No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women

Comedy As Power: Gender and Trauma through the Lens of Humor

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/fan_mail/new] When a woman makes people laugh, she is doing more than entertaining the room. She is taking up space, steering attention, and quietly testing the rules of what society says is “acceptable” for women to do, say, and even feel. Mary traces her own path from being the smart, introverted kid to using self-deprecating humor as a kind of social armor, then asks what happens when we stop shrinking and start using humor on purpose. Guest Lynn Harris, founder and CEO of Gold Comedy, award-winning journalist, and culture-shifting producer whose humor-forward advocacy has helped move conversations on gender equity and social justice. Lynn shares a teen flashbulb moment that exposed a brutal truth: boys could be sloppy and get applause, while girls would get eye rolls. From there, we dig into why women are still asked to “prove women are funny,” why comedy clubs treat “one woman on the lineup” as diversity, and how bias makes the entire industry worse for audiences and performers. We also get practical and personal about the craft. Lynn makes the case that funny can be taught, that there are many styles of humor, and that improv is a powerful way to build confidence and flexibility. Then we go to the deeper edge: joking about grief, trauma, and tough topics. We talk about “too soon,” how to aim the joke at power or culture instead of victims, and how humor can create enough distance for healing without minimizing pain. If you care about women in comedy, resilience, trauma recovery, and the real power of laughter, listen, share with a friend, and leave a review. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/support] Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE [https://maryrothwell.net/natureknowsbook]. Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com.  Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550550204259&mibextid=LQQJ4d]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maryrothwell_lpc?igsh=MWR1ZmgzYXBucGU1dQ==], and check out my website [https://maryrothwell.net/]!

Nature Holds the Key to What You Need

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/fan_mail/new] Nature isn’t something you “get to” after you finally have a free weekend, the right gear, or the energy for a long hike. Nature is already here, and we’re already part of it. In this mini episode of No Shrinking Violets, I share what my recent book launch stirred up for me and why so many people keep asking the same question: how do we start to access nature when life feels busy, digital, and disconnected? We talk about a practical, low pressure way to begin that works whether you live in the country or the middle of a city: go to a garden center, put your phone away, and simply notice what you’re drawn to. Color, texture, shape, and even the “vibe” of a plant can become a surprisingly clear signal about what your nervous system wants right now. I also explain why I love using a single plant as a mirror for self care, because when you pay attention to water, light, nutrients, and stress in a plant, you start to see where you’ve been postponing the same basics for yourself. From there, we zoom out to bigger themes like nature’s rhythms, rest cycles, and the truth that nothing blooms all year. If you’ve been judging your energy dips or pushing through a season that’s asking for recovery, this will land. We also touch on resilience through diversity and small experiments that help you grow, plus a quick local note about exploring Lancaster and what a no Wi-Fi coffee shop can teach us about boundaries and space. If you enjoy this, subscribe and share it with a friend who needs a gentle reset. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/support] Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE [https://maryrothwell.net/natureknowsbook]. Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com.  Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550550204259&mibextid=LQQJ4d]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maryrothwell_lpc?igsh=MWR1ZmgzYXBucGU1dQ==], and check out my website [https://maryrothwell.net/]!

The Trauma of Betrayal: How to Recover and Thrive

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/fan_mail/new] Betrayal has a special kind of aftermath: you’re not only grieving what happened, you’re questioning your judgment, your sanity, and whether you can trust yourself at all. I open with two betrayals that shaped me in different ways, one in a relationship and one at work, and why those “old” moments can still flare up years later when something makes it feel official or undeniable. That lingering charge is a clue that betrayal trauma isn’t fully healed, even when life looks functional on the outside. Dr. Debi Silber, founder of the Post-Betrayal Transformation Institute and host of From Betrayal to Breakthrough, breaks down what her research revealed about betrayal recovery. We talk through her five stages of betrayal, why most people get stuck in survival mode, and how “I’m fine” can actually mean you’re living behind walls, numbing, avoiding, and repeating patterns without realizing it. We also dig into the shame and silence that often follow infidelity, family betrayal, or workplace betrayal and why this trauma demands a more specific healing approach than generic “time will help” advice. We get practical about rebuilding trust after cheating or betrayal, including a clear way to picture trust as a brick wall and why it’s not your job to rebuild what you didn’t break. We also cover forgiveness versus reconciliation, how to tell if you’re truly healed, and how to turn your intuition back up by rebuilding self-trust through small daily choices. If you’ve been telling yourself you should be over it by now, this conversation offers a real roadmap forward. Subscribe for more conversations that help you stop shrinking and start thriving. You can find Dr Debi HERE [https://thepbtinstitute.com/]  https://thepbtinstitute.com/ Check out my book Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants [https://maryrothwell.net/natureknowsbook] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/support] Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE [https://maryrothwell.net/natureknowsbook]. Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com.  Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550550204259&mibextid=LQQJ4d]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maryrothwell_lpc?igsh=MWR1ZmgzYXBucGU1dQ==], and check out my website [https://maryrothwell.net/]!

The Hidden Agenda in Conflict and How It Keeps You Stuck

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/fan_mail/new] A tough truth about relationship conflict is that we often walk into “the talk” with a hidden agenda: we want the other person to change. I unpack why that hope can keep you stuck, especially when you’re dealing with chronic behavior patterns that have already hurt you more than once. The turning point is a question that sounds almost too simple: what outcome do I want for my life? When you start there, boundary setting stops being a debate and starts becoming a plan you can actually follow. I also get specific about communication and why it’s so hard to do well when emotions are high. If your real goal is to change someone else, you’re likely to slide into repeating yourself, over-explaining, or making an ultimatum you can’t enforce. And an unenforced ultimatum doesn’t create safety or respect, it creates weaker leverage the next time around. Healthy boundaries are about your behavior and your choices, not a speech designed to produce a light-bulb moment in someone who has shown you, repeatedly, that they won’t shift. We talk through what this can look like in real life, including the subtle pain of a one-way friendship where you’re always the one reaching out. Sometimes the strongest move is not another announcement or confrontation, but a quiet decision to step back and protect your time, energy, and self-respect. Plus, I share launch updates for my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive Through the Wisdom of Plants, including the launch party details and a limited-time ebook price drop. If this mini-episode helps you think differently about boundaries, subscribe and share it with a friend who needs it. Register for the launch party! https://maryrothwell.net/launchparty Get my ebook for .99 during launch week HERE [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GNKHF2HB]! Email me a screen shot of your order along with your Tshirt size and I'll pick a winner and send them a free tshirt! Make sure you email me by 5/19/26 at nsvpodcast@gmail.com to be entered. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/support] Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE [https://maryrothwell.net/natureknowsbook]. Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com.  Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550550204259&mibextid=LQQJ4d]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maryrothwell_lpc?igsh=MWR1ZmgzYXBucGU1dQ==], and check out my website [https://maryrothwell.net/]!

Finding Healing from Childhood Trauma in Sobriety and Grace

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/fan_mail/new] Anger can feel like protection until you notice what it’s doing to your body. That’s where we start, with a hard truth and a hopeful one: you can have every right to be angry and still choose grace when you’re ready to stop carrying the weight. I’m joined by April Garcia, author of *The Room to Be Brave*, to talk about how childhood trauma, family roles, and early rejection shape our adult beliefs about belonging, worth, and safety. April explains her “rooms” framework, where a room can be a house, a school, a state, or a single moment you still remember in perfect detail. We dig into why the brain locks certain memories away, how the body keeps the score, and what it looks like to revisit the past without getting swallowed by it. We also get real about sobriety and emotional healing. April shares how alcohol worked as numbing and social armor, why shame keeps the cycle going, and the quiet moment that finally made stopping feel non-negotiable. From there, we talk about repair at home, honest conversations with a teenager, “changed behavior” as a real apology, and how forgiveness can include accountability. We close with practical tools like an emotional pain scale, gentle steps for facing fear, and the idea that joy is not a reward you earn, it’s a practice you can start today. If you want more grounded conversations on therapy, trauma recovery, sobriety, and building a life that fits your true nature, subscribe and share this episode with a friend. You can find April HERE [https://www.aprildaygarcia.com/]  https://www.aprildaygarcia.com/ It's not too late!! If you're in the Central Pennsylvania area of the US, register to join me for the launch party for my new book! You can do that HERE [https://maryrothwell.net/launchparty] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2426477/support] Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE [https://maryrothwell.net/natureknowsbook]. Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com.  Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550550204259&mibextid=LQQJ4d]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maryrothwell_lpc?igsh=MWR1ZmgzYXBucGU1dQ==], and check out my website [https://maryrothwell.net/]!