Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Taboo Talk with Sarah
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Taboo Talk with Sarah
Taboo Talk with Sarah episodes
- Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 15 Beyond Survival Mode: The Journey Back to JoyMain Takeaways
- Why survival mode can become so normal that we no longer recognise we're living in it.
- Rest isn't something we earn—it's something we need.
- Joy isn't found in achievement; it's found in presence.
- Travel has a way of revealing the parts of ourselves we've forgotten.
- Authenticity begins when we stop performing and start living honestly.
Memorable Quotes"Sometimes survival mode doesn't look dramatic—it just looks like showing up every day."
"The most important discoveries I've made haven't been on a map."
"Maybe the real gift of travel isn't that it changes who we are—but that it reminds us who we are."
Key Moments00:00 – Welcome and why this episode is different
02:00 – Realising just how long survival mode had become normal
06:30 – Learning that rest isn't something you have to earn
10:30 – What floating down a Texas river taught me about obstacles, courage and control
16:00 – Why Jackson reminded me what pure joy looks like
20:00 – Remembering the version of myself I thought I'd lost
24:00 – Authenticity keeps appearing everywhere I look
28:00 – What if life is about more than simply surviving?
31:00 – Final reflections on joy, family, possibility and coming home to yourself
18 min - Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 14 The Caregiver Nobody Sees: Navigating Love, Loss & the Invisible Load of Caring with Dr. Monique Nugent🔑 Main Topics & Takeaways
- The realities of becoming part of the "sandwich generation"
- Why caregivers often feel invisible inside healthcare systems
- The emotional toll of caring for ageing parents and loved ones
- Learning how to communicate and advocate within medical settings
- Why self-care isn't selfish—it's essential for sustainable caregiving
- The hidden grief that comes with watching someone slowly decline
- Building support systems before a crisis happens
🗣️ Memorable Quotes"There are no medals in the Martyr Olympics."
"Caregiving gets very lonely because people leave."
"You are with you when the journey is over."
"The journeys of caregiving will end. When they do, you're going to have to face yourself again."
⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps- 00:00 – Introduction to caregiving and emotional overload
- 03:32 – Becoming the generation responsible for caring for parents
- 05:46 – The realities of the sandwich generation
- 08:30 – Why difficult conversations need to happen before a crisis
- 12:13 – Sarah shares her experience caring for her mother through cancer
- 14:18 – Why caregiving becomes isolating
- 15:27 – The difference between offering help and actually helping
- 18:43 – Why caregivers often feel invisible within healthcare systems
- 21:25 – Why caregivers know things doctors need to hear
- 23:51 – Understanding hospital systems and communication challenges
- 24:47 – Learning how to advocate effectively in medical settings
- 32:43 – The caregiver whose own health failed during the journey
- 34:00 – Why caring for yourself is caring for your loved one
- 39:36 – "There are no medals in the Martyr Olympics"
- 40:26 – The heartbreaking realities families face when support systems fail
- 43:06 – The ageing population crisis and healthcare challenges
- 50:23 – When family caregivers become medical experts by necessity
- 54:38 – The grief of role reversal between parent and child
- 56:13 – Mourning the small losses before the final goodbye
- 59:27 – The importance of self-compassion for caregivers
- 1:02:36 – Final reflections and advice for carers everywhere
1 hr 6 min - Taboo talk Season 2 Episode 13 More Than Skin Deep: Confidence, Self-Care & Growing Up in a Body That Feels Different with Dr. Angela Casey🔑 Main Topics & Takeaways
- Why skin conditions affect much more than physical appearance
- The connection between skin health, inflammation, and overall wellness
- How self-care routines build confidence and emotional resilience
- The powerful role parents play in modelling healthy habits
- Why sunscreen may be the most important skincare product you'll ever use
🗣️ Memorable Quotes"Our skin is really the billboard that announces what's going on inside of us."
"Self-care is healthcare."
"Skincare doesn't have to be complicated, but it does have to be consistent."
⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps- 00:01 – Introduction to skin confidence and identity
- 02:11 – Why skin issues feel so overwhelming during adolescence
- 04:24 – The "snow globe" analogy for puberty and teenage development
- 05:45 – Self-care as a critical part of mental and physical health
- 08:55 – Why teenagers follow what parents do, not what they say
- 12:00 – Skin health is far more than a cosmetic issue
- 13:30 – The connection between skin, inflammation, and overall health
- 15:37 – Using your skin as an early warning system
- 18:09 – The story behind Bright Girl Skincare
- 20:20 – Social media skincare trends and teen skin damage
- 22:10 – Why simple skincare routines work best
- 24:12 – Oily skin still needs moisturiser
- 25:13 – Sarah shares her melanoma experience
- 26:00 – Skin cancer prevention and early detection
- 31:57 – The emotional impact of acne and skin conditions
- 35:59 – Why consistency beats complicated routines
- 38:11 – The one skincare product everyone should use daily
- 42:12 – Modelling healthy habits for children
- 43:23 – The truth about moisturiser and acne-prone skin
- 46:47 – Where to find Bright Girl and learn more
🌟 Resources MentionedBright Girl SkincareA dermatologist-developed skincare line specifically designed for teen and tween skin, focusing on gentle, effective ingredients and healthy self-care habits.
Website: BrightGirl.com
51 min - Taboo talk Season 2 Episode 12 The Grief That Stays: Finding Hope, Purpose & Presence After Loss with Kelly Edmondson🔑 Main Topics & Takeaways
- Why grief doesn't end after the funeral—it often begins there
- The importance of remembering and speaking the names of those we've lost
- How rituals, memories, and meaningful traditions help us navigate grief
- Why support is often needed most after everyone else has moved on
- Turning personal pain into purpose through service and connection
🗣️ Powerful Quotes from the Episode"People say they don't want to remind someone of their loss. It's the one thing I can't forget."
"Great loves are great losses. But the love is the gift."
"Grief will reshape you, but it doesn't have to limit you."
⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps- 00:00 – Introduction to grief beyond the immediate aftermath
- 01:37 – Why grief becomes a lifelong companion
- 03:30 – Kelly shares the story of losing her son, Darius
- 05:37 – The silence that comes after the funeral
- 07:58 – Learning to give yourself permission to grieve
- 10:19 – The Mother's Day experience that changed everything
- 13:46 – "I will make room for purpose in this pain"
- 15:07 – The inspiration behind Timely Presence
- 17:04 – Why people need support on milestone dates
- 19:40 – Supporting mothers through pregnancy and infant loss
- 22:43 – A story that confirmed the impact of Timely Presence
- 23:27 – Advice for those navigating grief alone
- 24:20 – Creating rituals that bring meaning and healing
- 26:48 – The importance of self-care during grief
- 29:35 – "The cost of loving is losing"
- 31:13 – Legacy, memory, and keeping loved ones present
- 38:50 – Why unprocessed grief can be dangerous
- 41:17 – Final reflections on grief, healing, and hope
43 min - Taboo talk Season 2 Episode 11 You’re Not Broken: Trauma, the Nervous System & Learning to Feel Safe Again with Steve Soporn🔑 Main Topics / Takeaways
- Why trauma is a nervous system adaptation, not a personal failure
- How childhood trauma impacts the brain, emotional regulation, addiction, and relationships
- The difference between “fixing” emotions and learning to stay present with them
- How men are conditioned to suppress emotions—and the long-term cost of that
- Why healing happens through small consistent steps, not perfection
🗣️ Intriguing Quotes- “I didn’t come out of the womb broken.”
- “Your brain adapted… and it can adapt again.”
- “We all came into the world as a bright shining light… and life covered it up.”
⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps- 00:03 – Introduction: trauma beyond mindset
- 02:26 – Steve’s brain scan and the moment everything changed
- 06:54 – Trauma as adaptation, not damage
- 09:39 – The impact trauma had on parenting and relationships
- 11:35 – “Man up, stuff it down” and emotional suppression in men
- 14:22 – Leaving a 30-year finance career to pursue healing work
- 17:58 – Understanding trauma through nervous system regulation
- 20:51 – Breathwork, neurofeedback, psychedelics & inner child work
- 22:56 – Why trauma responses aren’t conscious choices
- 27:04 – How healing changes relationships and attracts healthier people
- 28:37 – Addiction, trauma, and the body trying to feel safe
- 34:33 – Post-traumatic growth and reclaiming your life
- 37:59 – Final takeaway: “You are not broken.”
📚 Resources Mentioned- 🎧 The Neuro’s Journey Podcast
(A podcast exploring trauma, healing, leadership, nervous system regulation, and personal growth.)- 🧠 Neurofeedback / QEEG Brain Scanning
- 📖 Work and concepts from Dr. Daniel Amen
42 min - Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 10 When Who You Were No Longer Fits: Rediscovering Your Spark in Midlife with Heike Yates🔑 Main Topics / Takeaways
- The quiet unraveling of identity in midlife and why it’s more common than we think
- Letting go of old identities (like “the runner”) and grieving who we used to be
- Why “reinventing yourself” is the wrong approach—and what to do instead
- The importance of resetting, not restarting, and honoring your lived experience
- How to find your “spark” again through curiosity, small steps, and self-trust
🗣️ Intriguing Quotes- “Something that once fit really well… doesn’t anymore.”
- “You don’t need to reinvent yourself—you need to reset.”
- “Stop dimming your light and pursue your spark.”
⏱️ Key Moments- 00:00 – Introduction: the quiet shifts of midlife
- 02:14 – Heike’s “aha moments” and evolving identity
- 05:30 – Pushing harder… until the body says no
- 06:59 – The wake-up call: burnout and physical breakdown
- 10:32 – Losing identity as a runner and grieving the change
- 15:04 – The healing power of Pilates and slowing down
- 18:00 – Identity, community, and letting go of who you were
- 21:53 – Moving forward without looking back
- 23:34 – Why sparks change over time
- 28:04 – The story behind Pursue Your Spark
- 32:50 – Your spark doesn’t have to be big—it just has to be yours
- 38:07 – Why “reinvention” is the wrong mindset
- 42:09 – Finding your next step when you feel stuck
- 44:29 – Final message: stop dimming your light
👤GuestHeike Yates is a Midlife Fitness Expert, author, and creator of the SPARK Framework. She helps midlife women navigate seasons when what used to work no longer fits and routines feel harder to follow than they used to.
With over 35 years of experience in fitness, nutrition, and mindset coaching, Heike supports women who feel stuck in the gap between knowing what matters and actually following through. Her approach is practical, compassionate, and designed for real life — not ideal days.
She is the host of the Pursue Your Spark Podcast and award-winning author of Pursue Your Spark, where she blends science and lived experience to help women rebuild self-trust and move forward with steady steps, without guilt, extremes, or starting over.
48 min - Taboo talk Season2, Episode 9 Surviving the Unthinkable: Grief, Trauma & Finding Your Way Back with Todd Maguire🔑 Key Takeaways
- Grief—especially from suicide—can transform identity in ways people don’t understand.
- Avoiding pain doesn’t remove it… it delays and often deepens it.
- Trauma isn’t just emotional—it can shape behaviour, identity, and self-worth.
- Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the new definition of strength.
- Healing isn’t linear—but it is possible with the right tools and support.
🗣️ Quotes to Remember- “The grief transforms you into someone you don’t recognise.” – Todd Maguire
- “You’ve got to face it now… or it’ll be worse down the track.” – Todd Maguire
- “The new definition of strength is being vulnerable.” – Todd Maguire
- “You don’t have to do it alone.” – Sarah Jordan-Ross
⏱️ Key Moments- 00:00 – Introduction: grief beyond death and the weight we carry
- 02:38 – Todd shares the unseen reality of suicide grief
- 03:37 – Finding his partner: the moment that changed everything
- 07:46 – Turning to alcohol and survival coping mechanisms
- 11:30 – “Surviving badly” vs learning to survive well
- 13:17 – The alter ego: Donnie and life undercover
- 17:46 – The turning point: stopping another suicide
- 20:57 – Losing identity and returning to “normal life”
- 23:45 – Fatherhood as a wake-up call
- 26:28 – PTSD, anger, and the delayed impact of trauma
- 28:18 – Writing the book: the moment everything shifted
- 31:24 – Redefining strength: vulnerability over silence
- 37:01 – Message to those struggling: “You are loved. You will be missed.”
- 46:31 – PTSD explained like a physical injury
- 48:11 – Final reflections: you don’t have to do it alone
50 min - Taboo talk season 2, Episode 8 The Conversations We Avoid: Legacy, Loss & Living Before It’s Too Late with Jermaine Ee🔑 Key Takeaways
- What we focus on shapes our reality—and we can train that intentionally.
- Avoiding end-of-life conversations creates emotional and logistical burdens for loved ones.
- Legacy isn’t just money—it’s stories, memories, and how we show up in everyday life.
- Most people delay estate planning not because it’s hard—but because it’s uncomfortable.
- The real opportunity isn’t just planning for death… it’s learning to live more fully now.
🗣️ Quotes to Remember- “What we focus on shapes our entire reality.” – Jermaine Ee
- “Urgent beats important every time.” – Jermaine Ee
- “Clarity is love in practical form.” – Jermaine Ee
- “Those stories disappear only when we stop telling them.” – Jermaine Ee
- “Every day is a special occasion… we just forget.” – Conversation theme
⏱️ Key Moments- 00:00 – Introduction: Why we avoid conversations about death and legacy
- 01:58 – Jermaine’s perspective: What we focus on shapes reality
- 03:19 – Why humans avoid estate planning (urgent vs important)
- 07:59 – The emotional cost families pay when planning isn’t done
- 12:31 – What legacy really means (and how it shifts after loss)
- 15:57 – Jermaine’s story: discovering who his mum was before motherhood
- 20:01 – Capturing stories before they disappear
- 24:39 – Why asking your parents questions matters
- 27:54 – The surprising reason people avoid estate planning
- 33:45 – “Clarity is love in practical form”
- 36:04 – Regret, saving, and not fully enjoying life
- 38:02 – Living differently when you realise life is fragile
- 41:52 – Choosing joy, using what you have, living intentionally
50 min - Taboo Talk Season 2, Episode 7 Beyond Survival: Grief, Caregiving & Finding Life Beyond the Horizon with Lani Almanza🔑 Key Takeaways
- Grief is not only about death. It can also come through change, transition, identity loss, and the life we thought we were going to have.
- After caregiving or crisis, many people do not know how to stop “treading water” and begin living again.
- Healing often starts with small moments of awareness, especially breath, rest, and reconnecting with yourself.
- Grief does not necessarily get smaller. We grow around it and learn how to carry it differently.
- Looking beyond the horizon is not betrayal. It is a way of honoring what has been while still allowing yourself to live fully.
🗣️ Quotes to Remember- “Life experience becomes your credentials.” – Lani Almanza
- “Grief isn’t a one-time thing that you experience and then it goes away.” – Lani Almanza
- “You’re not in crisis anymore, but you haven’t quite figured out what’s next.” – Sarah Jordan-Ross
- “We grow around our grief.” – Sarah Jordan-Ross and Lani Almanza conversation theme
- “Remember to come up for air.” – Advice from the whale, shared by Lani Almanza
⏱️ Key Moments- 00:01 – Sarah introduces Lani and frames the conversation around life after crisis
- 01:59 – Lani answers the season’s opening question: what she notices and cannot unsee
- 04:04 – What happens when caregiving ends and you no longer know where you fit
- 05:42 – Lani shares her own experience after losing her son Jacob and later caring for both parents
- 07:19 – The moment she realized she could finally turn her phone off after more than 20 years
- 10:00 – “Been there, done that” as real-life credentials
- 12:18 – Finding joy after grief without feeling disloyal
- 16:22 – Why grief never fully disappears, but we grow around it
- 20:32 – The inspiration behind Beyond the Horizon
- 26:08 – One small shift to begin healing: meeting yourself in your breath
- 29:06 – Advice from the whale: make a splash, come up for air, no blubbering
- 31:03 – Sarah reflects on honoring the past while still choosing life ahead
35 min - Taboo Talk Season 2, Episode 6 Authenticity, Energy & Owning Your Space with Jennie López🔑 Key Takeaways
- Authenticity is not a nice extra — it is the foundation for impact, energy, and sustainable success.
- Hiding parts of yourself to fit in drains your confidence, performance, and joy.
- You do not have to choose between credibility and creativity, seriousness and spark.
- Social media often shows the highlight reel, not the full human story behind the success.
- You are never starting from zero — every chapter of your life brings experience, wisdom, and tools for the next one.
🗣️ Quotes to Remember- “Intentionality plus authenticity equals impact.” – Jennie López
- “You’re not starting from zero. You’re bringing all of that experience with you.” – Jennie López
- “Stop hiding. Walk into your life truly as who you are.” – Sarah Jordan-Ross
⏱️ Key Moments- 00:01 – Sarah introduces Jennie and the many hats she wears
- 01:31 – The obvious question: what’s it like being named Jennifer Lopez?
- 04:38 – Jennie answers the season’s opening question: what she’s noticed and can’t unsee
- 07:26 – Life as a Latina woman in engineering and manufacturing spaces
- 09:13 – The cost of changing yourself to be taken seriously
- 13:36 – Why old advice about “working harder” doesn’t always serve women now
- 17:46 – Jennie’s journey with dance, energy, and filling her own cup
- 23:30 – Sarah and Jennie talk about movement, music, and stress release
- 31:59 – Mexico, uncertainty, and focusing on what you can control
- 37:19 – How to stop shrinking and start integrating all parts of yourself
- 41:21 – Why community, mentors, and support matter
- 44:09 – Jennie’s biggest takeaway: invest in yourself and be yourself
👤 GuestJennie López
Author of Intentional Unicorn
Co-host of Very Caliente podcast
47 min - Authenticity is not a nice extra — it is the foundation for impact, energy, and sustainable success.
About Taboo Talk with Sarah
From the publisher's feed
Taboo Talk with Sarah is the podcast that breaks the silence on life’s toughest challenges. From grief and mental wellness to caregiving and the cracks in the healthcare system, we dive into the…
topics no one talks about but everyone feels. Together, we’ll foster hope, build connection, and remind you that you’re never alone.