In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Amelia Kelley is joined by psychotherapist and author Jason Shiers, who shares his raw and powerful journey from addiction, psychiatric wards, and endless seeking to a profound awakening of self-compassion and inner peace.

Jason opens up about his experiences with escapism, 12-step programs, therapy, and the search for relief that never quite touched the root of his suffering. What ultimately transformed his life was the realization that he was never broken, and that true healing comes from reconnecting with the self, not endlessly trying to fix what isn’t damaged.

Key takeaways:

• The hidden reasons behind addiction, self-medication, and escapism.
• The difference between white-knuckle sobriety and embodied healing.
• Why true recovery means going inward instead of chasing external solutions.
• How loved ones can create safety and connection for someone struggling with addiction.
• The radical shift from “what’s wrong with me?” to “what’s right with me?”
• The role of the body and nervous system in emotional healing.

Jason also shares the essence of his book The Infinite Recovery Project and his mission to guide others toward seeing themselves as whole, even in the midst of struggle. His story offers hope, clarity, and a reminder that seeking is not failure, it’s the soul’s way of guiding us home.

This episode is for anyone who has struggled with addiction, loves someone who has, or has ever felt broken beyond repair. Jason’s story is proof that transformation is possible, and Amelia’s insights ground the conversation in compassion and empowerment.

Resources & Support Mentioned

• Get the The Infinite Recovery Project Book here.

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

In this captivating episode, Dr. Amelia Kelley talks with Dr. Brian Sharpless, licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and author who specializes in rare and unusual psychological disorders. Together, they dive deep into the strange and often frightening world of sleep phenomena—including exploding head syndrome, sleep paralysis, and REM sleep behavior disorder.

Dr. Sharpless explains why these conditions occur, how trauma and neurodiversity can increase vulnerability, and the surprising ways genetics, stress, and lifestyle play a role. He also shares practical strategies to reduce episodes, from regulating sleep hygiene to shifting sleeping positions, and highlights why simply naming and understanding these experiences can often bring relief.

This episode not only demystifies bizarre nighttime experiences but also shines a compassionate light on how our brains process fear, trauma, and memory through sleep.

Key Takeaways

• Exploding head syndrome is a real but harmless sleep-related hallucination that feels like hearing a gunshot, explosion, or crashing sound while falling asleep.
• Sleep paralysis often brings vivid, terrifying hallucinations—yet no one has ever died from it, and knowing this can reduce its intensity.
• Trauma and acute stress disrupt memory consolidation during sleep, making it harder to rest until healing work begins in waking life.
• Highly sensitive people and those with ADHD may be more prone to disturbed sleep due to heightened nervous system activation.
• Regulating bedtime routines, avoiding back-sleeping, reducing stimulation before bed, and addressing underlying trauma can dramatically improve sleep quality.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Learn more about Dr. Brian A. Sharpless

Get his book: Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

Key Takeaways

• Healing past wounds is essential to avoid repeating toxic patterns.
• Your gut and nervous system often signal red flags before your mind does.
• Butterflies can mean dysregulation, while safety might initially feel “boring” but is actually healthy.
• Setting and flexing boundaries early reveals how someone respects (or disrespects) you.
• True love doesn’t complete you—it complements who you already are.

Resources & Support Mentioned

• Bitch is a Bad Word Podcast: Available on Apple, Spotify, and all major platforms
  
  Follow Lindsay Abernathy:
• Instagram: @bitchisabadwordpod
• Community Line: Call or text 331-BITCHES to connect or share your story

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

Key Takeaways

• Abusive relationships often follow the same predictable cycle—love bombing, devaluation, isolation, and intermittent reinforcement.
• Survivors often stay not because they want the relationship to end, but because they desperately hope the abuse will stop.
• Even small “repairs” (like a crumb of kindness) can keep survivors hooked, similar to a slot machine’s intermittent rewards.
• Children benefit profoundly when even one parent provides a safe, secure, and loving environment—even if only part-time.
• Leaving abuse allows survivors to rebuild their identities, reconnect with their support networks, and show their children what safety looks like.
• Abusers often store survivors’ vulnerabilities in a “vault,” later weaponizing them—this is not a reflection of your worth but of their manipulation.

Resources & Support Mentioned

• National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.): 800-799-7233
• If outside the U.S.: Search for your local domestic violence hotline. If you cannot find one, message Dr. Kelley via her website and she will help research for you.
• Bitch is a Bad Word Podcast: Available on Apple, Spotify, and all major platforms
  
  Follow Lindsay Abernathy:
• Instagram: @bitchisabadwordpod
• Community Line: Call or text 331-BITCHES to connect or share your story
  

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

Why does slowing down feel so uncomfortable for some of us? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amelia Kelley speaks with licensed psychotherapist and relational trauma recovery specialist Annie Wright about rest resistance, the anxiety, guilt, and discomfort that can arise when we try to pause.

Annie explains how early life experiences, relational trauma, and high-achieving personalities can wire us to equate rest with danger and productivity with safety. They explore how to tell the difference between healthy drive and a compulsion to keep going, and how cultural pressures can reinforce burnout. Annie also offers practical, compassionate tools for making rest feel safe again, starting small, reframing guilt, and learning to “go slow to go fast.”

Whether you’re a high achiever, a highly sensitive person, or someone who struggles to stop, this conversation offers the insight and strategies you need to create a sustainable, balanced life.

Key Takeaways:

• Rest can feel unsafe when trauma has linked achievement to love or safety.
• The key difference between drive and compulsion is having true choice in when to stop.
• Burnout often starts with self-doubt, apathy, and resentment toward what you once loved.
• High sensitivity and sensation seeking can complicate rest needs.
• Small, consistent rest practices help your nervous system adapt to stillness.
• Guilt over rest can be reduced by understanding where it began.
• Relationships can either support or undermine healthy rest.
• “Go slow to go fast” ensures long-term energy and passion.

Connect with Annie Wright:

Visit her website here
Follow her on Instagram

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Midlife in pets often starts earlier than owners realise, especially for larger breeds.
• Overweight pets are at a much higher risk of arthritis and mobility issues.
• Simple strength-building exercises like “dog pushups” and “dog squats” can maintain muscle and prevent frailty.
• Animal empaths should trust their instincts when they notice subtle changes—video evidence can be a powerful tool at the vet.
• Supplements like probiotics, Omega-3 fatty acids, and muscle-support formulas can extend mobility and quality of life.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Follow Dr. Kelly Fishman on Instagram
• Visit her website for supplement recommendations and exercise demos

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

• Van Gogh’s legacy reveals how sensitivity and emotional depth can create timeless beauty even amidst pain and struggle.
• The immersive art experience provides a soothing and transformative space for highly sensitive people to connect deeply with creativity and history.
• Art can be a powerful trauma response, turning inner chaos into external healing.
• Letters to his brother Theo reveal Van Gogh’s introspective, deeply feeling nature and provide rare insight into his mental and emotional world.
• The design of immersive experiences takes into account sensory variety, emotional resonance, and the healing power of storytelling.

Connect with John:
🌐 Website for Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience – www.vangoghexpo.com
💼 LinkedIn – John Zaller

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Sensitivity can be both innate and shaped by trauma; both can coexist.
• Highly sensitive people absorb their environment more deeply, making trauma and gaslighting more impactful.
• Gaslighting creates a destabilizing feeling; overthinking, while mentally exhausting, feels different and more internalized.
• Intermittent rewards and euphoric recall explain why we sometimes miss people who hurt us.
• HSPs and neurodivergent individuals may unintentionally attract narcissists due to their deep empathy and adaptability.
• Masking your sensitivity over time can lead to disconnection from your authentic self—Dr. Kelley shares how to reconnect.
• Healing from gaslighting starts with reconnecting to your voice through rest, play, and safe relationships.
• Sensitivity is not fragility—it’s a heightened awareness that can be a superpower when properly understood.
• Therapists should learn to differentiate between mental health diagnoses and sensitivity or neurodivergence for better treatment outcomes.

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram