Codependency Alchemy: The Podcast

Alyssa Zander
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Codependency Alchemy is a space for healing codependency through shadow work and inner child healing. Join Alyssa for the vulnerable conversations, personal stories, and hard truths that help you reclaim your voice, set soul-aligned boundaries, and create relationships rooted in self-trust and authenticity. alyssaaazander.substack.com

  1. The trust-breaking pattern you don’t realize you’re doing in relationships

    1D AGO

    The trust-breaking pattern you don’t realize you’re doing in relationships

    Have you ever wanted something from your partner but didn’t actually say it? This episode is about why we do that and how it slowly breaks trust in our relationships. This weekend, I caught myself in a pattern I’ve done many times before, and didn’t even realize I was doing it in the moment. I was trying to get a need met without actually saying what I needed. I was hinting, sweetening the deal, leaving things out… all to try to control the outcome instead of just being honest. In this episode, I break down what it means to withhold truth in a relationship, how it quietly erodes trust and intimacy over time, and what happens when we choose vulnerability instead. I also share what shifted in real time when I stopped the pattern and how it completely changed the experience. What you’ll learn… * What “withholding truth” actually looks like in relationships * The subtle ways we try to control outcomes (without realizing it) * How this pattern creates resentment and disconnection * What it feels like on the receiving end of only receiving the partial truth * How vulnerability builds safety and intimacy and what that can look like in our relationship This episode is for you if… * You hint instead of directly asking for what you want * You try to control outcomes to avoid vulnerability * You struggle to express your needs honestly * You feel resentment when your needs aren’t met * You want deeper trust and intimacy in your relationship Your invitation… Take a moment to practice healing the mother wound by being witnessed in the comments. Think of a recent time where you withheld the full truth… * What truth were you withholding? * What vulnerability was underneath that? Remember, you don’t have to hit post if you’re not comfortable being witnessed in your share yet, but I invite you to at least type it (or write it) out for you to witness yourself. If conversations like these resonate with you and you want to take this awareness to the next step, you’re welcome to join our Codependency Alchemy community on Substack where we practice these reflections together through prompts, discussions, and live calls. You can click here to join as a free subscriber or upgrade your subscription to explore the membership for deeper support. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alyssaaazander.substack.com/subscribe

    24 min
  2. 3 questions that turn conflict into connection

    MAR 18

    3 questions that turn conflict into connection

    Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “If they would just do this differently, everything would be fine”? This episode is about why that pattern keeps us stuck and the three questions that can shift the entire dynamic- and how it's completely changed the way I move through conflict in my relationship. In this episode we explore: * Why we hyperfixate on our partner during conflict * The hidden attachment behind “I wish they would…” * How codependent dynamics show up during arguments * The 3 questions that interrupt blame cycles * How vulnerability creates safety in relationships * Why waiting for your partner to go first keeps you stuck Your invitation… Take a moment to practice this in the comments. Think of a recent conflict that’s come up for you in your relationship and ask yourself the following questions: * What do I wish they would do? * How would I feel if they did it? * Am I giving that to them — or to myself? I invite you to share in the comments, or if you’re in the Codependency Alchemy membership, you can share your reflections in our chat. If this conversation resonates, you’re invited into the Codependency Alchemy community on Substack where we practice these reflections together through prompts, discussions, and live calls. Click here to join as a free subscriber or the membership for deeper support. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alyssaaazander.substack.com/subscribe

    25 min
  3. Why you pick fights when things are going well

    MAR 4

    Why you pick fights when things are going well

    Why do we create conflict when life is actually going well? In this episode of Codependency Alchemy, I unpack the “upper limit problem” — the unconscious pattern of sabotaging joy, abundance, and peace when they start to feel unfamiliar. I share a real story of catching myself mid-spiral after an expansive workshop and the simple question that stopped me from creating unnecessary conflict. In this episode, we explore: - Why arguments aren’t really about the dishes - How worry turns into criticism - The 4 core fears that drive self-sabotage - Why peace can feel unsafe to a dysregulated nervous system - How to self-soothe instead of outsourcing reassurance Your invitation… The next time you feel the urge to criticize, argue, or spiral, ask yourself: What happened right before this? If this episode resonates, you’re invited into the Codependency Alchemy membership, where we practice this work in real time through daily prompts, reflections, and support as you grow your capacity for joy, safety, and self-trust. Click here to upgrade and join the membership. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alyssaaazander.substack.com/subscribe

    25 min
  4. Knowing what you want but still not getting it? This might be why

    FEB 18

    Knowing what you want but still not getting it? This might be why

    You’re clear on what you want, so why aren’t you getting it? There’s a painful in-between many of us find ourselves in: knowing what we want, and still not receiving it. In this episode of Codependency Alchemy, I revisit a simple but powerful analogy (we’re going to the ice cream shop) to explore why clarity alone isn’t always enough, and how settling for what doesn’t truly align can keep us stuck in relationships, jobs, or situations that drain us. This is a conversation about discernment, self-trust, and learning how to stop accepting “vanilla” when your body is asking for chocolate. What you’ll learn in this episode… * Why knowing what you want doesn’t always lead to getting it * How settling sends mixed signals to yourself (and the Universe) * Why impatience and unworthiness keep us stuck * How to stop accepting what you don’t actually want This episode is for you if… * You’re clear on what you want but keep getting something else * You struggle with settling out of fear or impatience * You’re practicing discernment in relationships or work * You’re healing codependency or the mother wound Your invitation… I invite you to think about what your “chocolate ice cream” is. You might consider this as the type of relationship, job, or home you wish to have. What is your chocolate ice cream? Remember, try to get as specific as you can. Ask yourself: How do I desire to feel? What do I value? In a relationship? In a job? In a home? If this episode resonates, you’re invited to continue these conversations inside the Codependency Alchemy membership— a space where we practice witnessing the parts of us we neglect, or reject, building safety in our bodies through nervous system and somatic work, and generational healing together. Click here to join or learn more Subscribe over on Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alyssaaazander.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min
  5. When your partner says no (but you really wanted them to say yes)

    FEB 4

    When your partner says no (but you really wanted them to say yes)

    There’s a moment many of us know well: your partner says no, and you really wanted them to say yes. In this episode of Codependency Alchemy, I walk through a real-life moment from my relationship with Justin where his “no” triggered old patterns of control, guilt, and self-abandonment. I share more about what I wish I had done differently. This isn’t about forcing agreement or suppressing your needs. It’s about learning how to respect your partner’s autonomy without making their “no” mean something about you… Oh, and without abandoning yourself in the process. What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why your partner’s no can feel so personal * How covert control and guilt show up in relationships * The difference between boundaries and power struggles * Why taking responsibility for your partner creates resentment * How to stay on the same side of the problem instead of “me vs. you” This episode is for you if… * You get triggered when your partner says no * You tend to take responsibility for other people’s choices * You struggle with resentment or over-functioning * You’re healing codependency or the mother wound Your invitation… As you listen and reflect on similar moments in your own relationship, you might contemplate: What am I making my partner’s no mean about me? What am I making their choice mean about our relationship? I invite you to share your reflections in the comments. Join the Community If this episode resonates, you’re invited to continue these conversations inside the Codependency Alchemy membership— a space where we practice witnessing the parts of us we neglect, or reject, building safety in our bodies through nervous system and somatic work, and generational healing together. Click here to join or learn more Subscribe over on Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alyssaaazander.substack.com/subscribe

    27 min
  6. Should you get back together with your ex? 3 questions to ask yourself first

    JAN 21

    Should you get back together with your ex? 3 questions to ask yourself first

    Should you get back together with your ex, or is this just familiarity pulling you back in? Before you say yes, there are a few questions worth slowing down and asking. This episode is for anyone who’s considering getting back together with an ex and wants to do it differently this time. As someone who did get back together with her ex and rebuilt a relationship rooted in repair, accountability, and understanding that a safe nervous system is a non-negotiable, I share the three core questions that helped me discern whether reconnecting was actually aligned, or just old patterns resurfacing. This isn’t about convincing yourself to try again. It’s about slowing down, listening to your body, and making space for clarity instead of urgency. What you’ll learn… * The first question to ask before considering getting back together with an ex * How to tell if your ex has actually changed or is just saying the right things * Why old issues will come back (and how to plan for that honestly) * What it means to rebuild trust through repair instead of avoidance * How to stop over-functioning and let the other person meet you This episode is for you if… * You’re thinking about getting back together with an ex * You’re afraid of repeating the same patterns * You want clarity without rushing a decision * You tend to over-function or take responsibility for both people * You want a relationship rooted in repair, not chemistry alone My invitation to you… Take a moment to reflect on what this relationship is here to teach and show you. Write in the comments: “This relationship is here to teach me…” and notice what comes through. If this episode resonates, you’re invited to continue this work inside the Codependency Alchemy membership, where we practice self-trust, repair, and building healthy relationships together. Click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alyssaaazander.substack.com/subscribe

    26 min
  7. Holding Polarity: How to stay grounded when two opposing truths exist

    JAN 7

    Holding Polarity: How to stay grounded when two opposing truths exist

    What if nothing is wrong with you, you’re just being asked to hold two truths at the same time? In this episode of Codependency Alchemy, I explore polarity: the embodied experience of holding joy and grief, love and loss, fulfillment and longing—without collapsing, numbing, or forcing resolution. Through a deeply personal story involving my great-grandmother, my fertility journey, and stepping onto a stage to share my life’s work, I share what polarity actually feels like in the body, and why learning to witness it instead of fixing it is profoundly healing. What you’ll learn in this episode… * What “holding polarity” really means (beyond the concept) * How polarity shows up in relationships, grief, and identity * The difference between thinking your feelings and witnessing them * How witnessing yourself helps heal the mother wound * Why acceptance isn’t giving up… it’s embodied truth This episode is for you if… * You feel emotionally overwhelmed by mixed feelings * You’re holding joy and grief at the same time * You struggle with overthinking instead of feeling * You’re healing codependency, attachment wounds, or the mother wound * You want to feel more grounded and self-trusting in uncertainty Your invitation… As you listen, consider: What polarity am I being asked to hold right now? Name the two opposing experiences without judging them. I invite you to share your reflections in the comments. Join the Community If this episode resonates, you’re invited to join the Codependency Alchemy membership— a space where we practice witnessing the parts of us we neglect, or reject, building safety in our bodies through nervous system and somatic work, and generational healing together. Click here to join or learn more This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alyssaaazander.substack.com/subscribe

    26 min
  8. My go-to life changing book list for winter

    10/29/2025

    My go-to life changing book list for winter

    Check out full book list post on Substack here: My go-to healing book list for winter Thank you so much, everyone, for letting me walk alongside you this season. I have a quick favor to ask as we close out this season: If the podcast has supported you in any way it would mean the world to me if you would take just a moment to leave an honest rating or review on the podcast, wherever you listen. To make it easy, I’ll leave the link for you to leave a rating or a review below! When you rate and review the podcast it helps more people find the podcast who are looking to join and have these kinds of conversations around healing codependency and the mother wound. Your voice makes a huge impact, and I am so grateful to receive your support. Thank you. I hope you all have a restful and nourishing winter, and hopefully I’ll see you in the Codependency Alchemy membership! JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alyssaaazander.substack.com/subscribe

    35 min
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Codependency Alchemy is a space for healing codependency through shadow work and inner child healing. Join Alyssa for the vulnerable conversations, personal stories, and hard truths that help you reclaim your voice, set soul-aligned boundaries, and create relationships rooted in self-trust and authenticity. alyssaaazander.substack.com

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