Beyond Mommy Dearest Podcast

Reach out! You don't have to explain how crazy she was. We believe you!!!

🎙 Episode Notes

Healing After Narcissistic Abuse: Trauma Bonds, Gaslighting, and Rebuilding Self Trust

In this episode of Beyond Mommy Dearest, host Noelani Pearl Hernandez sits down with Laura Richards, international podcaster, speaker, and #1 bestselling author of Married To A “Nice” Guy: Getting Over Narcissistic Abuse.

Laura Richards shares her personal recovery journey after a 32-year marriage to a narcissistic partner and names the patterns many survivors live inside for years without having language for. Together, Noelani and Laura explore how narcissistic relationships form, how they escalate, why they are so difficult to leave, and what healing actually requires on a nervous system level.

This conversation addresses love bombing, future faking, mirroring, boundary violations, intermittent reinforcement, trauma bonding, and the long-term effects of gaslighting. They also talk about shame, grief, rebuilding self-trust, setting boundaries, and how survivors can begin creating a life that feels safe, steady, and their own.'

🧠 Topics We Cover in this episode

• Early signs of narcissistic relationships
• Trauma bonding and intermittent reinforcement
• Why survivors struggle with decision-making after abuse
• Nervous system dysregulation and hypervigilance
• Boundaries and self-love as protection
• Grieving the life you thought you would have
• Breaking generational cycles

This episode is for anyone who has questioned their reality, blamed themselves for staying, or wondered if it was “really that bad.”

You do not need permission to leave.
 Your body’s no is enough.
 Healing is possible.

💛 Work With Noelani / Beyond Mommy Dearest

• Coming Home to Yourself Guided Support Program
   https://www.beyondmommydearest.org/supportgroup
• Instagram
   https://www.instagram.com/beyondmommydearest
• Podcast Page
   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-mommy-dearest-podcast/id1871995241

⭐ Guest Bio: Laura Richards

Laura Richards is an international podcaster, #1 bestselling author, and speaker dedicated to empowering women. Through her global podcast, That’s Where I’m At, and her bestselling book Married To A “Nice” Guy: Getting Over Narcissistic Abuse, Laura shares her personal journey of recovery from a 32-year marriage to a narcissist.

Laura’s mission is to shine a light on narcissistic abuse and remind women they are never alone and healing is always possible.

🔗 Connect with Laura Richards

Instagram
 https://www.instagram.com/thatswhereimatpodcast/

YouTube
 https://www.youtube.com/@thatswhereimatpodcast

Facebook
 https://www.facebook.com/thatswhereimatpod/

Website
 https://www.thatswhereimatpodcast.com/

Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-where-im-at/id1704083491

📚 Laura Richards’ Book

Married To A “Nice” Guy: Getting Over Narcissistic Abuse
Available on Amazon and major book retailers.

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Reach out! You don't have to explain how crazy she was. We believe you!!!

🎙️ Beyond Mommy Dearest

Episode One: Breaking Free: Healing Narcissistic Wounds and Rebuilding Self-Trust

In the first episode of Beyond Mommy Dearest, host Noelani Pearl Hernandez, trauma-informed coach, mother, and wife, explores the lasting impact of narcissistic, emotionally immature, and abusive mother-child relationships and  Kimberly Weeks, Trauma recovery coach and Founder of Global Trauma Institute discuss their Jounery to Healing.

This conversation is for adult daughters who grew up in families that looked functional but felt unsafe, confusing, or emotionally heavy. Those praised for being strong or mature, yet never emotionally protected or believed.

Joined by guest Kimberly, a survivor of generational trauma, the episode examines how early survival patterns follow us into adulthood, shaping relationships, self-worth, and the nervous system.

Noelani challenges the “just grow up” narrative often used to shame survivors who create distance or boundaries, reframing those choices as conscious, adult, and often necessary for healing and generational change.

This podcast is not about blame or revenge. It’s about understanding impact, trusting yourself, and choosing clarity without shame.

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