This week, the Hot Mess Help Desk brings in a special guest — Jeff Chestnut, our campus Fitness Center Director — to talk about movement as a tool for mental health. We break down gym myths and talk about starting small. Whether you love the gym, fear the gym, or avoid the gym at all costs, this episode gives you practical, shame-free ways to reconnect with your body.

Takeaway: Movement isn’t about doing more — it’s about feeling grounded, regulated, and cared for.

Hot Mess Help Desk is back for Season 2. College stress, mental health, fitness, safety, careers, and everything in between—we’ve got something for everybody. With a guest every episode, two counselor hosts break down the chaos, bust myths, and normalize the spiral with humor, honesty, and real coping skills. New episodes every other week. Same mess, better tools.

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Happy Coping

In this season finale of Hot Mess Help Desk, your campus counselors look back at the biggest themes of the semester — what worked, what didn’t, and what we’re all still figuring out. They’ll unpack lessons on balance, boundaries, burnout, and why “doing your best” sometimes just means showing up in sweatpants.

Whether you crushed it, crawled through it, or landed somewhere in the middle, this episode is your reminder that surviving is thriving, and every messy moment still counts as progress.

Takeaway: You made it through. Celebrate the wins, learn from the chaos, and remember — growth doesn’t have to look perfect to be real.

Reaching out for help doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you’re human. In this episode, Mya and Lainie unpack how to recognize when it’s time to get support, what counseling actually looks like (and what it isn’t), and why you don’t need to wait for a crisis to start building your team. They break down how support can show up in friends, professors, and campus counselors—and how having a plan before things get tough makes all the difference.

Takeaway: You don’t have to do college alone. Asking for help is one of the strongest things you can do.

In this chaotic-comfy episode of Hot Mess Help Desk, Lainie and Mya actually do chores with you — using behavioral activation, questionable motivation, and lots of laughter to get something (anything!) done.

We talk emotionally fragile socks, the warning signs that your mess has gained sentience, and our best–worst chores… all while cheering you through whatever tiny task you tackle.

Fold one shirt, rinse one mug, or just lie on the floor and vibe — it all counts. Let’s fake it till we fold it, together.

Identity, belonging, and imposter syndrome — oh my. This episode dives into the messy process of figuring out who you are in college (and realizing it’s okay if the answer changes). Mya and Lainie discuss identity, finding your people, and building confidence when you feel like you don’t fit in.

Takeaway: You don’t have to have it all figured out — belonging starts with being kind to yourself.

This week on Hot Mess Help Desk, Lainie and Mya get real about one of the hardest self-care skills on campus: setting boundaries. From roommates who don’t get the hint to group projects gone rogue, they're diving into five mini role plays that show how to handle everyday boundary struggles with friends, family, and professors — without turning it into drama.

Through these realistic (and sometimes painfully relatable) scenes, you’ll learn what healthy communication actually sounds like, how to protect your peace without ghosting people, and why “no” is a full sentence.

Takeaway: Boundaries aren’t selfish. They’re self-respect in action.

College can be lonely — even when you’re surrounded by people. In this episode, Mya and Lainie talk about depression, isolation, and what to do when “I’m fine” isn’t cutting it. They’ll share how to recognize when you might need more support, why connection matters even when you don’t feel like talking, and small steps to start feeling human again.

Takeaway: You’re not lazy or broken — you’re doing your best. And your best is worth celebrating.