We Can Do Hard Things

Do you remember where you were? 

On September 27, 2018, as Dr. Christine Blasey Ford raised her right hand and testified in the hearings of Brett Kavanaugh—who would go on to be confirmed to a lifetime appointment on the highest court in the nation. 

This week marks six years since we were eyewitnesses to her historic, courageous patriotism. In honor of her bravery and resolve, today we reshare our powerful conversation with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford—about the heartbreak, and hope, of being an American woman.

About Dr. Ford: 

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is a professor of psychology at Palo Alto University and a clinical professor and consulting biostatistician at the Stanford University School of Medicine. On September 27, 2018, Dr. Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding her sexual assault in connection with the Committee’s consideration of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s lifetime confirmation to the United States Supreme Court. Following her testimony, Ford and her family endured constant intimidation, harassment, and death threats forcing them to move out of their home, living in various secure locales with guards. In 2019, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in Time 100. Dr. Ford’s memoir, ONE WAY BACK, is available now.

348. How to Quiet Your Inner Critic with Dr. Kristin Neff

Dr. Kristin Neff shares the secret to self-compassion and how to lessen our inner critic’s voice in order to build self-worth.

Discover:

-The 20-second daily practice you need to increase your self-compassion;

-How to use your compassion for others as a template for how to treat yourself;

-How to give your inner-critic a software update; and

-The “fierce” self-compassion and what it has to do with drawing boundaries.

On The Guest: Dr. Kristin Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, and co-founder of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. She is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion more than twenty years ago. Kristin runs the Self-Compassion Community, an online learning platform where people can learn the skill of self-compassion with the help of others. She is author of the bestselling books Self-Compassion and Fierce Self-Compassion. She also co-wrote The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook and has a new book called Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout coming out in Fall 2024.

Order her latest book here: https://self-compassion.org/

347. The Cycles We’re Breaking: Abby, Amanda & Glennon

Abby, Glennon, and Amanda discuss Tuesday’s conversation with Dr. Mariel Buqué about intergenerational trauma. Each share examples of how they’re working on healing it in their lives and families. 

Discover:

-Abby’s hilarious and heartbreaking breakdown that revealed how deeply she’s into her healing work.

-Why Glennon no longer believes that she has a debilitating mental illness; and

-The shocking study that made Amanda feel a kinship with mice (literally).

Check out Episode 346. How to Break Family Cycles: Dr. Mariel Buqué here.

Today, we’re resharing a special one. Dear Sugar herself – Cheryl Strayed – joined us to do what she does best: offer her best advice in response to your questions on co-parenting after infidelity, setting boundaries with friends, reconciling an estranged parent relationship, and so much more.

Discover:

- Why Cheryl says every problem she’s ever had has been solved by a list.

- The question Cheryl gets asked over and over again–and how she just helps advice seekers understand what they’re really asking.

- How to know a truth thing–and to live by that.

346. How to Break Family Cycles: Dr. Mariel Buqué

Psychologist, Dr. Mariel Buqué, joins us to discuss intergenerational trauma – and how understanding the generations that came before us can lead to profound healing. 

Discover:

-The symptoms that signal that you might have inherited trauma;

-The most powerful sentence to say to your child to provide them healing;

-How to reframe family loyalty – and why it’s never too late to do this work. 

About Dr. Buqué: 

Dr. Mariel Buqué is a first-generation, Black Dominican psychologist, a world-renowned trauma expert, and the author of the bestselling book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. Her mission is to help reduce the recurrence of Intergenerational ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences).

345. Glennon: Learning to Love without Control

Glennon shares more about going off of antidepressants including a rock bottom moment, what this time of discovery has revealed about where she still needs to heal and the latest tool she has found that’s helping her through. 

Please note this episode does not contain medical advice and only serves to share Glennon’s personal experience. 

To hear part one of this conversation, Ep 344 Glennon: Her New Life Off Meds, click here!

Sonya Renee Taylor – author of The Body is Not an Apology – explores the personal and global promise of Radical Self Love:

Discover: 

1. Examining the way we talk to our bodies – and how to change negative self-dialogue.

2. How to shift from a relationship with our body based on dominance and control to a relationship based on trust.

3. The pitfalls of “body positivity.”

4. The full life that is possible only if we stop believing our body is our enemy, and start seeing our body as a teammate.

About Sonya:

Sonya Renee Taylor is a world-renowned activist, award-winning artist, transformational thought leader, author of six books including The New York Times best selling The Body is Not an Apology, and founder of the international movement and digital media and education company of the same name whose work has reached millions of people by exploring the intersections of identity, healing, and social justice using a radical self-love framework. She continues to speak, teach,write, create, and transform lives globally.

344. Glennon: Her New Life Off Meds

Glennon shares her experience of going off medication after decades on…the highly personal reason she did it, what it’s been like so far, and what’s next. 

Please note this episode does not contain medical advice and only serves to share Glennon’s personal experience. 

343. Are You A Cool or Warm Person + What Does That Mean?

Glennon, Abby and Amanda *attempt* to do a ‘fun’ rapid fire but find themselves in deep discussion about setting boundaries, self regulation, and how to find your unique marrow of life. 

Discover: 

-How to know if you are a warm person, cool person or a combo of both. 

-Which type of person Glennon, Abby, and Amanda each see themselves as; and

-What you might need to do if you identify as a people pleaser.

In this episode, Dr. Becky Kennedy shares how we can connect better with our kids.

Discover: 

1. How to embody your authority while also validating your kid’s experience.

2. The #1 strategy for building resilience.

3. Why consequences and punishments backfire and don’t work.

4. How to sit with your child on the “benches” of their emotions.

5. One thing you can say to your kids to build connection in any circumstance.

About Dr. Becky:

Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist and mom of three, named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME Magazine. She’s rethinking the way we raise our children – empowering parents to feel sturdier and more equipped to manage the challenges of parenting. Dr. Becky is founder of the Good Inside Membership platform, a hub with Dr. Becky’s complete parenting content collection all in one place; author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, which is out this month. And her podcast “Good Inside with Dr. Becky” – was one of Apple Podcasts “Best Shows of 2021.