What do religion, politics, and relationships have in common? Could it be that they make us lose our faith in humanity? On today’s episode, we talk about the differences between cynicism and pessimism, debate the merit of doubt, and find shreds of delight from a surprising source. Enjoy!

Next poll: How does unhappiness serve you? (DUE 6/20)

We’d love to hear from you! Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Watch on YouTube: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's Substack: crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren___afh (but mostly @picosauve)

We had a plan for this episode, but the universe had another idea. Listen to us talk about pride, withdrawals, hospitalizations, gender, and slugs. Content warning for us being idiots. Enjoy!

Current poll: How does unhappiness serve you? (DUE 6/20)

We’d love to hear from you! Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Watch on YouTube: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's Substack: crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren___afh (but mostly @picosauve)

After a week off, we share the latest chaos in our lives before Lauren takes us on a pursuit of…well, you know. Topics include contentment vs. happiness, feelings we confuse for happiness, why we need to be unhappy sometimes, and what’s bringing us joy these days.

We’d love to hear from you! Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Watch on YouTube: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's Substack: crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren___afh (but mostly @picosauve)

We are once again joined by our friend Adeline, who challenges us to a game of increasingly vulnerable questions. Along the way, we discuss life transitions, accountability, and practice how to say no. Enjoy!

The game we played was the Friendship Edition of We’re Not Really Strangers. They aren’t a paid sponsor, we just love an excuse to make one another uncomfortable.

We’d love to hear from you! Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Watch on YouTube: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's Substack: crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren___afh (but mostly @picosauve)

We are joined by friends and past guests Adeline (AKA Adie) and j’naii to celebrate Pickles and Vodka’s 200th episode! Topics include airport anxiety, setting unpleasant boundaries, being vulnerable on the internet, and the gift of online friendships. Plus, we share listener voicemails, eat biscuits from across the pond, and receive the best gift we’ve ever gotten on this show. Enjoy!

We’d love to hear from you! Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Watch on YouTube: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's Substack: crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren___afh (but mostly @picosauve)

We share listener responses to the question “Do you find mental health diagnoses helpful or hurtful?” Topics include flashbacks, stigma, accountability, and trendy soda. Enjoy!

See below for ways you can join the next conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Watch on YouTube: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's Substack: crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren___afh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

On this episode, we go outside our comfort zone and discuss the concept of perceived safety and when it gets in the way. Tangents include hiding in the closet, finger painting, sad songs, and Awana trauma. Enjoy!

Join the next conversation:

* Leave us a voice message on www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/picklesandvodapodcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's Substack: crisis corner (xtinajumper.substack.com)

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren___afh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

We share listener responses to the question “What does self-disgust look like for you?” Topics include hate vs. anger, stupid things we do that cause self-disgust to accumulate, “sinful” emotions, and a new merch idea. Enjoy!

Surprise! This episode is available to watch as a video on our Youtube and Substack! See below for ways you can join the next conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Watch on YouTube: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's Substack: crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren___afh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive