Best Chris Leins Podcasts (2025)

1
A Tale of Two Patients 21:11

7d ago21:11

21:11

Chris discusses the importance not only of the 5 Pillars, but of the grit and resilience required of patients in order to successfully adhere to them. Every anxious person has grit, by virtue of his or her facing it all day long while simultaneously working and contributing to a family. But only some demonstrate that grit in therapy.KentuckyOCD.com…

1
How Did ERP Come to Be? 20:43

14d ago20:43

20:43

Chris unpacks the history of ERP, and discusses some of the particulars of the 1966 study that marked the founding of what would become the world's Gold Standard treatment for OCD. Also, Feedspot selected the 25 Best OCD Podcasts from thousands of candidates. Thanks to fans, OCD Straight Talk slid comfortably into #5. To check out Feedspots selecti…

1
What Makes an OCD Therapist A Good One? 15:35

21d ago15:35

15:35

Chris answers the question, What makes a good OCD therapist? The answer is multifaceted, and it might surprise you. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected], Thank you. Out of thousands of podcasts globally, you've made OCD Straight Talk #5 on Feedspot's Top 25 Podcasts on OCD. Check out those Top 25 he…

1
How to CHEAT your OCD 19:55

28d ago19:55

19:55

Chris discusses the YBOCS-II Cheat Sheet. The question isn't how do you cheat on the YBOCS-II test; it's how do you cheat the OCD, itself.

1
Lindsay & Emily from PRESENTLY 43:19

1M ago43:19

43:19

Chris sits down with Lindsay and Emily Stetzer from Presently to discuss managing OCD, ajd growing a business while doing it.

1
Can You Tell Me Everything I Need to Know in 20 Minutes? 21:04

1M ago21:04

21:04

Chris describes three interdependent ideas that make up good therapy for OCD.

1
Will AI One Day Be My Therapist? 19:17

2M ago19:17

19:17

Chris discusses the idea of ChatGPT's understanding of the evidence-based treatment for OCD, complete with its ability to generate treatment plans and hierarchies. AI is getting woven into the fabric of life and society. How long will it be before we decide that AI can teach patients the clinical skills needed to effectively manage their anxiety be…

1
Should ALL Therapists be Trained as Specialists? 16:28

2M ago16:28

16:28

Chris spitballs about the ongoing problem, albeit now much smaller problem comparative to 10 years ago: that many patients consume services from the local counseling center, just to linger in treatment for 12 to 24 months and make minimal progress. That's disempowering and discouraging to patients - not to mention expensive. Should the graduate tra…

1
You Are OCD's Kryptonite 16:04

3M ago16:04

16:04

Chris shares a childhood story that made him feel vulnerable and scared. Beating OCD is about recognizing that you have a tremendous advantage. Your OCD needs you to respond. It, in fact, is weak and vulnerable without you giving it compulsions.

1
Skill-Growth Starts Where Your Need to be Great at This ENDS 22:49

3M ago22:49

22:49

Chris shares a bit about his journey with training Jiu Jitsu and being really bad at it. But growth truly started when he relieved himself of the expectation that he would be good at it and embraced by a perpetual novice.

1
What Would You Tomorrow Want You Today To Do? 17:48

4M ago17:48

17:48

Chris discusses his past, present and future. And he looks toward the coming year with an eye on living his life on purpose.

1
A Case Conundrum: Why Is She NOT Getting Better? 17:49

5M ago17:49

17:49

Chris discusses a case.

1
If OCD Were A Stray Dog 13:15

5M ago13:15

13:15

Chris describes OCD as a stray dog and you as a caring citizen. You're a good dude, and so you offee the poor dog some food. and that's nice of you. But what's the stray dog going to do when it's been offered a nice plate of food? Come back again? Move in? There are tough emotions felt perhaps in turning the helpless dog away. But the alternative i…

1
What Is The True Gift of Therapy? 19:23

5M ago19:23

19:23

Chris takes on the reality that some therapists work to get patients better, not equipping them with tools and strategies needed to maintain their progress over the course of time. While treating anxiety disorders and OCD sounds like enough in and of itself, it is not. That's because there is no cure for OCD. If all we're doing is treating the symp…

1
What is Your Biggest Obstacle to Getting Better? 25:29

5M ago25:29

25:29

Chris talks through two major challenges to making real and lasting progress with OCD and the anxiety-related disorders. The first challenge is learning how to find compulsions. Many people, including even people who've been to therapy, don't know how to do this. And that's a major problem. Because if they don't know how to find compulsions, then i…

1
I Got Dirt on Ya: Contamination OCD 27:58

6M ago27:58

27:58

Chris discusses some of the gears and guts of working with Contamination-OCDers. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

1
I'm Not Sure It's Really Romance: Relationship-OCD 23:18

7M ago23:18

23:18

Chris discusses Relationship OCD, its faces and presentations, and gives some practical tips on what to do if that's YOU. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

1
It Just Feels WRONG: Just-Right OCD 24:47

7M ago24:47

24:47

Chris discusses so-called Just-Right OCD and the feeling that task didn't get completed right. He also presents some variations of Just-Right OCD and subtypes that often present with it. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.…

1
I'm Sick! And Nobody Knows It but Me 20:10

7M ago20:10

20:10

Chris discusses Illness Anxiety Disorder, and provides a look at the many ways this condition affects patients. He provides examples and shows how some tools can be applied to relevant worries in different ways. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it…

1
The Final Question & The One Piece of Advice 17:32

7M ago17:32

17:32

Chris presents and explains a question he asks patients in therapy that is intended to help them summarize in short-form what they're learning in the process of better managing symptoms. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.…

1
The Lens Grows Bigger 21:55

7M ago21:55

21:55

Chris shares some of his own experiences with OCD, and discusses some common experiences others have with seeing around the OCD-lens. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

1
65.7% Threat Level before Compulsion. What after? 25:06

8M ago25:06

25:06

Chris discusses a conversation with a listener seeking reassurance, and explains a tool that he gave her. As he's said before, uncertainty is your friend, not your enemy. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.…

1
It's You Against YOU: OCD is a Closed System 16:30

8M ago16:30

16:30

Chris discusses the idea of OCD being an obsession much more with uncertainty than a concern with objective danger. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

1
Exposures Are Opportunities to Practice Skills 14:35

8M ago14:35

14:35

Chris explains the concept that exposures are really just opportunities to practice skills that allow you to interact with your anxiety-system in a different way. The biggest hurdle that you will face in trying to "treat yourself" is not having a therapist there to ask you the real questions. Why are you not working harder to get better? Why are yo…

1
A Self-Perpetuating System of Symptoms: the Cognitive Model 15:05

8M ago15:05

15:05

Chris shares several case studies related to clinical anxiety and works to show you what they have in common so that you can better understand how to understand, dissect, and manage your own anxiety system. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving u…

1
Understanding OCD through Newton's First Law of Motion 11:43

9M ago11:43

11:43

Chris discusses cracking the OCD code in this latest episode, and further applies the cognitive model to understanding, and gaining control over anxiety related disorders. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] or DM me on IG @ocdstraighttalk. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving us a…

1
Solving A Problem Starts with Understanding It 11:19

9M ago11:19

11:19

Chris continues the series on striving to equip you to treat yourself by discussing the Cognitive Model. It's true that it's a basic concept ... and that OCDST has presented long presented the idea. BUT, that doesn't mean that you have worked to apply the model in real-time to your symptoms. Gotta do it! Map it out. Dissect your symptoms. You can't…

1
Bonus Episode: On Getting YOURSELF Better 20:31

9M ago20:31

20:31

Chris talk about the future of the podcast, and the use of OCDST as a means of learning and practicing skills to get yourself better.Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating.

1
Become Your Own Behavior Therapist 28:08

9M ago28:08

28:08

Chris begins a new series with Dr. B and encourages listeners to begin the process of becoming their own behavior therapists.

1
AI and the Future of OCD Treatment 18:43

9M ago18:43

18:43

Chris opines about the future of mental healthcare in general and OCD treatment in particular. Given the slow but steady, technological development of healthcare delivery in the past 20 to 30 years, it's only a matter of time. Soon AI human-like robots (like Max Headroom from the 80s) will serve as treatment experts, and patients will get themselve…

1
Perfectionism: Allow Yourself to Make A Mistake 13:56

10M ago13:56

13:56

Chris discusses a unique form of OCD that is, at the same time, common to the population: Perfectionism. In this case, it's not as straight forward as working to stop compulsions. The endeavor of behavior change is more about adding an ingredient than omitting one. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. I…

1
Keep Your Head When OCD Wants You to Lose Your Mind 27:41

10M ago27:41

27:41

Chris shares a recent episode he had with OCD and anxiety and works to discuss, frame by frame: what should you do when OCD sets a trap for you and it works? Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to OCD Straight Talk f…

1
When You Have No Idea That "That Thing" was OCD All Along 17:53

10M ago17:53

17:53

Chris discloses his own ongoing struggle with OCD, and talks about a recent conversation with a patient during which he realized an off-the-beaten-trail, just-an-innocent-part-of-who-he-is (not his OCD) has actually been his OCD all along. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcas…

1
Increasing Your Quality of Life by Doing It "Backwards" 22:56

10M ago22:56

22:56

Chris discusses a menagerie of concepts in this episode, and works to bring them together for OCD-sufferers everywhere. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety- o…

1
Make Yourself Impervious to Chronic Anxiety 16:17

10M ago16:17

16:17

Chris discusses a phenomenon evident in the population nowadays that some people prefer to cut corners and find a quick fix for their anxiety. The trouble is a precious few "easy" fixes actually work for most people over the long haul. Nothing generally replaces doing the work of learning the ERP model and skill-set, and sharpening it into ready us…

1
Using Behavioral Techniques to Feel Better about Yourself 21:10

11M ago21:10

21:10

Chris discusses using the basic and core concepts of OCD and anxiety treatment for the purpose of increasing self-esteem. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] or @ocdstraighttalk. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured h…

1
How Do I Spoil My Compulsion? 17:27

11M ago17:27

17:27

Chris discusses two ways, one motor and one metal with examples, as to how you might work to spoil compulsions that you've just engaged. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] or DM @ocdstraighttalk.

1
Get Started! How to Build My Hierarchy 21:04

11M ago21:04

21:04

Chris discusses some specifics of how to build a working hierarchy. But nothing will replace your grit and resilience.

1
OCD - the C = ERP 21:27

11M ago21:27

21:27

Chris discusses a few cliches that inform his work in therapy in order to orient and empower patients and listeners as to the "active ingredient" in the therapeutic process. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to @ocdstraighttalk on IG or [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star r…

1
The Trifecta of Ingredients Yields the Right Result 16:43

12M ago16:43

16:43

Chris discusses the correct way to do exposure therapy and continues the discussion on why many people don't get what they want from the process: they're not doing it the right way. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing…

1
MicroCompulsions: the Rituals You DON'T See 14:54

12M ago14:54

14:54

Chris discusses the reality that people fall back on the habits that they know when the anxiety-related "shit hits the fan." They're going to use the so-called "coping behaviors" with which they're familiar to try and feel better, even though it is often these very responses that keep their thoughts and anxiety strong and coming back again and agai…

1
Pull the "C" out of the OCD 20:09

12M ago20:09

20:09

Chris encourages listeners with the idea that they don't "have to" do compulsions, explaining that often people confuse intrusive thoughts and anxiety with compulsions. They in turn think they "can't" stop the compulsions. The clarity between them and the choice to stop compulsions makes a big difference, especially over time. Feel free to reach ou…

1
The Ultimate OCD Hack 14:21

1y ago14:21

14:21

Chris discusses the OCD and anxiety disorders hack: that thoughts and feelings following the leadership of behavioral patterns. There are a few pitfalls to keep in mind... Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the…

1
OCD Straight Talk: The Backstory 24:23

1y ago24:23

24:23

Chris discusses some personal experiences that led to the launching of OCDST in March of 2020. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.…

1
Is It Objective Danger or OCD? 17:05

1y ago17:05

17:05

Chris recaps several concepts that raise the question: How do you tell the difference between OCD and objective danger? While a number of answers could be presented to the question, Chris offers two. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star ra…

1
I Got Anxiety but Not OCD 23:05

1y ago23:05

23:05

Chris responds to an oft' repeated phrase, "Well, I have anxiety, but I don't have OCD. And for fun, he also addresses several myths and misunderstands relative to the diagnosis and treatment of the anxiety-related disorders. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found OCDST helpful, consider …

1
What Causes A Relapse of OCD? 17:05

1y ago17:05

17:05

Chris discusses several ideas and studies, and works through conversations he typically has with patients at various points of the clinical process. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more …

1
Do Intrusive Thoughts Show Up Differently for Some People? 23:46

1y ago23:46

23:46

Chris responds to a listener's question regarding how obsessions or intrusive thoughts might be experienced differently across the OCD-population. He lists kinds and categories of intrusive thoughts and provides several cases examples from his own experience. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you…

1
How Can Family Members Help OCDers? 16:18

1y ago16:18

16:18

Chris discusses the difference between the style and persona of a good OCD-therapist and the supportive way of a truly helpful family member. It's about balancing two opposing ideas. But many family members fall too far to one side or the other. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've OCD Straig…

1
Obsession + Evidence + Possibility = Oh Sh*t? 12:08

1y ago12:08

12:08

Chris presents the idea that there's always some evidence, some reason to perceive intrusive thoughts as reality. This coupled with the reasonable possibility of feared outcomes heightens anxiety for OCDers. Evidence makes the thoughts feel real ... even if the evidence can point to several conclusions. So the question isn't, Can I dismantle or dis…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Chris Leins Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen