Free Failing

Feeling stuck? It might not be your situation—it might be what you’ve buried.

Jess sits down with neuro coach and Christian mindset expert Alicia Michelle to reveal how years of emotional suppression kept her stuck—and the turning point that changed everything.

Allicia unpacks how unhealed childhood wounds shape our thoughts, relationships, and faith—and why avoiding your emotions may be the very thing holding you back.

They dig into:

• Why avoiding emotions keeps you stuck
• How childhood wounds shape your thinking
• A simple 3-step method to process what you feel
• How to rebuild trust in God in the middle of healing

Alicia also shares her powerful ADD method—Acknowledge, Discern, Decide—giving you practical tools to move forward with clarity, emotional confidence, and deeper trust in God.

Because you can’t heal what you won’t feel.

#emotionalconfidence, #neuroscience, #Christianmindset, #healing, #corewounds, #divorce

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Alicia Michelle is an ICF-certified Christian life coach and NeuroCoach, author of Emotional Confidence, popular conference speaker, and host of the multi award-winning⁠The Christian Mindset Coach Podcast⁠. Learn more at ⁠AliciaMichelle.com

Grab her book here! Emotional Confidence: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture

Visit her on socials:

Facebook: @theAliciaMichelleCoach

IG: @AliciaMichelleCoach

YouTube: @AliciaMichelleCoach

Takeaways:

• The importance of acknowledging and processing emotions
• How childhood wounds shape adult thought patterns
• The ADD method: Acknowledge, Discern, Decide
• The role of scripture and neuroscience in healing
• Practical steps for emotional healing and trust in God

• From Suppression to Confidence: Alicia Michelle’s Journey
• Healing Core Wounds with Science and Scripture

• "Invite Jesus into your pain and disappointment"
• "God uses our hard circumstances to grow us"
• "God makes beauty from ashes, even in divorce"

What if your exhaustion isn’t just hormones… but a completely dysregulated nervous system?

Jess sits down with Dr. Julie Merriman—licensed counselor, trauma specialist, and host of Compassion Fatigue Cure—to unpack why so many high-achieving women hit a wall in midlife, especially after divorce.

Dr. Julie shares her own story of divorce, burnout and “crashing hard” in her 40s, and how that experience led her to help women break free from what she calls the “virtuous trap of self-sacrifice.” Together, they dive into the real reason you feel numb, disconnected, and constantly in survival mode—and why bubble baths and surface-level self-care just aren’t cutting it.

Let's explore:

• What’s actually happening in your nervous system when you feel overwhelmed or shut down
• The difference between burnout, “identity burnout,” and hormonal changes
• Why resilience can become toxic—and how to recognize when it is
• Simple, practical tools to regulate your nervous system (even in the middle of a panic spiral)
• How to reconnect with your body and trust your intuition again—especially in dating and relationships
• Why boundaries feel so hard to set (and how your body can help you set them naturally)

We’re not broken—we’re dysregulated. And your our already knows the way back.

#nervoussystem #burnoutrecovery #womenover40 #midlifetransition #boundaries #sexafter50 #divorcehealing #divorcedmomDr. Julie Merriman is an author, speaker, and licensed professional counselor with over 25 years of experience rescuing women from what she calls the "virtuous" trap of self-sacrifice. She’s a Ph.D. -certified Sex Counselor and Trauma Specialist and host of the Top 100 Motivational Podcast Compassion Fatigue Cure and the host of the Sexy After 50 podcast. Visit her at:Dr. Julie Merriman Wellness | Nervous System Regulation

Grab her book, "In Pursuit of Soul Joy" here!

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Divorce isn’t just paperwork and custody schedules—it’s identity-shaking, gut-punching, “am I going to be okay?” energy.

Jess sits down with therapist, speaker, and Unhitched author Oona Metz, who’s spent 30+ years helping women survive (and rebuild after) divorce… because she’s lived it too.

As always, we talk about stuff people don’t say out loud—why divorce can feel so isolating, what women actually need in the middle of it, and how finding the right support can be the difference between spiraling and slowly coming back to life.

And of course, we get into the flavorful nuances of dating, after divorce.

If you’ve ever wondered “am I going to be okay?”—this one’s for you.

#divorcehealing #divorcedwomen #datingafterdivorce #selfdiscovery

Learn more about Oona:

Website: Oona Metz, LICSW, CGP | Empowering Women+ Through Divorce Support & Therapy​

IG:https://www.instagram.com/oonametz

Grab your copy of Unhitched!Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women

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Takeaways:

• The five stages of divorce: heartbreak, roller coaster, mending, letting go, and new beginnings
• The emotional challenges women face during divorce and healing
• Practical tips for self-care, healing, and rebuilding a thriving life after divorce
• Learning how to date well, after divorce

Why do so many of us keep dating the same person… just with a different name?

Jess sits down with nationally-recognized therapist and author Jessica Baum to unpack why our earliest emotional experiences quietly run the show in our adult relationships—especially after divorce.

If dating keeps triggering old wounds or you find yourself stuck in the same relationship dynamics, attachment theory might explain why. Jessica breaks down how childhood needs and implicit emotional memories shape the way we attach, trust, and react in love.

The good news? These patterns aren’t permanent.

We talk about how to recognize your attachment style, heal the core wounds driving your relationship habits, and start building connections that actually feel safe, stable, and secure.

Because the goal isn’t just to date again after divorce—it’s to date differently.

#attachmenttheory #emotionalhealing #securerelationships #datingafterdivorce #nervous system, divorcehealing

If this convo resonates, you NEED Jessica's books! Check them out:

Safe: An Attachment-Informed Guide to Building More Secure Relationships

Anxiously Attached: Becoming More Secure In Life and Love

Connect with Jessica on her socials:

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

⁠https://www.jessicabaumlmhc.com⁠⁠

Key Topics Covered:

• How to identify your attachment style and relationship patterns

• Why unresolved childhood wounds show up in adult relationships

• The role of implicit memory in emotional triggers

• How to break unhealthy dating and relationship cycles

• Why “supportive anchors” are key to healing attachment wounds

• Practical ways to build more secure, trusting connections

If you're a return listener, please "like" and "follow!" It goes a long way! xo

Chapters:00:00Introduction to Attachment Theory and Healing

03:06Understanding Attachment Styles

06:02The Importance of Healing Core Wounds

08:40The Role of Supportive Anchors in Healing

11:52Navigating Relationships and Dating After Divorce

26:47Embracing the Healing Journey

29:28Rediscovering Self and Empowerment

31:50Navigating Relationships and Attachment Styles

35:45Understanding Intensity vs. Intimacy

38:34Processing Divorce and Moving Forward

42:53Prioritizing Health and Personal Growth

Jess sits down with celebrity matchmaker, psychologist and author Dr. Christie Kederian, a.k.a. the "date doctor" to explore what it really takes to date again after divorce and deep relational wounds. They get into:
• Why some “red flags” are actually trauma responses
• How to slow down and build real trust
• Why dating multiple people isn’t necessarily wrong
• The surprising role faith and surrender play in finding the right relationship

If you’re tired of overthinking every text, questioning your instincts, or wondering whether love is even worth the risk again—this conversation will give you clarity, confidence, and a fresh perspective.

Because sometimes what feels like rejection… is actually God protecting your future.#datingafterdivorce #healingrelationships, #redflags #attachmentstyles #faith-based dating #self-awareness, #loveadvice #moderndating, #relationshippatterns

Show notes:

Website: Dr. Christie Kederian | Home

IG: @thedatedoctorchristie

Grab your copy of Dr .Christie's book, "10 Dates to Your Soulmate: A Celebrity Matchmaker's Guide from First Swipe to Forever"

Link for free guide: https://drchristie.myflodesk.com/vynot193te 

Dr. Christie Kederian is an internationally renowned relationship therapist and former eHarmony matchmaker turned “date doctor.” She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern California in Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Christie has helped thousands of people create lives they love and find love they deserve. Dr. Christie has been a featured expert in ABC, NBC, KTLA, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Cosmopolitan, NBC News, and more.

Key Topics

• Healing past relationship trauma
• Distinguishing red flags from trauma responses
• The importance of self-awareness and trust
• Balancing faith and modern dating
• Strategies for dating multiple people

• 10 Dates to Your Soulmate: A Guide to Lasting Love
• Healing Past Wounds for Better Relationships
• "Slow down and build trust"

• "Track habits and red flags"
• "First dates are just the start"

Anxiety doesn’t always look the same—and for many women, it shows up right when life falls apart.

Jess sits down with author and speaker Courtney Devich (Mama’s Got Anxiety) for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what anxiety actually feels like, how it manifests in different seasons, and how faith and practical tools can coexist when you’re trying to hold it together.

Courtney shares her personal journey with anxiety, depression, postpartum struggles, and motherhood—and how those experiences led her to become a voice for women who feel overwhelmed, ashamed, or stuck in spiraling thoughts. Together, Jess and Courtney talk about the unique anxiety that comes with divorce, heartbreak, and major life transitions—and why naming it is often the first step toward healing.

They unpack:

• What anxiety really is (and when it becomes more than “normal worry”)

• Physical and emotional signs you may be missing

• Why anxiety often spikes during divorce, loss, and identity shifts

• How faith, therapy, and medication can work together—not compete

• Practical ways to interrupt spiraling thoughts and reclaim peace

• What it actually looks like to let God be your refuge in the middle of panic

If you’re in a season where your mind won’t slow down, your chest feels tight, or you’re quietly wondering if this will ever pass—this conversation is for you.

You’re not broken. You’re not alone. And this isn’t the end of your story. #divorcedwoman #healingafterdivorce #anxietyhealing #singlemom #divorcedchristian #Godheals

Courtney Devich is a speaker and the author of Mama’s Got Anxiety: But It's Not Going to Steal Her Joy. Her writing has been featured in Her View From Home, YouVersion Bible App, and Christian Parenting, among others. As a writer, she uses her humor, honesty, and relatability to encourage women who struggle with their mental health or with their faith. She lives in Michigan with her husband and three kids, but no dog because why add to the chaos?(And here are some links in case you need those too.)
Website: www.courtneydevich.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/courtneydevichauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/courtneydevichauthorTakeaways

• Anxiety can manifest in various ways and is often situational.
• Recognizing anxiety is the first step in managing it.
• Faith can be a powerful tool in coping with anxiety.
• Community support is essential for those struggling with mental health.
• It's important to involve children in conversations about anxiety.
• Therapy and medication can be gifts from God for mental health.
• Gratitude can help combat feelings of anxiety.
• Anxiety can serve as a reminder to turn to God.
• The journey of managing anxiety is ongoing and can fluctuate.
• Hope and healing are possible through faith and support.

Jess K. sits down with sought-after sobriety coach, speaker, and author Christy Osborne (Love Life Sober) for an honest, funny, and deeply relatable convo about the “mommy wine” trap, drinking as a coping mechanism, and why so many Christian women struggle in silence. Christy shares her story—college drinking, stress in law school, expat pub culture, postpartum darkness, grief after losing her mom, and the moment she realized her glamorous Instagram life didn’t match how she felt inside.

They talk about why “dry January” doesn’t always work (hello, willpower trap), how cravings often signal deeper needs (comfort, connection, rest), and Christy’s practical tools like taking thoughts captive and playing the tape forward when the "wine witch" starts talking.

This episode is a permission slip to stop pretending, get curious, and try an alcohol fast—without shame, perfectionism, or the pressure to label yourself forever.

#SoberCurious #AlcoholFreeLife #AlcoholFree #LentFast t #SobrietyJourney #RecoveryIsPossible Show Notes:

-Find Christy at LoveLifeSober.com

-Grab a copy of Love Life Sober here

-Love Life Sober on Insta

Takeaways:

Alcohol often has a “job.” Social ease, stress relief, loneliness, reward… figure out what you’ve hired it to do.

The willpower trap is real. If the desire stays, willpower eventually loses. Start with thoughts and beliefs, not just behavior.

“Take every thought captive” applies to cravings. Notice the thought → investigate the story → replace with truth.

Play the tape forward (twice). What happens if you drink tonight? What happens if you don’t?

Loneliness is a major trigger—especially for women living alone. The “wine is my friend” narrative is powerful and common.

Your body keeps receipts. Sleep, mood, anxiety, and energy often improve quickly once alcohol is out of the system.

This doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. A fast can be an experiment that gives you data, clarity, and momentum.

Shame thrives in secrecy. Saying it out loud (to a trusted person/community) is often the first step toward freedom.

Jess K. unpacks why breakups hit differently after divorce — heavier, sharper, and somehow more personal than we expected. You finally put yourself back out there, risk hope again… and then it falls apart. It’s exhausting, humbling, occasionally humiliating., and very tempting to just delete the apps, buy a weighted blanket, and emotionally retire.

But in true quasi-delusional fashion, Jess delivers a pep talk for the women who are tired and confused by post-divorce dating, sprinkling in just enough Biblical wisdom to believe love might still be possible. #datingafterdivorce #breakups #datingafter40 #christiandivorce #divorcedwoman #healingafterdivorce #securelyattached

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Quote:

"One of the greatest breakthroughs we can have in life is realizing that how someone treats us is a reflection of their emotional capacity-not our worth. People project unhealed wounds."- author Jill Turecki

Insta reel (shared during show): https://www.instagram.com/jasmiines.world/reel/DT7-f1hDWEX/

Jess K and Jess T break down habit stacking — the ultimate busy-mom hack for getting things done without burning out. From pairing chores with self-care (hello face masks + folding laundry) to turning boring to-dos into mini reward moments, the girls share real-life strategies that actually work for divorced moms juggling everything. If your to-do list feels overwhelming, this episode is your permission slip to work smarter — not harder.

#habitstacking #selfcare #productivity #divorce #singlemom #newyeargoals

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Chapters: 00:00Introduction and Seasonal Reflections

01:40Understanding Habit Stacking

04:28Practical Applications of Habit Stacking

07:34Motivation and Accountability in Habit Formation

10:12Reward Systems and Habit Stacking

13:23Reverse Habit Stacking and Breaking Bad Habits

15:58Integrating Habits into Daily Life

18:29Social Connections and Habit Stacking

21:39Wins and Fails: Personal Reflections

Jess T. & Jess K. dive into the real cost of single motherhood—the burnout, the emotional whiplash, and the quiet resilience it takes to keep going. They explore how single moms juggle family dynamics, carry invisible labor, and still find joy in the middle of the madness. This episode is equal parts honesty, validation, and reminder that strength doesn’t always look polished.#Momburnout #invisiblelabor #SingleMomLife #DivorcedMomLife
Regular listeners...please like and subscribe! It really helps! xoChapters

00:00The Burden of Single Motherhood

08:04Navigating Life's Unexpected Challenges

16:11The Emotional Weight of Parenting

22:17Planning for the Future: Vacations and Responsibilities

28:44Finding Balance Amidst Chaos

32:46Wins and Fails: Celebrating Small Victories