51. Unsolicited Advice: Why 'Helping' Backfires & What to Say Instead
Who Do You Think You Are Talking To Podcast
Release Date: 11/18/2025
Who Do You Think You Are Talking To Podcast
Your people pleasing isn’t a personality trait. It’s a survival strategy you learned long before you ever realised you were doing it. In this episode, I take you right into the early moments where people pleasing begins, how those habits harden over time, and the emotional cost of performing calm on the outside while falling apart inside. I share my story from childhood stage school to years of performing for approval, to losing myself again after moving to America. You’ll hear how the cracks finally pushed me toward habit change coaching and the tools that helped me rebuild my...
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Have you ever tried to help someone you love, only to realise they felt pushed, managed or misunderstood instead? In this episode, I’m diving into the real reason our “fix it” habits damage connection and what to do instead. This is personal work, practical work and deeply liberating work. I share a powerful story about a young man who came to a coaching call out of obligation and what happened when I stopped trying to pull clarity out of him and started giving him autonomy instead. You’ll hear why real change never comes from pressure, how to recognise your own emotional patterns...
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Let's be honest: we've all done it. Given one kid more grace than the other, bent the rules for someone we like, cut a team member extra slack because it's easier. You tell yourself it's no big deal, but here's the truth: every time you do that, somebody else feels it. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on favouritism and how it shows up everywhere, from guilt parenting at home to people pleasing dynamics at work. I share a personal story about noticing this pattern in my own childhood and explain why favouritism isn't about bad intentions. It's about blind spots, stress...
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Depression isn’t something you “get over.” You learn to live with it. These were the words my therapist told me that changed everything. That realisation shifted how I approached every emotional storm that’s come since, especially this new one: perimenopause. In this episode, I open up about what it’s really like when your hormones start rewriting the rules. From 2am wake-ups and brain fog to guilt and overwhelm, I share the small, doable steps that are helping me find balance again, and how you can too. I share why emotional awareness is the missing piece in this conversation,...
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Ever caught yourself saying “I’m fine” when you’re anything but? In this episode, I unpack the quiet, everyday lies we tell to keep the peace and how they quietly teach us to hide what we really feel. From the “thank you I love it” moments at Grandma’s house to the “just be polite” white lies we tell our kids, I reveal how these tiny habits of dishonesty shape our emotional reactions and communication patterns. You’ll learn how to trade comfort for clarity, guilt for growth, and how to speak the truth calmly and confidently without blowing up, backing down, or...
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Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking "why didn't I say anything?" Then you replay it over and over, feeling frustrated and stuck. I've been there. For years, I thought my husband just didn't care enough or understand me, while he was quietly carrying his own invisible load, afraid to speak up for fear of judgment. In this episode, I'm sharing what happens when honesty disappears from our relationships. When men shut down to avoid conflict and women get louder trying to fix things, both people end up feeling unseen and alone. I'll walk you through the pattern I lived...
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Have you ever told yourself you were “keeping the peace” by staying quiet, only to end up feeling resentful, misunderstood, or disconnected? In this episode, I dive into one of the most common patterns I see: staying silent instead of speaking the truth. We’ll unpack why silence doesn’t actually protect your relationships; it erodes them. I’ll walk you through the small, practical shifts that help you speak up calmly and confidently, without guilt or drama. You’ll learn the simple communication framework that changes everything: Appreciation → Ask → Benefit. You’ll also...
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Do you ever please others at the expense of your own voice? For years I performed calm on the outside while quietly shrinking inside. I know what it feels like to keep everyone else happy while your own voice gets smaller and smaller. In this episode, I share the exact process that helped me silence my inner people-pleaser and finally lead by example. You’ll learn how to pause, tune into what you truly need, and speak up without guilt or emotional blowups. I’ll guide you through the simple shift from trigger → react → regret into trigger → pause → respond, so you can build...
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Why You Feel So Overwhelmed as a New Mom, and What to Do About It Stuck in the cycle of guilt, burnout, and resentment, and no one’s talking about it? You’re not alone. In this episode, we break the silence and get real about what new motherhood actually feels like, and how to reclaim your calm one breath (and boundary) at a time. Because “Happy Mom, Happy Baby” Doesn’t Help When You’re Drowning If you've ever silently screamed, “Why do I have to do it all?”, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Dr. Colleen Horn, a pediatric chiropractor and fierce advocate for moms...
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Feel like debt is running your life? You’re not lazy, you’re not broken, and you’re not alone - and this episode will show you how to take back control, one step at a time. When bills pile up, the shame gets loud - but clarity is louder. This episode is your life raft when it feels like you're financially underwater. Mortgage arrears, car payments, credit cards, late notices - if any of those words make your chest tighten, this one’s for you. Episode Summary Hi, I’m Jenny Maxwell - and today’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are Talking To is about one of the most emotionally...
info_outlineHave you ever tried to help someone you love, only to realise they felt pushed, managed or misunderstood instead?
In this episode, I’m diving into the real reason our “fix it” habits damage connection and what to do instead. This is personal work, practical work and deeply liberating work.
I share a powerful story about a young man who came to a coaching call out of obligation and what happened when I stopped trying to pull clarity out of him and started giving him autonomy instead.
You’ll hear why real change never comes from pressure, how to recognise your own emotional patterns and why supporting someone doesn’t mean directing their life.
We also explore the two roles many of us fall into: the fixer and the people pleaser. I show you how to slow everything down, build self-awareness and reset old habits in a way that protects connection instead of destroying it.
If you’ve been feeling over responsible, overextended or overlooked, this conversation will hit home and help you change the pattern… starting today.
And there’s one simple question in this episode that can instantly reset any conversation…listen to find out what.
“Support creates connection. Pressure destroys it.” – Jenny Maxwell
You’ll hear about:
- Why fixing others lands as control
- Coaching without consent
- The cost of people pleasing
- What creates real autonomy
- How stress blocks clarity
- Pacing change in relationships
- Questions that support not pressure
- Resetting boundaries gently
- How to stop being over responsible
- Tools for both fixers and pleasers
Press Pause:
https://jennymcoaching.thrivecart.com/presspause/
Your Anytime Reset:
https://jennymcoaching.thrivecart.com/youranytimereset/
1:1 Coaching Book a call:
https://calendly.com/jennymcoaching/initial-call?month=2025-09
Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennymaxwell-leadership-coach-replacemicromanagement/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jennymcoaching/?hl=en
Website - https://jennymcoaching.com/
Don’t Miss the Next Breakthrough
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss a reset moment. And if this episode spoke to you, would you leave a quick review? It helps more women find the tools they didn’t know they needed.
Whether you're a mom, a partner, or someone supporting a loved one through postpartum, please share this episode with someone who needs to feel less alone. A problem shared is a problem halved.
Before You Go
This is your reminder that you’re not too much, and you’re not not enough. You are allowed to take up space, to need support, and to rest. And if that feels hard right now, I’m here. You’re not alone in this.
Episode produced by Between Tracks Media Productions - https://www.betweentracks.com/