Girl, Wake Up!

Amy Polacko
  • 5.0 (2)
  • RELATIONSHIPS

Girl, Wake Up! is a new podcast for women who are tired of living by rules they never wrote. Hosted by divorce coach, founder, & award-winning journalist Amy Polacko, each episode welcomes industry experts to talk honestly about power, relationships, money, divorce, and the cultural myths about women that need to go.

  1. Understanding Betrayal Trauma with Dr. Jill Manning

    5D AGO

    Understanding Betrayal Trauma with Dr. Jill Manning

    Betrayal doesn’t just break your heart, it can break your sense of reality. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, we’re unpacking betrayal trauma–why it’s so uniquely devastating and what it actually does to your mind and body when trust is shattered. Amy is joined by Dr. Jill Manning, a leading expert in betrayal trauma, to talk about the real impact of infidelity, secrecy and hidden behaviors–and why so many women feel destabilized after discovering the truth. We also explore how pornography is shaping both young people and adult relationships in ways many aren’t talking about. We cover: • What makes betrayal trauma different from typical heartbreak • The psychological impact of infidelity and deception • Why women often feel confused, anxious or “crazy” after betrayal • How pornography is influencing expectations, intimacy and trust • Where healing begins after your reality has been shaken --- Learn more about Dr. Jill Manning’s work:Website: https://drjillmanning.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjillmanning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjillmanning/ Two-Day Intensives: https://drjillmanning.com/intensives/ Digital Downloads: https://drjillmanning.com/digital-downloads/ Directory of Betrayal Trauma experts: www.APSATS.org How to connect with Amy Polacko: Book a free Divorce or Life Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts ----- Episode Timestamp: 00:01 - 00:45 Girl Wake Up! Intro 00:46 - 02:44 Introduction to Betrayal Trauma & guest Dr. Jill Manning 02:45 - 06:04 The "Wake Up" that changed the course of Dr. Manning's career path 07:53 - 10:12 Betrayal Trauma Explained (This isn't just "heart break"– it's neurological) 11:21 - 11:58 Secondary Trauma & the psychological & physiological effects 13:16 - 13:54 Gaslighting is commonly involved in Betrayal Trauma 13:55 - 14:31 Why your support & surroundings matter during trauma 14:57 - 17:40 How does your brain + body respond when your partner cheats? 18:08 - 21:37 Your nervous system is on fire – fight or flight -vs- freeze response & getting help 21:45 - 26:50 Betrayal Trauma & Gaslighting 26:54 - 28:25 The three phases of navigating betrayal 28:26 - 30:55 Betrayal Trauma & making good decisions in the divorce process 32:33 - 35:16 Why specialize care matters in life & divorce 37:28 - 41:06 Truth or Trap: Is pornography harmless as long as it doesn't involve cheating? 41:38 - 43:30 Sexual Ethics & Values as a metric 50:00 - 50:36 Final thoughts 50:37 - 50:58 GIRL, WAKE UP! outro

    47 min

  2. MAR 31

    Feminism Rebooted: What Women Do Now (w/ Dr. Marcie Bianco)

    Feminism is at a turning point.For years, women were told we were making steady progress—that equality was inevitable. But in today’s world, many of those assumptions are being challenged. Rights are being rolled back. Misogyny feels louder. And women are left asking: Was that progress real—or were we sold a version of empowerment that didn’t fully protect us? In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, I sit down with feminist scholar and writer Dr. Marcie Bianco to unpack what feminism looks like right now—in a moment of backlash, confusion and cultural shift. This is not a surface-level conversation. We go deeper—questioning where feminism has succeeded, where it may have fallen short, and what women need to understand moving forward. In This Episode, We Cover:Why feminism may need a reboot in today’s climateThe difference between real power vs. the illusion of empowermentThe growing backlash against feminism and what it meansWhat modern feminism gets right—and where it needs to evolveHow feminism shows up in dating, relationships and everyday lifeWhat women should be paying attention to right nowPractical ways women can take back agency and protect themselves Learn more about Dr. Marcie Bianco here: marciebianco.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcie-bianco/ https://www.instagram.com/marciebianco/?hl=en Book a free Divorce or Life Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

    39 min
  3. Follow the Money: How Spouses Hide Assets in Divorce

    MAR 24

    Follow the Money: How Spouses Hide Assets in Divorce

    In my work, I help a lot of women who are escaping coercive control—and that often includes financial abuse. Often for years, they’ve been kept in the dark, shut out of accounts or made to feel like they don’t need to understand the money. And then, when divorce begins, things don’t just feel confusing… they start disappearing.Even if you have felt like you knew where the family assets were, they can also start mysteriously moving around! In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, I sit down with forensic accountant Sara Nanchanatt to expose what really happens behind the scenes when spouses try to hide assets. From secret accounts to “missing” income, we break down the financial games that can cost women everything if they’re not paying attention. Because here’s the truth: if you don’t follow the money, you may never see it. In This Episode, We Cover:What a forensic accountant actually does in divorce casesThe most common ways spouses hide moneyRed flags that something isn’t adding upWhy “I don’t have the money” is often not the full storyHow lifestyle can reveal more than financial documentsThe truth about cash businesses, cryptocurrency and hidden incomeWhen to bring in a forensic expert—and why timing mattersThe biggest mistakes women make when it comes to finances in divorceHow to protect yourself before and during the process You can learn more about Sara on her S.N. Forensics website–tell her that Amy sent you: https://www.snforensics.com/ Book a free Divorce or Life Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

    35 min
  4. Coercive Control: The Danger Our System Misses (With Crime Analyst Laura Richards)

    MAR 17

    Coercive Control: The Danger Our System Misses (With Crime Analyst Laura Richards)

    Violence against women is often described as unpredictable. But according to one of the world’s leading criminologists, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy speaks with Laura Richards, a global expert on coercive control, stalking and risk assessment. Richards has spent decades studying the patterns behind men’s violence and the warning signs that are too often dismissed by police, courts and other institutions. In this episode:What coercive control really is–and why it’s often misunderstoodWhy violence against women is predictable, not randomThe warning signs professionals frequently miss or minimizeWhy separation and divorce can increase danger for womenHow charm and social status can obscure dangerous behaviorWhy institutions often label women “low risk” before tragedy Where to find Laura Richards: YouTube @crimeanalyst Instagram @crimeanalyst @laurarichards999 Twitter @thecrimeanalyst @laurarichards99 TikTok @crimeanalystpod Websites www.crime-analyst.com https://www.thelaurarichards.com, https://www.dashriskchecklist.com/

    51 min
  5. The Rise of the F-You Ring (w/ Influencer Alex Weinstein & jeweller Mollie Suarez)

    MAR 10

    The Rise of the F-You Ring (w/ Influencer Alex Weinstein & jeweller Mollie Suarez)

    For generations, rings symbolized a promise to someone else.Now, more women are wearing them for a different reason–and the term “divorce ring” isn’t always strong enough. That’s where the F-You Ring comes in. It’s a growing term among women who choose to mark the end of a relationship not with silence or shame–but with a symbol of independence. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy speaks with Alex Weinstein, an influencer who went viral after creating her own F-You ring after a breakup, and Mollie Suarez, a jeweler who designed one for herself after divorce and now helps other women create theirs. Both women were featured in Amy’s recent Guardian article on the rise of F-You Rings, and together they explore why more women are reclaiming jewelry–and their stories–on their own terms. In this episode:• How Alex Weinstein’s breakup inspired her to create her own F-You ring • Why Mollie Suarez began designing these rings for women after experiencing divorce herself • The emotional power of reclaiming an engagement diamond or creating something new • Why the idea of women buying meaningful jewelry for themselves is gaining momentum • What the F-You ring really represents–anger, closure, freedom or reinvention • How women are rewriting the narrative around divorce and breakups • The deeper cultural shift behind this trend Follow Alex Weinstein on Instagram: @alexandrajaye Learn more about Mollie Suarez’ Westshore Diamond: https://www.westshorediamond.com Follow Westshore Diamond on Instagram: @westshorediamond Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

    42 min
  6. The System Protects Men & Women Go To Jail (w/ "Dear Sister" Author Michelle Horton)

    MAR 3

    The System Protects Men & Women Go To Jail (w/ "Dear Sister" Author Michelle Horton)

    What happens when a woman fights back–and survives?In this powerful episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with Michelle Horton, author of Dear Sister, to unpack the story of Michelle’s sister, Nikki Addimando, who was incarcerated after defending herself against her abusive partner. This conversation is bigger than one case. It’s about a system that routinely misunderstands coercive control, ignores patterns of abuse and punishes women for refusing to die quietly. We explore: Why self-defense is so difficult to prove in long-term abuse casesHow coercive control gets erased in courtroomsThe myth of the “perfect victim”What prison does to survivors of traumaWhy women who fight back are often portrayed as perpetratorsWhat needs to change legally and culturally When a man claims self-defense, it’s often seen as strength. When a woman does, it can become a life sentence. No woman should have to choose between being abused and being incarcerated. This episode is a wake-up call about how our justice system handles domestic abuse–and why survival should never be criminalized. Get Michelle Horton’s book here. Learn more about Michelle on her website: MichelleHortonWriter.com And their campaign: WeStandWithNikki.com Follow her on Instagram @michellehortonwriter and @westandwithnikki Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

    45 min
  7. Answering Your Midlife Wake-Up Call (w/ Co-Authors Dina Alvarez & Dina Aronson)

    FEB 24

    Answering Your Midlife Wake-Up Call (w/ Co-Authors Dina Alvarez & Dina Aronson)

    Midlife isn’t a breakdown. It’s a wake-up call. In this honest and eye-opening episode of Girl, Wake Up!, I sit down with Dina Alvarez and Dina Aronson, co-authors of Midlife Private Parts, to talk about what really happens to women in their 40s and 50s-physically, emotionally, sexually and psychologically-and why so many of us feel blindsided. Because no one prepared us. No one told us perimenopause could feel like anxiety, rage, brain fog and clarity all at once. No one told us we might start questioning our marriages, our careers or the roles we’ve played for decades. And no one told us midlife might be the moment we realize we’ve been over-giving and under-valuing ourselves for years. For some women, that wake-up call leads to renegotiating a marriage. For others, it leads to divorce. For many, it leads to reclaiming their voice, their desire and their power. Midlife isn’t the end. It’s the end of pretending. And on Girl, Wake Up! — we answer the call. Learn more about Midlife Private Parts and get your copy here: www.midlifeprivateparts.com Follow Midlife Private Parts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifeprivateparts/ Follow Dina Alvarez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewritestyles/ Dina Alvarez’ Substack “A Few Good Things”: https://dinaalvarez.substack.com/ Follow Dina Aronson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patina_life/ Dina Aronson’s Substack “Patina”: https://patina.substack.com/ Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

    40 min
  8. How Narcissists Trap Us (w/ Psychotherapist & Cult Survivor Vanessa Reiser)

    FEB 17

    How Narcissists Trap Us (w/ Psychotherapist & Cult Survivor Vanessa Reiser)

    Narcissistic abuse doesn’t begin with cruelty. It begins with connection. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy Polacko sits down with licensed psychotherapist Vanessa Reiser, LCSW, to unpack how narcissists condition, confuse and trap even the smartest, strongest women– and what it actually takes to break free. Vanessa is the author of Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide to Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People. A two-time Ironman, she has run across multiple states in a wedding dress to raise awareness about narcissistic abuse and survivor empowerment. Together, we explore how love-bombing turns into control, why gaslighting erodes self-trust, and how trauma bonds keep women stuck long after the red flags appear. But this episode isn’t just about the trap. It’s about the comeback. Vanessa shares how she rebuilt her identity, reclaimed her power and transformed her pain into purpose. If you’ve ever wondered: Was it really that bad? Why did I stay so long? Why do I still miss him? This conversation will help you understand the psychology– and reclaim your clarity. Episode Time Stamps 00:00 - 00:46 Girl, Wake Up Intro 00:47 - 2:39 Welcome to our Girl, Wake Up guest: Vanessa Reiser. Amy deep-dives into her life, work, and activism. 2:40 - 3:10 Men as victims of Narcissistic Abuse. Popular culture headlines such as P.Diddy, and Kevin Spacey. 3:11 - 4:13 It's a Power Dynamic: Why people in positions of power need to step forward. 4:14 - 8:43 Vanessa's book, her work and mission as a clinician, and her experience with pathologized personalities, gaslighting, behavioral disorders, and more. 8:54 - 12:19 Narcissists have a different kind of brain. (Explained) 12:20 - 15:33 Clinician explains how to get out of an abusive situation with a narcissist. Discusses: Trauma bonding, Love bombing; unpacks the abuse cycle. 15:34 - 18:08 Vanessa discusses the psychology behind CULTS. There are different cult systems. 18:09 - 22:12 Dealing with emotionally immature parents (EIPs), narcissistic parents, childhood trauma, identity, and broken family systems. 22:07 - 25:17 When people say the term "narcissist" is overused, the stereotypical narcissist, covert versus overt narcissist 27:18 - 27:53 Truth or Trap segment of the podcast: Narcissists only prey on weak women. 27:54 - 30:30 Letter from a Listener. Amy and Vanessa share their insights 30:31 - 31:44 Thank you, Vanessa. And where the audience can find her online. 31:45 - 31:57 Outro Find out more about Vanessa Reiser and follow her: https://tellatherapist.net/ Instagram: @vanessareiserlcsw Get her book: Narcissistic Abuse Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

    32 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Girl, Wake Up! is a new podcast for women who are tired of living by rules they never wrote. Hosted by divorce coach, founder, & award-winning journalist Amy Polacko, each episode welcomes industry experts to talk honestly about power, relationships, money, divorce, and the cultural myths about women that need to go.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Polacko
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Amy Polacko
  • Show Website
    Girl, Wake Up!

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