Secondhand Therapy

PonyBear Studios
  • 4.7 (182)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Secondhand Therapy is a funny, honest mental health podcast where two unlicensed best friends unpack their weekly therapy sessions.Join Louie Paoletti and Michael Malone as they explore anxiety, ADHD, grief, masculinity, and emotional growth—with humor, heart, and total transparency. Each episode blends raw self-reflection with real time takes on therapy, trauma, relationships, and the messy process of healing.It’s real talk about mental health in the modern world, and why personal growth is so damn hard.

  1. 12H AGO

    I'm Afraid To Be Myself | #123

    Support the pod: PATREON - http://patreon.com/secondhandtherapypod MERCH - http://secondhandtherapypod.com Psychic Source: Go to our sponsor https://trypsychicsource.com/sht10 and use our code sht10 to try up to 40 minutes with an advisor for just $19.80. That is up to a $240 value! BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. #sponsored If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ Southern New Hampshire University: Go to https://snhu.edu/sht to explore over 200 degree programs and find your path forward. #sponsored _____ Why do we people-please? Why is having opinions so scary? And why do old memories and regrets stay with us for life? This episode dives deep into people pleasing, fear of abandonment, identity, childhood emotional development, and the pressure of expectations. We talk about why we struggle to disappoint others, why external validation feels safer than authenticity, and how regret and unresolved memories shape adulthood. We also unpack a short story about childhood friendship, curiosity, sexuality, nostalgia, and the emotional weight we carry from growing up. Topics include: • people pleasing & fawning response • fear of abandonment • identity & self-worth • regret & shame • childhood emotional development • nostalgia & memory • masculinity & emotional expression • therapy & personal growth If you’ve ever struggled to say no, feared disappointing others, or wondered who you really are — this episode is for you. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: business@shtpod.com Follow us here: http://instagram.com/secondhandtherapypod http://tiktok.com/@secondhandtherapypod Contact us: secondhandtherapypod@gmail.com 818-850-2448 PO BOX 230595, Las Vegas, NV 89105 Cover Art Design: Louie Paoletti Theme Music: Jamie Franks

    1h 2m
  2. Unplugged and Hating It | #122

    MAR 23

    Unplugged and Hating It | #122

    Support the pod: PATREON - http://patreon.com/secondhandtherapypod MERCH - http://secondhandtherapypod.com Psychic Source: Go to our sponsor https://trypsychicsource.com/sht10 and use our code sht10 to try up to 40 minutes with an advisor for just $19.80. That is up to a $240 value! BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. #sponsored If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ Southern New Hampshire University: Go to https://snhu.edu/sht to explore over 200 degree programs and find your path forward. #sponsored _____ In this episode of Secondhand Therapy, we dive into dopamine detox, phone addiction, and what happens when you remove distractions from your life. One host quits his smartphone, switches to a Light Phone, ditches Bluetooth, and starts living with extreme intention—only to realize it’s way harder (and more uncomfortable) than expected. We talk about doomscrolling, online shopping addiction, constant comparison, and the feeling of always searching for something you can’t define. Is modern technology making us anxious, disconnected, and unhappy? We also get into family dynamics, political tension, overthinking, and the struggle with self-worth—especially when you assume people are judging you. Why do we spiral about what others think? And how do you stop? This episode is about slowing down, being present, and learning how to sit with discomfort instead of escaping it. Topics include: Dopamine detox & digital minimalism Phone addiction & social media habits Intentional living & mindfulness Anxiety, overthinking, and shame Family conflict & emotional triggers Self-worth and comparison If you’ve ever felt addicted to your phone, stuck in your thoughts, or unsure if you’re growing or just spiraling—this one’s for you. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: business@shtpod.com Follow us here: http://instagram.com/secondhandtherapypod http://tiktok.com/@secondhandtherapypod Contact us: secondhandtherapypod@gmail.com 818-850-2448 PO BOX 230595, Las Vegas, NV 89105 Cover Art Design: Louie Paoletti Theme Music: Jamie Franks

    55 min

  3. MAR 16

    ADHD Burnout, Executive Dysfunction & EMDR Therapy Breakthroughs | Replay

    ADHD burnout, perfectionism, EMDR therapy, anxiety, and deciding when you're ready to share your story. _____ Support the pod: PATREON - http://patreon.com/secondhandtherapypod MERCH - http://secondhandtherapypod.com Psychic Source: Go to our sponsor https://trypsychicsource.com/sht10 and use our code sht10 to try up to 40 minutes with an advisor for just $19.80. That is up to a $240 value! BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. #sponsored If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ Southern New Hampshire University: Go to https://snhu.edu/sht to explore over 200 degree programs and find your path forward. #sponsored _____ ADHD, executive dysfunction, EMDR therapy, anxiety, and healing after relationships — this episode dives deep into the messy reality of mental health recovery. Michael opens up about living with ADHD, the pressure of rigid routines, executive dysfunction burnout, and the exhausting cycle of all-or-nothing thinking, perfectionism, and chasing the ideal self. He shares how ADHD impacts productivity, identity, motivation, and emotional regulation. Lou reflects on recent EMDR therapy sessions while processing a past relationship and the emotional residue left behind. He discusses anxiety, avoidance, emotional numbness, and the fear that comes with telling deeply personal stories. The conversation explores vulnerability, trauma processing, therapy breakthroughs, and deciding when you're ready to share your truth. This episode is for anyone navigating ADHD overwhelm, therapy healing, relationship grief, anxiety recovery, perfectionism, and personal growth. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: business@shtpod.com Follow us here: http://instagram.com/secondhandtherapypod http://tiktok.com/@secondhandtherapypod Contact us: secondhandtherapypod@gmail.com 818-850-2448 PO BOX 230595, Las Vegas, NV 89105 Cover Art Design: Louie Paoletti Theme Music: Jamie Franks

    46 min

  4. MAR 9

    I Spoke to My Dead Mom Through a Psychic | #121

    We called a psychic medium to talk to our dead loved ones… and it got real. _____ Support the pod: PATREON - http://patreon.com/secondhandtherapypod MERCH - http://secondhandtherapypod.com Psychic Source: Go to our sponsor https://trypsychicsource.com/sht10 and use our code sht10 to try up to 40 minutes with an advisor for just $19.80. That is up to a $240 value! BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. #sponsored If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ Southern New Hampshire University: Go to https://snhu.edu/sht to explore over 200 degree programs and find your path forward. #sponsored ____ In this episode of Secondhand Therapy, we share what happened when we called a psychic medium to see if we could speak to our deceased loved ones. What started as skepticism turned into an emotional experience neither of us expected. One of us connected with his mother who passed away 10 years ago. The other spoke about a deceased ex-partner and unresolved guilt. We talk about grief, survivor’s guilt, regret, emotional numbness, and what it means to feel like nobody needs you. Is talking to a psychic real? Are medium readings legit? Or is it just cold reading and coincidence? We break down what felt accurate, what didn’t, and how it stirred up deeper conversations about therapy, closure, depression, burnout, suicidal ideation, and self-abandonment. We also explore: Guilt about your last conversation with a parent Feeling disconnected after loss Numbing with work or substances The pressure to be needed The realization that maybe the person who needs you most… is you If you’ve ever lost a parent, struggled with grief, wondered about psychics or mediums, or felt like no one would notice if you disappeared, this episode is for you. Disclaimer: We are not therapists. This is not professional advice. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: business@shtpod.com Follow us here: http://instagram.com/secondhandtherapypod http://tiktok.com/@secondhandtherapypod Contact us: secondhandtherapypod@gmail.com 818-850-2448 PO BOX 230595, Las Vegas, NV 89105 Cover Art Design: Louie Paoletti Theme Music: Jamie Franks

    47 min

  5. MAR 2

    Codependency Is Controlling Your Relationships (And You Don’t See It) | #120

    Codependency, people-pleasing, and losing yourself in love — how to break the cycle and build real intimacy. _____ Support the pod: PATREON - http://patreon.com/secondhandtherapypod MERCH - http://secondhandtherapypod.com Psychic Source: Go to our sponsor https://trypsychicsource.com/sht10 and use our code sht10 to try up to 40 minutes with an advisor for just $19.80. That is up to a $240 value! BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. #sponsored If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ Southern New Hampshire University: Go to https://snhu.edu/sht to explore over 200 degree programs and find your path forward. #sponsored ______ Why do we lose ourselves in relationships, chase validation, and confuse caretaking with love? This week we sit down with Ken to unpack the reality of codependency — from people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, and attachment anxiety to the addiction of needing validation from partners. We talk CoDA meetings, self-worth, intimacy avoidance, honesty in relationships, and the uncomfortable process of learning boundaries without losing compassion. If you’ve ever felt responsible for fixing your partner, struggled to express needs, or stayed in unhealthy dynamics out of fear of abandonment, this episode will hit hard. We also get into: • why codependent people struggle with identity • the difference between love and emotional dependency • learning to stop controlling outcomes and tolerate discomfort • how honesty builds real intimacy (even when it’s terrifying) • breaking the cycle of choosing “projects” instead of partners This is a vulnerable, funny, and deeply honest conversation about recovery, relationships, and learning to finally choose yourself. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: business@shtpod.com Follow us here: http://instagram.com/secondhandtherapypod http://tiktok.com/@secondhandtherapypod Contact us: secondhandtherapypod@gmail.com 818-850-2448 PO BOX 230595, Las Vegas, NV 89105 Cover Art Design: Louie Paoletti Theme Music: Jamie Franks

    58 min
  6. Are You Addicted to Misery? Dry Drunk Behavior, Earned Love & Why Happiness Feels Impossible | #119

    FEB 23

    Are You Addicted to Misery? Dry Drunk Behavior, Earned Love & Why Happiness Feels Impossible | #119

    Exploring dry drunk behavior, earned love, and why misery can feel safer than happiness. _____ Support the pod: PATREON - http://patreon.com/secondhandtherapypod MERCH - http://secondhandtherapypod.com Psychic Source: Go to our sponsor https://trypsychicsource.com/sht10 and use our code sht10 to try up to 40 minutes with an advisor for just $19.80. That is up to a $240 value! BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. #sponsored If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ Southern New Hampshire University: Go to https://snhu.edu/sht to explore over 200 degree programs and find your path forward. #sponsored ______ In this episode, we unpack the uncomfortable idea of being a “dry drunk” — not addicted to substances, but addicted to behaviors, control, and emotional suffering. What starts as a conversation about sobriety quickly turns into something deeper: the fear that happiness isn’t real, the belief that love must be earned, and the quiet ways self-worth gets shaped by childhood experiences. We talk about feeling stuck in survival mode, struggling to accept love without performing for it, and why misery can feel safer than healing. From identity confusion to self-neglect, people-pleasing, and the anxiety of being perceived, this episode explores the internal battles that don’t always look dramatic from the outside — but feel overwhelming on the inside. If you’ve ever felt like you’re self-aware but still trapped in the same patterns… this conversation will hit close to home. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: business@shtpod.com Follow us here: http://instagram.com/secondhandtherapypod http://tiktok.com/@secondhandtherapypod Contact us: secondhandtherapypod@gmail.com 818-850-2448 PO BOX 230595, Las Vegas, NV 89105 Cover Art Design: Louie Paoletti Theme Music: Jamie Franks

    57 min

  7. FEB 16

    If the World Ended in 14 Days… Who Would You Choose? | Attachment, Self-Sabotage & Seeking a Friend | #118

    If the world ended in 14 days, who would you choose — and why are you scared to choose anyone? Support the pod: PATREON - http://patreon.com/secondhandtherapypod MERCH - http://secondhandtherapypod.com BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. #sponsored If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ The Maca Team: Louie really does take Maca every day. (He takes Black and Tri-Blend). He loves it. http://themacateam.com/secondhandtherapy promo code: bearcub for 10% off Light Phone: Louie really does have and use a Light Phone III. He loves it. https://www.thelightphone.com/shop?ref=mmexymn promo code: secondhandtherapy for $50 off pre-order of Light Phone III ______ What would you do if the world was ending in 14 days? This week on Secondhand Therapy, we break down Seeking a Friend for the End of the World through a therapy lens — and it gets personal fast. We talk about attachment styles, fear of abandonment, self-sabotage, purpose, loneliness, and the urge to unblock your ex when mortality hits. Would you numb out with chaos… or search for connection? Would you end it with family, your partner, or alone? And why does control feel safer than vulnerability? This episode dives into: Anxious vs avoidant attachment Preemptive abandonment Fear of being “too much” Existential anxiety & meaning Why we sabotage love before it can hurt us It’s funny. It’s uncomfortable. It’s deeply honest. If the clock were ticking — who would you choose? BUSINESS INQUIRIES: business@shtpod.com Follow us here: http://instagram.com/secondhandtherapypod http://tiktok.com/@secondhandtherapypod Contact us: secondhandtherapypod@gmail.com 818-850-2448 PO BOX 230595, Las Vegas, NV 89105 Cover Art Design: Louie Paoletti Theme Music: Jamie Franks

    53 min
  8. Why Happiness Feels Unsafe | #117

    FEB 9

    Why Happiness Feels Unsafe | #117

    Why happiness feels unsafe, how fear and guilt take over, and why letting your guard down feels dangerous. Support the pod: PATREON - http://patreon.com/secondhandtherapypod MERCH - http://secondhandtherapypod.com BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ The Maca Team: Louie really does take Maca every day. (He takes Black and Tri-Blend). He loves it. http://themacateam.com/secondhandtherapy promo code: bearcub for 10% off Light Phone: Louie really does have and use a Light Phone III. He loves it. https://www.thelightphone.com/shop?ref=mmexymn promo code: secondhandtherapy for $50 off pre-order of Light Phone III ______ Why does happiness feel dangerous? In this episode of Second Hand Therapy, we break down fear, sadness, guilt, and the belief that joy invites punishment. Using the feelings wheel, therapy insights, and personal stories about grief, superstition, self-sabotage, and emotional isolation, we explore why letting your guard down can feel unsafe—and how protecting yourself might actually be keeping you stuck. This episode covers emotional programming, fear of success, pride vs. gratitude, inherited coping mechanisms, and why some of us feel more comfortable in misery than peace. Dark humor, honesty, and introspection—this is not therapy, but it is real. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: business@shtpod.com Follow us here: http://instagram.com/secondhandtherapypod http://tiktok.com/@secondhandtherapypod Contact us: secondhandtherapypod@gmail.com 818-850-2448 PO BOX 230595, Las Vegas, NV 89105 Cover Art Design: Louie Paoletti Theme Music: Jamie Franks

    56 min
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Trailer

4.7
out of 5
182 Ratings

About

Secondhand Therapy is a funny, honest mental health podcast where two unlicensed best friends unpack their weekly therapy sessions.Join Louie Paoletti and Michael Malone as they explore anxiety, ADHD, grief, masculinity, and emotional growth—with humor, heart, and total transparency. Each episode blends raw self-reflection with real time takes on therapy, trauma, relationships, and the messy process of healing.It’s real talk about mental health in the modern world, and why personal growth is so damn hard.

Information

  • Creator
    PonyBear Studios
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    131
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SHT POD LLC. All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Secondhand Therapy

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