Podcast Summary: “How to Stop Ruminating”

The Dr. Laura Podcast
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: November 10, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of The Dr. Laura Podcast explores the topic of rumination—those persistent, self-critical thoughts that weigh us down and distract us from feelings of pride or accomplishment. Dr. Laura responds to a listener's heartfelt letter about being tough on oneself and learning how to shift toward self-acceptance and personal pride. By sharing personal anecdotes, listener experiences, and the inspirational song “Proud” by Heather Small, Dr. Laura offers practical advice on overcoming negative self-talk and embracing progress and pride in everyday life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Laura on Personal Growth and Handling Mistakes

• Self-Criticism Roots:
  Dr. Laura recalls her own lifelong struggle with self-criticism, tracing it back to her father’s influence—and how this set the tone for her initial responses to setbacks.

  “I went from an evolution in my 78 years from being kind of tough on myself if I couldn’t do something immediately or do it great...I sort of got that from my dad.” (00:42)

• A Change in Mindset:
  She describes a significant evolution:

  1. Viewing mistakes as valuable learning opportunities.
  2. Pausing to see if “failures” can be repurposed, not just discarded.

  “Now I’ve evolved into a two point reaction. One was, oh good, now I got the way to do it wrong out of the way. Now I could do it right. The second one was, well this is wrong or a failure or mistake…but is there some way I can still use it?” (00:42)

• Teaching Others About Mistakes:
  Dr. Laura shares a teaching experience with her UV resin jewelry class, emphasizing that making mistakes is an essential (and normal) part of learning:

  “When I teach my UV resin jewelry class…some mistakes, yeah, you just throw it away, learn from it and do it again using what you learned. Or…is there something we can still make out of this?” (02:00)

Listener Letter: The Struggle to Feel Proud

• Caller's Experience with Rumination:
  A listener writes in about hearing the song “Proud” by Heather Small and being moved to tears during a hike, reflecting on how constantly ruminating over flaws drowned out pride in accomplishments.
  • The listener now regularly listens to “Proud” as a reminder to celebrate personal achievements rather than dwell on self-criticisms.

  “The lyrics literally brought tears to my eyes because I’ve got a lot to be proud of and instead I frequently ruminate over all the things I could be doing different or better.” (03:00)

Celebrating Progress, Not Perfection

• Dr. Laura's Core Message:
  She reinforces that making mistakes and feeling unsuccessful is universal, but self-growth comes from learning and adapting. It’s time to flip the script: use setbacks as springboards for pride and progress.

  “Let’s not jump to lost cause immediately.” (02:26)

• Music as Inspiration:
  She highlights how music, specifically “Proud,” can be a powerful tool for shifting one’s mindset away from rumination and toward pride.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Learning from Failure:

  “Oh good, now I got the way to do it wrong out of the way. Now I could do it right.” — Dr. Laura (00:58)

• Encouragement from Listener Letter:

  “I was out hiking with my dog and the lyrics literally brought tears to my eyes…instead I frequently ruminate over all the things I could be doing different or better. The lyrics of this song really made me stop and take a moment to be proud.” — Listener Scott (03:00)

• On Not Letting Failure Win:

  “Does it really have to be a tosser or is there some way I can use it?” — Dr. Laura (01:40)

• Challenging Listeners:

  “What have you done today to make you feel proud?” — Heather Small, quoted by Dr. Laura (06:42)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Personal Evolution from Self-Criticism to Acceptance
  • Dr. Laura describes her journey and teaching experiences: (00:42–02:30)
• Listener Letter on Rumination and Self-Pride
  • Listener shares experience with the song “Proud”: (02:30–04:13)
• Lyrics Recited & Song Discussion
  • Dr. Laura reads “Proud” lyrics and reflects: (06:42–09:36)

Tone & Language

• The episode balances Dr. Laura’s classic direct, practical style with warmth and empathy.
• Through both her anecdotes and her interaction with the listener letter, Dr. Laura maintains authenticity and a nurturing, yet thought-provoking tone.
• The language is conversational, straightforward, and peppered with encouragement.

Takeaway Messages

• Stop Ruminating: Shift your focus from persistent self-criticism to recognizing your progress, learning from mistakes, and being proud of daily achievements.
• Music as a Tool: Use inspiration—like Heather Small’s “Proud”—to break negative thought cycles.
• Growth is Ongoing: It’s never too late to adjust your mindset and practice self-appreciation.

Call to Action

Dr. Laura encourages listeners to reflect daily on what they've accomplished, no matter how small, and to consider:
“What have you done today to make you feel proud?” (06:42, Heather Small/Dr. Laura)

For support and more advice, listeners are encouraged to reach out or tune in to Dr. Laura’s daily program.