Stronger in the Difficult Places

About Stronger in the Difficult Places

Dr. Zoe, a licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach walks with you on your journey through fixing your difficult relationships, including that sometimes difficult one with yourself. Here, she offers a space where you can look at yourself and your relationship through a lens of psychology, faith and a dash of her own kind of feminism. Stronger in the broken places podcasts hosts guest from all over the world, from celebrity tv therapists to everyday women, authors and scientists, offering therapeutic tips, encouragement, camaraderie and support, helping women stay strong and transform difficult relationships. We're not fixing them, we're fixing you and that changes everything! Ask Dr. Zoe a burning relationship question https://www.drzoeshaw.com Or find her on Instagram @drzoeshaw

Publisher

Dr. Zoe Shaw

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Jun 2017

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

2 of 295 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   When Setting Boundaries Makes You Feel Bad

   Dr. Zoe Shaw explores why setting healthy boundaries triggers guilt and shame, offering insights to navigate these feelings and break old relational patterns.

2. 

   4 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Truth About Guilt No One Talks About

   Guilt is one of the most misunderstood emotional experiences women carry, and one of the most controlling. In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Reid, author of Guilt-Free, to unpack why so many women still feel guilt in this day and age… even when they're doing everything "right." We explore how guilt gets internalized, how it shapes the way you show up in your relationships, and why it can feel so difficult to release- even when you know it's not serving you. This episode goes deeper than "just let it go." We talk about what guilt actually is, how it's different from shame, and what it looks like to begin releasing it in a way that leads to real emotional freedom. If you've ever felt responsible for other people's feelings, struggled to make decisions without second-guessing yourself, or carried a lingering sense that you've done something wrong… this conversation will meet you there. In This Episode, We Discuss: What guilt actually is—and why so many women carry it chronically Why guilt persists, even in high-achieving, self-aware women The difference between guilt and shame (and why that distinction matters) How guilt quietly drives overgiving, people-pleasing, and self-abandonment Why "just stop feeling guilty" doesn't work Practical ways to begin releasing guilt and reconnecting to your truth Key Takeaway: Guilt isn't always a signal that you've done something wrong. Sometimes, it's a learned response that's keeping you disconnected from yourself. Learning to discern the difference is where your freedom begins. About Jennifer Dr. Jennifer Reid is a board-certified psychiatrist, award-winning educator, and author of Guilt Free: Reclaiming Your Life from Unreasonable Expectations. Trained at Columbia University and UCLA, she has held clinical faculty positions at the University of Pennsylvania and Cooper Hospital. She is the creator and host of A Mind of Her Own podcast and Substack, where she shares clear, compassionate insights on mental health and treatment. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Psychology Today, and her clinical practice focuses on helping individuals release the burden of unreasonable expectations and reclaim what truly matters. Website: https://www.jenniferreidmd.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@amindofherown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenreidmd/ Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/763503/guilt-free-by-jennifer-reid-md/ Resources & Next Steps: Connect with me on Instagram @drzoeshaw for daily encouragement. Subscribe to my newsletter for more conversations on healing, boundaries, and healthy love. Join the waitlist for Stronger Woman Intensive: here Buy my book Stronger In The Difficult Places: here (https://drzoeshaw.com/book/) Free Downloads: Download the Steps to Healing from Complex Shame™ PDF: here Get the First Chapter of Stronger in the Difficult Places: here Connect with me: Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram Dr. Zoe Shaw on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DrZoeShaw/) Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, make sure to follow Stronger in the Difficult Places and leave a review. It helps more women find this work- and begin their own healing.

3. 

   28 Apr 2026

   Why Letting Go Isn't the Same as Giving Up

   Letting go is one of the most misunderstood decisions we face in relationships. If you've ever stayed longer than you should have… Tried harder than felt sustainable… Or questioned whether walking away means you've failed- This episode is for you. In this conversation, Dr. Zoe unpacks the powerful difference between giving up and letting go, and why so many high-capacity, deeply loving women struggle to tell the difference. Through the lens of Complex Shame, you'll begin to understand why letting go can feel like failure- even when it's actually the most self-honoring choice you can make. Because sometimes what we call "not giving up"… Is actually self-abandonment. And sometimes letting go… Is the very thing that brings you back to yourself. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The critical difference between giving up and letting go Why women who love deeply often struggle to release unhealthy dynamics How Complex Shame keeps you stuck in over-functioning and self-doubt The subtle ways you may be abandoning yourself in the name of love What it actually looks like to let go without losing your integrity How to recognize when you've moved past clarity—but are still holding on Practical steps to begin releasing what you cannot fix or control Key Takeaway Letting go is not failure. It's the end of abandoning yourself in the name of love. A Few Questions to Reflect On: Where in my life am I holding on out of fear—not truth? Am I trying to fix something that isn't mine to fix? What would it look like to honor my limits here? Where might I be confusing loyalty with self-abandonment? Your Next Step If this episode stirred something in you, start here: Notice where you are over-functioning Get honest about what is actually happening—not what you hope could be And gently begin to stop agreeing with the voice of shame Work With Dr. Zoe If you're ready to untangle Complex Shame and build healthier, more aligned relationships: Visit drzoeshaw.com to explore resources, coaching, and upcoming programs. Resources & Next Steps: Connect with me on Instagram @drzoeshaw for daily encouragement. Subscribe to my newsletter for more conversations on healing, boundaries, and healthy love. Join the waitlist for Stronger Woman Intensive: here (https://dr-zoe-shaw-enterprises.kit.com/8f13ca5748) Buy my book Stronger In The Difficult Places: here (https://drzoeshaw.com/book/) Free Downloads: Download the Steps to Healing from Complex Shame™ PDF: here (https://dr-zoe-shaw-enterprises.kit.com/7247f0bc86) Get the First Chapter of Stronger in the Difficult Places: here (https://dr-zoe-shaw-enterprises.kit.com/a8adebb5af) Connect with me: Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram Dr. Zoe Shaw on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DrZoeShaw/) Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, make sure to follow Stronger in the Difficult Places and leave a review. It helps more women find this work- and begin their own healing.

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

42,788

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

88 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 86 / 100

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

Quality

84

Social presence

97

YouTube

76

Engagement

92

Questions about Stronger in the Difficult Places