In this first episode of The Diddy Case Blind Spot series, Robert Saint Michael unpacks the social ripple effects of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ 2025 sentencing — and what it reveals about power, privilege, and accountability in cases of sexual violence.

From the charges that didn’t stick to the survivors’ fear of not being believed, this episode explores how society protects power and silences truth. Through a trauma-informed, public-health lens, Robert examines why justice often feels incomplete and how communities can create safer spaces for healing and belief.

👉 Listen now to learn how fame, money, and culture shape justice — and what it will take for society to truly believe survivors.

💡 Hosted by Robert Saint Michael, NLP | Mental Health Coach

🔗 Visit: robertsaintmichael.com — your hub for researched, evidence-based mental and public health resources.

In this episode of The Group Sessions, Robert Saint Michael explores the unique experience of being the middle child. From Alfred Adler’s early psychology of birth order to the lived reality of feeling overlooked or “stuck in the middle,” Robert unpacks how these family dynamics shape identity, self-worth, and relationships. With a trauma-informed lens, he shares practical tools for healing the “middle child wound,” reframing invisibility into resilience, and reclaiming the strengths that come with adaptability and empathy.

Credentials + Links:

Robert Saint Michael, NLP | Mental Health Coach

Visit robertsaintmichael.com — your hub for researched and evidence-based public health information, resources, and coaching services.

If this episode spoke to you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone in your life who might need the encouragement. And don’t forget to comment with your own middle child stories—I’d love to hear how your family position shaped who you are today.

Referenced in this episode:

• Adler, A. (1927/1992). Understanding Human Nature.

• Sulloway, F. J. (1996). Born to Rebel: Birth Order, Family Dynamics, and Creative Lives.

• Eckstein, D., & Kaufman, J. A. (2012). The Role of Birth Order in Personality: An Enduring Myth or an Empirical Reality? Journal of Individual Psychology.

• Trauma-informed resources on family dynamics and self-worth (American Psychological Association).

• robertsaintmichael.com — evidence-based mental health + public health resources.

In this episode of The Group Sessions, Robert Saint Michael explores how leaning into discomfort can literally rewire your brain for resilience. Research shows that the anterior midcingulate cortex—the part of the brain that activates when we face challenges—grows stronger when we push through effort. That growth isn’t just science; it’s survival.

Robert breaks down how safe, intentional challenges can improve mental health, reduce stress, and support trauma recovery. With practical coaching tips and real-life examples, you’ll learn how to turn everyday struggles into opportunities for growth.

✨ Comment below: What’s one small challenge you can take on today—physically, mentally, or emotionally?

Robert also shares how his mental health coaching can support you in building resilience and healing, and invites you to visit robertsaintmichael.com — a hub for researched and evidence-based public health information.

If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs the encouragement.

Referenced in this episode:

• Bush, G., & Shin, L. M. (2006). The anterior cingulate cortex and emotional self-regulation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

• Shenhav, A., Botvinick, M. M., & Cohen, J. D. (2013). The expected value of control: An integrative theory of anterior cingulate cortex function. Neuron.

• Verguts, T., & Notebaert, W. (2009). Adaptation by binding: A learning account of cognitive control. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

• Winell, M. (2011). Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion.

• American Psychological Association (APA) resources on post-traumatic growth.

• robertsaintmichael.com — evidence-based mental health + public health resources.

In honor of Bisexual Visibility Week, Robert Saint Michael opens up about being a bisexual Black man and creating Bi+ Black Men as a public health intervention for those who often feel unseen. Through a powerful story shared by “Alice,” a woman healing from deep Southern religious indoctrination while in a same-sex partnership, Robert unpacks the legacy of religious trauma, the reality of spiritual abuse, and the history of Christianity’s harms alongside its potential for peace. With compassion and honesty, he offers practical tools for countering intrusive thoughts and reframing God as a force of love, not fear.

Hosted by Robert Saint Michael, NLP | Mental Health Coach

Visit robertsaintmichael.com — your hub for researched and evidence-based public health information, articles, and coaching services.

If this episode resonated with you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you’re seeking guidance on your own journey, reach out and explore working with me as your mental health coach.

Referenced in this episode:

• GLAAD – Bisexual Visibility Week resources

• Winell, M. (2011). Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion

• Research on Religious Trauma Syndrome (Winell)

• Pew Research Center – Studies on religion, LGBTQ+, and mental health

• Bi+ Black Men (Community + Podcast)

What do we do when the people we love stay in relationships that hurt them? In episode 5 of The Group Session Podcast, we explore the emotional, cultural, and generational reasons why some women—especially in midlife—remain in unhealthy marriages or partnerships. We look at how loneliness, fear, and past conditioning play a role, and what friends can do to support without judgment.

With empathy and data, we unpack the psychology of staying, the cost of leaving, and how to hold space for those still figuring it out.

—

Robert Saint Michael, NLP

Certified Mental Health Life Coach

Master NLP Practitioner

robertsaintmichael.com

Instagram: @robertsaintmichael

Like, comment, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this reminder: love shouldn’t hurt.

Referenced in this episode:

• Pew Research Center data on midlife divorce and loneliness

• Journal of Marriage and Family: Emotional dependency in long-term unions

• Harvard Health Publishing on chronic stress and marital dissatisfaction

Cultural appropriation isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about power, policy, and political erasure. In Episode 4 of The Group Sessions, we break down how borrowed culture leads to real-world harm. From TikTok trends to Texas legislation, we unpack how dominant culture profits from marginalized expression while erasing the people behind it. We’ll talk about Christian nationalism, DEI rollbacks, and why emotional intelligence—not just IQ—is critical to navigating today’s political climate. If you’ve ever felt unseen in a world that loves your rhythm but silences your voice—this session is for you.

—

Robert Saint Michael, NLP

Certified Mental Health Life Coach

Master NLP Practitioner

Explore more at robertsaintmichael.com

Follow on Instagram

Like, share, and subscribe wherever you’re listening.

Referenced in this episode:

• Texas Senate Bill 10 – Ten Commandments in Schools (Texas Tribune)

• Jesse Williams BET Awards Speech (2016)

• Daniel Goleman’s Work on Emotional Intelligence (Harvard Business Review)

• American Psychological Association on Emotional Intelligence

• DEI Backlash Report – The Atlantic

Welcome to Group.

In Episode 3 of The Group Sessions Podcast, we break down the psychological toll of digital burnout. If you’ve been feeling numb, anxious, or constantly distracted, you’re not imagining it. The scroll is stealing your attention, hijacking your dopamine system, and rewiring your nervous system.

This episode explores how overstimulation from social media affects emotional regulation, focus, sleep, and overall mental health. We talk about dopamine depletion, attention fatigue, and how living in survival mode has become the default for so many of us.

This isn’t just a detox — it’s a reset.

You’ll leave with research-backed insight, grounded strategies, and a new way to relate to your screen.

—

Robert Saint Michael, NLP

Certified Mental Health Life Coach

Master NLP Practitioner

Visit robertsaintmichael.com to book a free mental health consultation or explore the advice column. Follow on Instagram for more insights and weekly updates.

Like, comment, subscribe, and share to support the show.

Referenced in this episode:

• Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke

  Harvard Health – How blue light affects sleep

  Pew Research – Tech and anxiety in Gen Z

  NIH – Digital overstimulation and nervous system dysregulation

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Why the Strong One Is Always Tired

In Part 2 of this series on The Group Sessions Podcast, we continue the conversation on the trauma of parentification—focusing on what happens when a child internalizes adult responsibilities before their brain even finishes developing.

We explore how early emotional labor shapes identity, blurs boundaries, and teaches children to earn love through over-functioning. From chronic burnout to strained sibling bonds, this episode unpacks the deeper psychological scars that come from being “the responsible one” too soon—and how many of us are still carrying those scars into our adult relationships.

We also confront the harder truths: how forced maturity can lead to distorted views of intimacy, vulnerability to grooming, and even the quiet reenactment of trauma with others—all because no one taught us how to safely receive care.

This episode offers reflection, affirmation, and an invitation to finally put the role down.

—

Robert Saint Michael, NLP

Certified Mental Health Life Coach

Master NLP Practitioner

🔗 Check out the advice column, book a free mental health consultation, or explore other resources at robertsaintmichael.com

📲 Follow @robertsaintmichael on Instagram for more insights, live updates, and community healing.

📥 Like. Comment. Subscribe. Share!

Referenced in this episode:

– U.S. Department of Justice: Data on child sexual abuse by known perpetrators

– Chase, N.D., & Deming, M.P. (2015). Parental role reversal and long-term relational patterns

– APA: Effects of premature responsibility and emotional parentification

– Journal of Child and Family Studies: Impacts of adultified roles on intimacy development