Send us a Text Message.For the second episode in my series dedicated to MLMs and toxic health and wellness groups, I’m thrilled to welcome Lily Thrope to the podcast. Lily is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in New York City, specializing in disordered eating and body image. When she was in college, Lily fell into a group that she now calls a “yoga cult.” While the group Lily joined wasn’t a multilevel marketing business per se, you’ll discover through our conversation th...
Send us a Text Message.Today we're kicking off my second-ever dedicated series – and this time, I’m focusing on emotional abuse stemming from multi-level marketing companies (aka MLMs). In this episode, I explain what exactly an MLM is, and I give some backstory as to why I’m so interested in unpacking the problems connected to MLMs and similarly toxic health and wellness groups. Additional Resources on MLMs:The Dream podcastHerbalife segment from Last Week Tonight With John Oliver ...
Send us a Text Message.In last week’s episode, Krista Dykes, host of the "Secret Mom Hacks" podcast, opened up about her toxic and abusive first marriage. At the end of the episode, she mentions a phone call that “shattered” her. As you’ll learn from today’s conversation, the phone call was from a local detective, who confirmed that Krista’s husband’s suspicious, manipulative behavior extended into horrifying criminal activity. We discuss how Krista’s marriage finally fell apart, and how she ...
Send us a Text Message.Today’s episode is a little different, as I go back to the style of the podcast’s early episodes: Just me, a microphone, and a story. I share a personal emotional abuse story that I don’t talk about that much publicly, because there’s a "family" component. I'm opening up because I don't want to keep silent about this experience anymore. Support the Show.Get my free download, "Discover Your Brand Voice in 3 Easy Steps"Follow me on InstagramListen to the po...
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode, Sarene chats with Kat*, a woman who, despite leaving her emotionally abusive partner, is still navigating the rough waters of co-parenting her young daughter with a narcissist. Kat credits this podcast – which she discovered on YouTube – as well as online support groups, with helping her find the courage to end her destructive relationship. *Kat is a pseudonym to protect the survivor's privacy. Stories Lived. Stories Told. Learn what it mea...
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene chats with Donna Piper. Donna is a relationship coach and trauma expert who specializes in helping successful single women heal from their trauma. We also delve into the concept of Akashic Records, one of the tools Donna uses when working with clients on their healing journey. Connect with Donna:WebsiteInstagramSarene's appearance on "The Covert Narcissism Podcast"Stories Lived. Stories Told. Learn what it means to embody a communication...
Send us a Text Message.The podcast's toxic workplace series wraps up today with Sarene's guest, Dr. Christine Gibson. Dr. Gibson is a Canada-based family physician, trauma therapist, author of The Modern Trauma Toolkit, and TikTok influencer under the handle @TikTokTraumaDoc. Dr. Gibson also runs a company that trains professionals to manage workplace trauma called Safer Spaces Training. During our conversation, Dr. Gibson demonstrates some super-easy breathwork strategies to help people...
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode, Sarene chats with Ludovica Colella, a U.K.-based therapist and life coach specializing in empowering women to overcome people-pleasing tendencies. This has become a necessary skill, especially in a toxic workplace. Ludovica offers several strategies should you find yourself in a toxic work environment, and we also delve into the importance of recognizing emotional abuse in the workplace. Connect with Ludovica:WebsiteInstagramStories Lived. ...
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene chats with Brittany Betts. Brittany is a marketing and hospitality professional, as well as a toxic workplace survivor. As a server and bartender at a popular chain restaurant, Brittany regularly found herself judged on her appearance -- being threatened with unemployment if she didn’t maintain a specific look and weight. Now that she works in a nurturing job, Brittany also shares her insights on the differences between a healthy workpla...
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene chats with psychotherapist Kara Kushnir, LCSW. Kara is the founder of A Work of Heart Counseling in New Jersey -- as well as a toxic workplace survivor. We discuss how her experience in a toxic workplace led her to open her own, thriving practice, and how as a clinician, she is seeing several clients coming to her with mental health issues relating to toxic workplaces.Connect with Kara:A Work of Heart Counseling WebsiteA Work of Heart Counseli...
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode, Sarene chats with the author of The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health, Dr. Jennifer Fraser. We discuss how Dr. Fraser's experience in a toxic workplace inspired her brain science research, resulting in her book The Bullied Brain -- a resource for helping people to better understand how emotional abuse directly affects brain health. Dr. Fraser now helps organizations promote healthy work environments, and passes along her expertis...
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene continues the podcast's toxic workplace series with her guest, Vanessa Walilko. Vanessa is an artist, a PR professional, and a survivor of narcissistic abuse in both her family and the workplace. These experiences have provided Vanessa with a grounded perspective, as well as indispensable wisdom when it comes to creating a healthy work environment. Connect with Vanessa:WebsiteInstagramStories Lived. Stories Told. Learn what it means...
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene kicks off her brand-new series dedicated to toxic workplaces with her special guest, Dr. Diane Rosen. Dr. Rosen is an author, executive coach, lawyer, consultant, mediator, and, above all, an expert on toxic workplaces. Dr. Rosen, who spent many years working in Big Law, offers a nuanced perspective on what makes a work environment "toxic." Does it have a problematic work culture? Or is it just not the right place for you? She shares...
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene talks with CeCe Cheng, the CEO and founder of ShareWell, a peer-to-peer support platform providing affordable and accessible support groups within a digital community. CeCe is a former venture capitalist and startup executive – and an emotional abuse survivor. Since she launched ShareWell in October 2021, the platform has helped to foster over 100,000 peer-to-peer connections with groups covering emotional abuse, anxiety, depression, relations...
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode, Sarene talks with Brigit Binns, a successful culinary writer who's just released her new memoir, Rottenkid: A Succulent Story of Survival. As the daughter of Hollywood character actor Edward Binns, Brigit led, to the outside observer, a charmed life. But under that shiny California veneer was a dark secret: Brigit was being emotionally abused by her narcissistic mother. Connect With Brigit:WebsitePurchase Rottenkid: A Succulent Story of SurvivalRotte...
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode, Sarene welcomes Faith C. Echo. Faith is the author of Rising From Ashes – A Testament of Strength and Survival After Narcissistic Abuse, a memoir recounting her four-year relationship with a narcissistic abuser, and her heart-pounding, covert escape with her young son. Faith now works as a trauma-informed recovery coach, specializing in post-narcissistic stress disorder, and is a passionate advocate for emotional and narcissistic abuse victims....
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene chats with Angelika Koch, a certified life and relationship coach who also serves as the breakup and relationship expert for the Taimi app, an inclusive dating app dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community. Angelika is also an abuse survivor and the author of The Asshole Pandemic: A Field Guide To ID'ing, Deleting, and Healing From Toxic Relationships.Connect With Angelika:WebsiteInstagramTikTokYouTubeStories Lived. Stories Told. Learn what it means...
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene chats with Dr. Hayley Nelson, a neuroscientist, tenured psychology professor, international speaker and founder of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, where she is passionate about making neuroscience approachable and accessible. Connect With Dr. Hayley:WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebookLinkedInStories Lived. Stories Told. Learn what it means to embody a communication perspective to create better social worlds.Listen on: App...
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode, Sarene chats with emotional abuse survivor and licensed clinical social worker Nina Batista. Nina and I discuss the unfortunate truth about mental health professionals, which is that not every therapist is trained in emotional and narcissistic abuse treatment. Nina, however, has undergone several trainings in these areas, and shares new developments and insights in the understanding of narcissistic abuse.Connect with Nina:InstagramTikTokFacebookStori...
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, Sarene chats with a young woman named Emily*. Emily is an emotional abuse survivor who spent several years in a secretive, toxic relationship with a controlling, manipulative guy, and is only now starting to process what she experienced. This is the first time Emily is speaking publicly about her abuse. *Name changed to protect the survivor's privacy. Stories Lived. Stories Told. Learn what it means to embody a communication pers...