Only Human

S2 E17: Imposter Syndrome, Nervousness & Embracing the Fear

This week, we’re talking all things imposter syndrome, nervousness, and learning how to feel the fear and do it anyway. We open up about the pressure to perform, perfectionism, comparison, and the disconnect between how things can look externally versus how they feel internally. We talk about our recent experience going on FOX29 and all the emotions, physical anxiety, and internal thoughts that came with stepping into something that felt both exciting and terrifying at the same time. And bittersweetly… we announce that this is the final episode of Season 2! We’re taking some time to lean more deeply into in-person community experiences this summer, but there will be no shortage of Only Human coming your way. Thank you for listening, growing, and being human with us this season.

S2 E16: Social Anxiety, Intrusive Thoughts & Caring What People Think

This week, we’re talking about social anxiety: the pressure to be liked, the fear of saying the wrong thing, and the mental spiral that can happen before, during, and after social situations. We unpack how social anxiety shows up differently for everyone — whether you shut down completely, overshare to fill the silence, or replay conversations in your head for hours afterward. From work events and friendships to social media and people pleasing, we explore why connecting with others can feel so complicated sometimes. If you’ve ever walked into a room and immediately questioned yourself or assumed everyone else was more confident than you, this one’s for you.

S2 E15: Influence, Trends & The Pressure to Fit In

This week, we’re talking about influence: how trends, social media, and the world around us shape what we like, how we show up, and who we think we’re supposed to be. From sardines and matcha to Pilates and matching sets, we explore what's "in" right now, and how easy it is to start liking something just because everyone else does. What starts as a conversation about trends turns into something bigger: the pressure to fit in and how we can lose sight of what we actually like versus what we’ve been influenced to like. If you’ve ever felt confident in your choices until you walked into a room or opened social media and suddenly questioned everything, this one’s for you. It’s a reminder to come back to yourself and ask: do I actually like this, or was I influenced to?

S2 E14: Overthinking, Indecision & The Pressure to Get It "Right"

This week, our episode is for anyone whose brain just… won’t turn off. Jess and Karli dive into overthinking, indecision, and the mental loops that come with trying to make the “right” choice, realizing that even the smallest daily decisions are often rooted in something deeper: anxiety, control, and perfectionism. They unpack how these patterns show up in their everyday lives, relationships, and routines, and how constantly trying to optimize for their “future selves” can leave them feeling drained in the present. It’s an honest look into what it’s like to be aware of your overthinking but still feel stuck in it without having all the answers or solutions.

S2 E13: Food Noise, Food Guilt & Breaking the All-or-Nothing Mindset

In this episode, Jess and Karli talk about something many of us think about but rarely say out loud: our relationship with food. From “food noise” and the constant inner dialogue around what, when, and how much to eat, to the all-or-nothing mindset, cravings, and guilt, this conversation dives into the mental load that comes with eating in today’s world. Karli shares her journey from binge and restrict cycles as a D1 athlete to finding food freedom, while Jess opens up about being in the thick of it— unlearning old habits and trying to feel more in control. Together, they unpack the tension between nourishment and deprivation, the impact of how we grew up eating, and why “just eat the donut” isn’t always that simple. This episode isn’t about having all the answers, but hopefully it reminds you that if your brain feels loud around food, you’re not alone.