This is a very special and heartfelt episode focused on depression, hope, recovery, and healing.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Lisa Zielbauer, PharmD, also known as Dr. Z, owner of Root Cause Rx and the voice behind Instagram accounts @RootCauseRx and @theMINDfulFARMacist. A Doctor of Pharmacy and Functional Medicine Consultant, Dr. Z courageously shares her personal journey with depression and anxiety, which began in high school and eventually led to a severe depressive episode requiring hospitalization shortly after pharmacy school.

In this deeply honest discussion, Lisa opens up about the challenges she faced, the turning points that helped her find hope, and how connecting with others through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) became a powerful part of her recovery. She shares the lessons she learned along the way and how those experiences inspired her to help others uncover the root causes of mental health struggles through a holistic and functional medicine approach.

Listeners will walk away with practical tools and strategies for navigating difficult moments of depression, building resilience, and finding support during life's darkest seasons. Lisa also offers valuable guidance for friends and family members who want to better understand depression and learn meaningful ways to support a loved one who may be struggling.

Whether you have personally experienced depression, are supporting someone who has, or simply want to gain a deeper understanding of mental health, this episode is filled with compassion, wisdom, and actionable takeaways that can make a real difference.

Tune in for an empowering conversation about recovery, reducing mental health stigma, and discovering that healing—and hope—are possible. ❤️

Dara’s perspective on sensitivity as physiology rather than personality offers a powerful and refreshing conversation that so many women need to hear. In this deeply informative and supportive episode of The Dr. Sylvia K Show, I sit down with Dara Steinberg to explore what it truly means to be a highly sensitive woman and how understanding your nervous system can become the foundation for healing, self-trust, and deeper connection.

We dive into what the nervous system actually is, how it influences our daily experiences, and why so many highly sensitive women may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, disconnected, or misunderstood. Dara also shares her transformative Slow Down to Become™ Method, which beautifully blends occupational therapy, pelvic health, nervous system regulation, and energetic awareness to support women in feeling safe, supported, and at home in their bodies again.

This conversation is packed with practical wisdom, compassionate insight, and tools you can begin using right away. My hope is that after listening, you feel less alone, especially if you identify as a highly sensitive woman, and that you walk away feeling more supported and more connected to your own body.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What it means to be a highly sensitive woman
• What the nervous system is and how it affects us
• Practical tools to help regulate your own nervous system
• Why sensitivity is more than a personality trait
• How slowing down can become a pathway to healing and self-trust

Connect with Dara:

Instagram: @slowdowntobecome
Facebook: Slow Down to Become
Website: slowedowntobecome.com

Enjoy this powerful conversation and remember: your sensitivity is not something to change or fix — it may be something to understand, honor, and support.

In this episode, we dive into the powerful insights of Dr. Kim, also known as “The Parentologist,” and her transformative approach to raising emotionally connected, confident children. Drawing from her clinical work and her new book Parenting Through Play, we explore how play is truly the language of childhood—and how, as adults, we often forget its importance.

Dr. Kim reminds us that while parents tend to rely on words, children communicate through play. When we meet them in that space, we unlock deeper trust, understanding, and connection. This episode highlights how play isn’t just fun—it’s a foundational tool for building self-confidence, emotional security, and strong parent-child relationships.

We also discuss the importance of validation: seeing our children, hearing them, and responding in ways that foster trust and reciprocity. Dr. Kim offers practical, relatable strategies that feel accessible and real—no overwhelming jargon, just guidance that meets you where you are as a parent.

In addition, we touch on a topic that’s often overlooked: the parent’s own emotional regulation. From navigating the transition between work and home life to managing stress in everyday parenting moments, Dr. Kim provides tools to help you stay grounded so you can show up fully for your children.

Whether you’re parenting a baby, toddler, or child up to age 12, this episode is packed with meaningful takeaways. If your goal is to build trust, deepen connection, and nurture confidence in your child, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

About Dr. Kim:
Dr. Kim is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Play Therapist, author of Parenting Through Play: Creative Strategies for Building Better Behavior, Deeper Connection, and Positive Communication, and host of The Parentologist Podcast. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCLA, a Master’s in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University, and both a Master’s and Doctorate in Psychology with a focus on Marital and Family Therapy.

With over 20 years of experience as a public speaker, Dr. Kim has worked extensively in television and radio. Prior to earning her doctorate, she spent five years in Los Angeles as a National Account Manager for Clear Channel Communications, specializing in sales, marketing, and advertising. Following her doctoral work, she served for five years as a Program Manager at a nonprofit agency, where she implemented a positive behavior support program across more than 20 elementary schools. She has also worked as a Behavior Consultant and Supervisor, supporting families with children on the autism spectrum.

Follow her on Instagram : @theparentologist

In this deeply meaningful episode, I sit down with Dr. Vanessa Scaringi—licensed psychologist, certified eating disorder specialist, and co-owner of CALM Counseling in Austin, Texas—for a conversation that feels both grounding and transformative.

Vanessa brings her relational approach to the forefront as we explore what it really means to feel connected—to ourselves, to others, and to our relationship with food. We dive into her upcoming book, Hungry for Connection, and unpack the powerful themes behind it.

Together, we talk about perfectionism and rigidity, and how these patterns quietly shape our relationships—with both people and food. Vanessa shares insight into hunger cues, fullness cues, and the experience of “food noise,” helping us better understand what our bodies are trying to communicate.

We also explore the practice of slowing down—learning how to eat with intention, reconnect with our needs, and step out of autopilot. Vanessa speaks candidly about loneliness and disconnection, and how these experiences can pull us away from what we truly need, both emotionally and physically.

This episode is filled with practical tools, thoughtful reflections, and moments that will leave you seeing your relationship with food—and yourself—in a new light.

Call to Action:
Vanessa’s book Hungry for Connection officially releases October 1, 2026, and it’s a must-read for anyone looking to heal their relationship with food and deepen their connection to themselves and others. Pre-order your copy now to be among the first to experience this powerful guide—and take a meaningful step toward more connected living.

I truly can’t wait to hold this book—and I know you’ll feel the same after listening.

Follow Calm Counseling on Instagram

What if you could calm your nervous system in minutes—without overthinking, forcing positivity, or “figuring it all out”?

In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Jessica Ortner, New York Times bestselling author and co-creator of The Tapping Solution, to explore how Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), also known as tapping, can help you regulate your nervous system, release emotional blocks, and build deeper self-compassion.

Jessica shares the incredible origin story of how one of her brothers discovered tapping through Tony Robbins—and how that discovery led them to create a groundbreaking documentary that helped bring tapping into the mainstream.

We dive into some fascinating questions, including:

• Why is it so hard to think your way out of emotional triggers?
• How does understanding the nervous system change the way we treat ourselves?
• What actually happens in the brain when we tap?
• Has tapping been studied with brain scans?
• How is tapping different from meditation?

Jessica also guides us through practical tapping techniques, including specific points you can use—especially if you’re dealing with fears like making new friends or stepping into new social situations.

This conversation is both deeply insightful and incredibly practical. Whether you're new to tapping or already using it, you’ll walk away with tools you can apply immediately.

About Jessica Ortner:
Jessica Ortner is a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of The Tapping Solution, a platform that has helped millions of people worldwide through EFT tapping. Her new book, Rewired, is the first she’s co-authored with her brothers Nick and Alex, with a foreword by Tony Robbins.

She is also the founder of The Tapping Solution App, which has been downloaded in over 190 countries, with tapping meditations played more than 26 million times—making it one of the most widely used and well-documented tools for mental and emotional health. Her work has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox News, Shape, Women’s Health, and many other major media outlets.

Call to Action:
If this episode resonated with you, you’re going to love what Jessica has created next.

Her brand-new book, Rewired, is available now for pre-order—and it dives even deeper into how you can transform your emotional patterns, rewire your responses, and create lasting change in your life.

👉 Pre-order your copy of Rewired today at TheTappingSolution.com

or here on amazon:https://a.co/d/0aAL4D2Z

And if you want to experience tapping for yourself right away, I highly recommend downloading the Tapping Solution App. I’ve personally used it—with both my clients and in my own life—and it’s been phenomenal. It’s packed with guided tapping sessions, support for anxiety, stress, sleep, confidence, and so much more.

👉 Download the Tapping Solution App wherever you get your apps

Take a moment, give tapping a try—and see what shifts for you.

In this solo episode, I explore something we all crave but rarely practice deeply enough: truly listening.

I dive into the art of listening—not just to respond, but to understand. From reflective listening to the simple (but powerful) act of putting your phone down, I share practical ways we can show up more fully for the people in our lives. And when we can’t? How to communicate that honestly, without disconnecting.

At the heart of this episode is something even deeper: the transformational power of feeling "heard."

I also open up about my own experiences navigating difficult conversations within my family, and how these moments—while messy—can become catalysts for growth, healing, and connection.

Plus, I share a glimpse into my recent launch party for Lonely AF and what this chapter of my journey has been teaching me.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen better, feel deeper, and connect more honestly—with others and with yourself.

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, we sit down with author and grief specialist Ashley Olivia Nelson to celebrate the release of her debut book, The Identity Reset, publishing March 16, 2026.

Ashley’s story is one of extraordinary resilience. A two-time widow who has walked through profound personal loss, she has transformed her lived experience with grief into compassionate guidance for others navigating life’s most disorienting seasons. Her work reminds us that grief isn’t just about losing someone we love—it can also mean losing the life we imagined, the roles we held, and even the version of ourselves we once knew.

In The Identity Reset, Ashley offers a powerful framework for navigating the transformation that often follows loss. Through archetypes and tools such as the Shapeshifter, Releaser, Builder, and Truth Seeker, she helps readers understand the different ways we adapt, let go, rebuild, and ultimately discover deeper truth about who we are after profound change.

During this conversation, Ashley shares her deeply personal journey through grief and identity shifts, along with the practical insights that have helped many people feel less alone in one of the loneliest human experiences on earth. Her storytelling is honest, empathetic, and deeply grounding—offering language and tools for experiences that many struggle to articulate.

In this episode, we explore:
• What happens when loss reshapes your identity
• Why grief can feel so isolating—and how connection helps us heal
• The roles we move through during transformation: Shapeshifter, Releaser, Builder, and Truth Seeker
• How to rebuild meaning and discover truth in the aftermath of loss
• Practical tools for navigating grief and life after profound change

Ashley’s warmth, empathy, and wisdom shine throughout this conversation. Whether you are grieving a person, a relationship, a life chapter, or a version of yourself that no longer exists, this episode offers both comfort and direction.

✨ If this conversation resonates with you, support Ashley’s work by purchasing her debut book The Identity Reset, available March 16, 2026. The book expands on these tools and offers a compassionate roadmap for anyone navigating grief, loss, and the journey of rebuilding their identity.

Because even in the midst of loss, you are not broken—you are becoming.

Follow Ashley Olivia Nelson on IG: https://www.instagram.com/learningaboutgrief/

Order your copy of Identity Reset:https://a.co/d/02XQ6b16

What if the Beckham family “feud” isn’t about drama, entitlement, or ingratitude—but about something much deeper?

In this episode, we unpack emotionally immature parents, family enmeshment, and differentiation using simple, everyday language anyone can understand. Through the lens of Bowen family systems theory (don’t worry—we keep it sixth-grade friendly), we explore how growing up too fast, carrying adult responsibilities as a child, and prioritizing family image can shape parenting—and family conflict—later in life.

Using the Beckham family as a real-world example, we reframe Brooklyn Beckham’s choices not as rejection or disrespect, but as a healthy (and painful) attempt to become his own person. We also explore how performative family systems operate, why independence can trigger anxiety and control, and why guilt is often the emotional price of breaking generational cycles.

This episode isn’t about blaming parents. It’s about understanding limitations, naming patterns, and learning how to grow without cutting off the people we love.

✨ You’ll walk away with:

• A clear definition of emotionally immature parents
• Signs you may have grown up in a performative or enmeshed family system
• A short self-reflection quiz
• Simple tools to manage guilt, anxiety, and the fear of disappointing your family

If you’ve ever felt torn between loyalty and selfhood, this episode is for you.

If today’s episode resonated with you—especially the part about feeling lonely inside your own family—I want to invite you to go deeper.

My book, Lonely AF – A Therapist’s No BS Guide to Feeling Less Alone, is available for preorder now on Amazon, and it includes an entire chapter dedicated to what it’s like to feel unseen, disconnected, or emotionally alone in your family system.

This book is honest, practical, and grounding—no fluff, no therapy jargon—just real tools to help you understand your relationships, your anxiety, and your loneliness in a new way.

✨ When you preorder before March 16, you’ll receive my free preorder bundle, including:

• Guided meditations recorded by me
• Access to my workshop on my 5-Step HEART Method

And one more thing—if the book helps you, please leave a review. Reviews tell bookstores and readers that this conversation matters and that this book is needed right now.

Preorder Lonely AF on Amazon today—and remind yourself:
You’re not broken. You’re not too much. And you don’t have to do this alone. 💛