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“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
It might be one of the most automatic exchanges we have. But what does "fine" actually mean? Sometimes it means we really are okay. Sometimes it means we don’t have the time, energy, or desire to explain ourselves. And sometimes, “I’m fine” is covering up exhaustion, sadness, loneliness, fear, overwhelm, anger, or feelings we haven’t stopped long enough to identify. In this episode of Right Here, hosts Christopher Mooney, LCSW and Kenyon Phillips, LMSW unpack why “fine” can become an emotional defense, and how our instinct to keep things light can leave us disconnected from ourselves and other people. The conversation also explores the middle ground between undersharing and oversharing: pausing long enough to notice what we're actually feeling, replacing “fine” with something slightly more honest, and using what a “fine plus” response to crack the door open without ripping it off the hinges. Vulnerability doesn’t have to mean telling everyone everything. Sometimes, connection starts with being a little more accurate about how we’re actually doing.
Creators and Guests
What is Right Here?
Right Here is a mental health podcast that explores the psychological patterns shaping our relationships, choices, and inner lives. Hosted by therapists Christopher Mooney, LCSW, and Kenyon Phillips, LMSW, each episode offers grounded, compassionate conversations rooted in clinical insight and real human experience. No jargon. No judgment. Just clear, thoughtful dialogue designed to help listeners better understand themselves and the people around them.