247 — The Hidden Prisons We All Live In and How to Escape Them with Resilience Expert Shaka Senghor
Do you ever feel trapped by shame, guilt, or the stories you tell yourself about your past? Those are some of the hidden prisons that can keep us stuck in life.
In today’s episode, I’m talking to Shaka Senghor. He spent 19 years in prison, including 7 in solitary confinement. But his story isn’t just about survival—it’s about how he transformed his life. And now, he’s a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and inspiration to millions.
Some of the things we talk about are:
How to identify the hidden prisons of shame, grief, and fear that keep you stuck
How reading and journaling can set your mind free
Why forgiveness is tricky—and how to truly let go
How to change the story you've been telling yourself about who you are and what you're capable of accomplishing
The small, everyday joys that can transform your mindset
Why your past doesn’t define you—and how to stop punishing yourself for it
How Shaka went from solitary confinement to teaching executives about leadership and culture
If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying the weight of your past, this episode will inspire you to take the first step toward freedom.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like bonus episodes, signed books, and 30-day challenges that will keep you growing stronger.
Links & Resources
ShakaSenghor.com
How to Be Free
Follow Shaka on Instagram - @shakasenghor
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
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Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
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246 — 5 Red Flags of Emotional Manipulation and How to Stay Mentally Strong When You Spot It
Whether you feel like you’re walking on eggshells around someone or someone tries to guilt you into things you don't want to do, emotional manipulation can drain you of mental strength.
The good news is, once you know how to spot the red flags, you can take back your power and stay mentally strong.
Some of the things I talk about today are:
The 5 red flags that are signs of emotional manipulation
The damage you may experience on the receiving end of it
Why it's important to note why it happens without excusing it
The psychology behind why people use emotional manipulation
Five strategies to protect yourself and the responses that are most effective
How to set boundaries with emotionally manipulative people
How to recognize when it may be time to walk away
Mentally Strong App
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Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
HoneyLove — Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/STRONGER #honeylovepod
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Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
ZocDoc — Go to Zocdoc.com/STRONGER to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
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245 — Christine Brown Woolley on Redefining Strength, Leaving a 25-Year Marriage, and Finding the Courage to Start Over
What if the life you’ve been living no longer aligns with your values? Would you have the courage to reinvent yourself and start over?
Mental strength isn’t just about enduring a painful situation—it’s about knowing when to let go and create a life that truly fulfills you.
In this episode of Mentally Stronger, I sit down with Christine Brown Woolley, star of TLC’s Sister Wives and author of the new book Sister Wife. Christine shares what helped her find the courage to leave a 25-year polygamous marriage and build a new life.
From navigating complex family dynamics to embracing a new definition of mental strength, Christine’s story is a powerful reminder that change is possible at any stage of life.
Some of the things we talk about are:
How Christine's values and beliefs changed.
How she found the courage to leave a 25-year marriage and start over.
How Christine's definition of strength changed over time.
How she started building confidence.
The role of faith, family, and personal values in her transformation.
Why hard conversations and setting boundaries are essential for growth.
The daily habits and strategies she uses to stay grounded, creative, and mentally strong.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a life that no longer serves you, this episode will inspire you to take charge, embrace change, and build a life that aligns with your values.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like bonus episodes, signed books, and 30-day challenges that will keep you growing stronger.
Links & Resources
Sister Wife
Follow Christine on Instagram - christine_brownsw
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
HoneyLove — Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/STRONGER #honeylovepod
CocoaVia — Get 20% off with code Amy2025 at cocoavia.com.
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/
Quince - Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
ZocDoc — Go to Zocdoc.com/STRONGER to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
Life Kit — Listen to the Life Kit podcast from NPR.
Mentally Strong App — Take your mental strength to the next level. Sign up at AmyMorinLCSW.com
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244 — The Science of Motivation: How to Get Things Done When You Feel Stuck
Whether you struggle to stick to your work out routine or you have a hard time staying motivated to write a book, one small shift in your mindset could make all the difference. Motivation isn't something you either have or you don't. It's something you can create.
One of the best ways to maintain motivation involves the way you describe yourself. Instead of looking at what you want to achieve, consider the person you want to become.
Some of the things I share include:
Why focusing on your identity, not just your goals, is the key to lasting motivation.
How to reframe your goals to align with the person you want to become.
The surprising science behind identity-based motivation — and how it rewires your brain.
Four steps to put this strategy into action — and one common mistake to avoid.
How small changes in your language can transform your mindset and behavior.
Mentally Strong App
Get free mental strength coaching — Episode 244 Exercise
Get mental strength coaching with voice (subscribers only) - Episode 244 Voice Exercise
Subscribe to the app to unlock all the features — MentallyStrong.Downpat.Ai
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
HoneyLove — Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/STRONGER #honeylovepod
CocoaVia — Get 20% off with code Amy2025 at cocoavia.com.
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
ZocDoc — Go to Zocdoc.com/STRONGER to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
Life Kit — Listen to the Life Kit podcast from NPR.
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243 — What Are You Avoiding? How to Stop Running and Start Living with Dr. Robyn Walser
If you’ve ever sidestepped a tough conversation, ignored a problem, or avoided something that scares you, this episode is for you.
Avoidance and anxiety often go hand-on-hand. Avoiding a problem helps you feel better right now, but it leads to long-term problems. It also makes anxiety worse in the long run.
Today I’m joined by Dr. Robin Walser, clinical psychologist and expert in acceptance and commitment therapy. Together, we explore why we avoid, how it impacts our mental health, and—most importantly—how to break free from the avoidance cycle.
Some of the things we talk about are:
Why avoidance feels good in the short term but keeps you stuck in the long run
How avoidance shrinks your life and disconnects you from the things that matter most to you
The surprising ways avoidance is reinforced—and how to break the cycle
How to face uncomfortable emotions without feeling overwhelmed
Why connecting with your values can help you face the things you're trying to avoid
How to take small steps toward the things you’ve been avoiding
The link between facing your discomfort and mental strength
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like bonus episodes, signed books, and 30-day challenges that will keep you growing stronger.
Links & Resources
RobynWalser.com
You Are Not Your Trauma
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
HoneyLove — Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/STRONGER #honeylovepod
CocoaVia — Get 20% off with code Amy2025 at cocoavia.com.
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/
Quince - Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
ZocDoc — Go to Zocdoc.com/STRONGER to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
Life Kit — Listen to the Life Kit podcast from NPR.
Mentally Strong App — Take your mental strength to the next level. Sign up at AmyMorinLCSW.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Growing mentally stronger will change your life and therapist Amy Morin wants to show you how to make it happen.
Whether you want to improve your mental health, boost your resilience, gain emotional intelligence, or gain a competitive edge that will help you reach your greatest potential, this show is for you.
Mentally Stronger provides therapist-approved strategies for tackling the biggest battle we all face--the one in our minds.
Webby Award-Winning Host Amy Morin is a psychotherapist and the bestselling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Every episode dives into science-backed strategies for building the mental strength you need to handle whatever life throws this way.
No one understands the importance of having mental strength more than Amy. Her personal journey surrounding grief and loss has led to her to take a deep dive into mental strength. And now, she's sharing what she learned along the way.
Her TEDx talk, The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong, is one of the most viewed talks of all time with 25 million views and she's sold over 1 million books. She's a speaker and a consulted who teaches companies like Google, Under Armour, and NBC how to grow mentally stronger.
Unlike other shows, Mentally Stronger provides a unique blend of research-backed tips, stories of mental strength, and therapist-approved strategies that will empower you to thrive.
Join Amy on the transformative journey to mastering your mind. And the fun part is, she records the show from a sailboat in the Florida Keys.
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