EP74: Loving Hard with Symphonie Smith, PhD

What do you want to stop doing? When Jodi asked her newsletter subscribers this question, she received a lot of responses—one of them was from a fellow therapist in recovery, Dr. Symphonie Smith, LIMFT. Jodi invited Dr. Smith to join her for this episode to discuss her recent ADHD diagnosis and how Journals of a Love Addict, and the work of Pia Mellody, supported her through recovery from love addiction and codependence. Dr. Smith also shares the relationship that led to her recovery, and describes the cultural messaging that shapes Black women specifically—like the Strong Black Woman archetype—that can fuel overfunctioning and codependence.  Show notes: Music by JD Pendley Links to Jodi's website and Substack  Link to Dr. Symphonie Smith's website Dr. Smith mentioned the book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Degruy Subscribe to Jodi's monthly newsletter  Link to purchase Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody Links to free 12-step recovery support options: SLAA and LAA Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Why is love addiction still so misunderstood? In this episode of the podcast, Jodi and her guest Kim Litton—a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, and author of I Do It For Her—discuss this question and much more. Kim shares how she first learned about love addiction after unknowingly living with it for years, even after completing treatment for substance addiction and becoming a therapist. They get into Kim's early recovery, including an "embarrassing" story about a fling. They also discuss the New York Times article on love addiction and why some "experts" refuse to believe love addiction is a real thing. Show notes: Music by JD Pendley Links to Jodi's website and Substack  Link to Kim Litton's website and instagram  Subscribe to Jodi's monthly newsletter  Purchase I Do It For Her by Kim Litton Link to purchase Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody Read the NY Times article mentioned in this episode  Want to learn more about love addiction and early recovery? — Jodi's mini course is now only $17, buy it here Links to free 12-step recovery support options: SLAA and LAA Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Ten years ago this month, Jodi was in early withdrawal after the breakup that changed everything. It was also the start of her love addiction recovery, which is what actually made all the difference. In this episode she walks through how she got there—the years of addictive relationships and painful breakups that finally led her to a therapist who got it. She talks about the science of withdrawal, the importance of a dating plan, and why she celebrates that breakup anniversary.  Show notes: Music by JD Pendley Links to Jodi's website and Substack  Subscribe to Jodi's monthly newsletter  Link to purchase Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody Purchase Why We Love by Helen Fisher  Want to learn more about love addiction and early recovery? — Jodi's mini course is now only $17, buy it here Links to free 12-step recovery support options: SLAA and LAA Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? That's a good question! It's also the title of the Vogue piece by journalist Chanté Joseph, and in this episode Jodi sits down with Chanté to discuss why singlehood is having a cultural moment. They dig into the cultural and economic pressures that push women into partnerships, how to embrace singlehood, and the importance of a dating plan. Chanté also opens up about her personal experience with ADHD and intensity in relationships, which led her to Journals of a Love Addict and the work of Pia Mellody. Show notes: Music by JD Pendley Links to Jodi's website and Substack  Follow Chanté Joseph on Instagram and read her Substack Link to Chanté's articles in Vogue and Glamour Link to purchase Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody What Is Love Addiction? — Jodi's mini course is now only $17, buy it here Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

More and more people are turning to ChatGPT for coaching, relationship advice, and even companionship. But how are these interactions shaping the way we relate to ourselves and others? In this episode, Jodi talks with accredited relational therapist Billie Dunlevy to explore this questions through the lens of love addiction, codependency, and Pia Mellody's Five Core Issues. They discuss how the use of AI tools like ChatGPT may influence emotional dependence, boundaries, self-worth, and recovery—and what that could mean for the future of human relationships. Show notes: Music by JD Pendley Links to Jodi's website and Substack  Link to purchase Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody Learn more about Billie Dunlevy on her website and on Instagram. What Is Love Addiction? — Jodi's mini course is now only $17, buy it here Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Have you ever felt down, but believed you shouldn't be—so you pushed through pretending everything was fine? In this episode, Jodi gets honest about her own experience with this pattern, tracing it back to undiagnosed ADHD, perimenopause, burnout, and a divorce that sent her love addiction into overdrive for the next 15 years. Using Pia Mellody's five core issues of codependency and the eldest daughter/Hero role, she unpacks how enmeshment teaches us that being needed is safer than having needs—and makes the case for family-of-origin recovery work, especially in midlife (even though there will be grief). Show notes: Music by JD Pendley Links to Jodi's website and Substack  Link to purchase Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody What Is Love Addiction? — Jodi's mini course is now only $17, buy it here Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Journals of a Love Addict has always been about telling our stories, even the messy ones. But last summer, Jodi found herself on a stage in Upstate New York—in front of an audience— sharing something she'd kept to herself for twenty years. And she blames Lauren Weedman. Lauren is an award-winning performance artist, playwright, author, and teacher — known for Abbott Elementary, Looking, and Hacks. In this episode, Jodi and Lauren talk about why storytelling is therapeutic, why the messy parts are usually the gold, and what happens when you stop rejecting the story you've been most afraid to tell. Plus psychics, ex-husbands, and family of origin. Stay tuned for a special announcement at the end. Show notes Music by JD Pendley Join the wait list to learn more about the storytelling workshop with Lauren and Jodi (dates and details coming soon) Links to Jodi's website and Substack  Lauren's website Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

What if the reason you struggle with boundaries isn't your mindset, but your nervous system? Introducing Tanya Dantus, licensed therapist, Somatic Experiencing practitioner, and author of The Power of No. She's the creator of Modern Detachment Syndrome — a framework for understanding why many women end up disconnected from their bodies, needs, and voice just to get through the day. In this episode, Jodi talks with Tanya about the relationship that led to her book, and they dig into people-pleasing and fawning as survival strategies, the role patriarchy plays in all of it, and Tanya's RIFRA method for getting to the root of it. Show notes: Music by JD Pendley Tanya's website. Tanya's book, The Power of No Links to Jodi's website and Substack. Tanya mentioned the book, The Living Goddesses by Marija Gimbutas, in this episode. Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.  

AI is a heated topic, especially when it comes to using it as a replacement for therapy or relationship advice. But what would YOU do if you opened your partner's laptop and found a ChatGPT thread titled "Relationship Issues and Uncertainty?" This happened to writer and PR consultant Lindsey Hall — then she wrote about it, and people have feelings. In this episode Jodi talks with Lindsey about the chat that ended her relationship, her experience with love addiction, relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder, and what it means to go viral for telling your story in 2026. Show notes: Music by JD Pendley Link to Lindsey Hall's Substack essay Link to Jodi's website and Substack ROCD resources:  Relationship OCD: A CBT-Based Guide to Move Beyond Obsessive Doubt, Anxiety, and Fear of Commitment in Romantic Relationships Overthinking About You: Navigating Romantic Relationships When You Have Anxiety, OCD, And/Or Depression Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

A recurring dream theme. A vicious comment about Liz Gilbert. And the reasons women keep their stories to themselves. This week Jodi unpacks the connection between love addiction and misogyny, and why All The Way To The River brought out the haters.  Because nobody likes it when a woman gets honest about her relationships. Nobody likes a messy recovery story. And that's exactly why we have to share them. Plus: the launch of Jodi's Substack, Nobody Likes This. Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Links to Jodi's website and her new Substack, Nobody Likes This (available April 21st). Purchase All The Way To The River by Liz Gilbert on Bookshop.org Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.