We Should Talk

The duo is officially back together! Megan returns from her maternity leave at the one-month mark, and she and Amber take time to catch up on all things new motherhood, navigating life transitions, and stepping into major moments of professional growth.

From the vulnerability of the early postpartum days to confronting the deep discomfort that comes with taking big creative risks, Megan and Amber share a raw look at what it truly takes to expand beyond your comfort zone.

In this episode, we cover:

• Life at One Month Postpartum: Megan opens up about her C-section recovery, navigating early feeding struggles, and how she grounded herself when perfectionism and overwhelming logistics threatened to take over.

• The "Growth Spurt" Mindset: A grounding reframe for both babies and adults that helps normalize temporary chaos, sleep regressions, and emotional shifts.

• Confronting Book-Launch Imposter Syndrome: Amber and Megan discuss the terrifying vulnerability of putting original work into the world, fearing "getting in trouble," and letting go of control once a project leaves the creation bubble.

• The Discomfort of Expansion: Why leaning into moments that put your stomach in knots is a necessary sign of personal and professional evolution.

• Supportive Partnerships in High-Stress Seasons: How Megan and her husband navigated a major unexpected wrench in their plans right after Charlie's birth by choosing to stay on the same team.

Whether you're in the middle of a literal or metaphorical growth spurt, this conversation is a comforting reminder that the hard, messy parts of transition are often just temporary stops on the way to major expansion!

We Should Talk Podcast

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/

Megan Walsh

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectwithmegan/

• Website: http://connect-with-megan.com/

Amber Trejo

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist/

• Website: https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/

What happens when your biggest childhood trauma buffer was the cousin sleeping on the bunk bed right above you? In this raw, deeply relatable episode, Amber sits down with her cousin, fellow psychotherapist, and private practice owner Stephanie Bagato (LMFT)! Born just six months apart, Amber and Stephanie grew up more like sisters navigating a chaotic childhood filled with makeshift clubhouses, secret snack stashes, endless imaginative play, and navigating an environment where they were largely left to raise themselves.

Together, they unpack how childhood survival tactics can subtly weave their way into adult relationships, and what it really looks like to do the healing work when you share a past.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Emotional Flashbacks & Birthdays: Why certain milestones and birthdays can trigger sudden, lingering feelings of loneliness or "decision fatigue," and how Stephanie actively reparents herself through them.

• The Healing Power of Shared History: How childhood play and co-regulation acted as crucial resiliency factors that helped them survive acute family trauma.

• Unpacking Sibling & Cousin Enmeshment: What happens when your nervous systems become so intertwined in childhood that conflict in adulthood feels like a life-or-death threat? Amber and Stephanie candidly share a recent fight that forced them to confront their own enmeshment, set new boundaries, and give each other permission to grow.

• Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Couples & Men: Stephanie shares her passion for using IFS to help couples step out of reactive cycles and guide men in reconnecting with their exiled, deeply feeling parts.

• Breaking Generational Cycles: The surreal, eye-opening moments of watching their own kids grow up in safe, supportive homes that look nothing like the dark rooms of their pasts.

Curious how two therapists go from building cushion forts and hiding stinky socks to sharing an office building and unlearning systemic family patterns together? Hit play and join the conversation!

Connect with Stephanie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relational.psychotherapist

Website: https://www.bagatocounseling.com/

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/

Megan Walsh: Instagram / Website

• https://www.instagram.com/connectwithmegan/

• http://connect-with-megan.com/

Amber Trejo: Instagram / Website

• https://www.instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist/

• https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/

This week, Megan is resting at home with her adorable new baby boy, so Amber is joined by guest co-host Justin Gillespie, also known as ADHD Therapist J! Justin is a therapist, author, and owner of The Superior Center in Michigan.

In this episode, Amber and Justin dive deep into the real-world realities of living and parenting with ADHD. They unpack everything from surviving early parenthood to navigating sensory overload, handling emotional dysregulation, and shifting how we think about neurodivergence.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the "baby schedule" debate might be totally wrong: Justin shares his unconventional take on routines for neurodivergent parents and why standard advice didn't work for his family.

• Diagnosing neurodivergence in infants? A bold hypothesis about where the field of ADHD and autism diagnostics could be heading over the next two decades.

• The "Bite Your Tongue" trick: A surprising physical regulation technique Justin uses during high-stress parenting moments (like car seat battles) to keep motor skills steady and cool down the nervous system.

• The PAM Method: Justin breaks down his step-by-step framework (Pause, Affirm, Move) designed to stop rumination, curb overthinking, and help adults with ADHD take action in real time.

• Masking vs. "Wearing the Costume": How adopting social scripts and stepping into specific roles can actually help neurodivergent entrepreneurs and professionals thrive.

Whether you're an ADHD parent trying to find your groove, a clinician, or someone wanting practical tools to navigate overthinking, this episode is packed with humor, direct advice, and fresh perspectives!

Justin Gillespie is a licensed clinical therapist, entrepreneur, and mental health professional with a passion for helping people better understand themselves and the world around them. His work and interests span mental health, personal growth, culture, entertainment, and meaningful conversations about everyday life. He brings a curious, relatable, and thoughtful perspective to the topics and stories he explores.

Check out Justin's Website and Instagram

We Should Talk Podcast: Instagram

Megan Walsh

• Instagram

• Website

Amber Trejo

• Instagram

• Website

With little one-month-old Charlie snuggled up as a special co-host, Megan and Amber are back for an honest, insightful conversation about the subtle ways we guard our hearts. Following up on Amber's deeply personal conversation with her cousin from episode 16, the duo reflects on what it truly takes to break generational relationship patterns and unpacks the concept of emotional masking.

From the heavy expectation of always "having it together" to the hidden fear of being "too much" or pushing people away, Megan and Amber candidly share how their own protective parts show up in adulthood and motherhood.

In this episode, we cover:

• Unpacking Relational Vulnerability: Amber shares how it felt to look back on her dynamic with her cousin, confronting old abandonment fears, and what it looks like to stay in the room when conflict feels terrifying.

• Breaking Generational Cutoff Cycles: How choosing short-term discomfort over immediate relief helps rewrite family scripts rooted in reactivity and silence.

• The "Therapist" & "Good Girl" Masks: Megan and Amber reveal their primary emotional masks—from the urge to be needed so you'll always have a place, to the perfectionist front that hides a deep desire to just fall apart and be taken care of.

• Infants & the Trigger of "Objectification": A comforting, normalizing look at why early postpartum demands can feel overwhelming for parents with parentification trauma.

• Setting Boundaries with Loved Ones: Why release from the parentified role requires us to stop predicting what others can handle and allow them to speak their own direct "no".

Whether you catch yourself constantly softening your intensity for others, taking on everyone else's needs, or holding back your real feelings to keep the peace, this episode offers a gentle, validating invitation to step out behind the mask!

We Should Talk Podcast Instagram

Megan Walsh

• Instagram

• Website

Amber Trejo

• Instagram

• Website

Why do so many of us grow up feeling like an outsider in our own lives, carrying a persistent sense of dread or self-doubt? On this episode of We Should Talk, Megan and Amber dive into complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) - a form of ongoing, relational trauma that is often overlooked and rarely taught in traditional therapy settings. From raw conversations about upcoming life transitions to navigating the unexpected emotional weight of big parenting milestones, they unpack how chronic childhood dynamics quietly shape our adult nervous systems.

Then, they step into a lighthearted yet deeply resonant exercise designed to bring hidden shame out of the dark and back into the light.

In this episode, we talk about:

• PTSD vs. CPTSD: The fundamental difference between a single traumatic event and the inescapable, recurring relational patterns that wire the brain for survival.

• The Invisible Impact of Emotional Neglect: How growing up with explosive, unpredictable, or emotionally unavailable parents leads children to believe that their basic human emotions are inherently wrong.

• Relational Healing & Attachment Wounds: Why true recovery from complex trauma requires navigating the very dynamic that created the pain in the first place—and why that feels so terrifying.

• Step-by-Step Titration: The danger of trying to rush your own healing staircase, and how to find the safest next step when your nervous system screams with urgency.

• The "Shame Game": Megan and Amber share surprisingly vivid, mildly embarrassing childhood memories to demonstrate how to strip long-held shame of its power.

• Generational Re-framing: How gaining clarity on your own trauma responses transforms the way you parent, show up in relationships, and offer yourself self-compassion.

Connect With Us!

Did this discussion on complex trauma and childhood memory bring up a fresh perspective on your own story? How do you handle those moments when your nervous system urges you to rush through your healing or hide away? We would love to hear your thoughts. Send us a message on Instagram or drop us an email!

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/

• Megan Walsh: Instagram | Website

• Amber Trejo: Instagram | Website

Why does a simple disagreement make your heart race, or cause you to shut down completely? On this episode of We Should Talk, Megan and Amber break down the hidden mechanics of conflict - tracing why we react the way we do back to our earliest childhood dynamics. From navigating hot weather to preparing for major family milestones like the very first day of preschool, they unpack how past patterns follow us into our present-day relationships.

Then, they jump straight into the heart of the matter: why avoiding conflict often creates the very distance we are trying to prevent, and what it actually takes to step through the discomfort.

In this episode, we talk about:

• High-Conflict Dynamics vs. The Silent Freeze: Growing up in households where conflict meant screaming and rage or complete silence, zero conversation, and running to your room.

• The Communication Spectrum: How passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive, and assertive communication show up in real time, and why passive-aggressiveness can be such a trigger.

• Survival Roles & Protective Armor: Why some people learn to harden and go on the attack to be heard, while others turn into ultimate peacekeepers to keep the environment safe.

• Making "Bids for Connection": The exact, direct scripts you can use to address distance or tension with a parent or partner without sparking a fight.

• Dropping the "You" Statements: Simple language shifts like leading with "I feel" that immediately lower defenses and keep conversations focused on connection rather than attack.

• The Power of Repair: Why a conflict-free relationship is actually a major red flag, and how working through friction ultimately deepens intimacy.

• Re-Framing Conflict with Kids & Partners: Recognizing when your spouse or children bring an issue to you as a massive sign of trust, safety, and a desire to get closer.

Connect With Us!

Did this conversation about conflict trigger any lightbulb moments about the roles you played growing up or how you handle disagreement with your partner today? How do you navigate those moments when your nervous system screams at you to run or fight back? We'd love to hear your story - send us a message on Instagram or drop us an email!

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/

• Megan Walsh: Instagram | Website

• Amber Trejo: Instagram | Website

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on breaking generational cycles and leaning into hard conversations, please leave us a 5-star review, hit subscribe, and share it with someone who might need a little extra encouragement today!

This week, Megan and Amber catch up on everything from surviving intense weekend routines to celebrating major milestones including the surreal feeling of seeing long-term creative projects finally coming together. Plus, Megan shares a raw moment of navigating toddler tantrums that led to introducing a specific parenting role to hold boundaries.

Then, they dive deep into the heart of this week's conversation: navigating the complex, often exhausting dynamics of growing up with an emotionally immature parent.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The Spectrum of Emotional Immaturity: Why emotional immaturity isn't a one-size-fits-all label, and how past generational norms shaped the way older generations navigate emotions.

• The High-Stakes World of Youth Sports: The wild reality of stepping into competitive sports, managing high-energy schedules, and balancing parental capacity.

• Breaking the Cycle: How unhealed trauma and emotional misattunement bleed into parenting styles—and what it actually takes to step out of the pattern.

• When Conflict Feels Unsafe: Why adult children of emotionally immature parents often fear disagreement, and how defensive reactions like victimhood or shut-downs disrupt true repair.

• Roles We Play: The subtle shift into parentification or becoming the "lost child," and how those roles impact adult relationships and boundaries.

• The Grief of Not Feeling Seen: Processing the painful realization that a parent may never fully validate or see you deeply due to their own internal filters.

• A Moving Dream Encounter: Amber opens up about a deeply personal visitation dream after a loss that brought an unexpected sense of closure and healing.

• Navigating the Grandparent Dynamic: The bittersweet experience of watching parents interact with your children in ways you never experienced growing up.

Connect With Us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/

Megan Walsh: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/connectwithmegan/ Website http://connect-with-megan.com/

Amber Trejo: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist/ Website https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/

If this episode helped you make sense of your relational world or gave you a new perspective on breaking generational cycles, please leave us a 5-star review, subscribe, and share it with a friend who might need a little extra validation today!

Ever catch yourself having a reaction to a situation that feels completely out of proportion, but you just can't seem to turn down the intensity? In this deeply validating episode, Megan and Amber break down the subtle, heavy world of emotional flashbacks - what they actually are, why they pop up when we least expect them, and how to navigate the waves when our past takes over our present.

Between Megan's chaotic, high-intensity weekend at 36 weeks pregnant (involving an unexpected trip to Labor & Delivery and a very strict bedtime routine) and Amber's reflection on cycle-breaking parenting wins, the hosts explore what it really takes to build inner safety.

Whether you're dealing with relationship triggers, parenting overwhelm, or carrying the lingering weight of family dynamics, this episode offers a gentle, practical roadmap back to yourself.

Inside the Episode:

• The Anatomy of an Emotional Flashback: How present-day moments light up old core beliefs, and why "the more hysterical, the more historical" isn't just a phrase—it's a clue.

• Parenting, Partnership, & Triggers: Why the people closest to us bring out our deepest early wounds (and what's actually happening when we blow up over something small like the dishes or a toddler meltdown).

• The "SHORES" Method: Amber shares her step-by-step, body-focused framework designed to help you recognize, ground, and soothe your system during a flashback.

• Navigating the Scapegoat Role: A candid conversation on dysfunctional family systems, processing the grief of complex trauma, and how to stop repeating the cycle of self-abandonment.

• Behind the Scenes Update: Megan shares her maternity leave prep plan (and why the show won't miss a beat when baby arrives!).

Have you ever caught yourself in an emotional flashback, or realized an old family dynamic was running the show in your relationships? How do you return to yourself when your nervous system feels overwhelmed? Slide into our DMs or email us your thoughts!

• Instagram: We Should Talk Podcast

• Megan Walsh: Instagram / Website

• Amber Trejo: Instagram / Website

If this episode helped you make sense of your internal world or gave you practical tools to ground yourself, please leave us a 5-star review, subscribe, and share it with a friend who might need a gentle reminder that they are safe in the present!

In this heavy yet necessary conversation, Megan and Amber dive deep into the nuanced layers sitting beneath the high-profile Lindsay Clancy trial. Moving past the sensationalized headlines, they unpack what it actually means to navigate postpartum mental health - exploring the massive spectrum between "baby blues" and psychosis that so often gets overlooked by our broken care systems.

With Megan preparing for postpartum herself, the hosts reflect on their own motherhood journeys, the grief that quietly lives inside parenting, and how to build safety nets that go far beyond just "hoping" everything will be fine.

Inside the Episode:

• Beyond the Headlines: Why we need to discuss systemic gaps in maternal care without sensationalizing personal tragedy.

• The Postpartum Spectrum: Unpacking the critical differences between passive intrusive thoughts and active mental health crises.

• Planning vs. Hope: What real, team-based support looks like for new parents and why the "six-week checkup" is failing mothers.

• Rewriting Traumatic Narratives: How to validate heavy experiences - for both children and our own inner child - to bring resolution and safety.

• Navigating Big Family Shifts: Megan opens up about her inner preparation as her second baby arrives, plus Amber shares advice on managing the emotional transition for older siblings.

Connect With Us!

How are you navigating the heavy topics in your life, and what does true support look like for your post-partum journey or mental health? Have you ever felt unsupported by the systems around you when you needed them most? Slide into our DMs or email us your thoughts!

• WST Pod Instagram: We Should Talk Podcast

• Megan Walsh: Instagram / Website

• Amber Trejo: Instagram / Website

If this episode resonated with you or helped bring nuance to a difficult conversation, share it with a friend who might need a reminder that they don't have to navigate it all alone.

After a few weeks away with a dreamy, points funded escape to the Ritz Carlton, a chaotic first week of school, and some serious pre baby nesting, Megan and Amber are back at the mic!

In this episode, the girls dive deep into the messy, protective, and vulnerable ways our inner children show up in our relationships. From "giving someone the ick" the second they show genuine interest, to full on emotional splitting when stress hits, they explore how past relational trauma shapes the way we love today.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Hotel Sanctuary: Why taking solo time isn't "self abandonment" and the unexpected mom guilt that still creeps in.

• The "Good Girl" & Nesting Instincts: How control, over functioning, and rearranging the whole house become sneaky coping mechanisms during big life transitions.

• CPTSD, Splitting & The Ick: Why protective parts run the show during conflict, and how early attachment wounds trick our nervous systems into wanting to burn it all down.

• Relational Healing in Real Time: The power of "internal narration" and staying present when every cell in your body wants to fight, freeze, or isolate.

• Green Flags & Rewiring the Nervous System: What it actually looks like to break generational patterns and choose partners who offer safety over chaos.

Hit play to hear their rawest relationship stories yet, and learn how to start self attuning when your own inner child takes the wheel!

Connect With Us

How do your inner child wounds or attachment patterns show up in your relationships today? Do you tend to fight, freeze, or give someone the ick when things get real? Slide into our DMs or email us your thoughts!

Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/

Megan Walsh: Instagram / Website

https://www.instagram.com/connectwithmegan/

http://connect-with-megan.com/

Amber Trejo: Instagram / Website

https://www.instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist/

https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/

If this episode helped you make sense of your own relational world, please leave us a 5-star review, subscribe, and share it with a friend who makes your cup feel full!