Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads

What changes when you stop looking outside yourself for permission to feel whole? In Part 2, Rocio Aquino and Angel Orengo return with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles for a powerful conversation about breaking generational patterns, choosing yourself, letting go of emotional weight, healing old wounds, and building a life around joy instead of someone else’s definition of success.

Awards & Downloads

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

Feedback

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here:
https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“Choose yourself. When you stop giving away your power, you finally have something real to give back to the people you love.” — Inspired by Rocio Aquino & Angel Orengo

Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

This episode includes conversations about childhood abuse, abandonment, suicide attempts, trauma, and emotional pain. Please listen with care.
If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You do not have to be suicidal to reach out for support.

https://988lifeline.org/

Episode Description

What happens after you recognize your wounds? How do you make sure you aren’t unknowingly handing them to the next generation?
In Part 2, Rocio Aquino and Angel Orengo join G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to continue their conversation about healing, self-awareness, and the lessons behind The Orchid: The Secret Code of Modern Goddesses.

Rocio and Angel explore the stories society teaches women and men, why empathy and compassion matter, and how the media and stories we consume can shape how we understand ourselves and the world.

Rocio reveals that the five women at the center of The Orchid carry pieces of her own experiences, trauma, and transformation. Angel shares one of the biggest lessons of his healing journey: we have more control over where our emotional energy goes than we realize.

The conversation becomes deeply personal as Angel discusses childhood abuse and Rocio shares losing her mother, attempting suicide at 20, and what she would tell that younger version of herself today: go play the game, because you are going to be okay.

They also talk about generational trauma, parenting, letting go, intuition, self-love, nature, emotional energy, and why taking care of yourself first is not selfish. G-Rex brings it home with one hell of a reminder: stop chasing somebody else’s definition of happiness and start chasing your joy.

Healing yourself can change more than your own life. It can change what the people who come after you have to carry.

Keywords: generational trauma, choosing joy, self-love, emotional healing, breaking generational cycles, intentional living, childhood trauma, personal empowerment, mental health recovery, letting go, self-worth, emotional wellness, healing family patterns, self-compassion, finding purpose

Meet Our Guests — Rocio Aquino & Angel Orengo

Rocio Aquino and Angel Orengo are the storytellers and creators behind The Orchid, a book and growing community dedicated to healing, self-discovery, purpose, and intentional living. Their work blends personal experience, honest reflection, storytelling, and meaningful conversation to encourage people to look inward, challenge inherited beliefs, and create healthier emotional patterns for themselves and future generations.
Website: https://www.theorchidbook.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocioangel__/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rocioangel.social

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rocioangel.theorchid

Key Takeaways

Healing your own wounds can change what gets passed down to the next generation.

Loving yourself does not take love away from your family; it can increase your capacity to show up for them.

You have a choice about where you spend your emotional energy.

Letting go is not weakness—it is deciding that something no longer deserves your peace.

Happiness tied only to possessions or achievements can be temporary; joy can live in ordinary moments.

Family, cultural, and societal stories can shape you, but they do not have to control the rest of your life.

Actionable Items

Do an energy audit. Identify one person, argument, resentment, or expectation receiving more of your emotional energy than you want to give it.

Spend ten minutes outside without your phone and notice something small that genuinely brings you joy.

Identify one belief, behavior, or emotional pattern from your family history that you do not want to pass forward, then choose one small way to respond differently.

 
 

Important Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Part 2 + Why Healing Stories Need a Bigger Stage
G-Rex opens by asking how stories like The Orchid can help people better understand women's emotional experiences and normalize talking about mental health.

03:34 – Rocio’s Mission to Create Stories That Help People Heal
Rocio talks about dedicating her life to stories that allow people—especially women—to see themselves through a different lens.

05:39 – Strengthening Women, Men, and the Human Experience
Angel discusses the importance of empathy, kindness, compassion, and strengthening qualities historically labeled as feminine.

08:06 – How the Stories We Consume Shape Us
Angel explores the influence of film, television, video games, and storytelling—and why he wants more stories showing people how to heal and survive.

09:45 – Rocio Reveals Herself in The Orchid’s Five Women
Rocio shares that she sees parts of her own trauma and healing journey in all five central characters.

10:58 – Closing Your Wounds and Reclaiming Your Power
Angel uses The Matrix as a metaphor for reaching a place where another person’s insults no longer have the same power over you.

15:45 – Take Care of Yourself Before Trying to Save Everybody Else
Angel explains why healing yourself first allows you to show up differently for your family and everyone around you.

17:53 – What Angel Would Tell His Six-Year-Old Self
Angel reflects on childhood abuse and the lessons about personal power and self-belief he wishes he could have learned before experiencing trauma.

20:21 – Rocio on Losing Her Mother and Attempting Suicide at 20
Rocio talks about reaching one of the lowest moments of her life and the message she would now give her younger self: you are not alone, and this will not last forever.

22:11 – Their Hardest Lessons: Abandonment and Letting Go
Rocio reflects on surviving abandonment while Angel explains why letting go has been one of the most difficult and rewarding lessons of his life.

25:13 – “The Person I Love the Most Is Me”
Angel shares the realization that taking responsibility for his own happiness actually allows him to love his wife, daughters, and family more freely.

27:02 – Choosing the Story You Tell Yourself
Rocio and Dirty Skittles discuss how self-belief becomes a daily practice and why compassionate thoughts matter.

29:00 – Stop Chasing Happiness. Chase Your Joy.
G-Rex shares why joy has become more meaningful than material success and encourages listeners to stop building their lives around somebody else’s dream.

32:22 – Anxiety Theme Songs and Remembering to Breathe
Angel and Rocio share the reminders they use when anxiety kicks in and life starts feeling overwhelming.

35:50 – Healing as a Couple and a Family
Rocio talks about investing in personal growth, growing together as partners, and watching those lessons ripple through their children and extended family.

37:23 – Breaking Generational Trauma
Angel recalls the moment he and Rocio decided that the painful patterns carried through their family line would stop with them.

39:08 – “Yes, I Can” vs. “You Can’t”
Rocio and Angel share their favorite and least favorite words, ending the episode with a reminder to stop allowing other people to define what is possible for you.

40:06 – Where to Find Rocio, Angel, and The Orchid
Rocio and Angel share where listeners can connect with their work and leave one final reminder: one of the greatest resources you have is yourself.

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:

https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

 

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #GenerationalTrauma #BreakTheCycle #ChooseJoy #SelfLove #EmotionalHealing #IntentionalLiving #HealingJourney #PersonalGrowth #SelfWorth #SelfCompassion #TraumaRecovery #LettingGo #FindYourJoy #TheOrchid #RocioAndAngel

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If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when you finally realize the pain you’ve been carrying doesn’t have to define the rest of your life? In Part 1, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Rocio Aquino and Angel Orengo, creators of The Orchid: The Secret Code of Modern Goddesses, for a raw conversation about forgiveness, trauma, self-awareness, relationships, and learning how to choose yourself.

Awards & Downloads

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

Feedback

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here:
https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“Forgiveness isn’t about giving your power back to someone else. It’s about releasing what you no longer need to carry.” — Inspired by Rocio Aquino

Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

This episode includes conversations about trauma, abuse, suicidal thoughts, and a suicide attempt. Please take care of yourself while listening.
If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You do not have to be suicidal to reach out. Support is available for anyone experiencing emotional distress or crisis.

https://988lifeline.org/

Episode Description

What if forgiveness isn’t really about the person who hurt you?
In Part 1 of this powerful two-part conversation, Rocio Aquino and Angel Orengo join G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about the experiences that shaped their personal healing and eventually inspired The Orchid: The Secret Code of Modern Goddesses.

Rocio opens up about carrying shame, guilt, trauma, and the belief that life was happening against her. After a painful financial loss left her feeling betrayed, defeated, and responsible, curiosity pushed her toward a life-changing question: How do I forgive?

What began as a search for relief became a deeper journey into psychology, self-awareness, acceptance, and understanding the beliefs she had been taught about herself. Rocio explains that forgiveness eventually stopped being about the person who hurt her and became about releasing the emotional weight she was carrying inside.

Angel shares what it was like witnessing Rocio’s transformation while discovering his own understanding of personal power. Together, they explain why awareness is the starting point for change and why gratitude, forgiveness, acceptance, and intention became central lessons behind The Orchid.

G-Rex also shares openly about her own suicide attempt, calling 988, and how therapy, self-forgiveness, and choosing to live changed her life. Dirty Skittles reflects on living in fight mode after childhood trauma and the process of becoming her own best friend.

This episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t erase what happened. It changes how much power the past gets to have over what comes next.

Keywords: forgiveness, trauma healing, self-forgiveness, self-awareness, emotional healing, childhood trauma, mental health recovery, inner child healing, self-discovery, intentional living, personal transformation, women’s mental health, gratitude, acceptance, overcoming shame

Meet Our Guests — Rocio Aquino & Angel Orengo

Rocio Aquino and Angel Orengo are the storytellers and creators behind The Orchid, a book and growing community dedicated to healing, self-discovery, purpose, and intentional living. Their work blends lived experience, honest reflection, storytelling, and meaningful conversation to help people better understand themselves, question inherited beliefs, and recognize their capacity for transformation.
Website: https://www.theorchidbook.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocioangel__/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rocioangel.social

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rocioangel.theorchid

Key Takeaways

Forgiveness can be less about the person who hurt you and more about freeing yourself from what you are still carrying.

Curiosity can become the first step out of survival mode and into genuine self-awareness.

Trauma, shame, guilt, and old family stories do not have to determine your identity forever.

Understanding why you think the way you think creates space to make different choices.

Gratitude, forgiveness, acceptance, awareness, and intention can become practical tools for personal transformation.

Becoming your own best friend can completely change how you experience yourself and the world around you.

Actionable Items

Ask yourself: “Why do I believe what I believe about myself?” Write down whatever comes up without immediately judging or correcting it.

Identify one resentment, painful memory, or old story that still takes up emotional energy and ask what releasing some of that weight could give back to you.

Choose one small decision this week based on what you genuinely want instead of what you believe other people expect from you.

 
References Mentioned

The Orchid: The Secret Code of Modern Goddesses
https://www.theorchidbook.com/
The Matrix — referenced by Rocio as an early catalyst for questioning limitations, reality, and personal possibility.

Important Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Part 1 + Meet Rocio and Angel
Rocio and Angel introduce The Orchid and explain why the orchid became the symbol at the center of their story.

03:13 – Why They Chose Storytelling Over a Traditional Self-Help Book
Rocio and Angel explain how their lived experiences and entertainment backgrounds inspired them to teach healing concepts through story.

06:17 – Rocio’s Transformation Begins
Angel reflects on watching Rocio change after years of carrying shame, self-doubt, pain, and the feeling that she was never enough.

08:26 – Betrayal, Financial Loss, and the Search for Forgiveness
A failed investment becomes a major turning point that sends Rocio searching for a practical way to forgive and move forward.

11:08 – G-Rex on Suicide, 988, and Choosing to Live
G-Rex shares how calling 988 became part of her own turning point and how therapy, forgiveness, and doing the work changed her life.

18:13 – What Forgiveness Really Means
Rocio explains how she realized forgiveness was ultimately for her—not for the person who hurt her.

22:03 – Learning to Understand Yourself
Rocio discusses studying psychology, reading extensively, and recognizing how family, society, and old beliefs had shaped the way she saw herself.

24:58 – Curiosity, Travel, and Discovering Different Ways to Live
Angel shares how traveling around the world helped them see that many of the “rules” we live by are not the only options available.

27:53 – Hope, Healing, and Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
G-Rex reflects on how life changed after her darkest moment and what it feels like to experience genuine happiness after years of pain.

30:18 – What Humans Around the World Have in Common
Rocio and Angel talk about traveling to more than 70 countries and discovering how much people share across cultures.

33:00 – Angel’s Aha Moment: Recognizing His Own Power
Angel describes realizing that many limitations are learned stories and that alignment between thoughts, feelings, words, and actions can change everything.

35:13 – Rocio, The Matrix, and Becoming “Neo”
Rocio explains how seeing The Matrix in 1999 sparked questions about possibility, programming, and the life she could create.

37:02 – Becoming Your Own Best Friend
Dirty Skittles and Rocio reflect on learning to love yourself, listen to yourself, and recognize what you actually need.

42:15 – The Five Lessons Behind The Orchid
Angel breaks down the core framework woven into the book: awareness, gratitude, forgiveness, acceptance, and intention.

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:

https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

 

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #TraumaHealing #Forgiveness #SelfForgiveness #EmotionalHealing #SelfDiscovery #InnerChildHealing #IntentionalLiving #PersonalGrowth #SelfAwareness #HealingJourney #OvercomingTrauma #ChooseYourself #TheOrchid #RocioAndAngel #MentalHealthRecovery

***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when anxiety, creative pressure, and everyday stress leave you feeling five minutes from completely losing your shit? G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Author David Meyer for a funny, thoughtful conversation about burnout, overthinking, empathy, self-care, and why making art can remind us that we’re not alone.

Awards & Downloads

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

Feedback

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here:
https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“If it touches one person, make the art.” — David Meyer

Episode Description

David Meyer knows what it feels like to live five minutes from a meltdown. The author, screenwriter, poet, and cooking-show producer joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles for a brutally relatable conversation about anxiety, burnout, creative pressure, and the strange little habits that keep us functioning when our brains refuse to calm the hell down.
David shares how a collection of hundreds of comedic poems became his book, Five Minutes From a Meltdown, and why humor has always helped him acknowledge emotions that might otherwise stay buried. For David, laughter is more than entertainment. It creates connection, offers relief, and reminds us that someone else has probably felt the exact same messy thing.

The conversation also gets real about the basics of mental health care: eating, sleeping, drinking water, exercising, resting, and admitting that the annoying advice often works. David opens up about balancing a demanding creative career with his well-being, managing the fear of disappointing people, and learning to create without waiting for perfect confidence.

He also introduces the idea of “sonder”—the realization that every person is living a life as complicated and meaningful as our own. That awareness can be overwhelming, but it can also make us kinder, more patient, and less likely to judge someone based on one difficult moment.

This episode is funny, thoughtful, and deeply human. It’s a reminder that nothing has to be perfect to have value—and sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is laugh, make the art, drink some water, and keep going.

Keywords: David Meyer, Five Minutes From a Meltdown, anxiety, burnout, mental health, emotional wellness, creative pressure, humor and healing, overthinking, self-care, empathy, resilience, perfectionism, stress management, creative confidence

Meet Our Guest — David Meyer

David Meyer is the author of Five Minutes From a Meltdown, a candid and funny exploration of stress, resilience, and life near the edge of burnout. A writer and producer based in Los Angeles, David uses poetry, screenwriting, storytelling, and sharp observation to help people find humor, meaning, and connection inside life’s everyday chaos.
Website: https://davidmeyerwriter.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cubsdem

Email: david@davidmeyerwriter.com

Key Takeaways

Humor can help us acknowledge difficult emotions without letting them completely take over.

Burnout often gets worse when basic needs such as food, sleep, movement, water, and rest are ignored.

You don’t need perfect confidence to make something meaningful.

Creative work can help people feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Remembering that everyone has a full, complicated life can build empathy and reduce judgment.

Your work does not need to change the entire world to matter to one person.

Actionable Items

Before labeling yourself unmotivated or overwhelmed, check the basics: Have you eaten, slept, moved your body, rested, and had enough water?

Create something imperfect this week—a poem, journal entry, voice note, sketch, or story—and resist the urge to judge it.

When someone frustrates you, pause and imagine one compassionate explanation for what they may be experiencing.

Important Chapters

00:00:37 – Meet David Meyer
David joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about writing, producing, books, movies, and the creative work that keeps him busy.

00:06:00 – From Buying Groceries to Producing a Cooking Show
David explains how a short six-week job turned into a major production role and what he has learned from working with a small, driven creative team.

00:08:01 – Becoming a Writer and Accidental Published Poet
David shares how he started writing as a child, discovered screenwriting in college, and turned hundreds of comedic poems into a published collection.

00:11:41 – Humor as Mental Health Medicine
The conversation shifts to laughter, emotional release, and why art can make people feel recognized and less alone.

00:15:38 – A Good Childhood and an Anxious Brain
David talks honestly about having a loving upbringing while still experiencing mental health challenges—and why pain does not always need a dramatic origin story.

00:17:23 – Creative Pressure, Burnout, and Basic Self-Care
David describes the demands of producing a show and the frustrating truth that sleep, food, water, exercise, and rest really do help.

00:22:37 – What David Wants to Write Next
From serious poetry and plays to screenplays and horror-comedy, David discusses his creative ambitions and the uncertainty of building a career in a changing industry.

00:24:48 – Confidence, Mortality, and Making the Art Anyway
David explains how accepting that life is temporary helps him take risks, release perfectionism, and create work that may connect with even one person.

00:29:17 – Building a Sustainable Writing Practice
David reflects on being an inspiration-driven writer and why he is learning to treat creativity as a skill that requires routine and consistent effort.

00:33:20 – Advice for His Younger Self
David shares the message he would give his younger self: people probably see more value in you than you currently see in yourself.

00:35:20 – Sonder, Empathy, and Everyone Else’s Full Life
David explores the realization that every stranger is the main character of a complex life—and how that awareness can make us kinder.

00:39:48 – The Theme Song for David’s Anxiety
David chooses Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” and opens up about his fear of disappointing or emotionally hurting other people.

00:41:48 – Favorite Words, Swearing, and the Mental Load of AI
David explains why “fuck” is his favorite word, why AI is currently his least favorite, and how language reflects the pressures of modern life.

00:44:33 – David’s Book and Charitable Mission
David shares how listeners can find his work and explains that proceeds from his remaining books support charitable causes.

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:

https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #DavidMeyer #FiveMinutesFromAMeltdown #BurnoutRecovery #AnxietySupport #CreativeMentalHealth #HumorHeals #EmotionalWellness #StressManagement #Overthinking #SelfCareMatters #CreativeConfidence #EmpathyMatters #Resilience #MentalHealthConversations #WritersMentalHealth

***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Justin Shaw went from addiction, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and spiritual rock bottom to a life-changing “bliss attack” that completely rewired how he saw himself. In this raw, funny, and deeply human conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles talk with Justin about shadow work, religious trauma, emotional healing, and what happens when we stop letting fear drive the damn car.

Awards & Downloads

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

Feedback

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here:
https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“The shadow is the reactor. The sorcerer is the responder.” — Justin Shaw

Episode Description

Justin Shaw knows what it feels like when the shadow takes the wheel. After years of addiction, PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, and spiritual confusion, he reached a point where survival was no longer enough. He wanted to understand why pain kept repeating itself—and how to stop reacting from wounds he had never learned to heal.

In this bold and brutally honest conversation, Justin joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to explain why our shadow cannot simply be locked in the trunk and ignored. Instead, he believes we must recognize it, care for it, and move it into the back seat where it no longer controls every decision. Justin shares how comedy first became a way to escape emotional pain, how substance use took over his twenties, and why traditional recovery and religious spaces helped him for a time but eventually left him trapped in fear.

He also opens up about losing his mother, questioning beliefs about hell and worthiness, and experiencing what he calls a “bliss attack”—a powerful wave of love, clarity, and connection that changed the direction of his life. Through his book, Sourcery 101: 13 Rungs to a Higher Elevation of Consciousness, Justin now offers a practical, no-BS path toward emotional alchemy, curiosity, and personal freedom.

This episode is about questioning inherited beliefs, separating your identity from your trauma, and learning to respond instead of react. It is messy, funny, spiritual, uncomfortable, and full of hope—because healing is not about becoming someone new. It is about remembering who the hell you were before fear took over.

Keywords: Justin Shaw, shadow work, addiction recovery, PTSD healing, anxiety support, depression recovery, emotional freedom, religious trauma, spiritual awakening, trauma healing, mental health podcast, consciousness, self-awareness, emotional wellness, personal growth

Meet Our Guest — Justin Shaw

Justin L. Shaw is a mystical comedian, spiritual sherpa, author, and self-described Sourcerer who uses humor and higher-consciousness principles to help people transform pain into wisdom. After navigating addiction, PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, and religious fear, Justin developed a grounded approach to healing that blends comedy, curiosity, shadow work, and spiritual connection without dogma or toxic positivity.

Website: https://www.awakenthesourcerer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sorcerer_u_13/

Book: Sourcery 101: 13 Rungs to a Higher Elevation of Consciousness - Available through Amazon and Audible.

Key Takeaways

Your shadow is not something to destroy—it is something to understand, care for, and stop allowing to run your life.

Unhealed trauma often shows up as anger, reactivity, addiction, anxiety, or destructive behavior.

You are not your diagnosis, addiction, fear, or trauma. You are the awareness observing those experiences.

Healing is not one-size-fits-all, and recovery should leave room for different spiritual beliefs and personal paths.

Questioning inherited beliefs can be painful, but curiosity creates space for emotional freedom.

Happiness comes from temporary experiences, while joy can remain present between those moments.

Actionable Items

When you feel triggered, pause and ask: “Am I reacting from my shadow, or responding from awareness?”

Write down one belief you inherited about yourself, religion, success, or worthiness—and honestly question whether it is still true.

Create a healthy outlet for anger or fear through journaling, movement, comedy, music, art, or honest conversation.

Important Chapters

00:00:37 – Welcome to Justin Shaw
G-Rex and Dirty Skittles introduce Justin and jump into his description of being “a little bit Deepak and a little bit Tupac.”

00:01:26 – Understanding the Shadow and the Sorcerer
Justin explains how the shadow can drive the car, sit in the passenger seat, or rest safely in the back seat when we learn to care for it.

00:05:26 – Healthy Ways to Work With Anger
From journaling and exercise to comedy and creative expression, Justin shares ways to process shadow emotions without harming ourselves or others.

00:08:42 – Comedy as a Pain-Ducker
Justin talks about growing up emotionally unsupported and using humor, television, food, and entertainment to create relief and connection.

00:13:05 – Addiction, Rehab, and Relapse
He opens up about addiction to opioids and benzodiazepines, his first attempt at rehab, and why physical sobriety alone was not enough.

00:15:39 – Recovery, Religion, and Fear
Justin describes following the AA and Christianity path, then spiraling after his mother became terminally ill and he feared she was going to hell.

00:17:35 – Rebuilding Beliefs After Religious Trauma
Working with a shaman, meditation, and self-inquiry helped Justin challenge dogma and begin separating spirituality from fear.

00:19:32 – Justin’s First “Bliss Attack”
Justin describes a three-hour experience of love, clarity, and spiritual connection that became his “near-life experience.”

00:20:45 – Loss, Grief, and Searching for Direction
After losing contact with his young son, Justin moved to Sedona and asked the universe for guidance about what to do next.

00:22:32 – The Difference Between Happiness and Joy
Justin explains why temporary pleasure is not the same as cultivating a deeper, more sustainable sense of inner peace.

00:25:30 – Spiritual Healing Outside Traditional Religion
G-Rex and Justin connect over religious trauma, changing beliefs, and finding support beyond the walls of a church.

00:31:36 – Creating Sourcery 101
Justin shares why he created 13 “rungs” instead of 12 steps and how his framework turns pain into emotional alchemy.

00:33:29 – Healing Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
The conversation explores spiritual bankruptcy, anxiety, depression, PTSD, recovery, and the need for more inclusive healing options.

00:38:25 – Questioning Childhood Programming
Justin discusses how early messages shape identity and why adults must learn to question the beliefs installed during childhood.

00:42:30 – Advice to His Younger Self
Justin says he would tell his teenage self to question everything and approach life with curiosity.

00:44:32 – The Hardest Lesson Justin Learned
He reflects on realizing how many beliefs he accepted from people who may not have understood the truth themselves.

00:45:54 – Anxiety’s Theme Song
Justin chooses the Indiana Jones theme because anxiety can feel like a wild journey filled with rising intensity and sudden drops.

00:47:11 – Favorite and Least Favorite Words
Justin names his favorite word without hesitation and explains why “church” still brings up painful emotional memories.

00:48:47 – Where to Find Justin and His Work
Justin shares his social media, book, audiobook, email, and vision for combining spiritual growth with live mystical comedy.

Closing CTA

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Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
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#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #JustinShaw #ShadowWork #AddictionRecovery #PTSDRecovery #AnxietyHealing #DepressionRecovery #ReligiousTrauma #SpiritualAwakening #EmotionalFreedom #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthRecovery #SelfAwareness #ConsciousLiving #EmotionalWellness #Sourcery101

 

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If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This conversation concludes our two-part Season 19 opener with Diandra Ford-Wing. In Part 2, Diandra joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to ask one hell of an important question: why are employees expected to navigate grief, burnout, mental health leave, and returning to work almost entirely alone? Together, they imagine a more human workplace built on emotional intelligence, practical support, psychological safety, and leaders who actually know how to lead people.

Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

This episode includes references to suicide, depression, mental health crises, workplace trauma, and medical leave. Please listen with care.

If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 in the United States and Canada to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available, and asking for it is an act of strength.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

Global crisis resources: https://findahelpline.com/

Awards & Downloads

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

Feedback

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https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“Losing people won’t kill you. It can teach you how deeply you were capable of loving them.” — Inspired by Diandra Ford-Wing

Episode Description

What happens when an employee is too mentally unwell to work—but also too overwhelmed to navigate the system that is supposed to help them?

In Part 2 of our Season 19 opener, Diandra Ford-Wing, G-Rex, and Dirty Skittles take an unfiltered look at workplace mental health, FMLA, toxic leadership, grief literacy, and the emotional cost of being treated like a replaceable number.

Diandra shares how FMLA gave her the time she needed to recover after a suicide attempt, while Dirty Skittles describes the exhausting hoops she faced when severe burnout left her unable to form sentences or manage complicated paperwork. Their experiences reveal a brutal contradiction: people often need the most administrative help at the exact moment they are least capable of advocating for themselves.

The conversation also examines what happens when employees return from leave. Who prepares the manager? How should coworkers respond? Why are struggling employees expected to disclose private medical details just to satisfy someone else’s curiosity?

Together, the group imagines better systems: trained leave coordinators, crisis support that exists outside traditional HR, emotional intelligence standards for managers, return-to-work plans, ongoing leadership education, and workplaces where asking for help feels safe.

Diandra also reflects on the advice she would give her 16-year-old self, the hardest lesson she has learned through loss, and the tattoo she shares with her twin sister commemorating the 16,282 days their mother was alive.

This episode is a call for workplaces to stop treating mental health as a personal inconvenience. Employees are human beings—not machines, metrics, or cogs in somebody else’s wheel.

Keywords: Diandra Ford-Wing, workplace mental health, FMLA mental health, burnout leave, grief in the workplace, toxic workplace recovery, emotional intelligence, employee wellbeing, return to work, mental health accommodations, leadership training, workplace crisis support, psychological safety, bereavement reform, human-centered leadership

Meet Our Guest — Diandra Ford-Wing

Diandra Ford-Wing is an author, speaker, Sales Director, and workplace grief advocate committed to creating conversations about loss, burnout, resilience, and humanity at work. Through her speaking platform and her debut novel, Red Bird, she uses personal experience and storytelling to help others feel less alone while encouraging organizations to respond to grief and mental health crises with greater compassion.

Website: http://booksbydiandra.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diandrafordwing

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diandrafordwing

Book: Red Bird by Diandra Ford-Wing

Key Takeaways

Human resources primarily protects the organization, so employees need independent and accessible mental health support.

FMLA can provide essential recovery time, but the application process may overwhelm people already experiencing a crisis.

Employees returning from mental health leave do not owe coworkers the details of what happened.

Managers need practical training in burnout, grief, emotional intelligence, crisis response, and psychologically safe communication.

Supporting someone can be as simple as checking whether they ate, rested, brushed their teeth, or need quiet companionship.

Losing someone can change you without ending you, and healing does not erase the love that remains.

Actionable Items

Prepare a return-to-work sentence before taking leave or coming back: “I appreciate your concern, but I’m not discussing the details. I’m ready to focus on moving forward.”

Create a personal crisis folder containing benefit contacts, insurance information, leave policies, medical providers, and one trusted person authorized to help you navigate paperwork.

Leaders should schedule regular, private check-ins that ask about workload, safety, capacity, and support—not just performance metrics.

Important Chapters

00:00:46 — Taking the first step toward workplace reform: Diandra explains why simply getting into the room and beginning the conversation can create meaningful change.

00:01:56 — The need for workplace grief and crisis support: The group discusses why HR alone cannot provide the independent emotional support employees need.

00:03:40 — When burnout leaves you unable to advocate for yourself: Dirty Skittles describes how mental exhaustion made navigating medical leave and workplace procedures nearly impossible.

00:05:43 — How FMLA supported Diandra’s recovery: Diandra shares how her mother and manager helped her access leave after a suicide attempt.

00:06:44 — The exhausting reality of FMLA paperwork: The conversation exposes the deadlines, documentation, costs, and administrative pressure placed on people in crisis.

00:08:14 — Returning to work after mental health leave: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles discuss privacy, intrusive questions, and preparing a script for coworkers.

00:10:41 — What meaningful support can look like: The hosts share why simple, low-pressure check-ins can matter more than advice or demands for conversation.

00:12:45 — Building assessments and crisis-response systems: The group imagines tools that could help managers and leave coordinators identify escalating levels of distress.

00:14:45 — Why emotional intelligence must be a leadership requirement: Diandra reflects on how therapy changed the way she would lead and why technical skill alone does not make someone fit to manage people.

00:18:42 — Good managers, self-check-ins, and changing work culture: G-Rex discusses the leaders who made employees feel seen and the self-care questions she now asks herself.

00:21:21 — What must change first?: The conversation turns toward realistic reforms, including workload expectations, psychological safety, and leadership accountability.

00:25:38 — Why an EAP is not enough: The group challenges companies that point employees toward limited assistance programs without fixing harmful workplace conditions.

00:26:59 — Men, stigma, and asking for help: G-Rex directly addresses the shame many men experience around burnout, grief, and mental health leave.

00:28:00 — The advice Diandra would give her younger self: Diandra returns to age 16 with one clear message: things will get better.

00:29:18 — The hardest lesson loss taught her: Diandra explains why losing someone will not kill you and shares the meaning of the tattoo honoring her mother’s 16,282 days.

00:30:26 — Anxiety theme songs and favorite words: The episode closes with humor, reflection, and Diandra’s refusal to accept the word “can’t.”

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:

https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

 
#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #WorkplaceMentalHealth #FMLA #BurnoutRecovery #GriefAtWork #EmployeeWellbeing #ToxicWorkplace #EmotionalIntelligence #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #MentalHealthLeave #BereavementReform #HumanCenteredLeadership #WorkplaceWellness #DiandraFordWing #Season19

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If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.