In honor of National Adoption Month, Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW, sits down with her longtime friend and fellow adoptee, Barbara Eckert of All The Feels Healing Space, to share the parts of their adoption stories that shaped their “Traitor Within” — the protective inner voice that helped them survive but later drove people-pleasing, over-trusting, secrecy, and self-silencing. They discuss late disclosures, abandoned fantasies about birth families, the “primal wound,” somatic fallout, and prac...
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In honor of National Adoption Month, Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW, sits down with her longtime friend and fellow adoptee, Barbara Eckert of All The Feels Healing Space, to share the parts of their adoption stories that shaped their “Traitor Within” — the protective inner voice that helped them survive but later drove people-pleasing, over-trusting, secrecy, and self-silencing. They discuss late disclosures, abandoned fantasies about birth families, the “primal wound,” somatic fallout, and prac...
In honor of National Adoption Month, Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW, sits down with her longtime friend and fellow adoptee, Barbara Eckert of All The Feels Healing Space, to share the parts of their adoption stories that shaped their “Traitor Within” — the protective inner voice that helped them survive but later drove people-pleasing, over-trusting, secrecy, and self-silencing. They discuss late disclosures, abandoned fantasies about birth families, the “primal wound,” somatic fallout, and prac...
"My brother used to openly call himself a master manipulator — he was proud of it. And honestly, he did have a lot of people manipulated, including my parents. The painful irony is that when he died at forty from an overdose, my father — the one who had been so controlled by him — was the most devastated. He died six months later. My mother was already gone. And while I can’t prove it, I’ve always believed the stress my brother caused helped take her, too. The point isn’t the tragedy, though....
In Part 2, Jessica and David J. Weeks (@djweeks_) move from the facts of David’s childhood into the adult fallout—and the work of repair. David traces how early chaos trained his body to confuse intensity with intimacy, how disorganized attachment and the survival role of “the chameleon” kept him safe then but costly now, and how narcissistic partners can exploit abandonment wounds through tactics like love-bombing, power imbalance, and data mining (“gaining information to use later against y...
(Part 1) Content note: Discussion of childhood abuse and sexual assault/trafficking (non-graphic). Summary Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW, sits with David J. Weeks—a complex-trauma survivor and Trauma & Recovery Coach—to tell the truth of his childhood and the long road back. Raised by a narcissistic mother and an antisocial stepfather, David endured years of torment. By age 14, he had experienced all 10 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). At 13, while searching for love he never received...
Join me with Marge Sr. (Margaret Kiss, @margesr) as she reflects on fleeing communist Hungary as a child, rebuilding her life in the U.S., navigating intergenerational wounds, and choosing daily acts of love over hate—while also offering hard-earned wisdom on mental health, advocacy, and staying grounded in turbulent times. @margesr
On this episode of Your Traitor Within, Jessica Anne Pressler welcomes a dear friend and creative powerhouse, photographer Janet Barnett. Jessica and Janet’s friendship is rooted not only in their professional collaborations—Jessica has been one of Janet’s subjects, using her portraits across her own platforms—but also in the deep mutual respect and trust they share. That closeness gives this conversation an intimacy and candor that you’ll feel instantly. Janet’s story begins on the Sunset St...
Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW, and producer Anthony have a candid, non-graphic conversation about C-PTSD and Jessica’s experience surviving a suicidal crisis—naming the “Traitor Within,” how emotional flashbacks show up, and the small nervous-system tools that helped her choose to stay. Short, compassionate, and practical. (If you need help in the U.S., call or text 988.)
On this episode of Your Traitor Within, Jessica Anne Pressler sits down with Stephanie Schultz—founder of Blue Blood Metal Jewelry , Senior Art Consultant with SH Modern, and Pure Barre Fort Myers instructor. Stephanie’s journey has taken her from museum fundraising to the world of fine art and one-of-a-kind jewelry, with features in British Vogue and even the Real Housewives universe. But today, Stephanie opens up about something deeper: the “traitor within” that silenced her voice for year...
Jessica sits down with April Kirkwood—licensed holistic therapist, ageless style advocate, and TV favorite from The Golden Bachelor and the latest Bachelor in Paradise—to talk about healing as a lifelong commitment. They unpack triggers (“what in me still needs healing?”), boundaries as self-protection (not punishment), and what it means to live “large” in your own power, not for applause. Big themes: Healing is messy, nonlinear—and not a 10-session fix.Triggers as teachers: notice → name → c...
Laura is an international podcaster, #1 bestselling author, and speaker dedicated to empowering women. Through her global podcast That’s Where I’m At and her bestselling book Married To A “Nice” Guy: Getting Over Narcissistic Abuse, she shares her recovery from a 32-year marriage to a narcissist. Her mission: shine a light on narcissistic abuse so women know they’re never alone and that healing is possible—rebuilding self-worth, reclaiming their voices, and stepping into strength. In this epi...
In this special behind-the-scenes episode, host Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW and producer Anthony take listeners into the core concept of the show: the traitor within. Jessica shares her definition of the traitor — the part of ourselves shaped by pain, trauma, and old beliefs that holds us back or keeps us in unhealthy cycles. Anthony offers his perspective on recognizing his own traitor, and together they explore how naming it is the first step toward freedom. They revisit some standout past ...
Finding Strength by Facing Your Inner Traitor – with John Graham In this deeply powerful episode, host Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW, sits down with remarkable guest John Graham, former U.S. Diplomat, adventurer, author, and co-leader of the renowned Giraffe Heroes Project. They explore how confronting your internal “traitor”—the self-sabotaging critic born from past wounds—is essential for discovering authentic courage and purpose. ✨ Key Highlights: Childhood Experiences: John vulnerably...
In today’s powerful episode, Jessica Anne Pressler speaks openly with Amanda Marino, a Certified Intervention Professional, Certified Recovery and Life Coach, international speaker, and the inspiring co-founder of Next Level Recovery Associates. Amanda courageously shares her personal journey, beginning with a childhood scarred by trauma, abuse, and instability. She vividly describes how these early experiences shaped her own internal "traitor," leading to years of harmful coping mechanisms a...
Your Traitor Within Podcast – Special Guest Steve Hopper In today's powerful episode of Your Traitor Within, Jessica Anne Pressler sits down with Steve Hopper, an internationally recognized keynote speaker, author, and peak performance expert. Steve shares his gripping story—from prison inmate to global influencer—and explores how confronting the "traitor within" helped him turn his darkest moments into a mission to inspire millions. Through authentic vulnerability, Steve provides practical w...
"Trusting Your Inner Voice" with Mike Rudnicki In this episode of Your Traitor Within, Jessica sits down with Mike Rudnicki, author, mindfulness coach, Reiki master, and devoted advocate for empowering children through self-awareness and mindfulness. Mike shares how he overcame his own internal doubts—his "traitor within"—by learning to trust his intuition rather than relying solely on logic and external expectations. He opens up about the pivotal moments when he chose to listen to his inner ...
🎙️ Episode Show Notes: Bobbi Rudnicki – Healing From a Father's Betrayal Join Jessica Anne Pressler for an intimate and transformative conversation with Bobbi Rudnicki, an accomplished professional, dedicated mentor, and advocate for women’s emotional and career empowerment. In this heartfelt episode, Bobbi courageously opens up about her journey with her "traitor within"—the internal voice rooted in past experiences that fuels self-doubt, fear of abandonment, and patterns of self-sabot...
Join Jessica Anne Pressler in an uplifting and transformative conversation with Lisa McCourt, acclaimed author and joyful living expert whose radiant books have captivated over 9 million readers worldwide. As the dynamic host of the Joy Zone podcast and visionary founder of Joy School, Lisa masterfully teaches the rare art of emotional buoyancy, guiding thousands towards joy and emotional maturity for over two decades. Lisa McCourt writes books about joy and love that have sold over 9 milli...
Join Braunwyn Spinner (@braunwynwindhamburke), sobriety and queerness advocate, media personality, and former Real Housewives of Orange County star, as she opens up about confronting her "traitor within"—that internal voice shaped by past experiences that can hold us back. Braunwyn candidly discusses her unique journey through reality TV, sharing the profound challenges and powerful revelations that emerged during her time on RHOC. Despite the stigma and obstacles, Braunwyn remains grateful f...
Award-winning TV host, author, and motivational speaker Marci Hopkins joins Jessica Anne Pressler to share her journey from addiction and shame to sobriety, self-love, and empowerment. After stepping away from her hit show Wake Up with Marci, Marci now hosts her own podcast where she dives even deeper into topics like healing, motherhood, and mental health. She’s also the author of Chaos to Clarity: Seeing the Signs and Breaking the Cycles, an award-winning memoir about breaking toxic pattern...
In this powerful episode, Jessica sits down with Nicole B. Gebhardt — a best-selling author, transformational coach, and certified child life specialist — to discuss the deep grief of pregnancy and infant loss, and the internal voice that kept her trapped in shame, silence, and survival mode. Nicole shares how she found the strength to break free, step into her healing, and help others do the same. Nicole’s story is one of incredible resilience. A fierce advocate for families healing from los...
In honor of National Adoption Month, Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW, sits down with her longtime friend and fellow adoptee, Barbara Eckert of All The Feels Healing Space, to share the parts of their adoption stories that shaped their “Traitor Within” — the protective inner voice that helped them survive but later drove people-pleasing, over-trusting, secrecy, and self-silencing. They discuss late disclosures, abandoned fantasies about birth families, the “primal wound,” somatic fallout, and prac...
