All Episodes

Do you ever feel uncomfortable when life is going well? Maybe a bit restless, guilty, or waiting for the other shoe to drop? In this solo episode, psychologist and host Cass Dunn explores the psychology of contentment: why so many of us resist it, or sabotage it the moment it arrives. Cass unpacks the conditioning, early experiences, and nervous system patterns that make peace and 'enoughness' feel unfamiliar and offers a practical pproach to start building your capacity for contentment from the inside out.

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If you've ever wondered whether your sleep tracker is actually accurate, or whether meditation is doing anything measurable in your brain, this episode is for you. Ariel Garten is the co-founder of Muse, the brain-sensing headband, and she's back on the show with a significant update on how the technology has evolved. The Muse Athena contains an entirely new technology called fNIRS that tracks real-time blood flow and oxygen delivery to your prefrontal cortex. We get into why wrist-based device...

Working title was “How to Deal with Arseholes” but I thought Apple might ban me. After being evicted from our rental in the UK, I had to sell our house in Australia from the other side of the world. I did not expect the amount of conflict and tension I would have to manage (uncooperative tenants, RE agents not communicating and a selling agent in London applying pressure to meet an impossible deadline). Let’s just say I was not always my best self. 😐 I reacted emotionally, sent emails I should...

If sex has slowly disappeared from your life - or started to feel like something you dread rather than look forward to - and you're not sure whether to blame your hormones, your relationship, your exhaustion, or just yourself, this episode is going to help. My guest is Dr Maria Sophocles, a board-certified OB/GYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner who has spent 30 years working with women on the clinical frontline of this exact problem. She's the author of the brand new book The Bedro...

We got evicted. The subsequent upheaval has revealed a lot to me about how my own nervous system patterns show up, especially when things feel uncertain or out of control. While my situation is personal, this experience is universal so in this ep, I'm sharing why our default stress response is often to push through, people please, overwork, or avoid decisions, even if we destroy ourselves in the process. Many of the behaviours we criticise ourselves for are actually safety strategies that we le...

Tiff Hall has been part of Crappy to Happy since the very beginning, and she's a woman who knows reinvention better than most. She spent a decade building a powerful, values-driven fitness brand, showing up through pregnancies, injuries, illness, body changes and enormous personal pressure. And then she made a decision that surprised many people, selling TXO to 28 by Sam Wood and stepping out of her CEO role. This is an honest conversation about identity, grief, relief, and the courage it takes...

In this solo ep of Crappy to Happy, Cass shares a realistic and compassionate approach to setting goals for 2026. Instead of traditional New Year’s resolutions, we'll explore why doing less, setting a lower bar, and focusing on consistency can improve self trust, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. Drawing on coaching psychology, habit change research, and her lived experience of ADHD, Cass explains how to create meaningful goals, sustainable habits, and a stronger sense of self without burnout or guilt. This episode is ideal for anyone who feels overwhelmed by self improvement culture and wants a calmer, more intentional start to the year.

AI is everywhere right now and it’s moving fast, from fake online personas and voice cloning to coaches selling AI versions of themselves. The pace of change is astonishing, and if you don't keep up, you'll be left behind. So what does this mean for small business owners, therapists and coaches? In this episode, I talk through what I’ve been learning as I’ve gone all in on understanding the potential of AI and the role it can play as a complement to your expertise, not a substitute for it. When...

Women with ADHD are still being overlooked, misunderstood, and misdiagnosed, and the consequences can be profound. In this episode, I sit down with Tracy Otsuka, ADHD Coach and bestselling author of "ADHD for Smartass Women', whose mission is to help women stop pathologising themselves and start recognising their inherent creativity, intelligence, and strength. Tracy shares her personal story, beginning with her son’s diagnosis at age 12, which sparked her deep dive into understanding ADHD. Wha...

Let's discuss a little-known but incredibly common stress response known as "functional freeze". This is a state where you’re still getting things done on the outside but feel numb, foggy, flat or disconnected on the inside. I explain what’s happening in your nervous system when you slip into this shutdown pattern, and why perfectionists, people pleasers and high-achievers are especially vulnerable. You’ll learn the early signs to look for and gentle, practical ways to support your system so you can thaw, re-energise and reconnect with yourself again.

In this engaging conversation, Cass and Megan Dalla-Camina explore the challenges women face in the workplace, including gender bias, self-sabotage, and the impact of internalised patriarchy. Megan shares her journey from corporate America to empowering women through her work and her PhD studies in women's spirituality and leadership. They discuss the importance of recognising and overcoming societal expectations, the paradoxes of power, and the need for women to reclaim their feminine wisdom to thrive in their personal and professional lives.

Understanding what gives you a sense of meaning and purpose in life is crucial to wellbeing, but we all have times where we feel lost or directionless. In today's ep, I'm sharing Michael Steger's Meaning Framework, and its three key elements of Coherence, Purpose, and Significance. These pillars help us make sense of our experiences and guide us towards living a more intentional and fulfilling life. I'll share practical insights on how to diagnose feelings of disconnection and suggestions for re...

In January, I commenced ADHD medication and now 11 months later, I'm sharing my experience of how it has impacted my productivity and mood. While my experience has been mostly positive, there are some negative effects that I wasn't expecting and even now, I'm still figuring out the right balance for me.In this episode, I'm sharing as honestly as possible what I was struggling with before, how the medication has improved things and the reality that it isn't a cure-all. If anyone is considering se...

Dermot Whelan was one of Ireland's most successful radio hosts and television presenters for over 20 years. When he had a panic attack on the way to performing at a comedy festival, he decided to put aside his scepticism and explore how meditation could help him manage the stress and anxiety that came along with working in such a fast-paced, high pressure career. Dermot now combines mindfulness with comedy in a way that allows him to pursue both of his passions while offering audiences a pathwa...

Our expectations shape our experience of the world, influencing not just our perceptions but even our physiology. In this episode, I'm talking about the Expectancy Effect. Our brain acts as a prediction machine, constructing our reality based on what we anticipate. This phenomenon affects everything from social interactions to health outcomes. By understanding how proactively priming our own brain to expect good things, we can actively create a more fulfilling life. Takeaways: Our expectatio...

Dr. Kate Mason unpacks the false dichotomy that suggests women must choose between being liked and being respected, and explains how this mindset leads to self-doubt and diminished confidence. Kate shares practical strategies for overcoming common communication pitfalls women fall into, such as over-apologising and minimising their contributions. This episode is a must-listen for any woman looking to assert herself confidently while still being true to her authentic self.Takeaways: Women oft...

This year marks 8 whole years since we launched the Crappy to Happy pod! Join me to reflect on where it all began, which was with my friend and co-host, Tiffiny Hall, who is marking her own huge milestone this week.Moments like this in our lives remind us of the importance of pausing to appreciate how far we've come, both in our lives and in our pursuit of goals. As I reminisce about starting this podcast back in 2017, I invite you to consider your own significant moments and how they have shape...

*Audio problem now fixed! Pick up from 25min where the audio problem occurredJennifer Moss joins me to discuss the profound shifts in the workplace over the last decade and the impact they've had on our wellbeing. She shares compelling evidence that happier employees enhance the bottom line, making it clear that investing in effective wellbeing strategies is not just logical but essential. Jen emphasises the importance of getting the foundational elements right, like psychological safety and fai...

Anger is an emotion we often struggle to navigate. In this solo episode, I'm sharing the recent experience of one of my clients, who was grappling with intense feelings of anger. As a psychologist, I recognise that anger often masks deeper vulnerabilities like sadness and fear, but this episode isn't just about identifying what's underneath anger; it's about understanding the importance of expressing our anger in healthy ways. Many of us, particularly women, have been socialised to suppress ang...

Couples Therapist, Tarah Kerwin opens up about how her past trauma affected her relationship with her husband EJ, also a therapist. Despite their professional expertise, they both realised they needed to address their personal issues to save their marriage and build a thriving partnership. Cass and Tarah discuss the importance of self-awareness, emotional safety, understanding the impact of early attachment wounds and building compassionate communication skills. This episode will offer hope to a...

As adults, we don't often put ourselves in the position of being a novice. In this episode, I'm sharing why I've gone back to basics in my professional life, and the uncomfortable truth that despite years of experience, stepping back into a learner's role can trigger our ego by forcing us to confront our poor practices. Through my experiences, I highlight the importance of intellectual humility and the courage to unlearn old patterns in order to grow and stay relevant. Embracing the discomfort o...

Understanding the critical role of hormone therapy is essential for women at every stage of life, not just those who are navigating the complexities of menopause and beyond. In my second conversation with Dr. Louise Newson, we discuss how to know if your hormone levels are low, whether it's possible to take too high a dose, and also the potential consequences of not replacing your lost hormones as you get older, such as increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and even dementia. We dive in...

This week, we are kicking off a new 8-part series in the Beyond Happy subscriber-only podcast, focused on how to build self-trust so you can stop second guessing and start living freely and authentically, knowing you've got your own back. This first episode is available for all Crappy to Happy listeners and focuses on what it means to cultivate self-trust and why so many of us struggle with it. Self-trust is the belief in your own abilities, judgments, and decisions, as well as the inner assura...