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The Angry Therapist Podcast

The Angry Therapist Podcast
Author: The Angry Therapist
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© 2024
Description
Audio-Only Episodes. Captain’s Log: No guests. No fluff. Just me, the mic, and whatever’s clawing at my insides. Think audio journaling meets back-of-the-bar confessions. Less psychobabble, more soul bleed. Raw, real, and mostly for me.
Audio + Video Episodes. You ask, I riff. Therapy meets real talk. More structure, more insight, more of the good stuff on love, dating, and tools we need to build a healthy relationship. Awesome guests. Less navel-gazing, more crowd-serving. This one’s for you.
902 Episodes
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In this Q&A, John Kim answers your raw, unfiltered questions about love, attachment, and what it actually takes to build a healthy relationship. From anxious-avoidant dynamics to retroactive jealousy and emotional unavailability — this one gets real. Whether you’re questioning if love should be easy, wondering why your partner won’t commit, or struggling to let go of the past, this episode dives straight into the messy middle — and ends with clarity, honesty, and hope.
Join John in Costa Rica, Dec 1–5. A retreat for connection, creativity, and fresh starts with an optional two-day medicine journey. Sign up HERE
John’s SubStack HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What happens when your dream wedding hides a truth your body already knows? In this powerful conversation, writer and author Amber Rae opens up to John Kim about walking down the aisle knowing she was marrying the wrong man - and the courage it took to leave, fall in love again, and finally meet herself.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Knowing when you’re in the wrong relationship
The fear of leaving when everyone’s watching
How unmet childhood wounds shape our choices
The difference between safety and true connection
Why telling the truth can set everyone free
Whether you’re stuck in a “safe” love, afraid to start over, or trying to trust your gut again, this story will remind you that it’s never too late to choose yourself.
Amber Rae’s new book Lovable is out now and available HERE
Follow Amber at @heyamberrae
Visit amberrae.com for more of her work.
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What happens when the blueprint you’ve been chasing - cars, houses, status - no longer fits who you’ve become? In this powerful episode, John Kim shares how he traded Hollywood dreams for a meaningful life in Costa Rica, and how redefining his blueprint transformed everything.
In this conversation, you’ll hear about:
Why chasing cars, houses, and status leaves you empty
The shift from living “outside-in” to “inside-out”
How unconscious definitions shape love, work, and happiness
The moment John redefined his blueprint as a parent
Steps to rewrite your blueprint and live with meaning
This isn’t about rejecting success - it’s about creating new definitions that actually serve who you are today.
Join John in Costa Rica, Dec 1–5. A retreat for connection, creativity, and fresh starts with an optional two-day medicine journey. Sign up HERE
John’s SubStack HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What do you do when life forces you to start over? John Kim shares how he rebuilt his life in Costa Rica - through community, facing fears, daily rituals, and love check-ins. A raw, honest guide to rebuilding with intention.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
How community can ground and heal you
Facing fears to unlock flow states
Shifting fitness and diet in new ways
Why relationships get exposed during big transitions
Anchors, daily rituals, and what it means to “spin plates”
Whether you’re recovering from loss, moving somewhere new, or just craving change, this episode is a roadmap for rebuilding with intention.
🌴 Plus: John announces his upcoming Costa Rica retreat, December 1–5, with an optional two-day medicine journey add-on. Designed as a hybrid of adventure and wellness, this retreat is about connection, creativity, and starting fresh in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Sign up HERE
John’s SubStack HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What if there were no “wrong” choices - only honest ones? In this episode, John Kim unpacks how to stop second-guessing yourself and start trusting the decisions that truly align with who you are.
Instead of chasing the “right” path or playing it safe, John shares how honest choices open doors you never expected, build real self-trust, and help you live without regrets.
In this conversation, you’ll discover:
Why “safe” decisions often keep you stuck
The surprising difference between right vs. honest choices
How to use your body and intuition as a compass
Two simple questions that cut through fear and doubtWhy the real risk isn’t failure - it’s never really living
If you’ve been paralyzed by indecision, this is the episode that will help you choose courage over fear and step fully into your own life.
John’s SubStack HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, we dive into your unfiltered questions about heartbreak, dating, relationships, and therapy. From moving on after betrayal to navigating compatibility and attachment, we explore the messy, honest realities of love - and the ways we can grow through them.
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Can trauma become your superpower? In this powerful conversation, John Kim sits down with author and ghostwriter Sheree Medeiros to explore how the deepest wounds can lead to resilience, healing, and even purpose.
Sheree shares her journey - growing up with an absent father, surviving sexual assault, battling illness, and ultimately discovering that her pain could be transformed into service, connection, and strength.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
How father wounds shape identity and relationships
Sheree’s story of survival, forgiveness, and resilience
The hidden connection between trauma and physical illness
Why hyper-independence can be a false strength
The power of vulnerability, community, and rewriting your story
📘 About Sheree Medeiros (Trask): Sheree is the author of Surviving Silence (October 2022), a seasoned ghostwriter, and a nonfiction book writing coach. She supports coaches, healers, and leaders in writing their transformational books to make a bigger impact, build authority, and gain recognition in their fields. Sheree has ghostwritten for some of the most influential names in personal development and holistic health, with her work published by Hay House, Inc. and HarperCollins.
She is on a mission to help transform the hearts and minds of humanity through courageous storytelling, aiming to raise the collective consciousness and truly be free to live unapologetically out loud.
📕 Get her book: Surviving Silence HERE
John’s SubStack HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Do you ever feel like an invisible script is controlling your life, dictating what you can and can't achieve? What if I told you that script was written by *you*, and you have the power to rewrite every single line? In this episode, licensed therapist - John Kim will reveal how to identify those hidden limiting beliefs and transform your narrative for good.
John’s SubStack HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, John and Vanessa dive into one of their most personal conversations yet: Can you make a marriage bulletproof?
What starts with a casual coffee shop chat about Costa Rica being a place where marriages “come to die” spirals into a raw, honest discussion about trust, romance, fear, and what truly keeps a relationship alive.
They debate:
Why moving to “paradise” can magnify relationship cracks.
The difference between trusting the container of marriage vs. trusting the love itself.
Realist vs. romantic mindsets in marriage and how they collide.
Vulnerability, attachment styles, and what it means to truly choose someone.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your relationship could survive the hardest tests or if bulletproof love even exists - this episode is for you.
John’s SubStack HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ever felt ganged up on in therapy? We explore how bias “leaks,” how to ask for fairness, and three tools you can also use when giving relationship advice to a friend - so you support without picking sides. Learn to hold space (not control outcomes) and keep growth honest - even when it’s messy.
What you’ll learn:
How “leaking bias” erodes trust - and how to name it constructively.
The difference between helping and imposing (holding space vs. fixing).
3 neutrality tools you can use with friends.
Why therapy is messy (and human), not math and how to keep growth on track.
John’s SubStack HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today’s episode, John Kim answers your most vulnerable questions about relationships - from surviving infidelity and messy breakups, to knowing when it’s time to try again (or walk away), to managing jealousy, triggers, and control. Raw, honest, and unfiltered — this is the conversation we all need about love, loss, and everything in between.
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, John Kim sits down with Dr. Chris Rhodes, a nutritional biochemist and biohacking pioneer, to uncover the truth about fasting—and a revolutionary shortcut that could change everything.
From the myths of intermittent fasting to the hidden benefits of extended fasts, Dr. Rhodes shares his research, self-experiments, and the breakthrough supplement MIMIO that mimics the body’s fasting state without the struggle.
Whether you’re fasting-curious, already skipping meals, or simply want better energy, less bloating, and a path to longevity, this conversation is packed with science, storytelling, and real solutions.
What You’ll Learn:
Why most people are “fasting wrong”
The real benefits that kick in after 24–36 hours without food
How fasting impacts inflammation, bloating, and cellular health
The science behind MIMIO: fasting without fasting
Practical tips for making fasting sustainable in real life
Learn more about MIMIO, HERE
Follow Dr. Rhodes on TikTok, HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today’s deeply moving episode, John shares a story most therapists would never dare reveal - the client who still haunts him years later. This isn’t about clinical textbooks or success stories. It’s about the raw, unfiltered truth of what happens when therapy collides with real life, addiction, and the weight of responsibility no one prepares you for.
What you’ll learn:
Why peace matters more than ever in today’s noisy world
The hidden trauma therapists experience alongside their clients
What it feels like when a client disappears under your care
Why not every therapist is “the one” who changes a client’s life
How to protect your peace and boundaries, even in chaos
Where do you find peace - and how do you protect it? Drop your answer in the comments.
Read more chapters from John’s upcoming book HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From sex myths to second chances, safe choices to stuck seasons - John and Vanessa answer real listener questions from bed. You’ll hear why gendered scripts about sex don’t serve us, what really matters before getting back with an ex, how to choose the “risky” path without regret, and why feeling unmotivated can be a necessary pause - not a personal failure.
What you’ll learn
Can men say no to casual sex? (and why the answer matters)
Exes & ego: new tracks vs. old dynamics
Ditch “right vs. wrong” decisions; choose what’s honest now
Motivation is overrated; integration time builds strength
Links & mentions
Vanessa’s book: The Motherhood Myth HERE
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sometimes life forces you to hit reset. For me, it was losing my house. For you, it might be a breakup, a career shift, or just that nagging feeling that life is smaller than it should be.
In this walk-and-talk episode from Costa Rica, I share how I’ve been redefining everything: happiness, relationships, play, even what “success” means. The truth is - growth doesn’t come from routines. It comes from curiosity, from being willing to reimagine your definitions.
You’ll hear stories of:
My second rebirth at 52
How living abroad reshaped my creativity and sense of play
Why redefining doesn’t require moving countries—it can start with friendships, hobbies, or daily joy
The hidden power of changing your environment
My challenge for you: What’s one thing you can redefine this week?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today’s episode, John Kim takes on your raw, unfiltered questions about love — from the heartbreak of seeing an ex with someone new, to the chaos of dating in your 40s, to navigating loneliness, trauma, and self-worth. It’s the real talk you’ve been craving: messy, honest, and maybe the perspective you need to keep moving forward.
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What if it’s not the big traumas that hold us back, but the tiny cracks in how we think each day? In this episode, John Kim and Vanessa unpack how we unconsciously block miracles - through catastrophizing, over-stimulation, and self-protection - and how small shifts in mindset can open the door to flow, joy, and unexpected magic.
If this helped, hit subscribe for practical, no-fluff relationship tools.
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Closure isn’t a door you wait to have slammed shut - it’s a bridge you build. In this episode, licensed therapist John Kim breaks the biggest “closure” myths and shows you how to move forward without an apology, a perfect explanation, or one last text. If you’ve felt stuck in relationship residue, this is your map.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why “waiting for closure” keeps you stuck
Acceptance over answers (and why that heals faster)
How to generate closure without contact
Turning an expired relationship into a stronger self
Realism > idealism: healing as a process, not an event
Community & service as fuel for resilience
If this helped, follow the show on Spotify and share it with someone who needs it today.
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A 30-second, playful moment sparked this episode - and a reminder: love isn’t generic. We break down how to speak love so it lands without abandoning yourself, especially when partners differ.
What you’ll learn (10 takeaways):
Love isn’t generic - different emotional blueprints
How to avoid the “I’m giving everything, it’s still not enough” trap
Building emotional safety so defenses drop
Reducing resentment & energy burnout
Deepening intimacy beyond the physical
Faster conflict repair by making the nervous system feel safe
Future-proofing with regular “What makes you feel most loved?” check-ins
Co-regulation: why the right love calms insecure attachment
Turning micro-moments into daily bonding rituals
Why guessing breaks trust (love is a skill)
Try this today: Ask your partner, “What lands for you this week?” Then do one unexpected gesture in their way of receiving love (a short note, a quick chore, five phone-free minutes together, a gentle touch, a tiny gift).
If this helped, hit subscribe for practical, no-fluff relationship tools.Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, licensed therapist John Kim takes you inside his personal journey of building a new life in Costa Rica - the highs, the lows, and the unexpected lessons about presence, clarity, and decision-making. From nausea-inducing dirt roads to perfect mornings surfing in Costa Rica, John unpacks how life-changing decisions aren’t made in one big moment… but in a collection of small ones.
You’ll learn:
Why clarity about life, love, and career comes from moments, not constant certainty
How to notice and “bank” the moments that matter when deciding whether to move abroad, who to love, or what path to take
The challenges of living in Costa Rica - from unpaved roads to missing city comforts and the surprising joys that outweigh them
How being present is the only way to truly capture moments (and how most of us miss them)
Why life’s “yes” often comes from an accumulation of tiny affirmations rather than a single sign
Join the conversation! What moments have shaped your biggest life decisions? Have you noticed when your “piggy bank” of yeses finally tipped the scale? Share your story with us.
Like this episode? Please LIKE & FOLLOW for more unfiltered conversations about expat life, self-discovery, and building a life that actually feels like yours.
Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose, HERE
Jump into John’s new Single. On Purpose app HERE
Follow John on Instagram HERE
Find out more about John HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Seeking comfort from old haunts seems appropriate and comforting. I live in a place far from where I grew up, and there aren't a lot of places I used to go here. it's all kinda new. still, I remember little things like small conversations I had with cashiers or local patrons. little events at places like the park with a friend and their kids. the small things matter a lot now that there is not a lot of things from the past.
The wife was cringe to me and the husband passive asl
Not sure what my opinions on his wife are. I don’t trust her haha.
First half horrible advice
First 6 minutes is pure garbage you'll finally got on topic after
I've been a psychologist for over 15 years and I find John Kim incredibly helpful, both personally and professionally. This episode is totally on point. Couldn't have said it better myself. 😎
My second daughter is 11 weeks right now as I'm listening to this. Her sweet sounds are warming my heart. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and appreciation. Congrats to you and Vanessa! I look forward to more posts relating to sweet Logan. My girls are also half Asian!
What sleep program did you use??? Desperate have an 18 month old we've tried programs so far! Or if you can let me know what you did! thank you in advance!!
“Stop digesting content and start putting it to practice”. Was you speaking directly to me in that one?
I think you have explained the difference between self-care and self-comfort when your describing your vision board. Thanks for the insight on how to get started.
"ohn Kim (The Angry Therapist) is doing things differently. Therapy in a shot glass. Ten minutes, no filler." your name got messed up in the description
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Putting thoughts into words is definitely the most difficult thing to do. And you make it sound so easy. Thank you 🙂
I'm 42. I decided not to have kids but in saying that I'm a late developer and only finishing my hons degree this year. best of luck . stay curious about your fucking feelings 👍
This is gold. thank you.