Rose Ellen Dix, the well-known voice behind the YouTube duo Rose & Rosie, has taken her willingness to share personal moments a step further. At almost 40 years old, she released RoseCD a podcast that places her obsessive-compulsive disorder experience at the centre of every episode. The series invites listeners to explore intrusive thoughts, compulsive habits and the shame that often accompanies them, while also sprinkling in lighter anecdotes that keep the tone approachable.
Diagnosed with OCD at the age of 17, Dix has spoken about the condition on her channel for years, but the audio format allows a deeper, uninterrupted conversation. In one memorable episode she jokes about the mental gymnastics involved in convincing herself that a crush on Ewan McGregor was real, when in fact her heart belonged to Nicole Kidman. These moments of humour sit alongside candid discussions of spiralling anxiety, showing that the condition is as multifaceted as the people living with it.
From personal confession to public platform
The seed for RoseCD was planted when Dix reflected on what would have helped her at 17 – a time when the diagnosis felt alien and terrifying. “I thought to myself, ‘What would I have really needed back in the day when I was 17, and it was all very new and scary?’” she told the podcast host. Her answer became a mission: to build a community where anyone touched by obsessive-compulsive disorder can speak openly without the pressure of clinical jargon or moralising tones.
Each episode follows a simple structure: Rose shares a personal story, invites a guest or a listener to add their perspective, and then unpacks practical coping strategies. The format encourages authenticity, and the absence of a therapist-like voice keeps the conversation grounded in lived experience rather than textbook theory.
What RoseCD offers listeners
Beyond storytelling, the podcast serves as an educational tool. Listeners repeatedly hear the term compulsion defined as a repetitive behaviour performed to alleviate anxiety caused by an intrusive thought. By repeatedly pairing these definitions with real-world examples, Rose helps demystify the condition for both sufferers and allies. The show also shines a light on the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and mental health, acknowledging that stigma can be compounded for queer individuals.
In a special episode released earlier this month, fans contributed their own narratives, creating a collage of voices that mirrors the diversity of the OCD community. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the podcast for feeling like a private conversation with a trusted friend rather than a generic health broadcast.
Community response and future direction
The reception of RoseCD extends beyond the podcast platform. The allied magazine DIVA, which has championed queer media for over 30 years, highlighted the series as essential listening for anyone seeking greater awareness of mental health within the LGBTQ+ sphere. DIVA’s charitable arm, the DIVA Charitable Trust, now supports projects like Rose’s, reinforcing the importance of media that speaks directly to under-represented groups.
Looking ahead, Dix plans to expand the series with live Q&A sessions and possibly a limited-run video series that pairs visual storytelling with the audio format. Her ultimate aim remains clear: to prove that a diagnosis does not define a life, and that open conversation can turn isolation into solidarity.
