Loneliness is the #1 contributing factor to the mental health crisis we’re currently experiencing so we MUST talk about it for Mental Health Awareness Month.

If or when you feel lonely, remember that it’s not a personal deficiency. It’s a systemic issue in our modern-day, industrialized world. The cure for loneliness is not to become a social butterfly, but rather to re-shape the way you interact with people.

In this episode, you will learn... - why more and more people, especially Americans, are feeling lonely - how to create a culture of connection with your friends and family - the missing KEY to feeling less lonely

If you’re interested in Mary’s next online retreat, sign up to get Mary’s emails here: https://maryscupoftea.myflodesk.com/emails

If you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and tag @maryspodcast on social media!

It’s been almost 3 years since Mary has talked to her father. Now she’s processing that familial estrangement in real time with the help of Minaa B, a licensed social worker and proponent for psychological safety. The conversation also leads into the phenomenon of ghosting; why people do it and how to cope with the lack of closure.

You will learn...

• what constitutes estranged family and how surprisingly common it is
• why people GHOST and how to cope with ghosting in relationships
• the important difference between rules vs. boundaries
• ways to grieve and find closure for abrupt endings

Remember: closure is akin to forgiveness in that it can only come from within.

Minaa B. is a licensed social worker, mental health educator, and author of Owning Our Struggles. She is also the founder of a mental health consulting practice where she collaborates with organizations to help them develop psychological safety. Additionally, Minaa is the host of the Verywell Mind podcast, runs an advice column for Cosmopolitan magazine called Free Therapy, and is also a member of the Mental Health Advisory Committee for Wondermind, a mental fitness company co-founded by Selena Gomez. An expert in her field, Minaa has been featured in various media outlets, including Red Table Talk, Peace of Mind with Taraji, Oprah Daily, Katie Couric Media, and more. Minaa currently resides in New York City.

Follow Minaa on Instagram: @minaa_b Get Minaa's new book Owning Our Struggles: https://amzn.to/4b1GDOU

And if you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @minaa_b

If you’re human, then you’ve probably received criticism. Though it can be quite unpleasant, your ability to encounter criticism and not let it affect you is directly proportionate to both your self-esteem and self-worth.

In this episode, you will learn... - the 2 different types of criticisms - what makes certain criticism hurt so badly (and how to not let it affect you) - 3 questions to ask yourself before listening to other people’s opinions

Remember: don’t choose a stranger’s criticism over your intuition, your values, and your heart.

If you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and tag @maryspodcast on social media! And make sure to get Mary's books two on self-love:

- The Gift of Self-Love: https://maryscupoftea.com/gift-of-self-love. This is a self-love workbook that will help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself.

- 100 Days of Self-Love: maryscupoftea.com/journal. This is a guided journal with 100 prompts to help you calm self-criticism and learn to love who you are.

Mentioned In This Episode... Mary’s Body-Image TEDx talk: https://youtu.be/DoDzwM0gybg?si=P3kfRMBBdFgTMOAI Mary’s IG reel that went viral and got criticized: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5l6-_fvZCS/?igsh=ZDJrYjA0aXpzM2ww The 4 Agreements book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1878424319/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_AJC459ZTT9B1T36FX5ZR?linkCode=ml2&tag=maryscupoft0b-20

Today we’re talking THRIFTING! If you’re anything like Mary, you love secondhand stuff and the unique joy it brings to your home. Artist and collector Virginia Chamlee joins us to share her tips, tricks, and secrets to scoring vintage furniture.

You will learn... - how thrifting builds confidence - tips for finding valuable vintage furniture and decor - mistakes people make when they shop secondhand

Virginia Chamlee is a writer, artist, entrepreneur, and avid collector of vintage. She is the author of Big Thrift Energy, a manual for finding beautiful (often valuable) pieces of design for pennies on the dollar, and a source of inspiration for those looking to collect or style vintage in their own homes. A lifelong collector of vintage design, Virginia has spent years scouring thrift stores, estate sales, antique malls and flea markets for truly incredible, museum-worthy finds (like that Goyard trunk she found for $90, or the floor-length Christian Dior cape scored at Goodwill for $9). She believes even the most high-quality design should be accessible for everyone, and that the antiques industry is long overdue for a shakeup (and maybe a little more, well... energy).

An accomplished artist, her paintings and prints are available via exclusive partnerships with Chairish, Artfully Walls and Anthropologie. Virginia is also a professional writer with bylines at PEOPLE, Buzzfeed, Eater, Bustle, and others.

Follow Virginia on Instagram: @vchamlee Get Virginia's book, Big Thrift Energy here: https://amzn.to/3V7zAPY

And if you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @vchamlee

Mentioned In This Episode... estatesales.net

Celebrating 200 episodes with sips of tea and a heart full of gratitude. Thank you, my self-lover, for listening to this podcast and giving yourself the gift of self-love.

Get my list of 200 Reasons to Choose Self-Love: https://maryscupoftea.myflodesk.com/200

From my heart to yours, Mary

Mentioned in this episode: - The Gift of Self-Love: https://maryscupoftea.com/gift-of-self-love. This is a self-love workbook that will help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself. - 100 Days of Self-Love: maryscupoftea.com/journal. This is a guided journal with 100 prompts to help you calm self-criticism and learn to love who you are. - Hibiscus Heart Tea: maryscupoftea.com/tea

My husband and I are celebrating 5 years together and 1 year married! To commemorate, we thought we’d answer your burning relationship-related questions while reflecting on the half decade we’ve spent together.

We talk about… - how being married feels different - adult friendships and how they’ve changed since our wedding - our age gap - advice for dating and finding “the one” - tips for repairing after a fight - how to decorate your home together, even if you have different styles - new things we’ve learned about each other post-marriage

Tune in for hot takes, relationship advice, and just a sweet conversation about couplehood.

And if you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @maryscupofteaa

Mentioned In This Episode... Ep. 157 about Our Wedding Reflections: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0UGsNzalIhBmXyVogGFKFp?si=ylcqFLbIRgGIVZElssJDCQ 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged: https://amzn.to/3ISBSew

Would you consider yourself an organized person? What about those with whom you live with?

In the hustle and bustle of life, households frequently face daily stress, financial hiccups, and time crunches which are often aggravated by a lack of organization in the home.

Professional organizer Nikki Boyd joins us to talk about communication as the ultimate organizing tool for households and well as hacks for keeping your home beautifully organized.

You will learn... - ways to communicate with those you live with to ensure a more harmonious household flow - 2 places in one’s home that tend to cause stress - hacks for organizing your house and making it feel like a sanctuary

Remember: your home should feel like a vacation from the outside world. Why wouldn’t you make it into a place that feels rejuvenating?

Nikki Boyd is a professional organizer and founder of athomewithnikki.com where she helps bring beautiful order in homes around the world with her business, blog and YouTube channel. What began as a hobby is now a successful home organizing business, a popular blog, and YouTube channel, with thousands of readers coming to her site for creative and straightforward ways to beautifully organize their homes. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and two puppies.

Follow Nikki Boyd on Instagram: @athomewithnikki Watch Nikki’s helpful YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@AtHomeWithNikki/ Check out Nikki’s organizing services: https://athomewithnikki.com Get Nikki's book, Beautifully Organized here: https://amzn.to/3PmyWKS

And if you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @athomewithnikki

Mentioned In This Episode... Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert Sapolsky: https://amzn.to/49VkEcl

Get ready for a pep talk on how to overcome your insecurities and cultivate authentic, true confidence.

You will learn... - the difference between true confidence vs. pseudo-confidence - a counterintuitive approach to conquering your insecurities

Remember: the only way to conquer your insecurities is by making them a glorious part of you.

If you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and tag @maryspodcast on social media! And make sure to get Mary's books two on self-love:

- The Gift of Self-Love: https://maryscupoftea.com/gift-of-self-love. This is a self-love workbook that will help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself.

- 100 Days of Self-Love: maryscupoftea.com/journal. This is a guided journal with 100 prompts to help you calm self-criticism and learn to love who you are.

Mentioned In This Episode... TEDx talk on “how to talk to the worst parts of yourself”: https://youtu.be/gUV5DJb6KGs?si=PolNO_jAa1ElBpbg