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        <title>Be Better</title>
        <description><![CDATA["Be Better" gives us resources to better navigate and destigmatize the worlds of mental health and neurodiversity, and to remember our duty to "love ourselves fiercely by striving to be better every day."No matter where you or a loved one are along a mental health journey, Samantha's interviews with clinicians, authors, and everyday people bring insight and understanding to a complex subject.]]></description>
        <language>en</language>
        <link>https://www.btpm.org/podcast/be-better</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:44:00 -0400</lastBuildDate>
        
        
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    <itunes:category text="Health &amp; Fitness">
        <itunes:category text="Mental Health" />
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<itunes:title>Be Better</itunes:title>
<itunes:author>Samantha Pangborn</itunes:author>

    
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            <itunes:email>podcasts@btpm.org</itunes:email>
            <itunes:name>Buffalo Toronto Public Media</itunes:name>
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<itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>




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        <item>
    <title>Defining Depression</title>
    <enclosure url="https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s310/audio/2026/09/bebetter-ep7-defining-depression.mp3" length="7930005" type="audio/mpeg"/>
    <description><![CDATA[Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, and it affects a large percentage of the population. Carolyn Kirkwood of Kirkwood Therapy and Wayne Brown of Willow Grove Counseling help us understand how it shows up in our lives. If you or someone you know struggles with depression, Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling wants you to know that you are just as stunning as a piece of art, no matter what it is you’re working through. Our mental health battles do not make us broken and can’t touch our value.]]></description>
    
    <pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:44:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <link>https://www.btpm.org/2026-09-15/defining-depression</link>
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    <itunes:title>Defining Depression</itunes:title>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, and it affects a large percentage of the population. Carolyn Kirkwood of Kirkwood Therapy and Wayne Brown of Willow Grove Counseling help us understand how it shows up in our lives. If you or someone you know struggles with depression, Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling wants you to know that you are just as stunning as a piece of art, no matter what it is you’re working through. Our mental health battles do not make us broken and can’t touch our value.]]></itunes:summary>
<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, and it affects a…]]></itunes:subtitle>

<itunes:duration>330</itunes:duration>
<itunes:image href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1e414e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3000x3000+0+0/resize/2000x2000!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F28%2Fd9c9dacf49baa4b25fd419331792%2Fbe-better-podcast-cover-2.jpg" />


<itunes:episode>7</itunes:episode>
<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>

</item><item>
    <title>Clinician or Counselor?</title>
    <enclosure url="https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s310/audio/2026/09/bebetterep6-clinician-or-counselor.mp3" length="7934114" type="audio/mpeg"/>
    <description><![CDATA[In this show, we interview professionals with various titles such as Therapists and Counselors. If you’re wondering what the difference is, Carolyn Kirkwood from Kirkwood Therapy defines them for us. We aim to educate you and, hopefully, help you feel comfortable knowing who to talk to. Therapy can be less intimidating if you take the time to learn more about it.]]></description>
    
    <pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:12:27 -0400</pubDate>
    <link>https://www.btpm.org/2026-09-02/clinician-or-counselor</link>
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    <itunes:title>Clinician or Counselor?</itunes:title>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this show, we interview professionals with various titles such as Therapists and Counselors. If you’re wondering what the difference is, Carolyn Kirkwood from Kirkwood Therapy defines them for us. We aim to educate you and, hopefully, help you feel comfortable knowing who to talk to. Therapy can be less intimidating if you take the time to learn more about it.]]></itunes:summary>
<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[In this show, we interview professionals with various titles such as Therapists…]]></itunes:subtitle>

<itunes:duration>330</itunes:duration>
<itunes:image href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1e414e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3000x3000+0+0/resize/2000x2000!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F28%2Fd9c9dacf49baa4b25fd419331792%2Fbe-better-podcast-cover-2.jpg" />


<itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>

</item><item>
    <title>Better Understanding Shame</title>
    <enclosure url="https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s310/audio/2026/08/bebetter-ep5better-understanding-shame.mp3" length="7929098" type="audio/mpeg"/>
    <description><![CDATA[Shame is one of those feelings that live within us from a very early age, and it can come from various sources. Wayne Brown from Willow Grove Counseling provides some insight into its origins and helps examine it in a different way. While Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling explains how shame can be healed and better managed.]]></description>
    
    <pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:03:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <link>https://www.btpm.org/2026-08-26/better-understanding-shame</link>
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    <itunes:title>Better Understanding Shame</itunes:title>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Shame is one of those feelings that live within us from a very early age, and it can come from various sources. Wayne Brown from Willow Grove Counseling provides some insight into its origins and helps examine it in a different way. While Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling explains how shame can be healed and better managed.]]></itunes:summary>
<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Shame is one of those feelings that live within us from a very early age, and…]]></itunes:subtitle>

<itunes:duration>330</itunes:duration>
<itunes:image href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1e414e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3000x3000+0+0/resize/2000x2000!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F28%2Fd9c9dacf49baa4b25fd419331792%2Fbe-better-podcast-cover-2.jpg" />


<itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>

</item><item>
    <title>I Am Ok As I Am</title>
    <enclosure url="https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s310/audio/2026/08/bebetter-ep4i-am-ok-as-i-am.mp3" length="6984601" type="audio/mpeg"/>
    <description><![CDATA[In order to accept who we are, we start by being fully present within ourselves and honestly aware of our feelings and emotions. Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling offers inspirational quotes he uses with his clients and tells us that we don’t have to be perfect to be accepted. Additionally, the book “The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem” by Nathaniel Branden is provided as a resource for learning how to believe in yourself from a healthy internal source.]]></description>
    
    <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <link>https://www.btpm.org/2026-08-26/i-am-ok-as-i-am</link>
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    <itunes:title>I Am Ok As I Am</itunes:title>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[In order to accept who we are, we start by being fully present within ourselves and honestly aware of our feelings and emotions. Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling offers inspirational quotes he uses with his clients and tells us that we don’t have to be perfect to be accepted. Additionally, the book “The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem” by Nathaniel Branden is provided as a resource for learning how to believe in yourself from a healthy internal source.]]></itunes:summary>
<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[In order to accept who we are, we start by being fully present within ourselves…]]></itunes:subtitle>

<itunes:duration>290</itunes:duration>
<itunes:image href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1e414e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3000x3000+0+0/resize/2000x2000!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F28%2Fd9c9dacf49baa4b25fd419331792%2Fbe-better-podcast-cover-2.jpg" />


<itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>

</item><item>
    <title>Find Your Fit</title>
    <enclosure url="https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s310/audio/2026/08/bebetter-ep3find-your-fit.mp3" length="7006871" type="audio/mpeg"/>
    <description><![CDATA[Finding the best therapist for you might take a little time, so don’t get discouraged if the first person you talk to doesn’t feel like a perfect match. Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling supports this idea and wants you to know that you are in control of your therapy journey. Expect ups and downs and give yourself grace through it all.]]></description>
    
    <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:52:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <link>https://www.btpm.org/2026-08-26/find-your-fit</link>
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    <itunes:title>Find Your Fit</itunes:title>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Finding the best therapist for you might take a little time, so don’t get discouraged if the first person you talk to doesn’t feel like a perfect match. Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling supports this idea and wants you to know that you are in control of your therapy journey. Expect ups and downs and give yourself grace through it all.]]></itunes:summary>
<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Finding the best therapist for you might take a little time, so don’t get…]]></itunes:subtitle>

<itunes:duration>291</itunes:duration>
<itunes:image href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1e414e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3000x3000+0+0/resize/2000x2000!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F28%2Fd9c9dacf49baa4b25fd419331792%2Fbe-better-podcast-cover-2.jpg" />


<itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>

</item><item>
    <title>Therapy is Okay!</title>
    <enclosure url="https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s310/audio/2026/08/bebetter-ep2therapy-is-ok-01.mp3" length="8749474" type="audio/mpeg"/>
    <description><![CDATA[The idea of therapy in our society today has a variety of connotations around it; some positive and some unfortunately judgmental. Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling offers the perspective that it is acceptable to ask for help with anything you may be struggling with. This episode also shares the Psychology Today website as a resource for finding a therapist and the book “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz to help you find joy again.]]></description>
    
    <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:42:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <link>https://www.btpm.org/2026-08-26/therapy-is-okay</link>
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    <itunes:title>Therapy is Okay!</itunes:title>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[The idea of therapy in our society today has a variety of connotations around it; some positive and some unfortunately judgmental. Richard Tippett of Sanctuary Counseling offers the perspective that it is acceptable to ask for help with anything you may be struggling with. This episode also shares the Psychology Today website as a resource for finding a therapist and the book “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz to help you find joy again.]]></itunes:summary>
<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[The idea of therapy in our society today has a variety of connotations around…]]></itunes:subtitle>

<itunes:duration>364</itunes:duration>
<itunes:image href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1e414e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3000x3000+0+0/resize/2000x2000!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F28%2Fd9c9dacf49baa4b25fd419331792%2Fbe-better-podcast-cover-2.jpg" />


<itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>

</item><item>
    <title>The Prequel</title>
    <enclosure url="https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s310/audio/2026/08/bebetter-ep1the-prequel.mp3" length="4768503" type="audio/mpeg"/>
    <description><![CDATA[June is a great time for celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and showing off your pride! But what if you’re not ready to express yourself outwardly quite yet? Krysta Mannion from Marriage & Family Therapy of Western New York provides some advice around accepting each and every part of who you are. Championing you to celebrate wherever you may be in your self-acceptance journey and being prideful in a variety of ways! ]]></description>
    
    <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:22:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <link>https://www.btpm.org/2026-08-24/the-prequel</link>
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    <itunes:title>The Prequel</itunes:title>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[June is a great time for celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and showing off your pride! But what if you’re not ready to express yourself outwardly quite yet? Krysta Mannion from Marriage & Family Therapy of Western New York provides some advice around accepting each and every part of who you are. Championing you to celebrate wherever you may be in your self-acceptance journey and being prideful in a variety of ways! ]]></itunes:summary>
<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[June is a great time for celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and showing off…]]></itunes:subtitle>

<itunes:duration>198</itunes:duration>
<itunes:image href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1e414e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3000x3000+0+0/resize/2000x2000!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F28%2Fd9c9dacf49baa4b25fd419331792%2Fbe-better-podcast-cover-2.jpg" />


<itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>

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