How to Blow Up Your Life Podcast

About How to Blow Up Your Life Podcast

Sometimes you need to deliberately destroy what isn't working to build something beautiful in its place. No more sacrificing your needs to keep the peace. No more doubting your gut. No more living someone else's story. We’re not doing that anymore. Here, in each episode, we take a deep dive into what it really takes to transform your relationships And learn how to: - break free from people-pleasing and conflict avoidance - heal from past relationship wounds - move beyond constant anxiety and self-doubt - learn to set boundaries that actually stick - transform the old family patterns that have been holding you back Welcome to "How to Blow Up Your Life" – where each episode offers practical tools and raw wisdom for turning your relationship challenges - with yourself and others - into transformational growth. Join me for real conversations about what it takes to create change. No sugar-coating. No generic advice. Just honest talk about to build the life and relationships you deserve. sarastansberry.substack.com (https://sarastansberry.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Sara Stansberry

Category

health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Apr 2024

Latest episode

22 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

33 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Apr 2026

   Ep 20: Breaking The Pattern - with my mother, Sally Dunn

   In this deeply personal season finale of How to Blow Up Your Life, Sara Stansberry sits down with her mother, Sally Dunn, for a candid, tender conversation about family, addiction, recovery, and what it takes to interrupt generational patterns with honesty and compassion. Together, Sara and Sally reflect on the realities of growing up inside dysfunction, the long road of sobriety, and the quiet courage it takes to tell the truth about the past without blame. Sally shares openly about her experience with alcoholism, what it meant to become sober, and how recovery reshaped the way she shows up for life. Sara reflects on her childhood, the complexities of loving a parent in addiction, and the deep work of holding both pain and grace at the same time. This episode is not about perfection or resolution — it’s about understanding. About recognizing that generational patterns repeat until someone is willing to look at them directly. About acknowledging that parents do the best they can with what they have, and that healing doesn’t require erasing the past — only meeting it with truth. At its core, this conversation is an example of what becomes possible when vulnerability replaces silence, and when two people are willing to speak honestly across generations in service of healing. Key Topics Covered Family dynamics and generational patterns Addiction and the reality of “functioning” alcoholism Sobriety and recovery as lifelong practices Growing up without emotional safety Breaking dysfunctional cycles with awareness Parenting, forgiveness, and compassion Vulnerability as a bridge to understanding Healing through honest communication Episode Takeaways “Life just steps in and all of a sudden there’s a magic wand — and not only are we older, then the question is, are we any wiser?” — Sally Generational patterns repeat until someone is willing to stop them Addiction doesn’t always look chaotic — functioning addiction is real Emotional safety profoundly shapes childhood experience Sobriety can radically change how someone shows up for life Healing doesn’t require perfect parents — only honest reflection Parents do the best they can with what they have Vulnerability creates space for understanding Growth is possible at any stage of life Honest conversations can change the future of a family As This Season Closes Season 2 has been a journey through awareness, embodiment, family systems, trauma, relationships, and rebuilding — not as a straight line, but as a deeply human process. If you’re just finding the podcast, you’re invited to revisit Season 1 and Season 2 episodes at your own pace. These conversations are meant to be returned to — listened to again when something new opens, shifts, or clicks. To stay connected between seasons: Follow along on social media for reflections, clips, and ongoing conversation Subscribe on Substack for weekly essays every Tuesday, where Sara goes deeper into the themes explored on the podcast Share this episode with someone who might need permission to have a hard — but healing — conversation Thank you for being part of this season.Thank you for listening with openness.And thank you for choosing awareness — for yourself, and for what comes next. Disclaimer Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical and/or mental health practitioner or other healthcare provider for individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health or lifestyle, or to address specific medical conditions. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Get full access to How To Blow Up Your Life at sarastansberry.substack.com/subscribe (https://sarastansberry.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   15 Apr 2026

   Ep 19: Narcissistic & Toxic Relationships - with Kerry Rasenberger

   In this episode of How to Blow Up Your Life, Sara Stansberry is joined by life coach Kerry Rasenberger for an illuminating and compassionate conversation about breaking the cycle of toxic relationships. Together, Sara and Kerry explore how dysfunctional family patterns can quietly shape our romantic relationships — often without our awareness — and why toxic dynamics can feel so hard to leave, even when we know they’re harming us. They unpack the nuances of covert narcissism, inconsistent behavior, and manipulation, emphasizing that abuse doesn’t always look loud or obvious to be deeply damaging. A central focus of the conversation is the trauma bond — the addictive emotional loop that forms in relationships built on instability, intermittent reinforcement, and fear of abandonment. Kerry explains why these bonds are so powerful, how they mirror early attachment wounds, and what it actually takes to begin breaking free. This episode also honors the grief that comes with letting go — not just of a person, but of the future you hoped for. Sara and Kerry discuss boundary-setting as an act of self-protection, the long road of rebuilding self-worth after emotional abuse, and how reconnecting with passion and purpose can support the healing process. This conversation is for anyone questioning their relationship patterns, struggling to trust themselves after emotional harm, or ready to reclaim their power and clarity. Key Topics Covered Recognizing toxic relationship cycles How family patterns quietly repeat themselves Covert vs. overt narcissism Inconsistency as a major relational red flag Trauma bonds and emotional addiction Boundary-setting as self-protection Grief after leaving a toxic relationship Rebuilding self-worth after emotional abuse Healing as a patient, non-linear process Passion and purpose as tools for recovery Episode Takeaways Awareness is essential to breaking toxic cycles Family patterns can be subtle but deeply influential Covert narcissism can be just as harmful as overt abuse Inconsistent behavior is a key warning sign Trauma bonds create powerful, addictive dynamics Boundaries are necessary for emotional safety Grief is a natural part of leaving toxic relationships Self-worth must be actively reclaimed after abuse Healing requires patience and self-compassion Reconnecting with passion can support recovery Looking Ahead Next week, Season 2 concludes with a deeply personal and powerful conversation as Sara sits down with her mother, Sally Dunn. Together, they explore family patterns, healing across generations, and what it looks like to speak honestly — and lovingly — about the past in order to move forward with clarity and compassion. Disclaimer Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical and/or mental health practitioner or other healthcare provider for individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health or lifestyle, or to address specific medical conditions. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Get full access to How To Blow Up Your Life at sarastansberry.substack.com/subscribe (https://sarastansberry.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   8 Apr 2026

   Ep 18: The "Unperform Method" - with Tiffany Han

   In this episode of How to Blow Up Your Life, Sara Stansberry is joined by writer, teacher, and creative guide Tiffany Han for a powerful conversation about unperforming your life — and what it really means to stop living for approval, productivity, and appearances. Sara and Tiffany explore how many of us are quietly living in a state of barely getting by while telling ourselves it’s normal. They unpack the cost of overperforming — emotionally, relationally, and spiritually — and why authenticity often feels terrifying when you’ve built an identity around being capable, agreeable, or “fine.” The conversation dives into grief as an unavoidable and necessary part of transformation, especially when we begin to shed old roles, habits, and coping mechanisms. Tiffany speaks candidly about alcohol as a tool many people use to mute emotions, and how removing it can bring clarity, discomfort, and ultimately self-trust. Together, they examine what happens to relationships when you change, how values — not obligations — should guide decisions, and why reclaiming your power can feel destabilizing before it feels freeing. This episode is an invitation to create space for truth, expression, and connection, even when the next step isn’t clear. For anyone exhausted by performing their way through life, this conversation offers permission to slow down, tell the truth, and trust that unperforming is not a failure — it’s a return. Key Topics Covered What it means to “unperform” your life Authenticity vs. overfunctioning Why barely getting by isn’t normal Grief as a catalyst for change Alcohol and emotional suppression Power, fear, and self-trust Values-based decision-making Relationships during personal transformation Community as a source of support Making space for truth and self-expression Episode Takeaways Unperforming is about choosing authenticity over approval Many people are surviving, not thriving — and that matters Grief is a necessary part of growth and transformation Alcohol can suppress emotions and delay self-discovery Reclaiming your power can feel scary before it feels freeing Values should guide choices, not others’ expectations Overperforming often leads to burnout and disconnection Creative and emotional expression support healing Community makes change more sustainable You don’t need all the answers to keep moving forward Looking Ahead As Season 2 continues, Sara keeps exploring what it looks like to live with intention — unpacking identity, grief, relationships, embodiment, and the courage it takes to stop performing and start choosing yourself. Disclaimer Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical and/or mental health practitioner or other healthcare provider for individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health or lifestyle, or to address specific medical conditions. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Get full access to How To Blow Up Your Life at sarastansberry.substack.com/subscribe (https://sarastansberry.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

746

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

47

Social presence

0

YouTube

64

Engagement

0