Dysfunctional

In this episode of Dysfunctional, I’m joined by therapist and childhood trauma expert Patrick Teahan for a raw and powerful conversation about healing from toxic family systems.We explore:Why estrangement can be necessary for healing — and the grief that followsHow toxic parents keep control through subtle emotional tacticsThe long-term impact of growing up in dysfunctional family systemsThe limits of 12-step recovery when it comes to childhood traumaWhy grieving the parent you never had is a turning point in recoveryHow society mirrors toxic family dynamics — and what it takes to break the cyclePatrick also shares insights from his group therapy model, the Relationship Recovery Process, and reflects on his journey from early therapy to becoming a leading voice in the trauma recovery space.If you're healing from family dysfunction, this one will land deeply.Find Patrick here - https://linktr.ee/patrickteahan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the same coercive control you grew up with in your family is playing out on a societal scale—and no one’s supposed to name it?In this unapologetically raw episode, I’m joined by political punk artist Hyphen to call out the hidden systems most people are too afraid to touch. We unpack classism, manufactured consent, and how we’ve all been programmed to blame individuals instead of broken structures.Hyphen shares how losing a close friend, burning out in finance, and growing up as the child of Indian immigrants shaped his activism—and how political punk gave him a voice loud enough to be heard.We get into:Why being angry is the only sane response to injusticeThe truth about “freedom” under capitalismHow systems mirror abusive family dynamicsWhy 3.5% of people are all it takes to ignite changeAnd how slogans like “Hate Yachts, Not Dinghies” can become rallying cries for a generationThis one is for the misfits, the scapegoats, the question-askers.This is Dysfunctional. And we’re not here to behave. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this raw and emotional episode, I sit down with Lulu and Georgina—two sisters who grew up in the chaos of having a father in prison. What starts as a conversation about parental imprisonment unfolds into a powerful exploration of shame, silence, systemic failure, and the unbreakable bond between siblings who carried each other through the storm.We talk about what it’s really like for the children left behind:The raids.The media frenzy.Being judged by teachers, friends, and strangers.And the complete absence of support.Georgina was arrested at 17—just for being related to the man who committed the crime. Lulu was a child being searched at prison visits, isolated by her peers, and silently carrying the burden of a family under siege.Together, they’ve turned pain into purpose—becoming advocates for Children Heard and Seen, a charity supporting children affected by parental imprisonment.This conversation is a call to action. It’s about seeing the invisible victims of crime, breaking the cycle of silence, and reminding every child out there who’s been impacted: It’s not your fault.Key Topics Covered:Living with media stigma when a parent goes to prisonThe trauma of police raids and prison visits as a childThe emotional toll of secrecy, shame, and being judgedAttachment wounds and survival responsesHow families hold each other together in chaosThe desperate need for better support and resources for children of prisonersWhy advocacy matters and what needs to changeTrigger Warning: This episode contains emotional conversations around childhood trauma, imprisonment, police raids, and systemic neglect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bold and unfiltered episode, I’m joined by Christian John — a truth-teller who walked away from a toxic family system and now uses his platform to speak the things most people are too afraid to say out loud.Together we explore:What estrangement really means — and why it’s often an act of survivalHow narcissistic abuse in families mirrors the dysfunction of societyThe performative trap of modern healing spacesRage, grief, identity, and the reclaiming of personal truthHow capitalism gaslights the nervous system and commodifies healingAnd why consciousness without community is just another echo chamberThis conversation is real, raw, and deeply validating for anyone who’s been scapegoated, silenced, or made to feel like they’re the problem.🔗 Follow Christian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hype.r.vigilance?igsh=MXUwbnJ6NzNiemlndA== Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse, religious trauma, suicide attempts, and domestic violence. Please listen with care.In this powerful episode of Dysfunctional, Karinne shares her story of surviving a childhood shaped by the Jehovah’s Witnesses — a group she now calls a cult — and parents who were both abusive and narcissistic.Kicked out at 16 after being groomed and blamed for it, Karinne found herself completely alone in the world, trauma-bonded to the very people who harmed her, and struggling to make sense of a reality she was never prepared for.What follows is a conversation about real healing — not the Instagram version with matcha and mantras, but the messy, angry, beautiful kind that happens when you start telling the truth.Together we explore:What it’s like growing up in a high-control religious cultThe impact of narcissistic parenting and spiritual abusePurity culture, fear-based control, and enforced submissionThe trauma bond and why it’s so hard to breakWhat healing actually looks like — day-to-day, years onKarinne is funny, fierce, and real. She’s not here to sugarcoat anything. This is what healing sounds like in real life.📲 Connect with Karinne on insta - @girl_inshambles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people think they’re broken. Most people think dysregulation is a problem. Most people think the answer is to regulate, reframe, or reset.But what if all of that is just another distraction?Another way to bypass what actually needs to be felt?This episode is a full-bodied dismantling of the healing and wellness world as we know it — with the brilliant Sam Miller, who teaches Mind-Body Recovery through a trauma-informed, Jungian, and deeply embodied lens.We talk about:Why your symptoms might actually be your body healingHow emotional repression creates chaos in the systemWhy "cognitive reframing" is like shouting to the basement from the atticThe cult of regulation and fake safety in the healing spacePerformative masculinity, football fights, and the grief men won't feelAnd how real emotional healing often looks more like screaming, shaking, and collapsing into a ball in a sauna than it does cold plunges or coaching frameworksWe also dig into the absolute state of the wellness industry — the bypassing, the ego-led facilitators, and why a lot of what’s branded as “healing” is just a new costume for the same old disconnection.This one goes deep. It’s raw. It’s real.It’s Dysfunctional.Best place to find Sam is here - https://youtube.com/@the_mindful_gardener?si=WasM11Ci0DIGsXCg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Genevieve von Lob, a clinical psychologist and advocate for highly sensitive people, shares insights on the challenges faced by sensitive kids in a misunderstood world. She discusses the emotional toll of societal labels and the misdiagnosis often encountered by HSPs. The conversation highlights the importance of nurturing environments and the societal changes needed to celebrate sensitivity as a strength. Genevieve also emphasizes healing through community, showcasing how empowering sensitivity can lead to profound personal transformation.

Josh is joined by IFS coach Kevin O’Neill — the man who guided him through 10 transformational sessions of Internal Family Systems work. Together, they explore what it really means to stop fighting your inner world and start leading from your Self. Josh shares the breakthrough that changed everything: realizing he was still judging himself through the lens of who he was at 22. They dive into shame, identity, addiction, inner protectors, and why even the messiest parts of us are just trying to help. This episode is a raw and moving deep-dive into parts work, masculinity, and what happens when you realise… there are no bad parts.Working with Kevin was life changing for me and you can find out more about him and how to work with him yourself here - www.nobadparts.coachOn instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/no_badparts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this raw and powerful conversation, I’m joined by writer and survivor Stéphanie St-Jean, whose viral piece “I Hope This Finds You Unwell” marked the moment she stopped hiding and started healing.Stéphanie shares the quiet devastation of emotional and financial abuse, the trauma of post-separation control, and how writing became the tool that helped her reclaim her truth, her worth, and her voice.We talk about:The subtle patterns of narcissistic abuse that often go unseenHow trauma survivors are misdiagnosed instead of supportedSpeaking out, smear campaigns, and the cost of telling the truthCreating a children’s book to help others feel worthy from the startThis episode is about what happens when you stop apologizing for your truth and finally say what needs to be said.⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of narcissistic abuse, miscarriage, emotional manipulation, and post-separation abuse.Find Stephaine here - https://lessonsindiscernment.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a compelling conversation with Helen Dudzinska, a master intuitive psychology coach dedicated to empowering female leaders, listeners dive into the systemic roots of burnout and self-doubt. They challenge the narrative that individual issues stem from personal failings, instead highlighting how patriarchy and capitalism shape our struggles. Helen advocates for authenticity and the importance of collective resilience. The discussion also touches on the power of representation in women's sports and the need for inclusive leadership that fosters true change.