Turning Pain Into Purpose: Trauma, Therapy & the New Mental Health Era

You're Not Broken. You're Wounded. | Trauma, EMDR & Healing with Dr. Russ Irwin

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/fan_mail/new] We sit down with Dr. Russ Irwin to talk about trauma, grief, and the moment you realize you cannot “get over it” but you can get through it. We break down complex PTSD, why triggers hijack the nervous system, and what real healing looks like when faith and skilled therapy support the process. • Russ’s personal story of trauma, loss, and finding purpose in helping others  • The difference between getting over trauma and getting through trauma  • What complex PTSD means and why it can feel layered  • Why trauma is stored in the nervous system, not just in memory  • How triggers work and why the rational brain can go offline  • How meaning, patterns, and agency shape long-term outcomes  • What EMDR therapy and Brainspotting do when talk therapy is not enough  • Attachment theory, insecure attachment, and the “safety equals pain” trap  • Why awareness matters and why healing needs safe, trusted support  • The role of faith, belonging, and spiritual connection in recovery  • Emotional intensity versus emotional connection in relationships  • Russ’s book Breaking the Cycles of Trauma and what it aims to solve  For more information about Dr. Russ Irwin and his work, visit: https://www.irwincoaching.ca/more-about-me [https://www.irwincoaching.ca/more-about-me] If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to follow the show and connect with us on IG and TikTok at @fortifywellness. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/support] Follow Fortify Wellness on our new Tik Tok & Instagram platforms @atfortifywellness. Join our newsletter for weekly FREE content on all things wellness, mental health, and EXCLUSIVE offers. **This information is not to be misconstrued as medical or psychological advice. Please contact your medical team if you have questions or concerns pertaining to your medical or psychological well-being. All of the linked products are independently selected, and curated by the fab Fortify team. If you love and buy something we link to, we may earn a commission.**

Dr. Tabatha Barber on Faith, Medicine & Real Healing

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/fan_mail/new] Your life can look successful—and still feel like survival mode. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tabatha Barber, a triple board-certified physician turned functional medicine leader, to talk about surrender, shame, and what real healing actually looks like. We unpack her journey—from teenage mother to physician—and the prayer that changed the course of her life. We also dive into why traditional healthcare often becomes “sick care,” and how root-cause healing (hormones, thyroid, gut-brain, stress) connects back to mind, body, and faith. Her message is simple: your body isn’t broken—your approach is. 👉 Start her program here: https://book.fasttofaith.com/bonus#row-pWUq-iXRa48 [https://book.fasttofaith.com/bonus#row-pWUq-iXRa48] (I just purchased this myself—let’s go through it together.) Read more on Dr. Tabatha: Dr. Tabatha Barber is a triple board-certified physician — and one of the most distinctive voices in faith-based women's health today. Her story begins where most would have stopped. A teenage mother and high school dropout, she rebuilt her life through faith and perseverance — earning her doctorate and certifications before realizing the very system she trained in was missing the whole point. Today, as owner and medical director of Her Higher Health, creator of the Fast to Faith Coaching Academy, 40 Day program, supplement line, and international bestselling book Fast to Faith, Dr. Tabatha brings one message to every stage and microphone: your body is not broken — your approach is. She is known for doing what no one else does: mapping Scripture directly with how the body works — showing women that Romans 12:2 is the original neuroplasticity protocol, that Genesis 2:7 describes the gut-brain connection, and that God designed healing to happen in community. Using her signature FAITH IT™ Method, she helps women understand that Scripture and science have been saying the same thing all along: true healing starts in the mind, moves through the body, and is sustained by faith. If this resonated, share with someone who needs it, subscribe, comment, and follow us @atfortifywellness. Where are you being called to surrender control right now? Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/support] Follow Fortify Wellness on our new Tik Tok & Instagram platforms @atfortifywellness. Join our newsletter for weekly FREE content on all things wellness, mental health, and EXCLUSIVE offers. **This information is not to be misconstrued as medical or psychological advice. Please contact your medical team if you have questions or concerns pertaining to your medical or psychological well-being. All of the linked products are independently selected, and curated by the fab Fortify team. If you love and buy something we link to, we may earn a commission.**

Mental Health, Body Image & Self-Worth (ft. Andrea Tamasi)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/fan_mail/new] Healing doesn’t click into place one morning—it’s a loop. Old triggers, new tools, and a little more self-trust each time. In this episode, I sit down with Brooklyn-based creator and mental health advocate Andrea Tamasi for a candid conversation about rebuilding self-worth after growing up with body shame and carrying the quiet belief that love is conditional. We get into the real-life experiences behind the content: how family comments around food and fitness can shape a child’s nervous system, what it actually looks like to start advocating for yourself without burning bridges, and why the feeling Andrea wants people to walk away with is simple—accepted. We also talk about her move from a small town to New York City, and how stepping into a bigger world can help you unlearn the limiting beliefs about who you’re allowed to be. We also pull back the curtain on influencer life—the reality of going viral, the instability of brand deals, the pressure to always be “on,” and how to handle emotional boundaries when strangers trauma dump in your DMs. Andrea shares how she protects her energy while still guiding people toward resources, along with the small, practical tools that help her get through hard days. We dive into EMDR therapy, trauma healing, and the powerful shift that happens when you finally believe: it wasn’t my fault. If this conversation resonated with you, it’s likely because you’re craving a more integrated approach to your mental health. That’s exactly why I’m building Fortify Wellness—a platform that brings together therapy, coaching, fitness, and mindfulness into one system designed to support your mind, body, and daily life. Make sure you’re following along for updates on Fortify, and subscribe to the podcast for more honest conversations like this. And if someone came to mind while listening, send this to them—these are the conversations that matter most. About Andrea Andrea Tamasi is a Brooklyn-based content creator and mental health advocate whose digital platform has reached millions across TikTok and Instagram. She combines humor and candid storytelling to explore mental health, self-growth, and the complexities of modern life. Andrea’s work creates space for honest conversation, challenges stigma, and reminds others they’re not alone. She aims to be a voice for those who may not yet feel comfortable speaking openly about their mental health. 👉 Join our beta users ahead of our summer launch here: https://www.wefortifywellness.com/download-the-app [https://www.wefortifywellness.com/download-the-app] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/support] Follow Fortify Wellness on our new Tik Tok & Instagram platforms @atfortifywellness. Join our newsletter for weekly FREE content on all things wellness, mental health, and EXCLUSIVE offers. **This information is not to be misconstrued as medical or psychological advice. Please contact your medical team if you have questions or concerns pertaining to your medical or psychological well-being. All of the linked products are independently selected, and curated by the fab Fortify team. If you love and buy something we link to, we may earn a commission.**

What Burnout Actually Feels Like (Early-Stage Founder Edition) | Mini Burnout Series

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/fan_mail/new] Burnout doesn’t always look like a breakdown. Sometimes it’s waking up, opening your email, and feeling your entire body flood with stress. This is Bettina’s Mini Burnout Series—and today, I’m sharing what founder burnout looks like for me in real time as an early-stage female founder balancing product, content, a team, and the start of a VC raise. When things move slower than you want, patience becomes the hardest job in the room—and the pressure can feel constant. I walk through the simple reset that helped me today: a walk, a visual mindfulness practice, and reaching out for support. Because sometimes burnout hides inside routines that look “healthy”—like overworking, overtraining, and under-eating. We also get into what sustainable wellness actually requires: asking for help, taking breaks before you crash, and retraining your mind through small habits like gratitude. Try this with me: 4 things you’re grateful for in the morning, 4 at night. If you want real tools—not surface-level positivity—follow, share, and subscribe to stay with me through this series. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/support] Follow Fortify Wellness on our new Tik Tok & Instagram platforms @atfortifywellness. Join our newsletter for weekly FREE content on all things wellness, mental health, and EXCLUSIVE offers. **This information is not to be misconstrued as medical or psychological advice. Please contact your medical team if you have questions or concerns pertaining to your medical or psychological well-being. All of the linked products are independently selected, and curated by the fab Fortify team. If you love and buy something we link to, we may earn a commission.**

Turning Pain Into Purpose: Trauma, Therapy & the New Mental Health Era

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/fan_mail/new] We trace the path from Y2K nostalgia to a new mental health literacy, naming how public healing, EMDR therapy, and community care can turn pain into purpose. We share what inspires us about women reclaiming their stories and how Fortify aims to make support practical and real. • why burnout demands structural solutions not quick fixes • generational shifts from secrecy to emotional literacy • Paris Hilton’s advocacy and survivor courage • founder story, investor discomfort and owning our narrative • Hilary Duff’s creative agency and inner child repair • celebrity transparency normalising therapy and medication • EMDR therapy as embodied trauma reprocessing • mental health as infrastructure not an aesthetic • community care, checking on the strong friends • integration over perfection and actionable hope If this resonated with you, send it to someone that you love. Start the conversation, have the awkward check-in, book the appointment, do the work because healing isn’t embarrassing, it’s revolutionary. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. We drop new episodes every Wednesday. And if you know someone who needs to hear this, share it with them. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166961/support] Follow Fortify Wellness on our new Tik Tok & Instagram platforms @atfortifywellness. Join our newsletter for weekly FREE content on all things wellness, mental health, and EXCLUSIVE offers. **This information is not to be misconstrued as medical or psychological advice. Please contact your medical team if you have questions or concerns pertaining to your medical or psychological well-being. All of the linked products are independently selected, and curated by the fab Fortify team. If you love and buy something we link to, we may earn a commission.**