Judging Meghan

This episode I’m joined by Natalia Aiza, an EMDR-trained therapist, writer, and mental health advocate, for an important conversation about OCD, postpartum OCD, and the challenges that often come with intrusive thoughts. Natalia shares her own experience with OCD, which began in childhood, and explains how hormonal changes during pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, and perimenopause can sometimes intensify symptoms. We also talk about how OCD goes far beyond the stereotypes many people associate with the condition, including fears around contamination, and can involve intrusive thoughts about harm, morality, and things that go against a person’s deepest values.

Natalia explains why intrusive thoughts can be so frightening, especially when they involve something a person would never want to do, and how shame and fear of being judged can prevent people, particularly new mothers, from asking for help. We discuss the difference between having an unwanted thought and actually wanting something to happen, as well as treatment options such as exposure and response prevention (ERP) and EMDR.

Natalia is also passionate about making mental health resources more accessible through self-guided workbooks, including her Self-Guided EMDR Workbook. We talk about the benefits of these resources, the limitations of trying to navigate everything alone, and why deeper trauma work should be approached carefully and with appropriate professional support. I hope this conversation helps anyone struggling with OCD or intrusive thoughts feel less alone, better understand what they’re experiencing, and recognize that effective support and treatment are available.

Learn more about Natalia here: https://www.kairoswellnesscollective.com/natalia-aiea

Purchase Natalia’s workbooks here: https://www.kairoswellnesscollective.com/books-workbooks

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 #OCD #PostpartumOCD #IntrusiveThoughts #MentalHealthAwareness #OCDAwareness #EMDR #EMDRTherapy #ExposureAndResponsePrevention #ERP #PostpartumMentalHealth #MaternalMentalHealth #MentalHealthAdvocacy #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthSupport #BreakTheStigma #YouAreNotAlone #NataliaAiza
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In this episode I’m joined by dementia prevention and brain specialist Dr. Clint Steele to talk about brain health, stress, sleep, and simple habits that can make a difference. Clint shares his “101 Brain Hacks” approach and explains how chronic stress can keep our brains stuck in survival mode, affecting everything from our energy and focus to our sleep. We talk about why so many people wake up around 2 or 3 a.m., how cortisol plays a role, and why caffeine, phones, and blue light first thing in the morning may be adding to the stress we’re already carrying.

Clint also shares practical tools for calming the nervous system, including diaphragmatic breathing with longer exhales, setting intentions in the morning, and following a simple one hour rule to reduce stimulation at the beginning and end of the day. We talk about the reticular activating system and how our thoughts and beliefs can influence what we notice and focus on. He also breaks down the different types of stress we experience, including chemical stress from things like diet, alcohol, and plastics, physical stress from pushing our bodies too hard, and emotional stress from limiting beliefs.

This conversation gave me a lot to think about when it comes to how we care for our brains and manage stress in everyday life. We also talk about gentler approaches to exercise, general nutrition, and small changes that can support better health over time. Clint shares where you can find his work, and his books are set to be released October 27. I hope this episode gives you a few simple ideas you can take with you and start putting into practice.

Find out more here: https://drclintsteele.com/

Purchase Dr. Clint’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0FY477L8N?ccs_id=36033a38-8047-4553-bb37-28ffa12c7cef

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 #DrClintSteele #101BrainHacks #BrainHealth #BrainHealthMatters #DementiaPrevention #DementiaAwareness #CognitiveHealth #BrainHacks #HealthyBrain #MentalClarity #MemoryHealth #StressManagement #ChronicStress #Cortisol #SleepHealth #BetterSleep #NervousSystem #NervousSystemRegulation #DiaphragmaticBreathing #Breathwork #HealthyHabits #HealthyLifestyle #Longevity #HealthyAging #ExerciseForHealth #Nutrition #MentalWellness #MindBodyConnection #SelfCare #WellnessTips
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This episode discusses consent, sexual assault, drugs, and other difficult topics that may be triggering for some listeners.

In this episode I’m joined by Dr. Noelle Santorelli, a clinical therapist who specializes in relationships, relational trauma, and women’s mental health. We talk about parenting and some of the difficult questions raised by the widely reported “Cornell Seven” case. We discuss how different college life is now compared to when we were growing up, from social media and the permanent “receipts” it can leave behind, to drugs like ketamine and fentanyl and the way our country has become so divided.

One of the biggest takeaways for me is how important it is to start teaching our kids about consent, respect, and boundaries when they’re young. Dr. Santorelli and I talk about parents of both boys and girls modeling respectful behavior at home, teaching kids how to handle being told “no,” and recognizing entitlement before it becomes a bigger problem. We also get into peer pressure and why people can make very different choices when they’re part of a group.

We have a very honest conversation about fraternity and sorority culture, teen drinking, parental involvement, and why keeping the lines of communication open with our kids is so important. There aren’t always easy answers, but I believe these are conversations we need to be having with our children long before they leave home. We talk about teaching respect, accountability, boundaries, and trusting your own instincts.

You can Follow Dr. Santorelli here: https://www.instagram.com/drnoellesantorelli/?hl=en

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 #DrNoelleSantorelli #Parenting #ParentingTips #ParentingConversations #ModernParenting #RaisingKids #RaisingTeens #TeenParenting #CollegeParenting #Consent #ConsentEducation #TeachingConsent #Boundaries #HealthyBoundaries #Respect #HealthyRelationships #PeerPressure #Groupthink #IndependentThinking #CriticalThinking #SpeakUp #BystanderIntervention #EmotionalIntelligence #Accountability #RaisingBoys #RaisingGirls #MentalHealth #ChildSafety #FamilyCommunication #OpenCommunication #ParentingTeens #Podcast
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In this episode I’m joined by mental health advocate and speaker Heidi Ambrose for an honest conversation about suicide, grief, and finding hope after loss. Heidi and I first met when I was a speaker at a women's event, there we connected over our shared experiences with loss. She opens up about growing up in New York City with emotionally distant parents and feeling lonely despite having financial privilege. At just 17, Heidi lost her mother to suicide following her parents’ divorce, an experience that changed her life forever.

Heidi shares the shock, guilt, and stigma she experienced after her mother’s death, including how difficult it was to talk openly about what happened. Without therapy or much support at the time, she had to navigate her grief largely on her own. Through therapy and a determination not to let her loss define her, Heidi eventually found purpose in helping others. She became a mental health advocate, pursued a master’s degree in social work, and raised her two sons with an emphasis on honesty and emotional support. We also discuss spirituality, warning signs, and why people struggling with depression may feel their loved ones would be better off without them.

This conversation is a reminder of why we need to talk openly about suicide and grief without shame or judgment. We discuss the importance of connection, support, and reminding those who are struggling that they are not alone. I hope this episode offers comfort to anyone who has experienced loss or is going through a difficult time.

Help is available, and there is always hope. If you or someone you know is in crisis in the United States, call or text 988 for support.

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 #HeidiAmbrose #SuicidePrevention #SuicideAwareness #SuicidePreventionMonth #SuicideLoss #SuicideLossSurvivor #GriefAndHealing #GriefJourney #LosingAParent #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAdvocate #BreakTheStigma #EndTheStigma #YouAreNotAlone #HopeAfterLoss #FindingHope #HealingJourney #GriefSupport #SuicideSurvivors #EmotionalHealing #Resilience #TurningPainIntoPurpose #LifeAfterLoss #SpeakUp #StartTheConversation #HopeAndHealing #988Lifeline
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Today, you’re going to hear a revisited conversation from 2022 between my Mom and me. We talk about her experience being attacked as a young girl and how it forever impacted her life. She has experienced unimaginable loss, including losing both a child and a husband, and has had to learn how to live again after these traumatic experiences.

I have experienced my own trauma through the many losses in my life, and my relationship with my Mom has had its ups and downs over the years. But through everything, the love has always been there. I wanted to share this conversation for anyone who may be going through something difficult, as a reminder that even after unimaginable loss and trauma, there can still be hope. I realize how incredibly lucky I am to have my Mom, and I will always treasure this conversation with her.

Listen, cry, and be inspired to love your family even harder and stronger.

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 #MyMomsStory #MomAndDaughter #MotherDaughter #SpecialEpisode #Revisited #LossAndHealing #GriefAndHealing #GriefJourney #HealingJourney #TraumaHealing #TraumaRecovery #Resilience #FindingHope #HopeAfterLoss #LifeAfterLoss #OvercomingAdversity #Survivor #Strength #Courage #Family #FamilyLove #LoveAndLoss #EmotionalHealing #PersonalGrowth #NeverGiveUp #HopeAndHealing #Mothers
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