Taboo Tea with Katie

Katie Stafford
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Where the tea is truthful, the healing is holy, and the petty is sanctified! Taboo Tea is a soulful, sharp, spiritually-rooted mental health podcast that tells the truth about the things we keep in the dark — the thoughts we hide, the behaviors we justify, and the patterns that keep us stuck. Hosted by me, your therapist big sister, this show blends psychology, spirituality, and real talk. Each episode exposes what shame silences and offers tools, wisdom, and scripture to help you feel seen, not judged.

  1. S2 | Ep 3 The Cool Girl Is Tired

    1d ago

    S2 | Ep 3 The Cool Girl Is Tired

    Christina's Gone!! Have you ever looked up and realized you've been playing a role in your own relationships? The easygoing friend.The understanding partner.The strong one who never asks for anything.The "cool girl" who pretends everything is fine. In this episode of Taboo Tea, we're talking about what happens when love starts feeling like a performance review and approval becomes more important than authenticity. We'll explore why so many of us learn to shape-shift for connection, how performing for love is often rooted in questions of self-worth, and why being liked is not the same thing as being known. Because eventually, the character gets tired. It's time to retire the mask, stop auditioning for relationships, and discover the relief that comes from being loved without constantly managing the experience. Pour your tea and let's talk about it. Keywords: people pleasing, self-worth, relationships, authenticity, boundaries, anxiety, attachment styles, emotional health, Christian mental health, healing, personal growth, relationship advice, codependency, self-love, mental wellness, therapy, emotional intelligence, perfectionism, women’s mental health

    7 min
  2. S 2 | Ep 2: If I’m Easy, They’ll Stay

    May 29

    S 2 | Ep 2: If I’m Easy, They’ll Stay

    You say you're "easygoing," but are you really... or have you just gotten really good at abandoning yourself to keep other people comfortable? In this episode of Taboo Tea, we're talking about people-pleasing in relationships and the belief that if you're understanding enough, flexible enough, and low-maintenance enough, people will stay. We'll unpack why chronic over-accommodation can feel like love, how it slowly erodes your sense of self, and why some relationships only feel peaceful because one person is carrying all the emotional weight. If you've ever swallowed your feelings to avoid conflict, struggled to ask for what you need, or felt guilty for having boundaries, this conversation is for you. Pour your tea and join me as we explore the difference between loving someone and losing yourself. Keywords: people pleasing, relationships, boundaries, self-worth, attachment styles, relationship anxiety, emotional health, self-abandonment, codependency, healthy relationships, Christian mental health, healing, personal growth, therapy podcast, emotional boundaries, dating and relationships, self-love, relationship patterns, vulnerability,

    7 min
  3. Season 2 | Ep 1: Loving While Broken

    May 22

    Season 2 | Ep 1: Loving While Broken

    What if you do not have to be fully healed before you are worthy of love? In the Season 2 premiere of Taboo Tea: Relationship Edition — Pour It All Out, Katie explores the belief that says, “I need to be whole before I can be loved.” This episode unpacks how self-sabotage, isolation, emotional withholding, and performing “healed” can show up when fear gets dressed up as wisdom. Together, we talk about the difference between discernment and avoidance, why love can feel unsafe after heartbreak, and what it means to receive love with honesty, accountability, and willingness while still healing. You do not have to be whole.But you do have to be willing. Keep your tea hot, your heart honest, and don’t gaslight your own healing. Topics covered: relationships, healing, self-sabotage, emotional availability, fear of intimacy, relationship anxiety, vulnerability, dating while healing, faith and mental health, Christian mental health, self-worth, boundaries, therapy, attachment wounds, emotional healing, love after heartbreak, trauma healing, personal growth, relationship patterns, women’s mental health, Black mental health, spiritually grounded healing.

    17 min
  4. Episode 9: Too Big To Hold Alone

    Mar 13

    Episode 9: Too Big To Hold Alone

    In this episode, Katie unpacks the idea that emotions aren’t actually “too big”—they’re just too heavy to carry alone. Through reflection, cultural wisdom, and practical tools, she explores why many of us wear silence and self-sufficiency like a badge of honor and what it looks like to start sharing the weight instead. Emotional overwhelm, feeling overwhelmed, coping with emotions, vulnerability and connection, hyper-independence, community care, collective healing, mental health awareness, emotional resilience, faith and mental health, Christian mental health

    10 min
  5. Episode 8: Storytime! How I Fumbled The Bag

    Mar 6

    Episode 8: Storytime! How I Fumbled The Bag

    Katie shares a personal story about losing a cherished purse and explores themes of grief, self-shaming, and the importance of honesty and care in our emotional lives. This episode encourages listeners to embrace their feelings, practice compassion, and understand that seasons of change are natural and temporary. keywords grief, self-care, emotional honesty, seasons of life, compassion, personal growth, mental health, self-awareness, healing, vulnerability

    10 min
  6. Episode 7: It Was Never About The Chicken

    Feb 27

    Episode 7: It Was Never About The Chicken

    In this conversation, Katie explores the complexities of relaxation and the cultural conditioning that often makes it difficult for individuals to rest. She shares personal anecdotes and insights into how childhood experiences shape adult behaviors regarding rest. The discussion emphasizes the importance of redefining rest as a necessary part of life rather than a reward for productivity, advocating for a shift in mindset to allow for healing and self-trust. keywords relaxation, rest, cultural conditioning, mental health, self-care, nervous system, childhood memories, adult stress, permission to pause, healing

    7 min
  7. Episode 6: Waiting For The Cosign

    Feb 20

    Episode 6: Waiting For The Cosign

    In this conversation, Katie explores the challenges of self-trust and the fear of self-discovery. She discusses how many individuals rely on external validation to affirm their identity and capabilities, often leading to a gap between their true selves and the identities they feel allowed to express. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, she emphasizes the importance of embracing one's growth process without waiting for external approval, encouraging listeners to trust their instincts and honor their evolving identities. Keywords self-trust, fear of self-discovery, external validation, personal growth, identity, self-acceptance, confidence, feedback, calling, self-reflection Takeaways Many struggle with trusting their own thoughts without external validation. Hard work can sometimes drown out our inner voice. Self-identity is often mirrored by others' perceptions. Fear often arises not from failure, but from self-discovery. We may hesitate to share our ideas due to fear of judgment. Feedback can threaten our evolving identity. Faith involves trusting oneself without needing constant validation. Curiosity can replace the need for certainty in self-discovery. It's okay to be in process and not fully formed. We should honor our instincts without seeking outside approval. sound bites "Hard work can sometimes become noise." "Faith doesn't mean ignoring feedback."

    6 min
  8. Episode 5: What if Delulu is The Solulu?

    Feb 13

    Episode 5: What if Delulu is The Solulu?

    We joke about being “delulu” when we dare to hope for something good — but rarely question how often we treat worst-case scenarios like facts. In this episode, we unpack why fear gets labeled as realism, why hope gets side-eyed as delusion, and how anxiety quietly masquerades as wisdom. This isn’t about toxic positivity or ignoring reality — it’s about questioning which stories we let lead. If you’ve been calling fear “being smart” and peace “being naive,” this sip might change how you see it.

    6 min
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About

Where the tea is truthful, the healing is holy, and the petty is sanctified! Taboo Tea is a soulful, sharp, spiritually-rooted mental health podcast that tells the truth about the things we keep in the dark — the thoughts we hide, the behaviors we justify, and the patterns that keep us stuck. Hosted by me, your therapist big sister, this show blends psychology, spirituality, and real talk. Each episode exposes what shame silences and offers tools, wisdom, and scripture to help you feel seen, not judged.

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Stafford
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Katie Stafford
  • Show Website
    Taboo Tea with Katie