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If you've ever felt too responsible for the emotional wellbeing of a family member, found yourself fixing a friend’s problem they didn’t ask you to fix, or said yes when your whole body screamed no, this conversation today is for you! I sat down with boundary expert and psychotherapist Terri Cole to talk about what she calls high-functioning codependency. It's the subtle, socially acceptable ways we overgive, overfunction, and override ourselves in the name of being “nice,” “helpful,” or “reliable.” But underneath it? Exhaustion, bitterness, and a creeping sense of being unseen or taken for granted. In October 2024, inspired by her own life experiences and that of her clients, Terri released her second book, Too Much: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Codependency, where she breaks it all down with clarity and compassion—from the compulsive urge to offer advice (guilty!) to the “auto-accommodating” habits that chip away at our peace. We also talk about the cost of constantly managing other people’s feelings and what it means to love someone without turning their pain into your personal project. Whether you’re deep in people-pleasing recovery or just starting to recognize the patterns, this is a conversation that invites truth, humor, and above all, choice.

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Today’s guest is someone I’ve admired for years—celebrity hairstylist and entrepreneur, Jen Atkin. You probably know her as the woman behind some of the most iconic looks on Hailey Bieber, Katy Perry, Chrissy Teigen just to name a few. She’s also the founder of Ouai, a beloved personal care brand, and Mane, her line of hair tools. On top of that, she co-founded an agency alongside Mary Phillips that represents some of the most talented hairstylists and makeup artists in the industry. But the real reason I follow Jen? She’s a fellow Pisces. And if there’s one thing a Pisces is good at, it’s transformation—and over the last few years, Jen has done just that. After a trip to the Hoffman Process in 2019, she emerged ready to start a family, even though she had always been vocal about not wanting kids. At the time, she was a workaholic, constantly on the move—flying all over the world, running her businesses—so I’ve really enjoyed watching how her life has shifted and how she’s embraced motherhood despite being a very successful entrepreneur. She’s also navigated profound loss in recent years—one of her beloved dogs was tragically taken from her backyard and killed by a coyote. About a year later, she lost her father, and most recently, she lost her beautiful home in the Palisades fire. Through it all, she’s continued to evolve with resilience and grace.

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