Forgive Yourself
Host Brenda Reiss, a Freedom and Forgiveness coach, guides listeners through a unique blend of practical and spiritual forgiveness. The podcast explores how unforgiveness can keep people stuck in personal and professional relationships, preventing them from releasing resentment and finding joy. Each week, Brenda shares tips, tools, and advice from herself and others on the journey to turn pain into peace.
Episodes
131: What Happened to You Doesn’t Have to Define You
The ways we learn to survive as children can follow us long after the danger has passed. In this deeply personal conversation, I sit down with Rich Dunning, author of “Silence Was My First Language,” to explore how a childhood shaped by abuse, violence, poverty, homelessness, and addiction continued to affect him well into adulthood. Rich shares how silence, overachievement, distrust, and alcohol
130: Who Are You When No One Needs You? The Emotional Side of the Empty Nest
An empty nest can bring more freedom, more time, and a deep sense of pride in the children you’ve raised. It can also bring grief, loneliness, and questions about who you are now.In this episode, I talk about why this transition can feel especially complicated for high-achieving women who have spent years caring for others, staying busy, and tying their sense of value to being needed. I share how
129: Finding Your Way Back to Your Light
Finding your way back to yourself is about slowing down enough to hear what’s already within you, not doing more. In this episode, I sit down with best-selling author and entrepreneur Amber Vilhauer to explore what it means to reconnect with your inner light after years of people-pleasing, pushing through, and looking outside yourself for validation.Amber shares how her own experiences with reject
128: From Self-Punishment to Self-Compassion
Getting sober, changing a behavior, or understanding your patterns doesn’t always mean you’ve healed from what’s underneath them.In this episode, I'm joined by Leif Bjelland, longtime recovery advocate and founder of Heroic Breath, to explore the difference between taking responsibility for your past and continuing to punish yourself for it. Leif shares how his own recovery from alcoholism eventua
127: How to Forgive the Version of You Who Didn’t Know Better
After heartbreak, it’s easy to look back and wonder: Why didn’t I see it sooner? Why did I stay? How did I let this happen? But taking responsibility for your past doesn’t have to mean carrying shame for it.In this episode, I sit down with somatic coach, educator, and writer Christina Elaine to explore the patterns that keep us stuck in self-blame and why healing isn’t about endlessly analyzing or
126: Rebuilding Your Health, Faith, and Life After Trauma
Sometimes the symptoms we’re trying to silence are actually asking us to pay attention. In this episode, Dr. Jen Hewson, doctor of natural medicine, ordained minister, author, and trauma survivor, explores the connection between our physical health, nervous system, emotions, relationships, and spiritual lives.Drawing from her own journey, Dr. Jen shares how years spent in survival mode can shape t
125: Trusting Yourself to See Relationships Clearly
Relationships can become much harder to see clearly when our emotions, hopes, fears, and past experiences are involved. Sometimes we recognize the red flags or feel that something isn’t right long before we’re ready to admit it to ourselves.In this episode, I’m joined by relationship coach and “Is He Worthy?” author Dave McLachlan for a conversation about bringing greater clarity and self-trust in
124: You Haven't Messed Up Your Life
For years, Paul Drayton believed his struggles with addiction, relationships, and identity were simply who he was. It wasn't until a life-changing ADHD diagnosis at age 50, the end of his marriage, and the work of looking honestly at his past that he began to understand the deeper story behind his choices and find his way back to himself.In this heartfelt episode, I talk with the British actor, wr
123: The Spiritual Practice of Forgiveness
Spiritual healing is about coming home to the divine wisdom that's already within you, not becoming someone new. In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with author, yoga teacher, and inner life coach Regan Caruthers to explore the connection between forgiveness and spiritual devotion, and the practices that help us remember who we truly are. Regan shares stories from her spiritual upbringing,
122: Acceptance Is Not the First Step
For years, I've heard—and even believed—that acceptance was the answer. But through my own experiences with caregiving, health challenges, and now recovering from hamstring surgery, I've discovered something important: sometimes acceptance feels impossibly far away.In this episode, I'm sharing the gentler path that has transformed how I approach healing. Instead of forcing ourselves to "just accep
121: The Freedom to Trust Your Decisions
Making the right decision doesn't always feel peaceful. Sometimes it feels lonely. Sometimes it feels uncomfortable. And sometimes it comes with guilt, grief, or the fear of disappointing the people you love.In this episode, I talk about one of the most important parts of emotional freedom: learning to trust your decisions and stay with yourself after you've made them. Discomfort isn't always a si
120: The Freedom to Choose Without Guilt
Why does guilt show up the moment you start honoring yourself? If you've ever set a boundary, said no, chosen rest, or spoken your truth only to immediately wonder if you were being selfish, this episode is for you.In this episode, I explore the difference between healthy guilt, which invites growth and repair, and old pattern guilt, which pulls you back into people-pleasing, self-abandonment, and
119: The Freedom to Stop Leaving Yourself Behind
Emotional freedom doesn't begin with a dramatic life change—it begins with one honest moment. In this episode, I explore what it really means to stop leaving yourself behind. If you've spent years being the dependable one, keeping the peace, saying yes when you mean no, or putting everyone else's needs ahead of your own, it’s time to recognize the hidden ways you've disconnected from yourself.I sh
118: Healing the Father Wound - Becoming the Safe Place You Needed
Healing doesn't mean forgetting the past or pretending it didn't hurt. It means no longer allowing what you didn't receive to define who you are.In the final episode of this three-part series on the father wound, forgiveness, and healing, we explore what it truly means to move beyond awareness and begin rebuilding your relationship with yourself. I share how childhood experiences with an emotional
117: The Father Wound - How It Shapes the Way You Love, Trust, and Choose
The father wound isn’t just about your father. It’s about the beliefs you formed about yourself when you didn’t feel fully seen, safe, protected, chosen, or emotionally met. In this second episode of my When Father’s Day Feels Complicated series, we’re exploring how those beliefs can quietly shape the way you love, trust, and choose long after childhood.I’ll share some of my own experiences with p
116: When Father's Day Feels Complicated - Forgiving What You Didn't Receive
Father’s Day can bring up more than celebration. It can stir grief, longing, anger, confusion, gratitude, or the ache of something that was never fully there. In the first episode of this three-part series, I explore the father wound and the impact of growing up with a father who may have been physically present but emotionally unavailable, absent, critical, inconsistent, or simply unable to give
115: The Self-Trust Practice That Changes Every Conversation
Better conversations don’t begin with perfect words—they begin with a more honest relationship with yourself.In this final episode of the self-trust series, I bring everything we've explored together and focus on what self-trust looks like in real life, especially in the conversations, decisions, and boundaries that feel the hardest. Too often, we overexplain, people-please, or abandon our own nee
114: The 5 Hidden Needs That Shape Your Choices
Why do some decisions feel impossible to make? Why do certain conversations leave you overthinking for days? And why do you keep finding yourself people-pleasing, seeking reassurance, or ignoring what you know is true?Beneath avoidance, over-explaining, and self-doubt, there is often an unmet need asking for attention. In this episode, I continue our three-part series on self-trust by exploring th
113: You Don’t Need More Advice. You Need More Self-Trust.
Self-trust is not about having all the answers or never feeling afraid. It’s about learning to stay connected to yourself while taking the next honest step forward.In this first episode of a special three-part series on self-trust, I explore why so many of us keep searching for more advice, more reassurance, and more opinions when deep down, we already know what feels true. I unpack the patterns o
112: Finding Yourself Again After Childhood Trauma
There are some wounds that change the course of a life, and some healing journeys that change it again. In this deeply vulnerable conversation, I sit down with author and memoirist Heather Conn to talk about surviving childhood incest, the long and layered process of healing, and the unexpected path that eventually led her toward forgiveness. Heather shares how years of therapy, body-based healing
111: Trying to Be the Mom You Didn’t Have – The Hidden Pressure No One Talks About
So many women carry a quiet promise inside themselves: ‘I will be different from my mother.’ Maybe you grew up feeling unseen, emotionally alone, criticized, or responsible for everyone else’s feelings. And when you became a mother yourself, you vowed your children would never feel what you felt. But what happens when that promise turns into pressure?In this episode, I talk about the emotional wei
110: Why Mother Guilt Feels So Heavy – It’s Not Just About Parenting
Mother guilt is something so many women carry, but rarely say out loud. In this episode, I talk about the kind of guilt that shows up in everyday moments. The guilt of not being present enough, patient enough, or doing enough. The guilt that lingers from the past and the pressure we place on ourselves in the present.But this conversation is not about judging yourself or trying to “just let it go.”
109: From “What If” to Self-Compassion After Pregnancy Loss
There are losses we talk about, and then there are the ones we carry quietly. In this episode, I sit down with pregnancy loss coach Shruti Trivedi to talk about a kind of grief that so often goes unspoken. Pregnancy loss is something many experience, but few feel safe enough to fully process. What gets left behind is not just sadness, but guilt, shame, and the constant loop of “what if.”Shruti sha
108: Why Receiving Feels So Hard (And How to Begin Allowing It)
Giving comes naturally. Receiving does not.In this episode, I’m diving into why receiving can feel so uncomfortable, especially for high-achieving, high-functioning women who are used to being the ones who give, support, and hold everything together.This isn’t just about brushing off compliments. It shows up in your relationships, your work, your business, and even your ability to receive success,
107: When You Lose Yourself Taking Care of Everyone Else
I didn’t lose myself all at once. It happened slowly, quietly, in ways I didn’t recognize until my body started speaking louder than I could ignore.In this episode, I’m sharing something I’m not just teaching, I’m living. We’re talking about what it really looks like to lose yourself while taking care of everyone else, and how patterns like people-pleasing and codependency can feel loving on the o
106: What If We Didn’t Walk Away?
When we hear the word dementia, most of us think of loss. Decline. Goodbye. But what if that’s not the full story?In this conversation, I sit down with Marilyn Raichle, who gently challenges everything we think we know about dementia. After being told her whole life to "walk away" when Alzheimer's came, Marilyn, Marilyn did the opposite. She stayed. And what she discovered changed everything.What
105: Why You Don’t Trust Yourself (And How to Start Again)
So many of us have spent our lives outsourcing our authority, worth, and wisdom to expectations, roles, and other people. In this episode, we explore how to bring it back to yourself.In this conversation, I sit down with the deeply insightful Sheila Delaney to talk about what it really means to come back home to yourself, especially after burnout, chronic stress, or years of putting everyone else
104: Self-Forgiveness in a Changing Body
One of the most complicated relationships we have is the relationship with our own body. When chronic illness, pain, injury, or unexpected physical changes show up, many of us quietly begin blaming ourselves or believing our bodies have betrayed us.In this episode, I share how the journey through nerve-damage and chronic pain forced me to confront the harsh inner voices that judged, blamed, and tr
103: Forgiving the Body That Hurts
What if the real healing begins the moment we stop fighting our bodies?In this compassionate conversation, I sit down with Tami Stackelhouse—health coach, founder of the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute, and host of the Fibromyalgia Podcast—to talk about self-forgiveness in the face of chronic illness. Tami shares her personal journey with lifelong health challenges and fibromyalgia,
102: Self-Forgiveness When You Feel Behind in Life
“I thought I’d be further along by now.”That’s a sentence I hear all the time, and if I’m honest, it’s one I’ve said to myself, too.In this episode, I’m talking about the quiet ache so many women carry: the feeling of being behind in life. Behind in our careers. Behind in healing. Behind in love, confidence, health, or fulfillment. On the outside, we may look capable and responsible—often the ones
101: Learning to Love the Woman You've Been Judging
You don’t have to fix yourself first to deserve your own kindness.So many high-achieving women I work with don’t hate themselves…but they don’t really like themselves, either. They tolerate themselves. They manage themselves. They critique themselves. And often, they live in a quiet, ongoing relationship with judgment.Self-judgment doesn’t always scream. Sometimes it sounds reasonable. Motivating
100: You Are Not Broken - A Love Letter to the Woman Who's Been Surviving
When we think about forgiveness, we usually think about other people. But some of the deepest resentment we carry is self-directed, and it often hides as guilt, self-criticism, exhaustion, regret, or a constant feeling that something just isn’t quite right.In this episode, I walk through the 10 most common things we struggle to forgive ourselves for, especially as women in midlife: how we showed u
99: 10 Things We Struggle to Forgive Ourselves For
When we think about forgiveness, we usually think about other people. But some of the deepest resentment we carry is self-directed, and it often hides as guilt, self-criticism, exhaustion, regret, or a constant feeling that something just isn’t quite right.In this episode, I walk through the 10 most common things we struggle to forgive ourselves for, especially as women in midlife: how we showed u
98: Holding Two Truths - Finding Your Center in Uncertain Times
In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, overwhelming, and emotionally charged, how do we stay rooted without bypassing what’s real?In this episode, I explore what it truly means to hold two truths at the same time: acknowledging fear, grief, and instability while also choosing presence, agency, and inner steadiness. Drawing from my personal caregiving journey, recent moments of self-doubt, a
97: When Healing Meets Timing - What Miraval Taught Me About Letting Support In
Sometimes healing doesn’t come from pushing harder, but from allowing ourselves to receive. In this episode, I share my experience at Miraval Resort in Arizona and the unexpected insights that emerged after a season of caregiving, grief, betrayal, and deep self-awareness. Through equine therapy and the art of Kintsugi, I reflect on perception, self-trust, and what it means to love ourselves deeply
96: The Difference 2 Years Makes
Two years ago, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life: moving my husband into memory care. Last year, I shared the raw shock, grief, and guilt of that first year. This episode is about what the second year has taught me.I thought year two would feel easier. More settled. Instead, it brought new crises, a nervous system stuck on high alert, and an unexpected moment that finally cracked my g
95: Why So Many Women Don’t Trust Their Own Gut
What happens when we stop outsourcing our knowledge and begin listening to the wisdom that’s been living inside us all along?Brenda is joined by somatic and expressive arts therapist Cathy Williams to explore what it truly means to come home to your body after trauma, burnout, and self-abandonment. Cathy shares her personal healing journey, from living in her head and overriding her intuition, to
94: The Good Girl Syndrome - How People-Pleasing Sneaks Into Adulthood (and How We Break Free)
In this deeply vulnerable episode, Brenda opens up about a powerful and unexpected moment in her caregiving journey with her husband, who lives in memory care due to dementia. What began as shock and heartbreak became a profound awakening, revealing a pattern so many high-achieving, caring women carry quietly into adulthood: the Good Girl Syndrome.Brenda explores how early conditioning to be “good
93: What Your Triggers Are Trying to Tell You
Edit B. Kiss, a holistic mentor, success habit coach, and humanitarian award-winning author is joining me to share her story of transformation, which is as grounded as it is spiritual. After 15 years as a petroleum engineer, Edit followed a deep inner calling that led her from spreadsheets to source energy, from panic attacks to peace. Together, we talk about trauma, triggers, forgiveness, and why
92: The Healing Power of Daily Rituals - A Guide Through Grief
I sat down with author and executive coach Laing Rikkers to explore how quiet rituals, creativity, and the natural world can become anchors during our deepest seasons of loss. When Laing’s younger sister died suddenly just months before the world shut down, she found herself searching for a way through overwhelming grief. What began as simple morning walks and unfiltered “morning pages” soon unfol
91: Breaking Free from Unhealthy Family Dynamics and Finding Peace
Ever wonder how the roles you played growing up impact your life and relationships today? In this episode, I break down the six most common family dynamics and the archetypal roles we fall into. I share how self-awareness is the game changer that lets you set healthy boundaries and choose who you want to be moving forward. Remember, your family story doesn’t have to define your future. You have th
90: When Grief Calls You Home
In this episode, I talk with the luminous Harper A. Bailey, whose debut memoir It Was Her poured straight into my heart. We talk about the dream that sparked her writing, the spiritual co-creation behind her pen name, and the moment she realized her story wasn’t just hers, it was meant to unlock stories in others. Harper shares how grief became both her wilderness and her teacher, and how processi
89: Why Is It So Hard To Ask For Support?
If you’re the one who holds it all together—for your family, your friends, your business—but quietly struggles to ask for help yourself, this episode is for you. I know that story well. For years, I prided myself on being the strong one, the fixer, the problem solver. Until my body and spirit finally broke down.In this conversation, I’m exploring why asking for help feels unsafe for so many high-a
88: Clearing the Past to Create Extraordinary Love
I’ve always believed that forgiveness is the bridge between who we’ve been and who we’re becoming, and today’s conversation is proof of that. I’m joined by Riana Malia, a board-certified neurosomatic practitioner and creator of the Clear to Create method, who helps high-achieving women break free from painful relationship patterns and finally claim the love that matches the life they’ve built.Rian
87: How Rock Bottom Rebuilt a Marriage
Sometimes, it takes everything falling apart to discover what’s been broken all along. In this episode, I talk with Bryan Power, who went from a “pretty good” marriage to complete collapse before finding the tools that helped him rebuild his relationship stronger than ever.We talk about what really causes relationships to unravel, how childhood wounds and attachment styles shape the way we love, a
86: How High Achieving Women Lose Their Voice
You’re confident, capable, and in control…until it comes to love.
At work, you lead with authority. At home, you walk on eggshells. You know how to speak up in the boardroom, but in relationships, your voice gets quieter. In this episode, I’m opening up about how high-achieving women like us lose our voice in love—and how we can reclaim it without losing our softness. I’ll share the five subtle si
85: When “Forever” Ends Overnight: Reclaiming Yourself After Unexpected Divorce
What happens when the life you built for decades disappears in a single moment? When you go to bed a wife and wake up a stranger to your own story?In this episode, I sit down with divorce recovery coach Beth Carroll, who knows that pain all too well. After her 25-year marriage ended without warning, Beth faced the shock, grief, and loss of identity that so many women silently carry. But through su
84: The Hidden Costs of Hyper-Independence
Today, I’m sharing something deeply personal as well as common, especially for those of us who pride ourselves on being strong, capable, and independent. We’re exploring the hidden cost of hyper independence, that survival strategy that helps us feel safe but often leaves us lonely, exhausted, and disconnected from others.I’ll walk you through how healthy independence can tip over into hyper indep
83: Why You Still Feel Empty (Even When Life Looks Full)
"We all have needs, right? They're not selfish. They're not wrong, and they are not a weakness. They're part of being human." This solo episode dives into something that quietly shapes our emotions, choices, and relationships - unmet needs.Many of our adult struggles stem from basic human requirements that went unfulfilled, often dating back to childhood. If you grew up in a home where safety felt
82: Why Your Brain Sabotages the Growth You're Seeking (And How to Work With It)
"Your whole being is saying nope, nope, nope, not right now." Sound familiar? This solo episode dives into something we all experience - that moment when we know change would be good for us, but we find ourselves resisting it anyway.Resistance isn't failure or brokenness. It's often a sign you're on the right track; your system just hasn't caught up yet. After noticing this pattern with clients, f
81: Dime Moments and AFGOs: Finding Sacred Messages in Life's Hardest Chapters
What happens when profound love meets devastating loss? My guest Kathryn Henry, author of "A Dime to Say I Love You," shares her transformative journey through grief after losing her wife Lisa to cancer.After a successful corporate career leading global teams at Lululemon, Gap, and Levi Strauss, Kathryn stepped away to honor a promise to her late wife: to live fully, love deeply, and tell the trut
80: From Accusation to Empowerment: Louisa's Journey of Resilience and Self-Forgivenesst
Sometimes the most profound transformations emerge from our deepest wounds. Today I welcome life coach Louisa Hext, whose story of resilience will stop you in your tracks and remind you that healing is always possible.Louisa's journey began with a beautiful friendship - helping an elderly man named Gordy with daily tasks, groceries, and companionship. What started as genuine care and connection be
79: Smart Women, Toxic Love: Are You Hooked? Break Free!
"I'm smart, I can figure it out at work, but not at home. I know better - why do I keep choosing the wrong people?" If this sounds familiar, you're not alone, and this episode is exactly what you need to hear.Trauma bonds are like emotional glue that keeps you connected to someone who's not good for you through cycles of hurt, apology, and reconciliation. They feel like love, but they're actually
78: Rewriting Your Love Story: How to Break Free from Toxic Relationship Patterns
"I told myself it would be different this time." Sound familiar? Despite being strong and self-aware, many of us find ourselves caught in the same painful relationship patterns over and over again - not because we're broken, but because our inner world is repeating what it learned long ago.In this vulnerable episode, I share my own journey through multiple toxic relationships, including my third m
77: When 'Yes' Becomes Self-Betrayal: Breaking the Nice Girl Trap for Good
What if being "too nice" is actually a form of self-abandonment? This question stopped me cold as I caught myself saying "yes" to yet another request while my body screamed "I can't take one more thing."Sound familiar? Between construction chaos at home, my husband's health issues, challenging client calls, and a friend needing support, I found myself pouring from an empty vessel once again. It's
76: From Facade to Freedom: How My Falling-Apart House Revealed My Hidden Truth
"Now I get to be unscripted. Now I get to be authentic. Now I get to practice all these things that I really help other people with on a deeper layer."Sometimes the universe orchestrates exactly what we need when we need it most. As I navigate the ongoing grief of my husband's dementia journey, my home decided to reveal its own hidden wounds - dry rot behind bedroom windows, black mold in his old
75: Mold, Rot, and the Feelings We Hide
What do dry rot and black mold have to do with emotional healing?In this deeply personal episode, Brenda shares a surprising discovery during a simple home repair that revealed something hidden—not just in her walls, but in her heart. As black mold and decay were uncovered behind her windows, Brenda realized she had also been carrying hidden emotional toxins: long-ignored sadness, quiet loneliness
74: Understanding the Ego’s Role in Healing and Self-Acceptance with Dr. Shawdy
What if your ego wasn’t something to fight, but something to understand?In this episode, Dr. Shawdy joins us for a rich conversation about how the ego develops, why it gets triggered, and what it needs in order to relax. We talk about the early wounds that shape it and how those patterns can continue to influence us in adulthood.We also explore the power of forgiveness and what it looks like to tr
73: The Best Revenge: How Madeleine Black Turned Trauma into Triumph
"It's never too late to find your voice so that you can heal and live your best life."What happens when a 13-year-old girl's life is shattered by unimaginable violence, yet she emerges decades later as a beacon of hope and healing? My guest today, Madeleine Black, embodies the profound truth that it's not what happens to us, but how we choose to respond that defines our lives.Madeleine's journey f
72: How to Master Self-Intimacy: The 'Into-Me-See' Method for Authentic Living
"What if the most profound form of intimacy isn't about being with another, but it's about being fully present and rigorously honest with yourself?"Today, I invite you to explore a different kind of intimacy – the profound connection you can cultivate with yourself. Playing on the word "intimacy" as "Into-Me-See," I share how true self-knowledge becomes the foundation for authentic living and heal
71: How to Let Go of Others' Opinions, Trust Your Inner Voice and Find Freedom
"Letting go is not about erasing memory. It's about loosening the grip on the belief that others' words define you."Welcome, I’d like to invite you to explore what "letting go" really means beyond the social media platitudes and catchy phrases. As someone who used to be frustrated by the vague advice to "just let it go," I understand how unhelpful that phrase can be without context or practical gu
70: Forgiving Your Mother - A Mother's Day Invitation to Heal
Download your free companion resource to this episode here: Forgiving Your Mother Worksheet"Our mothers are often our first mirror. The way they spoke to us, touched us, showed up or did not show up leaves lasting imprints."Today, I explore the tender territory of mother-daughter relationships just in time for Mother's Day. Rather than focusing on cards and flowers, I invite you into a deeper conv
69: Your Worth Is Not Up for Debate: Breaking the Cycle of Seeking Validation
"When your self worth depends upon the approval of others, you give away your power."In today's episode, I dive deep into a struggle I know intimately well – the exhausting cycle of seeking external validation and approval from others. As someone who spent years over-performing, people-pleasing, and silencing my own needs just to earn a nod of approval, I understand the toll this takes on our emot
68: The No Sorry Challenge: Stop Apologizing for Existing
"You don't need permission to be powerful. You don't need to apologize for showing up as you are. Your voice matters. And it's time the world hears your voice clearly and confidently."In this empowering episode, I introduce the No Sorry Challenge – a simple yet transformative 24-hour commitment to stop saying "sorry" unless it's truly warranted. As someone who's navigated my own journey from const
67: The Art of Self-Compassion: Finding Freedom Through Creative Expression with Coach Sara
“If you feel like you're at rock bottom and you've hit a wall and you have nowhere else to go, it's actually an exciting place to be." - Coach SaraToday, I welcome kindred spirit Sara Olson—artist, author, and empowerment coach—who shares her transformative journey from pain to purpose through the healing powers of forgiveness and creative expression.Our conversation flows naturally into deep wate
66: Stop Saying Sorry! Breaking the Habit of Over-Apologizing
"There's a big difference between saying sorry for hurting someone and saying sorry for just existing."In this heartfelt episode, I explore the deeply ingrained habit of over-apologizing – something many of us do without even realizing it. Drawing from both personal experience and historical context, I unpack why women in particular tend to say "I'm sorry" when we've done nothing wrong.Have you ev
65: Releasing Regret: Embracing Growth and Momentum for 2025
In today's episode, I'm sharing e the importance of starting the new year with a clean slate and how to transform perceived mistakes into valuable lessons that propel us forward. We'll dive into a powerful process for identifying and working through regrets, offering you practical and spiritual insights to release what holds you back. Grab a pen and paper as we walk through steps to shift your per
64: The Difference a Year Makes
"When you love someone with all your heart and you have dreams and plans and you share these little secrets, right? You have these little code words and they're your person, they're the ones that you call when you see something funny or you have these little symbols, you have these inside jokes, you have these plans and these dreams that are gone, taken out right from underneath you. The rug pulle
63: Navigating Unmet Expectations and Healing Through Forgiveness
"By forgiving ourselves and others, we create room for personal development and expansion. It does require deep introspection, it does require empathy, and it does require courage to confront our own shortcomings."In this episode, we're diving deep into a truly transformative journey—one that takes us through the stages of healing and forgiveness, and how they can radically change our lives for th
62: Healing Family Wounds: Embracing Generational Forgiveness
"All it takes is one person stepping forward in a generation to do the work that it takes to heal a pattern."Today, I dive deep into the transformative journey of healing family wounds through generational forgiveness. Drawing from my personal experiences and family story, I explore how unresolved conflicts and buried secrets can create emotional distance that spans generations.Like the saying "We
61: Empowering Women to Share Their Powerful Stories with Laurie Hardie
"Forgiveness is so important...because I was willing to forgive and not let it hold me hostage, because then I sit home brewing while they're off having a great life." - Laurie HardieIn this powerful episode, I welcome Laurie Hardie, a Seattle radio personality and recovery coach with 35 years of broadcasting experience. We dive deep into how trauma and isolation, especially during COVID, aff
60: Unlocking the Gift of Forgiveness for Yourself
"Forgiveness is actually about you. Your emotional freedom, your inner peace, and your journey towards healing. It is an act of self liberation that allows you to let go of the heavy burdens tied to resentment and pain and shame and guilt."In this heartfelt episode, I address a profound question from one of my clients: How is forgiveness a gift to the forgiver and not the person who caused harm? T
59: Find Freedom in Forgiving with Louisa Hext
"Forgiveness is not a thing. It's an act. It's an action. To me, it's a verb." - Louisa HextIn this powerful episode, I welcome fellow forgiveness coach Louisa Hext, who brings a unique perspective shaped by her work with the F Word Stories of Forgiveness exhibition and her family's Holocaust survival story. Louisa shares the remarkable story of Eva Kor, a Holocaust survivor who chose to forgive h
58: Self-Forgiveness and Navigating Mental Health Challenges
"Self-forgiveness isn't just an act of kindness to ourselves. It's necessary for our mental well-being."In this episode, I dive deep into the transformative power of self-forgiveness. As someone who struggled with this concept for years, I understand how challenging it can be, especially for women. We often carry the weight of guilt, shame, and perfectionism on our shoulders, but I'm here to tell
57: Self-Forgiveness in Overcoming Trauma
"We weren't created to live in the shame and guilt of traumatic experiences. Self-forgiveness allows us to move forward with greater compassion, resilience and peace."In this episode, I dive deep into the crucial role of self-forgiveness in trauma recovery. I explore how trauma changes us and the importance of internal healing alongside external support. Drawing from recent studies, I discuss the
56: Building Resilience Through Forgiveness: Overcoming Business Setbacks
"Forgiveness can be a superpower. When we embrace forgiveness, we free ourselves from the burden of past mistakes, and it opens the door to new opportunities."In this episode, I explore the powerful connection between forgiveness and business resilience. I delve into how embracing forgiveness can help entrepreneurs and business leaders overcome setbacks, adapt to change, and move forward with rene
55: The Power of Permission with Jackie Cote
"Freedom comes from the inside out. Freedom is loving who you are, owning who you are, knowing, standing in certainty in your gifts."In this powerful episode of the Forgive Yourself podcast, host Brenda Reiss welcomes Jackie Cote, a freedom and love mentor who helps women transform their lives. Jackie shares her inspiring journey from a 30-year career in corporate America to becoming a successful
54: Navigating the Rollercoaster of Grief with Joan Kpandei
"Grief is hard work. It is a lonely journey sometimes. People do avoid it because we want to shy away from pain. But avoiding your grief doesn't help at all." In this heartfelt episode of the Forgive Yourself podcast, I welcome Joan Kpandei, a certified advanced grief specialist from Nigeria. Joan shares her profound journey into grief counseling, a path she never sought but was drawn into after t
53: The Power of Forgiveness in Effective Leadership
"When leaders show forgiveness, they bring a sense of emotional intelligence and strength that resonates throughout the entire team." Did you know forgiveness can transform your leadership and team dynamics? Today I’m talking about the powerful role of forgiveness in enhancing team dynamics and creating a positive, productive work environment. Forgiveness builds trust, strengthens bonds, and enhan
52: Navigating Forgiveness Among Siblings
In this episode, I talk with you about the power of forgiveness in sibling relationships. I've seen how these relationships are often complex, filled with shared memories, unique dynamics, and inevitable conflicts. But I'm here to explain how radical forgiveness can create an opportunity to heal these relationships and make them stronger than ever. "Siblings can share a unique bond. It's a connect
