Nuance Needed

What's the line between self-expression and conformity when it comes to how we present ourselves? Per usual, we have no definitive answers, but we honestly dive into the complex world of beauty standards, personal style, and cosmetic procedures.In conversation, we tackle:* Why finding your personal style is actually identity-building work, not vanity* How to tell the difference between self-expression and people-pleasing in your appearance choices* Why Amanda gets Botox and how she thinks about the "slippery slope" of cosmetic procedures* The Mormon culture contradiction: breast implants are fine, but tattoos are forbidden* How influencer culture has created unprecedented surveillance of people's appearances over time* The importance of asking "Why am I doing this?" before any beauty decisionA nuanced look at beauty culture. Per usual, we don’t have any definitive answers!We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! If you’d BONUS episodes, check out our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? We are imperfect and make mistakes. You can email us podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

The world is burning, are you allowed to feel joy? In this episode, we dive into the complex balance between staying informed and protecting your mental health, inspired by Taylor Swift's latest career moves and our own struggles with ambition.In conversation, we talk a lot about Taylor Swift but more as a metaphor to discuss:* The lost art of sustained effort vs. instant gratification culture* The difference between good and bad stress* Sam's concept of "messy consistency" and why perfectionism paralyzes us* Why wanting things (ambition, partnership, success) has become shameful for women* The difference between "having it all" and "having what you want"* How to care deeply without burning out your nervous system* Why effort gives things meaning, even something as simple as making your bed* The importance of focusing on what you can control in your immediate orbit* Why we need to ask "is this helpful?" instead of "is this right?"* Finding sustainable ways to stay engaged without drowning in doomA passionate defense of earnestness, hard work, and allowing yourself to find joy—even when everything feels heavy.We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! If you’d BONUS episodes, check out our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? We are imperfect and make mistakes. You can email us podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

We tried to stay out of this one, we REALLY DID. But when a 50+ part TikTok series about a woman falling in love with your psychiatrist becomes the perfect storm of everything wrong with social media, mental health misinformation, and AI feedback loops, we had to wade in. Spoiler alert: it's messier than we thought. This convo was a wild ride... we started with yoga breaths and ended up dissecting the future of AI-induced psychosis. Did we stick the landing? Let us know!In conversation, we tackle:- How we wrestled with whether to even discuss this (and why Amanda watched EVERY video for "research purposes")- The difference between psychiatry and therapy that everyone is missing- Why "transference" doesn't mean what you think it means (and neither does "countertransference")- How AI chatbots are literally creating closed feedback loops that reinforce delusions- The armchair diagnosis Olympics happening in the comments and why it's harmful to actual people with ADHD and autism- How people are treating this like reality TV they can influence instead of someone's mental health crisis- Why Amanda and Sam are questioning their own social media consumption after thisWE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Tired of feeling anxious about every friendship interaction? In this episode with friendship expert Danielle Jackson, we're breaking down how to actually connect without all the overthinking.In conversation, we tackle:* Why that picture-perfect friend group you're chasing might be more about logistics than love* The uncomfortable truth about why friend groups require secure attachment (and what happens when you don't have it)* How social media surveillance culture is making us police each other's friendships* Why "cutting people off" has become our default conflict resolution strategy* The case for small talk (and why hating it might just be performative depth signaling)* How reduced friction in modern life is making us friendship weaklings who can't handle disagreement* Why friendship apps work for meeting people but fail at building actual relationships* The difference between chemistry, closeness, and intimacy (and why we keep confusing them)* How to escape conversations without being rude (because we've all been trapped by a rambler)* Why your friendship anxiety might be about you, not your lack of friendsDanielle Bayard Jackson is a friendship expert and coach, and author of the bestselling book “Fighting for our friendships”.WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Tired of waiting for the "right" circumstances to start living your life? In this episode, we're diving into the difference between being alone and being lonely—and why your solo season might be exactly what you need.In conversation, we tackle:Why getting married or finding a partner won't cure your loneliness (sorry!)The three levels of loneliness and why you need all of them fulfilledHow to tell if you're avoiding your life or actually living itWhy "am I taking advantage of my life right now?" is the question that changes everythingThe empowering truth about doing things alone (yes, even travel and concerts)How to build trust with yourself for whatever life throws at youWhy your current season—even if it feels lonely—still has meaning and purposeThe difference between making decisions from scarcity vs. self-awarenessHow routine and showing up for yourself can fill the void better than waiting for external validationWE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Sam reflects on the finite nature of time and how witnessing death as a hospital worker has shaped her perspective on living boldly. She challenges listeners to examine how they're actually spending their time versus waiting for some future version of their life to begin. From her decision to take meaningful vacations as a single person to questioning whether we're living according to our own values or others' expectations, Sam offers a raw meditation on mortality, purpose, and the courage to live authentically.For more pep talks like this from sam, subscribe to our SUBSTACK!nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

So many people say you need to process your emotions. But WTF does this mean and how do you actually do it? In this solo episode, Amanda dives deep and explains her 6 step method that walks you through exactly how to process your emotion. She also shares the science and practice of emotional processing. Amanda breaks down groundbreaking research from Lisa Feldman Barrett on how emotions are actually constructed experiences rather than fixed internal states, explaining the four fundamental dimensions of emotion (energy and pleasantness levels) that form the foundation of all emotional experiences.Resources mentioned: Amanda’s book, Not Drinking Tonight & Workbook. “How Emotions are Made” by Lisa Helmand Barrett.To get a downloadable step by step 25 page guide join our SUBSTACK! www.nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Today we are tackling two listeners questions about sex!Questions we answer:* "I'm 28 and I've never had sex - the shame is paralyzing me and I feel like I've missed the window. How do I get past this when everything in our culture says I'm weird?"* "My husband and I fight about sex constantly. The more he pushes, the less I want it, but when I just do it to avoid the fight, I feel gross after. What should I do?"Resources mentioned: Emily Nagoski’s book “Come as You Are” also Amanda’s book Not Drinking Tonight (if you want more info about sexual shame and how it shows up with our drinking behavior)WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

When did masturbation become an "addiction" that requires recovery? Licensed therapists Amanda White and Sam Dalton tackle the viral story of former Bachelor contestant Maddie Prewett's claims about overcoming her "sexual sin addiction" to masturbation and porn. In deeply personal conversations, they share their own experiences with sexual shame and explore how shame-based messaging around sexuality creates the very problems it claims to solve, why comprehensive sex education matters, and how purity culture's effects extend far beyond religious communities. This episode offers a nuanced look at sexual shame, religious trauma, and the journey toward healthy sexuality without judgment. CW- Talk of sexual assaultWE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

In this episode, Sam realizes she might have had OCD as a teenager - an unedited, real-time processing session. For a year as a teenager, Sam was secretly convinced she was hitting people with her car. She'd loop back to check for bodies, research vehicular manslaughter, and visualize police at her house waiting to arrest her. Amanda shares her own parallel experiences with health anxiety and magical thinking, and together we explore how even therapists can miss their own mental health patterns until years later.WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.comTo learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!