About this episode
What if the reason you struggle with boundaries isn’t weakness—but survival?
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with boundaries coach Barb Nangle to talk about codependency, trauma, and the moment that forced Barb to completely rethink how she related to herself and everyone around her.
Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 4 million downloads and counting.
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Mental Health Quote
“Boundaries are the antidote to codependency.” — Barb Nangle
Episode Description
Many people believe boundaries are simply about saying no. But according to boundaries coach Barb Nangle, that’s only a small part of the story.
In this powerful first half of a two-part conversation, Barb joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to unpack the deeper roots of codependency, trauma, and people-pleasing, and how those patterns shape our relationships long before we recognize them.
Barb shares the life-changing moment that sent her into recovery: inviting a homeless man into her home in an attempt to help him, only to realize she had completely lost herself trying to rescue someone else.
That experience led her into 12-step recovery programs, including Al-Anon, Codependents Anonymous, and Adult Children of Alcoholics, where she began to understand how childhood trauma and emotional abandonment had shaped her behavior.
Through recovery, Barb discovered something profound: boundaries don’t just protect relationships—they create internal safety, allowing us to show up in the world without constantly abandoning ourselves.
This episode is an honest and deeply relatable conversation about healing, awareness, and what it really takes to break free from lifelong patterns.
Keywords: Barb Nangle, codependency recovery, boundaries, trauma healing, people pleasing, emotional safety, adult children of alcoholics, therapy, relationship boundaries, self-awareness, mental health recovery, trauma patterns, emotional healing
Meet Our Guest — Barb Nangle
Barb Nangle is a boundaries coach, speaker, author, and podcaster who helps professional women stop saying yes when they mean no and build emotionally healthy relati
