Show Notes
Ever felt like: You disappear in relationships? You can’t say no? You manage everyone else’s emotions? You’re “too nice” at your own expense?
Beyond just “being nice”, good old people pleasing can make you susceptible to being abused or taken advantage of. But did you ever think about it as another trauma response?
In this powerful episode of The Great Equalizer, hosts Sam and Charlene sit down with internationally renowned clinical psychologist and trauma therapist Dr Ingrid Clayton to unpack fawning — the lesser-known trauma response that joins fight, flight and freeze.
Dr Clayton, author of Believing Me and Fawning, has spoken on and been referenced on some major podcasting platforms including The Dr Phil Podcast and The Mel Robbins Podcast — and now she’s bringing the conversation to TGE.
For parents in the 2020s — especially millennial moms navigating boundaries, burnout, and identity — this episode is essential listening.
Here’s some of what we cover: 🙇🏼♀️ What fawning actually is 🙇🏻♀️ The “Good Girl Complex” 🙇🏼♀️ Financial fawning, sexual fawning & fawning as social currency 🙇🏻♀️ Trauma bonding, narcissistic dynamics & The Drama Triangle 🙇🏼♀️ Worthiness wounds and shrinking yourself to survive 🙇🏻♀️ Parenting triggers and breaking generational cycles 🙇🏼♀️ Somatic healing, EMDR & body-based trauma recovery 🙇🏻♀️ What “unfawning” really looks like 🙇🏼♀️ One practical step you can take to begin the healing process.
🎧 Tune in now and don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe. And please leave us a loving comment or review! Every episode that gets out has the capacity to bring one mom closer to sanity. We believe it! __ #TheGreatEqualizer #Fawning #TraumaResponse #PeoplePleasing #GoodGirlComplex #ParentingPodcast #MillennialMoms #MentalHealth #TraumaHealing #EMDR #SomaticHealing #Boundaries #WomenWellness #Unfawning #DrIngridClayton
More from The Great Equalizer
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It’s no secret that strength training is crucial for women in or approaching perimenopause. But what exactly are we talking about here? Is yoga and pilates going to cut it? Do you really have to lift heavy weights? And what about your pelvic floor? Protein intake? A time-turner to ensure you do all ‘the right things’ to secure a graceful aging process. It’s all a bit overwhelming, in all honesty. Which is why we’re tackling all our questions (and yours!) in Episode 5 of TGE Talks: Menopause. Life coach, physiotherapist and motivational speaker Sue Fuller-Good joins us in studio to chat about what really helps women thrive through midlife. If you've been bombarded by conflicting advice on social media about menopause fitness, weight loss, Pilates versus weight training, or the "perfect" workout, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed guidance for busy women navigating their 40s, 50s and beyond.
Can you really blame menopause, or is it anxiety?
Menopause DOES NOT mean the end of your sex life!In Episode 3 of TGE Talks Season 1, we tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of menopause: sex, intimacy, libido, desire and sexual wellbeing after 40.Too many women live with the misconception that menopause means you're "dried up," undesirable or no longer interested in sex. But the reality is far more nuanced. Desire can change during midlife, but it doesn't disappear. Understanding those changes can help you reconnect with your body and rediscover pleasure, confidence, and unexplored intimacy.South African medical doctor and sexual health specialist Dr Heather Blaylock joins us to discuss sexual medicine, menopause care, hormonal health, pain management and regenerative wellness.In this episode, we cover:✔️ What a healthy libido can look like after 40.✔️ The difference between libido and desire.✔️ Dryness and atrophy: what is happening to our vaginas!?✔️ The physical, emotional and psychological factors that affect sexual wellbeing✔️ Common and treatable causes of low libido during perimenopause and menopause✔️ Pain during sex, including chronic pain and its impact on intimacy✔️ PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy and other non-surgical treatment options for vaginal rejuvenation✔️ Practical first steps for women who feel disconnected from their sexualityWhether you're navigating perimenopause, menopause, hormonal changes, low libido, painful sex, relationship challenges, or simply wondering what's normal in midlife, this conversation offers evidence-based information, practical tools and the reassurance that you're not alone in the chaos.Brought to you by The Great Equalizer, TGE Talks: Menopause is a six-part podcast series that explores every aspect of menopause with insight from leading medical experts, specialists and sexual health advocates.🎧 Tune in on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 💬 We'd love to hear from you. Do you have a question, story or experience to share? Email us at [email protected] or drop us a voice note on Instagram. 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.#Menopause #Perimenopause #SexAfter40 #LowLibido #WomensHealth #MidlifeWomen #MenopauseSupport #SexualHealth #VaginalDryness #MenopausePodcast #Libido #Intimacy #Hormones #HealthyAging #thegreatequalizer