Madi is a person of faith, and in pain over family pressure to maintain a relationship with her father, who she describes as a "shit person." Hearing her heartbreaking story, Sven guides her to understand that what she considered as simply being a low priority was actually serious abuse. Madi feels pressure to forgive, but her father's cruelty and overwhelming hypocrisy make it difficult or impossible. Sven (a former pastor) provides keen insight on the complexity of forgiveness, and the dangers of using a narrow interpretation of the Bible to control and exploit others. Listen for Madi's epiphany, and cheer her on! Explicit content.

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Join Sven for unrehearsed responses to incoming online questions! Is there life after a 35-year marriage to a narcissist? Feeling like you don't deserve to live? Is there a difference between hate and rage? And hear Sven's emotional response to a follower who just became a quadriplegic. It's Lightning Round LV. Come on in! Explicit content.

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In Emily's story, the abuse went both ways. After suffering a miscarriage, her husband severely beat her...after she threw a broken glass at him when he called her crazy in public. They later had a son, but the two-way abuse continued until they divorced. Now co-parenting, Emily wonders why she still loves her ex-husband even though she knows she deserves better. Sven asks, "Can feelings of love be detrimental?" as he counsels Emily to stop avoiding her painful feelings and get on with the hard work of healing for her son, and herself. Explicit content.

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More spontaneous Q&A with Sven, recorded as he checks in with his followers on multiple platforms. Need some new strategies to deal with your worries? Wondering how to succeed at a long-distance relationship?  How do you know when it's over? Having trouble co-parenting with an uncooperative ex?  Join us for Lightning Round LIV for all this, and much more! Explicit content.

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Britt's sad history includes rape, beatings, and attempted suicide. She understands that she was taught to be unlovable and is making progress, but she's scared to let go of all the trauma that has defined her life. She wonders: What is her substance without it? Sven helps her though the final stages of embracing her authentic self in this ultimately uplifting counseling session. Explicit content.

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In Lightning Round LIII, Sven again takes to multiple social media platforms to take live, unpredictable questions. Topics include fear of traveling, difficulties with journaling, conflict avoidance, forgiveness, distant spouses, and more. Sven never knows what's coming, and his answers are always insightful and illuminating. Please listen in! Explicit content.

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Meet Lynn, whose memories of hating herself begin at age 8. Sexually abused as a child by a string of her mother's partners, Lynn struggles with crippling depression and suicidal thoughts. Compounding her misery - her mother knew about the abuse and did nothing except eventually blame her for it. And the manipulation and cruelty continue to this day. Lynn can only refer to her mother as "BG" - her birth giver. Through her tears, Sven guides Lynn to confront her true feelings, and helps her begin to release her pain and embrace life. Explicit content.

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In Sven's 52nd Lightning Round, he offers great insight about repairing relationships between parents and children, and vice-versa. Feel like you're giving too much? Afraid that your trauma defines you? Wondering how to finally get your needs met? Worried that your partner is dumping adult problems on your children? Sven tackles all these issues and more in this recorded session of incoming questions from his online followers. Please join us for Lightning Round LII! Explicit content.

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Jennifer's life has been filled with "99% self hate." As a child, she never felt protected and had to protect her mother from her father's abuse. Although Jennifer would never allow her mother to parent her own daughter in the same way her mother did to her, she still unquestionably loves her mother. Sven works Jennifer through her painful life story of handed-down abusive behavior, and a string of horrendous relationships. Jennifer is taking steps in the right direction, but has a ways to go. Sven helps point the way. Explicit content.

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In Sven's 51st Lightning Round, he takes on his followers' toughest questions on dealing with grief, handling difficult parenting (and parent) issues, getting past abusive relationships, understanding guilt, loving life like you used to, and so much more. The questions come live and unscripted, and the answers are always enlightening. Come on in and join us for Lightning Round LI! Explicit content.

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