I’ve concluded the final week of practicing gratitude every day this month for National Gratitude Month.

Here’s what I was thankful for:

Day 22: I’m thankful for podcasts. It took me a while to jump onto the bandwagon but now it’s one of my favorite forms of entertainment. I’m realizing I mostly like podcasts that teach me something, but I’m grateful for the variety that’s out there.

Day 23: I’m thankful for candles. Here lately I’ve been lighting a scented candle in my office while I work. The warmth of the flame and the sweet smell of “autumn wreath” have had a very uplifting effect on my mood. I’m grateful for something so simple.

Day 24: I’m thankful for therapy and Xanax. I have a wonderful therapist who does a great job of validating my feelings while helping me to reframe my negative thoughts. Sometimes I just need someone to whom I can unload all of my stress and anxiety, and she helps me figure out how to make it more manageable. And on the days when it is simply too much to handle and none of the reframing, meditation, or grounding works, I can turn to the medication to calm my racing thoughts and pounding heart. I’ll never be ashamed of getting help when and where I need it, and I hope that in sharing my experiences, others will seek help without fear or shame. For this, I am grateful.

1. Battle Tactics for Your Sexist Workplace

“Yes, your workplace is sexist. If you’re interested in learning more about things like the gender pay gap and glass ceilings, then this podcast is for you. Jeannie Yandel and Eula Scott Bynoe break down how sexism works in the modern workplace. And with help from some badass experts, they bring you real tactics you can use to fight back.” I’ve been completely aware of some of these issues for quite some time but often I feel helpless to do anything about them. That’s where this podcast comes in, and is the reason I love it so much: they actually give you some solutions to these issues! And the solutions feel completely doable. This podcast might change your life and your world… or at the very least, your sexist workplace.

2. Lore

Lore is one of my never-miss shows. From the website: “Lore is an award-winning, critically-acclaimed podcast about true life scary stories. Lore exposes the darker side of history, exploring the creatures, people, and places of our wildest nightmares. Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction. Each episode examines a new dark historical tale in a modern campfire experience. With more than 19,600 5-star reviews on Apple Podcasts and over 155-million listens, that’s clearly a good thing.” What I enjoy most about this show is the history it presents. That’s actually what I love about most ghost stories, ghost walks, etc.; I like learning about the thoughts, culture, and life during the times of these tales, and the host does a good job of weaving history within the macabre.

3. Spooked

Spooked is a production of WNYC’s Snap Judgement. If you like the sound and feel of Snap Judgement and want to hear some ghost stories, then Spooked is for you! This one is my all-time favorite but it’s only out for 13 weeks of the year – the weeks leading up to Halloween! It just finished its second season and if I’m being totally honest, the first season was much better. But it’s still worth listening to if you’re like me and can’t get enough of those spooky tales year round.

4. The Longest Shortest Time

This is “the parenting show for everyone with stories about the surprises and absurdities of raising other humans—and being raised by them. The Longest Shortest Time is an award-winning podcast about parenthood in all of its forms. But you don’t need to be a parent to listen.” As a new parent, I like hearing all of the stories of parenting fails and wins, and I take comfort in knowing that I’m not alone out there, trying to raise a little human.

5. Hidden Brain

Per the website, “Hidden Brain helps curious people understand the world – and themselves.Using science and storytelling, Hidden Brain reveals the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, and the biases that shape our choices.” I find the majority of these stories so fascinating. They touch on some topics that I’ve sometimes thought about and wondered why it is, and other topics that I never really thought about and didn’t know I was so interested in. For example, one episode explores the psychology of why we like surprise endings. I mean, how interesting is that?!