The Best of You

By Dr. Alison Cook

Join therapist and author, Dr. Alison Cook, as she guides you through some of your toughest challenges with wisdom, kindness, and grace. Together with friends and experts we'll unpack the best of psyc... more

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FAQs about The Best of You:

How many episodes does The Best of You have?

The podcast currently has 239 episodes available.

The Best of You episodes:

March 05, 2026198: Breaking Painful Generational Patterns—One Woman’s Story of Healing Childhood Wounds with Melanie Shankle
What do you do when the person who was supposed to nurture you becomes the source of your deepest wounds?
In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with writer, speaker, and host of the Big Boo Cast, Melanie Shankle to explore the complicated terrain of mother wounds, emotional enmeshment, and the long road toward healing.
From the outside, it can look like “normal family tension.”
But in the body, something feels off.
Together, they explore:
What happens when your nervous system knew something wasn’t safe before you had language for it

The impact of criticism, competitiveness, and emotional parentification

How shame can keep you believing the problem is you

he difference between honoring a parent and tolerating hard

Why distance sometimes becomes part of healing
This isn't a conversation about blame. It's a conversation about truth-telling.
About untangling enmeshment.
About breaking generational patterns.
About discovering what safety actually feels like.
If you’ve ever felt torn between loyalty and self-protection…
If you’ve wondered whether what you experienced “counts”…
If you’re learning to trust what your body has always known…
This episode is honest, nuanced, and ultimately hopeful.
Because healing one life can change a generation.

More Resources:
Connect with @melanieshankle on Instagram
Order Melanie’s latest book Here Be Dragons.
Connect with @dralisoncook on Instagram
Join the 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here.
If you liked this episode, then you’ll love:
Episode 144: Healing the Soul Through Encounters with Jesus Featuring John Eldredge
Episode 128: Generational Trauma—Overcoming Inherited Dysfunction & Legacy Burdens with therapist Gina Birkemeier
📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here
Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts!
Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

AirDoctor - Eliminate 99.9% contaminants in your home with AirDoctor by visiting AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to get UP TO $300 off today!
*Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1h 2min
March 04, 2026Fear Isn’t Failure
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Isaiah 41:10
Topics covered:
There's no shame in fear

What God promises

Strength that doesn’t come from striving
Go Deeper:
Episode 41: Boundaries with Fear & Anxiety
Episode 156: Why Fear Shows Up When You’re About to Grow & How to Break Free from Self-Sabotage with Mary Marantz
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
11min
March 03, 2026Forgiveness Does Not Equal Access
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Luke 17:1-5
Topics covered:
Why Jesus starts with the reality of harm

How to forgive without minimizing

The relationship between forgiveness & boundaries
Go Deeper:
Episode 79: Surviving Trauma & A Path to Forgiveness with Esau McCaullay
Episode 78: The Mental Health Benefits of Forgiveness & Thoughts on Grace with Max Lucado
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
11min
March 02, 2026Healing Shame
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 25:1-7
Topics covered:
Why shame makes you want to hide

A prayer to steady you through shame

How to return to connection & trust
Go Deeper:
See The Soul of Shame, by Curt Thompson
Episode 74: The Neurobiology of Hope and How to Find Hope in Hard Times with Dr. Curt Thompson

Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/?hl=en
⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
13min
February 27, 2026Confident Humility
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Phillipians 2:1-11
Topics covered:
Humility that isn’t self-erasure

How to cultivate true inner strength

A daily reset for uncovering confident humility
Go Deeper:
Episode 18: Selfhood vs. Selfishness
Episode 56: Am I Really Supposed to Die to Myself? Misconstrued Messages and How to Disentangle From Them
Be sure to share this episode with a friend!
And don't forget to leave your 5-star review—it helps get the word out to others.

Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
13min
February 26, 2026197: Am I Under Attack—or Just Overwhelmed? Spiritual Warfare and Personal Responsibility with Joel Muddamalle
Have you ever wondered if there’s something spiritual happening beneath what you’re carrying?
You’re doing the work.You’re praying.You’re going to therapy.You’re trying to take responsibility.
And still… something feels off.
In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with Theologian Joel Muddamalle to explore spiritual warfare — not through fear or sensationalism, but through clarity and discernment.
Together, they examine:
How the enemy works through systems, structures, and misaligned desires

The difference between personal responsibility and spiritual opposition

Why obsession with darkness is just as unhelpful as dismissing it

How to stay grounded in Christ’s victory rather than panic
This conversation reframes spiritual warfare as something far more ordinary — and far more hopeful — than we often imagine.
Not demon hunting.Not blame shifting.But cultivating wholeness.
Because the center of the Christian story is not darkness.It’s restoration.
If you’ve ever felt confused about this topic — or unsure how to integrate faith, mental health, and spiritual reality — this episode offers grounded wisdom for everyday life.
More Resources:
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram @dralisoncook
Join the 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here.
Learn more about Joel Muddamalle’s work.
Order The Unseen Battle.
If you liked this episode, then you’ll love:
Episode 144: Healing the Soul Through Encounters with Jesus Featuring John Eldredge
Episode 122: Navigating Anxiety, Therapy, and Spiritual Formation—Balancing Mental, Emotional, & Spiritual Health with John Mark Comer
📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here
Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts!
Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

Cozy Earth - Cozy up in every day luxury bedding and their bamboo pajamas and physically feel your nervous system take a breath. Head to Cozyearth.com and use my code BESTOFYOU for up to 20% off.
*Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 6min
February 25, 2026 The First Blame Shift
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Genesis 3:12–13
Go Deeper:
Episode 178: How to Recognize Toxic Tactics & Stop Taking the Bait
Episode 149: 5 Toxic Behaviors & How to Protect Your Soul

Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
12min
February 24, 2026 Grace Runs Toward You
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Luke 15:11–32
Go Deeper:
Episode 78: Thoughts on Grace with Max Lucado
Episode 136: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love with Michael John Cusick

Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
9min
February 23, 2026 The Exhale Your Soul Needs
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 23
Go Deeper:
Episode 176: Intimacy with God in a Noisy World
Episode 191: The 5 Most Important Things I've Learned About Faith, Attachment, & The Inner Life
Find rest for your soul through a guided audio reflection here or check out my book with Kimberly Miller, Boundaries For Your Soul.
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
8min
February 20, 2026 Love Must Be Sincere
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.

Today’s Scripture is: Romans 12:9–18

Go Deeper:
Episode 194: Discernment in Relationships: How to Stay Connected Without Losing Yourself
Read more about becoming your true self & healthy boundary setting here.

Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/?hl=en

⁠Sign up⁠ for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
10min

FAQs about The Best of You:

How many episodes does The Best of You have?

The podcast currently has 239 episodes available.

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