Drinking Tea with Monsters

This week we welcome special guest April Grant, Resident Counselor at Authentic Connections Counseling and Founder of True North Therapy PLLC, specializing in ADHD and OCD. We get into the tech era conundrums surrounding AI. The good, the bad, and the autonomous. Then we deep dive into the neuroscience behind OCD. How is the neurodivergent brain wired? How does it work? And can we retrain it to work with us? Leela and April walk through Leela's experience living with OCD and discuss examples of the OCD brain IRL. We end this weeks episode with two spooky occurrences. One in Virginia and one in Michigan.This week on Drinking Tea with Monsters, we’re joined by April Grant, resident counselor at Authentic Connections Counseling LLC and founder of True North Therapy PLLC, specializing in ADHD and OCD.First, we tackle the tech-era monster on everyone’s mind: AI. Is it a revolutionary tool, an ethical dilemma, or something more autonomous than we’re ready for? We unpack the promises, the fears, and the very real questions shaping the future of technology.Then we take a deep dive into the neuroscience of OCD. What’s actually happening in the neurodivergent brain? How is it wired differently? And most importantly, can we retrain it to work with us instead of against us? April explains the science, breaks it down for us with real-life examples of how the OCD brain shows up day-to-day, and we talk through Leela's lived experience with OCD.And because no episode would be complete without a haunting tale, we close with two eerie encounters, one from Virginia and one from Michigan, that might make you question what energies surround us in the modern world.Brains. Bots. Ghosts. Let’s sip. ☕️I'm, like, totally obsessed with...🤖 the dystopian AI futureOCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)Psychology TodayApril GrantAuthentic Connections Counseling LLCTrue North Therapy PLLCDTWM👻 Our true life encounters.Looking for another cozy listen?🎧 Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians.Contact Us📱 IG: @drinkingteawithmonsters 📧 EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com

In this episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters, we time travel, tackle artificial intelligence, talk anxiety, OCD, and hypervigilance, one of history’s most haunting love stories, and the world's current love for Punch the monkey.First, we go Back to the Future to ask: if we could rewrite the timeline, would we stop the rise of AI? From sci-fi predictions to modern fears about artificial intelligence, we unpack how pop culture shaped our expectations, our paranoia, and we come up with a whole new conspiracy theory.Then we deep dive into hypervigilance. What it is, why your nervous system won’t relax, and how the “monkey mind” keeps punching the panic button when nothing is actually on fire.And finally, we uncover the ghostly romance behind the Taj Mahal, the tragic love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, and the haunting legend surrounding the iconic white marble mausoleum in Agra, India. Is it a monument to eternal devotion, or one of history’s most beautiful ghost stories?Pour your tea. Question the timeline. Calm your nervous system. And maybe don’t trust the robots!Because sometimes the real monsters are the ones we build, and the ones we carry inside. ☕Our Current Watchlist📺 Back to the Future II (Available to buy or rent)📺 Shrinking (Apple TV)I'm, like, totally obsessed with...🐵 Punch the monkeyOCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)Psychology TodayDTWMTaj Mahal, IndiaLooking for another cozy listen?Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians.Contact UsIG: @drinkingteawithmonsters EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com

In this week’s episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters, Leela finally confronts Pri about the big puzzling betrayal and yes, we get into all of it. The girls spill the tea and break down the surprisingly competitive world of speed puzzling.We're totally obsessed with the Dunkin' Super Bowl commercial, steeped in 90s nostalgia and we explore the link between Joe Biden and Fall Out Boy.Then we deep dive into the overlaps between social anxiety and OCD, unpacking how OCD can impact your social life, relationships, and the way you move through the world.And to close us out, Pri tells the chilling story of the haunting of Loarre Castle, a medieval fortress where some say the walls still echo with something terrifying.Puzzles. Betrayal. OCD confessions. And a castle that screams. Put the kettle on, it’s about to get spooky!Our Current Watchlist📚Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt | 🎧Audiobook narrated by Michael Urie📚Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley | 🎧Audiobook narrated by Marin Ireland Michael Urie📚She Didn’t See it Coming by Shari Lapena📚I Hope this Finds You Well by Natalie Sue📚The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna📺Good Cop/Bad Cop (Netflix)📺How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Netflix)📺Derry Girls (Netflix)I'm, like, totally obsessed with...📼Dunkin' Super Bowl Commercial💿Fall Out BoyOCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)Psychology TodayDTWMLoarre Castle, SpainLooking for another cozy listen?Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians.Contact UsIG: @drinkingteawithmonsters EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com

We're back with this year's first episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters, the mental health podcast about OCD and other, less-scary monsters. This week, we’re embracing January hibernation with coziness, comfort, and conversation.First, we share our favorite cozy winter reads, shows, and podcasts, perfect for indoor kids, introverts, and anyone building a soft seasonal reset list. If you’re looking for comforting book recommendations, binge-worthy series, or thoughtful listens, we’ve got you covered.Then we dive into the realities of traveling with OCD. Why can trips feel overwhelming when you live with obsessive-compulsive disorder? We talk openly about travel, anxiety, OCD triggers, and the practical tools we use to make vacations more manageable. To close, Leela shares a chilling and atmospheric winter tale: The Bells of the Frozen Post Office in Minnesota, a haunting seasonal mystery that blends folklore, history, and just a touch of the paranormal.Grab your tea, get cozy, and join us for the first episode of the new year, part mental health podcast, part pop-culture deep dive, part paranormal storytelling.I'm, like, totally obsessed with...Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van PeltMichael UriePartnersGood Cop/Bad Cop (Watch on Netflix)The Beast in Me (Watch on Netflix)Grantchester (Watch on Netflix)The Marlow Murder Club by Robert ThorogoodThe Thursday Murder Club (Watch on Netflix)Normal Gossip on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify Glamorous Trash, Chelsea Devantez on Apple Podcasts, on SpotifyNo Dating Till You’re Married by Leela DuaHanging Out with Ant and DecTake That Documentary (Watch on Netflix)Cars (Watch on Disney+)Rooster, The TrailerOCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)Psychology TodayTraveling with OCD: The Power of Radical Acceptance (NOCD)Five Travel Tips When Traveling with OCD (IOCDF)Travelling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (The Travel Psychologist) DTWMThe Bells of the Frozen Post Office (Minnesota, 1936)Looking for another cozy listen?Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians.Contact UsIG: @drinkingteawithmonsters EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com

This week on Drinking Tea With Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other, less scary monsters, we’re getting ready to not care about New Years Eve. We wax poetic about why time is a construct and other things that don't matter.Next Pri tells us about why butter is better and Leela share what she's obsessed with in comedy this week. Spoiler alert! It's a new special from Kumail Nanjiani.Finally, we Drink Tea With Monsters and meet the whimsical ghosts of New Year's Eve. Grab your tea, get comfy, and join us for a New Year's episode of Drinking Tea With Monsters, part mental health podcast, part holiday hang, part paranormal mystery.I'm, like, totally obsessed with...Kerrygold CheeseKerrygold ButterKumail Nanjiani's New Comedy Special, Night Thoughts (Watch it on Hulu or Disney+)The Big Sick (Watch it on Prime Video)No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcastOnly Murders in the Building (Watch it on Hulu or Disney+)Ray RomanoOCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)Psychology TodayDTWMThe Ghosts of New Year's EveTangent StuffCheck out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians.Contact UsIG: @drinkingteawithmonsters EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com

This week on Drinking Tea With Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other, less scary monsters, we’re getting into the Christmas spirit. This is a cosy, low-key holiday episode where we take it easy on the OCD and invite you to hang out with us in a warm, festive space.We kick things off with an unhinged recap of Leela's trip to the dentist. What kind of laughing gas are they giving out these days?Next, things get competitive with a Hallmark Christmas movie quiz. Leela challenges Pri to decide which of eight Christmas movie titles and descriptions are real, and which are completely made up. What’s at stake? First pick of our book/movie/TV club for 2026, and other fun treats!We also chat briefly about the news, with an important reminder that OCD is ego-dystonic.Finally, we Drink Tea With Monsters and explore the annual Christmas haunting of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, uncovering what might just be the definitive proof that ghosts are real. Grab your tea, get comfy, and join us for a Christmasy episode of Drinking Tea With Monsters, part mental health podcast, part holiday hang, part paranormal mystery.I'm, like, totally obsessed with...The Hallmark ChannelTwelve Dates 'Til ChristmasPizza Rolls by Totino'sKerrygold ButterOCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)Psychology TodayDTWMRaynham HallTangent StuffCheck out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians.Contact UsIG: @drinkingteawithmonsters EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com

This week on Drinking Tea With Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other, less scary monsters, we’re fully embracing our “I’m like, totally obsessed with…” era! We dive headfirst into an emo music revival, because some phases never really die. From From Under the Cork Tree to A Holiday From Real, we’re revisiting the albums that shaped our eyeliner-heavy souls, plus the song that kicked it all back into gear: “Fall For You” by Secondhand Serenade. (Yes, it still hits!)Then we get into it about anxiety and the overlap with anxious OCD. Pri and Leela talk about their experience with anxiety and how they're working through it.Finally, we Drink Tea with Monsters at the iconic Drury Lane Theatre in London, because sometimes monsters love a little drama!And of course, we go on a few tangents, like Pri’s bold take that Cars is basically a Hallmark movie. Grab your tea and join us for nostalgia, mental health tools, and the usual monster chaos!I'm, like, totally obsessed with...Emo music (now and again!). From Under the Cork Tree to a Holiday From Real, we're re-listening to it all!The song that restarted it all...Fall For You by Secondhand SerenadeCheck out @gravette.angela for more emo throwback inspiration!OCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)DTWMDrury Lane Theater (London, UK)Tangent StuffPri thinks Cars is like a Hallmark movie. Do you agree?Check out Leela's other podcast, No Dating Till You're Married, an audiobook podcast. Gilmore Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians.A Biltmore Christmas (Watch it on the Hallmark channel)Contact UsIG: @drinkingteawithmonsters EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com

Grab your favorite mug and settle in, this week’s episode of Drinking Tea With Monsters is a blend of festive chaos, OCD insight, and retail hauntings.First, we dive headfirst into the holiday season’s most spirited traditions: family feuds, delicious pies, Hallmark Christmas movies and Pri makes an accusation that could drive the sisters apart.From there, we shift into something more grounded, and deeply important. We get into the second part of our interview with Mary Rogers Kirby of Creating Solutions. Mary Rogers is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in anxiety, OCD, and trauma. Mary Rogers takes us on a deep dive into our Q&A follow-up to our previous discussion on OCD subtypes. We chat about religion, scrupulosity, and navigating motherhood and postpartum with OCD. Finally, we stay true to the Thanksgiving theme by going shopping! We visit the Macy's at Herald Square and 34th street and hang out with the ghosts at the iconic department store.Grab a brew, get cosy, and join us to Drink Tea with Monsters.I'm, like, totally obsessed with...Resident Aliens (Watch it on Peacock, Hulu, or Netflix)Do watch: Hart of Dixie (on Amazon Prime)Don’t watch: Virgin River (on Netflix)Mom’s Apple Pie Company (Virginia)Follow: @WhatNavEats On IG and TikTokOCDMary Rogers Kirby (Psychology Today)Creating SolutionsDTWMMacys, Herald Square, NYCContact UsIG: @drinkingteawithmonsters EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com

This week on Drinking Tea with Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other, less scary monster, we kick off the episode by hearing about the canoodling of Britney Spears and Karl Rove. What? And how did that lead to a relationship between Britney Spears and George W. Bush? Grab your tea and get comfy 'cuz it’s a whole journey!Next, we sit down with Mary Rogers Kirby of Creating Solutions. Mary Rogers is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in anxiety, OCD, and trauma. Mary Rogers takes us on a deep dive into OCD subtypes, everything from the well-known varieties like contamination fears and checking, to lesser-known themes like relationship OCD and religious scrupulosity.Then Pri whisks us off to Arkansas for a spirited visit to the famously haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, where the ghosts are surprisingly productive but they still know how to have a good time.So pour yourself something warm, get comfortable, and join us for another delightfully chill episode of Drinking Tea with Monsters.I'm, like, totally obsessed with...Happy Birthday Britney Spears!OCDMary Rogers Kirby (Psychology Today)Creating SolutionsDTWMCrescent Moon Hotel, Eureka SpringsContact UsIG: @drinkingteawithmonsters EMAIL: drinkingteamwithmosters@gmail.com