The Lori Clarke Show Lori Clarke

"It is not your shame. It was their shame, and they put it on you!" is the best takeaway from Episode #55 with Ilene Leshinsky, psychotherapist, intuitive energy healer, body image specialist, and author of the book Reflections Of A Fat Girl.
I invite you to listen, observe, and become curious as Ilene and I dip into our early childhoods and talk about where shame began for both of us. Guided by her lived experience, Ilene helps me and many clients heal their emotional wounds and release the shame they hold in their bodies.

Who are you? Now that’s a loaded question, just three words that hold significant weight. Now all of this is just a step in the process of getting to where we are meant to be and thriving; we start losing sight of who we are and our personal purpose along the way. This process of discomfort helps us develop deeper self-awareness. You must let go of parts of yourself in order to discover what is currently intended to fit you; releasing what no longer serves you is necessary!

In this episode of Shame Out Loud, Lori shares her thoughts and insights on her fear of being seen. This first episode will allow you to understand the core connections and conflicts associated with shame, allowing shame to lose its power as we learn and discover its origins in our lives!

Annie Roberts is joining me on the show today to share her journey to sobriety with us. She will remind us that there is hope and that you can overcome your struggles with faith and perseverance.
To begin today’s conversation, we discuss Annie’s presence on TikTok and how her content had millions of likes, apart from a video discussing her sobriety. At the time, Annie was at her 18-month sobriety anniversary, but had secretly suffered a relapse. She wants people to know that if you are struggling, or you are suffering or have suffered a relapse, don’t put yourself down. Celebrate the days that you did succeed and learn from when you didn’t.
For Annie, her journey to sobriety began when her oldest daughter went off to college. She realized that her support network was leaving and she had to focus on her kids and herself. Shame was a huge factor in Annie’s resolution to become sober. She wanted to be a good example for her kids and didn’t want them to be ashamed of her.
When it comes to social relationships, Drinking Annie was the life of the party. While she hasn’t lost any friendships over her sobriety, Annie does think there are some friends who don’t like that she no longer drinks. Not every day is a hard day, but there are still some days that are.
Next, we discuss boundaries and how people often don’t respect them, especially when it comes to things like drinking. Social pressure is real and can be damaging. It never goes away. During these times, it’s important to remember the journey you are on and all you have achieved.
Annie and I finish by talking about what she fills her cup

Shannon Christensen, founder of Mamas for Mamas, a nonprofit that helps Mamas and Families in need, shares with us how it all began.






Learn more about mamas for mamas

What makes an experience traumatic is not the actual event; it's the impact and imprint it leaves on your nervous system. Ilene Smith, author of the book Moving Beyond Trauma: The Roadmap to Healing from Your Past and Living with Ease and Vitality, shares with us her work as a Somatic Therapist and her journey and healing through this modality. Ilene says, 'The issue is in the tissue. When we get stuck in a cycling narrative or emotion, we can't access our ability to feel safe and be engaged and connected with ourselves and others."