What if the reason people keep pulling away isn’t because they’re intimidated, jealous, or incapable of handling the “real” you?

What if—stay with me—you’re sometimes just… not that likeable? 😂

In this episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell takes on the uncomfortable difference between authenticity and a complete lack of self-awareness. Because being unapologetically yourself doesn’t mean you never have to consider what it feels like for other people to experience you.

We’re talking about confidence versus self-importance, vulnerability versus emotional dumping, honesty versus cruelty, and why your intentions don’t erase someone else’s experience of your behavior. We also get into the patterns we’d rather not examine—especially when the people and circumstances change, but somehow the same conflict keeps following us from room to room.

And no, this isn’t about shrinking yourself, becoming more “palatable,” or trying to make everyone like you. It’s about something much harder: self-awareness.

The question at the center of this episode is simple:

What does it feel like to be on the other side of me?

Do people feel heard? Is there room for them? Can they disagree with you? Can they shine without you competing? Can they tell you that you hurt them without having to defend their experience in court?

This one is funny, uncomfortable, occasionally a little ruthless—and probably going to make you think of at least one person you absolutely should not send it to. 😂

🎙️ Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell
You’re Just Not Likeable: The Difference Between Being Authentic and Being Insufferable

New episodes every Tuesday.

Nothing extraordinary happened today.

There was no major milestone. No big announcement. No life-changing moment.

There was lavender growing in the front yard. A busy bee. Tiny hands helping cut flowers. Laughter. A vase by the window.

And somehow, that was enough.

In this Sunday Seed of Thought, Dr. Carmela Maxell reflects on how easily we can rush through the ordinary parts of our lives while waiting for something bigger to happen. We celebrate milestones, achievements, and major transitions—but most of a lifetime is made up of the quiet moments in between.

What if the life we're waiting to enjoy is already happening?

This episode is an invitation to slow down, notice what's around you, and stop treating the present like a waiting room for a better future.

Because one day, some of the ordinary things surrounding you right now may be the very things you'd give anything to experience again.

🌱 This week's seed:
The ordinary moments of today may become the treasures of tomorrow.

Listen, follow, and share Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell, and tune in every Tuesday for new full episodes.

And remember: stay rooted in who you are and keep rising into who you're becoming.

What if the life you keep trying to earn is already yours?

In this Sunday Seeds of Thought, Dr. Carmela Maxell explores the exhausting habit of constantly proving our worth—through productivity, perfectionism, achievement, relationships, and the need to feel deserving of the spaces we’ve already earned.

There’s a difference between growing because you’re curious about who you can become and performing because you’re afraid who you are still isn’t enough.

This week’s seed: You don’t have to keep proving you belong in a life you’ve already built.

🌱 Follow Rooted & Rising for new full episodes every Tuesday, Sunday Seeds of Thought every Sunday, and the occasional Midnight Reflection.

Listen, share, and send this episode to someone who needs permission to stop auditioning—and finally start living.

Content/Trigger Warning: This episode includes candid discussions of addiction, homelessness, incarceration, street violence, murder, sexual violence, exploitation, and other traumatic experiences. Please listen with care and take whatever space you need while listening.

What happens when surviving becomes a way of life—and then one day, you have to learn how to live again?

In this powerful episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell sits down with recovery advocate, mentor, drug court professional, and change maker Joe Barsana for an honest conversation about addiction, homelessness, street violence, incarceration, recovery, accountability, and second chances.

Joe shares pieces of his own journey—from addiction and life on the streets to incarceration, treatment, recovery, and eventually helping others navigate some of the same systems and struggles he once experienced himself.

Together, Dr. Carmela Maxell and Joe Barsana explore the complicated space between compassion and accountability.

What does survival mode do to a person?

What happens when violence becomes normal?

Can we hold people accountable for the harm they've caused while still recognizing their humanity?

And what does it actually take to rebuild a life when the world has already decided who you are?

This conversation doesn't romanticize addiction, violence, or life on the streets. It looks directly at the pain, consequences, trauma, and loss—but also at the possibility that a person's worst chapter does not have to become their final one.

Because sometimes survival isn't the finish line.

Sometimes it's where the real work begins.

🎙️ Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell
🎤 Featuring Joe Barsana

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Deezer, Amazon Music, YouTube, Audible, and other major podcast platforms.

If this conversation resonates with you, please like, follow, subscribe, rate, and share Rooted & Rising with someone who may need to hear it.

🌱 Stay rooted in who you are—and keep rising into who you're becoming.

What if the most productive thing you do this week... is protect your peace first?

In this week's Sunday Seeds of Thought, Dr. Carmela Maxell explores the quiet ways we lose ourselves before the workday even begins. From checking emails before getting out of bed to measuring our worth by how busy we are, we've normalized living in a constant state of reaction.

But what if peace isn't something you find—what if it's something you practice protecting?

Join Dr. Maxell for a thoughtful conversation about burnout, boundaries, nervous system health, and why the healthiest version of you will always accomplish more than the busiest one.

Take a deep breath. Slow down. Your inbox can wait.

🌱 New Sunday Seeds of Thought episodes release every Sunday.
🎙️ Full-length Rooted & Rising episodes release every Tuesday.

If this episode speaks to you, follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little more peace this week.

#MentalHealth #Burnout #SelfCare #Productivity #Mindfulness #MentalWellness #SundaySeeds #RootedAndRising #Psychology #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #NervousSystem #EmotionalWellness

The Body Remembers: The Physical & Physiological Effects of Trauma — Especially for Women of Color

What happens when you’ve been “strong” for so long that your body finally says, enough?

In this powerful episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell sits down with author, speaker, and wellness advocate Dee Mosley for an honest conversation about the ways trauma can live far beyond our thoughts.

They explore what happens when survival mode becomes a way of life—and when the nervous system becomes accustomed to being constantly on alert.

For women of color, and Black women in particular, the expectation to be strong can carry an enormous cost. Carmela and Dee unpack the pressure to keep performing, caring for everyone else, pushing through exhaustion, and appearing okay even when the body is signaling otherwise.

Together, they discuss the connection between trauma and the body, chronic stress and exhaustion, the complicated relationship many women have with rest, faith and mental health care, workplace expectations, generational patterns, and the difference between being resilient and simply becoming very good at surviving.

Dee also shares her own journey of reaching a point where her body could no longer keep pace with what she was asking of it—and how that experience ultimately became part of her healing journey and her book, Grace & Glow.

This conversation asks an important question:

What if the strongest thing you can do is stop proving how much you can endure?

If you have ever been the dependable one, the high performer, the caregiver, the person everyone calls because “you can handle it”—this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell
Featuring Dee Mosley
📅 Streaming August 4, 2026
🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Dee Mosley is the author of Grace & Glow: My Nervous Breakdown Was Never Going to Win Against Me.

Get Grace & Glow on Amazon

And if this episode resonates with you, follow, subscribe, rate, and share Rooted & Rising with someone who has spent far too long being “the strong one.”

Sometimes the body remembers what we've spent years trying to push through. ❤️

We've all met one.

The person who has absolutely no idea what they're talking about...but somehow has the most to say about it. 😂

But before we start pointing fingers, there's an uncomfortable truth:

Sometimes Karen is us.

In this episode of Sunday's Seeds of Thoughts, Dr. Carmela Maxell takes a witty—but psychologically grounded—look at what happens when confidence outruns competence. From workplace know-it-alls and unsolicited experts to social media comment sections and our own occasional inability to simply say "I don't know," we're talking about why humans overestimate what they know, underestimate what they don't, and sometimes wander confidently into lanes where we have absolutely no business driving.

We'll explore overconfidence, self-awareness, intellectual humility, and why actual expertise often comes with something surprising: the ability to admit what you don't know.

Because confidence isn't competence.

A strong opinion isn't expertise.

And occasionally, the smartest sentence in the room is:

"I don't know enough about this to have an informed opinion."

Yes, we're talking about those people.

But don't get too comfortable.

We're also talking about you. And me.

A quick truth for the soul.
Real talk. Every Sunday.

Sunday's Seeds of Thoughts | Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell
Sundays at 4 PM PST.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Grow.
❤️ Like. Follow. Subscribe. And please—know your lane.

"Your tests are normal."

For millions of people, those four words don't bring relief—they mark the beginning of years spent questioning their own body, memory, and sanity. In this deeply personal special episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell shares her own eight-year journey to a diagnosis of adenomyosis after years of debilitating pain, medical dismissal, and being told to "wait." Blending personal testimony with psychological research, she explores the hidden consequences of medical gaslighting: how repeated dismissal can erode self-trust, create medical trauma, and fundamentally change the way we relate to our own bodies.

This episode also examines why women, people of color, children, and individuals living with chronic illness are disproportionately affected by medical dismissal, while acknowledging the many compassionate healthcare professionals who advocate tirelessly for their patients every day. Medical gaslighting is rarely about individual malice—it is often the result of systemic biases, time pressures, and gaps in knowledge that can leave patients feeling unseen.

Whether you've spent years searching for answers, love someone navigating a chronic illness, work in healthcare, or simply want to better understand the psychological impact of not being believed, this conversation is for you.

Because normal test results should never invalidate real suffering.

Disclaimer: This episode is intended for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing concerning symptoms, seek care from a qualified healthcare professional. If you feel your concerns are not being heard, remember that seeking a second opinion is a reasonable and appropriate part of advocating for your health.

Patient Advocate Foundation
Free case management and advocacy services for patients navigating healthcare, insurance, and treatment barriers.
https://www.patientadvocate.org

The Joint Commission – Speak Up™ Initiative
Tools and guidance to help patients become active participants in their healthcare.
https://www.jointcommission.org/resources/for-consumers/speak-up-campaigns/

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Articles exploring diagnostic bias, patient trust, and improving clinician-patient communication.
https://www.aamc.org

Mayo Clinic
Evidence-based information on chronic pain, women's health, and conditions that are often difficult to diagnose.
https://www.mayoclinic.org

Endometriosis Foundation of America
Education, advocacy, and patient resources.
https://www.endofound.org

The Endometriosis Association
Support, education, and research updates.
https://endometriosisassn.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Education, support groups, and mental health resources.
https://www.nami.org