The Audacious Life - Break Free

 Was It Trauma...or a Brain Injury? In this raw, in-the-car episode, I open up about something I've never fully talked about — the invisible symptoms of post-concussion syndrome and how they've affected my life and recovery. After overdoing it on a bike ride, I fell into a physical and cognitive relapse that left me confused, exhausted, and deeply frustrated. I now know it was a resurgence of TBI symptoms, something that often gets overlooked in women, especially those with a history of domestic abuse. This isn't medical advice — it's my personal story. But if any of this sounds familiar to you, it might be worth exploring further.

Stop Talking About Narcissists - Why Celebrating YOUR Wins Is The Path To Healing   After 10 years of podcasting about narcissistic abuse, I've realized something critical: we've been giving narcissists exactly what they want - attention. It's time for a movement where we stop obsessing over abusers and start celebrating ourselves!   In this powerful episode, I explain why focusing on "red flags" and manipulation tactics can actually keep us stuck in hypervigilance and fear. Instead, I'm inviting you to share your wins - big or small - as we shift the spotlight onto YOUR healing journey.   Whether you've just taken a peaceful bubble bath despite the text bombing, established a boundary, or won a court case, your story matters and can inspire others. Join me in creating a community where survivors lift each other up instead of staying trapped in negativity.  

How I broke Free From Fear and Overwhelm with Prayer

Celebrating the Massachusetts Coercive Control Bill In this episode, I discuss the recent passing of the Coercive Control Bill in Massachusetts, the celebration I attended with many incredible survivors and advocates. And what the passing of the bill means for survivors of domestic abuse.  Key Points: Massachusetts unanimously passed the Coercive Control Bill, becoming the 7th state to classify coercive control as a form of domestic violence. The bill (H4744) expands protections against abuse and exploitation, including laws against revenge porn. Coercive control is defined as a pattern of behavior intended to threaten, intimidate, harass, isolate, control, or compel compliance of a family or household member. The law doesn't criminalize coercive control but allows it to be considered a criminal violation of a protective order. Highlights: Meeting with advocates and survivors at the celebration event Discussion on the need for further legislation and support for survivors Importance of addressing post-separation abuse and ongoing support for survivors Resources Mentioned: Perfect Prey podcast Dr. Lisa Fontes' website Article on Massachusetts Coercive Control Law Coercive Control Consulting - Legislation Information Books Mentioned: "Invisible Chains" by Dr. Lisa Fontes "Framed" by Dr. Christine Cociola (upcoming release) Call to Action: Educate yourself about coercive control Contact your local domestic violence agency if you suspect coercive control Reach out to state legislators to support coercive control legislation Share ideas for supporting survivors, especially in post-separation scenarios Get Involved: Check out TRAC (Together Rising Above Coercion) in Massachusetts Look for similar initiatives in your state Join the conversation! Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas for supporting survivors in the comments below. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to the podcast for more content on domestic abuse awareness and support.

I'm excited to share this interview because this is a service that I wish I had years ago. Legal help without breaking the bank? Yes, it's possible!  Ever wished you had a lawyer on speed dial, but thought it was way out of your budget? Think again! In this eye-opening combo episode of 'The Audacious Life and The Audacious Mama Show,' I sit down with Kamerane Gatlin to chat about a game-changing legal service that's shaking things up. Imagine having 24/7 access to top-notch law firms for less than your monthly coffee budget - just $29.95! Sounds too good to be true. But, Kamerane's here to spill the tea on how this service is transforming lives, especially for single parents and budding entrepreneurs. From sticky divorces to unexpected traffic tickets and even navigating the maze of business contracts, this affordable legal plan has you covered. Kamerane shares her journey and how this service became her secret weapon in both personal and professional battles. We dive into how this legal lifeline can also be your springboard to building generational wealth. You may be curious about turning this into your next business venture. Kamerane dishes out the details on the support, mentorship, and flexible opportunities available. So, whether you're a parent juggling it all, an entrepreneur with big dreams, or just someone who wants to sleep better at night knowing legal help is a phone call away, this episode is for you. Tune in and discover how you can lawyer up without emptying your wallet! 00:00 Breaking Down the Legal Cost Barrier 02:16 Meet Kemerane: From Skeptic to Believer 05:31 Legal Support for Every Life Scenario 15:55 Entrepreneurs, This One's for You! 23:55 Navigating the Legal App: It's Easier Than You Think 28:09 The Fine Print: Understanding Extra Costs 31:56 From Client to Business Owner: Your New Career? 39:25 Building Your Legacy: Wealth That Lasts 48:37 Final Pep Talk: You've Got This! Need to get this going NOW? Go for it! You can grab the membership for $29.95 here If you're intrigued by what you've heard today about this game-changing legal service, I've got two ways for you to take action right now: First, I want to hear from you directly. Shoot me an email at stephanir at gmail.com with the subject line 'Legal'. I'd love to chat more about how this could work for you and answer any questions you might have. Second, if you're ready to dive deeper, I've got a special link just for my podcast listeners. But here's the deal - I want to make sure you get the personalized attention you deserve. So instead of just throwing the link out there, reach out to me first. When you email me, I'll send you the link along with some insider tips on how to make the most of this opportunity. It's stephanir at gmail.com. Remember, taking control of your legal needs doesn't have to be scary or expensive. Whether you're a parent, an entrepreneur, or just someone who wants to sleep better at night knowing you've got legal backup, this could be a game-changer for you. Thanks for listening!  Lots of Love, Steph

Healing is in the air! Ready to break free from narcissistic abuse? Discover these 5 essential books to help you heal, release the fear, and rebuild your life. Learn how to break free from toxic patterns, regain your self-esteem, and find inner peace.     Steph discusses the need to focus on healing from narcissistic abuse through recommended resources, emphasizing the importance of moving beyond seeking validation through shared traumatic experiences.   Book Recommendations:   It's Not You: Indentifying and Healing from Narcissistic People by Dr. Ramani Durvasula, PhD - https://amzn.to/4d7RJn9 Focuses on healing from narcissistic abuse rather than discussing the abuser, providing insights into recovery.   Why Does He Do That: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Bancroft - https://amzn.to/3SzJrfg Explores the mindset of abusive men, offering understanding and validation for those recovering from such relationships.   Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship by: Lisa Aronson Fontes, PhD - https://amzn.to/3WRjMla Offers comprehensive guidance for those still in abusive relationships, covering practical aspects like finances and children.   Boundary Boss, Terri Cole: the Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free - https://amzn.to/4cgCKWt Provides concrete tips and scripts for setting and maintaining boundaries, especially with toxic individuals.   Writing to Heal: A Guided Journal for Recovering from Trauma and Emotional Upheaval by James Pennebaker, PhD - https://amzn.to/3WNaTst Encourages journaling as a therapeutic tool to process and release trauma, with proven psychological and physiological benefits. What's on the Horizon Shifting Focus to Healing and Thriving: Steph emphasizes the need to focus on healing and thriving rather than dwelling on the trauma and identity tied to narcissistic abuse. Seeking ways to find our voice and create meaning through interests that light us up and help give us something to build and look forward to each day, whether a blog, a product, a hobby to share publicly to gain confidence being seen and standing in your power.   Personal Experience and Self-Care: She shares her personal journey and the importance of self-care to get through the worst of times and deeper emotional work. Steph intends to develop resources like an eBook and mini-course to help others in similar situations. Watch for announcements about these and a curated newsletter focused on healing and thriving.   Engagement and Community Support: She encourages listeners to engage with her content, share their own recommendations, and leave feedback to foster a supportive community for healing from narcissistic abuse.   Thank you for listening! Sending lots of Love, light, and prayers to you!!   Love you! Steph xoxo *This may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!  

When we seek validation about narcissistic abuse, we think it's helping us heal. But be warned: The Truth About Narcissistic Abuse Validation is not what we think. We're drawn to memes and videos that validate our experience, comfort us, and maybe even help us feel seen...and sane. But is this the best thing for us to heal and grow beyond the abusive programming? In this episode, I'm sharing some thoughts about how we use content to validate our feelings and what can happen as as result. Here's the video with Lundy Bancroft that I mentioned at the beginning of this episode. Narists vs Abusers: https://youtu.be/0iYfG8x80Yw?si=dkiHPw8BcE7Ae-3f - check the comments and add to the conversation. QUESTION Who are the people, and what are the channels, books, and podcasts you're following to focus on healing and breaking free from narcissistic programming? I'd love to know so I can utilize them and feature them for others--share in the comments. Thank you!! RESOURCES - Feeling hopeless? Dial the 988 Crisis line for compassionate support. - CNN article on the research: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/health... - The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474 - The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online.rainn.org FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL   / stephaniroberts      / audaciouslife      / audaciousmamas      / audaciousmamas   THE AUDACIOUS LIFE PODCAST https://www.theaudaciouslife.com/ THE AUDACIOUS MAMAS SHOW https://www.audaciousmamas.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST ON PODCASTS? Check out my free lesson to learn about the power of podcast guest appearances to build an audience, amplify your authority, and build your brand while growing your email list with warm leads. Thank you for listening! Lots of Love! xoxo!!

Bethenny's Mom Passed - what happened to the divorce videos? Bethenny Frankel was on a role sharing about her messy 10-year divorce and my last podcast was all about this. But what happened to Bethenny's divorce videos?"  When she decided to share about her divorce, I was ecstatic and shared why I think she'll be a solid, outspoken catalyst for awareness around emotional abuse, coercive control, and more. Then I saw that her mom died just a few days after I posted the podcast. Heartbreaking and awful timing given the roll she was on and how great she reports she was feeling. Stating that she felt, "Good" and "free." I figured she would pause her episodes to grieve the loss of her mother. However, a listener shared that the videos have been pulled down. ") This is  about why she pulled them down, her plan IS to share more information moving forward and an alternate place to get information regarding the details of her divorce (BRAVO Docket, link below) if you can't wait or are now so curious about her specific situation.    Please subscribe to her channel and remember to click the bell to be notified when she goes live or shares. It seems like she's on a roll, so we can expect more.   And SHARE with other women!   BETHENNY ON THE LOSS OF HER MOTHER: https://youtu.be/yaHvmtGr5hE?si=RTKWtSW4EPOregD4   THE BRAVO DOCKET ON BETHENNY'S DIVORCE PART 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/lv/podcast/bethennys-divorce-it-just-goes-on-and-on-my-friend-pt-i/id1549568903?i=1000579166591 PART 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bethennys-divorce-it-just-goes-on-and-on-my-friend-pt-ii/id1549568903?i=1000580622246   You may *eventually* be able to see her previous videos below.   MY TEN YEAR DIVORCE ON A 2 YEAR MARRIAGE https://youtu.be/zvGwNyQ5mgA?si=4Agfq-jhMTI-lTeE   PART ONE  CHARMING IS A RED FLAG https://youtu.be/2FxZ52LB9MM?si=d9aEIR6ZUBgkOMT1   RESOURCES - CNN article on the research: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/health/early-signs-of-intimate-partner-violence-wellness/index.html - The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474 - The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online.rainn.org   FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniroberts/ https://www.instagram.com/audaciouslife https://www.pinterest.com/Audaciousmamas/ https://www.instagram.com/audaciousmamas   THE AUDACIOUS LIFE PODCAST https://www.theaudaciouslife.com/   THE AUDACIOUS MAMAS SHOW https://www.audaciousmamas.com/   WANT TO BE A GUEST ON PODCASTS? Check out my free lesson to learn about the power of podcast guest appearances to build an audience, amplify your authority, and build your brand while growing your email list with warm leads.  

Bethenny Frankel's Messy 10-Year Divorce - She's Sharing So We Can Learn As a longtime fan of Bethenny Frankel, I've been waiting for her to share more about her relationship with her former husband and father of their daughter, Bryn.   As outspoken as she is, she clearly had a gag order in place for many years. And she now considers herself an "expert on Divorce" as she  researched and dug deep to help her case.  I caught a YouTube Live with Bethenny sharing that she's decided to share the details of her divorce. And she aims to help other women! Imagine what Bethenny Frankel can do to spread awareness around narcissism and post-separation abuse, including family court corruption.  She's a black belt in verbal jujitsu and can sling memorable one-liners effortlessly. Her impact WILL BE FELT. I immediately recorded this after watching, and she went live again today before I could get this out.  You can catch her previous videos below. Please do go and subscribe, and remember to click the bell so you'll be notified when she goes live or shares. It seems like she's on a roll, so we can expect more. And SHARE with other women!!   MY TEN YEAR DIVORCE ON A 2 YEAR MARRIAGE https://youtu.be/zvGwNyQ5mgA?si=4Agfq-jhMTI-lTeE   PART ONE  CHARMING IS A RED FLAG https://youtu.be/2FxZ52LB9MM?si=d9aEIR6ZUBgkOMT1   Thanks for listening! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this. I will have the YouTube video up on my channel ASAP, along with questions in the community tab. Lots of Love! Steph       Image attribution for promotional graphic "bethenny-frankel-book-a-place-of-yes-330kk" by ekelly89 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Fueling Healthy Thoughts: Overcoming Darkness and Transformative Resilience In this episode I have some raw and vulnerable moments about this year and reflect on what I believe I need to work on with my own stinkin' thinkin'. Being more intentional with what we feed our minds is essential in turning things around, creating hope in our lives, and being a light in the darkness.  It was recorded on MLK Day and I was inspired by his memory and his ability to be the man outside the box pushing through oppressive norms and spurring on all people of color to dare to dream bigger, and believe that more is possible. Here's a run down of this episode Reflecting on the challenges of the past year and the struggle to maintain balance in life. Drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr. and the power of intention. Connecting with the Audience: Acknowledging the shared difficulties many face, emphasizing the feeling of being overwhelmed. Encouraging listeners not to feel alone in their struggles. The Four Nutriments: Exploring Thich Nhat Hanh's concept of the four nutrients (Edible food, Sense impressions, Volition, and Consciousness). Emphasizing the importance of identifying sources of suffering and finding peace and joy. Navigating Personal Struggles: Sharing personal struggles with podcasting, career decisions, and the challenges of parenting. Expressing empathy for those facing overwhelming situations and the difficulty of finding options. MLK Day Reflection: Reflecting on personal connection to Martin Luther King Jr. and the power of intention in creating positive change. Mentioning the influence of spoken words, particularly MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech. Coping Strategies and Tools: Introducing coping strategies, including mindful eating and being aware of sense impressions. Discussing the impact of volition on happiness and the importance of cultivating healthy desires. Addressing the role of consciousness in transforming painful events and finding enlightenment. Focusing on Healing and Positivity: Highlighting the challenge of podcasting about abuse without inadvertently perpetuating negativity. Exploring the power of focus and intention in creating positive change. Expressing a desire to shift the podcast's focus towards healing, love, peace, and thriving. Inviting Positive Stories: Sharing the intention to invite guests who have overcome darkness and transformed their lives. Expressing the need for positive role models and stories of turning life around. Acknowledging personal challenges and the importance of collective healing. Closing Thoughts: Offering tools for managing anxiety and promoting well-being, including heart math techniques and grounding practices. Sending love, hope, and thoughts for a brighter future to the listeners. Encouraging subscriptions, reviews, and engagement to build a community focused on healing. Mentioned in this episode: Thich Nhat Hahn's "How to Focus" beautiful book. Inner Balance Heart Math App for heart brain coherence and learning to ground and become less anxious. And help the collective energy of your family, home, town, the World. Earthing, grounding mat for grounding while indoors. Just plug it into a grounded outlet. I use mine near my desk for my feet while working and under my sheets so I can ground while sleeping. Amazing!! DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!     Thanks for tuning in! Sending lots of Love and wishes for a healthy 2024!  

New Study Uncovers the 16 Early Warnings Signs of Emotionally Abusive Partners In this episode, I dive into brand new research that pinpoints behaviors you should look out for early on in a romantic relationship that could indicate your partner has the potential for emotional abuse, physical violence, and controlling tactics down the road. The study comes from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, with the goal of uncovering what factors accurately predict if intimate partner violence is likely. I share the 16 predictors the researchers identified - ranging from pressuring you into sex to creating uncomfortable public situations. A few stand out as being particularly concerning if they happen early in dating. Some of the key signs to pay attention to: Your partner blames their ex for everything You feel you can't say no because your partner reacts negatively Your partner refuses to admit fault or take responsibility You have trouble focusing at work because your relationship consumes your thoughts The more of these that you notice, the higher likelihood of future abuse in the relationship. While a few issues here and there can potentially be worked on, a pattern of multiple signs is a red flag. I also discuss talking to your teenagers about healthy and unhealthy behaviors in both friendships and dating relationships. Getting this information early helps them identify poor treatment before it becomes normalized in their relationships. Resources: The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474 The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online.rainn.org CNN article on the research: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/health/early-signs-of-intimate-partner-violence-wellness/index.html Check out the YouTube Channel

How to get more of Lundy Bancroft? That's one of the most common questions I get. People often ask where Lundy Bancroft is and they want more access to his work. Lundy has a program called the Peak Living Network (PLN) that helps with emotional healing and recovery.  And as a gesture of support through this holiday season and into the New Year, I want to share some of the best places to find Lundy and possibly be trained by Lundy in his Peak Living Network for emotional healing.  I was in his PLN program and found it incredibly beneficial. If you join now you may be approved and able to start learning ways to connect with others in a safe way, virtually and in-person. Peak Living Network (PLN) - https://peaklivingnetwork.org - Based on Lundy's book "The Joyous Recovery." - Involves co-counseling sessions in groups or pairs to share and process emotions. - Not a substitute for therapy but can be a helpful adjunct. - An option if you can't afford therapy or are waiting to access it. - Requires some training first before joining the network. - International network with an online option. Other Ways to Connect with Lundy - https://lundybancroft.com has his books, articles, resources lists etc. - Active Facebook page with over 23k followers.   / lundybancroft   - Mentions upcoming events, podcast interviews etc. - HelpGuide.org has resources on abusive relationships. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ab...  - Consider joining Peak Living Network for more direct contact with Lundy. - Check his website and Facebook page for updates. - Provide suggestions for other content from Lundy eg podcast, YouTube channel. Check out my FREE video Lesson and get the pitch sheet. ➡︎ https://bit.ly/pod-lesson Check out The Audacious Mamas Podcast website and blog ➡︎ http://audaciousmamas.com Check out The Audacious Life Podcast website and blog ➡︎ http://theaudaciouslife.com  Learn more at http://audaciousmamas.com

Why Become an Entrepreneur as a Survivor of Narcissistic Abuse? In this podcast episode, Steph discusses the advantages of entrepreneurship for mothers who have survived narcissistic or toxic abuse. Steph shares that being an entrepreneur provides a sense of independence and control, which is empowering after experiencing control in a previous relationship. Starting a business can rebuild confidence, provide a sense of purpose, and connect survivors with others. When you're rebuilding your identity and starting over this infuses you with confidence. Flexibility is another advantage of entrepreneurship, allowing mothers to create a schedule that works for them and their families. Financial stability is also a benefit, although it may not be financially feasible in the beginning.  Steph encourages listeners to take advantage of free resources for coaching and building your business, as well as leveraging highly targeted podcasts, to build your brand and attract customers. Overall, entrepreneurship can provide a fresh start and a way for survivors to take control of their future and work toward their dreams. Check out the Audacious Mamas podcast and join the email list to be the first to learn more about the community, support for your dreams, the mindset and spiritual work required, and learn valuable skills to build and scale your business or income stream as a side hustle.  https://www.audaciousmamas.com/podcast Here's a breakdown of the reasons why there are so many advantages for moms and parents who are starting over. Being an entrepreneur provides a sense of independence and control, which can be empowering after experiencing control in a previous relationship. Starting a business can rebuild confidence, provide a sense of purpose, and connect survivors with others. Create a new positive identity with a purpose to build confidence and hope for your future. Flexibility is another advantage of entrepreneurship, allowing mothers to create a schedule that works for them and their families. Financial stability is a benefit, although it may not be financially feasible in the beginning. There are loads of free resources, such as highly targeted podcasts, to build your  brand and attract customers. Overall, entrepreneurship can provide a fresh start and a way for survivors to take control of their future. What about you? Have you thought about building a business?  I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a comment or reach out directly at steph at stephaniroberts.com Thanks for listening! Cheering you on! xoxo!! Steph    

Hello! I hope you're well and caring for yourself through this emotionally turbulent time. In this episode, I'm letting you know where I am with the podcast and my current goals as I manage major life challenges with my children and, like everyone else, do my best to keep my chin up in the midst of life.   I'm sharing that I'm shifting a bit to focus on my other podcast, Audacious Mamas, to help ambitious single moms survivors of narcissistic abuse who are creating businesses and additional income streams. I'll interview people and share content on branding, visibility, mindset, spirituality, self-care, mental health, and more. If this is YOU, please reach out via my guest form so we can connect. I'd love to have you on the podcast to share your story and your business! Seriously, don't second guess it, reach out! :-)   In this episode I'm curating a few things that I found helpful, writing and an interview that's super insightful. First, a piece of writing from Joanne Sacred Scribes about a spiritual awakening that's relevant if you feel yourself changing your interests, your moods, connection to spirit, connection to others, things you're noticing in your daily life and noticing them in ways that make you feel "different" or like you're just not yourself.    Yes, some of this can be depression or something related to stress, but many are feeling something deeper and more all-encompassing. And if you've had depression, you'll know this feeling isn't quite the same because there are definite highs and bursts of inspiration mixed in with lows and emotional breakdowns among other things. I think she covers this topic in a nuanced way that's relatable..   Second, I'm sharing some nuggets from two of my favorite narcissist experts, Dr. Ramani Durvasula and Doctor Les Carter, aka Dr. C. They had an excellent discussion on Dr. Carter's Surviving Narcissism channel. They have some overlap but different approaches to narcissists and narcissistic recovery, and both are super valuable--check it out!     Breaking Free from a Narcissist with Dr. Ramani and Dr. Les Carter on the Surviving Narcissism channel https://youtu.be/gc3PV--4cmw   Spiritual Awakening - from Joanne Sacred Scribes http://psychicjoanne.blogspot.com/2009/08/spiritual-awakening.html   Check out the Audacious Mamas podcast for solo mom survivors and mompreneurs  https://podfollow.com/1136848529 Helping single mompreneurs take control of their time &  avoid burnout so they can become financially liberated.     The Audacious Mamas website - building this up to create a community, learning, and support! https://www.audaciousmamas.com/   Places to find in-person connection if you're feeling disconnected and want to find more people who are like-minded and build your own tribe.   Meetup.com https://www.meetup.com/   Eventbrite.com https://www.eventbrite.com/ Thanks for listening! Lots of Love! xoxo!! Steph          

Hello, this week I'm talking about the mental cage we have in our minds. It's that thing that stops us from being our best selves, our true selves, from honoring the voice that was once there and was slowly eroded by the programming of toxic relationships, specifically those where coercive control and manipulation are at play. One consistent pattern I've seen with myself and fellow survivors of emotional, financial, mental, or sexual and physical abuse. You finally get out of one of these relationships, and you're like, oh, I'm free!  But you quickly realize you're NOT FREE because this experience built a cage in your mind through years of abuse, manipulation, and coercive control.  In this episode, I share about an interview that lit a fire within me and helped me see this pattern and a way out that can help many of us over the long term.  It's not a quick fix, and it's all about incremental change. Those 1% tweaks in our behavior trigger shifts in how we frame our lives. They're catalysts for more profound change, allowing us to create a new story and identity, breaking through the well-worn programming we may not even be aware of. I'm speaking from the heart here, addressing many challenges in my life right now and doing my best to reframe all of it and move forward each day vs. seeing what didn't get done. We're so hard on ourselves even in a crisis, and it's destructive. But we can turn it around and create a new way of life. Mentioned in this episode Atomic Habits by James Cleary (the book on Amazon) https://amzn.to/3UR5nAZ   Atomic Habits by James Cleary (the book on Audible) https://amzn.to/3FkHfRA   Ed Mylett's interview with James Cleary (on YouTube) https://youtu.be/Kz0pNyS0plk   Read Coercive control: Harms to children | Coercive control in children's and mother's lives | Oxford Academic https://bit.ly/cc-harm   Domestic Violence Hotline in the US 800-799-7233  SMS: Text START to 88788 https://www.thehotline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=domestic_violence      Interested in learning how to leverage podcast guesting for your business, service, or side hustle? Check out the info video! https://youtu.be/LVQ5LgUyI5o   Hop on the early signup list! https://bit.ly/blessedguest Sending lots of Love and peace your way!! Thanks for listening!! Steph xoxo!!    

It's Thanksgiving, and I'm sending a big thanks to all who are listening and sending love and appreciation to you. I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!  Today I have Jessica Perkins, Toy Maker, Parent Coach, and homeschooling mom of three. I wanted to interview Jessica to share her story, her Table Talk connection cards for families to improve communication--not just at the table anywhere you have time together and want to draw your children out.  Jessica has a great story about how her business evolved and how she landed into her urge to create with her focus on children and early childhood education. She went with it and launched MamaMayI.shop, her toy and learning company. She's not just a successful mompreneur and coach but also a single parent who's shown incredible resilience these past few years, including being displaced and losing a brand new home in a hurricane last year that destroyed her workspace. She trudges on and has an incredible spirit. I think you'll find this episode inspiring and motivating to find a deeper connection to your kids and yourself. Links Mentioned in this episode MamaMayI.shop JessicaPerkins.com / Coaching and Community Table Talk connection cards for family How to Be Emotionally Healthy Through Connection (YouTube) How to Be Emotionally Healthy Through Connection (podcast) -- My Podcast Guesting Course I'm launching a new course for women to leverage podcast guesting and get promoted the way I'm promoting Jessica here. Her episode will appear on two podcasts, my YouTube channel, social media, and email list. All reaching the women and parents she wants to be in front of to grow her audience, business, and reputation. Check out more reasons why this makes so much sense for women and busy moms (YouTube) Jump on the early signup list to learn more!

This one is for all who are looking for extra cash right now. You can quickly earn $100 an hour and more with User Interviews and get paid with rapid turnaround. Maybe you don't have time to get a part-time job or a side hustle going. Everybody is looking for quick ways to earn money without investing. This is free, no skills needed, and a great way to make flexible occasional income on your lunch hour or free time.   User Interviews do research studies. They'll pay you for your opinions on a bunch of different topics. I've been working with them for several years. It's been an amazing way to earn extra money for Christmas presents or just to make ends meet when the cost of everything is rising, and you want to get creative with earning without giving up your precious time. And it's interesting and  FUN!!   If you can speak and express yourself honestly, you can do this!   Let me know if you try it and how much you earn. Leave any questions in the comments.   Thanks for listening, and good luck!!! $$$ WATCH THE FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE SIGN UP FOR USER INTERVIEWS USING MY CODE  ➡︎  https://www.userinterviews.com/r/xykt...   Sign up now and get on their list to start receiving invitations to studies via email to earn ASAP. :-)   Check out the Audacious Mamas podcast and blog ➡︎ http://www.audaciousmamas.com   MY BEST TOOLS TO SAVE TIME AND EARN MORE ONLINE AS A CREATOR   Descript (video editing via text)  ➡︎ https://www.descript.com/?lmref=t41IuQ Jasper (for EASY wordsmithing)  ➡︎ https://jasper.ai/?fpr=stephrob Tube Buddy (grow your YouTube channel)  ➡︎   https://www.tubebuddy.com/stephroberts PodPage (host elegant podcast pages)  ➡︎  https://www.podpage.com/?via=stephani 10XPRO (all in one web hosting, courses, landing pages, etc) ➡︎ https://gm293.isrefer.com/go/xiNZw9Q/...

I've missed you! I love podcasting. I love creating content. And I so love being able to help people and earn a living. These past two months have been rough, and I don't want to sugarcoat what my kids and I have been through. I definitely wouldn't wish it on anyone.  So this episode is about what life throws our way and how we as caregivers will likely take a hit when someone gets sick, needs to be hospitalized, or needs a higher level of care from us for some time. We must set up our lives to account for these gaps of complete demand on our time. Being more strategic with my earnings and creating income streams that aren't dependent on my time is now an absolute necessity, as is my daughter's recovery and overall mental wellness as a family. QUESTIONS for YOU   1) Are you a mama or caregiver who started a side hustle or launched a new business over the last two years to gain more flexibility, get ahead with inflation, and gain control over your life and income?  I'd love to hear and share your story, how it went, and whether it was a success or a flop. I'll shine the spotlight on you, and hopefully, we can all learn from you if you're a guest on the podcast!   Reach out to me at Steph at stephaniroberts dot com   2) Are you interested in getting on podcasts as a guest and leveraging their audience? If so, what are your questions or thoughts? Send them my way! If I use your ideas for my new course, I'll shout you out and give you 30% off. :-)    Reach out to me at Steph at stephaniroberts dot com     3) Are you craving a community of like-minded mamas and audacious women who are driven to thrive and create more income streams, and support each other? If so, where do you prefer to show up?  Facebook, Circle, somewhere else? Let me know.   Shoot me an email at Steph at stephaniroberts dot com I'm looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks for tuning in! Hang tough!! Lots of Love! xoxo Steph    

Here's Game #2 to Make this the Best Year of Your Life! Play along each round and report back how it went. Last round was about making powerful requests of any size aka practicing asking for what we want. Score points for this and track them. Each request earned 150 points! I'll be giving away books and creative prizes as we move through the year. So hang on to those sheets! Or screenshot them and tag me on IG @AudaciousLife or @AudaciousMamas You can grab the FREE Best Year game tracker sheet at https://www.audaciousmamas.com/bestyear Today I pull the second card...check it out to see. Yer gonna LOVE this one!!   WHY THIS GAME NOW? We all know we're in the middle of dark times. So much swirling around us but we have a choice. We can choose to do things that push us forward in our personal growth, relationships, and life. And to show OURSELVES more grace and self-love. Doing so has a positive ripple effect in life, and anyone around us can feel it. It creates hope and gives us the fuel we need to impact change.   So I'm inviting you to tune in and do your best to play along with me weekly-ish as we try to stay in the light to spite these dark times and the swirl around us.   If you're curious, we're using the Best Year of Your Life kit by Debbie Ford for this game. Our version is FREE, FUN, and one way to strive for more while we face real challenges.   ➡︎ Grab the FREE Best Year game tracker sheet at https://www.audaciousmamas.com/bestyear   Debbie Ford created the kit, but it all started with her paperback book. Both are listed below if you want to grab them.    The Best Year of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live It -  https://amzn.to/3zgkNGq   The Best Year of Your Life Kit (the Cards) - https://amzn.to/3cCZh6V   Check out The Audacious Life Podcast website and blog ➡︎ http://theaudaciouslife.com   Get the 11 Audio Affirmations to Help You Recover From Abuse ➡︎ http://bit.ly/affirm11   --------------------------------   Let's connect on social media!   Instagram ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-instagram   Twitter ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-twitter   Facebook ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-fans I appreciate you!! Thanks for tuning in!! Lots of Love! *This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!

I recorded this video in June and sat on it. It's one of many I recorded in response to my channel's Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial and comments. I recorded another response last week, but this original is more natural, so I decided to let it flow without editing. I've been asked questions, and here finally responding to some of what came up while I was posting, including suggestions to have Lundy Bancroft back as a guest.    As I've been saying, I feel strongly that dwelling in the darkness doesn't serve us, and we will all be better off finding ways to reach for and stay in the light.    Focusing on what's possible, finding more purpose, and creating ways to improve life are all far more helpful than arguing over celebrity breakups and media spin. That's what I aim to do!    I'm inviting you to tune in and do your best to play with me weekly as we try to stay in the light despite dark times and the swirl around us. My upcoming videos will be about everything from preparing for or thriving as a single mother to finding simple ways to increase your income and get your time back through side hustles, affiliate marketing, an online business, and more. Also, spiritual support, mindset shifts, tools for your online business, success stories, and experts can help with all of the above.    Turn dark times around! Grab the FREE Best Year game tracker sheet! https://www.audaciousmamas.com/bestyear    Want the lowdown on tools that give your biz an edge? https://www.audaciousmamas.com/moms-i...    Healing from Toxic relationships? Check out The Audacious Life Podcast  http://theaudaciouslife.com    Get the 11 Audio Affirmations to Help You Recover From Abuse  http://bit.ly/affirm11    -------------------------------- Let's connect on social media! Facebook ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-fans  Instagram ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-instagram  Twitter ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-twitter    *This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!  Thanks for listening!! xoxo  

There's no question that these are dark times. I accept that. Heaps of doom and gloom are being served to us, and it's nearly impossible to dodge. Important news and events impact our lives and the lives of fellow humans. But dwelling in the darkness doesn't serve us, and we will all be better off finding ways to reach for and stay in the light.   I believe that when we're in dark times, it's a good idea to focus on what's good and possible, find more purpose, and create ways to make life better. Doing so has a positive ripple effect in life, and anyone around us can feel it. It creates hope and gives us the fuel we need to impact change.   So I'm inviting you to tune in and do your best to play along with me weekly as we try to stay in the light to spite these dark times and the swirl around us.   Join me in using the Best Year of Your Life kit by Debbie Ford. It's FREE, FUN, and one way to strive for more while we face real challenges.   A growth mindset, belief in something and positive support are the two main things we need to stretch and grow. And I'm happy to be here with you to do this together so we can get through the dark days and deep challenges. We'll follow prompts each week by Debbie Ford, a beloved personal transformation expert who appeared on Oprah numerous times before passing in 2013. We can challenge ourselves to grow and make choices that support us in moving in a positive direction. Grab the FREE Best Year game tracker sheet at https://www.audaciousmamas.com/bestyear Thanks for tuning in! I hope to see you on the YouTube channel for game #2! I'm aiming for Tuesday/Wednesday game days, so check it out and subscribe to be notified! If I get up the courage, we'll make these live game card pulls so we can share what we learned, how it went, and how we're feeling. I'd LOVE to get to know you!   Debbie Ford created a kit for the Best Year of Your Life, but it all started with her paperback book. Both are listed below if you want to grab them.    The Best Year of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live It: https://amzn.to/3zgkNGq   The Best Year of Your Life Kit (the Cards) https://amzn.to/3cCZh6V Let's connect on social media! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAudaciousLifePodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audaciousmamas/ https://www.Instagram.com/audaciouslife/   Twitter https://twitter.com/audaciouslife https://twitter.com/stephgetssocial   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniroberts/   Thanks for tuning in! I hope to see you on the YouTube channel for game #2! Aiming for Tuesdays or Wednesdays and going live if possible, so check it out and subscribe to be notified. *This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!  

Stephanie Pianades went into Massachusetts family court looking for help. That was it. One little thing. She went in looking for one help with one little thing, and it snowballed into a monumental challenge that altered her life and the life of her 10-year-old daughter, and as she says, "it will never go back to the way it was." This interview is a cautionary tale about Family Court Abuse, Parental Alienation, DARVO, and Post-separation Abuse. It's not easy to digest but extremely important for parents. We make assumptions about the court system, the main one being that it will protect our children or us. The dark truth is that this is not the case. The family court system is broken. Learn the steps to take to prevent court abuse and parental alienation. The first step is finding vetted attorneys who understand the dynamics of narcissistic abuse and how they can weaponize the court system against the other parent. Stop Abuse Campaign offers top-notch resources to help protective parents fight for their children and win against systemic and other forms of abuse. https://stopabusecampaign.org/takeaction/family-court-custody-crisis/help-for-protective-parents/ AS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Hear and see Stephanie's testimony before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary regarding Family Court abuse in Worcester Family Court Follow Steph on Twitter and support, retweet, re-post, chime in with similar stories to raise awareness, call your local representative to see what you can do to clean up the family court system in your state or country. What is Parental Alienation? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/parental-alienation What is DARVO? https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/voices/relationships/article/2021/04/13/what-darvo-and-how-it-used-against-survivors-violence https://www.choosingtherapy.com/darvo/   What is Family Court Abuse? Example from a Harvard Law https://www.legalservicescenter.org/when-perpetrators-of-domestic-violence-use-civil-court-system-to-re-victimize-survivors/   Post-separation abuse cycle wheel https://www.onemomsbattle.com/post-separation-abuse     Facebook ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-fans Instagram ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-instagram Twitter ➡︎ http://bit.ly/AL-twitter   Thank you for listening!  Wishing you blessings of Peace, Prosperity, and Happiness!! Lots of Love! xoxox      

    Many of us are busy watching or actively avoiding the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial. It's triggering, and I've felt it myself. I've had to walk away many days because it's too much. As I've mentioned, I have another interview coming up with Stephanie Pianades, that's important an important case for parents related to custody and flipping the script. I know it will be triggering. As a parent of young daughters, I had a tough time making it through the interview. So I wanted to have an expert to help us all manage triggers related to past trauma before her episode airs. Stacy Every is a certified EFT practitioner and coach who has experience as a survivor of abuse. She gets it. In this episode, she gives us numerous quick tips and tools to follow up on and explore more deeply to help with trauma, triggers, and finding ways to get grounded and rebalance back into our bodies. This episode will be up on my youTube channel if you want to see how tapping works. Stacy demonstrates tapping using the meridians of our body, and it's a little tough to explain via audio-only. I'll link the video here as soon as it's live on YouTube. NOTE: If anything I post or share is triggering to you, please step away. Follow Stacy's ideas for getting grounded and decide whether you should avoid it altogether or come back later when you feel well, grounded, and strong. I care about you and totally appreciate you being here, but also only want what's 100% right for you. xoxo Thank you for listening! If this was helpful for you, please subscribe, consider sharing with someone who needs to hear this, and leave a comment or an iTunes review. These things are a big help for the podcast and expand our audience and help others in the same shoes find ways to gain strength and heal. Want to learn more about Stacy? Here's her website and contact info https://stacyevery.com/ Thanks again! Sending lots of Love to you!  

  Mother's Day - Honoring Moms through loss - celebrating YOU! Man, it has been a crazy wild last two years, and I was thinking about this episode and how to honor moms and all that moms have been through because I think of all that people have been through, the most significant weight has been put upon mothers and mother figures, caregivers, for sure, over the last two years. And so some moms are just spent and at their wit's end, and some mothers, through all of this, have learned to figure out more self-care, how to realign themselves, maybe with better jobs or with delegating things around the house so that they can take back their time and not be this wonder woman, super supermom. And then many of us also have lost parents. I lost my mom 16 years ago. Her mom right after that, so two maternal figures poof!--both were gone. I didn't have my kids until two years later, but that hole was there. Through this pandemic, so many people have lost their parents, their mothers, and loved ones. Or their parents are battling illness now. It's a lot, and it can make this day a big mixed bag of emotions. I get it. I'm sharing some thoughts about my mother, my grandmother, the sorrow I've felt for my mother never meeting my children, and how I turned that around last year, determined to start a new tradition for Mother's Day. And I have some ideas for turning things around for yourself so life can be sweeter and you can maintain more life in life in spite of inflation, pandemics, and dark news in the world. As mentioned in this episode This Thing Called You - by Ernest Holmes (Book) https://amzn.to/3P83jmI Wondering how to slow down, tune in to what you want, and surrender like you haven't before? Check out these related episodes   Feminine Surrender vs. Pushing. Mini Retreats and Self-Care to Nourish Mamas with Melissa Mueller-Douglas Self Care and Connection to Self to Heal From Trauma Why Calming Our Nervous System is Essential to Thrive *This may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself! I hope you got through Mother's Day with some bright spots. If you need someone to tell you, you're doing GREAT!!  Want to shoot me a tribute about your mom to share on an upcoming episode? Send me a note or a recording here Thanks for listening, sharing, reviewing, and subscribing!  Sending lots of Love and appreciation for you and ALL you do EVERY DAY!!  

Amber Heard is perpetuating the stereotype that women create false charges against men. While that does happen, I know many cases where the men are able to spin in the opposite direction and take a woman who's been victimized and turn her into the abuser. They cut off her connection to her children and create a restraining order and paint her in the most negative light possible. I have a guest interview with Stephanie Pianades coming up in May, and her abuser (ex husband) was able to flip the script and turn her world upside down by using her daughter as a pawn in the courts. This is a serious problem. And REAL victims of domestic violence are enraged by Amber Heard's lies, manipulation, sense of entitlement, and utter disrespect for actual victims as she continues to wear the badge of Domestic Violence survivor and advocate. I cover all of that in this episode and also share a related piece of good news from DV Leap, a national non-profit organization that fights for appellate advocacy for DV survivors who've been wronged in court. They have pro bono lawyers working to help survivors in all 50 states and they just had a big win in my home state, Massachusetts. I share the details in this episode. My aim is to share all of this for awareness but also to build some faith and how for victims who've had the script flipped and don't feel there's anywhere to turn. Please reach out to DV Leap for support and see if they will take your case or help you with research related to your case. Please check out DV Leap - https://www.dvleap.org/ Has this happened to you?  If so, please reach out to share your story by audio or message on the Audacious Life website. The blue mic will allow you to send me a voice message that I can air on the podcast. Please share your story to help create awareness around this issue. I'm thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers.  Lots of Love and Peace!! xoxo

Jada Pinkett Smith image - Jerry Avenaim, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Everybody is aware of the Will Smith incident at the Oscars. Since I recorded this, a few things have happened, but I thought I'd weigh in on which of these two is "the Narcissist," Will or Jada Pinkett Smith.   I wasn't going to comment on this situation at all, but it seems like it's something that's not going away. And I found the ongoing conversation around narcissism interesting, especially the question of which one is the victim in their relationship.   So this is a quick episode where I explore what I've learned since it happened and what I already knew.   More has transpired since recording this episode--Will was banned from the Oscars for ten years and seemed to accept his fate.   Jada has distanced herself from Will and behaves like the embarrassed independent woman who doesn't need her man to stand up for her. Fascinating shift, given her initial reaction to Will slapping Chris.   Hers is a move for reputation management and another DIS-missal of Will.    As far as what people are thinking about these two, I posted a quick poll on my youTube channel. Poll results show that 38% say Jada is the narcissist, 25% say it's Will, and 15% say both are. The remaining 25% don't care and want them to go away.   You may be with that last bunch. :-)     At the very least, I'm happy that all these celebrity relationships gone awry are shining the spotlight on what narcissism looks like and creating conversation around it.    It underscores the fact that narcissist dynamics in relationships know no socio-economic bounds.   Suppose our onscreen hero with power, money, and fame, someone who portrayed Mohammed Ali, is also the victim of his wife. In that case, people may begin to understand the dynamics of their neighbor, sister, or co-worker stuck in the same type of relationship.   But I'm curious, what are your thoughts?   Which of these two is the narcissist, and who is the victim?   Please shoot me a message  -- I want to hear from you! Thanks from the heart for listening. I hope you're remembering to take time to take care of yourself and look for the light in the middle of all the darkness in our world. It's not easy these days but it does help get us through! Lots of Love!       

In this episode, I share some surprising and not so surprising findings related to trauma and its impact on our brain. Living through a traumatic situation can severely impact your memory, your cognition, your emotions, your ability to self-regulate, all of those things.    I found a video about the neurobiological impact of trauma on the brain, and it was eye-opening for me. I knew we could have PTSD and trauma-related physical manifestations, such as auto-immune disorders. But, this video spelled out genuine damage to our brains, creating significant challenges as we attempt to heal and recover from abuse and trauma.   And if we're not aware of this, it becomes easy to fall into self-blame, shame, major disappointment, and a negative spiral that prevents healing and progress in life. It can also create more isolation and alienation--the exact opposite of what will help us heal.    As much as we may be stuck in a loop of distrust, shame, bitterness, depression, anxiety, we need supportive humans in our life. We just do.   So, I'm reaching out to set up my first block of one-on-one calls with you.   I want to connect and see how I can best help you with content, support, and validate the course I'm finishing up to see what's missing.   Whether you can connect by phone or online with your thoughts about leaving, trying to exit, or starting over, I can add you to the beta list for the Exit - Survive to Thrive course special.   Ready to connect on a quick call? The first date block is Tuesday, 3/29/22 https://calendly.com/stephanir/chat   If you miss the time above, you can still leave comments on the form below.   Here's the form for feedback about your struggle for anyone who wants to share. I'm gathering your input for the course I'm creating. https://forms.gle/aXeqKt982b7Uf8ns5     Resources mentioned in this episode.   Here's the full video on the Neurobiological Impact of Trauma on the Brain from Doc Snipes https://bit.ly/trauma-impact   211.org for local grants and funding resources https://www.211.org   Thanks for listening! Lots of Love!  

I appreciate your patience if you've followed my lead-up to interviewing Lundy Bancroft.    This interview is coming in the nick of time with the holiday season.   Maybe you've been drawn back to the sparkly seasonal web of Love Bombing.    Maybe you're feeling guilty and questioning whether this version of them is REAL. And you've temporarily forgotten most of the hurtful things they've done throughout your relationship.   Or you're out of the relationship and now managing thoughts and ruminating about interactions and trying to figure out what makes this person tick and WHY they do the things they do.   Lundy covers   Differences between the Narcissist and Abuser Why differentiating between them matters. His background and what led him to advocate for women What we as a society can do to create healthy male allies What male abuser programs look like and how successful ones keep in close contact with the woman who's been abused How men and women are conditioned to expect and accept domineering "sexy" qualities Personality disorders vs. abuse orientation Inability to empathize vs. choosing NOT to empathize Healing from trauma and how we can intentionally connect with others who are on the healing journey through Lundy's Peak Living Network (PLN) Note: this network is not specifically for abuse survivors and is meant for people outside of deep crisis who are able to give 50% and receive 50%. Focus on YOU 100% first, if you're in deep crisis. You should know Lundy said, "Both narcissists and abusers do a lot of collecting allies." Boy does that ring true! You may be feeling the destruction and erosion of your reputation or relationships due to their actions.    You may be regrouping and dealing with trauma from an ongoing invasion of your loved ones and friends network.    Please take extra good care of yourself and find at least one person who can validate and understand your experience. And if no one near you understands, focus on yourself and do what feels good to lift your spirit.   Move physically, pray or meditate, dance around to music, start a short gratitude journal each night and morning to focus on what's good and going right in your life. Look for the tiniest things that make your day. These simple acts can shift you and keep you out of a dark spiral. I'm speaking from experience. These work! :-) I hope this interview helps answer some questions about abusers and their behaviors. And I would love to know what stood out for you and if more questions surfaced.    Please send comments my way by Instagram direct messaging to @AudaciousLife Or reach out via the website contact or recorded audio. For audio, click the microphone graphic on the page.  Read Lundy's blog about Narcissists vs. Abusers Check out the Peak Living Network Read The Joyous Recovery Listen to my description of the Peak Living Network from my perspective learning co-counseling from Lundy Listen to the episode about Dealing with Toxic Families during the holiday season.   *This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through a link here. I would never recommend a product I don't use or love myself!   Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful Holiday! Sending lots of Love and Light your way!!   

  A quick update about the upcoming Lundy Bancroft interview and an ask to share your abuse quotes if you've left and you have examples of the abuse continuing in post-separation. Tina Swithin of One Mom's Battle has a movement to send these words of the abuse to the family courts to show the abuse that continues after parents are separated and how this post separation abuse impacts children. You can send your abuse quotes to postseparationabuse@gmail.com Follow Tina's movement for Children's rights on Instagram @CustodyPeace --> Angelina Jolie has joined this effort!! See One Mom's Battle website for more details about November's Family Court Awareness Month and the movement to shed light on Post-separation abuse. Thank you for advocating for our children and keeping yours safe! Coming up next on the Audacious Life! Lundy Bancroft on Narcissists vs. Abusers We're discussing his blog post and digging deep.  Check out his post before you listen to the show. https://lundybancroft.com/narcissists-vs-abusers/ Thanks for listening! Please subscribe, review, and share!

Toxic families are difficult enough to be raised in. For outsiders, being brought in via dating, marriage, friendships, the family dynamic, and what it creates in adult children can be highly confusing to people raised in healthier homes.   This episode is about toxic clan family dynamics, why they behave the way they do, how confusing it is, and why understanding their foundation of secrets and lies can help depersonalize the attacks, barbs, and ostracizing you if you're pushed out.   Related articles and videos to expand on this episode   YouTube Channel for The Audacious Life & Audacious Mamas  https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAudaciousLifePodcast   Dysfunctional Family Dynamics: Dont Talk, Dont Trust, Dont Feel https://psychcentral.com/blog/imperfect/2018/06/dysfunctional-family-dynamics-dont-talk-dont-trust-dont-feel#You-feel-unimportant-and-unworthy   Award-Winning Refresher and Explanation of Gaslighting (superb film!) Your Reality: https://youtu.be/SVCqTcb4qkM   5 Signs it's Time to Cut Yourself Off From Your Toxic Family https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-autism-spectrum-disorder/202008/5-signs-its-time-cut-yourself-your-toxic-family   How to Deal with Toxic Family Members and Maintain Your Sanity https://natashaadamo.com/toxic-family-members/   I hope this helps! Please share with someone who needs it. And thanks for listening!!   Lots of Love!            

If you've been feeling disconnected, stuck, or paralyzed, sensing a deep yearning for something more, it may be a desire to find safe people to be with in real life. People who are accepting won't judge you for opening up and sharing what you're going through. There's a collective desire to be seen and heard and indeed find a point of connection with other human beings. Included in this episodev I share some of Lundy Bancroft's books that helped me find the type of more personal support I've been looking for. I think all or any of these are helpful for understanding, validating, and moving on from abuse. Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men Daily Wisdom for Why Does He Do That The Joyous Recovery Peak Living Network (Lundy Bancroft's Network for co-counseling) I hope you find these resources above helpful and they lead to more support or emotional peace for you. Lots of Love, Steph

Gabby Petito did not have an anger problem. I believe what we saw on video was Reactive Abuse. I share what Reactive Abuse is and why it can create more problems for the victim and help the abuser look innocent. I've been creating response videos as podcasts to address what I've seen in comments and the media regarding the Gabby Petito case. Mainly based on people assuming she was off-kilter with mental health problems, whiney, or had anger issues. I believe she was suffering from mental health issues but that they were brought on by living with an abusive partner. And what people witnessed as well what she described in the video was reactive abuse. I believe she was exhausted. She was lashing out pushed to the limit by her boyfriend, Brian--now on the run following her murder. If you or a friend is in one of these relationships and seeking help or more information on how to handle it please call or visit the Domestic Violence hotline for anonymous support via phone/text or online. 1-800-thehotline or thehotline.org Watch the video series on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAudaciousLifePodcast/ What is Reactive Abuse? https://yanahelps.com/blog/what-is-reactive-abuse/

Gabby Petito's Obvious Abuse signs were missed. In this video, I share the classic signs of emotional abuse and control associated with narcissistic abuse and all the "professionals" who identified Brian as the victim and dismissed the signs that many of us viewing the police bodycam video saw as obvious classic signs. All of this points to the need for more Abuse Identification Training which could have saved her life. If you know someone in one of these abusive and controlling relationships, or if you see yourself in Gabby's story, please reach out to the Domestic Violence hotline. You can do so anonymously. They can listen, offer support, and help you understand the cycle of abuse and how to get help or get out. https://www.thehotline.org/ or 1-800-THE-HOTLINE If you want to support Gabby's family and their new foundation to help parents find their missing children, see https://gabbypetitofoundation.org/ Please take care of yourself and remember that it's positive to ask for the help of someone you trust. xoxo!!!  

I spoke with Kate Beesley Eaton about her circumstances leaving her narcissistic abusive husband. Kate is a Trauma & Narcissism informed clinical hypnotherapist, Practitioner & Coach. Highly knowledgeable in this area, I wanted to learn how she managed her experience leaving her abuser and how she protected her young daughter.   In this interview Kate shares the details of her marriage to an alcoholic husband and how his addictive and controlling ways created an environment of fear.  How she had to negotiate with her abuser to keep a roof over her head and create a long-term exit strategy His police record of crimes and threats worked to give her and her daughter space and time away from him. The setbacks on the courts due to lockdown have allowed her more time to heal with little to no contact. And her husband was restricted from seeing her legally while on bail. How the lockdown amplified and exposed existing domestic abuse and control. The value of inner child work in healing trauma and anxiety EMDR Therapy (and Havening) Her support programs and how you can connect with her. Kate's website https://traumaandanxietybreakthrough.com/   Kate's Havening Technique to recover from  Anxiety and Trauma https://www.havening.org/directory/grid/view/details/14/1045 Kate on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kate.ndt   Kate on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katebeesleyeaton/

After my interview with Katrina Sorrentino about leaving a toxic relationship much of what she said struck a cord. One thing that stood out was the need to calm our nervous systems. It's essential and it coincided with multiple lessons and content about this from Somatic Therapists who help heal trauma. In this short episode, I'm sharing my thoughts before we move on to the next interview about leaving abuse with Kate Heaton. I'm doing this intentionally because attention to our nervous system and a sense of "safety" is what we need to feel okay to explore leaving or even listening to others' stories. To understand more about this concept I've collected a few podcasts and videos below. Here's a related episode I recorded for Audacious Mamas https://www.audaciousmamas.com/relaxation-and-safety-keys-to-success-in/ After recording my episode above, I listened to an interview with Emily Fletcher, meditation expert, and she hits all the points and more. Mainly that you cannot expect to jump from anxiety, overwhelm, and depression to meditation. There's an in-between state of calming your system that's essential. https://youtu.be/6V1hG5wWr6o Somatic Therapy - what it is  https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-somatic-therapy-5190064  How Stored Trauma Creates Somatic Symptoms https://youtu.be/vPIDRm6XtYM

I interviewed Katrina Lillian Sorrentino. She shares her story of being sucked into an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship with a man who may be a narcissist, sociopath, or something else. She's not sure, but he was toxic, deceptive, abusive, and controlling. Her relationship trauma was so intense and extreme that she created a documentary about the experience and is now building an intentional community to support others involved in hidden abuse, the psychological impact, and ways to heal and get help. Mentioned in this episode Opening up to life after divorce Disney princess syndrome warps what's acceptable Being Vulnerable and in transition and how you can be targeted Confusion and bliss intermixed with boundary crossing, psychological abuse, and trauma bonding creates a toxic cocktail of addiction to the person and the situation Connecting with people online who dated or were also targeted by her ex Being aware online and understanding that hashtags and abuse accounts can have predators Her documentary as therapy to connect with others and heal How she's using this experience moving forward in stories for TV/Film and as an activist The fear that held her back from asking questions that would've blown all of it wide open Her best friend's findings and how that led to her leaving Why she went back How her criteria for "romantic" has changed dramatically How she's healing and dating now   Check out her documentary Tidal https://tidaldocumentary.com/ Follow Treena on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/treenaphoto/ Check out Narcinon https://www.narcinon.org/ Check out Trauma Therapist Shannon Thomas https://shannonthomas.com/ Shannon's Keep Dreaming Big Project for Abuse Survivors (granting their wishes) https://healingfromhiddenabuse.com/keep-dreaming-big/  

In this solo episode, I share some of my favorite authors, spiritual healers, Doctors, and thought leaders. All of these people have helped me reframe my thoughts and pull myself out of darkness. Pouring positive ideas, thoughts, stories, etc., into our minds via podcasts, audiobooks, videos, and music, is healing, induces hope, and catalyzes a plan to exit situations that deplete, depress, and paralyze us. The books, podcasts, and people mentioned are here with links. Some of the links to books are affiliate links, and I may earn a little if you decide to purchase. You can find many of these books for free in your public library or via a web search on youTube. Lee Harris Energy https://www.leeharrisenergy.com Energy Speaks Book by Lee Harris https://amzn.to/2Vtzu8G Tosha Silver - Change Me Prayers https://amzn.to/3AetmQF It's Not Your Money by Tosha Silver https://amzn.to/3Cd2dzo Louise Hay - You Can Heal Your Life https://amzn.to/2VjpiA1 Empowering Women https://amzn.to/2VjpOxX Dr. Christiane Northrup - Dodging Energy Vampires: An Empaths Guide to Evading Relationships That Drain You and Restoring Your Health and Power https://amzn.to/3yzgHaQ Terri Cole - Boundary Boss https://amzn.to/2Vt2T31 The Terri Cole Show (podcast) https://amzn.to/3AsW28X Dr. Bruce Lipton - The Biology of Belief https://amzn.to/3lyDEXV Gregg Braden - The Wisdom Codes: Ancient Words to Rewire Our Brains and Heal Our Hearts https://amzn.to/3iqYwhR Florence Scovel Shinn - The Game of Live and How to Play It https://amzn.to/3it6Dul The Complete Works of Florence Scovel Shinn https://amzn.to/3yuWPFz Your Word is Your Wand https://youtu.be/1Oe3ZJvt5Ck (FREE on Youtube) The Book of Ho'oponopono: The Hawaiian Practice of Forgiveness and Healing https://amzn.to/3AjsHxB Thanks for listening! I hope these are helpful to you. xoxo!! Lots of Love,  

I think you probably may know or have heard of the Grey Rock method by now. If so, it's worth listening as I share one character you can channel if you're not quite sure what Grey Rock looks like in practice. Mainly, it's about holding your power. Staying grounded, calm, neutral, and I think immovable or unimpressed and non-reactive. One thought to keep in mind is simply this, do NOT take the bait! The idea is that the toxic and unreasonable person you're dealing with enjoys getting a rise out of you. So don't give energy or reaction to elicit more from them. Keep conversations short, only share what they "need to know." Don't give any extra information and remain unemotional in your communication. Be intentionally dull. Here's a longer article from Medical News Today.  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/grey-rock#why-use-it   Dr. Ramani's YouTube channel - Narcissist Expert https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Qixc77KhCo88E5muxUjmA Do you use Grey Rock? Does it work for you? I'd Love to hear about it either way!! If so, reach out via the The Audacious Life website and let me know via the contact form or by leaving a voice message -- it's the blue microphone icon on the bottom right. You can also DM me from Instagram @AudaciousLife I'd love to hear from you and support you! Please reach out with anything you're struggling with, ideas for what to dive into on the podcast, or experts you'd like to hear from.      

Gaslighting is a term that comes up a lot when dealing with personality disorders, i.e., narcissists, sociopaths, psychopaths. But truthfully, anyone is capable of this behavior, and it can even pop up as a way to cover up for narcissists and protect their reputation. You may find yourself denying reality to your family or community if you're in one of these relationships.   In this brief definition episode, I cover what it is and offer concrete examples that may appear in toxic and controlling relationships. I've created a handful of shorter episodes with definitions for anyone new to this topic and confused by unfamiliar terms.   gas·light /ˈɡaslīt/ Learn to pronounce verb gerund or present participle: gaslighting manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity. "in the first episode, Karen Valentine is being gaslighted by her husband" (Taken from the Oxford Languages website) Please check out the youtube channel for videos of these terms, interviews of The Audacious Life, and Audacious Mamas podcasts. Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAudaciousLifePodcast/videos Want to reach out or leave a comment about the podcast? Feel free to leave a message from the Speakpipe audio message or contact form at https://www.theaudaciouslife.com Thanks for listening!  

I interviewed Judy Giovangelo, energy worker, healer, artist, and founder of Ben Speaks, her non-profit raising awareness for highly sensitive kids who are at risk for self-harm and suicide.   Judy lost her son Ben to suicide when he was just 18. She and Ben made heroic progress over his 18 years and learned ways for him to cope with all the energy and emotions he absorbed like a sponge.   Her mission is to expand on that work, to be a buoy for families and siblings impacted by and managing a mental illness.   She works with kids to help them manage their energy and sensitivity to others, equips them with powerful tools to navigate life and relationships in a more grounded peaceful way.   Judy also works with parents who've experienced loss as a grief counselor.   After what we've been through this year, struggling to stay mentally healthy, I'm happy to share her wisdom and will do what I can to give this as much exposure as I can.  

Mother's Day is a tricky time of the year. We take time time to reflect on our mother-daughter relationships. And it's also a time to celebrate the love of all mothers in the world. This year, Caroline Nadine Helsing can celebrate by knowing her book about her mom came to life. She captured the essence of her mom by writing a memoir, a beautiful tribute to her mother's unapologetic love for glamour and fabulousness in all things. Many moms I know are deep in grief this time of year because they lost a child, a mother, a mother figure, an unborn child. There's so much attached to this holiday, so I wanted to share your thoughts along with my interview with Caroline.   I asked you to leave a message about motherhood, your mom, what you've learned as a mother, what your mom taught you, and anything you want to throw in about this past year and you did! Thank you!!   I have a handful of lovely mamas who contributed their thoughts, and I'm including them below.    Also, the mic is open on both TheAudaciouslife.com and AudciousMamas.com - it's the little blue mic at the bottom right. If you want to share your thoughts, ideas, or anything you want the world to know about mom life, please do!   Caroline's Book on Amazon: Unapologetic: Tales of the Original Party Crasher - One daughter's journey of retelling her mother's life through the clues left behind   Here's how you can find Caroline and follow the incredible images of her fabulously Unapologetic mama.   Social channels: Instagram -  Caroline_Nadine_Helsing_Author  Facebook - Caroline Nadine Helsing, Author YouTube - Caroline Nadine Helsing Author    Caroline Nadine Helsing's website  www.CarolineNadineHelsing.com   Featured voice messages from Audacious Mamas   Heidi Wilde - 

We, as women, are a little too good at putting ourselves last. We come to this naturally through family and societal, patriarchal influence. But we can shift out of it. And we need to!! Now more so than ever, we're called to pay attention to the inner promptings to save ourselves from burnout, bitterness, severe mental health, and physical issues such as adrenal fatigue, auto-immune, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and suicide. Taking time to connect to ourselves and our deepest desires, yearnings, needs is essential. I know, I know, HOW am I going to do that? You're asking. Start small. The littlest moments add up, and it will and can shift your perspective from dark hopelessness to lightness and a sense of hope. Give yourself the respect to honor these God-given desires. Whatever you need is fuel for the soul and quite literally THE thing that can get you through all tough times. We've faced a collective trauma over this last year, and the impact is being felt profoundly. These intense feelings weigh many of us down, and it's confusing as it's happening as things appear to be opening up. Why are we feeling so dark? Maybe it's a thirst for MORE. MORE time for you. MORE peace. MORE space. MORE beauty. MORE time to sort through what lights you up and makes you feel joy and enthusiasm for life. Mother's Day is coming up, and we, as mothers and caregivers we have had to bear the weight of a nation. We carried the work of home, school, work work, and it was expected often without being acknowledged just how critical this role was and is. Give yourself a MASSIVE pat on the back for surviving. Give yourself a HUG for getting through so much chaos and non-stop upheaval. Give yourself some REST. I had a 2017 crash and burn. I revisited that time with fresh eyes and shared here what I learned about self-care, time alone, breaking away to get a change of scenery, and shift my energy. I'm so proud of all the women I know who've been through hell and back and are still standing. That's you, sister!! You are in my thoughts and prayers for a significant turnaround and blessings to be showered upon you. :-) All my Love,    

Parenting during the pandemic has been a challenge far beyond mask-wearing, sanitizing, or concern over COVID-19. Being in lockdown and isolated with schools mostly shut down or running at half the usual staff and kids has shifted our worlds completely. Women left the workforce in droves, 2.3 Million of us: an all-time low, the lowest since 1988.   "Children involved in the research cited family tensions and financial concerns as well as feeling isolated from friends and fear about the virus for causing their distress." BBC News   Parents are struggling with tight finances, high stress, and a bunch of moody kids who haven't been able to socialize, move around on their own, play sports, or any activities that gave them joy. Add to the long days stuck in front of a computer expected to do work and hang out on zoom, and you've got a recipe for a significant mental health issue.    According to parentguidance.org, 50% of parents worry that their child is struggling, but they don't know what to do. And 32% feel their child is unhappy.   On top of this is the parental mental health impacting the way families are managing children's issues. According to Harvard Business Review, nearly 42% of employees report a decline in mental health since the pandemic began. So of those parents still working, nearly half say their mental health is slipping.   Pandemic has made abuse 'invisible' For some children, the pandemic has had dire consequences with the numbers being harmed and abused on the rise. Between April and September, there were 285 reports by councils of child deaths and incidents of serious harm, which includes child sexual exploitation. This was a rise of more than a quarter in the same period the year before.   He believes this is misguided and instead growing up in a world where even "playing with your friends is illegal" threatens to cause long-lasting damage to many. "I don't think it is an exaggeration to say children and their families have been abandoned." [The BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-5586384]   What can we do to help ourselves and our kids?   Here are a few resources to get you started. Mental Health of Kids in Lockdown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaQOD9UxxW4   Top 10 Best Mental Health Apps for Kids https://www.educationalappstore.com/best-apps/5-best-mental-health-and-wellbeing-apps-for-kids   Parent Guidance -- FREE courses online https://parentguidance.org/   6 Skills All Trauma Mamas Need to Know https://bloomforwomen.com/course/6-skills-all-trauma-mamas-need/

Emma Ferrick embodies all things this podcast stands for. She's a young mother who survived a dangerous domestic violence relationship and found the support and internal strength to reach for a better life when many in her condition would be paralyzed by fear. Her reality was a catalyst for extreme growth and pursuit of career goals that liberated her from her day job, allowing her to be with her daughter while growing her business.    What gave her the edge and helped her push through this extreme situation. Emma shares her story here.   What stands out for her success surviving this situation and thriving as a mompreneur. Emma had an aunt who experienced abuse with a partner, so she understood what it was. Emma had a family member who "got it" and could lend emotional support and perspective. Often all it takes is ONE person who understands to help us get through and come out the other side with hope. Find that one person! She allowed her abuser's mother to see her physical condition after she was attacked. She documented everything and continued to record details while her case was in court and beyond. She did the math. So many women are afraid to look at the numbers and see where their income falls short. When you look at the numbers and face them head-on, you can make a plan to close the gap financially and get ahead. She decided to start a side hustle to earn more income and break free from her 9-5 job. She invested in herself and hired a coach to overcome the fear related to her abuse and any blocks holding her back from success. She found a supportive and loving partner. Her partner encouraged her to start her business and was her cheerleader and mentor. She's not afraid of her story. The more she shares it on podcasts and makes it a part of her business platform, the less fear she has. She's owning her story and setting herself FREE. Check out Emma's business: Elf Operations Follow Emma on IG: @Elf_operations   The episode with the attorney who has a course on how to defend yourself in court, should you need to do so. >> How to Divorce a Narcissist One tip: consider a family court lawyer of the day or public defender who understands domestic violence and all the nuances of dealing with a narcissist or personality disordered abuser.   Business templates for contracts when you start your business-- we mentioned this in the interview, and I couldn't remember Karen Taggert. Her episode, links, and details are here. >> Covering Your Butt Legally the Easy Way   If this show was helpful to you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.    And please do check out https://lovethepodcast.com/AMamas to leave a review and rating. I greatly appreciate it, and it helps me grow the podcast. Thank you!!! xoxo!            

We've never before been in a time like this. Life is a giant rollercoaster, and events are intense and changing rapidly. The mental and emotional toll of all of it has put us in a place we've never experienced before.   Never before have I seen the need to be hyper-aware of my mindset, energy, consciousness. And when I fail to stay conscious, I slip into a dark place. I'm emerging from a dark place with optimism sharing my thoughts on why all of us need to be aware of our energy and consciousness. I'll be spending more time covering this on the podcast.   Also, my thoughts supporting women and moms focused on expanding our economic freedom via entrepreneurial pursuits.    So if you have a side hustle in mind or are keen to build, start, or grow your business, stay tuned. I have some fantastic interviews set up with women who offer value in getting your business set up and structured correctly for efficiency, simplicity, and the least amount of effort. Simplify, simplify!! That's my new motto and how we can work together, collaborate, and support other women to get ahead together as a community.   Rate and Review the podcast to show your support :-) https://lovethepodcast.com/Alife If this podcast or this episode has helped you in any way, I'd love a review. iTunes reviews are the ONE way I can hear your thoughts and build our reach and awareness of the show.   Please Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are published.   How to subscribe to the podcast: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/listening/how-to-subscribe-to-a-podcast/   I'd love to hear from you!! Let's connect on Social :-) xoxo https://www.instagram.com/audaciouslife/ https://instagram.com/amplifyyourself https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAudaciousLifePodcast/   Another chance to Rate and Review the podcast :-) https://lovethepodcast.com/Alife Thank you for listening! Steph  

In September of 2020, a reported 865K women left the workforce in the US. Many of these women are caregivers and moms who felt they had no choice but to step away from work to keep their children's education on track and keep their family intact. In this episode, I share some stats, helpful resources I've found for you to gain support, learn skills, and gain hope for starting over with the flexibility to care for yourself and your family.   The pressure on parents is off the charts right now, but the burden on women is far more significant as we fill the role of primary caregiver and often earn less than our male partners. America was not, is not, prepared to support working parents. We cannot send our children to school for a full day, and many child care centers have reduced service or shut down completely. And given the pandemic's precautions, it's that much more difficult and expensive to hire a qualified, healthy caregiver, babysitter, or nanny to support us at home.   Resources for women and moms searching for support ways to find flexible work   Four Times More Women Than Men Dropped Out of the Labor Force in September   The Mom Project - support for finding family-friendly jobs https://themomproject.com   The Mom Project's white paper on what women want and need at work The Mom Project's UNITY Hour - webinar to support moms with topics from professionals who've navigated career changes and growth as mothers. The Mom Project's RISE -  no-cost scholarship for women of color to gain skills and job placement in as little as 3 months The Mom Project's Resume Rev - build your new resume online with their helpful tool (FREE) The UNITY Program - FREE coaching -  for those impacted by COVID job loss, furloughs, etc.   WerkLabs The Future of Work - reports and details on what employees want from work and their employers https://werklabs.com/ SKILLS AND ONLINE COURSES General Assembly FREE Fridays - A collection of FREE 2-hour webinars to uplevel your digital and marketing skills and spark up a new career path https://generalassemb.ly/   SAS for Women - divorce support, coaching, free articles, classes for greater perspective, sisterhood, and empowerment https://sasforwomen.com/   ADDA - Attention Deficit Disorder Association - structure is gone, distractions are high. Whether you have kids with ADD, have it yourself, or feel distracted and unable to cope, this is a fantastic resource for creating some perspective and learning strategies that foster sanity and productivity. ADDA is giving access to their courses for free at this time. However, memberships are $50/year and it's been 1000% worth it for me. https://add.org/   Parenting Complex Kids in Complex times - (a course) with Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster There are some tried and true techniques and strategies that will help you support yourself and your family, whether you're in quarantine, navigating hybrid work and school, or figuring out how to start living "normally "in uncertain times. Learn some tricks to empower your kids (and even yourself) to make increasingly more confident decisions — not just in the weeks and months ahead, but for the long term.     PEP Parenting - support for families through education and enrichment. PEP offers support in the way of low priced courses and live webinars ($25) on specific parenting topics, many related to COVID, . http://pepparent.org/   PEP's COVID related parenting courses https://pepparentonline.org/courses/category/Coronavirus   Ghost.org - for simple websites that don't involve the headache of WordPress and plug-ins. Ghost sites load FAST, look beautiful, and are easy to modify. Working with Ghost is similar to writing for Medium.com. I'll have a tutorial soon showing you how to build your website or blog quickly. Note: I loved it so much I became an affiliate, so I will earn a few dollars if you decide to use it after the FREE trial period.   MINDSET AND SHIFTING YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHILE YOU SLEEP If you're too exhausted and don't have time during the day to work on building hope, listening to 8-hour long affirmations while you sleep can work wonders. Kind of feels like magic! And I LOVE this woman's voice. :-)   Get Into The Receiving Mode REPROGRAM WHILE YOU SLEEP. I Am Positive Affirmations Blessed   Artists & Entrepreneurs Reprogram Your Mind & Ehhance INSPIRATION & INTUITION While You Sleep. FLOW   Brief meditation to Remove ALL GUILT (4:52)  

Karmic Debt and Instant Karma With all that's swirling in the world around us, it's easy to wonder how people can get away with evil and horrible things and come out seemingly smelling like a rose. Or at the least retaining their position, their wealth, etc. with seemingly little impact. If Karma exists, why is it that some get away with these things, yet you cut the line in the grocery store and instantly feel the impact of your actions? I've been wondering about this too! Today I share what I discovered while researching angel numbers and Karma. Covered in this episode - Karma - Angel numbers - Karmic debt - Akashic records - Instant Karma - Your highest self - Stepping away to ground before reacting - Setting intentions - Segment intending - Pulling it all together to leverage instant Karma for your benefit Some of this may be esoteric but keep an open mind and humor me while you consider some of these ideas. They can be incredibly helpful if you're stuck in a negative cycle of feeling like life is hopeless and nothing matters. If this was valuable to you, I'd love it if you subscribed and leave a review. This helps others see this content as valuable and worth listening to. And makes me so happy about sharing more content with you!! :-) Subscribe and leave a review here  - thanks!! xoxo Follow me on other channels... The Audacious Life on YouTube - 1K+ subscribers and growing! Follow on Instagram accounts AudaciousLife AmplifyYourself Have an amazing day!! xoxo!!

This episode is a reintroduction to my YouTube channel, The Audacious Life Podcast, and a discussion about the the impact of COVID isolation has seen Domestic Abuse SOARING behind closed doors. I share how awareness around abuse is increasing and how I plan to use my channel to move forward and help women start over and thrive. This episode is also a plea for those who have someone in your life you suspect is suffering behind closed doors; please be the person who believes them and supports them even if just by listening and understanding. Your simple validation goes a long way!!! If you or someone you care about needs anonymous support via phone or text, check out the National Domestic Violence Hotline, aka The HOTLINE at https://www.thehotline.org/ Please watch, subscribe, and hit the bell for notifications on YouTube - I'l be looking for your comments and feedback. :-) https://youtu.be/LVX16YNCjjg  If you want to support women internationally and see what Charlize Theron's organization is doing to help women and reduce gender-based violence during COVID, see Together for Her - https://www.care.org/togetherforher Get the 11 Audio Affirmations to Help You Recover From Abuse http://bit.ly/affirm11

Hello!  Just a brief check in to say hello, check in about Lee Harris' session last night and catch you up on what's happening behind the scenes with The Audacious Life. Many of us caught Lee Harris's "How to Recover from a Narcissist" session last night. It didn't disappoint. If you're curious about Lee, go check out his website. https://www.leeharrisenergy.com Here's the survey I mentioned. I'm collecting your thoughts about creating a private online community. You can access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C7WKGFW Sending Love to you and wishes for healing and peace on all fronts. Have an amazing day! Steph  

A few weeks ago, I was struck by an SUV while cycling. Ouch! After 33 years of riding my bike on the road, this was my first accident. But...I'm Alive. What happened that day was a wake-up call and an epiphany.   Apart from being lucky for having survived that scary as hell situation, I thought I'd share my thoughts about how it impacted me on a visceral level. It made me rethink the past year and where I am on my growth journey. And the epiphany I had made me think of you and want to share my thoughts with you as you consider your growth and healing.   I hope there's a nugget or two here to consider in terms of triggers, boundaries, and not allowing anyone to chip away at your self-esteem routinely regardless of their position.   As mentioned in this episode, I'm putting together an online community and would love your feedback. If you have a moment to weigh in on the survey, please do! I appreciate your insights.   Freedom to thrive at home survey   Thank you for listening. Please share if you think there's something here that will benefit someone you care about.   Lots of Love to you! Steph   ------------CONTACT & SOCIAL MEDIA ---------------   Reach out to me at stephanir@gmail.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audaciouslife/   The Audacious Life Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/430547350456455   YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAudaciousLifePodcast                    

An empath is someone who's highly sensitive and picks up on the energy of others. Many say they can "feel others pain." It's not an exaggeration, and if this is you, you may not have heard the term before, but you'll know right away if it fits. You may be the person who dreads parties and crowds because they can make you feel heavy, sick, and possibly like you're taking on other people's problems. You like people, but you prefer the company of those you know well, and you can gauge and predict what your time spent with them. With all of the above being true, you're also more susceptible to negatively respond to what's in the airwaves, the news, and your surroundings. You're a barometer of sorts and able to read a room, people's moods, etc. You detect these things on a visceral level and feel them deeply. Sometimes you need to get away, find some solo time, a distraction to take you away from all those feelings of looming anxiety. Maybe you do yoga, write in your journal, go for a walk, spend time with pets, get lost in an art project, go for a long run or bike. Everyone is different. This episode is about some basics that will allow you to stay grounded, help with the intensity of loved ones or children. Some of this may be new to you, some of it may sound familiar or even common sense. But as an empath who's struggled with anxiety and depression, early on in life I recall saying, "It's like I have magnets in my pockets for troubled people." And it took me until my 40's to truly understand how my wiring impacted my energy and outlook. I hope there's something in this episode that's helpful to where you are at the moment. There's much more to this topic. We could expand exponentially. The main thing is that YOU must take care of YOUR ENERGY and everything will begin to feel better for you. And that's what we want! :-) xoxo Sending lots of Love and light to you!! Steph p.s. If this has been helpful please share with someone who needs this too. And feel free to reach out to me let me know what else has helped you.  or Grab the 11 Audio Affirmations to help you heal and it'll put you on the Audacious Life notification list to learn more about our community as it evolves. I'd Love to connect with you!!     zZHfiQR044T3l7KR8KKd