Intro Music: The Flix/ Can’t Get Any Better/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Follow the pod on Instagram!: @theselfinsync

  1. 3d ago

    UNCERTAINTY: A Tool for MANIPULATION or EXCITEMENT?

    AI is flooding the internet, facts are harder to pin down, and certainty feels more elusive than ever. In this episode, I'm sharing my personal take on living with uncertainty—when it's a burden, when it's necessary, and why the search for truth might matter more than the answer itself.  Keywords: AI, Critical Thinking, Curiosity, Mindset, Patience, Rabbit Holes, Self Awareness, Uncertainty Follow me on Instagram: @theselfinsync Intro & Outro Music: Bell Bottom Guitar from Apple Loops The Body's BROKEN Alert System (Where Overthinking Takes Me #2)

  2. Oct 21

    The Body's BROKEN ALERT SYSTEM (Where Overthinking Takes Me #2)

    Your body has a lot to tell you. The problem is, it's terrible at communicating. In this episode of Where Overthinking Takes Me, I discuss how a summer of insomnia led me to ask a much bigger question: what exactly are we, apart from the bodies we're stuck in? Keywords: identity, insomnia, interoception, Ship of Theseus, consciousness, soul, mind-body problem, nervous system, self-awareness, philosophy of mind, overthinking Intro & Outro Music: 12 Bar Blues Bass from Apple Loops Follow the main podcast on Instagram: @theselfinsync

    The Body's BROKEN ALERT SYSTEM (Where Overthinking Takes Me #2)

  3. Oct 9

    Your FEELINGS are DATA: How I INTELLECTUALIZED My Way Out of Misery

    Pop psychology says intellectualizing your feelings is a defense mechanism. I say it's a superpower. This week on The Self in Sync, I'm sharing how analyzing—not just feeling—my emotions pulled me out of my lowest point, and the practical techniques that can help you turn your feelings into data instead of a life sentence. If you've ever been told you're "too sensitive" or "too in your head," this one's for you. Keywords: intellectualizing feelings, emotional regulation, rumination, reflection, emotional flooding, nervous system regulation, emotional differentiation, sensitivity, self-analysis, self-awareness, self-growth, stress response Intro & Outro Music: Bell Bottom Guitar from Apple Loops Follow the podcast on Instagram: @theselfinsync Sources: Devon, F. (2026, Sept. 8) Intellectualization. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/intellectualization Haupt, A. (2026, April 10). What ‘Emotional Flooding’ Really Means, and How to Handle It. Time. https://time.com/article/2026/04/10/what-is-emotional-flooding/ Leigh, E., Taylor, L., Cole, V., & Smith, P. (2025). Why is rumination unhelpful in adolescents? Two studies examining the causal role of abstract processing. Journal of Affective Disorders, *379*, 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.058 Moser, J. S., Dougherty, A., Mattson, W. I., Katz, B., Moran, T. P., Guevarra, D., Shablack, H., Ayduk, O., Jonides, J., Berman, M. G., & Kross, E. (2017). Third-person self-talk facilitates emotion regulation without engaging cognitive control: Converging evidence from ERP and fMRI. Scientific Reports, *7*, Article 4519. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04047-3 Trapnell, P. D., & Campbell, J. D. (1999). Private self-consciousness and the five-factor model of personality: Distinguishing rumination from reflection. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, *76*(2), 284–304. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.76.2.284 Trull, T. J., Lane, S. P., Koval, P., & Ebner-Priemer, U. W. (2015). Affective dynamics in psychopathology. Emotion Review, *7*(4), 355–361. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073915590617 Yamasaki, K., Sampei, A., & Miyata, H. (2024). Relationship between rumination, self-compassion, and psychological health among Japanese university students: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, *19*(1), Article e0297691. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297691

    Your FEELINGS are DATA: How I INTELLECTUALIZED My Way Out of Misery

  4. Oct 2

    Time Travel, AI, and…CHIIKAWA? (Where Overthinking Takes Me #1)

    Three random thoughts. Three completely different places they led me. In this first official episode of my new series Where Overthinking Takes Me, I follow a thought about time travel, a walk where I found abandoned books, and a passage from a book about math that somehow reminded me of a cute anime. No neat conclusions. Just connections. Keywords: overthinking, stream of consciousness, time travel, AI, digital preservation, consciousness, mathematical models, art, simplification, Chiikawa, curiosity, philosophy, random thoughts, connections, deep thinking, analysis Intro & Outro Music: 12 Bar Blues Bass from Apple Loops Follow the main podcast on Instagram: @theselfinsync

    Time Travel, AI, and…CHIIKAWA? (Where Overthinking Takes Me #1)

  5. Sep 25

    Where Overthinking Takes Me Intro: From NOTES APP to PODCAST!

    Where Overthinking Takes Me is a new mini-series from The Self in Sync. Each episode follows a single thought, observation, or random idea and sees where it leads. From psychology to philosophy to whatever rabbit hole I've fallen into, these episodes explore hidden connections, ask unconventional questions, and prove that overthinking isn't always a flaw. Keywords: overthinking, curiosity, connections, philosophy, psychology, random ideas, analytical thinking Intro & Outro Music: 12 Bar Blues Bass from Apple Loops Follow the main podcast on Instagram: @theselfinsync

  6. Sep 14

    COMPLAINING: When It’s USEFUL, & When It’s a WASTE OF TIME

    We've all been told that complaining is bad. But is it really that simple? In this episode, we unpack the difference between venting and complaining, when complaining can actually be useful, and when it becomes a waste of time. We also explore gossip, the "Yes, But" dynamic, and why some people are more comfortable staying stuck than solving the problem. If you've ever been told to "stop complaining" and wondered if that's fair, then this one's for you. Sources: The Atlantic: You’re Probably Complaining the Wrong Way by Joe Pinsker Association of Fundraising Professionals Blog: David Langiulli: Fundraising Leadership - Have You Heard? They're Ending Gossip. No Way! Way. Medium: Games People Play: Why a 60-Year-Old Book Explains Modern Behavior Better Than Most New Ones   Music: The Flix/ Can’t Get Any Better/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Follow us on Instagram: @theselfinsync Disclaimer: We want to note that we are not licensed mental health or medical professionals. We're sharing perspectives and frameworks that we have personally found helpful on our own journeys. Our content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are struggling with your mental or physical health, please contact a qualified healthcare provider.

  7. Aug 17

    The HIDDEN FEARS & INHERITED BELIEFS That Keep You Stuck

    We all face barriers on the path to our goals. Some are practical, like time, money, and health. But others are invisible and rooted in insecurity and anxiety. In this episode, we explore why these invisible barriers form, how they're passed down through families, and why our brains are wired to hold onto negative experiences.  Sources: Minute Earth YouTube: Five Crazy Bridges for Animals Knight, Z. G. (2018). 'If I leave home, who will take care of mum?' Intergenerational transmission of parental trauma through projective identification. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 28(1), 69–73 Cohen, A. O., Matese, N. G., Filimontseva, A., Shen, X., Shi, T. C., Livne, E., & Hartley, C. A. (2019). Aversive learning strengthens episodic memory in both adolescents and adults. Learning & Memory, 26(7), 272–279. Udry, J., & Barber, S. J. (2024). The illusory truth effect: A review of how repetition increases belief in misinformation. Current Opinion in Psychology, 56, 101829. Psychology Today: Intergenerational Trauma   Check out our episode on catastrophizing: The Self in Sync: How to UTILIZE & BEAT Catastrophizing   Music: The Flix/ Can’t Get Any Better/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Follow us on Instagram: @theselfinsync   Disclaimer: We want to note that we are not licensed mental health or medical professionals. We're sharing perspectives and frameworks that we have personally found helpful on our own journeys. Our content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are struggling with your mental or physical health, please contact a qualified healthcare provider.

  8. Jul 10

    OZEMPIC, AI SLOP, & FLOPS: Why the Journey & Outcome Matter

    In this episode, we explore why people react so strongly when others achieve success with seemingly minimal effort from a psychological and philosophical perspective. We offer practical advice on how to navigate your own journey without getting caught up in useless comparisons.   Music: The Flix/ Can’t Get Any Better/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Follow us on Instagram: @theselfinsync   Sources:  Your Greek Word on a Sunday: Athlete Ancient Olympic Games: Amateur vs. Professional Psychology Today: “You Didn’t Do Anything Wrong: Conquering a ‘Just World’ Fallacy Rachel Cottam: Wheel of Privilege Smithsonian: 7 Epic Fails Brought to You by the Genius Mind of Thomas Edison   Disclaimer: We want to note that we are not licensed mental health or medical professionals. We're sharing perspectives and frameworks that we have personally found helpful on our own journeys. Our content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are struggling with your mental or physical health, please contact a qualified healthcare provider.

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5
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About

The Self in Sync is a podcast about concepts the pop psychology community loves to villainize and why they're more nuanced than we've been led to believe. I explore topics like perfectionism, rigidity, and black-and-white thinking—not to defend them blindly, but to examine when they help, when they hurt, and how to use them intentionally.  If you've ever been told you're "too much" of something—too rigid, too perfectionistic, too in your head—this podcast is for you. Those traits aren't inherently bad, as pop psychologists often tout. It depends on how you use them. That said, this podcast isn't limited to criticizing pop psychology. Some episodes will be about books, art, philosophy--whatever rabbit hole I've fallen into that week. If it's something I find interesting, it's fair game. New episodes every few weeks. Mini-episodes in between. Intro Music: The Flix/ Can’t Get Any Better/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Follow the pod on Instagram!: @theselfinsync

Information

  • Creator
    theselfinsync
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Self in Sync