Journals of a Love Addict Podcast

This is a special tribute episode to the work of Pia Mellody who passed away May 7th at the age of 82. Pia was a pioneer in the field of trauma and addiction recovery; she developed a groundbreaking model of treatment, and authored several books including Facing Love Addiction and Facing Codependence.  Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Link to Jodi's website and additional resources Links to Facing Codependence, Facing Love Addiction and The Intimacy Factor by Pia Mellody Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

In love addiction, we may find ourselves feeling betrayed by a partner-- even if we don't know for sure that something is going on--while doubting our instincts, believing we're too sensitive, and giving an emotionally unavailable partner the benefit of the doubt. This feeling adds to our anxiety, and whatever information a partner is withholding adds to the dysfunction of the relationship...and we stay in the cycle of love addiction hoping things will change. In this episode Jodi talks with betrayal trauma therapist, Lindsay Haverslew, about the reality of betrayal trauma. Jodi and Lindsay share personal experiences with betrayal, and discuss signs that a partner is emotionally unavailable, tips for identifying a trustworthy person, and much more.  Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Link to Jodi's website and additional resources Lindsay's website and instagram Lindsay mentioned the work of Jennifer Freyd and Dr. Kevin Skinner and the book Unleashing Your Power  Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Music has the power to shape moods and moments; but do you ever wonder what shaped the music? Or what someone had to experience in order to bring one of your favorite songs or albums into the world? In this episode, Jodi talks with singer-songwriter, Kelly Willis. Jodi shares the personal significance of Kelly's album, 'What I Deserve' and how it provided hope during a particularly painful time in her life; and Kelly discusses how her childhood as an army brat, growing up without her mother, and early disappointments in the music industry shaped that album. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Link to Jodi's website and additional resources Read Army Brat by Kelly Willis (and subscribe to her Substack) Link to Kelly's website Listen to What I Deserve by Kelly Willis  Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

What does it mean to be "good"? Unfortunately, for women, being seen as "good" often requires conforming and playing along vs standing up for one's values or against wrongdoing--if you've seen the movie Wicked, you know how this story goes. In this episode, Jodi begins the process of imperfectly unpacking what she's learned throughout nearly a decade of recovery (and 55 years of life): the insidious power of cultural messages; why being seen as a "good girl" can feel so important, but keeps us stuck; and how all of this prevents us from speaking up, being real, and getting to know our true strength.  Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Link to Jodi's website and additional resources Read Jodi's blog  Jodi mentioned the book Ready to Heal by Kelly McDaniel Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.                  

Emotional dysregulation, compulsive behavior and obsessive thoughts: if you've struggled with love addiction, all of this might sound very familiar...but these are also symptoms of ADHD. Is there a connection? In this episode, Jodi talks with Aly Dearborn, a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist with specialized training in recognizing female presentations of ADHD and Austism. Aly and Jodi discuss the shared symptoms of love addiction, ADHD and Autism; the estrogen connection and why girls and women are often misdiagnosed; and Aly shares her personal experience with love addiction and being an adult diagnosed ADHD/Autistic. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Link to Jodi's website and additional resources More resources and information about Aly Dearborn can be found here Aly mentioned the work of Bo Forbes Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.    

We live in a time of constant communication and short-form media, with unlimted data at our fingertips and an abundance of "experts" at the ready. While this access to information and opinions is functional at times, it can also feel overwhelming and lead to dysregulation, regression and dysfunctional behavior. So how do we handle this? In this episode, Jodi discusses the the importance of discernment and the power of pausing; why the symptoms of codependence and love addiction lead to undervaluing our instincts while overvaluing the opinions of others; and how pausing can reveal the most useful information of all. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Link to Jodi's website and additional resources Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody Here's a very handy feelings wheel @ feelingswheel.com Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Love addiction is more than 'just' love addiction: It's a set of symptoms rooted in codependence, and fed by cutural messages that lead girls and women to believe they are unworthy, unwell, unlovable--and all of this starts early in life. Anna Christie's story is an incredible example of the influence those messages can have on us. As she explains in this episode, Anna knew at a young age that she was queer; but through feedback from her environment, she learned this wasn't acceptable, and spent years of her life conforming. Anna's powerful story is an example of the distances we'll travel in search of the belonging we crave, as well as proof that we can find ourselves again.  Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Jodi's website and link to the JOLA Network (online recovery community) and Fall 2024 Mother Hunger online group.   Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

When an addictive relationship ends, we can find ourselves feeling wobbly, uncertain and very vulnerable. We might seek therapy, or the help of a support group, or even guidance from someone who SAYS they have the solution to our problem and can make the pain go away. In this episode, Jodi and her friend Brooke share stories of seeking comfort from psychics, and why we might look for guidance in such places, and place so much trust in someone we don't even know. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Jodi's website and link to the JOLA Network (online recovery community) and Fall 2024 Mother Hunger online group.   Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

We often think of recovery as something we start, and then everything gets better. But everyone's path to recovery is unique, and truth is that once we do get started, things might actually get harder before they get easier. In this epsiode, Jodi talks with another therapist in recovery, Heidi Kingston, regarding her personal experience with love addiction, the ups and downs of her own recovery journey, and what she's learned along the way. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Jodi's website and link to the JOLA Network (online recovery community) Heidi's website Pia Mellody books referenced: Facing Love Addiction and Breaking Free The Meadows workshop referenced: Survivors Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Fantasy plays a big part in the cycle of love addiction; and for many of us, using fantasy to escape discomfort starts early in life. This, acommpanied with the idea of a prince charming or soulmate as presented to us in childhood fairy tales, has a poweful impact on how we see ourselves, and what we look for in relationships. In this episode, Jodi talks with Heather Cronemiller, a therapist in recovery and co-author of "Going Deeper For Women: How The Inner Child Impacts Your Sex & Love Addiction". Heather shares her experience with fantasy and the search for a soulmate, and what ultimately led her into recovery. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Jodi's website Heather's website Going Deeper For Women Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

In love addiction, we have an issue with reality. In other words, we tend to ignore the data that's often right in front of us, and might even seek 'different' data elsewhere--something that could possibly soothe us, but often hurts us. In this episode, Jodi and her friend, Brooke, discuss the concepts of pain shopping and comfort-seeking behaviors; and they share their personal experiences with both. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Link to more information about The JOLA Network (Jodi's online recovery community): https://jodiwhite.jolanetwork.com/ Jodi's website: https://www.jodiwhiteonline.com/ Additional resources (including Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody) Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.    

It can be easy to assume that therapists have it together in life and relationships; but when it comes to attachment--and love addiction--no one is immune. And because hearing from a therapist who 'gets it' can be very helpful for those of us in recovery, Jodi invited therapist and coach, Leah Hoffman, to the podcast to share her recent experience with the cycle of love addiction and what she's learned from it. Show notes and resources: Leah's website: coachingwithleah.com Music by JD Pendley Jodi's website: jodiwhiteonline.com Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional.  If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

One of the hard parts of recovery--and life--is having difficult conversations, especially those that come with a chance of discord, being seen as the 'bad guy', or simply feeling uncomfortable. When confronted with having hard conversations, it can seem 'easier' to avoid them...but also less functional, and avoiding can lead to resentment and feeling stuck. But there's good reason for the discomfort: In this episode of the podcast, Jodi talks about this with therapist and boundaries expert Juliane (Jules) Taylor Shore and about her new book, "Setting Boundaries That Stick" (you may remember Jules from EP31, "All About Boundaries"). Jules shares six steps to setting an external boundary, as well as the importance of a pause and paying attention to feelings; why hard conversations are so challenging; why we struggle with self-compassion, and why growth comes with grief.   Show notes and resources: Information about Jules Taylor Shore and her instagram. Purchase "Setting Boundaries That Stick" EP31: All About Boundaries with Jules Taylor Shore Music by JD Pendley Jodi's website: jodiwhiteonline.com Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional.  If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.    

It's hard to be still sometimes, especially in a culture that constantly tells you to get moving, to achieve, to perform--plus being still often comes with all the feelings...and feeling our feelings can be hard, too. In this episode Jodi talks about a few of the hard parts of recovery, including difficult conversations, how she views past shameful experiences, and the reality of joy in recovery. Show notes and resources: Information about Emily Nagoski The Principles of Pleasure on Netflix (trailer) The Robcast episode referenced (#365) Danielle Laporte Music by JD Pendley Jodi's website: jodiwhiteonline.com Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional.  If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Love addiction comes with a set of symptoms, leading to a pattern of dysfunctional relationships; whether we tend to be more anxious or more avoidant (or both), we may find ourselves in the push/pull of addictive relationships more than once. Then, after each relationship we say "I'll never do that again", fully intending to make some changes, but...   Even if we enter love addiction recovery and address the symptoms, we may still find that we're unknowingly driven by outdated messages telling us who we're supposed to be and how we're supposed to live our lives. Why? Because of inherited cultural beliefs that infiltrate our decision-making.   In this episode, Jodi discusses these cultural beliefs--how they fuel love addiction, and can meddle with life in recovery, too. She also reviews the symptoms of codependence and love addiction, and talks about the impact that seemingly benign labels can have on kids.     Show notes and resources:   Music by JD Pendley   Jodi's website: jodiwhiteonline.com   References: Facing Codependence and Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody; Ready to Heal by Kelly McDaniel   Album mentioned: Just a Girl by No Doubt   Disclaimer:   This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional.  If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

The term 'love addiction' is often referred to in the context of romantic relationships, but did you know that the symptoms can apply to platonic relationships, too? In this episode, Jodi talks about her history with undervaluing herself in friendships and overlooking red flags in order to belong and be the "best friend". She's joined by her friend Brooke (from "A Breakup Story"), to discuss the complexity of female friendships past and present. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Jodi's website: jodiwhiteonline.com NYT article: What To Do If A Friend Ghosts You by Catherine Pearson Books referenced: Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody and Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional.  If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance. 

Have you ever needed to block someone? Maybe you ended a relationship and no longer wanted to see their social media activity, or maybe you found yourself needing to have a hard boundary with a former friend. In today's world, considering that most of us are accessible on multiple platforms, it's not uncommon to block another person...BUT, that doesn't mean it's always easy to do (for a number of reasons). Blocking is an important topic, so Jodi invited trauma therapist, Leah Aguierre--someone who talks openly about the subject on social media--to join her for a conversation. On this episode Jodi and Leah cover why we struggle with the idea of blocking, four reasons why blocking can be helpful in certain situations, and they share personal experiences with blocking. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley You can learn more about Leah here leahaguierrelcsw.com and on Instagram @leahaguirrelcsw Jodi's website: jodiwhiteonline.com Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance. 

You may have heard about the importance of your 'why'--that thing that motivates you and provides a sense of purpose in life and work. But what if that concept was broken down even further, into three parts that took you deeper into that 'why'? Nicole Lewis-Keeber (therapist, coach & author) has done just that, and she talks with Jodi in this episode of the podcast about The Three Whys. Jodi also shares an early experience that took her away from her Why, and a little about the process of getting back to it. Music by JD Pendley Show notes: Learn more about Nicole and download her book, "The Three Whys", here. Jodi mentions this book by Stephen Cope. Follow the podcast on instagram @journalsofaloveaddict  

If you're a listener of the podcast, then you've heard Jodi talk about 'that therapist'--the one she worked with in 2016, who taught her about love addiction, supported her through withrawal, and played a vital role in her in early recovery. That therapist is Dr. Lara Dye, a Pia Mellody-trained psychologist specializing in love & sex addiction, limerence--and who has personal experience with love addiction recovery. And, because she was such an important part of Jodi's recovery journey, she invited Dr. Dye to talk with her for this episode of the podcast. Music by JD Pendley  

What is intimacy? If you Google the term you might find varying--yet similar--definitions...but what does it mean to YOU? In this episode, Kelly McDaniel (author of "Ready to Heal" and "Mother Hunger") is back to talk with Jodi regarding what intimacy really is, and the reason why in love addiction--although we might crave closeness--we struggle to tolerate authentic intimacy. Music by JD Pendley

Have you seen the Hulu documentary, "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields"? It paints a powerful portrait of Brooke's sexualization as a child actor, and brings attention to the waters in which young women swim from a young age. In this docuseries, Brooke Shields discusses the highs and lows of her career, and provides insight into the complex relationship with her mother. On this episode of the podcast, Jodi is joined by her friend, Brooke, to discuss "Pretty Baby" through a lens of Mother Hunger (because we can't understand love addiction without talking about Mother Hunger). Even if you haven't watched the documentary, you'll get something out of this one. Music by JD Pendley https://www.journalsofaloveaddict.com/

In love addiction we often feel like we're in love, but is it really love? And what is genuine love, anyway? In this episode, Jodi discusses the concept of cathexis--the thing we often confuse with genuine love--and the role it played in her love addiction. She also shares a recent painful experience that forced her to slow down in order to examine (and accept) reality, and to embrace the grief that came with all of it.    Music by JD Pendley

Do you ever feel like what you're doing in the world isn't aligned with who you are? Like maybe you're going through the motions of 'supposed to' instead of living from your true purpose? If so, you're not alone... In this episode Jodi talks with Becky Vollmer about her new book, "You Are Not Stuck: How Soul-Guided Choices Transform Fear Into Freedom" which provides relatable steps for getting back to authenticity. They also discuss their similar experiences with first careers; the importance of knowing what we do and don't value; and how yoga can help us tap into our True Self. Music by JD Pendley  

When we're enmeshed with a parent we might feel responsible for taking care of them emotionally, and guilty if we don't do what they expect of us. And while enmeshment is often uncomfortable, it may also come with feeling special and can be very challenging to recognize and overcome. In this episode, Jodi talks with Dr. Kenneth Adams, therapist and author of "When He's Married to Mom", about mother-enmeshed men: What is childhood like for them? What are their adult relationships like? And how to recover from enmeshment and have functional adult relationships (with both partners and parents). Music by JD Pendley  

Are you familiar with the concept of assigned family roles--roles assigned in childhood that are either falsely empowering or disempowering? Maybe you've heard of The Hero, The Lost Child, or The Scapegoat? But what does all of this mean? In this episode, Jodi discusses The Hero and Lost Child, and how these roles contribute to love avoidance or addiction. And she talks with London-based coach, Mary Toolan, regarding the role known as the toxic family's dustbin: The Scapegoat. Music by JD Pendley

In love addiction recovery, we focus a lot on developmental trauma and what took place in our family of origin (because looking at our history is important). But there's something else that plays a role in love addiction: Cultural messaging. In this episode, Jodi's friend, Brooke, joins her to talk about the recent Victoria's Secret documentary; and how the company's marketing in the early 2000s led to confusing messages about beauty, and furthered the cultural double bind women experience. Jodi and Brooke also share personal experiences about sexual harassment, body insecurity, and how uncomfortable it is to talk about 'this stuff'. Music by JD Pendley  

There are books and podcasts about love addiction, and people talk on social media about it--but there aren't many movies that address the topic... That's why Charlene deGuzman's film, Unlovable, is so unique: She not only tells her story, but she calls love addiction what it is. In this episode Jodi talks with Charlene about her personal experience with love addiction and recovery, as well as what she's learned about herself and how recovery has changed her life. Music by JD Pendley  

We hear a lot about "having boundaries" or "setting boundaries" or "respecting boundaries"....but what does any of this really mean? To answer this question, Jodi invited trauma therapist and boundaries expert, Jules Taylor Shore, to talk all about boundaries. Jules takes this complex topic and explains it in a user-friendly way, so we can better understand ourselves and others. Music by JD Pendley

Love addiction gets messy. It's full of intensity, shame, and regression that leads us to behave regretfully--or as Jodi says, 'like a tornado of sticks and poo'. In this episode, Jodi celebrates six years in recovery by revisiting Pia Mellody's symptoms of love addiction; and by providing examples of how these symptoms looked for her during nearly three decades of addicted relationships. Music by JD Pendley    

What does it mean to 'feel stuck'? And, what exactly IS a feeling, anyway? In this episode, Jodi talks with Britt Frank--therapist and author of "The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward"--about the definition of stuck; the difference between feelings, emotions, and thoughts; fantasy and fairy tales. Britt also shares her experience with addiction and recovery, as well as her thoughts on what keeps us stuck in our love addiction. Music by JD Pendley  

If you listen to the podcast you've likely heard Jodi talk about Mother Hunger and the role it plays in love addiciton. But there's an extreme form of this attachment injury: Third Degree Mother Hunger--which happens when a daughter grows-up frightened of her mother. For this episode, Jodi invited fellow Mother Hunger facilitator and therapist, Jennifer Acker, to share her personal Third Degree Mother Hunger story. Music by JD Pendley

We might think we know the meaning of the term "betrayal",  but what actually happens when we're truly betrayed by the person closest to us? In this episode, Jodi talks with therapist and betrayal trauma expert, Michelle Mays, about the complexity of this relational trauma, as well as recovery resources. Jodi also discusses her new awareness of the role that betrayal played in her love addiction. Music by JD Pendley  

We all have a story to tell, and when it comes to love addiction our stories are as unique as they are similar. It's as if love addiction comes with a script and how it plays out depends upon who's directing. In this episode, Jodi is joined by Kelly Henderson of the podcast, Velvet's Edge, to share her personal experience with love addiction and recovery--and they realize their stories are very similar. Music by JD Pendley

Love addiction and codependence come with patterns of dysfunction, as we unconsciously try to resolve (and act-out) the past through our current relationships.  In this episode, Jodi talks with therapist and coach, Buck Dodson, regarding his personal experience with codependence and dysfunctional relationships, as well as his professional experience working with gay men's issues. Buck is also the host of his podcast Gay Men's Life Lab. Music by JD Pendley

There's lots of talk about adulting and being a 'mature adult', but what does all of that even mean? Are we adults because we have responsibilites, or we're parents, or (we think) we behave maturely? In this episode, Jodi invites Daniel Gowan back to discuss Pia Mellody's concept of the Functional Adult. They also cover Pia's five core symptoms of codependence (aka the five 'buckets'), reparenting, and how to live in action vs reaction. Music by JD Pendley

Have you ever looked back on a past relationship and wondered "What if: what if things had worked out differently, or I'd been more this/that, or the timing had been better?" For those of us with a history of love addiction those 'what-ifs' can lead us into fantasy and obsession (and sometimes right back into a dysfunctional relationship). But not all relationships end badly...so why not try again? In this episode, Brooke is back to share another dating experience--one that started with a 'what-if' and led to a lot of useful information. Music by JD Pendley  

What is 'enough'? If you've struggled with codepedence or love addiction, you might catch yourself feeling 'not enough'; or maybe you're driven to DO more (and more) but it never feels like enough. In this episode, Jodi talks about how the pandemic has shifted our concept of what it means to do and be enough, and the role that 'enough' played in her love addiction. She also talks about what's to come this year on the podcast. Music by JD Pendley

Mental health is an important topic, and thanks to social media it's become a more widely discussed topic than in previous years. But while these platforms can provide lots of information, there's also misinformation--especially when it comes to how we talk about trauma and 'healing'. In this episode Jodi talks with Tyndal Schreiner, a fellow Texas therapist, about being a therapist on Instagram and the importance of professional boundaries. They also discuss the process of becoming a therapist and a few valuable lessons they learned along the way. Music by JD Pendley

What does 'home' mean to you? Is it a sense of safety? Belonging? Connection? In this episode, Jodi talks with her teacher, Guru Singh, about their first meeting 24 years ago--how it helped her create a new perspective of what home is, and changed the trajectory of her life. They also cover relationships, addiction, spirituality, boredom, and much more in one epic hour of conversation. Music by JD Pendley  

Sobriety is wonderful but, like lots of things in life, it's not always a pocketful of rainbows. And Chris Marshall, founder of Sans Bar in Austin--with nearly 15 years of sobriety--really gets this. In this episode, Jodi and Chris talk about embracing uncertainty in recovery; the importance of accepting that there are different paths to sobriety versus a one-size-fits-all approach; that it's okay to reconsider labels that may no longer serve you. And much more. Music by JD Pendley  

Do you love your work? And, equally as important, does it love you back? This is a question that business therapist Nicole Lewis-Keeber asks readers in her book, "How to Love Your Business: Stop recreating trauma and have a business you love-and that loves you back". In this episode Jodi talks with Nicole about a time when she considered closing her business, but instead--thanks an early morning aha moment--she rebuilt it. This pivotal moment ultimately led Nicole to a loving relationship with her work, as well as writing a book about how our history with trauma can sabotage us in business and what we can do about it. Music by JD Pendley  

Sometimes a breakup is The End, but sometimes we go back and try it again--especially when we're talking about love addiction and codependence. As Jerry Seinfeld said, "Everybody knows the first breakup never takes". In this episode, Jodi follows-up with her friend Brooke as they reconnect regarding what's transpired since her breakup last year (covered in Episode 2). Listen as they discuss how Part Two of Brooke's breakup got started, why it ended, and how going back again--with the right tools--can actually provide a lot of useful information for our recovery. Music by JD Pendley    

In the previous two episodes, author and therapist Kelly McDaniel has explained Mother Hunger, how it happens, and provided some well-known cases of Mother Hunger from her forthcoming book for reference. In Part Three, Jodi and Kelly continue their conversation with the definition of Third-Degree Mother Hunger, as well as the steps involved in the healing process. Music by JD Pendley  

Nurturance, guidance and protection are three developmental needs for appropriate brain development in childhood; but what happens if any (or all) of these are inconsistently provided? In this episode, Jodi continues the Mother Hunger discussion with author and therapist, Kelly McDaniel; listen as they talk about the importance of protection, how daughters look to their mothers for guidance, and how carried shame messes everything up. Music by JD Pendley      

Mothers are valuable: they're our first love and the source of everything we need to survive. But what happens when a mother doesn't get the support she needs, or is struggling with her own unresolved trauma? In this episode (part one of a three-part series), Jodi talks with Kelly McDaniel (author or "Ready to Heal") about her upcoming book, "Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection, and Guidance". The conversation includes a definition of Mother Hunger, how it happens, and how it can affect us. Music by JD Pendley  

Why do we stay in co-addicted relationships, believing 'that one' person's validation is the key to our fulfillment? What drives us to pursue a fantasy, only to be disappointed when confronted by reality? In this episode, Jodi talks about books, Zen meditation, the role of dopamine in love addiction, and how finding our own 'nothing special' is actually really awesome.

What is healthy sex? And intimate sex? And how about healthy sex in recovery? Jodi has so many questions for her guest, Alex Katehakis, healthy sexuality expert and author of the book, Erotic Intelligence. In this episode, Alex and Jodi discuss the four cornerstones of intimacy, how stress interferes with desire, sex as a spiritual practice, and so much more. Music by JD Pendley  

Love addiction is rooted in codependence; it comes with boundary issues, dependency issues and self-esteem issues, which leads us to look externally (often to our partners) for a sense of worthiness. In this episode, Jodi discusses her history of trying to prove her value in relationships, and how that led to resentment and more dysfunctional behavior. She also discusses what happens when attachment wounds are triggered and what we can do in those painful moments. Music by JD Pendley

What's it like to grow up as The Hero of the family? Hint: It's not as awesome as it sounds. In this episode, Jodi talks with Rev. Daniel Gowan, LPC-S, regarding his upbringing as a Hero and his personal experience with love addiction, avoidance, and codependence. We'll also discuss his recovery journey, how this led him to Pia Mellody's work, and how all of it has influenced him as a therapist. Music by JD Pendley

Do you struggle with consistency? Does your desire to do All The Things --and do them perfectly-- get in the way of actually DOING anything at all? In this episode, Jodi explores the connection between codependence, love addiction and the tendency to over-function; how shame feeds our dysfunctional behavior; and how sometimes, even when we think we're just wasting time, we might actually be learning our most valuable lessons. Music by JD Pendley

What do seduction, fantasy, obsession, self-medicating and  withdrawal have in common? They're all parts of the cycle of love addiction. In this episode, Jodi continues her conversation with Sarah Bridge, LCSW; listen as they discuss the love addiction cycle, as well as what happens in co-addicted relationships between Love Addicts and Love Avoidants. Music by JD Pendley