Being human is quite the experience. And sometimes we need compassionate reminders along the way. In this week's episode, we're exploring some of those. Bryan is joined by Dr. Anastasia Ristau as they discuss the things they often remind themselves of, with the intention that they may be helpful for you, too. Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist a…

OCD is very clever at getting people to immerse themselves in fake stories that feel very real, and pull them away from the present moment. As a Twin Cities based OCD therapist, Sierra Claeson works with her clients to help them learn how to not take OCD's bait, and stay connected to the here and now. In this week's episode of the podcast, Bryan ta…

Asking for help with your mental health can feel really hard. However, leaning into support is a powerful act of courage. In this week's episode, Bryan and Dr. Anastasia Ristau talk about stepping into the space of vulnerability and surrendering into help. Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare. As a…

Lucy Grantz lived almost 30 years with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and didn't know it. She is now a therapist specializing in the treatment of it. In this week's episode Bryan talks to Lucy about a number of things, including: Getting diagnosed with OCD in her 40's. Interacting with mindfulness practices while living with OCD. Focusing on …

Receiving a mental health diagnosis can activate a wide array of emotions. In this episode, we're exploring how a diagnosis can be an empowering experience - even as you experience all the other emotions that might be coming along with it, too. Bryan is joined, once again, by Dr. Anastasia Ristau. They discuss how a diagnosis can validate what you'…

Here we are in the change of seasons. No doubt that this time of the year holds great beauty. It can also feel tender for some of us when it comes to our mental and emotional health. In this week’s episode we’re talking about it. Bryan and Kelly Grosklags talk about meeting ourselves gently as we ride the many seasons of our life. They discuss why …

It's been about eight months since Bryan has been working as a mental health therapist. In this episode, he shares some of what he's learned along the way that may help you if you're in therapy - or interested in exploring the process. Bryan is interviewed by Kelly Grosklags about what the past eight months have been like for him. They talk about f…

To be uncertain is to be human. And yet, sitting in uncertainty can be a very uncomfortable experience. In this week's episode, Bryan explores with Dr. Anastasia Ristau what it means to nurture our relationship with uncertainty - and how to start showing up for our life in the midst of the questions. If uncertainty is feeling especially prominent i…

Rumination can feel all-consuming when we're in the depths of it. Churning over and over again in our mind - thinking we're solving our worries. In reality, rumination is often pulling us further and further away from what's most important to us. In this episode, Bryan talks the process of noticing when we're ruminating - and reconnecting to what's…

Many are experiencing strong emotions about the upcoming Presidential election. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about. Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the process of taking care of yourself if things are feeling emotionally charged right now. Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare. As…

We all experience thoughts that can feel distressing and sometimes pull us away from how we want to be living our life. For people living with OCD, this experience is amplified. This week, Bryan talks to Dr. Marisa Mazza who is helping people living with OCD maneuver the noise of their mind and lean into what’s most important to them. She talks abo…

Summer is a time of the year that many look forward to. It can also bring with it some nuances that may play a role in our mental and emotional health. That's what we're exploring in this week's episode. Bryan chats with Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the shifting in day-to-day routines that happens in the summer for some of us. They also explore the e…

Each and every day we have different portals that arise along the path. Uncomfortable spaces that we step into - often with meaningful experiences on the other side. Although the pull to avoid the portal is strong - Bryan explores, in this episode, the importance of having the courage to step in. He talks about how it often leads to living a life i…

Have you ever felt like the constant need to "heal" and "grow" sometimes pulls you away from living life in the present moment? We're exploring this in today's episode. In this conversation with Dr. Anastasia Ristau, Bryan talks about finding that balance of doing the "deep work", and also noticing when we might be slipping into the mentality that …

This episode is intended to help anyone experiencing the impact of infertility feel less alone. In this week's episode, we're hearing the story of Beth Anderson. Beth opens up about her experience with infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, which has included seven miscarriages over the past four years - and also the birth of her b…

Expressing his mental and emotional experience through drawing has been a healing outlet for Justin Jordan-Lake. He's now sharing his art through "The OCD Blog", providing light for others living with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Justin about his OCD journey, his approach to recovery, the intention behind "T…

What does it mean to be gentle with yourself? In the fast-paced world we find ourselves in, it can sometimes be hard to cultivate a sense of gentleness towards ourselves. Bryan explores this more deeply with Dr. Anastasia Ristau in this week's episode. They discuss how "being gentle" may look different for everyone, how a gentle action towards ours…

Many people with OCD experience obsessions related to God, spirituality, and their faith. Reverend Katie O'Dunn is helping bridge the gap between spiritual traditions and effective treatment for OCD. In this episode, Bryan talks to Katie about religious and moral scrupulosity and how it can manifest for some people living with OCD. She also talks a…

Learning to truly lean in, feel, and express what is arising in our body is some of the most nuanced and deep work we can step into as a human being. Especially living in a world that is often telling us to keep our emotions hidden. In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the process of honoring our own emotional landscape. As me…

Lauren Rosen started experiencing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) when she was seven years old, and wouldn't be properly diagnosed for 17 years. She's now transformed her own journey into a career as a mental health therapist supporting people living with OCD. In this episode, Bryan talks to Lauren about her mental health story, the…

In a world that is constantly telling us we need to be perfect, Colleen Lindstrom is on a mission to help us all celebrate the beauty in the average of life. In this episode, Colleen joins Bryan and Kelly Grosklags of the "See My Grief" podcast. Colleen is a former radio host in the Twin Cities, creator of The Bronze Medal Life and host of The Bron…

There is deep messaging in our world that happiness is somewhere off in the future. "I'll be happy when...". While setting goals and working towards things we want to create can be deeply powerful, the journey that we take to get there can often get lost in the mix. In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the idea that life is a …

The holidays are a beautiful time of the year, and can also be very tender for some of us. In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about creating space for what arises this holiday season when it comes to our mental and emotional health. They discuss the shifting of routines that often happens, listening to signals from our bodi…

Getting on an airplane activates anxiety for many people. In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Jenny Matthews about maneuvering flying anxiety. Jenny is a licensed mental health therapist, and founder of State of Mind Therapy. Jenny talks about her personal experience with flying anxiety, different core fears that people often have when getting o…

You can often find Jared Fessler up close and personal at concerts in the Twin Cities, photographing artists from Taylor Swift to Queen. All experiences that would have been extremely difficult for him several years ago he was struggling with intense anxiety. In this episode, Bryan talks to Jared about how anxiety forced him to start avoiding place…

We've all done it. Assuming that we know exactly what another person is thinking, feeling, or experiencing in a given moment. This week on the podcast, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about how those assumptions we make may be impacting us more than we realize. Dr. Ristau talks about the act of pausing when we notice we're making an assumption,…

How do we carve out space to nurture our health in the world we find ourselves in every day? That’s a question that Pilar Gerasimo has devoted this stage of her career to exploring. In this week's episode, Pilar joins Bryan to talk about the "unhealthy default reality", what it means to be a "healthy deviant", developing survival skills for the new…

Dr. Courtney Burnett says getting diagnosed with brain cancer has radically shifted how she lives her life, and had a profound impact on her mental and emotional health. In this podcast, Bryan talks to Dr. Burnett about getting diagnosed with a brain tumor in Thailand at the age of 29, and how the diagnosis has taught her how to live more in the pr…

In 2021, Evan Hansen set out on a journey to raise awareness about suicide prevention. He ended up carrying a canoe over 300 miles across the state of Minnesota. He went on to write the book, "Into the Wind". In this episode, Bryan talks to Evan about why he decided to make this journey, his own mental health story, opening up to taking medication …

Wanting reassurance is a natural part of being a human being. In this episode Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about our relationship with it. They talk about how sometimes reassurance can be used to avoid what we're feeling in the moment, ways it can fuel anxiety, when reassurance can be especially healing, and much more. Dr. Ristau is a licens…

In this episode, Bryan talks to Anna Ransbotham-Cole about her journey of getting an ileostomy surgery after living with ulcerative colitis. Anna shares the depths that she reached when ulcerative colitis was at its worst, and how she says her ileostomy surgery gave her her life back. She shares more about what an ileostomy surgery is, what this jo…

In a world where there is constant pressure to grow, evolve, do our best, strive, and achieve - perhaps some of the best medicine we can give ourselves is the permission to "be average". I know - encouraging someone to "be average" is almost like saying a bad word in the society we all live in today. But, hear us out. In this episode, Bryan talks t…

Lyndsay Guentzel was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago in her mid 30's. Then, recently was diagnosed with a rare, incurable muscle disease called Myositis. In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Lindsay about her journey. She shares what it's teaching her about life, what helps her maneuver the day-to-day, and much more. Lyndsay is an award-winni…

Conflict can be deeply uncomfortable and something many of us often avoid. It is, however, an inevitable and natural part of being in all sorts of relationships. In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about how conflict can actually deepen our relationships and draw us closer to the people in our lives. They discuss ways to maneuver t…

In this week's episode, Bryan hops on a boat in Minnesota's lakes country and has a conversation with his younger brother Eric. Eric shares his recent journey of traveling the world, and getting accepted into medical school. Eric shares what the process has taught him about what is most important to him, and coming into contact with the present mom…

In this week's episode of the podcast, Bryan checks in from the edge of his dock in lakes country. If things feel hard right now with your mental health, this episode is an invitation to be gentle with you. One moment at a time. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest. (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need…

In this week's episode of the podcast Bryan talks to Jonny Say, who's a counselor and compassion & mindfulness-based therapist in the UK. Jonny shares his own mental health story, which includes symptoms of OCD, depersonalization and panic. Jonny shares how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been instrumental in his healing, and how he now uses …

In this week's episode, Bryan offers a meditation for you to help ground in moments of overwhelm. This guided meditation is meant to help you gently come back to your heart, and your body, when the noise of your mind feels particularly intense. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest. (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If y…

In a world that seems to be constantly driving us all more and more up into our minds, sometimes what we need most is for our bodies to express in a way that feels good. In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the power of play, movement, and expressing our bodies. Dr. Ristau and Bryan discuss how movement can help us maneuver ou…

We all have things that help guide us with our mental health. Here are four things that I come back to often as I maneuver the noise of my mind on a daily basis. My hope is that this episode can offer a soft place for you to land, no matter what it is that you're experiencing. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest. (This podcast is n…

Truly feeling the emotions that are present within our body can feel deeply scary at times. It can feel like we are "losing it" and out of control. In this episode, Bryan talks to Kelly Grosklags about the process of "getting in touch" with our pain. Meeting ourselves gently as we lean into what we're feeling. Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Wo…

Our minds love to jump into the future and try to figure out what things are going to be like there. Often creating really scary stories about what might be ahead of us. Instead of trying to figure out what the future is going to feel like, what if we give the present moment an opportunity to surprise us? That's the topic of this week's episode. Br…

For all of you parents out there doing your best to support a child who's struggling with their mental health, this one's for you. In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about what can be helpful when maneuvering mental health challenges within your family. She discusses the process of holding space for your child, validating their ex…

Sometimes we expect life to be simple. For things to just work out. We look around, and everything appears so simple for everyone else. Why does it feel so hard for me? In this week's episode, Dr. Anastasia Ristau pushes back on this idea a bit and talks about how life isn't always instant oatmeal. Perhaps it's more like a pot of stovetop oats that…

Living with OCD is anything but funny. And yet, learning to find moments of humor has been part of the healing journey for Peter Scobas. In this episode, Bryan talks to Peter about the newsletter he's launched called Psychology Onions. The newsletter is aimed at using humor to help take some of OCD's power away. Peter shares what his experience wit…

We all have parts of ourselves that no one sees. Things we experience internally that go "unseen". In this episode, Bryan talks to members of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus about their upcoming concert, which is focused on neurodiversity and mental health. The concert is called "Unseen" and is being held March 17th and 18th at Westwood Lutheran C…

There is sacred wisdom through the lens of someone at the end of their life. In this episode, Kelly Grosklags talks about how the dying teach us how to live. How they teach us to be more present for our lives right now, and notice what matters most. For the second week, the "Take What Serves. Leave the Rest" podcast is joining hands with Kelly's po…

Learning to nurture that inner child that lives inside of you is deeply sacred work. In this episode, the "Take What Serves. Leave the Rest" podcasts joins hands with the "See My Grief" podcast to talk about talking to your inner child. The "See My Grief" podcast is hosted by Kelly Grosklags, who's a licensed clinical social worker who’s worked for…

Matt Entz just wrapped up his 4th season as head coach of the North Dakota State University football team. He joins Bryan this week to talk about how he maneuvers the pressure that comes along with leading the program. He talks about what he does when self doubt grows strong, the team's "Right Now Means Everything" motto, and how he addresses menta…

We experience a wide array of emotions as human beings and, in this episode, we talk about creating space for it all to exist within us. Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau, who is a Psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare. Dr. Ristau joined us previously on the podcast to talk about the basics of therapy. You can listen to t…