Shrink This! with Lisa Lampanelli

In this episode of “Shrink This!,” Lisa is joined by actress Roberta Wallach from the play, “The People Versus Lenny Bruce” (off-Broadway, 5/7-6/28, @LennyBrucePlay ) to talk about what “freedom of speech” actually means—onstage, online, and in your everyday life. The two get into why saying whatever you want doesn’t mean you won’t face consequences, how comedy has always pushed the envelope (and sometimes torn it open), and why intention vs. impact is where things can get messy. With Celia, they tackle listener questions about using offensive language in group chats, whether your parents get a free pass to be outdated, and if calling your mother-in-law the c-word is ever worth it (spoiler: probably not!). If you’ve ever wondered where the line actually is—or if there even IS a line—this episode breaks down the difference between being honest, being funny, and just being an asshole.Buy tickets to “The People Versus Lenny Bruce” here, and follow along on Instagram @LennyBrucePlay!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode from 2025, Lisa revisits who owes who an apology—and why we’re all overthinking it. After Lisa spirals for a full week over whether she offended a student (who, it turns out, was completely UNoffended), the crew breaks down the difference between accountability and straight-up codependency. Along with Celia and Nick, Lisa gets into why over-apologizing can be just as annoying as never apologizing; how “I’m not confrontational” is usually just fear in disguise; and why most of the tension you feel with other people is probably something you just made up in your head. Plus, the crew answers listener questions about workplace awkwardness, backhanded compliments from family, and what to do when you can’t stop replaying a conversation. If you’ve ever drafted a fake apology, assumed someone secretly hates you, or said “sorry” five times in a row for no reason, this episode might be the reality check you need.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode from 2025, Lisa and Nick revisit the chaos of doing too much—and secretly wanting to do nothing at all. From the unexpected joy of being sick (because no one can bother you) to the guilt of canceling plans, and the pressure to always be “on,” they break down why people overload their lives and then resent it. They get into the juggling act between alone time and staying social, calling yourself “lazy” when it’s just bad self-talk, and how forcing connection never works the way you think it will. With listener questions about balancing friendships, staying in versus going out, and the fear of ending up alone, Lisa delivers her usual tough-love take: you don’t need to fix your life—you just need to stop fighting what you actually want. Email us your problems at shrinkthisshow@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,” Lisa tackles the thing most people are experts at avoiding: their own feelings. If emotions supposedly move through your body in about 90 seconds, why do we treat sadness, fear, and disappointment like they’re radioactive? Lisa, Nick, and Celia dig into the fear that if you start crying you’ll never stop, the urge to stay busy so you don’t have to feel, and the exhausting performance of being “fine” when you very much are NOT. They break down why bottling things up doesn’t make you strong — it just makes you weird later — and how avoiding discomfort turns small feelings into full-blown meltdowns. If you’ve ever powered through heartbreak, anxiety, or bad news like a champ, only to crash out at 2 a.m., this episode is your permission slip to stop white-knuckling life and to feel the damn feeling already.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,” Lisa is joined once again by her friend, comedian Beau McDowell, to talk about what actually happens to your love life when you get sober. Beau went from blackout drunk at 21 to nine years sober and—somehow—married, and Lisa wants to know everything about that transformation. They get into the difference between dating when you’re numbing out versus dating when you’re actually present, why early-sobriety relationships can be a disaster, and how codependency sneaks into romance when you’re trying to fill a hole instead of build a partnership. With Celia, they tackle listener questions about sober dating, whether you should drink around someone in recovery, and if people who call themselves “California sober” are full of it. If you’ve ever wondered whether getting your life together ruins your dating life—or finally makes it possible—this episode breaks down what really changes when you stop running from yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,” Lisa is joined by her friend, comedian Beau McDowell, to talk about something people hate more than getting sober: accepting themselves as-is. From crooked teeth and body-image spirals to the delusion that fixing one thing will magically fix your whole life, they break down why the real work isn’t perfection—it’s acceptance. Beau opens up about getting sober, swapping addictions, and realizing that, even without booze, you’re still unfortunately you, while Celia chimes in as they get into why people obsess over tiny “flaws,” and why chasing a glow-up is often just avoiding the real issue. If you’ve ever thought, “once I fix this one thing, I’ll finally feel okay,” this episode is here to lovingly destroy that fantasy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,” Lisa is joined by former comedian and current writer Andrew Ginsburg to talk about something people are terrible at: quitting. Talking about everything from jobs that drain us to relationships that barely function, the duo breaks down why walking away isn’t failure—it’s sanity. Andrew shares how he finally quit stand-up after years of forcing it and how that led him to something that fits him like a glove: writing children’s books. With Celia in the mix, they talk about how to stop pushing through and wasting your life, how to know when you’re done, and why most people stay way longer than they should. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m miserable but maybe I should stick it out,” this might be the episode that gets you to stop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,” Lisa is joined by Nick and returning producer Celia to tear apart the feel-good phrases we all love to hide behind. From “give yourself grace” to “manifest it” to toxic positivity disguised as wisdom, Lisa asks the real question: Are platitudes helping you grow or just allowing you to avoid your life? With stories, sarcasm, and a little hard truth, the crew breaks down when clichés comfort us—and when they quietly keep us stuck. If you’ve ever slapped a “good vibes only” sign on a bad situation, this one’s for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,” Lisa takes a blowtorch to identity obsession and asks the uncomfortable question no one wants to answer: “Who are you without the label?”Joined by Nick and video producer Stephanie, Lisa unpacks why clinging to being “the comic,” “the actor,” “the mom,” or “the reliable one” can quietly keep you stuck instead of safe. From career pivots and ancient dreams to the ego hangover that comes with letting go, Lisa digs into how identity turns into a cage—and why not knowing who you are might actually mean you’re growing. If your favorite phrase is, “This is just who I am,” this episode is here to lovingly ruin that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,” Lisa takes a blowtorch to resentment and asks the uncomfortable question no one wants to answer: what are you still mad about—and why? Joined by Nick and video producer Stephanie, Lisa unpacks why clinging to grudges, scorekeeping, and “I’m fine” energy can quietly poison your relationships (and your own nervous system). From journaling burn lists and dead ex‑boyfriends to family drama over necklaces and who pays for dinner, the crew digs into how resentment builds, where it actually comes from, and why saying the hard thing early beats exploding later. If you love to claim you’ve “moved on” while mentally keeping receipts, this episode is here to lovingly call your bluff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This,” Lisa drags the Enneagram out of BuzzFeed hell and back into its rightful place: at the top of the list of the most helpful tools for self-awareness. Joined by Nick and a surprise producer swap, she breaks down what your “type” actually means—and why using it as an excuse to be unbearable is a cop-out. Discussing every type from  flaky 7s to bossy 8s and conflict-avoiding 9s, Lisa shows how every personality has red flags, growth paths, and zero permission to stay stuck. If you’ve ever said, “That’s just how I am,” this episode is your wake-up call.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Broadway performer and fellow chaos gremlin Chris O’Neill to talk about what happens when the loud, funny guy finally walks into therapy—and immediately starts crying. They unpack ADHD, people-pleasing, control issues, and why being “the fun one” is often just a coping mechanism in a clown nose and floppy shoes. From emotional dumps to re-parenting your inner child, this is a brutally honest, surprisingly tender conversation about what actually changes when you stop dodging your feelings and let someone help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s finally here! After months of waiting, the trio is together again, and “Shrink This” is back for Season 2! Celia returns with an update after last season’s “Fixing Celia” cliffhanger, Nick remains proudly unfixable, and Lisa spirals over discovering her future gravestone is way bigger than she anticipated — which somehow becomes a surprisingly emotional lesson about shame.What starts as jokes turns into a conversation about outgrowing your family, feeling weird for doing “better” than your parents, and the quiet fear that success makes you ungrateful or disloyal. Add in listener letters from people who feel like disappointments, black sheep, and underachievers, and suddenly everyone’s unpacking the same thing: you’re not broken — you’re just growing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Season Finale of “Shrink This,” Lisa and Nick earn their upcoming hiatus when they attempt to help their long-suffering producer, Celia. From health anxiety and 911 spirals to roommate blowups, Celia has been through it, baby, and our microphone superheroes try to help her through her latest trials and tribulations. Expect ruthless honesty, coaching she’ll definitely ignore, and talk of bras and brain scans. Happily, Celia ends up with a surprisingly useful plan for her to stop stressing and hold onto her friends. It’s therapy-adjacent… with dick jokes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,”Lisa and Nick go head-to-head with their favorite poison: resentment. From VIP tables that leave you broke to grandma duty that leaves you broken, nothing builds bitterness faster than biting your tongue. The crew breaks down why swallowing your anger just makes you fatter, sadder, and drunker—and why saying the thing — out loud, now, before you explode — is the only way to keep your friendships, your spine, and maybe even your tits intact. Expect real stories, zero filters, and the kind of honesty that’ll make you resent us too. Send us your problems at shrinkthisshow@gmail.com!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bodily-function-heavy episode, Lisa and Nick dive into the art of shutting the hell up when things get serious. From cemetery creepers and scary run-ins to the tragic comedy of people who can’t “leave a tender moment alone” (we’re lookin’ at you, Nick!), the duo unpack why deflecting with humor feels safer than actually sitting in the feels. Expect plenty of raw stories, trademark honesty, and way too many dick-and-balls references — because apparently, even funerals aren’t safe from punchlines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,”Lisa and Nick tackle the messy line between venting, complaining, and dialing an emotional 911 every time life goes sideways. From friends who drain you dry to the guilt of feeling like a “burden,” they break down when it’s okay to call for backup — and when you need to put on your big-kid pants and self-soothe. With brutal honesty, biting humor, and a few too-real stories (dead birds and CVS meltdowns included), the duo takes on the comedy—and cringe—of figuring out your own emotional emergencies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this “girls only” episode, Lisa welcomes her friend-in-the-making — journalist and friendship expert Anna Goldfarb, author of “Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections.” The Nick-less duo talk everything friendship, from why “best friend” isn’t a lifetime guarantee, to the awkward art of setting boundaries. In this sharp, insightful, and very real conversation, Lisa and Anna break down the comedy—and the chaos—of maintaining adult friendships. Warning: might be a little TOO real if you’re still trauma-bonded with your college roommate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This!,”Lisa and Nick tackle the fantasy of the one perfect best friend. From awkward “my husband is my BFF” declarations to the cringe of codependent friendships, they unpack why expecting one person to be your everything is a fast track to disappointment. With sharp humor and some brutally honest self-reflection, they explore what it really takes to build friendships that work—even if that means spreading the love around.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Shrink This,”Lisa and Nick dive into the emotional rollercoaster of traditions. From navigating the burdens of upholding holiday rituals to the freedom of creating your own way, the duo breaks down the messy, funny, and sometimes painful reality of letting go of what no longer fits. Tune in for laughs, insights, and a healthy dose of reflection on the power of growth and the importance of making your own traditions - even if that means putting sausage in the stuffing! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.