Love in Mind

Olivia Perez

Love in Mind is your go-to podcast for meaningful and insightful discussions on mental health and psychology. Hosted by Olivia Perez, this platform aims to educate, advocate, and foster a supportive space for teens and young adults. Through expert insights, personal stories, and practical advice, Love in Mind encourages open conversation about mental well-being while breaking the stigma around mental health. Join us as we explore strategies for self-care, emotional resilience, and personal growth- because YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS 💚🎧!

  1. Jul 1

    🌸LOVE IN MIND IS BACK | Welcome to Lessons We Needed to Bloom…

    WE ARE SO BACK! 💚🌸🤍 Love in Mind is officially back... and we're returning with something new. Welcome to our very first Side Track, Lessons We Needed to Bloom: Navigating Life, Love, and Everything in Between. In this episode, your host, Olivia Perez, welcomes you into a space built on positive energy, vulnerable conversations, authentic intentions, and the reminder that none of us are meant to navigate life alone. I'm beyond excited to be back sharing biweekly episodes, creating a community where we can grow together through every season of life. Some days feel heavy, some moments leave us questioning life. And sometimes, we simply need to know someone else understands. That's exactly why Lessons We Needed to Bloom exists! This new chapter of Love in Mind is about embracing the reality that every single person is learning, healing, growing, and blooming in their own way. Together, we'll have honest conversations about life's highs, lows, and everything in between—creating a safe space to express ourselves, gain perspective, learn from one another, and remember that growth is never meant to happen alone. In this series, expect: ​Honest, authentic conversations that go beyond the common ones.​Real lessons on navigating life, love, relationships, self-love, purpose, change, and personal growth.​A space where your heart, soul, and mind are all welcome.​Reflection prompts (grab a notebook—you'll definitely want one).​Conversations that embrace both the beautiful moments and the difficult ones, because they all shape who we become.​Encouragement to practice forgiveness, self-acceptance, confidence, and choosing yourself.​Resources and takeaways after every episode to continue your journey long after listening. Why this series? Because there are millions of stories, perspectives, and experiences we can learn from. Every challenge, every victory, every setback, and every new beginning teaches us something worth carrying forward. Growth doesn't have a finish line. Life will continue guiding you toward new lessons, new people, and new versions of yourself—and Love in Mind is here to walk through those moments with you. We'll be talking about everything: career pivots, relationships, self-discovery, healing, ambition, purpose, self-loss, self-love, and all the moments that make us human. No matter what you're navigating right now, remember this: If your story isn't over, neither is your journey. Somewhere in this world, someone needs to hear exactly what you have to say—and we're building a community where every voice matters. Every experience is shaping you into who you're meant to become, one moment at a time. Now it's your turn. 💚 How are you choosing to make your days more aligned, intentional, and true to who you want to become? 🤍What do you want to see from this new chapter of Love in Mind? Share your thoughts, stories, ideas, and experiences—we want to hear it all. Welcome back to Love in Mind, and the beginning of our bloom era! Let's bloom together. 🌷✨

    32 min
  2. Jan 5

    Reflection Over Reaction: A Youth Perspective on Emotional Regulation FT. OLIVIA GARCIA

    What if emotional regulation isn’t about fixing yourself—but about remembering who you are? In this episode of Love in Mind, we explore emotional regulation through a deeper lens—one rooted in emotional reflection, self-awareness, and alignment with your values and morals. Rather than chasing perfection, we talk about what it means to slow down, look inward, and respond to life in ways that feel authentic to your inner self. Emotional regulation isn’t just a skill—it’s a practice that evolves as you grow, shaped by your experiences, development, and the meaning you assign to them. We break down the neuroscience behind emotional regulation and reappraisal, explaining how areas of the brain responsible for long-term thinking, perspective, and identity become more active when we regulate rather than react. We also dive into developmental psychology, especially the unique emotional intensity of being young, and why learning to reflect—rather than judge—your emotions is foundational for resilience. This episode weaves together science, mindfulness, and spirituality, emphasizing that regulation isn’t suppression. It’s awareness. It’s learning how to pause, reflect, and realign your actions with who you truly are—even when emotions run high. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself, overwhelmed by your emotions, or pressured to be “better” instead of more present, this conversation is for you. Love in Mind is a safe space for mental health awareness, curiosity, and growth—and this episode invites you to come home to yourself, one reflection at a time.

    33 min
  3. 12/23/2025

    Not Just the Basic Self-Awareness; Understand When Reflection Helps... and When It Hurts | FT. MARK LEARY, Duke Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience

    Many episodes of Love in Mind explore challenges we all face — anxiety, guilt, grief, rejection, poor sleep, and emotional overwhelm. What connects so many of these experiences is the way we think about ourselves and interpret what we’re going through. In this episode, we dive into the psychology and neuroscience of self-awareness — one of the most fundamental abilities that makes us human, yet one of the most misunderstood. Olivia Perez and Dr. Mark Leary, a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University, explore what self-awareness really is, how it has shaped everything from philosophy and medicine to culture and civilization, and why it distinguishes humans from all other species. From there, we unpack the many different modes of self-awareness — from bodily awareness to reflection on the past, future, and social perception — and how each can either support mental health or quietly undermine well-being when overused. Finally, we focus on what listeners can do to minimize the negative effects of self-awareness, including excessive rumination and self-preoccupation. Drawing from mindfulness, CBT, rational emotive therapy, and neuroscience, this conversation offers practical tools to help you create space from unhelpful thoughts, stay grounded in the present moment, and build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with your mind.

    55 min

About

Love in Mind is your go-to podcast for meaningful and insightful discussions on mental health and psychology. Hosted by Olivia Perez, this platform aims to educate, advocate, and foster a supportive space for teens and young adults. Through expert insights, personal stories, and practical advice, Love in Mind encourages open conversation about mental well-being while breaking the stigma around mental health. Join us as we explore strategies for self-care, emotional resilience, and personal growth- because YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS 💚🎧!