We Should Talk

The duo is officially back together! Megan returns from her maternity leave at the one-month mark, and she and Amber take time to catch up on all things new motherhood, navigating life transitions, and stepping into major moments of professional growth. From the vulnerability of the early postpartum days to confronting the deep discomfort that comes with taking big creative risks, Megan and Amber share a raw look at what it truly takes to expand beyond your comfort zone. In this episode, we cover: Life at One Month Postpartum: Megan opens up about her C-section recovery, navigating early feeding struggles, and how she grounded herself when perfectionism and overwhelming logistics threatened to take over. The "Growth Spurt" Mindset: A grounding reframe for both babies and adults that helps normalize temporary chaos, sleep regressions, and emotional shifts. Confronting Book-Launch Imposter Syndrome: Amber and Megan discuss the terrifying vulnerability of putting original work into the world, fearing "getting in trouble," and letting go of control once a project leaves the creation bubble. The Discomfort of Expansion: Why leaning into moments that put your stomach in knots is a necessary sign of personal and professional evolution. Supportive Partnerships in High-Stress Seasons: How Megan and her husband navigated a major unexpected wrench in their plans right after Charlie's birth by choosing to stay on the same team. Whether you're in the middle of a literal or metaphorical growth spurt, this conversation is a comforting reminder that the hard, messy parts of transition are often just temporary stops on the way to major expansion! Connect with Us We Should Talk Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/ Megan Walsh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectwithmegan/ Website: http://connect-with-megan.com/ Amber Trejo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist/ Website: https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/

What happens when your biggest childhood trauma buffer was the cousin sleeping on the bunk bed right above you? In this raw, deeply relatable episode, Amber sits down with her cousin, fellow psychotherapist, and private practice owner Stephanie Bagato (LMFT)! Born just six months apart, Amber and Stephanie grew up more like sisters navigating a chaotic childhood filled with makeshift clubhouses, secret snack stashes, endless imaginative play, and navigating an environment where they were largely left to raise themselves. Together, they unpack how childhood survival tactics can subtly weave their way into adult relationships, and what it really looks like to do the healing work when you share a past. In this episode, we dive into: Emotional Flashbacks & Birthdays: Why certain milestones and birthdays can trigger sudden, lingering feelings of loneliness or "decision fatigue," and how Stephanie actively reparents herself through them. The Healing Power of Shared History: How childhood play and co-regulation acted as crucial resiliency factors that helped them survive acute family trauma. Unpacking Sibling & Cousin Enmeshment: What happens when your nervous systems become so intertwined in childhood that conflict in adulthood feels like a life-or-death threat? Amber and Stephanie candidly share a recent fight that forced them to confront their own enmeshment, set new boundaries, and give each other permission to grow. Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Couples & Men: Stephanie shares her passion for using IFS to help couples step out of reactive cycles and guide men in reconnecting with their exiled, deeply feeling parts. Breaking Generational Cycles: The surreal, eye-opening moments of watching their own kids grow up in safe, supportive homes that look nothing like the dark rooms of their pasts. Curious how two therapists go from building cushion forts and hiding stinky socks to sharing an office building and unlearning systemic family patterns together? Hit play and join the conversation! Connect with Stephanie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relational.psychotherapist Website: https://www.bagatocounseling.com/ Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/ Megan Walsh: Instagram / Website https://www.instagram.com/connectwithmegan/ http://connect-with-megan.com/ Amber Trejo: Instagram / Website https://www.instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist/ https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/

This week, Megan is resting at home with her adorable new baby boy, so Amber is joined by guest co-host Justin Gillespie, also known as ADHD Therapist J! Justin is a therapist, author, and owner of The Superior Center in Michigan. In this episode, Amber and Justin dive deep into the real-world realities of living and parenting with ADHD. They unpack everything from surviving early parenthood to navigating sensory overload, handling emotional dysregulation, and shifting how we think about neurodivergence. In this episode, we cover: Why the "baby schedule" debate might be totally wrong: Justin shares his unconventional take on routines for neurodivergent parents and why standard advice didn't work for his family. Diagnosing neurodivergence in infants? A bold hypothesis about where the field of ADHD and autism diagnostics could be heading over the next two decades. The "Bite Your Tongue" trick: A surprising physical regulation technique Justin uses during high-stress parenting moments (like car seat battles) to keep motor skills steady and cool down the nervous system. The PAM Method: Justin breaks down his step-by-step framework (Pause, Affirm, Move) designed to stop rumination, curb overthinking, and help adults with ADHD take action in real time. Masking vs. "Wearing the Costume": How adopting social scripts and stepping into specific roles can actually help neurodivergent entrepreneurs and professionals thrive. Whether you're an ADHD parent trying to find your groove, a clinician, or someone wanting practical tools to navigate overthinking, this episode is packed with humor, direct advice, and fresh perspectives! Connect with Justin: Justin Gillespie is a licensed clinical therapist, entrepreneur, and mental health professional with a passion for helping people better understand themselves and the world around them. His work and interests span mental health, personal growth, culture, entertainment, and meaningful conversations about everyday life. He brings a curious, relatable, and thoughtful perspective to the topics and stories he explores. Check out Justin's Website and Instagram Connect with Us We Should Talk Podcast: Instagram Megan Walsh Instagram Website Amber Trejo Instagram Website

With little one-month-old Charlie snuggled up as a special co-host, Megan and Amber are back for an honest, insightful conversation about the subtle ways we guard our hearts. Following up on Amber's deeply personal conversation with her cousin from episode 16, the duo reflects on what it truly takes to break generational relationship patterns and unpacks the concept of emotional masking. From the heavy expectation of always "having it together" to the hidden fear of being "too much" or pushing people away, Megan and Amber candidly share how their own protective parts show up in adulthood and motherhood. In this episode, we cover: Unpacking Relational Vulnerability: Amber shares how it felt to look back on her dynamic with her cousin, confronting old abandonment fears, and what it looks like to stay in the room when conflict feels terrifying. Breaking Generational Cutoff Cycles: How choosing short-term discomfort over immediate relief helps rewrite family scripts rooted in reactivity and silence. The "Therapist" & "Good Girl" Masks: Megan and Amber reveal their primary emotional masks—from the urge to be needed so you'll always have a place, to the perfectionist front that hides a deep desire to just fall apart and be taken care of. Infants & the Trigger of "Objectification": A comforting, normalizing look at why early postpartum demands can feel overwhelming for parents with parentification trauma. Setting Boundaries with Loved Ones: Why release from the parentified role requires us to stop predicting what others can handle and allow them to speak their own direct "no". Whether you catch yourself constantly softening your intensity for others, taking on everyone else's needs, or holding back your real feelings to keep the peace, this episode offers a gentle, validating invitation to step out behind the mask! Connect with Us We Should Talk Podcast Instagram Megan Walsh Instagram Website Amber Trejo Instagram Website

Why do so many of us grow up feeling like an outsider in our own lives, carrying a persistent sense of dread or self-doubt? On this episode of We Should Talk, Megan and Amber dive into complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) - a form of ongoing, relational trauma that is often overlooked and rarely taught in traditional therapy settings. From raw conversations about upcoming life transitions to navigating the unexpected emotional weight of big parenting milestones, they unpack how chronic childhood dynamics quietly shape our adult nervous systems. Then, they step into a lighthearted yet deeply resonant exercise designed to bring hidden shame out of the dark and back into the light. In this episode, we talk about: PTSD vs. CPTSD: The fundamental difference between a single traumatic event and the inescapable, recurring relational patterns that wire the brain for survival. The Invisible Impact of Emotional Neglect: How growing up with explosive, unpredictable, or emotionally unavailable parents leads children to believe that their basic human emotions are inherently wrong. Relational Healing & Attachment Wounds: Why true recovery from complex trauma requires navigating the very dynamic that created the pain in the first place—and why that feels so terrifying. Step-by-Step Titration: The danger of trying to rush your own healing staircase, and how to find the safest next step when your nervous system screams with urgency. The "Shame Game": Megan and Amber share surprisingly vivid, mildly embarrassing childhood memories to demonstrate how to strip long-held shame of its power. Generational Re-framing: How gaining clarity on your own trauma responses transforms the way you parent, show up in relationships, and offer yourself self-compassion. Connect With Us! Did this discussion on complex trauma and childhood memory bring up a fresh perspective on your own story? How do you handle those moments when your nervous system urges you to rush through your healing or hide away? We would love to hear your thoughts. Send us a message on Instagram or drop us an email! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshouldtalk.pod/ Megan Walsh: Instagram | Website Amber Trejo: Instagram | Website