Shedding the Shame

Penny’s story doesn’t start with an eating disorder.It starts with a little girl who felt different: clumsy, quiet, and out of place.She didn't understand body image, shame had already taken root.In this episode, Penny shares how early experiences- feeling uncoordinated, misunderstood, and later undiagnosed ADHD- shaped the way she saw herself. By 13, she turned to food restriction and over-exercise as a way to cope, long before she had the language to understand what was happening.We talk about:How body shame can start before we even recognize itThe link between ADHD, rejection sensitivity, and self-worthThe dangerous praise of “looking healthy”Bodybuilding, control, and the illusion of perfectionWhy eating disorders are often missed—especially in kidsWhat it actually takes to start healingPenny also shares how becoming a mother shifted everything, and how she’s now using her experience to help parents recognize the early signs of eating disorders through her non-profit, ReFrame Voices.This is a conversation about what we carry in our bodies, what we were never taught to understand, and how we begin to let it go.⚠️ Content warning: Eating disorders, body shame, mental healthResources: Reframe Voices website: https://www.reframevoices.ca/Reframe Voices IG: https://www.instagram.com/reframevoices/CanadaNational Eating Disorder Information Centre- https://nedic.ca/Helpline: 1-866-NEDIC-20 (1-866-633-4220)Offers live chat, referrals, and educational resources.Canadian Mental Health Association- https://cmha.ca/General mental health support, including body image and BDD-related resources.U.S.National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)- https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/Helpline: (800) 931-2237Offers screening tools, treatment referrals, and support resources.National Alliance for Eating Disorders- https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/Provides free support groups, referrals, and education.UKBeat Eating Disorders- https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/Helpline: 0808 801 0677Youthline: 0808 801 0711Offers support for individuals and families, plus online chat.AustraliaButterfly Foundation- https://butterfly.org.au/Helpline: 1800 33 4673National support for eating disorders and body image issues.National Eating Disorders Collaboration- https://nedc.com.au/Provides education, research, and treatment pathways.

Ruth’s story starts at five years old; watching her father abuse her mother.Years later, she found herself in a relationship that looked painfully familiar.In this episode, Ruth shares her journey through domestic violence, the reality of being a young bride and mother, and the moment everything changed; the moment she knew she had to run.We talk about the parts people don’t always understand:The fearThe manipulationThe moments of “good” that keep you holding onThe strength it takes to finally leaveRuth also shares what came after: raising her daughters on her own, healing from deep trauma, and learning how to take her power back.This is a conversation about survival, resilience, and what it means to choose yourself, even when it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do.⚠️ Content warning: Domestic violence, abuse.If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, support is available. You are not alone. Leaving isn’t simple. It isn’t quick, and it can be dangerous.Support exists. Safe people exist. Options exist.You deserve safety. You deserve peace. You deserve a life that isn’t built around fear.Support ResouresUnited StatesNational Domestic Violence HotlineCall: 1-800-799-7233Text: START to 88788Live chat available online (24/7, confidential)988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text: 988 (24/7 support for emotional distress)Love Is Respect (for teens & young adults)Call: 1-866-331-9474Text: LOVEIS to 22522CanadaVictimLink BC (if you’re in British Columbia)Call or text: 1-800-563-0808 (24/7, multilingual)ShelterSafe CanadaOnline directory to find shelters across the countryKids Help Phone (youth & young adults)Call: 1-800-668-6868Text: CONNECT to 686868988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada-wide)Call or text: 988United KingdomNational Domestic Abuse HelplineCall: 0808 2000 247 (24/7, free & confidential)Samaritans (emotional support)Call: 116 123 (24/7)

In this solo episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami shares her deeply personal 30-year journey with alopecia.Her story began at just 15 years old after taking Accutane, when she first noticed changes in her hair that would continue for decades. What followed was a long and often isolating experience of thinning hair, shame, and trying to hide something she didn’t understand and felt she couldn’t talk about.In this episode, Tami opens up about the emotional and psychological impact of hair loss in women, including how it affected her confidence, identity, and relationships.She shares:What it was like experiencing hair loss as a teenagerThe reality of living with androgenic alopecia (AGA)The mental toll of hiding hair loss and feeling “less than”Dating with hair loss and the fear of rejectionHer experience with wigs, hair fibers, and alternative hair solutionsFinding a supportive partner and navigating vulnerability in relationshipsWhy true acceptance had to come from within, not from othersThe impact of societal beauty standards on women with hair lossTami also discusses the lack of emotional support and resources available for women with hair loss, and how that led her to create Hair Loss Pride— a community focused on support, education, and empowerment.This episode is for any woman struggling with hair loss who feels alone, ashamed, or unsure of how to move forward.Through honesty and lived experience, this conversation highlights an important truth: hair loss does not define a woman’s beauty or worth.You are not alone, and there is support, community, and confidence waiting on the other side of shame.

In this episode of Shedding the Shame, I sit down with Tina Warren, who joins us all the way from Sydney, Australia, to share her deeply personal journey with alopecia, dating, and self-worth.Tina opens up about experiencing hair loss as a teenager and how it impacted her confidence, relationships, and sense of identity. From navigating cruel comments and rejection to enduring toxic relationships and heartbreak, her story is raw, emotional, and incredibly relatable.We talk about:The reality of dating with hair lossHow past trauma and insecurity can shape relationshipsThe pressure women feel around appearance and motherhoodFinding a partner who truly accepts you exactly as you areLetting go of shame and learning to embrace alternative hairTina also shares her experience with hair systems, the transition into wearing wigs, and the surprising empowerment she’s found along the way.This conversation is a powerful reminder that you are not your hair, and the right person will see your worth beyond anything physical.If you’ve ever felt like your hair loss makes you “less than” or worried you won’t be loved because of it, this episode will hit home in the best way.You are not alone; and once you start talking about it, you begin to take your power back.You can find Tina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/myhairwasoncethere/

This is one of the most layered and vulnerable conversations on Shedding the Shame.In this episode, Tami sits down with a guest who has chosen to remain anonymous to share her story of divorce, a seven-year relationship with a married man, and the emotional complexity that comes with it. This isn’t a conversation about blame or scandal. It’s about what happens when a woman realizes she’s been leaving herself out of her own life.Together, they unpack the shame, guilt, and isolation that can come with choices others don’t understand. They talk about people-pleasing, losing your voice in relationships, and the slow, often painful process of learning to include yourself in your own decisions.This episode explores:What it really feels like to stay in a relationship that isn’t fully choosing youThe internal shift from self-abandonment to self-respectWhy leaving isn’t always as simple as it seemsThe role of support systems, coaching, and somatic work in healingHow to hold both heartbreak and empowerment at the same timeAt its core, this conversation is about reclaiming your worth, setting boundaries, and finding the courage to choose yourself, even when it costs you something.If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you are and who you’re expected to be… this one will hit.The coach mentioned in this episode is Freya Kennedy, and you can find more information about her here: https://www.freyakennedy.com/

In this deeply personal solo episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami shares her raw and unfiltered story of estrangement from both of her parents.What began as years of emotional pain, unmet needs, and repeated hurt ultimately led Tami to make one of the hardest decisions of her life, walking away from her family to protect her peace, her marriage, and her children.She opens up about the complex layers of grief, guilt, and shame that come with estrangement, the pressure from family to “make it work,” and the emotional toll of growing up without the love and validation every child deserves.Tami also shares what happened when she reconnected with her father after seven years, the hope it gave her, and the heartbreak that followed.This episode is not about blame. It is about truth. It is about choosing yourself. And it is about healing from the kind of pain that isn’t often talked about out loud.If you have ever felt alone in complicated family dynamics, questioned your decision to walk away, or carried shame around your story, this conversation is for you.You are not alone, and you are worthy of love that feels safe.

In this episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami speaks with Kelly McKenzie about one of the most devastating losses a person can experience: the sudden death of a spouse.After six years of marriage, Kelly’s husband died from complications of Crohn’s disease, leaving her widowed at 40 and raising their two young children alone. Her son was just 16 months old and her daughter was three.While family and friends surrounded her with sympathy, Kelly found herself navigating something far more complicated than grief. Alongside the heartbreak was an unexpected feeling of shame. As a young widow and single parent, she often felt as though the world viewed her differently.In this conversation, Kelly shares:What the early days of loss looked like after her husband passedHow people responded to her grief and how those reactions affected herThe challenges of raising two small children while processing unimaginable lossThe people who stepped in and helped her rebuild her lifeThe hidden shame she carried as a young widow and single parentHow she slowly found her footing againNow, thirty years later, Kelly is finally ready to speak openly about this chapter of her life. A humour writer and author, she has begun exploring her experience with widowhood through storytelling and fiction.Together, Tami and Kelly talk about grief, stigma, resilience, and the power of sharing the stories we once kept hidden.Kelly also offers words of hope and compassion for anyone who has been widowed or may face profound loss in the future; because even in the most devastating seasons of life, healing and meaning can still emerge.Find out more about Kelly here: https://www.kellylmckenzie.com/

In this solo episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami shares her personal miscarriage story for the first time in depth.Before becoming a mother to her two daughters, Tami experienced two miscarriages. Each one was different; each one devastating in its own way. In this raw and deeply vulnerable conversation, she opens up about the shock of the first loss, the compounded grief of the second, and the heavy shame she carried in between.She speaks candidly about the feelings many women quietly wrestle with: betrayal by her own body, questioning her worth, wondering what she had done wrong, and the profound sadness of losing not just pregnancies, but the futures she had already begun imagining.Tami walks through:How her two miscarriages differed physically and emotionallyThe silent pressure and self-blame she placed on herselfThe medical appointments, interventions, and efforts she tried while attempting to conceiveThe fear that followed each positive testAnd ultimately, how she went on to have her two daughtersThis episode is honest, unfiltered, and tender. It invites listeners into one of the most painful seasons of Tami’s life; not to center tragedy, but to remove isolation.If you have experienced miscarriage, infertility, or complicated feelings about your body, this conversation is for you.

Today I’m joined by Emily Shimwell- experience designer, storyteller, lifelong gatherer, and founder of Dine Wilder.Emily has built her life around human connection. She designs spaces that pull women out from behind their screens and back into real, honest conversation. She skips the small talk and leads with courage.In this episode, Emily shares her experience of miscarriage at 12 weeks. We talk about the grief that followed, the well-intended but unhelpful things people say after pregnancy loss, and how her mother’s own miscarriage shaped the way she approached trying to conceive.We also talk about her estrangement from her father, which began when she was fifteen, and how that decision has impacted her identity, boundaries, and sense of trust.This is a conversation about:Miscarriage and pregnancy lossGrief and the pressure to “have perspective”Family estrangementTrusting yourself after lossBuilding community as a form of healingHolding grief and gratitude at the same timeEmily shares how community has been woven into every chapter of her life; and how gathering women together has helped her process hard things and rebuild.If you’ve experienced miscarriage, estrangement, or any kind of loss that reshaped you, this episode will resonate deeply.

Welcome to the very first episode of Shedding the Shame.In this opening conversation, Tami, Founder of Hair Loss Pride, shares the personal story behind this podcast and why she believes shame thrives in silence.Tami opens up about experiencing hair loss at fifteen and how the isolation, pretending, and minimizing were often more painful than the hair loss itself. When she finally began speaking about it publicly, something shifted. Not just for her, but for the women around her.This made her her realize something bigger:Hair loss isn’t the only thing women are whispering about.In this episode, Tami shares her lived experiences with infertility, miscarriage, family estrangement, friendship breakups, layoffs, a parent going to jail, emotional abuse, anxiety, autoimmune disease, and debt; and how carrying those stories quietly shaped her life.This podcast was created to normalize honest conversations about miscarriage, infertility, mental health, estrangement, trauma, identity, and the complicated realities women are often shamed into silence over.Shedding the Shame is not about trauma dumping. It’s not about perfection. It’s about respectful, grounded conversations where women can speak the truth about what they’ve survived and how they rebuilt.If you’ve ever:Felt alone in your painMinimized your own strugglesWondered if you were “too much”Smiled while carrying something heavyThis space is for you.Shame weakens when it’s spoken out loud.This is just the beginning.Let’s shed the shame.Want to be a guest? Fill out the intake form here: https://therealtamiwong.com/podcast