Empowering Women In Conversations
The Women Empowered Podcast is intended for all women who want to learn, grow, and empower themselves. The podcast covers various topics that can help women in their personal and professional lives, such as entrepreneurship, career growth, leadership, self-care, and personal development. It is suitable for women of all ages, backgrounds, and professions who seek inspiration, motivation, and strategies to achieve their goals.Women Empowered podcast will cover a wide range of topics that empower and inspire women. Some possible lessons or insights that might be shared include:Building confidence and self-esteemWellness and self-care practicesBalancing work, family, and personal lifeThe p...
Who Are You When You’re No Longer Saving Everyone? Rebuilding Identity & Self-Trust with Janna Holterman | Part 2
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Who are you beyond being the wife, caregiver, helper, and person everyone depends on?
When you’ve spent years meeting everyone else’s needs, knowing what you want can feel unfamiliar. Where do you begin when the life you planned changes—and the roles that once defined you no longer fit?
In Part 2, Anita Sandoval, LPC-S, continues her conversation with Janna Holterman, RN, BNSc, Coach, about rebuilding identity after loss and learning to make choices that reflect your own va...
You Can’t Save Someone by Losing Yourself: Suicide Loss, Caregiver Burnout & People-Pleasing with Janna Holterman | Part 1
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What happens when loving and caring for someone slowly causes you to disappear from your own life?
In this deeply personal episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, Anita Sandoval, LPC, sits down with Janna Holterman, RN, BNSc—Cardiac ICU nurse, coach, mentor, trained intuitive, and founder of Janna Holterman Coaching LLC.
Janna vulnerably shares the mental-health decline and suicide loss of her husband, the exhaustion of becoming both his wife and caregiver, and the guilt that can remain wh...
Why Do I Feel Guilty Saying No? Breaking the People-Pleasing Cycle with Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez | Part 2
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Why can saying no feel so uncomfortable—even when you know you’re overwhelmed?
Why does setting a boundary sometimes leave you feeling guilty, selfish, or responsible for someone else’s disappointment?
In Part 2 of my conversation with emotional intelligence expert Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez, we continue exploring the HEART in Mind model and take the conversation deeper into people-pleasing, boundary guilt, emotional awareness, relationships, and reconnecting with yourself.
For so...
Why Am I So Tired? The Hidden Burnout of People-Pleasing with Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez | Part 1
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You’re getting enough sleep. You’re still showing up for work, your family, and everyone who depends on you. From the outside, you may even look like you have everything together.
So why are you so tired?
In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Anita Sandoval, LPC-S, sits down with emotional intelligence expert, author, and educator Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez to explore the hidden signs of burnout—and why women who are used to...
Why You’ve Lost the Spark: Emotional Safety Comes Before Intimacy | Kameran “Kam” Al-Areqi — Part 2
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What if losing the spark in your marriage isn’t actually an intimacy problem?
You may still love your partner. You may want the relationship to work. You may even be trying harder than ever—communicating more, doing more, giving more, and keeping everything together.
But what if you’re trying to rebuild intimacy before rebuilding emotional safety?
In Part 2 of my conversation with marriage coach Kameran “Kam” Al-Areqi, Kam in...
Are You Fighting for Your Marriage—or Abandoning Yourself? | Kameran “Kam” Al-Areqi — Part 1
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Are You Fighting for Your Marriage—or Abandoning Yourself? | Kameran “Kam” Al-Areqi — Part 1
What if trying to keep the peace in your marriage is actually creating more resentment?
And what if “fighting for your marriage” has slowly turned into losing yourself just to keep everyone else happy?
In Part 1 of this raw and honest conversation, Anita Sandoval, LPC-S sits down with marriage coach Kameran “Kam” Al-Areqi, host of The Married and...
Stop Waiting to Be Chosen (Part 2): The Confidence Shift That Changes Everything
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🎙 Stop Waiting to Be Chosen (Part 2): The Confidence Shift That Changes Everything | with Julie DeLucca-Collins
What if confidence wasn't something you found...
...but something you built?
In Part 2 of this empowering conversation, I sit down with Julie DeLucca-Collins to explore what it really means to stop waiting for validation and start choosing yourself.
Together, we talk about identity, self-worth, community, tiny habits, and why confidence isn't about being fearless—it's...
Stop Waiting to Be Chosen (Part 1): The Confidence Myth Women Believe
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February is often about love and relationships — but it can also surface pressure around being chosen and feeling “enough.”
In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and business strategist Julie DeLucca-Collins to break down one of the biggest myths women believe about confidence.
Most women think confidence is a feeling.
It’s not.
We talk about:
• Why waiting to “feel ready” keeps you stuck
• The cultural programming that tells women...
If You’re Not Always There: What Happens When Parents Don’t Let Go-Part 3:
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In this
🌷 Inspirational Resource — Welcome to Holland
A deeply meaningful poem that reframes the unexpected paths of life and parenting with beauty and acceptance:
👉 https://www.emilyperlkingsley.com/welcome-to-holland
🎧 Healing Support — Nervous System Meditations & Music
EmpowerHer Pathways: Healing Between the Beats
Music & nervous system meditations designed for emotional release, regulation, and recovery — especially helpful if you struggle with emotional overwhelm or people-pleasing patterns:
👉...
Part Two: When Help Hurts—From Protection to People-Pleasing: The Advocacy Mistake Parents Don’t See.
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What if helping your child is actually teaching them to stay quiet, comply, and people-please authority figures?
In Part Two of this powerful series, Anita Sandoval, LPC, and Gladys Cortez, LPC-S, unpack the uncomfortable truth many parents never realize: over-protection and misdirected advocacy can silence a child’s voice instead of empowering it.
This episode dives deep into IEPs, 504 plans, ADA rights, neurodivergence, and developmental readiness, revealing how well-intentioned parents ma...
When People-Pleasing Hurts Your Child (Part 1)
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In this powerful Part 1 conversation, Empowering Women in Conversations host Anita Sandoval, LPC, is joined by Gladys A. Cortez, MS, LPC-S, RPT, CRC, TF-CBT, EMDR-Trained, to explore the hidden cost of people-pleasing in parenting — especially when advocating for neurodivergent children within school systems.
Many parents stay quiet in IEP, ARD, and 504 meetings because they don’t want to be labeled “difficult,” “emotional,” or “that parent.” But what happens when silence costs a child the support they are legally enti...
Stop Calling It Love: The 7 Toxic Traps That Keep Women Stuck
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🎙️ Stop Calling It Love: The 7 Toxic Traps That Keep Women Stuck
How to Know When to Mend a Relationship — or Walk Away
Guest: Kate King, MA, LPC, ATR-BC
Licensed Professional Counselor | Board-Certified Art Therapist
Founder of The Radiant Life Project
🌿 Episode Overview
In this powerful episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, Anita Sandoval sits down with therapist and author Kate King to explore why so many women stay...
My Love Will Make Them Change: The Most Dangerous Myth for Women
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What if the very love you’re giving is the thing keeping you stuck?
In this powerful episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, host Anita Sandoval, LPC, sits down with Dr. Eluterio Blanco, Jr., Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Nationally Certified Master Addiction Counselor, to unpack one of the most dangerous myths women believe:
“If I love them enough, they’ll change.”
Together, we explore how addiction isn’t just abo...
How People Pleasing Fuels Eating Disorders (And Why No One Sees It) — with Marnie Davis, LMHC, CEDS
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What if your “little food problem” — the restriction, bingeing, or rigid food rules — is actually your nervous system trying to survive?
In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Marnie Davis, LMHC, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Consultant, Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, and HAES®-aligned clinician.
Together, we explore the hidden link between people pleasing, trauma, neurodivergence, and eating disorders — and why so many women, clinicians, and families completely miss what’s really happen...
People Pleasing and Women’s Gut Problems: The Real Cause (with Dr. Scott Rower, PhD)
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Why are so many women struggling with reflux, IBS, bloating, and chronic stomach pain—despite changing diets, taking supplements, and doing “all the right things”?
In this powerful episode, Dr. Scott Rower, PhD—clinical psychologist and founder of Rest and Digest—joins Anita Sandoval LPC-S to reveal the real root cause of women’s gut issues: the gut–brain connection and the hidden impact of chronic stress, overgiving, and people-pleasing.
If you’ve ever wondered why you...
Stop Healing Wrong: Why Mindfulness, Not Hustle, Ends Toxic Cycles — with Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat
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STOP HEALING WRONG: Why Mindfulness, Not Hustle, Ends Toxic Cycles with Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat
If you’ve been trying to heal by doing more—reading more, achieving more, fixing more—this episode will feel like a breath of truth.
Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat, Registered Psychologist, Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher, and Founder of the Center for Mindfulness Canada, joins Anita Sandoval to unravel one of the biggest misconceptions in healing: you can’t hustle your way out of pain.<...
Now That the Mask Is Off: Navigating Love, Boundaries & Burnout as Neurodivergent Adults
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Now That the Mask Is Off: Navigating Love, Boundaries & Burnout as Neurodivergent Adults (Part 2 w/ Eric Tivers)
What if taking the mask off isn’t the end—but the beginning of finding love, belonging, and peace as your authentic self?
In Part Two of my conversation with Eric Tivers—Licensed Clinical Social Worker, ADHD coach, and host of ADHD ReWired—we explore what life looks like once you stop people-pleasing and start li...
Unmasking the People Pleaser: How ADHD and AuDHD Shape Relationship Struggles
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Unmasking the People Pleaser: How ADHD and AuDHD Shape Relationship Struggles
with Eric Tivers, LCSW – Founder of ADHD reWired
What if your people-pleasing isn’t weakness—what if it’s masking?
In this deeply honest and eye-opening episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, host Anita Sandoval, LPC-S, is joined by Eric Tivers, LCSW and founder of ADHD reWired, to explore the powerful intersection of neurodivergence and relational patterns...
Extended Cut: ADHD, Autism, and Why Different Brains Win — The After Show
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What if the very things you’ve been told are weaknesses… were actually the reasons different brains win in business and life?
This 13-minute After Show episode goes deeper into the gifts of neurodivergent brains. Christine Molina, LCSW, and I explore how ADHDers and Autistic individuals bring innovation, structure, creativity, and resilience to business and everyday life.
What we cover:
ADHD as a visionary, risk-taking, people-focused brainAutism as a precision, system-building, detail-driven brainThe unique blend of A...Fixing What Isn’t Broken: People Pleasing, ADHD, Autism, and the Gift of Difference with Christine Molina, LCSW
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Fixing What Isn’t Broken: People Pleasing, ADHD, Autism, and the Gift of Difference with Christine Molina, LCSW
Have you ever felt like you’re broken because you struggle with people pleasing, ADHD, or Autism? In this powerful episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, Anita Sandoval, LPC-S, sits down with Christine Molina, LCSW, EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, trainer, and neurodiversity advocate, to challenge the medical model myths and reframe how we see our brains.
Christine shares:
🔎...Running on Empty: How to Reclaim Your Energy and Stop People-Pleasing
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The Lie of Self-Sacrifice: Why Women Are Taught to Burn Out
Are you constantly giving but still feel empty at the end of the day? You're not alone—and it’s not your fault.
In this powerful episode, Anita Sandoval sits down with Cara-Michele Nether, Licensed Acupuncturist and founder of Strength & Vitality Wellness, to uncover the deeper reasons women are running on empty. Together, they explore the intersection of people-pleasing, burnout, and generational programming that teaches wome...
Part 3: Beyond People Pleasing: Building a Conscious Relationship That Heals and Grows
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Part 3: Beyond People Pleasing – Building a Conscious Relationship That Heals and Grows
with Shane & Wendy Adamson
💬 Episode Summary:
In the final installment of our 3-part People Pleasing Recovery Series, we welcome back Shane and Wendy Adamson — a couple who nearly walked away from their marriage, but chose healing, growth, and conscious love instead.
Wendy, a former people pleaser and daughter of a narcissist, and Shane, a seasoned therapist with over 30 years of experie...
From People Pleaser to Empowered Woman: Wendy’s Story of Healing & Growth: Part 2
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From People Pleaser to Empowered Woman: Wendy’s Story of Healing & Growth
Series: Empowered & Unfiltered (Part 2 of 3)
Guest: Wendy Adamson | Luxury Portrait Photographer & Empowerment Advocate
Episode Description:
What happens when a daughter finally says, “I won’t sacrifice myself for your love anymore”?
In this raw and powerful conversation, Wendy Adamson opens up about growing up under the control of a narcissistic mother—and what it...
Healing the Pleaser Wound: Rebuilding Self-Worth After a Toxic Relationship: Part 1
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Empowered & Unfiltered: A 3-Part Series on Healing, Empowerment, and Real Connection
Guest: Shane Adamson, LCSW, CSAT, CCPS
What happens when a people pleaser finally decides she’s worthy of more?
In this honest and unfiltered conversation, I’m joined by therapist and relationship trauma specialist Shane Adamson, LCSW, , CSAT, CCPS to explore what really lies beneath the urge to overgive, over-accommodate, and lose yourself in relationships that never loved you...
The 12 Steps to Reclaim Your Power and Stop People Pleasing
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In this episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, we walk through a powerful 12-step framework designed specifically for people pleasers who are ready to stop the cycle and start showing up for themselves—without guilt or apology.
You’ll learn how to:
🌿 Identify the roots of your people-pleasing behavior
🛑 Set boundaries without fear of rejection
💬 Communicate your needs clearly and assertively
💖 Prioritize self-care and self-respect
🌟 Replace emotional burnout with empowerment and authenticity
Each step includes simple cha...
From Anxiety to Empowerment: CBT Strategies for Women in Toxic Relationship Patterns
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🚨 Are you tired of feeling stuck in the cycle of people-pleasing, overthinking, and relationship anxiety? You're not alone. Many women struggle with breaking free from toxic patterns that keep them trapped in self-doubt and emotional exhaustion.
In this powerful episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, I sit down with Patrick Martin, LCSW, to dive deep into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies that can help you reclaim your confidence, set boundaries, and step into your aut...
Breaking Free From People Pleasing During the Holidays
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The holiday season is here, and while it’s a time for joy and celebration, it can also be overwhelming—especially for women who struggle with people-pleasing. In this episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, Anita Sandoval is joined by Jessica Hope Murph, LMFT, to explore why the holidays are particularly challenging for people pleasers and how to reclaim peace, joy, and authenticity during this time.
What We Cover in This Episode:
Why the Holidays Bring Stre...Breaking Free: Unmasking Narcissistic Abuse and Empowering the People Pleaser Within
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Episode Highlights:
Understanding Narcissistic Abuse: Definition and insights into how narcissists use coercion, power, and control in relationships.The People Pleaser's Plight: Examining why people pleasers become prime targets for narcissistic individuals and how their natural tendencies can prolong toxic dynamics.The Mask of Narcissism: Discussing the initial charm and subsequent reveal of a narcissist's true nature, and the psychological impact on their partners.Signs and Patterns Overlooked: Identifying the early...Anita Sandoval's OMST Journey: A 12-Day Exploration of Mental Well-Being
Welcome to my OMST Journey,' a 12-day mini docu series where we delve into the fascinating world of Optometric Multi-Sensory Training (OMST). As a licensed professional counselor with EMDR certification and a background in neurobiology, I'm excited to share my personal experiences with this unique therapy and its potential impact on mental health. About the Series: Join me on this immersive exploration as we focus on various aspects of mental well-being, including: Focus Retention: Discover how OMST influences concentration and attention. Memory Retention and Recall: Explore the effects on memory functions and recall. Restlessness: Addressing feelings of restlessness...
The Journey To Empowerment After Betrayal
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In this episode, we feature Kate Conwell, the founder of Journey Beyond Betrayal, who shares her personal journey of forgiveness and resilience after facing infidelity in her marriage. Discover how Kate turned her own pain into a mission to empower women who've experienced betrayal, and be inspired by her transformative story.Some Key Takeaways I learned were:
Personal Transformation: Kate Conwell's journey through infidelity in her marriage, 11 years ago, was an incredibly challenging and painful experience. However, it became...
Unmasking Manipulators and Becoming a Woman Empowered!
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Start creating awareness on Unmasking Manipulators and Becoming a Woman Empowered!
Some Top Self-Defeating Thoughts of Women who lack Empowering Attributes which lead to being susceptible in unhealthy situations are:
I will discuss the importance for people pleasers to know the characteristics of manipulators and on how it will allow you to build healthier relationships.
Join me as...
The Stress of Finding Mr. Right and Getting Rid of Mr. Wrong
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Start creating awareness on the situations that increase Stress in Relationships:
Some common situations that increase stress in relationships are when one or the other person says:
I will discuss the concepts, techniques, and strategies for:
Preventing the pattern of bad relationships that keep you stuck on cont...The Stress of Abandonment Issues Affecting Relationships
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Stop Sacrificing your Boundaries to Avoid Abandonment
Some common symptoms causing stress in Relationships due to issues of Abandonment are when your:
Overcoming the Neediness and Clinginess in Relationships
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Who becomes overly needy and clingy in order to avoid abandonment?
Fear of abandonment and rejection in terms of clinginess/neediness in relationships are shown in two common ways:
In this episode I will discuss the concepts, techniques and strategies for:
People who beco...
Overcoming the Fear of Rejection and Pain of Abandonment
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Overcoming the Fear of Rejection and Pain of Abandonment
What fuels the fear of rejection and pain of abandonment?What are the habits that keep the fear of rejection and abandonment present?This episode is the first part of a series that will discuss the concepts, techniques and strategies for Fear of Rejection and the pain of abandonment that happens within human society.
The challenging part is that no one really talks about it, so I...
How to Align Your Decisions and Behaviors With Your Values
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Our values reflect what we find meaningful in life.
They are what you care about, deep down, and what you consider to be important. Everybody’s values are different, and they can change over time. They reflect how we want to engage with the world, with the people around us, and with ourselves.
In today's episode I will focus on several goals:
Strategies on how to make "A Valued Based Decision." Awareness on whether you...How to Know Your Values
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The one life lesson that changed my life was....
Being aware of my values, to make value based decisions and be aligned with who I am.
Clarifying my values as a top priority shifted many things in my life.
Individuals experience greater fulfillment when they live by their values.
If we don’t honor our values, our mental, emotional, and physical state suffers.
Knowing Your Values Changes Your Behavior
In th...
Normalizing Conflicts to Decrease the Habit of People Pleasing Part 4
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In today's episode (People Pleasing and Appeasing Part 4)
How To Increase your conflict resolution skills by Normalizing conflicts and decreasing the habit of people pleasing and appeasing.
You will learn on:
How to Set Loving Limits/Boundaries instead of People Pleasing and Appeasing Part 3
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In today's episode (People Pleasing and Appeasing Part 3)
You will learn tips and strategies on
How To Set Loving Limits/Boundaries
Expect to have some awareness and continue learning, growing, and changing from people pleasing and appeasing into setting limits to those that once would take advantage of you. You will gain knowledge on your insecurities and learn on how to increase your internal self and life to make sure you love yourself without the f...
How to Stop Yourself From the Quick Reflex of Pleasing and Appeasing Part 2
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In today's episode (People Pleasing and Appeasing Part 2)
you will learn the techniques on how to stop yourself from the
Quick Reflex on people pleasing and appeasing.
Expect to have some insights and connections on how to begin learning, growing, and changing from people pleasing and appeasing into making decisions that will empower you as an individual creating a decrease of anxiety and depression.
I will give you an approach on different ways to say NO t...
