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. 1D AGO

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. MAR 4

    AI and the future of tech, The neuroscience of OCD, and tech era ghosts

    This week we welcome special guest April Grant, Resident Counselor at Authentic Connections Counseling and Founder of True North Therapy PLLC, specializing in ADHD and OCD. We get into the tech era conundrums surrounding AI. The good, the bad, and the autonomous. Then we deep dive into the neuroscience behind OCD. How is the neurodivergent brain wired? How does it work? And can we retrain it to work with us? Leela and April walk through Leela's experience living with OCD and discuss examples of the OCD brain IRL. We end this weeks episode with two spooky occurrences. One in Virginia and one in Michigan. This week on Drinking Tea with Monsters, we’re joined by April Grant, resident counselor at Authentic Connections Counseling LLC and founder of True North Therapy PLLC, specializing in ADHD and OCD. First, we tackle the tech-era monster on everyone’s mind: AI. Is it a revolutionary tool, an ethical dilemma, or something more autonomous than we’re ready for? We unpack the promises, the fears, and the very real questions shaping the future of technology. Then we take a deep dive into the neuroscience of OCD. What’s actually happening in the neurodivergent brain? How is it wired differently? And most importantly, can we retrain it to work with us instead of against us? April explains the science, breaks it down for us with real-life examples of how the OCD brain shows up day-to-day, and we talk through Leela's lived experience with OCD. And because no episode would be complete without a haunting tale, we close with two eerie encounters, one from Virginia and one from Michigan, that might make you question what energies surround us in the modern world. Brains. Bots. Ghosts. Let’s sip. ☕️ I'm, like, totally obsessed with... 🤖 the dystopian AI future OCD International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Psychology Today April Grant Authentic Connections Counseling LLC True North Therapy PLLC DTWM 👻 Our true life encounters. 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 14m

  6. FEB 25

    Back to the Future to take down AI, Punch the Monkey, Hypervigilence, and the ghostly love story of the Taj Mahal

    In this episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters, we time travel, tackle artificial intelligence, talk anxiety, OCD, and hypervigilance, one of history’s most haunting love stories, and the world's current love for Punch the monkey. First, we go Back to the Future to ask: if we could rewrite the timeline, would we stop the rise of AI? From sci-fi predictions to modern fears about artificial intelligence, we unpack how pop culture shaped our expectations, our paranoia, and we come up with a whole new conspiracy theory. Then we deep dive into hypervigilance. What it is, why your nervous system won’t relax, and how the “monkey mind” keeps punching the panic button when nothing is actually on fire. And finally, we uncover the ghostly romance behind the Taj Mahal, the tragic love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, and the haunting legend surrounding the iconic white marble mausoleum in Agra, India. Is it a monument to eternal devotion, or one of history’s most beautiful ghost stories? Pour your tea. Question the timeline. Calm your nervous system. And maybe don’t trust the robots! Because sometimes the real monsters are the ones we build, and the ones we carry inside. ☕ Our Current Watchlist 📺 Back to the Future II (Available to buy or rent) 📺 Shrinking (Apple TV) I'm, like, totally obsessed with... 🐵 Punch the monkey OCD International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Psychology Today DTWM Taj Mahal, India 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 14m

  7. FEB 18

    Spilling the Tea on a Puzzling Betrayal, OCD in Social Situations, and The Screaming Ghost of Loarre Castle

    In this week’s episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters, Leela finally confronts Pri about the big puzzling betrayal and yes, we get into all of it. The girls spill the tea and break down the surprisingly competitive world of speed puzzling. We're totally obsessed with the Dunkin' Super Bowl commercial, steeped in 90s nostalgia and we explore the link between Joe Biden and Fall Out Boy. Then we deep dive into the overlaps between social anxiety and OCD, unpacking how OCD can impact your social life, relationships, and the way you move through the world. And to close us out, Pri tells the chilling story of the haunting of Loarre Castle, a medieval fortress where some say the walls still echo with something terrifying. Puzzles. Betrayal. OCD confessions. And a castle that screams. Put the kettle on, it’s about to get spooky! Our Current Watchlist 📚Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt | 🎧Audiobook narrated by Michael Urie 📚Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley | 🎧Audiobook narrated by Marin Ireland Michael Urie 📚She Didn’t See it Coming by Shari Lapena 📚I Hope this Finds You Well by Natalie Sue 📚The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna 📺Good Cop/Bad Cop (Netflix) 📺How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Netflix) 📺Derry Girls (Netflix) I'm, like, totally obsessed with... 📼Dunkin' Super Bowl Commercial 💿Fall Out Boy OCD International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Psychology Today DTWM Loarre Castle, Spain 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.

    57 min

  8. FEB 11

    Even Disneyland isn't Disneyland: Traveling with OCD, The Cozy Winter Hibernation List of Things to Read/Watch/Listen To, and The Bells of the Frozen Post Office

    We're back with this year's first episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters, the mental health podcast about OCD and other, less-scary monsters. This week, we’re embracing January hibernation with coziness, comfort, and conversation. First, we share our favorite cozy winter reads, shows, and podcasts, perfect for indoor kids, introverts, and anyone building a soft seasonal reset list. If you’re looking for comforting book recommendations, binge-worthy series, or thoughtful listens, we’ve got you covered. Then we dive into the realities of traveling with OCD. Why can trips feel overwhelming when you live with obsessive-compulsive disorder? We talk openly about travel, anxiety, OCD triggers, and the practical tools we use to make vacations more manageable. To close, Leela shares a chilling and atmospheric winter tale: The Bells of the Frozen Post Office in Minnesota, a haunting seasonal mystery that blends folklore, history, and just a touch of the paranormal. Grab your tea, get cozy, and join us for the first episode of the new year, part mental health podcast, part pop-culture deep dive, part paranormal storytelling. I'm, like, totally obsessed with... Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Michael Urie Partners Good Cop/Bad Cop (Watch on Netflix) The Beast in Me (Watch on Netflix) Grantchester (Watch on Netflix) The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood The Thursday Murder Club (Watch on Netflix) Normal Gossip on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify Glamorous Trash, Chelsea Devantez on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify No Dating Till You’re Married by Leela Dua Hanging Out with Ant and Dec Take That Documentary (Watch on Netflix) Cars (Watch on Disney+) Rooster, The Trailer OCD International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Psychology Today Traveling with OCD: The Power of Radical Acceptance (NOCD) Five Travel Tips When Traveling with OCD (IOCDF) Travelling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (The Travel Psychologist) DTWM The Bells of the Frozen Post Office (Minnesota, 1936) 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.

    44 min
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out of 5
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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