Best Ash Compton Podcasts (2025)

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Samantha Smith vs. the Cold War with Maris Kreizman 1:18:42

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8d ago1:18:42

1:18:42

Who really ended the Cold War, Ronald Reagan or a ten-year-old girl? Eighties correspondent Maris Kreizman joins us for a heartfelt conversation about America’s Youngest Ambassador, Samantha Smith, a child who wrote a letter to Soviet General Secretary Yuri Andropov in hopes of cooling nuclear tensions. Then, Andropov wrote back. Maris and Sarah di…

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The Insanity Defense with Mackenzie Joy Brennan 1:20:40

1M ago1:20:40

1:20:40

What do John Hinckley Jr. and a jazz age tuberculosis patient have in common? Legal correspondent Mackenzie Joy Brennan takes Sarah through some of the strange cases that helped make—and break—the insanity defense in America. Our story includes a woman who carried her (alleged) victims’ bodies around in a suitcase, and the attempted assassination…

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Corn Mazes with Chelsey Weber-Smith 1:04:22

2M ago1:04:22

1:04:22

Can you find your way out of the maize? The corn maze has become an enduring attraction of the American autumnal experience, seen at touristy family farms next to pumpkin patches and haunted houses. But what are the historical roots of this iconic living puzzle? Sarah guides the eternally-lost Chelsey Weber-Smith through the twists and turns of the…

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Pee-wee Herman Part 2 with Jamie Loftus 1:03:47

2M ago1:03:47

1:03:47

In the second part of our series, pop culture historian Jamie Loftus takes us through the meteoric rise of Pee-wee Herman and the withering of Paul Reubens' world as dubious allegations surface that threaten to turn a beloved children’s character into a real life villain. Jamie tells us about his struggle to reconcile the character of Pee-wee with …

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Pee-wee Herman Part 1 with Jamie Loftus 1:08:18

3M ago1:08:18

1:08:18

What’s today’s secret word? Paul Reubens spent years bringing to life one of America’s most beloved characters, Pee-wee Herman, an icon of joy for weirdos of all ages. In the first of this two part series, Pee-wee superfan-turned-historian Jamie Loftus lets us into the playhouse for a journey through Paul’s early life and art school days, his colla…

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The Hitler Diaries with Adrian Daub 1:24:40

4M ago1:24:40

1:24:40

What happens when you’re just a little too good at forging the diaries of Adolf Hitler? And why did so many people want to read them? In 1983, the West German news magazine Stern bought sixty volumes of forged journals and held a press conference to announce their publication. This week, Adrian Daub of podcasts In Bed With the Right and The Feminis…

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Coyotes! with Lulu Miller 1:16:22

4M ago1:16:22

1:16:22

Who is out there behind the howling midnight parties in the distance? For generations we have coexisted in varying degrees of rivalry, conflict, and admiration with the North American canine known as the coyote. From pre-colonization to our modern backyards, through the wild west and the streets of San Francisco, award-winning NPR science reporter …

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Inventing the Teenager with Harmony Colangelo 1:07:54

5M ago1:07:54

1:07:54

Where did all these teens come from? Harmony Colangelo, co-host of This Ends at Prom, is here to explain how, before Americans got to worry about what teenagers were up to, we first had to decide what they were—and how a boom in postwar educational films taught a generation of adolescents what not to do. Skipper Learns a Lesson: https://www.youtube…

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Is Your House Too Clean? with Sarah Archer 1:03:34

5M ago1:03:34

1:03:34

Have you scrubbed down the top of your fridge lately? Home & garden correspondent Sarah Archer is here to tell us how and when we got so obsessed with the antiseptically clean house as a status symbol, and whether we really need to worry about every bit of dust on that baseboard. Find out more about Sarah Archer: https://www.sarah-archer.com/ Suppo…

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Hoax Memoir Spectacular! 1:27:30

6M ago1:27:30

1:27:30

This week, flim flam correspondent and certified April Fool Chelsey Weber-Smith is here to talk about a fistful of fake memoirs, featuring girls raised by wolves; the chicken pox of James Frey; what poetry can give us that memoir can't; and Eugene, Oregon (twice!). Read more about it here: The Smoking Gun's "A Million Little Lies" https://www.thesm…

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Your Joy and Resilience Stories 23:46

6M ago23:46

23:46

At the end of our last episode, we asked you to call in and tell us what has been bringing you joy, connecting you to your community, and where you’ve been finding hope in these last few months. These are some of the responses we wanted to share in hopes that we can all find new ways to survive this world together. Thank you to all who sent us mess…

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The Worst Oscars Ever?? with Michael Schulman 1:20:12

7M ago1:20:12

1:20:12

What do Lily Tomlin, Snow White, and Kenny Ortega have in common? They were all part of the 61st Academy Awards, a broadcast now remembered as the worst of all time, and masterminded by Allan Carr (lover of spectacle and producer of Grease). But awards season correspondent and New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman is here to argue that the tacki…

1
Hysteria: Part 2 45:31

7M ago45:31

45:31

Part Two of Two on Hysteria. Ash and Rachel seek knowns and unknowns about the contested origins of Hysteria finding its way into the emergent psychological annals. Golden Siggie takes the lead. Find metaphors doing *the most* in a teen’s dreams, and more! This is the last of our current season. If Bad Therapist is pleasing to your psyche, please r…

1
Hysteria: Part 1 53:27

7M ago53:27

53:27

Part One of Two on Hysteria. Ash and Rachel dig into the tangled history of this complex and ever-evolving diagnosis, starting with its medical origins. From ancient theories to outdated treatments, we’re pulling from the antiquated archives to unpack the evolution of this so-called malady. Stay tuned for Part Two next week—Freud on Hysteria! SOURC…

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Emotional Labor with Rachel Monroe and Ash Compton of Bad Therapist 1:01:48

7M ago1:01:48

1:01:48

What is "emotional labor," and why is it probably not what your boyfriend accuses you of making him do when you want him to go to Ikea with you? Psychotherapist Ash Compton and journalist Rachel Monroe are here to tell the tale of how the term sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild coined—in her 1983 book The Managed Heart—has come to mean, well, alm…

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You're Wrong About: Bad Therapist 1:02:47

8M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

This week, in honor of St. Valentine’s Day, Bad Therapist makes a special guest appearance on a favorite podcast, You’re Wrong About, to get to the bottom of Emotional Labor— a sociological and labor-related construct that has snuck its way into impersonal realms and colloquialisms. And in doing so, we solve the entire country’s relationship proble…

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Alice Kyteler and the First Witchcraft Trial in Ireland with Molly Aitken 1:04:30

8M ago1:04:30

1:04:30

In County Kilkenny, Ireland, in an early year of a century not too long before our own, Alice Kyteler was accused of witchcraft. But the story doesn't end there. This week, Molly Aitken—author of BRIGHT I BURN—is here to tell us a tale where the more things* change, the more they stay the same. (*Men) Read Molly's books: https://www.penguinrandomho…

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Polarity 54:11

8M ago54:11

54:11

Rachel and Ash discuss an idea that’s all the rage among coaches and influencer types in Austin and elsewhere: polarity. Spoiler alert: it’s essentially a New Age-y version of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, and its inventor has some of the worst ideas we’ve ever heard about how to respond to an angry woman (….tickle her????). Sources: The…

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Aron Ralston with Blair Braverman 1:15:01

8M ago1:15:01

1:15:01

What would you do if you were pinned down by an 800-pound boulder, and no one knew where you were? In 2003, Aron Ralston had to answer that question. Today, our survival correspondent Blair Braverman is here to tell us the tale of the man, the myth, and the multitool. Blair Braverman tells us how the legendary story of one good dog is actually a st…

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Rock & Roll Therapists 55:55

9M ago55:55

55:55

Ash and Rachel tackle two bad therapists (or one bad therapist and one flawed-but-relatable ex-therapist) who worked with the rich and famous: Eugene Landy, the man who trapped and swindled Brian Wilson, and Phil Towle, Metallica’s “performance enhancement coach.” Warning: lots of anti-Metallica slander in this ep! Sources: Berlinger, J., & Sinofsk…

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Culture Study: Bad Therapist 52:48

9M ago52:48

52:48

Rachel and Ash make a guest appearance on one of their favorite podcasts, Culture Study, to chat with Anne Helen Petersen about the rise of therapy speak, their least-favorite therapized buzz words, and why this kind of language has become so frustratingly prevalent. Hosted by Anne Helen Petersen. Produced by Melody Rowell.…

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Singing in the New Year with Carolyn Kendrick and Each Machine 32:00

9M ago32:00

32:00

There's one last present at the toe of our stocking, and it's a new album by producer Carolyn Kendrick. We'll be back with a regular episode next week, but for now, come listen to some music, and join us for a conversation about making art and community in uncertain times, and the new year's dreams that will sustain us in 2025. Find Carolyn's songs…

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Santa Claus with Sarah Archer 1:03:54

9M ago1:03:54

1:03:54

'Twas (the night before) the night before Christmas/ And all through the show/ We await Sarah Archer with eyes all aglow/ To blow the dust off some old books from the shelf/ And tell us the tale of a jolly old elf. Where did he come from?/ Where is he going?/ We know you have questions/ So bundle up, if it's snowing/ And sing out your favorite holi…

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Cola Wars with Miles Klee 1:16:22

10M ago1:16:22

1:16:22

Miles Klee can’t take it anymore. This week, a tale of corporate intrigue, world domination, and soda. Read Miles Klee at Rolling Stone. Support You're Wrong About: Bonus Episodes on Patreon Buy cute merch Where else to find us: Sarah's other show, You Are Good Links: https://www.rollingstone.com/author/miles-klee/ http://patreon.com/yourewrongabou…

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Conversion Therapy 56:47

10M ago56:47

56:47

This one’s a little different: First, Rachel talks to her uncle, John Monroe, who was subjected to conversion therapy in the 1970s. Then Rachel & Ash discuss a few of the harmful pseudoscientists who have tried (and failed) to use psychology to turn queer people straight over the years. SOURCES: -Arana, G. (2012.) My So-Called Ex-Gay Life. American…

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The Unexpected Origins of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 1:03:08

10M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Ash (INTP) & Rachel (ENFP) explore the very strange origin story of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator — a journey that ventures into erotic Carl Jung fanfiction, an intense mother-daughter dynamic, and the most upsetting hot chocolate recipe you’ll ever hear about. SOURCES: -Emre, M. (2018). The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Brigg…

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The Life Coach School 54:05

10M ago54:05

54:05

Rachel and Ash discuss the astonishing abundance of coaches via an exploration of The Life Coach School, a glossy (and expensive!) program with some MLM-esque overtones. SOURCES: - I’m a Life Coach, You’re a Life Coach: The Rise of an Unregulated Industry - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/06/life-coaching-brooke-castillo-unregulat…

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The Shadow Side of Shadow Work 49:26

10M ago49:26

49:26

Ash & Rachel discuss the hot new Tiktok trend: #shadowwork. What is the shadow and why are all these Austin influencers suddenly preoccupied with it? SOURCES: - How a Self-Published Book Broke ‘All the Rules’ and Became a Best Seller - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/books/booksupdate/keila-shaheen-shadow-work-journal-tiktok.html - Keila Shaheen…

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The Sullivanians - A Therapeutic Commune Gone Wrong 1:04:59

10M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

Rachel & Ash discuss the Sullivanians/Fourth Wall community, a collective of self-credentialed therapists with great real estate and solid politics that, can you believe it, turned into something pretty sinister. SOURCES: -The Sullivanians: Sex, Psychotherapy, and the Wild Life of an American Commune by Alexander Stille - https://bookshop.org/p/boo…

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Welcome to Bad Therapist 12:21

10M ago12:21

12:21

Rachel Monroe and Ash Compton introduce Bad Therapist. Topics include: the conception for the pod, their bad therapists, and, somehow, puppets. Produced by Zoe Kurland. Music by Flock of Dimes.By Ash Compton & Rachel Monroe

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Trailer 1:03

10M ago1:03

1:03

Welcome to Bad Therapist, a podcast about the shadow side of mental health, and the scammers and manipulators who reside there. Cads, opportunists, and charlatans have been a part of the world of psychology since the beginning; some of them have even made lasting contributions to the field. Bad Therapist delves into two centuries of sketchy behavio…

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Elizabeth Báthory with Princess Weekes 1:11:32

11M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

"Our alleged serial killers deserve better than this." Was Elizabeth Báthory the most prolific serial killer of all time, or was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Do we even have the tools to know? And what about that bathing in the blood of virgins thing? Lizzie correspondent Princess Weekes is here with your election night distract-a…

Ash Compton Podcasts

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Bad Therapist

Ash Compton & Rachel Monroe

1
You're Wrong About

Sarah Marshall

1
Tor Presents: Voyage Into Genre

Tor Books

1
Samantha Smith vs. the Cold War with Maris Kreizman 1:18:42

1
The Insanity Defense with Mackenzie Joy Brennan 1:20:40

1
Corn Mazes with Chelsey Weber-Smith 1:04:22

1
Pee-wee Herman Part 2 with Jamie Loftus 1:03:47

1
Pee-wee Herman Part 1 with Jamie Loftus 1:08:18

1
The Hitler Diaries with Adrian Daub 1:24:40

1
Coyotes! with Lulu Miller 1:16:22

1
Inventing the Teenager with Harmony Colangelo 1:07:54

1
Is Your House Too Clean? with Sarah Archer 1:03:34

1
Hoax Memoir Spectacular! 1:27:30

1
Your Joy and Resilience Stories 23:46

1
The Worst Oscars Ever?? with Michael Schulman 1:20:12

1
Hysteria: Part 2 45:31

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Hysteria: Part 1 53:27

1
Emotional Labor with Rachel Monroe and Ash Compton of Bad Therapist 1:01:48

1
You're Wrong About: Bad Therapist 1:02:47

1
Alice Kyteler and the First Witchcraft Trial in Ireland with Molly Aitken 1:04:30

1
Polarity 54:11

1
Aron Ralston with Blair Braverman 1:15:01

1
Rock & Roll Therapists 55:55

1
Culture Study: Bad Therapist 52:48

1
Singing in the New Year with Carolyn Kendrick and Each Machine 32:00

1
Santa Claus with Sarah Archer 1:03:54

1
Cola Wars with Miles Klee 1:16:22

1
Conversion Therapy 56:47

1
The Unexpected Origins of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 1:03:08

1
The Life Coach School 54:05

1
The Shadow Side of Shadow Work 49:26

1
The Sullivanians - A Therapeutic Commune Gone Wrong 1:04:59

1
Welcome to Bad Therapist 12:21

1
Trailer 1:03

1
Elizabeth Báthory with Princess Weekes 1:11:32