Why do we keep ending up in toxic relationships — even when we know better?

⁠Buy the book Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves--and How to Find Our Way Back ⁠

In this powerful conversation, Kwame Christian sits down with psychologist and trauma therapist Dr. Ingrid Clayton to explore the hidden reason behind this pattern: the fawning trauma response.

Ingrid shares how complex trauma rewires the nervous system, why simply “setting boundaries” often doesn’t work, and how shame keeps us stuck in cycles of people-pleasing. Together, they unpack the science of safety, what it really takes to break free, and why healing is less about quick tips and more about reconnecting with yourself.

If you’ve ever wondered why saying “no” feels impossible — or why you’re drawn to the very relationships that hurt you — this episode will change how you see yourself and your story.