Have you ever replayed a conversation over and over in your mind?

Maybe it was something your partner said. A text that felt off. A moment at work. A look on someone’s face. Suddenly your mind is looping, analyzing, judging, and trying to solve something that never seems to resolve.

Today’s conversation with science writer Donna Jackson Nakazawa is about rumination—what many of us experience as overthinking, thought spirals, or getting mentally stuck.

Donna brings together powerful neuroscience, personal story, and practical tools to help us understand why our minds loop, what those loops are trying to show us, and how we can begin to interrupt them with compassion and clarity.

We explore:

Why rumination is not random—and what it reveals
The difference between productive reflection and a mental loop that leaves you feeling worse
Why social media can trigger rumination so quickly
Donna’s MIST framework for stopping the spiral

This conversation is especially for you if you’ve ever thought, Why can’t I just let this go? or Why am I still thinking about this?

Get Donna's new book, Mind Drama here

Connect with Donna here

Preorder my brand new book The Secure Soul

Want to hear more episodes like this? Start here:

Episode 158: Your Pain Has a Name: The Deeper Hurt Behind Distressing Thoughts with Therapist Monica DiCristina

Episode 51: The 12 Common Thinking Traps, Mind Reading, Mental Filters, and How To Stop Taking Things Personally

📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here

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While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

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