Judging Meghan

In this episode I sit down with anxiety specialist and psychiatrist Dr. Tracy Foose for a raw, compassionate, and deeply human conversation about trauma, panic, healing, parenting, identity, and learning to live alongside anxiety instead of fighting it. Dr. Foose brings extraordinary insight into what anxiety truly is, why our brains react the way they do, and how reframing anxiety as a protective force rather than an enemy can transform the way we heal. 

Our conversation also covers womanhood, identity, and the pressure to fit in, succeed, and be perfect. From Dr. Foose’s journey from aspiring surgeon to psychiatrist, to my own winding path from actress to sales to podcast host, we explore how terrifying and liberating it can be to change direction and give yourself permission to choose a new path. We reflect on how women carry immense expectations and judgment, often internalizing pressure that quietly fuels anxiety and self doubt.

We also speak candidly about parenting in an anxious world, especially the heartbreak and fear that comes with raising teenagers in the age of social media, constant comparison, and nonstop exposure to danger and tragedy. As a mother, I share the emotional struggle of letting go, trusting your child’s independence, and learning how to balance protection with freedom. Dr. Foose offers grounding wisdom on how modeling vulnerability, honesty, and bravery helps children feel safer, stronger, and more capable of navigating their own anxiety and emotional challenges.

Learn more at: https://www.drfoose.com/ 

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #AnxietyAwareness #TraumaHealing #ComplexPTSD #HealingJourney #Anxiety #YouAreNotBroken #PanicDisorder #TraumaRecovery #EmotionalHealing #TracyFoose #MentalHealthMatters #LivingWithAnxiety #SelfCompassion #HealingNotHustle #Resilience #HopeAndHealing #TherapyTalk #Psychiatry #HealingTogether
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In this episode I sit down with stand-up comedian Max Meisel who's currently touring with fellow comedian Tom Arnold for a candid, funny, heartfelt, and deeply insightful conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what it really means to bet on yourself when life forces you to start over. Max shares his journey from the East Coast to Los Angeles, navigating the uncertainty of acting, the isolation of COVID, and the emotional toll of chasing success in an industry built on rejection. 

We dive into the pressure of auditions, the fear that every opportunity could change your life, and how that mindset can sabotage both confidence and performance. Max reflects on hitting his breaking point, letting go of desperation, and choosing himself by taking creative risks and building his own comedy shows from the ground up, transforming frustration into opportunity and momentum.

We talk about the deep hunger for real community and connection, and how Max’s shows have evolved into a space where laughter, vulnerability, and human interaction collide. This episode is about survival, reinvention, courage, and choosing to build the life you want instead of waiting for permission. Whether you are navigating trauma, chasing a dream, rebuilding after disappointment, or simply trying to make it through the day, this conversation is a reminder that your story matters, your voice deserves to be heard, and it is never too late to start again.

Want to see oneof Max’s shows? You can learn more on his instagram https://www.instagram.com/maxmeisel86/?hl=en or website! https://www.maxmeisel.com/ 

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #TraumaHealing #Comedy #MaxMeisel #Resilience #Reinvention #StartingOver #PersonalGrowth #ChasingDreams #BetOnYourself #DealingWithRejection #CreativeJourney #LifeLessons #StandUpComedy #ComedianLife #TomArnold #CreativeRisk #Dating #ArtistsOnInstagram #CreativeCommunity #Laughter #Community #vulnerability 
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This episode I’m joined by meditation and yoga teacher, activist, and author of ‘Sit with Me : A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation’ Oneika Mays for a powerful, unfiltered conversation about trauma, anger, justice, burnout, and what it really means to find peace in a world that often feels overwhelming and unjust. Together, we explore emotional exhaustion, resilience, mental health, and the toll of witnessing injustice in real time, while searching for ways to stay grounded, present, and human.

Onika shares her journey through sexual trauma, suicidal ideation, hospitalization, and the long road toward self-compassion and healing, as well as her work teaching mindfulness inside Rikers Island. We talk about incarceration, systemic harm, moral conflict, and why safety sometimes has to be built internally when external safety does not exist. We also challenge toxic positivity and the idea that healing should look the same for everyone, reminding ourselves that meditation is not about quieting the mind, but about making peace with the one we already have.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and remember that your feelings make sense. If you are exhausted, overwhelmed, grieving, angry, or struggling to hold onto hope, you are not alone. Healing does not require perfection or calm. You are allowed to be human, complicated, and still worthy of care, compassion, rest, and connection.

Found out more about Oneika and purchase her book on her website: https://www.oneikamays.com/

Follow Oneika here: https://www.instagram.com/oneikamays/?hl=en 

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #TraumaHealing #ComplexPTSD #MentalHealthMatters #HealingJourney #Mindfulness #Meditation #YogaLife #EmotionalHealing #SelfCompassion #InnerWork #TraumaRecovery #GriefAndHealing #AngerAndGrowth #FindingPeace #Resilience #EmotionalWellbeing #HealingTogether #YouAreNotAlone #SlowHealing #HumanFirst #GentleHealing #HealingInProgress #MentalHealthAwareness #OneikaMays 

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In this deeply important episode I am joined by two incredible women and dear friends, Tanya Monaghan and Luisa Cabrera Faist, for a powerful and honest conversation about community, courage, and using our voices. Together, we share how South Bay Takes a Stand began as a small idea and grew into a grassroots movement that brought thousands of people together through candlelight vigils and peaceful marches rooted in empathy and solidarity. Standing before a sea of faces became a moment none of us will ever forget, a reminder that even in dark times, collective courage can spark real change.

Luisa reflects on growing up as the daughter of an immigrant and how witnessing ICE activity in our own neighborhoods became a catalyst for action, while Tanya shares her experience as an immigrant from South Africa and how the current political and social climate echoes the early warning signs she witnessed during apartheid. We talk candidly about the heartbreak of watching families torn apart, children living in fear, and communities divided, and why this moment must transcend political parties and center on humanity, dignity, and justice.

This episode is about grief, trauma, activism, and healing, but at its core, it is about connection. It is an invitation to lean into empathy, use your voice, and choose courage over silence. Whether you are navigating loss, trauma, exhaustion, or a sense of helplessness in a heavy world, I hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone, that your story matters, and that even in the darkest moments, there is still light to be found.

Follow Tanya here: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.monaghan/ 

Follow Luisa here: https://www.instagram.com/therevecollective/?hl=en

Want to learn more about South Bay’s efforts to support democracy follow here: https://www.instagram.com/southbaytakesastand/

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #ChoosingEmpathy #CommunityHealing #GriefAndHope #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #CollectiveCare #WomenSupportingWomen #FindYourVoice #HealingJourney #Resilience #ChooseKindness #HumanConnection #HopeInHardTimes #EmpathyOverFear #CommunityPower #TraumaRecovery #SpeakUp #YouAreNotAlone 
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In this episode, I’m joined by Kate King, a licensed counselor, board certified art therapist, and author of Mend or Move On. Kate brings such a compassionate, steady presence as we talk about healing through creativity, grounding in nature, and the quiet ways we carry those we have lost. We reflect on how heavy the world feels right now, and why kindness and support matter more than ever.

Kate shares why she focuses on Internal Family Systems therapy, also known as parts work, and how healing doesn’t have to come from shame or the belief that something is wrong with you. We talk about the true Self, the protective and wounded parts we all carry, and how art therapy can help us gently understand what lives inside us. Kate also explains her work around boundaries, emotional safety, and what it means to give yourself permission to step back from relationships that harm you.

We close with one of the hardest truths: sometimes closure isn’t possible, and safety has to come first. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen to your body, and remember that healing is not a performance, it is a process. Whether you are grieving, carrying trauma, trying to mend, or learning how to move on, I hope this episode reminds you that support exists, there is still light ahead, and you deserve to feel safe, seen, and held as you keep going.

You can purchase Kate's books on Amazon or at your local bookstore!

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #KateKing #MendOrMoveOn #TraumaHealing #ComplexPTSD #HealingJourney #InternalFamilySystems #PartsWork #IFStherapy #ArtTherapy #NervousSystemHealing #EmotionalSafety #ToxicRelationships #FamilyEstrangement #SettingBoundaries #SelfTrust #GriefHealing #TraumaRecovery #HealingIsAProcess #ComingBackToYourself #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapyTalk #SelfWorth #ChoosePeace #YouAreNotAlone #GroundingPractices #HealingThroughCreativity #ProtectYourPeace #LettingGo #HopeAndHealing
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