the tara bixby podcast

If you’ve ever tried to think your way out of anxiety only to end up more stuck in worry and rumination, this tip is for you. In this quick tip tuesday, Dr. Russell Kennedy — doctor, neuroscientist, and one of the world’s most respected voices on anxiety — shares his go-to strategy for getting out of your head and back into your body when anxious. It’s simple, practical, and something you can start practicing today to calm your nervous system and find relief fast. He’s also a past podcast guest, so if you love today’s tip, be sure to listen to episode 33, where he shares a new prescription for anxiety relief. You can listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you tune in from.  📱If you loved this tip, don’t keep it to yourself — text this episode to a friend who could use a little help getting out of their head and back into their body.  ✨ Need a friend? Come hang out with me on Insta. I'd love to say hi! 

Hey friends, it’s just you and me today! No guest, no script — just me, sitting on the floor with my mic, following a nudge I couldn’t ignore. I’m diving into a topic I’m so fired up about... what anxiety really is (and what it isn’t). There’s a ton of noise out there about anxiety, but I want to cut through the confusion and share my perspective with you (one that I truly believe will finally help you find freedom from your anxiety). If you're ready, hit play, and I'll see you inside.  ✨ Tired of feeling anxious? Craving more calm and joy? I’d love to help you find freedom from your anxiety. I’m currently offering 1:1 coaching—just email hello@tarabixby.com and I’ll send you more info.

Hey friends. If you’re tired of feeling anxious and want a quick, practical way to calm your nervous system, this tip is for you. Today, I’m breaking down how to use visualization to reduce anxiety and shift your nervous system out of a sympathetic state of “fight-or-flight.” 📱This tip’s too good to keep to yourself — text this episode to a friend who needs to hear it. ✨ Tired of feeling anxious? Craving more calm and joy? I’d love to help you find freedom from your anxiety. I’m currently offering 1:1 coaching—just email hello@tarabixby.com and I’ll send you more info.

Hey, my friends! Parenting can feel like a mirror—reflecting not just our child’s behavior, but our own wounds, patterns, and triggers. What if the biggest shifts didn’t start with our kids, but with us? Today, I’m chatting with Bryana Kappadakunnel, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, mother, and author of Parent Yourself First. For over a decade, Bryana has helped parents uncover the root of their child’s struggles while healing their own nervous system and family patterns. We dive into conscious parenting—why change starts within ourselves, how our past shapes our parenting, and why it’s not our child’s job to manage our triggers. Bryana shares how to set boundaries, heal your inner child, see the needs beneath behavior, do repair work, practice effective discipline, and why having friends as a mom is essential. ✨ Love this episode? Check out episode 50 with Dr. Lindsay Gibson on recovering from emotionally immature parents — one of our most-loved episodes. Episode show notes...  https://open.substack.com/pub/courageouslyu/p/bryana-kappadakunnel-break-generational?r=29mstw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/

Hey friends. 👋 Today, we’re talking about something you might not realize is fueling your anxiety... blood sugar. When your morning starts with cereal, bagels, or pastries, your blood sugar spikes and then crashes—sending your nervous system into fight-or-flight. That crash triggers stress hormones, which can leave you feeling anxious, irritable, or on edge. The good news? You can hop off the blood sugar roller coaster. In this quick tip episode, I share 3 simple tips to help stabilize your blood sugar so you can feel calmer and less anxious throughout the day. I’ll also give a bonus tip for parents on how to set kids up for a better morning (hint: skip the cereal). If you’ve ever wondered why anxiety seems to hit out of nowhere, this one’s for you. ✨ Tired of feeling anxious? Craving more calm and joy? I’d love to help you find freedom from your anxiety. I’m currently offering 1:1 coaching—just email hello@courageouslyu.com and I’ll send you more info. 🍌 Skip the sugar crash—bake up my favorite protein-packed banana muffins. Get the recipe here. 📱This tip’s too good to keep to yourself — text this episode to an anxious friend.

Today’s guest is the very reason I fight so hard for a better mental health narrative. Dr. Cathy Wield shares her extraordinary mental health journey — from years of hospitalizations, 100+ ECT treatments, and 33 medications, to the retraumatization she endured and the moments she felt the system failed her. She opens up about her suicidal thoughts, what it took to relearn how to sit with her emotions, and how she ultimately broke free from the shackles of psychiatry. This is a raw, eye-opening conversation and a must-listen for anyone navigating the mental health system. ✨ If this conversation made you think of someone you care about, don’t keep it to yourself—text this episode to just one friend who might need to hear it too. That’s how we change the mental health narrative, one conversation at a time. Episode show notes...    Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/

Hey, friend. Today, I’m hanging out with Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a psychiatrist and former pharmaceutical researcher who now dedicates his career to helping people safely taper off psychiatric medications. He’s one of the few voices in medicine willing to speak out — and what he shares may just change the way you think about mental health treatment forever. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about... What psychiatrists are actually taught about mental health in medical school How drug companies influence the mental health narrative Why medications continue to be prescribed despite their risks The turning point that led Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring to question everything he once believed about psychiatric drugs and mental illness  What he believes drives anxiety and depression Why those who speak out against the mainstream mental health narrative are often labeled as “the bad guys” Why some people credit medications with saving their lives, while others feel deeply harmed by them The real story behind side effects, drug tolerance, and psychiatric drug injury The impact psychiatric medications have on fertility  The three essential rules for coming off medication safely How to know when it might be the right time to begin tapering What to know before starting a psychiatric medication How parents can best support their child’s mental health journey ...and so much more!  This conversation isn’t about being pro-med or anti-med — it’s about being pro-informed. If this episode helped you feel a little more informed and a little less alone, please share it. Someone else might need that too. Episode show notes...  https://courageouslyu.substack.com/p/dr-josef-witt-doerring-the-truth Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/

Hey friend. In a world that never slows down, stillness isn’t just nice — it’s necessary. Today I’m sharing why stillness is so important for calming your nervous system, easing anxiety, and reconnecting with your inner knowing. I also walk you through my three favorite ways to invite more stillness into your day. Loved this tip? Please share it with a friend who could use a little more calm and stillness in their life.  And if you’re tuning in today, I’d love to know! Tag me on Instagram @thetarabixby so I can say hi and cheer you on.         

Hey friend. Are you an anxious soul who’s hell-bent on making your anxiety disappear? If you’re nodding your head yes, this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by Dr. David Rosmarin — Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, program director at McLean Hospital, and founder of the Center for Anxiety. He’s a clinical psychologist, scientist, author, educator, and keynote speaker who’s been featured everywhere from Good Morning America to TED.com. And his message is powerful: Anxiety isn’t something to get rid of — it’s something to understand, and even embrace. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about... The two different types of anxiety and how to know which one you’re experiencing. Why so many people are struggling with anxiety (and why we’ve become so afraid of our anxious feelings). Why trying to get rid of anxiety can keep you stuck — and what to do instead. Why the mental health system may be over-diagnosing people. The role uncertainty plays in anxiety, and how avoidance makes it worse. The four-step process that'll help you thrive with anxiety. How to support a child who may be struggling, too. ...and so much more!  If this episode gives you even a small burst of hope, would you take a second to share it with another anxious soul who might need to hear it too? Episode show notes...  https://courageouslyu.substack.com/p/dr-david-rosmarin-how-to-stop-fighting Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/ Sponsor... Feeling tired, foggy, or just meh? These electrolytes changed the game for me. You can try all 8 flavors FREE with any order — click here to feel the difference!

Hey, friend. Welcome to the very first quick tip tuesday! 🥳 Today's tip is all about how to send signals of safety to your amygdala — so you can calm your nervous system, reduce your anxiety, and find a little more joy in life.  If you find this helpful, please share it with a friend who's feeling a little anxious, a touch stressed out, or just craving more joy and calm in their life.  And if you’re tuning in today, I’d love to know! Tag me on Instagram @thetarabixby so I can say hi and cheer you on. 

Hey friends. If you’re a working mom feeling stretched too thin, drowning in demands, and simmering with that all-too-familiar mom rage… this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Whitney Casares — a Stanford-trained pediatrician, speaker, mom of two, and founder of Modern Mommy Doc and the Modern Mamas Club app. She’s also the host of the Modern Mommy Doc Podcast and a powerful voice when it comes to helping moms stop doing it all and start doing what actually matters. We're talking about...  Why so many women feel pressure to give 100% to everything they do — and how that belief is burning us out. Why it's important to triage what matters most in the season you’re in. What emotion coaching looks like and why mindful self-compassion is essential. The importance of giving yourself grace in the seasons you wish would move faster. The value of outsourcing and delegating, and why half-assing on purpose is important. How to create a more centered life. How to navigate resentment when it comes up and why honest communication with your partner matters. ...and so much more.  If this episode resonates with you, please take a second to share it with another mom who might need to hear it too. We’re not meant to do this alone — and sometimes, one honest conversation can make all the difference. Episode show notes...  https://courageouslyu.substack.com/p/dr-whitney-casares-moms-stop-trying Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/

Hey friend. Today, I’m opening up about my history with anxiety, panic attacks, and my journey with psych meds. I’m sharing how anxiety first showed up in my life, what I think was really triggering my nervous system to stay stuck in survival mode, and the moment things got so dark, I started having thoughts of not wanting to live. This episode is raw, honest, and from the heart—if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or alone in your mental health struggles, I hope this makes you feel a little more seen. If it resonates, please send it to a friend who might need to hear it too. You’re not alone—and neither are they.  biggest hugs.   

Today, I’m hanging out with Dr. Claire Plumbly — Clinical Psychologist, EMDR Consultant, and author of The Trauma of Burnout. She’s also the founder of Plum Psychology, a UK-based center specializing in trauma-informed care. In today's episode, we unpack...  The difference between stress and burnout Why burnout isn't your fault  The invisible load that so many women carry How burnout and trauma are connected The impact chronic stress has on your mental health  What it looks like when burnout leads to nervous system shutdown How to spot signs of burnout Simple ways to help your nervous system feel safe How our inner critic might be fueling burnout  ...and so much more.  If this conversation speaks to you, if you find yourself nodding along or thinking of a friend who needs to hear it, please share it. Post it to your stories, text it to someone who’s quietly carrying too much, or leave a quick review. It helps more women find these kinds of conversations… and it means the world to me. Episode show notes...    Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/

Today I’m joined by Dr. Jessica Zucker — clinical psychologist, author of "Normalize It" and "I Had a Miscarriage", and a powerful voice in the movement to help women speak openly about what’s often left unsaid. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Vogue, and Harvard Business Review, among others. She’s been featured on NPR, CNN, The Today Show, and Good Morning America and earned advanced degrees from New York University and Harvard University. In today’s episode, we talk about... Why it’s essential for women to start speaking their truths — even when it feels uncomfortable How to share hard things without being labeled as negative or too much The power of normalizing struggle instead of staying silent about it How to truly support someone when they’re opening up about something difficult Why we need to talk more openly about the identity shift and emotional impact of becoming a mother What it takes for women to drop their armor and step into real vulnerability How to stop taking it personally when others can’t hold space for your pain The unspoken pressure on women to show up perfectly  ...and so much more. If this conversation resonates with you, please share it with a friend, post it on Instagram, or leave a quick review. You doing this helps more women find the show, and it means so much to me. Episode show notes...    Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Hey friend.  Today's chat comes straight from my heart to your ears. I'm opening up about why I think we're overcomplicating healing, the 6(ish) things I want you to focus on, why I really dislike when professionals act like they have it all together, and—yes—my strong craving for friendships too Can you do me a favor? I’d love your honest feedback. What do you think about solo episodes? Are they annoying, or do you actually look forward to them? Don’t hold back—friends tell the truth, right? Your input means a lot because it helps me create the episodes YOU need. You can share your feedback with me over on Instagram @courageously.u, or you can email me at hello@courageouslyu.com.   Happy listening, my friend.