Ask Kati Anything

In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, Kati is joined by Jen Birn, editor of Austin Lifestyle magazine. Jen has built a life on her own terms, parlaying her high-octane success in the celebrity journalism scenes of New York and Los Angeles into a career that is currently transforming the landscape of Austin.

Jen’s path was built on pure grit and "fake it 'til you make it" scrappiness. From waitressing in a music bar where she convinced the Gin Blossoms to give her an interview that launched her career, to navigating family crisis, Jen has faced the kind of relatable struggles that define a survivalist spirit.

Along the way she shares stories from a career spent crossing paths with figures like Richard Branson, Johnny Depp & David Arquette, transitioning from the 24/7 hustle to finding balance, biohacking for longevity, and reclaiming your time. Jen Birn is an inspiration who proves that success isn't about having a perfect start—it's about the resilience to keep chasing the sunset until you find home.

Shopping with our sponsors helps support Ask Kati Anything. Please check out this week's special offers:

• Remi - Go to www.shopremi.com/KATI and use code KATI at checkout for 50% off your Custom Night Guards

• Function Health - Get a $25 credit toward your membership at www.functionhealth.com/kati with gift code KATI25

MORE JEN

Chasing Sunsets Down I-80 https://amzn.to/3LHpVgU

https://citylifestyle.com/austin/issues

MY BOOKS

Why Do I Keep Doing This? https://geni.us/XoyLSQ

Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j

Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY

ONLINE THERAPY (enjoy 10% off your first month)

While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/kati

PARTNERSHIPS

Nick Freeman | [email protected]

Ask Kati Anything ep. 298 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your best days haven't even happened yet? In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, I’m joined by the incredible Amy Edwards—CEO, author, and host of The Amy Edwards Show. At 53, Amy is the happiest she’s ever been, but getting here required walking through some of life’s darkest valleys.

We dive deep into the messy, complicated, and ultimately beautiful process of transformation. Amy opens up about the stigma of being twice-divorced, the "blackout" period of losing her voice during a legal battle, and her unconventional journey through psychedelic healing and sobriety.

Whether you are struggling with a "failed" relationship, feeling stuck in a cycle of rumination, or wondering if it's too late to start over, this conversation is a reminder that you don't need anything outside of yourself to access hope.

Shopping with our sponsors helps support Ask Kati Anything. Please check out this week's special offer:

Feel like your best self again, visit https://www.forhers.com/KATI to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you!

Chapters

00:00 – Meet Amy Edwards

03:04 – Becoming the "Matriarchs" after losing parents

04:29 – Religious differences and choosing love over judgment

09:35 – The reality of divorce at 25 vs. later in life

13:57 – A perfect storm: Pregnancy, losing a mother, and a broken leg

17:46 – The "Rebound Marriage" and learning to stand up for yourself

21:14 – Why "Staying for the Kids" can be the real failure

26:42 – Modeling resilience: Showing children that women can do anything

30:12 – Mental health tools: The "Don't Drink the Drano Today" logic

36:32 – Psychedelics and Ego Death: Rewiring the brain

40:32 – Ketamine therapy and clearing the "ruminating sand"

43:10 – The road to sobriety and finding a growth-mindset partner

54:19 – The "Table" Metaphor: Breaking the cycle of transactional love

01:03:16 – Losing your voice: When the body forces you to slow down

01:07:37 – Radical Self-Love: doing mirror work

01:15:45 – Your best days haven't happened yet

MORE AMY

https://www.youtube.com/@TheAmyEdwardsShow The Trouble with Becoming a Witch: A Novel by Amy Edwards https://amzn.to/4ahkoFU

https://www.instagram.com/realamyedwards/

MY BOOKS


Why Do I Keep Doing This? https://geni.us/XoyLSQ


Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j


Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY

ONLINE THERAPY (enjoy 10% off your first month)

While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/kati

PARTNERSHIPS

Nick Freeman | [email protected]

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship.

Ask Kati Anything ep. 300 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, licensed therapist Kati Morton, LMFT, dives into the complex intersection of social media and mental health. We explore how to protect yourself from "rage-bait" and identity-driven outrage while still using platforms productively. Kati also breaks down the vital differences between flashbacks and hallucinations, the ethics of acting out trauma in therapy, and how to navigate anxious-avoidant attachment dynamics with your own therapist. Plus, a deep dive into recovery tools and Kati’s personal strategy for overcoming a "funk" using a unique gratitude practice.

Shopping with our sponsors helps support Ask Kati Anything. Please check out this week's special offers:

• Hungryroot - Go to https://www.hungryroot.com/KATI and use code KATI at checkout to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life.

• Hero Bread - Get 10% off your order at https://www.hero.co and use code KATI at checkout

Chapters:

00:00 Protecting Your Mental Health Online

01:30 How to Curate Your Feed & Avoid "Rage-Bait"

03:55 Awareness, Resilience, and Critical Thinking Skills

08:48 Identifying "Emotion Mind" vs. "Wise Mind"

10:33 Acting Out Trauma in Therapy: Safety & Perspective

14:40 Flashbacks vs. Hallucinations: What’s Actually Happening?

18:19 Can Trauma Cause Psychosis?

20:11 Spirituality vs. Religion in Healing

24:55 The Truth About Forgiveness & Resentment

30:19 Addressing Shame & Responsibility in Abuse

36:04 Navigating Anxious-Avoidant Attachment in Therapy

41:21 Meal Replacement Drinks in ED Recovery

44:13 Kati’s Personal Practice for Pulling Out of Depression

MY BOOKS

Why Do I Keep Doing This? https://geni.us/XoyLSQ

Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j

Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY

ONLINE THERAPY
While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist. Enjoy 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/kati

PARTNERSHIPS

Nick Freeman | [email protected]

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we are diving deep into the complexities of trauma, connection, and the healing journey. If you’ve ever felt like your therapy progress is backsliding or that you’re becoming more overwhelmed as you open old wounds, this episode is for you.

Shopping with our sponsors allows us to continue bringing you these important conversations about mental health. Please check out this week's special offers:

• Hungryroot - Get 40% off your first box at https://www.hungryroot.com/kati

• Hers - Start your personalized journey at https://www.forhers.com/kati

00:45 – The Therapy Balance: Why a therapist shouldn't work harder than the patient to maintain a healthy therapeutic space.

03:55 – Therapist Self-Disclosure: When it is ethical for a therapist to share personal information to benefit the patient.

05:30 – Why Healing Feels Worse: Understanding why trauma processing can lead to a temporary increase in symptoms.

11:01 – Building Coping Skills: How to use coping tools and impulse logs to manage the discomfort of change.

15:24 – Therapist Self-Care: Kati shares how she separates her personal and professional life to avoid burnout.

22:05 – Trauma and Disconnection: Why survivors may feel alienated and how finding relatability can break emotional numbness.

32:13 – Empathic Boundaries: How to stop absorbing other people's emotions while still offering support.

39:54 – Parents and Boundaries: What to do when parents ignore boundaries and why a boundary is about your own actions.

42:07 – Love vs. Limerence: The difference between slow-built intimacy and intense, involuntary obsession.

46:50 – Neurodivergent Marriage: Advice for couples with complex PTSD on discussing triggers and expectations before marriageWhether you are struggling with complex PTSD, navigating a new marriage while neurodivergent, or trying to set boundaries with difficult parents, we’re covering it all today.

MY BOOKS

Why Do I Keep Doing This? https://geni.us/XoyLSQ

Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j

Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY

ONLINE THERAPY (enjoy 10% off your first month)

While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/kati

PARTNERSHIPS

Nick Freeman | [email protected]

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship.

Ask Kati Anything ep. 297 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you are dealing with childhood trauma and shame, navigating the grief of life transitions after graduation, or learning to trust your instincts after years of self-betrayal, this episode provides practical therapeutic insights for your healing journey. Join us as we explore how to set healthy boundaries, overcome loneliness, and stop the cycle of self-abandonment to build a more authentic relationship with yourself. Kati also discusses the heavy burden of caregiver burnout, the physiological necessity of sleep for mental health, and how to support those struggling with suicidal ideation. In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton answers listener questions and takes a deep dive into the true meaning of forgiveness and how it serves as a tool for personal liberation rather than condoning hurtful behavior.

Support the show! Check out our sponsors and exclusive deals:

Hero Bread - get 10% off your order when you visit http://hero.co and use promo code KATI at checkout.• OneSkin - skin health products powered by the OS-01 peptide - get up to 30% off OneSkin with the code KATI at https://www.oneskin.co/KATI

Timestamps

00:57 - Q1: How can I forgive people who have hurt me deeply?

04:47 - Q2: How do we keep going when we’re exhausted (Caregiver burnout & sleep)?

10:04 - Q3: Suicide prevention: How to help and what society can do.

13:22 - Q4: How to open up about trauma without feeling shame.

17:34 - Q5: Dealing with regret and unemployment after quitting a job.

MY BOOKS

Why Do I Keep Doing This? https://geni.us/XoyLSQ

Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j

Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY

22:30 - Q6: How to trust yourself and manage triggers.

24:06 - Q6 (Continued): Setting boundaries vs. overreacting.

31:12 - Q7: Moving on and finding routine after graduating high school.

43:06 - Q8: How to trust yourself again after years of self-betrayal.

54:07 - Q9: Navigating loneliness and outgrowing old friendships.

Ask Kati Anything ep. 296 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT

ONLINE THERAPY (enjoy 10% off your first month)

While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/kati

PARTNERSHIPS

Nick Freeman | [email protected]

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices