I'm incredibly grateful to sit down with ⁠Mark Thomas Beare⁠, a survivor of narcissistic abuse who turned his multi-year search for understanding into ground-breaking psychological work. Mark begins ep. 96 by candidly sharing where it all began. After experiencing his own total psychological collapse in 2019, Mark spent years mapping his unraveling into a full theory, now known as (MPIT), built on the work of Professor Sam Vaknin, who wrote the forward to his now published book:Narcissistic Redeemer: Bringing You Back from CollapseThrough thousands of hours of deep self-reflection and in-depth psychological research, Mark developed the Mirrored Psychic Inversion Theory (MPIT) and Anticipatory Stress Reflex (ASR) theories of narcissistic abuse, two critical frameworks that are changing the way survivors and clinicians approach recovery.This is one of the most detailed conversations this show has ever had about what actually happens inside the mind of survivors of narcissistic abuse. We talk about why the chaos, dissociation, and identity loss that follow a discard are not a sign that you're broken. It's a sign that you can feel pain...and you can recover. If you've ever wondered whether you were losing your mind after a relationship ended, this conversation offers language, structure, and real hope for finding your way back.In this episode, we cover:-The shared fantasy, the dual mothership, and the cathexis cycle (idealization, devaluation, discard)-Why survivors co-idealize a partner too, and how that creates a collapse that gets deferred until after the relationship ends-The liminal phase, collapse-induced psychotic regression, orbital collapse, and the deadness phase that follow a discard-The five self-states inside collapse: the Redeemer, the Mute Child, the False Protector, the Introject Enforcer, and the Truth Self-The ASR Complex (Anticipatory Stress Reflex) and why reality feels like it's slipping away during collapse-Building an "observer ego" and learning to decathect from the internal loop-Why the capacity to feel this much pain is proof you can heal, not proof something is wrong with youYou're not going insane. You're not alone. You were abused by a narcissist whose primary goal was to, as Mark puts it, "colonize your mind."You did not imagine it. You're not being too sensitive. And you CAN rebuild yourself after collapsing under the weight of the darkness of narcissistic abuse. As Mark brilliantly says in this interview: your breakdown - that reaction that rocked your inner psyche - from a clinical psychology perspective, is a normal reaction to a very abnormal situation with your abuser. In this episode, Mark walks us through each phase of the survivor's collapse in detail so you can understand exactly what happened when the narcissist infiltrated your mind and began conditioning you through abuse.Read Mark's books to help you recondition your psyche to heal and step back into your true self...the self you swore you knew and lived in before the narcissist.The Organising Gate and the Reconstruction of Reality After Narcissistic AbuseFollow Mark Thomas Beare on YouTube, Instagram, & FacebookThis episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea. Visit LiveDivini and use discount code Breanne10 at checkout

https://livedivini.com/#narcissisticabuse #narcissisticabuserecovery #MPIT #mentalhealth #trauma #healing #selflove #discard #ptsd #resilience

I sit down with Valeriya Hjertenæs, PhD researcher, international speaker, and Mrs. World Congeniality.

Valeriya's story starts in an unexpected place: a mental institution in Ukraine, in her pajamas, just weeks after adopting her daughter.

She opens up about the moment her first intrusive thought hit, a terrifying image that felt completely opposite of who she was, and how not understanding what was happening led her down a dark path toward a suicide plan.

Her mother's quiet intuition, noticing Valeriya packing winter clothes in the middle of summer, became the turning point that saved her life.

Topics we cover:

• What intrusive thoughts actually are, and why they're not a reflection of your character
• Valeriya's path from crisis to diagnosis, and the doctor who told her "you are not crazy"
• Living with OCD as a mother, a PhD researcher, and a public figure
• The global scale of neurodivergence, and why so many people never get diagnosed
• Why men in some cultures are more likely to die by suicide than admit they're struggling
• How Valeriya turned her lowest moment into a mission of advocacy and hope

If you've ever had a thought that scared you, one that felt nothing like the person you know yourself to be, this episode is for you. My hope is that you walk away feeling less alone, and reminded that your hardest chapter can still become someone else's hope.

OCD resources for listeners - you're not alone!

If this episode brought up something for you, here are trusted places to learn more or find support:

International OCD Foundation (iocdf.org) — educational resources, treatment guides, and a directory to find OCD-specialized therapists

Your Anxiety Toolkit — a podcast dedicated to providing mindfulness-based tools for anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depression, and the mental struggles that go along with these disorders.

NOCD (treatmyocd.com) — accessible articles and virtual therapy options focused specifically on OCD

BeyondOCD.org — plain-language explanations of intrusive thoughts and OCD subtypes, including the "harm OCD" experience Valeriya describes

IntrusiveThoughts.org — resources specifically focused on understanding and coping with intrusive thoughts

Maternal OCD — support specifically for parents experiencing postpartum or new-parent OCD, which mirrors much of Valeriya's story

For anyone in crisis, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 in the US) or your local emergency services. You are not alone, and help is available.

This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.

Visit LiveDivini & use discount code Breanne10 at checkout!

Follow Adventures in Adversity on Instagram & Facebook

#MentalHealth #OCD #IntrusiveThoughts #Neurodiversity #Motherhood

Jeremy Lipkowitz, Founder of Unhooked Academy + Unhooked Podcast, opens up about his personal journey with porn addiction, the crushing weight of shame, and how it impacted men's mental health.

Jeremy breaks down:

• How porn addiction quietly erodes intimacy, contentment, and self-trust

• The deep shame that keeps men silent and stuck

• The inner work of recovery and what actually helps men break free

• Science-based, compassionate strategies for healing

• Why speaking publicly about addiction changed everything for him

This conversation is for anyone struggling with compulsive behaviors, men wanting to show up better in their relationships, or anyone ready to end the cycle of shame and start healing.

About Jeremy Lipkowitz:
Jeremy is a leading voice in destigmatizing porn addiction and educating the public on effective, science-based recovery strategies. He's the founder of Unhooked Academy and host of the Unhooked Podcast, where he addresses porn addiction recovery with both candor and compassion.

Connect with Jeremy:

• Website: jeremylipkowitz.com

• Unhooked Academy: unhooked.academy

• Podcast: Unhooked: Breaking Porn Addiction Podcast

Episode Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
02:15 - Jeremy's personal story with porn addiction
08:30 - The shame that kept it hidden
15:45 - How porn hijacks the brain
22:10 - Men's mental health and isolation
28:30 - The recovery process that works
35:00 - Practical tools for breaking free
42:15 - Closing thoughts

Key topics: porn addiction, men's mental health, shame, recovery, mindfulness, intimacy, integrity

Subscribe to this podcast for more conversations on addiction recovery and men's mental health.

Nearly 80% of suicide deaths in the U.S. are men...and yet, men’s mental health is one of the least talked-about crises of our time.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why men are more likely to suffer in silence
• How societal expectations around masculinity shape emotional behavior
• Why so many men avoid therapy and emotional expression
• The real impact of “be strong” culture
• How to redefine masculinity and emotional strength
• Practical ways to support a man who is struggling
• How to raise emotionally healthy boys

This conversation explores the real reasons behind the stigma around men’s mental health...and what needs to change. You’ll also learn why vulnerability is not weakness, but a critical form of strength.

This episode is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha. Use code BREANNE10 at checkout for a discount.

Key topics covered:

• Male suicide rates and mental health statistics
• The help-seeking gap for men
• Cultural expectations of masculinity
• Emotional expression in history and culture
• Teaching emotional skills early
• Building resilience through emotional awareness
• Removing shame from vulnerability

Need support? You're not alone!

BetterHelp

TalkSpace

American Addiction Centers

Mental Health America

Christian therapists

The Kevin Love Fund

Jordan Peterson on dealing with depression

If this episode helped you or someone you know, please share it. Follow this podcast for more conversations on mental health, growth, and leadership.

#MensMentalHealth #MaleSuicide #MentalHealthMatters #MasculinityAndMentalHealth #EmotionalVulnerability #MentalHealthAwareness #MenWhoCry #EndTheStigma

I sit down with Mason and Cameron, the co-founders of DIVINI, to talk about how a homebrew kombucha recipe turned into a growing wellness brand built around gut health, intentional ingredients, and real-life resilience.

Follow DIVINI on Instagram

Their story is a reminder that big things often start with one idea, one sip, and a willingness to keep going.

We talk about the adversity behind building a company, the health struggles that inspired the product, and how both of them turned personal challenges into something meaningful.

Mason shares how gut issues, acne, and a deeper focus on internal health shaped his approach, while Cameron opens up about his own transformation and how the brand became part of his journey, too.

Topics we cover:

-The story behind Divini and how the name came to be

-What adversity looks like when you’re building a business from the ground up

-Mason’s gut health and skin journey

-Cameron’s health transformation and how it shaped the brand

-Why kombucha became the base for Divini

-The ingredients, flavors, and functional benefits behind the drink

-Brand design, scaling, and getting into retail

If you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own or making changes in your health, this episode is a reminder that progress doesn’t have to be perfect...it just has to be intentional

This episode is sponsored by ⁠DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.⁠

Use code Breanne10 for a discount at checkout.

Follow the podcast on⁠ Instagram⁠ and⁠ Facebook⁠

#DIVINI #HoneyKombucha #KombuchaTea #GutHealth

I sit down with John Kippen, whose story is a powerful reminder that adversity can become purpose.

John shares how a brain tumor and the facial paralysis that followed completely changed the course of his life, and how he spent years learning to accept himself, rebuild his confidence, and find meaning on the other side of trauma.

What stayed with me most was John’s honesty about how long healing can take. He talks about the 12-year journey it took to truly love himself again, and how helping other people became the turning point that helped him step out of his own pain.

Through magic, coaching, and deep human connection, John found a way to turn limitation into impact.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• His brain tumor diagnosis and the facial paralysis that changed his life.

• The emotional toll of hiding, isolation, and self-image struggles.

• How magic became a path back to confidence and connection.

• Why helping others is one of the most powerful ways to heal yourself.

• His belief that being different is your superpower.

John also shares unforgettable stories from his work as a magician and speaker, including moments that showed him just how much one conversation can change someone’s life.

John Kippen’s website

*This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.

*Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LiveDivini⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠and use discount code *Breanne10* at checkout for a discount!

We're back at Oakland Podcast Studio with one of my besties and a returning guest, Omaira, for a very real conversation about imposter syndrome...what it looks like in our actual lives and how we’re learning to move through it.

From building her vending machine business in the Bay Area to me growing this podcast while working full-time, we talk about the quiet ways we both downplay our wins and question whether we belong in the rooms we’ve worked hard to be in.

We unpack imposter syndrome as a “cognitive distortion,” share personal stories about internal dialogue (“I’m just a wannabe podcaster…”), and talk about the shame and cultural pressure that can make it hard to admit you’re struggling.

We also get practical: naming imposter syndrome in the moment, shifting our physical state, using accountability buddies, exploring EMDR, and leaning on faith and spirituality when our brains feel especially loud.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Who am I to do this?” this episode will help you feel seen...and remind you that doubt doesn’t get the final say.

Ep. 12: Going inward - handling loss & grief, health scares, & life's curveballs w/my friend Omaira

Bay Area EMDR therapist, Natalie Kiff

Jordan Peterson on how to overcome imposter syndrome

What's in a name? How we can use language to combat imposter syndrome

*This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.

*Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠LiveDivini⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and use discount code *Breanne10* at checkout for a discount! Follow Adventures in Adversity on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Facebook

#imposter syndrome #self-doubt #mindset #mentalhealth #EMDR #entrepreneurship #womeninbusiness #podcasting #BayArea

In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and culture-builder Greg Selkoe, founder of KarmaLoop and co-founder of XSET, to talk about what it really looks like to build big things while battling inner demons along the way.

XSET is Pop-Gaming - transforming the creator-led gaming culture at the intersection of sports, music, and entertainment into trusted, scalable influence across a massive young audience.

Follow XSET on Instagram

Follow Greg on Instagram

*This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.

*Visit ⁠⁠⁠LiveDivini⁠⁠ ⁠and use discount code *Breanne10* at checkout for a discount! Follow Adventures in Adversity on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Facebook