What happens when life pushes you to your emotional limit, and instead of snapping—you write a novel? In this deeply moving episode, Brian sits down with Canadian author Mila Maxwell for an honest, soul-searching conversation about identity, vulnerability, and the healing power of storytelling.

Mila opens up about growing up with a sister who has cerebral palsy, navigating emotions she didn’t always feel allowed to express, and how writing fiction gave her permission to tell the truth in a way that finally felt safe. From anxiety in childhood to hypervigilance as a parent, she shares what it's taken to dismantle old emotional patterns—and how her debut novel has not only helped her heal, but helped others feel seen.

What You’ll Learn:

• How writing fiction became a safe space for truth-telling

• Why lowered expectations and high standards can lead to emotional resilience

• How growing up with a neurodivergent sibling shaped Mila’s emotional landscape

• The shift from survival mode to intentional self-regulation

• How parenting, therapy, and creativity can unlock buried emotions

Powerful Quotes:

“Her struggles don’t diminish mine. I’m allowed to feel things.”
“I’ve lowered my expectations, but I’ve raised my standards.”
“I didn’t let it out, because I didn’t know how. But the writing—changed that.”

Highlights:

• Mila’s vulnerable look at emotional armor, self-compassion, and finding balance

• The origin story behind her novel—and the sentence that came to her just before sleep

• How fictionalizing her life gave her more creative freedom (and emotional safety)

• A peek into what it’s like parenting after growing up with complex family dynamics

  
  

  Follow Up with Mila:

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  Mila's Site