Both Sides of the Couch
Both Sides of the Couch is where therapist and human meet. Hosted by Kari Rusnak, a licensed therapist living with chronic illness, the podcast explores the messy, honest overlap between helping others and healing yourself. Through personal reflections, stories, and thoughtful conversations, Kari invites listeners to slow down, think deeply, and feel a little less alone, on both sides of the couch.
Podcasting since 2025 • 15 episodes
Both Sides of the Couch
Latest Episodes
Episode 14: Chronic Illness, Emotional Labor, and the Friend No One Checks On
In this episode of Both Sides of the Couch, Kari reflects on a small, ordinary moment that sparked a much bigger realization about imbalance in relationships. Through the lens of a therapist, a chronically ill person, and a friend who ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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26:02
Small Thoughts Big Feelings: The $14,000 Question
In this mini episode, Kari shares a funny moment about an HSA statement that turns into a reflection on invisible labor, chronic illness, and why some parts of life are hard to explain even to the people who love us. <...
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Season 1
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5:23
Episode 13: When I Choose to Overdo It: Autonomy, Chronic Illness, and the Right to Decide
In Episode 13, Kari explores a deeply familiar tension for people living with chronic illness: being told “don’t overdo it.” While often well-intentioned, Kari explains how this phrase can feel controlling, dismissive, and painful, esp...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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22:33
Episode 12: The Therapy of Nature: How the Outdoors Supports Chronic Illness
In Episode 12, Kari explores the therapy of nature and how time outdoors can support people living with chronic illness, pain, fatigue, and nervous system dysregulation. Kari begins the episode by reflecting on a familiar moment in...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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24:08
Episode 11: The Ovary Atlas: Why One Scientific Breakthrough Might Change Women’s Health Forever
In Episode 11, Kari explores a major but surprisingly under discussed scientific breakthrough: the creation of a cellular atlas of the human ovary, recognized as one of the most important discoveries of 2024. Kari explains why this research is ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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23:03
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