Secret Life

In this intriguing episode, we explore the clandestine love affair of Charlie, a woman who unexpectedly found herself entwined in a romance with a man 17 years her junior. Charlie opens up about the joys and challenges of their secret relationship, detailing the initial hesitations, the thrill of covert rendezvous, and the emotional rollercoaster of keeping their connection hidden from judgmental...

Seduced by her powerful and charismatic boss, Nico found herself in a four year affair that got more and more adventurous as time went on. Continuing our Best Of series, we share some of our listener favorites. The episode originally aired as EP #125 on October 31, 2022. _____ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've...

Charla started to shut down emotionally since age six. From emotional and physical abuse, to neglect and losing her virginity to rape at sixteen, Charla had to shut down in order to survive. Her underlying self-talk is, “Charla, you don’t matter.” As she got older and got into more relationships, she found herself trauma bonding and eventually found herself in recovery from Sex and Love Addiction...

Secret Life Podcast Ep #179 — Best Of: Mark — Money: From Debt to Abundance — In honor of Mark's 13-Year Anniversary from debting on Sunday, we wanted to replay this powerful episode. — Debting and underearning were destroying Mark’s relationships, career, and ultimately his sanity. With 20 years of sobriety, he found himself at yet another bottom. Underearning wasn’t just about an inability t...

Working from home is also a double-edged sword for parents, who can find themselves taking on a disproportionate share of household and child care responsibilities on top of their paid work. The effect is more pronounced for parents whose partners work outside the home, and for moms, who still do the majority of child care in American families. _____ If you or anyone you know is struggling with ad...

Ever since she was little, Brianne Davis had the belief that she wasn’t smart because she struggled with standardized testing due to her dyslexia and ADHD. Those negative voices of doubt and shame plagued her no matter how successful, abundant, or happy she was. As she peeled away the layers of the false self she created to protect her, her unique talent, voice, and purpose came into the light. Ju...

In this week's episode, we delve into Brooke's compelling story of seeking acceptance and battling personal demons in the world of love and sex addiction. From her humble origins in a small town, where friends and family subjected her to bullying, to her discovery of a supportive online community that embraced her for who she truly is, this is a narrative of resilience and transformation....

Is Video Game Addiction Real? It’s great to do things you enjoy. But can you go too far with a hobby? And at what point does it become an addiction? That’s the question experts are trying to answer about playing video games. Continuing our Best Of series, we share some of our listener favorites. The episode originally aired on March 21, 2022, as Ep #93. The World Health Organization added “gaming...

Jamie was living with her meth-addicted husband for over two years while pregnant with their second child. Though she knew something was wrong, he repeatedly lied and made her feel crazy. She suffered in silence to protect him until she found his "sex den" and crack pipes, confirming her worst fears. In a last-ditch effort, she staged an intervention with his family. After dropping him at...

Secret Life Podcast Ep 173 — Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health disorder in which you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance — a flaw that appears minor or can't be seen by others. But you may feel so embarrassed, ashamed and anxious that you may avoid many social situations. — Body dysmorphic disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clini...

Lisa brings us into the world of BDSM and how she’s balancing that life and the life of recovery from sex and love addiction. _____ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com ______ To share your secret and be a guest on the show email secretlifepodcast@icloud.com _...

Society conditions us to strive to be perfect — be thin, toned, ripped, trimmed, waxed, peeled, tan, liked, followed, friended, and then... we will be loved. There's a misconception that only women put themselves under a microscope when it comes to their bodies and their looks, but men do too. Continuing our Best Of series, we share some of our listener favorites. The episode originally aired...

From a very young age, Gwenn realized that it was easier for her to do what people wanted instead of sharing her point of view. That theory carried into her marriage, profession, and motherhood.  _____ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com ______ To share your...

Unfortunately, Jamie's story is all too familiar within the recovery community. A person with a decade of recovery from alcohol relapses on pain pills. _____ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com ______ To share your secret and be a guest on the show email...

The entertainment industry is getting better about hiring more women and BPOC, but there was a time, not so long ago, when even the make-up and hair departments were run by men. JC and Brianne unpack what it’s like to be a mother in the film and tv business.  _____ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a...

Kellee has 29 eggs chillin 'in a freezer in El Segundo. It all started when her seven year relationship came to a tearful and agonizing end. The heartbreak of saying goodbye to her almost, maybe, or one day baby daddy sent her into a tailspin of anxiety about what her future may hold. Naturally she did what every newly single Black woman in her late thirties does - She froze her eggs . Except,...

What happens when you’re a casting director, and you meet the perfect guy, except he’s an actor and right for most of the projects you cast? Would it help or hinder his chances if the producers and director knew? Do you keep it a secret? For how long? That’s what Brianne and Claudia explore in this episode.  ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual...

What they don’t tell you is that when your child is born, a part of you dies and you have to come to terms with this new identity. Brittany Ishibashi and Brianne share their stories of struggling with postpartum, trying to be the perfect mom and finding time for self-care in times of quarantine. The two swap hilarious stories of fantasizing about just walking out the door (with their masks on of c...

Growing up in a large family of six children, Maryanne struggled with feeling special; instead, it was more about being responsible. So when she herself got married and had kids, she saw an opportunity to explore what being special was like, even if it was with the wrong person. _____ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, w...

This week's episode is all about host Brianne Davis-Gantt's "Twin Soul," but surprise, surprise, it's not her husband Mark. It's actually her awesome sister, Stephanie! Now, let's dive into a topic we can all relate to: emotional eating. You know how sometimes we chow down on food not just because we're hungry, but because we're seeking comfort, stress relief, o...

In another moment of "What the f@#% is wrong with some men," we have a brave survivor who shares her story of being sexually assaulted minutes after giving birth. Was this deep-seated secret fuel on the first for her addictions and suicidal thoughts? Listen to her heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting journey to recovery. Continuing our Best Of series, we share some of our listener favori...

Battling depression and having a hard time asking for help, Kristin shares her heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting story when she shot herself in the chest in an attempted suicide. *Trigger Warning: Please note that this episode contains topics of suicide. Some people may find it disturbing.  You're not alone: Whether you have struggled with suicide yourself or have lost a loved one, know y...

For many adults, a parent getting sick is their first real experience with illness, disease, or facing the possible loss of a loved one. Both the ill parent and the adult child are faced with the idea of life without one another. Whether you live close to one another or far apart, the concept of not having your parent, this person who has literally never been more than a phone call away for your e...

What happens when the man you love cheats on you… again and again? Or when his chronic, narcissistic behavior of gaslighting you every time is pushing you farther and farther away from trusting your instincts and your inner voice? This week, Chloe shares the heartbreaking story of a decade-long relationship and her journey of letting go and learning to trust herself once again.  Continuing our Bes...

The follow up episode to Ep #157 - Brianne and Rebecca breakdown the last five minutes of the one on one interview with Raquel from Part 3 of Season 10 of Vanderpump Rule's. The two share the opinions and experience with love addiction. Relevant questions discussed in this episode about LOVE ADDICTION from Love Addictions Anonymous questionnaire Do you find yourself flirting with or sexualizin...