More Than You See

Season 4 is officially starting up again in a few short weeks, but I felt it was really important to have a mini bonus episode about the WGA strike and the pending SAG strike and what it might be doing to our mental health. I know I have been spiraling about the state of the industry and I remind everyone (and myself) that this situation is temporary, that our feelings of overwhelm should be acknowledged but not given the reigns, and what we can do to help us when we are feeling hopeless about AI, never working again, etc. We are all in this together.

This week we discuss our identity and how it relates to our profession. When we are kids we are told to find something we are passionate about. But is that always the best way to live our lives? How does that affect our mental health? We discuss these topics and how they are all wrapped up in our identity on this episode. As always, please let me know what you think and remember to rate, review, and subscribe! 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

We continue our three-part series on mental health treatments this week with a discussion about how sleep, nutrition, and meditation impacts our brains! Listen for some tips you can incorporate into your daily practice and learn all the things I don't do (but should!) when it comes to my mental health :) 

This week I discuss five new and innovative treatments for mental health symptoms and disorders. This is the first episode in a three part series all about different treatments. I also share an amazing first hand account of a new therapy called TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) from a listener. Thank you so much for sharing your story and please let me know if you have a personal story that you would like me to share on an upcoming episode! 

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

Happy 2022 everyone! I know that with the start of a new year there is always talk around the "new and improved" version of yourself. I talk this week about how damaging that mentality can be to our mental health, suggest some healthier ways you can track your new year and set goals for yourself, and remind you that you are perfect. Exactly as you are. 

Please let me know if you have any ways you are focusing on your evolution in 2022, and how I can best support you on your mental health journey!  

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

This week I start by sharing a personal story about a situation that ended up being a huge trigger for me and sent me into an anxious spiral. Then I dive into the classification of specific phobias and different treatment options for these phobias. I wrap everything up at the end by reminding you that your triggers are not "issues" and instead just make you the unique individual that you are. 

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

This week we discuss social anxiety and how it differs from general shyness in social situations. We discuss the actual definition and symptoms of social anxiety, some ways you can treat this disorder, and I share some tips and tricks of things that I do when I am feeling uncomfortable in new social situations. There is so much to discuss when it comes to anxiety, but hopefully some of these thoughts and tips will help you enter a new social situation with a brand new point of view about the world. 

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

This week is the start of a new three part series on anxiety in response to a request from a listener! I dive into what are the different types of anxiety, how to identify your root causes, and what you can do when you are feeling anxious about something specific in your life. As always, I am here to share space with here, hear your stories, and walk beside you in your own mental health journey.  Please reach out if this affected you or if there is a topic you wish to discuss in the future! 

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

This week I dive into grief and what we can do to cope with the loss of a loved one, especially during the holidays. Grief is never easy, but it seems to get exacerbated especially in times when we feel that we are *supposed* to be happy. I dive into some of the ways we can cope with these feelings and remind ourselves that our grief is our own, we experience it in different ways, and that grief comes in waves. Whatever you are feeling today is not what you will feel tomorrow. As always, I am here to share space with here, hear your stories, and walk beside you in your own mental health journey.  

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

Season 3 of the More Than You See Podcast kicks off with the top 3 things I learned from my divorce. Today is actually my ex-wedding anniversary and I thought this might be a nice way to share this special day with you all! Because it is still special. Everyone who enters and impacts our lives has a purpose... and that may be one of the things I discuss on this week's episode! Please let me know (by leaving me a voicemail or though Instagram) what you have learned from past relationships, how it impacted your mental health, and things you are still struggling with today. As always, I am here right beside you on this messy thing we call life. See you again next week! 

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

So excited to be starting Season 3 of the More Than You See Podcast! If you've never been here before... welcome! If you're a regular, welcome back! Join me on Monday, November 8th for a very special start to the season where I dive into a topic that is very important to me, and actually is the genesis to my own mental health journey. Intrigued? You should be! "See" you on Monday! 

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Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

So excited to have actress, Shelley Regner, on the show today for episode 10! This is our last interview of the season and Shelley could not have been a better guest! Shelley Regner is an actor, singer, and every now and then dancer from Louisiana who has lived in Los Angeles for almost 10 years. She is most notably recognized for her role as the Bella "who's literally been here the whole time," Ashley, in the Pitch Perfect franchise. She earned her B.A. in Theatre Performance from LSU and has continued to perform live throughout her career in both regional and national productions. Credits include UMPO's A League of Their Own, Unauthorized Jennifer's Body Musical, Cruel Intentions Musical, and more. She is an original member of Disney's D Cappella, performing the first national tour and the Hollywood Bowl. Shelley's most recent film role in the dramatic thriller, Adverse, starring Mickey Rourke and Thomas Ian Nicholas can be seen now on digital and DVD. Shelley is an advocate for mental health, body positivity, and a huge lover of coffee and dogs.

Shelley and I talk about what it was like growing up in the South and dealing with mental health issues and depression. She is very open about her journey in Hollywood from booking Pitch Perfect to struggling for jobs after that. Shelley and I discuss the importance of therapy, how our families impact our mental health, and much more! 

This week is another mini episode with me! I discuss my takeaways from the episode with Michael Kostroff, the importance of healing from childhood trauma, and how important it is to consciously choose whether your current situations and surroundings are making you happy. If you haven't listened to the episode with Michael Kostroff (episode 4) be sure to check it out! He dives into his mental health struggles while being on tv, and what he has learned from numerous years in the entertainment industry. 

I also mentioned on the episode that I would LOVE for you to take a quiz and give me feedback about the podcast. 

Honored to have Lynn Chen join us for the podcast this episode. Lynn Chen has a multi-decade career with credits in over 50 television shows (Shameless, Silicon Valley), films (Saving Face, Go Back to China) audio books (Crazy Rich Asians) and video games (Call of Duty: Black Ops III & IV). Now she adds filmmaker to her resume, with her directorial feature debut I Will Make You Mine (SXSW 2020) streaming everywhere on VOD/DVD. Lynn is also an Ambassador for The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and Miry’s List. 

Lynn and I have a very open and honest conversation about what it is like being a woman in Hollywood, eating disorders, struggling with infertility, and more. This is an episode you won't want to miss. 

THIS WEEK: Join me for a discussion about how we can navigate everything with the world opening up post-pandemic. Feeling anxious? Feeling excited? This episode is for you! Also, I share that we are going on a brief hiatus. The next episode will be May 3rd so use this time to help spread the word and catch up on old episodes! 🙌🏼

Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

THIS WEEK: Join me for a discussion about brain chemistry, hormones, and how it all relates to our mental health. We have a special voice message from a listener describing her own journey with OCD medication, and some suggestions about how to approach the idea that you might consider medication. 

Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

THIS WEEK: Join me, Deborah Lee Smith, for a deep dive into our habits, our learned behaviors, and how they are a key component to our mental health. Heard of Freud? He gets an extra special shoutout in this episode all about our physiology! 

Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a licensed practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

THIS WEEK: Join me for a look at the history of capitalism, the decline in spirituality, and why and how it affects mental health. I also talk about what I think social scientists will look back and think about these Covid times. I get deep into history on this one, let's get nerdy y'all!

Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a liked practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

THIS WEEK: Have you ever thought about why your environment affects your mental health? Join me this week for a discussion about all the different kinds of environments and why it is so important in your mental health journey. 

Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a liked practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

THIS WEEK: Join me, Deborah Lee Smith, for a conversation about setting boundaries and getting rid of toxic relationships and situations in your life. Unsure what a toxic relationship looks like? I share some tips for how to identify that toxicity in your life. 

THIS WEEK: Join me, Deborah Lee Smith, for a conversation about why *feeling* your feelings is SO important, especially with everything going on right now. I will also discuss a fun homework assignment to encourage you to celebrate yourself. It'll be fun, I promise!

Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a liked practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.

THIS WEEK: Join me, Deborah Lee Smith, for a conversation about why I started More Than You See, my own mental health struggles, and the importance of a holistic approach to your mental health.

Every week join me, Deborah Lee Smith actor, filmmaker, mental health advocate for a conversation on mental health like you’ve never heard before. My platform, More Than You See is dedicated to exploring nontraditional mental health resources to help you build your own emotional wellness toolkit. I absolutely discuss therapy, the importance of medication, and highlight organizations around the world devoted to destigmatizing mental health, but I also focus on books, personal practices, podcasts, TED Talks etc, because here’s the thing… I’m not a liked practitioner or therapist. I’m just a woman exploring my own journey with mental health and sharing my experiences and the experiences of the community with you, the listener. Join me for a weekly conversation every Monday that will be sure to bring a smile to your face and help you feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.