Inside Mental Health

Is your child a picky eater, or is it something more serious — and how can you tell? Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) goes far beyond food preferences. It’s driven by deep-seated fears of choking, vomiting, or other anxieties that can lead to dangerous nutritional deficiencies.

In this episode, Gabe Howard sits down with ADAA member expert Dr. Jacqueline Sperling, a clinical psychologist and Harvard Medical School professor, to break down the signs of ARFID, outline how it differs from typical picky eating, and mention when parents should seek professional help. Learn how to spot the red flags, understand the role of anxiety in food avoidance, and discover ways to support kids managing this lesser known eating disorder. If mealtimes are a battle in your home, this episode is a must-listen!



Special thanks to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America for sponsoring this episode. 



“They could have different obsessions of what might happen should they eat any of those foods. Some could have a fear that there's contamination. Some can have a fear that it's cooked all the way. Some can have a concern that something separate from the food, but a negative consequence may happen if they eat those foods. It can also happen that someone is worried about having IBS symptoms in public, so they don't want to eat certain foods. And so they limit the foods that they eat, or even when they're at home because they're worried about when they go out in public afterward.” ~Jacqueline Sperling, PhD



Our guest, Jacqueline Sperling, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor in psychology at Harvard Medical School, and the co-founder and co-program director of the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program at McLean Hospital. She is the author of the young adult nonfiction book “Find Your Fierce: How to Put Social Anxiety in Its Place” and a contributor for Harvard Health Publishing.

Dr. Sperling specializes in implementing cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention and working with youth with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also focuses on caregiver guidance, such as by using behavioral parent training, to help families address children’s internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

In addition, Dr. Sperling is passionate about disseminating evidence-based information to the community, and she frequently speaks about the impact of social media use on mental health. Moreover, Dr. Sperling is committed to increasing access to care and participates in advocacy at state and federal government levels.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
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Cults don’t always start with Kool-Aid or crime scenes — sometimes, they begin with yoga classes, utopian promises, or someone saying you’re special. In this episode, Gabe Howard sits down with journalist and author Wendy Biddlecombe Agsar, whose book “Cults: A True Crime Collection” explores how seemingly “normal” people fall into manipulative groups.

From love bombing and spiritual seduction to sleep deprivation and isolation, Wendy unpacks the subtle tactics cults use to recruit and retain followers — and why it’s not about being gullible or broken. She shares her own brushes with cult-like communities and explains how even caring interventions can backfire by reinforcing a cult leader’s narrative.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How could anyone fall for that?” — this episode is your answer. Thought-provoking, emotional, and packed with insight, it just might change the way you see cults — and yourself.



"(You may be thinking) I would never hurt another person. I would never believe in aliens. But the way cults work, you're not really joining a destructive organization. You're joining a group based on some ideology that is probably a little bit different from the news headlines. . ." ~Wendy Biddlecombe Agsar

Our guest, Wendy Biddlecombe Agsar, is a freelance editor and reporter living in Leipzig, Germany. She is a contributing editor at “Tricycle: The Buddhist Review” and the author of “Cults: A True Crime Collection.”



Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.



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Dive into a no-holds-barred conversation that shatters common myths about self-harm. Join host Gabe Howard and renowned psychologist and ADAA member expert Dr. Gillian C. Galen as they explore the intricate world of self-harm and emotional regulation. Delving into the neuroscience behind adolescent brain development and its impact on behavior, Dr. Galen explains why self-injurious behaviors are more prevalent during youth and how they evolve — or sometimes subside — in adulthood.


They discuss the common reasons behind self-injury and why it’s far more complex than the stereotypes we see in movies and media. They explore the surprising ways self-harm can signal deep emotional distress, reveal underlying trauma, and even affect relationships. Whether you’ve been directly affected or want to better understand the struggles of those you care about, this conversation is a must-listen.



Special thanks to McLean Hospital for providing funding for today's episode.



“If you see that somebody is self-injuring, it really means, like the level of distress that they are in and the difficulty, like the deficits in coping skills, like they're missing a set of coping skills is pretty profound, right. And you know, the consequences are pretty high. They don't have another skill. We're basically saying, stop self-injuring. What are they going to do with those emotions? What are they going to do with them? Clearly, if they had another way to manage them, they would. I've never met somebody that started self-injuring that has said I had other coping skills, but I chose this instead. Usually when they start self-injuring, it's because they don't know what else to do.” ~Gillian C. Galen, PsyD



Our guest, Gillian C. Galen, PsyD, is a senior child and adolescent psychologist specializing in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). She is the director of training for the 3East continuum, an array of programs for teens that use DBT to target self-endangering behaviors and symptoms of borderline personality disorder. She has extensive experience diagnosing and treating adolescents and young adults who struggle with emotion dysregulation, anxiety, depression, trauma, and self-endangering behaviors, such as self-injury and suicidal behaviors.

Dr. Galen has a particular interest in the use of mindfulness in the treatment of borderline personality disorder and psychiatric illnesses. She is the co-author of the books “Mindfulness for Borderline Personality Disorder: Relieve Your Suffering Using the Core Skill of Dialectical Behavior Therapy”, “Coping With BPD: DBT and CBT Skills to Soothe the Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder”, and “DBT for Dummies.”

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.




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Looking to turn your big dreams into reality? You’re not alone — and it might not be your willpower that’s holding you back, but the way you set your goals. In this episode, host Gabe Howard welcomes Dr. Ross G. White, clinical psychologist, author of “The Tree That Bends,” and founder of Strive to Thrive, to demystify the SMART framework and help you build goals that stick.

Together, Gabe and Dr. White unpack each letter of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-limited) to show you how to transform vague aspirations (“I want to get fit”) into crystal clear, trackable targets (“I will complete three 30-minute strength workouts each week for the next month”). You’ll hear concrete examples, common pitfalls, and Dr. White’s insider tips for aligning your goals with what truly matters in your life.

Plus, stick around for a candid discussion on why the “stay hard,” grit-and-grind mentality might be selling you short — and how a flexible mind can be your secret weapon for thriving, not just surviving. Tune in and start setting goals you’ll actually achieve!

“The mere ordinary seems to be resistant to going viral. It's only the incredible and the extraordinary that goes viral. So we are skewed in terms of some of the reference points that we have around what we should be capable of, what we should be doing, what we should be achieving. And that leads us to be highly motivated to try to make an impact, to establish ourselves. But it also then can tip over into threat if we feel that we're falling short, or that people are judging us for not being enough, for not doing enough, for not contributing enough.” ~Dr. Ross White



Our guest, Dr. Ross White, is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast and the founder of Strive2Thrive, a clinical psychology consultancy firm that provides interventions and training to help individuals and organizations thrive. He is an expert in supporting the mental well-being of adults working in high-performance settings. Ross is the author of several books, including “The Tree That Bends: How a flexible mind can help you thrive.”

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
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Today we peel back the layers of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) — a condition far beyond simple vanity. Host Gabe Howard and ADAA member expert Scott M. Granet tear apart the facade of BDD — a mental battle where the mirror becomes your worst enemy. 


This episode exposes a disorder that distorts reality, making you question every reflection. Forget cosmetic fixes — plastic surgery rarely provides salvation. Scott bares his soul, recounting his harrowing struggle from a college crisis over a few stray hairs to a lifelong fight against the obsessive compulsion to fix what isn’t really broken.

With raw honesty and expert insights, this conversation dives into the complexities of living with BDD, highlighting the vital role of support systems and cognitive behavioral therapy. Whether you or someone you know battles inner demons or simply seeks a deeper understanding of mental health, this episode promises a captivating exploration of perception versus reality.

Special thanks to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America for sponsoring this episode.

“If you're somebody with BDD who has a problem with your physical appearance, your first thought is not going to be, I should go see a psychotherapist. Your first thought is probably going to be, I want to get this fixed. And even if they suspect they have a psychiatric problem, a major issue with BDD is that it's often considered a shame based disorder. There can be so much shame associated with this, to the point where people don't want to go for therapy and, you know, they're too embarrassed to tell somebody about this problem.” ~Scott M. Granet, LCSW



Today's guest, Scott Granet, LCSW, specializes in the treatment of OCD and BDD. He has presented at numerous conferences worldwide and has taught continuing education classes at universities and other institutions throughout the U.S., including the Rutgers University School of Social Work, the UC Berkeley Extension, the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice and the NYU Silver School of Social Work. Mr. Granet is the author of “The Complete OCD Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Free Yourself from Intrusive Thoughts and Compulsive Behaviors” and “Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Mine and Yours: A Personal and Clinical Perspective.”

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
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