205 - Unlearning Generational Trauma: Breaking the Cycle and Moving Beyond Survival Mode
Barb Knows Best
Michelle Maros & Barb Schmidt
4.9 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 13 May 2025
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Discover how to break generational cycles and heal from trauma by stepping out of survival mode ⬇️
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In this episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re diving deep into generational trauma, toxic family dynamics, and what it means to be a cycle breaker. Generations of dysfunction and unhealed pain can unknowingly shape how we show up in the world—but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
We’re shifting from survival mode into healing, unlearning harmful patterns, and reclaiming the life we deserve.
Barb opens up about growing up as the eldest daughter of two alcoholic parents in a low-income household, and how she made the conscious decision to parent differently. Michelle shares her experience of growing up with a mother in the midst of healing and how generational trauma still showed up in her own journey. They unpack how to navigate dysfunctional family dynamics and toxic patterns as a mother-daughter duo.
This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt stuck in inherited pain, longed for change, or is bravely doing the work to heal.
✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
❤️🩹 Choosing a New Path: Your past doesn’t define you—you have the power to end the cycle and start fresh.
❤️🩹 Unlearning Survival Patterns: Learn how to recognize and release the behaviors that no longer serve you.
❤️🩹 Letting Go of Shame: Healing from dysfunction means showing yourself grace and compassion.
❤️🩹 Healing Takes Time: Progress isn’t linear—every moment you choose healing is a victory.
Breaking generational cycles takes courage, patience, and love. If you’re doing that work, we see you—and we’re cheering you on. 💛
We’re so grateful to have you with us! As a mother-daughter duo, we’re passionate about sharing the lessons we’ve learned on our journeys in the hope of inspiring you to live your best life—no matter the challenges you face.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this May we’re dedicating each episode to caring for our minds, breaking harmful cycles, and finding strength through life’s challenges.
Join us next Tuesday for another heartfelt, healing episode of Life Happens with Barb Michelle! 💕
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Transcript
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| 1:08.4 | Welcome aboard the Turkish Airlines podcast channel. |
| 1:13.6 | Are you ready for a new adventure? |
| 1:17.1 | Mayor Habah Passengers, this is your captain speaking. |
| 1:19.9 | Welcome aboard the inaugural episode of the Wideen Your World podcast, part of the Turkish airline series. |
| 1:35.2 | Hey friends, welcome back to Life Happens. |
| 1:37.3 | I'm Michelle and I'm here with my mom, Barb. |
| 1:42.9 | Today we're talking about generational patterns, what gets passed down, even when we try to break the cycle. |
| 1:45.7 | Some things we see coming, others not so much. |
| 1:50.3 | And even with the best intentions, patterns have a way of showing up in unexpected ways. |
| 1:51.9 | So how do we recognize them? |
| 1:54.1 | And more importantly, how do we respond? |
... |
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