she persisted | mental health, self-care, psychology, gen z, dbt, depression, anxiety, healing

#237 🍿 watch on spotify & youtube💌 ask me a question or leave feedback on the podcast!how gen z can lead with hope (even when it feels impossible)? today’s guest is amanda litman— the co-founder and president of run for something, a nonprofit organization that recruits and supports young leaders to run for state and local office. she has written two books geared toward the next generation of political leaders, was named one of the time next 100, and is currently a 2025-2026 obama foundation usa leader.in this episode, we discuss how gen z can become leaders in both the political arena and the workspace… and why this MATTERS! we talk about:• amanda’s political background + the different campaigns she’s been part of• how to get more involved in politics as a young person • gen z being politically active yet feeling hopeless about politics• coping with anxiety over politics + how to stay hopeful• an insider’s perspective what gen z political leaders are truly like • what gen z leaders are doing differently in the office• generational divides at work + how to navigate those• the four day work week + whether that helps or hurts productivity• dealing with workplace + political burnout • changes we hope to see that improve work life + the political landscape • staying optimistic about our society achieving a work-life balance • why we’re holding back from creating meaningful change + how to address this• tips for gen z on becoming better leaders mentioned:• amanda’s website• amanda’s instagram• when we’re in charge• run for something (book)• run for something (organization)☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2025 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

welcome to the mental health minis series! every other monday, we will feature a five-minute mini-episode with content from a past she persisted episode. this week’s guest is eileen kelly– a sex and dating writer for vogue magazine and host of the podcast going mental.in this mini-episode, we discuss what daily life can look like while receiving residential mental health treatment + advice on choosing a treatment option! to listen to the full episode, click ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠!⁠@shepersistedpodcast⁠⁠shepersistedpodcast.com⁠⁠hello@shepersistedpodcast.com⁠ © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#236🍿 watch on spotify & youtube💌 ask me a question or leave feedback on the podcast!how can you break unhealthy cycles for GOOD?! in this week’s solo episode, i’m sharing the butterfly effect of mental health. i’m breaking down how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are all connected and the one simple step you can take to change your most problematic tendencies!i talk about:• what your emotions are really telling you • understanding how your emotions are impacting your choices• vulnerability factors when it comes to your mental health• the impact that feeling an emotion has on your body• consequences of avoiding or ignoring your emotions  • figuring out your mental health problem areas (unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, etc)• the butterfly effect model for fixing your mental health problem areas• how this model works in the real world (with a step-by-step example!)• an easy guide for trying this model yourself!mentioned:• emotion regulation dbt worksheets• chain analysis worksheets☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

welcome to the mental health minis series! every other monday, we will feature a five-minute mini-episode with content from a past she persisted episode. this week’s guest is amanda e. white– a licensed therapist, author, creator of the popular instagram account @therapyforwomen, the host of the recovered-ish podcast.in this mini-episode, we reveal what your favorite taylor swift song might say about your mental health! to listen to the full episode, click ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠!to listen to last week’s taylor swift episode, click HERE! ⁠@shepersistedpodcast⁠⁠shepersistedpodcast.com⁠⁠hello@shepersistedpodcast.com⁠ © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#235 today’s guest is kara loewentheil—a nyt bestselling author, ivy league women’s rights lawyer turned master feminist coach, practical philosopher, and the founder of the new school of feminist thought. she also hosts a top-rated podcast, unf*ck your brain, and started her own coaching program designed to help you live life on your own terms. in this episode, we discuss negative core beliefs + anxieties that our society programs into women and how women can rewire their brains for the better. we talk about:• how kara went from an ivy league women’s rights lawyer to a feminist coach• key differences between therapy + life coaching you need to know• ways our (often unconscious) beliefs run our lives + how to reevaluate them• experiencing socially programed anxiety as a woman• self-doubt + figuring out whether your thoughts are ‘valid’• the ‘brain gap’ between men + women in our society• doing the work to rewire your negative core beliefs • the core issue that most women are struggling with today • gaining confidence + how to go about that • what’s really causing the male loneliness epidemic  • whether gen z is moving in the right direction with relationships + datingmentioned:• kara’s instagram• kara’s website• take back your brain• unf*ck your brain☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#234 in this week’s solo episode, i’m diving into one of my favorite topics: taylor swift! as both a swiftie and someone who has recovered from severe depression and anxiety, listening to taylor’s songs on mental health is super meaningful to me. so because of that (and in honor of her latest album dropping!!), i’m breaking down some of my all-time favorite taylor swift lyrics, quotes, and signature habits relating to mental health. this episode covers a wide range of mental health topics such as anxiety, SI, depression, body image, unhealthy relationships/habits, and more!here, i’ll be sharing taylor swift lyrics and quotes, how they’ve impacted my own mental health journey, and mental health skills inspired by them that you can try! this episode contains clips from some of her best songs, speeches, and interviews… so make sure to listen for your favorites! i talk about:• a dbt skill to try inspired by taylor’s lyrics & signature countdowns• advice on avoiding toxic habits (based on a song from lover + her nyu speech) • my takes on taylor’s quotes + lyrics about anxiety or overthinking• why you’re on your own kid has such a powerful mental health message• the mindset shift for when you’re in a bad place that taylor + i both use• coping skills from midnights that i pull from in my own life• how taylor defines happiness in the life of a showgirl + why that resonates• feeling stuck in life + a taylor quote for coping with this • underrated taylor swift lyrics + quotes on mental health (from all her eras!)• + SO much more!mentioned:• elle magazine article• nyu commencement speech• father figure tiktok☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#233 today’s guest is dr. will dobud— a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the united states, australia, and norway. he is dedicated to improving adolescent therapy outcomes and promoting safe, ethical practices and is an advocate for youth impacted by america’s troubled teen industry.in this episode, we break down the dangers of the troubled teen industry and why adolescents deserve better mental health care options. we talk about:• what inspired will to advocate against the troubled teen industry (tti)• how tti programs are organized to reduce legal responsibility  • why gen z mental health is still so bad despite efforts to help • wilderness therapy + how it became so popular• who gets sent to wilderness therapy programs + why • the lack of oversight + government regulations over the tti• how tti programs market themselves + why it’s not accurate • if stigma plays a role in getting adolescents proper mental health care• whether the tti can ever truly be reformed • ways to improve mental health care for gen z mentioned:• will’s instagram• will’s substack• will’s email• kids these days• join the launch team• past troubled teen eps• calling bullshit ☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#232 in this week’s solo episode, i’m explaining why your friendships in school matter a lot more than you think! in this episode dedicated to the psychology of school friendships, i’m answering important questions including: is the quality or quantity of your friendships more important? how do your school friends affect your grades and even your future career? what’s the best way to make more friends at school? i’ll also be sharing psychology studies, reacting to viral reddit and tiktok posts, and talking about my own experiences on how friendships are the key to thriving in school. so whether you’re starting college, switching schools, or looking to make more friends at your current school, this episode is your guide to finding the right friendships for you. here, i cover:• why it actually matters to make friends at school • how your school friends can impact your grades• what to do if your friends are distracting you from your work• friendships as a protective factor for your mental health• whether quality or quantity matters more in friendships• how popularity can affect your education • the surprising key to becoming close friends with someone• ways to become closer friends with people at school• balancing friendships with other commitments • figuring out which relationships to prioritize• easy ways that i strengthened my relationships in school • + so much more! mentioned:• harvard happiness study • friends and grades study• grades reddit post • studying with friends tiktok • school as a protective factor ep.• transitioning grades study• depression + anxiety study• unreciprocated friendships study• popularity + sleep study • popularity + SAT prep study• class participation reddit post• close friends + mental health study• making new friends ep.• psych major tips ep.• college regrets reddit post☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#231 today’s guest is dr. ken ginsburg— a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine at the children’s hospital of philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at the university of pennsylvania school of medicine. his research over the last 35 years has focused on facilitating youth to develop their own solutions to social problems and teaching clinicians how to better serve them.in this episode, we unpack some of the most common myths and misconceptions about gen z mental health before diving into how gen z can collaborate with their families to get the mental health resources they need. finally, we share some essential steps for gen z to build their mental resilience and have strong mental health. we talk about:• what traits define gen z + common misconceptions about this generation• negative labels about gen z + whether they’re accurate • if gen z is really in a mental health crisis • our response to parents who criticize gen z’s focus on mental health• key steps gen z can take to improve their mental health• a popular criticism of gen z and whether we agree with it• current mainstream issues like the male loneliness crisis • advice for parents on supporting their teens + getting them to accept help• supporting a friend or a loved one who’s struggling • four things that everyone in gen z needs to know• one major way to build resilience  • + so much more!mentioned:• parents and teens website• create a stress management plan• guide your child toward professional help• i interviewed my therapist• fostering resilience website• dr. ginsburg’s books☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com 

welcome to the mental health minis series! every other monday, we will feature a five-minute mini-episode with content from a past she persisted episode. this week’s guest is michele rosenthal– an award-winning trauma/PTSD blogger, award-nominated author and keynote speaker.in this mini-episode, you'll learn the number one thing you need to know about trauma & PTSD before hearing the four steps for trauma recovery.  to listen to the full episode, click ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠!⁠@shepersistedpodcast⁠⁠shepersistedpodcast.com⁠⁠hello@shepersistedpodcast.com⁠ © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#230 in this week’s solo episode, i’m breaking down some of my favorite mental health frameworks to improve your mental health. one of the biggest mental health challenges is figuring out exactly where to start and what steps to take when you’re really struggling. this episode will be your guide to figuring out what order of operations you can use to get out of a crisis and stabilize your mental health.i’ll cover topics including:• why we need an order of operations for our mental health• my troubled teen industry experience (order of operations gone wrong)• how maslow’s hierarchy of needs applies to your life• a sailboat model for your mental health needs• the dbt house of treatment model & how it works• ways that your biology and environment contribute to your mental health• a checklist you need to cover for your mental wellbeing• the importance of mastery for your mental healthmentioned:• angela duckworth episode• grit lab episode• maslow’s hierarchy of needs• sailboat metaphor• dbt house of treatment• biopsychosocial model☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#229 today’s guest is dr. jessi gold— a nationally recognized psychiatrist, writer, and speaker specializing in mental health care for students, faculty, healthcare professionals, and others in high-stress professions. she is the inaugural chief wellness officer for the university of tennessee system and an associate professor of psychiatry at the university of tennessee health science center.in this episode, we break down what you need to know about managing your mental health as a college student. this episode has tons of information about the gen z college experience, including why your mental health might struggle in college and how you can ask for help if your mental health is suffering.we talk about:• why college students aren’t asking for help with their mental health• areas that a lot of college students are struggling with • substance use in college + how that can affect mental health• challenges gen z uniquely faces today • what your grades might say about your mental well-being• a hot take about gen z + mental health • stigma around mental health that still exists for gen z• opening up to your family about mental health • difficulties around independently managing your health in college• things to figure out before graduating college • flaws in college mental health care to be aware of• AI as a form of therapy for college students• + so much more!mentioned:• dr. gold’s website• dr. gold’s instagram• dr. gold’s tiktok• how do you feel?• greg walton episode☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

welcome to the mental health minis series! every other monday, we will feature a five-minute mini-episode with content from a past she persisted episode. this week’s episode is a solo episode on creating a college routine that works for you. in this mini-episode, you'll learn my favorite tips and life hacks on maintaining your mental health in college through your daily routine! to listen to the full episode, click ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠!⁠@shepersistedpodcast⁠⁠shepersistedpodcast.com⁠⁠hello@shepersistedpodcast.com⁠ © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#228 today’s guest is dr. angela duckworth— the rosa lee and egbert chang professor at the university of pennsylvania and faculty co-director of the penn-wharton behavior change for good initiative. a 2013 macarthur fellow, angela has advised the world bank, nba and nfl teams, and fortune 500 ceos.in this episode, we break down the psychology behind what makes people successful. this episode is full of tips and hacks on increasing your grit and self-control to achieve the best outcomes in life. we talk about:• what makes certain people have more success than others• the psychology of self-control, motivation, + grit • reverse engineering the life you want through the three boxes model • key differences between grit + self-control • tips for improving your self-control + achieving your goals• how to find your passion in life• trying to succeed while avoiding perfectionism + burnout• sampling + why that’s so important for your future • having a support system in order to succeed• how the internet + ai have changed gen z’s work ethic• her rapid fire responses to popular questions• + so much more!mentioned:• grit lab episode• grit (book)• about alice• deliberate practice study• phones in focus• dr. duckworth’s website☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#227. today’s episode is a mental health mashup featuring expert advice from some of my favorite she persisted guests. i’ve compiled the most insightful tips and quotes from past episodes into your ultimate guide on how to navigate depression.in this episode, you’ll hear from a range of psychologists, therapists, professors, and best-selling authors on why so many of us struggle with depression and how we can begin to recover.we talk about:• what actually causes depression• the lived experience of being depressed• stigma + shame surrounding depression  • how to start healing from depression• ways to support a loved one who’s depressed• + so much more!listen to the full episodes:• how to talk about depression• understanding depression • i interviewed my therapist• high-functioning depression• what to do if you’re suicidal• depression as a perfectionist• five facts about depression• research on depression • dealing with suicidal thoughts☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#226 in this week’s solo episode, i’m answering a question on so many of your minds right now: why can summer be so hard on our mental health?!here, i’ll be sharing my favorite psychology insights on why our mental health can struggle in the summer before reacting to trending tiktoks, articles, and reddit posts on summer mental health. i wrap things up by explaining how you can set yourself up for success this summer (and in summers to come!). i’ll cover topics including:• a mental health mantra you need to hear• making your environment work for your mental health• my theory on why mental health can decline in the summer• why school is actually good for mental health (shocking, i know)• finding purpose + structure during summer break• how to stay social + make friends in summer • battling boredom + loneliness when you’re home for the summer• choosing the right summer job for you • the importance of actually relaxing during summer• life hacks for getting out of a mental health rutmentioned:• grit lab recap• parasocial relationships• “yay summer” tiktok• college summers tiktok • depressed on vacation tikok• therapist’s advice tiktok• r/college• r/mentalhealth☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

welcome to the mental health minis series! every other monday, we will feature a five-minute mini-episode with content from a past she persisted episode. this week’s episode is a solo episode on navigating family vacation this summer. in this mini-episode, you'll learn my top four tips for maintaining your mental health (and having fun!) while away on a family vacation. to listen to the full episode, click ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠!⁠@shepersistedpodcast⁠⁠shepersistedpodcast.com⁠⁠hello@shepersistedpodcast.com⁠ © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

welcome to the mental health minis series! every other monday, we will feature a five-minute mini-episode with content from a past she persisted episode. this week’s guest is dr. emily weinstein– a psychologist, author, educator, parent, and longtime tech researcher who co-founded the center for digital thriving at harvard graduate school of education.in this mini-episode, you'll learn the psychology behind some of the most dangerous aspects of social media, such as cognitive distortions, comparisons, and more! to listen to the full episode, click ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠!⁠@shepersistedpodcast⁠⁠shepersistedpodcast.com⁠⁠hello@shepersistedpodcast.com⁠ © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#225 today’s guest is olga khazan— a journalist and author known for her work on health, science, and social science topics. she is currently a staff writer at the atlantic and has previously written for the new york times, the los angeles times, the washington post, forbes, and other publications.in this episode, we break down the five traits that make up your personality and exactly how you can change your personality for the better. we talk about:• what *actually* shapes your personality type• the five traits that make up your personality• popular personality tests + if they’re accurate • how your personality traits affect your daily life• if your personality traits are changeable or fixed• the most common traits people want to change• life hacks for changing your personality traits• benefits of changing certain personality traits • dealing with fears over self-growth + change• changing your personality to fit in • myths around personality psychology • advice for gen z on shaping your personality mentioned:• olga’s website• olga’s writing at the atlantic• olga’s substack• me, but better• weird• angela duckworth ep.• study on ai use☕giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.

#224 in this week’s solo episode, i open up about the mental health struggle i’ve recently been having and how i’ve developed a ‘should’ mentality around it. i explain how when we constantly tell ourselves we ‘should’ be a certain way with our mental health, we’re actually creating shame and stopping ourselves from living our best lives.in this episode, i break down how we can all stop ‘shoulding’ and shaming ourselves and instead create actionable changes in our lives.  i talk about:• how i caught myself using a ‘should’ mentality• self-shame + how it gets in the way of our goals• the psychology behind why we experience shame• DBT skills to use when we’re feeling shame• taking accountability when we’re acting out of shame• guilt vs. shame + why that difference matters• forgiving ourselves for what’s causing us shame• moving forward from ‘shoulding’ + shamementioned:• DBT handout on shame• DBT skills for shame• name it to tame it (message me!)☕ giveaway! want coffee on me? every month, i gift one listener a starbucks gift card to enter:1. leave a review on apple or spotify2. dm me a screenshot on instagram📲 bonus entries for story or tiktok tags!@shepersistedpodcastshepersistedpodcast.comhello@shepersistedpodcast.com © 2020 SHE PERSISTED LLC. all rights reserved.