Podcast
The OCD Confessional
Hosted by Liam · EN
The OCD Confessional is a podcast about living, laughing, and coping with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Hosted by former TV news anchor Liam Martin and actress/model Alicia Hill — two friends who both live with OCD — this show blends raw honesty, practical tools, expert insights, and plenty of laughs.
Each episode, Liam, Alicia and a special guest will “confess” the craziest intrusive thoughts and compulsions they’ve battled, from absurd rituals to embarrassing moments, and share the tools that actually help them get through. With candid conversations and occasional input from OCD experts, The OCD Confessional is part storytelling, part survival guide, and part comedy therapy session.
Whether you’re living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or just curious about what it’s like inside an OCD brain, this podcast offers hope, humor, and community. Because sometimes -- we laugh to keep from crying.
Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is about real experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder. While we use humor to share our stories, it is never our intention to minimize the very real suffering OCD causes. Our goal is to share stories, coping tools, and hope. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, please dial 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or find local resources where you are.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Rachael Mathews on Health OCD, Anxiety & Motherhood
2w ago00:59:38Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Rachael Mathews, OCD advocate and creator of the Hold Space community, to talk about living with health OCD and anxiety.Rachael shares her experience navigating intrusive thoughts and constant fear around her health. We talk about what health OCD actually feels like, why reassurance never quite sticks, and how anxiety can quietly take over your day-to-day life.We also explore: • What health OCD really looks like beyond “being a hypochondriac” • Intrusive thoughts and fear of illness • How motherhood changes the experience of OCD • The importance of community and feeling understood • The story behind Hold Space, her private support group for people navigating health anxiety and OCDRachael’s story is honest, calming, and deeply relatable — especially for anyone whose OCD shows up as fear about their body, their health, or their future.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →Ryan Judd on What Causes OCD, ERP Therapy & Why Recovery Is Possible
4w ago00:50:21Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Ryan Judd, Clinical Director of the OCD Institute Texas, a residential treatment program specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders.Ryan brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the conversation, giving him a unique perspective on what it actually takes to recover from OCD.We start with his OCD confession and his personal experience before diving into his work treating people with some of the most severe forms of OCD.In this episode, we explore: • What OCD actually is (beyond the stereotypes) • What science says about what causes OCD • Claims around gut health, inflammation, and OCD • Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are so effective • Why OCD is not something you just have to “live with forever”Ryan also shares why he’s passionate about challenging the idea that OCD is “incurable” — and what real recovery can look like.This episode is both educational and empowering, and a must-listen for anyone trying to better understand OCD or find a path forward.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →Connor Stout on Contamination OCD, Panic Attacks & Harm OCD
Apr 2101:01:08Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Connor Stout — psychiatric rehabilitation specialist, mental-health advocate, and founder of @stillgood_wellness — for a powerful conversation about living with OCD, panic disorder, and depression.Connor shares how his journey began with contamination OCD as a child, when his parents first noticed changes in his behavior that led to a diagnosis. He opens up about the progression of his mental health — including severe panic attacks that kept him from leaving his house, experiences with harm OCD, and a depressive episode in college that ultimately led him to step away from school.We talk about the moments that shaped him and how his experiences led him to a career helping others rebuild their lives after mental illness.In this episode, we explore: • What contamination OCD really feels like • Panic disorder and being afraid to leave home • Harm OCD and intrusive thoughts • Depression and identity loss • The turning point toward recovery • Why talking about mental health mattersConnor’s story is honest, vulnerable, and deeply hopeful — a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, growth and connection are possible.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →Tori Peyton on Harm OCD, Trauma & Eating Disorder Recovery
Apr 700:47:48Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Tori Peyton (@growithtori), creator, advocate, and host of the Keep Growing podcast, for an incredibly honest and powerful conversation about OCD, trauma, and eating disorder recovery.Tori shares her story of experiencing sexual abuse at a young age and how that trauma later manifested as harm OCD, intrusive thoughts, and a struggle with an eating disorder. We talk about how OCD can attach itself to trauma, why intrusive thoughts can feel so real and terrifying, and how silence and shame can keep people stuck.Most importantly, Tori opens up about what helped her begin to heal — including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and trauma-focused therapy — and how she’s rebuilding her life with compassion, awareness, and honesty.In this episode, we explore: • Harm OCD and intrusive thoughts • The intersection of trauma and OCD • Eating disorders and control • The role of ERP in recovery • Healing after shame and silenceThis episode is sensitive, real, and deeply hopeful — for anyone navigating OCD, trauma, or both.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →Alix Behar on Relationship OCD (ROCD), Intrusive Doubt & Saving Her Relationship
Mar 3100:46:15Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Alix Behar (@recoverocd), OCD advocate and content creator, to talk about relationship OCD (ROCD) — and how it nearly cost her the relationship she’s now built a life around.Alix shares how OCD first showed up for her, how intrusive doubts and constant questioning took over her mind, and what it’s like when your brain convinces you that something is wrong with the person you love most. We talk about the emotional toll of ROCD, the reassurance traps that keep it alive, and how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helped her begin to break free.In this episode, we explore: • What relationship OCD actually feels like • How ROCD targets love, attraction, and certainty • Why reassurance never works long-term • How ERP helps retrain your brain • Turning recovery into advocacyThis conversation is honest, validating, and incredibly important for anyone who has ever questioned their relationship because of OCD.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →Chris Trondsen on Surviving Severe OCD & Finding Recovery Through ERP
Mar 1701:02:39Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Chris Trondsen, licensed marriage and family therapist at The Gateway Institute and longtime advocate with the International OCD Foundation.Chris brings a rare and powerful perspective to the conversation — not only does he treat OCD professionally, he has also lived through severe OCD himself.Chris shares how intrusive thoughts and compulsions once consumed nearly every waking hour of his life, the years he spent misdiagnosed, and the moment he finally discovered Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold-standard treatment for OCD. After reaching a devastating low point during his illness, Chris eventually rebuilt his life and dedicated his career to helping others recover from the same disorder that once controlled his own.In this episode we discuss: • What severe OCD actually feels like • The damage misdiagnosis can cause • How ERP treatment works in real life • The emotional aftermath of recovery • What Chris learned moving from patient to therapistThis conversation is both deeply honest and hopeful — and a powerful reminder that recovery from OCD is possible.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →“The Struggling Warrior” on Religious OCD and Recovery
Mar 1000:57:45Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Hussain, OCD advocate and founder of The Struggling Warrior, a platform dedicated to helping people understand and navigate obsessive-compulsive disorder: https://thestrugglingwarrior.com/Hussain shares his personal journey living with intrusive thoughts and OCD, how the disorder targeted the things he cared about most, and what helped him begin loosening OCD’s grip. We talk about the isolation that often comes with intrusive thoughts, the shame that keeps people silent, and why speaking openly about OCD can be a powerful step toward recovery.We also discuss: • What intrusive thoughts actually feel like • Why OCD attacks your deepest values • How Hussain turned suffering into advocacy • The importance of community in OCD recovery • What helped him begin to rebuild trust in himselfThis conversation is honest, hopeful, and a reminder that even in the hardest moments, people living with OCD are not alone.You can follow Hussain on instagram @thestrugglingwarrior_Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →Lisa McCarty on Postpartum OCD & Intrusive Thoughts in Motherhood
Mar 300:54:23Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by writer and mental-health advocate Lisa McCarty to talk about postpartum OCD, intrusive thoughts in motherhood, infertility anxiety, the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, and being a caregiver while struggling with OCD.Lisa shares her personal experience navigating fertility struggles, pregnancy, and postpartum mental health — including how OCD and anxiety showed up during one of the most vulnerable seasons of her life. We talk about intrusive thoughts in new parents, the shame that keeps people silent, and the difference between normal parental worry and obsessive-compulsive disorder.In this episode, we explore: • What postpartum OCD actually feels like • Intrusive thoughts in motherhood • Fertility struggles and anxiety • The stigma around maternal mental health • How storytelling can reduce shame • What helped Lisa begin to healIf you’ve ever felt afraid to say your thoughts out loud — especially as a parent — this conversation is for you.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →Our Worst OCD Thoughts, Health Anxiety & How This Podcast Changed Us
Feb 2400:56:50Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailToday’s episode of The OCD Confessional is just us.No guest. No expert. Just Alicia and Liam getting real about our own OCD journeys — the worst intrusive thoughts we’ve had, Liam’s ongoing struggle with health OCD, how this podcast has changed us, and the feedback from listeners that’s meant the most.We talk about: • The most ridiculous (and terrifying) OCD thoughts we’ve experienced • How health anxiety can hijack logic • Where we are now in our recovery journeys • The best messages we’ve received from listeners • What doing this podcast together has taught us • And yes… coffee or tea, beach or mountains, sweats or jeansIt’s honest. It’s vulnerable. And it’s very funny — because humor has been one of our most powerful tools in navigating OCD.If you’ve ever wondered who we are outside of expert interviews and research deep dives, this is the episode for you.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →Zachary James on Relationship OCD, POCD & Health Anxiety
Feb 1701:03:38Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Zachary James — known on Instagram as @ocdestigmatize — to talk about living with some of the most misunderstood and stigmatized forms of OCD: Relationship OCD (ROCD), POCD, and health OCD.Zachary shares how OCD targeted his relationships, his identity, and his health — creating relentless doubt, fear, and intrusive thoughts that felt impossible to ignore. We talk about what it’s like when OCD attacks the things you care about most, why reassurance never works long-term, and how he began to loosen OCD’s grip through awareness and treatment.In this episode: • What relationship OCD actually feels like • Understanding POCD and intrusive thoughts without shame • Health OCD and constant fear of illness • The role of exposure and response prevention (ERP) • Why destigmatizing OCD mattersThis conversation is honest, vulnerable, and essential listening for anyone struggling with intrusive thoughts that feel too taboo to say out loud.Support the show🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQSupported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Transcribe →