Have you ever walked away from a conversation with your family thinking, Wait… did that actually happen the way I remember it? Am I being too sensitive? Am I overreacting? Am I crazy?

If you grew up being told you were dramatic, too sensitive, or remembering things incorrectly, you might spend a surprising amount of your adulthood trying to figure out whether you can actually trust your own feelings and perceptions.

In this episode, I'm joined by licensed trauma and relationship therapist Kayla Reilly, aka The Spicy Shrink, for a conversation about what happens when our reality is repeatedly minimized as children — and how those messages can follow us into adulthood.

We talk about dysfunctional family dynamics, the roles we learn to play to survive, and what happens when we finally start questioning the patterns we grew up believing were normal.

Kayla Reilly is a licensed trauma and relationship therapist who helps adults heal from dysfunctional family systems and break generational cycles.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why being told you're "too sensitive," "dramatic," or "remembering it wrong" can make you question your own reality.
• Narcissistic personality or emotional immaturity? Why knowing the difference matters.
• How the traits we think are "just who we are" may actually be survival tactics we learned as children.
• The family roles we take on to survive, and the surprising ways they can follow us into adulthood.
• Why validation doesn't mean agreeing with someone's version of events—and why your experience still matters.
• Kayla's 3-part framework for healing: awareness, acceptance, and action.

Connect with Kayla:

• Follow on Instagram
• Take the survival role quiz
• Check out her website

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram
• Check out my website
• Get the Future Self Reset

Be sure to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we're talking about what resilience looks like in real life—not the polished version, but the gritty, painful, keep-going-anyway kind.

My guest, Lisamarie Pearson, shares her journey through a life-altering diagnosis, losing her grandmother, and the identity shift that followed. In the middle of it all, she rediscovered a skill her grandmother taught her: how to sew.

What started as an outlet quickly became a lifeline, and eventually, a purpose-driven business creating her now-beloved "octopals."

If you've ever felt lost in survival mode, unsure of who you are anymore, or craving something that feels like you again—this conversation will remind you it's never too late to start over.

Lisamarie is the founder of Scatterbrain Toys, where she creates sensory-friendly plush toys designed to inspire creativity and bring comfort and joy.

In this episode, we cover:

• The emotional toll of navigating cancer and grief at the same time.
• The identity shift that happens after trauma, and how to rebuild from it.
• How creativity can become a powerful tool for healing.
• The mental load of motherhood and running a business—and why time feels so limited.
• One thing all entrepreneur mamas should be doing.
• Lisamarie's favorite self-care routine. Full body cleanse anyone?

Connect with Lisamarie:

• Follow on Instagram
• Check out her website

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out my website

Be sure to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

Everyone talks about the first six weeks after having a baby. But what if postpartum lasts much longer?

In this episode, we're having a raw and honest conversation about how long postpartum really lasts, especially when it comes to mental health.

My guest Alyssa Maio and I explore how the common narrative around "baby blues" can minimize the reality of what many mothers experience.

If you've ever felt like something wasn't quite right after having a baby, even long after the newborn stage, you're not alone. This conversation is about normalizing the reality that postpartum recovery can take much longer than anyone prepares you for.

In this episode, we cover:

• The myth that postpartum recovery ends at 6–12 weeks.
• How the phrase "baby blues" minimizes what mamas are going through.
• What postpartum anxiety, OCD, and intrusive thoughts can really feel like.
• Why these symptoms are often misunderstood or dismissed.
• What I wish I knew about postpartum mental health before having my babies.

Resources & Links:

• What does maternity leave look like in other countries? Spoiler: most countries are doing more for moms than the United States.

Connect with Alyssa:

• Follow on Instagram

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out my website

Be sure to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!