Episode 69: How to Stop Letting Fear Control Your Life (ft. Dr. Julie Smith)

About the Episode

You know that voice in your head that loves to tell you that you suck? Yeah, that one. The one that compares you to everyone on Instagram, tells you you’re a failure for eating cereal at 11 p.m., and insists you’ll never get your life together. Well, today, we’re calling in a professional to deal with that assh*le. Dr. Julie Smith is a clinical psychologist and viral mental health educator who’s built a massive following by actually making psychology make sense. In this episode, she breaks down how to quiet that inner critic, stop getting crushed by comparison, and reframe your self-loathing into something a little more useful—like self-respect.

We also dig into what it’s like to become internet famous when you’re an introvert, why emotions are not facts (even though they feel like they are), and how to stop letting social media, your parents, and your own bullsh*t beliefs define your worth. Whether you’re stuck in a shame spiral, wondering why life feels pointless, or just trying to figure out how to not hate yourself so much, this episode is for you.

Dr. Julie Quotes From the Episode

Social comparison is a strength — until you apply it to the wrong situation.

Values are how you want to show up — not what you want to get.

I wanted to stride forward through fear — not dart from shadow to shadow like prey.

The inner world is like a sauna — beneficial if you don’t stay too long.