IHSTS - Ep. 10 - Ships, Friendships & All the F*cking Expectations

IHSTS - Ep. 11 - Pregnancy, Postpartum & the Things Nobody Tells You

CONTENT WARNING: This episode covers pregnancy loss, infant loss, stillbirth, and postpartum mental health, including intrusive thoughts and suicidal ideation. Please listen in a safe space and skip ahead if you need to. This is the first of a short series on these topics. "They tell you to have a baby and then go home like everything is normal after 24 hours." This week Megan sits down with Lindsay, a therapist with nearly two decades of experience who is certified in perinatal and postpartum mental health, for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what women's mental health really looks like around pregnancy, birth, and loss. Lindsay shares her own experience of a stillbirth at 41 weeks, and together they take apart the "you'll be fine in six weeks" myth, the postpartum conditions no one names out loud, the cruelty of well-meaning comments, and what it actually takes to support someone through it. Heavy, real, and occasionally very funny anyway. KEY TIMESTAMPS[00:23] Meet Lindsay + the trigger warning[00:53] Off-the-wall check-in: the Real Housewives detour[10:10] Why October matters, and Lindsay's stillbirth at 41 weeks[10:57] "Women's health is fucked": the 24-hour, six-week myth[16:35] "Baby blues," the DSM gap, and the postpartum spectrum[17:56] Postpartum anxiety, depression, OCD, and psychosis[21:08] The questions people think they're allowed to ask women[23:24] Disenfranchised grief and the everyday triggers[26:45] The "hierarchy" of loss, and why it isn't one[30:00] Choosing a provider: medication, PMDD, specialized care[33:33] Pregnancy: don't stop therapy; build your village[36:23] Learning to notice a thought as just a thought[37:50] "Getting your pink back": what's beyond normal[40:11] Dads and partners: their lives change too[45:23] Rainbow babies, phantom limbs, and the things people say[48:09] The grandmother in the store, and the power of an apology[1:00:27] Key takeaways: how to actually show up for someone STANDOUT QUOTES"My body is no longer my body. It has done this thing." "Six weeks is a long time to not sleep, to feel concerned about your baby dying." "I'm still a human being. I can be happy for you and be sad for me." "It's a loss. It doesn't have to be one person sadder than the other." THERAPIST'S TOOLKITThree things to sit with this week:1. After a hard experience around birth or loss, am I letting myself feel both grief and joy, or forcing an "either/or"?2. Do I have a safe person who asks "how are you?" and actually waits for the honest answer?3. When a distressing thought shows up, can I notice it as a thought rather than a fact about who I am? RESOURCES- Postpartum Support International (PSI) HelpLine: call or text 1-800-944-4773. Support and referrals in English and Spanish. This is a warmline, not a crisis line; messages are returned daily. postpartum.net- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: call or text 1-833-852-6262 (1-833-TLC-MAMA). Free, confidential, 24/7 for pregnant and new parents.- Find a perinatal mental health specialist: PSI provider directory at postpartum.net- Rise & Thrive Wellness: riseandthrivewellness.net CRISIS SUPPORT- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988- Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741- If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 CONNECT WITH USEmail: ihavesh1t2say@gmail.comInstagram: @ihavesh_ttosayTikTok: IHaveSh_tToSay CREDITSHost: Megan Campbell, LCPC, ATR-BCExecutive Producer: Brian T PrairieOperations Manager: MacKenzie CloyGuest: Lindsay Mathews, Rise & Thrive Wellness, certified in perinatal & postpartum mental health New episodes every two weeks on Tuesdays at 5am. DISCLAIMERThis podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or professional mental health care. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are struggling, please reach out to a licensed provider or one of the resources above.

IHSTS - Ep. 10 - Ships, Friendships & All the F*cking Expectations

Ten episodes in, and we're celebrating with one of Megan's oldest friends — her former intern turned 17-year ride-or-die. Today's conversation is deeply personal and wildly relatable: female friendships. Why are they so hard? Why do they fall apart? And what does it actually take to make one last? Megan and guest Carissa dig into the power dynamics that shape how women are taught to "be nice" instead of honest, why unspoken expectations quietly destroy friendships, and what it really means to show up — not just for the parties, but for all the messy, hard, non-Instagrammable stuff. Plus: Enneagram 2s and 8s in the wild, reciprocity as a litmus test, transactional vs. relational, and why trying to be everyone's friend might be the thing keeping you from your actual people. Whether you've lost a friendship you didn't see coming, stayed too long in one that wasn't working, or have a person who has seen every version of you — this one is for you. Key Timestamps [00:00] Intro: 10 Episodes In — New Logo, New Mugs, Same Chaos [14:19] Welcome & Apologies to Barbie (and Bonnie) [32:46] Meet Carissa: 17 Years, One File Cabinet Incident [39:35] Why Female Friendships Are Hard [41:34] Enneagram 2s & 8s: When Opposites Actually Work [43:02] Power Dynamics: From Intern to BFF [46:43] Access & Effort — Why Friendships Fade [47:52] Expectations: The Hidden Friendship Killer [54:00] Transactional vs. Relational Friendships [58:30] Multiple Versions of Yourself, Same Core Person [01:01:43] "I Got It Wrong" & Masking in Friendships [01:10:50] Red Flags in Hindsight [01:17:44] Reciprocity Test: Are They Asking About You? [01:24:32] Takeaways: Show Up, Be Yourself, Accept the Shift Standout Quotes "If I'm actively trying to be this way or mask and do X, Y, Z — it's never going to work. It's going to be the worst." "If you only want to show up to somebody's parties, you're not friends. You also have to wallow with them." "You get what you put in. You have to actively choose to be a part of what you want to be a part of." Therapist's Toolkit 3 Friendship Checkup Questions: 1. Are my expectations spoken out loud, or am I waiting for the other person to just know? 2. Is this friendship relational — or has it become transactional without me noticing? 3. Am I showing up as myself, or am I masking to keep this person comfortable? Resources Enneagram Institute Psychology Today — Adult Friendships Research Level Up Leaders Crisis Support 988 - Suicide Prevention Lifeline Text HOME to 741741 - Crisis Text Line Find a Therapist: Psychology Today | SAMHSA Treatment Locator Verify Credentials: Check your state's professional licensing board website Connect With Us Have a topic you want us to cover? Questions about friendships or other mental health topics? We'd love to hear from you! * Submit topic ideas: ihavesh1t2say@gmail.com * Follow us: * Instagram: @ihavesh_ttosay * TikTok: IHaveSh_tToSay * YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ihavesh_ttosay * Rate & Review: Help others find the podcast by leaving a review Credits Podcast Host: Megan Campbell, LCPC, ATR-BC Podcast Guest: Carissa Tonner Podcast Executive Producer: Brian T Prairie Podcast Operations Manager: MacKenzie Cloy New episodes drop every two weeks on Tuesday mornings at 5 am. Subscribe so you never miss an episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you're in crisis or need personalized support, please contact a licensed mental health professional.

IHSTS - Ep. 09 - Stop Calling It Independent — Let's Talk Community

We throw the word "community" around a lot. But do we actually know how to build it — or what's getting in our way? In this first-ever two-guest episode, Megan sits down with two powerhouse community builders, Barbi Watson and Becca Parks, for a real conversation about what community means, why so many of us are quietly lonely, and what it actually takes to find your people. They dig into the difference between showing up online versus showing up in real life, why introverts and extroverts need community differently (but equally), how emotional intelligence is the backbone of any real connection, and when community turns toxic. Plus: a frank conversation about conflict, accountability, and why being "nice" might be the thing destroying your community from the inside out. Less civility, more vulnerability — this episode is for you. Key Timestamps [00:00] Welcome & Introducing the Two Bees — Barbi Watson and Becca Parks [02:19] Check-In Question: Wild Notes on Our Phones [09:20] What Community Actually Means to Each of Them [13:50] Barbi Watson on Connection, Resources & Building Your Self-Care Team [15:24] Becca on Showing Up, Social Justice Book Club & Kankakee [17:49] Do We Actually Need Community? (The Introvert/Extrovert Debate) [23:55] Energy Givers, Energy Vampires & the Neutrals [26:09] Community-Building Tips for Introverts [29:44] Emotional Intelligence as the Foundation of Real Connection [33:37] When Community Becomes Toxic — Conflict, Power & Accountability [43:14] Nice vs. Kind, Running Out of F*cks & Older Women Who Know [51:30] Personal Responsibility, Shame & Naming What You Feel [58:30] Self-Compassion, Boundaries & Owning Your Shit [01:03:34] Takeaways: Know Your Strengths, Ask for Help & Start with the Emotion Wheel Standout Quotes "Less civility, more vulnerability. Let's stop being civil and stop being nice. Let's start being real with each other." "You are one person away from something amazing. That's how I feel about it." "Your gifts are not everybody else's gifts. Know your strengths, know your weaknesses, and find people whose strengths fill in where yours don't." Therapist's Toolkit 3 Community Questions: 1. Am I isolating because I need rest — or because I'm afraid to be seen? 2. Who in my life gives me energy, and who drains it? Am I being intentional about both? 3. When I show up in conflict, is my goal to be understood — or to change someone else's behavior? Resources How We Feel App (free emotional check-in tool — all 52 emotions, shareable with your community) Emotion Wheel Rise & Thrive Wellness Events — riseandthrivewellness.net Crisis Support 988 - Suicide Prevention Lifeline Text HOME to 741741 - Crisis Text Line Find a Therapist: Psychology Today | SAMHSA Treatment Locator Rise & Thrive Wellness: riseandthrivewellness.net Connect With Us Have a topic you want us to cover? Questions about community or other mental health topics? We'd love to hear from you! * Submit topic ideas: ihavesh1t2say@gmail.com * Follow us: * Instagram: @ihavesh_ttosay * TikTok: IHaveSh_tToSay * YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ihavesh_ttosay * Rate & Review: Help others find the podcast by leaving a review Credits Podcast Host: Megan Campbell, LCPC, ATR-BC Podcast Executive Producer: Brian T Prairie Podcast Operations Manager: MacKenzie Cloy New episodes drop every two weeks on Tuesday mornings at 5 am. Subscribe so you never miss an episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you're in crisis or need personalized support, please contact a licensed mental health professional.

IHSTS - Ep. 08 - Welcome to the Drama Triangle — Population: Everyone

Everyone talks about drama like it's something that just happens to them. But what if you're in it — and you don't even know it? In this solo episode, Megan breaks down the Karpman Drama Triangle (also called the Victim Triangle), the psychological model that explains how we all get pulled into cycles of conflict, codependency, and dysfunction — at work, at home, and everywhere in between.  Megan unpacks the three roles of the triangle — Victim, Hero (Rescuer), and Persecutor — and why no one stays stuck in just one. She connects it all to codependency, extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation, people pleasing, passive aggression, and the surprising link to how you order your eggs. Plus: what the Four Agreements have to do with getting out of the triangle for good.  If you've ever wondered how you keep ending up in toxic jobs, exhausting relationships, or drama you swore you wouldn't create — this episode is your map out.  Key Timestamps* [00:22] Welcome Back & Betrayal List Check-In Question* [09:38] Today's Topic: Drama and Codependency* [10:00] What Is the Karpman Drama Triangle?* [11:30] The Three Roles: Victim, Hero, and Persecutor* [13:22] How the Roles Shift — and Why No One Stays Put* [15:15] When the Hero Becomes the Persecutor* [16:48] Breaking the Cycle: How to Turn Internal* [18:11] Codependency vs. Anti-Dependency — Two Sides of the Same Coin* [21:15] Helping vs. People Pleasing: What's the Difference?* [24:41] The Runaway Bride Problem: Losing Yourself to Your Environment* [30:05] Codependency in Two Umbrellas (The One Most People Miss)* [32:00] Passive Aggression as a Triangle Trap* [35:15] From Persecutor to Passionate — Finding the Intrinsic Version of Each Role* [37:07] State vs. Trait: Knowing Yourself Well Enough to Know the Difference* [41:44] The Four Agreements and Always Doing Your Best* [45:00] The Wave Analogy and Non-Permanence  Standout Quotes "If you are leaning towards being passive aggressive, you're already in the triangle."  "The hero needs to feel valuable. The victim needs to be heard. The persecutor needs control. How do you meet those needs for yourself — internally?"  "If I feel like I've been wronged, I don't have to be a victim. I can be a survivor, an advocate — I have a choice."  Therapist's Toolkit Questions to ask yourself when you feel pulled into drama: * Am I offering help because someone asked, or because it makes me feel needed? * Is my reaction coming from a value-driven place, or am I in the triangle? * Am I hungry, angry, lonely, or tired right now? (HALT before responding) * Do I believe I have control over what happens to me — or does life just happen to me?  Resources * Karpman Drama Triangle__ (Google: Karpman drama triangle) * The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz__ (book) * Runaway Bride (1999)__ — referenced as a pop culture example of losing your sense of self  Crisis Support * 988 - Suicide Prevention Lifeline * Text HOME to 741741 - Crisis Text Line  * Find a Therapist: __Psychology Today__ | __Rise & Thrive Wellness__  Connect With Us Have a topic you want us to cover? We'd love to hear from you! Submit topic ideas: ihavesh1t2say@gmail.com Follow us: * Instagram: @ihavesh_ttosay * TikTok: IHaveSh_tToSay * YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ihavesh_ttosay Rate & Review: Help others find the podcast by leaving a review  Credits Podcast Host: Megan Campbell, LCPC, ATR-BCPodcast Executive Producer: Brian T PrairiePodcast Operations Manager: MacKenzie Cloy  New episodes drop every two weeks on Tuesday mornings at 5 am. Subscribe so you never miss an episode!  Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you're in crisis or need personalized support, please contact a licensed mental health professional.

IHSTS Ep. 07 - Let's Fight About Self-Compassion

Self-compassion: healing framework or permission slip to stay stuck? In this episode, therapist Megan Campbell goes head-to-head (boxing gloves included) with returning guest Brittany Gregory to dig into one of the most misunderstood concepts in mental health. They break down Dr. Kristin Neff's three-part model—mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity—plus her newer addition: fierce self-compassion. Megan admits she has beef with the word, Brittany defends the theory, and somehow they arrive at something genuinely useful together. If you've ever rolled your eyes at self-help softness, wondered whether compassion and accountability can actually coexist, or felt like self-compassion just sounds too soft to work—this episode is for you. Key Timestamps * [00:46] Intro: Raw Dogging It with Boxing Gloves On * [01:13] Defining Self-Compassion: The Three Parts Breakdown * [03:04] Fierce Self-Compassion: The Mama Bear Addition * [05:28] Where Megan's Beef Actually Comes From * [07:47] Grace vs. Accountability: The Bastardization Problem * [09:18] Theory vs. Practice: What Actually Happens in Real Life * [10:39] The Rainbow Gray Area (It's Not Black and White) * [12:08] Is Self-Compassion a Privileged Theory? * [16:06] When "Nice" Creeps Into Compassion (And Why It Shouldn't) * [19:35] The Weaponization Problem: When People Use It Wrong * [23:48] Fierce vs. Tender: Finding Your Balance * [27:23] Yin and Yang: Why We Need Both * [31:37] The Real Point: Change Yourself, Change the Dynamic Standout Quotes * "My self-compassion voice in my head is you a lot of the time—which is funny, because you're the one fighting me on this." * "Compassion doesn't mean no accountability. You're not like, 'oh, it's fine that you suck.' That would be the first step—mindfulness—what am I actually saying to myself?" * "Self-compassion is the gray area. I can call it the rainbow area because that's prettier." Therapist's Toolkit  Dr. Kristin Neff's 3 Components of Self-Compassion: 1. Mindfulness — Checking in with yourself and noticing what you're feeling without getting swept up in the story 2. Self-Kindness — Talking to yourself the way you'd talk to a friend (not nice—kind) 3. Common Humanity — Remembering that suffering is part of being human, not a personal failing Fierce vs. Tender Self-Compassion: * Tender = Internal softening; acknowledging pain without judgment, being present with struggle * Fierce = External action; setting boundaries, standing up for yourself, mama bear energy Who benefits most from self-compassion work? People stuck in shame spirals, perfectionists, high-anxiety individuals, and anyone who ties their worth directly to their performance or mistakes. Resources * Self-Compassion.org — Dr. Kristin Neff's official site with practices and videos * The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff & Christopher Germer * Dr. Kristin Neff on Instagram (@neffselfcompassion) Crisis Support 988 - Suicide Prevention Lifeline Text HOME to 741741 - Crisis Text Line Find a Therapist: Psychology Today | SAMHSA Treatment Locator Verify Credentials: Check your state's professional licensing board website Connect With Us Have a topic you want us to cover? Questions about self-compassion or other mental health topics? We'd love to hear from you! * Submit topic ideas: ihavesh1t2say@gmail.com * Follow us: * Instagram: @ihavesh_ttosay * TikTok: IHaveSh_tToSay * YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ihavesh_ttosay * Rate & Review: Help others find the podcast by leaving a review Credits Podcast Host: Megan Campbell, LCPC, ATR-BC  Podcast Guest: Brittany Gregory  Podcast Executive Producer: Brian T Prairie  Podcast Operations Manager: MacKenzie Cloy New episodes drop every two weeks on Tuesday mornings at 5 am. Subscribe so you never miss an episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you're in crisis or need personalized support, please contact a licensed mental health professional.