Chatter: Understanding & Managing Your Inner Voice

Welcome back! Today, we'll discuss Chatter by Ethan Kross, a book that dives deep into the nature of self-talk, how it can spiral into negativity, and practical strategies for quieting that inner critic. We'll explore how the book's concepts apply to our own experiences with anxiety, depression, and mental well-being.

Key Takeaways from Chatter
📖 What is Chatter?

Chatter refers to cyclical, negative self-talk that fuels anxiety, self-doubt, and stress.

Our inner voice can be helpful for problem-solving and motivation, but when it turns into chatter, it can be destructive.

🧠 Understanding Self-Talk & Chatter
Our brains process thoughts at a staggering 4,000 words per minute!

Studies show that what we think about impacts our happiness more than our actual experiences

The book provides 12 evidence-based strategies to reduce chatter. For more, see show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/chatter-book-club-4

Thanks for joining!
**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:

General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ About AA: https://www.aa.org/ 

Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert 
Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. 

Connect with me:
https://www.tamiwest.com/ 
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Hug 196 "Chatter" by Ethan Kross:  Book Club #4 Final Week!

💡 Feeling drained, exhausted, or unmotivated? Burnout is real, and in this episode, we’re diving deep into:

✅ What burnout is (hint: it’s NOT just stress)
✅ Who’s most at risk (it might surprise you!)
✅ How to recognize and prevent it before it takes over
✅ Our personal burnout experiences & strategies that helped
✅ Self-assessments and resources to help you check in with yourself

More in show notes at: https://www.tamiwest.com/post/tackling-burnout.

Thanks for joining!
**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:
General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ About AA: https://www.aa.org/ 

Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert 
Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. 

Connect with me:
https://www.tamiwest.com/ 
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Hug 197 🔥 Tackling Burnout: What It Is, Who’s at Risk, & How to Prevent It

Welcome back! Today Michelle and I dive deep into compassion fatigue, exploring how it impacts our mental health and well-being. We discuss symptoms, risk factors, and practical strategies we’ve found helpful in preventing or managing emotional exhaustion. We also introduce an alternative perspective on compassion fatigue and highlight the importance of self-care.

🛑 Key Topics:

What is Compassion Fatigue? 💙
The emotional toll of constant caregiving 🩺
Symptoms and warning signs 🚨
Is it really compassion fatigue or empathy fatigue? 🤔
The impact of unprocessed emotional exhaustion 😞
How we can recover and build resilience 💪
Insights from the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology 🌿

💡 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Understanding Compassion Fatigue

It stems from prolonged exposure to others' suffering 💔
It leads to emotional exhaustion, numbness, and detachment 😓
It’s common among caregivers, healthcare workers, and those in helping roles 🤝

Read more in show notes at

Thanks for joining!
**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:
General Resources 
National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org 
Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org 
Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ 
Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ 
About AA: https://www.aa.org/ 

Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert 
Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. 

Connect with me:
https://www.tamiwest.com/ 
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Hug 198 Understanding & Overcoming Compassion Fatigue 💙

Welcome back to Consider Yourself Hugged! Today, Michelle and I are diving into The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath—one of the most hauntingly personal books on mental health, identity, and societal pressure.

From the weight of expectations on women to the stigma surrounding depression and treatment, this book is filled with themes that still hit home today. But, as ChatGPT pointed out when I was researching, Michelle and I tend to approach heavy topics with a lighter touch—so we’ll do our best to balance depth with relatability in today’s conversation.

📖 In this episode, we explore:

✔️ The Bell Jar metaphor—what it teaches us about depression
✔️ Esther Greenwood’s journey—from New York to a psychiatric hospital
✔️ Societal expectations for women in the 1950s vs. now
✔️ Key quotes and moments that left an impact
✔️ How mental health treatment has evolved since Plath’s time
✔️ Lessons we can take from this book to better understand ourselves & others

We also share some personal reflections, unexpected moments of humor, and insights from our own experiences with mental health.

See show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/the-bell-jar-mentalhealth

Thanks for joining!
**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:
General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ About AA: https://www.aa.org/ 

Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert 
Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. 

Connect with me:
https://www.tamiwest.com/ 
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Hug 199 📚 "The Bell Jar": Breaking Free from Mental Traps 💡

Michelle and I started off trying to be super organized, but AI is such a HUGE topic that we found ourselves wandering down different rabbit holes! So, today’s episode is all about laying the groundwork—what AI is, how it can actually help with mental and emotional well-being, and why you don’t need to be afraid of it taking over your life. 😆

We also sprinkled in some fun AI-generated jokes, absurd wellness tips, and a guessing game where AI shocked us all by figuring out Michelle’s mystery object (you'll have to watch to see what it was!).

So buckle up, because we’re about to take a lighthearted but informative dive into the world of AI! 🚀

Show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/what-is-ai-and-why-should-you-care

Thanks for joining!
**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:
General Resources 
National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org 
Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org 
Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ 
About AA: https://www.aa.org/ 

Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert 
Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. 

Connect with me:
https://www.tamiwest.com/ 
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Hug 200 What is AI and Why Should You Care? 🤖💡

Welcome back! Today Michelle and I have spent the last few months diving deep into AI—how it works, how we can use it, and what impact it has on our mental and emotional well-being. AI is everywhere, and whether we like it or not, it’s influencing our daily lives. But can it actually support emotional health? Or does it take away from real human connection?

In this episode, we share our personal experiences using AI for everything from journaling to simplifying life—and how we balance it with staying present in our relationships. 

We also include a short clip from James Barnes (Jamie, my son 😊), who has extensive experience in AI development, to give insight into some of the biggest misconceptions and benefits of AI.

If you’ve ever felt hesitant (or even scared!) about AI, or you’re just curious about how it could make life easier, this conversation is for you! Show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/boost-your-emotional-well-being-with-ai.

Thanks for joining!

**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:
General Resources 
National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org 
Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ 
Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ 
About AA: https://www.aa.org/ 

Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert 
Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. 

Connect with me:
https://www.tamiwest.com/ 
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Hug 201 Boost Your Emotional Well-Being with AI! 🤖🧠

YOU'RE REALLY WORTH IT. from BLADES OF ROCK forthcoming 15 Song CD2. More info at:
https://bladesofrock.com 
The song is about Self-Esteem, & Self-Worth. Believing in yourself and what you have accomplished. And having Pride in what you do and say, each and every day! After our Rocker thinks about all of the different Jobs that people do, he gives all people a piece of advice. "Always Hold Your Head Up High,  Cause YOU'RE REALLY WORTH IT!" Another words, Have Pride in yourself every day!
In the Bridge, he is missing his lover and admits, "It's a Cold and Lonely World, Without You". 
Just remember, do your best, and believe in yourself, Cause YOU'RE REALLY WORTH IT.
Steve Rodgers, Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Composer
DC Snyder, Producer, Author


YOU'RE REALLY WORTH IT

Abi Edmunds is a digital wellbeing specialist and the founder of “Social Media Resilience”.

I talk to her about:

- The problem with recommending a “digital detox”? 

- What Abi proposes as a different approach for navigating the digital landscape

- How we can stop ourselves getting distracted and maintain our focus

- The effect of social media on self-image and the advice she offers young people

- What to do in a world of AI-generated images and video and how to spot fake posts

- & much more

Connect with Abi:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiedmunds/
https://www.socialmediaresilience.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/abi.edmunds

Listeners also loved these episodes:

#130 | Solo Episode | Life goals, clarity, cringe & more - https://theinsightpodcast.com/s130

#125 | The Truth About Exercise & Mental Health | Dr Brendon Stubbs - https://theinsightpodcast.com/s125

#111 | Dating in 2024, how to find real connection, honest self-reflection & more | Eimear Draper - https://theinsightpodcast.com/s111

Connect with me:
https://theinsightpodcast.com
https://www.instagram.com/samuelcwhart
https://www.facebook.com/samuelcwhart
https://bsky.app/profile/theinsightpodcast.com

#148 | The problem with a 'digital detox', teens on social media, digital resilience & more | Abi Edmunds

In this final installment of our AI mini-series, we dive into the heart of the conversation: AI safety, ethics, trust, and how to use this powerful technology responsibly. With real-life stories, fascinating examples (including a fake AI-generated podcast!), and thoughtful questions, this episode is your guide to being smart—not scared—about AI.

We’re not tech experts, and we don’t have to be. What we bring you is real talk from curious, cautious, and caring humans just like you. You’ll walk away with practical tools, deeper insight, and a renewed confidence to explore AI with your eyes wide open.

🧭 In This Episode:

📢 AI is Everywhere: Why people are talking about it more than ever—and why it’s divisive

🐶 The Puppy Podcast Surprise: AI fooled us all with a completely fake but convincing audio

🔐 The Real Concerns: Deepfakes, fake news, and identity theft

🤖 Hallucinations & Bias: When AI "makes stuff up" or mirrors societal prejudices

👩‍⚕️ Human Use, Human Choice: A look into healthcare, education, and business applications

🧠 Trust and Verification: Why your personal review still matters

💡 Practical Tips: How to stay curious, cautious, and clear-headed

🧍‍♀️Human Connection AI: Why tech can help—but never replace—empathy

🎓 Lifelong Learning: How to stay ahead of inevitable workplace shifts

🛠️ Tami’s Light Clamp Moment: What a desk lamp taught her about change and simplicity

📋 AI Safety & Ethics Takeaways : See more in show notes at 


Thanks for joining!
**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:

General Resources 
National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org 
Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org 
Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ 
About AA: https://www.aa.org/ 

Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert 
Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. 

Connect with me:
https://www.tamiwest.com/ 
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Hug 203 🎙️ Smart Curiosity, Not Fear: A Real Talk on AI Safety & Ethics📝

Being Me

Thanks for visiting with us at for Consider Yourself Hugged: Mental & emotional well-being.” Do you find yourself thinking, "Life can be so overwhelming! I feel so frustrated all the time! I worry about everything! I wish I could speak up more and not be a doormat!" If you're looking for improved mental and emotional well-being, please join me every Wednesday as we talk about how to make positive choices in your life.

*Disclaimer:
The information in this show is not intended to be therapy or to address your individual situation. It is information based on my experiences, opinions, and research. If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources mentioned in the show notes.

About me:
Tami West, PhD 
Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and 
compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. Her passion stems from a lifelong battle with an anxiety disorder which has uniquely equipped her to teach, encourage, and motivate others. 

Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity. 

Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Dr. West is the author of several successful publications including two books: The Stress Club, Life Without the Monsters and Thrive. She is a mother of eight in a blended family and enjoys reading historical fiction, traveling with her husband Tim and family, and watching The Big Bang Theory.

in·sight
[ˈɪnsʌɪt]

"(the ability to have) a clear, deep, and sometimes sudden understanding of someone or something."

Welcome to the Insight Podcast.

A space to discuss psychology, science, mental health and more.

I hope these conversations inspire insight and wisdom in you, and help you find clarity, calm and connection.

Enjoy.

Listeners also loved these episodes:

#130 | Solo Episode | Life goals, clarity, cringe & more - https://theinsightpodcast.com/s130

#125 | The Truth About Exercise & Mental Health | Dr Brendon Stubbs - https://theinsightpodcast.com/s125

#111 | Dating in 2024, how to find real connection, honest self-reflection & more | Eimear Draper - https://theinsightpodcast.com/s111

Connect with me: 
https://theinsightpodcast.com
https://www.instagram.com/samuelcwhart
https://www.facebook.com/samuelcwhart
https://www.youtube.com/@samuelcwhart
https://bsky.app/profile/theinsightpodcast.com

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New tracks tagged #SelfEsteem