Scar Tissue

Melissa Dlugolecki

Welcome to Scar Tissue the podcast. Here we understand the power that lies within our pain. We have real, raw, and relatable conversations on so many topics of life that will show you that there is not 1 way to live that the word 'should' doesn't exist and doesn't serve us. I will show you that you are meant to live and create your most authentic self and that you are worthy of everything but entitled to nothing. From business, to health, to relationships, to grief - we're going to uncover it all through the stories of the amazing humans that I will interview on the show and through my own stories of experience. Thank you for being here on Season 4!

  1. Episode 10: How to Find Relief from the Pain of Your Emotional Wounds Without Toxic Positivity

    2025-12-23

    Episode 10: How to Find Relief from the Pain of Your Emotional Wounds Without Toxic Positivity

    Wounds Without Toxic Positivity In this episode of The More Live Podcast, I sit down with my dear friend to talk about my book Scar Tissue: How to Find Relief from the Pain of Your Emotional Wounds Without Toxic Positivity and the deeper truths about grief, healing, and personal power. We explore grief beyond death, why toxic positivity can actually delay healing, and how language, responsibility, and choice shape our emotional freedom. I share the story behind why this book exists, how losing my daughter Leyden reshaped every part of my life, and why grief is not something to get over but something to integrate. This conversation is for anyone navigating loss, identity shifts, heartbreak, or the quiet griefs we don’t always name. If you’ve ever felt stuck between honoring your pain and wanting to move forward without betraying your love, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Show Notes:   In this deeply honest conversation, I share the journey behind Scar Tissue and the lessons grief has taught me about power, responsibility, and freedom. We talk about redefining grief beyond death, dismantling entitlement disguised as worthiness, and why eliminating the word “should” changed my entire life. We also explore how grief can become a source of connection rather than something that isolates us, how to work with emotional energy instead of numbing or bypassing it, and why healing is not about moving on but moving forward with love. This episode is an invitation to stop outsourcing your worth, reclaim your agency, and become a conscious co-creator with your pain instead of a victim to it. In this episode, we explore: • Why grief is more than death and how it shows up in everyday life • The difference between toxic positivity and empowered healing • How language like “should” creates guilt, shame, and disempowerment • The concept of grief as energy and how to transmute it • Why you are worthy but not entitled and how that distinction creates freedom • How to integrate loss without losing connection • The role of radical responsibility in healing emotional wounds • Why grief is not a blank check to be an a*****e • How nervous system regulation plays a key role in long-term healing • What it really means to move forward without betraying love   Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki

    40 min
  2. Episode 9: Scar Tissue Uncut: The Strategy Every Founder Needs in 2026

    2025-12-09

    Episode 9: Scar Tissue Uncut: The Strategy Every Founder Needs in 2026

    In this raw and honest conversation, I’m breaking down what it really takes to grow and succeed in business today. The conversation includes essential insights on branding, consistency, and how to manage your emotional landscape as a leader. Whether you're grappling with how to scale, building a personal brand, or wondering how to show up authentically, this episode is packed with actionable advice. I also touch on why grief and entrepreneurship are intertwined, and how facing the tough moments of life can be the catalyst for the next level of success. If you’re ready to take your brand to the next level in 2026, this episode is for you. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The importance of consistency in branding (and why it’s about more than just colors and fonts)Why relationships are a major catalyst for growth in businessHow to create a brand that’s trustworthy and reliable for the long-termWhy every founder needs to go “all in” — even when it’s uncomfortableHow to navigate the emotional ups and downs that come with building a businessThe secret to mastering your brand’s message — and the content that drives itWhy you can't wait for the "perfect" moment to build your businessHow to lead yourself through growth — and why seeking out the "burn" is essential for progressThe difference between boundaries and avoidance, and how to set them without weaponizing them Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki

    1 hr
  3. Episode 8: Scar Tissue Uncut: BTS, Belly Laughs, and Big Lessons

    2025-11-25

    Episode 8: Scar Tissue Uncut: BTS, Belly Laughs, and Big Lessons

    This conversation takes you behind the curtain of Scar Tissue, the creative process, the vulnerability, the strategy, and the soul work. We break down what makes a launch successful, why your “triggers are your teachers,” and how to stop taking everything so personally (especially in business). From ghosting to growth, this is an honest look at what it means to build, lead, and love in real time. In this episode, you’ll learn: What it’s really like to publish a deeply personal bookHow to move through fear, resistance, and vulnerabilityThe business side of a launch and what most people get wrongWhy your triggers are your teachers and how to use them for growthThe relationship between leadership, ego, and worthinessThe difference between people-pleasing and authentic compassionHow to balance masculine and feminine energy in business and relationshipsWhy creativity requires space  and how to actually make itConnect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki If you loved this episode, share it with someone who needs a reminder that business, relationships, and healing are all connected. And don’t forget to rate and review Scar Tissue, it helps us reach more people who need these conversations.   Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki

    51 min
  4. Episode 7: When success isn’t enough with Gary Kadi

    2025-11-11

    Episode 7: When success isn’t enough with Gary Kadi

    This conversation is a masterclass in reshaping your inner operating system so health, wealth, and connection become your lifestyle, not another to-do. Gary shares how childhood coping patterns fueled success and burnout, why you can never have your way into being, and the simple reframes that brought his family closer than ever. We walk through his three pillars, the mentors who changed his life, and the prompt that can unlock your deepest relationship patterns in minutes. If you have ever felt stuck between ambition and intimacy, this is your invitation to build both.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How to stop “shoulding” on yourself and shift from external validation to inner alignmentThe being, doing, having sequence and why most entrepreneurs run it backwardHealth as a lifestyle: metabolism reset, sleep quality, and energy that powers your businessWealth that runs on rails: what a virtual family office is and how it simplifies decisionsConnection beyond gifts and getaways: practices that create safety, intimacy, and funA two-question writing exercise that reveals your core relationship blueprintWhy "what" is in the way is the way, and how to use resistance as your teacher  Connect with Gary Kadi: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gary.kadi/   If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who needs to hear it and take a moment to rate and review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue creating meaningful content.   Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki   Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki

    39 min
  5. Episode 6: Ego, Death, Reinvention & Chosen Endings with Mike Michalowicz

    2025-10-28

    Episode 6: Ego, Death, Reinvention & Chosen Endings with Mike Michalowicz

    In this heartfelt and deeply honest conversation, Mike and I unpack the layers of grief, identity, and ego that come with reinvention. We explore how grief isn’t just about death; it’s about every place in life where expectation and reality don’t align. From navigating a major career pivot to learning how to release control, this conversation is about the power of witnessing your own transformation without bypassing the pain that comes with it. In this episode, you’ll learn: What “chosen grief” really means and why we all experience itHow to let go of who you thought you’d be and make space for who you’re becomingThe difference between toxic positivity and true emotional supportWhy grief can exist even when we “get what we want”How to find purpose and peace after endings in business or lifeThe link between ego death, humility, and sustainable growth  Connect with Mike Michalowicz: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikemichalowicz/       If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who needs to hear it and take a moment to rate and review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue creating meaningful content.   Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki

    24 min
  6. Episode 4: Flow Over Force: Jilly Torrez on Feminine Leadership and Wealth

    2025-09-30

    Episode 4: Flow Over Force: Jilly Torrez on Feminine Leadership and Wealth

    In this conversation, Jilly and I dive deep into how the energy of water mirrors so much of our inner wisdom in business and life. Jilly shares her experience of building a seven-figure business, healing from trauma, and stepping into her feminine power while navigating the world of high-performing entrepreneurship. We talk about the importance of boundaries, the energy of the sacral chakra, and why truly understanding your body is key to finding alignment and success in everything you do. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to embrace your feminine energy while leading in businessThe concept of “water codes” and how water holds memory in our bodiesHow Jilly’s journey of celibacy helped her tap into deeper creative energyThe power of vulnerability and how it fuels personal and professional growthWhy slowing down can actually speed up your successHow to stay in alignment with your values and discern when to push forward or restConnect with Jilly: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterheiress/?hl=en • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waterheiress/ • Website: https://msha.ke/waterheiress If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who needs to hear it and take a moment to rate and review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue creating meaningful content. Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki Catch up with me on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.dlugolecki LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-dlugolecki-b24988141/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadlugolecki YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDlugolecki

    1 hr

About

Welcome to Scar Tissue the podcast. Here we understand the power that lies within our pain. We have real, raw, and relatable conversations on so many topics of life that will show you that there is not 1 way to live that the word 'should' doesn't exist and doesn't serve us. I will show you that you are meant to live and create your most authentic self and that you are worthy of everything but entitled to nothing. From business, to health, to relationships, to grief - we're going to uncover it all through the stories of the amazing humans that I will interview on the show and through my own stories of experience. Thank you for being here on Season 4!