Épisodes

  • Overthinking About Critical Thinking

    Overthinking About Critical Thinking
    May 13 2026
    What does “thinking critically” actually mean and why is everyone so convinced they’re already good at it? This week, Amanda is joined by psychologist and author of Radical Thinking, Peter Lamont to explore how all of our beliefs are shaped by a limited slice of what we notice and how we interpret it, which means disagreement is inevitable. Peter reframes critical thinking as something quieter and more uncomfortable: recognizing the limits of your own perspective and being willing to engage with people who see the world differently. From the role of the internet and social media to why curiosity might matter more than certainty, this episode is a grounded spiral about attention, interpretation, and learning to question your own thinking before anyone else’s. Further Reading: Radical Thinking: How to See the Bigger Picture by Peter Lamont - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Thanks to our Sponsors: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order at bit.ly/3OdtU5X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 min
  • Overthinking About "Healthy" Relationships

    Overthinking About "Healthy" Relationships
    Apr 29 2026
    What does a healthy relationship actually look like, and who gets to decide? This week, Amanda is joined by relationship expert Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh (@dr.saranasserzadeh) to overthink "healthy" relationships. Together, they unpack why “healthy” can feel impossible to define, and why a more useful question might be: Does this relationship leave you feeling fulfilled? They explore how many people waste energy trying to fix the wrong things, and Sara breaks down the six ingredients she believes help relationships thrive. From situationships that feel surprisingly safe to whether healthy couples are “boring,” this episode is a grounded spiral about connection, boundaries, and giving yourself permission to believe you deserve the kind of love that feels steady. Further Reading: Love by Design: 6 ingredients to build a lifetime of love by Dr. Sara Further Viewing: The 6 Essential Ingredients of Loving Relationships - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical For 15% off your first order. Go to https://ZENNI.com/PODCAST and use code PODCAST15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 min
  • Overthinking About Insecurity

    Overthinking About Insecurity
    Apr 15 2026
    What if the antidote to insecurity isn’t looking inward, but reaching outward? This week, Amanda is joined by psychiatrist and attachment expert Dr. Amir Levine to overthink insecurity; where it comes from, why it can feel so consuming, and how it shapes the way we love. Together, they explore how healing happens in connection and how leaning on your support system and surrounding yourself with secure people can help reshape those patterns over time. From overanalyzing texts to fearing abandonment or pulling away entirely, this episode is a thoughtful spiral about connection, self-trust, and learning how to feel safe in community. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 min
  • Overthinking About Doing Your Own Research

    Overthinking About Doing Your Own Research
    Apr 1 2026
    “Do your own research.” It sounds empowering… so why does it so often lead us straight into confusion, conspiracy, or complete information overload? This week, Amanda is joined by pharmacist and science communicator Dr. Harini Bhat (@tilscience) to overthink what it really means to “do your own research” in the age of the internet. They unpack how a phrase rooted in curiosity became a cultural catchphrase for skepticism, distrust, and DIY fact finding. Why do we feel so confident after reading a few threads or watching a couple of videos? How do algorithms, bias, and the illusion of understanding shape what we think we “know”? And where’s the line between healthy questioning and going down the rabbit hole? A brain bending spiral about knowledge, misinformation, and why thinking critically might be harder (and more necessary) than ever. Further Viewing: Today I Learned Science by Dr. Harini Bhat - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at⁠ https://SHOPIFY.COM/⁠⁠magic⁠⁠al⁠ Shop plans at ⁠https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 min
  • Overthinking About Flirting

    Overthinking About Flirting
    Mar 18 2026
    Why does flirting feel so natural for some people and completely impossible for the rest of us? This week, Amanda is joined by dating coach and relationship expert Francesca Hogi (@dearfranny) to overthink the art and anxiety of flirting. Together they unpack why flirting often gets misunderstood as manipulation or performance, how modern dating apps have scrambled our instincts, and why genuine curiosity might be the most underrated flirting skill of all. From the fear of coming on too strong to the panic of missing signals entirely, they explore the psychology behind attraction and the subtle ways we communicate interest. A playful spiral about eye contact, mixed signals, and why flirting might actually be less about being charming and more about being present. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 min
  • Overthinking About Feeling Doomed

    Overthinking About Feeling Doomed
    Mar 4 2026
    This week, host Amanda Montell takes the mic solo to overthink the creeping sense of doom that seems to hum beneath modern life. Drawing from her Esquire essay on “doomslang,” she unpacks the language we use to joke about collapse, catastrophe, and existential dread... and what those jokes might be revealing about how we’re actually coping. From ironic nihilism to memeified despair, Amanda explores why we’ve turned apocalypse into punchline, how constant crisis reshapes our nervous systems, and whether calling everything “doomed” is a defense mechanism… or a warning. A short spiral about dread, dark humor, and the strange comfort of saying the quiet part out loud. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    25 min
  • Overthinking About Workaholism

    Overthinking About Workaholism
    Feb 18 2026
    This week, Amanda is joined by psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch (@guywinch) to overthink workaholism. Why being “busy” feels virtuous, why burnout can masquerade as success, and how overworking often hides deeper emotional needs. Together, they unpack the psychology behind overwork and the quiet ways it can become a socially acceptable addiction. The conversation offers a new lens on why so many of our attempts at “work/life balance” leave us feeling even more depleted and what it might actually take to build a life that feels sustainable instead of performative. A reflective spiral about rest, self-worth, and learning that you are more than what you produce. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    48 min
  • Overthinking About Being A Flake

    Overthinking About Being A Flake
    Feb 4 2026
    When did canceling plans become a personality trait... and at what cost? This week, Amanda is joined by writer and internet culture expert Kate Lindsay (@kathrynfiona) to overthink being a flake... not as a quirky coping mechanism, but as a habit that can quietly shrink our lives. Together, they explore how chronic flakiness can lead to isolation, weaken our relationships, and negatively impact mental health, especially in the burnout aftermath of the pre-COVID girlboss era that taught us to overextend and then retreat. The conversation traces how exhaustion, overwork, and digital culture have reshaped our tolerance for social effort, and when “protecting your peace” starts to look like opting out entirely. A sobering but compassionate spiral about burnout, loneliness, and the hard work of choosing connection again. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at⁠ https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical⁠ Get 50% off Unlimited premium wireless at ⁠https://MintMobile.com/magical To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    48 min