Restored: Helping Children of Divorce
Children of divorce are 2–3 times more likely to get divorced and face emotional problems, relationship issues, and bad habits. This podcast shares real stories and expert tips to heal trauma, navigate family challenges, and build healthy relationships. Ranked in the top 10% of all podcasts and #18 in the divorce category, it is dedicated to helping children of divorce break the cycle.
Episodes
Why Avoiding Conflict Can Destroy a Relationship | Adam Lane Smith: #183
If you grew up in a broken or dysfunctional family, you may have entered adulthood without ever seeing what healthy conflict looks like.But avoiding conflict isn’t the answer. In fact, healthy conflict can be one of the main ways couples build trust, deepen intimacy, and discover whether they can actually build a life together.Our guest, Adam Lane Smith, is a former licensed marriage and family th
How to Feel Safe Again After Family Dysfunction | Annie Sarlo: #182
What if you’ve understood your wounds intellectually—but your body is still carrying them?After her parents’ divorce, Annie Sarlo spent years hiding her family’s dysfunction, struggling with anger, anxiety, perfectionism, and difficulty receiving love. Her healing eventually taught her something surprising: we’re wounded in relationship, and we often heal in relationship—but talking alone isn’t al
Narcissistic Parent: How to Heal When Dysfunction Felt Normal | Mickela : #181
When dysfunction is all you know, it can feel normal.For Michaela, growing up with a narcissistic father meant fear, control, walking on eggshells, protecting her younger siblings, and even parenting her own parents. For years, she didn’t realize how unhealthy her family dynamics were. It wasn’t until she encountered healthy families that she began to see how different love could look.In this epis
The Divorce Mistakes That Hurt Children Most | Erica Komisar : #180
Divorce is traumatic for children at every age—but parents can either deepen that wound or help their children heal.In this conversation, licensed clinical social worker and psychoanalyst Erica Komisar explains why a “good divorce” requires parents to stop focusing on what feels fair to them and start prioritizing what their children actually need. She shares practical ways to create stability, re
Catholic Annulments: Questions Children of Divorce Are Afraid to Ask: Anthony St. Louis-Sanchez, JCL #179
If your parents are divorced and seeking a Catholic annulment, it can feel confusing — and even scary. What is an annulment? Is it just “Catholic divorce”? Does it erase your parents’ marriage? And the question many children of divorce are afraid to ask: Does this mean I’m illegitimate?In this episode, I’m joined by Anthony St. Louis-Sanchez, JCL, Director of the Metropolitan Tribunal of Denver, t
If God Loves Me, Why Did He Allow This Pain? | Dr. Daniel Meola: #178
When your parents’ divorce or separation hurts deeply, it can raise painful questions about God: Where was He when my family fell apart? Why didn’t He stop it? And if faith matters so much, why didn’t it save my family?In this episode, Joey talks with Dr. Daniel Meola, co-founder of Life-Giving Wounds, about suffering, anger, grief, spiritual bypassing, and the struggle many adult children of divo
You Can’t Heal Without Safe People or Boundaries | Billy: #177
When your family breaks apart, especially through years of fighting, manipulation, or emotional chaos, you can learn to survive by staying busy, shutting down, or pretending it didn’t affect you.But what happens when that pain starts showing up in your marriage, your parenting, your confidence, or the way you handle conflict?In this episode, Billy shares how her parents’ long, painful divorce bega
Why Affairs Happen, and How to Build a Faithful Marriage | Doug Hinderer : #176
When a parent cheats, it doesn’t just wound the marriage. It can wound the children too.For many young people from broken families, infidelity creates a terrifying fear: What if I get cheated on too? Or worse, what if I become the one who cheats?In this episode, Joey talks with marriage and family therapist Doug Hinderer about how affairs happen, why betrayal damages a child’s ability to trust, an
Her Dad Cheated, Her Family Broke, But She Broke the Cycle | Autumn: #175
When your family breaks apart, anger makes sense. But if it has nowhere to go, it can turn into bitterness, depression, addiction, relationship fear, and despair.In this episode, Autumn shares how her parents’ divorce, her father’s infidelity, generational dysfunction, and sexual abuse shaped the way she saw men, love, marriage, God, and herself. She opens up about the rage she carried, her strugg
How To Avoid Falling In Love With A Jerk | Dr. John Van Epp: #174
What if the person you fall for isn’t just a choice, but a pattern?Most people think love is about chemistry, attraction, or finding “the one.” But according to today’s guest, the heart alone is not enough.If you come from a divorced or dysfunctional family, your wounds can shape who you trust, who you’re attracted to, and what feels “normal” in a relationship. Without realizing it, you might be d
When Not to Listen to Your Parents About Love | 3 Callers from Broken Families #173
In this episode, I mentor three people LIVE through the problems they’re facing in their broken families:One caller asks how to deal with a dad who avoids the reality of his divorce, and whether it’s his place to confront him or let that battle go.Another asks a question people are afraid to say out loud: Can I actually heal? And if so, how does healing really happen?And finally, a young woman ope
You’re the Third Parent: How to Break Free Without Hurting Your Siblings | Celeste: #172
At 14 or 15 years old, Celeste learned her parents’ marriage was unraveling.Affairs.Addiction.Secrets.Her siblings didn’t know.But she did — because she was the oldest daughter.And before long, she wasn’t just watching the marriage fall apart… she was managing it.In this episode, Celeste shares what it was like to grow up as the “third parent” in a family where divorce was unthinkable — and what t
You’re Invited: A Healing Retreat May 1-3 in Philadelphia
We’re hosting a rare healing retreat for young adults from divorced or dysfunctional families May 1-3 in Malvern, PA, just outside Philadelphia. View details or sign up at RestoredMinistry.com/philly.Questions? Email JordanaM@restoredministry.com
Recommend Your Therapist to Our Community
Recommend a TherapistYou’re rare: you found a therapist who massively helped you heal and grow.Most people from broken families never get that. They want help but don’t know who to trust, so they stay stuck.We’re changing that by building a small, trusted list of exceptional therapists. In this short episode, you’ll hear how you can help.You don’t need to volunteer or donate. Just spend a few minu
Low Confidence? Here’s How to Build It | Dr. Nicole Gabana Chiesa: #171
If you grew up in a broken or divorced family, struggling with confidence isn’t random.Research has consistently shown that children of divorce are more likely to experience lower self-esteem, higher anxiety, and greater insecurity in relationships. When love feels unstable or conditional early on, it shapes how you handle pressure later in life.You might:Overthink conversationsFreeze in high-pres
Your Advice Needed: A NEW Solution for People from Broken Families
If you grew up in a divorced or really dysfunctional family, this is for you.I’m working on a new 6‑week program for people like us, but before we build anything, I want your honest input and advice. In this short episode, I’ll share the idea, who it’s for, and how you can help shape it.It’s quick, and your feedback will directly impact whether this happens and what it looks like.Listen in, check
Money Stress in a Broken Family Forces You to Grow Up | Liz: #170
What if your anxiety about money didn’t start in adulthood, but in your dysfunctional family during childhood?Growing up with financial instability doesn’t just affect your bank account. It can train your nervous system to live in survival mode — forcing you to grow up too fast and quietly shaping how you date, marry, and handle responsibility.In this episode, pediatric cardiac ICU physician Liz s
Dating is a Mess: A NEW Way to Meet High Quality, Virtuous People | Emily Wilson Hussem: #169
Dating today feels exhausting. Confusing. And for people from divorced or dysfunctional families, it can feel even heavier — because one wrong choice doesn’t just mean heartbreak… it can feel like repeating your parents’ story.In this episode, Joey sits down with Emily Wilson, Catholic author and co-founder of Sacred Spark, to talk about the most important factor in building a healthy marriage: ch
Your Phone Might Be Blocking Your Healing (Here’s the Plan) | Christen Routh: #168
Most people think screen time is a harmless habit. But what if it’s quietly training your brain against healing?In this conversation, Christen Routh explains why doomscrolling feels like relief but often leaves you more anxious, more numb, and more alone. We talk about the real danger of screens, not just what they show you, but what they replace: real friendship, real presence, real growth. And w
Why You’re Not Healthier: The Real Fix Nobody Talks About | Brandon Hall: #167
Most people don’t have a knowledge problem when it comes to wellness. They have a consistency problem. You already know the basics, but when stress hits, you fall off and you start chasing the next hack, app, plan, podcast, or supplement.In this episode, Brandon Hall (CatholicWell) explains why the real battle is willpower, how stress and trauma can train your brain to live on high alert, and why
“My Mom Overshares and Relies on Me Too Much. What Do I Do?” | Live Call In: #166
In this episode, I’ll mentor three people LIVE through real-life situations that people like us from broken families face:A separated mom with adult kids asks: How do I support my kids through the fallout without pushing them, guilt-tripping them, or putting them in the middle?A man, wounded by his parents’ divorce and his struggles with alcoholism, asks: Is it actually worth digging up the past t
How to Heal the Physical Cost of Your Parents’ Divorce | Dakota Lane: #165
You might be “over” your parents’ divorce.But your body might not be.If you grew up in a divorced or dysfunctional home, chronic stress can get stored in your nervous system — quietly shaping your sleep, energy, digestion, hormones, and mental health years later.In this episode, I talk with Dakota Lane about how stress doesn’t just affect your emotions. It can literally rewire your body and keep y
Best of 2025 | Restored Podcast Highlights: #164
If you come from a divorced or dysfunctional family, this show is for you. We mentor you through the pain and help you heal, so you can avoid repeating your family’s dysfunction and instead build strong, healthy relationships. In this episode, you'll hear highlight clips from the podcast in 2025.If you’re new to the podcast, welcome! This is the perfect way to sample the podcast and learn how
How to Heal Your Nervous System Impacted by Your Parents' Divorce | Sr. Mary Stephen: #163
Growing up with divorced parents or a dysfunctional family does not just shape your childhood. It shapes your nervous system. Many young people from broken homes live with chronic anxiety, shutdown, emotional overwhelm, or conflict avoidance without ever knowing why.In this episode, Sr. Mary Stephen explains how childhood chaos trains your brain and body to stay on high alert and how to finally re
The Bible’s Messiest Families & What They Reveal About Yours | Deacon Ryan Budd: #162
So many young people from divorced or dysfunctional families assume their story is unique — or worse, that they’re destined to repeat the same patterns. But the truth is, family brokenness is far more common than anyone talks about. And God has been dealing with messy family dynamics since the beginning of time.In this episode, Deacon Ryan Budd, who served as Dr. Scott Hahn’s research assistant, r
His Parents Divorce Led Him to Alcoholism: Here's How He Broke Free | Scott Weeman: #161
What if your parents’ divorce, or the chaos you grew up in, didn’t just hurt you emotionally but actually wired you to seek relief through addiction?This might explain why you feel unsafe for no reason, why you keep numbing out when life gets hard, or why you crave control but end up stuck in the same self-destructive cycles.In this episode, we explore the deep connection between addiction and fam
The Mentor Who Became the Father I Never Had | Brandon Allaman: #160
When your parents divorce, you almost always miss out on the mentorship and guidance that parents are meant to give their children about life, relationships, and so much more. Without that kind of guidance, you feel lost, alone, and stuck - unsure what to do about it all.But that’s where a mentor can be incredibly helpful and even healing.In this episode, we dive into the power of mentorship: why
“Should I Ask My Divorced Parents for Relationship Advice?” Live Call In! | 159
To serve you better, we’re trying something new. In this episode, I’ll mentor three people live, right here on the show. Each of them brings a raw, honest question—things most of us from broken families have wrestled with.A college student asks how to heal from his dad’s abandonment—and whether he should leave the door open for a relationship or finally close it.A man wonders how he can help young
Breaking the Cycle of Divorce in Your Marriage | Kaseena Birnbaum | 158
What if divorce didn’t just break your childhood—it rewired how you see love and marriage?Most people think divorce only affects the couple who splits. But the truth is, when you grow up watching marriage after marriage fall apart, you start to believe that brokenness is normal.That was Kaseena Birnbaum’s story. With six divorces between her parents and in-laws, she once assumed she’d rack up divo
#157: The Lie Every Child of Divorce Secretly Believes | Jim Havens
What if your parents’ divorce didn’t just split your family—but left you quietly carrying the blame?Most people think the hardest part of divorce is the day it happens. But often it’s the confusion, the pressure to act like everything’s fine, and the haunting thought: “Was it my fault?”In this episode, Jim Havens shares his journey of growing up in a broken family, spiraling into destructive choic
#156: “This Is Not the Marriage I Signed Up For” | Heather Khym
Heather thought her family life was normal. But over time, she uncovered two buried traumas that quietly shaped her childhood—and required deep healing.Years later, as a newlywed, another wound came to light: her husband’s secret porn addiction. It shattered her—but it also became the turning point for restoration. Heather now calls it both the worst day and the best day of her life.In this episod
#155: Am I Doomed to Repeat My Parents’ Divorce? | Dr. Brad Wilcox
Am I doomed to repeat the mistakes I saw in my parents’ marriage? That question made me afraid of love—especially when I started dating. At times, it even made me not want to get married at all. And now, even as a married man, that fear still shows up.If you come from a divorced or deeply dysfunctional family, you probably feel it too.The question I kept asking: How do I avoid that? How do I not g
#154: Should I Reconnect with My Estranged Parent? | Kreed Revere
For so many of us from divorced or dysfunctional families, the tension with our parents doesn’t just fade. It can grow into silence, distance, or even a total cutoff where we can become estranged from each other. But what exactly is estrangement, why does it happen, and how can you rebuild an estranged relationship? In this episode, we discuss that and more:The subtle ways parents (and children) u
#153: He Grew Up Without a Dad. Here’s What He Learned | Tommy
In many places, we’re facing an epidemic of fatherlessnes. Fatherlessness not only leaves an invisible mark but it also shapes how you view yourself, how you handle your emotions, and how you love in relationships. So are fatherless children doomed?Not at all. In fact, Tommy shows how to compensate for what you didn’t receive from dad and how healing is within reach. In this episode, we also discu
#152: The 3 Ways to Find Meaning in Suffering | Jack Beers
So many of us from divorced or dysfunctional families never learned how to deal with pain and suffering in a healthy way. As a result, we usually either numb the pain or get stuck in bitterness. But what if you could not only learn how to navigate pain in a healthy way, but actually draw meaning from your pain and emerge stronger? That’s what we discuss in this episode, plus:The shocking diagnosis
#151: Even Necessary Divorces Hurt | Brandy
When Brandy was only a few months old, her parents divorced due to her father’s alcoholism. From the outside, her story might seem like a “best case” scenario—she was raised by a courageous single mom and later a kind stepfather. But underneath it all, she carried wounds no one could see. She believed perfection was the path to love. She feared becoming like the very people who hurt her. One wound
#150: Attachment Theory: What It Is and Why It Matters | Kirsty Nolan
What is attachment theory? How does your attachment style impact your relationships? As an expert in attachment theory, Kirsty Nolan joins us to discuss all of that, plus:The four attachment stylesWhat happens when you have a secure attachment early in childhood, but later experience a rupture because of trauma, like your parents’ divorceTips on resolving conflict, specifically how to repair after
#149: He Was His Parents’ Therapist Until It Broke Him | Cole
What happens when you become your parents’ emotional confidant—their therapist—during a divorce? At first, it might feel like you’re helping. But eventually, it backfires and might even break you. That’s what happened to Cole. In this episode, we explore:How he went through his parents’ separation twice—and how each one affected him differentlyHow he’s slowly rebuilding family relationships after
#148: Why You're Anxious, Tired, & Sick—and What to Do About It | Jackie Mulligan
So many of us feel depleted and exhausted, yet we might not know why. This is especially true for those of us from divorced or broken families. Research shows that children of divorce typically have worse physical health and more emotional problems. But thankfully, that doesn’t have to be your story. Going from depleted to healthy on every level is not only doable—but simpler than you think, accor
#147: From Athlete to Paralyzed: “It’s the Best Thing That’s Happened to Me” | AJ De La Rosa
AJ had a normal life as a college student-athlete. But one night, a violent car accident left AJ paralyzed from the waist down. What started as 15 minutes of hell has transformed into what he calls “The best thing that’s happened to me.” In this episode, you’ll hear:The detailed story of the accident and the unexplainable emotions he experienced in the minutes after the accidentThe two things that
#146: 1/3 Less Marriages Today Are Making Us Lonely | JP De Gance
At the root of our culture’s many problems is the breakdown of marriages and families. My guest shares sobering statistics, such as that “there are 31% less marriages annually now than in the year 2000” and there are “65% less marriages now than in the year 1970.” He says this is hugely contributing to the loneliness crisis today. Thankfully, there is a cure, which we discuss in this episode, plus
#145: Mother Wounds, “Parts Work” Therapy, & Healing from a Broken Family | Dr. Gerry Crete
Growing up, Dr. Gerry experienced deep turmoil at home. His father was abusive, and his parents’ marriage was full of conflict. When they eventually divorced, he felt like he lost both parents. Feeling alone, he became highly independent. Thankfully, he found healing, and today he helps others heal as a therapist. In this episode, we discuss:How Internal Family Systems (IFS) and “parts work” can h
#144: The Secret to Not Repeating Your Family’s Dysfunction | Dr. Andrew Abela
So many of us from divorced or broken families fear repeating our parents' mistakes. If you want to avoid that, one of the keys is building virtue. But what is virtue? How do you build it? And what virtues might you acquire?My guest today wrote Superhabits, an amazing new book on virtue. He answers those questions, plus:How to override the unconscious bad habits we inherited in our familiesOn
#143: When Your Divorced Parent Dies: Grieving, Healing, & Closure | Ben
After a relapse into alcoholism, Ben’s mom left him, his family, and the country for years when he was just 5 years old. When she returned, he struggled in his relationship with her but placed proper boundaries and found some resolution. But his mom’s death in Ben’s late 20s brought new pain. In this episode, you’ll hear his wild story, plus:The resolution he experienced with his mom and an unexpe
#142: How to Break the Cycle of Your Broken Family
Has your parents’ divorce or broken family brought pain into your life? Do you fear repeating the cycle of dysfunction or divorce?You’re not alone—millions face these often unspoken struggles: hidden wounds, emotional problems, broken relationships, and destructive habits. Thankfully, you’re not destined to repeat your family’s dysfunction. In this episode, you’ll hear a breakout talk from the SEE
#141: Good Can Come from Broken Situations | Dylan
At age 5, Dylan’s parents divorced. Visitation brought challenges, but he learned to appreciate the time it gave him with his dad, who really helped him grow. From that, he learned that good can come from broken situations.In today’s episodes, we also discuss topics like:How we need father figures, ideally our dads, in order to become men, find our strength, and learn what to do with itThe challen
#140: Hardest Part of the Divorce: Seeing My Siblings Struggle | Anthony
The hardest part of your parents’ divorce or family breakdown is seeing the people you love suffer. That was true for my guest today who happens to be my older brother, Anthony: Watching our siblings struggle was the hardest part for him.In this episode, you’ll hear us compare stories about our parents’ divorce from our perspectives as siblings, plus:How Anthony had a sense of, “This is not how th
#139: Dating or Marrying Someone from an Intact vs Broken Family | Paul & Maggie Kim
So many of us from broken families end up dating or marrying someone from an intact family. But that presents challenges, which we discuss in this episode with an amazing married couple where one spouse comes from a broken family and the other is from an intact family. We also discuss questions like:What did you fear about marriage? Maggie opens up about her fear of someone cheating on her.How hav
#138: The Best of 2024: Restored Podcast Highlights
If you come from a divorced or broken family, this show is for you. We help you heal your brokenness, navigate the challenges, and build healthy relationships, so you can break that cycle and build a better life. In this episode, you'll hear highlight clips from the podcast in 2024.If you’re new to the podcast, this is the perfect way to sample our content and learn how it will help you. If y
#137: You’re Not Doomed to Get Divorced | Samantha
If you come from a divorced family, research says you’re more likely to get divorced. But does that mean you’re doomed to that fate? My guest today says a resounding no. She and her husband, also a child of divorce, have built a 24-year-long happy marriage with 3 children. Her message for you? You can do the same. In this episode, we discuss: How she’s overcome her fear of getting divorced and how
#136: Relationship Advice for Young People from Broken Families | Jackie & Bobby Angel
The biggest area of struggle for young people from divorced or broken families is in romantic relationships. Why so much struggle? In short, we were poorly trained in how to love, so we feel incompetent at it and fear repeating our parents’ mistakes. So, how can you overcome that fear and relearn how to love? My guests answer that question and more: How do you discern whether a lack of peace in a
#135: Holidays with Divorced Parents? 5 Tips to Navigate Them
Whether holidays with your divorced or separated parents are new or you’ve done it numerous times, this episode is for you. In it, you’ll get 5 practical tips to better navigate the holidays in your broken family, so they’re less stressful and more enjoyable.Get the Guide: 5 Tips to Navigate the Holidays in a Broken FamilyShownotes
#134: Holidays After Your Parents’ Divorce: What Nobody Tells You | Danielle
While the rest of the world is filled with holiday cheer, people like us from divorced or broken families usually feel very differently. While you can’t magically make the holidays happy and drama-free, what if there was a way to make them less stressful and more enjoyable? That’s what we’ll discuss in this episode, plus:The challenges that come from navigating 3 ChristmasesSome typical fears and
#133: Digital Addiction: Why It Hurts You & How to Beat It | Andrew Laubacher
Technology certainly has benefits, but there are dangers as well. Sadly, our misuse of technology is causing us to be more depressed, more anxious, less happy, and less healthy than ever before. Perhaps worst of all, it destroys our ability to heal, grow, and build healthy relationships. In this episode, we dive into that with my guest, Andrew Laubacher, plus:Alarming data on how misusing tech is
#132: Why Your Wounds & Subconscious Are Ruling Your Life | Dr. Gregory Bottaro
Carl Jung once said, “Unless you make the subconscious conscious, it will rule your life and you will call it fate.” In this episode, Dr. Greg Bottaro explains why our untreated wounds and our subconscious rule our lives, often without us knowing it. We also discuss:How his parents’ divorce impacted him and how he found tremendous healingDr. Bottaro answers your questions, such as:How do you heal?
#131: Family Felt Stressful, Tense, & Unstable | Jordana
After 24 years of marriage, Jordana’s parents divorced. Overall, her experience of family felt tense, stressful, and unstable. Once she learned of her parents’ divorce, she went into problem-solver mode, taking on the role of mother for her siblings. In this episode, you’ll hear us discuss all of that, plus: How filling a parent role isn’t ideal, but sometimes necessary for a season, and how to ha
#130: An Exercise to Heal | Dr. Peter Malinoski
If you’re like me, you’ve experienced trauma or brokenness in your life which has led you to seek healing. One method of healing used in therapy is Internal Family Systems. But what exactly is it? And how can it help you?My guest today, a psychologist and expert in Internal Family Systems, answers those questions, plus:A healing exercise that you can do alongside me during this episodeThe result o
#129: What Does It Mean to Be Healthy & Whole? | Matthew Rudolph
We talk a lot about being healthy and whole, but what exactly does it mean to be healthy and whole?We dive into that topic in this episode with a man who’s been accomplished as a CEO but has also worked hard on himself as a husband and father, plus:Why honesty and vulnerability are essential for healing and growth, and how forgiveness has been very healing for himThe 4 stages of growth required to
#128: Abuse Led to My Parents’ Divorce | Emma
Emma was 14 years old when her parents divorced, but the dysfunction at home had been happening for years. In this episode, she shares how the dysfunction, divorce, and abuse have affected her. We also discuss:How she overcame victim mentalityHow abuse differs from bad behaviorWhat helped her heal and how her life is better now as a wife and motherShare Your Story with RestoredView Restored’s Reso
#127: How Functional Neurology Helps You Heal | Dr. Paul Link
A doctor of functional neurology joins us to explain a new, cutting edge healing science that’s used to heal dysfunction in our bodies and minds, and help us live and perform at our best. It’s already being used by professional athletes and even Navy SEALs. We dive into what it is and how it can help you, plus:Why people from divorced families struggle more in relationships from a scientific stand
126: Former Porn Actress: Over 90% of People in Porn are from Broken Families | Bree Solstad
Bree Solstad went from being a top-selling porn actress to quitting her job and completely turning her life around. That transformation started because of a trip to Italy. In this episode, she tells us about that and answers questions like:What led you to pornography in the first place?How did your broken family and abandonment from your father play into that?What percentage of performers in porn
#125: Is Marriage Doomed to Fail? | Michael & Rachel Villanueva
For people like us from divorced and broken families, love and marriage can be extra scary. After my parents separated, I swore, “If this is where marriage leads, I want nothing to do with it.”But thankfully, love and marriage aren’t doomed to fail. Marriage isn’t easy, but it can be beautiful and joyful. More importantly, it can help you grow into a better, stronger, and more virtuous person. Tod
#124: I Wanted My Divorced Parents Back Together | Ethan
For many of us from divorced families, we unconsciously want our parents to resolve their problems and get back together. Even if that isn’t possible due to abuse or other extreme scenarios, we can’t help but want our family to be whole. Today’s guest felt that desire for his parents and family. In this episode, we discuss that and more:How anger, overeating, and lots of activities became his copi
#123: What I Wish Never Happened, I Am The Most Grateful For | Jack Beers
At a young age, Jack learned he had an incurable disease. That naturally brought lots of physical and emotional pain into his life. But through that suffering, the lessons he learned and the transformation he experienced led him to say, “The thing I wish most never happened, I am most grateful for.” In this episode, we discuss what led to that transformation and more:The bitterness and loneliness
#122: What Caused So Many Broken Marriages & Families? | Dr. John Bishop, PhD
With so many marriages and families falling apart, the natural question is: What has caused all these broken marriages and families?In this episode, Dr. John Bishop unveils the surprising root cause, plus:The crisis of masculinity facing our world right nowThe proper place of happiness within marriageAn awesome digital hack to protect yourself and your relationshipsMyForge.orgDakotaLaneFitness.com
#121: A Cure for Feeling Needy or Helpless | Margaret Vasquez
So many people from broken families struggle with feeling helpless or needy. Our efforts to heal or grow might even feel fruitless like tires spinning in mud that never gain traction. We put in effort in learning, but transformation isn’t happening. Whether that describes you or someone you know (like a friend, parent, or anyone else), this episode will help you! In it, you’ll learn: The simple s
#120: Freedom You Never Tasted But Always Wanted | Jake Khym, MA
Two years into marriage, Jake found himself enslaved to a sexual addiction. He longed for freedom but felt very stuck. As a result, he lived a double life, hiding his unwanted behavior from his wife. But one random day, it all came to light. At that moment, he thought his marriage was over. In this episode, he shares what happened next, plus:What kept his marriage from falling apart?How a wound o
#119: Broken is What Happened to Me, Not Who I Am | Stacey
After her parents divorced, my guest felt abandoned and badly hoped it was all a dream that she could just wake up from. Dealing with all the brokenness that followed led her down a path of feeling stuck and thinking her brokenness defined her. Thankfully, she realized that “‘broken’ is what happened to me, not who I am.” In this episode, we touch on that and more:How just having the pain of your
#118: Resolving Conflict is a Skill | Cody & Katherine
If you’re like me, you never saw conflict resolved peacefully in your family. As a result, you might feel a bit lost about how to resolve conflict in your life, especially in your relationships. If that’s you, this episode will help. In it, a married couple joins to share tips they’ve learned on resolving conflict, plus:Why it’s important to let small things go, but how letting too much go can lea
#117: Children & Parents Deserve Better Than Divorce | Jennifer Friesen
So many divorces happen because one spouse follows their desires at the expense of their vows. That happened in the family of my guest today. In this episode, we cover:How her family’s dysfunction led to struggles with gender and sexualityThe beautiful transformation she’s experienced and even seen in her parentsThe biggest lie about getting divorcedA new organization that’s fighting for children’
#116: Divorce (on Restore the Glory Podcast)
Today we’re sharing a podcast where I was interviewed by two therapists, Dr. Bob Schuchts and Jake Khym, on their podcast, Restore the Glory. Joey especially opens up about his struggles in his relationship with God, plus they discuss:When we don’t face our wounds, we typically try to outrun them. Since divorce is a wound of broken love, the antidote is authentic love.Why it’s so helpful to spend
#115: The Antidote to a Life of Emptiness | Dr. Andrew & Sarah Swafford
It’s said that Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” Doesn’t that describe our culture? A culture that’s hooked on comfort and so void of meaning. But thankfully, Dr. Andrew and Sarah Swafford have a solution to that problem. In this episode, we discuss:What holds us back from lives and relationships full of mean
#114: You Were Not Made to Be Without a Father and Mother | Nicole Rodriguez
When your parents divorce, you almost always lose one or both parents physically or emotionally. But as our guest today says, we’re not meant to go through life without the mentorship of a father and a mother. In this episode, Nicole Rodriguez shares the immense healing she’s experienced through parents who were not her own. We also discuss:How her parents’ divorce started with infidelity and led
#113: A New Therapy to Heal Trauma | Dr. Christopher Genn, DPT
Trauma, such as your parents’ divorce or extreme family dysfunction, doesn’t only affect your emotions. It affects your body too. It quite literally has physical effects. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Genn, a physical therapist and expert in applied kinesiology, explains how our bodies respond to trauma and how we can heal. Plus, we discuss:A new therapy to treat pain, trauma, and even rewire b
#112: The Best of 2023: Restored Podcast Highlights
In this episode, you'll hear highlight clips from the podcast in 2023. This episode, and the entire podcast, will help you heal from the trauma of your parents’ divorce, separation, or broken marriage, so you can break the cycle. If you’re new to the podcast, this is the perfect way to sample our content and learn how it will help you. If you’re a longtime listener, this is the perfect episod
#111: The #1 Lie About How Divorce Affects the Children | Cody
There’s an extremely popular lie about how divorce affects the children. In this episode, we discuss that lie with my guest who is an only child from a divorced family, plus:The loneliness, addiction, and social problems that stemmed from his family’s breakdownThe anger and even hatred he felt toward his parents and how he feels nowA unique thing he and his wife did before they were married to str
#110: 10 Ways to Make Therapy Fail or Succeed for You | Clare Eckard
If there were 10 things you can do to make therapy succeed (or fail), would you want to know them? I know I would. In this episode, a therapist joins us to share those tips, plus: The goal of therapy and the temptation to idealize healingA tool for dealing with troubling thoughtsThe struggle to put words to your own emotions and experiences of brokennessIf you’ve ever been to therapy and it hasn’t
#109: 5 Tips to Navigate the Holidays in a Broken Family
If you’re from a broken family, the holidays often bring more stress and challenges than joy. After my parents separated, I faced these challenges:A sad, pit-in-the-stomach reminder of my parents’ split and my family’s brokennessPressure to choose between parents and balance time amid many eventsA misled desire to make everyone happy, especially my parents, often at my expenseMy emotions or other
#108: It’s Not Your Job to Parent Your Parents | Ashton
If you’re from a broken family and you’ve struggled with OCD, relationships, overthinking, and filling a parent role for your siblings or parents, this episode is for you.In it, Ashton shares how her parents’ divorce has affected her and her relationships. She also talks about what’s helped her heal and even offers some advice for you. Take the podcast surveyHow has Restored helped you?Shownotes
#107: Forgiving Someone Who’s Hurt You | John O’Brien
When trauma occurs, it causes you to ask big questions. That’s where my guest found himself after being brutally attacked, almost to the point of death, by people he was trying to help. In this episode, you’ll hear the story of the attack, plus he answers:Has forgiveness been difficult for you?Why forgive? What are the benefits? What happens if we don’t forgive?How do you forgive someone who has h
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