Don’t F*kn Shrink

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Leaking, pelvic pain, and hormonal changes are often dismissed as “normal”, especially during perimenopause and menopause. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with them. In this episode, pelvic health expert Dr. Kim Dixon breaks down what pelvic health actually is, why so many women experience issues like urinary leakage and painful intimacy, and what real solutions look like at every stage of life. Learn how pelvic floor physical therapy works, when hormone therapies like vaginal estrogen can help, and why symptoms during perimenopause, postpartum, and menopause are often misunderstood or ignore...

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Every January, we promise ourselves this time will be different: new routines, new rules, new motivation. And every year, most of it quietly falls apart by February. In this episode, Jane Pilger invites you into a kinder way to approach change in 2026. Learn what’s actually happening beneath the surface when motivation disappears, why forcing change through rules and restriction backfires, and how your nervous system and internal patterns quietly run the show. Jane also gives advice for creating sustainable change, how to stop starting over every Monday, and what to focus on in...

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What if the problem with New Year’s resolutions isn’t your discipline, but the way you’re talking to yourself? This episode flips January goal-setting on its head with No Judgment January, a radically different approach to change that doesn’t start with fixing yourself. Daffney explains why most resolutions fail within days, how self-judgment quietly drains your energy, and what actually creates sustainable change as women, moms, and high-performing professionals. You’ll hear why “going back” isn’t the answer, how perimenopause, stress, and nervous-system overload show up in everyday life, and a surprising...

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What happens when staying “acceptable” costs you your integrity? In this episode, Daffney talks with public theologian and bestselling author of Hell Bent, Brian Recker, for an honest conversation about faith, fear, and the moment you stop contorting yourself to belong. Brian unpacks his journey from growing up as a fundamentalist pastor’s kid to walking away from the pulpit when curiosity, conscience, and love could no longer fit inside rigid religious systems. Together, they discuss how fear has been used to control belief, why politics and religion became dangerously intertwined, and what it rea...

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If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and wondered, “Why does my body feel wrong?” this conversation will flip everything you’ve been taught on its head. Registered dietitian Maria Sylvester Terry joins Daffney to expose the hidden impact of skinny culture: the doctor’s-office shame, the gym-class comparisons, the magazine bodies that were never real, and the lifelong pressure to shrink yourself to be accepted. Maria shares the raw truth about her own journey through weight stigma, half-marathon burnout, and orthorexia, and how stepping into strength instead of skinny finally changed everything...

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What does real allyship, leadership, and courage look like today?

It’s not a repost, a slogan, or a perfectly curated statement. It’s choosing to show up even when it’s uncomfortable, unpopular, or wildly misunderstood. Known to many from TLC’s I Am Jazz, Sander Jennings shares what it was really like growing up in a family that stood publicly for trans rights long before society was ready to listen. He opens up about the mindset shifts that took him from quiet supporter to confident advocate, the pressure men face ins...

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Feeling like you keep shrinking yourself to make everyone else comfortable? In this episode, Daffney explains why watering down your truth does not make people like you more. It only disconnects you from who you actually are. She walks you through a 30 minute reflection exercise that forces real honesty about your values, your goals, and what you truly want. Then she dives into the three pillars of stepping into your most authentic self: your mindset, your physical body, and your nervous system. Think athlete-level discipline, nourishment that supports your energy, and being aware...

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Daffney chats with powerhouse sisters Amy and Nancy Harrington, two former Hollywood insiders who walked away from high-profile careers to build something with far greater reach and purpose: a global community elevating women’s voices and amplifying stories that spark real change. From growing up in a deeply creative household to breaking barriers in the entertainment industry to founding The Passionistas Project, they share how storytelling became the thread that shaped their leadership, their mission, and their impact. Together, they discuss why even the most accomplished women can underestimate the power of their ow...

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You don’t need a million followers to make an impact … you just need the courage to speak your truth. Sara Wiles, the ultimate girls’ girl and Founder of The Start And Grow Co.,  joins this episode to talk about what it really means to use your voice for change. From post election heartbreak to fearless activism, Sara shares her journey from quiet confidence to embracing her truth and making an impact. She opens up about learning to speak out even when it’s uncomfortable, the power of female connection, and why being “palatable”...

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What if your story could be the very thing that helps someone else heal? Rachel Daugherty, better known on Instagram as BootyAndBrains, joins this episode to talk about turning pain into purpose, movement into medicine, and why healing your body and brain doesn’t have to be hard. From losing her mom to Alzheimer’s to building a platform around brain health, humor, and fitness, Rachel shares how she transformed grief into impact one honest post, one pushup, and one laugh at a time. Together, she and Daffney discuss what it looks like to c...

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When life hands you a pink slip in the middle of postpartum recovery, how do you rebuild not just your career, but your confidence, identity, and sense of purpose?

In this episode of Don’t Fkn Shrink*, Daffney Allwein sits down with Kathleen Borgueta, founder of Pivoting Parents, a community created to help parents navigate professional pivots, layoffs, and reinvention with resilience and grace.

Kathleen shares her story of receiving her layoff notice while newly postpartum and recovering from a C-section, a moment that could have broken her but in...

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When a career crisis hits, it might just be the push you needed.

In this episode of Don’t Fk*n Shrink, Daffney Allwein talks with Love Rutledge, Executive Coach, host of the FedUpward Podcast, and founder of FedUpward Coaching. After more than 25 years in federal service, Love helps government professionals and executives reinvent their careers, build clarity, and thrive through transitions.

Together, they unpack what it means to find purpose beyond your job title, navigate uncertainty with confidence, and turn change into opportunity. Whether you’re navigating a layo...

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In this powerful episode of Don’t Fk*n Shrink, Daffney Allwein sits down with Jane Pilger, Certified Binge Eating and Body Trust Coach, host of the Binge Eating Breakthrough™ podcast, and endurance athlete.

Jane shares her 25-year journey of struggling with binge eating, the moment she realized food was a tool for safety, and how she finally broke free from shame by understanding the connection between the nervous system, emotions, and behavior.

This isn’t a conversation about food rules or willpower. It’s about healing your relationship with you...

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 In this episode of Don’t Fk*n Shrink, Daffney Allwein sits down with journalist, author, and storyteller Ellen Bryan for a conversation that blends honesty, courage, and grace.

Ellen opens up about walking away from traditional definitions of success and finding a new rhythm in her life that honors her values, her family, and her purpose. She shares how fear once kept her from taking bold steps, why she finally decided to leap anyway, and what it really looks like to balance ambition with motherhood.

From newsroom deadlines to...

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 How often do you say, “I’m fine” when you’re anything but? In this powerful episode of Don’t Fk*n Shrink, host Daffney Allwein sits down with podcaster and speaker Kari Hurd to unpack what it really means to live authentically and why “fine” just isn’t enough.

Kari shares her candid story of becoming a single mom, navigating heartbreak, dismantling her old life, and building a new one rooted in authenticity and family. She opens up about dating after 50 (yes, the infamous fish selfies make an appearance) and the values that g...

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In this episode of Don’t F*kn Shrink, Daffney Allwein sits down with Shelly McLaughlin, Program Director at Pathfinders for Autism, mom to a 23 year old autistic son, and a fierce advocate for families and communities.

Shelly shares the devastating moment when a doctor told her that her son would never function in society, and how she refused to shrink in the face of that label. From navigating schools to helping Hunter discover his passion in film editing, her story is one of resilience and relentless advocacy.

...

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 Welcome to the first episode of Don’t F*kn Shrink.

This show was born in a single moment. When Brittany Clark made a powerful declaration and then pulled back, I could not stay quiet. I told her: “Don’t Fkn Shrink.”* That moment lit the fire for everything you will hear here.

In this episode Brittany interviews me about why I had to bring this message to life. We talk about my journey, the lessons that shaped me, and why I believe confidence and resilience are skills we practice...

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 Matt Lewis joins me for a real conversation about identity, work, and courage. Matt is a columnist and author of Filthy Rich Politicians and Too Dumb to Fail, and the host of Matt Lewis Can’t Lose. He has appeared on C-SPAN, PBS NewsHour, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, and CBS News’ Face The Nation as a political commentator.

We talk about growing up in rural Maryland, early career detours, why political consulting was the wrong fit, and how writing, teaching, and podcasting became the right lan...

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 Doctors said “we don’t know.” Jennifer Burns said, “that’s not good enough.”

On this episode of Don’t F*kn Shrink, host Daffney Allwein sits down with Jennifer to share her story of refusing to shrink when traditional medicine had no answers. She fought for herself, found the right care, and reclaimed her vibrant health.

Part of her discovery was that foods she thought were healthy, eggs, yogurt, and cashews, were fueling her pain and weight gain. By uncovering hidden triggers, shifting to an anti-inflammatory diet, and embracing yoga...

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You know that voice in your head that whispers “play it safe, stay small, don’t rock the boat”?

Yeah… we’re not listening to that here.

Welcome to Don’t F*kn Shrink, the podcast for high achievers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are ready to stop holding back, build unshakable confidence, and show up fully in their lives.

I’m Daffney Allwein,  performance coach, athlete, and unapologetic believer that you were never meant to shrink yourself to fit. For nearly two...