The Hardcore Self-Help Podcast with Duff the Psych

Robert Duff is a clinical neuropsychologist from Southern California who decided that self-help content didn't have to be soft and vague. The "hardcore" in the title isn't about intensity so much as directness. Duff answers listener questions about depression, anxiety, relationships, and life without psychobabble or hedging, and he has a real talent for breaking down neuroscience into language that actually sticks. The show runs two main formats: interview episodes with psychologists, researchers, and other experts, and Q&A episodes where he tackles questions from his audience on everything from trauma recovery to high-functioning codependency. Episodes vary in length from quick 15-minute answers to full hour-long conversations, and they drop weekly. With 447 episodes and a 4.5 rating from 960 reviews, the show has built a solid following over the years. Duff's personality is the real draw here. He's casual, occasionally funny, and unafraid to say "I don't know" when a question falls outside his expertise. He also wrote a series of Hardcore Self Help books that complement the podcast content, covering depression and anxiety in the same no-nonsense voice. Recent episodes have tackled intimacy, breakups, and OCD treatment with that same straightforward style. The Southern California laid-back energy comes through clearly, which makes even the heavier topics feel approachable. If you've ever wished your therapist would just get to the point, this is your show.