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Strange Orphan

Laura Steinel 19 Episodes Oct 9, 2026

A podcast offering common sense advice for those who have experienced mild trauma. It explores the concept of estrangement, focusing on the 'strange' aspects of being estranged from family or loved ones. The show provides practical guidance for the mildly traumatized.

Episodes

Father Figure (Worth) Oct 9, 2026 00:42:23 I think we can all agree that self-worth should be innate. We all are born equal and worthy. So why do some feel like God’s favorites, while others struggle with low self-worth? This episode Laura dives into how worthiness wounds show up in our lives often stemming from our reflections from the father, and how this reflection supports of hinders the connection between our worth, our passions and

Forgiveness needs a new publicist Oct 2, 2026 00:24:30 Forgiveness is not because they deserve it. It's certainly not a "welcome back in" sign. This episode Laura breaks down the fundamentals of how to approach forgiving. And how when done too quickly, forgiveness can actually wind up holding us back in a place of resentment. Forgiveness isn't for them, it's for us. Cited: Gabor MateGot a question for Strange Orphan? Email us at info@StrangeOrphan.com

HOW TO BIRTHDAY Sep 26, 2026 00:31:23 It's Laura's birthday. You're invited. It's in the basement of Chuck E. Cheese. Sometimes figuring out how to celebrate yourself is a battle all of its own, especially if you've never been shown how. Laura dives into her past ineptitude at "doing birthdays," along with tips for honoring yourself even when your life is in shambles. Want to send a birthday gift to strange orphan? Well gosh, thanks!

IS THAT TRUE? Sep 17, 2026 00:32:48 HERE’S THE THING ABOUT OUR STORIES. THEY’RE A SELF FULL-FILLING PROPHECY. They keep us stuck in a loop of our story, without realizing it. Not just attracting the same dynamics, but also seeing the world in a limiting way. How do we wipe our old dirty goggles clean, and begin to question the thoughts and beliefs keeping our lives limited? Want to be on the pod for a live WIP session? Email us at

MEAN GIRLS Sep 3, 2026 00:30:10 Oh man...This week we're talking FAWNING,--The slutty little sister of self-abandonment. The act of trying to feel "safe" and "okay" by continuously placing someone else's energy above your own. Sounds exhausting? Well, it is. Laura dives into how fawning has been re-appearing up in her own life, along with exploring some of the root causes of fawning, such as MEAN MOMS and BEING MADE TO FEEL LIKE

False Selfie Aug 22, 2026 00:39:18 Identity collapse, the false self, identity void after foundational erosion, all these terms are explored today on the pod. How do we say goodbye to old identities, especially the false ones we still kind of like? Got a question for Strange Orphan? Email us at info@StrangeOrphan.com and we’ll dive into it on the show. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to Strange Orphan! Cited: Alice Miller "The

STEP INTO YOUR POWER Aug 16, 2026 00:33:12 This episode Laura delves into the murky terrain of getting back into a place of true inner power, and agency after years away. We talk the different energetic resonances of power vs. fake power, such as “force.” How we can get out of survival mode to come back into reception with ourselves. Sometimes coming back into a powerful place of self worth, requires meeting our selves in the places we don

WIP: DISCERNMENT Aug 7, 2026 00:41:21 Hey everyone! This week Laura responds to a Dear Orphan email about how to employ discernment in dating when we're starving for "soup." Laura gives her advice on navigating those super intense, (yet not entirely red flagged,) relationships that seem to come out of the blue, and suck us in like a vortex. Do we navigate the high-octane intensity of TRAUMA BOND relationships determines wether or not

You can't bring an ice pick to a water park Jul 25, 2026 00:32:40 This episode Laura gets personal with a recent setback, and talks from experience on how to move forward when nothing is working. When its actually "you" and your methods that might be "the problem." The new chapters of life require letting old versions of yourself go, but allowing these doors to fully close isn't easy. We're talking shedding, and advice for the uncomfortable stillness of transfo

Re-Entry / Father's Day Jun 18, 2026 00:36:36 Hola strangos. This week we're talking "re-entry" into the dating world after serious time away. Healing brings new perspectives, but also makes us really weird out in the world, like dating flagellum. Laura also reflects on celibacy and sovereignty in dating and boundaries, as well as the "father wound," and how father longing can play into how we conduct ourselves and who we choose to date. Got

Ep. 14 - The Mechanics of a Miracle May 21, 2026 00:34:40 How do we prime ourselves for "miracles" and "manifestations" to occur in our lives? After having a home-related miracle fall in her lap this past week, Laura dives into her take on the “mechanics of miracles,” and how we might be more responsible for our participation in helping the Divine bless us, than we know.Neuropsychologist, Dr. Julia DiGanji - @drjuliadiganji Got a question for Strange Or

Mother's Day May 7, 2026 00:26:48 Mother's day is here. And with it comes an entire buffet of questions on how we're supposed to survive it. How do we fill the ache in our hearts that lingers even years after leaving our original homes? How much "love and nurture" can really be asked of our pets? This episode dives into Laura's tips for nurturing yourself, and finding ways to not feel like a sad orphan this weekend.Got a question

No Place Like Home Apr 23, 2026 00:35:00 Sometimes there’s no place like home. This week Laura dives into her years long battle with constant uprooting, and the nervous system work of facing the emotional storms that continue to plague us from our original homes, and how to win the war against Airbnb, and the family of cockroaches inhabiting your rental.TRIGGER WARNING: Brief mention of S***ide. Got a question for Strange Orphan? Email u

Hermit Mode Apr 18, 2026 00:31:04 Strange orphan is on the road! This week we’re talking about surviving "hermit mode," that isolating season of deeply internal realignment. Laura gives her tips on navigating that darkness-disco to rediscover your own light. She also discusses her gripes with Airbnb bedsheets, and entering her Fivel era. Got a question for Strange Orphan? Email us at info@StrangeOrphan.com and we’ll dive into it o

Creative Hero Apr 10, 2026 00:43:22 What's the difference between manifestation, delusion, fantasy and disassociation? Who knows! These are very thin lines, folks. This week we’re talking about creativity, or disassociation, depending how you look at it. And how it might just be the last thing that saves us from the nightmarish daily news cycle we're currently living in. Laura takes us on a journey through the past, how she resorted

W.I.P. "Highly Critical Parents" Mar 27, 2026 00:29:04 Highly critical parents are dream killers and soul crushers. How do we clean out the old septic tank of a subconscious, and finally take action on our aspirations and dreams after years of emotional pummeling? This week Laura answers another WIP question, on how to find the motivation to take action on our goals, after an upbringing of heavy criticism. Laura explains her theory of “the gap of defe

Losing My Ambition Mar 19, 2026 00:31:30 Lost the energy to perform in the world? It's one thing to cut ties from a former career. It's another to have no remaining shreds of "ambiguous ambition" left. This episode dives into the early days of trying to "make it" in lunatic Hollywood, and the painful unraveling that occurs when we've been performing as the "false self." References: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl8iYAo90pE

W.I.P.: "Stuck Season" Mar 13, 2026 00:31:45 This week we’re answering a listener's” very timely question about navigating a “stuck season." What's the course of action when it feels like the universe is pummeling you with a baseball bat for fun? When nothing in your present circumstance is going right, making sense, or remotely kind at all. We talk navigating this rough terrain of a “stuck seasons," along with some of Laura's personal exper

Boundaries Mar 5, 2026 00:21:09 So you’ve finally “chosen yourself.” Now what?Do you still have a problem saying "no?" Do you struggle maintaining your "energetic space" out in the world? Are people constantly dumping their emotional burdens on you like the pigeon lady from "Home Alone?"This episode delves into the complex topic of physical and energetic boundaries, and the trying task of drawing our antenna back to ourselves af

Life-Collapse Feb 20, 2026 00:35:48 What do we do when the life we’ve been living is suddenly revoked? When the universe has reduced us to “mush?” How does one navigate a strange orphan life-collapse?This episode Laura goes deep into her story of life-collapse; her sudden ejection from her life in the UK, and the tough time that followed in Texas. As well as insights on how to navigate the aftermath of life's shake-ups.Do you have

Love Starved Feb 13, 2026 00:23:12 Happy Valentine's Day! This week we're talking trauma bonds, feeling "loved starved," and other romantic pitfalls that await the strange orphan on their search for love.Laura’s Book Rec: “Hotel du Lac” by Anita Brookner

Full Frontal Grief Feb 5, 2026 00:20:11 This week we get into America's aversion to "full-frontal grief." As well as exploring the different methods for not conquering your "grief," such as fleeing your life and uprooting to a different country.

Cutting Loose Jan 29, 2026 00:19:23 Today we dive into the heavy hitter topic of Narcissistic family dynamics and "how to know when to go."

Strange New World Jan 22, 2026 00:22:26 Welcome to Strange Orphan! We're diving into the journey of estrangement, one bear trap at a time! Check out @StrangeOrphan on YouTube and Instagram

Strange Orphan

Episodes

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