The Audacious Life - Break Free

Bethenny Frankel's Messy 10-Year Divorce - She's Sharing So We Can Learn As a longtime fan of Bethenny Frankel, I've been waiting for her to share more about her relationship with her former husband and father of their daughter, Bryn.   As outspoken as she is, she clearly had a gag order in place for many years. And she now considers herself an "expert on Divorce" as she  researched and dug deep to help her case.  I caught a YouTube Live with Bethenny sharing that she's decided to share the details of her divorce. And she aims to help other women! Imagine what Bethenny Frankel can do to spread awareness around narcissism and post-separation abuse, including family court corruption.  She's a black belt in verbal jujitsu and can sling memorable one-liners effortlessly. Her impact WILL BE FELT. I immediately recorded this after watching, and she went live again today before I could get this out.  You can catch her previous videos below. Please do go and subscribe, and remember to click the bell so you'll be notified when she goes live or shares. It seems like she's on a roll, so we can expect more. And SHARE with other women!!   MY TEN YEAR DIVORCE ON A 2 YEAR MARRIAGE https://youtu.be/zvGwNyQ5mgA?si=4Agfq-jhMTI-lTeE   PART ONE  CHARMING IS A RED FLAG https://youtu.be/2FxZ52LB9MM?si=d9aEIR6ZUBgkOMT1   Thanks for listening! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this. I will have the YouTube video up on my channel ASAP, along with questions in the community tab. Lots of Love! Steph       Image attribution for promotional graphic "bethenny-frankel-book-a-place-of-yes-330kk" by ekelly89 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Fueling Healthy Thoughts: Overcoming Darkness and Transformative Resilience In this episode I have some raw and vulnerable moments about this year and reflect on what I believe I need to work on with my own stinkin' thinkin'. Being more intentional with what we feed our minds is essential in turning things around, creating hope in our lives, and being a light in the darkness.  It was recorded on MLK Day and I was inspired by his memory and his ability to be the man outside the box pushing through oppressive norms and spurring on all people of color to dare to dream bigger, and believe that more is possible. Here's a run down of this episode Reflecting on the challenges of the past year and the struggle to maintain balance in life. Drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr. and the power of intention. Connecting with the Audience: Acknowledging the shared difficulties many face, emphasizing the feeling of being overwhelmed. Encouraging listeners not to feel alone in their struggles. The Four Nutriments: Exploring Thich Nhat Hanh's concept of the four nutrients (Edible food, Sense impressions, Volition, and Consciousness). Emphasizing the importance of identifying sources of suffering and finding peace and joy. Navigating Personal Struggles: Sharing personal struggles with podcasting, career decisions, and the challenges of parenting. Expressing empathy for those facing overwhelming situations and the difficulty of finding options. MLK Day Reflection: Reflecting on personal connection to Martin Luther King Jr. and the power of intention in creating positive change. Mentioning the influence of spoken words, particularly MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech. Coping Strategies and Tools: Introducing coping strategies, including mindful eating and being aware of sense impressions. Discussing the impact of volition on happiness and the importance of cultivating healthy desires. Addressing the role of consciousness in transforming painful events and finding enlightenment. Focusing on Healing and Positivity: Highlighting the challenge of podcasting about abuse without inadvertently perpetuating negativity. Exploring the power of focus and intention in creating positive change. Expressing a desire to shift the podcast's focus towards healing, love, peace, and thriving. Inviting Positive Stories: Sharing the intention to invite guests who have overcome darkness and transformed their lives. Expressing the need for positive role models and stories of turning life around. Acknowledging personal challenges and the importance of collective healing. Closing Thoughts: Offering tools for managing anxiety and promoting well-being, including heart math techniques and grounding practices. Sending love, hope, and thoughts for a brighter future to the listeners. Encouraging subscriptions, reviews, and engagement to build a community focused on healing. Mentioned in this episode: Thich Nhat Hahn's "How to Focus" beautiful book. Inner Balance Heart Math App for heart brain coherence and learning to ground and become less anxious. And help the collective energy of your family, home, town, the World. Earthing, grounding mat for grounding while indoors. Just plug it into a grounded outlet. I use mine near my desk for my feet while working and under my sheets so I can ground while sleeping. Amazing!! DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!     Thanks for tuning in! Sending lots of Love and wishes for a healthy 2024!  

New Study Uncovers the 16 Early Warnings Signs of Emotionally Abusive Partners In this episode, I dive into brand new research that pinpoints behaviors you should look out for early on in a romantic relationship that could indicate your partner has the potential for emotional abuse, physical violence, and controlling tactics down the road. The study comes from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, with the goal of uncovering what factors accurately predict if intimate partner violence is likely. I share the 16 predictors the researchers identified - ranging from pressuring you into sex to creating uncomfortable public situations. A few stand out as being particularly concerning if they happen early in dating. Some of the key signs to pay attention to: Your partner blames their ex for everything You feel you can't say no because your partner reacts negatively Your partner refuses to admit fault or take responsibility You have trouble focusing at work because your relationship consumes your thoughts The more of these that you notice, the higher likelihood of future abuse in the relationship. While a few issues here and there can potentially be worked on, a pattern of multiple signs is a red flag. I also discuss talking to your teenagers about healthy and unhealthy behaviors in both friendships and dating relationships. Getting this information early helps them identify poor treatment before it becomes normalized in their relationships. Resources: The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474 The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online.rainn.org CNN article on the research: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/health/early-signs-of-intimate-partner-violence-wellness/index.html Check out the YouTube Channel

How to get more of Lundy Bancroft? That's one of the most common questions I get. People often ask where Lundy Bancroft is and they want more access to his work. Lundy has a program called the Peak Living Network (PLN) that helps with emotional healing and recovery.  And as a gesture of support through this holiday season and into the New Year, I want to share some of the best places to find Lundy and possibly be trained by Lundy in his Peak Living Network for emotional healing.  I was in his PLN program and found it incredibly beneficial. If you join now you may be approved and able to start learning ways to connect with others in a safe way, virtually and in-person. Peak Living Network (PLN) - https://peaklivingnetwork.org - Based on Lundy's book "The Joyous Recovery." - Involves co-counseling sessions in groups or pairs to share and process emotions. - Not a substitute for therapy but can be a helpful adjunct. - An option if you can't afford therapy or are waiting to access it. - Requires some training first before joining the network. - International network with an online option. Other Ways to Connect with Lundy - https://lundybancroft.com has his books, articles, resources lists etc. - Active Facebook page with over 23k followers.   / lundybancroft   - Mentions upcoming events, podcast interviews etc. - HelpGuide.org has resources on abusive relationships. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ab...  - Consider joining Peak Living Network for more direct contact with Lundy. - Check his website and Facebook page for updates. - Provide suggestions for other content from Lundy eg podcast, YouTube channel. Check out my FREE video Lesson and get the pitch sheet. ➡︎ https://bit.ly/pod-lesson Check out The Audacious Mamas Podcast website and blog ➡︎ http://audaciousmamas.com Check out The Audacious Life Podcast website and blog ➡︎ http://theaudaciouslife.com  Learn more at http://audaciousmamas.com

Hello! I hope you're well and caring for yourself through this emotionally turbulent time. In this episode, I'm letting you know where I am with the podcast and my current goals as I manage major life challenges with my children and, like everyone else, do my best to keep my chin up in the midst of life.   I'm sharing that I'm shifting a bit to focus on my other podcast, Audacious Mamas, to help ambitious single moms survivors of narcissistic abuse who are creating businesses and additional income streams. I'll interview people and share content on branding, visibility, mindset, spirituality, self-care, mental health, and more. If this is YOU, please reach out via my guest form so we can connect. I'd love to have you on the podcast to share your story and your business! Seriously, don't second guess it, reach out! :-)   In this episode I'm curating a few things that I found helpful, writing and an interview that's super insightful. First, a piece of writing from Joanne Sacred Scribes about a spiritual awakening that's relevant if you feel yourself changing your interests, your moods, connection to spirit, connection to others, things you're noticing in your daily life and noticing them in ways that make you feel "different" or like you're just not yourself.    Yes, some of this can be depression or something related to stress, but many are feeling something deeper and more all-encompassing. And if you've had depression, you'll know this feeling isn't quite the same because there are definite highs and bursts of inspiration mixed in with lows and emotional breakdowns among other things. I think she covers this topic in a nuanced way that's relatable..   Second, I'm sharing some nuggets from two of my favorite narcissist experts, Dr. Ramani Durvasula and Doctor Les Carter, aka Dr. C. They had an excellent discussion on Dr. Carter's Surviving Narcissism channel. They have some overlap but different approaches to narcissists and narcissistic recovery, and both are super valuable--check it out!     Breaking Free from a Narcissist with Dr. Ramani and Dr. Les Carter on the Surviving Narcissism channel https://youtu.be/gc3PV--4cmw   Spiritual Awakening - from Joanne Sacred Scribes http://psychicjoanne.blogspot.com/2009/08/spiritual-awakening.html   Check out the Audacious Mamas podcast for solo mom survivors and mompreneurs  https://podfollow.com/1136848529 Helping single mompreneurs take control of their time &  avoid burnout so they can become financially liberated.     The Audacious Mamas website - building this up to create a community, learning, and support! https://www.audaciousmamas.com/   Places to find in-person connection if you're feeling disconnected and want to find more people who are like-minded and build your own tribe.   Meetup.com https://www.meetup.com/   Eventbrite.com https://www.eventbrite.com/ Thanks for listening! Lots of Love! xoxo!! Steph          

Why Become an Entrepreneur as a Survivor of Narcissistic Abuse? In this podcast episode, Steph discusses the advantages of entrepreneurship for mothers who have survived narcissistic or toxic abuse. Steph shares that being an entrepreneur provides a sense of independence and control, which is empowering after experiencing control in a previous relationship. Starting a business can rebuild confidence, provide a sense of purpose, and connect survivors with others. When you're rebuilding your identity and starting over this infuses you with confidence. Flexibility is another advantage of entrepreneurship, allowing mothers to create a schedule that works for them and their families. Financial stability is also a benefit, although it may not be financially feasible in the beginning.  Steph encourages listeners to take advantage of free resources for coaching and building your business, as well as leveraging highly targeted podcasts, to build your brand and attract customers. Overall, entrepreneurship can provide a fresh start and a way for survivors to take control of their future and work toward their dreams. Check out the Audacious Mamas podcast and join the email list to be the first to learn more about the community, support for your dreams, the mindset and spiritual work required, and learn valuable skills to build and scale your business or income stream as a side hustle.  https://www.audaciousmamas.com/podcast Here's a breakdown of the reasons why there are so many advantages for moms and parents who are starting over. Being an entrepreneur provides a sense of independence and control, which can be empowering after experiencing control in a previous relationship. Starting a business can rebuild confidence, provide a sense of purpose, and connect survivors with others. Create a new positive identity with a purpose to build confidence and hope for your future. Flexibility is another advantage of entrepreneurship, allowing mothers to create a schedule that works for them and their families. Financial stability is a benefit, although it may not be financially feasible in the beginning. There are loads of free resources, such as highly targeted podcasts, to build your  brand and attract customers. Overall, entrepreneurship can provide a fresh start and a way for survivors to take control of their future. What about you? Have you thought about building a business?  I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a comment or reach out directly at steph at stephaniroberts.com Thanks for listening! Cheering you on! xoxo!! Steph    

Hello, this week I'm talking about the mental cage we have in our minds. It's that thing that stops us from being our best selves, our true selves, from honoring the voice that was once there and was slowly eroded by the programming of toxic relationships, specifically those where coercive control and manipulation are at play. One consistent pattern I've seen with myself and fellow survivors of emotional, financial, mental, or sexual and physical abuse. You finally get out of one of these relationships, and you're like, oh, I'm free!  But you quickly realize you're NOT FREE because this experience built a cage in your mind through years of abuse, manipulation, and coercive control.  In this episode, I share about an interview that lit a fire within me and helped me see this pattern and a way out that can help many of us over the long term.  It's not a quick fix, and it's all about incremental change. Those 1% tweaks in our behavior trigger shifts in how we frame our lives. They're catalysts for more profound change, allowing us to create a new story and identity, breaking through the well-worn programming we may not even be aware of. I'm speaking from the heart here, addressing many challenges in my life right now and doing my best to reframe all of it and move forward each day vs. seeing what didn't get done. We're so hard on ourselves even in a crisis, and it's destructive. But we can turn it around and create a new way of life. Mentioned in this episode Atomic Habits by James Cleary (the book on Amazon) https://amzn.to/3UR5nAZ   Atomic Habits by James Cleary (the book on Audible) https://amzn.to/3FkHfRA   Ed Mylett's interview with James Cleary (on YouTube) https://youtu.be/Kz0pNyS0plk   Read Coercive control: Harms to children | Coercive control in children's and mother's lives | Oxford Academic https://bit.ly/cc-harm   Domestic Violence Hotline in the US 800-799-7233  SMS: Text START to 88788 https://www.thehotline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=domestic_violence      Interested in learning how to leverage podcast guesting for your business, service, or side hustle? Check out the info video! https://youtu.be/LVQ5LgUyI5o   Hop on the early signup list! https://bit.ly/blessedguest Sending lots of Love and peace your way!! Thanks for listening!! Steph xoxo!!    

It's Thanksgiving, and I'm sending a big thanks to all who are listening and sending love and appreciation to you. I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!  Today I have Jessica Perkins, Toy Maker, Parent Coach, and homeschooling mom of three. I wanted to interview Jessica to share her story, her Table Talk connection cards for families to improve communication--not just at the table anywhere you have time together and want to draw your children out.  Jessica has a great story about how her business evolved and how she landed into her urge to create with her focus on children and early childhood education. She went with it and launched MamaMayI.shop, her toy and learning company. She's not just a successful mompreneur and coach but also a single parent who's shown incredible resilience these past few years, including being displaced and losing a brand new home in a hurricane last year that destroyed her workspace. She trudges on and has an incredible spirit. I think you'll find this episode inspiring and motivating to find a deeper connection to your kids and yourself. Links Mentioned in this episode MamaMayI.shop JessicaPerkins.com / Coaching and Community Table Talk connection cards for family How to Be Emotionally Healthy Through Connection (YouTube) How to Be Emotionally Healthy Through Connection (podcast) -- My Podcast Guesting Course I'm launching a new course for women to leverage podcast guesting and get promoted the way I'm promoting Jessica here. Her episode will appear on two podcasts, my YouTube channel, social media, and email list. All reaching the women and parents she wants to be in front of to grow her audience, business, and reputation. Check out more reasons why this makes so much sense for women and busy moms (YouTube) Jump on the early signup list to learn more!

This one is for all who are looking for extra cash right now. You can quickly earn $100 an hour and more with User Interviews and get paid with rapid turnaround. Maybe you don't have time to get a part-time job or a side hustle going. Everybody is looking for quick ways to earn money without investing. This is free, no skills needed, and a great way to make flexible occasional income on your lunch hour or free time.   User Interviews do research studies. They'll pay you for your opinions on a bunch of different topics. I've been working with them for several years. It's been an amazing way to earn extra money for Christmas presents or just to make ends meet when the cost of everything is rising, and you want to get creative with earning without giving up your precious time. And it's interesting and  FUN!!   If you can speak and express yourself honestly, you can do this!   Let me know if you try it and how much you earn. Leave any questions in the comments.   Thanks for listening, and good luck!!! $$$ WATCH THE FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE SIGN UP FOR USER INTERVIEWS USING MY CODE  ➡︎  https://www.userinterviews.com/r/xykt...   Sign up now and get on their list to start receiving invitations to studies via email to earn ASAP. :-)   Check out the Audacious Mamas podcast and blog ➡︎ http://www.audaciousmamas.com   MY BEST TOOLS TO SAVE TIME AND EARN MORE ONLINE AS A CREATOR   Descript (video editing via text)  ➡︎ https://www.descript.com/?lmref=t41IuQ Jasper (for EASY wordsmithing)  ➡︎ https://jasper.ai/?fpr=stephrob Tube Buddy (grow your YouTube channel)  ➡︎   https://www.tubebuddy.com/stephroberts PodPage (host elegant podcast pages)  ➡︎  https://www.podpage.com/?via=stephani 10XPRO (all in one web hosting, courses, landing pages, etc) ➡︎ https://gm293.isrefer.com/go/xiNZw9Q/...

I've missed you! I love podcasting. I love creating content. And I so love being able to help people and earn a living. These past two months have been rough, and I don't want to sugarcoat what my kids and I have been through. I definitely wouldn't wish it on anyone.  So this episode is about what life throws our way and how we as caregivers will likely take a hit when someone gets sick, needs to be hospitalized, or needs a higher level of care from us for some time. We must set up our lives to account for these gaps of complete demand on our time. Being more strategic with my earnings and creating income streams that aren't dependent on my time is now an absolute necessity, as is my daughter's recovery and overall mental wellness as a family. QUESTIONS for YOU   1) Are you a mama or caregiver who started a side hustle or launched a new business over the last two years to gain more flexibility, get ahead with inflation, and gain control over your life and income?  I'd love to hear and share your story, how it went, and whether it was a success or a flop. I'll shine the spotlight on you, and hopefully, we can all learn from you if you're a guest on the podcast!   Reach out to me at Steph at stephaniroberts dot com   2) Are you interested in getting on podcasts as a guest and leveraging their audience? If so, what are your questions or thoughts? Send them my way! If I use your ideas for my new course, I'll shout you out and give you 30% off. :-)    Reach out to me at Steph at stephaniroberts dot com     3) Are you craving a community of like-minded mamas and audacious women who are driven to thrive and create more income streams, and support each other? If so, where do you prefer to show up?  Facebook, Circle, somewhere else? Let me know.   Shoot me an email at Steph at stephaniroberts dot com I'm looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks for tuning in! Hang tough!! Lots of Love! xoxo Steph    

Here's Game #2 to Make this the Best Year of Your Life! Play along each round and report back how it went. Last round was about making powerful requests of any size aka practicing asking for what we want. Score points for this and track them. Each request earned 150 points! I'll be giving away books and creative prizes as we move through the year. So hang on to those sheets! Or screenshot them and tag me on IG @AudaciousLife or @AudaciousMamas You can grab the FREE Best Year game tracker sheet at https://www.audaciousmamas.com/bestyear Today I pull the second card...check it out to see. Yer gonna LOVE this one!!   WHY THIS GAME NOW? We all know we're in the middle of dark times. So much swirling around us but we have a choice. We can choose to do things that push us forward in our personal growth, relationships, and life. And to show OURSELVES more grace and self-love. Doing so has a positive ripple effect in life, and anyone around us can feel it. It creates hope and gives us the fuel we need to impact change.   So I'm inviting you to tune in and do your best to play along with me weekly-ish as we try to stay in the light to spite these dark times and the swirl around us.   If you're curious, we're using the Best Year of Your Life kit by Debbie Ford for this game. Our version is FREE, FUN, and one way to strive for more while we face real challenges.   ➡︎ Grab the FREE Best Year game tracker sheet at https://www.audaciousmamas.com/bestyear   Debbie Ford created the kit, but it all started with her paperback book. Both are listed below if you want to grab them.    The Best Year of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live It -  https://amzn.to/3zgkNGq   The Best Year of Your Life Kit (the Cards) - https://amzn.to/3cCZh6V   Check out The Audacious Life Podcast website and blog ➡︎ http://theaudaciouslife.com   Get the 11 Audio Affirmations to Help You Recover From Abuse ➡︎ http://bit.ly/affirm11   --------------------------------   Let’s connect on social media!   Instagram ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-instagram   Twitter ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-twitter   Facebook ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-fans I appreciate you!! Thanks for tuning in!! Lots of Love! *This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!

I recorded this video in June and sat on it. It's one of many I recorded in response to my channel's Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial and comments. I recorded another response last week, but this original is more natural, so I decided to let it flow without editing. I've been asked questions, and here finally responding to some of what came up while I was posting, including suggestions to have Lundy Bancroft back as a guest.    As I've been saying, I feel strongly that dwelling in the darkness doesn't serve us, and we will all be better off finding ways to reach for and stay in the light.    Focusing on what's possible, finding more purpose, and creating ways to improve life are all far more helpful than arguing over celebrity breakups and media spin. That's what I aim to do!    I'm inviting you to tune in and do your best to play with me weekly as we try to stay in the light despite dark times and the swirl around us. My upcoming videos will be about everything from preparing for or thriving as a single mother to finding simple ways to increase your income and get your time back through side hustles, affiliate marketing, an online business, and more. Also, spiritual support, mindset shifts, tools for your online business, success stories, and experts can help with all of the above.    Turn dark times around! Grab the FREE Best Year game tracker sheet! https://www.audaciousmamas.com/bestyear    Want the lowdown on tools that give your biz an edge? https://www.audaciousmamas.com/moms-i...    Healing from Toxic relationships? Check out The Audacious Life Podcast  http://theaudaciouslife.com    Get the 11 Audio Affirmations to Help You Recover From Abuse  http://bit.ly/affirm11    -------------------------------- Let's connect on social media! Facebook ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-fans  Instagram ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-instagram  Twitter ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-twitter    *This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!  Thanks for listening!! xoxo  

There's no question that these are dark times. I accept that. Heaps of doom and gloom are being served to us, and it's nearly impossible to dodge. Important news and events impact our lives and the lives of fellow humans. But dwelling in the darkness doesn't serve us, and we will all be better off finding ways to reach for and stay in the light.   I believe that when we're in dark times, it's a good idea to focus on what's good and possible, find more purpose, and create ways to make life better. Doing so has a positive ripple effect in life, and anyone around us can feel it. It creates hope and gives us the fuel we need to impact change.   So I'm inviting you to tune in and do your best to play along with me weekly as we try to stay in the light to spite these dark times and the swirl around us.   Join me in using the Best Year of Your Life kit by Debbie Ford. It's FREE, FUN, and one way to strive for more while we face real challenges.   A growth mindset, belief in something and positive support are the two main things we need to stretch and grow. And I'm happy to be here with you to do this together so we can get through the dark days and deep challenges. We'll follow prompts each week by Debbie Ford, a beloved personal transformation expert who appeared on Oprah numerous times before passing in 2013. We can challenge ourselves to grow and make choices that support us in moving in a positive direction. Grab the FREE Best Year game tracker sheet at https://www.audaciousmamas.com/bestyear Thanks for tuning in! I hope to see you on the YouTube channel for game #2! I'm aiming for Tuesday/Wednesday game days, so check it out and subscribe to be notified! If I get up the courage, we'll make these live game card pulls so we can share what we learned, how it went, and how we're feeling. I'd LOVE to get to know you!   Debbie Ford created a kit for the Best Year of Your Life, but it all started with her paperback book. Both are listed below if you want to grab them.    The Best Year of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live It: https://amzn.to/3zgkNGq   The Best Year of Your Life Kit (the Cards) https://amzn.to/3cCZh6V Let’s connect on social media! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAudaciousLifePodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audaciousmamas/ https://www.Instagram.com/audaciouslife/   Twitter https://twitter.com/audaciouslife https://twitter.com/stephgetssocial   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniroberts/   Thanks for tuning in! I hope to see you on the YouTube channel for game #2! Aiming for Tuesdays or Wednesdays and going live if possible, so check it out and subscribe to be notified. *This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!  

Stephanie Pianades went into Massachusetts family court looking for help. That was it. One little thing. She went in looking for one help with one little thing, and it snowballed into a monumental challenge that altered her life and the life of her 10-year-old daughter, and as she says, "it will never go back to the way it was." This interview is a cautionary tale about Family Court Abuse, Parental Alienation, DARVO, and Post-separation Abuse. It's not easy to digest but extremely important for parents. We make assumptions about the court system, the main one being that it will protect our children or us. The dark truth is that this is not the case. The family court system is broken. Learn the steps to take to prevent court abuse and parental alienation. The first step is finding vetted attorneys who understand the dynamics of narcissistic abuse and how they can weaponize the court system against the other parent. Stop Abuse Campaign offers top-notch resources to help protective parents fight for their children and win against systemic and other forms of abuse. https://stopabusecampaign.org/takeaction/family-court-custody-crisis/help-for-protective-parents/ AS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Hear and see Stephanie's testimony before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary regarding Family Court abuse in Worcester Family Court Follow Steph on Twitter and support, retweet, re-post, chime in with similar stories to raise awareness, call your local representative to see what you can do to clean up the family court system in your state or country. What is Parental Alienation? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/parental-alienation What is DARVO? https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/voices/relationships/article/2021/04/13/what-darvo-and-how-it-used-against-survivors-violence https://www.choosingtherapy.com/darvo/   What is Family Court Abuse? Example from a Harvard Law https://www.legalservicescenter.org/when-perpetrators-of-domestic-violence-use-civil-court-system-to-re-victimize-survivors/   Post-separation abuse cycle wheel https://www.onemomsbattle.com/post-separation-abuse     Facebook ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-fans Instagram ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-instagram Twitter ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-twitter   Thank you for listening!  Wishing you blessings of Peace, Prosperity, and Happiness!! Lots of Love! xoxox      

    Many of us are busy watching or actively avoiding the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial. It's triggering, and I've felt it myself. I've had to walk away many days because it's too much. As I've mentioned, I have another interview coming up with Stephanie Pianades, that's important an important case for parents related to custody and flipping the script. I know it will be triggering. As a parent of young daughters, I had a tough time making it through the interview. So I wanted to have an expert to help us all manage triggers related to past trauma before her episode airs. Stacy Every is a certified EFT practitioner and coach who has experience as a survivor of abuse. She gets it. In this episode, she gives us numerous quick tips and tools to follow up on and explore more deeply to help with trauma, triggers, and finding ways to get grounded and rebalance back into our bodies. This episode will be up on my youTube channel if you want to see how tapping works. Stacy demonstrates tapping using the meridians of our body, and it's a little tough to explain via audio-only. I'll link the video here as soon as it's live on YouTube. NOTE: If anything I post or share is triggering to you, please step away. Follow Stacy's ideas for getting grounded and decide whether you should avoid it altogether or come back later when you feel well, grounded, and strong. I care about you and totally appreciate you being here, but also only want what's 100% right for you. xoxo Thank you for listening! If this was helpful for you, please subscribe, consider sharing with someone who needs to hear this, and leave a comment or an iTunes review. These things are a big help for the podcast and expand our audience and help others in the same shoes find ways to gain strength and heal. Want to learn more about Stacy? Here's her website and contact info https://stacyevery.com/ Thanks again! Sending lots of Love to you!  

  Mother's Day - Honoring Moms through loss - celebrating YOU! Man, it has been a crazy wild last two years, and I was thinking about this episode and how to honor moms and all that moms have been through because I think of all that people have been through, the most significant weight has been put upon mothers and mother figures, caregivers, for sure, over the last two years. And so some moms are just spent and at their wit's end, and some mothers, through all of this, have learned to figure out more self-care, how to realign themselves, maybe with better jobs or with delegating things around the house so that they can take back their time and not be this wonder woman, super supermom. And then many of us also have lost parents. I lost my mom 16 years ago. Her mom right after that, so two maternal figures poof!--both were gone. I didn't have my kids until two years later, but that hole was there. Through this pandemic, so many people have lost their parents, their mothers, and loved ones. Or their parents are battling illness now. It's a lot, and it can make this day a big mixed bag of emotions. I get it. I'm sharing some thoughts about my mother, my grandmother, the sorrow I've felt for my mother never meeting my children, and how I turned that around last year, determined to start a new tradition for Mother's Day. And I have some ideas for turning things around for yourself so life can be sweeter and you can maintain more life in life in spite of inflation, pandemics, and dark news in the world. As mentioned in this episode This Thing Called You - by Ernest Holmes (Book) https://amzn.to/3P83jmI Wondering how to slow down, tune in to what you want, and surrender like you haven't before? Check out these related episodes   Feminine Surrender vs. Pushing. Mini Retreats and Self-Care to Nourish Mamas with Melissa Mueller-Douglas Self Care and Connection to Self to Heal From Trauma Why Calming Our Nervous System is Essential to Thrive *This may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself! I hope you got through Mother's Day with some bright spots. If you need someone to tell you, you're doing GREAT!!  Want to shoot me a tribute about your mom to share on an upcoming episode? Send me a note or a recording here Thanks for listening, sharing, reviewing, and subscribing!  Sending lots of Love and appreciation for you and ALL you do EVERY DAY!!  

Jada Pinkett Smith image - Jerry Avenaim, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Everybody is aware of the Will Smith incident at the Oscars. Since I recorded this, a few things have happened, but I thought I'd weigh in on which of these two is "the Narcissist," Will or Jada Pinkett Smith.   I wasn't going to comment on this situation at all, but it seems like it's something that's not going away. And I found the ongoing conversation around narcissism interesting, especially the question of which one is the victim in their relationship.   So this is a quick episode where I explore what I've learned since it happened and what I already knew.   More has transpired since recording this episode--Will was banned from the Oscars for ten years and seemed to accept his fate.   Jada has distanced herself from Will and behaves like the embarrassed independent woman who doesn't need her man to stand up for her. Fascinating shift, given her initial reaction to Will slapping Chris.   Hers is a move for reputation management and another DIS-missal of Will.    As far as what people are thinking about these two, I posted a quick poll on my youTube channel. Poll results show that 38% say Jada is the narcissist, 25% say it's Will, and 15% say both are. The remaining 25% don't care and want them to go away.   You may be with that last bunch. :-)     At the very least, I'm happy that all these celebrity relationships gone awry are shining the spotlight on what narcissism looks like and creating conversation around it.    It underscores the fact that narcissist dynamics in relationships know no socio-economic bounds.   Suppose our onscreen hero with power, money, and fame, someone who portrayed Mohammed Ali, is also the victim of his wife. In that case, people may begin to understand the dynamics of their neighbor, sister, or co-worker stuck in the same type of relationship.   But I'm curious, what are your thoughts?   Which of these two is the narcissist, and who is the victim?   Please shoot me a message  -- I want to hear from you! Thanks from the heart for listening. I hope you're remembering to take time to take care of yourself and look for the light in the middle of all the darkness in our world. It's not easy these days but it does help get us through! Lots of Love!       

In this episode, I share some surprising and not so surprising findings related to trauma and its impact on our brain. Living through a traumatic situation can severely impact your memory, your cognition, your emotions, your ability to self-regulate, all of those things.    I found a video about the neurobiological impact of trauma on the brain, and it was eye-opening for me. I knew we could have PTSD and trauma-related physical manifestations, such as auto-immune disorders. But, this video spelled out genuine damage to our brains, creating significant challenges as we attempt to heal and recover from abuse and trauma.   And if we're not aware of this, it becomes easy to fall into self-blame, shame, major disappointment, and a negative spiral that prevents healing and progress in life. It can also create more isolation and alienation--the exact opposite of what will help us heal.    As much as we may be stuck in a loop of distrust, shame, bitterness, depression, anxiety, we need supportive humans in our life. We just do.   So, I'm reaching out to set up my first block of one-on-one calls with you.   I want to connect and see how I can best help you with content, support, and validate the course I'm finishing up to see what's missing.   Whether you can connect by phone or online with your thoughts about leaving, trying to exit, or starting over, I can add you to the beta list for the Exit - Survive to Thrive course special.   Ready to connect on a quick call? The first date block is Tuesday, 3/29/22 https://calendly.com/stephanir/chat   If you miss the time above, you can still leave comments on the form below.   Here's the form for feedback about your struggle for anyone who wants to share. I'm gathering your input for the course I'm creating. https://forms.gle/aXeqKt982b7Uf8ns5     Resources mentioned in this episode.   Here's the full video on the Neurobiological Impact of Trauma on the Brain from Doc Snipes https://bit.ly/trauma-impact   211.org for local grants and funding resources https://www.211.org   Thanks for listening! Lots of Love!  

Amber Heard is perpetuating the stereotype that women create false charges against men. While that does happen, I know many cases where the men are able to spin in the opposite direction and take a woman who's been victimized and turn her into the abuser. They cut off her connection to her children and create a restraining order and paint her in the most negative light possible. I have a guest interview with Stephanie Pianades coming up in May, and her abuser (ex husband) was able to flip the script and turn her world upside down by using her daughter as a pawn in the courts. This is a serious problem. And REAL victims of domestic violence are enraged by Amber Heard's lies, manipulation, sense of entitlement, and utter disrespect for actual victims as she continues to wear the badge of Domestic Violence survivor and advocate. I cover all of that in this episode and also share a related piece of good news from DV Leap, a national non-profit organization that fights for appellate advocacy for DV survivors who've been wronged in court. They have pro bono lawyers working to help survivors in all 50 states and they just had a big win in my home state, Massachusetts. I share the details in this episode. My aim is to share all of this for awareness but also to build some faith and how for victims who've had the script flipped and don't feel there's anywhere to turn. Please reach out to DV Leap for support and see if they will take your case or help you with research related to your case. Please check out DV Leap - https://www.dvleap.org/ Has this happened to you?  If so, please reach out to share your story by audio or message on the Audacious Life website. The blue mic will allow you to send me a voice message that I can air on the podcast. Please share your story to help create awareness around this issue. I'm thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers.  Lots of Love and Peace!! xoxo

I appreciate your patience if you've followed my lead-up to interviewing Lundy Bancroft.    This interview is coming in the nick of time with the holiday season.   Maybe you've been drawn back to the sparkly seasonal web of Love Bombing.    Maybe you're feeling guilty and questioning whether this version of them is REAL. And you've temporarily forgotten most of the hurtful things they've done throughout your relationship.   Or you're out of the relationship and now managing thoughts and ruminating about interactions and trying to figure out what makes this person tick and WHY they do the things they do.   Lundy covers   Differences between the Narcissist and Abuser Why differentiating between them matters. His background and what led him to advocate for women What we as a society can do to create healthy male allies What male abuser programs look like and how successful ones keep in close contact with the woman who's been abused How men and women are conditioned to expect and accept domineering "sexy" qualities Personality disorders vs. abuse orientation Inability to empathize vs. choosing NOT to empathize Healing from trauma and how we can intentionally connect with others who are on the healing journey through Lundy's Peak Living Network (PLN) Note: this network is not specifically for abuse survivors and is meant for people outside of deep crisis who are able to give 50% and receive 50%. Focus on YOU 100% first, if you're in deep crisis. You should know Lundy said, "Both narcissists and abusers do a lot of collecting allies." Boy does that ring true! You may be feeling the destruction and erosion of your reputation or relationships due to their actions.    You may be regrouping and dealing with trauma from an ongoing invasion of your loved ones and friends network.    Please take extra good care of yourself and find at least one person who can validate and understand your experience. And if no one near you understands, focus on yourself and do what feels good to lift your spirit.   Move physically, pray or meditate, dance around to music, start a short gratitude journal each night and morning to focus on what's good and going right in your life. Look for the tiniest things that make your day. These simple acts can shift you and keep you out of a dark spiral. I'm speaking from experience. These work! :-) I hope this interview helps answer some questions about abusers and their behaviors. And I would love to know what stood out for you and if more questions surfaced.    Please send comments my way by Instagram direct messaging to @AudaciousLife Or reach out via the website contact or recorded audio. For audio, click the microphone graphic on the page.  Read Lundy's blog about Narcissists vs. Abusers Check out the Peak Living Network Read The Joyous Recovery Listen to my description of the Peak Living Network from my perspective learning co-counseling from Lundy Listen to the episode about Dealing with Toxic Families during the holiday season.   *This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!   Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful Holiday! Sending lots of Love and Light your way!!