Adult Child of Dysfunction

Adult Child of Dysfunction

By: Tammy Vincent

Language: en

Categories: Health, Fitness, Mental, Society, Culture, Personal, Journals

“Child of Dysfunction” is your guide into the world of resilience and healing. Hosted by Tammy Vincent, the adult child of two alcoholic parents, this podcast delves deep into the experiences of growing up in a chaotic and dysfunctional environment, facing childhood neglect, abuse, and trauma while overcoming adversity. With personal insights and expert interviews, we explore the challenges and triumphs of adults who grew up in these toxic environments, and healed. We Learn how to navigate these profound inner wounds though a variety of modalities including, but not limited to mindfulness, NLP practices, transformational coaching. We will help people unco...

Episodes

E 256: Healing Beyond Symptoms: Kristen Renee’s 12-Step Framework for Mind-Body Wellness
Jan 11, 2026

In this powerful and heart-centered episode, I’m joined by Kristen Renee, a three-time author and holistic healing guide, for a deeply meaningful conversation about reclaiming health, wealth, and purpose after years of chronic illness and personal transformation.

Kristen shares her decade-long journey navigating autoimmune challenges—an experience that ultimately led her to create her 12-part foundational framework designed to help individuals reconnect with their bodies, heal from the inside out, and rebuild their lives with intention. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, Kristen invites us to see the body as a communicator—one that offers wisdom, signal...

Duration: 00:39:06
E 255: Boundaries, Forgiveness, and Healing After Dysfunction with Martha Burich
Jan 08, 2026

What happens when you grow up feeling unwanted — and choose to turn that pain into purpose?

In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, I sit down with Martha Burich to explore healing beyond childhood trauma, reclaiming self-worth, and breaking generational cycles of dysfunction.

Martha courageously shares her journey of growing up in a family impacted by addiction, navigating feelings of worthlessness, and discovering that your past does not get to define your future. Together, we unpack the transformative power of boundaries, forgiveness, community, and personal responsibility — especially for adult children heal...

Duration: 00:36:26
E 254: Mediumship and Grief Healing with Barbra Banner
Jan 05, 2026

In this deeply moving and insightful episode, we sit down with Barbra Banner, a certified psychic evidential and trance medium, to explore the healing potential of mediumship for those navigating grief, trauma, and loss.

Barbara shares her personal journey into mediumship—one that unfolded later in life and was profoundly shaped by years of volunteer work in crisis intervention and trauma-related settings. These experiences not only deepened her compassion but also strengthened her understanding of the emotional and spiritual needs of individuals facing profound loss.

Throughout the conversation, Barbara offers a clear and grounded explanation of...

Duration: 00:39:24
E 253: Calm Is a Skill: How to Lower Stress and Build Resilience Daily w Dr. Kate Lund
Jan 01, 2026

In this powerful and timely episode, we welcome Dr. Kate Lund, a distinguished clinical psychologist, resilience expert, and speaker with over 20 years of experience helping individuals, families, athletes, and organizations thrive under pressure. Affiliated with renowned Harvard Medical School institutions, Dr. Lund brings both clinical expertise and heartfelt personal insight to the conversation.

Dr. Lund reframes resilience as far more than simply “bouncing back” from adversity. Instead, she describes it as a holistic lifestyle—one that integrates mental fortitude, emotional regulation, self-awareness, and supportive connection. Together, we explore the nuanced differences between types of trauma, how individual temper...

Duration: 00:31:29
E 152: Why Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence Matter in Childhood Development w/Veronica Moya
Dec 30, 2025

In this enlightening episode, Veronica Moya brings much-needed attention to the vital role of emotional intelligence and mindfulness in childhood development. Drawing from her work as a mindfulness and meditation coach for children, Veronica shares how early emotional awareness can shape lifelong self-regulation, confidence, and resilience.

Throughout the conversation, Veronica explains how modern societal conditioning often pulls children away from their natural intuition and emotional wisdom. She emphasizes the importance of helping children stay connected to this inner guidance, rather than unlearning it later in life. By nurturing mindfulness early, children can develop a healthy relationship with...

Duration: 00:48:29
E 251: You Were Wired to Survive: Dr. Hector Rodriguez on Trauma, the Brain, and Hope
Dec 26, 2025

What happens when science, trauma, and hope collide?

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Hector Rodriguez, a psychiatrist and brain health expert who helps people understand that their pain isn’t a personal failure — it’s a survival story written into the brain and body.

Dr. Rodriguez opens up about his own journey growing up in a culture where strength meant silence and mental health wasn’t discussed, and how recognizing the same patterns in himself — perfectionism, burnout, emotional disconnection — changed the way he practices medicine.

Through his work in trauma, resilience, and emotiona...

Duration: 00:43:09
E250: Healing Ancestral Money Patterns and Self-Worth with Gretchen Hill
Dec 22, 2025

In this powerful and deeply validating episode, we sit down with Gretchen Hill — Spiritual Life Coach, Akashic Records practitioner, and creator of the Multi-Generational Money Map™ — to explore what it really means to break inherited patterns and reclaim your emotional and energetic sovereignty.

Gretchen shares her personal story of growing up in a family system where emotions weren’t discussed, intuition wasn’t honored, and being “the responsible one” was expected without question. Like so many adult children of dysfunction, she learned early that staying small, agreeable, and helpful kept the peace — and that pattern shaped her relationship wit...

Duration: 00:44:27
E249: Understanding ACEs and Trauma Recovery with Wendy B. Correa
Dec 19, 2025

On this episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, we’re joined by Wendy B. Correa — former music industry insider, radio DJ, trauma survivor, and author of the upcoming memoir My Pretty Baby (She Writes Press, Nov. 4, 2025).

With honesty, grit, and a touch of rock ’n’ roll magic, Wendy shares her riveting story of overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) — a form of trauma that impacts nearly 64% of adults in the U.S., per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wendy’s mission is to destigmatize trauma and help others find happiness, authenticity, and emotional freedom.

Her incredib...

Duration: 00:57:05
E 248: Finding Breath Again: Marcia's Earhart's Approach to Trauma Recovery
Dec 15, 2025

In this powerful episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, we welcome Marcia Earhart — author, educator, and cofounder of The Sterling Rose Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering grief support and hope to those walking through deep loss.

Marcia is a certified Life, Grief, Trauma, Brain, and Mental Health Coach, a Mediator, and a Heartsync Minister. She brings not only extensive professional training but a profound personal understanding of grief and trauma.

As a mother of five — including three adopted children — Marcia’s family story includes joy, complexity, and some of the deepest heartbreak imaginable. After losing two adul...

Duration: 00:44:45
E247: Optimize Your Energy: Personalized Nutrition for Peak Performance: w/ Guest Katie Hardie
Dec 12, 2025

On this episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, we dive into the deep connection between recovery, performance, and emotional healing with Katie Hardie, Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P).

Katie helps high-achieving, performance-driven individuals optimize:

🔥 Energy + metabolism

🥗 Nutrition + gut health

🧬 Functional lab testing insights

💪 Body composition + performance

🌱 Recovery and stress resilience

🧠 Mental and emotional well-being

Her mission comes from lived experience. After years of ignoring her body’s needs—perfectionism, people-pleasing, pushing through exhaustion—Katie endured a stillbirth and uterine rupture that cha...

Duration: 00:42:40
E 246:Healing Begins with Feeling: Emotional Awareness, Safe Spaces, and Self-Discovery with Danielle Zilg
Dec 11, 2025

In this deeply heartfelt episode, we sit down with Danielle Zilg—a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in the making, motivator, mental health maven, wounded healer, and wholehearted advocate for creating safe spaces where people can truly feel and heal.

Danielle opens up about the personal journey that led her from a career in marketing to the world of therapy, sharing how her own mental health challenges, adoption story, and family dynamics shaped not only who she is, but the powerful, compassionate healer she is becoming. Her lived experiences inform her therapeutic lens in profound ways, allowing he...

Duration: 00:44:30
E245: 10 Things to Say Or Not To Say When Someone You Love Is Hurting
Nov 27, 2025

🎙 Podcast Episode Summary

In this heartfelt follow-up episode to last week’s powerful conversation with bestselling author and breast cancer survivor Cara Lockwood, we shift the focus to the people standing beside those who are hurting — the friends, family members, and loved ones who want to help but often don’t know what to say.

This episode explores what to say — and what not to say — when someone you love is facing grief, devastating diagnoses, addiction, or emotional loss. With compassion and practical guidance, we share language that comforts instead of harms, presence instead of platitudes, a...

Duration: 00:22:01
E 244: Laugh, Heal, Repeat: Finding Joy After a Cancer Diagnosis: Guest Cara Lockwood
Nov 21, 2025

Bestselling author Cara Lockwood has made readers laugh, cry, and swoon through more than 35 books — including the USA Today bestsellers The Takeover and I Do (But I Don’t), which became a Lifetime Original Movie starring Denise Richards.

But in 2023, during a routine mammogram, Cara’s life took a sharp turn when she was diagnosed with Stage 1 HER+ breast cancer. After a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and reconstruction, she went into remission in 2024 — and turned her journey into something extraordinary.

Her new book, There’s No Good Book for This but I Wrote One Anyway: The Irreverent...

Duration: 00:43:54
E 242: The Power of Horses: Stress Management and Self-Awareness w Guest Sue Willoughby
Nov 19, 2025

Sue Willoughby is an Equus Coach®, intuitive guide, and reinvention expert who helps women over 40 reconnect with their inner wisdom, release what no longer serves them, and step into a more authentic, aligned life—through the powerful presence of horses.

In this episode, Sue walks us through what actually happens in an Equus Coaching session and explains why working with horses is such a profound tool for stress relief, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. She shares insights on how high-performing women, who are often used to “powering through,” can finally slow down, tune in to their intuition, and honor t...

Duration: 00:38:13
E 241 Healing the Generational Storm: Connie Davis on Trauma, Trust & Transformation
Nov 17, 2025

In this powerful episode, Connie Davis, Co-Founder of Inspire.World Foundation and Chief Post Traumatic Growth Officer, shares her inspiring journey of transforming trauma into wisdom. A widow, ICU survivor, and certified WIDP practitioner, Connie helps Adult Children of Dysfunction and trauma-impacted women recognize survival patterns, rewire their nervous systems, and rediscover their inner light.

From childhood experiences of abuse, abandonment, and parental PTSD to navigating loss and rebuilding purpose, Connie’s story reveals how emotional awareness and post-traumatic growth can turn pain into power. Together, we explore how perfectionism, hypervigilance, and people-pleasing stem from early trauma—and...

Duration: 00:37:05
E: 240 A Little Deeper into The 5 Stages of Grief: Katy Parker Follow UP
Nov 13, 2025

In this powerful solo episode, we continue the conversation sparked by my recent interview with grief and loss coach Katy Parker — but this time, we’re taking a closer look at one of the most well-known (and misunderstood) grief models: the Five Stages of Grief.

We’ve all heard them — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance — but what do they really look like in everyday life? And what if you’re not experiencing them “in order”?

In this episode, we’ll explore:

✨ Why grief isn’t linear — and never has been

✨ How the five stages can ap...

Duration: 00:12:50
Ep 239 How to Find Hope Again: Practical Healing Tools for Trauma Survivors: Guest Katy Parker
Nov 12, 2025

In this powerful and heart-centered episode, we sit down with Katy Parker — a trauma-informed well-being writer, grief and loss coach, and mental health mentor who is changing the way the world understands invisible grief.

Katy shares her personal journey as a trauma survivor and chronic pain warrior, and how her lived experience inspired her to support others navigating the emotional wounds that aren’t always seen or acknowledged. Through her Journeyofsmiley blog, PTSD: My Story Project, and Grief Stories series, Katy has created safe spaces where people around the world can share their experiences, feel understood, and find...

Duration: 00:37:15
E238: Akashic Records Explained: Clearing Ancestral Patterns and Reconnecting to Inner Wisdom: Guest Sarah Stray
Nov 09, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Stray, founder of Boxless Coaching, an Akashic Record Healer and Soul Recalibration Coach who helps people clear ancestral patterns and reconnect with their inner knowing.

After more than 20 years in the nonprofit strategy world, Sarah followed a quiet inner tug toward something deeper. What began as burnout evolved into a spiritual awakening—guided by energy work, synchronicities, and the loving presence of her grandmother. That path eventually led her to the Akashic Records, where she found profound clarity and a sense of homecoming.

Sarah shares how working wi...

Duration: 00:45:15
E 238: When Life Feels Impossible: Helen Ngo on Pain, Purpose, and Healing
Nov 06, 2025

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Helen Ngo — speaker, writer, and courageous truth‑teller who is sparking honest conversations about loss, grief, and the messy path toward healing.

After the sudden deaths of her boyfriend, niece, and best friend, Helen didn’t just lose people she loved — she says she “lost her Self (with a capital S).” What followed were twenty years of what she calls “zombie‑ing through life”: surviving the day-to-day through hyper‑independence, workaholism, and perfectionism.

Helen opens up about what she now calls gold‑star syndrome — tying her worth to productivity, achieve...

Duration: 00:46:49
E 236: Recovering from Trauma Through Bodywork, Movement & Connection w/Blanca Rodriquez
Nov 03, 2025

In this powerful and inspiring conversation, we explore the profound impact of childhood trauma on adult life with special guest Blanca Rodriguez — speaker, educator, best-selling co-author, and CEO of Wounded Healer, LLC. With more than two decades of experience as a licensed massage therapist, Blanca offers deep insight into how trauma isn’t just a memory — it lives in the body.

Blanca shares her personal journey from silence and pain to empowerment and purpose, demonstrating that healing is not a destination — it’s a courageous, ongoing process. She highlights the importance of a holistic approach to recovery, combining...

Duration: 00:37:56
E 235 From Conflict to Connection: Building Stronger Relationships with Dr. Dan Sneider
Oct 31, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Sneider, an experienced therapist dedicated to helping couples cultivate deeper intimacy and stronger emotional bonds. Dan shares insights into why intimacy often wanes over time and explores the common patterns and conflicts that can challenge even the strongest relationships.

We discuss his signature program, The Intimacy Shift, a comprehensive framework designed to guide couples from a state of conflict to one of lasting connection. Dan explains how couples can develop essential skills—like active listening, using “I language,” and regular check-ins—that foster healthier communication, vulnerability, and trust. He also hig...

Duration: 00:33:49
E 234: Trust Your Gut: How Intuition Guides Your Life and Business: Guest Linda Eastburn
Oct 28, 2025

In this episode, we explore the profound world of intuition with Linda Eastburn—entrepreneur, author, real estate investor, and intuitive guide. Linda shares how intuition serves as a powerful dialogue between the subconscious and conscious mind, offering guidance that can transform both personal and professional decisions.

We dive into practical strategies for cultivating and trusting your intuitive abilities, including tuning into bodily sensations, noticing “gut feelings,” and documenting intuitive impressions over time. Linda shares personal experiences, such as how her intuition guided her to a pivotal real estate opportunity, showing how listening to inner wisdom can create real-w...

Duration: 00:37:48
E233: Finding Your Voice: The Healing Power of Storytelling with Naciba Nizamudeen
Oct 24, 2025

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, we explore the transformative power of storytelling as a pathway to healing, connection, and empowerment—especially for women and mom entrepreneurs. Our guest, Naciba Nizamudeen, a passionate mompreneur and podcast strategist, opens up about her personal journey into podcasting and how sharing her story became a lifeline during her struggles with postpartum depression and identity loss.

Naciba beautifully articulates how storytelling bridges the gap between silence and healing, empowering women to reclaim their voices and turn vulnerability into strength. Through the lens of her own experiences, she demonstrates how podcasting can be...

Duration: 00:34:28
E 232: The Soul Chiropractor: Aligning Energy, Emotion, and Healing: Guest Dr. Tanya English
Oct 21, 2025

In this illuminating conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Tanya English, widely known as The Soul Chiropractor. With over 35 years of experience in healing arts—including chiropractic care, energy work, and music—Dr. English shares her wisdom on bridging emotional and physical wellness through vibrational healing.

We explore how music serves as a powerful tool for transformation, helping individuals process grief, release emotional blockages, and reconnect with their inner strength. Dr. English discusses the importance of acknowledging, not suppressing, negative emotions as a vital step toward true healing and the restoration of peace within the body.

Draw...

Duration: 00:42:14
E 231 : Breaking Generational Patterns: Healing and Boundaries, Guest: Alyssa Scarano
Oct 19, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Alyssa Scarano, Founder and Clinical Director of The Collective Therapy & Wellness, to explore the deep impact of childhood trauma, generational dysfunction, and the transformative power of relational healing. Known for her empathetic and compassionate approach, Alyssa shares how her work helps individuals reconnect with themselves, cultivate self-compassion, and build authentic, meaningful relationships.

We discuss:

How generational dysfunction shows up in the ways people relate to themselves and others—and what real-life healing looks like.The difference between boundaries that protect connection versus those that push people away, and how to...

Duration: 00:45:04
E 230: Healing the Part That Resists: Transforming , Procrastination, and Self-Sabotage: Guest Kam Knight
Oct 17, 2025

In this episode, we dive deep into the powerful and often misunderstood concept of internal resistance — that invisible force that keeps us from taking action on the things we truly want. Joining me is Kam Knight, a distinguished mentor, international speaker, and bestselling author known for his groundbreaking work on mental, emotional, and physical performance.

Kam unpacks the psychological roots of resistance, explaining how our own brains can work against us — manifesting as procrastination, self-sabotage, fear, or overwhelm. He breaks down the science behind why we get stuck and offers practical, research-based strategies to help listeners move from...

Duration: 00:38:10
E 229: The Sound of Healing: Rob Tonkin on Music, Trauma, and Recovery
Oct 15, 2025

In this raw and deeply introspective episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, host Tammy Vincent sits down with Rob Tonkin — musician, author, and survivor — for a powerful conversation about the long shadow of trauma, the art of self-reflection, and the courage it takes to transform pain into purpose.

Rob opens up about his life journey and the inspiration behind his boldly titled memoir, “Asshole,” a candid and thought-provoking exploration of how our wounds can shape our identities — sometimes leading us to repeat the very patterns we long to escape. Through honest reflection, Rob reveals how he confronted his own dy...

Duration: 01:00:27
E 228: Spiritual Healing After Childhood Trauma: Guest Cheryl Stelte
Oct 13, 2025

In this powerful episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, Tammy Vincent sits down with Cheryl Stelte — spiritual coach, healer, and bestselling author — for a deeply moving conversation about transformation, empowerment, and spiritual growth.

Cheryl shares her personal story of being abandoned in the hospital as a newborn and how this early trauma shaped her lifelong quest for healing, self-understanding, and divine connection. Through her 30+ years of experience in spiritual development and energy work, Cheryl has helped countless women clear subconscious blocks, access inner clarity, and step fully into their authentic power.

As the Founder of the...

Duration: 00:40:37
E 227: Healing Generational Wounds and Reclaiming Your Identity: Guest Becky Nieves
Oct 08, 2025

In this powerful episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, Tammy sits down with Becky Nieves, a transformational coach and self-proclaimed cycle breaker, to unpack the deeply personal and courageous journey from trauma to empowerment.

Becky opens up about her own experiences with generational trauma and the defining moment when she made the difficult choice to cut ties with her narcissistic father — an act that became the catalyst for her healing and her purpose-driven mission to help other women reclaim their stories.

Together, Tammy and Becky explore:

✨ The emotional complexity of setting boundaries and faci...

Duration: 00:43:18
E 226: Manifestation in Motion: Aligning Mind, Body, and Spirit with Elizabeth Plancon
Oct 07, 2025

A profound exploration of manifestation unfolds as Elizabeth Planson, an esteemed intuitive spiritual mentor and sole purpose activator, delves into the deeper essence of this transformative practice.

Far beyond the surface-level interpretations popularized by “The Secret,” Elizabeth invites listeners to rediscover manifestation as a heart-centered, embodied practice—one that integrates spiritual awareness with daily intentional living. Drawing from her personal journey and early teachings within her spiritual community, Elizabeth illuminates how mentorship and self-discovery shaped her understanding of true manifestation.

Through insightful discussion, she reveals that manifestation is not something we “do” but a state we are alw...

Duration: 00:34:42
E 225: The Courage to Heal: Reclaiming Voice and Power: Guest Amanda Carrasco
Sep 30, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Carrasco—“Amanda the Brave One”—a family survivor of homicide and sexual assault who has transformed her unimaginable pain into a mission of hope, healing, and justice.

Amanda is not only a global business owner, speaker, consultant, and in-house legal counsel for a nonprofit—she is a powerful voice for survivors and justice-involved individuals. Through her lived experience and practice of restorative principles, Amanda has learned how to rise above trauma, reclaim her power, and inspire others to no longer see themselves as victims but as resilient, thriving human beings. Duration: 00:51:58

E 224: Trauma Recovery, Women’s Empowerment, and Unapologetic Transformation: Guest Leticia Francis
Sep 26, 2025

Leticia Francis, renowned trauma recovery mentor and author of *Survival Mode Exit Plan*, joins us for a profound discussion on breaking free from the constraints of survival mode. With her unique perspective as The Survival Mode Disruptor, Leticia enlightens us on the transformative journey of high-achieving women who seek to reclaim their lives rooted in authenticity and empowerment. Throughout our conversation, she shares her harrowing yet inspiring personal narrative, which includes overcoming profound trauma and navigating complex relationships. It is through her lived experience that she ignites the critical conversation around healing, identity shifts, and the importance of unapologetic...

Duration: 00:37:56
E 223: Resilience, Recovery, and How to Make Every Second Count: Guest Jeff Marconette Jr.
Sep 24, 2025

Jeff Marconette Jr. is an award-winning international speaker, transformational coach, youth mentor, brain injury advocate, and the host of Make Every Second Count Live on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. His life changed forever at just 17 years old when he was struck in a near-fatal car accident that left him in a coma for two and a half months. Doctors told him he would never walk again.

But Jeff’s story didn’t end there—it was only beginning. Through over 20 years of ongoing recovery, Jeff has transformed his pain into purpose. Today, he helps...

Duration: 00:26:14
E 222: Healing Beyond Hope: The Power of Thought & Epigenetics: Guest Dr. Steve Pasin
Sep 22, 2025

In this compelling episode, Dr. Steve Pasin, a thought whisperer deeply versed in mind/body medicine, explores how our deepest mental constructs—formed even before birth—shape our entire being. Drawing on over 60 years of clinical experience and research, he reveals how the fetal sense of control becomes a lifelong tyrant, perpetuating illusions that undermine health and authenticity. His message? True healing springs from embracing absolute truth, not from comforting opinions or cultural narratives.

Dr. Pasin underscores that our thoughts can rewire our entire bodies—not just our brains, an idea rooted in the principles of epigenetics—where be...

Duration: 01:14:07
E 221: Reclaim Your Life from Narcissistic Parents with Agatha Peters
Sep 19, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Agatha Peters, founder of Beautiful Sunshine Therapy and author of Trapped in Their Script: Reclaim Your Life from Narcissistic Parents & Cultural Expectations. Agatha shares her personal journey of navigating the challenges of narcissistic parenting and cultural expectations, emphasizing that therapy is more than a profession—it’s a calling shaped by lived experience.

Our conversation delves into the transformative power of therapy, the importance of recognizing harmful familial patterns, and practical strategies for those hesitant to seek help. Agatha offers guidance on self-reflection, building supportive connections, and breaking free from cult...

Duration: 00:38:36
E 219: Reversing Chronic Illness: A Lifestyle Approach with Dr. George Grant
Sep 16, 2025

Dr. George Grant, the esteemed founder of the Academy of Wellness, elucidates the paramount significance of adopting a healthy lifestyle as a means to extend longevity beyond the century mark. He emphasizes that the human body possesses an inherent capacity for self-healing, contingent upon proper hydration, nutrition, and breathing techniques. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Grant shares compelling anecdotes, including the transformative journey of a client who abandoned a life of multiple medications in favor of holistic health practices, ultimately leading to remarkable improvements in his well-being. The conversation further delves into the alarming prevalence of "diabesity," a condition combining...

Duration: 00:34:58
E 218: Healing Trauma With Energy Practices: Guest Lori Spivey
Sep 11, 2025

On this episode, I’m joined by Lori Reese Spivey, whose healing journey began after a traumatic brain injury from a head-on collision with a drunk driver. After a year and a half of medications, specialists, and endless appointments, Lori found herself still searching for answers—until she met with an energy practitioner. It was through that experience that her brain functionality began to return, opening the door to full recovery and a new path forward.

Inspired by her own transformation, Lori immersed herself in the study of energy healing, exploring how it works on a cellular leve...

Duration: 00:47:10
E217: Facing An Anxiety Attack Head On
Sep 09, 2025

In this follow-up to my conversation with Deborah Higgins, I’m stepping behind the mic solo to share the tools and strategies that have personally helped me in the midst of an anxiety or panic attack. While Deborah’s story offered hope and healing through her journey, this episode dives into the practical steps that can make a difference in the middle of the storm.

I’ll talk about how to calm the amygdala when it feels like it’s hijacking your body, why practicing these tools outside of crisis moments is so important, and how building “muscle mem...

Duration: 00:14:17
E 216: A Cure for Anxiety: Resilience, Faith, and Healing / Guest Deborah Higgins
Sep 07, 2025

On this episode, I’m joined by Deborah Higgins—life coach, social worker, and author of A Cure for Anxiety: Biblical Truths and Metaphysical Practices to Overcome Anxiety, Panic, Social Anxiety, and Agoraphobia. Through this deeply personal and spiritual work, Deborah shares her path from childhood trauma—including her mother’s attempted suicide and decades of agoraphobia—to academic and emotional triumph. Her journey includes overcoming abusive relationships, two failed marriages, breast cancer, and 40 years of living in the grip of fear—yet she persisted. At age 62, she earned her Master’s in Social Work, focusing on mental health, and now empowe...

Duration: 00:45:14
E 215: Healing the Nervous System After Control, Fear, and Religious Trauma: Guest Brigette Gildemaster
Sep 05, 2025

What happens when the belief system you were raised in not only strips away your identity but also leaves you vulnerable to dangerous relationships? In this raw and powerful episode, Brigette Gildemaster — 2x best-selling author, speaker, and trauma-informed breathwork facilitator — shares her journey of escaping a high-control marriage with a husband who was a pedophile, and the courageous fight to protect her children within a church system that often silenced her truth.

Brigette opens up about the hidden aftermath of leaving: the anxiety, the people-pleasing, and the constant fear of “doing something wrong” that no one warns you abou...

Duration: 00:39:36
E 214: Bullied Behind Bars: Matt Melvin’s Story of Prison, Trauma, and Redemption
Aug 29, 2025

In this episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, I speak with Matt Melvin, author of Bullied Behind Bars: A Gay Christian Trump Supporter Goes to Prison. Matt courageously shares his story of growing up misunderstood as an undiagnosed autistic child, navigating faith and identity as a gay Christian Trump supporter, and how a stolen car led to a prison sentence that changed his life forever.

Inside prison, Matt faced relentless bullying, sexual assault, and deep isolation. But through the pain, a near-death experience, and his relationship with God, he discovered resilience, accountability, and healing. His story reveals...

Duration: 00:29:18
E 213: Navigating FAS, Autism, and Personal Growth: Guest Jason Munson
Aug 21, 2025

In this episode, Jason Munson, CEO of Neuro Linkers and consultant for Neuro Change Solutions, shares his journey of transformation and resilience. Jason discusses how a childhood head trauma shaped his social skills and led to lifelong challenges with insomnia, and how he is gradually mastering his sleep and overall well-being. He also opens up about his experiences as the adoptive father of a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and possible autism, navigating the complexities of trauma, development, and creating a nurturing environment tailored to his son’s unique needs. Beyond his personal story, Jason dives into his work in...

Duration: 00:39:56
Ep 212: Healing Through Forgiveness: Releasing Anger, Shame, and Guilt: Guest Juanita Ellingson
Aug 18, 2025

Juanita Ellingson is a Forgiveness and Self-Care Empowerment Coach, Podcast Host, and Angel Oracle Card Reader who knows firsthand that forgiveness is not about others—it’s about YOU.

For years, Juanita stuffed her feelings and carried anger, resentment, shame, and guilt while staying busy as a mom, worker, and caretaker. Everything changed when she discovered the true meaning of forgiveness. By letting go of what no longer served her, she experienced freedom, lightness, fearlessness, and the return of love—especially self-love and acceptance.

Now she helps others do the same. Through real conversations, practical tools...

Duration: 00:43:23
E 211: Thriving with Bipolar Disorder: Cleoni Crawford's Journey
Aug 07, 2025

In this powerful episode, Cleoni Crawford opens up about her late bipolar disorder diagnosis at 25 and how it transformed her life. She shares her experiences navigating mental illness, trauma, and loss—and the resilience she’s built through faith, humor, music, and community.

Now a bestselling author and host of Resilient Minds 365, Cleoni empowers others to thrive despite their diagnosis. Tune in for practical tools, spiritual insight, and uplifting encouragement.

🧠 Top Takeaways

Cleoni was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 25 after years of success.Her healing tools include faith, music, laughter, and therapy.Laughter and humor a...

Duration: 00:26:43
E 210: Feeling Broken After a Toxic Relationship? Here’s How to Start Healing Guest: Denise Willis
Aug 03, 2025

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Denise Ann Willis—life coach, author, speaker, and a fierce advocate for women healing from toxic relationships.

Denise opens up about her deeply personal journey from years of physical and emotional abuse to becoming a confident, empowered woman helping others reclaim their lives. Raised to be a people-pleaser, she became a magnet for controlling relationships—until one coach changed the course of her life forever. Now, with over 30 years of lived experience and her book "The Book on Loving Yourself", Denise offers women real tools to rebuild with confidence and...

Duration: 00:32:43
E 209: Healing Begins With Truth: Heidi Yewman’s Journey from Shame to Strength
Aug 01, 2025

In this deeply moving episode, we welcome Heidi Yewman—author, filmmaker, and survivor—to share her powerful story of transformation. Growing up in a chaotic and abusive home, Heidi spent years in silence, navigating the emotional fallout of generational trauma. Her memoir, Dumb Girl, traces the journey from internalized shame to radical truth-telling, offering a compelling reflection on the cost of silence and the healing power of speaking out.

A former student of Columbine High School, Heidi was profoundly impacted by the 1999 shooting—an event that not only triggered her own unresolved trauma but also launched her decade...

Duration: 00:38:39
E 208: The Adoption Paradox: Unpacking Adoption Trauma and Addiction with Jean Kelly Widner
Jul 29, 2025

In this episode, we talk with Jean Kelly Widner, adoptee and author of The Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective. Jean shares her personal journey growing up as a domestic adoptee in Washington State in the 1960s, while also navigating the impact of addiction and alcoholism in her adoptive family.

We dive into the hidden emotional challenges of adoption, including preverbal trauma, identity struggles, and attachment issues that many adoptees face. Jean explains why adoption isn’t always the “win-win” the public assumes and how the combined effects of adoption trauma and addiction in families can impact mental...

Duration: 00:33:52
E 207: Healing Generations: Reparenting, Perfectionism & Thriving Families with Reesa Morala, LMFT
Jul 28, 2025

In this powerful and heart-centered episode, we sit down with Reesa Morala, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, parenting ally, and founder of Embrace Renewal Therapy & Wellness Collective. Reesa shares her deeply personal journey from surviving a childhood marked by abuse and chaos to becoming a conscious, connected parent and therapist helping others heal.

Reesa opens up about the transformative moment in college when she met a therapist who helped her begin the work of reparenting herself and healing the wounds of her past. That journey took on new meaning when she became a mother to a...

Duration: 00:33:38
E 206: Redefining Family: Love, Legacy, and Trauma-Informed Hope with Debbie Simmons
Jul 22, 2025

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Debbie Simmons—trauma-informed parenting coach, nonprofit CEO, and best-selling author of The Heart of Legacy. Debbie shares her deeply moving story of personal loss, adoption, and how faith became the foundation for healing both her family and her purpose.

After losing her quadruplets and enduring years of infertility, Debbie and her husband adopted nine children from the foster care system—each carrying stories of trauma, disruption, and unmet needs. Through chaos, prayer, and relentless love, Debbie discovered that traditional parenting wasn’t enough. Instead, she embraced trauma-informed care and became...

Duration: 00:45:32
E 205: Breaking Generational Trauma: Recovery, Parenting & Nervous System Healing w/ Amber Tolbert, LCSW
Jul 20, 2025

In this powerful and deeply honest episode, we’re joined by Amber Tolbert, LCSW—a trauma therapist, supervisor, and founder of Healers in Practice™, a soulful community supporting clinicians in staying aligned with their values without burning out. With over a decade of experience in systems-based healing, embodied supervision, and nervous system-informed care, Amber shares how she helps therapists lead from a place of recovery, not performance, creating trauma-informed, ethical, and sustainable practices.

We also dive into generational trauma, addiction recovery, and the emotional work of healing as a parent. I open up about my journey as an adu...

Duration: 00:39:28
E 204: The Scapegoat's Path to Healing: Breaking Generational Cycles Guest: Emma Lyons
Jul 18, 2025

In this powerful and deeply resonant episode, we explore the lifelong impact of generational trauma and the difficult — but often necessary — choice to go no contact with a toxic parent. Our guest, Emma Lyons, is a trauma-informed healer and subconscious reprogramming guide who bravely shares her personal journey of reclaiming identity and self-worth after growing up in a deeply dysfunctional family system.

Emma describes what it means to dismantle the roles we’re cast into — especially the role of the scapegoat — and how covert narcissism in a parent can distort reality, erode self-trust, and perpetuate pain through generation...

Duration: 00:44:29
E 203: Narcissists, Neglect, and Knowing Better: A Conversation on Conscious Healing: Guest Sonya Achara
Jul 14, 2025

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Sonya Achara—a 14-year Marine Corps veteran, keynote speaker, podcast host, and author of the memoir "Remember Who You Are: My Journey to Higher Consciousness." Sonya shares her deeply personal story of overcoming childhood emotional neglect, abuse, and the impact of growing up in a home where intuition and feelings were dismissed.

Raised in a turbulent environment with a verbally, physically, and emotionally abusive mother and an emotionally absent father, Sonya describes the profound impact this had on her sense of self and her early relationships. She vulnerably explores ho...

Duration: 00:36:44
E 202: Healing PTSD and Emotional Trauma After Abuse: Guest Shavaun Scott
Jul 12, 2025

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott opens up about her extraordinary journey of healing after enduring an abusive marriage and the devastating revenge suicide of her husband on the very day she asked for a divorce. With over 35 years of clinical experience specializing in trauma recovery, Shavaun brings a unique blend of professional insight and personal experience to the conversation.

She shares how the trauma from her past continued to impact her mind, body, and spirit — and how she navigated the complex grief, shock, and emotional upheaval that followed. Shavaun discusses the vi...

Duration: 00:29:49
E 201: Martyr Mother No More: Reclaiming Your Needs and Voice: Guest Tena Cacic
Jul 09, 2025

In this powerful episode, Tena Cacic — teacher, writer, scientist, and transformational guide — shares her deeply personal journey of breaking free from the victim mentality. After years of emotional chaos in her relationships and reaching a breaking point, Tena realized that staying in victimhood was a choice she no longer wanted to make.

She dives into the emotional and energetic patterns that keep people stuck in trauma, how to release the intensity of those feelings through the body, and the role of self-directed compassion in healing. Tena introduces the concept of the “victim game” — with its roles of victim, re...

Duration: 00:33:34
E 200: 10 Natural Hacks To A Better Nights Sleep
Jul 03, 2025

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., overthinking everything from your to-do list to childhood trauma—you are not alone. In this episode, we dive into how sleep is impacted by stress, dysregulated nervous systems, and healing journeys—especially for adult children of dysfunction.

But instead of chasing perfect sleep, what if you could rebuild a healthy relationship with rest? No pressure. No pills. Just small, powerful shifts.

In this episode, I share 10 natural and science-backed ways to improve your sleep, even if your patterns have changed over the years...

Duration: 00:16:34
E 199: Better Sleep After 50: Natural Approaches That Work — Guest: Lucinda Sykes
Jul 02, 2025

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most frustrating and common challenges for women over 50—sleep struggles. Our guest, Dr. Lucinda Sykes, is a retired Canadian physician and seasoned mindfulness teacher who specializes in helping women reclaim deep, natural sleep.

Dr. Sykes shares why sleep changes so dramatically with age, how stress and hormonal shifts disrupt our natural rhythms, and most importantly—what we can do to finally get the rest we deserve. From practical sleep hygiene tips to the role of mindfulness and breath, this conversation is packed with compassionate, science-backed strategies for better...

Duration: 00:24:01
E 198: Healing Trauma and Rewiring the Subconscious for Abundance: Guest: Jillian Holly
Jun 30, 2025

From debilitating CPTSD to becoming the trusted coach for 6-figure entrepreneurs, Jillian Holly has walked the healing path—and now helps others do the same with powerful, soul-aligned tools that speak directly to the subconscious.

In this powerful episode, Jillian shares how her journey from trauma to transformation led her to become a coach, healer, and intuitive guide for highly sensitive leaders, creatives, and heart-led entrepreneurs.

We explore:

How CPTSD shaped Jillian’s journey—and how she healed

What it means to communicate with the subconscious mind

The most common...

Duration: 00:32:56
E 197: Nervous System Healing for ACOAs: Breath, Aromatherapy, and Inner Safety; Guest: Wendy Johnston
Jun 27, 2025

What happens to a child’s nervous system when they grow up in a household filled with chaos, addiction, and emotional unpredictability? For Wendy Johnston, the answer was anxiety, hypervigilance, and a deep disconnection from her own body.

In this episode, I’m joined by Wendy Johnston—certified NLP Practitioner, Life Coach, aromatherapist, yoga and meditation teacher, sound bath facilitator, and founder of BREATHE + CALM in Nashville. Wendy is also an Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA) and the firstborn of four children raised in a home where both parents battled addiction. Her early life was shaped by sur...

Duration: 00:36:47
E196: A Homicide, A Hero, and A Mother’s Heart: KD Wagner’s Legacy of Love
Jun 25, 2025

What happens when the unimaginable becomes your reality—twice?

In this powerful and soul-stirring episode, I sit down with KD Wagner, a Gold Star Mother, speaker, author, and survivor of unthinkable tragedy. KD lost both of her sons—one to murder at just 18 years old, and the other while serving in the U.S. Navy during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her story is one of devastating loss, relentless grief, addiction, and ultimately, extraordinary resilience.

But KD's journey didn’t end in darkness—it transformed into a mission of purpose and healing. She shares how she moved through...

Duration: 00:21:42
E 195: Helping Neurodivergent Families Thrive with Executive Function Strategies: Guest Shannyn Schroeder
Jun 24, 2025

In this powerful and insightful episode, we're joined by Shannyn Schroeder, teacher, writer, mom of three neurodivergent kids, and the founder of EF Bomb Coach. After navigating the challenges of raising her children, Shannyn became an executive function coach—but not just for kids. She created EF Bomb Coach specifically to support neurodivergent women—especially those diagnosed later in life—who suddenly find themselves wondering: Now what?

Shannyn breaks down how executive dysfunction shows up in real life (hint: it’s not laziness), why traditional productivity systems often fail neurodivergent brains, and how to create systems that actually...

Duration: 00:36:32
E194: Facing the Jaguar: Breaking Generational Trauma with Babs Walters
Jun 18, 2025

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, we sit down with Babs Walters—a domestic violence and sexual abuse survivor who has spent over 30 years raising awareness about the long-term effects of generational trauma and the importance of breaking the cycle.

Babs shares candidly about her courageous journey—from holding the weight of a devastating secret for nearly 70 years to finally reclaiming her voice and truth. With a Master's in Counseling Human Relations, decades of experience conducting women's empowerment and sexual harassment trainings, and a role on a Harassment Investigation Committee for thirteen years, Babs brings both prof...

Duration: 00:41:24
E 193: High ACE Score, High Hope: Why Your Past Doesn’t Define You
Jun 12, 2025

In this heartfelt follow-up to my conversation with Kyle Goodknight, I want to take a moment to address something important.

After that episode aired, I realized that for some listeners—especially those who’ve walked a hard road—hearing about trauma, dysfunction, and long-term health risks may have stirred up some fear, heaviness, or even hopelessness. And if that was you, I want to say this clearly: I never meant to leave you feeling that way—and I’m so sorry if I did.


So today, I’m here to set the record strai...

Duration: 00:19:06
E192: From First Responder to Podcast Powerhouse: Kyle Goodknight on Healing, Hustle & Having an Impact
Jun 09, 2025

In this episode, Tammy welcomes Kyle Goodknight, a powerhouse with nearly 30 years of experience as a first responder turned podcast strategist, speaker, and host of The Ignition Path and E11evate Podcasts. Kyle is a jack of all trades — and a master at helping business owners turn their voice into a vehicle for growth, authority, and deep connection.

Together, Tammy and Kyle unpack the transformative power of storytelling, the therapeutic benefits of podcasting, and how those raised in dysfunction can channel their lived experience into purpose-driven success. Kyle shares how he helps entrepreneurs launch high-impact podcasts that at...

Duration: 00:43:37
E191: Manifesting Isn’t Just Mindset: Heal First, Receive More: Guest Morgan Hamer
Jun 06, 2025

What if your struggles with money, success, or self-worth weren’t your fault—but the result of inherited patterns from a dysfunctional upbringing? In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Morgan Hamer, founder of Morgan Manifests, who shares her personal journey of healing after growing up in emotional chaos, abandonment, and generational dysfunction.

Morgan reveals how her early experiences—being raised by three different sets of unstable “parents,” dealing with addiction, narcissism, and grief—created deep subconscious blocks that showed up later in her adult life as scarcity, burnout, and emotional misalignment.

But her story doesn’t...

Duration: 00:39:30
E 190: Healing, Ascension, and Authenticity: Guest: Pauline Raphaela
Jun 04, 2025

In this powerful episode, Pauline Raphaela—master healer, ascension guide, and founder of Living Limitless Courses for Evolution—shares her profound journey of transformation after deep personal loss and spiritual awakening. She reveals how the death of her father and a second divorce led her to connect directly with divine guidance, awakening her authentic Self and Soul purpose. Pauline discusses sacred sexuality, miraculous healing, and humanity’s shift during the Great Awakening. Discover how embracing your true self is the key to abundance, joy, and higher consciousness.

Learn more: www.paulineraphaela.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/aw...

Duration: 00:46:34
E 189: From Trauma to Transformation: The Somatic Power of Insight Healing: Guest Marianne Hedges Hennigar
May 30, 2025

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Marianne Hedges Hennigar, a trailblazer in trauma-informed somatic work and the creator of the Insight Healing Method. With over 30 years of experience in client care, Marianne brings a powerful blend of science, intuition, and innovation to emotional healing.

Starting her journey as a clinical sports massage therapist (CMT), Marianne quickly recognized the deep connection between physical pain and unprocessed emotional trauma. This led to the development of Psycho-emotive Anatomy™, a groundbreaking theory that decodes the emotional messages behind body pain.

Marianne is also trained in Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, hy...

Duration: 00:38:29
E188: Resilient by Force, Loving by Choice: A Teen Caregiver’s Journey: Guest Maria Baumgardner
May 28, 2025

At just 18 years old, Maria Baumgardner is carrying a weight most adults would struggle to bear—but you wouldn’t know it by her spirit. In this deeply moving episode, Maria shares her powerful story of stepping in to raise her siblings when her parents could not. She opens up about the mindset shifts that keep her grounded, how she refuses to be defined by her circumstances, and why she chooses hope every single day.

With wisdom well beyond her years and a heart full of courage, Maria is living proof that resilience isn’t just about surviv...

Duration: 00:21:33
E187: 8 Signs You’re Stuck (and How to Start Moving Again)
May 25, 2025

In this follow-up to my powerful conversation with Sheila Andres, I’m taking a solo moment with you to go even deeper into something that resonated with so many of you: that stuck feeling.

In this follow-up to my heartfelt conversation with Sheila Andres, I’m flying solo to dig deeper into something that hit home for many of you: feeling stuck as an Adult Child of Alcoholics (ACOA).

Even if you’re functioning, checking the boxes, or showing up for others, you might still feel frozen inside—emotionally numb, overwhelmed, or like you’re running in...

Duration: 00:14:52
E 186: Stuck Sucks: The Unexpected Path to Healing, Clarity, and Joy: Guest Sheila Andres
May 24, 2025

What happens when you follow all the rules, check all the boxes, and still feel stuck?

In this powerful episode, Tammy sits down with Sheila Andres — owner of Realize Your Vision and creator of the StuckSucks Movement — to explore the surprising and emotional side of entrepreneurship that no one talks about. Sheila shares how her 20-year journey as the right-hand to a successful entrepreneur led her to burnout, self-neglect, and a sense of lost identity.

After leaving the company she helped build, Sheila expected that launching her own business would be the freedom she longed for...

Duration: 00:47:46
E 185: Social Progress Starts at Home: A Conversation with Dr. L
May 22, 2025

In this inspiring episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, we sit down with Dr. Ali Lankerani, affectionately known as "Dr. L," founder of Role Model Maker International. With a passion for creating resilient families and vibrant communities, Dr. L shares how his work aligns with the mission of building a healthier and more peaceful world—starting at the family level.

We discuss how protective networks and grassroots initiatives can strengthen families economically, emotionally, and socially. Dr. L highlights the importance of youth empowerment, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship—especially for marginalized populations. His vision ties closely to the Unit...

Duration: 00:24:18
E 184: Why Hypnosis Feels Different for Everyone
May 21, 2025

In this follow-up to my powerful conversation with Ana Felice, we dive deeper into the varied ways people respond to hypnosis—especially those of us who grew up in chaotic or dysfunctional environments. If you listened to Ana’s brief hypnosis session and found yourself feeling deeply relaxed, a little unsure, or even resistant, you're not alone—and there's a reason for it.

In this episode, I explain how our nervous systems—shaped by early life experiences—can influence how we respond to practices like hypnosis, meditation, or breathwork. For adult children of alcoholics or those who experience...

Duration: 00:14:36
E 183: Self-Hypnosis for Peace, Clarity & Confidence with Ana Felice
May 18, 2025

In this transformative episode, we sit down with Ana Felice, a professional hypnotist with over 12 years of experience and the visionary founder of Pacifica Hypnosis. Ana offers both online hypnosis sessions worldwide and in-person services in central Miami, helping clients overcome subconscious blocks that keep them stuck—whether it’s limiting beliefs, emotional trauma, fears, or fixed mindsets.

Ana shares her deeply personal story, rooted in a childhood shaped by emotional struggles and complex family dynamics. These early experiences fueled her passion for personal development, emotional healing, and understanding the inner workings of the mind. After exploring nume...

Duration: 00:38:54
Ep 182: From Hiding to Healing: Rebecca Engle on Disability, Advocacy & Finding Her Voice
May 17, 2025

In this powerful and soul-stirring episode, we sit down with Rebecca Engle—an award-winning author, disability advocate, and education policy expert—whose journey from invisibility to impact is both inspiring and transformational. With four global literary awards to her name and a fierce dedication to systemic change, Rebecca shares her personal story of resilience, identity, and what it means to stop hiding and start thriving.

Once a young woman who wore a jacket every day to shrink into the background, Rebecca now stands tall as the founder of Stitches and Stanzas, a platform designed to amplify disabled voic...

Duration: 00:36:59
E181: Guided by Intuition: The Path to Healing and Enlightenment with Shillpi Joshi
May 14, 2025

In this enlightening episode, we welcome Shillpi, a modern-day spiritual alchemist, clairvoyant, and psychic guide with over 22 years of experience in the healing arts. Shillpi has spent over two decades helping others transmute life’s challenges into wisdom, unlock soul-level transformation, and awaken their true spiritual potential.

Her mission is to guide seekers on a journey of self-discovery, using ancient wisdom and intuitive insight to help them embrace the alchemy of the soul. Shillpi's work is deeply rooted in mindfulness, spiritual growth, inner empowerment, and the belief that everyone holds the light within—waiting to be discovered and...

Duration: 00:37:51
E 180: From Prison to Purpose: One Father’s Fight to Break the Cycle of Addiction Guest Mykal Olson
May 12, 2025

In this raw and deeply honest conversation, G. Mykal Olson shares his powerful story of falling from a successful international business career to sitting alone in prison—brought down by addiction. Mykal doesn't hold anything back as he opens up about how addiction destroyed his life and family, and what it took to begin rebuilding from rock bottom.

Now, through The Life Forge, Mykal is on a mission to help other fathers break free from the grip of addiction, reconnect with their families, and stop the generational cycle before it begins. His work is saving lives, healing fa...

Duration: 00:41:15
E 179: “Somatic Healing for ACoAs: Stop Toxic Self-Talk Fast”
May 09, 2025

If your inner voice sounds more like a bully than a best friend, this episode is for you. I explore how the inner dialogue of Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoAs) is often shaped by early dysfunction—and how to begin shifting that voice from criticism to compassion.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why your self-talk sounds the way it does (and why it’s not your fault)A powerful tactic to “nip it in the bud” the moment negative self-talk shows upFour somatic practices that help quiet the inner critic and create new self-talk patternsGrounded, compassion...

Duration: 00:21:45
E 178: Toxic Parents, Real Healing: Reclaiming Your Confidence, Power & Peace: Guest Scotti Moser
May 08, 2025

In this empowering episode, we’re joined by Scotti Moser, a transformational coach who helps professional women overcome the lasting impacts of toxic and narcissistic parenting. Scotti shares how unresolved childhood wounds can silently sabotage confidence, relationships, and financial success—and how healing those wounds opens the door to more joy, authenticity, and prosperity.

With compassionate insight and lived experience, Scotti walks us through the journey of rediscovering your voice, setting healthy boundaries, and finally stepping into the confident, successful woman you were always meant to be. Her approach isn’t just about recovery—it’s about thriving.<...

Duration: 00:37:52
E 178: Healing the Adult Child: Jill Krzyzanowicz on Trauma, Addiction, and Finding Her True Identity"
May 06, 2025

In this deeply moving and eye-opening episode, we sit down with Jill Krzyzanowicz—known to readers by her pen name, Margo Reilly—as she shares her powerful story of transformation, healing, and hope. After decades in public education, Jill now uses her voice and platform to inspire others to release the victim mentality and take ownership of their healing journey.

Jill opens up about growing up as an adult child of dysfunction—navigating childhood violence, chaos, and trauma—and how each sibling can walk away from the same household with a completely different perspective and emotional imprint. We dive...

Duration: 00:42:30
E 176: "Breaking Free from Dysfunction: Choosing Happiness and Healing with Lisa Lacy"
May 01, 2025

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Lisa Lacy for an honest, soul-filling conversation about what it really means to grow up in dysfunction—and how to reclaim your life on your own terms. Lisa shares her personal journey through a health scare that became the catalyst for deep transformation, authenticity, and choosing joy over survival mode.

We dive into the themes that define this podcast:

🌀 Breaking free from the roles we were forced to play

🧠 The power of breath and nervous system regulation

🌱 Choosing happiness—on purpose

🪞 How dysfunction...

Duration: 00:26:24
E 175: “Somatic Healing for Survivors: Breathwork Beyond Talk Therapy”" Guest Nicoletta Puccini
Apr 29, 2025

In this powerful and heart-opening episode, I sit down with Nicoletta Puccini, founder of Chameleon Breathwork LLC, a trauma-informed breathwork facilitator and somatic healing guide. With over 15 years of experience in therapeutic yoga, somatic modalities, and conscious breathwork, Nicoletta shares how the body stores trauma—and more importantly, how we can safely release it.

We explore how breath and facial release can become daily tools for anyone navigating the impacts of trauma and abuse. Nicoletta’s intuitive, immersive approach meets people exactly where they are, empowering them to activate their inner pharmacy and break free from the limi...

Duration: 00:44:55
E 174: Beyond Survival: How to Align Your Mind for True Freedom: Guest Kelly Tallaksen
Apr 26, 2025

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Kelly Tallaksen — a board-certified hypnotist, instructor for the National Guild of Hypnotists, president of their Long Island chapter, and holder of both a Doctorate Degree in Metaphysical Hypnosis and a PhD in Holistic Life Counseling. Kelly shares her deep insights into the different levels of consciousness and how the protective mechanisms of the mind, while well-intentioned, can often keep us stuck in cycles of limitation.

Drawing from her extensive training in holistic psychology, parts therapy, HeartMath™, shadow coaching, and generational trauma work, Kelly explains how internal conflicts between the subc...

Duration: 00:21:56
E 173: Boundaries & the Authentic Self: Why Saying No is a Yes to You
Apr 24, 2025

In this empowering follow-up to my conversation with Dr. Michelle Montero, we dive deep into the intimate connection between healthy boundaries and living as your truest, most authentic self. So many of us—especially adult children of dysfunction—grew up learning to shape-shift, people-please, and suppress our needs just to survive. But here’s the truth: boundaries aren’t walls—they’re bridges. They connect us back to who we really are beneath the masks.

I’m unpacking:

Why honoring your "no" is essential to discovering your "yes"The biggest myths we’ve internalized about setting boundaries (espe...

Duration: 00:15:34
E 172: Boundaries and Breakthroughs: Mental Strength with Dr. Michelle Montero
Apr 23, 2025

In this powerful and insightful episode, we sit down with Dr. Michelle Montero, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Alchemy Performance Consulting, LLC. Based in Chicago, Dr. Montero brings a unique blend of expertise in both clinical and sports psychology, specializing in trauma-informed care, athlete mental health, performance enhancement, and emotional intelligence.

While her professional background is rich and multifaceted—spanning work with at-risk youth, elder care, and elite athletes—this conversation zooms in on boundaries: what they are, why they matter, and how they play a vital role in healing, high performance, and everyday resilience.

We...

Duration: 00:23:17
E 171: The Neuroplasticity Hacks: 5 Simple Strategies to Start Rewiring Your Brain Today
Apr 22, 2025

In this empowering follow-up to my interview with George Haymaker, we dive even deeper into the science—and hope—of neuroplasticity. If you’re an Adult Child of an Alcoholic or grew up in any kind of dysfunctional environment, this episode is your reminder that you are not broken—you’re wired for survival. And the beautiful news? You can rewire those survival patterns into pathways of healing and self-trust.

We unpack how the brain forms habits through a loop of stimulus → response → reward, and how the mind will always seek out what feels familiar, not necessarily what’s healthy...

Duration: 00:11:45
E 170: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Transformation: George Haymaker's Journey
Apr 21, 2025

In this episode, we’re joined by George Haymaker — a certified neuroconstructionist coach, neuroeducator, and former entrepreneur with a powerful story of transformation. After building and leading several successful companies over three decades, George found himself battling a life-threatening addiction to alcohol and opioids. At his lowest point in 2013, he was consuming up to 50 Vicodin and two bottles of vodka per day. That crisis became the turning point that led him into rehab, recovery, and ultimately, a life devoted to helping others.

George shares how growing up in an unsettling environment led to anxiety, low self-esteem, and the...

Duration: 00:30:27
E 169: Dysfunction, Decisions & the Daily Reset You Deserve : Tif Loeffler
Apr 17, 2025

What if you could shift from chaos to calm in just a few seconds? In this powerful and energizing episode, Tif Loeffler joins us to explore the magic of micro-moments—those tiny shifts that pull us out of stress and into presence. Whether it's practicing a focused gaze that leads to a spontaneous yawn (and a nervous system reset), or choosing to celebrate who you are right now, Tif reminds us that you do have a choice—even when it feels like you don’t.

This episode isn’t about pretending stress doesn’t exist. It’s about learni...

Duration: 00:22:09
E 168: Reclaiming Joy: Why Fun and Creative Expression Are Hard—but Vital—for Adult Children of Dysfunction
Apr 16, 2025

In this solo episode, I’m diving into something that hits close to home—the struggle so many of us face when it comes to allowing ourselves joy, fun, and creative expression. If you grew up in a household shaped by alcoholism or dysfunction, you may have learned early on that survival came first—and playfulness, imagination, and lightheartedness often took a backseat.

Following my beautiful conversation with Patricia O’Brien about the magic of intention and creative living, I wanted to explore why this kind of expression can feel so hard for us—and also, why it’s so im...

Duration: 00:16:06
E 167: The Power of Choice & Creative Expression Guest : Patricia O'Brien
Apr 11, 2025

In this heart-centered conversation, Patricia O’Brien invites us to explore the deep magic of intention and creative expression as pathways to reclaiming personal sovereignty. Blending coaching, science, and mysticism, Patricia reveals how art—in all its forms—is not just a form of expression, but a powerful means of communication that unlocks healing, reflection, innovation, and spiritual connection.

Patricia encourages us to live with deliberate choice, using creativity as a compass to reconnect with ourselves and the world around us. Whether it's painting, music, movement, or mindful moments, she shows how art becomes a mirror, a bridge...

Duration: 00:24:19
E166 : From NASA to Natural Healing: Mayim Vega’s Journey to Empowering Holistic Health
Apr 10, 2025

In this enlightening episode, Mayim Vega, a former NASA Computer Scientist turned Holistic Healer, shares her inspiring journey from the tech world to holistic health. After facing a personal health crisis that traditional medicine couldn't resolve, Mayim founded Arukah.com - The Holistic Life Academy in 2009 to help others unleash their inner healers.

Mayim's work empowers doctors, nurses, and medical professionals, as well as individuals without medical backgrounds, to become confident and effective holistic healers through naturopathic herbalism, holistic life coaching, and online business and marketing. Her unique blend of scientific expertise, holistic methods, and faith in...

Duration: 00:25:14
E165: Living with an Invisible Disability: How Michelle Steiner Proved Everyone Wrong
Apr 09, 2025

In this inspiring episode, we’re joined by writer, speaker, and paraeducator Michelle Steiner, who shares her powerful story of resilience and determination while living with an invisible disability. Diagnosed with a learning disability in kindergarten, Michelle faced academic and social struggles early on—and was often told what she couldn’t do.

But Michelle refused to let the limitations others placed on her define her future.

Against the odds, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Community Programming from Slippery Rock University, became a published writer, and now works with students with disabilities—offering the kind o...

Duration: 00:25:42
E164: The Power of Boundaries: Using Self-Defense to Heal and Grow: Guest Elicia Ybarra
Apr 07, 2025

In this powerful episode, we welcome Elicia Ybarra, a women’s self-defense instructor, lifelong martial artist, and fierce advocate for survivors of abuse. Elicia shares her deeply personal journey of growing up in a dysfunctional environment, seeking refuge in martial arts, and later facing exploitation within that very space.

Rather than letting these experiences define her, Elicia reclaimed her power—unlearning harmful patterns, setting firm boundaries, and using her voice to uplift others. Through her business, Empower & Defend Women’s Self-Defense, she now teaches women not only how to physically protect themselves but also how to build confid...

Duration: 00:39:40
E163: Saving Ellen: A Story of Family, Sobriety, and Survival: Guest Maura Casey
Apr 01, 2025

Maura Casey, an award-winning journalist with a four-decade career writing opinion for major newspapers—including The New York Times—joins us to share her powerful story of survival, sobriety, and healing from growing up in an alcoholic home. The first in her family to get sober, Maura has maintained her sobriety for 39 years, despite the chaos of her father’s drinking and the deep impact of her sister Ellen’s life-threatening illness.

In this episode, Maura discusses her upcoming book, Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery (Skyhorse Publishing, April 1, 2025), which details her family’s journey through he...

Duration: 00:34:49
E162: Healing Through Storytelling: Alison Perry-Davies on Art, Sound & Books
Mar 25, 2025

In this inspiring episode, we welcome Alison Perry-Davies, a bestselling author, podcast host, and art and sound healing practitioner. With over 40 years of experience supporting individuals and families, Alison has dedicated her career to fostering creativity, empathy, and resilience in others. Her work spans across writing, music therapy, and disability support, where she has served as a support worker, case manager, and music therapy practitioner, bringing compassion and insight to every role.

Alison’s passion for helping others thrive is evident in her work, whether through her books, children's stories, or healing practices. She seamlessly integrates creativity an...

Duration: 00:34:19
E 161: From Deaf to Determined: Kellina Powell’s Story of Strength and Advocacy"
Mar 20, 2025

In this inspiring episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction: Thriving After Chaos, I sit down with the incredible Kellina Powell, a dynamic deaf coach, international speaker, best-selling author, and passionate advocate for the deaf and disability communities. Growing up deaf since the age of four, Kellina faced many challenges—but she refused to let them define her. Instead, she transformed adversity into opportunity, becoming a mentor and mental health coach dedicated to helping young adults with disabilities achieve their dreams.

We dive into Kellina’s powerful journey of resilience, healing, and empowerment. She shares how she overcame obst...

Duration: 00:31:32
E 160: Healing the Inner Child: Breaking Free from Trauma & Codependency: Guest Jen Peters
Mar 19, 2025

In this powerful episode, Tammy Vincent welcomes visionary healer and bestselling author Jen Araya Peters to discuss the transformative power of inner child healing. Jen shares her deeply personal journey from childhood trauma and emotional wounds to becoming a global leader in trauma healing. With over 12,000 hours of guiding clients and 5,500+ facilitated sessions, Jen has helped thousands reclaim their lives from emotional abuse, codependency, and childhood trauma.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How childhood trauma shapes our adult lives, especially romantic relationships.Why we often repeat relationship patterns from our past, even when we do...

Duration: 00:41:19
E 159: Permission to Shine: Overcoming Challenges & Becoming Your Best Self: Guest Sherisse Bisram
Mar 16, 2025

In this powerful episode of Permission to Shine, we welcome Sherisse Bisram, MA—a dynamic force in women's empowerment. With a master’s degree and a deep well of personal experience, Sherisse specializes in igniting inner wildfires and fostering fierce self-love. Having spent 11 years as a professional dancer, she understands the power of embodiment and movement in personal transformation.

Sherisse’s unique methodology, born from overcoming her own adversities, guides women through radical self-evolution using innovative, holistic approaches. Her mission? To lead women out of darkness and into their own light, providing actionable strategies for lasting mental well-b...

Duration: 00:39:33
E 159: Healing from Trauma: Unlocking Confidence & Empowerment with Sherisse Bisram
Mar 14, 2025

In this powerful episode of Permission to Shine, Sherisse Bisram, MA, shares her journey of turning pain into power—transforming childhood trauma, bereavement, racism, and sexism into fuel for empowerment. A dynamic force in women's empowerment, Sherisse specializes in igniting inner wildfires and fostering fierce self-love. She dives deep into radical self-evolution, offering innovative, holistic strategies to help women forge unshakable embodiment and lasting well-being.

Sherisse’s mission is clear: to lead women out of darkness and into their own light. Tune in as she shares actionable strategies for overcoming adversity, embracing authentic empowerment, and stepping into your...

Duration: 00:01:38
E 158: The Hidden Impact of SUD on Siblings: Guest Lee S Varon
Mar 12, 2025

In this episode, Lee S. Varon, LICSW, a social worker, writer, and author of My Brother is Not a Monster: A Story of Addiction and Recovery and A Kids Book About Overdose, joins us to discuss the impact of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) on siblings, especially those who do not struggle with addiction themselves. Lee shares her personal experiences growing up with a family member who had SUD and how it shaped her approach to working with families impacted by addiction.

Lee’s conversation highlights the important yet often overlooked topic of how SUD affects everyone in th...

Duration: 00:33:57
Ep 157:Awakening the Sixth Sense: Tywanah Evette’s Path to Intuitive Power
Mar 06, 2025

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tywanah Evette, a fourth-generation intuitive healer, psychic medium, and the founder of Black Butterfly Goddess. Her story is one of profound resilience, transformation, and spiritual awakening. From enduring childhood trauma and surviving two near-fatal car accidents to overcoming the psychological warfare of a covert narcissist, Tywanah’s journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Despite facing unimaginable darkness, she reclaimed her divine power, embracing her ancestral gifts to guide others on their healing journeys. Tywanah shares how she helps individuals awaken their sixth sense, develop in...

Duration: 00:43:06
Ep. 156: Understanding Suicide: Signs, Support, and What to Do in a Crisis
Mar 03, 2025

In this episode, I explore the heartbreaking and often silent epidemic of suicide, a topic that impacts millions of people worldwide. I build on insights from previous episodes with Earnest James and Dana K. to discuss the rising suicide rates and the critical role we all play in recognizing when someone we love might be struggling.

You’ll learn about the alarming statistics, especially among young people, and why suicide continues to be a silent epidemic. I dive into how depression distorts reality for many, preventing them from recognizing their own pain or seeking the help they ne...

Duration: 00:25:06