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Rejection Rehab
Tom Flaherty
27 episodes
3 days ago
Rejection Rehab is the podcast that helps you turn fear of rejection into lasting, unshakable confidence. Hosted by EMMY award winning producer and doctor Tom Flaherty, each episode brings you real people sharing real stories — of heartbreak, setbacks, and closed doors — and how those moments became rocket fuel for true confidence. Whether you’re pivoting careers, dating, or finding your voice, rejection isn’t the end — it’s the start of something better. Tune in weekly and learn to flip rejection into your biggest advantage — you might be just one “no” away from your dream life.
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Self-Improvement
Education
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All content for Rejection Rehab is the property of Tom Flaherty and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Rejection Rehab is the podcast that helps you turn fear of rejection into lasting, unshakable confidence. Hosted by EMMY award winning producer and doctor Tom Flaherty, each episode brings you real people sharing real stories — of heartbreak, setbacks, and closed doors — and how those moments became rocket fuel for true confidence. Whether you’re pivoting careers, dating, or finding your voice, rejection isn’t the end — it’s the start of something better. Tune in weekly and learn to flip rejection into your biggest advantage — you might be just one “no” away from your dream life.
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Self-Improvement
Education
Episodes (20/27)
Rejection Rehab
Your Brain Is Lying to You About Rejection — Dr. Tom on the New Neuroscience That Explains Why | Rejection Rehab Ep. 25

Rejection doesn’t mean they don’t want you.


Your brain just thinks it does.


In this week’s Rejection Section, EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom breaks down a brand-new 2024 neuroscience study published in PNAS showing that rejection isn’t just emotional pain — it’s your brain learning.


And here’s the twist:


Your brain tracks two different signals after rejection —

who actually values you, and who simply gave you a yes.

When those get mixed up, you chase the wrong people, doubt the wrong relationships, and quietly erode your confidence.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


  • 🧠 Why the brain treats rejection as information, not judgment

  • 🔍 The difference between relational value and reward outcomes — and why confusing them hurts confidence

  • ⚠️ How your brain overvalues people who give intermittent “yeses”

  • 💔 Why rejection feels personal even when it isn’t

  • 💪 How to use rejection to build clarity, self-trust, and lasting confidence

👉 If rejection ever makes you spiral, overinterpret, or question your worth — this episode will permanently change how you see it.


🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X 


🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram


#RejectionRehab #Confidence #FearOfRejection #Neuroscience #Mindset #PsychologyPodcast #EmotionalHealth #PersonalGrowth

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1 week ago
9 minutes

Rejection Rehab
Ozempic & Wegovy, Weight Loss & the Doctor Who Pulled Gloves Out of a Stomach — Dr. Austin Chiang on Rejection & Confidence | Rejection Rehab Ep. 24

He’s a triple board-certified gastroenterologist, Chief Medical Officer for Medtronic Endoscopy, bestselling author, and one of the most influential physician voices on social media today.

But none of that made Dr. Austin Chiang immune to rejection.

In this week’s Rejection Rehab, EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom sits down with Dr. Chiang for a hilarious, eye-opening, and deeply human conversation about rejection, confidence, and taking risks — even when the people you respect most tell you not to.

We talk about everything from coming out and navigating fear of rejection, to being an early pioneer in healthcare social media while mentors warned him against it — and yes, the wildest endoscopy story you’ll ever hear, involving gloves that literally turned into rock-hard objects inside a patient’s stomach.

We also dive deep into weight loss — including GLP-1 inhibitors like Ozempic and Wegovy — what they actually do, what they don’t, and why there is no single magic bullet.


🧠 Coming out — and the fear of rejection that comes with it

📱 Being a healthcare social media pioneer (and facing skepticism from mentors)

🧤 The strangest thing he’s ever removed from a human body (the infamous “glove rocks”)

⚖️ Ozempic & Wegovy explained — GLP-1 inhibitors, risks vs benefits, and common misconceptions

🥗 What actually works for weight loss (and what doesn’t)

🩺 Bariatric endoscopy: a less invasive option most people don’t know exists

🦠 Gut-health misinformation and why probiotics aren’t always the answer

🌾 The one supplement Dr. Chiang actually takes: fiber (psyllium husk)

💪 Confidence vs arrogance — and how to stay humble in elite rooms

🚢 Why taking risks (and facing rejection) is the price of growth


If you’ve ever been afraid to put yourself out there — in your career, relationships, or identity — this episode will change how you think about rejection and confidence.


🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram


🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X 


👤 Guest: Dr. Austin Chiang — Website  | Instagram | Linkedin  | Book


#RejectionRehab #AustinChiang #Ozempic #Wegovy #GLP1 #WeightLoss #GutHealth #Confidence #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #Medicine #MedTech #Podcast

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2 weeks ago
38 minutes 24 seconds

Rejection Rehab
Inside the Olympic Village: Team GB Women’s Volleyball Olympian Ci Michel on Rejection, Getting Dropped, and Finding Pants (and a Partner) at 6’4 | Rejection Rehab Ep. 22

She played for Team GB Volleyball at the London 2012 Olympic Games, competed professionally across Europe, and became the first British woman to play in Italy’s legendary Serie A1.


But none of that made Ciara (“Ci”) Michel immune to rejection.


In this week’s Rejection Rehab, Olympian Ci Michel sits down with EMMY-winning producer Dr. Tom for the most hilarious, raw, and surprisingly relatable conversation about confidence yet — from getting dropped from her team after the Olympics, to navigating dating at 6’4, to why finding pants is sometimes harder than competing at the Games.


She also lifts the curtain on the truth about the Olympic Village, what it’s really like to be an underdog country at the Olympics, and how she transformed rejection into resilience, joy, and a new career she loves.


In this episode:


  • 🏐 Life inside the Olympic Village (yes — including the rumours)

  • 🙅‍♀️ Getting dropped from her pro team — and rebuilding confidence

  • 🧠 Why her worst reaction to rejection changed her entire mindset

  • 📈 Reinventing herself after retiring from elite sport

  • 👖 The struggle of finding pants (and love) at 6’4

  • 🤝 How to be the teammate people want to be around

  • 🔁 Using rejection as feedback, not identity

  • 😂 Elite athlete stories you won’t hear anywhere else


If you’ve ever faced rejection — in sports, dating, work, or life — Ci’s story will show you why your reaction matters more than the rejection itself.


🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram


🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X 

👤 Guest: Ciara Michel — Instagram | Website | Wikipedia


#RejectionRehab #CiaraMichel #Olympics #TeamGB #Volleyball #Confidence #OvercomeRejection #Mindset #Resilience #OlympianLife

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1 month ago
25 minutes 27 seconds

Rejection Rehab
The Pitch I Rejected…That Became a $140M Brand: Sir Kensington’s Founder Scott Norton on Taking on Heinz and Winning | Rejection Rehab Ep. 21

He showed up at Rockefeller Center asking for help getting his “posh ketchup” on The Dr. Oz Show… and Dr. Tom said no.

That rejected pitch—Scott Norton’s Sir Kensington’s—went on to take on Heinz, redefine condiments, and sell to Unilever for a reported $140 million.

In this week’s Rejection Rehab, Scott opens up to EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom about the rejections behind the headline: investors who passed, retailers who ignored him for years, getting removed from his own role as CMO at the company he founded, and even getting rejected while trying to give people millions of dollars as an investor.

Scott breaks down how he used every “no” to build confidence, resilience, and one of the most iconic challenger food brands of the last decade.


In this episode:


• 🍅 How he took on Heinz—and won

• 🙅‍♂️ The pitch Tom rejected (and why Scott didn’t take it personally)

• 💸 Why “no” is often the first step toward “yes”

• 🧠 Getting removed from his own leadership role—and rebuilding from it

• 🧳 Why naivety is a superpower for entrepreneurs

• 🗣️ Confidence through talking to strangers (including how he met his wife)

• 💼 Getting rejected while trying to invest millions

• 🔥 How to become rejection-proof in business and dating


🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram


🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X 

👤Guest: Scott Norton — Instagram | At Large Podcast | Sir Kensington's 


#RejectionRehab #ScottNorton #SirKensingtons #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #OvercomeRejection #Confidence #Mindset #Resilience #DavidAndGoliath #FounderLife

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1 month ago
36 minutes 11 seconds

Rejection Rehab
Dr. Tom on Why Overcoming Rejection Fear Is the Fastest Way to Build Confidence | Rejection Rehab Ep. 20

What if the fastest way to build real confidence isn’t avoiding rejection — but walking toward it?


In this week’s Rejection Section of Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winner Dr. Tom breaks down a 2024 psychology study showing that the fear of rejection silently destroys both resilience and belongingness — the two emotional foundations of lasting confidence.


Surveying 120 young adults, researchers found that the more afraid you are of being rejected, the harder it becomes to bounce back and the more disconnected you feel from others.


In this episode:


• 🧠 Why fearing rejection weakens resilience

• 🏚 How avoiding “no” quietly erodes belonging

• 🔄 The brain loop that keeps you stuck and isolated

• ✍️ A daily micro-risk challenge that rewires confidence

• 💬 The belief shift that turns rejection into resilience


👉 If you’ve ever avoided taking action because you feared rejection, this episode shows you how confronting that fear is the fastest way to build confidence.


Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)


🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram


#RejectionRehab #Confidence #Mindset #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #PsychologyPodcast #EmotionalHealth #Belonging #PersonalGrowth

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1 month ago
3 minutes 10 seconds

Rejection Rehab
He Ultrasounded Himself—and Found Cancer: Dr. Calvin Sun on Rejection, Lasting Confidence & The Surprising Cause of Cancer | Rejection Rehab Ep. 19

He was an ER doctor on NYC’s front lines during the pandemic—then, on shift, he scanned himself and found a tumor. Dr. Calvin Sun—author, world traveler, and NYC candidate for political office—opens up about loss, public service, and what real confidence looks like when rejection (and life) hit hardest. He also shares why he believes that being “always on” and never switching off during COVID contributed to his cancer.


In this episode:


• ⚕️ The self-ultrasound that changed everything

• 🧯 NYC front lines: what “always on” really costs

• 🧠 Why he believes chronic stress and never switching off contributed to his cancer

• 🗳️ Running for political office—and reframing a loss

• 💪 Confidence as a daily practice (“show up, don’t flake”)


Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram


Host: Dr. Tom | @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)


Guest: Dr. Calvin Sun | Wikipedia | Website | Instagram | Campaign


#RejectionRehab #CalvinSun #EmergencyMedicine #NYC #COVIDFrontline #CancerSurvivor #OvercomeRejection #Confidence #Mindset #Resilience

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1 month ago
42 minutes 18 seconds

Rejection Rehab
Rejection Only Defines You If You Let It: Dr. Tom on The Science of Bouncing Back | Rejection Rehab Ep. 18

Why do some people bounce back from rejection… while others feel haunted by it for years?


In this week’s Rejection Section of Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winner Dr. Tom breaks down a landmark study by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck and researcher Lauren Howe, revealing why rejection hurts more when you believe it says something permanent about who you are.


Across five studies with nearly 900 participants, Howe & Dweck found that people who see personality as fixed — “this is just who I am” — take rejection as proof that something is wrong with them. Those who see personality as changeable recover faster, feel less shame, and rebuild confidence more easily.


In this episode:


• 🧠 How your mindset controls how long rejection stings

• 💔 Why some people stay stuck replaying the “no”

• 🔄 The brain shift that rewires rejection into resilience

• ✍️ A 10-second mantra that protects your confidence

• 💬 Dr. Tom’s breakdown of identity, mindset, and recovery


👉 If you’ve ever taken rejection personally, this one will teach you how to separate who you are from what happened to you.


Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)


🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram


#RejectionRehab #Confidence #Mindset #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #GrowthMindset #RejectionTherapy #EmotionalHealth #PersonalGrowth

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1 month ago
4 minutes 32 seconds

Rejection Rehab
My Ex Got a Tweet From Elon Musk: Aubrey Strobel on Rejection, Bitcoin & Bad Breakups | Rejection Rehab Ep. 17

They met at church. Broke up over text. Ten years later, Elon Musk tweeted her.


In this wildly entertaining episode, EMMY-winner Dr. Tom reunites with former flame Aubrey Strobel — entrepreneur, communications strategist, and Bitcoin/AI expert — for a no-filter conversation about dating disasters, confidence, crypto, and the surreal moment her mom slid into Elon Musk’s DMs.


In this episode:


• 💔 The “Church Breakup” story you won’t believe

• 🚀 How a tweet from Elon Musk went viral (and why her mom deserves credit)

• 🧠 From Bitcoin to AI — why Aubrey bet on herself when no one else did

• 😂 Reuniting with your ex on a podcast (what could go wrong?)

• 🤖 AI, loneliness & why bots can’t replace real connection

• 💪 Confidence vs. rejection: how to steer your own ship after a breakup


👉 If you’ve ever laughed through heartbreak or wondered what happens when faith, fate and Elon Musk collide — this episode is your sign to hit play.


Host: Dr. Tom | @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)

Guest: Aubrey Strobel | @aubreystrobel | theobservation.co | halcyonpartners.co


Watch here:

YouTube | Instagram


#RejectionRehab #AubreyStrobel #ElonMusk #Bitcoin #Crypto #AI #Confidence #DatingStories #FunnyPodcast #OvercomeRejection #Mindset #Resilience #Faith #Reunited

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2 months ago
42 minutes 37 seconds

Rejection Rehab
From No Legs to Double Paralympic Gold: Richard Whitehead MBE on Rejection, Reinvention & the 27th Mile| Rejection Rehab Ep. 16

What do you do when life says “no” twice—first by birth, then by rulebook?


Born with a double above-knee congenital amputation, Richard Whitehead MBE grew up hearing limits. Later, Paralympic classification blocked him from competing in the marathon—his signature distance. Instead of quitting, he switched to the 200m, won double Paralympic gold (London 2012 & Rio 2016) and silver (Tokyo 2020), and still came back to the roads to break the double-amputee marathon world record—most recently 2:41 at age 49.


In this episode with EMMY-winner Dr. Tom, Richard turns rejection into a playbook for lasting confidence—anchored by his unforgettable idea of “the 27th mile”: the part after the finish line where you turn effort into power, meaning, and momentum.


In this episode:


• ♿️ Disability as resource: shifting from “hindrance” to fuel

• 🛑 Rejection by classification → how he reinvented as a sprinter

• 🥇 Double Paralympic gold & the mindset behind switching from 26.2 to 200m

• 🚆 “The pain train”: what it takes to chase a world record at 49

• 🧠 Confidence that lasts: team, patience, and living in the moment

• 🤝 Volunteering & inclusion: why showing up changes you (and the world)

• 🏁 The 27th mile: how to convert wins & losses into everyday confidence


👉 If you’ve ever felt sidelined by circumstance or told “you can’t,” Richard’s story is your invitation to reframe, retool, and run your 27th mile.


Host: Dr. Tom | @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)

Guest: Richard Whitehead MBE | @richard_whitehead_mbe | richardwhiteheadmbe.com 


Watch here:
YouTube | Instagram


#RejectionRehab #RichardWhitehead #Paralympics #Confidence #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #Mindset #Inclusion #AdaptiveAthlete #27thMile #London2012 #Rio2016 #Tokyo2020

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2 months ago
47 minutes 1 second

Rejection Rehab
From National Champion to Hit Head-On at 60 kph: Imogen Cotter on Comebacks, PTSD & Redefining Confidence | Rejection Rehab Ep. 15

What happens after you reach the top — then lose everything in an instant?


Irish National Cycling Champion Imogen Cotter sits down with EMMY winner Dr. Tom to tell the remarkable story of hitting the peak of her cycling career when a van traveling 60 kph struck her head-on during training. The crash shattered bones — and life as she knew it. But before that, she’d already turned rejection into triumph: after being left off the Irish team in 2018, she moved to Belgium, trained like a machine, and won the Irish National Road Championships.


This is the story of her second comeback — from champion to crash survivor, and from trauma to real confidence.


In this episode:


• 🇮🇪 How being rejected by the Irish track cycling team ignited her rise to National Champion

• 🚴 The near-fatal crash that split her life into a before and after

• 🧠 Living with PTSD and using EMDR therapy to heal

• 💬 Why she chose not to confront the driver who hit her

• 💡 How she’s redefining confidence beyond medals and performance


👉 If you’ve ever faced rejection, loss, or fear, Imogen’s story proves resilience isn’t built in the spotlight — it’s built in the quiet moments you decide to keep going.


Host: Dr. Tom | @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)Guest: Imogen Cotter | @imogencotter | imogencotter.com


#RejectionRehab #ImogenCotter #Confidence #PTSD #Resilience #Cycling #OvercomeRejection #ComebackStory

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2 months ago
32 minutes 25 seconds

Rejection Rehab
The Science of Self-Compassion: How Kindness Shields You from Rejection | Rejection Rehab Ep. 14

Rejection hurts—but what if science proved you could soften the blow?In this week’s Rejection Section of the podcast Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winner Dr. Tom unpacks a 2020 study by Erika J. Koch showing how self-compassion—treating yourself like a best friend—can dramatically reduce the emotional sting of rejection and speed up recovery.


In this episode: 🧠 The 3 studies that prove kindness > criticism when facing rejection 🛡️ How self-compassion acts as emotional armor 📈 Why self-compassion stabilizes mood and self-esteem through highs and lows ✍️ The “write-to-your-friend” exercise that can boost resilience in under a minute 💬 Dr. Tom’s own story of failing his first med-school exams and learning to speak to himself like a friend


👉 If you’ve ever felt crushed by a “no,” this episode will teach you the science-backed way to bounce back faster and stronger.


Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG/TikTok/YouTube) @TomFlaherty (IG) https://youtube.com/@rejectionrehab?si=oJdN8cIE7Z_dVPLo 

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2 months ago
6 minutes 56 seconds

Rejection Rehab
From 9-to-5 to TEDx: Gregory Benedikt on Bold Action, Rejection Reps & The Terrifying 10-Second Rule | Rejection Rehab Ep. 13

What if 10 seconds of courage could change your life? EMMY winner Dr. Tom sits down with Gregory Benedikt—ex–private equity turned life & leadership coach + TEDx speaker—who shares how “Finance Greg” walked away from a soul-numbing job, slid his number across the table on a café receipt (in front of two people) to the woman who later became the love of his life, and did a 100-Day Rejection Challenge that led to pool-jumping, door-knocking, and even a USPS “mustache discount.” Dr. Tom digs into Gregory’s Bold Action formula: define your identity, design your dream life, then take 10 seconds of terrifying action.


In this episode:


🚪 Day-1 door knock: asking a stranger to go for a walk (and what that fear taught him)

🏊 The neighbor’s pool jump (and 350k+ views that fueled the challenge)

📬 The USPS “great mustache” discount (creative asks = surprising yeses)

☕ The café number slide—how bold action led to meeting the woman of his dreams

🧭 Identity → Dream design → Daily bold acts (how confidence is built)

⏱️ The Terrifying 10-Second Rule…


👉 If career dread, dating fear, or regret is stalking you—this one’s your nudge.


Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG/TikTok/YouTube) @TomFlaherty (IG) https://youtube.com/@rejectionrehab?si=oJdN8cIE7Z_dVPLo 


Guest: Gregory Benedikt — https://gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/ @gregoryrussellbenedikt (IG)

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3 months ago
33 minutes 16 seconds

Rejection Rehab
From Rejection Reps to Bestselling Author: Brett Eaton on Confidence, Hard Choices & Finding the Right Person | Rejection Rehab Ep. 12

What do writing a book, chasing speaking gigs, and approaching women at bars all have in common? For Brett Eaton — high performance coach and bestselling author of Uncomfortable Either Way — the answer is rejection reps. In this episode, EMMY winner Dr. Tom sits down with Brett who shares how two years of “red-lined” book edits, speaking to empty rooms, and even getting shot down by women for his man-bun built the confidence he has today. We also dive into how a devastating breakup set the stage for meeting his dream wife (yes, it started on a coaching call!), Solidcore founder Anne Mahlum.


In this episode:


  • 📝 The two-year grind (and endless red lines) of writing a bestselling book

  • 🎤 How speaking to 5 people prepared him for thousands

  • 💇 The hilarious story of getting rejected for his man-bun

  • 💔 Why a breakup became the best setup for finding his wife

  • 🔑 Why confidence comes from authenticity, not faking it


👉 If you’ve ever faced heartbreak, career setbacks, or those awkward “not interested” moments, you’re not going to want to miss this one!


Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG/TikTok/YouTube) @TomFlaherty (IG)

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3 months ago
40 minutes 20 seconds

Rejection Rehab
Heartbreak 💔, a Broken Leg 🦴… and a Comeback: Isabel MV on Stopping Self-Rejection and Rebuilding Confidence | Rejection Rehab Ep. 11

When life breaks you—literally and emotionally—how do you put yourself back together?

In this Rejection Rehab episode, EMMY winner Dr. Tom sits down with Isabel MV—ex-investment banker turned VC specialist and creator of the podcast  And Just Like That, We Found Therapy—who hit rock bottom after breaking her leg and a brutal breakup. She explains how self-rejection crept in (“I’m not good enough”), the moment she drew a line, and the concrete moves that rebuilt her confidence:


  • Naming self-rejection and dropping the victim script

  • Setting boundaries (in love and at work)

  • Choosing space to heal, journaling, and returning to the rituals that make you you

  • Launching a show that reframes Sex and the City storylines through real relationship psychology

If you’ve ever lost yourself in a relationship—or to someone’s criticism—this conversation is a roadmap from people-pleasing to self-respect.

Follow Isabel: @wefoundtherapypod (IG/TikTok/YouTube) • Substack: We Found Therapy.

Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG/TikTok/YouTube) @TomFlaherty (IG)


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3 months ago
23 minutes 26 seconds

Rejection Rehab
The Science of Heartbreak 💔: Dr. Tom on Why Rejection Hurts Like Physical Pain | Rejection Rehab Ep. 10

Why does heartbreak feel like a gut punch — or even worse than a broken bone? In his first solo episode of Rejection Rehab, EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom breaks down a landmark 2011 University of Michigan study that proves rejection doesn’t just “hurt your feelings” — it literally lights up the same pain circuits in your brain as physical injury.

In this 5-minute Rejection Section episode, you’ll learn:


  • How fMRI scans revealed heartbreak activates the same brain regions as touching a hot stove.

  • Why phrases like “hurt feelings” or “broken heart” are more than just metaphors.

  • How your brain heals rejection pain over time — just like a broken bone.

Rejection isn’t just in your head — it’s in your brain. And understanding the science is the first step to building real resilience.


🎧 Listen now and join Dr. Tom in turning rejection into strength.


#RejectionRehab #RejectionSection #HeartbreakScience #Podcast

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3 months ago
4 minutes 35 seconds

Rejection Rehab
From Bullied to Billboard Dreams: Singer Amber Donoso on Brutal Rejection, Self-Worth & Sticking to Your Sound | Rejection Rehab Ep. 9

Bullied in school, dyslexic, and told to change everything from her body to her genre—British-Chilean singer-songwriter Amber Donoso chose one of the most rejection-heavy careers on earth and didn’t flinch. In this raw, energizing conversation, Amber and host, EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom Flaherty, unpack what it’s really like to hear “no” on repeat—from Paris modeling “weight talks” to music-industry gatekeepers telling her she’s in the “wrong genre”—and why she still refuses to conform.

Amber’s credits include recording at Miami’s Rebel 11 Studios with hitmakers who’ve worked alongside Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Timberlake, her single “Culeteo” hitting No. 1 on BPM White Label’s trending downloads, and performing to millions on Chilean TV.


You’ll hear Amber on:

  • Being laughed at in class, undiagnosed dyslexia, and early bullying

  • Paris modeling—and the public “you’re too fat” moment at 18

  • Why she won’t conform (even if it would make her “bigger”)

  • Her idol producer who told her after a show she’s “doing it wrong”

  • Which rejection hurts more: personal or professional?

  • Keeping confidence when your job is mostly “no”

  • Rituals that rebuild worth: journaling, meditation, service

  • Purpose, love, and “God’s rejection is His protection”


Listen if you need: a blueprint for staying authentic, rebuilding self-worth after harsh feedback, and turning rejection into rocket fuel.

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4 months ago
32 minutes 43 seconds

Rejection Rehab
Left at the Altar & Rising Again: Real Housewife of London Juliet Mayhew on Rejection & Resilience | Rejection Rehab Ep. 8

What happens when your dream wedding turns into a nightmare—and the man you thought was “forever” cheats before you even walk down the aisle?

In this deeply candid episode of Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winning producer Dr. Tom Flaherty sits down with Juliet Mayhew—Aussie-born entrepreneur, philanthropist, mother, and now breakout star of The Real Housewives of London.

Juliet’s story isn’t just glitz and glam: it’s about getting “virtually left at the altar,” rebuilding her self-worth, navigating brutal auditions and reality TV conflict, and discovering how faith, resilience, and community can transform rejection into reinvention.

Juliet shares the raw truth of what it takes to:


  • Reframe rejection in acting, auditions, and public life

  • Survive the heartbreak of being virtually left at the altar and say, “I’m too good for this”

  • Forgive instead of letting bitterness destroy you

  • Build true confidence not from people-pleasing, but from authenticity

  • Surround yourself with “tomorrow people” who lift you forward

This isn’t just Juliet’s story—it’s a roadmap for anyone navigating heartbreak, public failure, or the sting of rejection.

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4 months ago
31 minutes 44 seconds

Rejection Rehab
Rejected 99% of the Time: How Actor Julian Cihi Turns No into Flow | Rejection Rehab Ep. 7

What if rejection wasn’t the end — but the lesson you needed?

In this episode of Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winning producer Dr. Tom Flaherty sits down with his longtime friend Julian Cihi — a true triple threat (actor, singer, dancer) who’s been seen on Hulu (Only Murders in the Building), Netflix (Gypsy & Scott Pilgrim Takes Off), Amazon (The Tick), HBO (Crashing), The CW (The Outpost), and Broadway (Take Me Out).

Julian shares why actors might be the most rejected professionals on the planet — and how he’s learned to turn constant “no’s” into confidence, growth, and even flow.


You’ll hear about:

  • Why 90–99% rejection is normal in acting (and how to survive it)

  • How rejection becomes easier with experience — if you let it

  • The mindset shift from “I’m not good at this” → “I’m not good at this…yet”

  • Why “not the right fit” isn’t about your worth

  • Lessons from mentors like Kenny Leon and David Costabile on handling auditions

  • Why rejection in love and life feels lighter once you’ve faced it professionally

  • How positive self-talk keeps your confidence steady through the highs and lows

  • How to stop forcing things and instead “follow what flows”

  • The stoic wisdom of Marcus Aurelius: “Love only what falls your way and is fated for you.”


Julian leaves us with his guiding mantra: “I walk with trust. I live in surrender. I follow what flows. And I let life surprise me.”

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4 months ago
41 minutes 19 seconds

Rejection Rehab
From Divorce & Company Collapse to $60M Raised — Ted Brown’s Rejection-Fueled Comeback | Rejection Rehab Ep. 6

What would you do if you hit rock bottom—personally and professionally—and you still had to keep a company alive?

In this episode of Rejection Rehab, EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom Flaherty sits down with fintech entrepreneur Ted Brown, co-founder and CEO of Digital Onboarding, the company he revived from near bankruptcy—amid a painful divorce—to ultimately raise nearly $60 million and rebuild his life and love.

Ted reveals how true confidence comes from competence—and why before you’re competent in something, it’s not a weakness to admit, “I’m not good at it…yet.”

In this episode, you’ll hear about:


    • The mindset shift from survival to thriving—personally and professionally
    • How getting rejected over and over again (by VCs) made him rejection proof
    • The painful pivot from a doomed startup idea to building a fintech platform used by 140+ financial institutions
    • How divorce became a catalyst, not a catastrophe
    • The gritty reality of scraping by—like Uber-driving to pay your own bills
    • Raising $58 million in growth capital while keeping employees, payroll, and momentum alive

  • Whether you're overcoming heartbreak, financial crisis, or self-doubt, Ted’s journey shows how rejection can be your greatest fuel.

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    4 months ago
    35 minutes 37 seconds

    Rejection Rehab
    From Shark Tank Reject to $250M Exit & Olympic Dreams — Max Valverde’s Rejection-Proof Mindset | Rejection Rehab Ep. 5

    What do you do after getting rejected on Shark Tank? If you're Max Valverde, you go viral with a product called Morninghead, build a company worth $250 million, and then launch a quest to become an Olympian—at age 39.

    In this episode of Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winning producer and doctor Tom Flaherty sits down with Max Valverde, serial entrepreneur, creator of Dad Bod Goes Pro, and host of parenting podcast, Milkless. Max shares his rejection-to-redemption story: from public TV humiliation to co-founding FareHarbor (acquired by Booking.com for $250 million), to becoming one of the top skimo (ski mountaineering) athletes in the U.S., and ultimately landing a role as an NBC commentator for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

    In this episode, you’ll hear about:


    • Max’s hilarious and humbling Shark Tank rejection story

    • How he turned a side hustle (Morninghead) into a full-time entrepreneurial path

    • The behind-the-scenes journey of building and selling a $250M company

    • Why he trained for the Olympics in his 40s—and what he learned when he quit

    • How to handle rejection, find internal drive, and design a life you actually love


    This episode is about more than just success—it’s about building confidence, failing forward, never letting rejection get you down, and living life on your own terms.


    Show more...
    5 months ago
    1 hour 38 seconds

    Rejection Rehab
    Rejection Rehab is the podcast that helps you turn fear of rejection into lasting, unshakable confidence. Hosted by EMMY award winning producer and doctor Tom Flaherty, each episode brings you real people sharing real stories — of heartbreak, setbacks, and closed doors — and how those moments became rocket fuel for true confidence. Whether you’re pivoting careers, dating, or finding your voice, rejection isn’t the end — it’s the start of something better. Tune in weekly and learn to flip rejection into your biggest advantage — you might be just one “no” away from your dream life.