
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

May 29, 2023 • 38min
Ep. 189 | Surviving a Serial Killer: Victim to Felon to Flourishing
Jane Boroski is the only known survivor of the Connecticut River Valley Killer. The killer (never caught) is thought to have killed 7 women between 1978 & 1988 along a stretch of Interstate 91 between the border of New Hampshire & Vermont. In this episode, she shares her story, how she’s created her own closure & what she’s doing to help other cold case survivors.If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 41: TWO-TIME QUADRIPLEGIC? FOOTBALL PLAYER TO COMMUNITY CHANGE MAKERGuest: https://linktr.ee/invisibletearspodcast | https://www.instagram.com/invisibletearspodcast/ | https://www.facebook.com/janeboroski66 | https://invisible-tears.com/Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

May 22, 2023 • 34min
Ep. 188 | Biohacking for Dummies: Sunshine, Sleep & Shivers
Hilda Labrada Gore is a certified health coach with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition & the podcast host & producer for the Weston A Price podcast, Wise Traditions, an interview podcast for those seeking optimal health based on ancient wisdom. In this episode, she shares how she went from typical health habits to globe-trotting biohacker, the free health hack everyone can do to sleep better & lose weight & why you don’t need to cold plunge.If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 113: NUTRITIOUS FOOD; NOURISHING MINDSET – ANCESTRAL OBSERVATIONS OF A GLOBETROTTING NUTRITIONISTGuest: https://www.instagram.com/holistichilda/ | https://www.holistichilda.com/ | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wise-traditions/id1072618042Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

May 15, 2023 • 55min
Ep. 187 | Social Anxiety: X-Men, Tips & Sweaty Pits
Dr. Ali Mattu was so socially anxious as a child, that he had selective mutism. Since then, he’s become a clinical psychologist specializing in treating anxiety disorders. Wanting to create more accessible mental health education, he created a YouTube channel with over 8.5 million views that helps viewers live a more compassionate, courageous, and connected life. He was the co-host of PBS’s Emmy Nominated Self-Evident, an expert on Netflix + Vox’s The Mind Explained: Anxiety, HBO’s Doctor Commentaries, and A&E’s The Employables. In this episode, we discuss the difference between social anxiety & social anxiety disorder, where it comes from, how RSD, Autism, Introversion & Reddit come into play & give practical tips to feel grounded.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 166: MALE ANXIETY: STIGMA, STRATEGIES & ROGAINEGuest: https://www.instagram.com/alimattu/ | https://www.facebook.com/dralimattu | http://alimattu.com/ | https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePsychShow/featured | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-voices-with-dr-ali/id1685851895Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

May 8, 2023 • 34min
Ep. 186 | Rent-a-Mom? Mentorship & Mom vibes
Nina Keneally recognized saw a need when she moved to an area where almost no one seemed to be over 35. Realizing that she was the oldest person in cafes & restaurants, she knew there was a need for young people to have someone to talk to who is mom-like, but not their mom. She decided to combine her experience as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor, a businesswoman, and a Broadway director/producer and create Need a Mom, an hourly rent-a-mom service filling a need for clients in their teens to their 40s. You’ll hear The reasons people hire her, why parents should butt out & the one request she always turns down.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 139: DAD, HOW DO I FORGIVE YOU? ABANDONMENT, MENTORSHIP & YOUTUBEGuest: https://www.needamomnyc.com/ | https://twitter.com/needamomnyc | https://www.instagram.com/needamomnyc/ | https://www.facebook.com/NeedaMomNYCHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

May 1, 2023 • 34min
Ep. 185 | Sex & Society Mixtape: What is “Normal?”
In these 5 episode clips, you’ll hear from addiction researcher, Dr. Josh Grubbs on the legitimacy of sex addiction, Intimate Care Service owner, Trish St John on why we resist thinking of people with disabilities as sexual, Author Joshua Harris on the pressure of purity culture vs modern dating, sexologist & antique vibrator curator Dr. Carol Queen on the strange history of vibrators in the US & sex educator Sheetal Kandola on the real purpose (& benefit) of the Kamasutra.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 176: HEALTH & WELLNESS MIXTAPE: HEART DISEASE, STRESS REDUCTION & EMF SAFETYGuests: https://twitter.com/JoshuaGrubbsPhD | https://sensualsolutions.business.site/ | https://www.instagram.com/harrisjosh/ | https://twitter.com/carolqueen | https://www.instagram.com/sheetalkandola/Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Apr 24, 2023 • 40min
Ep. 184| Is Your Tongue the Source of Your Stress?
Sara Mercier is a Registered Dental Hygienist, Certified Myofunctional Airway Specialist, and Orofacial Myologist. She also coordinates multi-faceted care to help patients regain full function in the areas of sleep, stress, hormones, TMJ & oral health. In this episode, she explains the connection between oral & whole-body health, a quick fix to improve your sleep quality & the truth about using night guards.If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 154: DE-STRESSING EARBUDS? VAGUS NERVE NEUROMODULATIONGuest: https://www.instagram.com/healthymouth_healthylife/ | https://www.revealmyotherapy.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/revealmyotherapyHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Apr 17, 2023 • 51min
Ep. 183| Meditation & ADHD: Techniques & Inner Agitation
Adam Coutts has meditated daily for 34 years, lived in monasteries in the USA & Asia for 4 years & even meditated once for 4 hours straight … all with ADHD. Now he teaches meditation & mindfulness to the public, including specialized sessions for those with ADHD. In this episode, you’ll hear his first (overwhelming) experience meditation, impulsivity & brashness, meditation techniques for those with ADHD & a five minute guided meditation at the ed.If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 64: GUIDED BREATHWORK SESSION FOR STRESS DETOXGuest: https://intromeditation.com/Wordpress/Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Apr 10, 2023 • 42min
Ep. 182| Rethinking Normal: Hormones, the Mind & Male Menopause
Tim Anderson is a physician’s assistant who spent the first 10 years of his practice holding traditional appointments. If the patient's hormones were in range, he didn't recommend any interventions even if they didn't feel good. He’s since shifted with working with patients instead of the system, helping men & women navigate to optimum health & vitality. In this episode, he talks about the connection between our hormones & our brain health. He covers the role of testosterone, estrogen & progesterone in depression, anxiety, ADHD, focus, motivation & Alzheimer’s. If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 76: WHY PROCESSED FOOD ADDICTION ISN’T YOUR FAULT PART 1Guests: https://healthmatrix.com/ | https://instagram.com/tim_andersonpa?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= | https://www.instagram.com/myhealthmatrixlakemary/Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Apr 3, 2023 • 45min
Ep. 181 | His Drug Dealer Got Him Clean: Addictive Energy & Unlikely Friendship
Dr. Carder Stout went from partying with celebrities in his NYC penthouse to being homeless on the beach in Venice, California. He was trapped in a cycle of addiction to crack cocaine, selling everything he owned to get more, begging on street corners & eventually accepting a job as a driver for a high-ranking member of the crips in exchange for free drugs & money. It was this arrangement that lead to an unlikely friendship with this gang member that became a key part of his process toward permanent recovery. He has since become a psychologist with a private practice & an author of two books, including We Are All Addicts. In this episode, he explains addictive energy, the role of the soul & how his relationship with his dealer made all the difference.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 138: LIFE IN THE VEGAS TUNNELS: CLOWNS, CRICKETS & CRANKGuests: https://carderstout.com/ | https://a.co/d/fiprrNc | https://www.instagram.com/drcarderstout/Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Mar 27, 2023 • 43min
Ep. 180 | Is Your Attachment Style Ruining Your Relationship?
Duana Welch is a professor turned researcher who has contributed to NPR, PBS & Psychology Today. Her specialty is the science of romance & helping people find their person using data. In this episode, she shares about the 3 attachment styles that could be major influencers in your relationship, the difference between being secure & being co-dependent, mini marriages & how to upgrade your attachment stye.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 163: THE SCIENCE OF THE FRIEND ZONE: APPS, EVOLUTION & TRICKY FISHGuests: http://www.lovesciencemedia.com/about | https://www.linkedin.com/in/duana-welch-3a14a0125/ | https://www.facebook.com/LoveFactuallyAuthorHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovertSponsors: https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/