Mind If We Talk?

What makes us happy is often misunderstood. And in the age of AI, it's easier than ever to seek quick and easy answers to some of life’s biggest questions.In this episode, host and licensed therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with happiness expert and Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos. Dr. Santos illuminates the mountains of research about what tends to make us happy (spoiler: it isn’t that fast car). Together, they sift through tips and tricks on how to make each day better and let go of perfection. The two also discuss how happiness is a practice and where AI can assist—or impede—our mental health. 0:00 Intro: Why Success Doesn't Always Make You Happy00:53 Welcome & Introducing Dr. Laurie Santos02:38 AI, Therapy & the Importance of Human Connection03:26 The Hidden Risks of Using AI for Advice08:10 Why Relationships Matter More Than We Think12:23 Vulnerability, Friction & Asking for Help15:05 Can AI Help Us Be More Vulnerable?18:07 The Arrival Fallacy & the Science of Happiness20:52 Gratitude, Presence & Finding Joy in Everyday Life22:56 Simple Habits That Improve Mental Well-Being25:28 Why Therapy Is a Journey, Not a Quick Fix28:52 Practical Tools for Anxiety & Depression33:10 Why Every Emotion Has a Purpose35:49 Social Media, Comparison & Protecting Your Happiness40:18 Why High Achievement Doesn't Guarantee Happiness43:41 Dr. Laurie Santos' Daily Happiness Rituals44:57 Key Takeaways46:00 Credits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Menopause isn’t just a physical experience; it’s a mental one, too. In this episode, host and therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with the mother-daughter duo Dr. Amy Shah and her mother, Rekha, to explore the mental shifts that accompany this change and why the conversation around menopause can be so hard to start.In her midlife, Rekha’s anxiety began to feel unbearable. It wasn’t until years later that she and her daughter Amy realized that this and other symptoms were due to menopause. Later in the episode, Dr. Natalie Crawford, a reproductive endocrinologist, author, and a leading voice in women’s hormone health, joins Sreela to dive further into the science of menopause. Dr. Crawford unpacks the hormonal shifts, the connection between the brain and the ovaries, how to optimize your health before perimenopause, and how to advocate for yourself when you are not getting the support you need.00:00 Introduction: Why We Need to Talk About Menopause02:32 Meet Our Guests and Rekha’s Menopause Journey07:23 Understanding the Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Menopause12:23 Mental Health, Relationships, and Life During Menopause18:49 Why Women's Health Has Been Overlooked24:45 Supporting Loved Ones Through Menopause26:09 Introducing Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Natalie Crawford33:41 How Hormonal Fluctuations Impact Women’s Mental Health35:43 Feeling Heard: Validation and Women's Healthcare37:18 How Women Can Prepare for Midlife Changes49:50 Advice for Navigating Menopause with Confidence52:08 Closing Reflections on Menopause, Community, and Support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many men grow up receiving the same messages: be strong, stay tough, don’t show too much emotion. But what actually happens when vulnerability, creativity, or sensitivity start to feel like things that need to be hidden?In this episode, host and therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with author and podcast host Cory Allen, as well as writer and poet James McCrae for a deeply personal conversation about masculinity, emotional suppression, and learning how to reconnect with themselves. As a child, James felt he had to hide his love of poetry, while Cory was raised by a father he calls a “Texas Tony Soprano.” Together with Sreela, they each explore how vulnerability ultimately became a path toward deeper connection and understanding their childhood traumas.Later in the episode, BetterHelp therapist David Yadush joins Sreela to unpack the psychology behind emotional literacy, affect labeling, and why so many men struggle to express what they’re feeling.00:00 The Challenge of Emotional Expression for Men01:42 Cory Allen on Childhood, Safety, and Emotional Development05:35 Why Vulnerability Feels Risky10:16 Masculinity, Trauma, and Cultural Expectations12:34 A Practical Framework for Understanding Emotions16:51 Emotional Armor and Its Impact on Relationships20:00 Rethinking Strength and Healthy Masculinity24:42 How Vulnerability Creates Connection30:57 What Cory and James Wish You Knew About Emotional Expression32:45 Why Many Men Struggle to Express Their Feelings33:31 Expert Perspective: Shame, Self-Protection, and Emotional Openness40:53 Movement, Mental Health, and Emotional Processing44:54 Recognizing Emotional Safety in Relationships54:07 Closing Reflections and Key Takeaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caregiving can quietly reshape a family, shifting roles, responsibilities, and relationships in ways that are often hard to name. It can bring people closer, but it can also surface distance, guilt, and questions about what it really means to show up for someone you love.In this episode of Mind If We Talk?, host and licensed mental health counselor Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with Chris Punsalan and his cousin Merz Esguerra. They reflect on their very different experiences caring for their grandmother: Chris was her full-time caregiver for eight years, while Merz describes taking more of a backseat during that time.Their conversation opens up a deeper look at family roles, emotional labor, and the complicated mix of love, obligation, and regret that can come with caring for an aging loved one.00:00 The Emotional Reality of Caregiving02:54 Meet Chris and Merz: A Family Caregiving Story05:40 What Daily Life as a Caregiver Looks Like10:35 Why Caregivers Often Don’t Ask for Help14:22 Regret, Guilt, and Family Dynamics16:56 The Emotional Cost of Caregiving20:52 Finding Purpose Through Caregiving24:38 Advice for Caregivers27:10 What Caregiving Teaches About Love29:11 Expert Perspective on Caregiver Burnout30:17 How to Ask for Help as a Caregiver34:11 Family Communication and Support42:56 Feeling Overwhelmed and Coping Strategies53:26 Closing Reflections Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much do you know about the experiences that shaped your mom or grandma?In this episode, host and therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with Kim Murstein and Gail Rudnick, the granddaughter–grandmother duo behind the podcast Excuse My Grandma, for a conversation that bridges two generations of womanhood. Gail reflects on her early adulthood in the 1960s — the choices she made, the family norms she embraced, and the world as she experienced it — while Kim shares what it means to build a life in her twenties today. Instead of debating whose path is “right,” they lean into curiosity, discovering just how much context deepens understanding.Later, Sreela is joined by licensed mental health therapist Sonni Williams from BetterHelp to explore how we can learn from the generations before us, and how to have thoughtful, productive conversations that strengthen connection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered how to start a hard conversation? Or wish you had the words to describe a challenging experience you’ve had? Mind If We Talk? is back soon for Season Two with eight new episodes from BetterHelp. This season will open up real conversations about life’s most challenging moments — and how therapy can help.Hosted by BetterHelp therapist Sreela Roy-Greene, each episode will bring together two people with different lived experiences. They could be spouses, family members, friends... even people from different generations. Together, they'll sit down for frank conversations that many of us wouldn't quite know how to start. Along the way, BetterHelp therapists will help unpack what’s happening beneath the surface. If you’ve ever wished someone in your life truly understood you or you simply want to learn to listen better to your loved ones, this season is for you.Mind If We Talk? Season Two is coming March 26th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you start over when the person you loved is gone? Heartbreak can stop you in your tracks, and romantic heartbreak seems to come with its own unique grief.On the season finale of “Mind If We Talk?”, host and therapist Haesue Jo talks with Sabrina Zohar, dating coach and podcast host. Sabrina opens up about her journey with heartbreak: the treatment she no longer tolerates, the habits she’s worked to improve, and the self-esteem she’s cultivated along the way. She also shares how one major breakup led her to find a new career—and love.  Then, Haesue is joined by therapist duo Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, and John Kim, LMFT, to unpack attachment styles, dating in the digital era, and practical advice for soothing heartbreak."If you’re facing a breakup or simply looking to be a better partner and friend, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world can feel like a heavy place—and for many, the constant stream of news only makes it harder to cope. So what happens when your empathy turns into anxiety, guilt, and doomscrolling?On this episode, host and therapist Haesue Jo talks with singer-songwriter David Archuleta, who opens up about the emotional toll of doomscrolling, the feeling of being stuck in cycles of helplessness, and how coming out as gay has reshaped his understanding of himself and the world around him. He also shares how community—and honest conversations—have helped him begin to heal.Then, Haesue is joined by Sarah Close, a licensed professional counselor with BetterHelp. Together, they unpack the psychological impact of consuming distressing news and therapeutic strategies to help you break the cycle.If you’ve ever felt stuck in endless scrolling, and powerless in the face of the news—or just needed permission to step away from it all—this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if loneliness isn't something to fix, but something to listen to? On this episode, Haesue sits down with Case Kenny, writer and podcast host of New Mindset, Who Dis? to unpack what loneliness really teaches us when we stop running from it. Case opens up about the profound disconnection he felt climbing the corporate ladder in his twenties—succeeding on paper but feeling emotionally cut off from himself and others. He shares how he learned to reframe loneliness as a compass rather than a character flaw, the power of changing his inner dialogue from harsh judgment to gentle guidance, and why the male loneliness epidemic starts with men asking deeper questions of each other. Haesue is then joined by Monica Jiang, founder of The Oneliness Project, for a grounded conversation about loneliness as both a personal and structural challenge. From how our cities and technology create disconnection, to simple practices for moving through difficult emotions without becoming consumed by them, this episode offers compassionate guidance for anyone learning to sit with discomfort—and discovering that sometimes the path back to others starts with learning to be comfortable with yourself.betterhelp.com/mindifwetalk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grief is universal—but it rarely feels that way when you’re in it.On this episode, Haesue sits down with writer and podcaster Misty Stinnett to unpack what grief really looks like: messy, unpredictable, and often very lonely. Misty shares the story of losing her father suddenly in her twenties, and the very different experience of losing her aunt years later, a loss that came with time to say goodbye. Along the way, she opens up about somatic therapy, the pressure to “perform” progress, and why grief sometimes teaches us how to love harder.Haesue is then joined by therapist Dr. Sreela Roy-Greene for a grounded, practical conversation about navigating grief in everyday life. From how to handle grief at work, to simple somatic exercises you can try at home, this episode offers compassionate guidance for anyone who’s struggling—or supporting someone who is.betterhelp.com/mindifwetalk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all had that inner voice that sometimes says, “You don’t belong here.” That’s imposter syndrome, and there’s more to it than you might think. In this episode, host and therapist Haesue Jo talks with Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist Jane Marie about what it’s like to carry self-doubt, even with a long list of accomplishments. The conversation takes a surprising turn as Jane and Haesue discover how Jane’s childhood has shaped her inner critic—and how therapy and motherhood are helping her soften it.Later, Haesue is joined by Dr. Valerie Young, a leading expert on imposter syndrome, to unpack where these feelings come from and what we can actually do about them. From personal stories to practical advice (did you know that the answer to imposter syndrome is not more success?), we’re exploring how identity, perfectionism, and belonging all play a role in imposter syndrome. Whether you’ve ever questioned your own success or felt like the odd one out—this episode’s for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.