Podcast
UnF*ck Your Brain: Feminist Self-Help for Everyone
Hosted by Kara Loewentheil · EN
UnF*ck Your Brain: Feminist Self-Help for Everyone breaks down the centuries of sexist socialization that causes us to struggle with self-doubt, burnout, and anxiety.
Hosted by Master Feminist Coach Kara Loewentheil, J.D., founder of The School of New Feminist Thought and author of Take Back Your Brain (Penguin 2024), each episode teaches you how to turn down the noise of societal expectations, turn up the volume on what YOU really want in life, and change your thinking to make sure you go get it.
This podcast is an essential resource for anyone eager to embrace a life free from limiting beliefs and societal constraints.
If you ever find yourself asking questions like…
*Why am I so anxious about stuff that isn’t a big deal?
*How can I stop overthinking everything?
*Am I selfish for wanting my life to look different?
*Will I ever feel comfortable in my body?
*Am I a bad parent?
*How can I ask for more money at work?
*Can I stop people-pleasing?
*How can my partner and I communicate better?
… then you won’t want to miss an episode.
Visit schoolofnewfeministthought.com to learn more about The School of New Feminist Thought and more.
77episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Bonus: Is Coaching the Career for You? (Greatest Hits)
Jun 1200:18:44Tap to summarizeHave you been wondering whether coaching could be a career path for you, or something you bring into the work you're already doing?If you can't stop thinking about that, this episode is for you. What it means to be a coach today is far more varied and interesting than most people assume, and most of you are better suited for it than you realize. I explain who is well-suited for coaching, what it actually entails, and how it can fit into different professional and personal contexts.I also address the misconceptions that tend to stop people before they start, including MLMs, pyramid schemes, and the idea that you can only make money by coaching other coaches. Coaching is a real job, it can be full-time, part-time, or integrated into your current career, and a solid certification makes all the difference in building something sustainable.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/bonus-coaching-careerFollow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/Learn more about Coach Curious Prep School here: unfuckyourbrain.com/curiousMentioned in this episode:The Socratic Coaching Method CertificationEnrollment for the next cohort is open. This 7-month certification program includes intensive training and plenty of space for practice and integration. We've got coach practicum calls, live coaching feedback sessions, and more. Whether you're thinking of starting your own business or side hustle, you want to incorporate coaching into your existing career, or if you're already a coach and want to refine your skills, the Socratic Coaching Method Certification is where you belong. Click here to learn more and enroll: https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/socraticcoachingEnroll in The Socratic Coaching Method Certification
Transcribe →Join me for Coach-Curious Prep School!
Jun 1100:02:16Tap to summarizeCoach-Curious Prep School is a 5-day incubator where you'll learn if coaching is the right career for you, what you need to do to prepare for a successful coaching career, and the next steps to take to begin – or expand – your life as a coach.It's happening June 22-26, 2026.Click here to learn more and register: https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/curious
Transcribe →500. The Two Biggest Ways Women Hold Back (& What Comes Next for UFYB)
Jun 1100:20:18Tap to summarizeWomen often hold themselves back in ways they don’t even notice. This week, I explore the two biggest ways this happens: not asking for what you want and not telling the truth about how you feel. I break down how socialization and internalized beliefs train women to downplay their desires, soften their emotions, and edit themselves in real time, leaving them disconnected from what they actually want and who they really are.You’ll hear why these two patterns show up across careers, relationships, and daily life, and how they subtly shape the decisions you make and the opportunities you take. I explain why wanting and feeling is not the problem, and why the real work is learning to notice the thoughts that keep you from expressing yourself fully.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/500Watch this episode over on YouTube: youtube.com/@karaloewentheilcoachingLearn more about Coach Curious Prep School here: unfuckyourbrain.com/curiousFollow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheilMentioned in this episode:The Socratic Coaching Method CertificationEnrollment for the next cohort is open. This 7-month certification program includes intensive training and plenty of space for practice and integration. We've got coach practicum calls, live coaching feedback sessions, and more. Whether you're thinking of starting your own business or side hustle, you want to incorporate coaching into your existing career, or if you're already a coach and want to refine your skills, the Socratic Coaching Method Certification is where you belong. Click here to learn more and enroll: https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/socraticcoachingEnroll in The Socratic Coaching Method Certification
Transcribe →499. Coaching Hotline: Explaining Divorce to Your Kids & When People-Pleasing Kills Real Connection
Jun 900:11:46Tap to summarizeDivorce can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to figure out how to explain it to your children. In this Coaching Hotline episode, I answer a listener's question about the first stage of divorce, talking about it with her kids, and why starting with your thoughts and feelings, not just actions, is what makes the next steps clear.I also tackle a question about people-pleasing and seeking external validation. You'll hear why prioritizing other people’s needs over your own can feel like love and connection, but it actually undermines your authenticity, and how to cultivate genuine connection instead.Submit your own question here and it might get answered on a future episode: unfuckyourbrain.com/coachinghotlineGet full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/499Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/Mentioned in this episode:The Socratic Coaching Method CertificationEnrollment for the next cohort is open. This 7-month certification program includes intensive training and plenty of space for practice and integration. We've got coach practicum calls, live coaching feedback sessions, and more. Whether you're thinking of starting your own business or side hustle, you want to incorporate coaching into your existing career, or if you're already a coach and want to refine your skills, the Socratic Coaching Method Certification is where you belong. Click here to learn more and enroll: https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/socraticcoachingEnroll in The Socratic Coaching Method Certification
Transcribe →498. Making Peace with the Human Void
Jun 400:23:37Tap to summarizeThink about something you really wanted, something you worked for or waited for, or told yourself would finally change how you felt about your life. Maybe it was a job, a relationship, a business milestone, or a body you thought would make you feel confident.And then you got it, and the feeling did not last.That is the human void, and in this episode I explain what it is, why it shows up even after achievement, and how to relate to it without letting it control you. You'll learn why this restlessness is part of being human, the difference between being philosophically happy with your life and feeling happy in the moment, and why understanding this helps you stop auditing your life against impossible standards.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/498Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/Mentioned in this episode:You're Invited: Coach-Curious MasterclassWhether you’re still deciding if coaching is the path for you – or wondering why your sessions don’t feel as powerful as you know they could – this one-hour masterclass gives you the clarity and tools to move forward. JUNE 26, 2026 12 p.m. – 1p.m. ET Click here to enroll: https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/coach-curious-masterclassEnroll in the Coach-Curious Masterclass here!
Transcribe →497. Coaching Hotline: Managing Your Mind During PMS & Is Disappointment a Cop-Out?
Jun 200:11:57Tap to summarizeManaging your mind during PMS can feel impossible, even when you know thought work and self-coaching strategies. In this episode, I answer a listener question about how hormonal changes or cyclical patterns affect emotional resilience. I also tackle a question about disappointment and whether feeling let down is a cop-out.As you’ll hear, managing your thoughts and feelings intentionally can change how you respond to difficult moments, from PMS to social or personal setbacks. This episode shows you how to separate physical or situational challenges from the stories your mind tells you about them, helping you stay grounded and in control of how you experience your life.Submit your own question here and it might get answered on a future episode: unfuckyourbrain.com/coachinghotlineGet full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/497Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/Mentioned in this episode:You're Invited: Coach-Curious MasterclassWhether you’re still deciding if coaching is the path for you – or wondering why your sessions don’t feel as powerful as you know they could – this one-hour masterclass gives you the clarity and tools to move forward. JUNE 26, 2026 12 p.m. – 1p.m. ET Click here to enroll: https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/coach-curious-masterclassEnroll in the Coach-Curious Masterclass here!
Transcribe →496. The 3 Words Sabotaging Your Goals & How to Change Them
May 2800:32:37Tap to summarizeThere is one thought that quietly sabotages almost every goal you care about, and you probably don’t even realize it’s a thought because it sounds like a fact.In this episode, I break down the three words that stop us from following through on what we want and explain why believing this thought can make it feel impossible to achieve the results you are working toward. Plus, I share a three-step practice you can use to rewire this pattern. Listen in, because changing this thought can be the difference between quitting too soon and finally seeing the results of the work you have been doing all along.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: schoolofnewfeministthought.com/496Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/Mentioned in this episode:Enroll now in Coach-Curious Prep School In this five-day incubator, you’ll learn whether coaching is the right career for you, what you need to do to prepare for a successful coaching career, and the next steps to take to begin – or expand – your life as a coach. It's happening on JUNE 22-26, 2026. Click here to register: https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/curiousEnroll now in Coach-Curious Prep School
Transcribe →495. Coaching Hotline: Stop Romanticizing the Future & Why We Chase People Who Don’t Want Us
May 2600:13:43Tap to summarizeDo you ever find yourself planning for the future and imagining how perfect it's going to be? In this Coaching Hotline episode, I answer two listener questions about fantasies and expectations. I explore why romanticizing the future can take you out of the present and why trying to control your thoughts about someone else only makes you feel more out of control. I break down how our brains trick us into conflating circumstances and thoughts, showing why happiness and fulfillment are created by the thoughts you are having now, not by money, experiences, or other people. You’ll hear why striving to reject negative emotions or desires only gives them power, and why chasing validation from others is ultimately about how you relate to yourself. Submit your own question here and it might get answered on a future episode: unfuckyourbrain.com/coachinghotline Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: schoolofnewfeministthought.com/495Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/Mentioned in this episode:Enroll now in Coach-Curious Prep School In this five-day incubator, you’ll learn whether coaching is the right career for you, what you need to do to prepare for a successful coaching career, and the next steps to take to begin – or expand – your life as a coach. It's happening on JUNE 22-26, 2026. Click here to register: https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/curiousEnroll now in Coach-Curious Prep School
Transcribe →494. The Six Stages of Change
May 2100:28:27Tap to summarizeHow many times have you been doing the work, trying to change, and then completely lost it? You yelled at your kids, said yes when you meant no, or spent money you promised yourself you wouldn't, and thought, "I am failing. This is not working. I should just give up." We’ve all done this, which means we’ve all quit on change when we were already in the process, but just couldn’t see it.In this episode, I break down the six stages of behavior change so you can see that you are already in the process of change, even when it doesn't feel like it. You'll hear why shame keeps you stuck, why self-compassion is the bridge to noticing your behavior, and how observing yourself without judgment allows real change to begin. Plus, I share specific prompts and practical ways to work with yourself at each stage so you can finally create the change you want.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: schoolofnewfeministthought.com/494Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/If you want to go deeper on what it's like to be a coach or how to bring coaching into your current work, check out my new podcast, The Future Coach! You can find it anywhere you get your podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:The Future Coach Podcast is Here!The Future Coach: How to Succeed as a Life Coach Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond is finally here. Every other week, you'll hear practical advice about becoming a coach, improving your coaching skills, and antidotes to the most common concerns, questions, and brain drama that come up with this work, whether you're just starting out or you're years into your career. If you want to find out more, you can find it anywhere you listen to podcasts and hit that follow button.WE'RE HIRINGGo to unfuckyourbrain.com/hiring to learn more about these positions and to apply.
Transcribe →493. Coaching Hotline: Making Friends as an Adult & The Line Between Honesty and People-Pleasing
May 1900:12:23Tap to summarizeMaking friends as an adult can feel intimidating, especially when it seems like your upbringing didn't give you the skills to navigate social connections. In this Coaching Hotline episode, I answer two listener questions about friendships and social interactions. I explore why it is possible to build friendships while continuing your self-work, and why the story you tell yourself about your friendship skills can keep you stuck.I also tackle the tricky line between honesty and people pleasing. I break down why volunteering opinions that nobody asked for is not automatically people pleasing and why the key is understanding your own motivations behind sharing advice or judgments. This episode will help you distinguish between speaking your truth for yourself and managing your behavior out of concern for others’ approval.Submit your own question here and it might get answered on a future episode: unfuckyourbrain.com/coachinghotlineGet full show notes, transcript, and more information here: schoolofnewfeministthought.com/493Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/Mentioned in this episode:The Future Coach Podcast is Here!The Future Coach: How to Succeed as a Life Coach Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond is finally here. Every other week, you'll hear practical advice about becoming a coach, improving your coaching skills, and antidotes to the most common concerns, questions, and brain drama that come up with this work, whether you're just starting out or you're years into your career. If you want to find out more, you can find it anywhere you listen to podcasts and hit that follow button.The Future Coach Podcast is Here!The Future Coach: How to Succeed as a Life Coach Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond is finally here. Every other week, you'll hear practical advice about becoming a coach, improving your coaching skills, and antidotes to the most common concerns, questions, and brain drama that come up with this work, whether you're just starting out or you're years into your career. If you want to find out more, you can find it anywhere you listen to podcasts and hit that follow button.
Transcribe →