Mentally a Badass is the podcast that keeps it real about mental health, anxiety recovery, and self-growth. Hosted by Justine Rodes, this show dives deep into raw conversations, expert insights, and personal stories on overcoming anxiety, panic attacks, childhood trauma, and other life-altering experiences. We explore alternative mental health treatments, mindfulness, and practical coping strategies to help you heal and take back your power. Because here, we believe that being vulnerable is ...
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Justine Rodes Podcasts
Tell Me Your Ghost Story is a podcast where real people share their real-life encounters with the paranormal. Host Kassie Askin invites guests to share their unexplainable encounters in their own words. Some stories are terrifying, some are heartwarming, and some just might change the way you see the world. Kassie isn’t looking for answers or theories, just stories that are sure to haunt you.
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Roll For Crit is your #1 resource for content from the world of tabletop gaming! Every week, Will and Jonathan are joined by a guest from the gaming world to discuss board game news, Kickstarter highlights, games they've been playing, and more! Become a High Roller by supporting us at http://patreon.com/rollforcrit or learn more at http://rollforcrit.com
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When Joseph turned 10 years old, his summer vacation began like any other - long, hot days spent playing with his cousins. But then, things took a turn for the strange. A hooded figure appeared night after night outside Joseph’s window, and then something far stranger - perhaps not of this world - appeared outside his family’s home. Whatever it was…
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Barrett Young: Why Going Back to Being an Employee Isn’t Failure
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59:55In this episode, I sit down with Barrett Young to have an honest conversation about identity, success, and the rarely discussed reality of returning to employee life after entrepreneurship. Barrett opens up about building a successful business, the obstacles that ultimately led him to step away, and the internal struggle of redefining who you are w…
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Becoming Iconic: Amanda Paolicelli on Breakups, Healing & Owning Your Power
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54:49In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Paolicelli, the creator of Dare to Be Iconic, to talk about the breakup that shattered her—and ultimately shaped her into the woman she is today. Amanda opens up about trauma, healing, self-worth, and how she turned pain into purpose. We dive deep into confidence, empowerment, and what it really means to beco…
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Marcus Dell'Olio’s Story – “Night Watch at Tulsa Zoo”
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28:44During Marcus’s first week as a nighttime security guard at the Tulsa Zoo, his supervisor pulled him aside to share a story about the night he saw a ghost wandering the grounds after closing. Marcus tried to shrug it off, determined to not let it get to his head. But soon after, on one of his first nights working alone, Marcus found himself facing …
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Surviving 10 Years in Captivity: The Unbelievable Story of Tanya Kach
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42:23In this powerful episode, Tanya Kach shares the shocking story of how she was groomed, manipulated, and ultimately held captive for 10 years by her middle school security guard. Locked upstairs and hidden from the world, Tanya endured a decade of fear, isolation, and control before finally finding the courage to escape. We dive deep into: How the g…
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The night before leaving the US to start a new life in Thailand, Brock had one more run-in with the sleep paralysis that had plagued him for years. Only this time, something was different. Instead of the familiar feelings of dread and the slow, deliberate sounds of something inching closer, he finally saw what had been stalking him in the dark. As …
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Recognizing the Signs: How Danielle Young Survived an Abusive Relationship
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46:39Danielle Young was only 18 when she met a man who seemed charming — but turned out to be a complete loser who preyed on her innocence and controlled her every move. What started as attention quickly became abuse, manipulation, and emotional destruction. In this powerful conversation, Danielle opens up about how she survived years of mistreatment, f…
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The Truth About Motherhood: No-Sugar-Coating Advice with Kayce Hodos
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55:08Motherhood isn’t always picture-perfect — and in this episode, Kayce Hodos gets real about what moms actually go through. We discuss mental health, self-care, and honest motherhood advice without the sugar-coating. Tune in for a refreshing, relatable chat every mom needs to hear. Check out Kayce: https://tinyurl.com/y4d7mvds Connect with Us: Follow…
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Rick and Sheri’s home in the Mojave desert was a peaceful place, until the day a stray dog appeared on the property. They took him in and named him Buddy. Buddy was a source of warmth and companionship, though his arrival seemed to stir something within the house. They began catching whiffs of cigarette smoke, finding objects knocked to the floor, …
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Coping with a Parent’s Suicide: Larry Bograd on Grief, Stigma, and Healing
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57:06Larry Bograd shares his story of losing his father to suicide and the deep grief that followed. He reflects on how hard it was to mourn in a time when no one talked about mental health or suicide. Through his journey, Larry reveals what it means to heal from a loss that once had no voice. Order Larry's Book: https://amzn.to/4oEQZLz Connect with Us:…
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Out of the blue, Lisa feels an unshakable pull to uproot her family of six from their comfortable suburban life and renovate a run-down cabin on a plot of land in Modjeska Canyon, a remote community of just 600 people. Once they settled in, strange things started happening - sightings of shadowy figures, sudden illnesses, and a newfound obsession w…
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Introducing a chilling new podcast: TWISTED TALES WITH HEIDI WONG
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28:12Reality is the real horror. Every Monday, poet and paranormal obsessive Heidi Wong unearths the chilling true stories behind the world’s most terrifying legends. From haunted dolls to cursed houses, each episode of Twisted Tales reveals the disturbing real-life events that inspired horror’s biggest blockbusters and the ones too twisted to make it t…
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Willie Handler on Inherited Pain and the Holocaust’s Lasting Impact
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50:51The trauma of the Holocaust didn’t end with liberation — it lived on in families, memories, and silence. Willie Handler shares how growing up as the child of Holocaust survivors shaped his sense of self and mental health. Together, we talk about inherited pain, the invisible weight of survival, and how healing begins with speaking the truth. Check …
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Dopamine Reset: Simple Ways to Rebuild Focus and Energy with Andy West
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59:44Ever feel like your brain just won’t cooperate? Dopamine expert Andy West joins me to talk about how to reset your brain’s motivation system. She shares easy, realistic ways to boost dopamine and find your flow again—especially if ADHD makes it feel like an uphill battle. Check out Andy: https://dopaminemountain.com/ Connect with Us: Follow us on I…
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During the Covid lockdowns, Rosie and her friends set out on a camping trip in West Virginia. When they arrived, they discovered they’d be the only ones at the entire campsite - completely alone in the middle of the woods. When they stopped in town for food and drinks, locals kept asking if they were the girls staying at Campsite 12. Uneasy, they r…
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The Trauma of Silence: Perry Power’s Story
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45:00Actor, author, and advocate Perry Power joins me to share his story of surviving sexual abuse. While the abuse itself was painful, Perry reveals that the greatest trauma came from being told to stay silent. In this conversation, he opens up about how silence shapes survivors, why breaking it is powerful, and shares his tips on finding the courage t…
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Stephen Reedy’s Story - “How Do I Know You’re Real?”
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34:46Stephen thought his experience with psychedelics ended when he came back into himself, but the nightmare was only beginning. In the nights that followed, shadow people invaded his bedroom, looming over him as he slept and jolting him awake with paralyzing dread. Desperate, he tried a technique to banish the shadow people - one he remembered a radia…
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Hunter Peterson’s Story - “The Treehouse”
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30:42Hunter and his brother spent their childhood exploring the oak groves around their home in Temecula, California. One day, they stumbled upon an old forgotten treehouse and claimed it as their own, fixing it up and making it their secret hideout. But everything changed the day a strange little boy appeared inside. There was something unsettling abou…
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Inside Bipolar 1: Tyler Kania on the Challenges and Positives
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51:28In this episode of Mentally a Badass, I sit down with author Tyler Kania to talk openly about his journey with Bipolar 1 disorder. Tyler shares his experiences navigating manic episodes, struggling to keep a job, and facing the challenges of a serious knee injury and time in a mental health hospital. But this conversation isn’t just about the strug…
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Living in Fight or Flight: Morgan Brunner on the Aftermath of Domestic Violence
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53:51In this episode, Morgan Brunner shares her powerful story of surviving a domestic violence marriage. She opens up about why she stayed at first—for her daughter—and the moment she realized that leaving was the only way to protect them both. Morgan talks about the hidden aftermath of abuse: living in constant fight-or-flight, the exhaustion it cause…
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In the summer of 2011, Ali headed to Weston, Vermont to spend the season acting at the historic Weston Playhouse. The housing for the performers was far from ideal - six bunk beds crammed into the attic of a creaky old farmhouse. One night, Ali woke to find a tall man silently watching her, positioned in the narrow gap between her bed and the wall.…
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Life After a Cult: Brooke Deanne on CPTSD & Healing
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45:02In this episode, I sit down with Brooke Deanne for an honest conversation about her time in a cult and how that experience led to CPTSD. Brooke shares what it’s really like living with trauma, how it shows up in everyday life, and the small steps she’s taking to heal and move forward. We talk about the hard stuff—control, trust, and the weight of t…
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Panic Attacks, Boundaries & Mental Health Awareness with Brittany Hansen
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55:58In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Brittany Hansen to talk openly about panic attacks, mental health awareness, and the importance of breaking the stigma around these conversations. Brittany shares her personal experiences with anxiety and panic attacks, and why it’s so important to take them seriously. We also explore the role of boundaries i…
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Sam Heimer’s Story - “Fetal Position” & Steven’s Story - “Tattoo Shop”
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33:30Years ago, Sam found himself living in a dingy studio apartment, sharing the building with an eclectic mix of neighbors. One night, he woke up and spotted something impossible in his bathroom - an apparition whose presence would make horrifying sense the next morning. Then, Steven takes us inside the haunted tattoo shop where he used to work. What …
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The Power of Being Unfiltered: Swearing, Self-Love & Showing Up as You Are with Zulma Williams
1:04:42
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1:04:42In this episode, I sit down with Zulma Williams—better known as The Swearing Therapist—to talk about what it really means to be authentic in a world obsessed with perfection. We get into why swearing isn’t a moral failure, how to stop caring about your looks, and why chasing happiness doesn’t have to mean pretending everything’s okay. If you’ve eve…
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Learning to Speak Grief: Laura Walton on Loss, Silence, and Choosing Openness
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45:09In this powerful and honest conversation, Laura Walton shares her experience with grief after losing her father to suicide and later a close friend. While both losses shaped her, it was the passing of her friend that hit especially hard and stirred a deeper emotional reckoning. We talk about how grief can feel different depending on the relationshi…
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In 2009, Evan and his group of friends spent most of their nights deep in the woods of Arlington, Massachusetts, one of the only places they could get away with drinking in peace. One night, the group heard a faint jingling sound drifting through the trees. At first, they ignored it, but the sound kept getting closer. Then, through the darkness, a …
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Proving Them Wrong, Then Choosing Peace — with Catherine Crestani
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57:28What happens when you realize the thing you’ve been chasing… isn’t actually what you want? In this episode, I sit down with Catherine Crestani to talk about the quiet, powerful moments of self-awareness that shaped her journey. From building a company to prove people wrong, to realizing she no longer wants to spend her energy that way — Catherine s…
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Ashley Krooks Had It All — So Why Was She Unhappy?
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45:16Ever felt like you were doing everything “right,” but still felt off? Ashley Krooks joins us to share how burnout forced her to re-evaluate her definition of success. We talk about the difference between looking successful and feeling satisfied—and how she’s working to build a more grounded, peaceful life. Check out Ashley: https://www.instagram.co…
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Therapist Blake Hunt on Surviving Addiction and Facing Today’s Mental Health Crisis
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46:52In this powerful episode, I sit down with therapist and addiction survivor Blake Hunt to discuss his personal journey with alcohol and how it led him to help others through mental health work. We dive deep into the mental health crisis facing our society—touching on everything from the fentanyl epidemic to borderline personality disorder (BPD), and…
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How Nature Helped Mike Martin Overcome Depression
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47:23In this episode, I sit down with Mike Martin to talk about something so many silently face—depression. Mike opens up about his mental health journey and how reconnecting with the natural world became a key part of his healing process. From quiet walks in the woods to immersing himself in wild landscapes, he shares how nature offers more than beauty…
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Tameera’s Story - “The Cecil Hotel” & Margo’s Story - “Sally”
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27:36
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27:36On a trip to Los Angeles, Tameera and her boyfriend unknowingly checked into one of the city’s most infamous landmarks - the Cecil Hotel. When they opened the door to their room, they weren’t alone. A man was in their room, dressed like he’d stepped out of another century. He carried on packing his suitcase, as if they weren’t even there. They chan…
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Sara Thornhill on Surviving Rape and Reviving Her Power
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44:33In this deeply powerful and vulnerable episode, meditation coach Sara Thornhill shares her personal journey of survival, healing, and transformation. From surviving a brutal gang rape to navigating two divorces, Sara opens up about how she rebuilt her life and now dedicates her work to helping fellow LGBTQIA+ individuals heal from trauma. Through m…
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Healing the Wounds Within: EFT Tapping & Childhood Trauma with Amy Vincze
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52:50In this powerful episode, I sit down with Amy Vincze to explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma and how it can silently shape our adult lives—emotionally, physically, and mentally. Amy shares her personal journey and introduces us to EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) tapping, a unique and accessible healing tool that helps release deep-roote…
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Mimi’s Story - “Tia” & Woody’s Story - “Telekinetic”
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24:50When Mimi was a kid, she traveled to a quiet town in Mexico to visit family and stayed in her aunt’s home - a home heavy with grief after the loss of her cousin. She woke several times throughout the night to find her aunt praying in the moonlight, cloaked in a strange robe. When Mimi finally approached the figure, she realized the hooded entity wa…
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23 Years Lost: Paul Davis on Addiction, Redemption, and the God Who Found Him
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51:42Paul Davis ran away from home, lived in his car, and spent over two decades caught in a spiral of addiction, self-destruction, and heartbreak. In this raw conversation, he opens up about the moment he hit rock bottom, the pain of broken relationships, and the life-changing turning point that brought him to his knees—and ultimately to healing. We ta…
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Katie Turner on Therapy, Spirituality & Being Sensitive
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44:11In this episode, I sit down with Katie Turner—an advocate for deep feeling and self-awareness—to talk about what it really means to be a sensitive human in a loud, often dismissive world. We unpack the differences between traditional therapy and spiritual alternatives, share personal insights on navigating mental health in both the U.S. and Canada,…
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While on vacation in Turkey, Ramya and her brother and sister-in-law check into a beautiful Airbnb in the heart of Istanbul. But then, they notice the mirrors. Dozens of them. Covering every wall. In every room. At first, they chalked it up to a strange interior design choice, but by their second night, it became clear that the mirrors weren’t just…
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Let’s Talk Perfectionism, Personality, and Borderline Personality Disorder — with Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala
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57:25Why are we so hard on ourselves sometimes? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala — a psychologist, author, and expert in emotions — to talk about perfectionism, personality traits, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). We break down how your personality can shape the way you think and feel, why perfectionism shows up, and w…
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Breaking Generational Cycles Through Energy Healing: A Conversation with Kanika Vasudeva
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1:07:07In this honest and healing conversation, I’m joined by Kanika Vasudeva—energy healer and spiritual guide—as she shares how the heartbreaking loss of her daughter led her to a deeper path of self-discovery, soul work, and spiritual healing. We talk about how energy healing helped her move through grief, and how tapping into the Akashic Records revea…
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When Chris Heck and his friends moved into a crumbling old house right after high school, they thought they were just getting a cheap place to live. It seemed like the perfect house for the group, until the strange noises started. Curious to make contact with whatever entity they were living with, they utilize a Ouija board and automatic writing - …
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Why Celebrities Struggle with Addiction – with Dr. Cali Estes
1:07:34
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1:07:34In this episode, I sat down with Cali Estes — an addiction expert and counselor who works with celebrities — to talk about her own experience with addiction and why so many people in the spotlight quietly battle it too. We got into the pressure of constantly being “on,” what fame can do to your mental health, and why money and success don’t make yo…
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Transforming Grief into Growth: Robert Foster on Mental Health, Motivation, and Coaching After Loss
1:00:42
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1:00:42In this powerful episode, transformational coach Robert Foster opens up about how the death of his father became a turning point in both his personal journey and professional coaching style. We discuss how he helps clients manage anxiety and depression, his unique approach to mindset and motivation, and why healing is a critical part of achieving s…
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Maria’s Story & Michele’s Story - “Off the Map”
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35:27Two women. Two road trips. Two unexplainable detours. This week we hear Maria’s story and Michele’s story - their stories are very similar in some ways, but take wildly different turns. First, we hear Maria’s story. In 2007, she and her four siblings were driving home to Georgia after their uncle’s funeral in Florida. They stopped at a gas station …
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When Your Body Turns Against You: Holly France’s Story of Surviving GBS
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51:15In this powerful episode, I sit down with Holly France — a rare illness advocate and survivor, to talk about her journey with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare and often misunderstood neurological disorder. Holly opens up about what it’s really like to live with a rare disease, the challenges of navigating a medical system that often overlooks …
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Burnout, Grief, and Self-Care: Jenny Lytle’s Guide to Prioritizing Your Well-Being
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57:53In today’s episode, I’m joined by Jenny Lytle — a former hospice nurse turned stress-relief and self-care coach — for a powerful conversation about the real cost of burnout. Jenny shares how losing her mother and her years of caregiving led her to deeply understand that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential. We talk about the emotional toll of a…
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Held at Gunpoint: Jill McMahon on Childhood Trauma and Healing
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54:24When Jill McMahon was a kid, a man held her family at gunpoint—an experience that would change the course of her life. Now a trauma counselor, Jill shares what it’s like to live through something so terrifying and how trauma can stick with us for years. We talk about the long-term impact of that day, how trauma shows up in ways we don’t always expe…
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The Beauty of a Neurodivergent Mind: A Neurospicy Talk with Dr. Kristen Williamson
1:07:25
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1:07:25In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kristen Williamson to dive into what it means to have a neurodivergent brain—something she playfully refers to as neurospicy. We get real about our own experiences navigating life with neurodivergent minds and explore how neurodivergence shows up differently for everyone. Kristen breaks down the distinctions bet…
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This week, we hear the stories of Cat Elrod, a special effects makeup artist and costume designer whose career has taken her to all kinds of strange and haunted places. But ironically, her scariest encounter happened at the happiest place on Earth - Disneyland. While finishing her costuming duties after the Fantasmic show, she’s alone inside of the…
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Reparenting the Wounded Inner Child — with Malisa Hepner LCSW
1:12:06
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1:12:06In this episode, I talk with therapist Malisa Hepner about the weight of childhood trauma—how it lingers, how it shapes who we think we are, and what it takes to begin healing. We explore what it really means to reparent ourselves, the messy process of learning to love the parts of us we were taught to hide, and how astrology can help make sense of…
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