Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "What's wrong with me?"

For many people, the answer isn't that they're broken—it's that they're carrying the effects of trauma.

In this episode of Between The Joneses, we're joined by trauma counselor Stephanie McAlister, who specializes in helping individuals recover from childhood trauma, PTSD, addiction, and complex life experiences. Together, we unpack why so many people believe they're permanently damaged, how trauma shapes our thoughts, relationships, and behaviors, and why healing begins when we stop asking, "What's wrong with me?" and start asking, "What happened to me?"

We also dive into:

• Why trauma survivors often feel "broken"
• How childhood experiences can impact adulthood
• The connection between trauma, addiction, and shame
• What healing actually looks like
• EMDR therapy and why it's changing lives

Whether you're on your own healing journey, love someone who has experienced trauma, or simply want to better understand the human mind, this conversation offers hope, insight, and practical takeaways.

You are more than what happened to you.
You are not broken.

Stephanie can be found here:

virtualconnect.ca

[email protected]

Instagram: @virtual_connect_counseling

🎙️ NEW EPISODE: Demanding vs. Demeaning — Where Does Coaching Cross the Line?

Great coaches challenge athletes. They hold them accountable, push them beyond their comfort zones, and set high standards.

But there's a difference between being demanding and being demeaning.

In this episode, we explore:
• What healthy coaching looks like
• Whether yelling is ever necessary
• Red flags athletes and parents should recognize
• The impact coaching has on confidence and performance
• How coaches can create excellence without creating fear

A coach's job isn't just to develop athletes—it's to help develop people.

So where do you think the line is?

Can a coach be intense without being intimidating? Can they be demanding without being demeaning?

#Coaching #Leadership #AthleteDevelopment #SportsPsychology #YouthSports #PositiveCoaching #CoachEducation #MentalPerformance #SportsParent

In this episode, we celebrate the power of women uplifting women through shared experiences, encouragement, and authentic connection. From overcoming challenges to building each other up in business, friendship, and everyday life, we explore what it truly means to empower one another and create spaces where women can thrive together.

Our 1st guest, Sam Shweisky, head coach of the Princeton University men’s volleyball program and one of the most respected voices in collegiate volleyball. Coach Shweisky shares his journey through the sport, the lessons he’s learned from leading at the Division I level, and what it takes to build a championship culture rooted in discipline, trust, and accountability.

In this conversation, we dive into leadership, player development, team chemistry, recruiting, and the evolving landscape of college athletics and youth sports. Coach Shweisky also opens up about balancing competitiveness with mentorship, helping athletes grow beyond the game, and the mindset required to succeed under pressure. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, volleyball fan, or someone interested in leadership and high performance, this episode delivers insight, perspective, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories from one of the top programs in the country.

It’s getting hot in here… and it might not just be the weather.
In this episode, we dive into the real, unfiltered experience of perimenopause—hot flashes, mood swings, sleep struggles, and everything in between. Whether you’re in the thick of it or just starting to notice changes, we’re breaking down what’s happening in your body and how to navigate it with confidence (and a little humor).

“Attitude problem” is one of the most overused labels in sports.
In this episode, we go beyond the surface to explore what’s really driving those behaviors—and why asking why matters more than reacting.

Youth sports are supposed to build confidence, character, and teamwork—but what happens when toxic behaviors become part of the culture? In this episode, we dive into the normalization of toxic behaviors within youth sports, from overly aggressive coaching and sideline pressure to the win-at-all-costs mentality that many young athletes face today. We’ll explore how these patterns develop, the impact they have on athletes’ mental health and love for the game, and what coaches, parents, and organizations can do to create healthier environments.

If youth sports are meant to develop better athletes and better people, it’s time to ask: when did toxicity start being seen as “normal”?

In this episode, we explore how toxic behaviors slowly become normalized in society. What starts as something shocking can eventually be accepted, justified, or even rewarded. From social pressures to power dynamics, we break down the psychological and cultural factors that allow harmful behaviors to become part of everyday life. This is Part I of our two-part series examining how normalization happens—and why recognizing it is the first step toward change.

In Part II of The Illusion of Winning, we go deeper into the silent pressures shaping how we define success — and how those definitions might be sabotaging us.

We unpack how the comparison loop hijacks our confidence in real time — and how to catch it while it’s happening. Because awareness isn’t passive; it’s power.

From there, we challenge the inherited scripts around achievement and ask a harder question: What does success actually mean to you? Not your peers. Not social media. Not your industry. You.

This episode confronts the culture of curated victories — the highlight reels that distort reality — and why we need to stop posting only the wins. We talk about modeling what it looks like to lose with integrity, to fail publicly, and to grow without shame.

We also explore the radical act of unfollowing what makes you doubt yourself and intentionally curating what strengthens you — digitally, mentally, and emotionally.

And finally, we sit with the biggest question of all:
What is real?
What’s authentic ambition versus performance? What’s genuine fulfillment versus applause?

This episode is about reclaiming your narrative, redefining winning, and choosing alignment over illusion.

If Part I exposed the illusion, Part II teaches you how to step out of it.

In this episode of Between the Joneses, Jessica and Kasey Jones unpack the powerful — and often misleading — idea of what it means to “win.” From career success and relationships to recovery and personal growth, we’re conditioned to chase achievement, validation, and perfection. But what if the very definition of winning is the thing holding us back?

Together, they explore:

• How comparison culture distorts our sense of success
• Why external achievement doesn’t always equal internal peace
• The hidden pressure behind ambition and performance
• What it looks like to redefine winning through connection, growth, and authenticity

Blending clinical insight, lived experience, and candid conversation, Jessica and Kasey challenge listeners to examine where they may be striving to “win” at the cost of joy, presence, or purpose.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still coming up empty, this episode offers a refreshing and grounding perspective on what truly matters.