Drinking Tea with Monsters

This week on Drinking Tea with Monsters, the podcast about OCD and other less scary monsters, we share part 1 of our interview with parenting OCD expert Elena Fasan. Elena shares her personal journey living with OCD, growing up in the performing arts, and navigating the high-pressure worlds of ballet, theater, and Hollywood. We get into it all, from behind-the-scenes stories, including surprising run-ins with Tom Cruise, Oprah, and John Taylor of Duran Duran, to real talk about mental health.TangentsSexy Beast (Available to rent on Youtube, Amazon Prime, AppleTV)The Beast in Me (Netflix)OCDElena Fasan is a licensed clinical social worker who treats children, adolescents, and emerging adults diagnosed with OCD, anxiety disorders, and OC spectrum disorders. She founded and is the director of the Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective in Los Angeles and has worked as an adjunct professor teaching child development classes. She also has lived experience with OCD, depression, and skin picking.Children's OCD and Anxiety CollectiveParenting OCDIOCDFIG: @parenting_ocdLooking 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

A ghost who solved their own murder, the story of Gucci's reincarnation, and a deep dive into OCPD. This episode of Drinking Tea With Monsters blends true crime, psychology, and the paranormal in the most unsettling way.In honor of Friday the 13th, we explore the eerie lore behind one of the unluckiest days in history, where superstition, fear, and real-life stories collide. From haunted energy to chilling coincidences, this episode leans into everything that makes Friday the 13th so iconic.Then we deep dive into the fashion world, with the comeback of an icon, (and no, we’re not talking about The Devil Wears Prada 2). We tell you the story of Gucci's reincarnation, and we examine fashion from the iconic looks of George Costanza to the timeless classic looks of Miranda Priestly (and the ones she chooses for us).Then, we break down the Amy Poehler of disorders (it's not like the other disorders): Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). What it actually is, how it differs from OCD, and why it’s often misunderstood.We finish this week’s episode with the story of Zona Heaster Shue, also known as the Greenbrier Ghost, believed to be the only ghost to help solve her own murder in court.If you love true crime, paranormal mysteries, psychology, and a touch of dark humor, this episode is for you.I'm, like, totally obsessed with...fashionMax AlexanderThe Devil Wears Prada 2And That's Why We Drink (Episode 271 on Barbro Karlén)OCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)Psychology TodayObsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) DTWMZona Heaster ShueLooking 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 the latest episode of Drinking Tea With Monsters, Pri is back from her break!We are totally obsessed with Broadway, Hollywood (and Bollywood) legend Jonathan Groff, star of stage, film, and television. We love him in "A Nice Indian Boy", "Frozen", "Hamilton", and we're looking forward to "Just in Time", and "As You Like It".Then we dive into the fascinating gut–brain connection, the science behind how your digestive system communicates with your brain, influencing mood, anxiety, and feel good chemicals like serotonin. We talk about how we can manage our OCD and support our mental health via food and nutrition.Finally, we step into the shadows of Mortemer Abbey to uncover the eerie legend of the ghosts that lurk within: white ladies, werewolves, and monks, oh my!Pour yourself a cup of tea and join us for a conversation that moves from Broadway to biology to the paranormal, exactly the kind of strange brew you’d expect on Drinking Tea With Monsters. ☕I'm, like, totally obsessed with...🎭 Jonathan Groff in:Frozen (Watch it on Disney+)Hamilton (Watch it on Disney+)Hamilton (on Broadway)Just in Time (on Broadway)As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Company)A Nice Indian Boy (on Hulu)OCDInternational OCD Foundation (IOCDF)Psychology TodayCan Diet Affect Your OCD Symptoms? (NOCD)Diet and Nutrition Tips for Anxiety and OCD (OCD and Anxiety Centers)Supplements that work for us (NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. Please consult your doctor before taking any new supplements.)Calm MagnesiumMyo Inositol DTWM👻 Mortemer AbbeyLooking 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

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