Love, Happiness and Success with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Latest Episodes:

AI Companions: ChatGPT Will Never Judge You. And That's the Problem. | Happiness | E571 Nov 05, 2026

Show notes

What happens when ChatGPT understands you better than the people in your actual life? It listens. It validates. It never gets annoyed, never tells you you're being dramatic, and never makes you feel like you're too much.

And that's exactly what makes it so dangerous.

Because when an AI companion starts feeling safer than a real human being, you have to ask yourself a pretty uncomfortable question: Is this actually helping me… or am I slowly losing touch with myself?

In this episode of Love, Happiness & Success, I'm joined by tech journalist and Love at First Prompt author Bridget Todd, an AI skeptic who found herself turning to ChatGPT for emotional support during a devastating family crisis. When the chatbot asked her one simple question, "Are you okay?", it changed everything.

Together, we're exposing the surprising truth about AI companions, the hidden risks of endless validation, and what happens when technology starts meeting our deepest emotional needs.

You'll learn:

Why ChatGPT can feel safer than real people (and what that reveals about your emotional needs).
The hidden danger of endless validation and why someone who always agrees with you might be holding you back.
The #1 red flag your relationship with AI has gone too far and how to recognize it before you lose trust in yourself.
Why using ChatGPT as your therapist could backfire including what you need to know about privacy.
How to protect your real relationships and help someone you love who's becoming too attached to AI.

Here's the truth: Feeling understood isn't the same as growing. And being validated isn't the same as being helped.

If you're feeling disconnected, stuck, or unsure how to get your emotional needs met in your real relationships, you deserve more than a chatbot that tells you what you want to hear. Book a FREE consultation with a coaching therapist on my team at Growing Self. We'll help you reconnect with yourself, strengthen your relationships, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Growing Self

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS
Tin Can — A screen-free phone that gives kids more freedom to talk to friends, with parental controls built in. Get $10 off your first order at tincan.com/LHS
Cozy Earth — Give the gift of cozy this holiday season with luxuriously soft blankets, sheets, and pajamas everyone will love. Shop their biggest sale of the year and get 35% off home and sleepwear with code LHS at cozyearth.com through December 3rd

Be sure to check out The Dr. Leaf Show to discover the science behind your thoughts, emotions, and mental well-being with cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf, who shares practical strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and developing healthier thinking habits. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Your Partner Isn't the Enemy. So Why Does Every Conversation Feel Like a War? | Love | E570 Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

How does "Did you remember to do that?" turn into a screaming match, a slammed door, or three days of silence?

One minute, everything's fine. The next, you're defending yourself like your life depends on it. And somehow, you're having the SAME fight you've had a hundred times before.

Your partner isn't the enemy. So why does every conversation feel like a war?

Here's the uncomfortable truth: Your partner might not be attacking you. But your brain thinks they are. And that automatic reaction could be the very thing keeping you trapped in a cycle of defensiveness in relationships that neither of you knows how to escape.

In this episode, I'm joined by marriage and family therapist and board-certified coach Matthew Caplan to expose what's really happening when defensiveness takes over your relationship — and why trying to prove you're right could be destroying the connection you're desperate to protect.

You'll learn:

Why the smallest comments trigger your biggest fights.
How your nervous system turns your partner into the enemy.
The four defensive reactions that quietly sabotage relationships.
Why being RIGHT can cost you the connection you want.
How to break the cycle, lower your defenses, and finally feel like a team again.

You don't have to keep fighting the person you're supposed to be fighting FOR.

Ready to stop having the same miserable argument on repeat? Book a FREE consultation with Matthew and start changing the patterns keeping you stuck.

Xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Growing Self

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS
Tin Can — A screen-free phone that gives kids more freedom to talk to friends, with parental controls built in. Get $10 off your first order at tincan.com/LHS
Cozy Earth — Give the gift of cozy this holiday season with luxuriously soft blankets, sheets, and pajamas everyone will love. Shop their biggest sale of the year and get 35% off home and sleepwear with code LHS at cozyearth.com through December 3rd

Be sure to check out The Dr. Leaf Show to discover the science behind your thoughts, emotions, and mental well-being with cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf, who shares practical strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and developing healthier thinking habits. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Sexless Marriage? The Brutal Truth About Why Your Partner Doesn't Want Sex | Love | E569 Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

Your partner keeps turning you down for sex. You're hurt, frustrated, and starting to wonder if they even want you anymore. But what if you've been getting the whole thing wrong?

Here's the uncomfortable truth: Your sex life might not be suffering because the attraction is gone. It might be suffering because neither of you knows how to talk about what's really happening in the bedroom.

In this episode, I'm joined by sexuality expert and couples therapist Dori to unpack the painful cycle of sexual rejection, resentment, and avoidance that's quietly destroying intimacy in so many relationships. And trust me, some of what she reveals might completely change how you see your partner.

You'll learn:

Why your partner keeps saying no to sex (and why it might not be about you).
The bedroom mistakes that secretly destroy sexual desire.
How to talk about what you really want without triggering shame, defensiveness, or a fight.
Why sexual rejection turns into resentment, and how to break the cycle.
How to reignite intimacy, even after decades of disconnection.

Your sex life doesn't have to stay this way. If you're ready to stop guessing and start reconnecting, book a free consultation with Dori at growingself.com/dori. You deserve a relationship where intimacy feels good for both of you.

Xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Shopify — Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/lhs
Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS
Tin Can — A screen-free phone that gives kids more freedom to talk to friends, with parental controls built in. Get $10 off your first order at tincan.com/LHS
Vinted — A secondhand marketplace app that makes it simple to sell clothes you no longer wear and earn extra cash. The app is free to download, and with no seller fees, you keep what you earn.

Coercive Control: The Hidden Signs You're Being Manipulated by Someone You Love | Love | E568 Oct 26, 2026

Show notes

You said yes. But what if you were never really free to say no?

Here's the terrifying thing about coercive control: It can look exactly like love. Exactly like consent. And you might not recognize the manipulation until you're already trapped in it.

In this eye-opening episode, I'm joined by forensic researcher AJ Greer, who studies sexual violence, dangerous relationship dynamics, and the psychology of abusers. We're exposing the subtle manipulation tactics, shocking red flags, and dangerous power dynamics that can turn a relationship into something you barely recognize.

You'll learn:

The hidden signs of coercive control that are dangerously easy to miss.
Consent vs. coercion: Why saying "yes" doesn't always mean you had a choice.
Love bombing, jealousy, and manipulation: The red flags you should NEVER ignore.
The open relationship ultimatum: When "agreeing" becomes coercion.
The dangerous bedroom trend that can have deadly consequences.
How to help someone you love who's trapped in an abusive relationship.

If you've ever questioned your partner's behavior, second-guessed your boundaries, or wondered whether something that happened to you was actually okay, you need to hear this conversation.

Ready to get clarity about your relationship? You don't have to figure it out alone. Book a FREE consultation with a member of my team at Growing Self.

Content note: This episode discusses coercion, sexual violence, abuse, and physical danger. If you need immediate support, visit our emergency resources or thehotline.org.

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Shopify — Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/lhs
Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS
Tin Can — A screen-free phone that gives kids more freedom to talk to friends, with parental controls built in. Get $10 off your first order at tincan.com/LHS
Vinted — A secondhand marketplace app that makes it simple to sell clothes you no longer wear and earn extra cash. The app is free to download, and with no seller fees, you keep what you earn.

Women in Leadership: You Made It to the Top. So Why Are You Miserable? | Success | E567 Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

You didn't work this hard just to feel this miserable.

You got the promotion. You earned your seat at the table. You built the career you always wanted.

So why are you exhausted, lonely, and secretly wondering if any of it was worth it?

Here's what nobody tells you about women in leadership: The higher you climb, the lonelier it can get. You're expected to be confident but never intimidating. Decisive but always likable. Successful at work while somehow keeping everything at home running perfectly, too.

And the worst part? You start wondering if you're the problem.

In this episode, I'm joined by psychologist and executive leadership coach Dr. Natasha Thapar-Olmos to expose the hidden emotional cost of leadership and what you can do to stop surviving your success and actually start enjoying it.

You'll learn:

Why reaching the top can feel so painfully lonely, especially when you're the only woman in the room.
How to stop second-guessing yourself when every decision feels like a no-win situation.
The hidden expectations that are driving your burnout (and how to break free).
Why trying to do everything yourself is keeping you stuck.
How to build the confidence, support system, and boundaries you need to lead without losing yourself.

You can be ambitious without being miserable. And you don't have to figure it all out alone.

If you're ready to feel confident, supported, and excited about your career again, book a free consultation with a Growing Self coach. Let's talk about how to make your success feel as good as it looks.

And here's a little something extra: Dr. Natasha created a free resource just for our listeners! Take a Breather: 50 Options, 5 Minutes Each is packed with simple, five-minute ways to pause, reset, and recharge when life and leadership feel overwhelming. Because sometimes, five minutes is exactly what you need.

Xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Growing Self

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Shopify — Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/lhs
Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS
Tin Can — A screen-free phone that gives kids more freedom to talk to friends, with parental controls built in. Get $10 off your first order at tincan.com/LHS
Vinted — A secondhand marketplace app that makes it simple to sell clothes you no longer wear and earn extra cash. The app is free to download, and with no seller fees, you keep what you earn.

Mental Strength: Are You Actually Healing, or Just Getting Better at Explaining Your Problems? | Happiness | E566 Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

You've done the therapy. Read the books. Analyzed your childhood. You know EXACTLY why you keep repeating the same patterns.

So why isn't anything changing?

Here's the uncomfortable truth: Understanding your problems isn't the same as solving them. And waiting until you feel confident, motivated, or emotionally ready might be the very thing keeping you stuck.

In this episode, I'm joined by Amy Morin, psychotherapist and bestselling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, to challenge everything you think you know about mental strength, healing, and what it actually takes to change your life.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The mental habits secretly keeping you stuck (and how to break them).
Why all that self-awareness isn't translating into real change.
The surprising difference between mental strength and pretending you're okay.
How to stop overthinking, overcome self-doubt, and take action before you feel ready.
Three practical strategies to build mental strength, even when life feels overwhelming.

Here's the bottom line: You don't have to feel strong to start changing your life. But you do have to start.

And you don't have to figure it out alone.

At Growing Self, our therapist-coaches combine the depth of therapy with the action-oriented approach of coaching to help you understand what's holding you back, break old patterns, and turn those breakthroughs into meaningful, lasting change.

Ready to stop just understanding your problems and start doing something about them? Book a free consultation with our team.

Let's turn all that self-awareness into actual progress.

Xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Growing Self

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Shopify — Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/lhs
Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS
Tin Can — A screen-free phone that gives kids more freedom to talk to friends, with parental controls built in. Get $10 off your first order at tincan.com/LHS
Vinted — A secondhand marketplace app that makes it simple to sell clothes you no longer wear and earn extra cash. The app is free to download, and with no seller fees, you keep what you earn.

Daddy Issues: The Hidden Reason You're Never Good Enough | Happiness | E565 Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

You love your dad. He did his best. So why are you still desperately trying to prove you're good enough?

Why do you keep choosing emotionally unavailable partners? Why can't you stop fixing everyone else's problems? And why does being the person who "has it all together" feel so damn exhausting?

What if the patterns ruining your peace today started with a wound you didn't even know you had?

I'm joined by psychotherapist and bestselling author Terri Cole to unpack the truth about "daddy issues," the invisible father wound, and how childhood experiences can quietly shape your self-worth, relationships, and ability to receive love. And trust me, this conversation got personal.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The surprising signs of daddy issues you might be mistaking for personality traits.
Why even loving, well-intentioned fathers can leave emotional wounds.
How your childhood may be driving your people-pleasing, perfectionism, and compulsive fixing.
Why you keep falling for emotionally unavailable people and mistaking familiarity for chemistry.
How to start healing your father wound, reclaim your worth, and finally stop walking on eggshells.

Here's what I want you to know: You don't have to keep living out patterns you never consciously chose.

If you're ready to understand what's keeping you stuck and finally start changing it, my team of therapist-coaches can help. Book a free consultation to take the first step toward healing your father wound, reclaiming your self-worth, and creating healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

Xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Shopify — Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/lhs
Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS
Tin Can — A screen-free phone that gives kids more freedom to talk to friends, with parental controls built in. Get $10 off your first order at tincan.com/LHS
Vinted — A secondhand marketplace app that makes it simple to sell clothes you no longer wear and earn extra cash. The app is free to download, and with no seller fees, you keep what you earn.

Is Your Partner’s Job Replacing You? The Hidden Cost of a Career That Comes First | Love | E564 Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

They love you. So why does it feel like their job gets the best of them, and you get whatever is left?

Maybe you're always waiting for them to come home. Maybe you've stopped asking for more because they're so busy. Or maybe you're the one saying, “I'm sorry, but I have to work.” Again.

In this episode, I’m talking with Growing Self couples therapist Silas Hendrich, LMFT, about what happens when a career becomes the third in your relationship, and how to find your way back to each other.

You’ll learn:

Why high achievers can become more attached to work when things at home get harder
Why the partner at home eventually stops asking for what they need
How resentment quietly replaces connection
The boundaries that can start rebuilding trust
Small ways to reconnect, even when work isn’t slowing down

Nobody has to be the villain for your relationship to be in trouble. You can both be doing your best and still wake up one day feeling more like roommates than partners.

The good news? You don’t have to wait for the job to change, the busy season to end, or life to magically calm down. Small, intentional changes can start rebuilding warmth, trust, and connection now.

If work has been coming between you, book a free consultation with Silas. He can help you understand what’s keeping you stuck and start finding your way back to each other.

Xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Growing Self

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Shopify — Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/lhs
Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS
Tin Can — A screen-free phone that gives kids more freedom to talk to friends, with parental controls built in. Get $10 off your first order at tincan.com/LHS
Vinted — A secondhand marketplace app that makes it simple to sell clothes you no longer wear and earn extra cash. The app is free to download, and with no seller fees, you keep what you earn.

Is This a Break… or a Breakup? What It Really Means When Your Partner Needs Space | Love | E563 Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

“I need space.”

Three words. And suddenly you’re wondering if your relationship is over.

Are they coming back? Did I do something wrong? Should I give them space or fight for us? Is this actually a breakup and they just don’t have the courage to say it?

That uncertainty can be excruciating.

Because “I need space” can mean I need 20 minutes to calm down. It can mean I don’t know if I want this relationship anymore. And sometimes, it really does mean goodbye.

In this episode, marriage and family therapist and Growing Self clinician Jennifer Cunningham is helping you figure out which one you’re dealing with and what to do next.

You’ll learn:

How to tell a healthy pause from serious emotional withdrawal
What not to do when your partner starts pulling away
When taking a break can actually save a relationship
The warning signs that “space” may really mean a breakup
The question to ask when you’re done living in limbo

You deserve clarity, not emotional purgatory.

If your partner is pulling away and you don’t know what it means for your relationship, book a free consultation with Jennifer. She can help you understand what’s happening, what you want, and whether there’s a path forward.

Xoxo,Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Growing Self

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Shopify — Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/lhs
Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at Sequencing.com
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS

Want More Friends But Dread the Effort? Here’s What Actually Works | Happiness | E562 Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Here’s the brutal truth about making friends as an adult: nobody is coming to find you.

You want more friends. You want people who really know you, people you can call, people you actually want to spend time with. You just don’t want to go through the awkward, exhausting process of making them.

And maybe somewhere along the way, you started wondering: Is something wrong with me? Am I too introverted? Too awkward? Too weird?

Nope. But there is an uncomfortable truth: your future best friends probably aren’t going to magically show up at your house. Making friends requires action. The good news? You do not need to become an extrovert, work the room, or reinvent your personality.

I’m joined by psychologist and marriage and family therapist Dr. Suzanne Wallach to unpack why adult friendship has gotten so hard and what actually works when you’re lonely, out of practice, or just really tired.

You’ll learn:

Why making friends as an adult feels so freaking hard
Where adults actually meet people they might want to be friends with
What to do when you want friends but dread the effort
How introverts can build close friendships without pretending to be extroverts
Why being comfortable alone can actually help you build better relationships

Because you do not need 100 friends. You need a few good ones. And you don’t need to be less weird.

You need to find your specific genre of weirdo.

And if you’re realizing there’s a gap between the social life you have and the one you want, you don’t have to figure out how to close it alone. At Growing Self, our therapists and coaches help people create stronger relationships, build confidence, and make meaningful changes in every area of their lives.

Book your free consultation and get matched with the right expert for you.

Xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Growing Self

Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast:

Shopify — Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at⁠ shopify.com/lhs⁠
Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠quince.com/lhs⁠⁠
Sequencing.com — Discover what your DNA can reveal about your health with clinical-grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA. Get 10% off with promo code LHS at ⁠Sequencing.com⁠
Ritual — Hormone-free support made for the perimenopause years. Get 25% off your first order at Ritual.com/LHS

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