In this deeply personal episode of the Powerfully Broken Podcast, host Barbara L. Parker, MA, LPCC-S talks with Miriam White — nurse, qualified behavioral health specialist, mother, and model — about her journey from people-pleasing and unhealthy love to reclaiming her identity, confidence, and peace.

What happens when a lifetime of people-pleasing collides with new motherhood and toxic relationships? Miriam's powerful journey of transformation will resonate with anyone who's ever struggled to put themselves first.

From the earliest years of her life, Miriam was conditioned to be the family caretaker. As the oldest child and first grandchild, nurturing others came naturally—until it nearly cost her everything. In this raw and honest conversation, she reveals the exact moment at age 30 when everything changed: "The day my son turned a year old, I just said that I could not please anybody but myself." That awakening began a courageous journey toward reclaiming her identity and establishing healthy boundaries.

Miriam doesn't shy away from the darkest moments of her story—losing her father unexpectedly, facing postpartum depression, and reaching the breaking point in her relationship with a narcissistic partner. Her candid admission that she called her mother for help when she feared what she might do if her ex wouldn't respect her boundaries highlights the critical importance of reaching out when you're struggling. The conversation offers invaluable insights about rediscovering yourself after trauma and relationships that diminish your sense of worth.

Perhaps most inspiring is Miriam's reflection on how books became her pathway to healing, teaching her to reestablish her personal "uniform," reclaim her confidence, and recognize her intrinsic value beyond physical appearance. Her message to her younger self—"continue to love yourself"—serves as a powerful reminder for anyone who has allowed others' opinions to shape their self-perception. Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear that they're not just surviving their struggles—they're becoming something powerful through them.

🔥 What you’ll discover in this episode:

• The hidden cost of growing up as a people-pleaser
• How motherhood became Miriam’s turning point for self-love
• The struggle of leaving a narcissistic relationship — and finding freedom
• Postpartum depression, grief, and rebuilding mental health
• 3 powerful lessons from an unlikely source that rebuilt Miriam’s confidence
• Why true healing begins when you choose yourself first

✨ If you’ve ever lost yourself in a relationship, struggled with confidence after motherhood, or felt trapped by other people’s expectations, this episode will remind you that brokenness is the place where power begins.

🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for new episodes every Friday at 9 AM EST.
📲 Follow us: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker
🌐 Learn more: www.bfempowerment.com/pbp

#WorkingMoms #PostpartumDepression #ToxicRelationships #PowerfullyBroken #DivorceRecovery #WomensEmpowerment #MentalHealthAwareness #NotAnother1

Support the show

What does it truly mean to maintain your identity within a relationship? The Powerfully Broken Podcast tackles this question head-on as host Barbara Parker welcomes a diverse panel of guests to share their journeys through healthy and unhealthy relationship patterns.

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn when Stephanie Brent reveals her transformative realization: "I could still be a hundred percent me and still a hundred percent love God." This powerful statement sets the tone for an honest exploration of authenticity within both faith and relationships. The panel agrees that abandoning your true self doesn't honor God or strengthen your partnerships – quite the opposite.

When discussing advice for prospective brides, each guest offers wisdom shaped by their unique experiences. Joy emphasizes following your own path rather than others' expectations. Lauren stresses the value of pre-marital counseling, sharing how therapy revealed incompatibilities in her own relationship: "That's when I started to realize this isn't working." Meanwhile, Stephanie advocates for balancing psychological insights with spiritual guidance, reminding listeners to "filter what you're learning in therapy through what your heavenly Father says."

The most transformative segment challenges the harmful "other half" mythology many grew up with. Instead of seeking completion through another person, the panel promotes the healthier vision of "two circles that fit nicely together" – two whole individuals choosing partnership. As one guest poignantly observes, "God didn't want you to be unhappy every day of your life," dispelling the notion that suffering through bad marriages somehow honors commitment.

Whether you're navigating a relationship, healing from divorce, or seeking to understand healthy partnership dynamics, this episode offers candid insights to help you maintain your authentic self while building meaningful connections. Follow us at @QueenBLParker or @BF_Empowerment and subscribe for more conversations that transform brokenness into power.

Support the show

Why do we miss the red flags in relationships — and how do we heal enough to try love again? ❤️

In this powerful episode of the Powerfully Broken Podcast, host Barbara L. Parker, MA, LPCC-S sits down with a panel of women — Miriam White, Stephanie Brown, Lauren, Joy Jackson, and co-host Mary Kent — to talk candidly about:

• 🚩 Why we ignore red flags in relationships (even when they’re obvious)
• 💔 How childhood and father relationships shape our standards in love
• ✝️ What faith and Christian values teach us about marriage, divorce, and remarriage
• 🌱 The courage it takes to love again after betrayal or loss
• 👩‍👧 The impact of unhealthy relationships on family and mental health

You’ll hear raw stories of eloping, jealousy, broken vows, deep faith journeys, and learning to rebuild with wisdom and courage. This is an honest look at how women overcome toxic cycles, redefine love, and walk boldly into second chances.

✨ Powerfully Broken Podcast is here to remind you: you are not broken — you’re powerful.

🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more healing conversations every Friday at 9 AM EST.
📲 Follow us: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker
🌐 Learn more: www.bfempowerment.com/pbp

#RedFlags #ToxicLove #DivorceRecovery #FaithAndHealing #PowerfullyBroken #RelationshipAdvice #ChristianMarriage #SecondChances

Support the show

Too many women have asked themselves: “Did I miss the red flags?” 💔 In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Powerfully Broken Podcast, host Barbara L. Parker, MA, LPCC-S sits down with an incredible panel — Miriam White, Stephanie Brooks, Lauren Marsh, Joy Jackson, and co-host Mary Kent — to unpack what society taught us about love, why we ignore the warning signs, and how to finally break free from unhealthy relationships.

🔥 Topics we dive into:

• Why “butterflies” and passion can blind us to toxic patterns
• How lust, orgasms, and dopamine keep us stuck in bad relationships
• The role childhood and family dynamics play in what we accept as “normal”
• Faith, counseling, and redefining vows after heartbreak
• Real stories of resilience, growth, and moving beyond toxic love

This is a candid, funny, and deeply vulnerable conversation about the cycles that keep women trapped — and the powerful choices that set us free. If you’ve ever stayed too long, ignored red flags, or questioned your definition of love, this episode will empower you to see clearly and heal deeply.

✨ Powerfully Broken Podcast exists to help you break unhealthy cycles and reclaim your peace, purpose, and power.

🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more real conversations that change lives.
📲 Follow us: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker
🌐 Learn more: www.bfempowerment.com/pbp

#ToxicRelationships #RedFlags #RelationshipAdvice #PowerfullyBroken #DivorceRecovery #WomensEmpowerment #MentalHealthAwareness

Support the show

🧠 Burnout. Breakdown. Breakthrough.

In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Powerfully Broken Podcast, Joy Jackson shares her story of overcoming a toxic workplace where the pressure was high, the support was low, and the leadership was everything but kind.

Joy opens up about the emotional toll of working under a horrible boss, the internal conflict of wanting to stay loyal vs. choosing mental health, and the moment she realized: “I needed to choose peace.”

This isn’t just a story about quitting — it’s about escaping a culture that normalized overworking, gaslighting, and emotional exhaustion.

🎙️ In this episode:

How to recognize healthy workplace patterns

The silent mental health damage caused by abusive bosses

Why being honest in an interview can help you

The fear and freedom of walking away

What healing after a toxic job actually looks like

Whether you’re burned out, gaslit, or just tired of pretending you’re okay at work — this episode is for you.

💬 Tell us in the comments:
Have you ever stayed at a job that drained your soul? What finally made you leave?

📍 Learn more: www.bfempowerment.com
📧 Contact us: info@bfempowerment.com
📲 Follow: @powerfullybroken @queenblparker

#ToxicWorkplace #BurnoutRecovery #PowerfullyBroken #JoyJackson #QuitYourJob #WorkplaceTrauma #HealingAfterBurnout #PodcastForWomen #MentalHealthAwareness #WorkingMoms #LeadershipMatters

Support the show