Overthinking

I can't stop now. I just can't stop doing this. Dr. Julie Smith is a clinical psychologist with over three million followers. How does she handle stress, pressure, burnout, and overload? We face ideals to do everything perfectly. But that's impossible. We often turn to habits that give quick relief, like raiding the fridge or grabbing wine. The real fixes that last take effort right then. They mean sitting with the feeling, facing it, and using tools to get through.

I love therapy. It spots patterns and cycles where people feel stuck, especially in relationships. It can change lives.

Without more delay, I'm Stephen Bartlett. This is The Diary of a CEO. I hope no one's listening. But if you are, keep it quiet. Do me a quick favor. If you're hearing this, tap follow or subscribe. It helps a lot. We invite subscribers each month to see the show live.

Dr. Julie Smith, I read up on your story as much as I could. Many guests have tons of online details about their past, upbringing, childhood. Not you. One thing struck me as great. Successful people at your level often have some tough childhood event that drove them. Trauma or something big that made them obsessed or super driven. Was that you? Tell me about your childhood.

No big trauma sparked my path. Lately, folks ask why I'm into psychology. I've always loved people and human behavior. As a kid, I read books about everyday folks in normal situations. How they grow and become themselves. That hooked me. At school, a new A-level in psychology popped up. I thought, sounds good. Let's try it. I loved it. Everyone went to uni, so I did too. Psychology seemed fun. I had no clue about jobs at the end. I just chased what interested me.

When people ask career advice or how to find passion, that's my tip. Follow your interests. Do what excites you. You don't need a big "aha" moment to love your work. Chase curiosity, and you'll land in a job you enjoy.

I've done this podcast a while now. It feels like a mind trip with each guest. Sometimes like therapy. I learn more about people in general. I talk to top achievers, who seem unusual. From your work on the human mind—thoughts, trauma, mood, choices all linked—what stands out about us? How we turn out this way? Big question, I know.

I'll share what I've learned. It might show what I mean. Before this podcast, I thought we were all so different. My job was spotting how winners stand out. Now I see the opposite. Humans react in ways you can predict. Poke here, get that response.

Yes, there's predictability. In therapy, we see patterns. Models build on that. If this happens, that pattern might follow. But people still surprise you. No two are alike. In one-on-one work, you can't assume. Everyone has their own story, experiences, coping ways. Predictable in parts. But expect surprises.

How did a therapist like you end up on TikTok with millions of followers? It's not the spot you expect for mental health tips. More like teens dancing.

We said before recording—TikTok seems for young kids dancing. Not psychologists sharing advice. You've felt like going against the flow in your field. Therapy stays private and quiet. You work one-on-one. Confidential. Few in this area even use social media. Privacy rules and client protection.

Posting felt scary. What will peers think? What trouble? But clients loved the education part. I'd go home and tell my husband—why pay to learn this from me? Bits about how your mind works to beat anxiety or improve relationships. Therapy teaches life skills, not just therapy ones. I use them daily against life's curveballs.

It felt wrong to hide that knowledge in sessions. My husband said, go for it. Share on YouTube. We made a bad video half trying. Then he found TikTok. Someone told him about it. He checked it out. It was packed with...