Conversations from the Heart

Ever find yourself trapped in a conversation that feels endless, feeling your energy draining as someone keeps talking and talking? Today we explore how to stay kind, connected, and honest while trying to interrupt.We unpack the hidden fears that keep us quiet (fear of rejection, fear of being rude) and the old “be a good person” conditioning that often silences our truth. You’ll learn how to interrupt without guilt, speak from authenticity instead of irritation, and transform draining conversations into moments of genuine connection.Listen to discover:•Why “being nice” can block real honesty•What to say when your attention drifts and you want to re-engage•How to recognize when someone’s over-talking because they’re trying to process pain•Simple phrases that bring both people back into connectionListen in for a gentle, empowering guide if you’ve ever felt stuck between caring for others and caring for yourself. For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com. Here are more ways to connect with me: Join the School of Human Connection Hop on one of our live calls Check out my YouTube page

Diving into the complexities of fear and rejection, this conversation reveals how our minds often tell exaggerated stories about potential outcomes. Jodi recounts a personal experience of reconnecting with a friend, overcoming pride and anxiety. The hosts emphasize the importance of accepting people as they are while navigating vulnerability. They discuss the power of feedback loops to clarify misunderstandings and provide practical scripts for reaching out. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to embrace their fears with curiosity and compassion.

If you’ve ever found yourself wishing your partner would just open up, this conversation will speak directly to your heart.In this intimate episode, Nina brings forward a question many of us quietly wrestle with: What do I do when I crave emotional connection and my partner keeps pulling away?Together, we explore the anxious–avoidant cycle:  that painful push-and-pull dynamic where one nervous system reaches for closeness while the other needs distance to feel safe. I will unpack why these patterns aren’t personal failings, but nervous system strategies wired for survival.You’ll learn:Why your longing for connection can trigger another’s need for spaceHow to stop personalizing disconnection and start regulating your own systemThe difference between managing someone and revealing yourselfHow patriarchy teaches men to suppress emotions, and how reclaiming feelings heals us allThis episode offers insight, compassion, and gentle guidance for anyone learning how to love without losing themselves.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com. Here are more ways to connect with me: Join the School of Human Connection Hop on one of our live calls Check out my YouTube page

Paul and Jeremy share their personal journeys with boundaries and the anxieties that come with saying 'no.' Paul learns the importance of recognizing when a conversation has run its course, while Jeremy delves into childhood conditioning about commitments and the fear of disappointing others. Their discussions reveal how past experiences influence present relationships and provide listeners with insightful tools for self-advocacy. This heartfelt conversation encourages embracing vulnerability and kindness, especially during the holiday season.

In this week's conversation, Vanessa brings forward the pain of a friendship that feels increasingly one-sided. Together, we explore the difference between situational limits and structural limits in relationships, how to trust the “data” we receive when others shut down, and the grief that comes with realizing we may be doing too much emotional labor.We explore how to discern when to keep engaging, when to step back, and how to communicate desires for mutuality without blame. We also look at why some people can talk the talk of empathy yet still struggle to walk it in relationships. And, how to honor our own boundaries when reciprocity is missing.Listener Takeaways•Learn how to interpret someone’s emotional shutdowns as information about capacity rather than a reflection on your delivery.•Recognize the signs of over-functioning in friendships and how to stop carrying all the emotional labor.•Practice asking direct but compassionate questions that clarify whether mutuality is truly present.•Understand the developmental stages of NVC practice and why some people can use the tools for their own needs but not yet offer reciprocity.•Embrace grief as a necessary step when relationships aren’t mutual, while keeping your heart open to future possibilities.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com. Here are more ways to connect with me: Join the School of Human Connection Hop on one of our live calls Check out my YouTube page

When Nancy learned that her niece had removed a single sentence from a family speech, one that acknowledged Nancy’s marriage and presence, it triggered a wave of old pain. What may seem like a small omission unearthed decades of erasure, advocacy, and exhaustion.In this deeply moving conversation, we explore how one personal moment of being edited out becomes a microcosm of much larger cultural shifts. As stories of marginalized people are quietly removed from government websites, training programs, and public institutions, Nancy’s family moment reflects a collective trend: what gets remembered, and what gets deleted, is never neutral.Together, we navigate the emotional toll of invisibility, the weight of lifelong advocacy, and the tender discernment it takes to speak up with care. Whether you’ve been left out of the story, or left someone else out, this episode offers a powerful invitation to return ourselves, and each other, to the circle. Listener Takeaways:•Erasure may not be loud,but it’s deeply impactful. Small omissions can reactivate deep emotional wounds, especially for those historically marginalized.•Silence isn’t neutral. Bystanders and witnesses have power, too. A lack of acknowledgment can deepen the harm.•Discernment is key. Speaking up doesn’t always mean confronting the whole crowd. Often, one honest conversation is what opens the door to healing.•Advocacy fatigue is real. Especially for elders who’ve carried this work for decades. There’s wisdom in knowing how to keep showing up in ways that preserve your energy and dignity.•Returning non-love with love is an act of sovereignty. It’s not about people-pleasing: it’s about transforming disconnection into care without abandoning yourself.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com. Here are more ways to connect with me: Join the School of Human Connection Hop on one of our live calls Check out my YouTube page

Explore the challenges of handling corrections that feel critical, especially from leaders. Learn practical tools like the 'It sounds like... is that true?' method to reclaim your voice in tough conversations. Navigate the emotional landscape of vulnerability and shame while aiming to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively. Discover how to initiate repair conversations with compassion and request kinder feedback. Dive into the dynamics of group interactions and how to maintain your dignity when faced with subtle power moves.

What do we do when the person who raised us is now emotionally volatile, resistant to help, and unintentionally casting us as the villain when we try to care for them?In this heartfelt conversation, Diana brings forward the tender, painful challenge of loving her aging mother, who struggles with emotional regulation, trauma, and shame, and the deep inner conflict between wanting to offer support and needing to protect her own nervous system.Together, we unpack:•The emotional cost of parentification and role reversal•How to stop being your parent’s regulator, therapist, or emotional manager•What boundaries look like when withdrawal isn’t abandonment•The grief and guilt that emerge when we start living our own lives•Why “staying kind” sometimes means stepping awayIf you’ve ever struggled with guilt around setting boundaries, or felt trapped between compassion and exhaustion in your family, this one’s for you.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com. Here are more ways to connect with me: Join the School of Human Connection Hop on one of our live calls Check out my YouTube page

Navigating friendships can be tricky when playful banter shifts to moralizing. This discussion explores how covert control can affect communication. Listeners learn the significance of wanting to matter beneath the surface of seemingly simple desires, like wanting chocolate. Practical scripts are offered to help reclaim voice and address uncomfortable dynamics without blame. The art of empathetic communication and vulnerability is emphasized, encouraging sharing personal experiences as a means of connection while maintaining trust.

What do you do when every conversation with a parent leaves you feeling erased, criticized, or shut down, but walking away feels like betrayal?In this raw and tender coaching session, we meet Suzanne, who’s struggling to navigate contact with her mother: a woman who routinely gaslights her, shuts down difficult topics, and prioritizes her own emotional comfort over honest connection. Suzanne wants to be seen. She also wants to stay safe. And in her family, those two things feel mutually exclusive.We explore:•The heartbreak of being unseen by a parent you still long to connect with.•The nervous system impact of childhood emotional silencing, and why it still flares in adulthood.•How to say “I don’t feel safe talking right now” without guilt.•What to do when someone turns your feelings into personal attacks.•And how to develop scripts that mirror instead of merge, so you can stay true to yourself in hard conversations.If you’ve ever felt trapped in a role that doesn’t fit, or stuck in a pattern that leaves you numb, enraged, or ashamed, this one’s for you.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com. Here are more ways to connect with me: Join the School of Human Connection Hop on one of our live calls Check out my YouTube page