The Angry Therapist Podcast

Now that 2026 is here, John Kim shares 12 powerful questions to help you live with more honesty, alignment, and intention this year. This episode isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about telling the truth. About what feels empty.What you’re tolerating. And what it means to build a life that actually feels honest. A grounding conversation to return to throughout the year. 🌊 Surf Camp + Wellness Retreat HERE 📘 Read John’s new book in progress Sh*t Your Therapist Would Never Tell You on John’s SubStack ⁠HERE⁠ If you’re ready for deeper work, the Secure Self course is available HERE Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow John on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about John⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Uncover the powerful concept of unlocking your inner code. Dive into how false beliefs shape behaviors and relationships, quietly influencing your life. Explore the importance of experience in proving these beliefs wrong. John shares personal stories that highlight reconnecting with lost parts of yourself. Learn actionable steps to create a supportive life container that fosters growth, confidence, and purpose. Embrace the ongoing journey of self-reunion and discover the difference between liking yourself and simply loving.

Discover how to transform your life from fear and shame to joy and creativity. Learn to shift emotional frequencies that hold you back and embrace an attracting state where opportunities come to you. Explore the concept of a 'life container' and how to design one that supports your growth. Understand the differences between chasing and attracting what you want. John Kim shares practical steps to reject negativity and reconnect with your true self, emphasizing daily practices that enhance your life.

Lair Torrent, a therapist and writer passionate about relationships and depth psychology, unpacks some tough topics. He dives into how unspoken hurts, scarcity fears, and past projections shape our relationships and work. Lair reveals his tendency to use work as a shield from personal pain while exploring hidden parts of ourselves and how success can amplify underlying issues. The conversation encourages listeners to confront uncomfortable truths and emphasizes the importance of action in therapy, rather than just insights.

This episode is about what happens when we slow down and ask the questions that don’t come with neat answers. In an honest and reflective conversation, we explore the inner world behind the therapist’s role — the places where healing is still unfolding, emotions are still complicated, and vulnerability still matters. We talk about being seen in relationship, struggling with sadness and anger, the pull between authenticity and edge, and how early experiences shape the way we show up in life, love, and work. This isn’t a lesson. It’s a conversation. A reminder that healing doesn’t require perfection — only presence, honesty, and a willingness to stay with what’s real. If you’re on your own journey of self-understanding, this episode meets you there. Follow Lair Torrent on Instagram HERE Buy Lair's book The Practice of Love HERE Lair's Website HERE In Bloom Summit HERE 📘 Read John’s new book in progress Sh*t Your Therapist Would Never Tell You on John’s SubStack ⁠HERE⁠ If you’re ready for deeper work, the Secure Self course is available HERE Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow John on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Hard Things to Bring Up in Therapy, we sit down with the questions people are often too afraid to ask out loud — the ones about love, loss, sex, shame, attachment, boredom, longing, and the quiet fear that maybe something is wrong with us. From wondering why “healthy love” feels boring after toxicity… to grieving a breakup someone else moved on from too quickly… to asking how often long-term couples should be intimate… to questioning why we attract emotionally unavailable partners… to the messy, human moments around sex, desire, loneliness, and readiness. These are the things we carry alone. This episode sets them down in the open. Why This Episode Matters These aren't just questions — they’re emotional crossroads.Most people bring them into therapy last, if ever.But naming them is the beginning of healing, clarity, and choosing differently. Perfect For You If… You’re in a season of confusion about love or relationships You’re healing from a breakup You’re dating but frustrated by your patterns You want a healthier relationship with intimacy and connection You’re afraid to ask the questions that matter most Listen Now Every question in this episode is a doorway. Step through. 📘 Read John’s new book in progress Sh*t Your Therapist Would Never Tell You on John’s SubStack ⁠HERE⁠ If you’re ready for deeper work, the Secure Self course is available HERE Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow John on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about John⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this module, we explore why healthy love can feel unfamiliar — even uncomfortable — when your nervous system is used to chaos or stress. You’ll learn how your brain adapts to emotional environments, why joy can feel out of reach, and how tiny moments of safety can transform your entire relational world. What you’ll learn: Why calm love can initially feel “flat” How repetition compulsion shows up in attraction The neuroscience behind your default mode network Why joy can feel unsafe — and how to rebuild access to it How tiny daily joys create enormous emotional change The difference between excitement and emotional intensity How to build a relationship that feels grounded, stable, and deeply connected This module is all about expanding your capacity for joy, hope, and relational peace — one small moment at a time. If you’re ready for deeper work, the Secure Self course is available ⁠HERE⁠ Follow Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald on Instagram HERE 📘 Read John’s new book in progress Sh*t Your Therapist Would Never Tell You on John’s SubStack ⁠HERE⁠ Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow John on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about John⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald, a clinical therapist and expert on relationship patterns, dives into the reasons behind our repetitive relational behaviors. She reveals how early experiences shape adult attraction, often leading us back to familiar yet harmful dynamics. The discussion highlights how healing occurs in relationships, not isolation, and emphasizes using triggers as opportunities for growth. Together with host John Kim, they explore strategies for choosing grounded partners and navigating emotional triggers with compassion.

Shaka Senghor, a renowned author and criminal-justice reform advocate, shares his transformative journey from incarceration to healing. He discusses how alignment impacts what we attract and redefines manifestation beyond mere desire. Shaka emphasizes the importance of transitioning from shame to self-respect and reveals how his imagination kept him alive in solitary confinement. He shares daily practices that foster grace and a mindset shift that liberates us from emotional prisons, inviting listeners to notice the smallest moments of abundance.

Shaka Senghor, an author and criminal justice reform advocate, shares his deeply transformative journey from 19 years of incarceration to becoming a beacon of hope. He discusses the powerful impact of forgiveness, revealing how it liberated him from anger. Shaka emphasizes the importance of imagination and human connection, even in solitary confinement. He also reflects on the grief, shame, and vulnerabilities that shaped his healing process, and the healing groups he started within prison that fostered growth and resilience.