Learn from experts and hear real stories of recovery with the Journals of a Love Addict Podcast
Do you…
Continually find yourself in dysfunctional relationships?
Undervalue yourself while putting others on a pedestal?
Have a pattern of dating emotionally unavailable partners?
Yes? I can totally relate.
On my podcast, Journals of a Love Addict, I share my personal journey through love addiction recovery, and my experience as a therapist who works with love addiction.
I also talk with others who have struggled, as well as experts in trauma, addiction, and other areas of mental health.
My hope is to help listeners feel less alone as I spread awareness of what love addiction is really all about.
Music by JD Pendley
Episode 32: From Unlovable to Recovering with Charlene deGuzman
There are books and podcasts about love addiction, and people talk on social media about it… but there aren't many movies that address the topic. That's why Charlene deGuzman's film, Unlovable, is so unique.
Episode 28: Third Degree Mother Hunger with Jennifer Acker
For this episode, I invited fellow Mother Hunger facilitator and therapist, Jennifer Acker, to share her personal Third Degree Mother Hunger story.
Episode 27: All About Betrayal Trauma with Michelle Mays
We might think we know the meaning of the term "betrayal", but what actually happens when we're truly betrayed by the person closest to us?
In this episode, I talk with therapist and betrayal trauma expert, Michelle Mays, about the complexity of this relational trauma.
Episode 26: A Recovery Story with Kelly Henderson of Velvet's Edge
In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly Henderson from the podcast, Velvet's Edge, to share her personal experience with love addiction and recovery- and we realize our stories are very similar.
Episode 25: An Interview with Buck Dodson of Gay Men's Life Lab
In this episode, I talk with therapist and coach, Buck Dodson, regarding his personal experience with codependence and dysfunctional relationships, as well as his professional experience working with gay men's issues.
Episode 24: Functional Adulting with Daniel Gowan
In this episode, I invite Daniel Gowan back to discuss Pia Mellody's concept of the Functional Adult. We also cover Pia's five core symptoms of codependence (aka the five 'buckets'), reparenting, and how to live in action vs. reaction.
Episode 23: The Power of What-if
Have you ever looked back on a past relationship and wondered "What if?: what if things had worked out differently, or I'd been more this/that, or the timing had been better?"
In this episode, Brooke is back to share another dating experience--one that started with a 'what-if' and led to a lot of useful information.
Episode 22: Enoughing
What is 'enough'? If you've struggled with codependence or love addiction, you might catch yourself feeling 'not enough'; or maybe you're driven to DO more (and more) but it never feels like enough.
Episode 21: Talking Therapy & Trauma with Tyndal Schreiner
In this episode I talk with Tyndal Schreiner, a fellow Texas therapist, about being a therapist on Instagram and the importance of professional boundaries. We also discuss the process of becoming a therapist and a few valuable lessons they learned along the way.
Episode 20: An Interview with Guru Singh
What does 'home' mean to you? Is it a sense of safety? Belonging? Connection? In this episode, I talk with my teacher, Guru Singh, about our first meeting 24 years ago, and how it helped me create a new perspective of what home is and changed the trajectory of my life.
Episode 19: An Interview with Chris Marshall of Sans Bar
Sobriety is wonderful, but like lots of things in life, it's not always a pocketful of rainbows. And with nearly 15 years of sobriety, Chris Marshall, founder of Sans Bar in Austin, really gets this.
Episode 18: The Connection Between Trauma & How We Work with Nicole Lewis-Keeber
Do you love your work? And, equally, as important, does it love you back? This is a question that business therapist Nicole Lewis-Keeber asks readers in her book, "How to Love Your Business: Stop Recreating Trauma and Have a Business You Love- And That Loves You Back".
Episode 17: Brooke- A Breakup Story (Part Two)
Sometimes a breakup is The End, but sometimes we go back and try it again- especially when we're talking about love addiction and codependence.
Episode 16: Mother Hunger with Kelly McDaniel, Part Three
In Part Three, author and therapist Kelly McDaniel continue our conversation by defining Third-Degree Mother Hunger, as well as the steps involved in the healing process.
Episode 15: Mother Hunger with Kelly McDaniel, Part Two
Nurturance, guidance, and protection are three developmental needs for appropriate brain development in childhood; but what happens if any (or all) of these are inconsistently provided?
Episode 14: Mother Hunger with Kelly McDaniel, Part One
Mothers are valuable: they're our first love and the source of everything we need to survive. But what happens when a mother doesn't get the support she needs or is struggling with her own unresolved trauma?
Episode 13: Nothing Special
Why do we stay in co-addicted relationships, believing 'that one' person's validation is the key to our fulfillment? What drives us to pursue a fantasy, only to be disappointed when confronted by reality?
Episode 12: An Interview with Alex Katehakis
What is healthy sex? And intimate sex? And how about healthy sex in recovery? In this episode, we discuss the four cornerstones of intimacy, how stress interferes with desire, sex as a spiritual practice, and so much more.
Episode 11: Best Girlfriend Ever
Love addiction is rooted in codependence; it comes with boundary issues, dependency issues, and self-esteem issues, which leads us to look externally (often to our partners) for a sense of worthiness.
Episode 10: An Interview with Daniel Gowan
What’s it like to grow up as The Hero of the family? Hint: It’s not as awesome as it sounds.