Send us a text

On today’s episode, Sarene welcomes Kim Peirano, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine who has firsthand experience of emotional abuse and coercive control in health and wellness groups. As you’ll hear during our conversation, an organization she initially thought was a meditation school, turned out to be a cult.

Dr. Kim also shares a multitude of tips on how to spot cult-like situations as well as ways to keep yourself safe when exploring alternative health options.

Connect with Dr. Kim
Coaching website
Coaching Instagram
Coaching TikTok

Acupuncture website
Acupuncture Instagram

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

On today’s episode, we’re talking more about emotional abuse in multi-level marketing companies with my guest, Luana Barajas. Luana lives in Southern California, she’s a mom to three kids, works full-time as a middle school teacher, and recently published her debut novel, V. 

As a Latina in a predominantly white MLM, Luana experienced not only the typical predatory behavior of MLMs but also performative allyship toward BIPOC consultants following the murder of George Floyd. This blatantly racist behavior drove her to quit the company once and for all.

"I've Given Up on Making New Friends," by Sarene Leeds for thegirlfriend.com
 
Connect with Luana:
Personal Instagram
Author Instagram
Buy her book, V

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

On today’s episode, I’m continuing my series on emotional abuse in multi-level marketing companies with my guest, Rachel Goldberg. Rachel is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in the Los Angeles area, and as you’ll hear throughout our conversation, she has a lot of experience working with women, especially new moms, who have been lured in by MLMs. Rachel offers a clinical perspective from all sides of the MLM pyramid, as she’s worked with clients who have both “failed” and “succeeded” in their MLM journeys.

Connect with Rachel

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

For the second episode in my series dedicated to MLMs and toxic health and wellness groups, I’m thrilled to welcome Lily Thrope to the podcast. Lily is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in New York City, specializing in disordered eating and body image.

When she was in college, Lily fell into a group that she now calls a “yoga cult.” While the group Lily joined wasn’t a multilevel marketing business per se, you’ll discover through our conversation that it held a lot of similar qualities to MLMs and cults. Fortunately, Lily had a good friend who helped her spot the red flags in this group, and she eventually walked away. Now, Lily is here to discuss her own healing journey and her role as a therapist who helps others heal as well.

Connect with Lily:
Instagram
Website
Email: [email protected]

Full Soul Nutrition website

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

Today we're kicking off my second-ever dedicated series – and this time, I’m focusing on emotional abuse stemming from multi-level marketing companies (aka MLMs). 

In this episode, I explain what exactly an MLM is, and I give some backstory as to why I’m so interested in unpacking the problems connected to MLMs and similarly toxic health and wellness groups. 

Additional Resources on MLMs:
The Dream podcast
Herbalife segment from Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Hey Hun, Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing, by Emily Lynn Paulson
(Un)Well docuseries (Netflix)
LuLaRich docuseries (Prime Video)

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

In last week’s episode, Krista Dykes, host of the "Secret Mom Hacks" podcast, opened up about her toxic and abusive first marriage. At the end of the episode, she mentions a phone call that “shattered” her. As you’ll learn from today’s conversation, the phone call was from a local detective, who confirmed that Krista’s husband’s suspicious, manipulative behavior extended into horrifying criminal activity. We discuss how Krista’s marriage finally fell apart, and how she eventually found the true meaning of happiness in her second marriage. 

To paraphrase Krista herself – and the great Bette Davis in All About Eve, “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

Listen to Part 1 of Krista's narcissistic abuse story on "Emotional Abuse Is Real"
Listen to Krista's divorce story on episode 41 of "Secret Mom Hacks"
Listen to Krista's story about finding love again on episode 52 of "Secret Mom Hacks"

Connect with Krista

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

Gaslighting, manipulation, and lies: All are words that describe Krista Dykes' first marriage.

Although Krista has spoken about her ex-husband's multiple betrayals on her own podcast, "Secret Mom Hacks," she is now telling the full story on "Emotional Abuse Is Real."

On today's episode, Krista discusses the signs of her husband’s growing betrayal – during which time she was also pregnant and then raising a newborn baby – and how she found herself in survival mode most of the time. 

The second half of our interview will drop next week, on June 12.

Listen to Krista's divorce story on episode 41 of "Secret Mom Hacks"
Listen to Krista's story about finding love again on episode 52 of "Secret Mom Hacks"

Connect with Krista

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

Today’s episode is a little different, as I go back to the style of the podcast’s early episodes: Just me, a microphone, and a story. 

I share a personal emotional abuse story that I don’t talk about that much publicly, because there’s a "family" component. 

I'm opening up because I don't want to keep silent about this experience anymore. 

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

On today’s episode, Sarene chats with Kat*, a woman who, despite leaving her emotionally abusive partner, is still navigating the rough waters of co-parenting her young daughter with a narcissist. Kat credits this podcast – which she discovered on YouTube – as well as online support groups, with helping her find the courage to end her destructive relationship. 

*Kat is a pseudonym to protect the survivor's privacy. 

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording

Send us a text

On today's episode, Sarene chats with Donna Piper. Donna is a relationship coach and trauma expert who specializes in helping successful single women heal from their trauma. We also delve into the concept of Akashic Records,  one of the tools Donna uses when working with clients on their healing journey.

Connect with Donna:
Website
Instagram

Sarene's appearance on "The Covert Narcissism Podcast"

Support the show

Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky
Listen to the podcast on YouTube
Sign up for my Substack
You can also reach me through my professional website

You can also drop me a line at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.

Podcasting resources:
Buzzsprout for podcast hosting and analytics
Riverside for remote video and audio recording