Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why am I reacting exactly like my mother right now?”

In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on intergenerational trauma. We’re moving beyond the surface level to explore the "ghosts" in your DNA - the ones that make you react to a minor inconvenience like it’s a family-wide emergency.

You'll also learn:

• How trauma is physically passed down through your genes
• Why the goal isn't to "delete" your difficult parts
• How to determine if you grew up in a "military-grade" or "survival of the fittest" household
• Ways to notice the patterns of intergenerational trauma to avoid repeating them

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

Get a 50% OFF DISCOUNT to see us at DomeFest. Link here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

GET IN TOUCH

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like you’re falling behind in life?

You’re not the only one quietly wondering about the timeline.

In this episode, Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis explore the “quiet grief” that can arise when life looks different from the one you once planned.

You'll also learn:

• How to embrace "identity plasticity"
• Practical ways to distinguish between being "behind" your own goals versus someone else's
• Why it’s valid to mourn the "alternate version" of your life
• How to balance self-compassion with taking steps toward the things you can control

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

GET IN TOUCH

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh. Sorry. Was that too direct?

It’s a simple question, but it tends to make people shift in their seats.

In this episode of But Are You Happy?, Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Anastasia Hronis finally unpack the very question that inspired the podcast and, somehow, until now, we’ve never properly answered.

Together, they explore:

• The difference between hedonic and eudaimonic happiness
• Why contentment might matter more than constant joy
• How social media and external validation can distort our idea of happiness
• A simple framework to help you cultivate more intentional, values-aligned joy

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does your chest tighten every time you open your phone lately? Do you feel like the world is on fire and you’re somehow supposed to just keep going to work, answer emails, and “stay informed”?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, host Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpack what it actually means to live in the age of information overload. From clickbait headlines and doom-scrolling at 11pm, they explore how constant exposure to bad news impacts our nervous systems and why so many of us are feeling helpless, hopeless, or just emotionally exhausted.

You'll also learn:

• The psychological difference between helplessness and hopelessness

• Why your brain is wired to latch onto threatening news

• How chronic exposure to bad headlines activates your stress response

• Practical ways to buffer yourself without becoming disengaged

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the idea of a networking event make your stomach do backflips while your friends seem to thrive in the chaos?

In this season finale of But Are You Happy, host Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis pull back the curtain on our social personalities. We’re moving beyond the simple labels to find out where you actually sit on the spectrum and why "summer social season" can feel so different for everyone.

You'll also learn:

• The five major personality traits and how extroversion fits in
• Why the "chaotic middle" might be exactly where you land
• The clinical red flags to look out for
• Why walking a banana on a leash (yes, really) is a legitimate way to overcome the fear of being judged

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

We’re giving away a Your Reformer Pilates bed (worth $3,400) Subscribe here to enter.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever looked at a fandom, wellness community, or online movement and thought… this feels a little culty?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, host Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr Anastasia Hronis unpack why the word cult gets thrown around so easily and what actually separates cults from fandoms like Swifties, Beliebers, or other high-devotion communities.

You’ll also learn:

• What a cult actually is (and why there’s no single definition)

• Why charismatic leaders hold so much power

• How belonging, meaning, and identity make people vulnerable to high-demand groups

• What “cult-like” red flags to look out for, including isolation, fear, shame, and groupthink

• Why it can be so hard to leave a cult, even when doubts creep in

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

We’re giving away a Your Reformer Pilates bed (worth $3,400) Subscribe here to enter.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Tina Matolov

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly the one listening, supporting, and showing up for others, until one day you hit a wall and think, I can't do this anymore?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, host Ashani Dante and clinical psychologist Dr Anastasia Hronis unpack empathy fatigue; why being the “strong,” supportive one can leave you emotionally drained, and how to tell the difference between compassion and burnout.

You’ll also learn:

• What empathy fatigue actually is (and why it’s more common than you think)

• How constant emotional labour impacts your mental health

• Why setting boundaries doesn’t make you selfish

• Practical ways to protect your energy while still caring about others

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

We’re giving away a Your Reformer Pilates bed (worth $3,400) Subscribe here to enter.

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Tina Matolov

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating family and friends you might not agree with can be… a lot.

It’s the season of parties, BBQs, long lunches, and gatherings you may have been voluntold to attend, and with that often comes complicated family dynamics and people you might have very mixed feelings about seeing.

In this episode of But Are You Happy, clinical psychologist Dr Anastasia Hronis and co-host Ashani Dante share practical tools for navigating difficult conversations, setting boundaries, and showing up in a way that feels better for you this season.

You’ll also learn:

• Why family comments can hit such a big nerve
• Why we fall back into old family roles so easily
• How to avoid erupting in difficult conversations
• What topics are safe to talk about with someone who has different politics

Watch the podcast on YouTube here.

And if you’re looking for more to listen to - every Mamamia podcast is curating your summer listening right across our network from pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews, there’s something for everyone. Listen here: https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

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If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

Help us understand how you're looking after your mental health. Complete our short survey here for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw!

Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy!

CREDITS:

Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Tina Matolov

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.