How Do Other People Do This?

Elizabeth Katie
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Mental Health

Meant to be an examination of the smallest bits of our life that get affected by mental health conditions, "How Do Other People Do This?", explores the everyday realities of navigating life with these (often) invisible disorders. Each episode shed light on a different condition, while guests offer personal insights, practical tips, and unique coping skills intended to help others. While many podcasts offer wide overviews of experiences or therapists and scientists that provide the clinical perspective, each episode of this podcast features a real in-depth discussion of how our every day routines get upended, along with the creative coping skills you won't hear anywhere else.

Episodes

  1. 22h ago

    Mission: Tackling Social Anxiety

    What does it feel like to walk into a room where everyone already seems to know each other? For singer-songwriter and producer Josh Sahunta, it's a feeling he knows all too well. In this episode, Josh opens up about developing social anxiety after the pandemic, attending the Key West Songwriters Festival as the "new guy," and learning how to keep showing up, even when every instinct tells him to leave. Together, we talk about networking, music, imposter syndrome, and why sometimes success simply starts with putting yourself in the room. We also discuss Josh's latest single, "Human," a heartfelt reflection on how quickly life passes, grief, growing older, and learning to appreciate the people around us while we still can. In this episode, we discuss: Why social anxiety isn't always something you're born with, and how the pandemic changed Josh's relationship with people.The emotional reality of attending networking events when you don't know anyone.Practical ways to push through social anxiety without expecting it to disappear.Why giving yourself permission to leave after 30–45 minutes can make difficult events more manageable.How helping another anxious person can actually calm your own anxiety.The difference between networking and genuine human connection.Imposter syndrome in the studio even when working with top musicians.Using anxiety as preparation instead of seeing it only as an obstacle.Josh's songwriting process behind his newest single, "Human."Life in Nashville, chasing creative dreams, and balancing career with family.Connect With Us If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit from hearing it. Follow How Do Other People Do This? for more conversations about mental health, everyday challenges, and the creative ways people navigate them. Content Note: This podcast shares personal experiences with mental health and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you and rely on the treatment plan you've created with your healthcare providers.

    Mission: Tackling Social Anxiety

  2. Jul 10

    Okayness, RuneScape, & Finding A Common Thread

    What happens after you survive the thing that was supposed to define you? This week, singer-songwriter Andrew Marshall joins Elizabeth to talk about surviving childhood leukemia, competing on The Voice, navigating chronic pain and back surgery in his twenties, and the unexpected mental health challenges that come after the crisis is over. Together they explore why trauma doesn't have to become your identity, the pressure creatives place on themselves, and how therapy, gratitude, and finding joy again can help you move forward. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, chronic illness, or simply wondering how to rebuild after life changes, this conversation is a reminder that healing isn't about becoming someone new, it's about integrating every part of your story. In This Episode Andrew's leukemia diagnosis at 16 and how it changed his lifeMeeting John Mayer through Make-A-WishWhat it's really like competing on The VoiceWhy surviving trauma doesn't mean you're done healingLiving with anxiety after major health challengesRecovering from back surgery and chronic painThe pressure of being an artist in NashvilleSeparating your identity from your traumaTherapy, meditation, gratitude, and practical mental health toolsRediscovering fun and creativity after burnoutResources Mentioned Make-A-Wish FoundationBlood Cancer UnitedMeditation and mindfulness practicesGratitude journalingRuneScape (yes, really!)Connect With Us If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit from hearing it. Follow How Do Other People Do This? for more conversations about mental health, everyday challenges, and the creative ways people navigate them. Content Note: This podcast shares personal experiences with mental health and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you and rely on the treatment plan you've created with your healthcare providers.

    Okayness, RuneScape, & Finding A Common Thread

  3. Jun 26

    Postpartum Depression, Friendship Marriages, & Being Hot On The Inside

    In this episode of How Do Other People Do This?, we talk about postpartum depression, mental health struggles, creativity, and the support systems that help us keep going. Our guest Rachel Wong shares her experience with suicidal depression, postpartum anxiety and depression, and finding her way back to music after taking a break. We talk about the reality that sometimes the first step is not a new coping trick. Sometimes it is therapy, medication, and finding the support you need to get back to a place where you can function. Rachel opens up about how motherhood, mental health, and creativity have shaped her life, and how she learned to build routines, protect her energy, and find people who truly show up for her. We also talk about: Why therapy and medication can be important tools in mental health careRachel’s experience with postpartum depression and anxietyFinding your support system and letting people see your strugglesHow music can be both healing and challengingThe pressure artists face to constantly createLearning to separate your identity from your workBuilding a healthier relationship with successCreative coping skills that help during difficult momentsWhy talking things out with trusted people can be a form of connection and releaseTrigger warning: This episode includes discussions of suicide, suicide attempts, postpartum depression, anxiety, and mental health struggles. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you and rely on the support plan you have created with your provider if needed. There is no piece of content more important than your own well-being. About Rachel Wong Rachel Wong is a queer AAPI pop and R&B artist from Portland, Oregon. She blends 2000s R&B nostalgia with modern moody pop. Rachel has been recognized as one of Willamette Week’s best new bands of 2025 and won Best Pop Song at the 2025 PNW Music Awards. Her music has received radio play across the UK, Canada, Singapore, and the Bay Area. Her songs have also been featured in sync opportunities, including Love Island. Resources Mentioned Therapy and mental health supportMedication as a mental health toolEMDR therapyAffirmation appsAhead app for mental health exercisesCalm app for sleep and relaxationRemember If you or someone you know is struggling, you do not have to handle it alone. Reaching out to a trusted person, mental health professional, or crisis support can be an important first step. Content Note: This podcast shares personal experiences with mental health and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you and rely on the treatment plan you've created with your healthcare providers.

    Postpartum Depression, Friendship Marriages, & Being Hot On The Inside

  4. Jun 12

    ADHD & Existing In Chaos

    In this episode of How Do Other People Do This?, Elizabeth sits down with Nashville transplant and tech professional Ellie Hurdle to talk about receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, navigating a world that wasn't built for neurodivergent brains, and finding creative systems that actually work. Ellie shares what it was like to spend years believing she was simply "lazy" before discovering ADHD was the missing piece of the puzzle. Together, Elizabeth and Ellie discuss everything from procrastination and clutter to body doubling, accountability, and the unique challenges of moving from the nonstop energy of New York City to the slower pace of Nashville. Most importantly, Ellie shares several practical strategies she uses every day, including: color-coded whiteboards, strategic sticky notes, and a surprisingly brilliant tech hack involving NFC tags that might just change how you manage recurring tasks. Whether you've been diagnosed with ADHD, suspect you might have it, or love someone who does, this conversation offers validation, humor, and actionable ideas for working with your brain instead of against it. In This Episode We Discuss: Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adultWhy ADHD is often missed in girls and womenThe impact of labels like "lazy" and "unmotivated"ADHD, self-esteem, and self-compassionProcrastination and deadline-driven productivityBody doubling and accountability strategiesUsing whiteboards and visual planning systemsSticky note hacks for task completionNFC tags and phone automations for recurring choresLosing keys, glasses, and everything elseADHD in New York vs. NashvilleFinding community after a big moveReframing ADHD as a source of creativityMemorable Quote "ADHD is a superpower. No one is going to have the same ideas you do." Resources Mentioned Driven to Distraction by Driven to DistractionApple's Shortcuts app (for creating NFC-triggered automations)Connect With Us If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit from hearing it. Follow How Do Other People Do This? for more conversations about mental health, everyday challenges, and the creative ways people navigate them. Content Note: This podcast shares personal experiences with mental health and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you and rely on the treatment plan you've created with your healthcare providers.

    ADHD & Existing In Chaos

  5. May 29

    Trichotillomania & Tuning Forks

    Samantha on Trichotillomania, BFRBs, & Learning to Sit With the Urge Today’s episode is a very special one for a number of reasons. Samantha is not only a conflict resolution expert, mediator, volunteer organizer, and all-around incredible human being, she also happens to be my sister. In this episode, Sam talks openly about her 20+ year journey with trichotillomania, a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) that causes compulsive hair pulling. Together, we unpack what BFRBs actually are, how they differ from everyday habits like nail biting or skin picking, and what it means to live with a condition that can feel both invisible and incredibly visible at the same time. We talk about: What trichotillomania and BFRBs actually areThe overlap between BFRBs, anxiety, and OCDThe role genetics may play in these disordersShame, visibility, and self-esteemWhy awareness matters more than “just stopping”Meditation, mindfulness, and why traditional advice doesn’t always help in the momentSomatic therapy, tuning forks, and the surprising role vibration might play in regulationSupport groups and the importance of being understood without explanationThe practical reality of coping: fidget toys, crafts, makeup routines, sleeping positions, and tiny systems that make daily life manageableOne of the things I loved most about this conversation is how honest it is. Sam is incredibly pragmatic, deeply self-aware, and very funny, which means this episode moves between insight, science, sibling banter, and absolute chaos in the best possible way. There’s also something really important underneath this conversation, the idea that mental health isn’t just about “fixing” ourselves. Sometimes it’s about learning how our bodies communicate with us (it's trying to tell us something!), learning to recognize patterns, and building systems that help us move through life a little more gently. If you deal with OCD, anxiety, BFRBs, or honestly just being a human person trying to figure out how to function in the world, I think there’s something in this episode for you. And if you’ve ever wondered how other people do this, this episode is exactly why this podcast exists. Thank you for listening to our very first episode. Truly. Resources mentioned: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)Somatic TherapyBFRB Support GroupsHabitAware wearable braceletsNAC (N-acetyl cysteine)And remember, you are absolutely stronger than you think. Content Note: This podcast shares personal experiences with mental health and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you and rely on the treatment plan you've created with your healthcare providers.

    Trichotillomania & Tuning Forks

  6. May 22

    Welcome Episode

    Episode 0: Why This Podcast Exists Welcome to How Do Other People Do This? In this introductory episode, host Elizabeth Katie shares the deeply personal story behind the podcast, from growing up with anxiety and ADHD to navigating severe OCD, trauma therapy, medication changes, and the difficult reality of trying to function during mental health struggles. After reaching a particularly low point and searching for practical, real-world coping advice that felt honest and relatable, Elizabeth realized the resource she needed didn’t really exist. This podcast was born from that gap. Rather than focusing only on clinical information or broad wellness advice, How Do Other People Do This? explores the everyday realities of living with mental health conditions and neurodivergence. Each episode features real people sharing the small but meaningful tips, routines, coping mechanisms, and survival strategies that help them navigate daily life. Future episodes will feature conversations about trichotillomania, OCD, ADHD, depression, and more, with an emphasis on honesty, humor, community, and the everyday tools that make life a little easier. If you’ve ever wondered how other people manage the things that feel impossible, this podcast is for you. Tune in and follow to join the conversation.

    Welcome Episode
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Meant to be an examination of the smallest bits of our life that get affected by mental health conditions, "How Do Other People Do This?", explores the everyday realities of navigating life with these (often) invisible disorders. Each episode shed light on a different condition, while guests offer personal insights, practical tips, and unique coping skills intended to help others. While many podcasts offer wide overviews of experiences or therapists and scientists that provide the clinical perspective, each episode of this podcast features a real in-depth discussion of how our every day routines get upended, along with the creative coping skills you won't hear anywhere else.

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