Episode 28: The Smallest, Biggest Lie We Say Everyday
We say it dozens of times a day. But are we actually okay?
In this episode, Hostion and Andrea dig into the daily performance of "I'm okay" — why we do it, what it costs us, and when being emotionally honest actually matters. They explore emotional suppression through the lens of psychology, culture, gender, and everyday relationships, and share practical ways to be more intentional — both in how we ask and how we answer.
Whether you've been faking okay for years or you're just trying to figure out how to show up more authentically for the people you love, this episode will make you think twice before you let another auto-pilot "I'm good!" slip out.
In this episode:
Why "I'm okay" is basically a social reflex
The psychology of emotional suppression (and when it's actually helpful)
How culture, gender, and upbringing shape what we're allowed to feel
The difference between performing okay and choosing okay
The surprising origin of the word "okay" (hint: it involves a 1839 Boston newspaper and a presidential campaign)
Episode Sources
The association between aspects of expressive suppression emotion regulation strategy and rumination traits: a network analysis approach - BMC Psychology
Is Concealing How You Feel Actually Bad for You? - Psychology Today
Social anxiety and emotional suppression: the mediating role of beliefs - National Library of Medicine
Why Emotion Regulation Is Often Misunderstood - Psychology Today
The Social Costs of Emotional Suppression: A Prospective Study of the Transition to College - National Library of Medicine
Quiz Source
Small talk matters more than you think - Doctors Nova Scotia
The Hilarious History of 'OK': The English language's most successful export is a joke - Merriam Webster Dictionary