The Flavored Word 🎙️

Shauna Gabriel
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  • Mental Health

Conversations about women, power, social behavior, exclusion, identity, and the cultural dynamics that shape who women are allowed to be. Writer, journalist, recovering perfectionist, and unapologetic defender of the em dash, your host — Shauna Gabriel — blends honest talk about her healing journey with the messy work of becoming a woman who understands her own power. Sharp. Candid. Never sugar‑coated. If you're looking for polished self-help, you've taken a wrong turn. Tune in every Wednesday for short, cinematic episodes — usually 10-12 minutes — that stay with you longer than your morning commute. Part confession, part commentary, always unfiltered. This isn't this a scrapbook — it’s unfiltered talk. Disclaimer: I share personal experiences, not professional advice. Nothing here is medical, nutritional, or therapeutic guidance.

  1. 3d ago

    Why Recovering from an Eating Disorder Didn't Fix how I Saw Myself

    Born from real journal entries, written over decades, this is the story of how it started — the offhand comment from a teacher in eighth grade that taught the monsters in my head that smaller was better. The years of calorie counting and weigh-ins that were already humming in the background before I even knew what an eating disorder was. The slow accumulation of tiny moments that stacked themselves into a belief system I couldn't shake. This episode isn't a blueprint for recovery. It's a reminder that recovery is possible and that you are not alone. Whether you're fighting your own inner demons or supporting someone who is, this is the conversation nobody wants to start but everyone needs to hear. If you’re navigating the space between who you are and how you’re seen, you’ll find more episodes here that meet you right where you are. New episodes up every Friday morning. Be sure to subscribe and share with someone who needs to hear this. Disclaimer: I share personal experiences, not professional advice. Nothing here is medical, nutritional, or therapeutic guidance.

    Why Recovering from an Eating Disorder Didn't Fix how I Saw Myself

  2. Oct 11

    I Recovered. Then the Real Work Started.

    What if recovery isn’t the end of the story, but the beginning of an identity crisis no one prepares you for? Recovery didn’t fix my self-perception. It didn’t erase the distortions. It didn’t make everything suddenly easy. It just gave me tools to address the distorted mirror, my internal critic, and the identity that doesn’t quite fit anymore. I’m opening a door I’ve been circling for a long time. Not a past tense recovery story, but an ongoing negotiation with myself. Starting next Sunday (October 18), I’m releasing a five-episode arc exploring the parts of eating disorder recovery that don’t fit neatly into a “healing journey” narrative — the distortions that linger, the identity shifts nobody warns you about, and the uncomfortable truths that still shape how I see myself. This short update explains the new schedule, the direction I’m heading, and what you can expect over the next five weeks. This short update explains the new schedule, the direction I’m heading, and what you can expect over the next five weeks. Thanks for being here.

    I Recovered. Then the Real Work Started.

  3. Oct 7

    Stop Hiding for Other Women

    We project an unattainable, airbrushed perfection onto every woman in our feed while ruthlessly dissecting our own unedited reflections in the bathroom mirror. By unpacking the psychology behind the spotlight effect, this episode exposes the subconscious double standard that keeps so many women trapped in a cycle of comparison, distortion, and quiet self‑sabotage. Explore the psychology behind the spotlight effect and discover how to break free from comparison and self-sabotage. If this resonates, share it with a woman who might need the reminder: there is no audience. Tune in every Friday!

    Stop Hiding for Other Women

  4. Sep 30

    How Other Women's Perception of You Influence Self-Destructive Behavior

    What if the version of yourself you see in the mirror — and the version you believe exists in the world — isn’t real? This episode explores the disconnect between self-perception and reality, questioning the authenticity of the self-image shaped by childhood messages. It examines how perfectionism and cognitive distortions undermine confidence, and how the narratives women create about each other deepen self-destructive patterns. Ultimately, it’s a call to challenge the stories that distort your reflection and shift toward a more grounded, self-accepting identity. If you’re navigating the space between who you are and how you’re seen, you’ll find more episodes here that meet you right where you are.

    How Other Women's Perception of You Influence Self-Destructive Behavior

  5. Sep 23

    She Never Said Anything Rude. So Why Do You Feel Terrible?

    Adult mean girls don’t yell — they strategize. This episode exposes the subtle, psychological tactics behind covert female aggression and shows you how to spot them, neutralize them, and respond with calm clarity that protects your confidence and your reputation. Covert hostility among women isn’t imaginary — it’s engineered. We break down the quiet mind games that destabilize your self-esteem, from weaponized compliments to digital exclusion to virtue-signaling gossip. If you’ve ever felt the sting behind a smile or the tension beneath “supportive” words, this episode helps you name the pattern and reclaim your power. Navigating the quiet politics of female relationships? Subscribe for more episodes that help you see the patterns clearly — and respond with confidence.

    She Never Said Anything Rude. So Why Do You Feel Terrible?

  6. Sep 16

    Why Holding a Door Open Became a Political Statement

    Modern courtesy hasn’t disappeared — it’s stalled. This episode breaks down the confusion around chivalry, hesitation, and the “lost man” phenomenon, those awkward public moments where everyone overthinks and connection gets replaced by caution. It’s a sharp look at how simple kindness became complicated, why men freeze in everyday interactions, and how fear of being misinterpreted has reshaped basic courtesy. If you’ve ever felt the tension in a doorway or watched someone hesitate over a small gesture, this episode helps you understand what’s really happening — and why reclaiming effortless kindness might be the simplest way to make public life feel human again. If this episode speaks to you, subscribe for weekly conversations on psychology, relational dynamics, and the subtle emotional battles we navigate in everyday life.

    Why Holding a Door Open Became a Political Statement

  7. Sep 9

    The Covert Ways Women Undermine Each Other

    Backhanded praise. Polite exclusion. Inside jokes you’re not meant to understand. From Regina George’s “I love your skirt” to the real‑life micro‑aggressions that sting harder than open conflict, this episode unpacks the covert hierarchy‑building behaviors that quietly erode confidence and belonging. We’re breaking down the subtle, socially acceptable tactics women use to undermine each other — without ever raising their voices or breaking a single rule of etiquette. Ever felt the sting behind a smile or sensed tension beneath “supportive” words? This episode helps you name the pattern and understand the psychology driving it. If this resonates, subscribe for weekly commentary on female psychology, relational dynamics, and the subtle emotional battles women navigate every day.

    The Covert Ways Women Undermine Each Other

  8. Sep 2

    The Adult Mean Girl: How She Evolves

    The “Mean Girl” doesn’t disappear in adulthood — she evolves. This episode traces how childhood exclusion becomes adult social strategy, shifting from playground politics to professional sabotage and the quiet fractures inside modern sisterhood. We explore how scarcity, insecurity, and covert hostility shape female relationships, and why superficial brunch culture often masks deeper competition and comparison. A continuation of, "Women Need to Support Other Women," this conversation digs into the toxic myth that another woman’s success threatens our own — and how unlearning that belief is essential for healthier, more authentic connection. If this episode speaks to you, subscribe for weekly conversations on psychology, relational aggression, and the quiet ways women learn to support each other more honestly.

    The Adult Mean Girl: How She Evolves
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About

Conversations about women, power, social behavior, exclusion, identity, and the cultural dynamics that shape who women are allowed to be. Writer, journalist, recovering perfectionist, and unapologetic defender of the em dash, your host — Shauna Gabriel — blends honest talk about her healing journey with the messy work of becoming a woman who understands her own power. Sharp. Candid. Never sugar‑coated. If you're looking for polished self-help, you've taken a wrong turn. Tune in every Wednesday for short, cinematic episodes — usually 10-12 minutes — that stay with you longer than your morning commute. Part confession, part commentary, always unfiltered. This isn't this a scrapbook — it’s unfiltered talk. Disclaimer: I share personal experiences, not professional advice. Nothing here is medical, nutritional, or therapeutic guidance.

Information

  • Creator
    Shauna Gabriel
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Shauna Gabriel 2014
  • Show Website
    The Flavored Word 🎙️