Why Rest Feels So Hard When You’re Used to Surviving

Why Rest Feels So Hard When You’re Used to Surviving

In this powerful episode of the Unbreakable Podcast, host Kait Dinunzio sits down with her "sister from another mister," Denise Dmitruk, for a deep dive into resilience, chronic illness, and the transformative power of self-love. Denise opens up about her life’s "roller coaster," from growing up in a broken home to navigating severe health challenges, including Crohn’s disease, arthritis, and cancer, all while building a career as a nurse and competing as a bodybuilder. Together, they explore the critical difference between Freud vs. Adlerian psychology: are we defined by our past, or by what we choose to do with it? Key Topics Discussed: * The Science of How We Rise: Exploring how mindset dictates your response to life’s "stormy waters". * Digital Detox & Mental Health: Why "doomscrolling" and social media consumption are the mental equivalent of eating a bag of tortillas and chocolate cake before bed. * The Power of "One Small Step": How to handle a full plate by deciding which "bite" to take first. * Self-Love After 30: Moving from the nursing mindset of putting everyone else first to finally putting on your own "oxygen mask". * Protecting Your Peace: Practical tips for disconnecting, like Kait’s 8:30 PM phone lockout, to improve your "sleep score" and overall wellness. Stick around for the "Debatable" segment where Kait and Denise settle the ultimate prairie debate: Does silverware go handle-up or face-down in the dishwasher? Resources: Grab "Unbreakable" on Amazon: Denise calls it a "page turner" you won't want to put down. - https://a.co/d/08iTmuZn [https://a.co/d/08iTmuZn] Cards Mentioned: Debatable and We’re Not Really Strangers. Connect with us: Like, comment, and share to help us continue "loving on you." Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/ [https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy [http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy] Website: http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com [http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com] Subscribe to Unbreakable’s channel here: @UnbreakablePodcastNetwork Follow Denise Dmitruk: Instagram: / Saskfit Facebook: / Saskfit LinkedIn: / Denise Dmitruk Website: https://skft.ca/ [https://skft.ca/] Watch her first podcast episode with us - https://youtu.be/H8kOWNEwxLU [https://youtu.be/H8kOWNEwxLU] #UnbreakablePodcast #Resilience #MindsetMatters #ChronicIllnessWarrior #SelfLove #MentalHealth #KaitDinunzio #DeniseDmitruk #BodybuildingMindset #DigitalDetox

Rearview Mirrors & Gratitude: How Your Darkest Days Forged You

What if the seasons that challenged you were actually the blueprint for your greatest strength? In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Unbreakable Podcast, Kait Dinunzio and Josie Cable dive deep into what it truly means to look through the rearview mirror with gratitude. We aren’t talking about toxic positivity. We are talking about the brutal, forge-tested reality of using your darkest days to find your voice, build self-trust, and lead your life, whether you are a mom building a household, an entrepreneur navigating uncertainty, or anyone wrestling with hard times. Leadership isn't a corporate title. It’s how you handle the pressure when there is no roadmap. When life gets heavy, traditional talk therapy isn’t always enough. We debate alternative, physical outlets for emotional regulation and stress... like throwing punches in a boxing ring... and how to actually process trauma when you have a family or a business relying on you to stay strong. We also break down how society conditions us to accept bad habits through the famous "Monkey and Ladder" experiment and the history of the QWERTY keyboard. Discover why human systems repeat what is broken, why the people around you might subconsciously reject your growth, and how to stop looking outside yourself for validation. Stop waiting for the fire to end. It’s time to look back with clarity, stand in your depth, and build a legacy that lasts. ✨ JOIN THE UNBREAKABLE LEGACY: Explore the movement, grab your resilient lifestyle gear, and claim your copy of the book Unbreakable: Abandonment to Abundance and the Strength to Lead at https://www.yourunbreakablelegacy.com [https://www.yourunbreakablelegacy.com]. Connect with us in the comments: When you look in your rearview mirror, what is the one dark day you are now grateful for? Follow Unbreakable: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/ [https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy [http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy] Website: http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com [http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com] Subscribe to Unbreakable’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UnbreakablePodcastNetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@UnbreakablePodcastNetwork] #UnbreakableLegacy #Resilience #MindsetShift #RearviewMirrorGratitude #OvercomingHardship #SelfTrust #TherapyVsBoxing #KaitDinunzio #GritAndResilience #EverydayLeadership

Why Recovery Starts With Self-Worth | Earl Thiessen on Trauma & Healing

Returning guest Earl Thiessen is back on the Unbreakable Podcast... and this conversation goes even deeper. After resonating with thousands of listeners during his first appearance, Earl returns to talk about addiction recovery, homelessness, trauma, burnout, emotional regulation, Indigenous healing, purpose, and the growing demand for recovery support across Canada. From sleeping under a bridge during active addiction to helping shape recovery housing and support systems nationwide, Earl’s story is living proof that healing and transformation are possible. In this episode, Kait Dinunzio and Earl dive into: * The reality of addiction recovery * Trauma and disconnection from self * Why purpose changes everything * Burnout in leadership and service work * Indigenous culture, healing, and reconnection * Boundaries, resilience, and emotional regulation * The growing addiction crisis in Canada * Why kindness matters now more than ever One of the most powerful moments: > “One drink will kill me. One drink will ruin everything that I have worked so hard for.” This episode isn’t just about recovery. It’s about rebuilding identity, reconnecting to self, and proving that your past does not define your future. If Earl’s first episode impacted you, this follow-up conversation brings even more honesty, wisdom, and insight. Watch now and remember: Protect your peace. Chase your dreams. Stay Unbreakable. Follow Unbreakable: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/ [https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy [http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy] Website: http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com [http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com] Subscribe to Unbreakable’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UnbreakablePodcastNetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@UnbreakablePodcastNetwork] #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #TraumaHealing #Resilience #UnbreakablePodcast #EarlThiessen #HealingJourney #PersonalGrowth #RecoveryStory #SelfWorth

When Responsibility Becomes Your Superpower

How do you stop blaming your past and start taking control of your life? In this episode of the Unbreakable Podcast, Kait and Josie break down the mindset shift from trauma to responsibility, and what it really takes to move forward without denying your past. This episode dives deep into trauma healing, emotional regulation, burnout, self-awareness, and personal growth, while answering a powerful listener question: At what point do you stop blaming your past and start taking responsibility for who you are now? If you feel stuck in old patterns, overwhelmed by life, or unsure how to heal and grow at the same time, this conversation gives you a real, practical perspective on healing vs responsibility, mindset shifts, and building resilience. Drawing directly from Unbreakable, Kait references Chapter 23: “Freud vs. Adler: My Life After the Couch”, explaining the difference between being shaped by your past vs choosing how you respond to it. This is not surface-level motivation. This is about doing the work. ---------------------------------------- WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: * When to stop blaming your past and take responsibility * How trauma affects behavior, mindset, and emotional triggers * The difference between healing and staying stuck * Emotional regulation tools for real life * How to break negative patterns and rewire your mindset * Building resilience, confidence, and self-leadership * How to grow without losing yourself in the process ---------------------------------------- WHO THIS IS FOR: This episode is for anyone interested in: trauma recovery, mental health, personal development, self-improvement, emotional intelligence, resilience, leadership, mindset coaching, and healing from past experiences. ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES: Get your copy of Unbreakable on Amazon and start doing the work behind the mindset. Order here - https://a.co/d/08iTmuZn [https://a.co/d/08iTmuZn] ---------------------------------------- JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If this episode resonates, share it, subscribe, and drop your listener questions, we build these episodes with you. ---------------------------------------- Follow Unbreakable: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/ [https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy [http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy] Website: http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com [http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com] Subscribe to Unbreakable’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UnbreakablePodcastNetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@UnbreakablePodcastNetwork] #UnbreakablePodcast #TraumaHealing #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalRegulation #SelfImprovement #MindsetShift #Resilience #MentalHealth #Leadership #HealingJourney

How to Escape Survival Mode and Rewire Your Brain for Growth | Unbreakable Podcast

What if the way you react to life isn’t who you are, it’s what survival taught you? In this episode of the Unbreakable Podcast, Kait Dinunzio answers listener questions, while giving a storytime insight from her book Unbreakable:From Abandonment to Abundance and the Strength to Lead. She's unpacking trauma, resilience, neuroplasticity, leadership, and the science of how we rise. From couch surfing and working through homelessness in Calgary to becoming a global executive and leadership voice, Kait shares the deeply personal story behind Unbreakable and the neuroscience of how repeated choices reshape the brain. This episode explores: * how trauma quietly rewires your nervous system * the difference between survival and true resilience * why comparison keeps you stuck * how neuroplasticity changes emotional patterns * why practice creates new neural pathways * how boundaries, self-worth, and leadership are built through repetition If you’ve ever felt trapped in survival mode, stuck in old patterns, or unsure how to move forward, this conversation is for you. Your brain is not fixed. Your story is not finished. Everything changes with practice. Follow Unbreakable: Instagram: unbreakable_legacy [https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/] TikTok: YourUnbreakableLegacy [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourunbreakablelegacy?lang=en] Facebook: Unbreakable Legacy [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575849122753] LinkedIn: Unbreakable Legacy [http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbreakable-legacy] Website: http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com [http://www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com] Subscribe to Unbreakable’s channel here: @UnbreakablePodcastNetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@UnbreakablePodcastNetwork] Unbreakable is available now on Amazon [https://a.co/d/08iTmuZn] and Kindle 🎧 Audiobook coming soon 💬 Drop your thoughts and listener questions in the comments #SurvivalMode #TraumaHealing #Neuroplasticity #Resilience #LeadershipPodcast #MindsetMastery #MentalHealth #SelfWorth #HealingJourney #Unbreakable