Adult Child of Dysfunction

On this episode, I’m joined by Deborah Higgins—life coach, social worker, and author of A Cure for Anxiety: Biblical Truths and Metaphysical Practices to Overcome Anxiety, Panic, Social Anxiety, and Agoraphobia . Through this deeply personal and spiritual work, Deborah shares her path from childhood trauma—including her mother’s attempted suicide and decades of agoraphobia—to academic and emotiona...

What happens when the belief system you were raised in not only strips away your identity but also leaves you vulnerable to dangerous relationships? In this raw and powerful episode, Brigette Gildemaster — 2x best-selling author, speaker, and trauma-informed breathwork facilitator — shares her journey of escaping a high-control marriage with a husband who was a pedophile, and the courageous fight...

In this episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction , I speak with Matt Melvin , author of Bullied Behind Bars: A Gay Christian Trump Supporter Goes to Prison . Matt courageously shares his story of growing up misunderstood as an undiagnosed autistic child, navigating faith and identity as a gay Christian Trump supporter, and how a stolen car led to a prison sentence that changed his life forever. Insid...

In this episode, Jason Munson, CEO of Neuro Linkers and consultant for Neuro Change Solutions, shares his journey of transformation and resilience. Jason discusses how a childhood head trauma shaped his social skills and led to lifelong challenges with insomnia, and how he is gradually mastering his sleep and overall well-being. He also opens up about his experiences as the adoptive father of a ch...

Juanita Ellingson is a Forgiveness and Self-Care Empowerment Coach, Podcast Host, and Angel Oracle Card Reader who knows firsthand that forgiveness is not about others—it’s about YOU. For years, Juanita stuffed her feelings and carried anger, resentment, shame, and guilt while staying busy as a mom, worker, and caretaker. Everything changed when she discovered the true meaning of forgiveness. By l...

In this powerful episode, Cleoni Crawford opens up about her late bipolar disorder diagnosis at 25 and how it transformed her life. She shares her experiences navigating mental illness, trauma, and loss—and the resilience she’s built through faith, humor, music, and community. Now a bestselling author and host of Resilient Minds 365 , Cleoni empowers others to thrive despite their diagnosis. Tune...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Denise Ann Willis —life coach, author, speaker, and a fierce advocate for women healing from toxic relationships. Denise opens up about her deeply personal journey from years of physical and emotional abuse to becoming a confident, empowered woman helping others reclaim their lives. Raised to be a people-pleaser, she became a magnet for controlling relati...

In this deeply moving episode, we welcome Heidi Yewman —author, filmmaker, and survivor—to share her powerful story of transformation. Growing up in a chaotic and abusive home, Heidi spent years in silence, navigating the emotional fallout of generational trauma. Her memoir, Dumb Girl , traces the journey from internalized shame to radical truth-telling, offering a compelling reflection on the cos...

In this episode, we talk with Jean Kelly Widner , adoptee and author of The Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective . Jean shares her personal journey growing up as a domestic adoptee in Washington State in the 1960s, while also navigating the impact of addiction and alcoholism in her adoptive family. We dive into the hidden emotional challenges of adoption, including preverbal trauma, i...

In this powerful and heart-centered episode, we sit down with Reesa Morala, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, parenting ally, and founder of Embrace Renewal Therapy & Wellness Collective . Reesa shares her deeply personal journey from surviving a childhood marked by abuse and chaos to becoming a conscious, connected parent and therapist helping others heal. Reesa opens up about the tra...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Debbie Simmons —trauma-informed parenting coach, nonprofit CEO, and best-selling author of The Heart of Legacy . Debbie shares her deeply moving story of personal loss, adoption, and how faith became the foundation for healing both her family and her purpose. After losing her quadruplets and enduring years of infertility, Debbie and her husband adopted ni...

In this powerful and deeply honest episode, we’re joined by Amber Tolbert, LCSW —a trauma therapist, supervisor, and founder of Healers in Practice™ , a soulful community supporting clinicians in staying aligned with their values without burning out. With over a decade of experience in systems-based healing , embodied supervision , and nervous system-informed care , Amber shares how she helps ther...

In this powerful and deeply resonant episode, we explore the lifelong impact of generational trauma and the difficult — but often necessary — choice to go no contact with a toxic parent. Our guest, Emma Lyons , is a trauma-informed healer and subconscious reprogramming guide who bravely shares her personal journey of reclaiming identity and self-worth after growing up in a deeply dysfunctional fam...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Sonya Achara —a 14-year Marine Corps veteran, keynote speaker, podcast host, and author of the memoir "Remember Who You Are: My Journey to Higher Consciousness." Sonya shares her deeply personal story of overcoming childhood emotional neglect, abuse, and the impact of growing up in a home where intuition and feelings were dismissed. Raised in a turbulent...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott opens up about her extraordinary journey of healing after enduring an abusive marriage and the devastating revenge suicide of her husband on the very day she asked for a divorce. With over 35 years of clinical experience specializing in trauma recovery, Shavaun brings a unique blend of professional insight and person...

In this powerful episode, Tena Cacic — teacher, writer, scientist, and transformational guide — shares her deeply personal journey of breaking free from the victim mentality. After years of emotional chaos in her relationships and reaching a breaking point, Tena realized that staying in victimhood was a choice she no longer wanted to make. She dives into the emotional and energetic patterns that k...

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., overthinking everything from your to-do list to childhood trauma—you are not alone. In this episode, we dive into how sleep is impacted by stress, dysregulated nervous systems, and healing journeys—especially for adult children of dysfunction. But instead of chasing perfect sleep, what if you could rebuild a healthy relationship with...

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most frustrating and common challenges for women over 50— sleep struggles . Our guest, Dr. Lucinda Sykes, is a retired Canadian physician and seasoned mindfulness teacher who specializes in helping women reclaim deep, natural sleep. Dr. Sykes shares why sleep changes so dramatically with age, how stress and hormonal shifts disrupt our natural rhythms,...

From debilitating CPTSD to becoming the trusted coach for 6-figure entrepreneurs , Jillian Holly has walked the healing path—and now helps others do the same with powerful, soul-aligned tools that speak directly to the subconscious. In this powerful episode, Jillian shares how her journey from trauma to transformation led her to become a coach, healer, and intuitive guide for highly sensitive lead...

What happens to a child’s nervous system when they grow up in a household filled with chaos, addiction, and emotional unpredictability? For Wendy Johnston, the answer was anxiety, hypervigilance, and a deep disconnection from her own body. In this episode, I’m joined by Wendy Johnston—certified NLP Practitioner, Life Coach, aromatherapist, yoga and meditation teacher, sound bath facilitator, and f...

What happens when the unimaginable becomes your reality— twice ? In this powerful and soul-stirring episode, I sit down with KD Wagner , a Gold Star Mother, speaker, author, and survivor of unthinkable tragedy. KD lost both of her sons—one to murder at just 18 years old, and the other while serving in the U.S. Navy during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her story is one of devastating loss, relentless gr...

In this powerful and insightful episode, we're joined by Shannyn Schroeder , teacher, writer, mom of three neurodivergent kids, and the founder of EF Bomb Coach . After navigating the challenges of raising her children, Shannyn became an executive function coach—but not just for kids. She created EF Bomb Coach specifically to support neurodivergent women —especially those diagnosed later in life—w...

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, we sit down with Babs Walters —a domestic violence and sexual abuse survivor who has spent over 30 years raising awareness about the long-term effects of generational trauma and the importance of breaking the cycle. Babs shares candidly about her courageous journey—from holding the weight of a devastating secret for nearly 70 years to finally reclaiming...

In this heartfelt follow-up to my conversation with Kyle Goodknight, I want to take a moment to address something important. After that episode aired, I realized that for some listeners—especially those who’ve walked a hard road—hearing about trauma, dysfunction, and long-term health risks may have stirred up some fear, heaviness, or even hopelessness. And if that was you, I want to say this clear...

In this episode, Tammy welcomes Kyle Goodknight , a powerhouse with nearly 30 years of experience as a first responder turned podcast strategist, speaker, and host of The Ignition Path and E11evate Podcasts . Kyle is a jack of all trades — and a master at helping business owners turn their voice into a vehicle for growth, authority, and deep connection. Together, Tammy and Kyle unpack the transfor...