Podcast Summary: Breaking the Rules – "How These Sisters Turned Their OCD into a Thriving Jewellery Business"

Date: March 31, 2025
Hosts: Dr. Celine Gelgec and Dr. Victoria Miller
Guests: Lindsay and Emily Stetzer, co-founders of Presently

Overview

This episode features sisters Lindsay and Emily Stetzer, who share their lived experiences with OCD and how they channeled their challenges into Presently, a jewellery brand offering tangible reminders of effective OCD coping skills. Through candid storytelling, they address growing up with OCD, the power of community, and breaking the stigma—while providing clinicians with insight into patient realities.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Genesis of Presently (03:30–07:29)

• Need for Tangible Reminders:
  Both sisters struggled to recall therapeutic tools in moments of high anxiety, realizing there was a lack of supportive products in the market.
• Rejection of Toxic Positivity:
  When searching for meaningful reminders, all Emily found were "good vibes only" messages, which felt disconnected from her true experience.

  “All I found were phrases like good vibes only and choose happiness and think positively. ...if only I remembered to do that. Life changing.” – Emily (04:45)

• DIY Solution and Community Focus:
  The first bracelet bore the phrase “my thoughts are passing clouds,” inspired by a refrain from both therapy and Lindsay.
• Brand Mission:
  Presently aims to create tools that genuinely support people during tough moments and counter unrealistic positivity narratives.
• Sisters’ Roles:
  • Lindsay: Senior interior designer, passionate about sharing her OCD story to help others.
  • Emily: Art director, responsible for Presently’s initial visual identity and messaging.

Openness and Sharing as Advocacy (07:29–09:48)

• Lindsay’s Journey to Openness:
  Initially hesitant, she grew comfortable sharing her OCD openly—a way to distinguish herself from her OCD and invite others to do the same.

  “I feel like it just gives people, like, a comfort level when you share to, like, give them the space for them to share if they need to.” – Lindsay (08:13)

• Community Response:
  Since being public about their experiences, the sisters have received messages from people feeling understood for the first time.

  “People message us all the time, like, thank you so much for sharing. Literally almost cried after finding your page.” – Emily (09:34)

Lindsay’s Lived Experience with OCD (10:27–17:08)

• Early Signs & Family Dynamics:
  Lindsay's symptoms manifested in childhood as classic compulsions (light switches, ordering, magical thinking about harm prevention).
  • Noted genetic/familial element: Their father exhibited similar behaviors.
• Major OCD Onset: (11:32–14:49)
  Triggered in high school by existential fears following an out-of-body experience after marijuana use—leading to her first panic attack.

  “I remember I was sitting…on the bathroom toilet and I had this very out of left field thought, like, how do I know if I'm alive or if I'm dead? …That was also my first panic attack.” – Lindsay (11:57)

• Impact on Daily Life:
  Routine behaviors became difficult; fear of losing touch with reality dominated her thoughts.
  • Describes persistent existential OCD and the fear of “never wanting to go back to that place.”
• Personal Exposures and Community Support:
  Lindsay uses daily exposure to manage triggers (example: eating “Funhouse Pizza”), shares progress via videos, and relies on a supportive, informed community.

  “I'm very much…continuing to do exposures for myself every day, no matter what it is.” – Lindsay (16:06)

Emily’s Distinct Experience and Childhood Perspective (17:52–25:00)

• Separation Anxiety Dominance:
  • Emily describes chronic separation anxiety, refusal to attend school or sleepovers, and consistent need for reassurance/confession with parents.

  "I had separation anxiety. I refused to go to school...didn't wanna go sleep over my friend's house...call my mom at like three in the morning to pick me up." – Emily (19:10)

• Obsessions and Compulsions:
  • Early fears included possible future transgressions (smoking, stealing), sexuality, and breaking rules—always accompanied by a pressing urge to confess.
• Sisters’ Interplay:
  • Lindsay often comforted Emily, noting the intense distress and need for confession.

  “The need and the urge to, like, confess something just to make myself feel better. That is textbook OCD. But at the time, you know, we just thought it was anxiety.” – Emily (23:20)

• Retrospective Understanding:
  Emily recognizes now that her compulsions (confession, reassurance-seeking) were part of OCD, but at the time, they went unrecognized.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Meaningless Positive Affirmations:
  “All I found were phrases like good vibes only and choose happiness and think positively. ...if only I remembered to do that. Life changing.”
  – Emily (04:45)

• On Sharing as Empowerment:
  “Because I'm so open about myself, they just feel comfortable sharing what they're going through.”
  – Lindsay (08:13)

• On Family and Diagnosis:
  “[My dad] like told me in the car once, he was like, 'I've done that and like, I know that and I've experienced that.' So like, he didn't say that he has OCD, but he has OCD.”
  – Lindsay (11:19)

• Existential OCD in Adolescence:
  “How do I know if I'm alive or if I'm dead? Just that fear of like the unknown scared the shit out of me.”
  – Lindsay (12:08)

• Self-Exposure in Recovery:
  “I just sent Emily a video today of me eating pizza because I had a fear...I'm very much...that's like something that I continually do exposures for myself every day.”
  – Lindsay (15:49)

• On Need to Confess:
  “The need and the urge to, like, confess something just to make myself feel better. That is textbook OCD.”
  – Emily (23:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 03:30-07:29 | Story behind Presently and its purpose | | 07:29-09:48 | Advocacy through openness and community responses | | 10:27-17:08 | Lindsay’s OCD journey and day-to-day strategies | | 17:52-25:00 | Emily’s upbringing, anxiety, and emerging insight |

Tone and Conclusion

Throughout, the sisters bring warmth, vulnerability, and a mix of humor and raw honesty. The hosts maintain a supportive tone, drawing clinical parallels for their audience. The episode closes with both the value of lived experience in understanding OCD and the message that turning pain into purpose and community can be profoundly healing—for both clients and clinicians.