Untangling the Past: Dr. Joan Peters on Psychoanalysis, Childhood Trauma, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

Episode Summary:
In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Linda's Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life, I’m joined by Dr. Joan Peters—professor emeritus of literature and writing at California State University and author of Untangling: A Memoir of Psychoanalysis. Together, we explore Joan’s deeply personal journey through psychoanalysis as she worked to understand the hidden roots of lifelong nightmares, inner turmoil, and a mystery that lingered since childhood.

From the outside, Joan’s family appeared ordinary—a mother, a stepfather, a brother, and a seemingly normal life. But beneath the surface, she was waking up screaming multiple times a week, haunted by dreams where someone was trying to kill her. Why?

The trauma didn’t come from abuse—it came from a little girl’s desperate attempt to make sense of the incomprehensible. When Joan was born, her father was dying of cancer. Her overwhelmed mother administered morphine shots to ease his suffering, often while Joan sat nearby in her high chair. Though she couldn’t understand what was happening, Joan felt that something was terribly wrong—and she internalized the grief, fear, and silence around her. When her father died just before her second birthday, his memory was erased from family life, never to be mentioned again.

Through decades of silence and self-blame, Joan carried the belief that she was responsible—that she was the "angel of death," and that someone would one day kill her because she was bad.

In this moving conversation, Joan shares how psychoanalysis helped her unravel the stories she created to explain her pain—and how retelling those stories with compassion became the key to healing. We also discuss the power of acknowledging trauma, the danger of unspoken grief, and how rewriting our inner narratives can transform our lives.

Learn more and connect with Dr. Peters at UntanglingJoan.com.

Key Topics Covered:

• The hidden impact of early childhood trauma
• How children internalize grief and pain
• The silence surrounding death and how it affects family dynamics
• The power of psychoanalysis in untangling subconscious fears
• Rewriting our personal narratives to find peace and healing
  
  

Connect with Linda:
Website: HopeForHealingFoundation.org
Podcast: Linda’s Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life
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If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who may need to hear it. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review—it helps others find the show and join our healing journey. 💛

#UntanglingThePast
#ChildhoodTraumaHealing
#PsychoanalysisJourney
#RewriteYourStory
#EmotionalHealing

Spring Flower: A Journey Through Generational Trauma, War, and Hope with Dr. Richard Perkins-Hsung

Episode Description:
In this profoundly moving episode of Linda’s Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life, we sit down with Dr. Richard Perkins-Hsung—university professor, son of immigrants, and the devoted compiler of his late mother Jean’s extraordinary memoir, Spring Flower. Together, we explore the deep impact of the immigrant experience and generational trauma, as seen through the lens of Jean’s powerful life story.

Jean was born into extreme poverty in China, where girls were considered worthless, and female infants were often abandoned. Her own mother endured the ancient, brutal custom of foot binding, breaking and reshaping feet to meet cultural ideals. As an infant, Jean survived one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 20th century when the Yangtze River flooded, killing millions through drowning, famine, and disease.

Miraculously, Jean was adopted by compassionate American missionaries who devoted their lives to serving the Chinese people. From there, Jean’s journey would span Japanese occupation during World War II, a fateful encounter with Mahatma Gandhi, the terror of the Communist Revolution, and a dramatic escape to the United States—all while leaving behind a husband and daughter.

Through Jean’s story, we see history come alive—her resilience, sacrifice, and determination shaped not only her son Richard’s childhood but also the generational narrative passed down through trauma and healing.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The devastating culture of gender inequality in early 20th-century China
• Jean’s survival through the Yangtze River flood and WWII
• Her inspiring American missionary adoptive parents and their humanitarian work
• Life under Mao’s Communist Revolution and the personal cost of political upheaval
• Jean’s heartbreaking separation from her husband and daughter
• Richard’s journey as an immigrant boy in America and how his mother’s legacy shaped him
• The importance of understanding ancestral stories to find personal healing and identity
• The creation of Spring Flower, Jean’s posthumous memoir, honoring her voice and life

Dr. Richard Perkins-Hsung offers deep insights into how historical trauma becomes generational, and how retelling these stories with compassion can become a tool for healing.

Connect with Dr. Richard Perkins-Hsung:
🌐 YangtzeRiverByTheHudsonBay.site

🌐 https://richardperkinshsung.com/

Mentioned in the Episode:
📘 Spring Flower – A memoir of resilience, love, and survival through war, poverty, and generational trauma.

Thank you for supporting Linda's Corner! Please take a moment to share this episode, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a rating and review. Visit the Linda's Corner website at lindascornerpodcast.com, and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @lindascornerpodcast.

Discover free resources to increase happiness, build confidence, improve relationships, manage stress, and calm feelings of depression and anxiety at the Hope for Healing website: hopeforhealingfoundation.org.

For a transformative experience in deep inner healing, visit healingbreathworkdetox.com—a digital platform offering life-changing results.

Become the champion of your own story as you overcome life’s challenges and unlock your full potential!

Now I See the Good, Not Just the Pain: Julie Barth’s Story of Resilience, Healing, and Hope

Episode Description:
In this deeply moving episode of Linda’s Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life, we welcome Julie Barth—trauma survivor, devoted mother of six, author of Notes from a Blackberry, and founder of the Colin James Barth Outreach. Julie opens her heart and shares a powerful story of navigating life through profound grief, trauma, chronic medical challenges, and ultimately finding hope and healing.

Julie is the mother of Tatum, a remarkable young woman living with primordial dwarfism—a rare and complex condition. At just 24 years old and weighing 24 pounds, Tatum has endured over 40 surgeries, countless medical challenges, and even a battle with a rare form of cancer. Despite severe physical limitations, Tatum shines as a self-taught artist and a bright light of joy to those around her.

For years, Julie carried the heavy belief that she needed to “fix” Tatum—believing that joy and fulfillment could only come if her daughter were “normal.” Over time, she came to a life-changing realization: Tatum is the hero of her own story, and it's okay to let go of the need to fix what simply is. Julie now embraces the journey with love, acceptance, and presence.

Amidst the ongoing health challenges, Julie’s husband Colin was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. His passing left her with deep survivor's guilt and the immense weight of parenting through grief. Eventually, she remarried—but the relationship became emotionally and financially abusive. Trapped in a cycle of self-blame and suffering, Julie believed she deserved to be punished and lived for years on auto-pilot—pretending to be happy while trying to outrun the pain of her past.

Her healing journey began when she bravely chose to stop pretending and start unpacking the trauma she had carried for so long. Julie now uses her experiences to fuel her passion for helping others. As CEO and founder of the Colin James Barth Outreach, she supports women-led households by providing the resources and aid needed to find security and stability in times of crisis.

Julie’s story is raw, courageous, and incredibly inspiring—a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of healing.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Parenting a child with a rare condition and over 40 surgeries
• Why letting go of the need to “fix” can open the door to deeper connection and joy
• Losing her beloved husband Colin to cancer and the aftermath of grief
• Surviving an abusive relationship and rediscovering her worth
• Learning to face the past in order to create a better future
• Julie’s mission to help other women rebuild their lives with dignity and hope
• Her powerful book Notes from a Blackberry and the story behind it

Connect with Julie Barth:
📖 JulieBarthAuthor.net
💛 CJBOutreach.org

Why do we keep repeating the same patterns in our relationships—no matter how much we want things to change? The answer often lies in our attachment style.

In this episode of Linda’s Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life, I’m joined by Jack Bohannan, a Relationship & Intimacy Coach and host of the Polarity Unscripted Podcast. Jack helps clients—most often women—heal attachment issues through embodied relationship role play using the Somatica Method. His work offers a path toward creating meaningful, secure, and lasting relationships.

Together, we explore:

• What attachment theory is and why it matters in today’s world
  
  
• The four main attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful-avoidant
  
  
• How childhood experiences shape the way we connect (or disconnect) as adults
  
  
• The three essential components of healing: understanding, new experiences, and collaboration
  
  
• How Somatica therapy offers a safe space to practice those components and rewire old patterns
  
  
• A powerful conflict repair method that ends fights and deepens connection
  
  

If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of unfulfilling relationships or wondered why intimacy feels so hard, this conversation will bring clarity, hope, and tools for change.

Learn more about Jack Bohannan:
🌐 jackbohannan.com

🌐 https://jackbohannan.com/conflict-signup-page

🎙️ Polarity Unscripted Podcast

Raising an Entrepreneur – Helping Your Children Achieve Their Dreams with Margot Machol Bisnow

What does it take to raise confident, resilient, and creative children who achieve their dreams? In this episode, we welcome Margot Machol Bisnow, author of Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams – 99 Stories from Families Who Did. With a background in government, including serving as an FTC Commissioner and staff director of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, Margot has spent the last decade speaking to parent groups about fostering entrepreneurial spirit in children.

In our conversation, Margot shares key insights from her book and articles featured on CNBC, including the parenting style that all parents of successful young entrepreneurs had in common: Respectful Parenting.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Respectful Parenting Works:

• Instead of authoritarian or permissive styles, successful parents provided structure, support, and warmth.
• They set rules and expectations while allowing their children the freedom to make big decisions.
• Their children always knew they were loved and that their parents were proud of them.

✅ Failure is a Learning Opportunity:

• Protecting kids from failure doesn’t help them—it holds them back.
• Teaching children that failure is part of learning builds resilience and perseverance.
• The ability to struggle, work hard, and keep moving forward is key to future success.

✅ Passion Fuels Growth:

• Every young entrepreneur Margot interviewed had a passion of their own choosing.
• Parents supported these passions, helping their children develop confidence and determination.
• While the initial passion rarely became their career, the skills they learned—hard work, grit, and resilience—were invaluable.

✅ Compassion for Parents:

• No parent is perfect, and that’s okay.
• The most important thing is for children to feel loved, supported, and encouraged in their pursuits.

For more wisdom from Margot Machol Bisnow, visit her website:

GUEST WEBSITE: www.raisinganentrepreneur.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.facebook.com/raisinganentrepreneur1/?fref=ts

https://www.instagram.com/margotbisnow/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-machol-bisnow-a29550b5/

Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn how you can empower your children to chase their dreams!

Thank you for supporting Linda's Corner! Please take a moment to share this episode, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a rating and review. Visit the Linda's Corner website at lindascornerpodcast.com, and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @lindascornerpodcast.

Discover free resources to increase happiness, build confidence, improve relationships, manage stress, and calm feelings of depression and anxiety at the Hope for Healing website: hopeforhealingfoundation.org.

For a transformative experience in deep inner healing, visit healingbreathworkdetox.com—a digital platform offering life-changing results.

Become the champion of your own story as you overcome life’s challenges and unlock your full potential!

Instant Personal Transformation – Featuring Craig Polsfuss

In this enlightening episode of Linda’s Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life, I sit down with Craig Polsfuss, psychologist, published researcher, speaker, and the author of the Amazon #1 bestselling book Reality-Shattering Insights. Craig shares his powerful story of instant personal transformation — a sudden realization that shifted his perspective from "outside-in" to "inside-out."

🔑 From Outside-In to Inside-Out
Craig explains that most of us view life from an outside-in perspective, believing that happiness and success are external — things we have to seek and work for. But when we shift to an inside-out perspective, we realize that happiness and fulfillment are already within us. We’re not experiencing our circumstances — we’re experiencing our thinking about those circumstances.

🌟 A Client’s Transformation
Craig shares a remarkable story about a client who was a heavy smoker. After working together for a while, they walked past an ashtray, and she suddenly realized that she no longer smoked. She said, "I didn’t quit smoking — I just don’t smoke." Once she understood that her stress and anxiety were coming from her thinking, not her circumstances, the need to smoke disappeared naturally.

🎬 Life is Like a Movie
Craig uses the metaphor of watching a movie in a theater. While the movie might be exciting or emotional, part of us knows we’re just watching a story. Life is the same — we feel our experiences, but they aren’t who we are. When we pause, relax, and allow ourselves to receive fulfillment rather than chasing it, life becomes more peaceful and joyful.

💡 Growth Through Every Experience
Craig reminds us that every experience — good or bad — is working for us, not happening to us. Challenges are opportunities for growth and transformation when we shift our perspective.

👉 Tune in to discover how shifting your mindset from outside-in to inside-out could unlock deep personal transformation and lasting peace.

Learn more about Craig Polsfuss:
🌐 CraigPolsfuss.com
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn

#MindsetShift #PersonalTransformation #InsideOutThinking #EmotionalHealing #PodcastEpisode #CraigPolsfuss #MentalClarity #InnerPeace

Micro-Dosing for Healing: Unlocking the Benefits of Psychedelic Mushrooms – Featuring Tiffany Hurd

In this enlightening episode of Linda’s Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life, we sit down with Tiffany Hurd from Golden Rule Mushrooms to explore the powerful healing potential of micro-dosing psychedelic mushrooms. Once associated with the hippy movement of the 1960s, psychedelic mushrooms are now gaining recognition as a legitimate therapeutic tool, backed by research from prestigious universities and medical professionals.

Free Resource:
Get your free microdosing guide:
https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=WKGmWH&g=RFgV5x

Shop & Save:
Use code grpodcast for 10% off your first purchase:
https://goldenrulemushrooms.com/?coupon-code=grpodcast&sc-page=shop

Where to Find Us:
Website: https://goldenrulemushrooms.com
Email: hello@goldenrulemushrooms.com
Instagram:

• @goldenrulemushrooms
• @goldenrulemicrodose
• @rachel.pastor
• @iamtiffanyhurd

Resources:

• Microdosing & Medication Guide: Microdosing Institute
• Psychedelic Ecosystem Database: Bizdelics
• Latest Research: Psychedelic Alpha

In this episode Tiffany shares her personal story of growing up with a single mom who battled addiction and was frequently in and out of jail. Tiffany began using drugs at just 12 years old because it was part of her environment. Despite becoming professionally successful, the lingering effects of her childhood trauma and emotional wounds persisted. Traditional prescription medications weren’t enough — she needed a deeper solution.

Through micro-dosing, Tiffany was able to gently rewire her brain, increasing neuroplasticity and creating new, healthier neural pathways. Within three months of working with her doctor, she reduced and eventually eliminated her need for prescription drugs. Micro-dosing helped her address the root causes of her trauma, facilitating deep emotional healing and lasting peace.

Micro-dosing involves taking a very small amount of psychedelic mushrooms (typically 1/20 to 1/10 of a therapeutic dose), providing subtle benefits without impairing daily functioning. While micro-dosing isn’t a “magic pill,” it creates the mental clarity and resilience needed to work through personal challenges and limiting beliefs.

If you’d like to learn more about micro-dosing and how it can support your healing journey, visit GoldenRuleMushrooms.com for a quiz, community support, and programs to help you get started. You can also reach out to Tiffany directly with any questions.

Tune in to discover how micro-dosing could be the key to unlocking deeper healing and emotional freedom.

Thank you for supporting Linda's Corner! Please take a moment to share this episode, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a rating and review. Visit the Linda's Corner website at lindascornerpodcast.com, and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @lindascorner

Healing Acne & Transforming Mindset with Meg Gaic

In this enlightening episode of Linda’s Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life, we welcome Meg Gaic, a Holistic Nutritionist, skincare professional, acne expert, and creator of the Get Glow Method. Meg shares her personal journey of overcoming chronic acne, weight gain, joint pain, and hormonal imbalances—all rooted in the deep-seated stress of childhood trauma and bullying.

After spending over five years and $40,000 on pills and temporary “band-aid” solutions, Meg discovered the true foundation of healing: mindset. She realized that the way we talk to ourselves directly impacts our bodies. If we tell ourselves we’re unworthy, our bodies will reflect that belief through persistent symptoms.

In this episode, Meg shares powerful insights, including:

✅ Why mindset is the key to the castle when it comes to healing
✅ How negative self-talk contributes to chronic skin conditions and other health issues
✅ Understanding that your body is your friend, and symptoms are messages, not enemies
✅ The importance of getting curious, not frustrated, when symptoms arise
✅ Why authentic healing takes time (at least three months to see real results!)
✅ How the Get Glow Method helps rewire the subconscious mind and heal from within
✅ Why you are worthy of clear skin, self-love, and a joyful life—right now

Meg’s holistic approach to healing acne is about far more than just skincare—it’s about self-worth, self-love, and deep healing from within. If you’ve ever struggled with chronic skin issues or self-doubt, this episode is a must-listen!

Connect with Meg Gaic:
🌿 Website: https://www.getglowmethod.com

Thank you for supporting Linda's Corner! Please take a moment to share this episode, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a rating and review. Visit the Linda's Corner website at lindascornerpodcast.com, and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @lindascornerpodcast.

Discover free resources to increase happiness, build confidence, improve relationships, manage stress, and calm feelings of depression and anxiety at the Hope for Healing website: hopeforhealingfoundation.org.

For a transformative experience in deep inner healing, visit healingbreathworkdetox.com—a digital platform offering life-changing results.

Become the champion of your own story as you overcome life’s challenges and unlock your full potential!