Back Porch Confessions

Barbara McCormick & Back Porch Media, LLC
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Back Porch Confessions is a place for real talk, raw truth, and heart-deep healing. From faith and mental health to laughter, loss, and everything in between—this is where women come to drop the mask, share their stories, and find strength in honesty. Because sometimes, all you need is a quiet porch, a hot cup, and someone to say, “me too.”

  1. 4d ago

    THE FIVE-SECOND PAUSE: Delaying Your Reaction, Breaking Emotional Traps & Choosing Your Response

    🎙️ THE FIVE-SECOND PAUSE: Delaying Your Reaction, Breaking Emotional Traps & Choosing Your Response | Back Porch Confessions ❤️ What if five seconds could change the entire direction of a conversation? In this episode of Back Porch Confessions, we’re talking about the power of pausing before reacting from anger, hurt, fear, rejection, defensiveness, or frustration. Because the feeling is real... but the first reaction isn’t always the right response. We’ll unpack why emotional triggers can make us react so quickly, how old wounds can show up in present-day situations, and why criticism, silence, rejection, tone, conflict, and feeling misunderstood can push our emotional buttons. Then we’re learning a simple practice: STOP. NOTICE. NAME. QUESTION. CHOOSE. This isn’t about suppressing emotions or allowing disrespect. It’s about recognizing what you feel without automatically handing that emotion control over what you do next. Not every text needs an immediate response.Not every misunderstanding needs a defense.Not every argument needs a winner.And not every person deserves access to your peace. ❤️ YOUR BACK PORCH CHALLENGE:For the next seven days, practice the five-second pause before you respond, defend, explain, text, or automatically say yes. Then ask yourself: “Do I want relief right now... or peace later?” 🎧 Follow Back Porch Confessions, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a rating if our Back Porch conversations are helping you along your healing journey. https://988lifeline.org/ https://www.ourwayskin.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@back.porch.confessions https://www.shoppolishedboutique.com/ #BackPorchConfessions #EmotionalRegulation #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealthPodcast #HealthyCommunication #Boundaries #TraumaHealing #ProtectYourPeace SEO KEYWORDS:five second pause, pause before reacting, emotional regulation, emotional triggers, reacting versus responding, trauma responses, relationship communication, people pleasing, setting boundaries, emotional self control, stop overreacting, stop overexplaining, protecting your peace, self awareness, emotional healing, trauma recovery, mental health podcast, women’s mental health podcast, Back Porch Confessions

  2. Sep 2

    47 Uses for The First Exhausted Word in our Vocabulary- Fine

    “How are you?” Fine. But are we? In this deep-dive episode of Back Porch Confessions, we unpack the 47 different things we may really mean when we say the word fine — because sometimes “fine” means okay… and sometimes it means overwhelmed, angry, grieving, exhausted, lonely, scared, disappointed, emotionally numb, people pleasing, avoiding conflict, or simply trying not to fall apart. We talk about why “I’m fine” becomes such an automatic response, how childhood experiences and relationship patterns can teach us to hide our real emotions, why people pleasers often say yes when they mean no, and how grief, resentment, anxiety, heartbreak, emotional exhaustion, and fear can all hide behind four little letters. This episode also explores emotional honesty, communication in relationships, mental health, boundaries, vulnerability, emotional suppression, trauma responses, unmet needs, grief, burnout, and what can happen when we finally stop expecting one word to explain an entire human heart. Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can say isn’t: “I’m fine.” It’s: “Actually… I’m having a hard day.” Pull up a chair, grab your coffee, and come sit with me on the Back Porch as we talk about what “fine” really means — and how learning to name what we actually feel can change the way we understand ourselves and connect with the people we love. ❤️ https://littlebutterfly13.myshopify.com/ https://www.ourwayskin.com/ https://www.shoppolishedboutique.com/ https://backporchconfessions.riverside.com/ https://oralpouchsolutions.com/ https://988lifeline.org/ #BackPorchConfessions #MentalHealthPodcast #EmotionalHealing #PeoplePleasingRecovery #TraumaHealing #EmotionalWellness #HealthyCommunication #Boundaries #SelfAwareness #HealingJourney SEO KEYWORDS:I’m fine meaning, 47 meanings of fine, why people say I’m fine, emotional suppression, hiding emotions, mental health podcast, women’s mental health podcast, emotional healing podcast, trauma recovery podcast, people pleasing, people pleasing recovery, relationship communication, healthy communication, emotional honesty, unmet emotional needs, emotional numbness, grief and loss, anxiety and stress, burnout and exhaustion, resentment in relationships, relationship problems, setting boundaries, vulnerability, childhood trauma, trauma responses, emotional regulation, self-awareness, healing journey, how to express feelings, naming emotions, fear of vulnerability, masking emotions, loneliness, heartbreak recovery, grief healing, mental exhaustion, emotional burnout, learning to ask for help, stop saying I’m fine, mental health awareness, Back Porch Confessions

  3. Aug 28 ·  Bonus

    🔥 BEYOND THE BADGE: WHAT FIRST RESPONDERS CARRY; Featuring Battalion Chief Brent James

    https://988lifeline.org/ If you or someone you know is looking for help, needs help, in a crisis; please call or text 988. see link for instructions and instant access to 988.org 🔥 BEYOND THE BADGE: WHAT FIRST RESPONDERS CARRY🎙️ Back Porch Confessions - The InterviewsFeaturing Battalion Chief Brent James What happens after the sirens stop? We call them heroes. We watch them run toward emergencies the rest of us are running away from. But rarely do we stop to ask what happens to the person underneath the uniform after the call is over. In this deeply personal second conversation with Battalion Chief Brent James, we're going beyond firefighting and into the mental and emotional realities of life as a first responder. We talk about the things firefighters may see that they simply can't unsee. Severe accidents. Fatalities. Pediatric emergencies. Suicide. Violence. Unsuccessful rescues. Losing one of their own. The sounds, smells, places and memories that can follow a first responder long after a scene has been cleared. Brent takes us inside the reality of compartmentalizing trauma just so you can finish the job—and what can happen after years of putting those experiences into mental boxes. We discuss cumulative trauma, guilt after an unsuccessful rescue, close calls, dark humor, sleeplessness, emotional numbness, relationships, firefighter families, peer support, counseling, critical-incident debriefing, and how the fire service's approach to mental health has changed over the years. And then I ask a question we don't ask nearly enough: Who's checking on the Chief? Because the person making sure everyone else is okay is still human, too. This isn't an episode about weakness. It's a conversation about what strength looks like when you've spent a career witnessing people on some of the worst days of their lives. And perhaps the biggest question of all: Which takes more courage—walking into the emergency, or admitting afterward that the emergency followed you home? ⚠️ LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED: This episode contains candid discussions of traumatic accidents, severe injuries, fatalities involving adults and children, suicide, violence, unsuccessful rescues, first-responder injury and death, grief, and trauma. Some topics may be difficult for some listeners. This is Back Porch Confessions – The Interviews: Beyond the Badge - What First Responders Carry. Real people. Real conversations. Real stories. Everyone has a story. Sometimes, all they need is someone willing to listen. ❤️ #BackPorchConfessions #FirstResponderMentalHealth #FirefighterMentalHealth #FirefighterPTSD #MentalHealthAwareness #FirstResponders #FirefighterLife #TraumaRecovery #BehindTheBadge #ConversationsThatMatter first responder mental health, firefighter mental health, firefighter PTSD, firefighter trauma, first responder PTSD, cumulative trauma in first responders, Battalion Chief Brent James, firefighter interview, first responder interview, firefighter podcast, mental health podcast, firefighter stories, life of a firefighter, behind the badge, firefighter emotional trauma, traumatic calls, critical incident stress, critical incident debriefing, first responder peer support, firefighter counseling, firefighter suicide awareness, first responder suicide awareness, pediatric emergency trauma, line of duty death, firefighter line of duty death, first responder families, firefighter spouses, firefighter relationships, trauma and relationships, compassion fatigue, emotional numbness, survivor guilt, traumatic stress, first responder resilience, firefighter resilience, emergency responder mental health, mental health stigma in first responders, firefighter brotherhood, trauma recovery, occupational trauma, emergency services mental health, Back Porch Confessions, Back Porch Confessions The Interviews, Barbara McCormick podcast

    🔥 BEYOND THE BADGE: WHAT FIRST RESPONDERS CARRY; Featuring Battalion Chief Brent James

  4. Aug 27

    🎙️ THE LIMBO STATE: Learning to Live Again After Loss ❤️

    What happens after the funeral, the flowers stop arriving, the phone stops ringing, and everyone else seems to return to normal… but you can’t? That’s The Limbo State. It’s the strange, empty space after losing someone you love where you’re no longer living in the initial shock of death, but you don’t quite know how to live this new life without them either. In this deeply personal episode of Back Porch Confessions, we’re talking about grief after the loss of a loved one, emotional numbness, loneliness, survivor’s guilt, complicated feelings around healing, and one of the hardest questions grieving people face: “How can I move forward without feeling like I’m leaving them behind?” We’ll talk about the guilt that can come with your first genuine laugh. The first good day. The vacation you actually enjoy. The birthday where you don’t cry. The new relationship. The moment you realize they weren’t the first thing you thought about that morning. And why NONE of those moments mean you’ve forgotten them. Maybe healing after loss isn’t about “moving on.” Maybe it’s about learning to move forward with them. Carrying their stories. Saying their name. Honoring their life. Keeping the traditions that matter. Letting go of the belief that suffering every day is somehow proof of how deeply you loved them. Because your grief is not the measure of your love. And getting your smile back is not a betrayal. We’ll explore how to begin creating new memories without erasing the old ones, how to navigate grief triggers and milestone dates, how to rediscover who you are after loss, and how to give yourself permission to experience happiness again. Most importantly, we’re learning how to live FOR them instead of mourning them every single day. Pull up a chair, grab your coffee, and sit with me awhile. If you're somewhere in that lonely in-between place right now, this conversation is for you. ❤️ You don't have to stop loving them to start living again. 🎧 Back Porch Confessions — where healing, hard conversations, laughter, faith, life, and a little Southern sass always have a seat. https://www.ourwayskin.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@back.porch.confessions https://www.shoppolishedboutique.com/ https://littlebutterfly13.myshopify.com/ #BackPorchConfessions #GriefAndLoss #GriefHealing #LifeAfterLoss #GriefSupport #HealingAfterLoss #FindingJoyAgain #MovingForward #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealthPodcast SEO KEYWORDS:grief after losing a loved one, grief and loss podcast, how to move forward after death, learning to live after loss, grief recovery, healing after losing someone, death of a loved one, grieving a parent, grieving a spouse, grieving a child, grieving a family member, survivor guilt after death, guilt about moving on after death, feeling guilty for being happy after loss, emotional numbness after death, empty feeling after losing someone, grief limbo, stages of grief, complicated grief, grief triggers, grief anniversary, life after loss, finding happiness after grief, getting your smile back, learning to be happy again, moving forward without forgetting, honoring a loved one after death, living for someone who died, continuing bonds after death, grief and healing, grief support, bereavement, coping with death, loneliness after loss, finding yourself after loss, rediscovering joy after grief, mental health and grief, trauma and grief, healing podcast, women’s mental health podcast, mental health podcast, Back Porch Confessions

  5. Aug 25

    THEY SHOULD KNOW Syndrome 😅 | Back Porch Confessions ❤️

    You know the feeling… “I shouldn’t have to tell them. They should KNOW.” And for those of us who have been internally maintaining an emotional spreadsheet of every offense, disappointment, side-eye, forgotten anniversary, unanswered text, and questionable comment since approximately 1977… this episode is for YOU. 😂 In this deep-dive episode of Back Porch Confessions, we’re unpacking the psychology behind unspoken expectations, resentment, relationship scorekeeping, people pleasing, emotional labor, communication breakdowns, childhood conditioning, hyperawareness, boundaries, forgiveness, and why some of us remember an argument from 1998 better than what we walked into the kitchen for five minutes ago. We’ll talk about why “they should know” often really means “I want to feel seen.” We’ll explore the difference between healthy expectations and silent relationship tests, why highly observant people can become resentful when others don’t anticipate their needs, and how old hurts can quietly turn today’s disagreement into a courtroom filled with evidence from the last four decades. Most importantly, we’re talking about how to stop keeping score without pretending the hurt never happened. Because healing isn’t forgetting. It’s learning when to communicate, when to create a boundary, when repair is possible, and when it’s finally time to close the spreadsheet. Grab your coffee, pull up a chair, and come figure some SHIZ out with me on the Back Porch. ❤️ https://oralpouchsolutions.com/https://www.shoppolishedboutique.com/ https://littlebutterfly13.myshopify.com/collections/backporchconfessions https://www.ourwayskin.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@back.porch.confessions #BackPorchConfessions #RelationshipHealing #EmotionalHealing #PeoplePleasingRecovery #HealthyRelationships #RelationshipCommunication #Resentment #Boundaries #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthPodcast They Should Know Syndrome, unspoken expectations in relationships, relationship resentment, emotional scorekeeping, keeping score in relationships, communication problems in relationships, unmet emotional needs, people pleasing and resentment, emotional labor in relationships, childhood trauma and relationships, hypervigilance in relationships, relationship expectations, marriage communication, resentment toward spouse, healing resentment, forgiveness and boundaries, healthy relationship communication, emotional needs, relationship conflict, trauma responses, childhood conditioning, people pleasing recovery, setting boundaries, emotional healing, mental health podcast, women’s mental health podcast, relationship advice podcast, trauma recovery podcast, self awareness, healing childhood wounds, Back Porch Confessions podcast

  6. Aug 15 ·  Bonus

    BPC - The Interviews - Guest Brent James, Battlion Chief Station 1 at Turtle Creek, AR

    SENESITIVE SUBJECTS, VIEWER DISCRESSION IS ADVISED! 🎙️ Back Porch Confessions – The Interviews | Real People. Real Stories. Real Conversations. Everybody has a story—and sometimes, all they need is someone willing to listen. Welcome to Back Porch Confessions – The Interviews, hosted by Barbara McCormick, a podcast series built around honest conversations with real people whose experiences deserve to be heard. Pull up a rocking chair as we go beyond the titles, careers, accomplishments, and appearances to discover the human being behind the story. From first responders, firefighters, veterans, professionals, advocates and community leaders to survivors, everyday heroes and people who have overcome extraordinary circumstances, these interviews explore the moments that shape us. We talk about mental health, trauma, resilience, healing, grief, relationships, leadership, courage, faith, personal growth, overcoming adversity, life lessons and finding strength after difficult seasons. Some stories will inspire you. Some will make you think. Some may break your heart. Some will make you laugh until you can't breathe. And knowing this Back Porch... some conversations are probably going completely off the rails. 😂 But they'll always be REAL. No perfect answers.No pretending.No judgment. Just real people sharing real stories about where they've been, what they've survived, what they've learned, and who they've become along the way. ☕ Grab your coffee.🪑 Pull up a rocking chair.🎙️ And stay awhile. This is Back Porch Confessions – The Interviews. Everyone has a story. Sometimes, all they need is someone willing to listen. ❤️ https://oralpouchsolutions.com/ 988 Lifeline - If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988.#BackPorchConfessions #BackPorchConfessionsTheInterviews #RealPeopleRealStories #PodcastInterviews #MentalHealthPodcast #InspirationalStories #HealingJourney #Resilience #TrueStories #ConversationsThatMatter

    BPC - The Interviews - Guest Brent James, Battlion Chief Station 1 at Turtle Creek, AR

  7. Aug 12

    Part 4 of 4: The Next Fifty Years are Mine!

    The Next Fifty Years Are Mine! What if healing wasn't about forgetting your past... What if it was about refusing to let your past write the rest of your story? After years of carrying childhood trauma, rejection, emotional neglect, abandonment, and believing I wasn't enough, I finally realized something life-changing: The next fifty years are mine. In this deeply personal episode of Back Porch Confessions, we talk about what happens after survival. How do you build a peaceful life when your nervous system has only known chaos? How do you trust healthy relationships after emotional wounds? How do you stop people-pleasing, set boundaries without guilt, and finally believe that you deserve joy? This episode is for anyone who has ever questioned their worth because of childhood trauma, mother wounds, emotional neglect, toxic family dynamics, narcissistic abuse, or abandonment. Together we'll explore: ❤️ Healing after childhood trauma❤️ Mother wounds & emotional neglect❤️ Learning to trust yourself again❤️ Breaking generational trauma❤️ Reparenting your inner child❤️ Setting healthy boundaries without guilt❤️ Nervous system healing & emotional regulation❤️ Choosing peace instead of survival❤️ Building healthy relationships❤️ Living the life you were always meant to live You are not broken. You survived. Now it's time to stop surviving... And start living. Because your story isn't over. The next fifty years are yours. Welcome back to the porch. Childhood Trauma Healing, Emotional Healing, Inner Child Healing, Mother Wounds, Trauma Recovery, Emotional Neglect, Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, Abandonment Healing, Nervous System Healing, Mental Health Podcast, Self-Worth, Personal Growth, Healing Journey, Generational Trauma, Healthy Boundaries, Reparenting, Christian Healing, Faith and Mental Health, Back Porch Confessions, Barbara McCormick https://littlebutterfly13.myshopify.com/ https://www.ourwayskin.com/ https://www.shoppolishedboutique.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@back.porch.confessions #ChildhoodTrauma#MentalHealthPodcast#TraumaHealing#InnerChildHealing#EmotionalHealing#MotherWounds#HealingJourney#SelfWorth#BackPorchConfessions#BarbaraMcCormick For years I thought there was something wrong with me. I finally discovered there wasn't. There was a little girl carrying pain that never belonged to her. This episode isn't about staying angry. It's about understanding your story, releasing the weight you've carried, and choosing peace over survival. The next fifty years are mine. Maybe it's time for yours to be too.

  8. Aug 1 ·  Bonus

    Bonus - Continued Part 3 of 4 Mourning the Mother I Needed

    Releasing the Weight Without Rewriting the Truth The Weight We Were Never Meant to Carry Truth Without Hatred What Forgiveness Is...and What It Isn'tFreedom Doesn't Require Their PermissionThe Day I Stopped Arguing With RealityA Letter to the Child Inside

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About

Back Porch Confessions is a place for real talk, raw truth, and heart-deep healing. From faith and mental health to laughter, loss, and everything in between—this is where women come to drop the mask, share their stories, and find strength in honesty. Because sometimes, all you need is a quiet porch, a hot cup, and someone to say, “me too.”

Information

  • Creator
    Barbara McCormick & Back Porch Media, LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Barbara McCormick & Back Porch Media, LLC
  • Show Website
    Back Porch Confessions