The Jenna Banks Show

Wolf of Wall Street Ex-Wife Dr. Nadine Macaluso On How to Spot, Break, and Heal from Trauma Bonds

Psychotherapist Dr. Nadine Macaluso (author of Run Like Hell and former spouse of the real “Wolf of Wall Street”) breaks down trauma bonds, how they form, why they’re so hard to leave, and how to heal. She explains the cycle of love-bombing → mask-slip → intermittent abuse and the two essentials that keep you stuck: power imbalance and intermittent reinforcement. You’ll hear about gaslighting, cognitive dissonance, C-PTSD, and why many survivors make multiple attempts before they’re finally out. Most importantly, Dr. Nae maps a path forward: no/minimal contact, an accountability ally, therapy with a clinician who understands narcissistic abuse, and a disciplined return to self through self-care, self-love, journaling, values, and boundaries. Healthy love, she says, is simple: quality of connection + space to be yourself. Peace over drama, always—and recovery is possible from the beginning, middle, or end of the bond. You’ll learn * Red flags: love-bombing, boundary-pushing, gaslighting, double standards, words ≠ actions. * The psychology of a trauma bond and why it feels like addiction. * How agreeable/conscientious traits can be exploited—and how to protect them. * What C-PTSD looks like after relational trauma. * Practical exit steps: plan for safety, no/minimal contact, and an accountability friend. * Rebuilding: write a relational manifesto, honor your values, choose partners who give you space.

From Underpaid To Wealthy: Strategies To Help You Get Paid What You're Worth With Lydia Fenet

“You are what you negotiate—not a penny more.” Charity auction powerhouse and best-selling author Lydia Fenet (The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You; Claim Your Confidence) joins Jenna to talk confidence, sales, public speaking, and getting paid what you’re worth. Lydia has raised $1B+ for nonprofits (including $33M in 4.5 hours at the Naples Winter Wine Festival) and shares the exact tools she uses on stage—and in salary talks. You’ll learn * The Strike Method: a simple pre-moment ritual + a locked opening line to flip nerves into control. * How to reframe adrenaline (Springsteen style) and use it to energize your delivery. * Storytelling that sells: widen the appeal, make it about them, and create community from the mic. * Why “your company will pay the least it can”—and how to ask every year (with specifics). * The money muscle: talk about pay, maximize 401(k) matches, and let compounding work for you. * Negotiation moves that work: map the role you want, name your number, and be ready to walk. * Showing up as you: ask kindly, clearly, and often—no bluster required. * Fast-track your speaking chops: Toastmasters, improv, and saying “yes” to reps. In short: practical, high-leverage tactics to own the room and own your worth.

How To Unlearn Silence, Speak Your Mind, and Live More Fully With Elaine Lin Hering

Silence isn’t golden, it’s learned. And it’s costly. Communication expert and best-selling author Elaine Lin Hering (“Unlearning Silence”) explains why world-class feedback and negotiation tools still fail if our teams, relationships, and cultures quietly punish candor. We unpack the hidden rules that keep people quiet: from mitigated speech (“Are you hungry?” when we mean “I’m hungry”) to the Babel hypothesis (we mistake talking a lot for leadership). Elaine shows how identity and power shape “best practices” (e.g., “be vulnerable” lands very differently for white men than it does for women and women of color), and offers practical redesigns so more voices can be heard. You’ll learn * How silence is taught at work, home, and in friendships—and when it actually makes sense. * A simple clarity upgrade: say what you mean (and why we often don’t). * The difference between real-time processors and post-processors—and how to structure meetings for both. * Leadership moves that stop accidental silencing: state intent, reward candor, change the question (“What are the pros/cons?”), and build reply-all follow-ups after meetings. * Ways to hold space across difference so vulnerability doesn’t backfire. Actionable, empathetic, and sharp, this episode helps you speak your mind, unleash talent, and live more fully.

How To Relieve Perimenopause & Menopause Symptoms Naturally With Dr. Anna Cabeca

Hot flashes are only the headline. Triple-board-certified OB-GYN and hormone expert Dr. Anna Cabeca (The Girlfriend Doctor) lays out a practical, science-backed playbook for perimenopause and menopause—from the stealth signs (sudden weight gain, night sweats, hair loss, brain fog, low libido) to what actually helps. We cover “clean up before you add” (detox your diet, products, and habits), Dr. Anna’s Keto-Green blueprint (earlier eating window + greens/ferments + feast days), cortisol/insulin control, and how to boost the most powerful hormone of all—oxytocin—with joy, connection, nature, and gratitude. We also dig into the microbiome, vitamin D (hello sunrise, sometimes skip the sunglasses), sleep & melatonin, adaptogens (maca, turmeric, resveratrol), and the what/when of bioidentical hormones (test, don’t guess: progesterone, DHEA, estradiol/E3, compounding). Ages 35–50 are prime perimenopause—this is your Second Spring playbook. You’ll learn * The first move when symptoms start: detox, then decide (not pills first). * Why earlier intermittent fasting beats late-night fasting for women. * Simple ways to lower cortisol and raise oxytocin to ease symptoms. * How food quality, ferments, and probiotics support estrogen metabolism. * Smart testing (blood, urine, saliva) and when bioidenticals make sense. * Sleep fixes: light timing, vitamin D, melatonin supports, and routines. Note: For educational purposes only; talk to your clinician before making changes.

Culture Made Us Think Boys Are Smarter: My Guest Janice Kaplan Busts the Myth

Journalist and author Janice Kaplan (The Genius of Women) unpacks how culture and expectations—not innate ability—shape who gets seen as “genius.” She shares research showing that by age six many girls stop associating “really smart” with women, and even well-meaning parents set the bar lower (like building gentler crawling ramps for baby girls). Kaplan challenges the subtle scripts, from The Little Mermaid “give up your voice for love” to emails padded with “just” and constant self-deprecation, that teach girls to be likable over visible. She spotlights women who defied doubt (including a Nobel-winning chemist and a leading AI researcher) and urges us to claim expertise, get seen, and “see beyond gender” (“I’m a woman who directs—not a ‘woman director’”). Practical fixes: stop softening everything, call out minimizing language, balance princess culture with STEM role models, and invite men to be active allies. Key takeaways * Genius is cultivated: confidence + exposure + expectations > “born this way.” * Girls start absorbing “smart = male” messages around age six; parents/teachers can counter it. * Visibility matters: extraordinary work must meet audience attention to change the world. * Swap apologetic habits (“just,” “not an expert…”) for clear, owned expertise. * Invite allies: correct “play like a girl”-type language and model higher expectations for girls.