Episode Overview

In Episode 8, Chris and Candi return with a refreshed setup and introduce an exciting new chapter for the podcast, welcoming their new producer, Maranda Taylor.

The conversation quickly moves into one of the most difficult and misunderstood aspects of estrangement: the belief that parents should carry their pain quietly, take full blame, and remain silent. Chris and Candi speak openly about what it feels like to be challenged publicly, judged without context, and told that parental grief is invalid.

This episode explores the damaging cultural narrative that estranged parents are automatically at fault and therefore do not deserve empathy, voice, or grief. Together, they challenge the idea that accountability and pain cannot coexist and affirm that multiple truths can exist at the same time.

🕒 Episode Breakdown & Key Moments

(0:00–1:30)

• Welcome to Episode 8
• New setup and improved production
• Introduction of the podcast’s new producer
• Lighthearted banter about the show’s name

(1:30–3:30)

• Explanation of the weekly “Comment of the Week”
• Why these comments matter
• The importance of parents having a voice

(3:30–9:00)

• Candi shares a public comment that crossed the line
• Assumptions about accountability and parenting
• Addressing the myth that estranged parents refuse reflection
• Clarifying that one estranged relationship does not define all relationships

(9:00–12:00)

• Accountability, therapy, and introspection
• Emotional impact of being publicly labeled and dismissed

(12:00–16:00)

• Core topic: what society thinks parents should do with their pain
• Why the narrative demands silence
• How multiple truths can exist at once

(16:00–19:30)

• Society’s discomfort with complexity
• Pressure on parents to “just move on”
• Why estrangement grief is different

(19:30–21:30)

• Mental and emotional toll of estrangement
• Identity loss as a parent
• Why silence can be dangerous

(21:30–24:30)

• Why parental pain is minimized
• Guilt, shame, and the villain narrative

(24:30–28:30)

• Therapy expectations and responsibility dynamics
• Adult-to-adult communication
• Accountability as a shared responsibility

(28:30–End)

• Final reflections on boundaries and humanity
• Affirmation that parents are allowed to feel pain
• Closing thoughts on voice and healing

💬 Key Themes

• Parental grief and ambiguous loss
• Accountability versus automatic blame
• Society’s discomfort with parental pain
• Identity loss after estrangement
• Healing without silence
• The right to speak your truth

🤍 Support the Podcast & Stay Connected

If Estranged & Deranged resonates with you and you want to support the podcast and stay connected, there are a few ways to join us.

🔗 Visit the official website:
https://estrangedandderanged.net
Learn more about the podcast, upcoming episodes, resources, and the mission behind the conversations.

🤍 Join us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/EstrangedandDeranged?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
Patreon is where you can directly support the podcast, access exclusive content, and help sustain this space for estranged parents who deserve voice, compassion, and community.

🤍Check Out Our Stan Stores:
https://stan.store/griefandhealingwithchris
https://stan.store/candilcan_328

🎧 Listener Takeaway

You can take accountability and still grieve.
You can reflect and still feel pain.
Silence is not healing, and grief does not require permission.

Chris and Candi are back for Episode 7, and they are digging into one of the biggest recurring themes they hear from estranged parents: therapy language being used as a weapon instead of a tool. Starting with a real TikTok message about therapists letting clients “define” abuse, toxicity, and narcissism, they unpack why that approach can leave adult children confused, entrenched in labels, and less likely to move toward real healing or reconciliation.

They talk about the rise of therapy buzzwords, the difference between validating feelings and treating feelings as facts, and why good therapy should challenge thoughts, add context, and help someone move forward with clear goals. They also discuss how public platforms and high-profile conversations can shape the narrative, why bias matters in any helping profession, and what ethical, effective therapy should actually look like for families on both sides of estrangement. As always, they remind listeners they are not anti-therapy, they are pro-accountability, pro-clarity, and pro-healthy healing for everyone involved.

Chris and Candi are back with a raw, funny, and brutally honest conversation about the phrases estranged parents get judged for even thinking, let alone saying. Inspired by a viral post and the reactions it sparked, they dig into six “forbidden” truths, from “I didn’t deserve to be cut off like this” to “working on myself didn’t fix it,” and why mixed emotions like anger and grief can exist at the same time. Along the way, they talk about silence, boundaries on both sides, the myth that estrangement automatically brings peace, and why society would rather avoid discomfort than make room for the parent perspective. They also share resources for support, including their Facebook community “When They Walk Away,” and tease the next episode on therapy and why it can help or harm the path forward.