Podcasts about emotionally

You've done the therapy, read the books, and know your attachment style... so why does nothing change? In part 2 of the Hard Truth Series, Sabrina breaks down why you cannot heal your way out of incompatibility. Drawing on real research, she unpacks how to tell the difference between a wrong match and relationship anxiety, why therapy language can become a cage that keeps you stuck, and the line between actual growth and emotional gymnastics. If you've stayed way past the expiration date convinced the work would eventually pay off, this episode is for you. Sabrina covers the fear-of-being-single trap, why your anxiety isn't always an attachment wound, and introduces the Responsibility Audit. Some relationships don't fail because you're broken, they fail because two people want fundamentally different things. If you're ready to slow down, trust your instincts, and break your old dating patterns, the Healthy Relationship Foundations Course walks you through it step-by-step  HERE! If you're serious about changing your dating patterns instead of repeating them, the Art of Going Slow course helps you unlearn urgency, regulate your nervous system, and build real connection without rushing, chasing, or abandoning yourself HERE! Get Ad free HERE!Want to work with Sabrina? HERE!Get merch for The Sabrina Zohar Show HERE!Don't forget to follow Sabrina and The Sabrina Zohar Show on Instagram and Sabrina on TikTok! Video now available on YOUTUBE! Please support our sponsors! Treat yourself to gear that looks good, feels good, and doesn't break the bank with Fabletics. Go to Fabletics.com/SABRINA and sign up as a VIP and get eighty percent off everything! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/SABRINA and use code SABRINA for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SABRINA at https://www.oneskin.co/SABRINA #oneskinpod ============================= Chapters 00:00 Hard Truth Series Part 2 Intro 03:14 The Self-Improvement Trap 05:33 Anxiety or a Bad Match? 08:03 When Self-Work Becomes Self-Blame 11:40 Compatibility Is Not a Wound 17:16 What Doing the Work Can't Fix 24:32 When Therapy Speak Keeps You Stuck 26:42 Growth vs. Emotional Gymnastics 31:11 The Knowing vs. Leaving Gap 34:10 The Responsibility Audit Tool Disclaimer: The Sabrina Zohar Show, formerly known as Do The Work, is not affiliated with A.Z & associates LLC in any capacity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you afraid that healing will turn you to stone? Do you worry that setting boundaries means losing your ability to love? In this episode of La Voz de la Coach, Coach Penelope teaches you the crucial difference between healthy boundaries and emotional walls, and how to keep your heart open without losing your protection.In this episode you'll discover:✨ Why many women confuse boundaries with walls after toxic relationships ✨ The "healing pendulum": why you go from being too open to being completely closed off ✨ How to know if you're protecting yourself healthily or isolating yourself out of fear ✨ The difference between "I won't tolerate this" vs "I won't trust anyone" ✨ What selective vulnerability is and how to practice it without losing yourself ✨ How to open up again without becoming the woman with no boundaries you were before ✨ Practical exercises to turn your walls into healthy boundaries

New Episode's Uploaded Every Wednesday, #WithLoveTatia Podcast. Hostess Doing The Most, Tatia Bradley, Self-love Advocate. 1love Always Fam ♥️ Thanks For Allowing Me To Be Magic in Your Ears!! Reminder to Love Your Damn Self

Seasons of Marriage- Part TwoA Discussion on the Fluctuating Seasons of Marital Intimacy,and How to Best Support our Marriages Spiritually, Emotionally, and Clinically.Join Pamela Klein, LCSW to delve into the Clinical Aspect. 

This video will help improve your dating life.Learn, Understand and Master the LANGUAGE of WOMEN

The only way to progress in your career is to do things you've never done before – aka, sign up for stretch opportunities.Stretch roles and projects are the rocket fuel that can power your career forward…and the trial-by-fire that can burn you out.Whether you're holding yourself back from asking for one (and knowing it's holding your career back too)...Or whether you're actively in one, and trying not to let your imposter syndrome eat you alive…The 3 skills in this episode are what you need to survive, thrive, and grow in the stretch zone.Want to take this to the next level with a custom game plan for your situation? Book a Free Career Audit and let's do a deep dive: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact Want to learn the specific stretch opportunities you need to secure a C-suite role? Register for my workshop, Charting Your Course to the C-Suite: www.hbswa.org/csuiteMar2026 And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you'd like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

Pisces season brings us to the final waters of the zodiac.This is a time when the edges between worlds soften — when intuition heightens, dreams become louder, and many of us feel a little more sensitive to life itself.In this episode, rather than focusing on a traditional astrological forecast or the many planetary transits moving through the sky, we explore Pisces as an archetypal teacher.What does this season invite us to feel?What qualities does Pisces awaken in the body, psyche, and spirit?And how can we move with this current rather than resisting it?We begin by exploring the foundations of Pisces — its element, modality, and place as the final sign of the zodiac — and why this position in the wheel carries such profound meaning.Pisces is the place where everything dissolves back into the great ocean of life before the cycle begins again.Because of this, many people notice themselves feeling:• Dreamy, floaty or a bit spacey• More tired or energetically porous• Emotionally sensitive and deeply empathic• Overwhelmed by noise, stimulation, or the pace of the world• Drawn toward solitude, quiet, and reflectionPisces season also opens the door to the dream realm, imagination, intuition, and the wider natural world — reminding us that life is far more mysterious than the rational mind often allows.But like all archetypes, Pisces carries both gifts and shadows. When its energy becomes imbalanced, we may find ourselves slipping into escapism, numbing out, or dissolving healthy boundaries.In this conversation, we explore how to move through this season with awareness — honouring the call for rest, protecting our energetic boundaries, and listening more closely to the quiet whispers of the inner world.Pisces ultimately reminds us of something ancient and simple:We are not separate from life.We are part of the same dreaming ocean.And sometimes the invitation is simply to soften… and remember WHAT we are.EPISODE RESOURCES:Episode: 141 Womb Oracle Dreaming: Feminine Dreamwork with the Land, Body & Soul with Stella Porta: Spotify or AppleSong: Silent Spirit - King Gizz (they're not on Spotify anymore)If this episode landed for you - let me know!Drop a comment or shoot me a DM and share you experience of Pisces Season!Remember to subscribe, rate and review - it's so very much appreciated!

Paying Yourself First Emotionally | A Conversation with Janice Claire DaCostaIn this episode of DaliTalks, I sit down with author, mind-shift advocate, and TEDxMallardCreek founder Janice Claire DaCosta for a powerful conversation about emotional wealth and why it may be the most overlooked driver of sustainable leadership and personal effectiveness.We explore what it really means to pour back into yourself, why high performers are often the most emotionally depleted, and how to start building emotional wealth even when life feels overwhelming.Whether you are a leader, a parent, an educator, or a professional who has been giving more than you have been receiving, this one is for you.IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER:What emotional wealth really means and why it matters, how high performance can mask emotional depletion, the difference between emotional intelligence and emotional wealth, what The Mind-Shift Experience is and how it connects to the book, practical steps to start building your emotional wealth today, how to recognize when your emotional reserves are overdrawn, and who this book was written for and what Janice wants readers to walk away feeling.ABOUT JANICE CLAIRE DaCOSTAJanice Claire DaCosta is an author, speaker, and The Mind-Shift Advocate™ dedicated to helping individuals and leaders transform adversity into clarity and purpose. She is the founder and curator of TEDxMallardCreek and the creator of The Mind-Shift Experience. Her debut book, Pay Yourself First: The Blueprint to Emotional Wealth, released March 2nd, 2025, offers a powerful framework for building emotional resilience from the inside out. Janice believes that the moments that break you are the very ones that remake you.

Eliot and his wife Claire have been happily married for nearly four decades. They've raised two children in their sleepy Connecticut town and have weathered the inevitable ups and downs of a long life spent together. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it's time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable. Over the years of Claire's illness, Eliot has willingly—lovingly—shifted into the role of caregiver, appreciating the intimacy and tenderness that comes with a role even more layered and complex than the one he performed as a devoted husband. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered. What if your partner's dying wish broke your heart? How well do we know the deepest desires of those we love dearly? As Eliot is confronted with this profound turning point in his marriage and his life, he grapples with the man and husband he's been, and with the great unknowns of Claire's last days. Ann Packer makes a triumphant return with this powerful novel that is tender and raw, visceral and unexpected. Emotionally vibrant and complex, Some Bright Nowhere (Harper Books, 2026) explores the profound gifts and unexpected costs of truly loving someone, and the fears and desires we experience as the end of life draws near. Ann Packer is the author of two best-selling novels, Songs Without Words and The Dive from Clausen's Pier, the latter of which received a Great Lakes Book Award, an American Library Association Award, and the Kate Chopin Literary Award. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Vogue, and Real Simple. Also the author of Mendocino and Other Stories, she lives in northern California with her family. Recommended Books: Loved and Missed, Susie Boyt The Spare Room, Helen Garner Everything/Nothing/Someone, Alice Carrier Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eliot and his wife Claire have been happily married for nearly four decades. They've raised two children in their sleepy Connecticut town and have weathered the inevitable ups and downs of a long life spent together. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it's time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable. Over the years of Claire's illness, Eliot has willingly—lovingly—shifted into the role of caregiver, appreciating the intimacy and tenderness that comes with a role even more layered and complex than the one he performed as a devoted husband. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered. What if your partner's dying wish broke your heart? How well do we know the deepest desires of those we love dearly? As Eliot is confronted with this profound turning point in his marriage and his life, he grapples with the man and husband he's been, and with the great unknowns of Claire's last days. Ann Packer makes a triumphant return with this powerful novel that is tender and raw, visceral and unexpected. Emotionally vibrant and complex, Some Bright Nowhere (Harper Books, 2026) explores the profound gifts and unexpected costs of truly loving someone, and the fears and desires we experience as the end of life draws near. Ann Packer is the author of two best-selling novels, Songs Without Words and The Dive from Clausen's Pier, the latter of which received a Great Lakes Book Award, an American Library Association Award, and the Kate Chopin Literary Award. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Vogue, and Real Simple. Also the author of Mendocino and Other Stories, she lives in northern California with her family. Recommended Books: Loved and Missed, Susie Boyt The Spare Room, Helen Garner Everything/Nothing/Someone, Alice Carrier Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Eliot and his wife Claire have been happily married for nearly four decades. They've raised two children in their sleepy Connecticut town and have weathered the inevitable ups and downs of a long life spent together. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it's time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable. Over the years of Claire's illness, Eliot has willingly—lovingly—shifted into the role of caregiver, appreciating the intimacy and tenderness that comes with a role even more layered and complex than the one he performed as a devoted husband. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered. What if your partner's dying wish broke your heart? How well do we know the deepest desires of those we love dearly? As Eliot is confronted with this profound turning point in his marriage and his life, he grapples with the man and husband he's been, and with the great unknowns of Claire's last days. Ann Packer makes a triumphant return with this powerful novel that is tender and raw, visceral and unexpected. Emotionally vibrant and complex, Some Bright Nowhere (Harper Books, 2026) explores the profound gifts and unexpected costs of truly loving someone, and the fears and desires we experience as the end of life draws near. Ann Packer is the author of two best-selling novels, Songs Without Words and The Dive from Clausen's Pier, the latter of which received a Great Lakes Book Award, an American Library Association Award, and the Kate Chopin Literary Award. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Vogue, and Real Simple. Also the author of Mendocino and Other Stories, she lives in northern California with her family. Recommended Books: Loved and Missed, Susie Boyt The Spare Room, Helen Garner Everything/Nothing/Someone, Alice Carrier Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Many women say they want an emotionally available man. But what happens when you finally meet one?In this video, I talk about something that doesn't get discussed enough: how toxic or emotionally unavailable relationships can condition you to respond to healthy love in unhealthy ways.I share my personal experience of learning how to communicate, unlearn survival tactics, and grow inside a relationship with a genuinely good man. Because sometimes the hardest part of healthy love isn't finding it — it's learning how to receive it.In this video we talk about:• Why healthy men can feel unfamiliar after toxic relationships• The survival tactics women develop in emotionally unsafe relationships• Passive aggression, testing, and threatening to leave• How emotionally healthy men respond differently• What it looks like to heal inside a relationship• How to recognize when you're growing instead of sabotagingYou don't have to be fully healed to deserve healthy love.But you do have to be willing to grow once you're in it.✨ Let's connect:

Veronica Valli discusses the journey to emotional sobriety, emphasizing the importance of consistent personal development, boundaries, managing resentments, and reprogramming the subconscious mind. She shares practical insights and invites listeners to a two-day immersive training to master emotional sobriety for lasting well-being. To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

Send a textSeason 4, Episode 35 March Series: Emotionally Developed Leadership - Episode 1: Don't Absorb the Anxiety

Welcome to a brand new series on the Let's Get Vulnerable, Your Secure Love Era. In this episode, I'm getting real about why modern dating feels so dysregulating (especially for high-achieving, self-aware women), how insecure attachment and past relational trauma are quietly running the show, and what it actually takes to shift into secure, emotionally available love. If you're exhausted by situationships, mixed signals, and thinking “I thought this time was different,” this episode is for you.Inside this episode:Why modern dating is uniquely dysregulating - The dating apps, the illusion of endless options, the normalization of situationships, and how dopamine-driven swiping keeps you stuck in anxious/avoidant cycles instead of secure attachment.The high-achiever trap in love - How over-functioning, hyper-independence, and “I'll just try harder” energy work in your career… but sabotage your relationships. (Effort can build a business. It can't force emotional availability.)The identity shift into secure attachment - Why knowing about attachment styles isn't enough, how your nervous system determines who you're attracted to, and what changes when you truly embody secure love (hint: calmer dating, faster discernment, and completely different attraction patterns).This series is about more than tips and strategies. It's about an identity-level shift. It's about becoming the version of you who no longer settles for confusion, inconsistency, or emotional unavailability, and who can both give and receive secure, healthy, emotionally available love.Secure love is not about finding the perfect partner. It's about becoming securely attached in your body so you can build something intentional, grounded, and real. And yes… that kind of love is available to you.

In this episode of Do The Work | Mindset Mastery, I am coming off one of the highest moments we have ever experienced as a team. Ignite 2026 was the biggest one yet. The energy. The recognition. The collaboration. The stories. The numbers. The celebration. I could barely sleep that night because I was watching it unfold from perspectives I do not always get to see. Behind the scenes, Carla and I are focused on execution. But through social media, through your messages, through your faces, I got to witness what it meant to you. And that is when something hit me. Every single year, people walk up to us and tell us what they are going to accomplish next year. Ten million. Fifteen million. Twenty million. And almost every single time, the ones who say it and commit to it actually do it. But here is the tension. There is a difference between declaring something with conviction and announcing something for a dopamine hit. In today's world, you can post that you are starting a diet, running a marathon, building a business, and immediately get applause. Congratulations. Fire emojis. Likes. Validation. And that initial rush can feel just like the accomplishment itself. It feels done before the work even begins. That is dangerous. Because when the lights turn off, when the music stops, when the stage is gone, you are left with the same marriage, the same finances, the same limiting beliefs, the same pipeline, the same habits. And if you are not grounded, that vision that felt so certain at Ignite can feel overwhelming just a few days later. So the real question is this. Who are you when things do not go your way? Right before Ignite started, we realized we had signed off on a much larger expense than expected. A surprise bill. A big one. It would have been easy to get frustrated. To lower my energy. To let it throw off the entire event. But how can I stand on that stage and ask you to go for ten million if I let a surprise expense shake my belief in abundance? The moment tested me. And that is what I need you to understand. You do not become a ten million dollar producer when everything is perfect. You become one in how you respond when it is not. If an appraisal comes in low and you spiral, you are not there yet. If a binzer does not go your way and you shut down, you are not there yet. If one client disrupts your momentum and your energy drops, you are not there yet. The numbers you wrote down at Ignite are possible. I believe that fully. But you have to stop chasing the high and start building the foundation. Events like Ignite are the cherry on top. They are not the foundation. The foundation is built in the in between. It is built in the daily deposits. The power deposits. The purpose deposits. The profit deposits. It is built when you post one video today instead of promising five every day and burning out by Wednesday. It is built when you upload ten contacts into your CRM instead of saying you are going to rebuild your entire database in one sitting. It is built when you follow up today. Not when you feel like it. Not when motivation is high. Today. The top producers who spoke on that panel did not get there by accident. It was strategic. It was methodical. It was disciplined. They got mentally right. Physically right. Spiritually right. Emotionally right. Then they executed. That is not a concept anymore. It is a fact. And the fact is this. You do not need to go chase conferences, happy hours, or environments that sell you a false narrative. You do not need constant highs. You need consistent wins. When I used to chase that conference high, I would come home depleted. Irritable. Blaming my circumstances. Because reality did not match the energy of the stage. That is addiction. That is not growth. Growth is when your baseline is strong enough that even your worst day is still better than your old life. That is what we are building here. Some people avoided Ignite because they were ashamed. Maybe they did not get the award they wanted. Maybe they did not get one at all. But hiding from reality does not help you grow. Facing it does. You should have been on that stage. If you were not, that is not shame. That is information. Now do something with it. Between now and your next review, what are you going to change? Not next year. Not someday. Today. Swing for singles. Get on base. Win today. The grand slam comes when you stack enough singles. If all of you hit the numbers you declared, we are looking at over a billion dollars in production collectively. That is not fantasy. That is math. But math only works when the daily inputs are consistent. You do not work up to a client. You work through a client. You do not stop when you get an appointment. You keep running the race. You do not pass the baton. You stay in motion. And above all, you cannot get thrown off by the small things. The next level version of you does not respond with frustration. They respond with composure. They respond with solutions. They respond with discipline. Ignite set a new bar. But we do not top fire dancers and sparklers with more theatrics. We top it with more of you on stage. That is how we win. Now the question is simple. Are you willing to want it more than I want it for you? Reflection Questions When things do not go your way, what is your automatic response and does it align with the level of producer you say you want to become? What are three small deposits you can make today that move you closer to your declared number? Are you chasing environments that make you feel accomplished, or are you building habits that actually make you accomplished? Notable Quotes "You do not become a ten million dollar producer when everything is perfect. You become one in how you respond when it is not." "Events are the cherry on top. The foundation is built in the in between." "We do not top it with more fireworks. We top it with more of you on stage." Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media: Instagram: @azaraujo Facebook: A.Z. Araujo TikTok: A.Z. Araujo YouTube: Do The Work Podcast   For Real Estate Agents in AZ: Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates: dothework.com/azaa   Upcoming Events: If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit: dothework.com bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!   New Do The Work Gear: Check out the latest DTW and Do The Work Gear! Hats, shirts, journals, and more: • • shop.dothework.com

New Mikvah.org Podcast! - Seasons of Marriage A Discussion on the Fluctuating Seasons of Marital Intimacy,and How to Best Support our Marriages Spiritually, Emotionally, and Clinically.Join Mrs. Sarah Rayzel Wagner who is a Mikvah.org Certified Kallah Teacher and Educator to delve into the Torah and Hashkafa Perspective. 

In 2024, Cal Newport of Georgetown University proposed that we have entered into a period of American life he dubs "The Great Exhaustion." Many of us feel incredibly tired, and not just physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Existentially. In Leviticus, God builds rest and reset into reality itself. Not as a rule, but as resistance. Not as religion, but as rebellion against a world that never stops demanding. This week: Sabbath, exile, new beginnings. And why “enough” might be the most radical word in your vocabulary.

This is a very special interview with therapist and author, Jasmin Lee Cori. Her book, The Emotionally Absent Mother: How to Recognize and Heal the Invisible Effect of Childhood Emotional Neglect was pivotal for me when exploring mothering and my history as a daughter. I found reading her book very healing, and I have adopted her affirmations as those I use when helping others, especially adults who have early wounds and mothers who want to be the best version of themselves. Her affirmations are:I am glad you are hereI see youYou are special to meI respect youYou can turn to me for helpYour needs are important to meI'm here for you; I'll make time for youI'll keep you safeYou can rest in meI delight in you Jasmin Lee Cori has lived a life of learning and healing. She practiced for many years as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Colorado, specializing in work with adults who experienced childhood neglect and abuse. Jasmin is the author of 5 nonfiction books including The Emotionally Absent Mother, Healing From The Emotionally Absent Mother, and Healing From Trauma.Jasmin taught in a variety of colleges and vocational schools and is passionate about psychological and spiritual growth, as well as holistic health.Her website: https://www.jasmincori.com/

IS YOUR ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO YOUR HEALTH NEEDS?ARE THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE ADDING VALUE TO IT OR Suffocating YOUR GROWTH?DOES THE ELECTRICS FILL YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR DO YOU NEED TO ADD MORE MB & GB?______________________________CONNECT @https://www.facebook.com/groups/503166600709551/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBTCONNECT@https://youtube.com/@karinalemire?si=qrWIPuvkKowG3bI6Email: k.lemire@consultant.comMEDICAL DISCLAIMER Any content used in this or any other episode of SSTO are those of the creator and should never be replaced for professional physicians help.#strokesurvivorpodcast #strokesurvivor #declutter #mindset #survival #motivation #office #closet # mentalhealth

Ever hang out with a "friend" and leave feeling completely exhausted, anxious, or small?In this revealing episode of Quality Queen Control, Asha Christina breaks down what an emotionally draining friend looks like the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs they're an energy vampire sucking your joy, peace, and mental bandwidth.From constant venting without reciprocity, one-sided conversations where your needs are ignored, endless drama/crisis mode, negativity that rubs off on you, guilt-tripping, walking on eggshells, passive-aggression, or making everything about them.These patterns aren't "just tough times"; they're toxic drains on your spirit.Asha blends psychology red flags (emotional exhaustion, imbalance, lack of empathy) with faith-rooted truth: God calls you to loving relationships that build up, not tear down.Learn to spot these signs early, set boundaries without guilt, heal from resentment, prioritize friendships that recharge you, and step into high-value connections that honor your worth and calling. Stop pouring into people who leave your cup empty. 

In this power-packed episode of the Married Into Crazy Podcast, hosts Snooks and Lovey take you behind the scenes of their incredible 2nd Annual Winter Ball of Marriage conference! With over 120 attendees flying in from Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and all across California, this two-day event was nothing short of transformational. Friday Night Highlights: Experience the magic of "Dinner, Diamonds, and Dance" featuring DJ Nointed, Chicago stepping legend Cree, and delicious catering from Koncrete Kitchen and Louisiana Heaven. Saturday's Expert Sessions Include:  Devon Truvel shares the raw truth about couple entrepreneurship—the roses AND the thorns. Discover the four pillars of finding your niche: What you're good at, what you love, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. Learn how the Black Wall Street board game is revolutionizing financial literacy education!  The Akintades reveal their secrets to building an UNCOMMON LIFE. As a board-certified gastroenterologist and engineer, they took a 6-month sabbatical to travel 29 countries with their children! Latifa, host of the Money Fit MD podcast, shares practical biblical principles for creating generational wealth.  BONUS: Learn about SMARTE Goals—a revolutionary twist on traditional goal-setting: Specific Measurable Aligned with who you're called to be (Audacious!) Reasonable based on your current season Time-bound Emotionally grounded Plus powerful mantras: "Write it, Read it, Pray about it" | "See it, Speak it, Seek it" | "Be, Do, Have"  Whether you're building a business with your spouse, seeking financial freedom, or wanting to create extraordinary family experiences, this episode delivers actionable wisdom for couples at every stage of marriage.

This episode isn't for the faint at heart. Because Dawnmarie's story and the stories she shares are heartbreaking. The data and her clinical experience indicates that one in four girls are abused in the household before 18 years old, and most of that abuse happens before age 6. And while having a step-parent is the number one risk , unfortunately they are often not the only person at blame. DawnMarie is a survivor in the truest sense, having taken her past of horrible abuse and turning the pain into true purpose and mission. But it was messy, took courage and ultimately took faith. Dawnmarie's story is one of hope, and that there is always hope.Dr. DawnMarie Risley-Childs is a professional speaker who empowers audiences to create positive change. She inspires audiences to break free from negativity and to create a brighter future. She delivers impactful talks, workshops, and podcast appearances on healing from toxic relationships, building positive work cultures, and championing the safety and well-being of children.  Get her book “The Offering” HERE - https://www.drrisleychilds.com/bookContact:Website - https://www.drrisleychilds.comJoin us as we explore:What it means to not let your trauma go to waste, why trauma is so painful to speak and hear, vulnerability as strength and what it takes to move forward and thrive even if after being deeply harmed.Emotionally toxic and traumatic environments and abuse by proxy.Creating a culture and society that can discuss, absorb and advocate for childhood trauma as a collective and community.Frightening statistics around female childhood abuse, and what the data exposes as the biggest risks for abuse in the household.The two major turning points of Dawnmarie's journey from trauma to thriving, the role of psychedelic medicine interventions along the way and strength from spiritual faith.MentionsPerson - Jeremy Indika, https://www.instagram.com/jeremyindika/Organizations - MAPS, www.maps.orgSupport the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I'd be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Are you emotionally connected to your wife — or slowly drifting? Are you controlling the temperature of your marriage — or reacting to it? In this special series of 'Average Joe' conversations, Jim Ramos sits down with friend Chris Clay for an extremely practical conversation about building guardrails that protect both your character and your marriage. Drawing from Jim's upcoming book, Guardrails: 10 Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage, they unpack real-life stories and wisdom from decades of marriage to set clear boundaries every man needs to pursue.  Jim's newest book, Guardrails: Ten Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage will be releasing in April 2026. Pre-order your copy today at https://tinyurl.com/guardrails115.

Love stories. Questionable choices. Emotionally unavailable war criminals. In this episode of 3v0, we're breaking down the absolute best video game characters to romance. 3v0podcast #VideoGameRomance #BestVideoGameRomances #VideoGameCharacters #RPGRomance #GamingPodcast #MassEffectRomance #BaldursGate #FinalFantasy #VideoGameCrush #GamerLife #NerdCulture #GamingDebate #CompanionGoals #GamersOfInstagram Catch the stream on Twitch Be our Friend on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Peep our YouTube Channel Send us a message: 3v0PodcastTeam@gmail.com

Text us, We would love to her from YOU!If you're the kind of woman who can “handle everything” the fixer, the achiever, the one who keeps it together, this episode is for you.In this conversation, Tracy Doyle (author, resilience expert, and creator of the Aurora Method) shares what burnout really looks like beneath the surface: not just exhaustion, but disconnection from self, emotional implosion/explosion, and the quiet belief that you must earn belonging through over-giving.We talk about the patterns that keep high-functioning women stuck, why awareness isn't enough, and what actually creates change: daily practice, nervous system regulation in real life, and learning to shift the beliefs that drive the “always responsible” identity.In This Episode, You'll LearnWhy success doesn't always equal fulfillment (and what that disconnect is signaling)How emotionally over-responsible women drift into self-abandonmentThe real burnout progression: stress → overwhelm → conflict → implosion/explosionWhy insight alone doesn't change behavior (and what does)Tracy's “reaction cascade” + how beliefs trigger emotional patternsHow daily practices create nervous system regulation and relational repairWhat it means to reclaim internal authority emotionally, not just intellectuallyThe difference between breakthrough moments and sustainable changePractical ways to stop over-functioning and rebuild connection to your voiceLinks: Tracy Doyle Support the showPlease subscribe and follow the show to get updates on new releases.Kindly asking to share with friends who may enjoy or benefit.Support Happy Hour for the Spiritually Curious WildSoulsGathering.comEmbrace YOUR Wild Soul!https://www.youtube.com/@wildsoulgatheringhttps://www.tiktok.com/@spirituallycurioushttps://www.twitter.com/@soul_gatheringshttps://www.instagram.com/wildsoulgatheringshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/669456900799583

Send a textYou don't fight because you're incompatible.You fight because you don't know what you're feeling.Hurt becomes anger.Fear becomes control.Insecurity becomes criticism.Overwhelm becomes withdrawal.Emotional illiteracy ruins more relationships than incompatibility ever will.Support the show

Lent isn't about giving something up. It's about becoming someone new. As we begin this Lenten journey, we're exploring what it means to develop an emotionally healthy spirituality — because, as we're reminded: “You can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” Through the story of King Saul, we see what happens when insecurity, fear, ego, and unmanaged emotion go unchecked. Saul had power, success, wealth — and no real health. No real friends. No inner stability.

Have you ever felt lost in conversations where resolution seems out of reach? Have you wondered why every attempt you make to explain is met with roadblocks that leave you even more frustrated? If so, you might be encountering what Annette Oltmans of The Mend Project calls "The Maze of Confusion."  The Maze of Confusion is a strategy used by emotional abusers to derail genuine communication. By weaving a complex web of distractions and dead ends, they prevent meaningful dialogue, leaving their partners overwhelmed and disoriented. Instead of engaging in healthy conversations, these tactics create barriers to understanding and resolution, leading to increased confusion and emotional pain.   In this conversation, Annette and Karla talk about the tactics used to block communication in emotionally abusive relationships from their own experience and from their work with thousands of abuse victims and survivors. Their conversation contrasts unhealthy tactics that prevent resolution with the characteristics of healthy communication that foster understanding and resolution.   This podcast is packed with helpful information that empowers abuse victims and abuse survivors. They need labels for the tactics that are used to control them. They need to understand the motives that drive the abuser's behavior. They need validation to counter the gaslighting and invalidation.      Understanding and navigating this maze can be challenging, but you don't have to do it alone. Annette is the founder of The Mend Project, an organization that seeks to educate, equip, and restore all who are impacted by emotional abuse and train those who interface with them personally or professionally. Please take a moment to review their resources. #confusion  #emotionalabuse  #emotionalabusesurvivor #domesticviolencesurvivors    Resources and Links:    The MEND Project - https://themendproject.com/   Find Clarity and Healing Course - https://themendproject.com/find-clarity-and-healing-course/   "My Journey Through Double Abuse" - interview of Annette Oltmans' story. https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-a4tmz-1004118   "I Was a Covert Emotional Abuser" - Interview of Bucky Oltmans' story  https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ebkpt-107fd04   Maze of Confusion, Terms and Definitions and Other Free Resources from The MEND Project - https://themendproject.com/resources/   Karla Downing's Classes - https://www.changemyrelationship.com/current-and-upcoming-classes/     Website: https://www.changemyrelationship.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMyRelationship YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@changemyrelationship Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ewZv3bY0tcg

In this episode, Alicia discusses her work with Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Radically Open DBT. She explains that she was first exposed to DBT in her predoctoral internship at Marin General Hospital, where part of the rotation was to run a DBT group and fell in love with its practicality and giving people real tools they could take away. She explained that it was great to see clients using the tools and finding success, so she got went and got trained with Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. and Behavioral Tech and made DBT her focus. She explained that DBT is especially helpful for clients who describe themselves as emotionally sensitive or struggle to “ride the wave” of emotions that feel overwhelming. Alicia discusses the five modules of DBT that she works from, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, affect regulation, interpersonal skills, and “walking the middle path,” (which is related to validation and reinforcement in family emotional dynamics). Alicia goes on to explain the use of the modules in working towards emotional awareness, getting through emotional crises, and radical acceptance of emotions. We also discuss coping skills and exposure therapy and how there are tools to expand one's window of tolerance as well as self-soothing skills utilized to sit with one's emotions. We speak on what dialectics in DBT refer to: holding two truths at a time, as opposed to relying on rigid, black-and-white thinking, which can exacerbate feelings of distress and overwhelm. Alicia discusses Radical DBT, or Radically Open DBT, and how it is different from regular DBT as it expands radical openness, self-inquiry, and accepting imperfection in oneself in treating emotional OC (overcontrol) disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, OCPD, and chronic depression. We discuss how RO DBT benefits clients who experience rigidity in their overcontrol as well as shame, anxiety, and hypervigilance in their daily life. Alicia discusses her website, Therahive, which provides DBT skills online for clients as well as training for therapists to make DBT accessible throughout the world. We discuss how important having a supportive community is for clinicians who are providing DBT and how DBT's model includes a therapist consultation group. Lastly, we discuss phone coaching with clients and how it is utilized with clients who are struggling with self-harm and other behaviors and how therapists navigate personal boundaries around time with family and time off, while also being available for clients in need. Alicia Smart, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist in California with over 20 years of clinical experience providing evidence-based mental health care to children, adolescents, adults, and families. She began seeing clients during graduate training and has worked across community mental health, medical, and private practice settings throughout her career. Alicia earned her B.A. in Psychology and Chemistry from New York University and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is a DBT-Linehan Certified Clinician and has extensive experience treating mood and personality disorders, trauma, anxiety, grief, ADHD, autism-spectrum presentations, and chronic emotion dysregulation. Her work frequently integrates DBT into suicide risk management, neurodivergent-affirming care, and complex relational systems. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of Guidepost DBT in Corte Madera, California, where she oversees a team of therapists providing comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and evidence-based care. In addition to clinical leadership, Alicia provides training, supervision, and consultation to clinicians seeking advanced education in DBT and related approaches. Alicia is also a co-founder of TheraHive, an innovative online DBT skills and learning platform designed to make high-quality DBT education more accessible to individuals and clinicians worldwide.

Pregnancy test day can feel like one of the most emotionally charged days of your entire fertility journey, where hope, fear, and everything in between collide in a single moment. In today's episode, you'll be gently guided through how to prepare your heart and nervous system for that day so it feels more intentional and supported, rather than chaotic and overwhelming. Together, we'll walk through what to do before, during, and after test day, whether your result is positive or negative, so you leave with a grounded game plan, language to use with yourself and others, and a deeper sense that your reactions are normal, understandable, and worthy of compassion.  Episode Highlights: Why test day feels so big What you can do before test day to support yourself How to handle the day itself How to care for your heart if it's positive How to care for your heart if it's negative And how to lean on support without feeling like a burden If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR THE MARCH BRONZE PACKAGE (limited spots available) For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/178   Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.  

Ep 228 One World in a New World with Kevin PatrickExplore the thoughtless fear with Zen Benefiel, guiding guests through personal journeys and perspectives. This journey of self discovery inspires listeners to seek knowledge and find wisdom in their lives, fostering personal growth and self improvement. Embrace harmony with self, with others, with Earth, for a complete self discovery journey.

What does it mean to be emotionally savvy? My guest in this episode is Katherine E. Miller, Divorce Attorney and author of her new book "The Emotionally Savvy Divorce." Katherine shares some of the key takeaways in her wonderful divorce advice book, with the goal of helping you have the best divorce outcome. 

Resilience is not grinding harder. Resilience is staying. And most entrepreneurs don't fail because they're incapable. They fail because they leave too early. Emotionally. Mentally. Sometimes physically. So today we're talking about the two traits nobody brags about on Instagram: Resilience and patience. If you're in a slower season right now, or you feel like things are not moving as fast as you want… this episode is for you.   Time Stamps:   (0:15) A Talk You Need At Any Stage of Business (2:17) What Resiliency Really Is (4:08) Patience Is Trust Compounding Over Time (6:00) Fear Is A Compass (8:20) Clarifying Massive Action (9:52) Protect Your Mental Inbox (11:13) Your Top 3 Priorities ----------

Ryan Moresby-White returns for his second appearance on Heart of Man.And this time, we explore what it truly takes for a man to become emotionally safe, grounded, and self-led.As a men's coach and founder of the Heal The Boy Institute, his work centers on helping men mature psychologically and emotionally so the younger parts of us no longer drive the bus in our relationships, our work, and our lives.In our first conversation, we explored the foundations of boy psychology, emotional immaturity, and the root causes behind why so many men today operate from these younger imprints.This time, we go deeper into the terrain underneath it all that demands our attention: Grief.The willingness to grieve the pain of our past.The losses we have experienced.The parts of us that have never known love.What we hoped for, longed for, and needed yet never received.And in those places, developing the kind of inner fortitude that demands us to stay present when life cracks us open.Ryan speaks openly about how the most disruptive force in many men's lives is often the little boy inside them trying to get his needs met through control, collapse, avoidance, or emotional hunger.We explore why awareness alone rarely creates change, and why real transformation requires entering the cave of grief and allowing the body to feel what never had the space to be felt.We unpack how relationships become the initiations many men never received, and how a man's capacity to grieve and carry these younger aspects is directly tied to his ability to be present, grounded, and emotionally safe with a woman.We examine how men are wounded in relationship and how our healing also happens in relationship when held with discernment. What belongs in partnership and what belongs in brotherhood. What we bring to our partners and what ought to be metabolized in circle with other men.In this conversation, discover:What boy psychology looks like in relationships and why it creates emotional chaos.Why grief is not only about death or physical loss and how unprocessed grief shapes intimacy, conflict, and connection.Why relationships often become the initiations men did not receive growing up.How loneliness often hides beneath distraction, overworking, and the need for a partner to regulate us.Why presence is the thing many women crave most and how it is built through grieving and inner security.What it means to be a safe man and why a regulated nervous system changes everything in love.How men can stop making their partner responsible for their healing and step into emotional leadership.Why brotherhood matters and what belongs with your men rather than in your relationship.This is a raw and deeply practical conversation about emotional leadership, nervous system maturity, and how a man can shepherd his younger parts so they do not bleed into love in destructive ways.This episode is for any man ready to stop letting his younger parts run the show, stop outsourcing his wholeness to a relationship, and start meeting life from a deeper place of truth, maturity, and grounded love.—Connect with Alex Lehmann:

Are you getting a little too personal with someone who isn't your wife? Emotional affairs don't explode overnight—they bleed out slowly, one conversation at a time. In this special series of 'Average Joe' conversations, Jim Ramos sits down with friend Paco Arenas for an extremely practical conversation about building guardrails that protect both your character and your marriage. Drawing from Jim's upcoming book, Guardrails: 10 Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage, they unpack real-life stories and wisdom from decades of marriage to set clear boundaries every man needs to pursue.  Jim's newest book, Guardrails: Ten Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage will be releasing in April 2026. Sign up to be notified when it's available at https://meninthearena.org/guardrails. I Can Only Imagine 2 hits theaters February 20th, 2026! Watch the trailer and get tickets aticanonlyimagine.com. Every man needs a locker room. Apply to join an exclusive brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room once a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life's difficult questions. Locker Room members also get access to monthly exclusive leadership trainings, historically only available to the staff team at Men in the Arena. Membership is by application only. Go here to apply: https://patreon.com/themeninthearena Get Jim Ramos' USA TODAY Bestselling book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God (https://tinyurl.com/dialedinbook)

We go through a lot as mothers; during pregnancy, postpartum and raising kids and it can really try our emotional resilience.  I am going to be doing a series on emotional resilience, I hope that you will join me and implement something you learn for more emotional resilience in your motherhood.  Episode on Trials 'Don't let the fears of tomorrow rob you of the Joys today' Email me: positivityinpregnancy@gmail.com Website: www.positivityinpregnancy.com MENTAL HEALTH MINI VIDEOS for pregnancy: What once made up my ‘Morning Sickness Mini Course for Mental Health' is now divided into individual videos(and each video comes with the audio) that you can now buy individually instead of purchasing the whole course! Discover a beautiful collection of short, heartwarming positivity videos (ranging from 1–8 minutes) thoughtfully designed to nurture your mind, body, and spirit throughout pregnancy. Each video focuses on one of four powerful pillars:  Mental Health (to support emotional well-being),  Pregnancy Affirmations (that uplift and empower),  Gratitude practices (that fill your heart with joy),   And simple yet transformative ways to shift negative thoughts into positive light (These gentle reminders celebrate the incredible journey you're on).  Here is the link to all the videos: https://pregnancyishard.com/collections/all I recommend starting with the Mental Health section!  Visit My Pregnancy Week-by-Week Page:https://pregnancyishard.com/pages/week-by-week-pregnancy Here is the Facebook Page for Pregnancy is hard: I have documented my journey of my fourth baby on this page and have other juicy and good tips for enjoying pregnancy better. https://www.facebook.com/pregnancyishard Here is the Pregnancy is Hard Support Group on Facebook: Let's offer support, help and fun for those in the trenches of pregnancy! https://www.facebook.com/groups/165102315544693 YouTube for Positivity in Pregnancy: https://www.youtube.com/@PregnancyisHardwithJosly-nd8wd Instagram: @positivityinpregnancy

Season 9, Episode 1: State of the Industry w/ Gordon MillerIn this annual “State of the Industry” conversation, Corey and Katie sit down with Gordon Miller to unpack what actually happened in 2025 and what salon pros should pay attention to moving into 2026.We're kicking off Season 9 with perspective, data, and real talk — not clickbait.Gordon, now the new General Manager of Intercoiffure, brings decades of industry insight to break down what's actually happening behind the headlines.According to aggregated industry data (KIM Report pulling from thousands of POS and booking systems):Overall revenue was roughly flatGuest counts are downFrequency of visit is decliningRetail dipped, especially in smaller businesses and suitesLarger team-based salons (20+ providers) are seeing growth againPrice increases helped stabilize revenue — but without them, many businesses were slightly down.Emotionally? The industry feels uncertain and reactive — mirroring the larger world.From “don't prebook” to “retail is dead,” viral advice is spreading fast — even when it applies to only a small percentage of stylists.The reality:Most stylists are not booked out months in advance.Smart prebooking and retention systems still work.Social media today is marketing-driven, not community-driven — and that shifts what voices get amplified.Retail didn't collapse — but it's soft.Historically, retail accounts for about 5% of salon revenue (7% at its peak). The larger issue? The industry never consistently built strong retail systems.The act of recommending matters — even if the client doesn't purchase from you.It builds trust, retention, and authority.For suite owners especially, inventory strategy and cash flow management are critical.Suites surged during COVID but growth is leveling off. Larger suite companies are now acquiring smaller regional operators.Chair rental remains larger overall.Meanwhile, 20+ person salons are seeing team growth again — suggesting a quiet shift back toward structured environments.Many newer stylists have never experienced strong in-salon education or structured mentorship due to post-COVID cuts and digital pivots.Independent educators can be transformational — but they reach only a small portion of the industry.Education — especially business education — remains the biggest opportunity.From AI concierge systems booking appointments after hours to tools helping managers communicate and analyze numbers more effectively, AI is already improving operations.It's not replacing stylists — it's supporting better business.The opportunity to do great hair depends on sitting on top of a strong business.Creativity matters.But sustainability requires systems, education, and intentional leadership.The industry isn't broken — it's evolving.The question is: Are you building a business that evolves with it?2025: Flat — But Not FineThe Clickbait EffectRetail: The Real StorySuites, Rental & Team-Based SalonsEducation & The Missing ExperienceAI in Real SalonsThe Core Takeaway

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan discuss Scott Dorward and all the ways that he’s ruined us emotionally. Join us as we celebrate Scott’s writing, storytelling, and the many ways that he supports the gaming community!  Patreon Plug & Update We have a patreon!! If you would like to support the podcast and engage with other backers, please consider backing. If you're already a backer, please take a look at the various tiers and consider moving to the next level up.  Our new benefits include regular content exclusive to our backers. And if you don't have money to contribute, please like and review us on Spotify or Apple podcasts. They really help.  So yes – please back us on Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone who has chosen to back us. We're so thankful for all of you. Who we regularly see on… The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Equinox for editing this episode.  Bridgett's Pet Pick Shout Out Undead Domain’s cat, sitting in a custom-made box full of toys, very intentionally sleeping and not engaging at all with the toys. Very catlike! Main Topic Tonight we want to talk about Scott Dorward. The writer, the podcaster, the legend… and all the ways that he's ruined us.  Lamp Posts in Bloom on Ain't Slayed Nobody https://www.aintslayednobody.com/episodes/lamp-posts-in-bloom-unknown-armies-becca-scott Cthulhu Dark Fairyland Part 1 — Ain’t Slayed Nobody – Call of Cthulhu Podcast  https://share.google/Jdi30tTLk0r36wolH Fairyland Scenario https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/426490/fairyland Murder Shack Ain’t Slayed Nobody  https://pca.st/episode/a4324459-6603-4291-aeef-c30c5c1bd4d2 Unland  https://pca.st/episode/524d3f47-8254-48db-ba34-1bea7b9c539c Sky Symphony Sonata https://youtu.be/xnUlacQAMRM?si=AfBJk3MtUPR08meD The Things We Leave Behind – An Anthology of Modern Day Call of Cthulhu Scenarios – Stygian Fox | Call of Cthulhu: Modern Era | DriveThruRPG https://share.google/LMZSGO74vJqWsqiIK Homework Tell us in the episode channel how Scott Dorward has ruined you emotionally. Tag him. Make it weird. 

After a failed IVF cycle, the pressure to move quickly into the next one can feel overwhelming. Clinics often encourage momentum. Emotionally, it can feel safer to stay in motion than to pause. But rushing into another IVF cycle too quickly can quietly reinforce the same biological conditions that shaped the last outcome. If you've been told to increase stimulation, change protocols, or "just try again," this episode challenges that reflex. Because before another round begins, the more important question is: What actually needs to shift in the biology? In this episode of Get Pregnant Naturally, we explore why recovery windows matter after a failed IVF cycle and how back-to-back stimulation can compound physiological stress, especially in cases of low AMH, embryo arrest, or recurrent implantation failure. In this episode, you'll learn: Why stacking IVF cycles too closely can affect cellular energy and egg development How hormonal rhythm and communication break down when recovery time is skipped The hidden impact of inflammation and immune load between cycles Why more medication does not always mean better coordination inside the system How to recognize when repetition is happening without recalibration IVF is physically and emotionally demanding. Medications, procedures, disrupted sleep, and stress all increase the body's workload. Biology improves during recovery windows, not during nonstop stimulation. Strategic pauses are not delays. They are opportunities for recalibration. I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally. For over a decade, my team and I have reviewed hundreds of low AMH and failed IVF cases using functional testing alongside conventional fertility care. We specialize in helping couples identify the physiological patterns driving poor outcomes so decisions are grounded in interpretation, not guesswork. If you've been moving from cycle to cycle without a clear way to evaluate what's actually been addressed, I created a free resource called the Embryo Audit Checklist. It helps you organize past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may not have been considered yet. Access it here.

Are you constantly navigating conversations where you feel like you're walking on eggshells? Or maybe you find yourself questioning your reality after talking to someone who can't seem to take accountability, ever?In this episode, I dive into the uncomfortable (but necessary) topic of how to talk to emotionally immature people — whether it's a partner, parent, friend, or colleague.Through the lens of personal growth, communication skills, and emotional intelligence, I'll walk you through what emotional immaturity really looks like, how to protect your peace without cutting everyone off, and powerful ways to respond without abandoning yourself.What you'll get out of this episode… Why emotional immaturity is so triggeringBrave phrases to set boundaries from a grounded placeThe power of walking away (without guilt)Why you don't have to win the argumentHow to hold space without abandoning your truthThis Episode is Sponsored by Chai TonicsThis Galentine's, give the gift of ritual with Chai Tonics — nourishing Ayurvedic superfood chai blends for calm, focus, and a nervous-system exhale. Get 20% off with code VALENTINE at https://bit.ly/trychaitonics.Discover which chai blend matches your vibe with my FREE quiz:⁠ https://chaitonics.com/pages/chai-quiz Breathe better with JASPRIf you're ready to support your healing from the inside out, start with the air you breathe. Try the JASPR Air Scrubber for a cleaner, safer home environment — get $400 off with code BRAVE at https://jaspr.co/brave.Support your body with REJŪVMy go-to science-backed red light therapy for faster recovery, reduced soreness, and deeper repair. Try it today with code BRAVETABLE: Https://werejuv.com/?ref=NEETABHUSHANFollow along for more tips, community, and resources to brave a better you!YOUTUBE / @TheBraveTableIG / @neetabhushan IG / @thebravetable TIKTOK / @neeta.bhushanWEB / https://neetabhushan.comIf you loved this episode, check out…Ep. #396: Everyone Says “Cut Them Off” — Here's What No One Tells You About Family Healing: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/396-everyone-says-cut-them-off-heres-what-no-one-tells/id1608226580?i=1000744134535 Ep. #402: You Cannot Manifest From Exhaustion (Here's What to Do Instead): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/402-you-cannot-manifest-from-exhaustion-heres-what/id1608226580?i=1000747025409 Ep. #403: Why You're Already Negotiating Every Day (But Don't Realize It) with Lousin Mehrabi: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/403-why-youre-already-negotiating-every-day-but-dont/id1608226580?i=1000747708015 To receive a free gift, email a screenshot of your 5-star review of The Brave Table to support@globalgrit.co

Dr. Guy Winch explains why we must treat emotional injuries with the same urgency as physical ones. "We ruminate, we beat ourselves up, we criticize ourselves, we think we're weak… and we end up compounding the emotional injury." He introduces the idea of "emotional first aid" and why we need a psychological toolbox to stop that downward spiral. Guy breaks down the difference between how we respond to physical pain versus emotional pain. "We go to the medicine cabinet for a physical injury, but we have no cabinet for emotional injuries." He explains why we must learn emotional hygiene: "The injuries don't just go away." We also discuss how emotional neglect works and the long-term consequences of unacknowledged wounds. "The mind does not heal itself. The mind broods." Finally, Guy offers a new model for how to respond when people open up to you emotionally. "Start with compassion. You can offer logic later." Key Insights: Insight 1: "We ruminate, we beat ourselves up, we criticize ourselves, we think we're weak… and we end up compounding the emotional injury." This explains why emotional pain often intensifies over time without care — because we engage in harmful self-dialogue instead of healing practices. Insight 2: "The mind does not heal itself. The mind broods." Guy challenges the myth that emotional wounds naturally heal. Without intervention, the mind tends to replay and deepen the pain. Insight 3: "We go to the medicine cabinet for a physical injury, but we have no cabinet for emotional injuries." He contrasts our well-established responses to physical pain with the absence of tools for emotional distress — and why this gap needs to be closed. Insight 4: "Emotional hygiene is about treating those injuries when they occur and trying to prevent them in the first place." He introduces emotional hygiene as a proactive and reactive strategy, just like physical hygiene protects against illness and injury. Insight 5: "Start with compassion. You can offer logic later." This is a clear framework for responding to others in distress — showing why empathy should precede problem-solving. Action Items: "Start with compassion. You can offer logic later." Use this sequence when someone shares emotional pain. "The first step is to recognize the injury for what it is." Acknowledge when you've been emotionally hurt. Label it. "Would I say this to a friend? If the answer is no, then don't say it to yourself." A reframe technique to interrupt self-criticism. "You don't take one antibiotic and stop. You have to do the course. It's the same with emotional first aid." Practice emotional tools consistently, not just once. "Rumination is like a psychological infection. And so what you need to do is stop the infection from spreading." Interrupt rumination cycles early. "You have to override your own instinct." Emotionally healthy responses often require pushing against our natural urges to withdraw or self-blame. Get Mind Over Grind, here: https://tinyurl.com/49mshdmv Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comMost leaders were taught to leave their emotions at the door. Today's guest says that advice isn't just outdated — it's costly. In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth sits down with Dina Denham Smith, executive coach and bestselling author of Emotionally Charged, to unpack why emotional skill is now a core leadership capability, not a “soft” add-on. Drawing on behavioral science and her work as an executive coach and strategic advisor, Dina explains why emotions are data, how leaders unknowingly perform massive emotional labor, and what it really takes to manage triggers, prevent burnout, and unlock performance. As Dina puts it: “Emotions are money.” By the end of this conversation, you'll see why ignoring emotions is bad for you and bad for business – and what to do instead.SHOW NOTESDina's story — and why this work mattersOne surprising thing about Dina you won't find on the internetHow Emotionally Charged would have helped Dina earlier in her own careerWhat sparked Dina's interest in the science of emotionsHow the pandemic and technology shifts dramatically increased the emotional demands placed on leadersCore ideas from Emotionally ChargedThe key takeaway: Emotions are information“Emotions are money”: how feelings directly translate into performance, retention, and resultsThe biggest myth Dina wants to retire: that emotions get in the way of good business decisionsWhat “emotional labor” really means — and why research shows leaders perform as much of it as customer service professionals (and in more complex ways)The three layers of every emotion: physiology, cognition, and behaviorWhy suppressing emotions is like trying to hold beach balls underwater Practical tools you can use immediatelyBeach balls, masks, and “letting it all hang out”: finding the right balance at workWhy expanding your emotional vocabulary dramatically improves self-regulationDina's BRAVE framework for managing triggers in real time: Breathe, Refocus, Accept, Verbalize, Engage Restoration (not “self-care”): four evidence-based ways leaders recover from emotional strain: Detachment, Relaxation, Mastery, Control Power, leadership, and team cultureWhy leaders consistently underestimate their emotional impactHow power amplifies everything you feel and showWhy everyone cues off their leader's emotional signals (often unconsciously)How leaders can normalize emotional expression on their teams — without turning meetings into complaint sessionsSimple ways managers can reset emotional culture inside their own sphere of influenceDina's reminder: emotional skills are learnable — and improvable at any stage of your career. BIO AND LINKSDina Denham Smith is an executive coach and strategic advisor who helps senior leaders build their capacity, scale their impact, and thrive in complexity. For more than a decade, she has partnered with executives at some of the world's most successful companies, helping them navigate the demands of operating at the highest levels. Dina holds an MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and she is credentialed by both the ICF and EMCC as an executive and team coach. A prolific thought leader, Dina has published more than 60 articles on leadership for Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and other premium outlets. She is the lead author of Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work (Oxford University Press, 2025).Connect with DinaWebsite: https://dinadsmith.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith/Her book: https://dinadsmith.com/book/ People and Books ReferencedDr. Alicia Grandey — Dina's co-author https://psych.la.psu.edu/people/aag6/Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker https://a.co/d/07CbSJAYMore from 97% EffectiveMichael's Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You're Really Missing at Work That's Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Most couples believe trust is built by being honest—by not lying, not hiding anything major, and generally doing what you say you'll do. And while integrity absolutely matters, many couples are surprised to find that honesty alone still leaves gaps in connection, security, and emotional safety. You can be faithful, responsible, and well-intentioned… and yet your partner can still feel out of the loop, uncertain, or like something is being held back. That's because honesty and transparency are not the same thing and that difference matters more in marriage than most couples realize. Transparency goes beyond answering questions or avoiding outright deception. It's about being proactive, thoughtful, and emotionally present with your inner world—sharing needs while they're still small, closing gaps before they turn into doubt or resentment, and trusting your partner enough to let them in before there's a problem. In this episode, we unpack what transparency actually looks like in real marriages, the common ways couples unintentionally avoid it, and why playing it "safe" often creates more distance over time. If you want to feel more secure, emotionally connected, and truly on the same team, this conversation will bring clarity to tangible ways to be more transparent and create emotional safety.  ➡️ If you're ready to take the next step in building your connection. We have two main resources to support you. One of two 30-Day Couples Challenges: The level 1 - Prioritizing Us for daily connection  The level 2 - Rebuilding Us for daily trust repairing and rebuilding  

Leave a message & include your contact or I won't know it's you.Many people don't relate to the word abuse—not because nothing happened, but because emotional control often doesn't look dramatic, obvious, or cruel. In emotionally abusive or controlling relationships, the most damaging patterns are often subtle, gradual, and reinforced in ways that are easy to miss while you're in them.In this episode, we explore the subtle signs of emotional control that don't look like abuse, including how conditioning, self-doubt, and relief-based compliance can quietly train you to minimize your needs, question your perception, and adapt in ways you didn't consciously choose. You'll learn why so many people struggle to name emotional abuse, how shame and conditioning keep experiences minimized, and why recognizing these patterns is not about blame—but about clarity and empowerment.This episode is for anyone who has ever thought “It wasn't that bad” while still feeling smaller, more careful, or less like themselves. If you're trying to make sense of lingering confusion after a relationship and want language for what actually happened, this conversation will help you see it clearly—and understand why naming it can be the beginning of real healing.Support the showTo learn more about my Programs visit the websitewww.radiatenrise.com Email: Allison@radiatenrise.comFree 30 Min Root Cause Call Join Radiate and Rise Together - Survivor Healing Community for Women GET YOUR FREE AUDIOTo send a DM, visit Allison's profiles on Instagram and Facebookhttps://www.instagram.com/allisonkdagney/https://www.facebook.com/allisonkdagney/*Formerly (The Emotional Abuse Recovery Podcast)

Show Notes: Have you ever felt lonely inside your relationship? Like you're doing all the emotional heavy lifting—asking, explaining, softening, fixing—while your partner stays distant, quiet, or shut down? Imagine if you could stop chasing connection… and still feel close. Imagine setting boundaries without blowing up your relationship. Imagine finally understanding that you're not "too much"—you're just asking for what every human needs: safety, connection, and truth. In this episode, we're talking about emotionally shut down (or emotionally avoidant) partners—where it comes from, why it hurts so much, and how to stop abandoning yourself in the process of trying to keep the peace. This conversation is especially for the women who learned to be "the good girl," the fixer, the one who doesn't need much—but secretly feels exhausted, resentful, and alone. Inside this episode, you'll learn: ✔️ Why emotionally shut down partners aren't cold or heartless—they're protecting themselves ✔️ How childhood roles (hero child, fixer, self-sufficient one) shape adult relationships ✔️ The difference between attunement and codependency—and why monitoring your partner's emotions is costing you ✔️ What doesn't work with emotionally avoidant partners (and why chasing creates more distance) ✔️ How asserting yourself clearly actually creates more safety, not less ✔️ Why boundaries are required for real intimacy—and how to stop seeing them as "mean" If you've been editing yourself, lowering your needs, or telling yourself you're asking for too much… this episode will meet you right there—and help you shift the pattern without losing yourself. LINKS: Repair Guide for the Woman Taught to Keep the Peace https://breathworkcollective.myflodesk.com/repair-guide-for-women Free Empower YOU Breathwork: https://breathworkcollective.myflodesk.com/empower-breathwork   Boundary Babe Academy: https://the-breathwork-collective.circle.so/checkout/boundary-mastery  Follow My Journey: https://www.instagram.com/its.amandaclark/ The Supported Woman Group Transformation Experience: http://amandaclark.biz/supported-woman-group-coaching   

Join Dr. Aziz live for a 3-day VIRTUAL event: Not Nice LIVE > Go here for details and tickets. Most people don't struggle to speak up because they lack communication skills. They struggle because crossing that line feels dangerous. In this episode, Dr. Aziz Gazipura explores why you may still feel stuck in passivity or half-assertiveness, even if you've spent years working on yourself. You understand the ideas. You know you “should” speak up. And yet, when the moment arrives, something pulls you back. Rather than offering scripts or techniques, Dr. Aziz focuses on the real breakdown point: the guilt and fear that surface just before honesty. He examines how indirectness becomes a form of self-protection, why “gentle” assertiveness often fails to create real change, and how unspoken rules about being good, kind, or acceptable quietly limit your life. This episode isn't about becoming aggressive or finding better words. It's about recognizing the internal code that says, “If I'm really honest, I'll lose everything,” and understanding why that belief continues to run your behavior unless it's directly confronted. If you already know a lot about assertiveness but haven't been able to live it consistently, this conversation names the threshold you may have been standing at for years—and what it actually takes to cross it. --------------------------------- Many people reach a point where they realize something important: being “nice” isn't working anymore. For years—sometimes decades—they believed that staying flexible, not rocking the boat, and avoiding discomfort was the right way to live. They told themselves they were being considerate, kind, easygoing. They avoided pressuring people, avoided conflict, avoided making anyone uncomfortable. And then slowly, quietly, the cost became undeniable. Resentment started to build. Anxiety didn't go away. Relationships felt draining or unsatisfying. Opportunities were missed. A subtle but persistent sense of frustration crept in—often accompanied by the feeling, “I'm not really being me.” So they arrive at an insight that feels like progress: I need to speak up for myself. And that insight is progress. But it's not the breakthrough. Because knowing that you should speak up does not automatically mean that you can—or that when you do, it will actually work. Why “Just Speak Up” Usually Fails Many people assume assertiveness is a simple behavioral skill. Learn the right words. Use the right tone. Say the thing. But assertiveness isn't primarily about what you say. It's about the inner stance you're coming from when you say it. This is where things break down. Often, people move from passivity into what looks like assertiveness on the surface—but internally, they're still trying not to upset anyone. They soften their message. They hint. They explain excessively. They bring things up indirectly, hoping the other person will “get it” without them having to actually claim what they want. So they say something like: “I just wanted to mention that you said you were going to do X, and then it didn't happen… but it's okay, I handled it.” Technically, they spoke up. Emotionally, they didn't. Nothing meaningful changes—and then comes the conclusion: “See? Speaking up doesn't work.” So they retreat back into silence, often with more resentment than before. The Passive → Gentle → Stuck Cycle This is one of the most common cycles I see: First, passivity. Then, a tentative attempt to speak up. Then, disappointment when nothing changes. Then, withdrawal. Over time, resentment accumulates—not just toward the other person, but toward yourself. Because deep down, you know you didn't fully say what was true. What's most painful isn't that the other person didn't change. It's that real contact never happened. You weren't fully there. The Real Barrier Isn't the Situation People usually have a long list of reasons why they can't be more direct: “It's my boss.” “It's my parent.” “It's my partner.” “That would be mean.” “That would be selfish.” “You can't say that in this situation.” These reasons feel convincing because they're emotionally charged. But they all point away from the real issue. The real issue isn't the circumstance. The real issue is that you're operating within a very narrow internal permission structure—one designed to protect you from something that feels catastrophic. What Are You Actually Afraid Of? Imagine being fully honest in a situation where you usually hold back. Not cruel. Not attacking. Just clear. Naming the pattern. Naming the impact. Naming what does and doesn't work for you. Most people feel immediate discomfort just imagining this. Tightness in the chest. A sinking feeling. An urge to pull back. That discomfort usually isn't about politeness. It's about fear and guilt. And underneath those emotions is a deeper belief: If I'm truly myself, I will lose everything. Lose love. Lose approval. Lose safety. Lose belonging. So your nervous system learned a rule long ago: Don't be too real. That rule doesn't disappear just because you intellectually understand assertiveness. The “Hidden Code” Running Your Life Everyone who struggles to speak up is running unconscious lines of code. They sound like: “If I ask for something, I'm selfish.” “If I make someone uncomfortable, I'm bad.” “If I say no, I'll hurt them.” “If I'm direct, I'll be rejected.” What's striking is that most people don't consciously agree with these beliefs. When you say them out loud, they sound extreme—even absurd. And yet, they quietly govern behavior. You don't need more confidence tips until you start identifying these rules. Because as long as they remain unexamined, they run the show. Why Avoidance Keeps the Fear Alive Avoidance feels safe in the short term. In the long term, it guarantees that the fear never resolves. Just like a phobia, the fear only weakens when you approach what you've been avoiding—in a structured, supported way. As long as you keep telling yourself, “I'll say it later,” or “It's not worth it,” or “They won't change anyway,” the old code stays intact. And life quietly shrinks. What Actually Creates Change Change doesn't come from more information. It comes from: Becoming conscious of the rules you're living by Questioning whether they're actually true Taking real interpersonal risks—consistently This isn't about being aggressive. It's about being real. And yes—at first, the right thing often feels wrong. Assertiveness can feel selfish. Honesty can feel dangerous. Boundaries can feel cruel. Those feelings are not signs you're doing something wrong. They're signs you're upgrading old code. A Simple Place to Start Instead of trying to “be more assertive,” start here: Notice one situation where you hold back. Notice what you feel when you imagine being direct. Ask yourself: What rule am I following right now? Just seeing it begins to loosen its grip. From there, real change becomes possible. Final Thought Knowing how to speak up isn't enough because the problem was never a lack of knowledge. The problem is fear of losing connection by being yourself. And the truth—one that must be experienced, not just understood—is this: You don't lose everything by being real. You lose everything by never being you. Until we speak again, have the courage to be who you are— and know, on a deep level, that you're awesome.

How can indie authors raise their game through academic-style rigour? How might AI tools fit into a thoughtful research process without replacing the joy of discovery? Melissa Addey explores the intersection of scholarly discipline, creative writing, and the practical realities of building an author career. In the intro, mystery and thriller tropes [Wish I'd Known Then]; The differences between trad and indie in 2026 [Productive Indie Fiction Writer]; Five phases of an author business [Becca Syme]; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn; Today's show is sponsored by Bookfunnel, the essential tool for your author business. Whether it's delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Check it out at bookfunnel.com/thecreativepenn This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Melissa Addey is an award-winning historical fiction author with a PhD in creative writing from the University of Surrey. She was the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library, and now works as campaigns lead for the Alliance of Independent Authors. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Making the leap from a corporate career to full-time writing with a young family Why Melissa pursued a PhD in creative writing and how it fuelled her author business What indie authors can learn from academic rigour when researching historical fiction The problems with academic publishing—pricing, accessibility, and creative restrictions Organising research notes, avoiding accidental plagiarism, and knowing when to stop researching Using AI tools effectively as part of the research process without losing your unique voice You can find Melissa at MelissaAddey.com. Transcript of the interview with Melissa Addey JOANNA: Melissa Addey is an award-winning historical fiction author with a PhD in creative writing from the University of Surrey. She was the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library, and now works as campaigns lead for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Welcome back to the show, Melissa. MELISSA: Hello. Thank you for having me. JOANNA: It's great to have you back. You were on almost a decade ago, in December 2016, talking about merchandising for authors. That is really a long time ago. So tell us a bit more about you and how you got into writing and self-publishing. MELISSA: I had a regular job in business and I was writing on the side. I did a couple of writing courses, and then I started trying to get published, and that took seven years of jumping through hoops. There didn't seem to be much progress. At some point, I very nearly had a small publisher, but we clashed over the cover because there was a really quite hideous suggestion that was not going to work. I think by that point I was really tired of jumping through hoops, really trying to play the game traditional publishing-wise. I just went, you know what? I've had enough now. I've done everything that was asked of me and it's still not working. I'll just go my own way. I think at the time that would've been 2015-ish. Suddenly, self-publishing was around more. I could see people and hear people talking about it, and I thought, okay, let's read everything there is to know about this. I had a little baby at the time and I would literally print off stuff during the day to read—probably loads of your stuff—and read it at two o'clock in the morning breastfeeding babies. Then I'd go, okay, I think I understand that bit now, I'll understand the next bit, and so on. So I got into self-publishing and I really, really enjoyed it. I've been doing it ever since. I'm now up to 20 books in the last 10 or 11 years. As you say, I did the creative writing PhD along the way, working with ALLi and doing workshops for others—mixing and matching lots of different things. I really enjoy it. JOANNA: You mentioned you had a job before in business. Are you full-time in all these roles that you're doing now, or do you still have that job? MELISSA: No, I'm full-time now. I only do writing-related things. I left that in 2015, so I took a jump. I was on maternity leave and I started applying for jobs to go back to, and I suddenly felt like, oh, I really don't want to. I want to do the writing. I thought, I've got about one year's worth of savings. I could try and do the jump. I remember saying to my husband, “Do you think it would be possible if I tried to do the jump? Would that be okay?” There was this very long pause while he thought about it. But the longer the pause went on, the more I was thinking, ooh, he didn't say no, that is out of the question, financially we can't do that. I thought, ooh, it's going to work. So I did the jump. JOANNA: That's great. I did something similar and took a massive pay cut and downsized and everything back in the day. Having a supportive partner is so important. The other thing I did—and I wonder if you did too—I said to Jonathan, my husband, if within a year this is not going in a positive direction, then I'll get another job. How long did you think you would leave it before you just gave up? And how did that go? Because that beginning is so difficult, especially with a new baby. MELISSA: I thought, well, I'm at home anyway, so I do have more time than if I was in a full-time job. The baby sleeps sometimes—if you're lucky—so there are little gaps where you could really get into it. I had a year of savings/maternity pay going on, so I thought I've got a year. And the funny thing that happened was within a few months, I went back to my husband and I was like, I don't understand. I said, all these doors are opening—they weren't massive, but they were doors opening. I said, but I've wanted to be a writer for a long time and none of these doors have opened before. He said, “Well, it's because you really committed. It's because you jumped. And when you jump, sometimes the universe is on board and goes, yes, all right then, and opens some doors for you.” It really felt like that. Even little things—like Writing Magazine gave me a little slot to do an online writer-in-residence thing. Just little doors opened that felt like you were getting a nod, like, yes, come on then, try. Then the PhD was part of that. I applied to do that and it came with a studentship, which meant I had three years of funding coming in. That was one of the biggest creative gifts that's ever been given to me—three years of knowing you've got enough money coming in that you can just try and make it work. By the time that finished, the royalties had taken over from the studentship. That was such a gift. JOANNA: A couple of things there. I've got to ask about that funding. You're saying it was a gift, but that money didn't just magically appear. You worked really hard to get that funding, I presume. MELISSA: I did, yes. You do have to do the work for it, just to be clear. My sister had done a PhD in an entirely different subject. She said, “You should do a PhD in creative writing.” I said, “That'd be ridiculous. Nobody is going to fund that. Who's going to fund that?” She said, “Oh, they might. Try.” So I tried, and the deadline was something stupid like two weeks away. I tried and I got shortlisted, but I didn't get it. I thought, ah, but I got shortlisted with only two weeks to try. I'll try again next year then. So then I tried again the next year and that's when I got it. It does take work. You have to put in quite a lot of effort to make your case. But it's a very joyful thing if you get one. JOANNA: So let's go to the bigger question: why do a PhD in creative writing? Let's be clear to everyone—you don't need even a bachelor's degree to be a successful author. Stephen King is a great example of someone who isn't particularly educated in terms of degrees. He talks about writing his first book while working at a laundry. You can be very successful with no formal education. So why did you want to do a PhD? What drew you to academic research? MELISSA: Absolutely. I would briefly say, I often meet people who feel they must do a qualification before they're allowed to write. I say, do it if you'd like to, but you don't have to. You could just practise the writing. I fully agree with that. It was a combination of things. I do actually like studying. I do actually enjoy the research—that's why I do historical research. I like that kind of work. So that's one element. Another element was the funding. I thought, if I get that funding, I've got three years to build up a back catalogue of books, to build up the writing. It will give me more time. So that was a very practical financial issue. Also, children. My children were very little. I had a three-year-old and a baby, and everybody went, “Are you insane? Doing a PhD with a three-year-old and a baby?” But the thing about three-year-olds and babies is they're quite intellectually boring. Emotionally, very engaging—on a number of levels, good, bad, whatever—but they're not very intellectually stimulating. You're at home all day with two small children who think that hide and seek is the highlight of intellectual difficulty because they've hidden behind the curtains and they're shuffling and giggling. I felt I needed something else. I needed something for me that would be interesting. I've always enjoyed passing on knowledge. I've always enjoyed teaching people, workshops, in whatever field I was in. I thought, if I want to do that for writing at some point, it will sound more important if I've done a PhD. Not that you need that to explain how to do writing to someone if you do a lot of writing. But there were all these different elements that came together. JOANNA: So to summarise: you enjoy the research, it's an intellectual challenge, you've got the funding, and there is something around authority. In terms of a PhD—and just for listeners, I'm doing a master's at the moment in death, religion, and culture. MELISSA: Your topic sounds fascinating. JOANNA: It is interesting because, same as you, I enjoy research. Both of us love research as part of our fiction process and our nonfiction. I'm also enjoying the intellectual challenge, and I've also considered this idea of authority in an age of AI when it is increasingly easy to generate books—let's just say it, it's easy to generate books. So I was like, well, how do I look at this in a more authoritative way? I wanted to talk to you because even just a few months back into it—and I haven't done an academic qualification for like two decades—it struck me that the academic rigour is so different. What lessons can indie authors learn from this kind of academic rigour? What do you think of in terms of the rigour and what can we learn? MELISSA: I think there are a number of things. First of all, really making sure that you are going to the quality sources for things—the original sources, the high-quality versions of things. Not secondhand, but going back to those primary sources. Not “somebody said that somebody said something.” Well, let's go back to the original. Have a look at that, because you get a lot from that. I think you immerse yourself more deeply. Someone can tell you, “This is how they spoke in the 1800s.” If you go and read something that was written in the 1800s, you get a better sense of that than just reading a dictionary of slang that's been collated for you by somebody else. So I think that immerses you more deeply. Really sticking with that till you've found interesting things that spark creativity in you. I've seen people say, “I used to do all the historical research. Nowadays I just fact-check. I write what I want to write and I fact-check.” I think, well, that's okay, but you won't find the weird little things. I tend to call it “the footnotes of history.” You won't find the weird little things that really make something come alive, that really make a time and a place come alive. I've got a scene in one of my Regency romances—which actually I think are less full of historical emphasis than some of my other work—where a man gives a woman a gift. It's supposed to be a romantic gift and maybe slightly sensual. He could have given her a fan and I could have fact-checked and gone, “Are there fans? Yes, there are fans. Do they have pretty romantic poems on them? Yes, they do. Okay, that'll do.” Actually, if you go round and do more research than that, you discover they had things like ribbons that held up your stockings, on which they wrote quite smutty things in embroidery. That's a much more sexy and interesting gift to give in that scene. But you don't find that unless you go doing a bit of research. If I just fact-check, I'm not going to find that because it would never have occurred to me to fact-check it in the first place. JOANNA: I totally agree with you. One of the wonderful things about research—and I also like going to places—is you might be somewhere and see something that gives you an idea you never, ever would have found in a book or any other way. I used to call it “the serendipity of the stacks” in the physical library. You go looking for a particular book and then you're in that part of the shelf and you find several other books that you never would have looked for. I think it's encouraging people, as you're saying, but I also think you have to love it. MELISSA: Yes. I think some people find it a bit of a grind, or they're frightened by it and they think, “Have I done enough?” JOANNA: Mm-hmm. MELISSA: I get asked that a lot when I talk about writing historical fiction. People go, “But when do I stop? How do I know it's enough? How do I know there wasn't another book that would have been the book? Everyone will go, ‘Oh, how did you not read such-and-such?'” I always say there are two ways of finding out when you can stop. One is when you get to the bibliographies, you look through and you go, “Yep, read that, read that, read that. Nah, I know that one's not really what I wanted.” You're familiar with those bibliographies in a way that at the beginning you're not. At the beginning, every single bibliography, you haven't read any of it. So that's quite a good way of knowing when to stop. The other way is: can you write ordinary, everyday life? I don't start writing a book till I can write everyday life in that historical era without notes. I will obviously have notes if I'm doing a wedding or a funeral or a really specific battle or something. Everyday life, I need to be able to just write that out of my own head. You need to be confident enough to do that. JOANNA: One of the other problems I've heard from academics—people who've really come out of academia and want to write something more pop, even if it's pop nonfiction or fiction—they're also really struggling. It is a different game, isn't it? For people who might be immersed in academia, how can they release themselves into doing something like self-publishing? Because there's still a lot of stigma within academia. MELISSA: You're going to get me on the academic publishing rant now. I think academic publishing is horrendous. Academics are very badly treated. I know quite a lot of academics and they have to do all the work. Nobody's helping them with indexing or anything like that. The publisher will say things like, “Well, could you just cut 10,000 words out of that?” Just because of size. Out of somebody's argument that they're making over a whole work. No consideration for that. The royalties are basically zilch. I've seen people's royalty statements come in, and the way they price the books is insane. They'll price a book at 70 pounds. I actually want that book for my research and I'm hesitating because I can't be buying all of them at that price. That's ridiculous. I've got people who are friends or family who bring out a book, and I'm like, well, I would gladly buy your book and read it. It's priced crazy. It's priced only for institutions. I think actually, if academia was written a little more clearly and open to the lay person—which if you are good at your work, you should be able to do—and priced a bit more in line with other books, that would maybe open up people to reading more academia. You wouldn't have to make it “pop” as you say. I quite like pop nonfiction. But I don't think there would have to be such a gulf between those two. I think you could make academic work more readable generally. I read someone's thesis recently and they'd made a point at the beginning of saying—I can't remember who it was—that so-and-so academic's point of view was that it should be readable and they should be writing accordingly. I thought, wow, I really admired her for doing that. Next time I'm doing something like that, I should be putting that at the front as well. But the fact that she had to explain that at the beginning… It wasn't like words of one syllable throughout the whole thing. I thought it was a very quality piece of writing, but it was perfectly readable to someone who didn't know about the topic. JOANNA: I might have to get that name from you because I've got an essay on the Philosophy of Death. And as you can imagine, there's a heck of a lot of big words. MELISSA: I know. I've done a PhD, but I still used to tense up a little bit thinking they're going to pounce on me. They're going to say that I didn't talk academic enough, I didn't sound fancy enough. That's not what it should be about, really. In a way, you are locking people out of knowledge, and given that most academics are paid for by public funds, that knowledge really ought to be a little more publicly accessible. JOANNA: I agree on the book price. I'm also buying books for my course that aren't in the library. Some of them might be 70 pounds for the ebook, let alone the print book. What that means is that I end up looking for secondhand books, when of course the money doesn't go to the author or the publisher. The other thing that happens is it encourages piracy. There are people who openly talk about using pirate sites for academic works because it's just too expensive. If I'm buying 20 books for my home library, I can't be spending that kind of money. Why is it so bad? Why is it not being reinvented, especially as we have done with indie authors for the wider genres? Has this at all moved into academia? MELISSA: I think within academia there's a fear because there's the peer reviews and it must be proven to be absolutely correct and agreed upon by everybody. I get that. You don't want some complete rubbish in there. I do think there's space to come up with a different system where you could say, “So-and-so is professor of whatever at such-and-such a university. I imagine what they have to say might be interesting and well-researched.” You could have some sort of kite mark. You could have something that then allows for self-publishing to take over a bit. I do just think their system is really, really poor. They get really reined in on what they're allowed to write about. Alison Baverstock, who is a professor now at Kingston University and does stuff about publishing and master's programmes, started writing about self-publishing because she thought it was really interesting. This was way back. JOANNA: I remember. I did one of those surveys. MELISSA: She got told in no uncertain terms, “Do not write about this. You will ruin your career.” She stuck with it. She was right to stick with it. But she was told by senior academics, “Do not write about self-publishing. You're just embarrassing yourself. It's just vanity press.” They weren't even being allowed to write about really quite interesting phenomena that were happening. Just from a historical point of view, that was a really interesting rise of self-publishing, and she was being told not to write about it. JOANNA: It's funny, that delay as well. I'm looking to maybe do my thesis on how AI is impacting death and the death industry. And yet it's such a fast-moving thing. MELISSA: Yes. JOANNA: Sometimes it can take a year, two years or more to get a paper through the process. MELISSA: Oh, yes. It moves really, really fast. Like you say, by the time it comes out, people are going, “Huh? That's really old.” And you'll be going, “No, it's literally two years.” But yes, very, very slow. JOANNA: Let's come back to how we can help other people who might not want to be doing academic-level stuff. One of the things I've found is organising notes, sources, references. How do you manage that? Any tips for people? They might not need to do footnotes for their historical novel, but they might want to organise their research. What are your thoughts? MELISSA: I used to do great big enormous box files and print vast quantities of stuff. Each box file would be labelled according to servant life, or food, or seasons, or whatever. I've tried various different things. I'm moving more and more now towards a combination of books on the shelf, which I do like, and papers and other materials that are stored on my computer. They'll be classified according to different parts of daily life, essentially. Because when you write historical fiction, you have to basically build the whole world again for that era. You have to have everything that happens in daily life, everything that happens on special events, all of those things. So I'll have it organised by those sorts of topics. I'll read it and go through it until I'm comfortable with daily life. Then special things—I'll have special notes on that that can talk me through how you run a funeral or a wedding or whatever, because that's quite complicated to just remember in your head. MELISSA: I always do historical notes at the end. They really matter to me. When I read historical fiction, I really like to read that from the author. I'll say, “Right, these things are true”—especially things that I think people will go, “She made that up. That is not true.” I'll go, “No, no, these are true.” These other things I've fudged a little, or I've moved the timeline a bit to make the story work better. I try to be fairly clear about what I did to make it into a story, but also what is accurate, because I want people to get excited about that timeline. Occasionally if there's been a book that was really important, I'll mention it in there because I don't want to have a proper bibliography, but I do want to highlight certain books. If you got excited by this novel, you could go off and read that book and it would take you into the nonfiction side of it. JOANNA: I'm similar with my author's notes. I've just done the author's note for Bones of the Deep, which has some merfolk in it, and I've got a book on Merpeople. It's awesome. It's just a brilliant book. I'm like, this has to go in. You could question whether that is really nonfiction or something else. But I think that's really important. Just to be more practical: when you're actually writing, what tools do you use? I use Scrivener and I keep all my research there. I'm using EndNote for academic stuff. MELISSA: I've always just stuck to Word. I did get Scrivener and played with it for a while, but I felt like I've already got a way of doing it, so I'll just carry on with that. So I mostly just do Word. I have a lot of notes, so I'll have notepads that have got my notes on specific things, and they'll have page numbers that go back to specific books in case I need to go and double-check that again. You mentioned citations, and that's fascinating to me. Do you know the story about Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner? It won the Pulitzer. It's a novel, but he used 10% of that novel—and it's a fairly slim novel—10% of it is actually letters written by somebody else, written by a woman before his time. He includes those and works with them in the story. He mentioned her very briefly, like, “Oh, and thanks to the relatives of so-and-so.” Very brief. He got accused of plagiarism for using that much of it by another part of her family who hadn't agreed to it. I've always thought it's because he didn't give enough credence to her. He didn't give her enough importance. If he'd said, “This was the woman who wrote this stuff. It's fascinating. I loved it. I wanted to creatively respond and engage with it”—I think that wouldn't have happened at all. That's why I think it's quite important when there are really big, important elements that you're using to acknowledge those. JOANNA: That's part of the academic rigour too— You can barely have a few of your own thoughts without referring to somebody else's work and crediting them. What's so interesting to me in the research process is, okay, I think this, but in order to say it, I'm going to have to go find someone else who thought this first and wrote a paper on it. MELISSA: I think you would love a PhD. When you've done a master's, go and do a PhD as well. Because it was the first time in academia that I genuinely felt I was allowed my own thoughts and to invent stuff of my own. I could go, “Oh no, I've invented this theory and it's this.” I didn't have to constantly go, “As somebody else said, as somebody else said.” I was like, no, no. This is me. I said this thing. I wasn't allowed to in my master's, and I found it annoying. I remember thinking, but I'm trying to have original thoughts here. I'm trying to bring something new to it. In a PhD, you're allowed to do that because you're supposed to be contributing to knowledge. You're supposed to be bringing a new thing into the world. That was a glorious thing to finally be allowed to do. JOANNA: I must say I couldn't help myself with that. I've definitely put my own opinion. But a part of why I mention it is the academic rigour—it's actually quite good practice to see who else has had these thoughts before. Speed is one of the biggest issues in the indie author community. Some of the stuff you were talking about—finding original sources, going to primary sources, the top-quality stuff, finding the weird little things—all of that takes more time than, for example, just running a deep research report on Gemini or Claude or ChatGPT. You can do both. You can use that as a starting point, which I definitely do. But then the point is to go back and read the original stuff. On this timeframe— Why do you think research is worth doing? It's important for academic reasons, but personal growth as well. MELISSA: Yes, I think there's a joy to be had in the research. When I go and stand in a location, by that point I'm not measuring things and taking photos—I've done all of that online. I'm literally standing there feeling what it is to be there. What does it smell like? What does it feel like? Does it feel very enclosed or very open? Is it a peaceful place or a horrible place? That sensory research becomes very important. All of the book research before that should lead you into the sensory research, which is then also a joy to do. There's great pleasure in it. As you say, it slows things down. What I tend to say to people if they want to speed things up again is: write in a series. Because once you've done all of that research and you just write one book and then walk away, that's a lot. That really slows you down. If you then go, “Okay, well now I'm going to write four books, five books, six books, still in that place and time”—obviously each book will need a little more research, but it won't need that level of starting-from-scratch research. That can help in terms of speeding it back up again. Recently I wrote some Regency romances to see what that was like. I'd done all my basic research, and then I thought, right, now I want to write a historical novel which could have been Victorian or could have been Regency. It had an openness to it. I thought, well, I've just done all the research for Regency, so I'll stick with that era. Why go and do a whole other piece of research when I've only written three books in it so far? I'll just take that era and work with that. So there are places to make up the time again a bit. But I do think there's a joy in it as well. JOANNA: I just want to come back to the plagiarism thing. I discovered that you can plagiarise yourself in academia, which is quite interesting. For example, my books How to Write a Novel and How to Write Nonfiction—they're aimed at different audiences. They have lots of chapters that are different, but there's a chapter on dictation. I thought, why would I need to write the same chapter again? I'm just going to put the same chapter in. It's the same process. Then I only recently learned that you can plagiarise yourself. I did not credit myself for that original chapter. MELISSA: How dare you not credit yourself! JOANNA: But can you talk a bit about that? Where are the lines here? I'm never going to credit myself. I think that's frankly ridiculous. MELISSA: No, that's silly. I mean, it depends what you're doing. In your case, that completely makes sense. It would be really peculiar of you to sit down and write a whole new chapter desperately trying not to copy what you'd said in a chapter about exactly the same topic. That doesn't make any sense. JOANNA: I guess more in the wider sense. Earlier you mentioned you keep notes and you put page numbers by them. I think the point is with research, a lot of people worry about accidental plagiarism. You write a load of notes on a book and then it just goes into your brain. Perhaps you didn't quote people properly. It's definitely more of an issue in nonfiction. You have to keep really careful notes. Sometimes I'm copying out a quote and I'll just naturally maybe rewrite that quote because the way they've put it didn't make sense, or I use a contraction or something. It's just the care in note-taking and then citing people. MELISSA: Yes. When I talk to people about nonfiction, I always say, you're basically joining a conversation. I mean, you are in fiction as well, but not as obviously. I say, well, why don't you read the conversation first? Find out what the conversation is in your area at the moment, and then what is it that you're bringing that's different? The most likely reason for you to end up writing something similar to someone else is that you haven't understood what the conversation was, and you need to be bringing your own thing to it. Then even if you're talking about the same topic, you might talk about it in a different way, and that takes you away from plagiarism because you're bringing your own view to it and your own direction to it. JOANNA: It's an interesting one. I think it's just the care. Taking more care is what I would like people to do. So let's talk about AI because AI tools can be incredible. I do deep research reports with Gemini and Claude and ChatGPT as a sort of “give me an overview and tell me some good places to start.” The university I'm with has a very hard line, which is: AI can be used as part of a research process, but not for writing. What are your thoughts on AI usage and tools? How can people balance that? MELISSA: Well, I'm very much a newbie compared to you. I follow you—the only person that describes how to use it with any sense at all, step by step. I'm very new to it, but I'm going to go back to the olden days. Sometimes I say to people, when I'm talking about how I do historical research, I start with Wikipedia. They look horrified. I'm like, no. That's where you have to get the overview from. I want an overview of how you dress in ancient Rome. I need a quick snapshot of that. Then I can go off and figure out the details of that more accurately and with more detail. I think AI is probably extremely good for that—getting the big picture of something and going, okay, this is what the field's looking like at the moment. These are the areas I'm going to need to burrow down into. It's doing that work for you quickly so that you're then in a position to pick up from that point. It gets you off to a quicker start and perhaps points you in the direction of the right people to start with. I'm trying to write a PhD proposal at the moment because I'm an idiot and want to do a second one. With that, I really did think, actually, AI should write this. Because the original concept is mine. I know nothing about it—why would I know anything about it? I haven't started researching it. This is where AI should go, “Well, in this field, there are these people. They've done these things.” Then you could quickly check that nobody's covered your thing. It would actually speed up all of that bit, which I think would be perfectly reasonable because you don't know anything about it yet. You're not an expert. You have the original idea, and then after that, then you should go off and do your own research and the in-depth quality of it. I think for a lot of things that waste authors' time—if you're applying for a grant or a writer-in-residence or things like that—it's a lot of time wasting filling in long, boring forms. “Could you make an artist statement and a something and a blah?” You're like, yes, yes, I could spend all day at my desk doing that. There's a moment where you start thinking, could you not just allow the AI to do this or much of it? JOANNA: Yes. Or at least, in that case, I'd say one of the very useful things is doing deep searches. As you were mentioning earlier about getting the funding—if I was to consider a PhD, which the thought has crossed my mind—I would use AI tools to do searches for potential sources of funding and that kind of research. In fact, I found this course at Winchester because I asked ChatGPT. It knows a lot about me because I chat with it all the time. I was talking about hitting 50 and these are the things I'm really interested in and what courses might interest me. Then it found it for me. That was quite amazing in itself. I'd encourage people to consider using it for part of the research process. But then all the papers it cites or whatever—then you have to go download those, go read them, do that work yourself. MELISSA: Yes, because that's when you bring your viewpoint to something. You and I could read the exact same paper and choose very different parts of it to write about and think about, because we're coming at it from different points of view and different journeys that we're trying to explore. That's where you need the individual to come in. It wouldn't be good enough to just have a generic overview from AI that we both try and slot into our work, because we would want something different from it. JOANNA: I kind of laugh when people say, “Oh, I can tell when it's AI.” I'm like, you might be able to tell when it's AI writing if nobody has taken that personal spin, but that's not the way we use it. If you're using it that way, that's not how those of us who are independent thinkers are using it. We're strong enough in our thoughts that we're using it as a tool. You're a confident person—intellectually and creatively confident—but I feel like some people maybe don't have that. Some people are not strong enough to resist what an AI might suggest. Any thoughts on that? MELISSA: Yes. When I first tried using AI with very little guidance from anyone, it just felt easy but very wooden and not very related to me. Then I've done webinars with you, and that was really useful—to watch somebody actually live doing the batting back and forth. That became a lot more interesting because I really like bouncing ideas and messing around with things and brainstorming, essentially, but with somebody else involved that's batting stuff back to you. “What does that look like?” “No, I didn't mean that at all.” “How about what does this look like?” “Oh no, no, not like that.” “Oh yes, a bit like that, but a bit more like whatever.” I remember doing that and talking to someone about it, going, “Oh, that's really quite an interesting use of it.” And they said, “Why don't you use a person?” I said, “Well, because who am I going to call at 8:30 in the morning on a Thursday and go, ‘Look, I want to spend two hours batting back and forth ideas, but I don't want you to talk about your stuff at all. Just my stuff. And you have to only think about my stuff for two hours. And you have to be very well versed in my stuff as well. Could you just do that?'” Who's going to do that for you? JOANNA: I totally agree with you. Before Christmas, I was doing a paper. It was an art history thing. We had to pick a piece of art or writing and talk about Christian ideas of hell and how it emerged. I was writing this essay and going back and forth with Claude at the time. My husband came in and saw the fresco I was writing about. He said, “No one's going to talk to you about this. Nobody.” MELISSA: Yes, exactly. JOANNA: Nobody cares. MELISSA: Exactly. Nobody cares as much as you. And they're not prepared to do that at 8:30 on a Thursday morning. They've got other stuff to do. JOANNA: It's great to hear because I feel like we're now at the point where these tools are genuinely super useful for independent work. I hope that more people might try that. JOANNA: Okay, we're almost out of time. Where can people find you and your books online? Also, tell us a bit about the types of books you have. MELISSA: I mostly write historical fiction. As I say, I've wandered my way through history—I'm a travelling minstrel. I've done ancient Rome, medieval Morocco, 18th century China, and I'm into Regency England now. So that's a bit closer to home for once. I'm at MelissaAddey.com and you can go and have a bit of a browse and download a free novel if you want. Try me out. JOANNA: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, Melissa. MELISSA: That was great. Thank you. It was fun. The post Research Like An Academic, Write Like an Indie With Melissa Addey first appeared on The Creative Penn.