Episode Summary:
In this episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I sit down with licensed professional counselor Andrea Evgeniou to talk about the emotional masks we wear and why taking them off isn’t always as simple as it sounds.

We explore how past experiences and trauma can shape the way we present ourselves to the world, often leading us to hide our authentic selves in the name of safety, acceptance, or control. Andrea shares insights from her trauma-informed practice, including the role of safety in unmasking, the connection between ADHD and masking, and why self-compassion might be the most underused tool in healing.

From small, low-risk moments of authenticity to deeper values work, Andrea offers practical ways to loosen the straps of the masks we’ve been carrying for years. Whether you’ve felt the weight of performance in your personal life, at work, or even in friendships, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to rip the mask away all at once, you can start by simply letting more of yourself show.

What We Cover:

• What “wearing a mask” really means in daily life

• How masks can be both protective and limiting

• The role of safety in showing up authentically

• Why masking is so common for people with ADHD

• Small, practical steps for living more in alignment with your values

• How self-compassion can change the unmasking process

Guest Bio:
Andrea Evgeniou is a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma-informed care, somatic healing, and helping clients reconnect with their authentic selves. With over 16 years in the mental health field, Andrea uses approaches like EMDR, DBT, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to support clients in creating meaningful, sustainable change.

Connect with Andrea:
Instagram: @andrea_evgeniou

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that it’s okay to speak honestly, even if it makes people uncomfortable.

For more episodes, visit mentalnoteswithmatt.com or follow @mentalnoteswithmatt on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES

In this candid and insightful episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I sit down with meditation teacher, author, and podcast host David Gandelman to explore how we can reclaim our energy, reconnect with ourselves, and stay grounded in a chaotic world.

From his early training in the Himalayas to his work with thousands of students around the world, David shares a blend of ancient wisdom, modern insight, and personal truth. We talk about the discomfort of stillness, the epidemic of distraction, and why sitting with our pain might be the most healing thing we can do.

The episode ends with a short 2-minute guided meditation, led by David, to help you center yourself wherever you are.

Whether you're brand new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we explore:

• What meditation really is, and why people give up on it

• Why discomfort is essential for growth

• How wealth and constant comfort can create deeper suffering

• The role of creativity and insight in mindfulness

• What it means to “make friends with your anxiety”

• Reframing addiction as avoidance of pain

• Meditation as a form of emotional maintenance

• Why true change only happens through, not around, discomfort

  
  

Favorite Quotes:

“Sitting still through discomfort is really the core practice.”

“Our enlightenment is in our ability to accept our imperfections, not to make them perfect.”

“The pain will never go away if you don’t sit with it -it just compounds.”

Guest Info:

David Gandelman

• Founder of https://www.meditationschool.us/

• Host of The Grounded Sleep Podcast and Energy Matters

• Instagram: @davidgandelman

Skip to 34:09 for a short, calming 2-minute meditation led by David.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that it’s okay to speak honestly, even if it makes people uncomfortable.

For more episodes, visit mentalnoteswithmatt.com or follow @mentalnoteswithmatt on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES
In this episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I sit down with award-winning playwright and screenwriter Samuel Brett Williams to talk about what it really means to tell the truth on stage, in life, and with yourself.

Brett’s work doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable. He writes the kind of stories that spark walkouts, raise eyebrows, and, more importantly, invite reflection. We talk about his journey from Arkansas to New York and back again, the inner battles of imposter syndrome, the fear of not being good enough, and the emotional courage it takes to put something honest into the world.

Whether you’re an artist, a creative, or just someone trying to live a little more truthfully, this conversation is a powerful reminder that telling the truth might be the most radical thing we can do, and the most freeing.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Brett believes every great story starts with discomfort

• How fear, grief, and personal loss shaped his creative path

• The tension between artistic integrity and audience approval

• Lessons from theater that apply to real life

• The quiet power of building something authentic, one brick at a time

Guest Bio:

Samuel Brett Williams is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. His work has been developed and produced at theaters across the country, including Cherry Lane Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He is also a professor of writing and the founder of Southern Theater Company in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Connect with Brett:

Follow Brett's Theater Company: https://www.instagram.com/southern_theatre_company/

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that it’s okay to speak honestly, even if it makes people uncomfortable.

For more episodes, visit mentalnoteswithmatt.com or follow @mentalnoteswithmatt on Instagram.