
Meredith for Real: the curious introvert
Each episode explores a taboo question or cultural blind spot with an expert who is themselves, a paradox -Like the atheist doctor who studied near death experiences for 50 years (ep 224)Or the deeply religious man studied by NASA who sees UFOs regularly (ep 261).The mission is to inspire the kind of curiosity that looks for & celebrates nuance, because we all deserve a more curious future.So tune in each week (new episodes every Monday) to question things like American individualism (ep 260), trigger warnings (ep 208) & circumcision (ep 178).Still not sure where to start?Other listeners loved ep 230 - Can a sexless marriage survive? and ep 237 - Black man who attends KKK rallies: race & friendship
Latest episodes

Jul 14, 2025 • 52min
Ep. 300: Biofield Therapy for Anxiety & Grief: Recipe for Wellness or Purchased Placebo?
Pranic healing, known as acupuncture without needles, is a type of biofield therapy belonging to the family of naturopathic medicine. Jason Yuan is a certified Associate Pranic Healer, with a bachelor’s in Biology & a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Masters in Acupuncture. In this episode, you’ll hear how pranic healing helped him go from hospitalized with eczema to nearly completely healed, pranic healing vs placebo vs reiki & what this modality’s success may tell us about the nature of consciousness. If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 285: IS HEART COHERENCE A CHAOS CURE-ALL? HEALTH, BEHAVIOR & INTUITION Guest: https://www.instagram.com/pranichealingpodcast/ | https://www.drjasonyuan.com/ | https://x.com/DrJasonYuan | https://www.facebook.com/drjasonyuan | https://stan.store/drjasonyuan | https://www.princetonventure.studio/consciousness Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Jul 7, 2025 • 56min
Ep. 299: Inside a Legal Brothel: Business, Pleasure & a Plumber
Catherine De Noir has two Masters degrees & is a PhD student. She has also been a brothel manager in Western Europe for nine years. You’ll hear stories of clients like the unironic plumber & the man who sold his house as well as insights from the sex workers, like the secret of their top earning woman. We discuss what these moments teach us about the things that connect & disconnect us from each other & what her hopes are for the future of sex work.If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 214: WHAT ARE THE RULES OF MONOGAMY? THE PSYCHOLOGIST SWINGERGuest: https://www.instagram.com/catherine_de_noire/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573525179649 | https://www.tiktok.com/@kate.denoire | https://onlyfans.com/catherinedenoireHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Jun 30, 2025 • 54min
Ep. 298: Anxiety in YOUR FRIDGE?! Reducing Anxiety Through Food
Heather Lillico is a registered holistic nutritionist who struggled with bulimia. In this episode, you’ll hear which mineral deficiencies can cause anxiety, which foods are mood boosting, who the top food offenders are for anxiety & opens up about her relationship with food to illustrate how mindset is at the heart of it all.Spotify mental health playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2VT1YYrZeTImP9jAuMg1W0?si=CjaHx9ShQrucDECw2f9wgA&pi=Yb2GavpOTS2aqIf you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 251: FOOD ADDICTION: CHARACTER FLAW OR REAL DEPENDENCE? [REMASTERED]Guest: https://www.heatherlillico.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/heather_lil/ | https://www.facebook.com/heatherlilnutrition | https://www.cultivatingcalm.ca/retreatHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Jun 23, 2025 • 44min
Ep. 297: Psychic Marine? Military Precognition [REMASTERED]
Jose Herrera had Marine squad leader training that included learning about & using a “sixth sense.” In this episode, he shares his journey to developing pre-cognitive abilities & how he used them in his 3 combat tours in Iraq & Afghanistan. He also shares a bit of military history around this topic & how we might all be able to upgrade our senses.This episode originally aired September 12, 2022.Spotify psi playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qccJlWTulcXkDiGHFOOYS?si=JczLfp7CSy6JvdhOVImHzA If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 268: SCIENCE & THE PSYCHIC: THE UTILITY OF A SIXTH SENSEGuest: https://www.instagram.com/03xxseries/ Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Jun 16, 2025 • 30min
Ep. 296: Depressed or Just Really Sad?? How to Know the Difference [REMASTERED]
Megan Stodard, PhD is a clinical psychologist, the founder of Harbor Wellness & has over a decade treating mood disorders. In this episode, she breaks down in plain language the KEY differences between depression & sadness, symptoms in men & women, the best time to see a therapist & the difference between spaghetti & waffles (it’s relevant, I promise).This episode originally aired November 23, 2020.Spotify mental health playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2VT1YYrZeTImP9jAuMg1W0?si=uC-4wnZEQ3Wp0utQ1aQsPQ If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 267: GRIEVING DURING THE HOLIDAYS: SNEAKY SYMPTOMS & FINDING JOY [REMASTERED]Guest: Walk & talk style therapy https://www.harbor-wellness.com/session-styles | New client formhttps://www.harbor-wellness.com/newclients Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Jun 9, 2025 • 33min
Ep. 295: Poop Transplants!? Overlooked Treatment for Crohn’s, Alopecia & Anxiety
Dr. Sabine Hazen is a Gastroenterologist, Researcher, & CEO of Progena Biome. In this episode, she explains how fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) have the potential to treat Alzheimer's, Autism, Crohn's, Anxiety, Depression & Alopecia. She explains how it works, why mapping the microbiome is like mapping the human genome & interesting cases of personality changes post transplant. If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 188: BIOHACKING FOR DUMMIES: SUNSHINE, SLEEP & SHIVERS Guest: https://sabinehazanmd.com/ | https://x.com/SabinehazanMD | https://www.facebook.com/DoctorSabineHazan | https://www.instagram.com/dr.sabinehazan/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabine-hazan-steinberg-md-5343b241/ | https://biomeboosters.com/ | https://progenabiome.com/ Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Jun 2, 2025 • 60min
Ep. 294: Is Giving Up Our Privacy Inevitable? Social Media, Search Engines & Nest Cams
Do we accept the creepy side of tech in order to enjoy its benefits? Bill Ottman is a technologist best known for founding the decentralized social network Minds, but you may have seen him on Joe Rogan Experience, NPR, or the NYTimes. In this episode, we discuss the privacy paradox of public outrage at government surveillance living alongside public over disclosure on social media. You’ll also hear his take on TikTok, baby monitors & his response to “I have nothing to hide.” You’ll also hear easy swaps you can make to increase your digital privacy without spiraling into techno paranoia.If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 109: BEING SMART WITH PHONES: NO TIN FOIL HATSGuest: https://www.minds.com/ottman/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/billottman/ | https://networks.minds.com/ | https://www.fishtank.live/Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

May 26, 2025 • 1h 34min
Ep. 293: The Secret Lives of Men: Mental Health Confessions!
Who’s talking about men’s mental health? In this episode, four guests join me – Russ Jones, an ADHD mentor, Paul Roberts, a blue-collar business owner, Ali Mattu, a clinical psychologist & Jon Patrick Hatcher, a nonfiction humor writer. We discuss how men talk to each other about mental health behind closed doors, the mistakes women are unknowingly making when they try to help, the problem with strength-based identity, the medicine of community, neurodiversities & emotional dysregulation parties. If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 166: MALE ANXIETY: STIGMA, STRATEGIES & ROGAINEGuests: Jon Patrick Hatcher https://anxietyforamateurs.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonpatrickhatcher/ | Russ Jones HTTPS://www.adhdbigbrother.com/podcast | https://adhdbigbrother.circle.so| Ali Mattu https://www.braverwithanxiety.com/start/ | https://www.youtube.com/@drali | Paul Roberts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bass-and-brews-fishing-podcast/id1562959432 | https://www.instagram.com/paulheels/ Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

May 19, 2025 • 50min
Ep. 292: ADHD: Laundry, Work & Distracted Sex [REMASTERED]
Dr. Barbara Cohen is psychotherapist, certified ADHD Coach, international ADHD researcher, and fellow ADDer. In this episode, you’ll hear why adult ADHD is often misdiagnosed, the #1 question you should be asking to a mental health counselor if you think you have ADHD, some practical tips for work & even how ADHD might be sabotaging your sex life.This episode is a combination of episodes originally airing on June 1, 2020 & March 21, 2021.If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 197: ADHD REAL TALK: EPIC FAILS & EASY HACKSGuest: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/dr.barbara.a.cohen/ | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-beyond-adhd/id1229338780 | https://www.facebook.com/groups/livingbeyondadhd/ Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

May 12, 2025 • 45min
Ep. 291: Anthropology of the Afterlife? NDEs & Ancient Cultures
Gregory Shushan, PhD, is the leading authority on near-death experiences and afterlife beliefs across cultures and throughout history. He is an award-winning author affiliated with Birmingham Newman University, University of Winchester, Marian University, and the Parapsychology Foundation. In this episode, he shares why studying NDE’s is time well spent, how historical NDEs differed from the religious texts of the time, consciousness as a cosmic circuit, Non-linear reality & reincarnation.If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 224: ARE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES SCIENCE? [REMASTERED]Guest: https://www.gregoryshushan.com/ | https://x.com/GregoryShushan | https://www.instagram.com/gregoryshushan/ | https://www.facebook.com/GLShushan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-shushan/ | https://a.co/d/iGZZ9yfHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/