Emotionally Unavailable

This week on Emotionally Unavailable, I'm joined by Neal Tricarico, who, like me, knows the unimaginable experience of losing a child. Neal lost his son Anthony to suicide, and I lost my son Jake to an overdose. What started as a conversation about grief turned into something so much bigger.

We talk about neurodivergence, teen mental health, the importance of creating safe spaces, and what it really means to keep living after devastating loss. We also get into the complicated relationship between grief and purpose, and why finding meaning doesn't mean finding a silver lining. This conversation meant a lot to me, and I think you'll understand why.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Neil's links: Website, The Endurant Movement

I became fast friends with Ellie Capstick when I was a guest on her podcast, and I knew immediately I wanted to have her on mine. She's hilarious, unapologetically herself, and someone I connected with almost instantly. In this conversation, we talk about neurodivergence, trauma, boundaries, relationships, motherhood, grief, and learning to trust ourselves. And somehow we also end up talking about Botox, unsolicited d*** pics, and buying a horse.

It's funny, vulnerable, wildly unfiltered, and exactly the kind of conversation I love having.

You can also find my conversation with Ellie on her podcast, Ellie AuDHD, linked in the show notes!

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Ellie's links: Linktree and podcast links

My epiode on Ellie's show: Spotify Apple

Welcome back to Season 4 of Emotionally Unavailable!

I'm so glad you're here! I'm kicking off this season with Melissa Scannell for a conversation about consciousness, trauma, healing, and what it means to live from a place of love rather than fear.

We get into psychedelics, reparenting, intuition, and the ways our own healing shows up in our relationships and parenting. It's a conversation about getting curious, questioning what we think we know, and learning to trust ourselves along the way.

I'm excited to be back. Let's get into it!

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Melissa's links: Website, Psychology Today, Third Wave, Psychedelic Support

Host Malisa Hepner gets candid about burnout and the emotional toll of self-doubt. She shares why she's taking a break, the pressure to keep producing, and what happens when something you love starts to feel exhausting. Malisa explores the importance of listening to yourself, allowing space for rest without guilt, and stepping away long enough to find clarity about what you actually want. She also shares what she's considering for the future of the podcast and why taking a break doesn't necessarily mean giving up.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Malisa Hepner sits down with Jeselle Hinzmann, co-host of Look In Through The Glass Podcast, for an honest conversation about mental health, trauma, and what healing actually looks like. They explore how trauma impacts the nervous system, why our reactions often make sense in the context of what we've survived, and how self-awareness can help interrupt old patterns. Jeselle and Malisa also discuss emotional regulation, learning to understand your triggers, developing self-compassion, and creating a healthier relationship with yourself as you heal.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Link to previous episodes with Jeselle: Jeselle and Sela - Spotify, Jeselle and Sela - Apple Jeselle episode Mar 30, Spotify, Apple My episode On Look In Through The Glass: Spotify, Apple Jeselle May 22

Host Malisa Hepner and Liana Morris explore what emotional resilience actually looks like when life feels heavy. Through personal stories and practical insights, they discuss setting healthy boundaries, prioritizing self-care without guilt, navigating difficult seasons, and learning to stay connected to yourself through life's challenges. This conversation is a reminder that resilience isn't about avoiding hard emotions—it's about learning how to care for yourself while moving through them.

Pay attention to one place in your life where you consistently override your own needs to keep the peace, meet expectations, or care for everyone else. Ask yourself: "What would supporting myself look like here?" Then choose one small boundary or act of self-care that honors the answer.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Liana's links: TikTok, Insta

Liana's last episode on Emotionally Unavailable: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/92ed5dd1-0e8e-4996-a2ca-f4682af017f3/Liana_Morris.mp3

Host Malisa Hepner sits down with Zander Sprague for a deeply connective conversation about sibling loss, grief, and learning how to carry the people we love forward with us. Zander shares his personal journey following the death of his sister and the ways that loss shaped his understanding of grief, connection, and supporting others who have experienced the death of a sibling. Together, Malisa and Zander explore the often-overlooked experience of surviving siblings, maintaining a connection with loved ones after death, and finding meaningful ways to honor their lives. They also discuss the added emotional toll that court and legal proceedings can have on grieving families and how those experiences can complicate the grieving process.

Grief doesn't require you to "move on" from someone you love. Instead, consider one intentional way to continue the relationship differently. Say their name, tell one of their stories, revisit something you shared, create a ritual, or do something they loved. Healing doesn't have to mean leaving them behind—it can mean learning how to carry the connection forward while continuing to live your own life.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Zander's liks: Website, Insta

In this episode, Malisa Hepner sits down with lymphatic health expert John Ossipinsky to explore how the lymphatic system may influence not only immune function and physical health, but also mental and emotional well-being. John explains the role lymph flow plays in clearing waste, supporting circulation, reducing physical stress on the body, and helping the body function more efficiently. Together, they discuss the connection between physical stagnation and how we feel mentally, as well as practical ways to support lymphatic flow through movement, breathing, hydration, and other everyday habits. This conversation offers a fascinating look at the body-mind connection and why supporting your lymphatic system may be an overlooked piece of overall wellness.

Pay attention to how your body feels when you're mentally foggy, emotionally heavy, or physically sluggish. Try supporting lymphatic flow with a few minutes of gentle movement, deep diaphragmatic breathing, stretching, or walking. Rather than treating mental and physical health as separate, begin noticing how changes in your body can influence your mood, energy, clarity, and overall sense of well-being.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

John's links: Website, Insta, Free Guide

Host Malisa Hepner sits down with comedian and TV personality Paul Drayton for a candid conversation about his journey with undiagnosed ADHD and the ways impulsivity, humor, and alcohol shaped his life. Drawing from his new memoir, Ride – Or Die Trying, Paul shares how therapy and greater self-awareness helped him better understand his patterns, find healthier ways to cope, and become more comfortable in his own skin. Together, Malisa and Paul explore what can happen when we stop performing the version of ourselves we think the world wants and, as Paul poignantly describes it, finally begin "auditioning for the role" of ourselves.

Ask yourself: What role have I been auditioning for—and is it actually me? We can spend years trying to become the person we think will be accepted, successful, lovable, or enough. Consider one area of your life where you're still performing instead of simply being. What would it look like to stop auditioning for everyone else's version of you and start becoming more comfortable in your own skin? You don't have to become someone new. Maybe the role you were meant to play has been you all along.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Paul's links: Website, Insta

In this episode, Malisa Hepner sits down with Liana Morris to explore what it means to heal, create safety within yourself, and become your own best mother. Together, they discuss spirituality, personal growth, and the transformations that can emerge when life challenges us to reconnect with ourselves in deeper ways. This conversation explores learning to give yourself the safety, compassion, nurturing, and support you may have spent your life seeking outside of yourself—and how healing can become a journey of coming home to who you are.

Ask yourself: "What do I need from me today that I've been waiting for someone else to give me?" Choose one small way to offer yourself that care, reassurance, protection, or encouragement. Becoming your own best mother isn't about never needing others—it's about learning that the home you create for yourself within can be the safest place of all.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Liana's links: TikTok, Insta