The Quarter That Ended the Bullying

Episode Summary:

What if you could flip the script on bullying? In this episode, Joe sits down with longtime therapist and author Patricia Stahl, who’s helped thousands navigate the lasting effects of childhood bullying. They dig into one surprising strategy that stopped her son’s bully cold—spoiler: it involved a quarter.

But this episode is so much more than a clever parenting hack.

We’re talking about the real emotional scars bullying leaves behind—especially when they follow you into adulthood. Joe shares a raw, personal story from high school that’s equal parts intense and honest, while Patricia breaks down why bullies behave the way they do and how parents can empower their kids without making things worse.

If you’ve ever been bullied, watched your kid suffer, or wondered how bullying shapes us well into adulthood, this conversation is for you.

 What You’ll Learn:

• Why were so many adults with social anxiety bullied as kids

• The 10 common reasons kids become bullies (it’s not just “bad parenting”)

• How a simple quarter changed one boy’s life

• The emotional toll bullying takes, including depression, school avoidance, and even rage

• Practical techniques like “fogging” and fake-it-till-you-make-it confidence training

• Why “confidence is kryptonite to bullies” (shout out to James Corden)

• How celebrities like Taylor Swift, Shaq, and The Rock turned bullying into fuel for greatness

• What every dad needs to do right now if their kid is being bullied

 Don’t Miss:

• Joe’s honest take on being bullied himself—and the day he snapped

• The exact words Patricia taught her son to shut his bully down

• How to roleplay with your kid to build emotional resilience

• The hidden connection between bullying and people-pleasing in adulthood

• Ways to help your child build social armor without becoming cold or distant

🛠 Parenting Takeaways:

• The key difference between reacting and responding to bullying

• What to say (and what not to say) when your child opens up

• When to use humor, kindness, or firm boundaries with bullies

• The one thing bullied kids must hear to reduce shame and boost self-worth

🧑‍💼 About the Guest:

Patricia Stahl is a therapist with 40+ years of experience, specializing in social anxiety and childhood trauma. Her new book, From Loser to Legend, highlights how even the most successful celebrities were once