
The Crappy Childhood Fairy Podcast with Anna Runkle
I’m Anna Runkle, also known as the Crappy Childhood Fairy, and I teach people to recognize and heal the symptoms of Childhood PTSD. Welcome to my podcast!I’m not a doctor or therapist; I know about childhood trauma because I lived it, and I discovered a radical approach to healing that focuses first on calming neurological dysregulation, which is common in people who grew up with abuse and neglect. In my podcasts, I teach about dysregulation – how to know if you have it, what it can do to your body, your thinking and your relationships, and what to do to master re-regulation. When I learned this, everything in my life got suddenly easier. I’ll also be teaching you to heal the life problems that so often develop after years of living dysregulated – feeling tired, isolated and unfocused, finding yourself always drawn to unavailable and inappropriate partners, and falling WAY short of your professional potential, for example. The thing about me is, traditional therapies never seemed to help me. When I found techniques that did work, my whole life changed. Only in the past few years has the trauma research caught up to explain why – why the techniques I use worked, why therapy didn’t, and why my healing journey was so unnecessarily long. I’ve been teaching what I learned for more than 20 years now. It started with friends who had noticed the quick and dramatic change in me, and gradually grew by word of mouth. In 2016, I had so many people seeking instruction that I made my first online video, and then an online course, and this is how Crappy Childhood Fairy was born. My techniques and principles are practical yet powerful – an approach anyone can use, whether or not you have access to professional help. In this podcast, I’ll be talking about the master of self-regulation, and teach the tough-love life-lessons that you may not have learned at home – like how to date so that stable love finds you, how to get ahead at work, and how to calm the negative hamster-wheel thoughts that block your ability to connect with other people. Today, almost half a million people follow my work and participate in my training and coaching programs. My mission is to change the paradigm of what’s possible for people like us, and to help you free yourself from the oppression of trauma wounds, and to become your full, happy and real self. I’m glad you’re here! Watch new videos on my YouTube channel every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and access my videos, courses and free tools at crappychildhoodfairy.com.
Latest episodes

Jan 29, 2025 • 27min
Childhood Neglect & The Urge to Abandon Yourself Around Bad People
When you grew up neglected, abandoned, and with none of your needs met – you may be likely to fall in love with people who are unable to provide the solid, caring love that you need and crave. And at the same time, the wounds of neglect drive you to cling to them, even after it's clear they're unstable, emotionally unavailable, or not safe to be near you. This is the critical juncture where trauma in one generation, can HOP over into the next – when your own trauma BINDS you to people who make you FEEL like something is happening, but who will bring nothing but grief into your life. Now as you know, I’m not a therapist. I’m someone who healed from my own destructive relationship patterns, and here to help you when magical thinking has convinced you that the terrible pain you’re in because of someone you’ve dated is a SIGN that they are the one for you. My letter today is from a woman I’ll call Kristin.
Watch Out For These Dating Red Flags DOWNLOAD WORKSHEET: FREE PDF Download: https://bit.ly/3T7surQ
🟢 Order My New Book, RE-REGULATED: https://bit.ly/4dtGVze
Take my FREE Course or Quizzes: https://bit.ly/40M2YeW
Enroll in my Courses or Membership: https://bit.ly/3HP5qcf
Send your questions & comments to: hello@crappychildhoodfairy.com
NEED ONLINE THERAPY? *BetterHelp* can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/CCF

Jan 27, 2025 • 13min
Pretending to Be "Nice" is Manipulation (And It Won't Work)
A “People Pleaser” is someone who abandons their authentic response to other people during their interactions – who abandons their own choices of what to do, what to say, and what to BE, opting instead to try to guess what other people want. It's a leftover symptom of early trauma, but can block your healing. Do you know someone like this, or do you find yourself people-pleasing others? In this video, I unpack why people-pleasers end up broke, alone and resentful, and what you can do to break the cycle.
Do You Struggle to Connect with People?: FREE PDF Download: https://bit.ly/3LcjDD8
🟢 Order My New Book, RE-REGULATED: https://bit.ly/4dtGVze
Take my FREE Course or Quizzes: https://bit.ly/40M2YeW
Enroll in my Courses or Membership: https://bit.ly/3HP5qcf
Send your questions & comments to: hello@crappychildhoodfairy.com
NEED ONLINE THERAPY? *BetterHelp* can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/CCF

4 snips
Jan 26, 2025 • 1h 15min
Healing From The Scapegoat Experience (4-Video Compilation)
To avoid responsibility for their own actions, abusive parents sometimes make one child into a scapegoat, and siblings follow suit. The person scapegoated suffers horribly, but getting pushed out of the family sometimes means they demonstrate more strength and success in life than those who we kept in the family fold. In this 4-video compilation, I respond to letters from people working to heal the wounds of this terrible form of emotional abuse.
Do you have CPTSD? Take the QUIZ: FREE PDF Download: https://bit.ly/3X9MZ7J
🟢 Order My New Book, RE-REGULATED: https://bit.ly/4dtGVze
Take my FREE Course or Quizzes: https://bit.ly/40M2YeW
Enroll in my Courses or Membership: https://bit.ly/3HP5qcf
Send your questions & comments to: hello@crappychildhoodfairy.com
NEED ONLINE THERAPY? *BetterHelp* can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/CCF

Jan 24, 2025 • 18min
What To Do When Someone Makes You Feel Creeped Out
Participating in a recovery program is a powerful way to get support and change your life. In any group -- in person or online -- there's always some risk that someone will be inappropriate or cross boundaries, especially when everyone in the group is there *because* they struggle. It's not uncommon in meetings that one person takes a romantic interest in someone they meet there, and sometimes the feelings are not mutual. In this video, I respond to a letter who feels stalked by a fellow member who won't take “no thank you" for an answer, and now is hiding his identity and lurking in online meetings where she attends.
Do You Struggle to Connect with People?: FREE PDF Download: https://bit.ly/3LcjDD8
🟢 Order My New Book, RE-REGULATED: https://bit.ly/4dtGVze
Take my FREE Course or Quizzes: https://bit.ly/40M2YeW
Enroll in my Courses or Membership: https://bit.ly/3HP5qcf
Send your questions & comments to: hello@crappychildhoodfairy.com
NEED ONLINE THERAPY? *BetterHelp* can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/CCF

Jan 22, 2025 • 21min
How To Heal Hypervigilance From Parents’ Creepy S*x Behaviors
Some people are deeply confused about what’s appropriate to say and do around their kids. When parents are unboundaried like that, walking around undressed, raging, getting emotional, talking about exploits, it makes kids feel scared again and again, putting them at risk to develop Complex PTSD, and robbing them of a sense of safety in the world. In this video, I respond to a letter from a woman whose "ick" triggers from her parents' behaviors are blocking her ability to love.
Try the FREE Daily Practice Course: FREE PDF Download: https://bit.ly/3Y4263I
🟢 Order My New Book, RE-REGULATED: https://bit.ly/4dtGVze
Take my FREE Course or Quizzes: https://bit.ly/40M2YeW
Enroll in my Courses or Membership: https://bit.ly/3HP5qcf
Send your questions & comments to: hello@crappychildhoodfairy.com
NEED ONLINE THERAPY? *BetterHelp* can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/CCF

Jan 20, 2025 • 30min
20 Signs You’re In a Codependent Relationship
Explore the intriguing dynamics of codependency and its impact on relationships. Learn to identify the 20 clear signs that may indicate you’re sacrificing your personal power for someone else's dysfunction. Understand the crucial difference between codependency and other dependencies. Gain insights on reclaiming your energy and fostering self-awareness, while emphasizing the importance of personal accountability for meaningful healing.

6 snips
Jan 19, 2025 • 1h 50min
Break Free from Childhood Trauma Faster (4-Video Compilation)
Explore the transformative journey from childhood trauma to personal empowerment. Discover actionable steps for emotional healing, including the powerful connection between decluttering and mental well-being. Delve into overcoming anxiety through writing, meditation, and exercise while navigating the complexities of relationships impacted by trauma. Uncover alternative approaches to mental health that emphasize community, physical activity, and positive mindset strategies. Learn how to reclaim your space and prioritize emotional clarity for a brighter future.

Jan 17, 2025 • 11min
Get Out of Romantic Obsession And Open Your Life to Real Love
Exploring the gripping nature of limerence, the discussion reveals how addiction-like romantic obsessions can derail real connections. It delves into the roots of these patterns, often tied to childhood emotional neglect. One listener shares his transformative journey from obsession to healing, emphasizing self-kindness and patience. The episode offers practical steps for managing intense feelings and the importance of opening up to genuine love, breaking free from the fantasy of unrequited affection.

Jan 15, 2025 • 15min
What to Do When You Feel Like Running Away
The podcast dives deep into the emotional rollercoaster of pursuing unavailable partners, revealing the freedom and grief tied to such choices. It highlights how this avoidant behavior stems from past trauma, particularly childhood neglect. The conversation emphasizes the need for genuine connections while navigating the complexities of romantic relationships. Listeners are encouraged to value friendship as the foundation for love and embrace vulnerability, showing how support systems can help in managing intense emotions.

Jan 13, 2025 • 25min
How to Spot and Heal Covert Avoidance
The discussion dives into the subtleties of covert avoidance, where individuals unintentionally distance themselves from meaningful connections. Listeners learn to identify behaviors that lead to shallow interactions and the emotional dysregulation often linked to trauma. Strategies for reconnecting with both oneself and others are shared, promoting self-awareness and healing. The importance of recognizing personal triggers and the value of professional support are emphasized, encouraging a journey toward deeper relationships and fulfillment.