It’s been a while since there was a new podcast episode! In this episode, I give a brief update on what’s going on with the show!

A while ago, I received a listener request to do an episode about dealing with people staying at your house--houseguests. Here it is!

When I started this podcast, my #1 dream guest was Susan Cain. So, I'm very happy to bring this episode to you today. Susan's 2012 book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking was my first introduction to introversion. The book changed my life (and thousands of others worldwide) because it changed how I saw myself. It was through learning about introversion that I learned about high sensitivity; I wouldn't be typing this to you today without her book as...

Today's episode features Andy Mort of the Gentle Rebel podcast (formerly known as the Sheep Dressed like Wolves podcast). We talk about what it's like to be a Highly Sensitive Person and a podcaster. (He interviewed me on his show recently, too: listen here!) Some of the topics covered in this episode include: receiving negative feedback, making money, and tips for people who want to start their own show. You can get in touch with Andy on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and find his music...

Recently someone posted this question in the introvert subreddit on reddit: "How to deal with half wanting new friends and half wanting to be a hermit?"   I hear and read questions like this all the time from introverts and introverted HSPs. We cherish being alone, and then sometimes wonder if we can get along without worrying about having relationships. After all, relationships are time consuming, difficult, and can be painful.   But then we often realize that we cannot exist alone. It...

This episode is for those who have never tried meditation, are curious about it, or who have tried it but felt like they didn't "get" it. Meditation has helped me a lot over the past year. There was a time when I didn't think I could do it. I didn't understand what meditation was and whether I was doing it "right". I hope to reach other people, like me, who didn't think meditation would work for them. I hope this will inspire you to give it another try, because it can be rewarding. My...

Discovering the concept of high sensitivity and learning you are a Highly Sensitive Person can be a major life moment for some people. It was for me! Now that I've been living with this knowledge for a few years (and learning more all the time!), I reflected in this episode on some positive realizations I've had about myself since learning I'm an HSP. Making this list felt really good; I hope it may serve as a prompt to consider your own experiences. How has your life changed since...

Today's guest, Al Motter, is one of the hosts of the excellent Introvert Extrovert podcast. He's the "Introvert" out of the two hosts, but he doesn't have the trait of high sensitivity.   In this episode, Al talks about how he sometimes wishes he was more sensitive, and how a recent bout of medication gave him a few weeks of heightened sensitivity--resulting in some fascinating insights into our world. H   is perspective, as an outsider to the HSP world, can help HSPs see the larger...

Overstimulation. Noise, chaos, bright lights, smells, crowds. These are the highly sensitive person's kryptonite. I've brainstormed a list of what I think are the worst places on earth for HSPs. This episode is a little different than most—this isn’t advice, or a serious topic. It is sort of tongue-in-cheek, a little sarcastic, and even a bit silly. It’s more about pondering all the things that set off HSPs and then thinking which places have a lot of those things. So, disclaimer: don’t...

Did you know that highly sensitive people and narcissists tend to be attracted to each other? I've welcomed Nikki Eisenhauer onto the show today to discuss what a narcissist is and why HSPs can be drawn to people with narcissistic personality disorder. I think it's important for HSPs to be aware of this topic so they can identify and deal with harmful relationships. Nikki is an engaging guest and does a great job of explaining this topic in a digestible way. She is a licensed professional...

I'm thrilled to have on the podcast Oliver Burkeman, author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. Oliver is a writer for The Guardian. In his column titled, "This column will change your life", he explores ideas around social psychology, self-help culture, productivity, and the science of happiness.   The Antidote was one of those books that came at the right time in my life. I was struggling with insomnia, brought on by anxiety....brought on by feeling...

Two acquaintances in the same week made similar comments to me out of nowhere: that they felt behind, like they weren't getting enough done in their work and businesses. It made me sad to hear that they were struggling and not feeling good about themselves. I can totally relate to the feeling of underachievement. I felt inspired to try to help those of us who can never live up to our own expectations. In this episode, I talk about: How we compare ourselves to others on social media, even...

In episode 59, I started a 3-episode series about the positive aspects of being a Highly Sensitive Person. I talked about people who are celebrated for their sensitivity, like artists and musicians.   In today's show, I'm discussing what I think are 6 not-so-well-known benefits of being highly sensitive. We've all heard that HSPs have lots of empathy and are good listeners and connect with animals and stuff like that, but I tried to find some benefits that were a bit more hidden.   Take a...

A popular misconception about Highly Sensitive people--to those who aren’t very familiar with the trait--is that HSPs are always emotionally fragile and not mentally strong. But this isn't true. You CAN be mentally strong and an HSP--it's all about your coping skills. That’s why I’m excited to share with you Episode 61's guest, Amy Morin, who is an expert on mental strength. Amy is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, professor, a TED talk speaker, and published author. In...

The Highly Sensitive Podcast is for people with Sensory Processing Sensitivity--or those who want to better understand HSPs. In this show, I share personal stories, tips, rants, and occasionally interviews with interesting HSPs. Today's episode is a special treat! I've got an interview with an extroverted, highly sensitive, man. He's also a comedian and software engineer. It's Johnny Martinez of the Introvert Extrovert Podcast. In this episode, Johnny talks about: How being highly...

I realized recently that I haven't done an episode (in detail) about the benefits of high sensitivity. HSPs are meant to be here. We have a role to play in this world. I plan to do a few episodes about this topic--since there is so much to cover--but this specific show is about the people who are celebrated for their sensitivity. That's right--those who are successful and respected due in part to their sensitive nature and what they bring to the world. Want to support the podcast? Become a...

I've heard the word "empath" a lot, but didn't truly understand what it meant. I thought it maybe simply referred to people who experienced a lot of empathy....? But that didn't seem right. When searching for a simple explanation about empaths, I came up empty, until I found this great article on Caroline's website, The Happy Sensitive. It was then I knew that I just had to get Caroline on the podcast to help explain empaths! In this episode, we discuss: What is and isn't an empath The...

Meet Daisy Gumin. She's an 18-year-old Highly Sensitive Person and introvert. She and her mother went through a harrowing year and a half of trying to figure out what was "wrong" with Daisy. She had been displaying destructive, angry, depressive, and self-harming behavior. She went through lots of therapy, medications, hospitalizations, attended a therapeutic boarding school, and even a wilderness therapy program (she was taken there in the middle of the night without knowing where she was...

In the past, I've talked about what I thought were the best jobs for HSPs--and even the #1 best job (working for oneself). But over time, my thoughts on this have changed. In today's show, I explain how the best job for HSPs....depends. On so many factors. I also cover some of the challenges of working for oneself, and the one question you can ask a potential employer to help decide of their company culture will be a good fit. Resources mentioned on the show: The One Question You Should...

In this episode, I share stories about things that have grossed me out--a cow lung, pinning insects, and dissecting pigs. I also discuss how HSPs might get "grossed out" more than people without the trait--touching on the vasovagel response. Mentioned on the show: Radiolab "The Heartbeat" episode The blog post version of this post:  Visceral Reactions to Blood & Guts Want to support the show? If you enjoy my podcast and blog, if you find it helpful, uplifting, or entertaining,...

HSPs cry easily. HSPs cry all the time. In this episode, I talk about my problem with the statements like the ones above, and whether or not HSPs really DO cry "a lot" or not.  I also discuss the difference in crying in a ranking situation versus a linking situation (the concept comes from a great blog post by Dr. Elaine Aron.) Mentioned on the show: Blog post: "About Crying Easily" by Dr. Elaine Aron Related content on this blog: My response to The Telegraph article about HSPs My...

This episode is especially for those who do not have the trait of high sensitivity. It's for those who don't understand HSP, yet want to learn more about it to support someone in their life. In this show, I cover some "Frequently Asked Questions" about HSPs to clear up some misconceptions about the trait. Including: Aren’t “sensitive” people just drama queens and crybabies? Is “Highly Sensitive Person” a made-up thing people use as an excuse to act a certain way? Can’t you just toughen...

“We miss nothing and have an innate ability to let others shine.” -John Hughes This has been a big month for HSPs. Dr. Elaine Aron’s documentary, called Sensitive: The Untold Story, came out on September 10. I thought the documentary was groundbreaking and an amazing tool for people to learn about high sensitivity. Dr. Aron’s script expertly covered all the most frequently asked questions about HSPs—the science and evidence behind it, what it means, misconceptions, and more. There were a...

I think it’s fair to say that most people dislike job interviews. And for HSPs, they are extra super not-fun. In this episode, I talk about why traditional interviews are a poor way to judge a candidate, how HSPs may react to being interviewed, and end it with 3 interviews tips. (Hey, I wanted to offer something helpful instead of just ranting!) If you enjoy my podcast and blog, if you find it helpful, uplifting, or entertaining, that's awesome! Would you consider giving just $1 per...