In an era where every other Instagram therapist is hawking healing crystals or trauma workbooks, Gretchen “G-Rex” Schoser has carved out a different kind of mental health space—one where you’re more likely to hear uncontrollable laughter than mindfulness mantras. Her podcast, “Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads,” just crashed into the top 10 mental health podcasts chart, amassing over a million downloads since its Valentine’s Day 2023 launch. The timing feels fitting for a show that’s essentially a love letter to our collective messiness.
“Most mental health content feels like force-fed green juice,” Schoser says over Zoom, her infectious laugh filling the screen. “We’re more like the friend who brings you pizza at 2 AM and lets you ugly cry about your ex.” This approach—call it the anti-wellness wellness show—has struck a nerve. Their listeners across 60 countries tune in not for quick fixes or five-step healing programs but for raw conversations about mental health that usually only happen after a few drinks with close friends.
The show’s rapid rise suggests we might be reaching peak wellness fatigue. While other mental health podcasts lean heavily on expert interviews and clinical frameworks, “Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads” trades in something far more valuable: the permission to be gloriously imperfect. Episodes swing between hilarious personal anecdotes and surprisingly deep discussions about anxiety, depression, and the general chaos of being human in 2025.
Their success—which has attracted devoted listeners and raised eyebrows from mental health traditionalists—points to a more significant shift in how we talk about mental health. The format appears deceptively simple on the surface, but the show’s unflinching honesty has created what amounts to a global support group disguised as entertainment.
“People are exhausted from being told they need to optimize their healing journey,” Schoser reflects. “Sometimes you just need to hear someone else say, ‘yeah, my brain’s a dumpster fire too, and that’s okay.'” This kind of candor has helped the show build its massive following.
As mental health content becomes increasingly commodified, with meditation apps valued at billions and therapy-speak dominating social media, “Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads” feels like a refreshing rebellion. It’s not trying to optimize your healing journey or sell you a solution. Instead, it offers something more valuable: the radical notion that maybe we’re all doing just fine, even when we’re not doing fine at all.
In an age when authenticity is usually just another marketing strategy, that might be the most healing message of all.
Written in partnership with Tom White
