Speak Honest Podcast: Real Talk on Relationships, Attachment Styles & the Work of Healing Childhood Trauma

Have you ever felt like grief should have an expiration date?
In this heartfelt conversation with grief educator and TEDx coach Teri Kingston, we explore the messy, tender, and very human journey of loss. From anticipatory grief to sudden loss, Teri opens up about her own story and shares practical insights on how to support yourself and others without falling into the trap of “shoulding.” Together, we talk about what to say (and not say), why workplaces need grief literacy, and how to find purpose in the middle of pain.

You might want to listen if:

• You have ever wondered why you still miss someone years later and feel like you “should” be over it
• You are supporting a loved one who is grieving and do not know what to say
• You have experienced anticipatory grief while watching someone you love decline
• You have felt invisible or unsupported in the workplace while grieving
• You want to know when your story is ready to be shared and when it still needs a softer container

About Our Guest:

Teri Kingston works with business owners, executives and leaders who want to magnetize their message so they can maximize their impact each time they speak.

In her role as a caregiver advocate and widow, Teri shares stories of courage and compassion to help caregivers understand their role and cope, especially when the end of their caregiver journey is in sight. She is a sought after TEDx coach, speaker and author.

When she isn't coaching speakers or delivering talks of her own, she eats too much dark chocolate as she sits and soaks in the sea air of Saint Andrews, NB.

Stay in Touch with Teri:

• Connect with her on Linkedin
• Get the Book! Get Ready for Ted When Ted is Ready for you 🔴

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Have you ever wondered if your chronic pain could actually be your body trying to tell you something?

In this episode, I sit down with licensed therapist Nyle Biondi to explore the powerful connection between trauma, attachment wounds, and chronic pain. We talk about how the nervous system stores stress, why pain isn’t always “just physical,” and what emotional release has to do with finding real relief. Along the way, I share my own struggles with chronic back pain and how these insights hit home for me in a big way.

You might want to listen if:

• You’ve been struggling with chronic pain that doctors can’t explain
• You feel dismissed or blamed when seeking help for your symptoms
• You’ve done trauma work but still carry pain in your body
• You wonder why your body “shuts down” during stress or big emotions
• You’re curious about how attachment healing can bring more ease, safety, and resilience

About Our Guest:

Nyle specializes in mind-body healing for chronic pain and trauma. With a deep commitment to the trans and queer communities, he helps clients break free from the physical and emotional toll of oppression, stress, and past wounds. His work integrates neuroplasticity, attachment healing, and nervous system regulation to support lasting transformation. 

https://www.healingwithinpsychotherapy.com
https://queerresilience.substack.com

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Do you ever feel like no matter how much you talk, he just doesn’t hear you?
In this episode of Speak Honest, I coach Christine through a struggle so many of us know too well: needing to feel heard in a relationship but ending up frustrated, blowing up, and then hating ourselves for it. Together, we unpack where those reactions really come from, why boundaries feel so hard to set in the moment, and how to start communicating in a way that actually works.

You might want to listen if:

• You feel like your partner tunes out or interrupts instead of really listening
• You find yourself going from zero to sixty when you don’t feel understood
• You’ve tried to set boundaries but they always come out reactive instead of proactive
• You hate the cycle of blowing up, apologizing, and then doubting yourself
• You want practical tools to feel heard without the constant fights

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Why do boundaries always seem to come after the meltdown?
In this episode, we’re diving into what it really means to set boundaries before you're running on empty. We’ll explore the difference between reactive and proactive boundary-setting, how to recognize the early signs that you’re stretched too thin, and how to speak up without over-explaining or shutting people out. If you've ever felt like you're either saying yes to keep the peace or saying no in a panic, this episode is going to change the way you think about boundaries for good.

You might want to listen if:

• You say yes when you really mean no
• You shut down or lash out when you’re overwhelmed
• You feel like boundaries always create conflict
• You’re exhausted from managing everyone else’s emotions
• You want to speak your needs without guilt or fear

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Ever feel like no matter how calm you stay, certain people still push every button you have?
In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant co-authors of Beyond Difficult, Dr. Jessie Stern and Rachel Samson. Together, we unpack why some people feel so hard to deal with and what’s actually going on under the surface of their behavior. From the science of attachment and temperament to the misunderstood truth about highly sensitive people, we explore practical ways to stay regulated, set boundaries, and communicate without losing your mind (or your compassion). Whether it’s your partner, a parent, or that one coworker... this episode will help you navigate difficult dynamics without making yourself the villain or the victim.

You might want to listen if:

• You feel overwhelmed or overstimulated in relationships
• You’ve been told you’re “too sensitive” (or wondered if it’s true)
• You struggle to stay calm around certain people, no matter how hard you try
• You want to stop personalizing difficult behavior but still hold boundaries
• You’re craving research-backed tools for managing conflict with more compassion

About Our Guests:

Dr. Jessie Stern

• Website: drjessiestern.com
• Instagram: @drjessiestern
• X (Twitter): @jessAstern

Rachel Samson

• Website: www.rachelsamson.co 
• Instagram: @australianpsychologist

Buy The Book BEYOND DIFFICULT 

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Ever opened up to someone… and then immediately regretted it?
You’re lying in bed, replaying everything you said, wondering if you were too much, said too much, or scared them off. That shame spiral? It’s not just in your head. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly why we feel so gross after being vulnerable—and how to stop letting that shame run the show. We’ll talk nervous system reactions, trauma responses, and what it really means when you overshare. Plus, I’ll give you some practical tools to regulate in the moment and find safer containers to be seen (without spiraling the next day).

You might want to listen if:

• You constantly second-guess yourself after deep conversations
• You’ve felt a “vulnerability hangover” and didn’t know how to come down from it
• You grew up being told you were too much, too sensitive, or too emotional
• You overshare to feel close but end up feeling exposed instead
• You want to feel safe being seen, without the shame spiral after

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Can you really be a great mom without losing yourself in the process?
In this heart-opening episode, I sit down with parenting expert and somatic coach Vivian Meraki to talk about what it really means to parent through divorce. We unpack the pressure to be the “perfect mom,” the guilt that often follows us after a breakup, and how somatic awareness can help us show up for our kids and ourselves. Whether you’re navigating co-parenting, starting over, or just trying to hold it together, you are not alone. Vivian brings so much wisdom, warmth, and practical support to help you redefine motherhood on your own terms.

You might want to listen if:

• You feel like you’re constantly self-sacrificing and losing parts of yourself as a mom
• You’re trying to break generational parenting patterns but don’t know how
• You’re struggling with guilt or shame after a divorce
• You want to model confidence, resilience, and self-trust for your kids
• You’re curious about how somatic practices can support emotional healing

About Our Guest:

Vivian Meraki is an award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and trauma-informed parenting expert who helps parent leaders break generational cycles and deeply connect with the people and things that matter to them. A former corporate leader across startups, agencies, and consultancies—including the United Nations and several healthtech companies—Vivian left burnout behind in 2020 to say yes to a different kind of success: one rooted in self-trust, emotional safety, and connection that lasts.

Links:

• https://www.vivianmeraki.com/ 
• Follow Vivian on Instagram
• Grab Parenting Through Divorce on Amazon 

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Is it love... or are you just afraid to start over?
In this episode of Speak Honest, I'm answering the big, messy questions so many women ask themselves late at night. Am I settling? Is he really the one? What does secure love even feel like? I’m breaking it all down in a way that’s honest, compassionate, and actually helpful. Whether you're dating someone new or deep into a long-term relationship, this episode will help you sort through the confusion and get clear on what real, grounded love looks like.

You might want to listen if:

• You keep asking yourself, “Is this really it?”
• You feel stuck between staying or walking away
• You’re afraid to be alone or start over
• You’ve never seen a secure relationship modeled and don’t know what to look for
• You’re trying to feel content as a single woman but keep feeling like something’s missing

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Ever feel like you're finally healing... and then suddenly, you shut down or pull away from someone who’s actually good for you?
 In this vulnerable and eye-opening coaching call, I sit down with my client Sheryl to unpack what happens when avoidant attachment patterns sneak back in — especially in relationships that feel secure, healthy, or maybe even soulmate-level. We explore the push-pull of disorganized attachment, the spiral of rumination after conflict, and the tough question: do you fight for the connection or walk away? If you’ve ever felt yourself sabotage intimacy even when you don’t want to, this episode will hit home in the best way.

You might want to listen if:

• You keep attracting emotionally unavailable people and wonder why
• You’re trying to “be secure” but your avoidant side keeps hijacking the moment
• You’ve had a relationship end and can’t stop replaying what you should have done
• You’re not sure if you should give someone space or fight for the connection
• You want to open up but always end up feeling misunderstood or ashamed

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information. 

Ever feel like your attraction to someone might be more pain than passion?
In this Q&A episode, I’m answering listener-submitted questions that get to the heart of what so many of us struggle with in relationships. We’re diving into the difference between anxious attachment and intuition (spoiler alert: your intuition doesn’t panic-text six times in a row), unpacking what activating and deactivating strategies really look like, and taking a hard look at trauma bonds. I also talk about what to do when you're still emotionally or physically attracted to someone you know is bad for you and why that doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you.

You might want to listen if:

• You’re constantly questioning if it’s your intuition or your anxiety talking
• You keep texting even when you promised yourself you’d stop
• You feel stuck in a relationship that feels both intense and unsafe
• You rationalize someone’s hurtful behavior and blame yourself
• You don’t understand why you still want someone who treats you poorly

STAY CONNECTED

• Join our FREE Speak Honest Facebook Group 🧡
• Follow Jenn on Instagram: @speak_honest
• Enjoying the show? Please leave a Review! 

WORK WITH JENN

• 🎯 Schedule your FREE 30-min Attachment Assessment with Jenn
• Ready Now? Join the Speak Honest Academy
• Apply for FREE Podcast Coaching with Jenn
• Ask Jenn a question

LEARN MORE

• Grab your copy of the #1 best-selling book, Dance of Attachment
• Visit www.speak-honest.com to learn more
• Watch Jenn's 🔴 TEDx Talk

DISCLAIMER:  Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information.