Hard Knocks Podcast

In this episode, I chat with Kelsey about some medical issues she had when she was a child and how the medication caused her to gain a lot of weight, which in turn, led her to be bullied for it. We also talk about the losses she's had, her marriages and divorces and what it's like to be a single mom of twins.

In this episode, I chat with Lindsay about the loss of her father and two older brothers, as well as sexual abuse by one of those brothers. Lindsay talks about her mom's mental health problems, as well as an abusive relationship. All of these things have affected her throughout her life. She shares how she is able to cope with all of it.

In this episode, I chat with my friend Kati about the sexual abuse she endured as a young child, as well as the abandonment she felt by her mom as a child and teenager. Those things together really affected her and the way she viewed herself. She was constantly searching for love and always felt unworthy. After meeting her husband and trying to start a family, they have been on a roller coaster ride. Kati has struggled with infertility and has lost two sets of twins - the last miscarriage nearly destroyed her.

In this episode, I talk with Tasia about life after loss. She did her first episode (#39) where she talked about the loss of her precious baby girl, Holland, to Trisomy 18. Tasia shares about getting pregnant again, what it's like to have to resume life and mom guilt.

In this episode, Michelle shares briefly about her learning disability, a long-term abusive relationship and her infertility diagnosis. It was a combination of all those things that led her to become a self-published author.

In this episode, I answer the random questions that I ask each guest at the end of every episode.

In this episode, I chat with Ty about how the challenges he faced growing up in poverty, as well as being born with a cleft lip and palate. We also talk about how his father came back into his life randomly one day when he was a teenager, then died just a few short years later. When he got older, he became his mom's caretaker and he talks about the challenges that came along with that.

In this episode, I chat with "Isabella" about how her parent's nasty divorce at age 15 affected nearly every aspect of her life. During the divorce, there were literal death threats, as well as lots of other emotional abuse and some physical abuse. Isabella was always a good girl, but found herself doing some things that were self-sabotaging. When she realized it, she worked hard to repair all of the relationships she had lost and kicked the bad ones to the curb. She got pregnant at age 18, married the father, moved away from the small town they grew up in. Isabella shares all the things she learned during those trying times and how she has been able to forgive.

In this episode, I chat with my friend Viva about the abuse, both physical and emotional, she suffered as a child by her mother and the sexual abuse by a well-respected uncle. It took Viva years to be able to realize that the sexual abuse really did happen. She shares how those things have affected all parts of her life.

In this episode, I chat with Meghan about dealing with depression and anxiety. She believes it started when she was just 10 years old and bullied for her weight. Meghan was officially diagnosed with depression about 15 years ago and went through a ton of medications before she found the one that was right for her. A series of toxic relationships led her to have a huge mental breakdown. In turn, she lost her job and insurance. Her mom called a crisis team and after lots more trial and error, she was finally able to get the correct help she needed.