Cracking Open with Molly Carroll
What happens when life brings you to your knees and forces you to discover who you truly are?
Cracking Open is the podcast for anyone who has faced a defining moment of crisis, grief, trauma, or rock bottom and found themselves transformed by it. Hosted by Molly Carroll, licensed therapist, TED speaker, published author, and coach, each episode dives deep into the raw, real stories of actors, athletes, thought leaders, healers, and everyday warriors.
Whether it was the loss of a loved one, addiction, childhood trauma, incarceration, or an unexpected life collapse, these "cracking open" moments shape everything: how we parent, love, work, lead, and connect.
What you'll discover:
- How trauma and crisis can become the greatest catalysts for growth
- Tools and insights from mental health, healing, and personal transformation
- Honest conversations that normalize struggle and celebrate resilience
If you're navigating grief, trauma recovery, personal growth, or a major life transition, or you simply want to feel less alone in your human experience, this podcast is for you.
Subscribe and join the conversation.
Episodes
105 episodes
The Leader Within: Shadow Work, Core Values & the Power of Human Connection with Thomas Droge | Ep. 104
What does it mean to truly lead not just in a boardroom, but in your relationships, your family, and your own inner life? In this deeply moving episode, therapist and host Molly Carroll sits down with Thomas Droge, executive coach, Chief Mindfu...
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Molly Magic: The Power in Life's No's and Not Yet's
You got a NO this week.Maybe more than one. Someone said no to you. Or your kid came home with that look on their face. Or you've been trying and trying, and the door just won't open.Here's what the research tells us: your ...
Shaka Senghor: How to Escape Life's Hidden Prisons and Be Free
Whenever someone asks me for a word that describes how I want to live, my answer is always the same.Freedom.Not just personal freedom, but freedom in my mind, my body, and my spirit. Maybe that comes from being raised Catho...
Welcome to Episode 1 of Molly's Magic: Reset Your Nervous System in Minutes
Welcome to Molly's Magic.I’m Molly.A mom, a therapist, an author, a podcast host, and a TED speaker.The alchemy of these roles has brought me here.Molly's Magic is simple. Short, meaningful, and doabl...
100th Episode Part 2: Coming Home to the People Who Know Me Best
Welcome back to Part 2 of our 100th episode.If you have not listened to Part 1 yet, pause here and go back. Truly.Tommy, Lisa, René, Leo, and Cora brought everything. And your responses told me just how deeply it landed.You...
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100th Episode: Coming Home to the People Who Know Me Best
In this special two-part 100th episode, you’ll hear something a little different—the everyday, deeply human stories of the people closest to me.From navigating the loss of a husband to the tender uncertainty of leaving home for college. ...
Serena & Lily Co-Founder Serena Dugan on Creativity, Courage, and What Matters Most
As we approach our 100th episode, I’ve been revisiting a few conversations that have stayed with me long after the microphones were turned off.Bill Valentine’s episode was re-released because of the way he shared heart-centered, real-lif...
Learn How Terminal Cancer Taught Successful Wealth Manager Bill Valentine the True Meaning of Life
In times of uncertainty, we need reminders of what truly matters. Today’s episode is a profound lesson in hope, love, and perspective—one that gently calls us back to presence, connection, and grace.This is a re-release of my conv...
Learning to Trust Your Guides with Psychic Medium MaryAnn DiMarco
Throughout my life, clients and friends have often described me as a bridge—a bridge between science and spirituality, between practical cognitive tools and trusting your intuitive voice, between deep compassion and what I lovingly cal...
From Rock Star to Soul Guide: Dr. John Price on Transformation and Purpose
Have you ever had one of those months where you just can’t climb out of a dark hole? That was my October and November.My son had a health scare (instant compassion for every parent walking that road), I wasn’t sleeping—wide awake at 3 a....
How to Find Hope in Unexpected Places: Lessons from CNN Hero Maggie Doyne
From the moment Maggie Doyne and I joined our Zoom call, there was an instant recognition—a connection of the heart. We share a love of children, the Oregon coast, and a deep commitment to living in service. Interviewing her was a powerf...
Stop Talking About Creativity and Start Living It with Author Nicole Meier
What happens when one of your dearest friends also happens to be one of the people you admire most in your professional world? That’s exactly the conversation I get to have today—and I couldn’t be more thrilled.This week's guest on the <...
Look, Feel, & Stay Young Forever: #1 Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright's Proven Protocol
These days, we all need practices that strengthen not just our muscles, but also our spirits.I’m with you in all you’re navigating, and I want Cracking Open to continue being a place where you can land, breathe, and remember: yo...
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#1 Neurosurgeon on the Power of Manifestation and Positive Mindset (In Memory of Dr. James Doty)
This is one of the most memorable conversations I have had on the podcast. With a heavy heart today, I am re-releasing his episode in honor of Dr. James Doty on neuroscience, manifestation, and the power of focusing your mind and heart on what ...
From Rock Bottom to Redemption with Lara Love Hardin
Have you ever hit rock bottom? I know I have—not with drugs or alcohol, but through anxiety, over-mothering my kids, or letting my mind hijack my ability to feel gratitude and joy.Today’s guest, Lara Love Hardin, is a powerful exa...
Sr. Monica Clare: From Hollywood to Holy Orders - A Journey to Authentic Joy
This summer, I found myself slowing down—getting quieter on the trails, more present among the trees, and stepping away from my usual morning routine of “to-do” lists, three coffees, and hustling to get people into my coaching programs. I got q...
The Mystic Entrepreneur: How Jeff Scult Is Weaving Fashion, Purpose and Planetary Healing
Have you ever had a moment where time seemed to slow, the noise of the world softened, and you felt something ancient stir inside you? That’s exactly what happened when I sat down with Jeff Scult—founder, designer, and visionary behind One Gold...
Transforming Fear Into Peace with Thomas Jones and The Paradox Process
Some episodes feel especially personal—and this is one of them.This week on Cracking Open, I’m joined by Thomas M. Jones: psychotherapist, author, musician, and founder of The Paradox Process—an innovative techniqu...
From Tragedy to Advocacy: Song For Charlie's Founders Ed and Mary Ternan's Fight Against Counterfeit Pills
This episode is deeply personal to me. Not only as a therapist and podcast host—but as a mom to a 19-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter.I’m acutely aware that most young people—and many parents—don’t realize the de...
Rising from Ashes: Scott Anderson's Journey Through Loss, Burnout, and Renewal
“I was following my North Star and definitely loving what I was doing—just not how I was doing it.” ~ Molly CarrollI’ll never forget waking up one morning in Costa Rica while leading a women’s retrea...
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Whole-Child Health: Dr. Lori Baudino's Movement-Based Approach to Wellbeing
“Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future.” — Nelson MandelaKids have always been part of my story—long before I became a mom. I’ve been a babysitter, camp counselor, teacher, therapist, and now a parent. That’s why...
Rebecca Rusch: 7x World Champ on TBI Recovery to Inner Peace
There are guests whose stories are filled with incredible achievements. And then there are guests whose stories crack you open—with their heart, their humility, and their humanity.Today’s guest, Rebecca Rusch, is all of t...
Isaac Slade from The Fray: From Platinum Records to Personal Peace
You know how music can transport you back to a certain era in your life? I’ll never forget gathering in college dorm rooms and tiny apartment living rooms with all my girlfriends in our twenties as we watched Grey’s Anatomy. The...
What My Father's Death Taught Me About Love with Lindsay Bomstein
Healing often begins in the stories we share—especially when we have the courage to tell them. Vulnerability doesn’t just dissolve shame; it nurtures inner strength. This week’s guest on the Cracking Open podcast, Lindsay Bomste...
Food as Medicine: How Grief Led Andrea Nakayama to Transform Nutrition
What are your favorite foods and drinks? For me, it’s pizza and coffee—no question. But at the same time, I love feeling healthy, fueling my body with nourishing foods, and living a vibrant life. And that’s exactly why I’m so excited to introdu...
