Too many of us wake up, grab a screen, and never really put it down. Then we wonder why we feel anxious, fried, or disconnected from the people right in front of us.

In this episode, Jonathan and Dr. Mark break down the link between screen time and mental health, for adults, teens, and kids, and offer simple ways to build healthier tech habits without pretending phones don’t exist.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• How constant screen time affects stress, sleep, and emotional regulation
• Why kids’ and teens’ brains are especially vulnerable to phone and social media overuse
• What “dopamine hits” and notifications actually do to our nervous system over time
• How multitasking and “doom scrolling” quietly drain creativity and increase burnout
• Practical ideas for screen-free zones, tech boundaries at home, and “90s weeks”
• How to take an honest inventory of your own screen use and make small, realistic changes

We’re not here to demonize phones or shame anyone. Screens are part of life. The goal is to understand how they’re shaping our mental health, and what you can do to move the needle even 10% in a better direction between now and January 1.

Helpful Resources

We’ll include research and a few simple tools in the show notes to help you:

• Reflect on your current tech habits

• Set age-appropriate guidelines for kids and teens

• Experiment with “analog” practices that give your brain a real rest

If you find this conversation helpful, share it with a friend, leave a rating and review, and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

Every share helps us simplify mental health for more people who need it.

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Mark Mayfield is a licensed clinician, but this podcast does not provide therapy. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional in your area. If you need help, and don't know where to turn to find suitable care, reach out. We can help point you in the right direction.
If you are in crisis or considering self-harm, contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately. You’re not alone, and support is available.

Men are struggling silently — and most people have no idea how deep it runs.

In this episode, Jonathan and Dr. Mark Mayfield have one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever released.

They break down why so many men feel pressure to “stay strong,” how that leads to emotional constipation, and why opening up feels risky even when life is on the line.

They also share parts of their own stories, including their suicide attempts, the moments that pushed them to rock bottom, and what it took to rebuild.

This episode may feel uncomfortable at times, but it’s worth sitting with. Whether you’re a man or someone who loves one, this conversation is for you.

You’ll walk away with practical tools, powerful questions, and a clearer understanding of how men can move from silence to strength.

What You’ll Learn

• Why “man up” doesn’t work and actually makes things worse
• How ignored emotions turn into anger, burnout, and shutdown
• Why men fear embarrassment more than vulnerability
• The identity confusion around “toxic masculinity” and over-correction
• Why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools for emotional health

• How to support a man who doesn’t have the words yet
• Why talking about feelings isn’t weakness — it’s strength

Statistics Don't Lie

• Men die by suicide about four times more than women
• Men make up 78–80% of all suicide deaths
• After breakups or divorce, men may face up to 8× higher risk of suicide compared to married peers
• Men are significantly less likely to seek treatment for depression or mood disorders

Resources Mentioned

• The Path Out of Loneliness — Dr. Mark Mayfield
• The Path to Wholeness — Dr. Mark Mayfield
• The Loneliness Workbook (self-paced, practical emotional skills)
• Additional tools and resources:
  https://www.mentalhealthmadesimple.life

Disclaimer

This podcast is for education only. It is not therapy or a replacement for mental health treatment.
If you are in crisis:

• In the U.S., call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

• Outside the U.S., check your local emergency resources

• If you need help finding a therapist, reach out and our team will help you get connected

You matter. Seeking help is strength.

This week, Jonathan and Dr. Mark jump into one of the most confusing parts of emotional health: Why you feel lonely, why being alone isn’t the same thing as loneliness, and why solitude might actually be the thing your mind has been avoiding… but your soul desperately needs.

But first—an update.

Mark shares the story of how a simple relay race (yes, a relay race) turned into a blown Achilles and a forced season of slowing down. That honest moment becomes a doorway into today’s topic: how life has a way of pushing us into unwanted stillness… and how we can learn from it instead of fighting it.

From freak accidents to Final Destination-level childhood stories to the difference between doom-scrolling and actual solitude, this episode stays practical, relatable, and real.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The state of being vs. the state of feeling lonely

• Why hopelessness sneaks up on you before you notice it

• How to know whether you need people or space

• The difference between reflection vs. rumination

• Why scrolling doesn't count as “alone time”

• How to build healthy solitude without shutting the world out

• How to identify the inputs that drain you

• • How to recharge before life derails you

  
  

  🔧 Practical Takeaways (Made Simple)

  • Pause before reacting: Ask “Do I need connection or do I need space?”

  • Learn your emotional battery: Irritability, procrastination, missed deadlines, overreacting—those can all be loneliness signals.

  • Use solitude for truth, not punishment:

    • Reflection asks: “What’s true?”

    • Rumination asks: “What’s wrong with me?”

  • Build micro-solitude: Be present on a walk, doing dishes, or sitting outside without constant distraction.

  • Check your inputs: More screen time ≠ more rest. Doom scrolling isn’t solitude.

• • Community isn’t always local: Sometimes your people live across time zones and screens—and that still counts.

  
  

  💬 A Line to Remember

  “Loneliness will drain you. Solitude, when you choose it, will refill you.”

  🌐 Resources + Connect with Us

  This episode is designed to help simplify your mental health journey and give you language for what you’re feeling.

  Explore tools, resources, and upcoming content at:
  www.MentalHealthMadeSimple.life

  ⚠️ Important Disclaimer

  Mental Health Made Simple is hosted by Dr. Mark Mayfield, a licensed clinician, and Jonathan Collier, a practitioner who speaks from lived experience.

  This podcast is for education and support only. It is not therapy, it is not a diagnosis, and it does not replace working with a licensed mental health professional.

  Therapy is valuable and often essential. If you’re struggling, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a therapist in your area.

  If you’re in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, or don’t feel safe:

  • Contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline immediately.

  If you need help finding a therapist, reach out to us at
  www.MentalHealthMadeSimple.life and we’ll help you explore next steps.

  ⭐ If This Episode Helped You…

  Please take 10 seconds to:✔ Rate the podcast✔ Leave a quick review✔ Share the episode with a friend

  Your support helps us reach more people who need simple, honest mental health clarity.

  
  

• 
  

Negative thoughts happen to everyone. The problem isn’t having them — it’s when they take the wheel. In this episode, Jonathan and Mark break down what’s actually going on in your brain when you spiral, jump to worst-case scenarios, or react before you’ve even had time to think.

We talk about the stuff most people feel but never slow down long enough to name: old mental habits, automatic reactions, emotional reflexes, and the “stories” we write in our heads without noticing. And instead of offering quick-fix advice or gimmicks, we walk through simple, practical steps you can use to interrupt those patterns and build healthier ones over time.

In this episode, we cover:
• Why negative thought patterns form in the first place• What happens in your brain when a thought becomes a reflex• Why awareness matters more than perfection• How to spot all-or-nothing thinking, mind reading, catastrophizing, and other common patterns• What it looks like to talk about your inner world with people around you• What to do after you get triggered• How to start a 90-day rewiring process (and why it won’t look perfect)• Super practical tools you can use today

The big takeaway:
You’re not trying to stop negative thoughts. You’re learning not to be ruled by them.

Notice it.Name it.Challenge it.Reframe it.Act differently.Repeat.

When do you usually listen to podcasts?Morning drive, lunch break, late at night — we’d love to know.

Most advice about forgiveness is shallow. Forgive and forget. Turn the other cheek. Time heals all wounds.
None of that helps you actually heal or make wise choices. For the most part, those sayings are....crap.

In this conversation, Dr. Mark Mayfield and Jonathan unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in mental health: the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. They explore why quick forgiveness can backfire, how to set boundaries that protect your future, and what true self-forgiveness really looks like.

If you’ve ever struggled to forgive, or felt pressure to reconcile before you were ready, this one will hit home.

What You’ll Learn

• Forgiveness frees you internally. Reconciliation is relational and optional

• Why fast forgiveness can be avoidance in disguise

• How to forgive without forgetting

• Boundaries that protect your peace

• A simple framework for self-forgiveness

• How to know if reconciliation is healthy or harmful

  
  

  Reflection Framework: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

  Internal / Self-Forgiveness
  Ask yourself:
  • What am I still carrying that isn’t mine to carry?
  • What guilt or self-blame keeps looping in my thoughts?
  • What would releasing that weight make space for in my life?
  • What would it look like to forgive myself and move forward with strength?

  External / Relational Forgiveness
  Ask yourself:
  • What boundaries do I need in order to forgive safely?
  • Does this person show signs of genuine change or accountability?
  • What would reconciliation realistically look like, and do I want that?
  • Can I forgive without reopening the same wound?

  Remember:
  Forgiveness is about your freedom.
  Reconciliation is about rebuilding trust — and that takes two people.

  Tools Mentioned

  • The One Person Challenge — Identify one person, including yourself, where you can release a small piece of resentment this week.
  • The Unsent Letter — Write what you need to say. Don’t send it. Reflect. Then release it.

  Resources

  Visit mentalhealthmadesimple.life for articles, tools, and expanded reflections that make mental health simple to understand and apply.
  Catch replays, read blog companions to each episode, and explore our comprehensive needs assessment.

  CTA

  If this episode helped you, share it with a friend and leave a rating and review.
  It helps us bring mental health conversations to more people who need them.

  Disclaimer

  This podcast is not counseling and should not replace working with a licensed professional.
  Our goal is to simplify mental health, offer tools for reflection, and help you take your next right step toward health.
  If you’re in crisis or need immediate support, reach out to a qualified professional or contact your local resources.

Reframing “safe spaces” from emotional escape to practical resilience and growth.

Most people think a safe space is where you run to feel better. But what if the way we talk about safety is actually keeping us stuck—isolated, anxious, and disconnected from real growth?

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Mark Mayfield and Jonathan dismantle the cultural buzzword of safe spaces and reframe it with language that promotes resilience, emotional regulation, and grounded engagement instead of avoidance. This isn’t about eliminating safety—it’s about redefining it as an anchor point that helps you stabilize, process, and re-enter life with strength and clarity.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• The Hidden Problem with “Safe Spaces” – how culture turned safety into emotional avoidance

• Safe People vs. Safe Places – why who you trust matters more than where you retreat

• Feelings vs. Reality – how to validate your emotions without letting them lead your life

• What Ego Strength Really Is and why developing it changes how you navigate every relationship

• Anchoring Practices – simple tools to regulate anxiety without disconnecting from reality

• The One Question to Ask Yourself Before You Retreat: “Am I here to recharge, or am I hiding?”

👉 The goal isn’t to escape life—it’s to engage with it more effectively.

Key Takeaways

• Safe places are tools, not destinations. They’re designed for restoration, not isolation.

• Avoidance masquerades as protection. True safety helps you re-enter life stronger.

• Your feelings matter—but they cannot be the entire truth. Learn to regulate, not react.

• Resilience comes from engagement, not withdrawal.

• • You don’t need perfect conditions to make progress—only anchored presence.

  
  

  Practical Steps From This Episode:

  • Identify anchor points in your life (a physical object, personal values, grounding statements)

  • Ask: “Is this a pause or a hiding place?”

  • Reevaluate relationships based on reciprocity and safety, not convenience

  • Use micro-actions (a text, an email, a conversation) to disrupt avoidance patterns

• • If you don’t have “safe people,” consider counseling as your first anchor relationship

  
  

  Episode Chapters

  • 00:00 Welcome & cultural rise of “safe spaces”
  • 02:20 When safety becomes emotional bubble wrap
  • 06:00 Feelings vs. facts: why our emotions aren’t the full story
  • 09:30 Reframing: from safe space to anchor point
  • 13:16T he danger of instant-result culture and all-or-nothing responses
  • 19:30 Practical anchors at home, work, and in relationships
  • 22:30 Ego strength and emotional resilience explained
  • 31:00 Anxiety in real life: what healthy engagement looks like
  • 38:00 The goal: not escape… but re-engagement

  
  

  Disclaimer

  Mental Health Made Simple provides education and tools for your mental health journey. It is not therapy, nor a substitute for counseling or medical treatment. If you are seeking clinical support, we encourage you to connect with a licensed counselor.

  Resources & Next Steps

  • Explore tools, resources, and upcoming webinars: mentalhealthmadesimple.life

  • Questions about counseling or how to start? Email us—we’ll help guide your next step.

  • If this episode brought you clarity, leave a rating and review. It helps more people find hope and grounded mental health.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely recommended forms of therapy, yet most people either misunderstand it or think it’s a mental bootcamp designed to break them down.

Spoiler: it doesn’t involve deadlifts, sweat angels, or reliving your childhood trauma while doing burpees.

As the world continues to focus on mental health awareness throughout October, following World Mental Health Day, this conversation is timely for anyone seeking better tools to manage anxiety, negative thoughts, perfectionism, or emotional overwhelm.

We unpack the real science behind CBT and show how small shifts in your thoughts can completely transform your emotions, behaviors, and long-term mental resilience.

What's in the episode:

• Why CBT isn't about toughness or emotional bootcamp

• How thoughts trigger feelings and behaviors—and how to interrupt negative cycles

• The most common cognitive distortions (like catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking)

• Practical tools like thought records, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral activation

• How to use CBT methods in everyday life to reduce anxiety and self-sabotage

• • How to choose the right therapist and questions to ask during your first session

  
  

  Chapters

• 0:00 – Setting the stage: Why CBT matters right now

  2:15 – What CBT is not (the CrossFit analogy)

  5:30 – The core concept of cognitive behavioral therapy

  10:45 – How thoughts create emotional responses

  15:20 – Identifying cognitive distortions

  21:00 – Tools that rewire your thought patterns

  26:30 – What makes a great therapist fit (and how to ask)

  31:45 – Practical CBT exercises you can start using today

  35:10 – Final encouragement: moving from stuck to aligned

  
  

  Resources & Next Steps

  Visit MentalHealthMadeSimple.life to access tools, upcoming workshops, and resources designed to make mental health concepts easy to understand and apply in everyday life.

  • Please follow and leave a review — it helps more people discover practical mental health tools.

  • Share this episode with someone who is struggling with anxiety or negative self-talk.

  • New episodes drop weekly to simplify mental health, one conversation at a time.

Perfectionism feels productive—but underneath it drives anxiety, burnout, and all-or-nothing thinking. In this episode, Jonathan and Dr. Mark Mayfield unpack their own stories, share practical therapy tools, and show you how to trade perfection for consistency.

You’ll learn:

• Why perfectionism often masks control and fear

• The hidden cost: anxiety spikes, depressive spirals, and burnout

• How CBT tools like thought records and cognitive restructuring work

• The “90% Rule” and other simple shifts that create freedom

• • How to ask brave questions that build healthy feedback loops

  
  

  Chapters

00:00 – Why perfectionism feels safe but keeps us stuck04:00 – Control, anxiety, and when perfection backfires10:00 – Perfection, depression, and the all-or-nothing trap15:00 – CBT in plain English: thoughts, feelings, behaviors22:00 – Tools: thought records, restructuring, behavioral activation30:00 – Healthy feedback: “When I do __, how do you experience me?”38:00 – Consistency vs. perfection: what really sustains growth44:00 – Final reflections + one next step you can take today

“You don’t have to be perfect. Be what most aren’t—consistent, determined, and willing to do the work.” - Tom Brady

Resources

• mentalhealthmadesimple.life

• • Related episode: Burnout
  • Read the article here: https://www.mentalhealthmadesimple.life/blog/perfection-vs-consistency

  
  

• If this conversation helped, share it with a friend and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts. On Spotify, drop us a question—we read them all.