At some point, hating yourself, living in dysfunction and feeling like your mind, trauma responses, addiction and codependency controls you and not the other way around. The Ask an Advanced Bitch podcast provides your weekly dose of no-nonsense and irreverent insights, truths and techniques for addressing trauma and your particular trauma responses, grief and loss, and all things recovery to become our most true, self-confident and authentic selves - or as I would put it - an Advanced Bitch. ...
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57. The Deep End: #ReleaseTheFootage
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And now we’ve got private investigators calling it a cult and Teal's shocked—like, really shocked. Welcome back to another episode of Serving Cult! This week we conclude our deep dive into The Deep End! Picture this: Teal blames Blake and her manager for the investigator's cult accusations. Classic deflection. Meanwhile, Juliana gets gaslit by Teal…
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56. The Deep End: The Hilton Has Holy Water
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And now we’re waterboarding people and fake channeling spirits, are we? Welcome back to another episode of Serving Cult! This week we are continuing to dissect the doc, The Deep End; it just gets weirder. Prepare for the weirdest role-play you've ever seen, where asking a polite question might get you "inhabited" by a spirit. Molly the investigator…
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Trigger Warning: This episode discusses topics including emotional manipulation, psychological abuse, and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised. We couldn't resist diving back into The Deep End for another episode of Serving Cult. This time, we're continuing to unravel the chaotic universe of Teal Swan—spiritual guru aka raging narcissi…
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Because we just can't stay away, we're back with another episode of Serving Cult, and this time we're diving into The Deep End. Meet Teal Swan, the YouTube sensation, spiritual guru, and, well, raging narcissist. Get ready as we plunge into a world where spiritual leaders go full cult, ticking off our cult bingo card: white people doing weird shit,…
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53. Brandy Hellville: Where Are Your Parents?
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This week, we're taking a different approach to the podcast and bringing you an episode that is simply…random. In this episode, Elizabeth and Taylor dive into the darkly glitzy world of Brandy Hellville: The Cult of Fast Fashion. Think unsupervised teenagers in short shorts as a breeding ground for eating disorders. Also, Meri Brown from *Sister Wi…
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52. Quiet on Set: Dan Schneider is a Cult Leader (Allegedly)
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Hey there, cult lovers! This week, we're switching gears a bit for our devoted cult following. Before we dive into our usual podcast review antics, we're taking a detour to discuss something intriguingly adjacent to cultish behavior: 'Quiet on Set', a docuseries shining a light on the dark underbelly of beloved Nickelodeon shows from back in the la…
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51. The Synanon Fix: Chuck's Giving Donald Trump Energy
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Strap in for the wild finale of our deep dive into The Synanon Fix, where things go from quirky rehab commune to full-blown, “What the hell is even happening?” territory. Our fearless investigative reporter has all the juicy details. As we wrap up this saga, it's clear Synanon was more soap opera than utopia. Join us for this rollercoaster ride thr…
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50. The Synanon Fix: Chuck Invents The Biggest Loser
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This week's recap of The Synanon Fix kicks things off with a bang—a fatathon complete with a marching band. Yep, you heard that right, a fatathon. And trust us, that's just the beginning. And just when you think it can't get any weirder, we drop the bombshell—it's an eating disorder cult. Yeah, let that sink in. Join us as we peel back the layers o…
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49. The Synanon Fix: Sex Room Sticker Charts
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This week we are continuing our dive into the new cult docu-series called, The Synanon Fix. In episode two, we leave behind heroin addicts and are in full-on cult mode with gentle silent raves, women shaving their heads in the name of feminism, and something called “the sex room.” This new cult series checks all the boxes on the cult bingo card as …
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48. The Synanon Fix: The Greatest Breakthrough Since Freud
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Here come the Dopefiends! This week we are leaving behind the Duggars and diving into heroine addicts with a new cult docu-series called, The Synanon Fix. In this new series, we are introduced to Chuck, an alcoholic who believed that Alcoholics Anonymous just wasn’t enough, so he started a rehab center for recovering drug addicts…with a catch. From…
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47. Shiny Happy People: My Little Pony is the Antichrist
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In this episode, we review the final episode of the docuseries, Shiny Happy People. We dive into more charges against Joshua Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar’s oldest son, and his being caught with child pornography. We eventually see some change as women begin to speak out about the abuse happening at IBS and people begin to leave! Join us as we talk about …
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46. Shiny Happy People: Care Bears Serving Humanistic Principles
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Trigger Warning: We talk about child sexual abuse in this episode. If that is triggering for you we recommend skipping this episode and joining us next Thursday for another new episode! This episode is anything but shiny and happy as we continue the traumatic experience that is watching and reviewing Shiny Happy People. Just when we thought it coul…
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45. Shiny Happy People: Which Toys Do I Burn
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Welcome back, cult lovers! In this episode, we are exploring more of Shiny Happy People. This cult docuseries will have you convinced that toys are demonic and women shouldn’t be treated as people…well we hope you are not actually convinced! In this part three, we talk more about how Jim Bob Duggar exploited his daughters for money, why IBLP should…
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44. Shiny Happy People: Doomed From the Beginning
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Welcome to another episode of Serving Cult! We’re back talking about the Duggars again and it just keeps getting worse. In this episode, we continue to dissect the new docuseries, Shiny Happy People. This week, we focus on Josh Duggar, the eldest of the Duggar children, and uncover some of the scandals he's involved this. This episode is not for th…
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43. Shiny Happy People: Go Forth and Multiply
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Today, we delve into the often controversial world of reality TV and conservative ideologies as we dissect the new docuseries, Shiny Happy People. Join us as we unpack the representation of gender roles in the popular show, "19 Kids and Counting." In this episode, we put the spotlight on the Duggar family, touching on the inherent discrepancies of …
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42. Twin Flames: Religious Cults For Tax Cuts
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Welcome back to another episode of Serving Cult! This week, we explore the last episode of, Escaping Twin Flames, and after this docuseries, we are indeed ready to escape! This last episode takes an even weirder turn as Jeff transitions the cult from a spiritual to a religious organization in the name of tax cuts, forces cult members to get gender-…
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41. Twin Flames: Judas Was an Energy Leak
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Welcome back to Serving Cult! In this episode, we dive deeper into this new cult documentary series called Escaping Twin Flames. This second episode takes us away from matchmaking and finding true love and brings us into a whole new world of MAP, which is all about finding your life's true purpose. Jeff has become the self-proclaimed Jesus Christ, …
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40. Twin Flames: The Mirror Exercise Gone Wrong
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In this episode, we venture into a new cult documentary series called Escaping Twin Flames. This series begs the question, would you pay 10 million dollars to find your twin flame? Well, some people would! In this breakdown of the first episode of Escaping Twin Flames, we meet Jeff and Shaleia, the original twin flames “power couple” who have convi…
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39. Love Has Won: Mother God Goes on Dr. Phil
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Welcome back to another episode of Serving Cult, where we mock cult leaders one cult doc at a time and learn the lessons so we don’t accidentally join one. On this third episode of season three, we are diving into...Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God. On this final episode of the cult doc series, Love Has Won, we discover why love has in fact not…
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This week everything gets even crazier in episode two of Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God. We learn that father god and Taylor are rocking the same hairstyle and apparently, there's some Father God's multiverse? Also, Mother God may not be all-powerful because the alcohol and drug abuse starts to catch up with her and she starts to turn blue…Jo…
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37: Love Has Won: Pick Your Galactic Celebrity A Team
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Ask an Advanced Bitch is back...and she's Serving Cult! Welcome to our new and improved podcast, Serving Cult where we mock cult leaders one cult doc at a time and learn the lessons so we don’t accidentally join one. On this first episode of season three, we are diving into...Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God. This cult doc series is all about t…
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36: Sometimes Self-Isolating is Safe
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Advanced Bitches, it’s time to say Bye Bye! Sadly, we have made it to the end of another season. I’m immensely grateful for every bitch listening and I hope these episodes have given you insight or made you laugh in some way. Stick around for season 3, Advanced Bitches! In Part 1, I answer the question, “How do I stop self-isolating when I’m dealin…
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35: Embracing Our True Selves While Healing
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in Part 1, I answer the question, “How do we embrace and grow into our true selves as we heal? I have done some advanced as fuck work on self-acceptance. Now I’m faced with the question of who am I without all the bullshit?” And I answered this question with a question, “What if it is okay to not know?” Of course, advanced bitches, you know I can n…
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34: Imposter Syndrome: What Makes You Think You Don’t Belong?
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Advanced Bitches, have I got a juicy episode for you this week! From NXIVM updates to chocolates being delivered to Trent and Taylor, you won’t want to miss this one! In Part 1, I answer the question, “Does Imposter Syndrome include hanging out with a certain group even when you really don’t belong?” Answer? The only requirement to belong is resona…
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33: Journaling: Safety Over Everything
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Advanced Bitches Welcome Back! In Part 1, I answer this question from a listener, “How do I start journaling?” There is only one answer! And it’s a much simpler answer than you’re probably expecting. Even Advanced Bitches tend to overcomplicate things sometimes, but that’s okay because you’re still an advanced bitch. In my response, I break down so…
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32: Can We Have A Real Relationship?
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Are you an anxious, avoidant, anxious-avoidant, or secure attachment style? Well, in Part 1 of this week's episode, I answer this question from a listener, “How do I work on being secure in all relationships?” Answer? It starts with knowing the attachment style you have and making the conscious decision to have a real relationship! If you want to k…
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31: The 3 Grief Symptoms to Commit to Memory
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Advanced Bitches, Welcome back! In this episode, we dissect a new cult documentary, talk about how not trimming your eyebrows is grounds for divorce, and Taylor reminisces on the old youtube days (who remembers salad fingers??) In Part 1, I answer this question from a listener, “How do I support my husband, he just lost his mom and has never experi…
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Advanced Bitches, we’ve brought last week's guest back! Alex is here again to share more about her experience with her alternative peer group aka cult. In Part 1, I answer this question from a listener, “Is freeze mode just the psyche's way of waiting for things to get better?” Because I’m not just an advanced bitch, but an honest bitch, I share ab…
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29. Have You Ever Met An Unworthy Baby?
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Welcome to another episode of Ask An Advanced Bitch! This episode is special because we have an advanced bitch guest on today. This guest has some experience with cults, so we got the inside scoop! In Part 1, I answer this question from a listener, “Dear Advanced Bitch, I’d love your quick and dirty guide to building self-worth.” I promise listener…
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Advanced Bitches, have you joined a cult this week? Well, the students at Sarah Lawerence accidentally did. On this week's episode of Ask an Advanced Bitch, we dive a little deeper into Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult of Sarah Lawerence. In Part 1, I answer this question from a listener, “How do I tell if I like someone romantically, as a friend, or …
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Hey, there Advanced Bitches! Welcome back to the second episode of season 2 where we talk gentle habit stacking, college students getting stoned, and doing pilates in the dark?? Anyway, if you haven’t watched Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult of Sarah Lawerence, RUN to Hulu right now! In Part 1, I answer this question from a listener, “How…all of it…ho…
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Advanced Bitches, we are back with Season 2 of Ask An Advanced Bitch! Have you missed me?! I sure as hell have missed you and that’s why I’m extremely excited to be back kicking off another season with a primitive cunt chat with Taylor! In Part 1, I answer this question from a listener, “What is the safest and most advanced way to respond when peop…
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It is the finale of Season 1! In Part 1 I talk about the 10 Requirements for healing trauma, citing D. Crenshaw’s work, linked below. I detail each requirement, explain the importance and give contextual examples of what this may look like. In Part 2 I am joined by Taylor to let you know about new developments in our lives and in the podcast, and w…
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24. Cults: The Vow Season 2 Episode 2
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This is the penultimate episode of Season 1 of Ask An Advanced Bitch! I am joined by Taylor and Trent to discuss all things The Vow Season 2 Episode 2. The Vow is an HBO true crime documentary series about the NXIVM Cult and its leader Keith Raniere. Thank you so much for riding with us for 24 episodes! If my podcast helped you grow or made you gig…
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In this episode I give an update about how I’m doing as I experience post-event collapse syndrome due to moving house and state. I explain the coping mechanism I use in times where I have limited emotional and physical capacity, and have to let some responsibilities slide. I tease out a comforting concept, that while people might care about our dro…
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22. Cults: The Vow Episode 9 Season 1
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Taylor joins me to wrap up season 1 of The Vow, discussing all things in episode 9. Grooming, manipulation and hypnotism through the screen!? The Vow is an HBO true crime documentary series about the NXIVM Cult and its leader Keith Raniere. LINKS The Advanced Bitchifesto - https://www.advancedbitches.com/the-bitchifesto Advanced Bitches Bingo - htt…
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21. Triggers in the workplace, Codependent Relationships and Maladaptive Eating Habits
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Today’s episode is jam packed with your questions! In this solo episode I tackle everything from toxic workplaces to maladaptive food habits. Specifically, the questions are: how to handle a toxic work environment, understanding why parents’ décor decisions are frustrating, how to stop filling the void a codependent relationship left, how to mainta…
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20. Navigating Bigoted Family and Messy Healing Journeys
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In today’s episode I answer two listener questions. The first one is about how to engage with bigoted family. My short answer is that…you don’t! I explain that engaging is a losing game, because they remain unconvinced and you remain frustrated. I share that in moments like these I like to reach into my toolbox of strategies and coping mechanisms, …
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19. Speaking to our Children about Our Trauma
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Today’s episode is all about your trauma related questions! The first listener asks how much of our trauma do we share with our children once they become adults? I tackle this question in two parts, firstly how to approach discussing trauma with children when they’re young, and then with our children once they’re adults. I discuss how I approached …
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18. Co-dependency, Comparison and Self-Doubt After Divorce
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Today’s episode is packed with your listener questions! From co-dependency, to comparison and divorce. In Part 1 I answer a listener question about what to do about a man she’s dating who is ‘hot and cold’, and generally inconsistent. I explain that first and foremost, in order to heal from co-dependency we must develop a keen eye for identifying r…
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17. Can Codependent Friendships withstand Self Development?
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In Part 1 I answer a listener question about whether she can do my self-development programme while remaining in communication with a friend she has co-dependent and sometimes abusive dynamics with. She loves her friend dearly and is also afraid of being alone and without said friends’ love. I firstly establish that she is in control of her healing…
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16. Self-Deprecation, Triggers and Master Manipulators
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In Part 1 I answer a listener question about how to deal with someone in their running club who makes derogatory remarks about their body that inadvertently trigger the listener. I explain that we need to separate the question into its two parts: concern for the person making the remarks, and addressing how the listener is triggered by them. I firs…
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In Part 1 I answer a listener request to offer support to those facing hurricane Ian in Florida. I talk about my experience during the grid failure in Texas and how isolating it was on an emotional and physical level. I encourage people suffering due to the hurricane to acknowledge the depths of their distress, and to generally allow themselves to …
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14: Studying Cults, Betrayal and Outgrowing Friendships
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Today is a solo episode, in Part 1 I discuss why I love studying cults, and in Part 2 I answer two listener questions. During the first half I explain how beneficial I find it to observe cults. I discuss how cults can be a mirror for our interpersonal relationships, and how empathizing with their victims helps us examine our own trauma responses. I…
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13. Nonviolence and effective Confrontation
1:27:40
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In part 1 answer a listener question about how to approach confronting a Fight Mode person about their upsetting behavior. I first detail why assessing other people's trauma responses in times of crisis is not conducive in achieving the desired outcome of mutual understanding, respect and boundaries. Diagnosing people can have the unintended effect…
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In Part 1, a listener writes in explaining that her hairdresser did a poor job, and - despite her dismay - she found herself comforting the hairdresser. I explain that this is typical Fawn and Freeze Behaviour and contextualize what this behaviour looks like in different scenarios. I offer her comfort and practical tools to ensure better outcomes. …
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11. Comparison is A Bitch, and NOT an Advanced One
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In Part 1, I tackle a listener question about how to stop comparing herself to other women. I contextualize where this behaviour stems from. Her parents projected their own insecurities onto her by using comparison to other children as a tool to affirm and uplift her. This had the opposite effect, creating a belief that her achievements only exist …
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10. Surviving Caregiving for your Manipulative Parent
1:11:29
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In Part 1 I make a special announcement about the formatting of the podcast going forward, and detail my newsletter subscription (linked below). In Part 2 I answer a listener question about how to safely engage with her ailing, emotionally manipulative mother. The listener is torn between caring for her mother in her time of need, while maintaining…
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9. How to Differentiate Intuition from Trauma Responses
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In Part 1 I tell you about what I’m working on: developing a comforting and sustainable sleeping routine! It’s harder than you think. In Part 2 I answer a listener question about intuition vs. trauma responses. How can she learn to trust her inner voice when it comes to dating men if it’s been informed by abandonment and neglect? I discuss the impo…
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8. Tooth Trauma and Toxic Workplaces
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In Part 1 I talk tooth trauma! If you know, you know. For many of us the dentist’s chair is the last place we want to find ourselves. I share a recent distressing dental experience and use it to discuss how anxiety manifests differently in different people. In Part 2 I answer a listener question about how to deal with a toxic workplace. I explain t…
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