Relational Rants

Unsolved Mysteries: Professional Credibility in the Age of Influence

In this episode, I’m discussing the recent discourse surrounding , professional credibility, licensure, and the growing blur between influence, expertise, perception, and public trust. I explore the importance of credentialing, the liability and responsibility attached to mental health work, and how language, presentation, and proximity to expertise can shape public perception. I also challenge some of the rhetoric surrounding licensure, qualifications, and what it means to position yourself as an authority while speaking to vulnerable populations. More broadly, this episode examines the rise of mental health conversations in mainstream culture, the benefits and risks of that visibility, and what happens when therapeutic language enters public spaces without the same level of accountability required within the profession itself. This isn’t just about one person. It’s about influence, credibility, responsibility, and the growing tension between relatability and professional authority in the age of influence.

It's Not Just A Trend: The Reality of Parental Estrangement

In this episode, I explore the emotional complexity of parental estrangement, family roles, boundaries, accountability, and the discomfort many people have with relational distance. I reflect on my current estrangement from my father, the failed attempts at repair that preceded it, and the backlash that often comes when adult children stop maintaining relationships at the expense of themselves. We talk about cutoff culture, expectations versus standards, uncertainty, conflict avoidance, and why boundaries should be viewed as relationship-supporting rather than punitive. This conversation isn’t about perfection, blame, or telling people to abandon their families. It’s about honesty, impact, and the difficult realities that often exist beneath the surface of estrangement.

The Price of Surveillance

We have more access than ever...passwords, locations, Ring cameras, notifications for everything...and somehow, we feel less secure. In this episode, I unpack how surveillance has quietly become a stand-in for trust. From checking your partner’s location to watching every movement on your front door camera, we’re constantly “tuned in”… but at what cost? I explore how this level of access is impacting our relationships, increasing anxiety, and flattening connection—both online and in real life. Because more information doesn’t necessarily mean more safety. At the end, I bring it back to you: What boundaries do you actually want around access? And what does trust look like without constant surveillance?

Ozempically...What Are We Talking About?

In this episode, I’m talking about the obsession with shaming and ridiculing fat people on the internet and why it’s not really about health. Because when people say they’re “concerned about health,” but lead with shame, criticism, and disrespect… we have to ask: what is actually going on here? I get into projection, control, Ozempic, fitness, and how much of this conversation is rooted in fear, especially the fear of what we can’t control. And the truth is… you can’t always tell who’s “healthy,” and you definitely can’t control outcomes the way we like to believe we can. So… Ozempically, what are we talking about?

Taking Advantage...or Are You Overextending?

Are people really taking advantage of us… or are we overextending ourselves and calling it generosity? In this off-the-cuff episode, I’m unpacking what we actually mean when we say “I feel taken advantage of.” Because sometimes… it’s not about them taking. It’s about what we keep giving. We loan out our stability. Our regulation. Our capacity. And yes—that’s human. That’s relational. But when we follow the logic all the way through…Are we responding to people as they are? Or as who we believe we would be in their situation? I get into: Why having too much empathy can backfire How guilt shows up as control (externally and internally) And how identity (“I’m a generous person”) can keep us stuck in a role that no longer serves us At some point, it’s not about being taken advantage of. It’s about recognizing when enough is enough. And it's time for an upgrade. Let’s Get UnMuted 💋