Be A Better You
The Be a Better You Podcast (formerly The Emotional Abuse Recovery Podcast) is hosted by Best Selling Author and Certified Rapid Reprogramming™ Coach, Allison K. Dagney. As a young adult, I met a man who I believed was the love of my life. We got married quickly and brought three kids into the world. But something was wrong. I was miserable. And I blamed myself for all the problems in our marriage. What I didn't know, was that I was being emotional abused by who I believe is a narcissist. I decided it was time to break free and step into the person I was always meant to be — confident and free to live the life I’ve always imagined.
I escaped, and I turned my personal story of transformation into a memoir. And now I coach women all over the world to help them transform their pain into empowerment, experience peace and joy, and start living life like never before.
The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect my personal views, opinions, or professional positions.
Episodes
224 episodes
Ep 222: The Real Reason You Replay Conversations for Hours Afterwards
Do you replay conversations in your head for hours after they happen? Do you find yourself analyzing texts, worrying that you said the wrong thing, wondering if someone is upset with you, or constantly trying to figure out what other people are...
Ep 221: You Know They Were Toxic, So Why Do You Still Care?
You know the relationship was unhealthy. You know they hurt you. You know you deserve better. So why do you still care?If you've ever found yourself thinking about a toxic ex, missing someone who treated you poorly, or feeling confused a...
Ep 220: Why You Keep Mentally Fighting With Your Ex (or your Abuser)
If you’ve ever caught yourself mentally arguing with your ex while driving, showering, trying to sleep, or folding laundry… this episode is for you.In this episode, we’re talking about the exhausting mental loops that so many women exper...
Ep 219: Loving Someone’s Potential Is Keeping You Trapped
If you keep finding yourself waiting for someone to change, holding onto the “good parts” of them, replaying their promises in your head, or wondering whether you’re giving up too soon…this episode is for you.In this powerful episode of ...
Ep 218: When Your Ex Turns the Kids Against You (Guest Lisa Johnson BTGO)
Parental alienation as a broad concept is one of the most painful and misunderstood experiences a parent can go through—especially after emotional abuse, divorce, or separation.In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Johnson of "Been There...
Ep 217: The Story You Make Up About What Everyone Thinks of You
Why do you always assume you did something wrong in relationships? Why does your mind immediately jump to “they must be thinking something bad about me” when someone pulls away, doesn’t respond, or seems off?In this episode, we break dow...
Ep 216: Crystals & What They Actually Do for Healing (w/Guest Christine Luken)
What if the clarity you’ve been searching for isn’t something you need to figure out… but something you can learn to receive?In this episode, I sit down with Christine Luken, Financial Dignity Coach, a Crystal Wisdom Co...
Ep 215: Chemistry Isn't Always a Green Flag (Especially After Abuse)
You feel the spark. The pull. The butterflies that make it feel like this could be something real.But what if that “chemistry” isn’t actually a good sign?In this episode, we’re breaking down why intense ...
Ep 214: Your Dreams Are Opening a Door You’ve Been Ignoring (Guest Dream Worker Oneiraya)
Most people dismiss their dreams as random noise… but what if they’re actually one of the clearest ways your subconscious tries to reach you?In this episode, I sit down with spiritual guide and dream worker Maelle (known as Oneiraya — “q...
Ep 213: It’s Not the Coping Mechanism—It’s What You’re Trying Not to Feel
If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns you know aren’t serving you—whether it’s alcohol, emotional eating, overthinking, or constantly seeking validation from someone—this episode will change the way you see it.In today’s episode...
Ep 212: The Science of Healing After Emotional Abuse (Interview on The Survivor’s Playbook)
What actually happens in the brain after emotional abuse—and why can healing feel so difficult even when you know the relationship was unhealthy?In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation from my recent appearance on Chantal Contorin...
Ep 211: The ‘Ick’ That Won’t Go Away: Emotional Residue After Toxic Relationships.
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve done the work to move on from a toxic or emotionally abusive relationship—but something still lingers—this episode is for you.In this powerful conversation, we’re breaking down the “ick” that won’t go away...
Ep 210: Why Smart People Stay in Toxic Relationships
Have you ever looked back at a relationship and wondered, How did I stay so long when I knew something wasn’t right?In this episode, we’re unpacking a powerful truth that many people struggle to admit: intelligence does not p...
Bonus EP: You Have a Story… So Why Haven’t You Told It Yet? Guest Author Heather Hutzel
If you’ve ever thought, “I could write a book about my life…” but don’t know where to start—this episode is for you.In this powerful conversation, I sit down with author and storytelling coach Heather Hutzel, who has writ...
Ep: 209 Co-Rumination: The Healing Habit That’s Secretly Hurting You
Venting can feel good in the moment—but what if constantly talking about your pain is actually keeping you stuck?In this episode, we’re diving into the hidden dangers of co-rumination—the cycle of repeatedly discussing problems, b...
Ep 208: Your Spicy Brain Is Not Broken: How to Work With Your Mind, Rewire Your Beliefs, and Become Unstoppable
In this powerful episode of The Be a Better You Podcast, we dive deep into neurodivergence, neuroplasticity, and what it truly means to work with your brain instead of against it — especially when you're recovering from emotional abuse, narciss...
Ep 207: “Who Do You Think You Are?” - Getting Out of Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome after emotional abuse looks like doubting your memory.Minimizing what happened. Feeling dramatic for having boundaries.Questioning whether it was “really that bad.”In this episode, we unpack how emotional abuse...
Episode 206: Why You Thought You Were Crazy in Your Relationship (But You Weren’t)
Have you ever walked away from a relationship wondering how you became so confused, reactive, or unsure of yourself? In this episode, we unpack why so many emotionally intelligent, self-aware people end up questioning their own reality in unhea...
Episode 205: Reinforcement Strategies to Break the Trauma Bond
In this episode of the "Be A Better You Podcast," we're diving deeper into the journey of breaking trauma bonds, offering advanced strategies and practical tools for healing. Building on discussions about identifying and challenging harmf...
Episode 204: How to Read People (and yourself) Accurately After Emotional Abuse
After emotional abuse, it’s common to either distrust everyone or to rely too heavily on words, promises, and explanations. In this episode, we talk about how to rebuild discernment by learning how to read people accurately—through patterns of ...
Ep 203: Subtle Signs You Were Emotionally Controlled (That Don’t Look Like Abuse)
Many people don’t relate to the word abuse—not because nothing happened, but because emotional control often doesn’t look dramatic, obvious, or cruel. In emotionally abusive or controlling relationships, the most damaging patterns are ...
Episode 202: Why Trauma Bonds Feel Stronger After You Leave
Leaving an emotionally abusive or toxic relationship doesn’t always bring the relief you expect. For many people, the trauma bond actually feels stronger after it’s over—bringing increased rumination, anxiety, longing, and confusion th...
Episode 201: Emotional Sobriety: Detoxing From the Highs and Lows You Got Addicted To
If you’ve ever caught yourself missing someone who made you anxious, small, or constantly on edge… this episode is for you.Because what you’re feeling is withdrawal, not a personal flaw.After emotionally unsafe, narcissistic abuse...
Ep 200: What 200 Episodes Taught Me About Healing (Why Ease Matters More Than Effort)
Two hundred episodes in, certain truths become impossible to ignore.After years of conversations, client work, and pattern-spotting, one thing is clear: people don’t struggle because they lack insight, discipline, or desire to change. Th...