When life gives you a toxic mother, what do you do? You listen, learn, and change your direction! I’m Phylis Mantelli, author of the book “UnMothered: Life With A Mom Who Couldn’t Love Me.” This podcast is a place for mentoring and encouragement as we navigate the complexities of toxic parent relationships. Join me as I share my journey and invite God-filled guests to discuss emotional healing, overcoming childhood trauma, and personal growth. Together, we'll explore new thoughts and pattern ...
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The Qualities Of A Healthy Mom vs. A Toxic Mom | Episode 107
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25:38What are the qualities or differences in a healthy Mom versus a toxic Mom? Big differences in my opinion. Is there such a thing as a perfect mom? I haven’t met one yet, but I know we can always do better than what we have grown up in if we have, in fact, grown up in toxicity. Let’s talk about what each of these kinds of moms looks like, and see if …
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Happy Mother’s Day: A Daughters Perspective To An UnMothered Mom | Episode 106
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34:00Let’s bring on my daughter on today’s episode and talk about the good, bad and better of moms! Bringing on my daughter can help us understand as moms how we can learn from daughters and the next generation. Listening to them helps us be the best moms we can be. Let us know how you like this episode! Please leave a review or send us a message over o…
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UnMothered Sons: The Hidden Wound Men Carry | Episode 105
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21:09In this powerful and emotional episode, we explore a topic that's often overlooked in conversations around childhood trauma — what happens when men are the ones who were never mothered? What does it look like when a boy grows into a man still carrying the ache of a mother’s absence, and how does that wound ripple through his career, his relationshi…
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Can You Save The Relationship With Your Mom? | Episode 104
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23:10Can you have a relationship with your toxic mother? The answer is easier than you think, and it’s totally up to you and no one else. Let’s explore different ways you could possibly have a relationship with your mother if you think it could work. Let’s Connect! Follow me on IG: The UnMothered Podcast https://www.instagram.com/theunmotheredpodcast/ P…
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Life After You Break The Habits & Patterns of Old Beliefs | Episode 103
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21:31It’s time for you to create some healthy inner talk and stop believing the lies your moms have told you! In my past episodes, we talked about the different ‘types’ of mothers. Today, we are going to touch upon what we need to do to break away from these narcissistic, controlling, overly enmeshed moms. Let’s Connect! Follow me on IG: The UnMothered …
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Do You Have a Calling To Write Your Story? | Episode 102
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33:31Have you ever thought of writing a book? Is a memoir something that God is calling you to? He did for me, and it wasn’t something I ever thought I would do, but has become one of the best things I have ever done. If you are curious, listen to this episode and see if this will confirm what you have been thinking. If you need help getting started, co…
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Perfection & Control: Breaking Free To Find Peace with Christine Hoy | Episode 101
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31:36I had such a great conversation with our guest today! Christine Hoy speaks to women who feel overwhelmed by life's demands and the relentless pursuit of perfection. She had no idea that the emotional and physical burnout she experienced caring for her terminally ill mother would lead to a spiritual transformation in her own life. Answering God’s in…
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How did we get to 100 episodes on this podcast already? Well, come listen and celebrate with me as I walk back down to the beginning of this journey! Thank you so much for being such a great support! I appreciate all my fellow UnMothered's and can't wait to chat with you all for the next 100 episodes! Let’s Connect! Follow me on IG: The UnMothered …
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Were Some Moms Just Never Meant To Be Mothers? | Episode 99
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27:55We have probably all heard the statement, "some moms were just never meant to be moms" but is that true? If you think of the worst toxic mom in your imagination, what would she look like? Some things I’ve been reading (and a few I’ve experienced) are “ignored, abusive, gaslighting, and mentally ill.” These kinds of moms are vital to go “no contact”…
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Did You Grow Up Being The Mother To Your Mom? | Episode 98
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26:30Are you responsible for being the mother to your mother? When you have grown up with someone who is very manipulative and needy, it can in some ways feel good. What you find is that over time, it is exhausting and there is no end to what they take from you emotionally, physically, and mentally. You should be the child, NOT the mother! How do you br…
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Healing From The Impact Of A Controlling Mother | Episode 97
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24:42Let’s take a deep dive into the traits of a controlling mother. Did you grow up with a controlling mom and what exactly does that look like? How can it affect your self-esteem, decision-making, and relationships? While we may not be able to change our mothers, we can change how we react and set boundaries for ourselves. Drawing insights from Mother…
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Growing Up Resilient But Trusting In Love | Episode 96
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26:57
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26:57Do you always have to be the strong one? Being resilient is a powerful trait, but when it comes to love and relationships, it can also create walls. Many of us learned to be tough because of our upbringing, but real connection requires trust. Don’t let old narratives convince you you can only rely on yourself. Love thrives on trust—both in yourself…
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Is Your Mom Too Enmeshed in Your Adult Life? | Episode 95
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28:01Does your mom think she’s your best friend? Some mother-daughter relationships blur the line between love and control, with moms inserting themselves into every aspect of their daughter’s life—where they live, what job they take, and even how they dress. Often, this stems from a deep fear of being left behind or an unfulfilled need to relive experi…
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Understanding And Letting Go Of Your Mother Wound | Episode 94
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22:58It’s not that your mom doesn't love you, it’s that she doesn’t know how to love you. Have you ever found yourself wondering, ‘Does my mom really love me?’ It’s a painful question that many of us with difficult mothers have asked. In this episode, I dive into the emotional and psychological impact of growing up with a mother who couldn’t love the wa…
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How Our Body Can Hold Onto Our Past Traumas | Episode 93
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28:47Our bodies and minds are such an amazing tool, but it can also be damaged by trauma. When that happens, we can be doing life through a failed truth. Let’s explore how trauma affects our bodies and how it is a real dilemma that most people would rather ignore than face. When we can get real about what our body is feeling during stressful situations,…
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The Truth Surrounding Generational Curses | Episode 92
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19:15Often you might hear: “God, why did this happen to me?” I believe there is a difference between blessings and curses and shifts in our lives. But, we are responsible for some of the choices we make. Also, sometimes things happen that we don’t see coming. But through it all God will work it out for you if you allow Him to be in charge. We need to st…
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Because Of Your Past Trauma, Are You A People Pleaser Or Perfectionist? | Episode 91
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20:59Do you do things out of genuine kindness or because you think people won’t like you if you don’t help? Are you a people pleaser or perfectionist? Have you ever asked yourself where that started and why? Helping others is a great quality but only if you do it out of love, not guilt or shame. Let’s find out who told you to be perfect at all times, an…
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A year of loss has taught me so many things about how different causes of death affect us and ultimately how we handle grief and loss. Also, the timeline for “getting over it” is this…there isn’t one! You have to allow God AND your body to work through grief. I will walk you through some things I have learned and how I feel about loss after a year …
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Are You Emily Lorelai or Rory; Gilmore That Is | Episode 89
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30:58Are you team Lorelai team Emily or maybe even Rory? If you are familiar with the show “Gilmore Girls” you know these characters well. The mother/daughter/granddaughter dynamic had me glued to the show. Whenever there is a mother/daughter storyline, I’m ready to watch and observe. So my question is “which mom is right?” You will have to listen to th…
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A Big THANK YOU PEEPS For Your Support As We Head Into 2025 | Episode 88
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25:01What do your dreams look like and are you ready to make them happen in 2025? Do you know how much you have helped my dreams come true by supporting this podcast? Grateful is an understatement, but today I want to help you fulfill something in your heart that you have been wanting to do. It’s coming up on a new year and you don’t want to waste it by…
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Stay Tuned For Next Week With All New Episodes!
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1:07I will chat with you all next week in the new year, 2025, so exciting! We are having some fun things coming next year, like our 100th episode and so much more. Talk soon peeps! Looking to connect with other UnMothered’s? Join the PRIVATE Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheUnmotheredCommunity This podcast is on YouTube now! Go watch …
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Hi peeps! We are taking December off, but we will talk to you all soon in 2025! In the meantime, follow us on Instagram and let us know what topics you want to discuss in the new year. Hope you all have a great holiday season! Looking to connect with other UnMothered’s? Join the PRIVATE Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheUnmotheredC…
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The Key To Setting Up A Successful & Healthy Holiday Season | Episode 87
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28:44
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28:44Holidays are naturally stressful for most of us, but add in a narcissistic mom and it becomes a whole other stressor. Part of our generational dysfunction is putting up with stressful situations with our moms year after year with holiday get-togethers. This year it can be different if you decide to stop the old habits. It’s not easy, and I have don…
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How To Discuss Purity With Your Child When Your Mother Never Taught You | Episode 86
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29:21How many moms raised their kids in the 90’s purity culture? I sure did, and while I did it with good intentions if I could go back in time, I would have done some things differently. One thing I did do was keep the lines of communication open with my daughters so they knew they could always come and talk to me about anything. Listen in as I discuss…
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When You Can’t Trust Your Mother with Family Information | Episode 85
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23:17What do you do when your mother bad-mouths your in-laws and you tell your husband and now she is angry with you? Well, let's track the reason why she felt the need to talk about them in a cruel manner in the first place. Sometimes we can trust our moms with private information, and sometimes we absolutely can not! In this episode, we will explore t…
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How We Can Use The 'Winter Arc' To Finish The Year Strong | Episode 84
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23:38Today, we are discussing the “winter arc,” or the last three months of the year, and how we can reset anything that hasn’t worked so far. Just as the leaves change color and fall away, it is also a time for fresh growth. We can do the same with this year's old habits. We can restart and move away from the things that need new growth. This is the th…
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Parenting, Patterns, and Forgiveness A Conversation with Michelle S. Lazurek | Episode 83
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41:04Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor's wife, and mother. She is a regular contributor for ibelieve.com, and crosswalk.com and has written for Focus on the Family, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Christianity Today. She also is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services. When not working, she enjoys sipping a S…
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Breaking Free From Generational Marriage Roles | Episode 82
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21:05Do you do things in your marriage because it’s what you saw growing up or are you doing things differently because of seeing it go wrong for your parents? So many times we inadvertently do the traditional roles like our parents did. Even if those things are unhealthy, how do we know how to do it differently? Will it blow up in our faces if we ask f…
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It Is Okay To Be Sad But Why Do People Keep Rushing Us To Be Happy? | Episode 81
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28:22
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28:22Something that’s weighed heavy on my mind lately, is the subject of grief or sadness and how most people are so uncomfortable sitting with themselves and others through it. How do we get to where we are not rushed through this journey? We will all experience loss, sadness, and grief in our lifetime. Let’s get better at understanding it and helping …
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Breaking Free From The Lies Of Rejection with Jessica Van Roekel | Episode 80
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31:42In this episode, we chatted with Jessica Van Roekel about rejection and how it seeps into our childhoods and adult lives. What happens when you start believing the lies that rejection can bring? And what does God want you to feel about rejection? Listen in as we discuss how it can affect friendships, careers, and the lens of how we see others. Jess…
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Recognizing You’re Not Alone With A Dysfunctional Mom A Conversation with Kristi Lowe | Episode 79
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38:46This episode is so special to me because Kristi Lowe is on the podcast. She shares her unmothered story with others to help share that you are not alone in your mommy issues. Kristi is a Christian author and speaker and hosts the Even If Podcast. She knows life rarely goes according to plan, family dynamics are complicated, and mental health is no …
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How To Acknowledge Your Mental Health Battles with Kim Hardy | Episode 78
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37:51I was so excited to talk with my new friend Kim Hardy today. This episode dives deep into mental health and how to recognize the incorrect narratives we have for ourselves. She is an author and speaker passionate about giving women hope through Biblical truth. She seeks to inspire, renew, and restore hurting women so they can thrive and live joy-fi…
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How To Handle Your Toxic Mom & Her Relationship As A Grandmother | Episode 77
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31:24This week's episode came as an anonymous request through my weekly newsletter, Tuesday Talks With Phylis (link in bio to sign up or head to my website!). Let’s talk about the do’s and don’ts of letting our children be a part of our mothers’ lives and what do you do when your toxic mom wants to be a part of your children’s lives? Can we let them hav…
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Pastor’s Wife, People-Pleasing, and Mother Issues with Cheryl Lutz | Episode 76
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34:35We talked with Cheryl Lutz today about being a pastor’s wife, being a recovering people pleaser, and some of her own mother's issues. Cheryl Lutz is an inspirational speaker, certified biblical counselor, Bible teacher, and podcast host. She is likewise the author of Securely Held: Finding Significance and Security in the Shelter of God’s Embrace, …
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But It’s Your Family: When Should You Stop That Excuse? | Episode 75
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23:26Part of breaking generational dysfunction is to stop allowing the excuse of, “But it’s your family.” When do we stick by family because it’s family, and when do we have to decide on something better? Over the years I’ve come to a realization that loving families show up and it’s a safe place, not a place that makes you more miserable when you are a…
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How Your Past Can Affect Your Emotional Eating With Christine Trimpe | Episode 74
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30:26I had the pleasure to interview my good friend Christine Trimpe on the podcast today! She told her origin story of how this journey of being an author, speaker, and coach began. Her story starts with a mountain she wanted to climb but couldn’t because of her weight. From struggling with debilitating sleep patterns to a multitude of health issues, s…
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Overcoming Toxic Childhood Narratives That Shape Us | Episode 73
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20:47Can the things that were said to you as a child create a negative narrative as you become an adult? When I was watching the show Bridgerton on Netflix, the plot of the series stood out to me. The son had always held a narrative over his head because of actions or words that were said to him when he was younger. There is no need to have held a spot …
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An Emotionally Immature Mom vs. A Narcissistic Mom; What Is The Difference? | Episode 72
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28:37
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28:37Over the past few years, I’ve been studying the different types of toxic moms. Imagine my surprise when I started studying about toxic parenting and realized my mom was emotionally immature AND narcissistic! I never knew what to expect from my mom from one day to the next. It was exhausting trying to figure it all out. It made so much sense, but al…
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Do Past Triggers Keep You Stuck From Moving Forward? | Episode 71
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26:33One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you can self-sabotage by letting your triggers control you. Let’s talk about the everyday life habits that may keep you stuck negatively. Are you allowing your scared feelings to control you and prevent you from becoming the confident, strong woman you are meant to be? How can we find some ways to slowl…
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Most Downloaded Episode Series | Should You Heal The Toxic Relationship With Your Mom And/Or Siblings? | Episode 16
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24:52How do we find the heart to heal those who have hurt us? We will explore what it means to forgive people who hurt you deeply. Do you need to forgive them? Should you? What does that look like? Let’s talk about this. I was asked in my private Facebook group of my Unmothered women, what to do when they are having a hard time wanting to heal a relatio…
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Most Downloaded Episode Series | Your Mother's Issues Are Your Mother's Issues | Episode 1
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21:08As I was channel surfing I stopped on The Bachelorette. I never watch this show anymore, but of course, I was curious! I swear God wanted me to hear this, Gabby Windey was on a date and they were talking about family. His parents had been married forever and loved each other fiercely. She started telling him about her fractured relationship with he…
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Most Downloaded Episodes | How Can You Identify And Tolerate Having A Narcissistic Mom? | Episode 35
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27:06Most women don’t even acknowledge that their mom is a narcissist or may be toxic. In order to start your healing journey, you have to NAME the pain that has been done to you in your childhood. And I want to note, I’m not giving out professional advice! Apart from being a certified coach, I am not a doctor or therapist, so please take this as my per…
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Most Downloaded Episodes | What Are Some Signs And Qualities Of A Narcissistic Mother Part 2
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38:10Let’s dig into a deeper conversation about some signs and qualities that I’ve started to notice about people with narcissistic tendencies. A big question we must ask is, where it comes from (possibly) and what are some signs of things you yourself may be suffering from being around or living with a person who is narcissistic. Upon my reading and st…
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Most Downloaded Episodes | The Truth About Growing Up With Emotionally Immature Parents | Episode 31
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19:16Hi peeps! We are taking July off and decided to re-publish our most downloaded episodes for you to listen to! We will be back in August with new episodes and don't forget to follow me over on Instagram to keep up. What was it like growing up in your home? In my home, I felt like I was constantly dealing with a teenager or even a child. While at the…
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Sharing About The Marks That Made Her : A Conversation with Dr. Michelle Bengtson | Episode 70
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27:44Dr. Michelle Bengtson is an international speaker, a national and international media resource on mental health, and the bestselling, award-winning author of Hope Prevails, the Hope Prevails Bible Study, Today Is Going to Be a Good Day, Breaking Anxiety's Grip, and The Hem of His Garment. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Your Hope-…
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Does Having A Diploma Make You Smarter Than An Uneducated Person? | Episode 69
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21:11As we watch young adults graduate from high school and college, the question comes up again; does having a diploma make you smarter and more successful? Can you maneuver through the world without schooling? And can different types of education or life skills can help you thrive? I always have mixed feelings at this time of year. So many emotions ha…
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Stay At Home Moms vs. The Working Moms | Episode 68
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20:21Given the passionate social media opinions about the Harrison Butker speech, I thought this would be a great conversation to have with you all, being that it is about motherhood. It’s the age-old debate: are we more fulfilled being a mother, or are our careers more important than staying at home? Let’s talk about the stay at home mom being the most…
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Being Strong Does Not Mean You Are Emotionally Healed | Episode 67
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21:56Just because we are strong doesn’t mean we are healed. Do people think you have it all together because they perceive you as strong? How many times have people told you how strong you are or how normal you seem after they know about your hard childhood? We aren’t as strong as you think. We have had to be strong to survive. There is a difference. Wh…
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Do Your Past Traumas Affect Your Kids Growing Up? | Episode 66
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22:11Even in the best of families, we have a tendency to put our opinions or traumas onto our children. We have patterns of behavior that can be instilled in them and when they grow up, they might recognize it’s not healthy, or they might end up with the same traumas themselves. How do we break this pattern off? I realized that I had unconsciously done …
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Feelings About Motherhood From A Mom Of 30+ Years | Episode 65
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23:16Mothering is one of the most important and confusing jobs you will ever have! I have been watching a few women on Instagram who are either new mothers or pregnant with their first child. Having raised my girls, I feel for these women, and at the same time I just want to hug them and let them know “there is no perfect way” and “you will make mistake…
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