The Best of You

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Genesis 37:2-24 Topics covered: The family wound nobody names Different family roles & how they wound Signs of a healthy family Go Deeper: Episode 85: The Goal of a Healthy Family & 6 Roles We Take On In Dysfunction Episode 161: Healing from Dysfunctional Family Patterns with Jerry Wise Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Matthew 10:16 Topics covered: What “wise as serpents, innocent as doves” looks like in real relationships How to stay anchored in love while facing what’s real—without naivety or hypervigilance Go Deeper: Read Should I Turn The Other Cheek? on my blog For more on healthy boundary setting check out the first 3 chapters of The Best of You here. Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 4:4–8 Topics covered: How to acknowledge anger without letting it hijack your nervous system A simple practice for calming anger and choosing groundedness without denial Go Deeper: Episode 44: Why Anger is a Surprising Friend, What Happens When You Avoid It, and How to Create Space for Healthy Expression of Anger in Your Family Get a free guided journal + read the first 3 chapters of I Shouldn't Feel This Way here! Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for weekly ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: 1 Corinthians 3:3–7 Topics covered: Why comparison isn’t just a “social media issue" The deeper ache underneath envy & comparison A grounding reframe to use when you're tempted to compare Go Deeper: Episode 183: The Real Reason You Compare Yourself & How to Heal It Get my free PDF book "She's Better Than Me" here Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when the person who was supposed to nurture you becomes the source of your deepest wounds? In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with writer, speaker, and host of the Big Boo Cast, Melanie Shankle to explore the complicated terrain of mother wounds, emotional enmeshment, and the long road toward healing. From the outside, it can look like “normal family tension.” But in the body, something feels off. Together, they explore: What happens when your nervous system knew something wasn’t safe before you had language for it The impact of criticism, competitiveness, and emotional parentification How shame can keep you believing the problem is you he difference between honoring a parent and tolerating hard Why distance sometimes becomes part of healing This isn't a conversation about blame. It's a conversation about truth-telling. About untangling enmeshment. About breaking generational patterns. About discovering what safety actually feels like. If you’ve ever felt torn between loyalty and self-protection… If you’ve wondered whether what you experienced “counts”… If you’re learning to trust what your body has always known… This episode is honest, nuanced, and ultimately hopeful. Because healing one life can change a generation. More Resources: Connect with @melanieshankle on Instagram Order Melanie’s latest book Here Be Dragons. Connect with @dralisoncook on Instagram Join the 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here.  If you liked this episode, then you’ll love: Episode 144: Healing the Soul Through Encounters with Jesus Featuring John Eldredge Episode 128: Generational Trauma—Overcoming Inherited Dysfunction & Legacy Burdens with therapist Gina Birkemeier 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! AirDoctor - Eliminate 99.9% contaminants in your home with AirDoctor by visiting AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to get UP TO $300 off today! *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Isaiah 41:10 Topics covered: There's no shame in fear What God promises Strength that doesn’t come from striving Go Deeper: Episode 41: Boundaries with Fear & Anxiety Episode 156: Why Fear Shows Up When You’re About to Grow & How to Break Free from Self-Sabotage with Mary Marantz Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Luke 17:1-5 Topics covered: Why Jesus starts with the reality of harm How to forgive without minimizing The relationship between forgiveness & boundaries Go Deeper: Episode 79: Surviving Trauma & A Path to Forgiveness with Esau McCaullay Episode 78: The Mental Health Benefits of Forgiveness & Thoughts on Grace with Max Lucado Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 25:1-7 Topics covered: Why shame makes you want to hide A prayer to steady you through shame How to return to connection & trust Go Deeper: See The Soul of Shame, by Curt Thompson Episode 74: The Neurobiology of Hope and How to Find Hope in Hard Times with Dr. Curt Thompson Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/?hl=en ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Phillipians 2:1-11 Topics covered: Humility that isn’t self-erasure How to cultivate true inner strength A daily reset for uncovering confident humility Go Deeper: Episode 18: Selfhood vs. Selfishness Episode 56: Am I Really Supposed to Die to Myself? Misconstrued Messages and How to Disentangle From Them Be sure to share this episode with a friend! And don't forget to leave your 5-star review—it helps get the word out to others. Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered if there’s something spiritual happening beneath what you’re carrying? You’re doing the work.You’re praying.You’re going to therapy.You’re trying to take responsibility. And still… something feels off. In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with Theologian Joel Muddamalle to explore spiritual warfare — not through fear or sensationalism, but through clarity and discernment. Together, they examine: How the enemy works through systems, structures, and misaligned desires The difference between personal responsibility and spiritual opposition Why obsession with darkness is just as unhelpful as dismissing it How to stay grounded in Christ’s victory rather than panic This conversation reframes spiritual warfare as something far more ordinary — and far more hopeful — than we often imagine. Not demon hunting.Not blame shifting.But cultivating wholeness. Because the center of the Christian story is not darkness.It’s restoration. If you’ve ever felt confused about this topic — or unsure how to integrate faith, mental health, and spiritual reality — this episode offers grounded wisdom for everyday life. More Resources: Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram @dralisoncook  Join the 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here. Learn more about Joel Muddamalle’s work. Order The Unseen Battle. If you liked this episode, then you’ll love: Episode 144: Healing the Soul Through Encounters with Jesus Featuring John Eldredge Episode 122: Navigating Anxiety, Therapy, and Spiritual Formation—Balancing Mental, Emotional, & Spiritual Health with John Mark Comer 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Cozy Earth - Cozy up in every day luxury bedding and their bamboo pajamas and physically feel your nervous system take a breath. Head to Cozyearth.com and use my code BESTOFYOU for up to 20% off. *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Genesis 3:12–13 Go Deeper: Episode 178: How to Recognize Toxic Tactics & Stop Taking the Bait Episode 149: 5 Toxic Behaviors & How to Protect Your Soul Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Luke 15:11–32 Go Deeper: Episode 78: Thoughts on Grace with Max Lucado Episode 136: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love with Michael John Cusick Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 23 Go Deeper: Episode 176: Intimacy with God in a Noisy World Episode 191: The 5 Most Important Things I've Learned About Faith, Attachment, & The Inner Life Find rest for your soul through a guided audio reflection here or check out my book with Kimberly Miller, Boundaries For Your Soul. Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Romans 12:9–18 Go Deeper: Episode 194: Discernment in Relationships: How to Stay Connected Without Losing Yourself Read more about becoming your true self & healthy boundary setting here. Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/?hl=en ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“A joyful heart is good medicine.” But not the kind of joy you fake. In this episode, Dr. Alison explores the difference between healthy humor and harmful humor — and why that distinction matters for your nervous system, your relationships, and your spiritual formation. Humor can soothe. It can bond. It can bring relief. But it can also deflect. Minimize. Or quietly wound. You’ll learn: Why humor can feel safe for one person and threatening for another How teasing can create intimacy… or erode it What it looks like to practice discernment without shaming yourself Why “getting your joy back” is often a sign of real healing This conversation is part of Pillar Three in Dr. Cook’s Four Pillars series: Joy & Delight — not as a personality trait or a passing mood, but as a practice of inner formation. Because joy is not just an emotional expression. It’s a signal. When your nervous system begins to feel safe enough to soften, laughter shifts. Delight becomes accessible. Connection deepens. And sometimes the kind of humor you practice reveals more about your healing than you realize. More Resources: Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram @dralisoncook  Join the 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here. If you liked this episode, then you’ll love: Episode 191: The 5 Most Important Things I've Learned About Faith, Attachment, & The Inner Life Episode 194: When Relationships Start to Drain You—Using Discernment to Stay Connected Without Losing Yourself Episode 111: How to Transforms Parenting Triggers & Blind Spots Into Growth & Connection With Beth McCord 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order MOSH - Fuel your brain and save 20% shipping plus FREE shipping on the Best sellers Trial Pack or the plant-based trial pack when you visit MoshLife.com/BESTOFYOU. Aqua Tru - Join 98% of customers who have made their drinking water cleaner, safer, & healthier by visiting AquaTru.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to get 20% off today! Cozy Earth - Cozy up in every day luxury bedding and their bamboo pajamas and physically feel your nervous system take a breath. Head to Cozyearth.com and use my code BESTOFYOU for up to 20% off. *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Lamentations 3:19–26 Go Deeper: Episode 190: Self-Brain Surgery, Overcoming Trauma, and the Courage to Change How You Think with Dr. Lee Warren Episode 158: Your Pain Has a Name: The Deeper Hurt Behind Distressing Thoughts with Monica DiCristina Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/?hl=en ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: John 20:24–29 Go Deeper: Episode 159: Spiritual Drowning, Honest Questions, and a God Who Doesn’t Let Go with Heather Thompson Day Episode 74: The Neurobiology of Hope and How to Find Hope in Hard Times with Dr. Curt Thompson Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 146 1:-10 Go Deeper: Episode 119: Drawing Strength From the Past—The Spirit of Justice with Dr. Jemar Tisby Check our more topical deep-dive episodes at https://www.dralisoncook.com/podcast Join over 80,000 in my email community for more weekly wisdom. Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today’s Scripture is: 2 Corinthians 4:7–10 Go Deeper: Learn more about strength through fragility through inner parts work here or check out my book with Kimberly Miller, Boundaries For Your Soul. Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram @dralisoncook ⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt exhausted — not because you don’t care, but because you’re carrying more than you can name? Dr. Alison is joined by therapist and New York Times bestselling author Nedra Glover Tawwab to reflect on why caring deeply can sometimes leave us depleted — and why the answer isn’t trying harder or pulling away. This conversation doesn’t offer quick fixes. Instead, it invites you to pause and consider a different question—one that has less to do with effort and more to do with mutuality. If you’ve been feeling tired, responsible, or overwhelmed while trying to do the right thing, this episode offers perspective and hope—without pressure or oversimplification. 📖 ⁠The Balancing Act by Nedra Tewaab⁠ Find additional resources at nedratawwab.com Follow Nedra Tawwab on Instagram @nedratawwab Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram @dralisoncook  If you liked this episode, then you’ll love: Episode 194: When the Relationship Starts to Drain You—Using Discernment to Stay Connected Without Losing Yourself 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here 💬 Got a question? Call 307-429-2525 and leave a message for a future episode. Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who makes it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with my favorite, effortless, and sustainable capsule clothing essentials. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Remi - Start sleeping better with a Remi nightguard and use code BESTOFYOU and get 50% off your purchase. Go to ShopRemi.com/BESTOFYOU and use code BESTOFYOU. *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices