Canaries in the Coal Mine
Welcome to Canaries in the Coal Mine — a podcast for people who notice deeply, tell the truth, and are breaking patterns they didn’t choose.
I’m Shannon — a former party girl turned cycle-breaker, trauma survivor, boundary-setter, and fellow feel-everything human. I know what it’s like to grow up reading the room, managing emotions that weren’t yours, and learning to doubt your own instincts just to stay connected.
This podcast is for anyone who was raised around addiction, emotional immaturity, narcissism, codependency, or emotional neglect — and grew up feeling “too much,” too sensitive, or somehow wrong.
But here’s the truth:
You’re not broken.
You’re not crazy.
You’re just the canary.
Through thoughtful conversations, grounded tools, and clear language, we talk about emotional patterns, family systems, boundaries that protect, nervous system overload, and what it actually takes to come back to yourself.
Just honest conversation.
If you’ve always noticed what others missed, you’ll feel at home here.
🎙️ New episodes every other Tuesday at 1 PM ET.
Canaries in the Coal Mine
Why Saying No Feels So Wrong (When You’re Not Wrong at All)
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
This video explains why saying no feels wrong, why guilt shows up when you set boundaries, and how childhood conditioning, trauma, and people-pleasing shape your nervous system.
If your stomach drops when you disappoint someone…
If your chest tightens when you set a boundary…
If guilt floods you the moment you choose rest…
This episode is for you. 💛
For those raised in chaos, emotional immaturity, or addiction, guilt around “no” isn’t a character flaw —
it’s conditioning.
Today we’re talking about:
• why guilt feels like a threat, not a feeling
• the survival role you learned before you ever knew you had one
• why saying no triggers panic, shame, and over-explaining
• how your nervous system confuses boundaries with danger
• the first steps toward responding from self-respect instead of fear
You are not selfish for having limits.
You’re not unkind for needing rest.
You’re simply unlearning who you never had to be.
Watch Next:
The Hidden Ways Childhood Trauma Affects Your Adult Life → https://youtu.be/M8NOmHApwfw
What Does “Family Cycle Breaker” Mean? → https://youtu.be/UQuw9pgf03E
Each film is a soft place to land — cinematic truth-telling for cycle-breakers, deep feelers, and anyone healing from the inside out.
Subscribe:
New cinematic healing films → @thecanariesinthecoalmine
If you want to support my work:
• Explore the Canary Book Nook → https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu
• Share this film with someone who needs it
• Subscribe, like, and comment — your engagement helps this work reach more people
Free Resources (for your journey):
Canary Love Notes → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/c6ivxhp4ti
Vagus Nerve Reset Guide → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/4qzfwvxxp7
7 Tools for Sensitive Souls → https://mailchi.mp/7d6d2342bb0b/the-canarys-survival-guide
Find Us Online:
Website → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com
Podcast → Canaries in the Coal Mine (Spotify / Apple / Amazon)
Book Nook → https://amzn.to/4fzi6Eu
Community Question:
Do you feel guilty when you set a boundary or choose rest?
What helps you stay steady when that old survival guilt rises?
Share below — your story helps someone else breathe easier. 💛
Helpful Link:
The Peacemaker’s Reset Guide
A trauma-informed way to steady your body when old guilt tries to pull you back into overgiving.
Download → https://www.thecanariesinthecoalmine.com/er5leo0mxf
Sponsorship Disclosure:
This episode is not sponsored. Affiliate links help support this channel at no additional cost to you.
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
1:30 - Patterns of Conditioned Guilt
3:42 - Where This Pattern Began
6:55 - Practical Shifts That Support Healing
10:40 - Empathy, Truth, and Reclamation
#Boundaries #PeoplePleasing #TraumaHealing #CycleBreaker #CPTSDRecovery #AdultChildrenOfAlcoholics #SettingBoundaries #PeoplePleaserRecovery
About This Channel:
A cinematic space for cycle-breakers, deep feelers, and truth-tellers.
We aren’t “too much” — we’re wired for honesty, healing, and connection.
New episodes every other Tuesday at 1 PM ET, plus podcast uploads.
Educational Disclaimer:
This content is for educational and supportive purposes only. It is not therapy or medical advice.