Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads

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:
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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

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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.

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

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 #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

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here:

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

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

Welcome to Season 19 of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads. We’re opening the season with a powerful two-part conversation about grief, survival, workplace burnout, and what it takes to rebuild your life after everything changes without your permission. In Part 1, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with author Diandra Ford-Wing for a raw conversation about surviving a suicide attempt, losing her mother, stepping away from burnout, and learning that grief is love with nowhere to go.

Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

This episode includes an open discussion of depression, suicide, hospitalization, grief, and the loss of a parent. 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. You are not weak, broken, or alone, and you deserve support.

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

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here:

https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“Grief is just love with nowhere to go.” — Diandra Ford-Wing

Episode Description

Burnout does not always arrive with a dramatic breakdown. Sometimes, it looks like showing up, hitting your numbers, answering messages, and quietly disappearing inside yourself.

In Part 1 of our Season 19 opener, author Diandra Ford-Wing joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to share what happened when grief, depression, and workplace exhaustion became too heavy to carry. After the sudden death of her mother, Diandra stepped away from a successful career and gave herself something corporate life rarely offers: time to stop, feel, and heal.

Diandra also speaks openly about surviving a suicide attempt at 24. She remembers the depression she could not name, the friend who found her, and the mother who made the difficult decision to place her in professional care. That choice saved Diandra’s life and began a relationship with therapy that continues today.

The conversation explores what it means to lose the person who made you feel safe, why three to five bereavement days are nowhere near enough, and how support systems can keep us standing when grief knocks the air out of us. Diandra explains the therapy exercise that helped her understand grief as love searching for somewhere to land.

She also shares how writing her debut novel, Red Bird, became a love letter to her mother and Aunt Audrey—and a safe harbor for others navigating loss.

This episode is honest as hell, but it is also filled with hope. You can survive the thing you believed would destroy you. You can ask for help. You can honor the people you have lost by choosing to keep living.

Keywords: Diandra Ford-Wing, grief recovery, workplace burnout, suicide prevention, depression recovery, losing a parent, grief and mental health, therapy, bereavement support, healing after loss, maternal loss, emotional resilience, Red Bird novel, storytelling as healing, mental health podcast

Meet Our Guest — Diandra Ford-Wing

Diandra Ford-Wing is an author, speaker, and accomplished Sales Director whose experiences with grief, depression, career burnout, and healing inspired her to use storytelling as a source of connection. Her debut novel, Red Bird, is a heartfelt tribute to her mother and Aunt Audrey and an exploration of love, loss, resilience, and the complicated beauty of being human.

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

Burnout can build quietly until your mind and body have nothing left to give.

Asking for professional help is not a failure; it can be the decision that saves a life.

A strong support system does not need perfect words—it needs consistency and presence.

Grief has no corporate timeline, and a few bereavement days cannot contain the loss of someone you love.

Therapy can help name emotions that feel too complicated or painful to explain.

Storytelling can give grief somewhere to go and transform private pain into connection.

Actionable Items

Write a free-association list of every word you connect with grief, burnout, or loss. Review the list and notice which themes keep appearing.

Identify three people you can contact when you are not okay, and tell them what useful support looks like for you.

Check your current level of exhaustion honestly. Ask yourself whether you need rest, professional support, medical leave, firmer boundaries, or a larger life change.

Important Chapters

00:01:07 — When burnout and grief collide: Diandra explains how her mother’s death intensified an exhaustion that had already been building and why she ultimately stepped away from work.

00:07:09 — Taking time off and writing Red Bird: During an 11-month career pause, Diandra wrote and published the novel that transformed her grief into a tribute to the women who shaped her.

00:08:39 — Why workplaces need grief literacy: The conversation turns to productivity culture, employee burnout, and the lack of meaningful support for grieving workers.

00:10:16 — Diandra’s suicide attempt and mental health crisis: Diandra shares the depression she experienced at 24, the night her friend found her, and the emergency care that followed.

00:11:58 — The decision that saved her life: Diandra’s mother recognized that love alone was not enough and insisted that her daughter receive professional psychiatric care.

00:14:46 — Gratitude, therapy, and learning how to cope: Diandra reflects on the coping tools she did not yet have and why she remains committed to therapy.

00:16:33 — Mourning a parent before the loss: Diandra discusses anticipatory grief and the ways she imagined her mother’s death before it happened.

00:18:32 — Grief is love with nowhere to go: A therapy exercise helps Diandra find the language that now shapes how she understands and carries grief.

00:20:19 — G-Rex on honoring her mother through the podcast: G-Rex shares why the show launched on Valentine’s Day and how she changed the meaning of a painful anniversary.

00:22:47 — Why bereavement policies fail grieving employees: The group challenges the idea that loss can be processed within a standard three-to-five-day leave period.

00:24:15 — The people who helped Diandra keep standing: Diandra speaks about the support of her husband, twin sister, older sister, and brother.

00:25:22 — Turning grief into advocacy: Diandra shares her goal of speaking on larger platforms and bringing more humanity into workplace culture.

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 #GriefRecovery #SuicidePrevention #DepressionRecovery #WorkplaceBurnout #TherapyWorks #LosingAParent #BereavementSupport #HealingAfterLoss #EmotionalResilience #StorytellingHeals #RedBird #DiandraFordWing #Season19 #GriefAwareness #YouAreNotAlone

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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

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Season 18 reminded us that healing is not always about becoming someone new. Sometimes, it is about finding your way back to the person you were before trauma, shame, burnout, illness, or other people’s expectations pulled you away from yourself.

In this season-ender, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles look back at eight unforgettable guests, the lessons that stayed with them, and the conversations that changed how they think about anxiety, emotional healing, healthy masculinity, self-love, neurodivergence, food freedom, trauma, and listening to the body.

Awards and Downloads

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

Feedback

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us written or voice feedback here:

https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Mental Health Quote

“Healing isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about coming home to the person you were before the world taught you to leave.” — Inspired by the guests of Season 18

Trigger Notice and Crisis Reminder

This episode includes conversations about suicide, suicidal thoughts, childhood sexual abuse, trauma, grief, serious illness, and mental health crises. Please take care of yourself while listening.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.  https://988lifeline.org/

For crisis resources outside the United States:  https://findahelpline.com/

Episode Description

Season 18 brought us eight guests with completely different stories, but one truth kept showing up: healing begins when we stop running from ourselves and start listening.

In this season-ender, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles revisit the conversations that changed how they think about mental health, parenting, masculinity, trauma, food, illness, self-worth, and the way the body carries what the mind tries to bury.

Nancy Gilette reminded us that behavior is communication and that connection needs to come before correction. Dr. Mark Sherwood showed us what it means to become a hope dealer, especially for people who feel forgotten or written off. Dominic Petty helped us see that peace is not some distant finish line. It is the baseline underneath the noise.

Jason Lange gave men permission to feel what is happening in their bodies and talk about it without shame. Michelle Petties challenged diet culture by showing us that food noise is often emotional noise in disguise. Michael Caprio proved that a life-changing diagnosis can become part of your story without becoming the end of it. Alan Katz showed us that telling yourself the truth can set you free, even decades later. Anat Peri reminded us that the only way to feel better is to get better at feeling.

G-Rex and Dirty Skittles also reflect on their own growth, the ridiculous lies anxiety tells us, and what happens when you finally answer that voice with two words: watch me.

This episode is honest, funny, emotional, and full of reminders that your body is not the enemy, your emotions are not weaknesses, and asking for help carries absolutely zero shame.

Keywords: mental health podcast, emotional healing, coming home to yourself, anxiety recovery, self-discovery, trauma healing, emotional wellness, healthy masculinity, neurodivergent parenting, food freedom, self-love, body awareness, emotional literacy, personal growth, mental health awareness

Meet Our Guests — Season 18

Season 18 featured eight guests with eight very different stories, but every conversation gave us one unforgettable lesson about healing, self-awareness, and finding our way back to ourselves.

Nancy Gilette

Nancy taught us that behavior is communication. Before we rush to correct, fix, or control someone, especially a child, we need to slow down, listen, and connect first.

Dr. Mark Sherwood

Mark reminded us that hope can be life-saving. Even the smallest glimmer of hope can interrupt the darkness and help someone believe that more is still possible.

Dominic Petty

Dominic taught us that peace is not something we have to chase. It already exists beneath the anxiety, the noise, and the emotional chaos. The work is learning how to return to it.

Jason Lange

Jason showed us that emotional strength begins with body awareness. When men learn to name what they feel and take responsibility for their pain, they are less likely to pass that pain on to the people they love.

Michelle Petties

Michelle taught us that food struggles are rarely just about food. Lasting change begins when we understand the emotions, beliefs, and unmet needs underneath the behavior.

Michael Caprio

Michael reminded us that a diagnosis can change your life without ending it. Gratitude does not erase pain, but it can help us build meaning, connection, and hope on the other side of it.

Alan Katz

Alan taught us that the truth can set us free, even decades later. Healing began when he stopped blaming himself for what happened and finally told his own story with honesty and compassion.

Anat Peri

Anat reminded us that the only way to feel better is to get better at feeling. Self-love grows when we stop running from our emotions and learn how to sit with ourselves without judgment.

Key Takeaways

Healing is not always a reinvention. Sometimes, it is a return to the most honest version of yourself.

The body is a messenger, not the enemy.

Connection creates more change than shame or correction.

Emotional literacy helps us understand what is happening inside us.

Rock bottom can become a turning point, but asking for help should come sooner.

Your worth does not depend on achievement, toughness, productivity, or perfection.

Actionable Items

Ask yourself, “What is my body trying to tell me right now?”

Replace broad words like “fine” or “stressed” with a more specific emotion.

When anxiety says you cannot do something, answer it with evidence and two words: “Watch me.”

Important Chapters

00:00:37 — Welcome to the Season 18 Ender, celebrating 18 seasons with laughs and side quests.

00:05:17 — The Thread That Connected the Season: Finding your way back to yourself.

00:08:11 — Growth, Reassurance, and Reinvention: How the season changed G-Rex and Dirty Skittles.

00:11:09 — Nancy Gilette Connection before correction.

00:14:58 — Dr. Mark Sherwood Hope, vulnerability, and first responder mental health.

00:17:31 — Dominic Petty Inner peace, relationship healing, and baby spiders.

00:25:16 — Jason Lange Men’s groups, emotions, and healthy masculinity.

00:30:08 — Michelle Petties Food freedom and emotional eating.

00:33:20 — Michael Caprio Rare disease, gratitude, and resilience.

00:35:19 — Alan Katz Childhood trauma and telling yourself the truth.

00:37:14 — Anat Peri Self-love and learning to feel.

00:39:26 — Gratitude for the Season: Thanking the guests, listeners, and each other.

00:40:42 — What Anxiety Told G-Rex From “You won’t make it” to “Watch me.”

00:42:18 — Goodbye to Season 18: Closing out the season and welcoming Season 19.

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 #ComingHomeToYourself #EmotionalHealing #SelfDiscovery #AnxietyRecovery #TraumaHealing #EmotionalWellness #HealthyMasculinity #MensMentalHealth #NeurodivergentParenting #FoodFreedom #SelfLoveJourney #EmotionalLiteracy #BodyAwareness #PersonalGrowth #HealingJourney

 
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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.