What To Do When

Kathleen McBride
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

For overthinkers, feelers & recovering chill girls. This podcast is part voice note, part pep talk, part “I probably shouldn’t tell this story, but here we are.” We spiral, we cry, we self-reflect and then we figure out what the hell to do next. Messy, hilarious, real-AF healing for people who are tired of pretending they’re fine. Created by Kathleen McBride, a coach, counsellor-in-training & emotionally intelligent chaos human navigating the messy middle too.

  1. 4h ago

    95. The Big Lie About Finding Your Purpose

    If you’ve ever felt like everyone else knows what they’re here for and you’re still waiting for the moment for your purpose to magically land in your lap and change everything, this one is for you. In this episode, I break down why “finding your purpose” is such a misleading idea, and why purpose is something you build, not something you stumble across. I share the season where a breakup and a wave of friends moving away sent me into my business, and how it quietly became the only place my worth lived. We look at what researchers actually mean by purpose, how it differs from meaning, and why chasing the perfect purpose can leave you feeling worse. You’ll also hear what my life looks like now, with purpose as one pillar among several, and the two topics I’ve been scared to speak about publicly. Your homework: write down your top two values, rate your pillars from one to ten, and choose one small experiment for the quietest one this week. Ready to start building self-trust? Grab the Trust Yourself mini-course. Want to go deeper with me? Learn more about 1:1 coaching here and book a HEAL connection call here. Free resource: The Messy Middle Starter Pack Research and sources mentioned: John Coleman, “You Don’t Find Your Purpose, You Build It,” Harvard Business ReviewWilliam Damon and Kendall Bronk, research on purposeCarol Ryff, model of psychological wellbeingMichael Steger, research on presence of meaning and search for meaningBrené Brown, Dare to LeadNew episodes every Monday. Instagram: @kathleen.mindsetcoach

  2. Nov 1

    94. Is comparison making you lonely?

    If you’ve ever scrolled past a group trip or a birthday dinner and felt your chest drop, this one is for you. In this episode, I share what it’s like to have deep friendships scattered across the world and not one big local friend group, and why the highlight reel can make you feel lonely even when you’re well connected. We get into the difference between being alone and being lonely, the two types of loneliness (emotional and social), what research says about weak ties and the casual connections we tend to dismiss, and what we do and don’t know about comparison and social media. You’ll leave with a clearer question to ask the next time that drop hits: which type of connection am I actually hungry for? Your homework: draw two columns, one for the people you can be really honest with and one for the people and places that give you a sense of belonging. Notice which one feels thin, then choose one small action for it this week. Ready to start building self-trust? Grab the Trust Yourself mini-course. Want to go deeper with me? Learn more about 1:1 coaching here and book a HEAL connection call here. Research mentioned: Robert Weiss (1973), emotional and social lonelinessRobin Dunbar’s work on the layers of social networksSandstrom & Dunn (2014), “Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties,” Personality and Social Psychology BulletinYang (2016), research on Instagram use, loneliness and social comparisonHunt et al. (2018), the study on limiting social media use This episode is for education and reflection, not a replacement for professional support. If loneliness feels heavy or constant, please speak with your GP or a mental health professional.

  3. Oct 25

    93. Why you keep sweeping things under the rug (and what to say instead).

    If there’s a conversation you keep putting off, and a specific face just came to mind, this episode is for you. A month ago I was in a moment with one of my closest friends and felt my brain offer me two doors: say nothing, or say the scary thing out loud. In this episode I share what I did, the friendship I let go quiet for years, and why avoiding hard conversations is a protective instinct rather than a character flaw. We get into why your brain expects the worst, what research says about how these conversations actually tend to go, why closeness helps your nervous system through hard moments, and a simple three-part way to open the conversation you’ve been dreading without blame. Your homework: name the conversation you’ve been putting off, get honest about what you’re really afraid of underneath it, and write down one time a hard conversation went better than you feared. Ready to start building self-trust? Grab the Trust Yourself mini-course. Want to go deeper with me? Learn more about 1:1 coaching here and book a HEAL connection call here. Research and sources mentioned: Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Finkenauer & Vohs (2001), “Bad Is Stronger Than Good”Kardas, Kumar & Epley (2021), “Overly Shallow? Miscalibrated Expectations Create a Barrier to Deeper Conversation,” Journal of Personality and Social PsychologyCoan, Schaefer & Davidson (2006), “Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat,” Psychological ScienceBrené Brown, Dare to Lead

  4. Oct 18

    92. You're not lazy, you're at capacity.

    If you’re tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix, and you’re scared that stopping means losing momentum, this one is for you. I just came back from New Zealand after two weeks off social media, and I’m sharing the signs of burnout I missed (including the fact that my HEAL link was broken for three months). We get into why your brain is wired to always want more, what burnout does to the brain and body, and why putting something down is what gives you momentum in the first place. You’ll also hear how a full-time working mum rearranged her week so she could start studying again. Your homework: name your honest capacity right now (low, medium or high), then choose one thing to put down or get support with, so you can pick up what matters. Ready to start building self-trust? Grab the ⁠Trust Yourself mini-course⁠ for $47AUD. Want to go deeper with me? Learn more about 1:1 coaching ⁠here⁠ and ⁠book a HEAL connection call here.⁠ Free resource: ⁠The Messy Middle Starter Pack⁠ This episode is for education and reflection, not medical advice. If you think you’re experiencing burnout, please speak with your doctor or a mental health professional. New episodes every Monday. Instagram: ⁠@kathleen.mindsetcoach

  5. Oct 11

    91. Why You Can Never Just Decide (too many options?)

    Decision paralysis. The paradox of choice. They're all real, lets look at the research. If you've ever wondered why you can't decide or why you're always wondering if the grass is greener on the other side, RIGHT after you've made a decision, this episode is for you. In today's episode I share the worst night of my life (speed dating, my friend Courtney, and a scream in a parked car), what a famous study about jam reveals about why too many options leaves us frozen and less satisfied, and the real reason I think so many of us live half in, half out: it's not indecision, it's self-protection. Your homework: pick one area where you're half in, ask what you're protecting yourself from, and give it a 30-day commitment window with no re-evaluating. Ready to start building self-trust? Grab the Trust Yourself mini-course. Want to go deeper with me? Learn more about 1:1 coaching here and book a HEAL connection call here. Free resource: The Messy Middle Starter Pack New episodes every Monday. Instagram: @kathleen.mindsetcoach

  6. Oct 4

    90. A Long Overdue YAP - I've recorded this 4 times...

    I'm back, and I owe you an honest explanation. I recorded this intro four times, waiting for it to feel perfect. In this episode I share what the last 9 months looked like (studying counselling, the YAP challenge, a trip to Spain, turning 30), what finally got me to hit publish, and why I'm switching to a 10-episode arc instead of chasing weekly perfection. Your homework: what are you starting or stopping, and where do you need to adjust your expectations so you can actually begin? Ready to stop waiting and start? Learn more about 1:1 coaching here and book a HEAL connection call here. Free resource: The Messy Middle Starter Pack New episodes every Monday. Instagram: @kathleen.mindsetcoach

  7. Jan 12

    89. Monday Motivation: Do It Messy

    If you’ve been waiting to feel ready before you begin, this episode is for you. In this Monday Motivation, I’m talking about perfectionism, fear, and the quiet ways we talk ourselves out of the life we actually want. I share honestly about love, failure, shame, and the moments that forced me to choose between hiding… or trying again. This is your permission slip for 2026.To stop waiting.To make peace with getting it wrong.To begin anyway. Do it messy.

  8. Jan 5

    88: 2026 - The Year You Give Yourself Permission to Fail

    What if 2026 wasn’t about getting it right…but about giving yourself permission to fail? In this episode, I’m sharing a softer way to enter the new year, one that doesn’t require a perfect plan, endless goals, or burning yourself out trying to do everything. We talk about: Why trying to hold everything as “important” leads to overwhelm How to use your values to decide what actually matters in 2026 Why making mistakes might be the most powerful thing you do this year Letting go of pressure, perfection, and unrealistic timelines Allowing the year ahead to be a dance, not a performance If you’re feeling hopeful and overwhelmed as the new year approaches, this episode is a reminder: you don’t need to have it all figured out, you just need to do what matters.

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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

For overthinkers, feelers & recovering chill girls. This podcast is part voice note, part pep talk, part “I probably shouldn’t tell this story, but here we are.” We spiral, we cry, we self-reflect and then we figure out what the hell to do next. Messy, hilarious, real-AF healing for people who are tired of pretending they’re fine. Created by Kathleen McBride, a coach, counsellor-in-training & emotionally intelligent chaos human navigating the messy middle too.

Information

  • Creator
    Kathleen McBride
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kathleen McBride
  • Show Website
    What To Do When