We Are The Stigma

It's our first 10 Minute Monday! Cody & Melissa start the clock and discuss a stigma for 10 minutes. Today they tackle Valentine's Day, a topic Melissa is more passionate about than we expected. From the pressures our partners may feel, to the rising suicide rate, listen in as the couple discuss all the chocolates in the heart-shaped box that is life. (FYI This episode is NSFW)
As always thanks for listening, and stay tuned for Season 2!!! xox

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review on itunes! 

As always, help us spread our message and and reach out if you’d like to share your story https://wearethestigma.com/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 
If you or someone you know is struggling please call your local crisis hotline or visit wearethestigma.com/resources 

Join your co-hosts as they sit down and reflect over the past 8 months and 21 episodes, and discuss the future of their stigma smashing podcast!  

The couple laugh their way through gratitude, future hopes (and fears) and lessons learned. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for the continued support. We appreciate each and every one of you, and will be honored if you'd join us on our Season 2 journey - Coming February 2020!  

Enjoy the New Year, friends, we'll see you on the side xox

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review! 

As always share with others, and reach out if you’d like to share your story https://wearethestigma.com/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 

Thanks for listening!! xox

In Episode 21 the co-hosts chat with the spirited Secret Drug Addict! The trio chat about his substantial following on Twitter, his anonymity, and how he uses his platform to share and inspire. They delve into active addiction, touring with some of the biggest bands and the incredible clean life he now lives.

The Secret Drug Addict is wise, unfiltered, funny as all hell and brings that proper London Culture. Fall in love with the accent, and humor, and stick around for the stories and inspiration. It doesn’t get better than this xox

Follow Secret Drug Addict on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

You can find We Are The Stigma on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review on iTunes! 

As always share with others, and reach out if you’d like to share your story https://wearethestigma.com/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

Thanks for listening!! xox

In episode 20 of We Are The Stigma, Cody, and Melissa share a candid and educational conversation with 23-year-old Natasha about her lifelong battle with ulcerative colitis and the other diseases that have followed. The trio delve into the facts, the untold truths and the stigmas that come along with these diseases. 

Natasha shares what rock bottom of ulcerative colitis looked like for her, and how finding an acceptance allowed her to take her health into her own hands. Finally, Natasha confirms exactly what we have learned throughout Season 1 - in order to heal you must find your community. 

Natasha has had Ulcerative Colitis since She was a toddler. Ulcerative Colitis is an autoimmune disease classified as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and causes Natasha to suffer from urgency, inflammation, bleeding, anemia, fatigue, joint pain, isolation, and linked diseases as well. She is one of the 2 million Americans with this condition and has learned in recent years to stop suffering in silence by myself. Natasha is now very passionate about educating people about this disease and interested in becoming involved in supporting those suffering like herself. 

Find Natasha on Instagram via Natashalapeyre and follow Natasha’s health journey on Instagram natashas.health 

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review! 

As always share with others, and reach out if you’d like to share your story https://wearethestigma.com/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 

Thanks for listening!! xox

It’s part 2 of Overcoming Childhood Trauma and we’re going even deeper! Now that we know what brought Jen to, and through, her addiction, let’s discover what happened after she chooses sobriety. 

Please be advised that this episode delves deeper into child sexual abuse, as Jen shares the ins and outs of surviving. We talk about having kids, self-love, the importance of community, and beating the odds. most importantly, we discuss healing - and it is beautiful af. 

Listen in as Cody and Melissa share one of the most beautiful conversations with Jen Elizabeth, a fierce female who doesn’t hold back. 

Jen Elizabeth, author of “Shape of a Woman,” is a recognized recovery writer and speaker living in Southern California. She shares her story as a way to leave the light on for anyone who’s suffering under the darkness of shame and silence.

Follow Jen on Instagram @resurrektion_of_me

Twitter @resurrekt_of_me 

Find her book Shape Of A Women on Amazon  

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review! 

As always share with others, and reach out if you’d like to share your story https://wearethestigma.com/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 

Thanks for listening!! xox

It’s Episode 18 and the hosts are obsessed with this one. So obsessed they couldn’t cut a single thing out and have split this episode into 2 parts! Melissa and Cody chat with Jen Elizabeth & this conversation is next level!! Jen shares with us her story about overcoming trauma, and breaking the cycle of abuse and addiction. 

***Please be advised: this episode discusses childhood sexual abuse, and other heavy topics.**

This episode touches on childhood trauma, addiction, eating disorders, Munchausen syndrome, but it is also filled with recovery, beautiful inspiration. Listen along as Jen brings both the co-hosts to tears with her incredible story.

See ya next Monday for part 2!

Jen Elizabeth, author of “Shape of a Woman,” is a recognized recovery writer and speaker living in Southern California. She shares her story as a way to leave the light on for anyone who’s suffering under the darkness of shame and silence.

Follow Jen on Instagram @resurrektion_of_me

Twitter @resurrekt_of_me 

Find her book Shape Of A Women on Amazon  

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review and sharing with others!

As always, reach out if you’d like to share your story https://wearethestigma.com/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 

Thanks for listening!! xox

We have TWO guests in episode 17! That’s double the stories, laughter and inspiration! Melissa and Cody share a conversation with Stephanie and Pete, a couple who found love after addiction. The foursome discuss love, addiction, chaos and the beauty in the other side. Pete is a recovering alcoholic and Stephanie is the ex-wife of alcoholic, and we couldn’t help but ask ourselves, how does this work?! Turns out, Pete & Steph are happy to tackle the question, and we couldn’t be more grateful. We discuss triggers, communication, friendship, moving forward, self-love, long distance relationships, dating after divorce, and how the pair navigate it all. So, whether you’re recovering or you love someone living with addiction - this one’s for you. 

If you or someone you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, codependency, or seeking help for a loved one please visit wearethestigma.com/resources 

For years Stephanie fought desperately to save her husband, her family, and herself from the overwhelming destructive power of alcoholism, addiction, and abuse. Ultimately, she realized that in her attempts to lift him up, she was burying herself. The only way to find peace and protect her family, was to redefine them completely. Now, as a single mom of two, she chips away at the armor she welded on over the years as protection. And hopes her story provides a light to those cowering in the darkness of addiction - both the alcoholics and the unseen heroes - the spouses.

In September of 2015, after a bittersweet sweet rock bottom and near suicide attempt, Pete began to unearth a life of purpose in the ruins of Alcoholism and Divorce. Since that time, he's gotten sober, quit smoking, and become an outspoken advocate for recovery as Pete.On.Repeat on Instagram. His poignant, comical, no nonsense approach has helped hundreds of people get and stay sober and navigate through the rocky waters of divorce and co-parenting. He's currently working on writing his memoir.

To hear Pete’s story in its entirety check out his interview on Real Aligned Women

Follow Stephanie on Instagram @ unbecoming.mrs.b

Find Pete on Instagram @ pete.on.repeat 

Want to share your story? Visit the blog here. 

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review! 

As always share with others, and reach out if you’d like to share your story https://wearethestigma.com/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 

Thanks for listening!! xox

In episode 16, co-hosts Melissa and Cody have an eye-opening conversation about eating disorders with Kelly Douglas. Kelly is a 24-year-old woman who’s been living with her eating disorder for 4 years and has been in treatment and recovery for her anorexia nervosa for the past 8 months. There’s so much to learn in this episode, from disordered eating to derogatory terms, root causes, triggers, and what ED treatment looks like, we promise you’ll discover ways to support your loved one, yourself and your fellow humans. Drop what you think you know about eating disorders and embrace what you don’t. 

Kelly Douglas is a freelance writer and a passionate mental health and disability advocate hailing from sunny California.  She’s also an editor for Unwritten, an online magazine dedicated to millennial life.  Kelly’s work has been featured on a variety of websites, including The Mighty, Thought Catalog, MSN, Yahoo!, and she’s also spoken about the intersection of disability and privilege for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Out in the Open” radio show.  When she’s not destigmatizing health conditions or dreaming about becoming a brunette Elle Woods, Kelly can be found jamming out to pop music and cuddling with her cat.

Want to share your story? Visit the blog here. 

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review! And as always, give this episode a share!

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 

Thanks for listening!! xox

It’s our first bonus episode and we’re getting witchy with it! Melissa and guest co-host Julie (from episode 2) are chatting with the enchanting Amy Lea, about all things witchcraft! Sisters Melissa & Julie are on their own witchcraft journey, so they take this opportunity to ask all of the questions and learn all of the things. Amy Lea shares how she started her witchcraft practice, how she came out of the broom closet, and what her life looks like today. Her passion is spreading her knowledge and supporting baby-witches along the way! 

The co-hosts learn about Divination, the light and dark sides of practicing witchcraft, how to get started in your practice, questions to ask when purchasing the basic witchcraft tools, and so much more! Additionally, we discuss #100daysofwitchcraft and #hexyourlocalrapist. This episode is FULL of knowledge, the most important fact of all - witchcraft is a lifestyle, not satanic and not necessarily religious! 

There’s no right or wrong way to practice, all that matters is that you do. And of course, there are loads of stigmas, join us as we break them! 

Make sure you catch the episode’s opening, we make two major announcements!!

Amy Lea is a 29-year- old Witch based out of Western Canada, where she lives with her supportive husband and 2 dogs. Specializing in Divination, work with the dead and attempting to keep plants alive - Amy has been out of the broom closet for almost a decade and is passionate about breaking down stereotypes in the witchcraft community. 

Find Amy Lea on Instagram @VenusInTulle on Facebook Venus In Tulle and over on Venusintulle.com Follow her hashtag #100daysofwitchcraft over on instagram 

Find co-host Julie on Instagram @lilhunnnybee

Wanna share your story? Visit the blog here. 

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook 

Wanna support our show?? The best way to do that is by leaving us a 5 star review on itunes, and giving our episode a share! 

We’d love to hear from you! Email us [email protected]

As always, thanks for listening!! xox

In episode 15 of We Are The Stigma, married co-hosts Cody & Melissa settle in for a candid conversation with BPD (borderline personality disorder) advocate, Megan Glosson. The conversation centers around one main thing - mental health hospitals. Megan, who recently completed her own treatment, explains the ins and outs of seeking help for ones mental health. The trio discusses stigma, judgment, and misconceptions of mental institutions while laughing over shared experiences. Melissa and Cody have also found themselves in the psych ward, so they're able to reminisce as well. If you’ve been searching for a sign to seek help, this is it. Reach out, it’s far less scary than society plays it out to be. 

Megan Glosson is an avid writer and mental health advocate. She's currently published on The Mighty, Project Wednesday, Thought Catalog, Unwritten, Your Tango, HerStoryBlog, Words Between Coasts, SheSaid, Yahoo, and MSN. Megan is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University (B. Mus, 2010) and resides in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with her two beautiful daughters, geek husband, and 3 cats.

You can learn more about Megan's mental health struggles and journey towards a life worth living by following her blog, Living On The Borderline.

Wanna share your story? Visit the blog here. 

The best way to support We Are The Stigma is by leaving us a five-star review! 

As always share with others, and reach out if you’d like to share your story https://wearethestigma.com/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 

Thanks for listening!! xox