Naked Insights Podcast - musing all things health, relationships and trauma

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Toxic Positivity : When Optimism Becomes Emotional Avoidance

"Everything happens for a reason." "Just look on the bright side." We’ve all heard it, and we’ve all said it, but when does optimism become harmful? In this episode, Adele and Lindsay explore the phenomenon of Toxic Positivity: the minimization and invalidation of real human emotions in the name of "staying positive." We unpack: 🧠 Intention vs. Impact: Why well-meaning advice can feel like a shut-down. ⚖️ The Cost of Suppression: How pushing down "negative" emotions drives stress deeper into the body. 💥 Emotional Bypassing: Recognizing when we use optimism to avoid difficult truths. 🔍 Stoicism vs. Silence: The difference between healthy resilience and harmful emotional masking. 🚩 The Power of Being Seen: How to create a space where difficult emotions are bearable, not intolerable. This episode is a vital look at why we need to embrace the full spectrum of the human experience to truly heal. 🎧 Tune in to discover why it’s okay, and necessary, to not be okay.

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Machiavellianism - The Psychology of Strategy, Power & Manipulation

Not all manipulation is obvious and not all of it is chaotic. Some of it is calculated, under wraps and highly strategic. In this episode, Adele and Lindsay unpack Machiavellianism, one of the “Dark Triad” traits, and explore how it shows up in real life, relationships, and systems of power. We dive into:  🧠 What Machiavellianism actually is and how it differs from narcissism and psychopathy  ♟️ The psychology of strategic thinking, control, and long-term manipulation  💥 Why Machiavellian traits can be hard to spot and often mistaken for competence or confidence  🔍 How these patterns show up in workplaces, relationships, and leadership dynamics  🚩 The difference between a healthy strategic approach and harmful manipulation This episode moves beyond the stereotypes to explore the subtle, often invisible ways power and control operate and how to recognise them without oversimplifying human behaviour. 🎧 Tune in for a clinically grounded look at one of the most misunderstood traits in modern psychology.

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Psychopathy - The Truth Behind the Monster Myth

Psychopath. It’s a word that instantly conjures fear, danger, and “otherness.” But how much of what we believe about psychopathy is actually true? In this episode, Adele and Lindsay cut through the headlines and Hollywood portrayals to explore what psychopathy really is and what it isn’t. We unpack:  🧠 The clinical reality of psychopathy vs the “monster” stereotype  ⚖️ The difference between psychopathy, sociopathy, and antisocial traits  💥 Why not all psychopathic traits are violent — and how they can show up in everyday life  🔍 The role of biology, environment, and early development  🚩 How to recognise harmful patterns without oversimplifying or sensationalising This episode challenges the fear-based narrative and replaces it with clarity, context, and clinical insight. 🎧 Tune in for a deeper, more accurate understanding of one of psychology’s most misunderstood constructs.

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Weaponising Psychology: The Problem with Calling Everyone a Narcissist

“Narcissist” has become one of the most overused (and misunderstood) terms in modern psychology. But what happens when clinical language gets turned into a weapon? In this episode, Adele and Lindsay unpack the growing trend of labelling difficult people as narcissists and why this can do more harm than good. We explore:  🧠 What narcissism actually is and how it differs from everyday difficult behaviour  ⚠️ The risks of over-labelling and pathologising normal relationship conflict  💥 How psychological terms are being used to avoid accountability or oversimplify complex dynamics  🔍 The difference between true narcissistic patterns and unmet needs, attachment wounds, or poor communication  🌱 How to respond to challenging relationships without defaulting to diagnosis This episode isn’t about defending harmful behaviour, it’s about bringing precision, responsibility, and nuance back into psychological conversations. 🎧 Tune in for a grounded, clinically informed look at one of the most misused labels in mental health today.

Season 2 - Episode 1 - The New Chapter - Understanding Mental Health, Trauma and Relationships without the Myths

Welcome back to the podcast. This first episode marks the beginning of a new season, and it feels important to say that this one is a little different. Not louder. Not shinier. But more grounded, more honest, and more clinically anchored. Over the last few years, conversations about mental health have exploded and in many ways that’s a good thing. But alongside that, we’ve also seen a lot of oversimplification, polarisation, and certainty where there should actually be nuance, care, and humility. Psychology, trauma, health, and relationships don’t exist in neat boxes. They’re lived in real bodies, real systems, and real lives, often under pressure, often alongside grief, illness, or complexity that doesn’t resolve quickly. This season is about slowing those conversations down. About stepping away from soundbites and into experience. About asking not just what helps, but for whom, when, and why. I’m really pleased to be joined this season by Dr Lindsay Aikman. Lindsay is a clinical psychologist who has worked across eating disorder services, acute mental health, and hospital settings in the UK. She’s someone who has sat with the sharp end of distress, risk, and long-term recovery and who brings both depth and discernment to these conversations. Together, we’ll be exploring a range of topics across health, trauma, relationships, and psychology AND where we are gently debunking some myths, questioning some assumptions, and talking honestly about what actually supports healing versus what just sounds good on paper or online. In this episode, we explore:  🧠 Why so much mental health advice is oversimplified and sometimes misleading  💥 The myths that keep people stuck in cycles of confusion and frustration  👩‍⚕️ What working on the frontline of psychology actually teaches you about healing  🔍 Why there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to mental health  🌱 What this season will unpack from trauma and attachment to mental health disorders and beyond This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having better conversations. Conversations that respect complexity, honour the nervous system, and recognise that real change often happens quietly, over time.  🎧 Tune in as we challenge assumptions, unpack complexity, and bring a more thoughtful lens to mental health. So if you’re someone who’s curious, thoughtful, and maybe a bit tired of being told there’s a single right way to heal, you’re in the right place. We're really glad you’re here.