Don’t call Me

Title:Episode 10: The ShootDescription:After months of surviving courtrooms, exchanges, and silence, I stepped back into the world. I started protesting. I worked with an artisan boutique. And then—I did a photoshoot. Just jeans, a bra, and a jacket.This episode is about what it felt like to be seen again. To reclaim my body. To remember who I was before the losses piled up.It was the night I met Eddie.His motorcycle got stuck in the sand.Me and the girls pushed it out while he stayed seated.I didn’t realize it then, but that moment told me everything.Themes:Post-separation traumaMaternal identityRe-emergence and reclaiming visibilityEmotional labor and early red flagsFemale embodiment and truth-tellingContent Warning:This episode includes themes of maternal grief, emotional imbalance in early relationships, and the subtle beginnings of control. If that feels too close today, come back when you’re ready. No pressure.

After the driveway exchange, I didn’t feel strong. I felt broken. In this episode, I talk about what came next—what it looked like to survive the aftermath. The grief that settled into my bones. The rage I never expected. The stories that were told about me while I was fighting every day just to keep going. And the moment I started reclaiming my voice.This story is for every mother who’s been misjudged. For every woman carrying her pain in silence. And for anyone who’s ever had to rebuild from the rubble.Themes:Post-separation abuseMaternal grief and traumaEmotional recoveryIdentity and reclaiming powerFamily estrangementSurviving legal and systemic injusticeTurning points in healingContent Warnings:This episode contains sensitive content including references to emotional distress, maternal rage, post-separation abuse, and the grief of losing custody. If you’re not ready to hear those themes today, that’s okay. Come back when you’re ready. No urgency, no shame.

They weren’t even allowed to cry.Sometimes it was their father putting hands on Ash.Sometimes it was their grandmother threatening to send them to their room if they showed any emotion.So I stopped saying goodbye in the driveway.This episode is about the violence of drop-offs, and how I learned to reroute love — how I started pulling over a few blocks away just so we could have a moment to hug, to say hello, to say goodbye. Because the driveway wasn’t safe. But I could still create something that was.It’s also about the road trips, the exhaustion, the music, the Ohio hotel with the water park — and how I mothered in the margins of what was left to me.—In this episode:Emotional abuse at drop-offCreating safety through routine and ritualRoad trip traditions: hotel stops, goodie bags, and Johnny CashGrieving a life you’re still buildingLoving children through state lines and silences—Start from Episode 1 to understand the full story. Each chapter builds on the last.Don’t Call Me is written and hosted by Em.

There’s a lot I don’t remember from that time. That’s how trauma works — it fogs the details and burns the feelings in sharp.But I remember this: I used my rent money to rent a car. Drove straight to Rochester. Brought my babies home for the summer. And for six weeks, we lived.We swam. We hiked. We drew all over each other with markers. They made friends. They got dirty. We built new traditions. I set up bedrooms for each of them, so they’d know they always had a space — that this was their home, too.I got them into counseling even though I wasn’t “allowed” to. Because I knew what they’d been through. I knew what they were still holding.This episode is about the cost of reclaiming joy, and why even six weeks of freedom can change a life.—In this episode:Reclaiming motherhood during summerThe trauma of custody exchangesLoving children through manipulation and griefCreating joy in the cracks of painCounseling as resistanceWhat it means to give children a sense of home—Start from Episode 1 to follow the full story. Each chapter builds on the last.Don’t Call Me is written and hosted by Em.

I was finally in a home that felt peaceful. Coffee on the porch. Open fields. A friend who saw me as human.And still, I was losing my children in real time.This episode is about what it means to be a mother completely shut out — while still very much alive. It’s about decisions made behind my back. My own family working with my ex to enroll my daughter in a private school she wasn’t ready for, letting my five-year-old ride a four-wheeler, ignoring everything I tried to say.They didn’t protect her. They didn’t protect me. They just wanted things to look okay.And I’m still grieving what they did to those kids.—In this episode:The unraveling of motherhood in plain sightFamily betrayal and emotional abandonmentThe grief of watching your children’s needs be ignoredThe fight over school enrollmentWhat people mean when they say “healing takes time” — and what they miss—Start from Episode 1 to understand the full context. This isn’t just my story — it’s the silence so many mothers live inside.Don’t Call Me is written and hosted by Em.

I didn’t want to go back to work. The thought of someone asking what happened… of trying to explain where I’d been, why I looked hollow, why I flinched when people were too kind… made me sick.But I went.And that’s where I met Ann. The kind of person who doesn’t just see you, she stays. This episode is about learning how to accept help without bracing for the backlash. It’s about Jeep rides with the top off, off-key karaoke therapy, and the moment I started to believe I could be loved without owing anything back.Because sometimes the first real healing begins when someone simply hands you a ride and expects nothing in return.—In this episode:Returning to work while still deep in traumaThe fear of being asked what happenedBuilding trust through friendshipThe emotional toll of being estranged from your childrenLearning to receive help without fearWhy Ann mattered—Start from the beginning of the season for the full story. Each episode builds on the last.Don’t Call Me is written and hosted by Em.

Episode 6: The Year I Started CountingBefore the shelter, there was David’s couch. Panic attacks in my sleep. A body that refused rest because the world wasn’t safe anymore.This episode walks through what survival actually looked like — not the hashtags, but the night sweats, the silence, the isolation, and the decision to rebuild anyway.I share what it meant to sleep in a loft bed in a studio apartment, grateful just to own a microwave again. I talk about student loans as survival, Shakespeare as a mirror, and what it meant when Roz handed me a birthday gift in the shelter and told me to celebrate every year I survived. I do now. Every year. Because I’m still here.I talk about the kids. What it cost them to stay in touch with me. Why I backed away. And how it feels to carry the weight of building a future no one was willing to believe in.If you’ve ever been the one rebuilding while people pretended you never existed — this one’s for you.—Content:Panic attacks, trauma responseLife in a domestic violence shelterRebuilding from nothingEstrangement from family and childrenAbuse of narrative and powerBirthdays as survival markers—Listen from the beginning of the season for the full story. These episodes are layered and connected.Don’t Call Me is written and hosted by Em.

In this episode, Em unpacks what it felt like to shave her head in the wake of assault—how something that began as sacred and freeing slowly turned isolating. People looked at her like she was unwell, like she was dangerous. What began as power became proof against her in the eyes of others.Even the wig she wore for protection didn’t soften the stares. When the investigator from Child Protective asked why she shaved her head—and why she played with her wig—Em expected judgment. But instead, she felt seen. The woman already knew. She recognized the trauma pouring out of Em’s body, and she asked not to accuse—but to understand.This episode follows Em’s decision to leave New York, after being disbelieved by her family and discarded by a system that claimed to protect. She stayed through Christmas, hoping for some thread of belonging to appear. It didn’t. After the new year, she returned to Illinois and, by late January, moved into a women’s shelter.This is a story about the loneliness of being holy, the betrayal of those who needed you to be quiet, and the long road back to safety.Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of those not responsible for harm.Topics in this episode include:The sacred act of shaving one’s head after traumaAlienation, shame, and reclaiming appearance as armorBeing seen by one woman who understood—without judgmentFamily denial and redefinition of sexual assaultLeaving behind everything to survive in a women’s shelterTrigger Warning:This episode discusses sexual assault, trauma responses, familial betrayal, and the experience of living in a shelter. Please listen with care.🎙 Don’t Call Me is available wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe, rate, and share if this story speaks to you.

Episode 4: Nothing Left But White T-ShirtsSeason 3, Episode 4 | Say It HappenedIn this episode, Em returns to the time when survival became a full-time job. Working at a restaurant while being interrogated by the state police, she found herself juggling custody exchanges, rent, gas money, and court—while barely feeding herself.Between the hunger, the shame, and the deeply absurd lies told about her, Em breaks down what happens when someone tries to build a case against you using fiction—and systems believe it anyway.This is a story about how the body keeps score, how anxiety can eat you alive, and how easily false stories gain traction when they’re wrapped in the right performance.Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of those not responsible for harm.Topics in this episode include:Hunger, survival jobs, and invisible laborBeing targeted by false allegations during a custody battleThe absurdity of some “evidence”—and how easily it’s weaponizedHow state systems can be used to retraumatize survivorsWhat it feels like when even truth becomes suspectTrigger Warning:This episode discusses coercive control, false allegations, food insecurity, and systemic retraumatization in the context of domestic abuse and custody conflict.🎙 Don’t Call Me is available wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe, rate, and share if this story speaks to you.

After I made the call to protect my child, everything changed. I wasn’t met with support—I was met with silence, suspicion, and a system that was ready to investigate me instead of the harm. In this episode, I share what happened next: the retaliation, the isolation, the betrayal by people who knew better—and stayed quiet anyway.This is a story about post-separation abuse, weaponized systems, and what it costs to speak the truth when no one wants to hear it.Names have been changed to protect the innocent—and to protect me.Topics in this episode include:The aftermath of reporting concerns for your child’s safetyHow abusers manipulate custody systems and family dynamicsPost-separation abuse and coercive controlThe cost of being labeled “unstable” for survivingWalking through a world that treats you like a threat when all you did was try to protectTrigger Warning:This episode discusses emotional abuse, family betrayal, and systemic failure in the context of domestic violence and custody conflict. Please listen with care.🎙 Don’t Call Me is available wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe, rate, and share if this story speaks to you.

Episode Title: Home Is a DiagnosisSeason 3, Episode 2 | Say It HappenedAfter fleeing abuse and returning to New York in silence, Em hoped to reclaim time with her children. Instead, she was met with judgment, false accusations, and a mother who called her sick at first sight.This episode details the aftermath of exile, the weight of returning without welcome, and the systems that enabled harm by choosing comfort over truth.This isn’t a story about reunions. It’s about what happens when your survival disrupts the version of you they needed to believe in.Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of those not responsible for harm.

Episode Title: The CutSeason 3, Episode 1 | Say It HappenedIn this opening episode of Season 3, Em takes us back to the moment before the escape. Before the healing. Before the microphone. When survival looked like silence, exile, and a pair of clippers in a borrowed bathroom. This isn’t a story about reinvention. It’s about reclamation.She wasn’t sick. She was done.This chapter holds the quiet, brutal holiness of shaving her head in the wake of estrangement, system failure, and the unbearable distance from her children. It’s not a metaphor. It’s not performance. It’s what happened.

A house that looked like home.A memory just out of reach.And a choice not to take what wasn’t offered.In this episode, Em revisits the shadow of a former life through a dream set a few towns away from where the real heartbreak happened. What unfolds is a quiet reckoning with the past, the people we once were, and the boundaries we now keep.This one is about restraint, perspective, and the power of choosing not to go back.Listen in. The dream will meet you where you are.

In this episode, Em shares a quiet dream that lingers like the memory of almost-love. Through a kiss that never deepened, a song that never existed, and a pair of pants that no longer fit, she explores the ache of shrinking for someone else’s comfort—and the quiet liberation of deciding not to.This is a story about emotional inheritance, the intimacy of longing, and the unspoken power of outgrowing who you used to be.

Sometimes the dream doesn’t start where you thought it did.This is the real story—before the tornado. Before the stairwell. Before the door.It begins with rainbow chalk, with memory as protest.It moves through false accusations, the sacredness of motherhood, and whales crashing into concrete like gods coming home.And it ends with a choice: turn back, or let the wind in.In this episode, I remember everything.Not just the storm.But what came before it.Because survival isn’t always about escape.Sometimes it’s about holding your groundwhen the world tries to rewrite you.

What if the storm isn’t something you survive…but something you seal off?In this dream, the tornado came from outside.Everyone else ran.I turned back.Because someone had to close the door.This episode isn’t about being fearless.It’s about choosing where the chaos ends.About being the body that holds the linequietly, without praise,so no one else has to hear the wind.I didn’t need to be seen.I needed the silence that followed.And I earned it.

I started this dream on a city bus and ended it at the head of a boat—singing a language I didn’t know, calling people home from the wreckage.In between?Glass ceilings that shattered on command.Starving fish that bit but didn’t mean harm.A collapsing bridge, a message from the dead,and a stranger who said, you’re finally here.This is a dream about survival that refuses to be small.About being mistaken for a victim—until you remember you’re the one doing the calling.Welcome to The Sea Dried Up and I Kept Singing.Stay if you’re ready.Swim if you’re not.

What if your seat was never in question—just waiting on you to claim it?In this episode of Dreams Between Lives, I share a dream where I almost missed a flight… not because I wasn’t ready, but because I stopped to change. It’s a story about identity, timing, the power of naming yourself, and what happens when you decide to walk anyway—even if the limo already left.Sometimes, the door doesn’t open with a knock.It opens when you say your name like you mean it.Listen in, and then ask yourself: what truth are you still trying to look ready for?

What do you do when you know it’s all about to collapse—and no one believes you?In this episode, I take you inside a dream where I’m trapped in a house that’s already dying. A sliding stairwell, a splintering beam, two patients too bitter to move, and a room full of people pretending nothing’s wrong. I warned them. They didn’t listen.This isn’t just a dream about a crumbling structure—it’s about the weight of being the one who sees the end before it comes. It’s about staying too long, carrying what isn’t yours, and whispering it’s coming while everyone else tells you to calm down.The house didn’t fall.Not yet.And that’s the wound.

What begins as a strange walk through a train museum becomes something much deeper—an unmarked map of the self. Curated by someone who once helped me find my voice, this dream wasn’t just memory. It was movement. Misdirection. And a confrontation with power disguised as silence.I flew through houses that weren’t homes.I tried to call out and got called something else.And still—there was a way through.This episode is about being seen, about refusing shame,and about learning that the way out was never locked.It was always me.I dedicate this episode to John R.

This episode is a return.To grief.To silence.To the shoreline that held me when I couldn’t hold myself.It’s a story carved across Charlotte, Carbondale, Avonia, and Rochester.Across eclipses.Across motherhood.Across memory.I speak about Shiv—not as a romance, but as a soul-recognition.About the stones I collect at Avonia Beach after dropping off my children.About grief that rides in the passenger seat.And the moment I stopped trying to be okayand started building from what was true.They didn’t forget I was sacred.I did.And now—I remember.

She thought she was just visiting a cave.But the stone knew her name.The water anointed her hands.And the darkness remembered her before she remembered herself.In this episode, Em returns to a memory buried since childhood—a dream of stairs behind a door,a temple beneath the surface,and a life lived in service to something ancient and sovereign.This is not a story of seeking.It’s a story of returning.Of striking the stone and hearing your own voice echo back.Of hitting your head and calling it holy.Of washing your hands in sacred silence—twice.Once to remember.Once to release.She is not here to be named.She is here to remind youthat you were never lost.You were always becoming.

Don’t Call Me: Dreams Between LivesNot all healing comes from collapse.Some begins in a room that asks nothing of you.No story. No apology. No performance.In this dream, I was exhausted. Unwashed. Unfiltered.And for once, no one looked away.He stayed still.Not to rescue me.Not to possess me.But to hold his shape long enoughfor me to lay mine down.This is the moment I stopped survivingin the presence of someone who expected nothingbut truth.

Some dreams don’t come to shatter you.They come to show you what you almost forgot.They come quiet.They come soft.And they stay.The night before the eclipse,I dreamed of the ones who loved me without needing to hold me.The ones who saw me without asking me to disappear.I almost missed the weight of it.I almost called it nothing.But it was already rewriting me,tucking a knowing back into my bones:You were seen. You were loved. You have always been enough.Before the tearing came,before the unraveling,this was the first door I walked through.This is where the remembering began.

In this opening episode, I take you into the dream that broke me open.A wedding I didn’t want.A weight I was never meant to carry.A torn gown, wet hair, and the truth that stillness isn’t danger—it’s freedom.Under the light of a total lunar eclipse, I was forced to face the roles I played, the silence I obeyed, and the lie that holding it all together made me worthy.This isn’t just a dream.It’s the threshold.The place where pretending ended—and I began.Listen if you’ve ever:Carried what wasn’t yours.Stayed too long in something that drained you.Thought breaking meant failing.Welcome to Don’t Call Me: Dreams Between Lives.This is where we stop pretending.This is where we rise.

Some objects carry more than just weight, they carry history. They hold memories, emotions, and the echoes of past versions of ourselves.Tonight, I pulled out a blanket. A thick, high-quality throw that has been with me for fifteen years. But I didn’t buy it. I didn’t inherit it. I picked it out on my first day at a women’s shelter, when I had nothing but the weight of my own heartbreak.At the time, I felt guilty for taking something nice like I didn’t deserve warmth or comfort. But that blanket stayed with me. Through the hardest moments. Through rebuilding my life. Through Shakespeare classes and sociology degrees and late-night revelations about Hamlet and the art of avoiding pain.Fifteen years later, I’m at a New Ivy League school. And that blanket is still here. A reminder that I chose to be. That I was never meant to simply suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, but to oppose them. To fight, to grow, to take what I needed to build something better.This episode is about that journey, the things we carry with us, the things that carry us, and the moments where we realize we are no longer who we were.Credits:Music by Fil Biggs | Goal GetterFind him here:Instagram: @thelifehandThreads: thelifehandWebsite: thelifehand.comThank you, Fil! Follow & Support the Podcast:Instagram: @dontcallmethepodcastThreads: dontcallmethepodcastShop: Emerald Intuitive on EtsyListen & Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.If you’re in a place where you feel like you don’t deserve warmth, comfort, or peace, take the blanket. You deserve it.

Not all sanctuaries have walls. Some exist in the hush of midnight, in the weightless drift of water, in the space between the stars and the earth. This is the story of a Midwest farm, a dark pond, and a moment of stillness that felt like sanctuary. A summer night where the world disappeared, and for the first time in too long, I felt free.What’s Inside This Episode:Rebuilding a life after divorce and traumaThe heartbreak of separation from my childrenFinding unexpected friendship in a quiet, rural placeA night swim that became something sacredThe therapeutic power of stillness, silence, and surrenderHave you ever found peace in an unexpected place? Let’s talk. DM me or share your story.More Episodes: https://rss.com/podcasts/dontcallme

In this episode, I share the serendipitous story of how life brought me back to two incredible people, Reema and Ramneesh, and their restaurant, Amaya Indian Cuisine.Years ago, in Carbondale, Illinois, I found comfort and connection at their first restaurant, Reema’s. Their warmth, kindness, and unforgettable food made a difficult time in my life a little easier. But one day, they disappeared… no explanation, no goodbye.Fast forward to now: After moving back to Rochester, New York, I discovered they were here too. Out of all the places in the world, our lives aligned once again. In this episode, I talk about the power of connection, the beauty of their friendship, and how their new restaurant has become an even bigger part of my life.Listen in for a story about how the universe works in mysterious ways, how chai and samosas can feel like love, and the bonds that endure across time and distance.Mentioned in this episode:The origins of Reema’s in Carbondale, IllinoisThe move back to Rochester and a surprising Facebook commentAmaya Indian Cuisine: a restaurant filled with love, warmth, and incredible foodThe cherished back booth, chai, and samosas that make every visit unforgettableHow Reema and Ramneesh have become family and embraced not just me, but my daughterTune in to reflect on the magic of alignment and the people who remind us what it means to belong.

Sometimes, the right person enters your life at exactly the right moment, and for me, that person was Ann.In this episode, I share the story of how Ann and I met as medical secretaries, both navigating devastating circumstances and rebuilding our lives. From morning coffee chats on a rusty backyard table to Jeep rides blasting Mr. Jones on winding Midwestern back roads, Anne’s friendship brought laughter, freedom, and light into some of the darkest times of my life.Ann wasn’t just a friend, she became family. She showed me what unconditional love and acceptance look like. Together, we shared Indian food, unforgettable adventures, and moments that reminded me how to truly live again, even when life felt overwhelming.Join me as I reflect on the beauty of friendship, connection, and the way a single person can change everything.Mentioned in this episode:How Ann and I met and became neighborsOur carefree adventures, blasting Mr. Jones and Kelly ClarksonIndian food at Reema’s: the life-changing malai koftaThe power of friendship to carry us through life’s hardest moments[Listen now: https://rss.com/podcasts/dontcallme]

In this brief episode of Don’t Call Me, I dive into one of the most profound moments from my childhood—an encounter in a grocery store that taught me the power of compassion and how our actions, even as kids, can leave a lasting impact.I also reflect on how life has a way of bringing us full circle, from my experience with pancreatic cancer to a similar teaching moment with my youngest son. These moments remind us of the humanity in others and the importance of seeing beyond the surface.Join me as I explore the hard lessons, the grace in growth, and the threads that connect us all.

Ease into the evening with a gentle, candlelit discussion designed to comfort your mind and body. In this episode, we explore the soothing quiet of night, the flicker of a glowing flame, and the freedom found in letting go of the day’s weight. Through calming imagery and thoughtful reflection, you’ll be guided to a place of rest, stillness, and presence.Perfect for winding down after a long day or drifting off to sleep, this episode invites you to leave behind the rush of the world and sink into the beauty of simply being.

Description:In this episode, we explore how the stories we tell ourselves shape our lives—and what happens when we step outside of them. From a near-drowning at age five to a life-altering car accident decades later, two pivotal moments reveal the power of leaving behind what separates us. Featuring reflections on Shakespeare’s “Life is a tale told by an idiot” and the unexpected symbolism of shoes, this episode examines how true connection is born when we abandon the narratives we cling to and dive into life’s chaos.Listen as we uncover what it really means to be present, vulnerable, and free.

In this episode, I take you back to a pivotal moment from my childhood—a near-drowning experience that shaped my understanding of stillness, connection, and instinct.As chaos unfolded above the surface, I found myself in a state of profound calm beneath the waves. Floating between two worlds, I witnessed everything—the commotion, my father running toward me, kicking off his shoes as he dove into the water, and my small body gently moving with the currents.This isn’t a story about trauma—it’s about clarity. It’s about the moments when stillness becomes our greatest strength and when love, stripped of barriers, moves instinctively toward action.Join me as I reflect on what this experience taught me about grounding, the bonds we share, and the power we hold—even in our most vulnerable moments.🎧 Listen now to explore the stillness beneath life’s noise.

In this deeply personal episode of Don’t Call Me, I share a life-changing moment that forced me to reassess my life, my relationships, and what I truly deserve. It’s a story about survival, connection, and the kind of clarity that only comes through adversity.Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:• The ordinary drive home from work that turned into a life-altering accident.• How my friend Hannah’s instinctive love and selflessness—running barefoot through shattered glass to reach me—showed me what true connection looks like.• The cosmic connection with the other driver, who, like me, was battling cancer, and how it reminded me of life’s shared struggles.• A reflection on relationships: from my then-husband’s detached response, to my ex-father-in-law’s proximity, and what those moments taught me about who shows up for us.• The realization that I will always fight for connection, no matter how broken or battered I feel—and how that moment crystallized who I am at my core.• My new mindset: If it doesn’t bring peace, joy, or fulfillment, I’m leaving it behind.• A call to action for all of us to keep working on ourselves, so we can show up as the healthiest, most amplified versions of who we are—and take better care of each other.Why You Should ListenThis episode is for anyone who has ever felt trapped in circumstances or relationships that don’t serve them. It’s for those who need a reminder that transformation often comes through the hardest moments. And it’s for anyone seeking inspiration to live a more vibrant, authentic life.Key Takeaways:• Life’s most unexpected moments can bring clarity about what we truly deserve.• Connection and selflessness can come from the most surprising places.• Working on ourselves is the foundation for healthier relationships with others.If this episode resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your reflections on Instagram, tag me, or drop a comment. Let’s keep the conversation going.Connect With Me:• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontcallmepodcast?igsh=MXRvbHFpYTNmb2ExMg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dontcallmepodcast?_t=ZP-8snaGnzWRjT&_r=1• Website: https://emeraldintuitive.myshopify.com/collections/all

Episode Notes: In the Middle of Nowhere, EverywhereIn this episode of Don’t Call Me, I take you back to a McDonald’s parking lot in southern Illinois—a moment frozen in time where I felt the full weight of the gap between how people live and how people survive.At the time, I was living in a women’s shelter, far from my home state of New York and even further from the life I thought I’d built. I was angry—angry at my circumstances, at the indifference of the world around me, and at the people who seemed to live their lives completely untouched by the kind of pain I was carrying.But this episode isn’t just about that anger. It’s about the truth I learned that day: that the gap between comfort and survival exists, and it’s a gap we all have a responsibility to see.Through stories of resilience, connection, and the unrelenting weight of invisibility, I reflect on how that moment changed the way I see the world—and how it might just change the way you see it too.What You’ll Hear:• Life inside a women’s shelter: the people, the struggles, and the quiet acts of humanity that kept us going.• The McDonald’s parking lot: where anger, grief, and isolation collided.• The buck in the clearing: a haunting metaphor for the spaces we occupy when we feel unseen.• A reflection on the gap between privilege and survival—and the choices we all have to make.This is a story about pain, resilience, and the power of noticing what others might overlook.

In this episode of Don’t Call Me, we dive deep into the complex world of coercive control and boundary-setting. Together, we explore how understanding manipulation and reclaiming your voice can lead to profound transformation. With the help of AI tools and expert insights, we untangle the web of control and find pathways to freedom and self-respect.Resources mentioned in this episode:• Dr. Christine CocchiolaLearn more about coercive control and her work: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfect-prey-podcast/id1704962170• One Mom’s BattleAdvocating for survivors and protective parents: One Mom’s Battle• National Domestic Violence HotlineIf you or someone you know needs support, call 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or visit thehotline.org.🌟 Links & Extras:Stay connected for more transformative conversations:Subscribe to Don’t Call Me & let’s rewrite the script together.

In this reflective and inspiring episode of Don’t Call Me, we explore the transition from one year to the next. It’s more than just flipping a calendar—it’s about recognizing the powerful shifts happening in our lives and how we can align ourselves with the energy of growth, abundance, and authenticity.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:• The Power of Endings: Why closure matters and how to honor the lessons of the past year.• Recognizing the Shift: Exploring the subtle yet undeniable energy pulling us toward a more aligned and prosperous life.• Practical Tips for Prosperity: From setting meaningful intentions to creating space for new opportunities, actionable steps to start your year off right.• A Collective Vision: Imagining a world where we all lean into authenticity, kindness, and connection.Key Takeaways:• You’re more than the roles you’ve played or the things that have happened to you.• Letting go of what no longer serves you creates room for abundance in every area of life.• Aligning with your true self is the most powerful way to step into the new year with purpose and clarity.Join me for a heartfelt conversation about turning the page, embracing the shifts ahead, and welcoming a new year filled with possibility.Connect with Me:• Instagram: @emtheintuitive• TikTok: @dontcallmepodcast• Facebook: Emerald Intuitive• Etsy: Emerald Intuitive ShopShare Your Reflections:What are you letting go of as you step into the new year? Tag me on social media and share your journey!#NewYearNewEnergy #PodcastEpisode #TurningThePage #AbundanceMindset #PersonalGrowth #EndingsAndBeginnings #ProsperousLife

In this episode of Don’t Call Me, Em shares a profound and transformative experience from her past—a quiet, unexpected moment spent face-to-face with a wild buck in a secluded clearing. As she recounts the encounter, Em explores the deeper meaning behind this connection with nature, the peace that comes from stillness, and how these moments of raw, unspoken connection with the natural world remind us of our place within it. It’s an invitation to slow down, be present, and appreciate the quiet beauty that surrounds us every day.Key Takeaways:• The Power of Presence: Sometimes the most significant moments come not from what we do, but from simply being. Learning to be present can lead to profound connections, both with ourselves and the world around us.• The Peace of Nature: Nature offers a kind of peace that doesn’t require us to earn it. By allowing ourselves to simply exist in the moment, we can find solace in the quiet, untamed spaces of the world.• Connection Beyond Words: Being noticed by an animal, a plant, or the earth itself can offer a deep sense of belonging and understanding, even without communication. These silent encounters can leave us with lasting feelings of connection and gratitude.• Embracing Stillness: In a world that’s constantly moving, it’s important to pause, reflect, and let the moments of stillness find us. Life is happening all around us, even when we’re not chasing after it.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:• No specific resources or external links mentioned in this episode.Call to Action:• Reflect on your own experiences with nature or quiet moments. Have you ever had a profound, unexpected encounter? Share your thoughts or stories with us—what do these moments mean to you?Connect with Em:• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmeraldIntuitive• Instagram: @EmTheIntuitive• TikTok: @dontcallmepodcast#DeerlyBeloved #NatureConnection #PresenceOverPerfection #QuietStrength #WildEncounters #StillnessInNature #LivingWithPurpose #HealingThroughNature #MindfulLiving #FindingPeace #SlowDownAndBreathe #NaturalWorld #SilentConnections #PresenceIsPower #WildlifeWisdom #NatureTherapy #AnimalEncounters #SelfDiscovery #SpiritualAwakening #IntuitiveLiving #NatureHeals #InnerPeace #LifeLessons #PersonalGrowth #InTheMoment #PauseAndReflect #NatureLovers #EmbraceStillness #BeingPresent #HealingJourney #ConnectWithNature

In this episode of Don’t Call Me, we’re diving into an unforgettable childhood memory—a story about a truck stop, a sneaky faucet heist, and the anxiety that followed. What started as a seemingly innocent moment with my cousin turned into my first real encounter with guilt, moral conflict, and the overwhelming power of imagination.Through this tale of childhood mischief and its lingering effects, we explore themes of:• Moral Dilemmas: How do we navigate right and wrong as kids, and what shapes our moral compass?• The Origins of Anxiety: Reflecting on how childhood experiences can plant the seeds of stress and self-doubt.• Letting Go of Guilt: Why it’s important to release burdens that no longer serve us.This episode is a lighthearted yet deeply reflective journey that reminds us how small moments from the past can shape who we are—and how we can learn to move forward with grace and self-forgiveness.Key Takeaways:• Even small actions can leave a lasting emotional impact.• Childhood experiences often shape our relationship with guilt and anxiety.• Forgiveness—especially self-forgiveness—is essential for personal growth.Mentioned in the Episode:• The infamous truck stop #76 and its remodeled bathroom.• My cousin’s “priestly” persuasion tactics.• The imaginative terror of expecting the FBI to show up for a faucet handle.Join the Conversation:Do you have a story about a childhood mistake that stayed with you? How did you let it go—or have you? I’d love to hear your experiences. Send me a message or connect with me on social media!Don’t Forget to Subscribe!If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Don’t Call Me for more stories, reflections, and insights. And if you loved this one, leave a review—it helps the show reach more listeners like you.

In this episode of Don’t Call Me, we’re diving deep into the art of rediscovery—returning to the grassroots of the self. Together, we’ll explore how childhood moments of awe and wonder, like laying in the grass for hours and marveling at tiny treasures, can reconnect us with the joy and simplicity we’ve lost over time.We’ll also reflect on how life’s perspectives shift as we grow, using the metaphor of a monorail that once felt enormous but now seems impossibly small. Plus, I’ll share the profound experience of standing under a recent full moon, feeling that sense of magic and connection all over again.This episode is a heartfelt invitation to slow down, be present, and find beauty in the everyday. Let’s rediscover the extraordinary in the ordinary.Take a moment this week to reconnect with the world around you—it’s waiting for you.Tune in and let’s get back to the roots of who we are.

In this episode, we dive into the journey of escaping the labels that others have placed on us and the stories we’ve been told about who we are. From the weight of external expectations to the process of recreating your identity, this episode explores the power of reclaiming your narrative. Join me as I share the story of how I walked away from everything to rebuild my life, the struggle of breaking free from the labels that once defined me, and the empowering realization that we have the power to rewrite our own stories.Key Takeaways:• Understanding how labels shape our identity and the impact of others’ perceptions on who we think we are.• How to begin letting go of the stories that no longer serve you and the courage it takes to break free.• A deeper look into how stories are shaped by personal biases and how we can rewrite them.• The importance of trusting yourself to redefine who you are, free from external expectations.• Insights from Carol Tavris’ quote on self-deception and how it applies to our ability to justify labels and decisions.Mentioned in This Episode:• Carol Tavris’ book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): The quote on self-deception and how the pain we inflict on others is justified to protect our self-worth.• The importance of creating your own identity and walking away from what no longer serves you.Join the Conversation:If you’re ready to break free from the labels and stories holding you back, let’s keep this conversation going. Share your thoughts with me on Instagram @emerald.intuitive & TikTok @emeraldintuitive . I’d love to hear how you’ve been reclaiming your power and rewriting your own narrative.