Overcoming Cults and How to Avoid Them with Peter Young

Overcoming and Thriving with OCD with Kevin Crispin

Episode 043 — Overcoming & Thriving with OCD with Kevin Crispin OCD is often misunderstood—reduced to jokes about being “organized” or “particular”—when the reality can be relentless, exhausting, and deeply isolating. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Kevin Crispin to talk about what OCD actually feels like from the inside, how obsessive thoughts attach to fear with a terrifying sense of certainty, and what it takes to keep moving forward when your mind won’t stop. Kevin Crispin is a mental health advocate, writer, speaker, and host of the podcast Behind Beautiful Things. With honesty, humor, and heart, Kevin shares his personal experience with OCD—rumination, panic attacks, magical thinking, shame, and the constant internal storm—while also offering hope, tools, and language that helps listeners feel less alone. Key Takeaways • OCD is more about obsessions than “being neat”: it’s the relentless rumination and certainty attached to fear • You can’t “think” your way out of emotional pain—healing comes from acceptance, tools, and learning a new response • You are not your thoughts: thoughts and emotions are not reality, and they will pass Timestamps • 00:00 — Introduction: OCD as a real mental health battle (not a stereotype) • 02:10 — Kevin’s mantra: “I know it looks like I’m movin’, but I’m standin’ still.” • 05:00 — What OCD feels like from the inside: fear, certainty, and the mind spiraling • 10:00 — Obsessions vs compulsions: why “pop culture OCD” misses the point • 13:30 — Rumination: how the scary thought becomes the one your brain won’t release • 18:00 — “What if?” and certainty: why reassurance never fully fixes it • 22:00 — Why it’s so hard to explain OCD (and the shame that keeps it private) • 27:00 — Why “preparing” doesn’t always help: when rumination consumes the bandwidth • 30:00 — What helps: reading, writing, exercise, and learning to accept the anxiety • 35:00 — OCD and numbers: magical thinking, rituals, and why certain numbers feel “unsafe” • 41:00 — Can OCD thoughts stop? Or is it learning a new response? • 45:00 — The exhaustion factor: fatigue, sleep, and why everything gets worse without rest • 48:30 — Therapy and medication: CBT, exposure work, and finding the right support • 54:00 — What people misunderstand: OCD isn’t “one thing”—it can touch everything • 58:00 — Supporting someone with OCD: patience, redirection, and holding space without judgment • 01:03:00 — What OCD tries to steal: presence, vulnerability, and self-forgiveness • 01:07:00 — What OCD can build: empathy, nuance, and the “big empathy muscle” • 01:10:00 — Recommended books + why Kevin values Stoicism and deep nonfiction • 01:13:00 — The truth Kevin wants you to remember: “You’re not your thoughts.” Connect with Kevin Crispin • Kevin’s website: https://kevincrispin.com [https://kevincrispin.com] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/behindbeautifulthingspodcast/]  | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=behindbeautifulthingspodcast] • Podcast: Behind Beautiful Things (new episodes every Tuesday) • Podcast website: https://sadtimespodcast.com [https://sadtimespodcast.com] Resources • Stoic philosophy (for learning what you can control vs. what you can’t): Seneca, Marcus Aurelius • Robert Caro (for understanding power and human behavior): The Power Broker and The Years of Lyndon Johnson series • Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, https://a.co/d/000bUwgQ [https://a.co/d/000bUwgQ]  If this episode helped you, share it with someone who’s battling intrusive thoughts, living with OCD, or loving someone who struggles in ways they can’t fully explain. You’re not alone—and you’re not your thoughts. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.  ❤️ Anne Disclaimer The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, or medical care. #overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #mentalhealth #intrusivethoughts #rumination #panicattacks #anxiety #emotionalregulation #selfcompassion #selfkindness #mentalhealthawareness #therapy #cbt #exposuretherapy #medicationmanagement #nervoussystemregulation #healingjourney #overcomingadversity #empathy #storiesheal #mindset #hope #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527762/fan_mail/new]

Overcoming Attachment Styles in Sexual & Emotional Intimacy with Dr. Tiffany Stanley

Episode 042 — Overcoming Attachment Styles in Sexual and Emotional Intimacy with Dr. Tiffany Stanley So many people struggle with desire, connection, and intimacy in silence—especially in midlife, when bodies, hormones, life stressors, and relationship patterns all shift at once. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Dr. Tiffany Stanley to unpack how attachment styles quietly shape the way we give, receive, pursue, withdraw, and protect ourselves in relationships—and how that directly impacts sexual and emotional intimacy. Dr. Tiffany Stanley is a sex and intimacy therapist with over 20 years of experience, a certified sex therapist, and holds a PhD in Clinical Sexology. She specializes in helping individuals and couples rebuild connection, navigate desire discrepancies, heal attachment wounds, and create a sex life that evolves with your season of life—without shame, pressure, or unrealistic expectations. Key Takeaways • Desire is responsive—not automatic: your nervous system, stress, resentment, and disconnection all influence it • Attachment patterns are often subtle: what looks like “relationship problems” may be safety, fear, and protection strategies underneath • Curiosity creates connection: “nothing’s off the table” is the fastest path to honest intimacy and a better sex life Timestamps • 00:00 — Introduction: attachment styles, intimacy, and what people struggle with in silence • 02:10 — Dr. Tiffany’s mantra: “Nothing’s off the table” + “Curiosity creates connection” • 05:30 — How she became a sex and intimacy therapist (and why this work matters) • 10:00 — The biggest midlife struggles: desire discrepancy, expectations, and comparing to “how it used to be” • 14:00 — Common misconceptions: “desire should always be there” and “something must be wrong” • 17:30 — Why many women lose interest: overwhelm, caregiving, imbalance, and sex feeling like another task • 22:00 — Self-care that actually matters: time/energy inventory, body connection, and self-knowledge • 27:00 — Attachment styles in midlife: why old patterns still show up even after personal growth work • 31:00 — Opening the conversation: how to talk about intimacy without blame (fear, safety, vulnerability) • 36:00 — When your partner is dismissive: how defensiveness fuels the cycle (and when therapy helps) • 41:00 — Reconnecting after trauma, divorce, caregiving, or burnout (and why “dating yourself” matters) • 46:00 — From functional to romantic: rebuilding emotional + physical intimacy after years of practicality • 50:00 — When resentment replaces desire: what to address first and why • 54:00 — Toxic “chemistry” vs emotional safety: why calm can feel “boring” after chaos • 58:00 — Nervous system regulation after chaos: getting comfortable with quiet, safety, and true connection • 01:03:00 — How attachment wounds shape who we choose, what we tolerate, and how we show up in bed • 01:07:00 — Play again: how to explore, talk, and evolve your sex life in midlife • 01:11:00 — Recommended books + Dr. Tiffany’s upcoming book • 01:14:00 — Where to find Dr. Tiffany and her free resources Connect with Dr. Tiffany Stanley • Dr. Tiffany’s website: https://tiffanystanleytherapy.com [https://tiffanystanleytherapy.com] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tiffanystanleytherapy/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TiffanyStanleyTherapy] Resources • Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller, https://a.co/d/09JoHvEm [https://a.co/d/09JoHvEm] • Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson, https://a.co/d/00kEJtMf [https://a.co/d/00kEJtMf] • Nothing’s Off the Table: A Radical Guide to Desire, Pleasure, and Sexual Empowerment by Dr. Tiffany Stanley, https://tiffanystanleytherapy.com/nothing-is-off-the-table-book-by-dr-tiffany-stanley/ [https://tiffanystanleytherapy.com/nothing-is-off-the-table-book-by-dr-tiffany-stanley/] If this episode helped you, share it with someone who wants deeper connection, a better sex life, or a healthier way to talk about intimacy—because nothing is “wrong” with you. You just need the right language, tools, and safety to grow. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.  ❤️ Anne Disclaimer The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, or medical care. #overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #attachmentstyles #attachmenttheory #intimacy #emotionalintimacy #sexualintimacy #sextherapy #relationships #couplestherapy #desire #lowlibido #desirediscrepancy #midlifewomen #midlife #marriage #communication #boundaries #selfcare #nervoussystemregulation #traumahealing #healingjourney #selftrust #relationshipadvice #personaldevelopment #mentalhealth #overcomingadversity #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527762/fan_mail/new]

Overcoming Midlife Stagnation with Jennifer Griffith

Episode 041 — Overcoming Grief & Midlife Stagnation with Jennifer Griffith Midlife can feel like a strange in-between—on paper, you’ve built a life… but inside, something feels stalled. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Jennifer Griffith to talk about the grief that often lives underneath midlife stagnation: grief for old identities, old dreams, old versions of yourself—and the quiet fear that it might be “too late” to begin again. Jennifer offers a grounded, hopeful path forward: reinvention isn’t a dramatic overhaul—it’s often an inside-out return to the parts of you that got buried under responsibility. Jennifer Griffith is the author of Both Sides of Then, host of the About Your Mother podcast, and a former tech sales leader who now speaks on reinvention, resilience, and creating a meaningful second act. She shares the personal tools that helped her move through resistance, loosen the grip of old narratives, and become what she calls a “midlife yesser”—someone who finally starts saying yes to herself. Key Takeaways • Reinvention doesn’t have to be big—it’s often a quiet, inside-out shift into a truer part of yourself • Resistance is a clue: when you’re resisting something, it usually means it matters • The story you must rewrite first is the one you tell yourself about who you are Timestamps • 00:00 — Introduction: midlife stagnation and the grief underneath it • 02:10 — Jennifer’s grounding mantra: “I’m still here” • 06:00 — Reinvention reframed: not outside-in, but inside-out • 10:00 — Becoming a “midlife yesser”: why your “why” makes the yes easier • 15:00 — Resistance means it matters: leaning into discomfort instead of avoiding it • 20:00 — Leaving a successful identity: how to step away from validation and still trust yourself • 24:30 — Community vs silos: why reinvention needs support and shared courage • 29:00 — How to find what you want (when you’ve spent years being “responsible”) • 33:00 — A practical tool: reviewing your photos to find what truly made you happy • 38:00 — “I’m too old” fears: how to shift the lens and find proof that midlife reinvention is real • 44:00 — Grief for the old self: honoring what was without calling it wasted • 49:00 — Patience + the “bamboo season”: staying consistent before the breakthrough • 54:00 — Mentors, networking, and curiosity: finding the people who can expand your next chapter • 58:00 — Jennifer’s reinvention framework in progress: lens, narrative, and self-identity • 01:03:00 — The truth to remember: you haven’t accessed it yet • 01:06:00 — Final takeaway: if you’re not making mistakes, you’re not taking on enough Connect with Jennifer Griffith • Jennifer’s: Website [https://byjennifergriffith.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/byjennifergriffith/] | Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/byjennifergriffith/] • Book: Both Sides of Then by Jennifer Griffith,  https://a.co/d/02kZmLrp [https://a.co/d/02kZmLrp] • Podcast: About Your Mother, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/about-your-mother/id1522701752 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/about-your-mother/id1522701752] Resources • Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, https://a.co/d/06xYv0uY [https://a.co/d/06xYv0uY] • Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert, https://a.co/d/0bG877el [https://a.co/d/0bG877el] • Southern women writers who shaped Jennifer’s voice and lens: Maya Angelou, Kate Chopin • Mel Robbins’ annual reflection PDF (mentioned in the episode), https://www.melrobbins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/BestYearWorkbook2026.pdf [https://www.melrobbins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/BestYearWorkbook2026.pdf] If this episode helped you, share it with a woman who feels stuck, a friend quietly questioning her next chapter, or someone who needs permission to say yes to herself again. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.  ❤️ Anne Disclaimer The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, or medical care. #overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #midlife #midlifereinventon #reinvention #midlifecrisis #secondact #personaldevelopment #selfimprovement #mindset #mindsetshift #resiliencepodcast #overcomingadversity #healingjourney #selftrust #selfworth #identityshift #startingover #womenover40 #womenover50 #careerchange #lifetransitions #confidence #motivation #inspiration #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527762/fan_mail/new]

Overcoming Grief and How to Move Forward with Dr. Jane Oh

Episode 040 — Overcoming Grief and How to Move Forward with Dr. Jane Oh Grief can change you in an instant—splitting your life into “before” and “after.” In this deeply moving episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Dr. Jane Oh to talk about loss, loneliness, and the courageous work of learning how to live again after the unthinkable. Dr. Jane shares the truth many people avoid: grief isn’t something you “get over”—it’s love that has nowhere to go, and the journey forward is learning how to carry it with meaning. Dr. Jane Oh is a devoted wife, mother, concert violinist, dentist, and community leader who turned her personal experience of child loss into purpose-driven impact. Through her Healing Hearts Child Loss support group, she supports grieving parents with community, hope, and practical tools—creating a space where grief is witnessed, not fixed. Key Takeaways • Grief isn’t meant to be eliminated—it’s love that has nowhere to go, so you learn to build it a home • The hardest part is often the loneliness: support fades, friends disappear, and you’re left carrying something too heavy alone • Healing happens in safe community: you don’t need a silver lining—you need presence, truth, and tools to keep moving forward Timestamps • 00:00 — Introduction: grief, loss, and what it really takes to move forward • 02:10 — Dr. Jane’s quote: “The love in my grief had nowhere to go, so I built it a home” • 05:00 — The day everything changed: the call from daycare and losing her son • 10:00 — “How are we going to live through this?”: the moment after loss • 13:30 — SIDS and the shock of an ordinary day becoming a permanent “after” • 17:00 — When support fades: the casseroles stop and the friends stop coming • 21:00 — Grief in marriage: “two snowflakes born from the same snowstorm” • 26:00 — Grieving alone for eight years: culture, stigma, and silent suffering • 31:00 — The turning point: meeting another mother and realizing the cost of isolation • 35:00 — How Healing Hearts began: a simple flyer, small steps, and a big mission • 40:00 — Using a pageant platform to amplify purpose and normalize grief conversations • 45:00 — Lessons: joy and sadness can coexist; grief is sacred, not shameful • 49:00 — Supporting men in grief: privacy, counseling, and honoring different timelines • 52:00 — Hybrid support: Zoom meetings, community care, and practical tools to leave with hope • 56:00 — Recommended book: the “sixth stage of grief” and finding meaning • 01:00:00 — Final advice: live day-to-day, trust yourself, and let time soften the edges Connect with Dr. Jane Oh • Dr. Jane’s| Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drjaneoh/] | Facebook: Healing Hearts Child Loss [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1003297755117038] Resources • Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler,  If this episode helped you, share it with someone who’s grieving, someone who feels alone in their loss, or a parent who needs permission to breathe again and take the next small step. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.  ❤️ Anne Disclaimer The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, or medical care. #overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #grief #griefsupport #childloss #childlosssupport #bereavement #healingjourney #traumahealing #emotionalhealing #mentalhealth #mentalhealthpodcast #personaldevelopment #selfimprovement #selfcompassion #nervoussystemregulation #loss #mourning #hope #meaning #findingmeaning #communitysupport #healingcommunity #womenleadership #resiliencetools #overcomingadversity #lifetransitions #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podca Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527762/fan_mail/new]

Overcoming Cults and How to Avoid Them with Peter Young

Episode 039 — Overcoming Cults and How to Avoid Them with Peter Young Cults don’t usually look like cults at the beginning. They often look like community, certainty, faith, mentorship, or “the one person” who finally understands you. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Peter Young, who shares how a hidden religious cult quietly infiltrated his marriage, manipulated his family, and nearly destroyed his identity—until he found his way out and rebuilt his life with clarity, faith, and hard-won discernment. Peter Young is a former national sports broadcaster with CBS, ESPN, and Outdoor Life Network, and a bestselling author. He now shares his story as a cautionary tale to help others recognize cult dynamics early—before they lose their voice, their relationships, and their freedom. Key Takeaways • No one knowingly joins a cult—people join something that seems good, then truth gets slowly twisted over time • Cult leaders commonly use fear, isolation, secrecy, and “gatekeeping God” (or truth) to keep followers dependent • The strongest protection is community: stay connected to trusted voices, ask questions, and don’t let one person become your only source of truth Timestamps • 00:00 — Introduction: overcoming cult influence and learning how to avoid it • 02:10 — Peter’s mantra: Proverbs 3:5–6 and trusting God through dark seasons • 05:00 — The hardest part: brainwashing and “retraining your mind” after you leave • 08:30 — How it started: meeting Paige and hearing about “Uncle Robert” early on • 12:00 — The control mechanism: “Uncle Robert taught me that” (and why questions were punished) • 16:30 — The slow drift: how cult leaders twist truth gradually (the “golf ball” analogy) • 22:00 — Motives: ego, adulation, control, and money (tithing) • 28:00 — Red flags: isolation, rule-making, grandiosity, and “rules for you but not for me” behavior • 34:00 — The cost: marriage destruction, parental alienation, and being labeled “the devil” • 40:00 — The darkest season: fear-based control and doubting your own salvation • 46:00 — The turning point: small “aha” moments that broke the spell (not one big moment) • 52:00 — Recovery: replacing one controlling voice with trusted voices + truth-based discernment • 58:00 — Helping the kids + writing the memoir as a healing and truth-telling process • 01:03:00 — Advice: stay in fellowship, stay connected, and bring in outside perspective early • 01:06:00 — Recommended book + where to find Peter Connect with Peter Young • Peter’s website: https://authorpeteryoung.com [https://authorpeteryoung.com] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/peterbyoung/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Peteryoung32] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQiz03hBKywxI31au8bSp9A] Resources • Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger by Peter Young, Amazon Link [https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Tall-Man-Save-Tiger/dp/B0C1J1H9VQ/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dSGIl5sWOVASFB62D5sfrw.z-aFRstFqJ-Ssb5g4LoasYIQsRmvz4uTnFEtAhB7f1A&qid=1777924301&sr=8-1#detailBullets_feature_div] If this episode helped you, share it with a friend who’s being isolated, someone who’s following a “guru” who can’t be questioned, or a loved one who needs permission to trust their instincts and ask hard questions. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.  ❤️ Anne Disclaimer The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, or medical care. #overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #cultrecovery #cultawareness #brainwashing #mindcontrol #religiousabuse #spirituala Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527762/fan_mail/new]