Mary talks with licensed psychotherapist Whitney Goodman about the harmful effects of toxic positivity on our mental health. We’ve all heard it, seen it, and experienced it — those moments when someone brushes off your pain and tells you to “just think positive!” It’s dismissive, overwhelming, and the opposite of self compassion.

Whitney shares with us about...

• what toxic positivity is and the different areas it shows up in (specifically how it appears in religion, workplace, health, grief, etc)
• how toxic positivity differs from true self compassion
• the antidote to toxic positivity
• how to talk to your loved ones when they are experiencing pain
• self talk tools that will support your mental health without the pressure to have a positive mindset 24/7

Whitney Goodman is the radically honest psychotherapist behind the hugely popular Instagram account @sitwithwhit, the founder of Calling Home, author of Toxic Positivity, and owner of The Collaborative Counseling Center, a private online therapy practice in Florida. Her work deeply resonates with women who are navigating boundaries, complex family systems, and the pressure to stay “positive” no matter what.

Whitney earned her undergraduate degree at Tulane University and her graduate degree in Counseling Psychology from The University of Miami. She has advanced training in couples work, trauma, family dynamics, and chronic illness. Her writing appears in Psychology Today and she has been featured in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, NY Magazine, InStyle, and Good Morning America.

A millennial therapist committed to making mental health information accessible, Whitney believes authenticity and emotional expression are essential to living a grounded, meaningful life. Her transparency around her own humanity helps normalize the full spectrum of feelings we all experience.

Remember: “Happiness and positivity have become both a goal and an obligation.” But you don’t have to buy into that—real well-being honors your full emotional landscape and protects your mental health.

Follow Whitney on Instagram: @sitwithwhit

Get Whitney’s book Toxic Positivity here.

And if you're enjoying this self love podcast, share it with the women in your life! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @sitwithwhit.

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If decision fatigue has you spiraling, this episode will help you reconnect with your needs, wants, desires, and values. Mary shares 7 steps for soothing anxiety, finding clarity, and making choices with confidence and from a place of self-love.

You will learn how to...
- Stop outsourcing your life to other people’s opinions
- Regulate your nervous system so you can make decisions from a place of confidence and self love
- Clarify your values and return to your own inner guidance

Remember: self love isn’t about making the “perfect” choice. It’s about making the choice that honors who you are right now. This episode is a self-love reminder for women who feel stuck or overwhelmed by decision fatigue.

If you’re enjoying our self love podcast, share it with the women in your life to continue spreading the gift of self love. Deepen your self love journey with Mary’s books:
1. The Gift of Self-Love, an interactive workbook to help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself.
2. 100 Days of Self-Love, a guided journal with 100 prompts for calming self-criticism and learning to love yourself.

Follow Mary on IG: @maryscupofteaa and @maryspodcast

Mentioned In This Episode:
Podcast Interview: Why Self Worth Starts in Your Body with Beatriz Victoria Albina
Book: Stop Emotional Outsourcing by Béa Victoria Albina
Mary’s viral video: “What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do”

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Relationship conflict doesn’t have to feel like walking on eggshells. With the right tools and a sense of confidence and self trust, even the messiest moments can become turning points for deeper intimacy. This conversation with relationship expert Baya Voce is packed with research-backed relationship advice that helps you understand why you fight the way you do—and how to shift patterns that have followed you for years.

You will learn...

• what healthy fighting look like and how to navigate conflict with confidence
• the different types of toxic tendencies many of us default to when triggered
• do men and women differ when it comes to default patterns?
• Gottman’s 4 Horsemen, the subtle-but-deadly behaviors that quietly erode connection
• what to do when you’ve asked your partner to change, but they can’t or won’t
• how to decide whether to stay in or leave a relationship

Remember: A healthy relationship isn’t defined by “never fighting.” It’s about navigating conflict with confidence, a regulated nervous system, and trust in your ability to repair.

Baya Voce is a relationship repair expert helping couples fight better and make up faster. She holds an MSW from Columbia University, is in ongoing supervision with Esther Perel, and is trained and mentored by Terry Real. Baya collaborates with Columbia University, MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), and Rick Doblin on pioneering research into MDMA-assisted couples therapy. She regularly speaks at SXSW, and with over 5 million views, her TEDx talk on loneliness highlights the often-overlooked impact of relational disconnection.

Follow Baya on Instagram: @bayavoce

Baya’s Workbook on How To Bridge the “Effort Gap” in Your Relationship

Get Baya’s free guide on what to say to your partner after a fight

And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with the women in your life to spread the gift of self love! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @bayavoce

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