489. Coaching Hotline: Social Media Validation & Emotional Vulnerability vs. Thought Work

489. Coaching Hotline: Social Media Validation & Emotional Vulnerability vs. Thought Work

From UnF*ck Your Brain: Feminist Self-Help for Everyone by Kara Loewentheil

May 5, 2026 · 13 min · Episode 489

About this episode

Kara Loewentheil coaches a listener on separating social media validation from self-worth and explores emotional vulnerability versus thought work.

Social media will happily turn your nervous system into a tiny squirrel hunting for dopamine, my friends. This week, I coach a listener who keeps checking likes and engagement on posts for her business. Instead of treating likes, commissions, creative desire, and income as one tangled emotional knot, I show you how to separate the questions so your brain can stop making Instagram engagement mean everything about your art, your business, or your worth. Then, I answer a deeper question about emotional vulnerability and thought work, especially in relation to Brené Brown’s work. This episode will show you how to untangle social media validation, business confusion, self judgment, and authenticity so you can see what is actually happening in your brain. Submit your own question here and it might get answered on a future episode: unfuckyourbrain.com/coachinghotline Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: schoolofnewfeministthought.com/489 Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/ Mentioned in this episode: The Future Coach Podcast is Here! The Future Coach: How to Succeed as a Life Coach Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond is finally here. Every other week…

People in this episode

Host: Kara Loewentheil

Topics covered

  • social media validation
  • emotional vulnerability
  • thought work
  • self judgment
  • authenticity

Keywords

  • social media
  • dopamine
  • likes
  • engagement
  • business confusion
  • self judgment
  • authenticity

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