Show notes
When PMDD, shame, and self-silencing took over, Heather Hendrie discovered that laughter could be its own kind of medicine. In this raw and real conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Heather — bestselling author and nature-based therapist — to talk about using humor, wilderness, and truth-telling to heal from the inside out.
Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to spark honest, unfiltered conversations about mental health.
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Mental Health Quote
“When we laugh at what once shamed us, we take our power back.” — Heather Hendrie
Episode Description
PMDD has a way of turning everyday life into emotional chaos — but what if laughter, honesty, and nature could help calm the storm? In this deeply human episode, Heather Hendrie, bestselling author of the awfully hilarious series and founder of True Nature Wilderness Therapy, joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about what happens when mental health meets humor and wild places.
Heather opens up about her own battles with PMDD and the shame so many women carry around their bodies, moods, and “messy” moments. Through her candid storytelling and nature-based counseling work, she’s made it her mission to remind us that we’re never as alone — or as broken — as we think.
The conversation is equal parts emotional and hilarious as they explore what it means to heal without hiding, find peace in imperfection, and use humor as both a coping tool and a connector. From therapy sessions in the woods to writing about awkwardly human moments, Heather proves that healing doesn’t have to look polished — it just has to be honest.
This episode is a love letter to everyone navigating PMDD, burnout, or emotional exhaustion, showing that humor and self-compassion aren’t distractions from healing — they’re essential parts of it.
Keywords: Heather Hendrie, PMDD, humor and healing, nature-based therapy, mental health awareness, women’s wellness, shame resilience, storytelling, emotional health, wilderness therapy, self-acceptance, empowerment, laughter therapy, destigmatizing mental health
Meet Our Guest — Heather Hendrie
Heather Hendrie is an Amazon #1 bestselling author, counsellor, and creator of Awfully Hilarious: Stories We Never Tell. Based in Whistler, British Columbia, she runs True Nature Wilderness Therapy, helping people reconnect with themselves through nature-based healing. Her writing and therapy work both aim to end shame, uplift women’s health, and make space for messy, honest conversations about mental health.
Website: https://heatherhendrie.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather.hendrie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherannehendrie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherhendrie/
Key Takeaways
Humor can be a radical act of healing — especially when we use it to face shame.
PMDD and mental health struggles thrive in silence; storytelling breaks that silence wide open.
Nature isn’t just a backdrop for therapy — it’s a co-therapist.
Healing doesn’t mean being “fine”; it means being honest.
Laughter helps us metabolize pain and reconnect with joy.
Actionable Items
Write your own “awfully hilarious” story — something you once felt ashamed of — and notice how it feels to name it.
Spend 15 minutes outdoors daily without your phone, just breathing and observing.
Share one truth with someone safe this week — even if your voice shakes.
References Mentioned
awfully hilarious: stories we never tell — by Heather Hendrie
True Nature Wilderness Therapy — https://heatherhendrie.com/
PMDD Awareness — https://iapmd.org
Important Chapters
00:00 – Welcome + Why laughter belongs in mental health conversations
05:40 – Heather’s story: From PMDD chaos to compassion
13:20 – The birth of awfully hilarious and ending shame through storytelling
21:10 – Nature as a mirror for emotional healing
31:00 – What PMDD taught Heather about self-trust
43:00 – How humor and vulnerability change therapy
52:30 – Closing reflections + mental health reminder
Closing CTA
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#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #PMDD #WomenInTherapy #HealingThroughHumor #AwfullyHilarious #WildernessTherapy #ShameResilience #SelfAcceptance #EmotionalHealth #StorytellingHeals #LaughterTherapy #WomensWellness #TherapyWorks #NatureHealing #MindBodyConnection
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