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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Lizzie Semmer, a former pre K teacher who left the classroom and started a new chapter of her life in Portugal. Lizzie shares what it was like growing up between Chicago and Manhattan Beach with a father who worked in Hollywood, and how she eventually began her own career in entertainment, working with her father. After years in the industry, she followed a calling into teaching and spent a decade working with young children before the demands and exhaustion of the post COVID classroom led her to make the difficult decision to walk away. Lizzie also opens up about losing her father to stage four cancer at just 55 and the profound impact his illness and death had on her. Afterward, genetic testing revealed that she carried the same cancer related mutations, leading to ongoing screenings and the removal of a benign colon mass. We talk about grief, the communities that supported her through some of her hardest moments, and the signs she felt along the way, including receiving her Portugal visa on September 11, a date that held deep personal meaning for her. Today, Lizzie is building a quieter life in Portugal while working in the travel industry and embracing the uncertainty that comes with starting over. Her story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes life forces us to change direction before we are ready, but a new chapter can still hold meaning, purpose, and hope. We talk about grief, resilience, trusting yourself, and finding the courage to create a life that feels more aligned with who you are. Learn more here: https://thefascinatedtraveler.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAaf-hWBP1MfRiUJR_jX9E75Lq9oSYPNEMime4wji80wAi5O84Zi4sdQ62yLhKg_aem_8JEHDM1P94RM7X7kxkWfbg  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 #LizzieSemmer #StartingOver #StartingOverAbroad #LifeInPortugal #PortugalLife #MovingToPortugal #NewChapter #GriefAndHealing #GriefJourney #LosingAParent #LossAndGrief #GriefSupport #Resilience #FindingHope #FindingPurpose #LifeTransitions #MajorLifeChanges #LifeAfterLoss #CareerChange #LeavingTeaching #FormerTeacher #TeachersOfInstagram #TeacherLife #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingJourney #TrustTheJourney #SignsFromTheUniverse #FollowingYourCalling #JudgingMeghan #JudgingMeghanPodcast #Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two-time Emmy-nominated director/producer of TV and Broadway, Riaz Patel isn’t here because of his credentials. He’s here because of his unusual perspective: a man who has spent virtually his entire life in female-dominated worlds. He grew up surrounded by women — two sisters, countless female cousins — then spent years making television about women, for female-led networks, on female-majority teams, for female audiences. And now, as a gay dad raising two kids, he finds himself once again in a world largely populated by moms. He comes to motherhood as an “interloper”: close enough to see it intimately, but outside enough to see it differently. He’s not here to tell women how to mother. He’s here to talk about what he’s witnessed — the expectations, the judgment, the competition, and the extraordinary pressure women put on themselves and each other. This is a blunt, unfiltered conversation about motherhood — and one I think a lot of mothers need to hear. Follow Riaz here: https://www.instagram.com/riazrpatel/?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 #RiazPatel #Motherhood #MotherhoodUnfiltered #MotherhoodJourney #MotherhoodRealTalk #MomLife #MomTruths #MotherhoodMatters #ThePressureOfMotherhood #MomPressure #MomJudgment #MomGuilt #MomShame #MomCompetition #Parenting #ParentingPressure #ParentingJourney #ModernMotherhood #WomenAndMotherhood #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenSupportingMothers #BreakingTheMomJudgment #NoPerfectMothers #MotherhoodWithoutJudgment #MentalHealth #SelfCompassion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As I celebrate my sixth year of podcasting and approach my 300th episode, I’m excited to welcome angel communicator, author, speaker, and podcaster Alisha Das. During a time when the world can feel especially divided and difficult, Alisha and I have a conversation about spirituality, purpose, angels, and finding light during challenging seasons. Alisha shares her story of growing up in rural Indiana, experiencing a traumatic childhood, and encountering archangels from the age of four.  After briefly pursuing acting, she eventually embraced her gifts and became a spiritual intuitive. Alisha explains how connecting with our angelic ancestry can help us better understand our purpose. We also discuss discernment, skepticism, connecting with loved ones who have passed, and how to approach spiritual experiences in a way that feels personal and grounded. Alisha shares insights from her book, Your Angelic Ancestry, including how to connect with angels and discover your angelic name. We also talk about navigating darkness and uncertainty while holding onto hope and trusting that difficult seasons are temporary. As we continue through Suicide Prevention Month, I want to remind anyone who may be struggling that they are not alone and that there is always the possibility of finding a new path forward. I hope this conversation with Alisha offers a little comfort, curiosity, and hope when you need it most. Learn more about Alisha here: https://alishadas.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 #AlishaDas #YourAngelicAncestry #AngelicAncestry #ArchangelMichael #Angels #AngelCommunication #AngelCommunicator #GuardianAngels #Spirituality #SpiritualIntuition #SpiritualJourney #FindingPurpose #LifePurpose #FindingHope #HopeAndHealing #SpiritualAwakening #Intuition #DivineGuidance #SignsFromTheUniverse #Afterlife #LovedOnesInHeaven #PersonalGrowth #HealingJourney #FaithAndHope #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #SuicidePreventionMonth #JudgingMeghan #JudgingMeghanPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is especially meaningful as I celebrate my podcast’s six year anniversary during Suicide Prevention Month. I’m joined by Riaz Patel, a two time Emmy nominated director and producer and Broadway producer, who shares his story of growing up Pakistani, Muslim, and gay in rural West Virginia and Maryland. He opens up about feeling like an outsider, constantly navigating prejudice, experiencing hostility after 9/11, and a pivotal moment when the film Maurice helped him see a different future for himself during one of the darkest times in his life. Riaz shares how that experience led him into entertainment, the unexpected path that brought him to reality television, and the story of meeting his husband, Miles, and building a family. We also talk about the importance of hope, connection, and finding a reason to keep moving forward when life feels overwhelming. Riaz is also the creator of Connect Effect, a 53 minute entertainment based experience designed to create "on demand belonging" and help people find common ground. We talk about loneliness, our increasingly screen driven world, political division, and how easily we can focus on anger while missing the light around us. This conversation is a reminder to listen, stay connected, and remember that even in our darkest moments, there can still be hope and a path forward. Follow Riaz here: https://www.instagram.com/riazrpatel/?hl=en  Learn more about ConnectEffect here: https://connecteffect.us/  Our listeners get a FREE MONTH of Primal Queen plus FOUR FREE GIFTS at PrimalQueen.com/JUDGING. #ad Head to AquaTru.com and use promo code JUDGING to get UP TO 20% off today! 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 #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #EndTheStigma #YouAreNotAlone #HopeAndHealing #ChooseConnection #Community #TogetherWeCan #SupportMatters #ReachOut #KeepGoing #LifeAfterCrisis #SuicideAwareness #SuicidePreventionAwareness #PreventSuicide #CrisisSupport #EmotionalWellness #Wellness #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #AuthenticConnection #SocialConnection #BuildingCommunity #CommonGround #ListenWithEmpathy #Compassion #KindnessMatters #LessLonely #ConnectionOverDivision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m repeating this episode to honor Will Jimeno, all of the victims of 9/11, the survivors, the first responders who ran toward the danger, and all of their families. This episode originally aired in 2021, but Will’s story is one I believe should never be forgotten. September 11, 2001, is a day so many of us remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. It was a day that changed our country and countless lives forever. Will was a rookie Port Authority police officer when he saw the shadow of American Airlines Flight 11 moments before it struck the World Trade Center. He and his fellow officers knew they had to go in and help. Will shares what it was like to walk into the towers knowing a plane had hit the building, never imagining what was about to happen. When the South Tower collapsed, Will became trapped beneath the rubble alongside Sergeant John McLoughlin and Officer Dominick Pezzulo. Only Will and Sergeant McLoughlin survived. Trapped for hours with little hope of being rescued, the two men shared deeply personal conversations about their families and the people they loved. Will even asked Sergeant McLoughlin to tell his pregnant wife that he wanted their baby girl to be named Olivia. Eventually, Will and Sergeant McLoughlin were found and rescued by former Marines Jason Thomas and Dave Karnes. Both men suffered devastating injuries and faced a long road of surgeries, rehabilitation, and recovery. It was an absolute honor to speak with Will, hear his story, and learn how he chose to move forward from such an unimaginable experience. Will has dedicated his life to serving others, and his courage, resilience, and commitment to service are a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. I’m grateful to revisit this conversation and share Will’s story again as we remember September 11 and everyone whose lives were forever changed that day. 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 #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #abuserecovery #traumahealing #mentalhealthawareness #WillJimeno #911 #September11 #NeverForget #911Memorial #911Survivor #PortAuthorityPolice #FirstResponders #Heroes #HonorAndRemember #Resilience #Courage #Service #NeverForget911 #Remembering911 #911Anniversary #JudgingMeghan #Podcast NOTE: This Revisited Series is the re-release of my favorite most important episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices