Women of Impact

How often have you spent time with people you love only to feel frustrated and misunderstood? As humans we are all so complex in our network of feelings and emotions. Unfortunately, we’ve been raised thinking that negative emotions are bad and should be shunned. Many of us are barely holding it together, or are spiraling out of control because we don’t know how to handle the feelings that are leaving us totally overwhelmed.

Lori Gottlieb, a psychotherapist and author joins me and breaks down why we don’t have to run away from those taboo feelings of envy and jealousy. She explains how to communicate better and hold space for your partner or children and allow them to just be heard. This episode is packed with so much you may have to listen a second time.

SHOW NOTES:

Unreliable Narrator | Why your perspective isn’t the full story, it’s a faulty narrative [0:19]

Unknow Yourself | Lori helping people unknow the stories they keep repeating [1:32]

Insight | Lori explains why insight without action is useless [3:58]

Idiot Compassion | Lori breaks down what this is and why it doesn’t help [5:05]

Relationship Filter | Lori’s questions for examining people around you [6:45]

Change | Lori on why change is difficult because of uncertainty and loss [8:17]

5 Steps | 5 stages of change to making a permanent change in your life [9:08]

Change Anxiety | Getting through unfamiliar territory & anxiety with change [12:39]

Choosing to Suffer | Lori on why we don’t choose pain but we choose to suffer [14:06]

Numb the Pain | Distracting yourself from pain feeling overwhelmed [15:34]

Feeling Compass | Lori on using feelings as a compass to know what you want [17:13]

Negative Feelings | Why the way you deal with negative feelings matters most [19:28]

Setting Intention | Lori on setting yourself up for a better day with confidence [22:55]

Transformation | Lori shares why tiny steps are so important in change [26:35]

Future Loss | Lori explains how change collapses the future & holds us back [32:18]

Unfinished Business | How cycles repeat when we don’t address past issues [35:30]

Selection | Lori confirms why selection is so important for healthy relationship [39:48]

Childhood Wounds | Lori on why you have to give up hope for better childhood [41:53]

Vulnerability | When someone opens up and how to navigate what they need [45:05 ]

Understand | Why people need to be understood and heard, ask what they need [47:21]

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You know those moments when everyone else sees a “perfect” relationship—but you know deep down something is wildly wrong?

Or maybe you’re terrified for someone you love, but you don’t have the language (or the proof) to understand what’s really going on. This is the episode you cannot afford to miss.

Today, I’m sitting down with Denise Brown—sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, fierce advocate, and survivor in the fight for justice—to share the raw, unfiltered truth about abuse: the subtle warning signs, the devastating aftermath, and the hope and healing that IS possible.

You’ll hear the stories that never made the headlines, the grief behind the infamous case, and Denise’s no-BS roadmap for empowering yourself (and the people you love) against manipulation, coercion, and violence.

Here’s exactly what we dive into:

• The first tiny red flags: inside Nicole’s secret world and what everyone missed
• Why leaving an abusive partner is actually the most lethal time—and what to do instead
• The hard truth about manipulation: why abuse is NEVER your fault (even when you’re convinced it is)
• Tactical steps: the cycle of violence, safety planning, and helping loved ones when you feel helpless

Chapters

- Why Survivors Keep Secrets (and How Abuse Hides)

- The Trap of “It Wasn’t All Bad”: Love, Hope, and Manipulation

- The Cycle of Violence: What No One Was Taught

- Meeting O.J.: Charm, Narcissism, and the Need to Be Seen

- The First Signs: Shifting Blame and Emotional Abuse

- Tequila Night: The Outburst That Changed Everything

- How Abusers “Choose” Their Targets. Why Nicole Was in Danger

- The Evidence No One Saw: Diaries, Bruises, and National Headlines

- Why Women Don’t Leave (and the Danger When They Do)

- Strangulation: The Overlooked Warning of Lethal Violence

- “He’ll Never Leave Me Alone”: The Devastation of Stalking

- The Painful Legacy: Turning Grief into Advocacy and Change

Follow Denise Brown:

Website: https://denisebrown.com

Buy her new book “For My Sister Nicole: Love Shouldn't Hurt”: https://www.amazon.com/My-Sister-Nicole-Denise-Brown/dp/B0FXYCGS99 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DeniseBrownToo 

Follow Me, Lisa Bilyeu:

Website: https://www.lisabilyeu.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu

Want to search through every episode, explore specific topics, or ask me questions directly?

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What up homie! It’s time for part two of this incredible episode with the country’s top attorney in narcissistic negotiations, Rebecca Zung.

In part one, Rebecca reveals her most effective strategy for manipulating the manipulator (ethically of course!). In the second part of this conversation we’re getting a real-world glimpse into navigating professional and personal toxic relationships with narcissists.

We’re continuing this episode by ensuring that narcissists hiding among us are absolutely exposed so that the badass women among you get what you need on your terms:

*Ways to respond if a narcissist is trying to use your vulnerabilities to crush you while you’re down

*The secret to beating narcissists and making them shrink in any situation  

*The power of the story you tell yourself will be the kiss of death or the kiss of life. As in, it can literally become your superpower (the choice is yours!)

All of this is unfolding now! This is for my homies aiming for success and balance in life. Learn how to navigate a toxic partner at home and in the corporate world, because when you know the game, you can actually win!

Check out Rebecca’s book, Slay the Bully, How to Negotiate with a Narcissist & Win: https://www.amazon.com/SLAY-Bully-How-Negotiate-Narcissist/dp/1637586868 

Follow Rebecca Zung:

Website: https://www.rebeccazung.com/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebeccaZungEsq 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rebeccazung 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccazung/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccazung/ 

***Are You Ready for EXTRA Impact?***

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/457ebrP

Calling all Badasses!! If you really want to level up your confidence game, check out the WOMEN OF IMPACT SUBSCRIPTION, specially designed to turn you into the badass you were born to be! 

*New episodes delivered ad-free

*Exclusive access to listen to Women of Impact round table discussions, weekly motivation, previously unreleased episodes, and more! 

*Subscriber-only access to an additional 4 podcasts with hundreds of archived Women of Impact episodes, meticulously curated into themed playlists, and updated weekly.

*Looking to boost your confidence? Check out the Get Confident playlist. 

*Want to repair and heal your relationships? Start with Love Lab. 

*Curious about your health? We’ve got you covered in Health Hub. 

*And of course, weekly boosts of mini-motivation from Lisa herself that'll have you strutting through life with your head held high on the Badass Boosts playlist 

Don't settle for mediocrity when you can be extraordinary!

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What up homie! I’ve got a powerful two-part episode that’s going to expose everything you need to know before you negotiate your time, your affection, or your peace of mind with a narcissist.

Today we have the top globally recognized attorney who specializes in narcissistic negotiations joining us to spill the tea. It’s not enough to just spot red flags in your personal and professional lives, I want you to understand the danger of missing them and Rebecca Zung is delivering what you need to beat the narcissist at home and in the office.

Spot the narcissists hiding among us and get what you need out of them on your terms in the first part of today’s episode:

*Turn the tables and learn how to ETHICALLY manipulate the manipulator 

*Discover the narcissist’s scam that’s leaving high-value women like yourself feeling undervalued and worthless.

*Genius phrases that’ll disarm your narcissist, protect you, and give you the leverage you need to beat them at their own game.

After this power packed episode you’ll know the secret to beating narcissists and getting them to shrink in any situation. 

All of this is unfolding now! This is for my homies aiming for success and balance in life. Learn how to navigate a toxic partner at home and in the corporate world, because when you know the game, you can actually win!

Check out Rebecca’s book, Slay the Bully, How to Negotiate with a Narcissist & Win: https://www.amazon.com/SLAY-Bully-How-Negotiate-Narcissist/dp/1637586868 

REBECCA ZUNG QUOTES:

“You have to be really clear about what you want in a negotiation or you’re not going to be able to get there.”

“All narcissists are driven by one thing and one thing only. That is narcissistic supply.”

“Not only is the narcissist not rational and reasonable when you’re dealing with them in negotiation, also the target person has been traumatized too…”

Follow Rebecca Zung:

Website: https://www.rebeccazung.com/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebeccaZungEsq 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rebeccazung 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccazung/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccazung/

***Are You Ready for EXTRA Impact?***

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/457ebrP

Calling all Badasses!! If you really want to level up your confidence game, check out the WOMEN OF IMPACT SUBSCRIPTION, specially designed to turn you into the badass you were born to be! 

*New episodes delivered ad-free

*Exclusive access to listen to Women of Impact round table discussions, weekly motivation, previously unreleased episodes, and more! 

*Subscriber-only access to an additional 4 podcasts with hundreds of archived Women of Impact episodes, meticulously curated into themed playlists, and updated weekly.

*Looking to boost your confidence? Check out the Get Confident playlist. 

*Want to repair and heal your relationships? Start with Love Lab. 

*Curious about your health? We’ve got you covered in Health Hub. 

*And of course, weekly boosts of mini-motivation from Lisa herself that'll have you strutting through life with your head held high on the Badass Boosts playlist 

Don't settle for mediocrity when you can be extraordinary!

*****Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/457ebrP*****

Subscribe on all other platforms (Google Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Downcast, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podcast Republic, Podkicker, and more) : https://impacttheorynetwork.supercast.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the “hero” turns out to be the monster? In part 2, acclaimed detective Paul Holes takes us into the darkest recesses of the criminal mind — dissecting the Gilgo Beach murders (Rex Heuermann), the tragic Micah Miller case, and showing how even smart, successful women can be hoodwinked by master manipulators. This is the episode every woman and every friend needs to hear for recognizing manipulative tactics, escaping control, and reclaiming your power.

Paul (straight-up genius in criminal psychology), Nicole Schmidt, and I unpack: why the “rescuer” with a dark room is a huge red flag, how powerful men weaponize faith or mental health, and the horrifying stats about leaving abusive partners. We lay out, step by step, how to spot red flags early — and, most importantly, how to build a plan for your own safety when the system fails you.

SHOWNOTES

• Why abusers pick certain women: the rescuing, the love bombing, the compliance
• Sadistic predators and the “room you can’t enter”: The dark psychology of secret spaces 
• Why women sometimes protect the abuser, and the heartbreaking cycle of compliance
• Micah Miller case: faith, coercive control, and the weaponizing of power
• “Predators go where the prey’s at”: doctors, pastors, psychologists aren’t always safe
• Weaponizing faith, weaponizing sex: the step-by-step tactics of abusers
• When mental health becomes just another weapon
• Legal loopholes, system failures, and why the restraining order isn’t always enough
• Action steps: how to protect yourself, how to build your support network
• Reporting over and over… and still not being heard — the heartbreak of ignored warnings
• Bringing it all home: concrete steps every woman can take right now
• Micah’s last message. Why sharing and speaking out is the only way to create lasting change

Thank you to today’s sponsors:

Shopify: Sign up for a free trial at https://shopify.com/lisa

Qualia: Go to qualialife.com/LISA and use code LISA for 15% off

Follow Paul Holes:

Check out his Patreon: patreon.com/kateandpaul.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul.holes

Buy his book “Unmasked”: https://a.co/d/08oJyivp 

Follow The Gabby Petito Foundation:

Website: https://gabbypetitofoundation.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbypetitofoundation/?hl=en 

Follow Me, Lisa Bilyeu:

Website: https://www.lisabilyeu.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever wondered if you could be sleeping next to a psychopath... and not even know it? In this episode, I sit down with Paul Holes, (yes,THAT Paul Holes) the detective who cracked the Golden State Killer case. We dig into the scariest headlines lighting up the news right now: Hidden killers, the chilling Gabby Petito case, and how the seemingly "sweetest guy" could be hiding monstrous secrets. This one is heavy, raw, and so necessary for every woman who has ever questioned her gut, worried about control in her relationship, or just sensed something off but couldn’t put her finger on it.

Paul brings his decades of investigative expertise, dissecting red flags most of us miss. We break down Gabby Petito’s tragic story step-by-step, what domestic violence looks like in real life (NOT just in textbooks!), and why even women’s closest friends or the cops sometimes get manipulated. Plus, I’m joined by Nicole Schmidt, Gabby’s unbelievably strong mom, who shares what she wishes she saw sooner… and what every woman, mother, and friend needs to hear.

SHOWNOTES

• Can you really be married to a psychopath and not know it?
• How predators “pass” as normal & the Wild Bill Huff story
• Gabby Petito case: setting the timeline and heartbreak
• Evidence of emotional abuse — the “I’m sorry, it’s my OCD” pattern
• The mistakes police made and what should’ve happened
• Police protocols in domestic abuse: who gets arrested, who gets believed
• How women can get help in domestic violence stops
• Stat: 51% of women don’t even know they’re being controlled
• Nicole Schmidt (Gabby’s mom) joins: how manipulation fooled everyone
• The first red flags she missed: Gabby’s “I’m fine” mask, and the secret signals you need to look for
• How criminality can run in families (and why you need to look at the family dynamic!)
• Rex Heuermann (Gilgo Beach Killer): predator hiding in plain sight, luring victims online
• Why “it couldn’t happen to me” is the most dangerous mindset

Thank you to today’s sponsors:

Shopify: Sign up for a free trial at https://shopify.com/lisa

Qualia: Go to qualialife.com/LISA and use code LISA for 15% off

Follow Paul Holes:

Check out his Patreon: patreon.com/kateandpaul.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul.holes

Buy his book “Unmasked”: https://a.co/d/08oJyivp 

Follow The Gabby Petito Foundation:

Website: https://gabbypetitofoundation.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbypetitofoundation/?hl=en 

Follow Me, Lisa Bilyeu:

Website: https://www.lisabilyeu.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second part of this enlightening conversation, Elle Macpherson discusses love, wellness, and overcoming life’s hardest moments with grace and determination. She opens up about her sobriety journey, redefining relationships, and why wellness is the foundation of empowerment.

Elle shares actionable tips for navigating fear, building resilience, and creating a life that aligns with your true essence. From candid reflections on past relationships to starting her wellness company, Elle inspires listeners to take control of their journey and embrace the beauty of transformation.

SHOWNOTES

[00:00] Lisa and Elle explore how relationships reflect self-love and inner well-being.

[07:01] The dolphin tattoo story: A moment of clarity and self-discovery.

[12:03] How Elle turned pain into purpose by channeling her energy into creating her lingerie business.

[20:17] Overcoming addiction: Elle’s powerful sobriety story and advice for breaking harmful patterns.

[28:26] Facing fear with clarity: How Elle approached her cancer diagnosis with research and inner trust.

[34:54] The wellness journey that led to founding WelleCo and transforming her health.

[40:37] Aging gracefully: How Elle reframed beauty and vitality as soul-deep qualities.

[50:02] The power of meditation and self-connection in creating a life of fulfillment.

FOLLOW LISA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en

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Elle Macpherson, one of the most iconic supermodels of all time, joins Lisa Bilyeu for a candid conversation about overcoming life’s toughest challenges. From battling alcoholism to navigating divorce and a cancer diagnosis, Elle shares the tools and mindset shifts that empowered her to reinvent herself and thrive in her 60s.

In this episode, Elle dives deep into how to let go of external validation, the power of trusting your intuition, and her journey from self-doubt to self-love. She reflects on career-defining moments, personal growth through hardships, and how the lessons she’s learned can inspire women to embrace their strength at any stage of life.

SHOWNOTES

[00:00] Lisa introduces Elle’s inspiring story of reinvention and resilience.

[02:14] Elle explains the importance of focusing on what you love and aligning with your heart.

[03:38] How Elle learned to handle criticism early in her modeling career and use it as fuel for growth.

[07:51] The power of self-reflection: Learning from mistakes without judgment.

[09:26] Understanding the Four A’s (Approval, Agreement, Acceptance, Allegiance) and how they guide decisions.

[12:32] Why listening to your intuition is like building a trusted friendship.

[16:54] Elle’s life-changing decision to trust her gut and embrace unexpected opportunities.

[22:25] Relationships as mirrors: What Elle discovered about self-love through her marriages.

FOLLOW LISA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know that feeling when you pour all your love and energy into someone… only to find yourself depleted, second-guessing, and begging for scraps? Homie, this is your episode. If you’re tired of being told you’re “too much,” exhausted by toxic loyalty, or want to become impossible to manipulate…hit play.

In this conversation, I sit down with Margarita Nazarenko, author of “Unbothered,” advocate for radical self-worth, and the internet’s toughest love coach, for the raw, sometimes uncomfortable truth about why women outsource their value, fall for emotional breadcrumbers, and confuse drama with connection.

Not only does Margarita break down the cycle of anxious and avoidant attachment (yes, she’ll tell you exactly which one you are), but she gives you real scripts, tactical moves, and mindset shifts to finally put your power back in your own hands. No empty affirmations, just the blueprint for creating unbreakable confidence and peaceful, drama-free relationships.

Here’s exactly what we dive into:

• The “unbothered” mindset: How to validate yourself without toxic independence
• Scripts and pause tactics for breaking codependent patterns (text and real life!)
• How to trust “boring” love after chaos addiction (and why calm is actually chemistry)
• Negotiating power dynamics, resentment, and real partnership, without losing yourself

Chapters

Anxious vs. Avoidant Attachment: Jessica and Amanda Explained

“Urgency Is Not Truth”: The Power of Pausing Before Reacting

Why Anxious Attachment Attracts Manipulators (and Repels Healthy Men)

The Three Ms: Mothering, Martyring & Managing in Relationships

The Mental Load Dilemma: Partnership, Resentment, and Fair Trade-Offs

Dopamine, Breadcrumbs & Phone Addiction: Why You Crave Their Attention

“Look for Boring”: Detoxing from Adrenaline Addiction

Care, Castration, and Masculinity: The Cost of Over-Functioning

Guilt, Negative Voices, and the Art of Using Discomfort for Growth

Reality Check: Handling Triggers, Rumination, and the Illusion of Closure

From Anxious Chasing to Self-Respect: Stories That Change Everything

Men, Masculinity, and the “Red Pill” Question

Thank you to today’s sponsors:

Shopify: Sign up for a free trial at https://shopify.com/lisa 

Follow Margarita Nazarenko:

Website: https://www.margaritanazarenko.com/theunbotheredwoman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margarita.nazarenko/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Margarita.Nazarenko 

Follow Me, Lisa Bilyeu:

Website: https://www.lisabilyeu.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever found yourself wrapped up in a relationship, only to wonder later if you were being manipulated?

Well, today we're diving deep into the world of seduction, manipulation, and the often overlooked power dynamics at play with the help of CIA veteran Andrew Bustamante, who knows all too well how these tactics are used both in espionage and everyday life.

In this eye-opening episode of Women of Impact, we’re pulling back the curtain on how the human brain can be influenced by hormones and emotional connections to uncover how to spot those red flags before you get too entangled.

Andrew is here to break down the three-step process of human sexuality, explain how predators like narcissists find their targets, and give us the tools to protect ourselves from falling into manipulative traps.

Trust me homie, with Andrew’s insights, you’ll gain a better understanding of the power dynamics at play and how to navigate them with confidence and clarity!!

In this episode, we go DEEP into:

- How YOU can identify and outsmart manipulators before they even have a chance to play their games

- The surprising role hormones play in attraction and why understanding them can give you a serious edge in relationships

- How to build authentic connections without falling prey to emotional persuasion

- The real difference between seduction and genuine romantic interest

- And soooo much more!!

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a toolkit to recognize and deflect manipulation, understand the role of hormones in emotional and sexual engagement, and maintain control in your relationships.

So guys, no more second-guessing or blaming yourselves when things feel off. This episode will arm you with the knowledge to stand strong against manipulation and build relationships that genuinely respect your worth and boundaries!!

So let’s dive right in, guys!! I’m Lisa Bilyeu and welcome to Women of Impact.

SHOWNOTES

• Ambitious folks just want to feel seen.
• Life cycle: belonging, connecting, leading, creating.
• Assumptions help the brain save energy, easily.
• Vasopressin boosts belonging, fuels frequent hookups.
• Ravens need more time with female targets.
• Sex boosts brain power differently for everyone.
• Exploited admin vulnerabilities for secrets over decades.
• Czechoslovakian spies faked marriage, stole U.S. secrets.
• Think logically, not emotionally, to avoid mistakes.

FOLLOW LISA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.