How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real Podcast

Rietta Boksha and Jenn Morrison

A storytelling podcast about resilience, growth and navigating life’s hardest seasons. How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real is where honest conversations unfold about the moments that change us. Each episode features real people sharing their journeys through grief, trauma, adversity and the challenges that reshape who we are. This show isn’t about perfection or pretending everything is fine. It’s about what happens when life cracks open — and how we find strength on the other side. If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, broken, or unsure how to move forward, these conversations are for you.

  1. Jul 24

    Adult Friendships: Why They're So Hard to Find and Keep | Boundaries, Intuition & Letting Go

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Jenn and I have an honest conversation about something so many women struggle with but rarely talk about—friendship as an adult. Making friends isn't as easy as it was when we were younger. Between busy lives, changing priorities, and personal growth, finding people who truly align with you can feel overwhelming. We talk about why some friendships naturally evolve, why others end, and how setting healthy boundaries can sometimes reveal who was never meant to stay. We also dive into the importance of trusting your intuition. Looking back, we've realized that many of the situations that hurt us most happened because we ignored that quiet inner voice. Intuition isn't usually loud or dramatic—it often shows up as a simple feeling or thought telling you, "Don't do that." Learning to listen to it can change everything. In this episode, we discuss: • Why making friends as an adult feels so different• Finding people who genuinely align with you• Maintaining healthy friendships• Setting boundaries without guilt• Why some people take boundaries personally• Learning to trust your intuition• The quiet ways intuition tries to protect us• Why history doesn't obligate you to stay in a friendship• Letting go of relationships that no longer serve you Friendships are meant to add to your life, not drain it. This conversation is a reminder that it's okay to outgrow people, trust your instincts, and make room for relationships that feel safe, reciprocal, and genuine.

  2. Jul 17

    Perimenopause: The Symptoms No One Warns You About | HRT, Hormones, Women's Health & Finding Answers

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Jenn and I dive into the conversation every woman deserves to hear—perimenopause. For years, we've been told that mood swings and hot flashes are just part of getting older, but the reality is that perimenopause can begin much earlier and affect nearly every aspect of your life. From anxiety and brain fog to weight changes, sleep issues, and hormonal shifts, we talk openly about the symptoms so many women experience without realizing what's happening. We also discuss hormone replacement therapy (HRT), other treatment options, the importance of advocating for yourself, and why regular health screenings and finding the right provider can make all the difference. In this episode, we discuss: • What perimenopause actually is• Common symptoms that often go unrecognized• Anxiety, brain fog, sleep changes, and mood swings• Weight changes and hormonal fluctuations• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)• Other ways to manage symptoms• The importance of regular health screenings• Finding a provider who listens to you• Why women need to advocate for their own health Women's health isn't talked about nearly enough, and too many women spend years wondering what's wrong with them when they're actually experiencing a normal stage of life. This conversation is honest, informative, and a reminder that you know your body better than anyone else.

  3. May 29

    Danielle Kepics: Women's Health and Family Estrangement | Narcissistic Parents, Medical Gaslighting, and Healing

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, I sit down with Danielle Kepics to talk about childhood loss, family estrangement, and why so many women feel dismissed when seeking medical care. Danielle shares what it was like losing her mother at a young age and being left to navigate life with a narcissistic father. We discuss the difficult decision to create distance from family, why estrangement is sometimes the healthiest option, and the guilt that often comes with it. We also dive into her decision to leave conventional medicine and open her own practice, her passion for advocating for women, and the ongoing conversations surrounding hormone replacement therapy and women's health. In this episode, we discuss: • Losing her mother at a young age• Growing up with a narcissistic father• Family estrangement and setting boundaries• Leaving conventional medicine• Opening her own practice• Why women are often dismissed in healthcare• Advocating for yourself as a patient• The evolving conversation around HRT and breast cancer risk This conversation is honest, empowering, and a reminder that sometimes healing requires questioning everything you've been taught.

  4. May 8

    Jenn Morrison: Healing and Reinvention | Loss, Abuse, and Manifesting a New Life in Hawaii

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, I sit down with Jenn Morrison to talk about surviving childhood loss, redefining family, and rebuilding your life after abuse. Jenn shares what it was like losing her mom at a young age, feeling alone from the age of 17, and growing up without ever truly feeling like she had a mother figure. Over time, she had to redefine what “mom” meant to her — and eventually create that feeling of home and safety for herself. We also talk about surviving an abusive relationship, the emotional toll of starting over, and how she ultimately manifested the life she once only dreamed about — now living in Hawaii with her husband. In this episode, we discuss:• Losing her mom at a young age• Feeling alone from the age of 17• Redefining what “mother” and family mean• Growing up without stability or support• Surviving an abusive relationship• Rebuilding confidence and self-worth• Manifesting a completely different life• Creating a new beginning in Hawaii This conversation is emotional, inspiring, and a reminder that your past doesn’t have to decide your future.

  5. May 2

    Chris Wasko: Energy Healing and Mediumship | Narcissistic Parents, Trauma, and Breaking Generational Cycles

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, I sit down with Chris Wasko to talk about healing from deep-rooted trauma and stepping into a completely unexpected spiritual path. Chris shares what it was like growing up with two narcissistic parents and how that environment shaped her early life. As she began doing the work to heal, something unexpected happened — she started hearing her maternal grandfather, opening the door to her abilities as a medium. We talk about what it looks like to navigate that kind of awakening, how she learned to trust it, and why she ultimately shifted her focus toward energy healing and helping the living — especially old souls and cycle breakers trying to rewrite their stories. In this episode, we discuss:• Growing up with narcissistic parents• The long-term impact of childhood trauma• Beginning the healing journey and doing the inner work• Hearing her grandfather and discovering her mediumship• Learning to trust and develop intuitive abilities• Transitioning into energy healing• Supporting old souls and cycle breakers• Breaking generational patterns and creating something new This conversation is powerful, eye-opening, and a reminder that healing doesn’t just change your life — it can completely transform who you become.

  6. Apr 3

    Dr. Neosho Ponder: Faith and Survival | Breast Cancer, Homelessness, and Finding Purpose

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, I sit down with Dr. Neosho Ponder to talk about resilience in the face of unimaginable circumstances. Dr. Ponder shares her journey of battling breast cancer while experiencing homelessness — not just during treatment, but even now — and how she found strength, faith, and purpose through it all. We talk about what it means to keep going when life doesn’t let up, how humor and faith can coexist with pain, and how she turned her experiences into her book God’s Got Jokes. In this episode, we discuss:• Being diagnosed with breast cancer• Experiencing homelessness during and after treatment• Navigating survival when life keeps stacking the odds• The role of faith in healing and resilience• Finding humor in the darkest moments• Turning pain into purpose through writing This conversation is raw, powerful, and a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, there is still a story worth telling. If you would like to purchase Neosho's book or just connect with her, you can do so on her website. https://www.neoshocponder.com

  7. Mar 27

    Lisa Zawrotny: Care and Capacity | Navigating Burnout, Alzheimer’s, and Anticipatory Grief

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Sht Gets Real*, I sit down with Lisa Zawrotny to talk about what it means to be both a caregiver and a sandwich caregiver — supporting loved ones while also trying to maintain your own life. Lisa shares her experience caring for her mother after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the emotional weight that comes with anticipatory grief — the kind of grief that begins long before loss. We also talk about burnout, the unrealistic expectations of hustle culture, and why constantly pushing yourself is not sustainable — especially when you’re already carrying so much. In this episode, we discuss:• What it means to be a sandwich caregiver• Caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s• Understanding anticipatory grief• Recognizing and recovering from burnout• Why hustle culture can be harmful• Creating space for rest and capacity This conversation is about giving yourself permission to slow down, honor your limits, and navigate caregiving with compassion — for others and for yourself.

  8. Mar 20

    Lindsey Love: Identity and Integration | Understanding and Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Lindsey Love returns for a deeper conversation about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), sharing more about what it’s like to live with and navigate multiple identities. In this follow-up discussion, Lindsey opens up about how DID presents in her daily life, the ways she manages and communicates within her system, and how she has learned to create stability, safety, and understanding within herself. We explore what DID really is — beyond misconceptions — and what it looks like to live with it in a grounded, intentional way. In this episode, we discuss:• What Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) actually is• How Lindsey experiences and navigates her system• Communication and cooperation between identities• Reducing stigma and misunderstanding around DID• Practical ways she maintains balance and control• Living a full life while managing complex mental health This conversation is about awareness, understanding, and the reminder that mental health journeys are not one-size-fits-all. If you’ve ever wanted a deeper, more human perspective on DID, this episode offers insight, clarity, and compassion.

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4.3
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

A storytelling podcast about resilience, growth and navigating life’s hardest seasons. How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real is where honest conversations unfold about the moments that change us. Each episode features real people sharing their journeys through grief, trauma, adversity and the challenges that reshape who we are. This show isn’t about perfection or pretending everything is fine. It’s about what happens when life cracks open — and how we find strength on the other side. If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, broken, or unsure how to move forward, these conversations are for you.

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