Simple Mental Health

About Simple Mental Health

Simple Mental Health is a short podcast built around one topic per episode, with real expert audio woven throughout. No lectures, no self help audiobook energy, just grounded conversations that make complicated things easier to understand and easier to live with. Hosted by Jeff Allen.

Publisher

Jeff Allen

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Mar 2021

Latest episode

10 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

28 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Mar 2026

   Why Conflict Feels Like Danger (And What to Do About It)

   If your heart races before a hard conversation, if you rehearse what you'll say a hundred times before you say it, or if you'd rather swallow your feelings than risk an awkward moment... this episode is for you.Jeff is joined by Dr. Amy Fortney Parks, a child and adolescent psychologist with a PhD in Educational Psychology and a specialty in developmental neuroscience, to talk about conflict anxiety: why tough conversations feel physically threatening, and what actually helps you move through them.In this episode:- Why your body treats conflict like a survival threat (and why that makes total sense)- The difference between fear as a stop sign vs. a signal- How to make one clear, present-tense request instead of building a case file- Why regulating before the conversation is the real move- What "positive conflict" actually looks like, and why couples who never fight might be a red flag- A realism check: not every relationship is safe for this, and that's worth knowing5 Simple Moves:1. Name what's happening in your body and remember what it's protecting2. Treat fear like a signal, not a stop sign3. Make one clear, present-tense request4. Regulate before you start, then open softer than you think you need to5. Practice the good kind of conflict: the kind that's actually engagementFind Dr. Amy:Website: heydoctoramy.comInstagram: @heydoctoramySimple Mental Health is part of the Pondoff's Anonymous Podcast Network. Find more shows at pondoffsanonymous.com.

2. 

   3 Mar 2026

   ICE Raid Anxiety, How to Stop Doomscrolling

   Sometimes you can be hundreds of miles away watching a video of an ICE raid, or someone being pinned to the ground, and your body reacts like you are right there. Jaw tight. Shoulders up. Stomach in knots. And then sometimes the hardest part is the person next to you, someone you love, reacting like it’s no big deal. In this episode of Simple Mental Health, Jeff Allen talks with trauma psychologist Dr. Jackie Layton about why distressing news can trigger fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses, even when it’s coming through a screen. You’ll hear simple nervous system tools for the moment you feel yourself spiraling, how to limit algorithm-driven overwhelm without disconnecting from reality, and how to turn intense emotions into values-based action and community connection. In this episode, you’ll hear Why your brain does not treat the screen like a screen How fight, flight, freeze, and fawn show up while scrolling A quick body check you can do in real time, jaw, tongue, shoulders, gut, one slow breath Why “watching everything” is not the same thing as helping How dismissive reactions from loved ones can trigger more fear and isolation The “just world” defense, and why blaming the victim can be a way people try to feel safe A sustainable blueprint, limit intake, pick trusted sources, use a time window, then act in real life Micro actions that restore agency when you feel helpless Rage as a signal that you refuse to normalize harm, and what to do with it How to curate your feed so you see response and community action, not only harm Why numbness can be overload, not a personal failure Simple moves (practical takeaways) Do the body check during or right after scrolling. Jaw. Tongue. Shoulders. Gut. One slow breath. Not to “be calm,” just to keep your nervous system from driving the car. Use the rule: when you see something intense, do not auto-scroll into ten more intense things. Pause, then choose one option on purpose…stop, save it for later, or take one real action. Set an intake window with one or two trusted sources, then close the app and put your remaining energy into something you can actually do. Pick one micro action aligned with your values today. Small does not mean meaningless. Small is what makes it sustainable. Widen the circle if you feel alone. Find people who can name reality with you, and hold the weight with you, without making you feel crazy for caring. Chapters / timestamps 00:00 Content warning + who this episode is (and isn’t) for 00:56 Sponsor break 01:38 Why ICE raid videos hit your body like it’s happening to you 03:46 Your brain doesn’t treat the screen like a screen 04:38 Fight, flight, freeze, fawn… and the quick body check 06:10 The “don’t auto-scroll” rule…stop, save, or take one real action 07:03 When loved ones are dismissive…just world thinking and feeling alone 08:23 Widen the circle…find people who can name reality with you 08:45 Staying informed without overwhelm…why constant exposure drains you 09:37 The blueprint…trusted sources, time window, then real-life action 10:26 Micro actions and values…how to regain agency 11:12 Rage as a signal…then how community keeps it from burnout 12:30 Fix your algorithm…follow response, not just harm 13:56 Numbness as overload…detach mode is a nervous system response 14:17 “This is heavy, and I’m not alone in it”…where to find Dr. Layton Guest Dr. Jackie Layton is a trauma psychologist and the founder of Mockingbird Therapy & Assessment. She works with people dealing with complex trauma, stress, and burnout, and helps people understand what happens when the nervous system gets stuck in fight or flight…even when the threat is coming through a screen. Guest links Mockingbird Therapy & Assessment: https://www.mockingbirdtherapy.com/ (https://www.mockingbirdtherapy.com/) Instagram (Dr. Jackie Layton): https://www.instagram.com/cyclebreakingpsychologist/ (https://www.instagram.com/cyclebreakingpsychologist/) Instagram (Mockingbird Therapy): https://www.instagram.com/mockingbirdtherapy/ (https://www.instagram.com/mockingbirdtherapy/) Light in the Dark Coffee Order: https://pondoffsanonymous.com/coffee (https://pondoffsanonymous.com/coffee)

3. 

   24 Feb 2026

   Your Inner Critic Is a Bully… and Your Body Believes It

   Your Inner Critic Is a Bully… and Your Body Believes It (with Dr. Eleni Boosalis) That harsh voice in your head…the one that turns a mistake into a verdict…isn’t just “negative thinking.” Over time, it can train your nervous system to stay on edge, like you’re under threat, even during totally normal moments. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Eleni Boosalis explains where harsh self-talk often comes from, why it feels so believable, and what actually helps you move toward self-compassion without forcing fake positivity. You’ll learn a simple way to notice the “background noise” of your thoughts, why kindness to yourself is physical (not fluffy), and a realistic phrase shift your body can accept: “I’m in the process of…” In this episode, you’ll hear Why the inner critic often attacks who you are, not just what you did How early attachment experiences can shape self-talk patterns The “air conditioner in the background” effect…thoughts you stop noticing Why step one isn’t “fix it,” it’s hear it A realistic alternative to affirmations that feel fake: “I’m in the process of…” How harsh self-talk can trigger fight-or-flight, and why self-compassion calms the system How the inner critic shows up at work: people-pleasing, avoidance, weak boundaries A clean gut-check: If your inner voice had a face, would you invite it to dinner? Simple moves (practical takeaways) Catch one sentence you didn’t realize you say to yourself on repeat. If kindness feels untrue, use “I’m in the process of…” instead of forcing confidence. Add one breath, then look for one micro-moment your brain would normally ignore. Notice where you don’t feel “safe” setting boundaries…that’s often where the critic has leverage. Chapters / timestamps 00:00 Start + sponsor messages 01:20 New season format + harsh self-talk in everyday life 02:00 Inner critic as a bully, and why it feels identity-based 02:35 Where it often starts: attachment and internalized voices 03:45 First move: mindfulness (you can’t change what you can’t hear) 04:24 The “air conditioner” metaphor for constant self-talk 05:55 Harsh self-talk as a nervous system threat response 07:40 Work + relationships: people-pleasing, avoidance, boundaries 08:40 Why self-compassion can trigger guilt 09:31 Dinner test + mirror practice + “I’m in the process of…” 10:56 Where to find Dr. Eleni Boosalis 11:38 Closing message Guest Dr. Eleni Boosalis is a clinical psychologist and co-owner of Del Ray Psych & Wellness. She works with adults around anxiety, trauma, attachment-rooted patterns, and building practical changes that actually stick. Guest links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreleniboosalis/ (https://www.instagram.com/dreleniboosalis/) Del Ray Psych & Wellness: https://www.delraypsych.com/ (https://www.delraypsych.com/) Del Ray Psych & Wellness (Therapists): https://www.delraypsych.com/therapists (https://www.delraypsych.com/therapists) Shrinks On Tap (podcast page): https://www.delraypsych.com/podcast (https://www.delraypsych.com/podcast) Sponsors McKelvey Insurance Group If you’ve ever felt confused or overwhelmed by insurance, McKelvey Insurance Group keeps it simple. They’re an independent agency, which means they compare options from multiple providers to find coverage that actually fits you, not just one company’s policy. No pressure, no jargon, just honest guidance and real help. Website: https://www.mckelveyins.com/ (https://www.mckelveyins.com/) Phone: (618) 623-0080 (tel:16186230080) Light Source Psychotherapy If anxiety, panic, trauma, sleep issues, or big life transitions have you feeling stuck, their team works with kids, teens, adults, couples, and families in Belleville, Illinois, through teletherapy, or even walk-and-talk outdoors. Evidence-based care like CBT, DBT, EMDR, and more, built around what matters most to you. Website: https://findyourlightsource.com/ (https://findyourlightsource.com/)

Who has been a guest on Simple Mental Health

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Frank King
• Matthew Moore
• Jeff
• Lauren "Lern" Elwell
• Honor Heindl

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

30 ratings

Contact Simple Mental Health

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.