Episodes
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Your Next Chapter Could Be Extraordinary
What if you're doing better than you think? What if the limitations you've believed aren't actually yours? And what if changing your life doesn't require having everything figured out? In this uplifting episode, we're exploring the power of small victories, challenging the stories we tell...
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Who Gets to Come With You Into Your Next Chapter?
As we grow, heal, and transform, our relationships often change right along with us. But what happens when we realize we've outgrown someone? Does that mean the relationship has to end? In this episode of Life After: From Surviving to Thriving, we're exploring what it means to outgrow...
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When Your Nervous System Takes Over (And How to Take It Back)... Again
In this episode, we're breaking down what's really happening in your body during stress and trauma — and why your reactions make sense. From fight and flight to freeze, fawn, and even flop, you'll learn how your nervous system automatically responds to perceived danger — and why those responses…
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Rebuilding Your Life and Discovering What's Possible
Rebuilding your life can feel overwhelming, even when you know you're making the right decisions. Whether you're leaving a toxic or narcissistic relationship, navigating a major life transition, or simply choosing a different path, change doesn't always feel good right away. In this episode, Jill...
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When Doing Everything Right Still Doesn't Get You the Outcome You Desire
What happens when you do everything you're supposed to do—you tell the truth, document what's happening, ask for help, advocate for yourself or your children—and the person or system that is supposed to help you simply… doesn't? In this episode, Jill talks about the painful reality of being…
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What Are You Waiting For?
Waiting can feel passive, but it may be costing you far more mental and emotional energy than you realize. Whether you're waiting for closure, an apology, confidence, certainty, someone else to change, or simply for life to get easier, unresolved decisions have a way of staying with us—taking up...
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What life taught me when everything went wrong
Some of life's most important lessons aren't learned when everything is going according to plan—they're learned when it absolutely isn't. In this episode of Life After: From Surviving to Thriving, Jill shares three unexpected lessons she learned while navigating toxic and narcissistic…
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The Motivation and Momentum Cycle
What if making progress didn't require constantly pushing yourself harder? In this episode, Jill explores the difference between pressure and momentum—and why being hard on ourselves isn't always the best way to create meaningful change. You'll learn how motivation and momentum work together, why...
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Why Empathy Keeps You Stuck in Toxic Relationships
Empathy is a beautiful gift—but in a toxic or narcissistic relationship, it can also become one of your greatest vulnerabilities if it isn't paired with healthy boundaries. In this episode, Jill explores the difference between empathy and over-functioning, why highly empathetic people are often...
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Finding Certainty Through Action
Most of us think we're waiting for the right moment. The truth? We're often waiting for certainty that simply doesn't exist. In this episode, we're exploring why feeling stuck has less to do with a lack of information and more to do with our brain's desire for certainty. You'll discover why…
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Boundaries Are For You
Boundaries aren't about controlling other people—they're about honoring yourself. In this episode, Jill explores why boundaries can feel so difficult, especially for people who have experienced trauma, people-pleasing, toxic relationships, or insecure attachment. She shares personal stories about...
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Trust Small Before You Trust Big
In this episode of Life After: From Surviving to Thriving, Jill explores one of the most difficult challenges after betrayal, toxic relationships, and heartbreak: learning to trust again. She unpacks how childhood attachment styles shape our ability to trust, why betrayal often damages trust in...
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The Myth of Closure
In this deeply personal episode, Jill explores the complicated and often misunderstood reality of closure after toxic and narcissistic relationships. While many people long for one final conversation, apology, or moment that finally makes everything make sense, Jill explains why true closure…
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Why Structure Creates Freedom
In this episode of Life After: From Surviving to Thriving, Jill explores the connection between mindset, productivity, routines, and healing from toxic relationships. She shares practical strategies for creating routines that support your real life—not someone else's version of success—including...
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Stop Waiting Until You Crash: Rest is the Missing Piece
In this episode, Jill dives into the often-overlooked power of rest—especially for those healing from toxic or narcissistic relationships. She shares her own story of pushing through exhaustion, the cost of ignoring rest, and how that pattern can quietly impact every area of life. You'll learn…
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The Space Between Who You Were and Who You're Becoming
Feeling lost can be one of the most unsettling experiences—but what if it's actually a sign that something is shifting for the better? In this episode, we break down the three most common reasons we feel lost—leaving toxic relationships, navigating major life transitions, and stepping into a new...
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Why You Don't Feel Like Yourself Anymore
In this episode, we're talking about something that so many women experience—but don't always have the words for: what it feels like to slowly (or sometimes quickly) lose your sense of self in a narcissistic or toxic relationship. From gaslighting and love bombing to isolation, control, and the...
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The Stories Your Brain Tells—and How to Change Them
In this episode, we explore the powerful idea that what you tell your brain, it believes. The thoughts we repeat—often without even noticing—can shape how we see ourselves, our abilities, and our lives. We'll talk about the "little gremlin" voice that many of us carry in our heads and how those...
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When Your Nervous System Takes Over (And How to Take It Back)
In this episode, we're breaking down what's really happening in your body during stress and trauma — and why your reactions make sense. From fight and flight to freeze, fawn, and even flop, you'll learn how your nervous system automatically responds to perceived danger — and why those responses…
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Hope Isn't Optimism — It's a Practice
In this episode, we're talking about hope — what it really is, why it matters, and how to strengthen it in your everyday life. Drawing from Hope Rising by Chan Hellman and Casey Gwinn, this episode breaks down the three elements of hope — goals, pathways (waypower), and agency (willpower) — and...
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What No One Tells You About Leaving a Toxic Relationship
Leaving a toxic or narcissistic relationship is often seen as the finish line — but for many, it's only the beginning. This episode explores why just leaving isn't the end of abuse, and how power and control can continue after separation through legal systems, finances, communication, and...
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From Transition to Intention: Designing Your Life with Clarity
Welcome to Season Four of Life After: From Surviving to Thriving. As 2026 begins, Jill explores what it really means to create your "best year ever," especially when you're moving through a transition you didn't choose. After leaving her job unwillingly in late 2025, she shares honestly about...
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Gratitude: the Small Practice that Changes Everything
Gratitude can sound simple — even cliché — but when it's practiced genuinely (not as forced positivity), it can be one of the most powerful tools for healing, regulation, and long-term mindset change. In this episode, you'll hear why gratitude isn't about minimizing pain, pretending things are...
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Tips for a Holiday Season That Doesn't Drain You
The Holidays may come wrapped in glitter and expectations, but for many of us, they also bring stress, pressure, complicated family dynamics, and situations we'd honestly rather avoid. In this episode, we're talking about how to navigate the season with more ease, more grounding, and far more...
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One Step Today - A Different Life Tomorrow
Feeling stuck, unmotivated, or unable to move forward — even though you want to? In this episode, we break down why getting stuck is a completely normal part of healing after a toxic or emotionally draining relationship… and the five tiny steps that help you rebuild momentum without overwhelm....
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The Space Between Surviving and Thriving
After leaving a toxic or narcissistic relationship, there's a quiet space between surviving and thriving — a season I call rebuilding. In this episode, we'll talk about how to navigate that in-between stage with grace, patience, and courage. You'll learn how small, steady steps — not big leaps —...
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#66 - Leaving What No Longer Fits
Real talk about toxic relationships, unexpected transitions, and the courage to trust yourself again. When you find yourself facing the same painful patterns — like attracting toxic people in different areas of your life — it's not failure, it's feedback. Every transition is an invitation to…
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#65 - How to Stop Playing the Narcissist's Games
Wanna get off the narcissist's ride? You can! It's time to end the endless loop of confusion, guilt, and second-guessing that always comes with being in a relationship with a narcissist. No matter what role they play in your life — partner, parent, boss, or friend — you have the power to step off...
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Mindset Meets Adversity: How to Stay Steady When Life Gets Hard
This episode is all about where mindset and adversity meet. It's easy to stay positive when life is smooth sailing — but when challenges show up (and they always do), our mindset can take a hit. The truth is, it doesn't have to be that way. You can maintain a grounded, empowering mindset — not…
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When Life Doesn't Go as Planned: Finding Your Plan B (…or C, or D)
Life doesn't always go the way we want — or expect. So, what do you do when things don't go as planned? You acknowledge it, adapt and find a new path forward! Whether it's Plan B, C, or D – there's a whole alphabet to choose from. And you always have choices! This episode is going to help you…
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Reading Your Way to a New Perspective
Books, books, books, and more books! This episode is a little different, a departure from our normal content – I'm sharing some of my favorite reads and why I love them! Reading is one of the best ways to shift your perspective, inspire growth, and become a catalyst for change. And the right book…
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The Surprising Freedom in Accepting Change
Change, change, change – why is it so scary for so many of us. And why do we resist it? Knowing that change is a good thing, that it gives us choices and improves our lives can be a hard thing to accept. Unfortunately, even when we know this, we may still resist. This episode is a reminder that...
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The Way Back to You Begins with Celebration
Today we celebrate! We should never forget to celebrate – big or small! Celebrating along the way reminds us to live, especially when we are recovering and healing from a narcissistic relationship. Celebration is part of the journey back to yourself. KEY TAKEAWAYS Be sure to take a pause and...
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How an Abundance Mindset Attracts More of What You Want
An abundance mindset says there is a wealth of something. It broadens your perspective to allocate your resources better. And, when you practice an abundance mindset, you can attract more resources – more easily. Often when people think about an abundance mindset, they are focused on money....
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Whose Voice Is That Anyway?
SHORT DESCRIPTION Our inner critics can steal our dreams. Which is such a bummer because those nasty little gremlins aren't even our own voices telling – and they are always giving us a false narrative. We have a choice though! We can decide what thoughts we allow – and with practice – we can…
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How to Stay Steady When Life Feels Heavy
Obstacles and challenges are an inevitable part of life. What if you could face those challenges without losing your peace in the process? In this episode, we're talking about real-life ways to navigate obstacles while still protecting your energy and staying grounded. KEY TAKEAWAYS Sleep on it…
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Healing Is a Rebellion: Melissa's Wisdom on Radical Growth
What a powerful episode with Melissa. Healing is a rebellion! Healing as a revolution! Learn ways to lean into the rebellion and revolution and change your life! Melissa has incredible wisdom through life experience and she's here to share it all with us! You're gonna love it!! KEY TAKEAWAYS It's...
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What You Tell Your Brain: Change Your Words, Change Your Life
What you tell your brain is what it believes — and the messages you feed it matter more than you might think. This episode dives into how the external messages we allow, as well as our inner dialogue, shapes our habits, our health, and the way we feel about ourselves. Tune in for a compassionate...
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Interview with Dr. Alisha Guthery: From Surviving to Healing: A Conversation on Safety, Presence & Healing
In this episode, we explore the heart of trauma work—not by focusing solely on the events themselves, but on the lasting impact they leave in our bodies. Trauma disconnects us from the present moment, often leaving us feeling unsafe in our own lives. But what if healing begins with reclaiming our...
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Make It Meaningful: Crafting a Routine That Works for You
Keeping your routine helps create structure and set the habits needed to reach your goals. It is also good for your mental health, improves your sleep, and helps you feel more in control. There are so many ways to start and keep a routine. We've talked about several of them here, but this list...
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Designed for Hope: Interview with Jon Tunheim
We can choose hope regardless of the environment we are in. We are wired and designed to be hopeful! We are wired to use our imagination to look at our future and create memories of that future and then think strategically about how to achieve our future goals. Hope is contagious too! We can...
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What You Seek, You Find: The Power of Focus
What you look for you find. With all that's going on in the world, it's important to stay focused on what you want and taking the action steps to get there. It's so easy to get distracted, losing motivation and momentum taking you further and further away from realizing your dreams. Check out all...
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Healing, Empowerment, & Impact: A Conversation with Molly Mandelberg
I'm so thrilled to have Molly Mandelberg as a guest on this episode. Molly is everything that Life After stands for; after a rough childhood, she chose to make her life what it is today including a healthy relationship and thriving business. And, she works with others to create and build world...
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Breaking Free: Ditch Limiting Beliefs & Fear for Good
Your mindset can be impacted by limiting beliefs, fear and anxiety. Discover tips and tricks to change your limiting beliefs and mitigate or minimize your fear and anxiety so you can shift your mindset and achieve your dreams! We choose our mindset, and it's much easier to do when we let go of…
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A Journey of Hope: Elijah Gossett on Life After Trauma
Trigger Warning: This episode deals with the issue of domestic violence, including gun violence. This is a must listen episode. Elijah Gossett is my very special guest. He is a survivor of domestic violence who, from the moment he awoke from surgery, chooses to see the hope and gratitude of his...
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Mindset Reset: Tools for Success This Season
Welcome to Season 3! Mindset is everything! A nice refresher for the start of the season, with some tried and true tips, as well as a couple new ones, for shifting your mindset into the space that will keep you focused and moving in the direction of your success. Also, what are the 4 stages of...
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The Perfect Time for Gratitude Is Now: Simple Steps for Big Benefits
In this episode we are going to look at Gratitude. If you are new to a gratitude practice, it's easy to get started and there are so many benefits! It doesn't really matter how you start, just that you do! Also, take a little time to reflect on how the last year has gone for you and focus on what...
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Your Most Joyful Holiday Yet: Easy Tips for Balance and Ease
The holidays can do even the best of us in! This year, I'm sharing a few tips and tricks to make this holiday season the most enjoyable ever. Easy things to keep your stress level low, focus on what matters to you most, and really enjoy your time in the ways you want! It can be done – and you…
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Leadership in Action: Growing Skills That Inspire and Impact
Leadership skills are incredibly important skills to develop and grow regardless of your job title at work. In part because we use our leadership skills everywhere, and also because the impact that they have on the people we spend our time with can be meaningful and impactful. Being self-aware…
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From Powerless to Purposeful: Taking Control in Tough Times
Adversity is a marathon that we don't feel prepared for. When that's the case, we have to adapt, and manage our energy to get through it. One of the reasons some adversity seems insurmountable is because it leaves us feeling powerless. We aren't! We can still make choices. Acknowledge what's...
About this show
This is the podcast that teaches you to move from surviving to thriving through helpful tips and tricks that change your life!
Hosted by
Jill McKnight
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