Social Media and You: How Online Habits Are Rewiring Our Mental Health Feat. William Sharpe

Season 9 continues with a brand-new six-part series, Social Media and You, and Izzy Baker kicks it off on Thanksgiving Day with a conversation that hits home for anyone navigating digital life in 2025. From therapy misconceptions to doomscrolling addiction, Izzy opens the series with licensed professional counselor William Sharp, known online as With the Therapist, to explore the real link between social media and mental health. This one isn’t just about apps — it’s about attention, identity, and the hidden ways the online world is shaping how we think, feel, and believe. Izzy begins with humor and honesty, setting the tone for a Thanksgiving special that’s as relatable as it is revealing. The meme of the week reads: “After being on social media… how’s your mental health?” That question drives the episode as Izzy and Will unpack why therapy isn’t just “paid advice,” why so many people — especially Black men — still resist counseling, and how misunderstanding therapy keeps communities stuck in cycles of burnout and emotional isolation. Drawing from Angel Reese and Monaleo’s viral conversation about therapy, Izzy challenges the myth that “therapists tell you what you want to hear,” and instead highlights how real therapy forces us to confront the truths we’ve been avoiding. The discussion quickly widens into the bigger picture — how the digital world has become both a tool and a trap. Izzy and Will take a hard look at the rise of AI therapy tools like ChatGPT, the increasing dependence on digital validation, and how men are using online spaces to process pain in unhealthy ways. Will offers professional insight into why comparison culture hits men differently, explaining how purpose, work, and emotional restraint collide under the pressure of social media. Together, they explore what it means to live authentically when your highlight reel becomes your identity — and why so many “high-functioning” men are thriving online while quietly unraveling offline. In the Happy Hour segment, Izzy addresses one of the most controversial trends of the year — using chatbots as substitutes for therapy — and asks the hard question: At what point are we replacing God with technology? Drawing from Matthew 6:22 and Psalm 101:3, he warns listeners about guarding their eye gates and ear gates, breaking down how overstimulation, gossip algorithms, and endless “self-help” content can distort spiritual and emotional clarity. Will adds balance with practical strategies, from setting social media cut-off times to fasting from digital noise to refocus on purpose. The conversation turns deeply personal as the two men share how they’ve had to guard their peace as both content creators and counselors. Izzy opens up about his own struggles with distraction, comparison, and the temptation to overwork in the name of “purpose.” Will responds with a message on fasting, boundaries, and the freedom that comes from stepping away — even temporarily — to reclaim your mind. They both challenge listeners to examine how much control their phones really have, and to ask: Do you own your feed, or does it own you? By the time the Weekly Sabbatical arrives, the tone turns spiritual. Izzy reads from a reflection on Proverbs 4:20–22, reminding listeners that “what you watch, hear, and meditate on becomes either life or poison to your body.” He connects the scripture to modern habits — the endless scrolling, the comparison traps, and the way entertainment can quietly erode discipline and joy. The challenge of the week is simple but piercing: Do you need a social media fast — and if so, when’s the last time you took one? As Thanksgiving unfolds, Izzy leaves the audience with a reminder that gratitude and presence matter more than performance. You don’t have to post your plate to prove you’re enjoying your blessings. You just have to live them. Listen. Reflect. And don’t be afraid to join the conversation. Will's Social Media Instagram: @withatherapist TikTok: ‪@withatherapist YouTube: ‪ ⁨@withatherapist⁩ Become a supporter of this podcast: . TrustBuilder Package 🎯 Level up your professional development influence with the TrustBuilder Package — a social media strategy designed to position you as a thought leader in your space. From authority-building content to engagement that actually converts, we make sure your message doesn’t just get seen… it gets respected. Perfect for personal brands looking to grow their presence and impact. Legacy Launchpad 🚀 Build your podcast — and your influence — from the ground up with the Legacy Launchpad. We handle everything: strategy, branding, production, and promotion, so you can focus on delivering value. Designed for personal and professional development influencers who want their voice amplified, their brand elevated, and their legacy secured in the digital space.

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Social Media and You: How Online Habits Are Rewiring Our Mental Health Feat. William Sharpe is an episode from P.S.A Podcast by Izzy Baker.

This episode is 51:43 long.

This episode was published on Dec 5, 2025.

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