The Link Between Insecure Attachment, Self Abandonment And Chronic Stress
Stronger in the Difficult Places
Release Date: 04/15/2025
How Shame Shows Up in Your Parenting—Even When Your Kids Are Grown
Stronger in the Difficult Places
Parenting doesn't end when your kids become adults—and neither does the complicated relationship we have with shame as parents. In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by family coach, former educator, and licensed mental health expert Anastasia Arauz to explore how shame weaves its way into our parenting, our family dynamics, and even into the lives of our adult children. Anastasia brings her rich background in counseling, play therapy, and education to help us uncover the hidden ways shame impacts how we show up as parents—and more importantly, what we can do about it. Her work...
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How Couples Can Resist Priority Drift In Your Relationship
Stronger in the Difficult Places
In this episode of Stronger in the Difficult Places, I’m joined by transformational relationship guide Nick Brancato for a powerful conversation on a subtle but common challenge in long-term relationships—priority drift. Nick opens up about his own relational journey and how even the most connected couples can find themselves slowly drifting apart when life’s demands begin to compete with their shared values and intentions. We unpack what priority drift looks like, how it shows up in everyday life, and most importantly—how to resist it. Nick shares his holistic approach to keeping love...
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Is it Emotional Abuse—Or Something Else?
Stronger in the Difficult Places
Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Is this emotional abuse… or just a hard relationship moment?” You’re not alone. In today’s episode, Dr. Zoe breaks down the crucial difference between emotional abuse and other common relational struggles—like conflict, insensitivity, emotional immaturity, or human imperfection. When you’ve grown up in dysfunction or carry the weight of Complex Shame™, it can be hard to trust your internal radar. This conversation is here to help you recalibrate. You’ll Learn: What emotional abuse actually looks like—and why it’s often so subtle...
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The Link Between Insecure Attachment, Self Abandonment And Chronic Stress
Stronger in the Difficult Places
In this episode, we dive deep into the body’s role in healing with Kate, a physical therapist, author, and embodied freedom and transformation coach. Kate specializes in helping service-driven women who feel like they're falling apart—overwhelmed, exhausted, and trapped in cycles of chronic anxiety, pain, and fatigue. We also unpacked how shame shapes our identity and how the unhealed stress and trauma we carry doesn’t just affect us—it ripples into our relationships. When we stay disconnected from our bodies, we struggle to show up fully for ourselves and others. But when we begin to...
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What if You’re The Red Flag? And What Do You Do About It?
Stronger in the Difficult Places
We’ve all been taught how to spot red flags in others—but what if we’re the red flag? In this powerful episode, Dr. Zoe unpacks the uncomfortable but essential question: could your own behaviors, coping mechanisms, or unresolved trauma be playing a role in your relationship struggles? With compassion and clarity, she explores how complex shame and survival patterns might show up as self-sabotage, emotional unavailability, or codependency—and how recognizing these patterns is the first step toward healing. This isn’t about blame. It’s about brave introspection, self-compassion, and...
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How The 12 Steps Can Transform Your Life And Relationships
Stronger in the Difficult Places
In this powerful episode, Ian and I explore how these time-tested principles can radically shift your relationship with yourself and others. We talk about the freedom that comes from radical honesty, the courage it takes to confront your own story, and how the Twelve Steps can guide anyone—no matter their background—toward healing and wholeness. This conversation is real, vulnerable, and packed with insight. Whether you’re familiar with the Steps or just curious, this episode will challenge and inspire you to take your own brave next step toward change. Ian Morgan Cron is a bestselling...
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Overcoming The Shame Of Your Everyday Addictions
Stronger in the Difficult Places
Addiction isn’t just about substances—it can show up in our everyday lives in ways we don’t always recognize. Whether it's scrolling endlessly on social media, emotional eating, overworking, or even seeking validation from others, these everyday addictions can hold us back from true freedom. And often, the biggest barrier to overcoming them isn’t just the habit itself—it’s the shame we carry around it. In this episode, I sit down with author and speaker Chris Janssen to talk about the sneaky ways addiction manifests, why shame keeps us stuck, and how we can break free from the...
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Navigating Everyday Grief
Stronger in the Difficult Places
Grief isn’t just about losing a loved one or experiencing life’s biggest losses. In this episode, I sit down with Natasha Smith to explore the often-overlooked grief we carry in our everyday lives. From unmet expectations to life transitions, we discuss why acknowledging these losses matters and how we can find healing in the small moments. Whether you’re navigating a major loss or simply feeling the weight of unspoken grief, this conversation will help you give yourself permission to process, heal, and move forward with grace. Natasha Smith is a certified grief educator, advocate,...
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How To Advocate For Yourself In Difficult Relationships
Stronger in the Difficult Places
Why is it so easy to stand up for others but so hard to advocate for ourselves? If you’ve ever felt stuck between not wanting to seem "too much" and not knowing how to use your voice effectively, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Heather Hansen—former trial lawyer turned advocate coach—who shares powerful insights on breaking free from “good girl syndrome,” building the skills to confidently speak up, and learning how to own your voice without fear or guilt. If advocating for yourself feels uncomfortable, overwhelming, or just plain impossible, this conversation will empower...
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How To Make Good Decisions When You Feel Guilty
Stronger in the Difficult Places
I hear this all the time: How do I make a good decision when I feel guilty for making it? In today’s episode I address how to make a decision, even when you feel bad about it. It’s easier than you think and you can do it! Connect with me:
info_outlineIn this episode, we dive deep into the body’s role in healing with Kate, a physical therapist, author, and embodied freedom and transformation coach. Kate specializes in helping service-driven women who feel like they're falling apart—overwhelmed, exhausted, and trapped in cycles of chronic anxiety, pain, and fatigue.
We also unpacked how shame shapes our identity and how the unhealed stress and trauma we carry doesn’t just affect us—it ripples into our relationships. When we stay disconnected from our bodies, we struggle to show up fully for ourselves and others. But when we begin to listen, release, and heal, we open the door to deeper connection, compassion, and freedom.
With a background in neuro and pain science, she offers a powerful lens into how stress and trauma are held in the body—and how releasing them can create real transformation. We talked about what it means to come back to your body, how physical tension reflects emotional holding, and she even guided me through some surprising exercises to uncover what I’ve been carrying.
This conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t just a mental process. It’s physical. It’s embodied. And it’s deeply personal.
Resources & Mentions:
Her book: The Good Girl RX
Freebie: Sneak Peek of The Good Girl RX
Connect with me: