121: Why You Shouldn't Send Your Kids To College | Hannah Maruyama
What if everything you believed about college was a lie?In this episode, I sit down with Hannah Maruyama of Degree Free, who, alongside her husband, has dedicated her life to helping young people reject the myth that college is the only path to success. She’s not just talking theories, she’s working directly with 16 to 20-year-olds, helping them carve out real, debt-free futures that actually align with their values.We get into why the college system is fundamentally broken, how it became a trillion-dollar trap, and what we can do instead. From calling out the emotional manipulation baked into college marketing to breaking down how Gen Z is waking up and opting out, this conversation is direct, eye-opening, and deeply personal.You’ll Learn:The real reason college became a trillion-dollar industry, and who profits mostWhat happens when you tell teens they need a degree to succeed The surprising link between college debt and delayed adulthoodWhy most college grads are underemployed and overpromisedHow Gen Z is flipping the script on traditional educationWhat it feels like to build a career without a degree, and winA practical framework to help teens uncover real interests and viable pathsThe social bait of college, and why it’s not what your kid actually needsTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[05:26] The financial reality and predatory nature of student loans[12:50] How the Higher Education Act created the college debt crisis[18:05] The social myths used to sell college to parents and teens[25:22] The cultural programming behind college as an avoidance tactic[32:10] Why large peer groups in college create artificial community[36:34] The Value of Diverse Community for Growth[42:30] Passion vs interest and helping teens choose a career path[1:02:07] The million-dollar degree problem and smarter financial strategies👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call hereHow to connect with Hannah:Website: degreefree.comInstagram: @degreefreeTikTok: @degreefreeFind more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.Go to the Juvent Store and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.Try out the cleanest grass-fed beef protein on the market here and get 15% off your order, or 30% off your first subscription!
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120: The Top 3 Mistakes Most Parents Make When Raising Their Children | Dr. Tom Cowan
Learn more about Dr. Kelly Brogan's signature health protocol, Vital Mind Reset here.Get Kelly's Victimless Mothering masterclass here.What if everything you think about parenting is backwards?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tom Cowan, physician, author, Waldorf school consultant, and someone I consider a true elder in the space of soul-deep wisdom. Tom has spent decades questioning dominant narratives in medicine, biology, and now parenting. His latest book, Commonsense Childrearing, brings a radically different lens to the way we raise our children, one that’s grounded in trust, presence, and actual lived experience.We talk about what it really means to get on your child’s team, how “bad” behavior is often a form of communication, and why the instinct to punish or correct usually backfires. Tom shares stories from his clinical practice and personal life that reframe everything from food fights to emotional outbursts, including why you probably shouldn’t play with your kids. This one cracked me open. I hope it does the same for you.You’ll Learn:What actually stops kids from drawing on the walls, and why punishment backfiresThe real reason food fights happen at the dinner tableWhy “tolerance” classes often teach the opposite of what they intendThe surprising link between parenting and government-style controlWhat it feels like to truly get on your child’s team, even when you disagreeHow emotional maturity in parents unlocks deeper connection with kidsWhy you probably shouldn’t play with your children, and what to do insteadThe quiet damage of coercive schooling and praise-based disciplineA radical reframe of “bad” behavior as a form of communicationWhat happens when you give your child full sovereignty over their choicesTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[08:49] How “savage” behavior reveals deeper parental lessons[14:58] Parallels between parenting and government authority[23:31] Getting on your child’s team and staying there[24:52] The story of the student who wrote “tolerance is bullshit”[33:06] The vulnerability of letting go of control and embracing the child’s reality[42:17] How parents rob kids of perseverance by meddling[38:28] The crayon-on-the-wall story and staying on their side[48:27] Why you shouldn’t play with your kids and how to foster true play[53:10] Ending food fights by giving autonomy and restoring natural consequences👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Commonsense Childrearing by Dr. Tom Cowan | Book How to connect with Dr. Tom:Website | drtomcowan.comInstagram | @talkingturkeywithtom_X | @drtomcowanGarden Products | drcowansgarden.comClinic | newbiologyclinic.comPodcast | Spotify or AppleFind more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.Go to the Juvent Store and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.Use code KELLYBROGAN for 15% off your first purchase at the Biofield Tuning Store. Not valid during sales. Exclusions apply.
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119: How to Set Boundaries Without Feeling Guilty (It Starts With Your Impulses)
Ask Kelly your burning questions in her monthly Vital Life Project membership.You’ve been gaslit into distrusting your own impulses—here’s how to take them back.In this episode, Kelly dives deep into one of the most powerful yet overlooked skills in personal growth: reclaiming your native desires. She unpacks a brilliant question from her Vital Life Project community—what’s the difference between discernment and judgment?—and uses it to expose the subtle ways we self-domesticate, override our needs, and live out of “shoulds” instead of self-trust.Through intimate personal stories (yes, including peeing mid-interview and belting into the void with a vocal coach), Kelly reveals how she’s rebuilt a relationship with her own body, voice, and creative fire—not by changing who she is, but by expanding her awareness and nervous system capacity to hold discomfort. If you’ve ever felt caught between the urge to grow and the desire to be accepted as you are, this episode is your permission slip to do both. Expect provocative insights, radical reframes, and one audacious answer you won’t forget.You’ll Learn:How honoring small body signals rebuilds self-trust and nervous system regulationWhy the impulse to “pee immediately” can become a radical self-reclamation practiceHow to distinguish true discernment from fear-based judgment in relationshipsWhat the transition from “I should” to “I want” reveals about intrinsic motivationWhy indulging so-called “bad” impulses can heal childhood conditioningHow nervous system capacity—not mindset—determines your ability to changeWhat vocal expression teaches about stored shame and creative liberationWhy seeking support isn’t about answers but about safe containers for expansionHow the desire to self-improve can mask deeper self-rejectionWhy awareness—not transformation—is the real metric of personal evolutionTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[00:38] The difference between discernment and judgment[01:22] When it might be time to pause with a coach[02:00] How structure and discipline build capacity[02:45] Why rituals help reclaim personal choice[03:30] Transitioning from “I should” to “I want”[04:10] Honoring impulses as a path to healing[05:00] Restoring trust in cravings like dark chocolate[05:55] Biological impulses and meeting basic needs[06:50] Peeing as a practice of self-trust[07:30] The fear of creative self-expression[08:15] What awareness really means[09:05] Singing in front of a stranger despite fear[10:00] How awareness builds nervous system capacity[10:45] The trap of self-improvement driven by rejection[11:35] Reclaiming childhood desires as valid[12:10] Real growth comes from self-acceptance[12:55] Why change isn’t the real goal[13:30] Romantic relationships and the illusion of change👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call hereFind more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.Try out the cleanest grass-fed beef protein on the market - head to equipfoods.com/kellybrogan to get 15% off your order, or 30% off your first subscription!
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118: How to Speak Your Truth, Communicate Better & Build Strong Relationships
Join Kelly's sovereignty-minded community, Vital Life Project, here.What if the most powerful act of rebellion... is telling the truth in real time?In this episode, Kelly cracks open the concept of “breaking the fourth wall” in real life—not on stage, but in your relationships, your identity, and your communication. She explores the subtle art of speaking the unspoken script, challenging the roles we play in family dynamics, breakups, power structures, and even content creation. From dismantling victim narratives to reclaiming autonomy through raw, unscripted truth-telling, this episode is a masterclass in emotional courage. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to navigate uncomfortable conversations, own your experience without controlling the outcome, and use directness as a spiritual practice. If you're tired of performance and ready for realness, this one hits hard.You’ll Learn:How “breaking the fourth wall” in relationships activates deeper connection and self-awarenessWhy staying in character keeps us stuck in victim-villain dynamicsHow emotional courage rewires nervous system capacity for real conversationsWhat unspoken scripts reveal about hidden power struggles and unmet needsHow to use the “appreciation burrito” to deliver critical feedback without triggering defensivenessWhy direct communication dissolves resentment faster than years of surface-level nicetiesHow false professionalism can sabotage genuine healing and trustWhat the shadow side of activism reveals about unmet personal needsHow to sense when truth-telling is ripe—and when it’s a self-sabotage trapWhy liberating your “yes” and “no” reclaims energy lost to emotional performanceTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[01:43] Authenticity vs performance in content and relationships[02:36] Power dynamics and emotional connection[04:18] Transparency in business and content creation[05:00] Why we avoid real conversations after breakups[06:26] How projecting onto others maintains victim roles[08:00] When emotional courage is actually required[09:16] Shifting from manipulation to honest communication[11:20] The discomfort of vulnerability in daily interactions[12:07] Awareness as the key to choice in hard conversations[12:45] How truth-telling links to thyroid imbalances[13:54] Energy lost in managing perception and avoiding conflict[14:55] Balancing autonomy with real connection[15:52] How to structure difficult conversations for impact[17:18] Using positive intent to disarm defensiveness[18:22] Breaking the victim-villain-savior dynamic through truth[19:28] Recognizing roles and reclaiming real interactionWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Find more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.Try out the cleanest grass-fed beef protein on the market here and get 15% off your order, or 30% off your first subscription!Go to the Juvent Store and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.
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117: The Truth About Marriage, Real Love & Dating | Rabbi Manis Friedman
Check out the replay of my masterclass Reclaimed Relationship here.Listen to this related episode, Reclamation of Courtship here."If you're looking for love, don't get married."That’s just one of the many paradigm-shifting perspectives from today’s guest, Rabbi Manis Friedman—author, philosopher, and renowned lecturer on the spiritual and psychological architecture of relationships. Rabbi Friedman is one of the foremost voices challenging modern assumptions about love, marriage, intimacy, and gender roles—and his take is anything but conventional.In this provocative episode, Kelly and Rabbi Friedman deconstruct the myths of modern romance—from why marriage shouldn’t be “for love,” to how women can actually identify a husband, not just another man. They dive deep into the nature of intimacy, the lost art of commitment, why sex should happen with the lights off, and what it truly means to belong to someone. Whether you're in the dating pool, rethinking your current relationship, or seeking to reclaim reverence for the sacred masculine and feminine, this episode will challenge you, awaken you, and offer a radically honest roadmap to relational clarity.You’ll Learn:How “lights-off” intimacy activates deeper soul connectionWhy dating for love sabotages true compatibilityHow to recognize the man who makes you feel like a wifeWhat long-term marriages reveal about emotional belongingWhy conditional love weakens relational stabilityHow the matchmaker model protects your heart and accelerates clarityWhat sexual objectification obscures about authentic connectionHow to exit dating dynamics without emotional wreckageHow performance-focused sex disconnects you from real intimacyTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[02:11] Why sexual intimacy should happen with the lights off[04:08] Why marriage is the highest form of imitating God[06:13] Why humans are not content just being human[07:38] Why marriage must be between a man and a woman[08:20] The danger of seeking love instead of a person[09:16] What long marriages reveal about true belonging[10:02] The Fiddler on the Roof test of love[11:17] Love as a byproduct, not the goal[13:05] How marriage eliminates aloneness[14:51] The difference between roommates and real intimacy[15:27] Why intimacy requires turning off the lights[16:33] How sensory stillness deepens connection[18:03] Why performance ruins intimacy[19:47] The myth of unconditional love[20:57] The danger of sexual liberation for women[22:06] How dating replaced commitment[23:44] Marriage as reunion, not just union[25:02] Why the best dates make the worst husbands[26:17] Why multi-year relationships are emotional torture[27:52] Why women often don’t truly choose their husbands[28:26] The role of chemistry in real compatibility[29:34] What it means to feel like a wife[30:06] Why dating should be selfish and strategic[31:57] Why giving a breakup reason is cruel[32:35] Why women should not initiate marriage[33:54] How men get emasculated before the wedding[35:09] Why women need men to lead[36:02] How matchmaking protects your heart[37:58] Why polite dating causes emotional confusion[39:54] Dating as emotionally safer than shopping[40:57] Why respect between spouses heals families[42:44] Why kids need clear parental structure[44:17] Why grandma’s way might’ve been wiser[45:29] What real intimacy looks like in the bedroomWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.You can connect with Rabbi Friedman and his work through his website here.Follow Rabbi Friedman on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and TikTok.Find more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.Go to the Juvent Store and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.
It hurts to have unmet needs. And it sucks to scurry after crumbs when you’re starving. Join Kelly Brogan MD, as she teaches us how our pain points are portals. She’ll help you discover a world where every seeming challenge is a new chapter in your most audacious story. Plot twists, body symptoms, and heartbreak each represent an opportunity to own ourselves and learn to better wield the power of choice. Kelly will take you on a reclamation journey from the battlefield of victim consciousness to the sovereignty of self-devoted pleasure and expose every surprising place you’ve given your power away. Explore the tools you’ll need to find out what you want, how to ask for it and how to stand in fierce alignment with yourself.Kelly Brogan is a soul alchemist and threshold guardian devoted to the transformation of collective consciousness. As a young know-it-all atheist, candy-addict, straight-A MIT neuroscience major and Ivy-league trained psychiatrist, she specialized in feeding women, herself included, straight into the mouth of the medicated beast. After a Hashimoto’s healing journey inspired her to sound the alarm on the bait-and-switch of big pharma, she became a renegade activist—authoring the New York Times bestseller, A Mind of Your Own, and its follow-up, Own Your Self; co-editing the landmark textbook, Integrative Therapies for Depression; and eventually becoming an honorary member of the Disinformation Dozen. She is the creatrix of Vital Mind Reset, the online health reclamation program, and the membership community Vital Life Project. She’s a human, cat, and chicken mom.
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