Grief doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. In this episode, I share a personal moment that caught me completely off guard—sitting in church, listening to little kids sing, and suddenly being overwhelmed by emotion. Not because of a major loss, but because of a quiet, tender one: the passing of a season, the shift from little kids to growing ones. We often think grief only belongs to death, but the truth is, any unmet expectation or change can carry grief with it—and when we don’t recognize it, it can feel confusing and heavy.

In this conversation, I walk through what grief really looks like, why we can’t logic our way out of it, and how learning to name it can be incredibly healing. I talk about letting go of judgment, allowing emotions to move through us, and recognizing the many ways grief can show up—like fatigue, anger, or even forgetfulness. If you’ve ever felt sadness you couldn’t quite explain, this episode will help you understand what might be underneath it—and remind you that grief isn’t a weakness, it’s a reflection of how deeply you’ve loved.

In this episode, I’m talking about something I’ve been hearing everywhere lately—and feeling myself—burnout. But not just any burnout… ADHD burnout. That deep, overwhelming exhaustion that comes from trying to manage a brain that doesn’t always want to cooperate. I walk through what ADHD burnout actually is, why it happens, and the cycle so many of us find ourselves stuck in—from the excitement of a new idea, to the overwhelm, to the shutdown, and then starting all over again.

I also share my own experience with this cycle (hello, a lifetime of hyperfixations) and offer a gentler, more compassionate way to approach it. If you’ve ever felt stuck, scattered, or like you just can’t follow through no matter how hard you try, this episode is for you. We’ll talk about letting go of shame, getting curious about how your brain works, and learning how to support yourself instead of fighting against who you are.

contact me: wendy@wendyparrish.com

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What happens after everything falls apart—and how do you slowly find your way back?

Four years ago, I walked through the hardest season of my life. In 2022, after years of holding things together through stress, isolation, and the quiet weight of struggling mental health, everything finally fell apart. I found myself withdrawing from the world, barely functioning, and eventually leaving home for two months to enter a residential treatment program. In this special 100th episode, I’m looking back on that year and sharing honestly about what the last four years of healing have really looked like.

Recovery didn’t happen quickly, and it definitely wasn’t a straight line. In this episode I talk about the tools, treatments, and lessons that helped me find my way forward—therapy, community, TMS, learning about hormones and ADHD, and the surprising role faith played in keeping me afloat. Most of all, I share what I’ve learned about the messy, imperfect process of healing. If you’re in a hard season yourself, this episode is a reminder that even when progress feels slow or uncertain, change and hope are still possible.

In this episode, I share a powerful experience I had meditating with Buddhist monks in Chiang Mai, Thailand. That time sitting quietly in a temple halfway across the world taught me something simple but profound about the way our minds work. I talk about meditation through the lens of ADHD—the wandering mind, the endless stream of thoughts, and the feeling that we’re “bad” at focusing. But meditation isn’t about having a perfectly quiet mind. It’s about the practice of noticing when our thoughts chase squirrels and gently bringing them back. Every time we do that, we’re actually strengthening the part of the brain responsible for focus, emotional regulation, and decision-making. In other words, the wandering mind isn’t failure—it’s the training.

I also share a meditation instruction I read in a temple that taught me so much: breathing in, holding the breath for a moment, softening the eyes and the mind, and then expanding your awareness outward with compassion for all living things. Breath holds can briefly increase carbon dioxide levels in the body, which can sharpen awareness and help calm the nervous system when practiced gently. Combined with widening our attention and intentionally sending out love and compassion, this practice can create a surprising shift in mood and resilience.

In this episode, I reflect on how simple moments of mindfulness—whether in a temple in Thailand or in the middle of an ordinary day—can help us train our minds, build focus, and reconnect with a sense of calm and compassion. 🧘‍♀️✨

What do Gilmore Girls and my kindergarten meltdown over a happy face stamp have in common? I am glad you asked. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) From a kindergarten meltdown over not earning a double smiley-face stamp to the emotional landmines of high school and adulthood, I share personal anecdotes about how RSD has shaped my life. I discuss how RSD affects creativity, relationships, and even the way we interpret simple texts like “Call me.” This episode is for anyone trying to understand themselves or their loved ones who may experience heightened sensitivity to rejection and failure. Tune in for insights, empathy, and a reminder that our unique traits—nerfs and buffs alike—can serve as both challenges and strengths.

In this episode titled "Mindfulness for a Busy Mind," I delve into the fascinating world of managing ADHD through mindfulness and meditation. One of the fun things that comes with ADHD is a busy mind, and I mean fun—like I'm never bored; my mind is always entertaining me. But this constant whirlwind of thoughts can be inconvenient when it comes to quieting intrusive and worrisome thoughts. The good news is, there's something that can be done with a busy mind. You can learn how to train your brain, take control of those intrusive thoughts, and that's where mindfulness comes in. I share my personal experience, emphasizing the joy and challenges of a constantly active mind. Through simple yet profound practices, I explain how listeners can train their brains to be intentional about their thoughts and actions, ultimately leading to improved concentration, reduced stress, and enhanced self-esteem. I break down the essence of mindfulness, debunking misconceptions and providing practical tips for incorporating meditation into daily life. Whether you're navigating the whirlwind of ADHD or simply seeking a deeper connection with the present moment, this episode serves as a gentle yet powerful reminder of the transformative potential of mindfulness.

In this episode, I’m talking about boundaries—the kind that don’t come from frustration, control, or emotional shutdown, but from love. I share why real boundaries aren’t a list of rules for other people to follow so we can feel okay. They’re about what we will do, what we will allow, and how we take responsibility for our own emotional well-being. When boundaries are rooted in love instead of fear, they protect connection instead of damaging it.

I also explore the idea of thinking of yourself as a sovereign country. You have resources—time, energy, attention, care—and it’s your job to steward them wisely. Healthy relationships require both sharing and protecting those resources. Without clear boundaries, resentment quietly builds and erodes even our most important connections. This episode is an invitation to honor your limits, preserve your energy, and create relationships that feel mutual, respectful, and sustainable.

Feeling stuck is one of the most common experiences in mental health—and one of the hardest to explain. In this episode, we explore what it really means to feel stuck, numb, or frozen, and why those feelings often show up when our nervous system is overwhelmed. Through the lens of the motivational triad—our brain’s drive to seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy—we unpack how staying stuck can actually be a form of protection, even when it’s costing us peace, connection, and growth.

We also talk about power—where we give it away, how victim thinking can quietly keep us trapped, and why the idea that we can only change ourselves is actually very good news. This episode offers compassionate insight, practical reframes, and gentle encouragement to take your power back, set boundaries, and make small, meaningful shifts that help you move forward. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by relationships, the state of the world, or your own inner landscape, this conversation is an invitation to step out of stuck and into agency—one choice at a time.