Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads

In Part 2, Michael Caprio’s story moves beyond survival and into the messy, beautiful work of rebuilding a life with purpose. G-Rex and Dirty Skittles talk with Michael about mental health after surgery, living with FAP long-term, family genetics, advocacy, gratitude, and why helping even one person makes the whole damn story worth telling.

Awards & Downloads Line

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 Link Line

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

Mental Health Quote

“If my story helps one person feel less alone, then it was worth telling.” — Michael Caprio

Episode Description

In Part 2 of Michael Caprio’s conversation with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles, the story shifts from diagnosis and surgery to what happens after survival. Because surviving the scary thing is one chapter. Learning how to live again is a whole different road.

Michael opens up about life after FAP surgery, including diet changes, bathroom anxiety, ongoing medical monitoring, and the everyday realities of living without a large intestine. He talks honestly about how a rare disease affects planning for the future, relationships, travel, family conversations, and the possibility of having children when a hereditary condition is involved.

This episode also explores the emotional power of legacy. Michael shares how his grandmother’s courage shaped his understanding of perseverance, how his family’s “club” fostered connection rather than shame, and how writing A Bump in the Road helped him turn pain into purpose. One of the most moving parts of the conversation is Michael’s story about connecting with a woman in Australia who also lives with FAP and finally felt seen through his book.

Through humor, honesty, and a whole lot of heart, Michael reminds us that rare disease advocacy is not about pretending everything is fine. It is about telling the truth, building community, and showing someone else that life can still be beautiful after the thing that almost broke you.

Keywords: Michael Caprio, rare disease advocacy, FAP, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, mental health, colorectal cancer awareness, gratitude, survivorship, chronic illness, hereditary cancer, patient advocacy, medical trauma recovery, emotional wellness, family genetics, life after surgery

Meet Our Guest — Michael Caprio

Michael Caprio is an Author, rare disease advocate, and speaker who draws on his personal experience with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis to help others feel less isolated in their medical journeys. He is the author of A Bump in the Road: My Medical Journey over Potholes, Detours, and the Bridge to Gratitude, a memoir that blends vulnerability, humor, and gratitude while shining a light on the emotional side of rare disease, surgery, and survivorship.

Website: https://www.mikecaprioauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikecaprio_author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/A-Bump-in-the-Road/100076302759044/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-caprio/

Key Takeaways

Life after survival still comes with anxiety, adjustments, and big emotional questions.

A rare disease can affect everything from travel plans to relationships to future family planning.

Advocacy does not require perfection; it starts with telling the truth.

Family history can carry pain, but it can also carry strength, wisdom, and a blueprint for survival.

Gratitude can grow beside grief, fear, and uncertainty.

Helping one person feel less alone can turn a painful story into a powerful mission.

Actionable Items

If you live with a chronic or rare condition, make a “real life” plan for travel, food, bathrooms, appointments, and support instead of pretending your needs do not exist.

Share your story with one safe person or support group. Connection can break the shame spiral.

Replace “I can’t” with “What support or information would make this possible?”

Important Chapters

00:00:00 – Welcome to Part 2
G-Rex opens the second half of Michael’s story, bringing the conversation back to mental health, recovery, and life after diagnosis.

00:00:39 – Was therapy offered?
G-Rex asks whether anyone offered Michael therapy during diagnosis or treatment, and Michael reflects on not being ready for help at the time.

00:01:30 – Life with FAP now
Michael explains what day-to-day life looks like in his 30s, including diet adjustments, stomach sensitivity, and future medical monitoring.

00:04:24 – Planning life around the body you have
Dirty Skittles asks how FAP affects life experiences, and Michael talks about travel, bathrooms, crowded places, and learning not to feel ashamed.

00:07:01 – Family planning and hereditary risk
Michael discusses the emotional complexity of having children when FAP can be passed down genetically.

00:08:50 – Nothing in life is guaranteed
Michael shares his family’s perspective: every family has something, and FAP is theirs.

00:10:47 – His grandmother’s courage and the butterfly effect
Michael tells the powerful story of his grandmother, early medical procedures, and how her decision to keep going helped make his whole family possible.

00:15:13 – Advocacy and helping others feel less alone
G-Rex reflects on Michael’s courage in putting his story out there and helping others understand that FAP is not a death sentence.

00:16:35 – Reaching someone across the world
Michael shares the story of connecting with a woman in Australia who found comfort and validation through his book.

00:20:57 – The family “club” and deeper connection
Michael talks about how FAP brought his family closer and created a stronger bond through shared understanding.

00:23:31 – Advice to his younger self
Michael says he would go back to his 18-year-old self and tell him that life after surgery would be okay, and that there would be a future worth living.

00:25:43 – The hardest lesson
Michael shares that one of the hardest lessons has been accepting that some people cannot handle illness or hardship and may walk away.

00:28:30 – Anxiety’s theme song
Michael answers G-Rex’s question with humor and heart, landing on “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.

00:29:37 – Favorite word: Attitude
Michael explains why “attitude” matters so much to him and his family, sharing a quote that shaped his recovery mindset.

00:31:34 – Least favorite word: Can’t
Michael talks about why he dislikes the word “can’t” and how he pushes back against limitations.

00:32:28 – Where to find Michael
Michael shares where listeners can learn more about his book, his story, and his advocacy work.

00:34:12 – Final reflections
G-Rex and Dirty Skittles thank Michael for sharing his story and helping listeners understand rare disease, resilience, and hope.

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 #MichaelCaprio #RareDiseaseAdvocacy #FAPAwareness #FamilialAdenomatousPolyposis #ColorectalCancerAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllnessLife #Survivorship #MedicalTraumaRecovery #GratitudePractice #MentalHealthRecovery #HereditaryCancerAwareness #LifeAfterSurgery #BumpInTheRoad #HealingOutLoud
***************************************************************************
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.

At 18 years old, Michael Caprio was handed a diagnosis that changed everything: Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, a rare genetic condition tied to colorectal cancer risk. In this powerful Part 1 conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles talk with Michael about fear, surgery, anxiety, family history, and what it really takes to keep going when life smacks you sideways.

Awards & Downloads Line

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 Link Line

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

Mental Health Quote

“Sometimes the bump in the road becomes the bridge that gets you back to yourself.” — Inspired by Michael Caprio

Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

This episode includes discussion of serious illness, surgery, medical trauma, anxiety, depression, and moments of feeling like life was no longer worth living. Please listen with care.

If you or someone you love is in crisis or thinking about self-harm, call or text 988 in the United States to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You are not a burden. You are not alone. Help is available right now.

Episode Description

At 18, Michael Caprio should have been worrying about senior year, friends, and what came next after high school. Instead, he was facing a rare genetic diagnosis called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, or FAP, a condition that causes precancerous polyps to grow in the large intestine and dramatically raises colorectal cancer risk. What followed was fear, bloodwork, colonoscopies, life-changing surgery, an ostomy, and the emotional punch of realizing his body would never be the same.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Michael joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk honestly about what it felt like to be diagnosed so young, how his family history shaped his understanding of FAP, and why Googling symptoms can send your brain straight into a horror movie. He opens up about having his large intestine removed, living with an ostomy during recovery, and struggling with the mental health side of healing.

This episode gets real about medical trauma, anxiety, identity, and the moments when Michael felt like a burden to the people who loved him most. But it also shows the power of support, honesty, perspective, and choosing to stay in the fight one painful day at a time.

Keywords: Michael Caprio, FAP, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, colorectal cancer awareness, rare disease, medical trauma, anxiety, ostomy recovery, colectomy, J pouch surgery, mental health, chronic illness, hereditary cancer, surgery recovery, emotional wellness

Meet Our Guest — Michael Caprio

Michael Caprio is an Author, advocate, and rare disease warrior who was diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis at just 18 years old. He is the Author of A Bump in the Road: My Medical Journey over Potholes, Detours and the Bridge to Gratitude, a memoir about surviving serious illness, navigating medical trauma, and finding gratitude after life-changing surgery.

Website: https://www.mikecaprioauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikecaprio_author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/A-Bump-in-the-Road/100076302759044/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-caprio/

Key Takeaways

A rare diagnosis can change your body, your future, and your mental health all at once.

Medical trauma is not just physical; it can shake your identity, independence, and sense of safety.

Support systems matter, especially when your brain tells you that you are a burden.

Friends may show you who they really are during hard seasons, and that truth can hurt.

Gratitude does not erase pain, but it can help you rebuild after it.

Healing takes honesty, patience, and the courage to keep showing up.

Actionable Items

If you are facing a scary diagnosis, write down your questions before appointments so fear does not steal your voice in the room.

Build a support circle that includes medical professionals, loved ones, and people who understand your condition.

When your thoughts get dark, tell someone. You do not have to carry the heavy stuff alone.

Important Chapters

00:00:00 – Welcome to Part 1
G-Rex opens the episode and lets listeners know this is the first half of Michael’s two-part story.

00:01:33 – Michael introduces his book
Michael shares the title of his memoir, A Bump in the Road, and explains how his medical journey became the foundation of his writing.

00:01:48 – Understanding FAP
Michael explains Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, a rare genetic condition that causes precancerous polyps to grow in the large intestine.

00:03:00 – Family history and “the club”
Michael talks about his mom, aunt, and grandmother living with FAP, and how he slowly began to understand the family connection.

00:05:19 – The diagnosis conversation
Michael remembers being told he had FAP and how the seriousness of the diagnosis slowly started to sink in.

00:06:39 – The danger of Googling symptoms
After searching online, Michael found terrifying stories that made his fear and anger spike.

00:08:30 – Being 18 and trying to process everything
G-Rex and Michael talk about the emotional weight of facing a life-changing diagnosis while still figuring out who you are.

00:10:05 – Surgery, colectomy, ostomy, and J pouch recovery
Michael explains the surgery to remove his large intestine, the temporary ostomy, and the J pouch procedure that helped him regain quality of life.

00:13:43 – The emotional toll of recovery
Michael shares how difficult recovery became, including bathroom challenges, pain, frustration, and regret over how he treated people trying to help him.

00:14:56 – Friends, support, and painful distance
Michael reflects on friends who disappeared and others who showed up in ways he never expected.

00:18:11 – A perspective shift after illness
Michael describes how losing everyday freedoms made him more grateful for small things like coffee, exercise, and time with friends.

00:22:29 – Rock bottom and the fight to keep going
Michael opens up about feeling like a burden and the painful family conversation that helped snap him out of a dangerous mental spiral.

00:26:10 – Closing reminder
G-Rex and Dirty Skittles close with a reminder that it is okay to be not okay, as long as you are talking to someone.

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 #MichaelCaprio #FAPAwareness #FamilialAdenomatousPolyposis #ColorectalCancerAwareness #RareDiseaseAwareness #MedicalTrauma #AnxietyRecovery #OstomyAwareness #ChronicIllnessSupport #SurgeryRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #HereditaryCancer #HealingJourney #Jpouch #BumpInTheRoad
***************************************************************************
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.

In Part 2, Michelle Petties returns with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about body trust, self-care, fear-based eating, and what it really means to live after diet culture. This conversation is honest, practical, and full of reminders that healing does not require perfection — it requires support, awareness, and the courage to keep getting back up.

Awards & Downloads Line

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 Link Line

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

Mental Health Quote

“Once you learn how to trust your body, your voice, and your choices, you do not have to crawl back into the old story.” — Inspired by Michelle Petties

Episode Description

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Michelle Petties takes the conversation deeper into body trust, emotional healing, self-care, and life after diet culture. G-Rex opens up about her type 2 diabetes diagnosis, the fear that came with it, and the changes she made to support her health. Dirty Skittles shares something many people silently carry: the fear of gaining weight back and losing the version of yourself you worked so hard to become.

Michelle meets that fear with compassion, lived experience, and no-nonsense wisdom. She explains why transformation is not about white-knuckling your way through cravings. It is about belief, writing, visualization, affirmations, community, and learning to listen when your body says, “This does not work for me anymore.”

The conversation also delves into grocery-store triggers, food packaging, advertising, social pressure, and why self-care is not selfish. Michelle reminds us that people are not failing because they are weak. They are often trying to heal in a world that keeps pushing them back toward old habits.

She also shares powerful lessons about falling down, getting back up, and learning to trust yourself the way a child trusts that walking is possible. It is not about never messing up again. It is about knowing you can recover, reset, and keep choosing the life and body you want to live in.

Keywords: Michelle Petties, body trust, emotional healing, diet culture recovery, food addiction recovery, emotional eating, self-care, food freedom, weight regain anxiety, body image healing, mindful eating, self-compassion, mental health recovery, trauma healing, personal transformation

Meet Our Guest — Michelle Petties

Michelle Petties is a TEDx speaker, author, Food Story coach, and experiential eating expert whose work helps people answer the question, “What are you really hungry for?” Through speaking, coaching, writing, and her online community, Michelle supports people in moving away from shame-based dieting and toward sustainable, compassionate transformation.

Website: https://LeavingLarge.com
Website: https://MichellePetties.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambrandnewnow/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Iambrandnewnow
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iambrandnewnow
X: https://x.com/iambrandnewnow
Email: michelle@michellepetties.com
Media/Booking Email: iambrandnewnow@gmail.com

Key Takeaways

Self-care is not selfish. Ignoring your own health can cost you and the people who love you.

Fear of gaining weight back is real, but it does not have to control your choices.

Writing, affirmations, visualization, and community can help reinforce a new identity.

Grocery stores, packaging, and advertising are designed to trigger impulse decisions.

Falling down does not make you a failure. It means you are learning a new way to live.

Body trust grows when we stop confusing emotion, desire, and actual hunger.

Actionable Items

When fear shows up, write this down: “What am I afraid will happen, and what support do I need right now?”

Practice Michelle’s pause before eating: “Is this hunger, or is this the desire to eat?”

Pick one self-care habit this week — water, sleep, writing, or rest — and treat it like a non-negotiable appointment.

References Mentioned

Leaving Large – The Stories of a Food Addict by Michelle Petties
https://LeavingLarge.com

Michelle Petties’ Food Story work
https://MichellePetties.com

Michelle Petties YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@iambrandnewnow

Important Chapters

00:00:00 — Welcome to Part 2
G-Rex introduces Part 2 of Michelle Petties’ conversation and brings listeners back to the show's mental health mission.

00:00:40 — G-Rex Shares Her Type 2 Diabetes Wake-Up Call
G-Rex talks about being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, taking Metformin, working with a nutritionist, and changing her relationship with food.

00:04:09 — Michelle Explains Why We Are Pushed Into the Trap
Michelle talks about food marketing, diet advice, and why people are not given enough tools to fight daily messaging around food.

00:06:36 — Grocery Stores, Packaging, and Food Triggers
The group discusses how even “healthy” areas in stores are surrounded by temptation, labels, and emotional triggers.

00:10:16 — Self-Care Is Not Selfish
Michelle reframes self-care as necessary and explains why neglecting ourselves affects the people who depend on us.

00:12:02 — Dirty Skittles Shares Her Fear of Gaining Weight Back
Dirty Skittles opens up about holding on tightly to her new version of herself and worrying that old patterns could return.

00:12:16 — Visualization, Affirmations, and Writing
Michelle explains how invisible work can rewire the brain and help create long-term transformation.

00:14:23 — The Caterpillar and the Child Learning to Walk
Michelle shares powerful metaphors for transformation, belief, and getting back up after setbacks.

00:21:27 — Hunger vs. Desire to Eat
Michelle explains the difference between real hunger and eating out of emotion, pleasure, or conditioning.

00:28:50 — Advice to Her Younger Self
Michelle says she would tell her younger self to listen to her grandmother, especially around rest, water, food, and wisdom.

00:30:22 — The Hardest Lesson
Michelle shares that staying focused, choosing one thing, and remaining present are ongoing lessons in her life.

00:31:53 — Anxiety Theme Song and Favorite Words
Michelle talks about control, overwhelm, her favorite word “perfect,” and why she cannot stand the phrase “it is what it is.”

00:34:16 — How to Find Michelle
Michelle shares where listeners can connect with her, buy her book, and join her community.

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 #MichellePetties #BodyTrust #DietCultureRecovery #FoodFreedom #EmotionalHealing #FoodAddictionRecovery #MindfulEating #SelfCareMatters #EmotionalEatingRecovery #BodyImageHealing #WeightLossMindset #MentalHealthRecovery #SelfCompassion #LeavingLarge #WomenAndWellness

***************************************************************************
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.

Michelle Petties joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles for Part 1 of a powerful two-part conversation about food addiction, emotional eating, and the stories we carry around hunger. Michelle gets real about why “food noise” may actually be emotion noise — and why healing starts when we stop blaming ourselves and start getting curious.

Awards & Downloads Line

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 Link Line

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

Mental Health Quote

“It’s not food noise. It’s emotion noise — and once you understand the story behind it, you can start taking your power back.” — Inspired by Michelle Petties

Episode Description

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Michelle Petties brings truth, compassion, and a whole lot of “damn, I needed to hear that” energy to the conversation. Michelle is a TEDx speaker, Food Story coach, and author of Leaving Large – The Stories of a Food Addict. After gaining and losing more than 700 pounds over four decades, she learned that food addiction was never just about food.

G-Rex and Dirty Skittles talk with Michelle about emotional eating, shame, diet culture, and the sneaky ways food becomes tied to sadness, boredom, stress, celebration, and comfort. Michelle explains why what many people call “food noise” may actually be emotion noise — thoughts, feelings, and old beliefs begging for attention.

She also breaks down her “Brand New” framework and how belief, writing, rest, nourishment, alignment, and community can help people rewire their brains and change their relationship with food. This is not another conversation about willpower, restriction, or beating yourself up for eating the thing. This is about pausing, listening, and learning what you are really hungry for.

Michelle’s message is hopeful as hell: you are not broken, and you are not weak. You may just be carrying stories that need to be unpacked, rewritten, and released with compassion.

Keywords: Michelle Petties, food addiction, emotional eating, food freedom, diet culture recovery, body image healing, food story, emotional wellness, mindful eating, trauma healing, self-compassion, obesity recovery, mental health healing, brain rewiring, shame recovery

Meet Our Guest — Michelle Petties

Michelle Petties is a TEDx speaker, author, Food Story coach, and the award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of Leaving Large – The Stories of a Food Addict. After gaining and losing more than 700 pounds over four decades, Michelle created her Food Story method to help people uncover the beliefs, memories, and emotional patterns driving their relationship with food.

Website: https://LeavingLarge.com
Website: https://MichellePetties.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambrandnewnow/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Iambrandnewnow
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iambrandnewnow
X: https://x.com/iambrandnewnow
Email: michelle@michellepetties.com
Media/Booking Email: iambrandnewnow@gmail.com

Key Takeaways

Food noise may actually be emotion noise, asking for your attention.

Emotional eating is not a personal failure. It is often tied to old stories, old wounds, and learned survival tools.

Shame keeps people stuck, but awareness creates space for change.

Food companies and diet culture can keep us blaming ourselves instead of understanding the system around us.

Michelle’s “Brand New” framework helps people rethink food, hunger, belief, and healing.

Writing, rest, hydration, and community can become powerful tools for food freedom.

Actionable Items

Before eating, pause and ask yourself: “Am I hungry, or am I feeling something else?”

Start an emotion log. Write down what you feel before and after eating without judging yourself.

Pick one old food story you have carried for years and rewrite it with compassion instead of shame.

References Mentioned

Leaving Large – The Stories of a Food Addict by Michelle Petties
https://LeavingLarge.com

Michelle Petties’ Food Story work
https://MichellePetties.com

Brand New Now 52-Week Program
https://go.michellepetties.com/brand-new-now-program

Important Chapters

00:00:00 — Welcome to Part 1
G-Rex and Dirty Skittles introduce Michelle Petties and open the door to a two-part conversation about food, mental health, shame, and healing.

00:03:25 — Dirty Skittles Opens Up About Food Noise
Dirty Skittles shares her experience with weight loss, GLP-1 medication, and the frustration of food noise returning.

00:04:22 — Michelle Reframes Food Noise as Emotion Noise
Michelle explains why cravings and overeating often come from emotion, memory, and belief rather than physical hunger.

00:08:38 — How Culture Teaches Emotional Eating
The group talks about how movies, shows, and social conditioning normalize turning to food when life gets heavy.

00:13:13 — Michelle’s Story and Leaving Large
Michelle shares how writing her book helped her understand that food addiction was never just about the food.

00:17:29 — Gaining and Losing Over 700 Pounds
Michelle talks about four decades of yo-yo dieting and what finally helped her stop fearing weight regain.

00:18:53 — The “Brand New” Framework
Michelle introduces the principles behind becoming brand new, including belief, reinvention, alignment, nourishment, writing, and celebration.

00:22:31 — Drink, Sleep, and Write
Michelle explains why water, sleep, and prescriptive writing can support emotional regulation and lasting change.

00:26:05 — Question Everything You Eat
Michelle shares the questions she asks before eating and how that pause helps her stay connected to her body and her choices.

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 #MichellePetties #FoodAddictionRecovery #EmotionalEating #FoodFreedom #DietCultureRecovery #BodyImageHealing #FoodStory #EmotionalWellness #MindfulEating #TraumaHealing #SelfCompassion #ObesityRecovery #MentalHealthHealing #LeavingLarge #BrainRewiring

***************************************************************************
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
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Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

This episode includes conversations about suicide loss, suicide attempts, depression, addiction, trauma, and mental health treatment. Please take care of yourself while listening.
If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada for immediate crisis support. You are wanted. You are needed. And you do not have to carry this alone.

For Men’s Mental Health Month, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with former NFL linebacker Brandon Siler for a raw, powerful conversation about brain health, suicide prevention, life after football, and the pressure men often feel to stay silent. Brandon’s story is a reminder that asking for help is not weakness. It is strength, survival, and sometimes the first real step toward healing.

Awards & Downloads Line

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.

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Mental Health Quote

“Don’t let that soda shake up on you. Fizz that thing out before it explodes.” — Brandon Siler

Episode Description

For Men’s Mental Health Month, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles welcome Brandon Siler, a former NFL linebacker, national champion, entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and straight-up wall breaker. Brandon’s story starts in Pine Hills, Orlando, where sports helped keep him focused, driven, and out of trouble. That path led him to the University of Florida, a national championship, and six seasons in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs.
But this conversation is not just about football. It is about what happens after the cheering stops.

Brandon opens up about the devastating death of his teammate Javon Belcher by suicide, his own mental health struggles after leaving the NFL, and the hard truth that even the toughest people need help. He talks about the macho pressure placed on men and athletes, the stigma around therapy and treatment, and why real strength means raising your hand and saying, “I need help.”

Through Legacy Pro Sports, Pure Recovery California, Love4Vets, and Siler Brain Clinics, Brandon now helps former athletes, veterans, and high performers access disability benefits, mental health care, brain mapping, neuro-feedback, and treatment built around their lived experiences. His mission is simple but massive: knock down the walls that keep people from healing.

This episode is raw, hopeful, funny, and deeply human. It is a reminder that men’s mental health matters every damn day, not just during awareness months.

Keywords: Brandon Siler, men’s mental health, suicide prevention, brain health, NFL mental health, athlete mental health, veterans mental health, neurofeedback, brain mapping, trauma recovery, addiction recovery, mental health stigma, therapy for men, depression support, crisis support

Meet Our Guest — Brandon Siler

Brandon Siler is a former NFL linebacker turned serial entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and founder of multiple mission-driven companies. Raised in Pine Hills in Orlando, he earned a scholarship to the University of Florida, became SEC Freshman of the Year, helped lead the Gators to a national championship, and went on to play six seasons in the NFL.
After the death of a teammate by suicide and his own difficult transition out of football, Brandon shifted his focus to helping athletes, veterans, and high performers access the care, benefits, and brain health tools they need to heal and thrive.

Business Websites

Legacy Pro Sports: https://www.legacyprosports.com

Pure Recovery California: https://purerecoveryca.com

Siler Brain Clinics: https://www.silerbrainclinics.com

Siler Clinics: https://www.silerclinics.com

Love4Vets: https://love4vets.com

Personal Social Media

Instagram — Brandon Siler: https://www.instagram.com/brandonsiler40

LinkedIn — Brandon Siler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsiler40

Facebook — Brandon Siler: https://www.facebook.com/brandonsiler40

X — Brandon Siler: https://x.com/BrandonSiler21

Business Social Media

Instagram — Legacy Pro Sports: https://www.instagram.com/legacyprosports

Key Takeaways

Asking for help is not weakness. It is one of the strongest things a man can do.

Brain health matters, especially for athletes, veterans, and high performers carrying invisible injuries.

Suicide prevention starts with honest conversations before the pressure explodes.

Therapy, treatment, and support work better when people feel seen, understood, and safe.

Brandon’s work is about knocking down walls so former players and veterans can access the benefits and care they deserve.

Healing does not mean you never struggle again. It means you learn how to stop carrying it alone.

Actionable Items

Check in on the strong friend, the funny friend, and the extroverted friend. They may be carrying more than they show.

Say the thing out loud before it becomes too heavy. Talk to a therapist, trusted friend, doctor, coach, or crisis line.

Reframe mental health care as brain optimization. You are not broken. You are learning how to care for the most important part of you.

References Mentioned

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org
Legacy Pro Sports: https://www.legacyprosports.com
Pure Recovery California: https://purerecoveryca.com
Siler Brain Clinics: https://www.silerbrainclinics.com
Love4Vets: https://love4vets.com
University of Florida Football: https://floridagators.com/sports/football
NFL Player Benefits: https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/resources/frequently-asked-questions/player-benefits

Important Chapters

00:00:37 — Welcome to the Episode
G-Rex and Dirty Skittles welcome Brandon Siler and set the stage for a real conversation about mental health, football, healing, and the things men are often told to keep buried.

00:01:35 — Brandon’s Journey from Pine Hills to the NFL
Brandon shares how growing up in Pine Hills shaped him, how sports kept him focused, and how football eventually chose him.

00:03:30 — Life After Football and a Teammate’s Death by Suicide
Brandon opens up about the tragic loss of teammate Javon Belcher and how that experience pushed him to rethink his purpose after the NFL.

00:06:10 — Brandon’s Own Mental Health Struggles
He talks honestly about being in a dark place after leaving football and how hard it can be for NFL players and men to admit they need help.

00:07:44 — Why Athlete-Specific Treatment Matters
Brandon explains how one teammate’s struggle with alcohol, drugs, and mental health led him to discover treatment built for athletes who needed to feel understood.

00:08:13 — Brain Mapping, Neurofeedback, and Healing the Root Cause
The conversation turns to brain health, neurofeedback, biofeedback, red light therapy, and tools that help people see and work with what is happening in their brains.

00:12:48 — Breaking the Stigma for Men
G-Rex speaks directly about suicide prevention, asking for help, and why there is no shame in reaching out when you are struggling.

00:14:24 — Brandon on Strength, Masculinity, and Speaking Up
Brandon shares why men need to reject the “macho” stigma and understand that asking for help is a strength, not a failure.

00:17:06 — Love4Vets and Supporting Veterans
Brandon discusses his work with veterans, disability claims, mental health support, and why he felt called to help when he saw veterans facing similar struggles to athletes.

00:22:58 — Chasing the Best Version of Yourself
Brandon shares the powerful image he carried as a kid: looking in the mirror and chasing the best possible version of himself.

00:30:02 — Suicide Attempts, Therapy, and Brain Optimization
Brandon and G-Rex talk openly about suicide attempts, therapy, mistakes, healing, and why mental health care can be viewed as optimizing your brain.

00:33:37 — Advice to His Younger Self
Brandon reflects on faith, purpose, and what he wishes he had understood sooner when he was struggling.

00:35:22 — The Hardest Lesson Brandon Had to Learn
He shares the pain of realizing you cannot force someone to want better for themselves, even when you love them deeply.

00:37:24 — Anxiety, Favorite Words, and Brandon’s Humor
The episode lightens up with Brandon’s anxiety sound, his favorite word, his least favorite word, and a hilarious explanation of why exclamation points matter.

00:41:43 — Final Message for Men’s Mental Health Month
Brandon closes with a reminder to reach out, talk to someone, and let the pressure out before it explodes.

Closing CTA

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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
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