46. Here Be Dragons - An Interview with Author, Melanie Shankle Pt. 1

Some family pain doesn’t look dramatic from the outside, which is exactly why it can trap you for decades. Emily sits down with three-time New York Times bestselling author Melanie Shankle to talk about her book "Here Be Dragons." We talk about how helping a daughter navigate mean girls uncovered a deeper story of generational trauma, people pleasing, and the old parental scripts that still play in your head. Melanie shares what it took to overcome gaslighting messages like “you’re being dramatic” and why writing her story forced her to move from a detached retelling into emotional honesty. Along the way, we explore how God’s steadfast love can meet us in the places we most want to avoid.We also get practical about healing and boundaries within Christian community. What do you do when church culture misunderstands your boundaries and pressures you to minimize your needs. Melanie speaks to the real issues that arise when outsiders only know the charming version of a parent. Melanie offers thoughtful guidance on discernment, prayer, and trusting your instincts.If you care about being a more empathetic friend to people like Melanie, have difficult family systems yourself, want to understand emotional abuse, and desire to hold the nuance of what honoring a parent can truly mean, this conversation will give you language and clarity! Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.Resources: Melanie Shankle's book: Here Be Dragons, Anne Lamott's book: Bird by Bird... and more to come in the second part of the interview next episode!Send us Fan Mail