Ep. 31 — Genie Francis Gets Real About Social Anxiety

Avoidance, Genetics, and How Exposure Helps

Dr. Suzette Glasner responds to Genie Francis’ powerful conversation on Maurice Benard’s State of Mind, where the longtime General Hospital actress opens up about living with social anxiety. Her insight — “I have this anxiety when I have to be Genie” — offers a clear look at how anxiety can hide behind confidence and performance.

You can watch or listen to the full interview on Maurice's podcast here: https://youtu.be/WgiIuV0T0nE?si=BBHXf9c4HJUTtzdn

Dr. Glasner explains why avoidance worsens anxiety, how exposure therapy works, and how genetics and family patterns contribute to vulnerability. She also shares simple, evidence-based steps to begin reducing anxiety and rebuilding confidence.

Questions for Dr. Glasner? askdrglasner@gmail.com

Gratitude & Recovery: Lessons from Bev Vance Aikins’ Journey

As we move into the Thanksgiving season, gratitude becomes a cultural talking point — but in mental health and addiction science, gratitude is far more than a holiday theme. It’s a measurable driver of resilience, emotional regulation, and long-term recovery.

In this episode of The Dr. Suzette Glasner Podcast, I explore why gratitude matters so deeply in addiction recovery and mental health…and why lived experience helps us understand the research better than any textbook.

To do that, I reflect on my recent interview with Bev Vance Aikins, mother of JD Vance. Bev spent 15 years in active opioid addiction before entering recovery. Her story is deeply human — filled with guilt, shame, repair, and ultimately, transformation. And throughout our conversation, one theme surfaced over and over again:

Gratitude changed the trajectory of her life.

But she didn’t always call it “gratitude.”

Sometimes she called it being blessed.

Sometimes it showed up in noticing the “little things.”

Sometimes it emerged through spirituality and connection.

Those moments map directly onto what research tells us:

Gratitude is not passive. It’s an active psychological process that strengthens recovery.

In this episode, I break down:

What you’ll learn

• Why gratitude is such a powerful driver of mental health

• What Bev Vance Aikins’ journey teaches us about healing

• How gratitude supports long-term addiction recovery

• How spirituality and meaning-making strengthen resilience

• Why spiritual connection improves treatment outcomes

• How mindfulness helps us notice the “little things” after addiction

• How guilt and shame transform through self-forgiveness

• How gratitude + forgiveness rebuild damaged relationships

• What self-compassion really means — and why it matters

• The Dalai Lama’s insight on self-love as a prerequisite for compassion

• Gratitude and compassion meditations that can support daily practice

• A closing Thanksgiving reflection on staying grounded all year

Bev’s willingness to confront her past — even when portrayed negatively in a memoir and film — shows how gratitude and self-forgiveness work together. They make sustained recovery possible.

They make connection possible.

They make healing possible.

If you missed the full Bev interview, I strongly recommend watching it: https://youtu.be/2OP4BlGJZwA

It’s one of the clearest lived examples of applied recovery science I’ve seen in years.

As always, thank you for being part of this community.

Wishing you a grounded, compassionate, mindful Thanksgiving — wherever you are in your journey.

💬 Have a question for a future episode? Email: askdrglasner@gmail.com

In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner breaks down why holiday weight gain happens—and what behavior science teaches us about staying in control during the season of abundance. Drawing on her O, The Oprah Magazine article and her expertise as a UCLA addiction scientist, she introduces an updated version of her “assertive eating” method.

These tools help you maintain boundaries, make intentional choices, and avoid turning one slip into a spiral.

🍽️ Practical Tools You Can Use From the Episode:

• Most holiday weight gain comes from “just one pound”… that sticks.

• Social eating—not hunger—is the #1 trigger for overeating.

• “Assertive eating” protects your goals.

• Planning ahead reduces impulsive choices.

• One slip is not a failure.

📝 Referenced in the Episode

NEJM Holiday Weight Gain Study: https://bit.ly/NEJMholidayweightstudy

Dr. Glasner’s Oprah Magazine Article (“Avoiding the Holiday Spread”): https://bit.ly/drglasneroprahholidayeating

🎙️About Dr. Suzette Glasner

Dr. Suzette Glasner is a UCLA addiction scientist, clinical psychologist, and author whose research focuses on behavior change, cravings, and evidence-based coping strategies. Her work has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Psychology Today, and academic journals. She hosts The Dr. Suzette Glasner Podcast, where she brings scientific clarity to real-world behavioral challenges.