Best Alegra Kastens Podcasts (2025)

1
The Neurobiology of OCD with Neuroscientist Uma Chatterjee 1:23:29

1M ago1:23:29

1:23:29

Neuroscientist Uma Chaterjee joins us to discuss OCD and the brain! If you are wanting to know more about your brain and body as they relate to mental health symptoms, this is the episode for you. This podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, affordable, and convenient OCD therapy. Schedule a free 15-minute call today at ⁠https://le…

1
Your Unconscious Is Showing with Dr. Courtney Tracy 50:23

1M ago50:23

50:23

Did you know that your unconscious accounts for 95% of your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions? That our consciousness accounts for 5%? In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Courtney Tracy teaches us how to better consciously manage the unconscious through her three-part unconscious model and 12 steps of consciousness. Every single human could benefit fr…

1
The Right Relationship is Inevitable w/ Lily Womble 1:19:56

2M ago1:19:56

1:19:56

Lily Womble, an intersectional feminist dating coach and former top matchmaker, talks her revolutionary book Thank You, More Please: A Feminist Guide To Breaking Dumb Dating Rules and Finding Love. Lily addresses the impact of the patriarchy on dating while teaching you how to joyfully attract the relationship of your dreams. 10/10, no notes! This …

1
OCD and Substance Use Disorders (w/ Dr. Patrick B. McGrath) 1:03:46

3M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

Dr. Patrick B. McGrath, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of OCD treatment experience, joins Alegra to talk about the intersection of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUD). It’s an important conversation and one that is not had enough given the prevalence of these co-occurring conditions. Studies ha…

1
Chelsea Bieker's "Madwoman" 1:11:50

3M ago1:11:50

1:11:50

Trigger warning: domestic violence Chelsea Bieker joins Books, Looks, and Lobotomies to discuss her national bestselling novel, Madwoman, a Book of the Month club pick the New York Times calls “brilliant in its depiction of the long shadows cast by domestic violence.” Chelsea talks the realities of domestic violence, motherhood, intergenerational t…

1
The Intersection of OCD and Eating Disorders 53:55

3M ago53:55

53:55

OCD can look a lot like an eating disorder, making it difficult for clinicians to make a differential diagnosis. In this episode, Alegra shares her lived and clinical experience with OCD and Eating Disorders to debunk myths, discuss the intersection of this co-morbidity, and more. This podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, afford…

1
Breaking Book Tok with Emma Noyes 1:16:43

4M ago1:16:43

1:16:43

Emma Noyes talks How To Hide In Plain Sight, the first mainstream fiction book to cover POCD (!!!), breaking Book Tok, self-publishing, and finding her real life Manuel who loves her not despite her OCD but because of her beautiful mind. Emma’s works have been published in over a dozen languages and include Guy’s Girl, How to Hide in Plain Sight, T…

1
Intentional Weight Loss After ED Recovery - My Journey 1:39:04

4M ago1:39:04

1:39:04

I am joined by my very own dietician Gabby Barreto to talk about my journey with intentional weight loss after eating disorder recovery. For so long, I felt trapped by both diet culture and anti-diet culture. I thought I had two choices: extreme restriction and an ED or staying in a body I didn’t feel good in because I’ve had an ED in the past. Fin…

1
OCD Is An Earthquake In The Brain with Stephen Smith 57:15

10M ago57:15

57:15

Stephen Smith, co-founder of the teletherapy platform NOCD, joins us to share his lived experience with OCD (sexual obsessions, relationship obsessions, and more) that fueled him to create a a virtual therapy platform specializing in the treatment of OCD. Like many, Stephen did months of general talk therapy with a therapist who didn’t understand O…

1
Healing from CPTSD with Stephanie Foo 52:21

10M ago52:21

52:21

Stephanie Foo, author of the New York Times bestseller What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma, brought CPTSD to the forefront of mental health care. She joins us to talk about her healing journey, what CPTSD recovery means to her, emotional flashbacks, the painstaking search for a therapist, “the dread”, and more.This podcast i…

1
Brain on Fire with Susannah Cahalan 1:14:56

11M ago1:14:56

1:14:56

Susannah Cahalan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Brain on Fire, joins the Lobotomommies today! She talks the doctor who saved her life, the importance of holistic mental health care, physiological causes of mental health conditions, and more. As the 217th person to be diagnosed with anti-NDMA receptor autoimmune encephalitis, naturally esc…

1
Surviving Suicide with Chrissie Hodges 1:03:38

11M ago1:03:38

1:03:38

In part two of this discussion, Chrissie opens up about her suicide attempt that led to her hospitalization and OCD diagnosis. She also shares her OCD treatment experience utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and recovery journey.This podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, affordable, and convenient OCD therapy. Schedu…

1
Sexual Orientation OCD with Chrissie Hodges 1:06:11

11M ago1:06:11

1:06:11

Peer support specialist and OCD advocate Chrissie Hodges joins Books, Looks, and Lobotomies to talk about her memoir Pure OCD: The Invisible Side of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In part one of this discussion, Chrissie shares her journey with emetophobia and sexual orientation OCD that nearly ended her life. This podcast is made possible by NOCD.…

1
OCD and Mental Compulsions 56:25

11M ago56:25

56:25

On this week’s episode of Books, Looks, and Lobotomies, licensed therapist and OCD specialist Alegra Kastens talks Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and mental compulsions. She provides information about specific mental compulsions, how Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) works with mental compulsions, stopping mental compulsions, and whether or…

1
Amanda Montell's "The Age of Magical Overthinking" 1:02:38

11M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Welcome back, Lobotomommies! This week, Alegra chats with Amanda Montell (Wordslut, Cultish, Sounds Like A Cult Podcast) about her latest book, The Age of Magical Overthinking. While discussing the cognitive biases that run wild through our brains, Alegra and Amanda also get deep about past relationships and "overpacking" their lives. This podcast …

1
Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" 1:06:25

12M ago1:06:25

1:06:25

In the first episode of her new podcast, Alegra reads "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath; a semi-autobiographical novel that covers all of this podcast's talking points: books, gender issues and feminism, and mental health. Alegra dissects the book, pausing to give personal anecdotes from her life, while also breaking down some of the backstory of the …

1
"I Don't Think You Can Out-Evil Me" w/ Jes Tom 1:22:48

1+ y ago1:22:48

1:22:48

Hi Shame Spiralers! I'm briefly emerging from our mid-season hiatus just to drop this very special bonus episode with comic, writer & actor Jes Tom! (Our Flag Means Death, Less Lonely.) Jes is one of my favorite comedians and you can and SHOULD drop everything you're doing and go see their one-person comedy show Less Lonely at the Greenwich House T…

1
"Traumatized & Raw-dogging Life" w/ Alegra Kastens 1:28:19

1+ y ago1:28:19

1:28:19

This week I spiraled out with psychotherapist, OCD specialist, writer & content creator Alegra Kastens! We talked OCD origin stories and the thoughts that broke our brains, the obsessive struggle to discern if you don't like someone because you're not into them or because there's something wrong with you, fear of being cancelled and social media tr…

1
"Accidentally Shaming Monica Lewinsky" w/ Nicole J. Georges 1:06:48

1+ y ago1:06:48

1:06:48

This week I spiraled out with writer, illustrator, podcaster & professor Nicole J. Georges! (Calling Dr. Laura) We talked shame and recovery from harmful family dynamics, making amends to yourself & others, the important of zines and yahoogroups for isolated young 90's queers, shoplifting, vegan betrayals, gossiping, gaslighting, writing memoir whe…

1
"I'm Definitely Not A Beach Read" w/ LaToya Jordan 52:25

1+ y ago52:25

52:25

This week I spiraled out with writer, poet and lovely person LaToya Jordan! We dug deep into her recently published novella, To The Woman In The Pink Hat, and some of the issues it explores: medical racism, infertility, white feminism, the Women's March, and uterine transplants (?!?,) and also spiraled about twenty-something alcohol-induced regrets…

1
"Inappropriate In Front Of Steve Harvey & America" w/ Ashley Lyle 1:09:53

1+ y ago1:09:53

1:09:53

This week I spiraled out with brilliant television writer, showrunner and co-creator of YELLOWJACKETS (!!!!!!) Ashley Lyle! We talked nicotine and being 90s teens, the moment you realize you can hurt your mom's feelings, caring too much about what people think of you at the expense of the people who truly care, the vicious procrastination cycle and…

1
"Daddy Needs To Gamble" w/ Ali Liebegott 1:01:53

1+ y ago1:01:53

1:01:53

This week I spiraled out with hilarious and deeply relatable novelist, television writer & painter Ali Liebegott! We talked regret, people pleasing and the shame of saying no, making mistakes and accepting your own and others' flaws , accidentally farting on a stranger in a grocery store, taking your students to a casino, wishing your childhood fis…

1
"I Can Talk About C*m & Have A PhD" w/ Amy Silverberg 56:23

1+ y ago56:23

56:23

This week I spiraled out with the brilliant & SUPER funny stand up comic & writer Amy Silverberg! (Comedy Central, The Paris Review) We talked Jewish parents, boundaries, talking about your students and boyfriends in your stand up, fake vs real vulnerability, codependency and hurting people more in trying NOT to hurt them, how being teased can feel…

1
"Am I Breaking The Contract Of This Bagel Place?" w/ Django Gold 53:07

1+ y ago53:07

53:07

This week I spiraled out with the hilarious and thoughtful writer & stand up comedian Django Gold! (The Late Show With Stephen Colbert) We talked social awkwardness, persecution complexes, the weirdness of being an introverted comedian, accepting your flaws, parading around your job with a beard full of ice cream, torturing yourself with anxiety, t…

1
"Okay, I'm A Monster" w/ Allison Raskin 1:22:56

1+ y ago1:22:56

1:22:56

This week I spiraled out with the delightful & brilliant writer, podcaster, and mental health advocate Allison Raskin! (Overthinking About You, Just Between Us) We talked the nuance around mental health diagnoses, all about OCD, insecurities around friendship, self-compassion as the antithesis of shame, the liberating potential of knowing your own …

1
"That Good Will Hunting Moment" w/ River Butcher 1:19:43

1+ y ago1:19:43

1:19:43

This week I spiraled out with super funny & absurdly talented comedian, writer, actor & podcaster River Butcher! (The Knew Guys, League Of Their Own.) We talked fear of people leaving if you dare to share your feelings, the difficulty of actually implementing your coping skills when things are POPPING OFF, giving a gift to your inner child and carr…

1
"Congratulations On Your Perfect Parents" w/ Lane Moore 58:08

1+ y ago58:08

58:08

This week I spiraled out with wonderfully deep, refreshingly honest and truly hilarious writer, actor, comedian, musician AND podcaster Lane Moore! (Tinder Live, You Will Find Your People) We talked shame and relational trauma, the damage done by unrealistic and grossly prescriptive self-help books, dealing with the incessant self-critical DJ playi…

1
"The Shame Of Breaking Someone's Heart" w/ Carly Montag 1:13:48

2y ago1:13:48

1:13:48

This week I spiraled out with hilarious & deeply relatable stand up comic, podcaster (and fellow neurotic Jew) Carly Montag! We talked the pervasive fear of making others' feel bad, coming out as queer via an improv class revelation, Jewish guilt and hypervigilance, the shame of feeling stupid, internalized homophobia and the pressure to marry a ni…

1
"Your Dad Dies And You Have Gay Sex" w/ Joel Kim Booster 1:09:56

2y ago1:09:56

1:09:56

This week I spiraled out with incredibly talented comic, writer and actor Joel Kim Booster! (Fire Island, The Other Two, Shrill) We talked the impact of growing up extremely religious and queer, fear of going to hell and terrifying fantasies of what hell would be like, caring way too much of what others' think about you, being young and extra thirs…

1
"If It's Hysterical, It's Historical" w/ Tara Schuster 59:04

2y ago59:04

59:04

This week I spiraled out with the disarmingly honest, lovely, hilarious & brilliant writer Tara Schuster! (Glow In The F*cking Dark, Comedy Central) Talking shame with Tara was hilarious, delightful, and honestly inspiring AF. We talked shame and trauma, the relief and empowerment that comes from knowing when the past is crash landing into the pres…

1
"What Kind Of Psychopath Has Half A Beer?!" w/ Emma Willmann 1:19:48

2y ago1:19:48

1:19:48

This week I spiraled out with incredibly hilarious, honest and charming comedian, writer & actor Emma Willmann! (Colbert, Comedy Central, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) Emma and I talked ADHD, addiction and recovery, accidentally learning things from TikTok, getting in a fight with Chelsea Handler, ungodly shameful moments with exes and discerning when apolo…

1
"I Would Live, B*tch" w/ Nori Reed 1:02:40

2y ago1:02:40

1:02:40

This week I spiraled out with comedian, writer & actress Nori Reed! (Netflix is a Joke, HBO Max, Comedy Central) Nori's stand up is iconic, hilarious and brilliant, and she was featured in New York Magazine as one of Vulture's "Comedians You Should Know And Will Know In 2021." She also recently wrote for seasons five & six of Disney's Raven's Home,…

1
"Oh God, My Clients Might Listen To This" w/ Jess Sprengle 1:09:03

2y ago1:09:03

1:09:03

This week I spiraled out with queer, neurodivergent and gender expansive psychotherapist Jess Sprengle! (@TheCrankyTherapist on IG) Jess is an Eating Disorder Specialist and Educator, and especially passionate about engaging with the intersection of the LGBTQIA+ experience, neurodivergence, and eating disorder recovery. We talked shame as an adapti…

1
"Embarrassing Myself In Front Of Jon Hamm" w/ Mara Wilson 1:23:05

2y ago1:23:05

1:23:05

This week I spiraled out with writer & actor Mara Wilson! (Good Girls Don't, Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire) We talked growing up in Hollywood, being a chronic oversharer, the prison of being a "good girl," the drama of young adult relationships, anxiety & OCD, My So-Called Life, and so much more! Plus, Mara shares a multi-layered shame upon shame upon SH…

1
"Get Me Out Of This Meat Suit!" w/ Marisa Crane 1:28:58

2y ago1:28:58

1:28:58

This week I spiraled out with queer author and hilarious, deeply relatable person Marisa Crane! (I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself) We talked internalized homophobia, being menaces in our twenties, self-sabotage, parenting shame, botox and the horror of lying to Drew Barrymore, why it's so damn hard to give yourself the grace you freely give everyon…

1
"Give Me All The Hard Things" w/ Xander Boger 1:18:48

2y ago1:18:48

1:18:48

This week I spiraled out with physical therapist & cast member of instant queer reality tv classic The Ultimatum: Queer Love Xander Boger! This one is a special treat for all you fellow Queer Love Ultimatum fans, because we dove deep into shame around deciding to be on the show, being on the show, and the emotionally complicated aftermath. And we d…

1
"It's Hard To Be A Person, Man" w/ Busy Philipps 1:14:09

2y ago1:14:09

1:14:09

This week I spiraled out with actor, writer and reproductive justice advocate Busy Philipps! (Girls5eva, Cougar Town, Busy Phillips Is Doing Her Best, This Will Only Hurt A Little) We talked fear of being a bad person, processed some internet drama, unpacked our experiences with experiental hippy therapies, pondered over how good it feels to smash …

1
"Compulsively Pressing The Relief Button" w/ Gianmarco Soresi 1:22:02

2y ago1:22:02

1:22:02

This week I spiraled out with stand up comic, actor and writer Gianmarco Soresi! (Comedy Central, JFL, The Late Late Show With James Corden) We talked being a child of divorce, contempt for institutions but desire for community, fear of being seen as a certain kind of man, zoom vs in-person therapy, existential crises, being a yeller from a yelling…

1
"Loud Jewish Women Who Change The F*cking World" w/ Vanessa Zoltan 1:05:10

2y ago1:05:10

1:05:10

This week I spiraled out with author, podcaster and atheist/Jewish/humanist chaplain extraordinaire Vanessa Zoltan! (Hot & Bothered, Praying With Jane Eyre) We talked internalized anti-semitism and loud, powerful Jewish women, wanting to be so good that no one can talk sh*t about you to their therapist, shame and love for the romance genre, treatin…

1
"Chronically Mature For My Age" w/ Yamini Nambimadom 1:11:36

2y ago1:11:36

1:11:36

This week I spiraled out with hilarious standup comedian, writer, actress & podcaster Yamini Nambimadom! (Pillow Fight Podcast, Chicago 10's) We talked about everyone thinking you're fine even when you're not, the struggle to ask for help, people pleasing, being a "difficult" child, immigrant parent expectations and feeling pressure to be the best,…

1
"A Perfect Storm Of Terrible Wonderful" w/ Maggie Smith 1:15:26

2y ago1:15:26

1:15:26

This week I spiraled out with brilliant poet, writer, editor and teacher Maggie Smith! (Good Bones, You Could Make This Place Beautiful.) We covered SO much juicy ground in this episode, diving deep into Midwestern humility and shame around success, what you owe or don't owe people as an artist, being an introverted kid with an extroverted mom, imp…

1
"I'm A Real Legally Blond Truther" w/ Ilana Peña 1:10:54

2y ago1:10:54

1:10:54

This week I spiraled out with screenwriter, showrunner & director Ilana Peña! (Diary Of A Future President, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) We talked how earnestly loving things can make you an easy target, the double punch of when shame and anxiety spirals intertwine, annoying film and theater school bros, feeling haunted by the fear of being a horrible pers…

1
"And This Is Why You Can't Trust Foxes" w/ Aparna Nancherla 1:20:05

2y ago1:20:05

1:20:05

This week I spiraled out with brilliant and hilarious stand up comic, writer & actress Aparna Nancherla! (The Standups, Crashing, Bojack Horsemen, Colbert) We talked the relentless suspicion that you're intrinsically wrong and how anxiety finds a million little ways to confirm that, spiraling over confrontation and relationships, flip-flopping betw…

1
"Settle Down, Sweet Yeti" w/ Lachrista Greco 1:05:26

2y ago1:05:26

1:05:26

This week I spiraled out with author, speaker, curator & librarian Lachrista Greco! (@theguerrillafeminist, Olive Grrrls: Italian North American Women & The Search For Identity) Lachrista has published several books with another coming soon, is doing incredible work around preventing and coping with digital violence, and is all-around brilliant, pa…

1
"People Are Baking Bread & I'm Making Martinis" w/ Abbi Crutchfield 1:09:08

2y ago1:09:08

1:09:08

This week I spiraled out with hilarious standup comedian & actress Abbi Crutchfield! (Up Early Tonight, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, The Kid Is In School Podcast) We talked Mom shame, losing your cool, self-blame and that relentless internal critical voice, talking to kids about difficult topics, pandemic feelings, when your coping skills ar…

1
"Don't Make Kids Read Hamlet" w/ Jay Jurden 1:30:35

2y ago1:30:35

1:30:35

This week I spiraled out with brilliant comedian, writer and actor Jay Jurden! (The Problem With John Stewart, The Late Show, The Tonight Show, High Maintenance) We talked being a tortured queer youth and shameful early queer relationships, biphobia, obsessing over what others' think of you, the anatomy of a shame spiral, the plague of coolness bei…

1
"You're Not Gonna Call Me Dirty Because You Feel Dirty" w/ Robby Hoffman 1:28:46

2y ago1:28:46

1:28:46

This week I spiraled out with ridiculously funny & brilliant standup comic and Emmy-winning television writer Robby Hoffman! (Workin' Moms, The Chris Gethard Show, Odd Squad, Just For Laughs) We talked class shame, being the poorest and most religious Jewish kid in school, the way people disown and project shame on others so they don't have to deal…

1
"The Piece Of Sh*t At The Center Of The Universe" w/ Isabel Hagen 1:17:25

2y ago1:17:25

1:17:25

This week I spiraled out with hilarious standup comedian & Julliard-trained violist Isabel Hagen! (The Tonight Show, Just For Laughs.) We talked obsessing over what people think of you, the shame spiraling that performing comedy evokes and how Isabel deals with BOMBING, addiction/ recovery, why being vulnerable feels both so good and oh so bad, wha…

1
"I Shouldn't Normalize Being A Selfish A**hole" w/ Clara Olshanksy 1:04:11

2y ago1:04:11

1:04:11

This week I spiraled out with standup comedian & writer Clara Olshansky! (Flamethrowers, My First Joke.) We talked career shame, dating shame, shame embodied as the snake from the Garden of Eden, the horrible things you tell yourself when you've descended into a spiral, and SO MUCH MORE. Plus, Clara tells a heartbreaking and very relatable shame st…

1
"The L Word Made Me Gay" w/ Jess Salomon 1:17:27

2y ago1:17:27

1:17:27

This week I spiraled out with super funny stand up comedian and former UN war crimes lawyer Jess Salomon! ( The Tonight Show, JFL, The El-Salomons) We talked late-in-life ADHD diagnoses, the nightmare of being told you have bad breath, The L Word as a catalyst for Jess' first lesbian experience, Judaism and Zionism, Manatees as the embodiment of sh…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Alegra Kastens Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen