Beyond Comfort

Do you want to get a coffee? Do you wanna go out tonight? Would you come with me to a networking event? Ummm…NO! Beyond Comfort is all about pushing the bounds of our social anxiety to see just how far we can get when we quiet that often overbearing voice that tells us we can’t. Co-hosts and best friends Elle and Michelle are no experts at combating their anxiety, but they’re gonna at least try. Join them as they talk through their anxious thoughts, go to events, chat with new friends, and ultimately try to work through their anxieties. No matter how loud your social anxiety is, Beyond Comfort is for those who are tired of living in limbo. Let’s go Beyond Comfort.

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Episodes

4 days ago

Beyond Comfort hosts, Michelle and Elle, know each other quite well, but in this episode, they want you to get to know them and their anxiety a little bit better. After nine weeks of Beyond Comfort, the girls reflect on their podcast journey, sharing what they’ve learned about anxiety, anticipation, and pushing past comfort zones.
Highlights include a proud interview with Loud Luxury, the chaotic first episode at a comedy club, and a playful game with guest Dance McGee  called “How Well Do You Know Your Friend’s Anxiety?”
Through stories of doorbell panic, public speaking fears, and social coping strategies, they show how forcing themselves to show up often turned dread into fun.
Listeners are invited to connect on Instagram, try the game with friends, and tune in for the season finale and more in season two.

Monday Sep 22, 2025

For the past two episodes, hosts Michelle and Elle have been delving into the complex realities of how women feel about and interact with their social media identity. In today's episode, they take it a step further and get a new perspective in their interview with PhD candidate Victoria Kratel. The women discuss digital disconnection, the tension between curated social media identities and the real self, and why young women seek balance online and offline.
The episode explores research findings, practical detox tactics (like off-times and unfollowing), context collapse, and a simple challenge to reclaim control over your digital presence.

Post, Panic, Repeat

Monday Sep 15, 2025

Monday Sep 15, 2025

Ever think about putting your group chat messages on your Instagram story? Well, in this episode, hosts Michelle and Elle do just that. The girls team up with friends to test their comfort zones by posting eight spontaneous Instagram stories in one day, revealing the tension between curated personas and everyday reality.
The episode explores how social anxiety, public perception, and generational norms shape online identity, shares personal reactions to the challenge, and encourages listeners to try authentic posting and reflect on their relationship with social media.

Is That Really Me?

Monday Sep 08, 2025

Monday Sep 08, 2025

Hosts Michelle and Elle explore the disconnect between our social media personas and our real selves, discussing how curation, anxiety, comparison, and mood shape the way we view our own images. They share interviews with young women about their online identities and how posts can feel like an altered version of life.
 
Join in on the conversation and consider how you interact with and feel about your social media identity. 

The Bucket List

Monday Sep 01, 2025

Monday Sep 01, 2025

Hosts Michelle and Elle tackle the last items on their summer bucket list as a way to confront social anxiety. They try a Muskoka run club, gather for a group dinner, and brave a loud Summer House trivia night.Along the way they reflect on summer pressures, how movement and social connection affect anxiety, and invite listeners to finish their own bucket lists or join them for a fall one.

Monday Aug 25, 2025

On this episode of Beyond Comfort, hosts Michelle and Elle travel to Las Vegas for two birthdays and explore their anticipatory anxiety, social battery limits, and the challenges of travelling in a big party group.
They explore how their drive to test the bounds of their anxiety got them an exclusive interview with Loud Luxury DJ Andrew Fedyk, and share how they handled 5 days in Sin City—setting boundaries, listening to their bodies, moderating alcohol, and using mantras.

Anxiety Meets Muskoka

Monday Aug 18, 2025

Monday Aug 18, 2025

Hosts Michelle and Elle travel to Port Carling, Muskoka, where they push their social anxiety by attending a David Wilcox concert, trying new activities like a shot ski, pickleball, wake surfing, and more. The episode covers both fun moments—dancing, family outings, and outdoor sports—and a tense confrontation on the bus with a disrespectful bachelor party.
Through these experiences, they reflect on managing anxiety, exposure exercises, and the value of supportive friends while setting goals for continued growth beyond comfort.

Dartys & Delusions

Monday Aug 11, 2025

Monday Aug 11, 2025

Join us this week as we break out of our comfort zones in the bustling streets of downtown Toronto, embarking on an anxiety-inducing adventure to a vibrant darty. Discover how an unexpected invitation leads us to confront our social fears and embrace spontaneity in the midst of a lively event.Experience the highs and lows of mingling with strangers, engaging in playful social challenges, and the thrill of unplanned encounters with familiar faces from the past. This episode dives deep into the awkward yet exhilarating reality of pushing past social nerves, crafting memorable moments, and learning to go with the unpredictable flow of the night.Whether you're someone who shies away from crowds or thrives on late-night spontaneity, this episode offers a relatable journey through the daunting yet rewarding experience of tackling social events head-on.

Comedic Relief

Monday Aug 04, 2025

Monday Aug 04, 2025

Join hosts Michelle and Elle as they step out of their comfort zones in the first episode of "Beyond Comfort." This time, they're heading to a stand-up comedy show, a scenario that sends their social anxiety into overdrive, especially when Elle is running late. Listen to their journey as they navigate the stress of being called out in public, meet strangers, and delve into what social anxiety means to them while setting goals to overcome it.
The episode follows them into the heart of the Comedy Bar in Toronto, unraveling a night filled with unexpected surprises, engaging comics, and a few glasses of liquid courage. Hear how they tackle each anxiety-inducing moment and eventually have a night filled with laughter and personal growth.
By sharing their raw experiences, Michelle and Elle highlight the relatable struggles of social anxiety and offer insights into overcoming it through exposure therapy and setting personal goals. With a mix of humor and honesty, they invite listeners to challenge themselves too.

Welcome to Beyond Comfort

Sunday Jul 27, 2025

Sunday Jul 27, 2025

Welcome to Beyond Comfort: The Social Anxiety Podcast!
Beyond Comfort is all about testing the limits of social anxiety. Join hosts Michelle and Elle as they delve into the complexities of social anxiety by going to events, exploring their anxious thoughts, and ultimately try to go Beyond Comfort. 
Stay updated with their adventures and join the ongoing conversation by following them on Instagram @beyondcomfortpodcast. Tune in every Monday at 7:00 pm EST for a candid chat that promises inspiration and a few laughs!
We are so happy that you're here, and we can't wait for you to see what we have in store this season.

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Your Hosts

Beyond Comfort is hosted by best friends Michelle and Elle — two ambitious and creative 23-year-olds who are learning to navigate adulthood while managing the everyday challenges of social anxiety. The pair first met at a dance studio when they were just 13 years old, instantly bonding over their shared distaste for ballet class and their love for honest conversation. What started as whispered jokes during pliés grew into a decade-long friendship rooted in vulnerability, humour, and mutual growth.

Now, ten years later, Michelle and Elle are closer than ever. Though they're often seen as outgoing and sociable, there’s still that persistent voice of doubt and anxiety in the back of their minds — one they confront with courage, curiosity, and connection.

Book Recommendations

 

Rewire Your Anxious Brain by Catherine M. Pittmanm PhD, Elizabeth M. Karle MLIS

Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen

A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino

How To Talk To Anyone by Leil Lowndes

Notes On A Nervous Planet by Matt Haig

Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer, MD, PhD

Don't F*cking Panic by Kelsey Darragh PhD, MD

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson

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