But For Real
Episodes
How Music Helps You Heal 🎵❤️🩹
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Music is literally the soundtrack of our lives – and music can be incredibly healing when used in the right way. In this episode of But For Real, Va...
The Serious Person’s Guide To Getting Silly Again 🤪
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you feel like adult life is just full of responsibilities, to-dos, meetings, and seriousness, you’re not alone. With busy schedules and the weigh...
Existential-Humanistic Psychology— WTF actually is it? 🧐
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world full of uncertainty and pain, life can feel devoid of meaning and hope—but what if life could also feel incredibly rich by showing up for...
What to Do When the World Is on Fire (Literally) ☄️
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world that’s both metaphorically and literally on fire, it can feel nearly impossible to figure out how the hell to live without either feeling...
The Self-Growth Industrial Complex 🔍
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Conversations around self-growth are all over every media platform these days – and while introspection and commitment to growth and change is impor...
The One About Eating Disorders + Body Image 🍽️
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a time where it feels like 2000s diet culture is back in full force, this week’s episode about eating disorders and body image is important now m...
Sex Therapy & Kink with SanTasha Wright-Comer ⛓
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today we have such an exciting episode and a special guest. Santasha Wright-Comer, LMSW, is a Sex-Informed Therapist here The Gaia Center who believes...
Blame It On The Booze: Alcohol in 2025🍸
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alcohol culture is pervasive—and while alcohol isn’t unhealthy for EVERYONE, the discourse can be pretty inescapable. Whether you’ve been alcoho...
Once a Cheater…? The One About Infidelity ❤️🩹
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Valerie and Emerson dive into an always controversial topic: infidelity. They explore what infidelity actually is, statistics, why pe...
Men’s Mental Health & The Power of Gaming with Sam DiMartino 👾
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we are excited to dive into all things men’s mental health & the power of gaming with one of The Gaia Center’s team members, ...
Bougie, Broke, and on a Budget - The Psychology of Money (Part 1)
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is allllll about MONEY HUNNY – how we are influenced to think about the construct of money, financial wellbeing, and balancing all...
Unplugging, Digital Detox, and the Overwhelming Urge to Throw it in the Ocean 🤳🌊
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s world, there’s an interesting juxtaposition between constant (and often necessary) use of technology coupled with conversations around ...
Living Your Activism Series: Ella Magers is a Voice for the Animals
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we have our first installment of a special new mini series titled Living Your Activism. In this series, we're talking to activists an...
Turns Out, Talking To Strangers is Healing: The Power of Group Therapy
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While the thought of telling a group of strangers about your inner feelings can be scary for many people, group therapy can actually be incredibly pow...
Help, I’m Spiritually Curious But Existentially Exhausted 🙏🫠
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Spirituality, religion, and being “woo-woo” are all hot topics these days – especially here in Nashville!In this episode, Val and Emerson tackle...
The Couples Therapy Episode
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many people, hearing “couples therapy” brings up the idea of a relationship being in crisis or on the brink of ending – and while couples th...
Why OCD Is NOT Just Being “So Organized” 🙅
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite misinformed pop culture statements, OCD isn’t a punchline—it’s a chronic brain loop that can be incredibly challenging for individuals t...
Help! The Voice in My Head Is… Kind Of a B*tch
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever struggled with a rough inner critic, you’re not alone. While the judgments of the world can certainly get in the way of living your...
The One About Adult Friendship 🫂
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve struggled to build or maintain friendships as an adult, you’re not alone – and in this episode, we’ve got you covered!This episode c...
Body Grief & Disability Advocacy with Jayne Mattingly
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is so exciting as we have our first guest external to The Gaia Center – the phenomenal Jayne Mattingly.JAYNE MATTINGLY is a disabi...
Parasocial Relationships, AKA The Lopsided Bestie Squad 👯♀️
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, Valerie and Emerson are coming at ya live from the corner of a hotel by the Nashville airport thanks to some less than stell...
TOO MANY TABS 😶🌫️ The ADHD Episode
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Conversations about ADHD (some helpful, some the complete opposite) are practically everywhere in our current world. In this episode, Val and Emerson ...
The Sleep Episode
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ahhhh, sleep. The thing we spend a third of our life doing and that many people don’t get enough of – grab those jammies and eye masks and let’s...
How to Get the Most Out of Therapy
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re currently in therapy or have been exploring finding a therapist, you’ve probably wondered, “How do I get the most out of therapy?...
Kicking Off the New Year with Compassionate Self-Discipline
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2025 is officially here, and in this week’s episode, Val and Emerson are talking all about how to kick off the new year with compassionate self-disc...
Deep Dive on our Fave Besties, ✨ ANXIETY & STRESS ✨
25 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, Val and Em take a deep dive into two topics that are relatable for pretty much everyone in today’s society – anxiety and...
Overconsumption Gone Wild 💸🫠
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s episode is very timely – from exploring how influencer culture and hyperconsumerism intertwine (we’re lookin’ at you, post-Black-F...
The Fascinating Mindf*ck that is Nostalgia
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ah, nostalgia…What is it about this slippery little beastie that can simultaneously turn on all the good feels of reminiscing on the good ole’ day...
Dating & Attachment Styles in the App Era
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While this week’s episode is airing in a post-2024 election world, it was recorded prior to the election – so you’ll get to hear Val & Emers...
Will AI replace therapists? 🤖🫠
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You can’t watch more than 10 minutes of news these days without hearing some reference to AI (our bff, artificial intelligence)— and it’s poppin...
“What is grief, if not love persevering?” with Kalaway Voss
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest, The Gaia Center’s very own resident grief-expert Kalaway Voss, shares wisdom and tangible ways that we can move through grief, whet...
TikTok is Not the DSM: Practicing Discernment with Pop Psychology
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is once again a wild ride – and whether you’re struggling with sexual desire, obsessed with Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, or ...
Welcome to the Rabbit Hole 🐇🕳️
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the FIRST EPISODE of But For Real!In this episode, you get to know both Valerie and Emerson a bit more, as well as getting acquainted with ...
Trailer: But For Real - a new podcast from The Gaia Center
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this trailer, we cover everything you need to know about But For Real ✨....and stay tuned for the first two episodes dropping 9.25.24 🤩 Connec...