Breaking Free from Childhood Labels: Brittney Ashley on Dyslexia, ADHD & Self-Worth

Breaking Free from Childhood Labels: Brittney Ashley on Dyslexia, ADHD & Self-Worth

What happens when you're labeled "not smart enough" as a child and spend years trying to prove everyone wrong? In this episode of Shedding the Shame, I sit down with business strategist, certified Imposter Syndrome Coach, and founder of Creative Dynamics Virtual Services, Brittney Ashley, for an honest conversation about growing up with dyslexia, navigating ADHD, and learning to challenge the stories we tell ourselves about our worth. Brittney shares how being labeled "dumb" by teachers shaped her confidence, why imposter syndrome still shows up despite her success, and how she built a thriving business while raising two young children. Together, we explore the realities of motherhood, postpartum struggles, people-pleasing, burnout, perfectionism, and the pressure women face to be everything to everyone. This conversation is a reminder that you don't have to earn your worth through achievement, productivity, or perfection. You are already enough. In this episode, we discuss: • Growing up with dyslexia and the lasting impact of being labeled "dumb" • How imposter syndrome shows up for high-achieving women and entrepreneurs • ADHD, neurodivergence, and creating systems that work with your brain • Postpartum depression, anxiety, and asking for support • The pressure of motherhood and why so many women feel like they're failing • Setting boundaries, protecting your energy, and letting go of perfectionism • Why success doesn't have to look like hustle culture • What it really means to shed shame and step into your own power If you've ever felt behind, not enough, or like you're carrying the weight of impossible expectations, this episode is for you.

Rewriting Your Money Story with Krista Lee

Money is one of the most emotionally loaded topics for so many women, yet it’s something we’re rarely taught to talk about openly. In this episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami sits down with financial planner, coach, and financial literacy advocate Krista Lee Hynes for a powerful conversation about money stories, financial shame, and why so many women struggle with fear, guilt, scarcity, and feeling “behind.” Krista shares how our childhood experiences, family dynamics, culture, and societal conditioning shape the way we think about money, often without us even realizing it. We talk about the emotional side of finances, the connection between trauma and money habits, and why financial literacy is deeply tied to confidence, freedom, and self-worth. We also discuss: • What a “money story” actually is • How childhood experiences shape financial behaviors • Why women often feel shame, fear, or guilt around money • The connection between perfectionism, scarcity, and financial anxiety • Why financial literacy was historically kept from women • How to begin rewriting unhealthy money beliefs • Journaling prompts to uncover your own money story • Budgeting tips and practical first steps toward financial clarity • Why financial independence matters in relationships and life transitions • The importance of wills, insurance, emergency planning, and transparency • How social media and constant economic fear impact our mindset • Why money itself isn’t bad, and how it can become a tool for freedom, care, and choice Krista also shares practical tools women can start using today to feel more confident and empowered financially, while reminding us that being “behind” financially is often a harmful myth rooted in unrealistic societal expectations. This conversation is honest, validating, educational, and incredibly important. If money has ever felt overwhelming, shameful, confusing, or emotionally heavy for you, this episode will make you feel far less alone. Financial confidence isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity, choice, and learning that you deserve to feel safe, informed, and empowered. Find Krista Lee on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kristaleehynes/ [https://www.instagram.com/kristaleehynes/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-lee-4709b232a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-lee-4709b232a/] Krista's article in By The North: https://www.bythenorth.ca/articles/5-smart-financial-moves [https://www.bythenorth.ca/articles/5-smart-financial-moves] Financial Planning Pyramid: https://www.sunlife.ca/en/tools-and-resources/money-and-finances/saving-for-retirement/what-is-a-financial-plan-and-do-i-really-need-one/ [https://www.sunlife.ca/en/tools-and-resources/money-and-finances/saving-for-retirement/what-is-a-financial-plan-and-do-i-really-need-one/]

Give Less F*cks, Have More Fun: Healing & Learning to Stop Shrinking Myself

In this deeply personal bonus solo episode of Shedding the Shame, host Tami Wong opens up about her current experience with EMDR therapy, living with CPTSD, and what it really looks like to heal from abandonment wounds, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and years of staying small to keep others comfortable. She shares why she finally decided to start EMDR, what the process has actually been like emotionally, and how therapy continues to challenge and transform her after years of doing inner work. From difficult dreams and grief, to learning how to let herself be silly again, this episode is an honest conversation about mental health, resilience, and reclaiming the parts of ourselves we were taught to hide. Tami also talks about: * The emotional exhaustion and breakthroughs that can come with trauma therapy * How childhood experiences shape perfectionism and fear of abandonment * Why people-pleasing no longer serves her * Grieving relationships, loss, and the pressure to appear “okay” * Learning to trust herself and take up space unapologetically * The importance of safe relationships, therapy, and emotional honesty * Why her motto for 45 is: give less f*cks and have more fun If you’ve ever struggled with feeling “too much,” not enough, or afraid to fully be yourself, let this episode remind you that healing is possible and you are not alone.

The Invisible Weight of Type 1 Diabetes with Jenna

In this episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami sits down with her friend and former coworker, Jenna Van Dusen, for an honest conversation about living with Type 1 Diabetes. Diagnosed at just two and a half years old, Jenna shares what it was like growing up constantly managing a life-threatening chronic illness while also carrying the emotional weight, stigma, and shame that often comes with it. From childhood memories of blood sugar crashes at school to navigating work, relationships, burnout, and the pressure to appear “low maintenance,” Jenna opens up about the realities most people never see. Together, Tami and Jenna discuss: * The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes * The mental and emotional toll of chronic illness * Shame, stigma, and harmful cultural jokes about diabetes * The pressure to over-perform professionally while managing illness * How wearable medical devices changed Jenna’s life * The fear of being perceived as “different” * The invisible emotional weight of chronic disease * Learning to ask for help and let go of perfectionism * Why speaking openly about chronic illness matters This episode is a powerful reminder that many people are carrying battles we cannot see and that empathy matters more than judgment. If you’ve ever struggled with shame, chronic illness, feeling different, or trying to hold it all together while appearing “fine,” this conversation will resonate deeply. You are not alone. You can connect with Jenna on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-l-van-dusen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-l-van-dusen/]

From Control to Compassion: Breaking Free from Body Shame & Eating Disorders with Penny

Penny’s story doesn’t start with an eating disorder. It starts with a little girl who felt different: clumsy, quiet, and out of place.She didn't understand body image, shame had already taken root. In this episode, Penny shares how early experiences- feeling uncoordinated, misunderstood, and later undiagnosed ADHD- shaped the way she saw herself. By 13, she turned to food restriction and over-exercise as a way to cope, long before she had the language to understand what was happening. We talk about: * How body shame can start before we even recognize it * The link between ADHD, rejection sensitivity, and self-worth * The dangerous praise of “looking healthy” * Bodybuilding, control, and the illusion of perfection * Why eating disorders are often missed—especially in kids * What it actually takes to start healing Penny also shares how becoming a mother shifted everything, and how she’s now using her experience to help parents recognize the early signs of eating disorders through her non-profit, ReFrame Voices. This is a conversation about what we carry in our bodies, what we were never taught to understand, and how we begin to let it go. ⚠️ Content warning: Eating disorders, body shame, mental health Resources: Reframe Voices website: https://www.reframevoices.ca/ [https://www.reframevoices.ca/] Reframe Voices IG: https://www.instagram.com/reframevoices/ [https://www.instagram.com/reframevoices/] Canada * National Eating Disorder Information Centre- https://nedic.ca/ [https://nedic.ca/] Helpline: 1-866-NEDIC-20 (1-866-633-4220) Offers live chat, referrals, and educational resources. * Canadian Mental Health Association- https://cmha.ca/ [https://cmha.ca/] General mental health support, including body image and BDD-related resources. U.S. * National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)- https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ [https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/] Helpline: (800) 931-2237 Offers screening tools, treatment referrals, and support resources. * National Alliance for Eating Disorders- https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/ [https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/] Provides free support groups, referrals, and education. UK * Beat Eating Disorders- https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ [https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/] Helpline: 0808 801 0677 Youthline: 0808 801 0711 Offers support for individuals and families, plus online chat. Australia * Butterfly Foundation- https://butterfly.org.au/ [https://butterfly.org.au/] Helpline: 1800 33 4673 National support for eating disorders and body image issues. * National Eating Disorders Collaboration- https://nedc.com.au/ [https://nedc.com.au/] Provides education, research, and treatment pathways. ----------------------------------------