your life can change,
EVEN WHEN YOU
CAN’T IMAGINE
what better looks like yet.
making gen z
MENTAL HEALTH
LESS CONFUSING
& a little less lonely
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making mental health less confusing—
and a little less lonely.
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Sadie Sutton started she persisted at 15 while in intensive treatment for severe depression and anxiety.
Now 23 and a University of Pennsylvania psychology graduate, she combines lived experience with evidence-based psychology to make the hard parts of mental health feel less confusing—and a little less lonely.
Today, She Persisted is an NYT-recommended, top-charting Gen Z mental health podcast with 500k+ downloads.
recent episodes
if you know what you need to do to improve your mental health, but struggle to implement these changes into your life, then this episode is for YOU. today’s guest is shireen rizvi— a licensed clinical psychologist who has conducted research and training in dialectical behavioral therapy (dbt) for over twenty-five years. in this episode, dr. rizvi and i discuss how to implement dbt skills into your daily life. whether you’ve never heard of dbt before, or you’re a dbt expert, this episode isn’t just about learning the skills— it’s about figuring out how to actually apply them in your life. because while awareness is a crucial step in mental health recovery, it’s not the only step that matters.
are you currently at a low point with your mental health? do you hate when people tell you “it will get better”—mostly because you don’t believe it ever will? in today’s solo episode, i’m talking about depression recovery, suicidal thoughts, hopelessness, asking for help, and what actually helped me start believing that my life could feel different. eight years after being hospitalized for severe depression and suicidality at age 13, i’m looking back on the doubts and fears i had throughout recovery—and answering the questions i wish someone had answered for me then. if you’re asking yourself things like will i always feel this way? what if nothing works? what if i’m not struggling enough to deserve help? what if asking for help makes everything worse? this episode is for you.
want to hear an expert’s opinion on the teen mental health crisis?! today’s guest is dr. blaise aguirre—an assistant professor in psychiatry at harvard medical school in the department of psychiatry. he is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founding medical director of the 3east dialectical behavior therapy continuum of care at harvard affiliated mclean hospital.
in part two of last week’s conversation, dr. aguirre reflects on his 25 years of experience in the treatment of mood and personality disorders in adolescents to share what teens in 2026 are struggling with most. he also shares actionable steps that gen z can take to improve their mental health– ranging from residential treatment to social media and ai use!
if you want to make changes with your mental health, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone– while also providing you with actionable steps you can take to build your life worth living.
why are some people afraid to ask for help, even when their mental health is getting WORSE?! today’s guest is dr. blaise aguirre—an assistant professor in psychiatry at harvard medical school in the department of psychiatry. he is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founding medical director of the 3east dialectical behavior therapy continuum of care at harvard affiliated mclean hospital.
in this episode, i’m reuniting with dr. aguirre to discuss how my treatment at 3east saved my life– and why this program worked for me when nothing else did. dr. aguirre also draws his clinical expertise to unpack all things teen mental health, breaking down topics including self-hatred, agency, family dynamics, & more!
whether you’re struggling with your mental health or love someone who is, this episode is your guide to what makes treatment actually work.
if you want to learn more about how our generation can create lasting change in mental health, this episode is for you!
today’s guest is hailey hardcastle—a gen z mental health advocate who helped pass landmark legislation in oregon allowing students to take mental health days off from school. she was honored by teen vogue as one of the "21 under 21: young women changing the world," and her ted talk on student mental health has been viewed more than 4 million times.
fun fact: this episode was recorded live at the active minds 2026 mental health conference—the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults!
during this conversation, we discuss our personal mental health journeys, how hailey’s advocacy helped turn an idea into a state law, the most effective ways to advocate for gen z mental health, and so much more– including answering audience questions!
i’ve recently made a big career change and learned a LOT about my mental health along the way… so let’s talk about it!
in this solo episode, i’m explaining what sparked this transition in my life & how i’m planning on optimizing this period of change to improve my routines, habits, and overall mental health.
so, if you’re also going through a major life shift in your 20s– or are wanting to figure out whether you should take the plunge into a new chapter of life– here’s how to do so while optimizing your mental health!
how can someone have high self-esteem but low self-worth??! today’s guest is dr. marisa g. franco— a psychologist, author, professor, and friendship expert. she writes about how to build relationships with yourself and others for psychology today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like the new york times, the telegraph, and vice. in this episode, we continue last week’s conversation on self-worth and relationships. this time, we’re focused on the internal factors behind self-worth, such as your emotions, identity, and more!
why do some people struggle to accept love?? today’s guest is dr. marisa g. franco— a psychologist, author, professor, and friendship expert. she writes about how to build relationships with yourself and others for psychology today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like the new york times, the telegraph, and vice.
in this episode, we talk about how our self-worth impacts our ability to love ourselves– and receive love from others.
wanna know what over a decade of therapy, a psychology degree, and my own podcast have taught me about mental health?! in this solo episode, i’m breaking down the key takeaways that i’ve learned throughout my mental health journey.
in honor of it being mental health awareness month, i’m condensing everything i’ve learned from receiving intensive mental health care and years of dbt therapy as a suicidally depressed teenager– combined with my psychology education at upenn and my experience creating this very podcast– to make your 12-step guide to maintaining your mental health.
by the end of this episode, you’ll know all the mental health tips + tricks i wish i’d known when i was struggling!
if your mental health is getting worse, but asking for help feels like too much, this episode is for YOU.
in this solo episode, i explain why so many of us can be reluctant to open up about our mental health before breaking down the techniques you can try to be more vulnerable.
by the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to lower your anxiety around asking for help– because vulnerability is the key to recovery!
how do you help someone who’s struggling with depression??
in this solo episode, i answer a mom's question on how she can best support her son with his depression. i explain how my mental health journey taught me what the best– and worst!– ways are to be there for someone who’s depressed– and three conversation ideas you can try out.
whether you’re a parent, sibling, or friend, this advice can apply to anyone who wants to be a support system for their loved one.
when i think about a major turning point in my mental health journey, this one conversation is truly what kickstarted my recovery.
in this solo episode, i break down the moment in intensive mental health treatment that changed my outlook on mental health recovery, what led me to being hospitalized for my mental health in the first place, & how i began to recover from severe depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
if you are on the fence about whether to ask for help with your mental health (or have a loved one in that exact spot), this episode details when i was in the exact same spot: i explain how i went from not believing i could get better to feeling hopeful that i could recover & build a life worth living.
are you a chronic emotional over-invester?! in this solo episode, i explain how a simple mental health mantra transformed my mentality around emotional boundaries and even lowered my anxiety!
by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to stop the emotional over-involvement and start prioritizing your mental health.
why is the college experience SO different for our generation??! today’s guest is dr. scott barry kaufman— a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author who is passionate about helping all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. he is a professor of psychology at columbia university and host of the psychology podcast, which has received over 30 million downloads worldwide.
in this episode, we break down why gen z students are having such a unique college experience– and what that means for our mental health.
are you tired of constantly choosing between your mental health versus everything else on your plate?! in this solo episode, i answer a listener’s question that a LOT of college students and postgrads struggle with: how do you prioritize success while still taking care of your mental health?
by sharing some of my favorite mental health tips and routines, this episode can serve as your template for how to optimize your mental health without sacrificing your goals.
if you struggle with panic attacks and haven’t found a way to stop them, this episode will change that completely! in this solo episode, i share my psychology-backed hack to end 100% of your panic attacks.
by the end of this episode, you’ll have a mental health skill in your toolbox designed for curbing every panic attack– no matter how much anxiety you’re facing.
if you struggle with depression, you might be facing a brain bias that’s stopping you from healing. this solo episode explains how your brain is holding you back and why daily diaries can move your mental health forward.
by the end of this episode, you’ll know the three easy aspects of your mental health you can keep track of to change your life!
if you’ve ever wondered if you need therapy, or are just “being dramatic”, this episode is for YOU! in this solo episode, i’m unpacking the two key signs that you should get help for your mental health.
by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to spot the red flags that your mental health could use some professional care, and why acting sooner rather than later can change your life.
‘self-actualization’ isn’t just a tiktok buzzword– it’s how you can unlock your true potential using psychology. today’s guest is dr. scott barry kaufman— a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author who is passionate about helping all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. he is a professor of psychology at columbia university and host of the psychology podcast, which has received over 30 million downloads worldwide.
in this episode, we translate terms like self-actualization, agency, and mastery into actionable tools you can actually use. whether you’re a college student trying to raise your gpa or a postgrad working your way out of an existential crisis (real), this episode is your instruction manual for living your best life starting NOW!
if you’re struggling with finding new friends as a postgrad, this episode is for YOU. in this solo episode, i’m sharing my favorite ways to make friends, stay connected, and avoid feeling lonely after graduating college! from making time to be social despite your new 9-to-5 to keeping in touch with long-distance friends, this episode covers every friendship topic for your post-college era.
in this episode, we discuss why our generation can feel so lonely– especially after graduating college– and how we can actually start to improve our connections. by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to use psychology to be more connected than ever, even through the chaos of your 20s.
in this episode, we discuss why our generation can feel so lonely– especially after graduating college– and how we can actually start to improve our connections. by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to use psychology to be more connected than ever, even through the chaos of your 20s.
in this solo episode, i’m sharing my mental health journey with you, taking you through my recovery from severe depression and anxiety right from the start. i cover the highs and lows of my story, including how i went from being hospitalized for my mental health four times in one year to graduating as a psychology major and creating a new york times-recommended mental health podcast to help others who are struggling.
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do you want to start therapy but are worried about what your parents might think? are your parents making you try therapy but you don’t know what to expect? whether therapy is your idea or theirs, this episode breaks down why dialectical behavioral therapy (dbt) can help families navigate even the most challenging mental health issues (content warning for brief mentions of SH).
today’s guest is dr. jill rathus— a world-renowned authority on dbt. she co-developed dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents and families alongside dr. alec miller and dr. marsha linehan and is the co-author of several of the leading texts on this subject, including the widely used dbt skills manual for adolescents.
in this episode, dr. rathus shares her expertise on a number of teen mental health topics, including how to tell if a teen is dealing with mental health issues and what steps a family can take to help.