Analyzing Family Dysfunction in the Netflix Series "Nobody Wants This"

Whitney launches a new series exploring family dynamics in pop culture, starting with Netflix's "Nobody Wants This." Joined by Meg Josephson, author of the New York Times bestseller "Are You Mad at Me?", she breaks down the clash between Noah's enmeshed, guilt-driven Jewish family led by his controlling mother Bina, and Joanne's emotionally distant family that hides behind humor. They discuss what happens when parents fuse their identity with their children, the difference between closeness and enmeshment, how cultural expectations complicate boundaries, and whether you'd actually want to sit down at this family's dinner table.

Connect with Meg:https://megjosephson.com/

Order Meg’s new book:https://amzn.to/47tyvIi

Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.

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⁠⁠Order Whitney’s book, Toxic Positivity

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This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice.

00:00 Introducing Whitney’s new series

03:49 Character overview

09:07 When Bina’s identity gets fused with her son

14:39 Closeness and enmeshment

27:51 Bina confronts Joanne

34:15 Joanne at Shabbat scene

50:55 The dinner table scale

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