the tara bixby podcast

Hey, friends! I'm so excited for today's episode — I've fallen in love with sound baths as a way to invite more calm and stillness into my day, and today's guest is one of my absolute favorites. Sara Auster is a world-renowned sound therapist, meditation teacher, and creator of the PAUSE app. She's been featured in Oprah Magazine, the New York Times, TIME, Vogue, Billboard, and partnered with the World Health Organization to bring mindfulness to global health. In this episode, we explore what sound healing is, why sound baths are transformative, how to get the most out of them, and how Sara used sound to heal her own trauma. She even guides us through a quick sound bath! Whether you're new to sound meditation or curious about making it part of your life, this episode is packed with practical tips and calming insights. P.S. Sara is giving you three months free on the PAUSE app when you use code TARABIXBY. 📱 Text this episode to a stressed out friend. 💛 Need a friend? Come hang out with me over on Instagram (@thetarabixby). Check out today's show notes here. ✨ Tired of anxiety taking over your life? Ready to feel more calm, joy, and adventure? I'm now offering 1:1 anxiety coaching and would love to help. Email me at hello@tarabixby.com to get started!

Have you done everything "right"? Followed the rules, built the dream career, checked all the boxes you thought would make you happy — and yet, you still feel that ache inside? Today's guest, Megan Hellerer, knows that feeling well. After graduating at the top of her class from Stanford and spending eight years as a Google executive, she found herself crying on the bathroom floor — successful on paper, but completely miserable inside. Now, as an executive career coach for Underfulfilled Overachievers and author of Directional Living, Megan helps women realign their lives and careers with who they truly are. We talk about the "fulfillment ache," why you should forget your purpose and follow your curiosity instead, how to start making decisions that feel truly aligned, and so much more. 📱 Text this episode to someone who needs to hear it. 💛 Need a friend? Come hang out with me over on Instagram (@thetarabixby). Check out today's show notes here.

Today's episode is a raw and powerful conversation about how a prescription for sleep turned into something much darker. Best-selling author and host of The Only One in the Room, Laura Cathcart Robbins, joins me to share her journey of Ambien addiction — from stockpiling pills in her Louboutins to secretly managing withdrawals between PTA meetings and tennis matches. We talk about how her Ambien use began, what her addiction looked like behind closed doors, and the toll of keeping that secret while raising kids and trying to hold it all together. Laura shares the moment she knew she needed help, what withdrawal was really like, and how she continues to protect her sobriety. We also explore her past trauma, why addicts isolate, and what she wishes more people understood about addiction. 📱 Text this episode to someone who needs to hear it. 💛 Need a friend? Come hang out with me over on Instagram (@thetarabixby). Check out today's show notes here.

Hey friend. 👋 Today, Dr. Ben Rein joins us to explore why connection isn't just a cool idea — it's a biological necessity for a healthy mind. Dr. Rein is an award-winning neuroscientist, author of Why Brains Need Friends, Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University, and a brilliant science communicator. We dive into the neuroscience of connection, how isolation triggers stress in the brain, and how meaningful relationships help us thrive. We also talk about recognizing when you're running low on connection, curating a "social diet" that meets your needs, and how modern life and social media quietly erode real relationships. Ben also shares how the loss of social cues online fuels hostility and division, why disagreement doesn't have to break connections, and how small acts of kindness benefit the brain. ✨ If this episode resonates, share it with a friend — text it, email it, or post it on social. Connection and community are what this podcast is all about. Episode show notes... https://courageouslyu.substack.com/p/dr-ben-rein-why-your-brain-needs Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/

Poor sleep doesn't just make you tired — it can fuel anxiety, worsen depression, and leave you stuck in survival mode. The good news? You can improve your sleep quality, and today's guest is here to teach you how. I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Silverman, a Stanford-trained sleep psychologist and insomnia expert, to unpack the powerful connection between sleep and mental health. We cover the difference between sleep deprivation and insomnia, how to manage nighttime worries, and what to actually do when you wake up at 2 a.m. We also dive into navigating new mom sleep, whether quality or quantity matters more, the importance of morning light exposure, and her take on sleep aids, mouth taping, and night terrors. 😴 If you know someone who could use better sleep, be sure to text them this episode. Episode show notes... https://courageouslyu.substack.com/p/dr-sarah-silverman-sleep-tips-that Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/

Feeling like something is wrong with you? Mary O'Malley — author, teacher, and counselor — knows that struggle all too well. After a painful childhood, three suicide attempts, and multiple hospitalizations, she learned that healing isn't about fixing yourself — it's about being present with what hurts. In this conversation, Mary shares how a yoga class changed her life, why our thinking brain gets stuck in struggle, and how our toughest challenges can become a doorway to healing. We also explore facing anxiety with compassion and holding space for others without trying to fix them. If you've ever felt like you're broken, this episode is for you. Mary's wisdom offers a new way to meet your pain with compassion and truly say yes to life — exactly as it is. ✨ If you know someone who's stuck in struggle, share this episode with them — it might be the spark they need. And if you loved today's conversation, leaving a review helps more women find the show and reminds them they're not alone. Episode show notes... https://courageouslyu.substack.com/p/mary-omalley-healing-starts-when Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/ Sponsor... Feeling tired, foggy, or just meh? These electrolytes changed the game for me. You can try all 8 flavors FREE with any order — click here to feel the difference!

Today's quick tip isn't about what to do — it's about what not to do. If you've ever tried using affirmations or talking yourself out of anxiety when anxious, you've probably noticed it doesn't really work. Here's why... when your nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode, your amygdala takes your thinking brain offline — it's like taking a phone off the hook (remember those days). Your thoughts can't get through. Instead of trying to think your way out of anxiety, learn how to feel your way out. That's what I'm teaching you in today's episode. If this was helpful, share it with an anxious friend. And if you're exhausted from always being anxious and ready to finally feel calm, grounded, and back in control of your life, I'm now offering 1:1 anxiety coaching. This is your chance to stop white-knuckling through your days and start actually enjoying them. Email me at hello@tarabixby.com and let's take this next step together.

At 35, Erica Lugo's world went dark — depression, OCD, and suicidal thoughts took over, and she kept being dismissed by doctors. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Erica shares how she connected the dots between her mental health and her hormones, and how HRT completely shifted her life. This episode is full of hope for anyone who's been dismissed, overprescribed, or feels like they've "tried everything." Women aren't talking about this enough — Share this episode with all the women in your life. Episode show notes... https://courageouslyu.substack.com/p/erica-lugo-the-hidden-mental-health Hang out with me on Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/thetarabixby/ Sponsor... Feeling tired, foggy, or just meh? These electrolytes changed the game for me. You can try all 8 flavors FREE with any order — click here to feel the difference! This conversation discusses thoughts about self-harm. If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting "LEV" to 741741.

Hey friends — today's episode wasn't the one I had planned. I had a fertility and prenatal nutrition interview ready to go, but when I sat down to edit it, something felt off. It didn't align with where I'm at or what I want this podcast to be right now (disclosure: It was recorded a year ago). And since I've been working hard to actually trust my intuition, I listened. So today's episode is all about that — learning to tune into your inner knowing, trust it, and make decisions that feel aligned, even when it's uncomfortable. I'm also sharing a raw late-night reflection about how constant exposure to violence on social media is rewiring our brains — and why that might explain why so many of us feel anxious, numb, or both. It's unplanned, honest, and straight from the heart — and I'd love it if you shared it with a friend who might need to hear this too. ✨ Need a friend? Come hang out with me on Insta. I'd love to say hi!

If you've ever tried to think your way out of anxiety only to end up more stuck in worry and rumination, this tip is for you. In this quick tip tuesday, Dr. Russell Kennedy — doctor, neuroscientist, and one of the world's most respected voices on anxiety — shares his go-to strategy for getting out of your head and back into your body when anxious. It's simple, practical, and something you can start practicing today to calm your nervous system and find relief fast. He's also a past podcast guest, so if you love today's tip, be sure to listen to episode 33, where he shares a new prescription for anxiety relief. You can listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you tune in from. 📱If you loved this tip, don't keep it to yourself — text this episode to a friend who could use a little help getting out of their head and back into their body. ✨ Need a friend? Come hang out with me on Insta. I'd love to say hi!