True Northing Podcast

There's a question so many people carry quietly — sometimes for years: Is what I'm experiencing in my relationship supposed to feel this hard? In this deeply honest and clinically grounded episode, Allison and Kristen explore one of the most important distinctions in any relationship: the difference between challenge that grows you and dysfunction that slowly breaks you down. Because not e...

Emotional maturity isn't about being perfect. It's about being consistent — taking ownership, showing up accountably, and doing the work of repair when things go wrong. In this episode Allison and Kristen unpack what emotional maturity really means, how to recognize it in a partner, and what to do when it's missing. This one is a must-listen for any woman who has ever wondered why love...

Why does someone seem emotionally available while dating but become resistant to growth after marriage? In this episode, we discuss emotional capacity in relationships, attachment patterns, defenses, and the difficult question many women face: Should I help my partner heal, or accept that they may never want the same kind of relationship I do? We explore why emotional capacity can seem to disappea...

Leaving a relationship isn’t just a personal decision—it often feels like a public one. In this episode, therapists Kristen and Allison unpack why walking away can come with so much guilt, shame, and second-guessing, even when it’s the healthiest choice. We explore how societal expectations—especially around marriage, family, and gender roles—can distort the narrative, casting the person who leave...

In this episode, we continue the conversation from our previous discussion about leaving relationships that no longer feel healthy or aligned. If you’ve ever wondered “Why didn’t they just leave?” or asked yourself that same question, this episode explores the deeper layers behind that struggle. We unpack the invisible forces that can keep someone stuck — including low self-worth, unconscious beli...

This week on True Northing, we’re talking about something so many mothers quietly carry: Why do kids often take their emotions out on mom? Why is it that a child can be regulated, respectful, and “fine” everywhere else… only to unravel the moment they’re back with us? In this episode, Kristen shares vulnerably about a real-life parenting challenge she’s navigating — loving a child who thrives in o...

This week, we’re sharing what’s alive for us — the real-time lessons, themes, and initiations we’re currently moving through. We explore what it means to live from the understanding that truth is love — not harshness, not performance, not self-protection — but love. We talk about the kind of truth that softens instead of hardens, and how alignment feels in the body when it’s rooted in love rather...

Why is it so hard to leave a relationship — even when you know it’s not right? In this episode, we explore the deep attachment and neurobiological forces that keep us bonded to partners long after the connection has become painful, confusing, or unfulfilling. You’ll learn how love impacts the brain, why breakups can feel like withdrawal, and how your nervous system can mistake familiar pain for sa...

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a hard season of life, or like everything is out of control? In this episode, we talk about how to stay grounded and emotionally steady when life feels chaotic and uncertain. In this off-the-cuff episode of the True Northing Podcast, Kristen and Allison sit down for an honest conversation about what it feels like to live through “stormy seasons” of life. Using the arc...

In this episode of the True Northing Podcast, Kristen and Allison break down Shadow Work 101 — what your “shadow” actually is, how it forms, and why it plays such a big role in your relationships, triggers, and patterns. They talk about how emotional and nervous system growth doesn’t always happen at the same pace as insight, and why real change requires more than just “knowing better.” You’ll lea...

The middle of change can feel disorienting, frustrating, and unproductive—but it’s actually where the most important work happens. Kristen and Allison dive into the often-overlooked in-between phase: the shedding, the waiting, and the quiet preparation that precedes clarity. They discuss how energy cycles influence creativity, why patience is a spiritual practice, and how human design can help you...

Perfectionism in parenting can unintentionally create anxiety—for both parents and children. In this episode, Allison breaks down the concept of the “good enough parent” and why mistakes, followed by repair, are essential for healthy emotional development. You’ll learn how rupture and repair strengthen emotional resilience, how children learn conflict resolution through parental modeling, and why...

Low capacity isn’t a personality flaw — it’s a nervous system state. In this episode of True Northing , we unpack what it really means to be a low capacity woman and why emotional overwhelm shows up the way it does. Kristen and Allison explore emotional capacity through a nervous system lens, breaking down how low capacity develops, why it looks different in women and men, and how childhood enviro...

Why do over-functioning people so often find themselves in relationships with low capacity partners? In this episode of True Northing, Kristen and Allison explore the powerful—and often painful—dynamic between high and low capacity individuals. We break down why over-functioning and self-abandonment feel so familiar in relationships, how these patterns form in childhood, and why empathy can quietl...

In this episode of True Northing , we’re sharing the highlights, meaningful moments, and biggest lessons we’re taking with us into 2026. From personal growth and healing to relationship insights, unexpected challenges, and moments that stretched us in all the right (and uncomfortable) ways—we’re unpacking what truly shaped this year. We talk about: • The lessons 2025 taught us about ourselves and...

What does it really mean when someone can’t handle discomfort, conflict, or emotional needs? In this solo episode of True Northing , Kristen explores the concept of low emotional capacity—how it forms, how it shows up in relationships, and why some people experience their partner’s needs as a threat rather than an invitation to connect. From a nervous system perspective, she breaks down how emotio...

In this episode, we dive deep into the difference between high emotional capacity and low emotional capacity in men—and how it silently shapes the entire relationship. We break down why some men can communicate, follow through, regulate their emotions, and show up consistently… while others shut down, get overwhelmed by their partner’s needs, make promises they can’t keep, or become easily trigger...

In this powerful conversation, Kristen and Allison explore the real dynamics beneath modern relationship tension—especially for strong, independent women who lead at work but crave softness and support at home. They unpack how childhood wounding can shape adult relationship roles, why women often struggle to transition out of “go mode,” and why many men unconsciously fall back into their feminine...

In this special episode, we shift from conversation to practice with a calming, heart-centered guided meditation created specifically for  adolescent girls . Designed as a companion to Episodes 35–37, this meditation supports girls who are navigating the pressures, insecurities, and emotional changes of this developmental stage. Parents can use this episode as a grounding tool to help their daught...

In this episode of True Northing, Kristen and Allison explore one of the biggest challenges teen girls face today — the search for identity. From navigating social pressures to building authentic confidence, they unpack how parents can guide their daughters toward self-awareness and resilience. You’ll learn how to ask reflective questions, foster intrinsic motivation, and encourage decision-making...

Adolescence is more than just a transition — it’s the foundation of who a girl becomes. In this episode of True Northing, Kristen and Allison explore how the teenage years shape a young woman’s identity, confidence, and sense of self. Through thoughtful conversation, they unpack how independence, relationships, and reflection influence a girl’s understanding of her place in the world. You’ll learn...

It’s easy to dismiss teen years as a “phase,” but for many girls, those years leave lasting marks. Behind the eye rolls and closed doors, many teen girls are silently struggling — with self-worth, identity, and pressures no one sees. In this deeply personal episode, we’re sharing our own coming-of-age stories — the confusion, the pressure, and the moments we wish someone had noticed.  If you’re a...

Every decision you make is guided by one of two forces: love or fear. Fear tightens you, limits you and keeps you small. Love opens you, expands you and invites possibility. In this episode, we explore how to recognize the difference in your body, how fear disguises itself as logic or perfectionism, and how to shift toward choices that feel aligned and true. If you are standing at a crossroads or...

In this episode of True Northing, Kristen and Allison talk about the difference between being on a blaming journey and a healing journey. They dig into how easy it is to fall into a victim mindset—always looking for someone or something to blame—and what it takes to shift toward personal responsibility and growth. Along the way, they share honest reflections on relationships, the fatigue that can...

In relationships, we often feel pulled in two directions: staying true to ourselves, or staying deeply connected to the other person. But why does it so often feel like we can only choose one? In this episode, we explore the tension between  Self  and  Other  — how independence can sometimes create distance, while closeness can sometimes come at the cost of authenticity. We’ll look at why this par...