In this episode of Dysfunctional, Josh sits down with Debra Paynter — business manager, single parent, and advocate — for a raw conversation about raising her son, Teddy, who is autistic and has a learning disability.They explore:Why SEND families are so often failed by schools, local authorities, and societyThe difference between a tantrum and a meltdown, and what public judgement really feels likeHow lockdown became a turning point in Teddy’s developmentThe exhausting fight to secure the right school place and legal protectionsWhat society could do — right now — to better support SEND parentsThe unexpected joy, connection, and resilience Debra has found in her journeyThis is a conversation about courage, love, and truth-telling — and it will make you think differently about SEND parenting.Follow Debra:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debs.does.asana/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1:14:35
The Day I Stopped Forgiving My Mother with Dr. Sherrie Campbell
In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Josh sits down with Dr. Sherrie Campbell — psychologist, author, and unapologetic disruptor in the toxic family space — ahead of their joint Come Home to Yourself event in Los Angeles on October 4th.What starts as an excited chat about the event quickly dives deep into some of the most taboo and misunderstood truths about healing from family abuse:Why forgiveness can become a weapon that keeps you trapped.How anger is an emotion of justice — and why you need it to set real boundaries.The myth that boundaries can “fix” toxic people.How bypassing, “love and light” culture, and the obsession with being nice can actually harm survivors.The danger of therapists colluding with abusers (often unintentionally).The reality of parental sadism and why you may never get a satisfying “why.”Dr. Sherrie shares the most vulnerable moment of her healing journey — the day she realised her mother had no respect for her because she kept forgiving her — and how that moment became a turning point toward freedom.This is not a conversation for those looking for sugar-coated healing. It’s for those ready to face the truth, drop the audition for love, and come home to themselves.🎟 Come Home to Yourself — Los Angeles, October 4thA full-day interactive experience with Josh & Dr. Sherrie featuring deep teaching, inner child work, live Q&A, and a powerful breathwork session for emotional release.Spaces are limited: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/come-home-to-you-tickets-1461867257319?aff=oddtdtcreator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1:22:44
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1:22:44
Healing from Toxic Family Systems with Patrick Teahan
In this episode of Dysfunctional, I’m joined by therapist and childhood trauma expert Patrick Teahan for a raw and powerful conversation about healing from toxic family systems.We explore:Why estrangement can be necessary for healing — and the grief that followsHow toxic parents keep control through subtle emotional tacticsThe long-term impact of growing up in dysfunctional family systemsThe limits of 12-step recovery when it comes to childhood traumaWhy grieving the parent you never had is a turning point in recoveryHow society mirrors toxic family dynamics — and what it takes to break the cyclePatrick also shares insights from his group therapy model, the Relationship Recovery Process, and reflects on his journey from early therapy to becoming a leading voice in the trauma recovery space.If you're healing from family dysfunction, this one will land deeply.Find Patrick here - https://linktr.ee/patrickteahan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1:40:16
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1:40:16
Hate Yachts, Not Dinghies: Class, Control & Political Punk with Hyphen
What if the same coercive control you grew up with in your family is playing out on a societal scale—and no one’s supposed to name it?In this unapologetically raw episode, I’m joined by political punk artist Hyphen to call out the hidden systems most people are too afraid to touch. We unpack classism, manufactured consent, and how we’ve all been programmed to blame individuals instead of broken structures.Hyphen shares how losing a close friend, burning out in finance, and growing up as the child of Indian immigrants shaped his activism—and how political punk gave him a voice loud enough to be heard.We get into:Why being angry is the only sane response to injusticeThe truth about “freedom” under capitalismHow systems mirror abusive family dynamicsWhy 3.5% of people are all it takes to ignite changeAnd how slogans like “Hate Yachts, Not Dinghies” can become rallying cries for a generationThis one is for the misfits, the scapegoats, the question-askers.This is Dysfunctional. And we’re not here to behave. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1:01:57
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1:01:57
What No One Tells You About Parental Imprisonment With Georgina And LuLu
In this raw and emotional episode, I sit down with Lulu and Georgina—two sisters who grew up in the chaos of having a father in prison. What starts as a conversation about parental imprisonment unfolds into a powerful exploration of shame, silence, systemic failure, and the unbreakable bond between siblings who carried each other through the storm.We talk about what it’s really like for the children left behind:The raids.The media frenzy.Being judged by teachers, friends, and strangers.And the complete absence of support.Georgina was arrested at 17—just for being related to the man who committed the crime. Lulu was a child being searched at prison visits, isolated by her peers, and silently carrying the burden of a family under siege.Together, they’ve turned pain into purpose—becoming advocates for Children Heard and Seen, a charity supporting children affected by parental imprisonment.This conversation is a call to action. It’s about seeing the invisible victims of crime, breaking the cycle of silence, and reminding every child out there who’s been impacted: It’s not your fault.Key Topics Covered:Living with media stigma when a parent goes to prisonThe trauma of police raids and prison visits as a childThe emotional toll of secrecy, shame, and being judgedAttachment wounds and survival responsesHow families hold each other together in chaosThe desperate need for better support and resources for children of prisonersWhy advocacy matters and what needs to changeTrigger Warning: This episode contains emotional conversations around childhood trauma, imprisonment, police raids, and systemic neglect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I am shaking up the wellness industry and addressing the things that people usually avoid. With relentless curiosity and refusal to sweep things under the rug, this podcast is for those who crave truth over comfort and honesty over surface level BS. So, get yourself in the lotus position because I have no plan, no pretence and definitely no bypassing….. I’m Josh Connolly and this will probably be dysfunctional Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
UK