How often do you say “I’m fine” when you’re anything but? In this episode of Leaving CrazyTown, Finn and Dr. Sarah unpack the many meanings behind those two deceptively simple words—and why asking for help can feel harder than suffering in silence. With humor, honesty, and lived recovery wisdom, they explore what makes some requests easy, others terrifying, and how emotional pain often hides behind self-sufficiency. This conversation is for anyone learning how to name their needs without shame and step out of survival mode.

Key Takeaways

• “I’m fine” is often a protective shield—not the truth

• Asking for help feels easier when it benefits others, not ourselves

• Illness and emotional pain trigger deep autonomy and boundary issues

• Recovery trains us to ask for help—but only in specific lanes

• Emotional honesty requires safety, timing, and trust

Key Timestamps

• [00:01] What “I’m fine” really stands for

• [00:03] Why service-based asks feel safer

• [00:05] Illness, isolation, and control

• [00:07] Emotional pain and selective vulnerability

• [00:09] The recovery paradox: trained to ask, still afraid

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

If this episode hit close to home, subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who’s tired of pretending they’re fine.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

The holidays have a way of turning up the volume on codependency — expectations, guilt, fear of disappointing others, and the pressure to “just make it work.” In this honest holiday wrap-up, Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud review what actually helped, what didn’t, and how clear communication became the difference between resentment and relief. From navigating COVID plans to managing adult kids’ expectations, this episode offers real-life examples of boundaries in action — imperfect, human, and effective.Takeaways

• Clear communication prevents resentment — even when it feels uncomfortable

• Being honest about what you want doesn’t make you selfish

• Boundaries work best when you release the need to control others’ reactions

• Avoiding discomfort creates long-term emotional “ick”

• Holidays don’t require self-abandonment to be meaningful

Key Timestamps

• [00:01:00] Why being “wishy-washy” fuels codependency

• [00:02:30] Navigating COVID, family expectations, and guilt

• [00:04:00] Saying what you want without managing others’ feelings

• [00:06:30] Holiday spirals and parental guilt

• [00:07:30] Choosing clarity over emotional chaos

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If this episode resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s still unpacking their holiday “stuff.”

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

Episode Description

What happens when peak physical endurance collides with life-altering diagnosis? In this powerful episode of Leaving CrazyTown, Dr. Sarah Michaud sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds—nonprofit CEO, Ironman triathlete, and two-time cancer survivor—to unpack what it really means to do hard things. Jeffrey shares how endurance training prepared him for cancer treatment, how vulnerability reshaped his relationships, and why strength isn’t about avoiding fear—it’s about learning to run alongside it. This is an honest, grounded conversation about mortality, resilience, masculinity, and choosing presence over panic.

Key Takeaways

• Why fitness is not the same as health

• How endurance training builds emotional grit—not just physical stamina

• The hidden cost (and gift) of vulnerability, especially for men

• What cancer teaches us about priorities, presence, and legacy

• Why letting people help you is sometimes a gift to them

Key Timestamps

• 02:00 – From a spontaneous 5K to Ironman training
• 08:00 – “I did Ironman with cancer”
• 14:00 – Fitness vs. health: an important distinction
• 23:00 – Vulnerability, masculinity, and male friendships
• 37:00 – Rest, burnout, and rethinking productivity
• 41:00 – Legacy, meaning, and what truly matters

Notable Resources & Links

• Book: Every Mile Matters by Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds

• Website: EveryMileMatters.com

• Author Site: JeffreyReynolds.com

If this episode resonated, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone facing something hard.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown