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In this episode of The Black Sheep Diaries, Dr. Michelle Scoggins sits down with an estranged parent to explore the complex realities behind family estrangement, adult children going no contact, and what happens when a parent begins to examine intention versus impact.

Together, we discuss how generational trauma, emotional immaturity, and learned parenting patterns shape family dynamics — and why boundaries with parents are often a necessary act of self-protection rather than disrespect or rejection. This conversation brings forward themes of parent accountability, repair without entitlement, and the difference between wanting connection and believing access is owed.

This episode does not minimize the lived experiences of adult children of toxic or emotionally immature parents, nor does it suggest reconciliation as the goal. Instead, it offers a rare look at what growth can look like when a parent reflects without defensiveness, listens without rewriting history, and honors emotional safety even when the relationship remains distant.

Whether you’re navigating no contact, low contact, or the grey space in between, this episode brings nuance, validation, and a grounded understanding of why adult children protect their peace — and what healing can look like on both sides.

Take what supports your healing, and leave what does not.

If you would like to connect with Liza she is on:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tenderrootsreflectionnrecovery

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lizatenderrootsrr?_r=1&_t=ZT-91d4UxKjGO5.

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

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, entertainment, and empowerment purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy and does not create a therapeutic relationship. These are sensitive topics that we discuss in this podcast and if something has triggered you please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area

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The Trust Rebuild — Learning to Feel Safe Again

After betrayal, chaos, or years of walking on eggshells, trusting again can feel impossible — especially trusting yourself.

In this powerful episode of The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast, Dr. Michelle Scoggins unpacks what it really means to rebuild trust after dysfunction. From learning to listen to your body’s truth, to creating safety in new relationships, this episode is your guide to slowly and gently coming home to yourself.

You’ll learn:

• Why trust feels unsafe after emotional betrayal
• The difference between trust and exposure
• How to rebuild self-trust through daily alignment
• What healthy, earned trust looks and feels like
• Why walking away can be an act of self-respect, not disloyalty

✨ Reflection Prompt:

What would it look like to stop forcing trust — and start allowing it to grow?

📲 Connect with Dr. Scoggins:

Instagram: @drmscoggins

TikTok: @drmscoggins

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, entertainment, and empowerment purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy and does not create a therapeutic relationship. These are sensitive topics that we discuss in this podcast and if something has triggered you please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area

Send us a text

You’ve walked away from the chaos, the guilt, and the family roles that once defined you… but now comes the hardest part — rebuilding.

In this episode of The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast, Dr. Michelle Scoggins guides you through what it means to rediscover who you are after years of surviving dysfunction. This is where healing shifts from surviving to becoming.

Together, we’ll explore:

• The identity void that follows walking away
• How to rebuild a self that isn’t defined by pain or family roles
• The fear of being seen as your authentic self
• Steps to reconnect with your body, your truth, and your purpose

✨ Reflection Prompt:

Who are you when you’re no longer surviving?

📲 Connect with Dr. Scoggins:

Instagram: @drmscoggins

TikTok: @drmscoggins

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, entertainment, and empowerment purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy and does not create a therapeutic relationship. These are sensitive topics that we discuss in this podcast and if something has triggered you please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area

Send us a text

Sometimes loyalty isn’t love — it’s fear disguised as duty. In this episode of The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast, Dr. Michelle Scoggins unpacks the hidden cost of staying loyal to people who’ve proven unsafe.

We’ll explore:

• The difference between healthy and toxic loyalty
• How families use guilt, obligation, and “blood” to keep you stuck
• The emotional and physical cost of misplaced loyalty
• How to break free from the loyalty contract and choose yourself without shame

✨ Reflection Prompt:

Who taught you that loyalty meant obedience, not respect? And what would it look like to be loyal to your own peace instead?

📲 Stay connected:

• Instagram: @drscoggins
• TikTok: @drscoggins
• YouTube: The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, entertainment, and empowerment purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy and does not create a therapeutic relationship. These are sensitive topics that we discuss in this podcast and if something has triggered you please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered if you’re living as your true self — or the version of you your family needed you to be? For many Black Sheep, survival meant creating a false self — the caretaker, the achiever, the peacekeeper, the rebel — anything to stay safe and accepted.

In this episode of The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast, Dr. Michelle Scoggins explores:

• How the false self develops in toxic family systems
• The roles we play to survive — and how they linger into adulthood
• Why shedding the false self feels so terrifying
• Practical steps to reconnect with your authentic self

✨ Reflection Prompt: What role did you have to play in your family — and who are you underneath it all?

📲 Stay connected with me:

• Instagram: @drmscoggins
• TikTok: @drmscoggins
• YouTube: The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, entertainment, and empowerment purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy and does not create a therapeutic relationship. These are sensitive topics that we discuss in this podcast and if something has triggered you please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area

Send us a text

They couldn’t control you with guilt, so now they control the story about you. Smear campaigns are one of the most painful tactics families use against the Black Sheep — rewriting your story so you look like the villain.

In this episode of The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast, Dr. Michelle Scoggins unpacks:

• What a smear campaign looks like in toxic family systems
• Why families rewrite your story when guilt stops working
• The deep impact smear tactics have on identity and relationships
• Tools for reclaiming your truth and taking back your narrative

✨ Reflection Prompt: What’s the biggest lie they’ve told about you — and what’s your truth?

📲 Stay connected:

• Instagram: @drscoggins
• TikTok: @drscoggins
• YouTube: The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, entertainment, and empowerment purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy and does not create a therapeutic relationship. These are sensitive topics that we discuss in this podcast and if something has triggered you please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area

Send us a text

Episode 4 | The Guilt Trap: Why Boundaries Feel Like Betrayal

Ever set a boundary and immediately felt guilty? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Black Sheep Diaries, Dr. Michelle Scoggins explains why guilt shows up, how families use it to control you, and how to finally break free.

🔑 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Healthy vs. toxic guilt
• Why boundaries trigger guilt in dysfunctional families
• The “guilt cycle” that keeps you questioning yourself
• Practical steps to break the trap and reclaim your peace

💬 Reflection Question: When guilt rises up, whose voice are you hearing?

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and comment with your own experiences. New episodes every Friday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, entertainment, and empowerment purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy and does not create a therapeutic relationship. These are sensitive topics that we discuss in this podcast and if something has triggered you please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area

Send us a text

What happens when the person you’re grieving is still alive? For many Black Sheep, going no contact feels like mourning the living — a loss with no funeral, no closure, and no space to grieve. In this episode, Dr. Michelle Scoggins unpacks the hidden weight of grieving someone who’s still here but no longer safe to keep in your life.

We’ll explore:

• Why grieving the living is one of the hardest goodbyes

• The emotional stages you may cycle through again and again

• How society misunderstands this unique kind of grief

• Rituals, journaling prompts, and healing practices to honor your loss

Because mourning the living doesn’t make you weak — it makes you human.

🎧 New episodes of The Black Sheep Diaries Podcast drop every Friday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, entertainment, and empowerment purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy and does not create a therapeutic relationship. These are sensitive topics that we discuss in this podcast and if something has triggered you please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area