Drinking Tea with Monsters: a podcast about OCD, pop-culture, and ghosts

Leela Dua
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The show about OCD and other, less scary monsters. In which we unpack how OCD feels, strategies that can help, and, because OCD is such a heavy topic, some fun stuff too. Hi, I'm Leela. I have OCD and I want to talk about it! Each week, my sister Pri and I dive into one fun thing we're obsessed with, from pop-culture to trends to something we're reading/watching/listening to. Then we'll unpack a different aspect of OCD. We'll close out each episode by 'Drinking Tea with Monsters' where we'll tell you a story about a spooky supernatural haunted happening. Because nothing gets us out of our anxious brains like a good scare. So to recap: pop-culture, OCD, ghosts! Join us for Drinking Tea with Monsters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2D AGO

    OCD Book Club: Famesick by Lena Dunham

    In this episode of Drinking Tea With Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other, less scary monsters, we dive into Famesick by Lena Dunham through the lens of OCD, What happens when ambition, anxiety, self-image, and obsession collide? We unpack the emotional undercurrents of fame culture, perfectionism, intrusive thoughts, the need to be seen, and the complicated relationship between authenticity and attention. This conversation moves beyond celebrity memoir discourse and into something more personal: the lengths we go to for approval, the stories we tell ourselves to stay in control, and the ways OCD can intertwine with creativity, shame, and visibility. Pour a cup of tea and join us for a thoughtful, messy, vulnerable discussion about obsession, art, and what it means to want connection while fearing exposure. Topics include: OCD, intrusive thoughts, fame culture, perfectionism, identity, anxiety, memoir writing, vulnerability, and compulsive behavior. Read... Famesick by Lena Dunham Watch... Tiny Furniture (HBO) Girls (HBO) Too Much (Netflix) OCD IOCDF Looking for another cozy listen? 🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians. Contact Us 📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 13m

  2. MAY 6

    Big Mistakes, Better Days, and the Summerwind Mansion

    From the Kim and Kylie Kardashian, the Ross and Monica Geller, the David and Alexis Rose of OCD podcasting, in this week's Drinking Tea with Monsters, we’re catching up. From Dan Levy's Big Mistakes, to autobiographies we've read to the ones on our TBR. Leela share a surprisingly positive experience navigating OCD while traveling, where uncertainty didn’t win for once. And of course, no episode would be complete without a chilling tale: we’re diving into the eerie history of Summerwind Mansion, a place where reality feels just slightly… off. Pour yourself a cup and settle in, this one moves between fear, reflection, and a few ghosts that refuse to stay quiet. I'm Obsessed... Big Mistakes (Netflix) Deli Boys (Hulu) Mr. Blobby (Our nightmares) Autobiographies Ooh! What a Lovely Pair: Our Story by Ant and Dec Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick Famesick by Lena Dunham OCD IOCDF Looking for another cozy listen? 🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians. Contact Us 📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m

  3. APR 29

    Yoga With Snakes, Things I Didn’t Realize Were OCD, and Book Recommendations From a Ghost

    In this episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters, we dive into chaos with snake yoga, because apparently stretching is better when there are snakes involved… but is it actually relaxing? Of course, us being us, we take a few detours into the world of Australian soaps (Neighbors and Home and Away anyone?) and The OC, and the Jungle Book. It all makes sense when you listen, I promise! From there, we explore the subtle, often overlooked ways OCD can show up. The thoughts that slowly evolve so you don't realize they are OCD. What might feel like overthinking, could be something more. From repeating thoughts, feeling just right, to indecision, we talk about how to recognize the thoughts, and the recognizing the differences between regular overthinking and OCD.. We wrap things up with a chilling encounter with a ghost in a library, complete with eerie vibes and unexpected book recommendations. If you love weird wellness trends, mental health discussions, and spooky stories, this episode blends humor, curiosity, and the supernatural in true Drinking Tea with Monsters fashion. I'm Obsessed... Neighbors  Home and Away The OC The Jungle Book Book List Anxious People by Fredrik Backman A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman Beartown by Fredrik Backman My Friends by Fredrik Backman A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum OCD IOCDF Looking for another cozy listen? 🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians. Contact Us 📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  4. APR 22

    TV Comebacks, OCD Dread, and the Tragic Love of Pedro & Inês

    In this latest episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other, less scary monsters, we dive into the newest TV shows, including Rooster, The Comeback, and Big Mistakes. That’s right: favorites Steve Carell, Lisa Kudrow, and Dan Levy are all back on our screens. Find out which series we’re most excited about in our TV watchlist preview. Then Pri and Leela take a deeper look at a point Elena Fasan mentioned in her interview, unpacking the unsettling theme of OCD dread and its parallels in horror media like Insidious and The Haunting of Hill House. This segment explores anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the overlap between psychological horror and real-life OCD experiences. Finally, Pri brings us home as we “Drink Tea with Monsters,” exploring the haunting true love story of Pedro I of Portugal and Inês de Castro, a tragic historical romance filled with devotion, loss, and legend. Blending pop culture commentary, TV analysis, mental health themes, and dark history, this episode is perfect for fans of podcasts about TV shows, OCD, psychological horror, and tragic love stories. Tune in for the eerie vibes. TV Show Watchlist Rooster (HBO) The Comeback (HBO) Big Mistakes (Netflix) Deli Boys (Hulu) Shrinking (Apple TV) Scrubs Reboot (Hulu) Scrubs (Hulu) The Americans (Disney+ / Hulu) The Koreans (Coming in 2026/2027) Squid Games (Netflix) Insidious (HBO) The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) Ghosts (CBS) OCD Elena Fasan is a licensed clinical social worker who treats children, adolescents, and emerging adults diagnosed with OCD, anxiety disorders, and OC spectrum disorders. She founded and is the director of the Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective in Los Angeles and has worked as an adjunct professor teaching child development classes. She also has lived experience with OCD, depression, and skin picking. Children's OCD and Anxiety Collective Parenting OCD IOCDF IG: @parenting_ocd Looking for another cozy listen? 🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians. Contact Us 📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m

  5. APR 1

    Parenting a Child with OCD: Expert Advice with Elena Fasan

    This week on Drinking Tea with Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other less scary monsters, we're back with part II of our interview with parenting OCD expert Elena Fasan. Elena tells us the OCD signs to look out for in children, how to get started on the journey to getting help, and what questions to ask a therapist. Recommendations Books The Happiness Trap (2nd Edition) by Russ Harris Podcasts The OCD storiesFearcast podcastPurely OCDAT Parenting Survival School OCD Elena Fasan is a licensed clinical social worker who treats children, adolescents, and emerging adults diagnosed with OCD, anxiety disorders, and OC spectrum disorders. She founded and is the director of the Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective in Los Angeles and has worked as an adjunct professor teaching child development classes. She also has lived experience with OCD, depression, and skin picking. Children's OCD and Anxiety Collective Parenting OCD IOCDF IG: @parenting_ocd Looking for another cozy listen? 🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians. Contact Us 📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min

  6. MAR 25

    What did Tom Cruise do now? Stories from Hollywood and parenting OCD with Elena Fasan

    This week on Drinking Tea with Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other less scary monsters, we share part 1 of our interview with parenting OCD expert Elena Fasan. Elena shares her personal journey living with OCD, growing up in the performing arts, and navigating the high-pressure worlds of ballet, theater, and Hollywood. We get into it all, from behind-the-scenes stories, including surprising run-ins with Tom Cruise, Oprah, and John Taylor of Duran Duran, to real talk about mental health. Tangents Sexy Beast (Available to rent on Youtube, Amazon Prime, AppleTV) The Beast in Me (Netflix) OCD Elena Fasan is a licensed clinical social worker who treats children, adolescents, and emerging adults diagnosed with OCD, anxiety disorders, and OC spectrum disorders. She founded and is the director of the Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective in Los Angeles and has worked as an adjunct professor teaching child development classes. She also has lived experience with OCD, depression, and skin picking. Children's OCD and Anxiety Collective Parenting OCD IOCDF IG: @parenting_ocd Looking for another cozy listen? 🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians. Contact Us 📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min

  7. MAR 18

    The Ghost Who Solved Their Own Murder, The Reincarnation of Gucci, and OCPD Explained

    A ghost who solved their own murder, the story of Gucci's reincarnation, and a deep dive into OCPD. This episode of Drinking Tea With Monsters blends true crime, psychology, and the paranormal in the most unsettling way. In honor of Friday the 13th, we explore the eerie lore behind one of the unluckiest days in history, where superstition, fear, and real-life stories collide. From haunted energy to chilling coincidences, this episode leans into everything that makes Friday the 13th so iconic. Then we deep dive into the fashion world, with the comeback of an icon, (and no, we’re not talking about The Devil Wears Prada 2). We tell you the story of Gucci's reincarnation, and we examine fashion from the iconic looks of George Costanza to the timeless classic looks of Miranda Priestly (and the ones she chooses for us). Then, we break down the Amy Poehler of disorders (it's not like the other disorders): Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). What it actually is, how it differs from OCD, and why it’s often misunderstood. We finish this week’s episode with the story of Zona Heaster Shue, also known as the Greenbrier Ghost, believed to be the only ghost to help solve her own murder in court. If you love true crime, paranormal mysteries, psychology, and a touch of dark humor, this episode is for you. I'm, like, totally obsessed with...fashion Max Alexander The Devil Wears Prada 2 And That's Why We Drink (Episode 271 on Barbro Karlén) OCD International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Psychology Today Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) DTWM Zona Heaster Shue Looking for another cozy listen? 🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians. Contact Us 📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min

  8. MAR 11

    Jonathan Groff Is a “Nice Indian Boy” on Broadway, The Gut–Brain Connection, and the Gloved Ghost of Mortemer Abbey

    In the latest episode of Drinking Tea With Monsters, Pri is back from her break! We are totally obsessed with Broadway, Hollywood (and Bollywood) legend Jonathan Groff, star of stage, film, and television. We love him in "A Nice Indian Boy", "Frozen", "Hamilton", and we're looking forward to "Just in Time", and "As You Like It". Then we dive into the fascinating gut–brain connection, the science behind how your digestive system communicates with your brain, influencing mood, anxiety, and feel good chemicals like serotonin. We talk about how we can manage our OCD and support our mental health via food and nutrition. Finally, we step into the shadows of Mortemer Abbey to uncover the eerie legend of the ghosts that lurk within: white ladies, werewolves, and monks, oh my! Pour yourself a cup of tea and join us for a conversation that moves from Broadway to biology to the paranormal, exactly the kind of strange brew you’d expect on Drinking Tea With Monsters. ☕ I'm, like, totally obsessed with... 🎭 Jonathan Groff in: Frozen (Watch it on Disney+)Hamilton (Watch it on Disney+)Hamilton (on Broadway)Just in Time (on Broadway)As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Company)A Nice Indian Boy (on Hulu) OCD International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Psychology Today Can Diet Affect Your OCD Symptoms? (NOCD) Diet and Nutrition Tips for Anxiety and OCD (OCD and Anxiety Centers) Supplements that work for us (NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. Please consult your doctor before taking any new supplements.) Calm MagnesiumMyo Inositol DTWM 👻 Mortemer Abbey Looking for another cozy listen? 🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians. Contact Us 📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 16m
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5 Ratings

About

The show about OCD and other, less scary monsters. In which we unpack how OCD feels, strategies that can help, and, because OCD is such a heavy topic, some fun stuff too. Hi, I'm Leela. I have OCD and I want to talk about it! Each week, my sister Pri and I dive into one fun thing we're obsessed with, from pop-culture to trends to something we're reading/watching/listening to. Then we'll unpack a different aspect of OCD. We'll close out each episode by 'Drinking Tea with Monsters' where we'll tell you a story about a spooky supernatural haunted happening. Because nothing gets us out of our anxious brains like a good scare. So to recap: pop-culture, OCD, ghosts! Join us for Drinking Tea with Monsters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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