What do you do when life takes a turn you never asked for? When the diagnosis, the betrayal, the loss, or the slow unraveling of your plans leaves you feeling like the wrong person for the job?

In this deeply personal and compassionate episode, Dr. Zoe reads a letter to anyone facing a life they didn’t expect. Originally written for an anthology, this letter was adapted for anyone navigating life-changing pain, disorientation, or shame. Whether you’re in the midst of grief, struggling with a sudden shift in identity, or simply wondering how to move forward this episode is a lifeline.

You'll hear:

-Why shame, guilt, and blame aren't yours to carry
-How real bravery can look like breaking down, not holding it all together
-The truth about phantom critics and inner comparison
-A gentle invitation to stop fighting for the past and start building from the now
-Why acceptance isn’t giving up—it’s grieving forward

This is for the woman who is tired of pretending she’s fine. For the one who needs someone to say, “You are not broken.” For anyone who needs a breath, a moment, and a reminder: You’ve got this.

Resources & Links:

Sign up for the newsletter: www.drzoeshaw.com

Preorder the book Stronger in the Difficult Places (coming September 30, 2025!): drzoeshaw.com/book

Last call to join the Stronger in the Difficult Places Launch Team ( closing July 31st!): join now

Free Downloads:

Download the Steps to Healing from Complex Shame™ PDF: here
Get the First Chapter of Stronger in the Difficult Places: here

Connect with me:

Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram

Dr. Zoe Shaw on Facebook

Dr. Zoe Shaw Website

Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it

Rate & Review:
If this episode moved you, helped you, or made you feel a little less alone, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more brave souls find this space of healing.

Why do so many women find themselves in relationships where they’re doing all the emotional labor? And what role does childhood—and especially the way we raise boys—play in this dynamic?

In today’s powerful episode, Dr. Gloria K. Vanderhorst joins me to unpack the lifelong impact of early emotional conditioning—particularly for boys. With over 50 years of experience working with individuals, families, and schools, Dr. Gloria brings deep insight into how our earliest experiences shape how we love, relate, and often repeat patterns without even realizing it.

We explore why boys are often taught to disconnect from their emotions, how that affects their adult relationships, and what it takes to change—even later in life. Whether you're parenting a son, partnered with an emotionally shut-down man, or healing from your own emotional inheritance, this episode will speak to your heart.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why early childhood memories—especially unconscious ones—still affect us today
• How boys are taught to lose touch with their emotions, and the cultural cost
• Why emotional labor often falls to women—and what we can do about it
• How Women condition men to emotionally abandon them
• The price we all pay for the emotional suppression of men
• How real change is possible at any age
• A practical framework for healing and self-awareness: Read, Reflect, Respond

About Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst:
Dr. Gloria K. Vanderhorst is a licensed psychologist and author of the best-selling book Read, Reflect, Respond: The 3 R’s of Growth and Change. With five decades of experience, she’s helped individuals of all ages understand how early experiences shape their present—and how to heal from trauma in order to grow.

Resources Mentioned:

Read, Reflect, Respond: The 3 R’s of Growth and Change by Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst – Available on Amazon

Connect with Dr. Gloria on her website or social media:
www.drvanderhorst.com
https://www.youtube.com/@gloriakvanderhorst
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloria-vanderhorst

Pre-order my book Stronger In The Difficult Places: drzoeshaw.com/book

Free Downloads:

Download the Steps to Healing from Complex Shame™ PDF: here
Get the First Chapter of Stronger in the Difficult Places: here

Connect with me:

Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram

Dr. Zoe Shaw on Facebook

Dr. Zoe Shaw Website

What if anxiety wasn’t the enemy, but a signal? In this powerful episode, Dr. Zoe talks with psychotherapist and transformational coach Bonnie Brindle about why anxiety is just energy—and how to channel it instead of being ruled by it. Bonnie shares her own story of living with intense anxiety, what finally helped her break free, and the surprising way your energy system could be sabotaging your calm.

You’ll walk away with practical, empowering tools to regulate your nervous system before hard conversations, build internal trust, and quiet your mind when your relationship feels uncertain.

We Talk About:

• Why anxiety is just energy and how to move it through your body
• Simple tools to calm anxiety before a difficult conversation
• What to do when you don’t trust your partner—and how to separate truth from fear
• The #1 mistake people make when trying to “fix” their anxiety
• Bonnie’s personal journey of overcoming years of chronic anxiety
• How to spot and disarm “crazymakers” in your life
• Energy-based techniques that complement traditional therapy

About Our Guest:
Bonnie Brindle is The Anxiety Avenger™—a licensed psychotherapist, author, educator, transformational coach, and international speaker. She blends talk therapy with evidence-based energy practices to help clients shift out of survival mode and into self-trust and emotional freedom. Bonnie’s work is grounded in the belief that peace is possible for everyone—once you learn to decode the chaos.

Connect with Bonnie Brindle:
Website: www.bonniebrindle.com

Order a personalized copy of Bonnie's book, Cracking the Crazymakers’ Code
Receive Bonnie's bi-monthly newsletter, Musings from the Menagerie

Pre-order my book Stronger In The Difficult Places: drzoeshaw.com/book

Free Downloads:

Download the Steps to Healing from Complex Shame™ PDF: here
Get the First Chapter of Stronger in the Difficult Places: here

Connect with me:

Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram

Dr. Zoe Shaw on Facebook

Dr. Zoe Shaw Website