Journals of a Love Addict Podcast

We all have a story to tell, and when it comes to love addiction our stories are as unique as they are similar. It's as if love addiction comes with a script and how it plays out depends upon who's directing.

In this episode, Jodi is joined by Kelly Henderson of the podcast, Velvet's Edge, to share her personal experience with love addiction and recovery--and they realize their stories are very similar.

Music by JD Pendley

Love addiction and codependence come with patterns of dysfunction, as we unconsciously try to resolve (and act-out) the past through our current relationships.

In this episode, Jodi talks with therapist and coach, Buck Dodson, regarding his personal experience with codependence and dysfunctional relationships, as well as his professional experience working with gay men's issues.

Buck is also the host of his podcast Gay Men's Life Lab.

Music by JD Pendley

In this episode, Jodi invites Daniel Gowan back to discuss Pia Mellody's concept of the Functional Adult. They also cover Pia's five core symptoms of codependence (aka the five 'buckets'), reparenting, and how to live in action vs reaction.

Music by JD Pendley

Have you ever looked back on a past relationship and wondered "What if: what if things had worked out differently, or I'd been more this/that, or the timing had been better?"

For those of us with a history of love addiction those 'what-ifs' can lead us into fantasy and obsession (and sometimes right back into a dysfunctional relationship). But not all relationships end badly...so why not try again?

In this episode, Brooke is back to share another dating experience--one that started with a 'what-if' and led to a lot of useful information.

Music by JD Pendley

What is 'enough'? If you've struggled with codepedence or love addiction, you might catch yourself feeling 'not enough'; or maybe you're driven to DO more (and more) but it never feels like enough.

In this episode, Jodi talks about how the pandemic has shifted our concept of what it means to do and be enough, and the role that 'enough' played in her love addiction. She also talks about what's to come this year on the podcast.

Music by JD Pendley

Mental health is an important topic, and thanks to social media it's become a more widely discussed topic than in previous years. But while these platforms can provide lots of information, there's also misinformation--especially when it comes to how we talk about trauma and 'healing'.

In this episode Jodi talks with Tyndal Schreiner, a fellow Texas therapist, about being a therapist on Instagram and the importance of professional boundaries. They also discuss the process of becoming a therapist and a few valuable lessons they learned along the way.

Music by JD Pendley

What does 'home' mean to you? Is it a sense of safety? Belonging? Connection?

In this episode, Jodi talks with her teacher, Guru Singh, about their first meeting 24 years ago--how it helped her create a new perspective of what home is, and changed the trajectory of her life. They also cover relationships, addiction, spirituality, boredom, and much more in one epic hour of conversation.

Music by JD Pendley

Sobriety is wonderful but, like lots of things in life, it's not always a pocketful of rainbows. And Chris Marshall, founder of Sans Bar in Austin--with nearly 15 years of sobriety--really gets this.

In this episode, Jodi and Chris talk about embracing uncertainty in recovery; the importance of accepting that there are different paths to sobriety versus a one-size-fits-all approach; that it's okay to reconsider labels that may no longer serve you. And much more.

Music by JD Pendley

Do you love your work? And, equally as important, does it love you back? This is a question that business therapist Nicole Lewis-Keeber asks readers in her book, "How to Love Your Business: Stop recreating trauma and have a business you love-and that loves you back".

In this episode Jodi talks with Nicole about a time when she considered closing her business, but instead--thanks an early morning aha moment--she rebuilt it. This pivotal moment ultimately led Nicole to a loving relationship with her work, as well as writing a book about how our history with trauma can sabotage us in business and what we can do about it.

Music by JD Pendley

Sometimes a breakup is The End, but sometimes we go back and try it again--especially when we're talking about love addiction and codependence. As Jerry Seinfeld said, "Everybody knows the first breakup never takes".

In this episode, Jodi follows-up with her friend Brooke as they reconnect regarding what's transpired since her breakup last year (covered in Episode 2). Listen as they discuss how Part Two of Brooke's breakup got started, why it ended, and how going back again--with the right tools--can actually provide a lot of useful information for our recovery.

Music by JD Pendley