Season 17 Recap: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles Talk Toxic Relationships, Joy, and Mental Health Recovery

Season 17 went out the way this show does best: honest, messy, funny, and full of heart. In this recap episode, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles look back at a powerful season of conversations about toxic relationships, shame, burnout, suicide prevention, chronic pain, grief, parenting, joy, and the wild little thing we call healing.

Awards & Downloads Line

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

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Trigger Notice + 988 Crisis Reminder

This episode includes discussion of suicidal thoughts, suicide prevention, emotional pain, trauma, and mental health struggles. If you or someone you love is in crisis, please call or text 988 in the United States or visit https://988lifeline.org for immediate support. You are not alone, and your story is not over.

Mental Health Quote

“Every time we share our story, we unlock somebody else’s prison so they don’t feel so alone.” — Inspired by G-Rex

Episode Description

Season 17 was one hell of a ride, and G-Rex and Dirty Skittles are closing it out with the kind of conversation that feels like sitting with your favorite people after a long, emotional day. In this Season 17 recap, they revisit the guests who brought wisdom, vulnerability, humor, and real-life tools to the mic: Kate King, Nicole Penrod, Justin Goodman, Shannon Salge, Louis Kim, Shari B Kaplan, Deane Benninghoven, Joe Smarro, Kathryn M Henry, and Jacintha Field.

This episode pulls together the big emotional thread running through the season: learning how to stop abandoning yourself. From toxic relationships and workplace burnout to shame spirals, chronic pain, grief, parenting, suicide prevention, and finding joy again, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles remind us that healing does not always look polished. Sometimes it looks like laughing through the hard stuff, crying when the dime moments hit, saying “another fucking growth opportunity,” or finally admitting that you need help.

They also reflect on how each guest brought something practical and deeply human to the table: self-compassion, advocacy, emotional safety, suicide-prevention resources, joy, plant-based healing, hypnosis, first-responder mental health, grief rituals, and helping kids feel their feelings.

At its core, this episode is a love letter to Season 17 and to every listener still doing the hard work. Healing is not linear, but damn, it is possible.

Keywords: Mental health podcast, emotional wellness, toxic relationships, suicide prevention, burnout recovery, self-worth, shame healing, grief support, chronic pain, parenting emotions, first responder mental health, trauma recovery, joy, self-compassion, mental health recovery.

Meet Our Guests — Season 17 Recap

This Season 17 ender celebrates the powerful guests who helped shape the season’s conversations around healing, hope, and mental health recovery. G-Rex and Dirty Skittles reflected on each guest in order, pulling out the moments that stuck with them most.

• Kate King — Kate’s third visit brought a much-needed conversation about toxic relationships, toxic workplaces, and knowing when it is time to mend or move on. Her reminder that you do not have to abandon yourself to keep a relationship alive hit hard in the best way.
• Nicole Penrod — Nicole’s episode opened up a real conversation about toxic shame, perfectionism, negative self-talk, and the pressure to get everything right the first time. G-Rex and Dirty Skittles reflected on the importance of giving yourself patience and grace instead of beating yourself up over every mistake.
• Justin Goodman — Justin’s story with Project 55 centered on suicide prevention, connection, and the creation of tools that help people feel less alone. His journey reminded the hosts that sharing our darkest moments can become a lifeline for someone else.
• Shannon Salge — Shannon’s story highlighted medical gaslighting, self-advocacy, and the connection between emotional stress and physical symptoms. Her work reminded the hosts how important it is to keep peeling the onion when something in your body or mind does not feel right.
• Louis Kim — Louis brought humor, honesty, and a powerful reminder that outward success does not always mean inner peace. His message was clear: do not chase the money or the dream so hard that you forget to chase joy.
• Shari B Kaplan — Shari’s two-part conversation explored plant-based healing, self-compassion, and what it means to be brave even when all you can do is make it happen from bed. Her story reminded everyone to be gentler with themselves and stop using a bat when a feather duster will do.
• Deane Benninghoven — Deane’s episode focused on trauma, chronic pain, hypnosis, and the many different paths healing can take. His story was a reminder that talk therapy is not the only option, and sometimes we have to try something new to find what actually helps.
• Joe Smarro — Joe’s conversation was a powerful look at masculinity, military service, police work, trauma, vulnerability, and first responder mental health. His willingness to take off the mask gave others permission to do the same.
• Kathryn M Henry — Kathryn’s episode brought grief, humor, love, and “another fucking growth opportunity” into the conversation. Her dime moments reminded G-Rex and Dirty Skittles that the people we lose can still show up in ways that feel deeply personal and healing.
• Jacintha Field — Jacintha’s work with Happy Souls Kids sparked a beautiful conversation about children, emotions, parenting, and helping kids navigate their storms. Her episode reminded the hosts that kids need language for their feelings, and parents need compassion while figuring it out too.

Key Takeaways

• You do not have to keep abandoning yourself to keep a relationship, workplace, or version of your life alive.
• Shame gets louder when we stay silent, but self-compassion gives us a way back to ourselves.
• Suicide prevention starts with connection, resources, and reminders that people are valued.
• Burnout can hide behind success, productivity, and a really convincing “I’m fine.”
• Healing can come through therapy, humor, advocacy, hypnosis, grief rituals, parenting tools, or simply trying something different.
• Kids need room to feel their feelings, and honestly, so do we grown-ass adults.

Actionable Items

• Put your hand over your heart and remind yourself: “This belongs. I belong. I am allowed to want better.”
• Create a “happy album” of things, people, songs, places, or moments that remind you joy still exists.
• When life punches you in the face, try naming it what it is: another fucking growth opportunity. Then breathe, regroup, and take the next right step.

References Mentioned

• Project 55:  https://project55.org
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  https://988lifeline.org
• Find a Helpline:  https://findahelpline.com
• Happy Souls Kids:  https://happysoulskids.com

Important Chapters

• 00:00:37 — Welcome to the Season 17 ender
  G-Rex and Dirty Skittles kick off the finale with laughs, gratitude, and disbelief that Season 17 is already wrapping.
• 00:05:51 — Kate King and toxic relationships
  The hosts reflect on choosing yourself, toxic workplaces, and knowing when to mend or move on.
• 00:09:09 — Nicole Penrod and toxic shame
  Dirty Skittles opens up about perfectionism, self-doubt, and the pressure to get life right the first time.
• 00:13:09 — Justin Goodman and suicide prevention
  G-Rex and Dirty Skittles revisit Justin’s story, Project 55, and the power of helping people feel less alone.
• 00:16:16 — Shannon Salge and medical gaslighting
  The conversation turns to self-advocacy, physical symptoms, and being heard when something feels wrong.
• 00:19:30 — Louis Kim and chasing joy
  Louis’s episode reminds the hosts that success is not the same as happiness, and joy matters.
• 00:21:55 — Shari B Kaplan and self-compassion
  The hosts reflect on plant-based healing, bravery from bed, and being kinder to yourself.
• 00:24:04 — Deane Benninghoven and chronic pain
  Deane’s story brings up trauma, hypnosis, chronic pain, and finding the healing path that works for you.
• 00:26:34 — Joe Smarro and first responder mental health
  Joe’s episode sparks a conversation about vulnerability, masculinity, service, and taking off the mask.
• 00:28:47 — Kathryn M Henry and grief<