In Episode #26, "Breaking the Cycle: Becoming the Father He Never Had," Don shares his journey from a traumatic childhood to becoming a committed father and coach. He opens up about the emotional toll of feeling abandoned as a child, how becoming a parent triggered unresolved wounds, and the importance of finding healthy outlets for coping.

Don also offers tough-love advice for parents navigating divorce, along with a heartfelt message to their kids. This episode is a candid look at breaking the cycle of emotional neglect and building a better future for the next generation.

If this episode triggered you in any way, please reach out. My job (and purpose) is to hold space for you and your Inner Child as you share and validate your story and I am just a FREE Discover Call away.

In This Episode:

• 01:50 - Take Two: Recording challenges and overcoming technical difficulties
• 02:30 - Reflection on how Krista’s episode inspired personal growth
• 06:05 - Introducing Don, the “Gym Bro” and younger “Big Brother”
• 11:40 - Discussing how your past doesn’t dictate your future
• 15:25 - Emotional impacts of growing up in an unstable home
• 19:20 - The consequences of adults breaking promises to their children
• 22:44 - The positive shift that came from finding a healthy outlet
• 23:27 - How becoming a father triggered Don’s unhealed childhood wounds 26:48 - The cycle of emotional neglect passed down from parents to children
• 30:17 - The parallel between Water Boy and Don’s aggression and frustration
• 31:10 - Creating a safe space for processing all emotions from a traumatic childhood
• 34:24 - The pivotal moment when injury forced Don to choose a new path
• 39:07 - The dangers of ego and its need for negative attention
• 42:36 - How Don’s childhood experiences have made him a better coach
• 52:20 - The risk of projecting personal wounds onto one’s children
• 53:30 - Differentiating between a healthy ego and an unbalanced one
• 59:20 - Don’s advice for parents going through divorce and a message to their kids

In Episode #25, we welcome Krista, the powerful voice behind Z104, 96.3 Star Country, and the Madtown Mom Squad Podcast. Krista bravely shares her journey of overcoming the stigma around mental health, the pain of childhood trauma, and her experiences with $exual assault. Through her story,

Krista reveals how she found her voice, healed her wounds, and became a strong role model for her daughter. Join us for this deeply unscripted and raw conversation about resilience, self-worth, and breaking the cycle of generational trauma.

If you or someone you know needs support around any of these topics, please do not hesitate to schedule a free discovery call with Tami. Schedule Here.

Krista also mentions Tellurian in the episode as a resource that was of great help to her through her healing journey.

Show Notes:

• 00:00 - Introduction to Krista, the voice behind Z104, 96.3 Star Country, and the Madtown Mom Squad Podcast.
• 05:17 - Krista discusses her passion for breaking the stigma surrounding mental health.
• 06:00 - The impact of her parents' divorce and the abandonment wound it created, leading to projections onto others.
• 08:24 - Krista shares the moment when the pain became unbearable, leading her to attempt to end her life.
• 10:15 - Krista recounts her first experience of sexual assault in 6th grade.
• 12:53 - Another violation in 7th grade left Krista in a "freeze" state.
• 16:40 - Moving away to a different state didn’t stop the violence from following Krista.
• 18:42 - Krista's audition for Second City and how it led her into the radio business.
• 19:25 - The aftermath of being mugged by three men, which triggered severe anxiety and physical reactions.
• 21:00 - Krista shares the traumatic experience of being assaulted by a family member and the toll it took on her body.
• 23:28 - How trauma therapy, specifically EMDR, was recommended by her therapist.
• 24:26 - The connection between all her trauma and her childhood abandonment wound.
• 25:06 - The importance of creating a safe space for children to express their emotions.
• 25:54 - Krista discusses how looking at herself as a child was a pivotal step in her healing journey.
• 26:49 - Addressing the common question: “Why are you coming forward now?”
• 27:53 - Exploring how abandonment wounds can manifest in various aspects of life.
• 28:38 - How therapy helped Krista stop being a people pleaser and recognize her self-worth.
• 31:21 - Krista’s advice to women who have experienced trauma.
• 35:25 - The prevalence of body dysmorphia and disordered eating among those who experienced childhood trauma.
• 37:06 - How to ensure children feel safe and open to discussing their feelings.
• 38:38 - The dangers of people-pleasing, which creates a false sense of love and builds resentment.
• 39:44 - Strategies for creating emotional safety within the body to prevent trauma responses.
• 40:44 - Why people avoid pain through addictions and the resulting harm to themselves and others.
• 42:35 - The importance of breaking the cycle of generational trauma.
• 46:49 - Krista’s journey to becoming a strong role model for both her Inner Child and her 14-year-old daughter.
• 49:23 - How Krista set strong boundaries to protect her energy, peace, and healing.
• 51:48 - The power of forgiveness and how it is ultimately for your own benefit.
• 53:38 - Finding people who truly support you and knowing when to let go of those who don’t.
• 1:02:40 - The importance of helping children detach from their ego to prevent the creation of false narratives.
• 1:06:16 - Krista’s response to losing her job and the lessons learned from that experience.
• 1:10:56 - Krista offers advice for abuse survivors and highlights resources like Tellurian.
• 1:15:12 - A plug for Krista’s podcast, Madtown Mom Squad, co-hosted with three other moms, focusing on real conversations.
• 1:19:50 - Wrapping up the most unscripted episode ever.