Judging Meghan

In this revisited episode, I sit down again with clinical psychologist Dr. Noelle Santerelli for a conversation that feels especially important. We talk about adult bullying, relational aggression, and the deep grief that can come from losing friendships and a sense of belonging, particularly within mom groups and close communities. This episode is rooted in mental health and grief, because these losses change how safe the world feels and how we see ourselves.

I share openly about why I started this podcast. A devastating friend breakup in 2020 collided with unresolved childhood trauma and brought me to one of the lowest points of my life. What began as subtle exclusion slowly became isolation and public humiliation, leaving me without a community I believed was safe. The shame, loneliness, and grief that followed were overwhelming, especially during COVID, and that loss carried a weight I did not expect.

Dr. Santerelli explains why these group dynamics are so harmful and why it is never as simple as just leaving. When kids are involved, fear, guilt, and judgment keep women stuck far longer than they should be. We talk about betrayal trauma, victim blaming, and the cycle many toxic groups follow, and why reacting after months of pressure does not make someone the problem. It makes them human.

This episode is about trusting your experience, listening to your body, and choosing self preservation over fixing the narrative. Sometimes healing looks like quiet distance and protecting your energy. If you have ever felt pushed out, shamed, or silenced by people you hoped would support you, this conversation is for you.

You can followDr. Noelle Santerelli here: https://www.instagram.com/drnoellesantorelli/ 

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #grief #mentalhealth #friendshiploss #adultbullying #relationaltrauma #betrayaltrauma #toxicfriendships #toxicmomgroups #womensmentalhealth #emotionalabuse #socialexclusion #shameandhealing #traumarecovery #boundaries #selfpreservation #healingafterloss #belonging #identityandloss #nervoussystem #emotionalsafety #friendbreakups #communitytrauma #motherhoodandmentalhealth #choosingyourself #psychologicalsafety

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Hayley Spitaleri, host of A Splash More, opens up about her brother Nick’s 20-year struggle with opioid addiction, his fatal fentanyl overdose, the boundary she set six months before his death, and the federal investigation that followed.

This conversation connects the fentanyl crisis to prescription painkillers, athlete injuries, OxyContin, heroin, counterfeit drugs, overdose prevention,

Hayley’s story is for siblings, parents, spouses, and children who have loved someone with substance use disorder—and for anyone trying to protect their family without abandoning the person they love.

Hayley Spitaleri is the host of A Splash More, a podcast featuring honest conversations about ambition, identity, motherhood, health, reinvention, and personal growth.

This one is for anyone who has lost someone to addiction. Hayley not only inspired me with her strength but gave me hope for those fighting battles many will never understand.

Connect with Hayley and listen to A Splash More:@ASplashMore

Connect with Meghan:@judgingmeghanJudgingMeghan.com

#FentanylCrisis #OpioidAddiction #FentanylAwareness #OverdoseGrief #SiblingLoss #FamilyBoundaries #AddictionRecovery #OpioidEpidemic #Narcan #MensMentalHealth #GriefSupport #SubstanceUseDisorder #IVFJourney #ASplashMore #JudgingMeghan
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This episode I’m joined by Reshma Kearney, a trauma informed yoga instructor, mental health advocate, and someone I first connected with through Instagram. We begin by talking about my own journey with mental health advocacy, the importance of suicide prevention awareness, a recent personal loss, and the incredible milestone of celebrating six years of the podcast. I also reflect on what it means to see Judging Meghan reach the Top 10 on Apple’s Mental Health charts and why these conversations continue to matter so much to me.

Reshma shares her deeply personal story, including her move to California in 2023 to be closer to family after experiencing unimaginable loss. She opens up about her whirlwind love story with her late husband, Sean, an Army orthopedic surgeon who served three deployments and ultimately died by suicide. With honesty and vulnerability, Reshma talks about Sean’s long struggle with depression and anxiety, how his sense of humor, professional success, and constant activity often masked the pain he was carrying, and the heartbreaking challenges they faced together, including the loss of a child through stillbirth.

Together, we discuss the realities of grief after suicide, the guilt and overwhelming responsibilities that can follow, and what it looks like to help children navigate loss while grieving yourself. Reshma shares how each of her three children has processed their father's death differently, the support they received from their school and community, and why she believes Sean continues to send signs that he is still with them. We also talk about the healing power of vulnerability, the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, and why sharing our stories can help others feel less alone. This is a heartfelt and powerful conversation about love, loss, resilience, hope, and the reminder that asking for help is one of the bravest things we can do.

Learn more on Reshma’s site: https://www.reshmakearney.com/ 

I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations.

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #ReshmaKearney #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #SuicideAwareness #SuicideLoss #SurvivorOfSuicideLoss #MentalHealthMatters #EndTheStigma #YouAreNotAlone #HopeAfterLoss #GriefJourney #HealingJourney #TraumaHealing #Resilience #MentalWellness #EmotionalHealing #GriefSupport #LossAndHealing #WidowLife #ParentingThroughGrief #ChildLoss #StillbirthAwareness #MilitaryFamilies #MilitaryMentalHealth #VeteranMentalHealth #ArmyFamily #MentalHealthAdvocate #TraumaInformedYoga

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In this episode I sit down with bestselling author Sandy Malone for a fun and inspiring conversation about her writing career, the stories that have captured readers’ hearts, and what exciting projects she has coming next. Sandy shares the journey behind her popular Gem of the Golden Isle series, which begins with Escape to Jekyll Island, and discusses why the charm, beauty, and close knit communities of Georgia’s Golden Isles continue to inspire her work. 

Sandy also gives us a preview of her upcoming novel, Thicker Than Blood, which is set to be released this fall. While details are still being finalized, she shares her excitement about bringing another story into the world and what the publishing process looks like behind the scenes. We discuss the realities of being an author, balancing creativity with deadlines, and the anticipation that comes with preparing a new release.

In addition, Sandy introduces her brand new series, Under the Oaks, a crossover from her Jekyll Island books that expands into neighboring St. Simons Island. Centered around a wedding planning company, the new series promises fresh characters, familiar connections, romance, community, and all the coastal charm readers have come to love from her novels. Whether you're already a fan of Sandy's books or discovering her work for the first time, this episode offers a wonderful look into her creative world and all the exciting stories readers can look forward to in the coming months.

Want to check out the series? You can find her books through this link here or at your local book store: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01BM5JV3I?ccs_id=4f40f626-d994-4a7c-8b2a-88fa1d53e415 

I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations.

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #SandyMalone #AuthorInterview #BestsellingAuthor #WomenWhoWrite #BookPodcast #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #CoastalFiction #BeachReads #RomanceBooks #ContemporaryRomance #WomensFiction #JekyllIsland #StSimonsIsland #GoldenIsles #GeorgiaCoast #EscapeToJekyllIsland #GemOfTheGoldenIsle #ThickerThanBlood #UnderTheOaks #NewBookRelease #BookCommunity #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #FictionBooks #MustReadBooks #BookRecommendations #IndependentAuthor #Storytelling #BookDiscussion #PodcastEpisode #PodcastGuest #CreativeLife #WomenAuthors #SouthernFiction #CoastalRomance

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In this episode I sit down with Neal K. Shah, a Johns Hopkins and NIH funded researcher, former caregiver, and co founder of CareYaya, for an important conversation about dementia, caregiving, and mental health. Neal shares his personal experiences caring for his grandfather during his battle with dementia and later supporting his wife through a multi year cancer journey, opening up about the emotional and physical toll caregiving can take on families.

We discuss the lack of support many caregivers receive after a diagnosis, the rising costs of home care and assisted living, and the growing caregiving crisis facing families across the country. Neal also explains how chronic stress, burnout, and sleep deprivation can impact caregivers’ own health, while sharing research on dementia prevention, including movement, social connection, hearing health, and lifestyle habits that may help reduce risk.

We also talk about the future of caregiving, including the role artificial intelligence may play in caregiver training and early dementia detection. This is an emotional, informative, and hopeful conversation about resilience, advocacy, and supporting the people who care for others every day.

Learn more here: https://www.careyaya.org/neal-k-shah 

I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations.

This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #Dementia #Alzheimers #MentalHealth #CaregiverBurnout #CaregiverStress #CaregiverLife #DementiaAwareness #AlzheimersAwareness #MentalHealthAwareness #NealShah #CareYaya #FamilyCaregiver #CaregiverMentalHealth #BrainHealth #HealthyAging #CaregivingCrisis #CaregiverAdvocacy #Healthcare #AgingParents #DementiaCare #BurnoutRecovery #EmotionalHealth #PodcastEpisode #MentalWellness #AIHealthcare #CaregiverResources #Resilience #SupportCaregivers #MemoryCare #WellnessPodcast #JohnsHopkins #NIHResearch
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