Surviving Roots: A Crash Course in Turning Pain into Potential

From Surviving to Free: Motherhood at 20, DV Recovery, Self-Forgiveness, and Reinvention

What if your "glow up" isn't a makeover… it's freedom? In this episode of Surviving Roots, Cari Fund sits down with Michelle Fairburn—mother of two, creator, and living proof that rebuilding a life doesn't happen overnight (and doesn't need to look polished to be powerful). Michelle became a mom at 20, navigated profound loss and a mother wound, and later survived a fast-moving relationship that turned abusive after marriage. Together, Cari and Michelle unpack the real behind-the-scenes of healing: self-forgiveness, faith, identity, parenting while evolving, and what it takes to break cycles without pretending it's "easy." In this episode, we talk about: * Becoming a mom at 20—and why her kids were planned. * The "mother wound," abandonment, grief, and missing pieces you can't Google. * How love-bombing can look like a fairy tale… until it doesn't. * Red flags: moving too fast, isolation, jealousy, identity erasure ("my wife"). * Self-forgiveness as the moment you finally unlock your life. * Faith as a turning point (and the difference between healing and pretending). * Parenting with grace: not bashing dads, letting kids see truth for themselves. * Creating content with her daughter as a business: impact + income. * Handling trolls (and what happens when someone comes for your kid). Michelle's story is honest, funny, raw, and deeply human—and it'll leave you thinking about what "freedom" really means. Find Michelle: @michellefairburn (on all platforms) Find Cari: @cari.fund If this episode hits home, share it with a friend—and don't forget to follow, rate, and review. Check out my Estrangment Survival Mini-Guide [https://cari-fund.myshopify.com/]

Breaking Free From a Narcissistic Partner: Financial Protection, Parenting, and Exit Strategy with Camille Zhuk

What does it really take to leave a narcissistic relationship—without losing your finances, your children, or yourself? In this powerful episode of Surviving Roots, I sit down with Camille Zhuk, founder of The Breaking Free Project, a strategic support platform designed to help individuals—especially parents—safely exit narcissistic relationships. With a background in business and finance and specialized training in narcissistic abuse recovery, coercive control, domestic violence advocacy, and behavioral profiling, Camille offers something rare: clear, logical strategy paired with deep compassion—without pretending to be a therapist. In this conversation, we unpack: * How to protect your finances when leaving a narcissistic spouse * Why you must plan quietly—and what happens if you don't * How to protect children from emotional harm and parental alienation * The importance of evidence documentation and legal strategy * Early red flags like mirroring, moving too fast, and refusal to accept "no" * Why calm and control—not confrontation—are your greatest tools This episode is not about labels or trends. It's about education, safety, and reclaiming your peace. If you're asking yourself, "Am I married to a narcissist?" Camille also shares a free first step: you can take an assessment on their website to help you identify narcissistic patterns and clarify what you're dealing with. 🎧 Listen now and learn more at breakingfreeproject.com [https://breakingfreeproject.com/] Follow Cari Fund at @cari.fund [https://www.instagram.com/cari.fund]

The Mental Load of Motherhood and Why Asking for Help Changes Everything with Diana Arango

Motherhood isn't just hard — it's heavy. And one of the biggest invisible weights? Feeding everyone… every single day. In this episode of Surviving Roots, Cari Fund sits down with Diana Arango, co-founder + CEO of Chefpost, a platform connecting busy families with vetted personal chefs on demand. Diana shares the real story behind Chefpost: how her own burnout as a working mom sparked a mission to help families reclaim time, presence, and connection at home. In this conversation, we cover: * The mental load of meal planning (and why it's exhausting) * Why "balance" is a myth — and what actually works for moms * How to shift from a suffering mindset to a supported life * Why asking for help is strength, not failure * How Chefpost makes personal chef support accessible and flexible Explore Chefpost: chefpost.com [www.chefpost.com] Subscribe for more conversations on healing, motherhood, boundaries, and building a life that actually feels good. www.instagram.com/cari.fund [https://www.instagram.com/cari.fund] If the holidays bring up complicated feelings about family, you're not broken — you're human. My Estrangement Survival Mini Guide is for adult children navigating distance, boundaries, or no-contact with a parent while still wanting peace, clarity, and self-trust. It's not about blame or cutting people off. It's about understanding your nervous system, releasing guilt, and choosing what supports your healing — whatever that looks like for you. Click here: https://cari-fund.myshopify.com/ [https://cari-fund.myshopify.com/]

Reinvention After Loss: Confidence, Healing, and Finding Love Again at 40

At twenty, she found her father after a fatal accident. At forty, she lost her husband to cancer. And somehow—she found herself again. In this deeply human conversation, lifestyle and beauty creator Rachael Potash shares how she turned unimaginable loss into a story of reinvention, healing, and hope. Now a mom of two and a bonus mom to four, she's helping women over 40 feel seen, confident, and hopeful again through fashion, beauty, and honest storytelling. Rachael opens up about: 💔 Losing her husband at 40 and rebuilding her life from scratch 💫 Navigating motherhood, grief, and a blended family of six kids 💋 Finding love again — and redefining beauty, confidence, and identity in midlife 🧠 Choosing better instead of bitter, and learning to honor both joy and loss This is not a story about tragedy. It's a story about rebirth — the kind that happens when you decide your second act will be your strongest. Listen to Reinvention After Loss: Confidence, Healing, and Finding Love Again at 40 on the Surviving Roots Podcast with host Cari Fund. Follow @rachaelpotash, @survivingrootspod, and @cari.fund on Instagram for more real conversations on healing, motherhood, and starting over.

The Golden Child Effect: Breaking Free from Roles That Keep You Small

What happens when the "good daughter" wakes up to the truth? In this week's Surviving Roots episode, Cari Fund sits down with Lauren Smallcomb — certified mind-body practitioner, trauma survivor, and author of Golden Child: My Descent to Scapegoat and Rise to Freedom. Lauren shares her journey from being the adored "golden child" in a rigid, religious family to becoming the scapegoat when faith, politics, and identity collided. Together, Cari and Lauren explore what it means to break free from high-control systems, redefine forgiveness, and rebuild a life rooted in freedom, grief, and authenticity. You'll hear: ✨ The painful shift from golden child to scapegoat ✨ How patriarchy and religion shaped her silence ✨ Why acceptance (not forgiveness) is where healing begins ✨ What parenting looks like after breaking generational cycles Grab Golden Child wherever books are sold and follow Lauren's work at @flourish_therapy [https://www.instagram.com/flourish_therapy] and @goldenchildbook [https://www.instagram.com/goldenchildbook]. 🎧 Listen to Surviving Roots Podcast on all major platforms — and don't forget to leave a review and share this episode with someone who's healing from a family that couldn't hold their truth. Follow Cari Fund at @cari.fund [https://www.instagram.com/cari.fund] on Istagram.