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Real Over Ideal

Vanessa Gorelkin
Mental Health
ADHD
Therapy
Internal Family Systems
Executive Function
Occupational Therapy
Intuitive Eating
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Nervous System
Social Media
Coping Strategies
Self-Care
Grief
Mindfulness
Health Anxiety
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
Highly Sensitive Persons
Depression
Chronic Pain
Mindful Eating Practice

Function, not perfection.

Hosted by occupational therapist and executive coach Vanessa Gorelkin, Real over Ideal cuts through the noise to bring you practical strategies for life in a stressful world.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes67Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessEducationMental HealthSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for Real Over Ideal

Latest Episodes

Understanding the Cultural Shift Around Body Image and GLP-1s

In this episode, Vanessa Gorelkin explores the rise of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and their complex impact on body image, health perceptions, and societal norms. She offers a clear, insight... more

If you ever feel crushing doubts about yourself- especially in circumstances that baffle you, this episode is for you.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: A Personal Reflection and Practical GuideIn this episode, Vanessa Gorelkin candidly shares her ongoi... more

Overcoming the "What-Ifery": How to Tame Your Brain's Catastrophic Thinking

In this episode, Vanessa Gorelkin discusses the fascinating phenomenon of "what-ifery" — the mental habit of imagining every potential disaster. She explores how this is a n... more

Here's a great episode published a little over a year ago that always matters in the summertime.

If you're a person who knows the summertime blues or have a loved one who feels this way-- help is on the way in this updated episode.

Click here to ge... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Pam Moore
Occupational therapist, writer, intuitive eating coach, and comedian
PamMoore.com
Episode: Good Bodies—with Pam Moore
Allen Stare
Creator of Severed, The Ultimate Severance Podcast
Severed / Hello Carol / Pluribus
Episode: The Ultimate Deep Dive into Apple TV's Severance (and Plur1bus): with Allen Stare
Diana Magallon Romero
Pet grief expert; end-of-life spirituality advocate
Lux Umbra Counseling (guest)
Episode: Taboos: Coping with Pet Grief with Diana Magallon Romero
Diana Magallón Romero
Registered clinical counsellor focusing on grief, bereavement, end of life, spirituality
Lux Umbra Counseling
Episode: Taboos: Bringing Grief into the conversation with Diana Magallón Romero
Kate Moryoussef
Host of ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast
ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast
Episode: About the time I recorded with Kate Moryoussef of ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast
Andrew Luber
Internet personality actively sharing experiences related to ARFID
Social Media Influencer
Episode: ARFID: The 'New' ? Eating Disorder
Jessica Cook
Licensed therapist who specializes in couples and family therapy, focusing on conflict resolution.
Episode: Can We Rescue the Relationship with Jessica Cook, Family Therapist
Tracy Otsuka
Host of ADHD for Smart Ass Women
ADHD for Smart Ass Women
Episode: Real Over Ideal meets ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

Host

Vanessa Gorelkin
Host of Real Over Ideal; Occupational Therapist and Executive Coach

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 14 ratings
  • Awesome!

    I’ve learned so much from Vanessa about ADHD and IFS and it’s helped me in my personal and professional life. I’ve also used her as a coach one on one and it has been invaluable.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sajb2
    United States6 months ago
  • Great podcast

    I’ve only heard the first episode but I know this will be good. I’ve heard a lot of podcasts. You can tell the host has a lot of experience with folks who have stress or anxiety. The strategies are very clear and simple. I appreciate the professionalism and how it’s concise and feels calm and kind.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MiCamp82
    Canada7 months ago
  • It is real over ideal

    It's a well put together podcast that's an easy listen- check it out, you won't be sorry.

    Audible
    5
    Vanessa Arizona
    United States10 months ago
  • It's a well put together podcast that's an easy listen- check it out, you won't be sorry.

    Audible
    5
    Vanessa Arizona
    United States10 months ago
  • Women with ADHD

    Vanessa spoke about dealing with ADHD in women; often overlooked and under diagnosed especially when compared to our male counterparts. She speaks calmly, clearly, and with compassion and understanding for those of us who have to deal with this. Advice is given on how to share this information with friends and colleagues or to not share depending on the situation and your personal preference. A good reminder that we are all different but having ADHD does not preclude those who share the diagnosi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OTsRule
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Grounded, evidence-based tips that feel doable.
Compassionate host with clear, practical guidance.
Listeners appreciate the calm, non-judgmental style and real-world strategies.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Relapse and Recovery
Q: How do I tell my friends that the struggle has returned?
Explain that the relapse is a common part of living with a chronic mental health condition, not a personal failure, and ask for continued support and understanding. Framing it as a health update—similar to a flare-up—helps maintain connection and reduce isolation.
Yin and Yang: Balance for Neurodivergents and Normals
Q: Do you have any suggestions on achieving work-life balance without drastic changes?
The host suggests practical, incremental steps like structured transitions, ending work with a ritual, time-blocking, and maintaining boundaries to protect personal time, complemented by short yin practices at work.
Taboos: Bringing Grief into the conversation with Diana Magallón Romero
Q: Where do you see the role of therapy in supporting someone through loss and transitions?
The guest emphasizes holding space, validating complex emotions, and guiding clients to reframe endings as opportunities for growth, while acknowledging the individuality of each grieving process.
Taboos: Bringing Grief into the conversation with Diana Magallón Romero
Q: Can you talk a little bit about grief, about changing things in life, or letting go of things?
She describes grief as a process tied to change, where naming the experience as grief helps people process and reorient their identities as circumstances shift.
Taboos: Bringing Grief into the conversation with Diana Magallón Romero
Q: Tell me why it interests you to help people through grief.
Diana explains that loss is universal and grief is a meaningful pathway to understanding what gives life meaning, allowing people to acknowledge pain, identify what needs to change, and find renewed purpose.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Real Over Ideal

What is Real Over Ideal about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, coaching-informed show that translates neuroscience, psychology, and self-empowerment into actionable strategies for everyday life. Episodes span ADHD, anxiety, panic, self-esteem, motivation, sleep, and gentler approaches to change, all through a compassionate, therapist-leaning lens. With a focus on small, repeatable steps and safety-first techniques, the host blends clinical insight with personal storytelling to help listeners navigate stress, burnout, and self-criticism without chasing perfection. The format often features no guests, emphasizing accessible methods, boundaries, and realistic paths to better well-being and performance.

Where can I find podcast stats for Real Over Ideal?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Real Over Ideal. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Real Over Ideal and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Real Over Ideal get?

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What are the audience demographics for Real Over Ideal?

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How many subscribers and views does Real Over Ideal have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Real Over Ideal has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Real Over Ideal?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Real Over Ideal:

1. Sorry, I Missed This: The Everything Guide to ADHD and Relationships with Cate Osborn
2. This American Life
3. The Art of Decluttering

How many episodes of Real Over Ideal are there?

Real Over Ideal launched a year ago and published 67 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Real Over Ideal?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Real Over Ideal?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Real Over Ideal from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Real Over Ideal?

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What guests have appeared on Real Over Ideal?

Recent guests on Real Over Ideal include:

1. Pam Moore
2. Allen Stare
3. Diana Magallon Romero
4. Diana Magallón Romero
5. Kate Moryoussef
6. Andrew Luber
7. Jessica Cook
8. Tracy Otsuka

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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