Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life

What happens when childhood trauma doesn't stay in the past—but becomes something your body continues to carry?

In this powerful episode of the Get Obsessed Podcast, host Mika Altidor sits down with Simone Gisondi, host of the Health Confidential Podcast, for an extraordinary conversation about childhood trauma, nervous system regulation, emotional healing, survival mode, self-worth, and the connection between trauma and physical health.

Simone grew up in communist Romania in an environment marked by horrific physical and emotional abuse, scarcity, fear, and oppression. After her father escaped to Canada and eventually reunited the family, Simone faced an entirely new struggle: adapting to a new country while carrying the invisible effects of what she had survived.

But survival has a cost.

Years later, at just 35 years old, Simone suffered a major stroke. Her recovery became the beginning of a deeper exploration into trauma, stress, emotional health, the nervous system, and the ways our experiences can continue to affect us long after the danger has passed.

Simone shares what she has learned about understanding and regulating the nervous system, recognizing survival responses, rebuilding self-worth, and creating healthier relationships with ourselves and others.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Growing up amid abuse and oppression in communist Romania
• Simone's family's journey from Romania to Canada
• How childhood trauma can affect us long into adulthood
• Understanding the body's stress and survival responses
• Nervous system regulation and emotional health
• Simone's major stroke at age 35 and the journey that followed
• The connection Simone discovered between her past experiences and her health
• Relationships, identity, boundaries, and self-worth
• Moving beyond survival and toward a more empowered life
• Turning personal pain into purpose through Health Confidential

CHAPTERS

00:00 — Introduction & Simone Gisondi
00:52 — Simone's Early Life and Childhood Trauma
03:42 — Growing Up in Communist Romania
12:58 — Immigrating to Canada
17:40 — Trauma, Stress and Physical Health
25:45 — Healing, Relationships and Self-Worth
27:56 — Final Thoughts

CONNECT WITH SIMONE GISONDI

Find Simone, Health Confidential, and her platforms here:
https://linktr.ee/simone.gisondi

If you've ever wondered why your body reacts even when your mind knows you're safe, why old experiences continue to influence present relationships, or what nervous system regulation actually means, this conversation is for you.

GET OBSESSED with understanding yourself—not judging yourself.

SEARCH TOPICS: nervous system regulation, childhood trauma recovery, trauma healing, survival mode, emotional regulation, nervous system dysregulation, stress response, trauma and physical health, self-worth after trauma, childhood abuse recovery, somatic healing, emotional health, healing from trauma, Simone Gisondi, Health Confidential Podcast, Get Obsessed Podcast, Mika Altidor, Julie Lokun

#NervousSystemRegulation #TraumaHealing #ChildhoodTrauma #EmotionalHealing #SurvivalMode #TraumaRecovery #MentalWellness #SelfWorth #HealingJourney #GetObsessedPodcast
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, Julie Lokun continues her conversation with Dr. Christine Marie, going behind the scenes of Trust Me The False Prophet and the years she spent building trust inside the FLDS community.

Dr. Christine explains how vulnerability and the need to belong can make people susceptible to religious cults, how destructive groups can control thoughts, relationships, information, behavior, and emotions, and how she began recognizing troubling behavior surrounding Sam Bateman.

She also shares what happened after recording evidence of abuse, the challenges of working with law enforcement, and the eventual investigation that led to Sam Bateman’s arrest and 50-year sentence. The conversation also explores the impact on women and families, the importance of speaking up when someone is being harmed, and why survivors should have the freedom to tell their stories in their own time.

In this episode, we discuss:

How vulnerability and the need to belong can make people susceptible to cult control

Cult control and its influence on thoughts, relationships, information, and behavior

Early rumors about Sam Bateman and his relationships with underage girls

A confession that revealed ritualistic sexual abuse within Sam’s group

The investigation, law enforcement challenges, and the events that led to Sam’s arrest

The lasting effects on women, children, and families connected to the community

Why speaking up against harm matters and how survivors can reclaim their stories

ABOUT THE GUEST:
Dr. Christine Marie holds a PhD in Psychology specializing in media psychology, along with an MBA and a specialization in Positive Psychology. She is an author, speaker, researcher, educator, kindness advocate, and certified Trauma and Resiliency Life Coach.

Her work focuses on coercive control, cult psychology, media trauma, public shaming, critical thinking, kindness, and resilience. In 2021, she received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the American Psychological Association’s Division of Media Psychology and Technology.

Christine is the founder of Voices for Dignity, a nonprofit supporting marginalized communities and survivors. She has spent the past decade doing humanitarian and dignity work in Short Creek and has extensive experience working with members of the FLDS community. In 2026, she was featured in the Netflix documentary Trust Me: The False Prophet.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

(Netflix documentary) Trust Me: The False Prophet - https://www.netflix.com/title/81758532

(Episode) Inside the Cult of Scientology with Anne Gollert Hill Part 1: https://www.getobsessedpodcast.com/podcast/episode/2d75b703/inside-the-cult-of-scientology-with-anne-gollert-hill-part-1 Part 2: https://www.getobsessedpodcast.com/podcast/episode/4aeb558d/inside-the-cult-of-scientology-with-anne-gollert-hill-part-2

CONNECT WITH DR. CHRISTINE MARIE:

Website: https://christinemarie.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinemariePhD/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/christinemariek

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.christinemarie

ABOUT GET OBSESSED
Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com

Be a Guest! http://www.getobsessedguest.com 

Reach Out To Us! hello@getobsessedmedia.com 

The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future.

LISTEN, RATE, REVIEW AND SUBSCRIBE - Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life - Podcast - Apple Podcasts 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, Julie Lokun sits down with Dr. Christine Marie to unpack the story behind Trust Me The False Prophet and her years living in Short Creek, an FLDS community.

Christine explains why she moved to Short Creek in 2016, how her own experiences with polygamy shaped her initial perspective, and how getting to know FLDS families challenged some of the assumptions she had formed through sensational media coverage.

The conversation explores how cultic influence works, why Christine believes it is important to look at coercion rather than stereotypes, and how she and her husband Tolga gradually built trust within the community. She also discusses the role of media in giving people the opportunity to tell their own stories, the impact of Warren Jeffs remaining influential while imprisoned, and how Sam Bateman used that loyalty to establish his own authority.

In this episode, we discuss:

Moving to Short Creek and challenging assumptions about the FLDS through firsthand experience

Christine’s experience with polygamy and trauma and how it shaped her work with survivors

Understanding cultic influence and coercive control through different forms of control

Building trust within the FLDS community and connecting with people in Short Creek

Using media to give people a voice and let FLDS members share their own stories

Warren Jeffs and Sam Bateman’s influence and Bateman’s rise to authority

Why people enter high control groups and how belonging and love bombing can lead to coercion

ABOUT THE GUEST:
Dr. Christine Marie holds a PhD in Psychology specializing in media psychology, along with an MBA and a specialization in Positive Psychology. She is an author, speaker, researcher, educator, kindness advocate, and certified Trauma and Resiliency Life Coach.
Her work focuses on coercive control, cult psychology, media trauma, public shaming, critical thinking, kindness, and resilience. In 2021, she received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the American Psychological Association’s Division of Media Psychology and Technology.

Christine is the founder of Voices for Dignity, a nonprofit supporting marginalized communities and survivors. She has spent the past decade doing humanitarian and dignity work in Short Creek and has extensive experience working with members of the FLDS community. In 2026, she was featured in the Netflix documentary Trust Me: The False Prophet.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

(Netflix documentary) Trust Me: The False Prophet - https://www.netflix.com/title/81758532

CONNECT WITH DR. CHRISTINE MARIE:

Website: https://christinemarie.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinemariePhD/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/christinemariek

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.christinemarie

ABOUT GET OBSESSED
Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com

Be a Guest! http://www.getobsessedguest.com

Reach Out To Us! hello@getobsessedmedia.com

The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future.

LISTEN, RATE, REVIEW AND SUBSCRIBE - Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, Janelle Brown joins Julie Lokun to discuss her life after Sister Wives, from her years in polygamy and plural marriage to her new boyfriend, life after divorce, and her decision to leave Kody.

Janelle reflects on what everyday life looked like before the cameras, why the family chose to go public, and how living in a plural marriage taught her to examine jealousy, comparison, and her sense of self. She also shares how public scrutiny affected her, how her children experienced growing up on television, and how the loss of Garrison changed the way her family talks about mental health.

The conversation also explores the changes in her marriage and family dynamic, and what ultimately allowed her to move forward. Janelle discusses coaching, self-discovery, building a farm in North Carolina, and finding peace and possibility in her new life.

In this episode, we discuss:

Life inside polygamy and plural marriage before Sister Wives

Bringing Sister Wives into the public eye and challenging negative narratives

Self-worth and managing jealousy while learning her own value

Mental health, grief, and Garrison’s legacy within the family

Why did Janelle leave Kody amid family and relationship changes

Janelle’s life after Sister Wives and building a life of her own

Life after divorce and embracing change through independence and growth

ABOUT THE GUEST:
Janelle Brown spent years in the public eye as one of the women featured on Sister Wives, while also working full-time and raising her children. She spent 25 years in plural marriage before eventually leaving the relationship and beginning a new chapter of her life.
Janelle became a certified coach after experiencing coaching herself and discovering how much it helped her understand her own thoughts and choices. She now helps women recognize the thoughts influencing their lives and explore the possibilities available to them.

Today, Janelle is building a new life in North Carolina, where she is developing a farm with her family. She is also focused on coaching, wellness, and embracing the possibilities of her next 30 years.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

(TV Show) Sister Wives - https://www.tlc.com/shows/sister-wives

(Reference) People on Janelle Brown’s New Boyfriend - https://people.com/sister-wives-janelle-brown-shocks-fans-new-boyfriend-12062407

(Reference) Taeda Farms - https://taedafarms.com/

(Reference) High Country Humane Animal Shelter in Flagstaff - https://highcountryhumane.org/

CONNECT WITH JANELLE BROWN:

Website: https://www.secondchaptercoaching.com/free-resource-hub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STRIVEwithJanelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janellebrown117/

ABOUT GET OBSESSED
Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com

Be a Guest! http://www.getobsessedguest.com

Reach Out To Us! hello@getobsessedmedia.com

The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future.

LISTEN, RATE, REVIEW AND SUBSCRIBE - Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, Dan Millman joins Julie Lokun and Mika Altidor to explore the ideas behind The Way of the Peaceful Warrior and how they have shaped his approach to Personal development.

A former world champion athlete, coach, martial arts instructor, and author, Dan shares the experiences that inspired his most famous work and the real story behind Socrates.

From surviving a devastating motorcycle accident to building a 50-year marriage, Dan explains how adversity can become a source of strength, why Happiness is something we practice rather than wait for, and how small steps can create lasting change. He also explores purpose, comparison, meditation, stress, and the importance of trusting your own path rather than following someone else's.

In this episode, we discuss:

The truth behind Socrates and the story of Way of the Peaceful Warrior

What it really means to live as a Peaceful Warrior through everyday challenges

How adversity can become a source of strength, wisdom, and personal growth

Finding your own path through experimentation, self-discovery, and personal growth

Moving beyond comparison and learning to trust your own path and progress

Understanding happiness as a practice rather than something we have to wait for

Living with purpose by focusing on the small steps we can take today

ABOUT THE GUEST:
Dan Millman is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor who has spent decades teaching principles of personal development and purposeful living. He is the author of 18 books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, which has inspired millions of readers and was adapted into the feature film Peaceful Warrior.

After a 20-year period of studying with different mentors and teachers, Dan developed what he calls the Peaceful Warrior’s Way. His work focuses on practical approaches to personal growth, purpose, resilience, and living with greater awareness. His books have been published in 29 languages, and he continues to speak through keynotes, seminars, workshops, and other educational programs.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

(Book) Way of the Peaceful Warrior - https://peacefulwarrior.com/way-of-the-peaceful-warrior/

(Book) Peaceful Heart, Warrior Spirit: The True Story of My Spiritual Quest - https://peacefulwarrior.com/peaceful-heart-warrior-spirit/

(Book) The Four Purposes of Life - https://peacefulwarrior.com/the-four-purposes-of-life/

(Book) The Life You Were Born to Live - https://peacefulwarrior.com/the-life-you-were-born-to-live/

(Film) Peaceful Warrior - https://www.amazon.com/Peaceful-Warrior-Widescreen-Scott-Mechlowicz/dp/B000QEIOSU

CONNECT WITH DAN:

Website: https://peacefulwarrior.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialpeacefulwarrior/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danmillmanpw/

ABOUT GET OBSESSED
Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com

Be a Guest! http://www.getobsessedguest.com

Reach Out To Us! hello@getobsessedmedia.com

The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future.

LISTEN, RATE, REVIEW AND SUBSCRIBE - Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.