In this episode, I sit down with Rosemary Gattuso a trauma informed family mediator, couples counselor, and author of It's Not You, It's Me! A Chronic Overthinker's Guide to Self-Reflection for an honest conversation about overthinking, self-worth, trauma, emotional resilience, and the power of self-reflection.

Rosemary shares her personal mental health journey, opening up about growing up with low self-esteem, self-doubt, and chronic overthinking. She reflects on how years of believing she wasn't good enough shaped many areas of her life until she discovered family mediation a career that allowed her natural strengths of listening, remaining calm under pressure, and guiding difficult conversations to flourish.

She explains how finding work that aligned with who she truly was dramatically improved both her confidence and overall well-being. The conversation then shifts toward Rosemary's book and the topic of chronic overthinking. She explains the difference between healthy self reflection and unhealthy rumination describing how reflection feels lighter, encourages growth and helps people move forward, while overthinking often traps people in cycles of judgment, criticism, blame, anxiety, and replaying past mistakes.

The episode also touches on the importance of maintaining emotional balance while working in helping professions. Rosemary shares how she protects her own mental health despite spending her days supporting families through crisis, discussing the value of reflection, setting boundaries, spending time in nature, walking, journaling, nurturing her plants, cooking, and recognizing early signs of burnout before they become overwhelming.

Whether you've struggled with anxiety, overthinking, self-doubt, family conflict, or simply want to understand yourself with greater compassion, this episode offers practical insights and empowering reminders that healing begins not with perfection but with understanding.

What’s covered in this episode:

● Rosemary's personal journey with low self-esteem, self-worth and chronic overthinking and how becoming a trauma-informed family mediator transformed her confidence and mental well-being.

● Why trauma is defined by its impact on an individual rather than the event itself and how unresolved trauma influences relationships, communication, and emotional responses.

● The difference between healthy self-reflection and harmful overthinking plus common signs that show how self-reflection has shifted into rumination.

● How judgment, blame, criticism, and victim thinking fuel chronic overthinking, and practical techniques for managing overthinking through meditation, journaling, balance, and self-awareness.

● The importance of practicing self compassion and becoming your own mediator during difficult moments.

Resources and links mentioned in this week’s episode:

● You can connect directly with Rosemary Gattuso on her INSTAGRAM

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Check out our faith based women of color shop ⁠HERE⁠ where you can get a variety of products from T shirts, tote bags, crewnecks, journals and many more

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

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● Want us to be a guest on your show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

How can understanding your nervous system transform not only your own mental health, but also your relationship with your teenager?

In this episode of Rough Edges Podcast, I sit down with Becky Funk, former educator, certified nervous system regulation coach, recovering anxious perfectionist, and creator of the Safe Place Parenting Model.

Becky shares her deeply personal mental health journey, reflecting on growing up during a time when anxiety was rarely acknowledged and emotional struggles were often dismissed. She opens up about navigating years of chronic stress, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and a difficult season caring for her son after he was diagnosed with serious brain infections.

Through her own healing process, Becky discovered nervous system regulation and the role of the vagus nerve, an experience that completely transformed the way she viewed mental health, resilience, and parenting. Becky also shares how her coaching journey evolved from working with anxious and perfectionistic teenagers to helping parents become emotionally safe spaces for their children.

She explains that lasting change doesn't come from trying to control teenagers, it comes from building trust, understanding adolescent development, and creating genuine emotional connection.

This episode is a powerful reminder that healing begins with understanding ourselves first. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, coach, or someone navigating anxiety and chronic stress.

What’s covered in this episode:

● Becky's personal mental health journey and how anxiety shaped her life

● A simple yet powerful communication strategy Becky calls the "Magic Question," which helps parents understand whether their teen needs advice, a listening ear, or help creating a plan

● Helping parents build healthier relationships with their teenagers instead of trying to control them

● Why giving teenagers autonomy strengths trust and communication

Resources and links mentioned in this week’s episode:

● Connect directly with Becky Funk on her INSTAGRAM

● Find out more about Becky’s Safe Place Parenting Model via her WEBSITE

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Check out our faith based women of color shop HERE where you can get a variety of products from T shirts, tote bags, crewnecks, journals and many more

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on Facebook! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

What happens when being the "good daughter" becomes the very thing keeping you from living authentically?

In this episode of Rough Edges Podcast, I welcome back returning guest Olivia Alvizo Johnson, a millennial Latina therapist and founder of Liv Curiously Therapy for a heartfelt conversation about healing from people-pleasing, retiring the "good responsible daughter" identity, and learning to reconnect with yourself after years of putting everyone else's needs first.

Drawing from both her professional experience as a therapist and her own personal healing journey, Olivia shares how many women grow up believing that their worth is tied to being responsible, selfless, emotionally available and constantly accommodating the needs of others.

While these traits may have once served as survival strategies in childhood, they often lead to anxiety, perfectionism, emotional exhaustion, overthinking, resentment and difficulty setting healthy boundaries in adulthood.

Together we discuss the importance of emotional boundaries, self-compassion, and replacing self-criticism with curiosity. Olivia shares the inspiration behind Liv Curiously Therapy explaining how becoming more curious instead of critical transformed both her personal healing journey and the work she now does with ambitious women who are ready to stop surviving and start living more authentically.

This episode is an encouraging reminder that healing doesn't begin when everything is perfect, it begins the moment you stop minimizing your experiences, honor your own emotional needs, and give yourself permission to become more than the role you've always been expected to play.

This episode also explores:

● What it means to retire the "good responsible daughter" identity

● Why ambitious women often struggle with anxiety, overthinking, and burnout

● The emotional impact of always being labeled "the responsible one"

● How childhood praise can unintentionally reinforce unhealthy patterns

● The importance of creating emotional boundaries with yourself and others

● Learning to grieve the childhood you needed while embracing the life you deserve

Resources and links mentioned in this episode

● You can connect with Olivia Alvizo here via her INSTAGRAM

● Find out more about Olivia’s Liv Curiously Therapy via her WEBSITE

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

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● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

This powerful episode sums up our season 6 finale on the Rough Edges Podcast. Today I sit down with youth empowerment speaker and author Lawrence Harris for a deeply honest conversation about youth mental health, self worth, masculinity, healing, and overcoming limiting beliefs. Lawrence opens up about his own mental health journey, growing up feeling different from his peers, experiencing abuse in childhood, struggling with loneliness, and learning how therapy, journaling, and self discovery helped him step into confidence and purpose.

Together Lawrence and I discuss the realities many young people especially young Black men face when it comes to mental health stigma and emotional suppression. Lawrence shares why he became passionate about working with teens and young adults, highlighting alarming statistics about how long many people suffer before receiving mental health support. The conversation also looks into how cultural expectations, family dynamics, social media, and societal pressures often teach men to hide their emotions instead of addressing them in healthy ways.

Throughout the episode Lawrence breaks down the importance of challenging limiting beliefs and creating a vision for your future beyond what society, family history, or fear tells you is possible. He explains how his workshops help young people dream bigger, identify internal barriers, and begin taking ownership of their healing and personal growth.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that healing begins when we allow ourselves to be honest about our struggles, challenge the narratives that limit us, and give ourselves permission to become who we were always meant to be.

If this episode resonates with you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need encouragement on their own healing journey.

This episode also explores:

● The impact of toxic masculinity and societal expectations

● Reasons why many men avoid therapy and emotional vulnerability

● Lawrence’s personal experience with therapy as a child

● How to build self-confidence and identity as a young man

● How social media’s influence can affect masculinity and self-worth

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

● You can connect with Lawrence Harris here via his INSTAGRAM & YOUTUBE

● Find out more about Lawrence’s work on his WEBSITE

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on Facebook! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

In this new episode, I am joined by trauma specialist Dr. Ken Huey for an honest conversation about men’s mental health, emotional expression, trauma, and healing.

Dr. Huey brings over two decades of experience in behavioral and mental health, with a strong focus on trauma and attachment particularly within the adoptee community. Drawing from both his professional work and personal journey as an adoptee, he shares how his lived experiences shaped his passion for helping individuals with deep trauma histories learn how to build healthy relationships, regulate emotions, and function successfully in society.

We also get into what it really looks like to work in trauma care exploring both the emotional challenges and the deeply rewarding moments. Dr. Huey speaks candidly about the heartbreak of watching clients struggle with self-destructive behaviors, as well as the joy of seeing them grow into more stable, connected, and thriving individuals over time.

Our central focus in this episode is the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. We unpack why so many men are conditioned to suppress their emotions, avoid vulnerability, and “power through” pain. Dr. Huey explains how societal expectations, cultural norms, and even biological tendencies can contribute to emotional suppression while also emphasizing that emotional expression is a skill that can be learned and developed with practice.

This episode also explores:

● Why many men struggle to recognize or admit they need help

● How stoicism and emotional shutdown often show up in relationships and behavior

● The importance of safe spaces and trusted relationships when opening up

● Dr. Huey’s powerful reflections from his own life navigating trauma, learning how to build lasting relationships and finding healing through openness, safe connections, and personal growth

● Addressing internal stigma and fear around vulnerability in men

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

● Connect with Dr. Ken Huey via his podcast!

● Find out more about Dr. Ken and his treatment center Calo on his WEBSITE.

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on Facebook! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

● Follow us on TikTok! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

In this episode of Rough Edges Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett an Educational Psychologist, author, and speaker to explore the powerful intersection of faith, identity, and psychology. With a background in parenting and identity development, Mary Ruth shares her personal and spiritual journey from her early desire to be a stay-at-home mom to becoming an author, podcaster, and voice helping others navigate intentional, faith-filled living.

Throughout the conversation, we cover the importance of pursuing knowledge with humility, integrating faith with developmental psychology, and making intentional parenting decisions rooted in both research and spiritual truth. Mary Ruth also reflects on her journey into podcasting and writing, the role of community and discernment in following God’s calling, and how her family has been part of that process.

We also talk about what it truly means to embrace your identity as God’s beloved daughter inspired by her book Daughter by Design. Mary Ruth opens up about how writing the book deepened her relationship with God, particularly in understanding and connecting with Him as a loving Father. She also shares how prayer, surrender, and obedience have shaped her spiritual life and influenced her work.

If you’ve ever struggled with identity, felt distant from God, or wanted to grow in both faith and self-understanding, this episode offers practical encouragement and a reminder of the beauty of being fully known and loved by God.

This episode also explores:

● How to build a deeper, more personal relationship with God as Father

● The role of reflection, prayer, and intentional living in spiritual growth

● How Daughter by Design helps readers reconnect with their identity and heal from

broken perceptions of fatherhood

● The importance of aligning your vocation with God’s calling

● The value of slowing down, reflecting, and actively engaging with what we consume

Resources and links mentioned in the episode:

● You can find Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett on social media through her INSTAGRAM!

● Purchase Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett’s book Daughter by Design HERE via Amazon on her website

● Check out her new book Discernment of Spirits for Beginners HERE

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on Facebook! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

● Follow us on TikTok! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

In this episode of Rough Edges, I am joined by Renee Firth, a mental health advocate and founder of ASD Mum Club, an online community dedicated to supporting mothers raising autistic children.

Renee shares her personal mental health journey including experiencing PTSD, anxiety, and depression after a traumatic car accident and how she rebuilt her life by developing practical tools to manage and protect her mental well-being.

We get to discuss the importance of stepping back and reassessing life during overwhelming seasons and why prioritizing mental health is a strategic decision rather than a sign of weakness.

Renee opens up about her experience as a mother to an autistic child, the mental and emotional toll caregiving can take, and how easily mothers can neglect themselves while trying to meet their child’s needs.

The conversation also explores the heart behind ASD Mum Club on why Renee created a calm, supportive space specifically for mothers, and how it helps them move from burnout and overwhelm to feeling more in control of their mental health.

Renee also addresses common misconceptions about parenting autistic children, emphasizing that mothers deeply love their children and are not wishing for a different life, but rather need support to navigate the challenges.

In this episode, we cover:

● Renee’s mental health journey and recovery after PTSD

● The realities of parenting an autistic child

● How caregiving impacts a mother’s mental health

● The inspiration and mission behind ASD Mum Club

● Common misconceptions about autism and parenting autistic children

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

● Connect with Renee Firth on INSTAGRAM!

● Find out more about the ASD Mum Club HERE on their website

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on Facebook! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

● Follow us on TikTok! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of Rough Edges. In this episode, I sit down with stress-management expert and author Lolita Guarin to explore what it truly means to live a life rooted in peace, presence, and self-alignment.

Lolita shares how traveling across the world shaped her understanding of happiness, and why so many people who “have everything” still feel overwhelmed and unfulfilled. We talk about the emotional and physical impact of long-term stress, the importance of reclaiming rest, and learning to be instead of constantly doing. Lolita also breaks down her C.A.L.M. method, a practical approach to managing stress and creating sustainable well-being in everyday life.

In this episode we talk about:

● Lolita Guarin and her work as a stress management expert and author

● Why people with “everything” can still be stressed and unhappy

● The way constant stress affects health over time

● Tips for managing stress like taking small breaks during the day (Pomodoro-style but flexible)

● Generational conditioning especially for women being taught to constantly give, care, produce, and never rest

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

● Connect with Lolita on ⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠!

●Learn more about Lolita’s CALM process ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠!

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on Facebook! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

● Follow us on TikTok! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com