Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast

Sandtrice Russell
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Biweekly

The Self-Aware and F****d Up Podcast™ is a candid and humorous exploration of self-improvement, mental health, and navigating the complexities of life. Hosted by Sandtrice D. Russell (Tree the LPC), the podcast offers a fresh perspective on personal growth, embracing imperfections, and finding humor in the messiness of life's challenges. Each episode dives into real and raw conversations about topics that resonate with many. With its mix of heartfelt moments, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and valuable insights this podcast offers a refreshing take on self-help and personal development.

  1. 21h ago

    Let’s Get Uncomfortable: Are You Protecting Your Peace or Abandoning Yourself to Keep Everybody Else Happy?

    How much of your peace are you willing to sacrifice to keep everybody else comfortable?Let’s get uncomfortable! In this solo episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Sandtrice Russell (Tree the LPC) gets real about people-pleasing, fear of abandonment, unhealthy relationship patterns, and the uncomfortable reality of choosing yourself.Why do we keep tolerating behaviors that hurt us? Why is saying no sometimes harder than saying yes? And why do we feel guilty for establishing boundaries with people who have become accustomed to having unlimited access to us?We’re unpacking the difference between keeping the peace and abandoning yourself, exploring how fear of rejection can influence our decisions, and challenging the excuses we use to avoid difficult conversations.Because being self-aware isn’t just recognizing what’s wrong. It’s being willing to hold yourself accountable for what you continue to accept. This episode will challenge you to stop overexplaining, stop minimizing your feelings, and start making choices that honor your emotional well-being.Get Self-Aware: What behavior are you accepting that you know is costing you your peace?Get F**ked Up: What excuse have you been using to avoid addressing it?Journal Prompt: What would I change if I stopped prioritizing everyone else’s comfort over my own?Grab your Self Aware & F**ked Up Journal and give yourself permission to do some uncomfortable work. Listen. Reflect. Get Uncomfortable. Choose YOU.📓 Get your journal: The Self Aware & F**ked Up Journal: Russell, Sandtrice D.: 9798898980825: Amazon.com: Books🎧 Follow and subscribe to the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast.Connect with Tree: Website: www.uniquedestiny.org Website: www.mindingmyownmentalhealth.com FB: www.facebook.com/treethelpc IG: www.instagram.com/treethelpc TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@treethelpc To purchase the Minding my Own Mental HealthJournal and other Unique Destiny Merch visit UniqueDestiny.org/shop

  2. Oct 28

    No Justice, No Peace

    What happens when the career you built your life around suddenly comes to an end—and that ending forces you to discover an entirely different version of yourself?In this episode of Self Aware & F**ked Up, Sandtrice D. Russell (Tree the LPC) sits down with author, storyteller, and advocate, Chinyere Udeh for a deeply personal conversation about her journey from studying criminal justice and working in law enforcement to being fired, navigating the emotional aftermath, and ultimately finding her voice through writing. Chinyere opens up about the experiences that pushed her to tell her story and write her book and how what felt like a devastating ending became the beginning of something bigger. But her story doesn’t stop with her own experience.Today, Chinyere helps other people tell their stories, uses her voice to call out injustice, and challenges people to pay attention to the stories and experiences that are often ignored, dismissed, or silenced.Sandtrice and Chinyere talk about what happens when you question the systems you’re working within, what it means to lose a career that once defined you, the power of putting your truth on paper, and how one person’s willingness to speak up can give someone else permission to do the same.This is a conversation about career loss, identity, injustice, resilience, storytelling, purpose, and finding the courage to use your voice, even when it’s uncomfortable.Because sometimes getting fired isn’t the end of your story.Sometimes it’s the plot twist that finally gives you permission to write your own.Real stories. Hard truths. Calling b******t on injustice. No pretending.Trigger warning: This episode discusses employment loss, law enforcement, injustice, systemic issues, and difficult personal experiences. Connect with Chinyere: Website: www.authorchinyereudeh.org Website: www.allmarthaswriters.com FB: www.facebook.com/allmarthaswriters IG: www.instagram.com/allmartherswriters Youtube: www.youtube.com/@chinyereudeh659   #ChinyereUdeh #CriminalJustice #LawEnforcement #Injustice#SocialJustice #Storytelling #TellYourStory #FindingYourVoice #SpeakYourTruth#CareerLoss #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #HealingJourney #MentalHealthPodcast#MentalHealthAwareness #BlackMentalHealth #HealingIsNotLinear To purchase the Minding my Own Mental HealthJournal and other Unique Destiny Merch visit UniqueDestiny.org/shop

  3. Oct 21

    PTSD isn't a Life Sentence

    What happens when trauma changes the way you see yourself, your relationships, your body, and the world around you? In this episode of Self Aware & F**ked Up,  Sandtrice Russell (Tree the LPC) sits down with Simone Swartz, author of PTSD and What Helped Me, for an honest conversation about PTSD, trauma, recovery, and the messy reality of figuring out what actually helps you heal. Simone explores her personal journeyof surviving Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and being discharged from the Army after being assaulted by a male soldier. Simone shares her lived experience with PTSD and the thingsshe discovered along the way that supported her healing. This isn’t a conversation about pretending trauma disappears or throwing around “feel good” advice. It’s about the real work of learning yourself after trauma, finding tools that work for YOU, and understanding that healing can look completelydifferent from what you expected. Sandtrice and Simone get into the shit people don’t alwaystalk about, including the impact trauma can have on everyday life, relationships, emotional regulation, identity, and the process of rebuilding trust in yourself. Because sometimes healing isn’t about going back to who you were before the trauma. Sometimes it’s about figuring out who the hell you arenow. Real stories. Real trauma. Real tools. No toxic positivity. Connect with Simone: Website: www.ptsdandwhathelpedme.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ptsdandwhathelpedme IG: www.instagram.com/ptsdandwhathelpedme TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ptsdandwhathelpedme  Trigger warning: This episode discusses PTSD, trauma,mental health, and recovery. #MilitarySexualTrauma #PTSDAndWhatHelpedMe #PTSD #Veteran #ArmyVeteran#PTSDRecovery #TraumaRecovery #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthPodcast#MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #TraumaInformed #HealingJourney #SurvivorStories#LivedExperience #NoToxicPositivity #TherapyIsForEverybody #HealingIsNotLinear#RealTalk To purchase the Minding my Own Mental HealthJournal and other Unique Destiny Merch visit UniqueDestiny.org/shop

  4. Oct 14

    Life Be Lifing

    Sometimes recovery doesn’t happen in a quiet, peacefulseason. Sometimes you’re trying to heal while life is throwing grief, family stress, loss, medical procedures, and your own emotional shit right back at you. In this raw solo episode of Self Aware & F**ked Up, SandtriceRussell (Tree the LPC) gets personal about recovering from a depressive episode while navigating the loss of a childhood friend, death in the family, major dental surgery, family stress, and the ongoing work of being in therapy herself. Because being a mental health professional doesn’t mean youmagically know how to handle your own shit. Sandtrice talks about what it’s like to practice what youpreach, recognize when you’re struggling, allow yourself to grieve, set boundaries when family stress gets heavy, and balance taking care of yourself with still showing up for the people you love. This episode is a reminder that healing isn’t linear, griefdoesn’t follow a schedule, and being self-aware doesn’t mean you won’t still get f****d up sometimes. Real shit. Real healing. No pretending. Trigger warning: This episode discusses depression, grief,death, family stress, and mental health struggles. #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness#MentalHealthMatters #TherapistLife #TherapistUnfiltered #TherapyTalk #DepressionRecovery #GriefAndLoss #GriefJourney #HealingJourney #MentalHealthHealing #SelfCare #Boundaries #FamilyStress #LifeLifing #BlackMentalHealth #BlackTherapists #TherapyIsForEverybody #YouAreNotAlone #HealingIsNotLinear#RealTalk #VulnerabilityIsStrength Connect with Tree: Website: www.uniquedestiny.org Website: www.mindingmyownmentalhealth.com FB: www.facebook.com/treethelpc IG: www.instagram.com/treethelpc TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@treethelpc To purchase the Minding my Own Mental Health Journal and other Unique Destiny Merch visit UniqueDestiny.org/shop

  5. Jul 29

    Sex, Intimacy, & Connection

    What happens when your calling challenges everything you were taught to believe? In this powerful episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, host Sandtrice Russell (Tree the LPC) sits down with licensed therapist and certified sex therapist Erica Harry for an honest conversation about faith, sexuality, purpose, and redefining what a meaningful life can look like.Raised in a deeply religious environment, Erica shares how she found herself pursuing a career that many within faith communities consider taboo. She opens up about the tension of becoming a sex therapist while honoring her spiritual foundation, navigating church hurt, and challenging the shame and silence that often surround conversations about intimacy and sexual wellness.Erica also vulnerably discusses another expectation many women face—the belief that fulfillment only comes through marriage and motherhood. She shares how health challenges have impacted her own journey and how she’s learned to embrace a life that looks different than what she once imagined, while still finding joy, purpose, and peace.Inspired by witnessing her parents’ healthy, thriving marriage, Erica is passionate about helping couples build stronger, more connected relationships. Through education, compassion, and evidence-based therapy, she’s committed to breaking generational cycles, improving communication, and helping marriages flourish.In this episode, we explore:• Growing up in a religious culture and challenging long-held beliefs• Becoming a sex therapist despite the stigma surrounding sexual health• Healing from church hurt while maintaining faith• The intersection of spirituality, intimacy, and mental health• Coping with unmet expectations around marriage and motherhood• Finding purpose beyond society’s timeline• Why healthy conversations about sex can strengthen relationships• Helping couples build lasting, fulfilling marriagesThis episode is for anyone who has ever questioned their purpose, wrestled with religious expectations, experienced church hurt, or wondered if their life could still be meaningful even when it doesn’t follow the script they expected.#SexTherapist #SexTherapy #MentalHealthPodcast #ChurchHurt #FaithAndHealing #ReligiousTrauma #MarriageTherapy #Intimacy #SexEducation #Women’sHealth #PurposeDrivenLife #HealingJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #TherapyWorks #BreakTheStigma #AuthenticLiving #RelationshipGoals #EmotionalWellnessConnect with Erica:IG: www.instagram.com/theintimacyexperiencePsychology Today: www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erica-harry-atlanta-ga/1476430E-Mail: eharry@connectioninstitute.netTo purchase the Minding my Own Mental Health Journal and other Unique Destiny Merch visit UniqueDestiny.org/shop

  6. Jul 22

    Young Widow

    In this deeply moving episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, host Sandtrice Russell (Tree the LPC) sits down with Anna Peck to discuss the unimaginable reality of losing her husband in a tragic motorcycle accident and navigating life as a young widow.Anna shares her raw and honest journey through shock, heartbreak, and the complex realities of grief that many people don’t talk about. Together, Sandtrice and Anna explore what it means to mourn a partner while simultaneously learning how to rebuild an identity, face loneliness, manage well-intentioned but unhelpful advice, and find purpose after profound loss.This conversation sheds light on the non-linear nature of grief, the pressure to “move on,” and the courage it takes to keep living when your world has been turned upside down. Whether you’ve experienced the loss of a spouse, are supporting someone through grief, or simply want a deeper understanding of what healing can look like after tragedy, this episode offers compassion, validation, and hope.In this episode, we discuss:• The sudden loss of a spouse in a motorcycle accident• The unique challenges of being a young widow• Grief myths and misconceptions• Navigating life after traumatic loss• Rebuilding identity and finding purpose• Coping with loneliness and major life changes• What support actually helps someone who is grievingBecause grief isn’t something we “get over.” - it’s something we learn to carry as we continue living.#TreeTheLPC #AnnaPeck #GriefJourney #YoungWidow #Widowhood #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingAfterLoss #TraumaticGrief #LifeAfterLoss #GriefSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #PodcastLife #GriefAndHealing #widowsupport Connect with Anna:Website: https://createdhaven.myshopify.com/ Website: https://msha.ke/createdhaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createdhaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createdhaven More Info: https://chalkcouture.com/CorpOrphan To purchase the Minding my Own Mental Health Journal and other Unique Destiny Merch visit UniqueDestiny.org/shop

  7. Jul 16

    The Dark Side

    What happens when self-awareness becomes both your greatest strength and your deepest source of pain? In this raw and thought-provoking episode, SandtriceRussell (Tree the LPC) sits down with Lacey Desper to unpackthe complicated relationship between self-awareness, trauma, identity, and healing. Lacey shares her experience growing up as an adopted foster youth, navigating the lasting impact of early life trauma, and the challenges of carrying an intense level of insight into herself and the world around her. Together, they explore how being highly self-aware cansometimes feel more like a burden than a gift—fueling overthinking, depression, career dissatisfaction, and the constant search for meaning. Lacey opens up about the frustration of knowing what needs to change while still feeling stuck, the grief that comes with unmet expectations, and the courage it takes to keep choosing growth anyway. This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt exhaustedby their own awareness, struggled to make peace with their past, or questioned whether healing is worth the work. Through honesty, humor, and vulnerability, Sandtrice and Lacey remind listeners that self-awareness is only part of thejourney—the real challenge is learning how to live with what you know. In this episode, we discuss: ·        Growing up as an adopted foster youth ·         The connection between trauma and identity ·         When self-awareness contributes to depression ·         Career frustration and feeling stuck ·        The difference between insight and healing ·         Finding purpose after adversity ·         Giving yourself permission to evolve Sometimes the hardest person to understand is yourself. Andsometimes, that’s exactly where healing begins. #SelfAwareAndFckedUpPodcast #TreeTheLPC #LaceyDesper#MentalHealthPodcast #SelfAwareness #TraumaHealing #AdoptionJourney #FosterCareAwareness #PersonalGrowth #TherapyTalk #MentalHealthMatters #HealingJourney #CareerBurnout #EmotionalWellness #PodcastLife Connect with Lacey: FB: www.facebook.com/lacey.desper IG: www.instagram.com/angleofreason Twitch: www.twitch.tv/angleofreason TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@angleofreason To purchase the Minding my Own Mental Health Journal and other Unique Destiny Merch visit UniqueDestiny.org/shop

  8. Jul 8

    Triggers & Trauma Bonds

    What happens when the survival skills that once protected you begin preventing you from living authentically? In this powerful episode of the Self-Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Sandtrice Russell (Tree the LPC) sits down with Marcia Blane for a candid conversation about trauma bonds, people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, and the difficult journey of learning to live as your authentic self. Marcia shares her experiences of navigating relationships shaped by trauma, the pressure to constantly meet the expectations of others, and the emotional toll of seeking validation outside of herself. Together, she and Sandtrice unpack how trauma bonds can keep us connected to unhealthy patterns, why people-pleasing often develops as a survival strategy, and how imposter syndrome can leave even the most accomplished individuals questioning their worth. This episode explores the process of recognizing when old coping mechanisms are no longer serving you and finding the courage to break free from cycles of self-abandonment. Marcia opens up about the challenges of setting boundaries, trusting herself, and embracing authenticity after years of prioritizing everyone else’s needs over her own. Through vulnerability, self-reflection, and practical insight, Sandtrice and Marcia discuss what healing looks like when you stop performing for acceptance and start showing up as your whole self. In this episode, we discuss: Understanding and breaking free from trauma bonds•The roots of people-pleasing behaviors How trauma impacts self-worth and relationshipsOvercoming imposter syndromeLearning to trust yourself and your decisionsSetting healthy boundaries without guiltReclaiming your identity and living authenticallyHealing from the need for external validationIf you’ve ever struggled to say no, questioned whether you’re “good enough,” or found yourself trapped in unhealthy relationship patterns, this episode offers an honest look at what it takes to stop surviving and start living authentically. Because healing isn’t about becoming someone new, it’s about unlearning who you had to be to survive. #MarciaBlane #TraumaBonds #PeoplePleasing #ImposterSyndrome #AuthenticLiving #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingJourney #SelfWorth #BoundarySetting #TraumaRecovery #PersonalGrowth #TherapyTalk #MentalHealthMatters #EmotionalWellness #SelfAwareness #WomenHealing #BreakTheCycle #liveauthentically Connect with Marcia: Website: www.marciablane.com Website: www.peculiar1.com IG: www.instagram.com/authenticallypeculiarmarciab TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@peculiar1mrb   To purchase the Minding my Own Mental Health Journal and other Unique Destiny Merch visit UniqueDestiny.org/shop

See All (108)

Trailers

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Self-Aware and F****d Up Podcast™ is a candid and humorous exploration of self-improvement, mental health, and navigating the complexities of life. Hosted by Sandtrice D. Russell (Tree the LPC), the podcast offers a fresh perspective on personal growth, embracing imperfections, and finding humor in the messiness of life's challenges. Each episode dives into real and raw conversations about topics that resonate with many. With its mix of heartfelt moments, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and valuable insights this podcast offers a refreshing take on self-help and personal development.

Information

  • Creator
    Sandtrice Russell
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sandtrice Russell