No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women
No Shrinking Violets is all about what it truly means for women to take up their space in the world – mind, body and spirit. Mary Rothwell, licensed therapist and certified integrative mental health practitioner, has seen women “stay small” and fit into the space in life that they have been conditioned to believe they deserve. Drawing on 35 years in the mental health field and from her perspective as a woman who was often told to "stay in your lane," Mary discusses how early experiences, society and sometimes our own limiting beliefs can convince us that living inside guardrails is the best -- or only -- option. She'll explore how to recognize our unique essential nature and how to use that to empower a new narrative.Through topics that span psychology, friendships, nature and even gut-brain health, Mary creates a space that is inspiring and authentic - where she celebrates the intuition and power of women who want to chart their own course and program their own GPS. Mary's topics will include sleep and supplements and nutrition and how to live like a plant. (Yes, you read that right - the example of plants is often the most insightful path to knowing what we truly need to feel fulfilled). She’ll talk about setting boundaries, communicating, and relationships, and explore mental health and wellness: trauma and resilience, how our food impacts our mood and the power of simple daily habits. And so much more! As a gardener, Mary knows that violets have been misjudged for centuries and are actually one of the most resilient and ecologically important plants in her native garden. Like violets, women are often underestimated, and they can even mistake their unique gifts for weaknesses. Join Mary to explore all the ways the vibrant and strong violet is an example for finding fulfillment in our own lives.
Episodes
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What makes a strong, intelligent woman stay in an abusive relationship? Nikki Allen's answer might surprise you. The author of "Loved You Hated You" joins Mary to share how vulnerability after losing her mother and moving to a new city without support made her susceptible to an abusive partner she never imagined she'd tolerate.
Nikki takes us through the confusing &q...
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What if the fix you’re craving starts with a scene, not a plan? We explore a simple, powerful tool from solution-focused therapy—the miracle question—that helps you picture the version of your life where the problem is gone, then trace gentle, practical steps back to today. Instead of circling what’s wrong, we anchor in vivid details: what you see, who’s with you, how your body feels, and the fi...
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Have you ever felt the powerful pull of something unexplainable, something that science alone couldn't quite capture? That's the fascinating territory we explore with Dr. Sue McCreadie, a holistic pediatrician who has expanded her practice in surprising ways to help women navigate their midlife transitions.
Dr. Sue shares her remarkable journey from conventional medicine to a ...
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Control rarely arrives kicking down the door—it slips in dressed as care. That’s the thread we pull with author and advocate Amanda Scott, whose 17-year marriage looked stable from the outside but ran on a quiet currency of emotional and financial abuse. We explore how intense attention, constant check-ins, and money “help” can be early signals of coercive control, and why fairy-tale scripts abo...
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A bright orange wildflower taught us something bold about being human. Jewelweed doesn’t ask permission to exist—it launches its seeds with gusto, outcompetes invaders, and even soothes poison ivy. That unapologetic presence became our lens for talking about essential nature, the blend of genetics, environment, and epigenetics that shapes how we move through the world. We celebrate the joy of fi...
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Have we weaponized mental health terminology to the point of meaninglessness? Shannon Petrovich, therapist and author specializing in narcissistic relationships, joins us to untangle what truly constitutes toxic behavior versus simply unhealthy dynamics.
"Anyone with whom they had a difficult relationship was bipolar, probably wrong. Most recently, the diagnosis du jour seems to o...
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Mental health information from social media and AI can be misleading and potentially harmful. While increased acceptance of mental health issues is positive, self-diagnosis through TikTok or AI often leads to misinformation and misunderstanding of complex conditions.
• Over 50% of mental health information on TikTok is inaccurate
• Even mental health professionals often disagree on ...
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What happens when a therapist trained to maintain professional distance decides to share her most vulnerable truths? Kristin Louise Duncombe's story will leave you speechless.
Growing up across continents as a foreign service "brat," Kristin developed a unique perspective as a third culture kid—someone shaped by their parents' culture, their host countries, and the i...
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Have you ever noticed how we admire trees for shedding their leaves each autumn, yet criticize ourselves when we need to slow down? This thought-provoking mini-episode explores the parallel between nature's cycles and our own rhythms of energy and rest.
Starting with a simple self-reflection on how you're feeling right now, we journey through the various cycles that govern our...
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Have you ever had that unmistakable gut feeling about someone you just met? That inner shiver that can't be explained but somehow turns out to be right? In this illuminating conversation, Mary Rothwell welcomes Anna Quigley, known as the "intuitive Yoda," to explore how women can reclaim their natural intuitive abilities despite societal conditioning that teaches us to doubt our i...
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Have you ever noticed how easily we slip into victim mode when life gets challenging? That subtle internal dialogue of "why does this always happen to me?" can significantly impact our wellbeing and resilience.
This mini-episode explores a transformative one-word shift in perspective that changes everything: moving from believing life happens "to you" to recognizing ...
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Tired of saying yes when you desperately want to say no? In this candid conversation, intuitive truth-teller and host of The Nope Coach Podcast, Suzanne Culberg, shares her journey from chronic people-pleaser to boundary-setting expert, offering practical wisdom that will transform how you protect your energy.
"People pleasers are exploding doormats," Culberg explains, reveali...
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Ever feel stuck in a loop of negative thinking? Your brain might be creating deep mental ruts without you even realizing it.
This mini-episode explores the fascinating psychology behind our tendency toward negative mindsets. As humans, we're naturally wired to spot dangers and problems first—an evolutionary adaptation that once kept us safe but now often works against us. When we r...
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What happens when we bury our deepest trauma, only to have it resurface decades later? Linda Knipe's powerful story sheds light on the nature of PTSD and the healing journey that follows.
After surviving sexual assault in her twenties, Linda did what many survivors do – she locked away the experience, determined to move forward without acknowledging the wound. For nearly twenty yea...
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Do you find yourself constantly weighed down by obligations that don't truly belong to you? That nagging voice inside your head declaring "I must do this" may be what psychologist Albert Ellis provocatively termed "musturbation."
Building on our previous exploration of Ellis's concept of "shoulding all over yourself," this mini-episode delves into...
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What happens when a life-altering diagnosis forces you to reclaim your voice? Meet Zulma Williams, a licensed social worker who transformed her cancer journey into a powerful mission of authentic self-expression.
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Zulma felt voiceless for much of her early life. Cultural expectations and family dynamics silenced her until a cousin's sudden death at ...
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Have you ever caught yourself saying "I should have done better" or "I shouldn't have eaten that"? These seemingly harmless words might be wreaking havoc on your mental health without you even realizing it.
In this illuminating mini-episode, we explore the hidden power of the word "should" and how it fuels our inner critic. When we're experiencing...
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Breaking through gender barriers requires both courage and proper equipment. Maxx Cumby McGee combines her unique experiences as both a fashion model and a union carpenter to address a critical gap in the trades industry: workwear designed specifically for women's bodies.
• Drawn to both fashion and construction from childhood, with a mother who encouraged her to pursue diverse int...
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Ever notice how some people remain calm amid chaos while others spiral at the slightest inconvenience? The difference often lies in what psychologists call locus of control—the degree to which we believe we have power over our own lives versus feeling at the mercy of external forces.
When we have an internal locus of control, we're like sailors who maintain balance even when waves ...
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What happens when the carefully curated facade we present to the world crumbles? When the smiles on social media no longer mask the pain beneath? Angie Hawkins knows this territory intimately.
Beginning with a childhood where emotional needs went unmet, Angie spent decades believing she didn't deserve love or respect. This belief shaped everything—from overachieving at unfulfilling...
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