Dysfunctional

Josh Connolly
  • 4.8 (24)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

I am shaking up the wellness industry and addressing the things that people usually avoid. With relentless curiosity and refusal to sweep things under the rug, this podcast is for those who crave truth over comfort and honesty over surface level BS. So, get yourself in the lotus position because I have no plan, no pretence and definitely no bypassing….. I’m Josh Connolly and this will probably be dysfunctional Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Post-Separation Abuse: When Leaving Doesn’t End the Control with Miranda Allen

    1 DAY AGO

    Post-Separation Abuse: When Leaving Doesn’t End the Control with Miranda Allen

    Leaving an abusive relationship doesn’t always mean the abuse stops. In this episode, Josh speaks with Miranda Allen, an ambassador for Mums in Need, about post-separation abuse and how control continues through courts, finances, smear campaigns, and children. Miranda shares her lived experience and why believing survivors matters more than ever. Learn more or support the work of Mums in Need: 👉 https://mumsinneed.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  2. Toxic Relationship Recovery with Jo Westwood

    23 DEC

    Toxic Relationship Recovery with Jo Westwood

    In this episode of Dysfunctional, I’m joined by relationship recovery coach Jo Westwood for a deep, honest conversation about toxic relationships, codependency, and what real self-worth actually sounds like in practice. We talk about love bombing and how to spot it early, the moment “the switch” happens after commitment, and why being nice, polite, or endlessly understanding can quietly turn into self-abandonment. We also unpack why so many people rush to defend power, fame, and parents at all costs, using the viral Anthony Hopkins estrangement clip as a real-world example of how society struggles with accountability, family loyalty myths, and reading the energy behind someone’s words. This is a conversation about slowing down, trusting your instincts, and learning to say: “You don’t know me well enough yet.” And meaning it. We explore: The difference between love bombing and genuine connection Why codependent people can be manipulative without meaning to be The “special one” fantasy and how it keeps people stuck Why healthy relationships can handle a slow start Estrangement, boundaries, and the myth of unconditional family loyalty Politeness vs kindness, and why people-pleasing pushes people away Why abusive people don’t cut you off, and why survivors often have to This episode isn’t about blame, cancel culture, or perfect healing. It’s about self-reflection, personal responsibility, and building relationships that don’t require you to disappear to keep the peace. If you’ve ever felt confused, drained, or like you keep ending up in the same painful dynamics, this one’s for you. Find Jo: Website: http://jowestwood.com IG: http://instagram.com/jowestwood The Anti People Pleasing Podcast link: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-anti-people-pleasing-podcast/id1576679526 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4av63LLVwYNt8MNMu8Ygar Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/podcast/The-Anti-People-Pleasing-Podcast/B08K61YDSF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 31m
  3. When Your Parent Is Murdered | Alex Williams on Childhood Trauma

    16 DEC

    When Your Parent Is Murdered | Alex Williams on Childhood Trauma

    Alex Williams was eight years old when his mum was murdered by his stepfather. In this episode, Alex shares what it’s really like to grow up after extreme trauma, how it shaped his nervous system, identity, and relationships, and why “healing” is often misunderstood. Alex is an NHS mental health practitioner with over 20 years of experience and a suicide and self-harm prevention trainer. He brings both lived experience and frontline insight into what actually helps people after childhood trauma, and what doesn’t. We talk about: Growing up after domestic abuse and parental homicide Why safety matters more than therapy in the early stages of trauma The long-term impact of unprocessed grief in childhood Compassion fatigue in mental health and helping professions Why forgiveness is not required for healing How the mental health system labels people instead of holding them Phone addiction, numbing, and modern forms of escape Meaning, survival, and choosing a life after trauma This is a raw, honest conversation about loss, resilience, and what it means to live a good life after something unimaginable. If you grew up in dysfunction, abuse, or emotional neglect, this episode will likely resonate. Find Alex here - https//instagram.com/thealexjwilliams https//tiktok.com/thealexjwilliams https//www.linkedin.com/thealexjwilliams Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 17m
  4. When Your Voice Has Trauma Too with Claire Delaney

    9 DEC

    When Your Voice Has Trauma Too with Claire Delaney

    Trauma doesn’t just live in your head. It can shut down your voice too. Vocal coach Claire Delaney joins me to talk C-PTSD, nervous system survival, toxic industry culture, and finding your voice again. "Claire is a vocal coach who works with singers and actors whose voices have to hold up under real-world pressure. She’s coached performers across the West End, Broadway, and the National Theatre, and has worked for Italia Conti and ITV’s Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream.  Her approach is trauma-aware and shaped by the belief that you can’t separate a voice from the person using it. Her work blends science, psychology, and practical technique, with a lens shaped by lived-experience. She helps performers rebuild the physical, emotional, and technical foundations of their voice, aiming for long-term reliability, confidence, and self-trust to make singing actually enjoyable again." Instagram: @clairedelaney.vocalcoach Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 15m
  5. How Do You Talk Someone Down From Extreme Violence? with Jared Shurin

    2 DEC

    How Do You Talk Someone Down From Extreme Violence? with Jared Shurin

    In this episode I’m joined by Jared Shurin, a strategic communications specialist who works in counter extremism, violent radicalisation, misinformation, and social cohesion. We dig into the psychology of people who reach the point of extreme violence, why it often starts with the loss of trust, hope and faith, and how communication can pull people back from the edge. We talk about: How people become vulnerable to radicalisation The link between extremism, suicidality, and hopelessness Why most people sit in the exhausted moderate middle The role of belonging, community, and agency in prevention How governments, NGOs and everyday people can reduce social harm What actually works when trying to talk someone down from violent thinking This episode explores the real human drivers behind extremism, how isolation fuels dangerous behaviour, and why rebuilding local community may be our best defence. Find Jared - https://extra-fox.com/ newsletter - https://raptorvelocity.beehiiv.com/ https://www.instagram.com/straycarnivore/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 4m
  6. Inside a Shame Storm with Melinda Delisle

    25 NOV

    Inside a Shame Storm with Melinda Delisle

    What if those moments where you’re convinced you’re a horrible person who “shouldn’t even be here” aren’t proof that you’re broken… but that you’re in what my guest calls a shame storm? In this episode I’m joined by Melinda Delisle, MS LCCE – clinical nutritionist, former childbirth educator, and someone who has spent years navigating intense emotional dysregulation herself. We talk honestly about what it actually feels like inside a shame storm, why some of the most popular “healing tools” can make it worse, and how food, supplements and nervous system health quietly drive so much of our emotional world. We get into: - The difference between a shame swamp, a shame spiral and a full-blown shame storm - Why gratitude lists, mindfulness and “just be present” advice can feel like gaslighting when you’re in survival mode - How trauma, high sensitivity and people-pleasing set us up for chronic hypervigilance - The link between nutrition, B vitamins, SSRIs and emotional dysregulation -- Mistaking familiarity for safety – and why so many of us feel unsafe even with “nice” people - Self-parenting, accountability and facing the ways our own dysregulation can make us the “toxic” one at home Melinda also shares a free upcoming 4-week program she’s creating to help people build awareness, have better conversations around triggers and start finding their way out of constant dysregulation. Substack: https://melindadelisle.substack.com/ Free 4-week program: https://melindadelisle.com/foundation/ Instagram: @melindadelisle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-delisle/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 17m
  7. National Children With a Parent In Prison Day

    21 NOV

    National Children With a Parent In Prison Day

    Children with a parent in prison are some of the most invisible kids in the country. In this episode, I sit down with Sarah (founder of charity Children Heard and Seen) and Felix (communications officer) to talk about what really happens to those children when a parent goes to prison, and why nobody is officially keeping track of them. We talk about: How Children Heard and Seen supports kids in the community with mentoring, groups and one to one support The shocking reality of children left completely alone at home when a parent is sent to prison Why there is no national data on which children have a parent in prison The role of media, stigma and vigilante attacks on already vulnerable families Why support must be child led, not focused on “fixing” the parent or forcing contact The first ever Children with a Parent in Prison Day (25th November) and the national conference If this episode moved you, please share it, talk about it with someone, and check out Children Heard and Seen to see how you can support or spread the word. Link to the conference: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hear-me-see-me-parental-imprisonment-lived-experience-conference-tickets-1700692921309?aff=oddtdtcreator Link to our website: https://childrenheardandseen.co.uk/ Lived Experience Blogs written by adults who had a parent in prison as a child: https://childrenheardandseen.co.uk/hidden-voices/ #parentalimprisonment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  8. 1 Year of Dysfunctional

    18 NOV

    1 Year of Dysfunctional

    Unbelievably, it has been 1 year since Dysfunctional began so I take a look back over the highs and lows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
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4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

I am shaking up the wellness industry and addressing the things that people usually avoid. With relentless curiosity and refusal to sweep things under the rug, this podcast is for those who crave truth over comfort and honesty over surface level BS. So, get yourself in the lotus position because I have no plan, no pretence and definitely no bypassing….. I’m Josh Connolly and this will probably be dysfunctional Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Connolly
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Josh Connolly
  • Show Website
    Dysfunctional

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