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Canaries in the Coal Mine

Canaries in the Coal Mine

Written by: Shannon
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About this listen

Welcome to Canaries in the Coal Mine — a podcast for people who notice deeply, tell the truth, and are breaking patterns they didn’t choose.


I’m Shannon — a former party girl turned cycle-breaker, trauma survivor, boundary-setter, and fellow feel-everything human. I know what it’s like to grow up reading the room, managing emotions that weren’t yours, and learning to doubt your own instincts just to stay connected.


This podcast is for anyone who was raised around addiction, emotional immaturity, narcissism, codependency, or emotional neglect — and grew up feeling “too much,” too sensitive, or somehow wrong.


But here’s the truth:
You’re not broken.
You’re not crazy.
You’re just the canary.


Through thoughtful conversations, grounded tools, and clear language, we talk about emotional patterns, family systems, boundaries that protect, nervous system overload, and what it actually takes to come back to yourself.

Just honest conversation.


If you’ve always noticed what others missed, you’ll feel at home here.


🎙️ New episodes every other Tuesday at 1 PM ET.


© 2026 Canaries in the Coal Mine
Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Self-Help Social Sciences Success
Episodes
  • Something Feels Off in Midlife. Here's Why.
    Feb 10 2026

    Something strange happens in midlife.

    One day the life we built stops fitting.
    Not because it’s bad.
    Not because we failed.
    But because it no longer tells the truth about who we are.

    This film explores why midlife can suddenly feel uncomfortable, restless, or quietly misaligned even when life looks stable from the outside.

    We talk about identity shifts, survival roles, nervous system fatigue, and why this season often brings a deeper pull toward honesty and meaning.

    If you’ve been feeling out of place in a life you worked hard to build…
    If your energy is lower but your responsibilities are higher…
    If the roles that once worked now feel tight or outdated…
    This episode is for you.

    For many of us raised in emotional immaturity, chaos, or pressure to perform, we built adulthood using survival skills.
    Those skills helped us succeed.
    But at some point, they stop fitting.

    Midlife is often when the body and identity stop accepting an old deal.

    Today we are talking about:
    • why midlife can feel strangely uncomfortable
    • how survival roles can start to feel limiting
    • the shift from performance to meaning
    • role strain, nervous system fatigue, and emotional honesty
    • how to update your life without blowing it up
    • practical tools for clarity, energy, and alignment

    You are not falling apart.
    You are outgrowing an old version of yourself.

    ---

    Free Support for this episode:
    Midlife Role Audit (1-Page Guide) → coming soon

    Watch Next:
    The Truth About Sensitive People → https://youtu.be/zHO9NcRcmA0
    Why Highly Sensitive People Feel So Alone → https://youtu.be/MSjxku9XYlE?si=xZqkmboE1jJeIEiV

    Each film is a soft place to land. Cinematic truth-telling for cycle-breakers, deep feelers, and anyone healing from the inside out.

    Subscribe:
    New cinematic healing films → @thecanariesinthecoalmine

    If you want to support my work:
    • Share this film with someone in midlife who feels out of sync
    • Subscribe, like, and comment. Your engagement helps this work reach more people
    • Explore the Canary Book Nook → https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu](https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu

    Free Resources for your journey:
    Canary Love Notes → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/c6ivxhp4ti
    Vagus Nerve Reset Guide → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/4qzfwvxxp7
    7 Tools for Sensitive Souls → https://mailchi.mp/7d6d2342bb0b/the-canarys-survival-guide
    The Guilt-Free No, 1-Page Starter → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/82zbqakphl

    Find Us Online:
    Website → [https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com (NEW WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
    Podcast → Canaries in the Coal Mine is on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music
    Book Nook → https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu

    Community Question:
    Have you noticed anything shifting in midlife lately?
    Energy, identity, priorities, relationships?
    What’s felt most surprising about this season?
    Share below. Your words might help someone else feel less alone. 💛

    Sponsorship Disclosure:
    This episode is not sponsored. Affiliate links help support this channel at no additional cost to you.

    Timecodes:
    0:00 - When life stops fitting
    1:32 - How this shows up in everyday life
    4:12 - Survival roles in adulthood
    6:28 - Identity catching up to truth
    8:05 - Why midlife feels unsettling
    9:42 - Practical tools for this season
    12:15 - You’re not falling apart

    #midlife #MidlifeShift #FeelingStuck #LifeTransition #EmotionalGrowth #CycleBreaker #AdultChildrenOfAlcoholics #TraumaHealing #NervousSystem #AuthenticLiving

    About This Channel:
    A cinematic space for cycle-breakers, deep feelers, and truth-tellers.
    We are not too much. We are wired for honesty, heal

    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • Why Sensitive People Feel So Alone
    Jan 27 2026

    Sensitive people and highly sensitive people often feel alone because they notice what others miss.
    This film explores emotional awareness, reading the room, and the nervous system wiring behind deep sensitivity. We talk about early nervous system wiring, why groups avoid emotional truth, the exhaustion of self-editing, and how building a life that fits your sensitivity is not weakness. It is wisdom.

    If you feel out of sync in rooms…
    If you notice what others overlook…
    If you’ve been told you’re “too much” for naming what feels real…
    This episode is for you.

    For sensitive people raised in emotional immaturity, chaos, or addiction…awareness was not a personality trait. It was survival.

    And once the body learns to read emotional weather, it does not stop in adulthood.

    Today we are talking about:
    • where deep emotional awareness begins
    • why some people read rooms automatically
    • how groups protect surface harmony
    • the loneliness of being the one who notices
    • the quiet exhaustion of self-editing
    • how to build spaces where depth is welcome

    You are not imagining it.
    You are not broken.
    You are early.

    Free Support for this episode:
    Finding Depth-Friendly Spaces, 1-Page Guide → coming soon
    Optional Companion Guide on Gumroad → coming soon

    Watch Next:
    The Truth About Sensitive People → https://youtu.be/zHO9NcRcmA0
    What Happens When You Become Your Family’s Cycle Breaker → https://youtu.be/UQuw9pgf03E

    Each film is a soft place to land. Cinematic truth-telling for cycle-breakers, deep feelers, and anyone healing from the inside out.

    Subscribe:
    New cinematic healing films → @thecanariesinthecoalmine

    If you want to support my work:
    • Share this film with someone who needs it
    • Subscribe, like, and comment. Your engagement helps this work reach more people.
    • Explore the Canary Book Nook → https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu

    Free Resources for your journey:
    Canary Love Notes → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/c6ivxhp4ti
    Vagus Nerve Reset Guide → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/4qzfwvxxp7
    7 Tools for Sensitive Souls → https://mailchi.mp/7d6d2342bb0b/the-canarys-survival-guide
    The Guilt-Free No, 1-Page Starter → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/82zbqakphl

    Find Us Online:
    Website → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com (*NEW WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.)
    Podcast → Canaries in the Coal Mine is on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music
    Book Nook → https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu](https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu

    Community Question:
    When you walk into a room, do you feel the emotional tone immediately?
    And what helps you feel safe being honest about what you notice?
    Share below. Your words might be the thing that helps someone else breathe. 💛

    Sponsorship Disclosure:
    This episode is not sponsored. Affiliate links help support this channel at no additional cost to you.

    Timecodes:
    0:00 - Introduction
    1:29 - The kid who knew too much
    3:40 - The agreement to stay comfortable
    5:13 - The loneliness of being the deep one
    6:22 - Finding people who speak your language
    7:39 - Ways back home
    8:59 - Crossing the line into ourselves

    #highlysensitiveperson #SensitivePeople #EmotionalAwareness #FeelingAlone #ReadingTheRoom #TraumaHealing #CPTSDRecovery #AdultChildrenOfAlcoholics #CycleBreaker #EmotionalNeglect #NervousSystem #AuthenticConnection

    About This Channel:
    A cinematic space for cycle-breakers, deep feelers, and truth-tellers.
    We are not too much. We are wired for honesty, healing, and connection.
    New episodes every other Tuesday at 1 PM ET, plus podcast uploads.

    Educational Disclaimer:
    This content is for educational and supportive purposes only. It is

    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • January Is Hard. This Is Why.
    Jan 13 2026

    This video explores why January can feel worse instead of better, especially for cycle-breakers, highly sensitive people, and anyone whose body has spent years staying alert just to get through life. We talk about the post-holiday crash, nervous system exhaustion, and why slowing down after a long emotional season is not failure. It is biology.

    If you feel tired instead of motivated…
    If quiet feels strange or unsafe…
    If you are wondering why everyone else looks fine…
    This episode is for you. 💛

    For those raised in emotional immaturity, chaos, or addiction, the holidays are not just busy.
    They are bracing.

    And when the season ends, the body finally stands down.

    Today we are talking about:
    • why January often feels like a come-down
    • how your nervous system responds after long periods of emotional labor
    • why shame shows up when your body slows down
    • how quiet seasons can feel unsafe at first
    • small ways to steady yourself without forcing motivation
    • why nothing is wrong with you, even when you feel off

    You did not lose momentum.
    Your body found safety.

    Free Support for this episode:
    Post-Holiday Nervous System Reset, 1-Page Guide → coming soon
    Optional Companion Guide on Gumroad →coming soon

    Watch Next:
    What Happens When You Become Your Family's Cycle Breaker → https://youtu.be/UQuw9pgf03E
    That guilt when you say no and here is what is really happening → https://youtu.be/e_umz5MfZ5Y

    Each film is a soft place to land. Cinematic truth-telling for cycle-breakers, deep feelers, and anyone healing from the inside out.

    Subscribe:
    New cinematic healing films → @thecanariesinthecoalmine

    If you want to support my work:
    • Explore the Canary Book Nook → https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu
    • Share this film with someone who needs it
    • Subscribe, like, and comment. Your engagement helps this work reach more people.

    Free Resources for your journey:
    Canary Love Notes → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/c6ivxhp4ti
    Vagus Nerve Reset Guide → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/4qzfwvxxp7
    7 Tools for Sensitive Souls → https://mailchi.mp/7d6d2342bb0b/the-canarys-survival-guide
    The Guilt-Free No, 1-Page Starter → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/82zbqakphl

    Find Us Online:
    Website → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com (*NEW WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.)
    Podcast → Canaries in the Coal Mine on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon
    Book Nook → https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu](https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu

    Community Question:
    What does January feel like in your body? Energized, flat, heavy, or quiet?
    And what helps you feel steady when the season shifts?
    Share below. Your words might be the thing that helps someone else breathe. 💛

    Sponsorship Disclosure:
    This episode is not sponsored. Affiliate links help support this channel at no additional cost to you.

    Timecodes:
    0:00 - Introduction
    1:23 - When the armor drops
    3:39 - What the body is saying
    5:46 - How we steady
    8:20 - Moving in our own time

    #JanuaryCrash #NervousSystem #PostHoliday #CycleBreaker #EmotionalExhaustion #TraumaHealing #CPTSDRecovery #AdultChildrenOfAlcoholics #Boundaries #HealingJourney

    About This Channel:
    A cinematic space for cycle-breakers, deep feelers, and truth-tellers.
    We are not too much. We are wired for honesty, healing, and connection.
    New episodes every other Tuesday at 1 PM ET, plus podcast uploads.

    Educational Disclaimer:
    This content is for educational and supportive purposes only. It is not therapy or medical advice.

    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
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