Sanity Optional

Speakeasy Studios
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  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Weekly

Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Sanity is optional.

  1. The History of Mental Health: How We Got Here and Why It Matters | Sanity Optional | Episode 13

    May 27

    The History of Mental Health: How We Got Here and Why It Matters | Sanity Optional | Episode 13

    In this episode, Alexis gets into something she has been wanting to cover for a while: the history of mental health. And it is not a comfortable story. From spinning chairs and ice pick lobotomies to forced sterilizations funded by Rockefeller and Carnegie, she walks through how we got here and why so many people still carry a deep fear of mental institutions and psychiatric care. She also gets into the moments when humanity actually got it right, the Quakers, and what happened every single time kindness and community proved more effective than medication and control. Spoiler: it got shut down. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Mental Health History 03:13 Early Mental Health Treatments 09:27 Humanitarian Reforms & Setbacks 14:02 Eugenics Movement in Mental Health 16:47 Brutal 20th Century ‘Treatments’ 20:03 Lobotomy and Chemical Lobotomy 33:26 Reflecting on Mental Health History ABOUT SANITY OPTIONAL Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Show Links Rowan Healing: https://www.rowanhealing.com/

    37 min
  2. Hypnosis, Hope, and Importance of Kindness | Sanity Optional | Episode 12

    May 20

    Hypnosis, Hope, and Importance of Kindness | Sanity Optional | Episode 12

    This episode does not have a tidy theme and Alexis is the first to admit it. She starts with some genuinely good news, talks about quitting vaping through hypnosis after two years of trying everything else, and then goes somewhere bigger. She gets into why everyone has become so mean online, why we have lost the ability to have fun, and why the loneliness epidemic is not going to be solved by anyone at the top of the room. She also gets into hope, excitement, community, and why the small choices we make every single day matter more than we think. Timestamps  00:00 Quitting Nicotine: A Personal Journey 03:00 Hypnosis: The Breakthrough Solution 06:40 The Rise of Judgment and Fear 09:50 Social Media’s Impact and Loneliness 13:00 Embracing Imperfection and Connection 17:28 Prioritizing Real-Life Interaction 19:38 Economic Disparity and Lack of Empathy 24:52 Rekindling Hope, Excitement, and Community 29:50 Workplace Fun and Kindness 32:40 The Power of Small Choices and Kindness ABOUT SANITY OPTIONAL Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Show Links Rowan Healing: https://www.rowanhealing.com/

    38 min
  3. ChatGPT vs. Therapist: Stop Asking the Computer and Start Asking Each Other | Sanity Optional | Episode 11

    May 13

    ChatGPT vs. Therapist: Stop Asking the Computer and Start Asking Each Other | Sanity Optional | Episode 11

    Alexis has a bone to pick with ChatGPT. She works through the most googled mental health, sex, and dating questions and makes the case that most of what people are searching for has nothing to do with information; it’s about wanting to know that someone else feels the same way. She also gets into burnout culture, why community has quietly disappeared from modern life, and why the simple act of talking to a stranger might be more healing than anything you will find on a screen. Timestamps 00:00 ChatGPT vs. Therapist 01:36 ChatGPT’s Offense: Therapist to Therapist 04:00 Is What I’m Feeling Normal? 06:56 Coping with Stress: It’s Not That Serious 08:11 Sex Drive and Body Normality 09:37 Feeling Stuck and Burnt Out 12:12 Dating: Why Can’t I Find Someone? 14:31 Funny Questions and Texting Etiquette 16:40 The Fear of Human Connection 17:50 ChatGPT as a Tool, Not a Replacement 21:07 Bringing Back Community and Connection ABOUT SANITY OPTIONAL Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Show Links Rowan Healing: https://www.rowanhealing.com/

    25 min

  4. May 6

    The Sex Episode: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Body | Sanity Optional | Episode 10

    The sex episode is here, and it goes somewhere unexpected. Alexis starts with performance anxiety, orgasmic disorder, and why we are all so weird about sex in America, before pivoting into the conversation she really wanted to have. The one nobody wants to have. She gets into sexual safety, predatory behavior, how to talk to your kids about body safety, and what she learned from the years she spent working with some of the most dangerous people she has ever encountered. She closes with a reminder that whatever happened to you does not leave a mark you cannot heal from, and that you deserve to thrive, not just survive. ABOUT SANITY OPTIONAL Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Show Links Rowan Healing: https://www.rowanhealing.com/

    1h 2m
  5. The Dating Episode: The More You Heal the Better It Gets | Sanity Optional | Episode 9

    Apr 29

    The Dating Episode: The More You Heal the Better It Gets | Sanity Optional | Episode 9

    In this episode, Alexis gets into dating habits, and she does not hold back. She starts with a quick history of how we got here, from property arrangements and goats to situationships and Instagram story surveillance, and makes the case that nobody ever actually taught us how to do any of this. From there she gets into why dating apps are burning everyone out, why meeting in person is worth bringing back, and what it actually means to date with intention instead of just swiping into a void. She also works through a list of the most Googled dating questions out there, from ghosting to breadcrumbing to whether liking someone's story counts as a personality disorder. Timestamps 00:00 The Struggle of Modern Dating 03:36 Life Updates and Celebrations 05:13 Evolution of Dating Habits 11:36 Defining Modern Partnerships 14:14 Dating App Burnout and Honesty 21:58 The Art of In-Person Connections 26:07 Dating with Confidence and Values 31:22 Intentional Dating and Self-Worth 35:00 Become the Person You Want to Date 37:13 Exclusivity, Standards, and Pace 39:59 Handling Rejection and Commitment 43:19 Signs of Wasted Time 43:38 When You Like Someone More 44:14 Decoding Vague Communication 45:54 Emotional Avoidance vs. ADHD 48:00 Why You Become Irresistible 49:12 Dealing with Non-Committal Behavior 50:29 Avoiding Breadcrumbing and Unresolved Trauma 52:17 Attracting Emotionally Unavailable Partners 54:51 Healing Makes Dating Better   ABOUT SANITY OPTIONAL Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Show Links Rowan Healing: https://www.rowanhealing.com/

    57 min
  6. The Women's Episode: As I Am, I Am Enough | Sanity Optional | Episode 8

    Apr 22

    The Women's Episode: As I Am, I Am Enough | Sanity Optional | Episode 8

    The Women's Episode is finally here. Alexis comes in with a lot of coffee and a lot to say about the generation of women she sees behind closed doors every week. Women who are running companies, raising kids, doing everything right, and still standing in the mirror telling themselves it is not enough. She gets into where that perfectionism comes from, why so many women have repressed rage they have never been given permission to feel, and what it actually looks like to stop letting the world evaluate you and start evaluating yourself. She also gets into shadow work, the rules of your kingdom, the pizza order, and why she is officially retiring the word boundaries. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Allyship Statement 03:18 The Pressure of Perfectionism 06:26 Historical Conditioning and Emotional Intelligence 12:28 Constant Evaluation & Generational Trauma 22:08 Healing Perfectionism with Shadow Work 31:52 Trusting Yourself & Releasing Repressed Anger 38:58 Queen Bitch Energy & Kingdom Rules 43:48 Metamorphosis Moment: Redefining Identity 47:32 Dating: The Pizza Order & Merging Kingdoms 53:49 Honest Dating: Beyond Trophies and Fear 57:34 Confidence and Self-Belief   ABOUT SANITY OPTIONAL Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Show Links Rowan Healing: https://www.rowanhealing.com/

    1 hr
  7. Riding the Wave: What to Do When the Low Hits | Sanity Optional | Episode 7

    Apr 15

    Riding the Wave: What to Do When the Low Hits | Sanity Optional | Episode 7

    In this episode, Alexis scraps her original plan and gets into something more pressing: what actually happens when life is going great and then suddenly, for no obvious reason, it isn't. She talks about the difference between a sad wave and a real regression, why spirals happen and how to interrupt them, and why your brain is not actually trying to destroy you even when it feels like it is. She also gets into thought stopping, media sensitivity, social media doom scrolling, and why calling your funniest friend might be better medicine than you think. Timestamps 00:00 Embracing Emotional Waves 03:41 Impact of Media and News 07:02 Weed and Sadness Triggers 09:43 Understanding Mental Spirals 12:46 Thought Stopping Techniques 16:00 The Power of Communication 20:15 Self-Care and Distraction 24:08 Acknowledging Sadness Before Distraction 26:00 Comparison and Social Media 30:42 Conditional vs. Authentic Happiness ABOUT SANITY OPTIONAL Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Show Links Rowan Healing: https://www.rowanhealing.com/

    35 min
  8. The Men's Episode: Fear, Sex, and the Lies You Were Taught | Sanity Optional | Episode 6

    Apr 8

    The Men's Episode: Fear, Sex, and the Lies You Were Taught | Sanity Optional | Episode 6

    The Men's Episode is finally here. Alexis has been teasing it for a while, and she does not hold back. Drawing from a decade of working with male clients, she gets into the fears and insecurities that don't get talked about enough, and why so many men are suffering in silence when they don't have to be. She covers body image, height, porn, performance anxiety, erectile dysfunction, and the financial pressure that gets mistaken for masculinity. She also makes the case that “average” is not the insult some people think it is. This episode is honest, a little unhinged, and exactly what it needs to be Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Men’s Episode 03:10 Humor, Empathy, and Healing 07:12 Seeking Advice & Female Friendships 11:50 Therapist-Client Dynamics & Trauma 16:11 The Language of Attraction & Vulnerability 20:41 Shared Sexual Insecurities & Honesty 24:12 Debunking Male Insecurities 29:50 Societal Teasing, Porn & Sex Styles 35:10 Consent and Performance 40:11 The Art of Sexual Connection 42:45 Historical Roots of Financial Dependence 45:43 Modern Relationships and Expectations 48:09 Trauma, Money, and Partner Choices 49:28 Overcoming Fear and Rejection 51:01 Redefining Average and Leadership 53:58 Call to Action: Future Generations   ABOUT SANITY OPTIONAL Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Show Links Rowan Healing: https://www.rowanhealing.com/

    56 min
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About

Sanity Optional is a podcast about the parts of mental health we usually keep to ourselves. It’s for the moments when your life looks fine on the outside but feels messy underneath. When you’re tired of being told to “do the work.” When you secretly wonder if you’re the only one struggling with something that feels too taboo to say out loud. Hosted by therapist and founder of Rowan Healing, Alexis Ely, this show was created for people who feel like they’re in the other club. The ones who don’t fit the timeline. The ones who have been to the edge of their own mind and made it back. Alexis shares her story, from early trauma and suicidal depression to the perfectionism and addiction that followed, and ultimately the kind of peace she once believed was impossible. She brings clinical experience and lived experience into the same room, without turning healing into a performance or a checklist. This isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about feeling at home in your own mind. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Sanity is optional.

Information

  • Creator
    Speakeasy Studios
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Sanity Optional