Best Fawn Trauma Response Podcasts (2025)

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Fawning: The Hidden Trauma Response Behind People-Pleasing | #105 54:33

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5d ago54:33

54:33

Louie and Michael unpack fawning—the hidden trauma response behind people-pleasing, codependency, and emotional safety—in their most vulnerable talk yet. _____ -BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions abou…

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Generational Trauma With Gina Birkemeier 32:43

1h ago32:43

32:43

In this episode of the Healing Trauma Podcast, Monique Koven speaks with trauma therapist Gina Birkemeier about her book 'Generations Deep,' which explores the impact of generational trauma and the importance of healing. They discuss how family patterns shape our beliefs and behaviors, the significance of corrective experiences in healing, and the …

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Why Men Struggle With Vulnerability | #106 57:32

1h ago57:32

57:32

Louie and Michael answer a listener email about why men struggle with vulnerability—diving into shame, repression, and the fear of emotional connection. _____ -BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about…

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Trauma Masterclass: Understanding and Repairing Our Hidden Wounds 2:43:28

19h ago2:43:28

2:43:28

Today we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes to explore one of the most salient topics in psychology today: trauma. We begin by tracing its developmental roots with Dr. Lindsay Gibson and Dr. Bessel van Der Kolk, before looking at how it can be passed down through family systems with Dr. Mariel Buqué, associate somatic therapist Elizabeth F…

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Inside the Jealous Mind: What Neuroscience Reveals About Threat, Envy, and the Drive for Connection 58:34

1h ago58:34

58:34

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Ep. 290: Scared to Try Rehab? Real Talk On Inpatient, Outpatient, Detox, And Recovery Options For Women with Jana Wu 1:09:03

5d ago1:09:03

1:09:03

Let’s be honest: the decision to go into a treatment program can feel terrifying. You’re juggling work, kids, a million invisible tasks—and the idea of raising your hand and stepping away (even briefly) can feel impossible. What if people judge you? What if your boss notices? What if your partner uses it against you? What if the moms at the bus sto…

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Selected Misdemeanors: Crafting Meaning in Flash Nonfiction with Sue William Silverman 40:19

2d ago40:19

40:19

Send us a text Have you ever wondered how a single moment—a glance, a mistake, a shimmering flash of memory—can hold the power of an entire story? Or how the smallest details of an ordinary life can reveal something vast about who we are and what we long for? In this episode, I talk with award-winning author Sue William Silverman about her newest b…

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End Self-Punishment: Curiosity, Joy, and Real Growth with Joe Hudson 1:16:52

8d ago1:16:52

1:16:52

Forrest is joined by one of the world’s top executive coaches, Joe Hudson, for a conversation focused on how we can reduce self-punishment and live more fulfilling lives by welcoming our emotions and loosening identification with the critical mind. They discuss Joe’s “The Golden Algorithm” - our tendency to recreate the emotions we try to avoid - a…

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Post Traumatic Growth vs Post Traumatic Wisdom; Emotional Processing and Female Nervous System AUDIO 1:01:38

5d ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Functional healing isn't about bouncing back, it's about becoming more whole. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace are joined by somatic expert Veronica Rottman, founder of Soma School, to explore what happens when post-traumatic growth deepens into post-traumatic wisdom. Together, they unpack how healing often …

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Ep. 289: What Women Need To Know About Breast Cancer And Alcohol with Stacey Devine 1:03:59

12d ago1:03:59

1:03:59

If you’ve ever poured a glass of wine thinking “It’s fine—it’s heart-healthy!” you’re not alone.For years we’ve been told that “moderation is key” and that red wine is practically a wellness hack.But what if that’s not the whole story? In this week’s episode of The Hello Someday Podcast, I’m talking about something every woman deserves to know: the…

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When Your Best Writing Feels Terrible: Understanding Shame, Vulnerability, and the Creative Process 26:44

12d ago26:44

26:44

Send us a text Today, we’re diving into a topic that trips up so many writers—vulnerability. How much should you share? When does honest writing become oversharing? And why does your most powerful work sometimes feel like it completely sucks? If you’ve ever been told your story isn’t raw enough—or that it’s too raw—you’re not alone. In this episode…

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55. The 3 Characteristics of Burnout - Do You Have Them? 21:19

11d ago21:19

21:19

In this episode of the Big F*cking Dreams podcast, Life Coach Hannah Kissel delves into the topic of burnout, sharing her personal experiences and insights. She discusses the three dimensions of burnout—emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and inefficacy—drawing from research by Susan Jackson and Christina Maslach. Hannah also identifies six mi…

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Transforming Your Inner Critic With Dr. Maureen Gallagher 30:15

12d ago30:15

30:15

In this conversation, Monique and Dr. Maureen Gallagher explore the integration of Somatic Experiencing and Inner Relationship Focusing as powerful tools for healing trauma and understanding the inner critic. They discuss how these methods can help individuals build a compassionate relationship with their experiences, update old emotional learnings…

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Understanding Misogyny: Gina Martin on Compassion, Gender, and Healing | #104 1:09:37

12d ago1:09:37

1:09:37

Gina Martin joins to talk misogyny, feminism, and emotional healing—how patriarchy, trauma, and compassion shape identity, relationships, and recovery. BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the bra…

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Emotional Regulation: How to Feel Your Feelings Flexibly 1:27:05

15d ago1:27:05

1:27:05

Dr. Rick and Forrest discuss how we can regulate our emotions by feeling, managing, and processing them more effectively. They begin by unpacking common misconceptions and clarifying what healthy regulation looks like - feeling our feelings without being overwhelmed by them. From there, they walk through the three key steps of emotional regulation,…

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Self Compassion and How The Science of Kindness Changes Your Brain 50:22

13d ago50:22

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In this conversation with Dr. Kristin Neff, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas and the pioneering researcher who introduced self-compassion into modern psychology, we explore why self-esteem is a fair-weather friend while self-compassion provides steady support through challenge and failure. Dr. Neff shares how…

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Ep. 288: How Can You Stay Sober If Your Partner Drinks Problematically? 55:22

19d ago55:22

55:22

If you’re trying to get (or stay) alcohol-free and your partner is still drinking, I see you. It’s already hard to change your own habits—doing it while someone you love keeps pouring a glass can feel impossible. In this conversation, I asked Zach Brittle—licensed mental health counselor, Certified Gottman Therapist, Relational Life Therapist, host…

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Metaphors That Work: How to Make Your Writing More Vivid, Emotional, and True with Kristin Sancken and Lynn Shattuck 41:47

19d ago41:47

41:47

Send us a text This week, we’re kicking off a new Editors’ Roundtable segment on the podcast, where I dig into key writing issues with the two trauma-informed editors I’m training—Kristin Sancken and Lynn Shattuck. In our first conversation, we explore metaphors—what they are, how to craft them, and how to recognize the ones that truly sing on the …

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Perfection is the Problem | #103 1:10:45

22d ago1:10:45

1:10:45

Lou and Michael unpack wabi sabi, the beauty of imperfection—talking therapy, accountability, control, and what it means to be seen before you’re “fixed.” BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the …

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Trauma or Personality, When to Walk Away, and Burnout: October Mailbag 59:46

22d ago59:46

59:46

Dr. Rick and Forrest open up the mailbag to answer listener questions about trauma and its impact on personality, boundaries, anger, and burnout. They discuss how to distinguish the authentic self from the patterns we needed to learn to survive, how to balance duty to self with duty to others, and how to work with explosive anger by first joining w…

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The Science of Feeling Safe In Your Body 1:02:19

20d ago1:02:19

1:02:19

"Fake it till you make it" can keep you moving, but there is a cost. When the prefrontal cortex tries to do the job of the whole brain, it burns fuel fast, cravings rise, and coping loops take over. This episode breaks down emotional regulation as a full-body, brain-wide process, not a mindset trick. Matt Bush, lead educator at the NSI certificatio…

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The Emotionally Immature Mother With Dr. Lindsay Gibson 41:01

22d ago41:01

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In this conversation, Monique welcomes back Dr. Lindsay Gibson to discuss the complexities of emotionally immature mothers and their impact on daughters. They explore the characteristics of emotional immaturity, the need for empathy and connection, and the challenges faced by adult children in navigating relationships with such parents. The discuss…

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Ep. 287: Purpose in Sobriety: How to Say Not This, Pivot Your Career & Find Meaning After Quitting Drinking 58:52

26d ago58:52

58:52

Have you ever quit drinking, looked around your life, and thought, “Wait… is this it?” I get it. Sobriety cracks you wide open. Once alcohol is out of the way, the things you’ve been tolerating suddenly become louder than ever. Without wine to numb the edges, all of that becomes impossible to ignore. And that’s not a bad thing — that’s your invitat…

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Showing, Telling, and the Shimmer: Finding the Scenes That Bring Your Memoir to Life with Marianna Marlowe 38:38

25d ago38:38

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Send us a text Which memories shimmer inside you? Which ones refuse to let you go? Those luminous, haunting moments are often the raw ingredients of the story you’re truly meant to tell. In this episode of Writing Your Resilience, I sit down with newsletter follower and memoirist Marianna Marlowe, author of A Portrait of a Feminist as she shares ho…

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54. How Do You Live and Lead by Your Values in a non-BS Way? 31:15

28d ago31:15

31:15

By Hannah Kissel

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When Childhood Fear Becomes Adult Anxiety | #102 1:01:03

29d ago1:01:03

1:01:03

Michael and Lou unpack how childhood trauma fuels anxiety, codependency, and fear of abandonment. A raw mix of therapy insights, humor, and hard truths on boundaries, recovery, and self-worth. BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of the…

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The Psychology of Resentment: Over-Functioning, Repression, and Repair 1:18:39

29d ago1:18:39

1:18:39

Dr. Rick and Forrest explore the silent killer of relationships: resentment. They discuss resentment as a combination of perceived grievance (“I was wronged”) and helplessness (“and I can’t fix it”), before talking about how over-functioning and control tendencies can lead to resentment in relationships - one person shoulders more of the load while…

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Trauma Isn't Just In Your Head (It's In Your Cells) 1:04:07

29d ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Trauma is not a single moment. It is an ongoing dialogue between your brain, body, and environment. In this conversation, Dr. Mbemba Jabbi explains how neuroplasticity and affective neuroscience help us understand protective patterns like hypervigilance, shutdown, and dissociation. We explore the roles of the insula, amygdala, and cingulate network…

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IFS: Working With Child Part's With Dr. Richard Schwartz 34:41

1M ago34:41

34:41

This episode is a re release from a previous season. In this conversation, Monique is talking with Dr. Richard Schwartz, the creator of Internal Family Systems, (IFS) They discuss the model and its application in healing trauma, particularly childhood and complex trauma. Richard emphasizes the importance of understanding the 'self' within IFS, the …

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Ep 286: Money Stress In Your Marriage: How To Break The Cycle (Without Reaching For A Drink) 1:00:09

1M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

Do you and your partner keep circling the same money arguments — budgets, spending, saving — and somehow end up frustrated, shut down, or resentful? You’re not alone. Money is emotional (because… humans), and in sobriety those emotions aren’t numbed out anymore. The good news: you can break the cycle, learn to talk about money without blowing up, a…

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Writing Grief Without Cliché: Eirinie Carson on Friendship, Loss, and The Dead Are Gods 37:32

1M ago37:32

37:32

Send us a text Have you ever wondered what it really means to grieve a friend—someone dazzling, flawed, and deeply loved? Or how laughter, silence, and even text messages can become part of the story we tell about those we’ve lost? In today’s episode of Writing Your Resilience, I talk with writer Eirinie Carson about her breathtaking debut memoir T…

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Indigenous Generational Trauma : Sixties Scoop with Nakuset 33:08

1M ago33:08

33:08

*This episode is being re released on September 30 to honour the National day For Truth And Reconciliation. In this episode of the Healing Trauma Podcast, host Monique Koven speaks with Nakuset, an Indigenous woman who shares her powerful story of being a survivor of the 60s scoop and the impact of residential schools on her life and family. Nakuse…

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Do Not Have Needs. Ever. | #101 56:10

1M ago56:10

56:10

Codependency, boundaries, consent, and low self-esteem. Louie and Michael explore addiction, abandonment, and what it means to feel worthy of repair in relationships. BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have question…

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How to Believe in Yourself: Carl Rogers and Humanistic Psychology 1:21:17

1M ago1:21:17

1:21:17

Dr. Rick and Forrest explore humanistic psychology, the mid-20th century movement that redefined how therapists relate to clients. It challenged the pessimism of Freud and the mechanism of behaviorism, offering a more hopeful alternative: that our nature is fundamentally good, and our job is to let it shine through. They discuss Carl Rogers’ work, …

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The Emotional Block That No One Talks About 39:34

1M ago39:34

39:34

Have you ever drawn a blank when asked how you're feeling? Or maybe you experience constant inner buzzing, numbness, or anxiety without any words to describe it. You're not broken—and you're not alone. In this deeply informative and compassionately nuanced episode, Jennifer, Elizabeth, and guest Matt Bush unpack alexithymia: a common and often misu…

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Complex Trauma & Parenting With Sidu Arroyo 27:50

1M ago27:50

27:50

*This episode is a re release from a previous season. In this conversation, Monique is talking with guest family therapist Sidu Arroyo about the critical aspects of emotional regulation, particularly for those with trauma histories. She emphasizes the importance of understanding that emotions are neither good nor bad, and that self-regulation is a …

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Ep. 285: The Sober Shift: Outgrowing Alcohol, Celebrating Your Sober Firsts And Choosing Your Hard 1:14:21

1M ago1:14:21

1:14:21

If you’ve been thinking, “I’m not that bad… but I’m also not okay,” this one’s for you. Today I’m talking with my dear friend Suzanne Warye—creator of The Sober Mom Life and author of The Sober Shift: A Modern-Day Guide to Living an Abundant Sober Life—about why sobriety can be less about “rock bottom” and more about reclamation. I asked Suzanne Wa…

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Write the Story That Sets You Free: A Behind-the-Scenes Pivot Toward Soul Alignment 45:01

1M ago45:01

45:01

Send us a text Have you ever wondered if what you’re doing is truly aligned with your soul’s purpose? Or maybe you’ve had that nagging feeling that something’s off—that you’re not quite on the right track. How do you know when it’s time to stay the course, and when it’s time to pivot so you can do more of what you love and let go of what no longer …

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53. From Complex Trauma to Corporate Burnout: The Fawn Trauma Response 23:25

1M ago23:25

23:25

In this episode of the Big F*cking Dreams podcast, Life Coach Hannah Kissel explores the Fawn Trauma Response, a lesser-known reaction to trauma characterized by people-pleasing and appeasement behaviors. She discusses its roots in complex trauma, particularly in corporate environments, where individuals often struggle to advocate for themselves. T…

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Brad Garrett Tells His Story | #100 1:02:41

1M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators…

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AI Therapy Deep Dive: Can a Chatbot Be Your Therapist? w/ Dr. Nick Jacobson 1:25:50

1M ago1:25:50

1:25:50

AI chatbots may already be the largest providers of mental health services in the United States, raising big questions about safety, effectiveness, and oversight. Dr. Rick and Forrest are joined by Dr. Nick Jacobson to explore the risks and opportunities of AI therapy: Can a chatbot be good at therapy? Will it replace human therapists? What about A…

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The Duality of Emotions: Why Ambivalence Isn't Confusion 51:13

1M ago51:13

51:13

Ambivalence isn't confusion or weakness, it's your nervous system doing its job. Feeling both joy and grief, relief and loss, fear and excitement, is not dysfunction but survival wisdom. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace unpack ambivalence as a neurobiological phenomenon: how the brain and body construct emot…

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How to Have a (Good) Life Crisis: Authenticity, Healthy Discontent, and the Anxiety of Choice 1:12:02

2M ago1:12:02

1:12:02

Dr. Rick and Forrest explore how to use a life crisis productively, drawing on developmental stage theories, existential philosophy, literature, personal experience, and Rick’s clinical work. They examine the anxieties of death, freedom, responsibility, and choice that often underlie these crises, and discuss how we can not only cope with these anx…