Into Deep
Into Deep is a podcast that dives into the mindset and stories behind the humans making an impact. Join host Geoff Goddard—wellness coach, psychotherapist-in-training, and lifelong seeker of human potential—as he sits down with deep thinkers, high performers, and purpose-driven guests to explore what drives them, what challenges shaped them, and how they elevate their mental and physical well-being.
Expect raw conversations, practical wisdom, and a whole lot of heart. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, insight, or tools for personal growth—this is your place to get into deep.
Into Deep
The Hidden Trauma of People Pleasing | Kris Byrnes | EP35
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Step-parent coach, podcaster and mum Kris Byrnes spent much of her life people-pleasing, walking on eggshells and trying to keep everyone around her happy — patterns she traces back to a childhood where she learned to shrink herself to keep the peace.
In this episode, Kris opens up about her complicated relationship with her father, growing up feeling that her needs weren’t always met, and eventually making the incredibly difficult decision to end that relationship as an adult.
She also shares being physically assaulted at 17, the depression and nightmares that followed, and why it took years to understand the impact these experiences had on her self-worth and the way she moved through the world.
Together, Geoff and Kris explore how childhood trauma doesn’t always come from one catastrophic event. Sometimes it can be “death by a thousand cuts” — years of feeling unseen, monitoring other people’s moods, questioning your own needs and slowly losing trust in yourself.
Kris shares how becoming a stepmum at 24 brought many of these patterns to the surface, eventually leading to burnout, resentment and the realisation that she needed to stop trying to change everyone around her and start taking responsibility for herself.
Now supporting other step-parents and raising a blended family of her own, Kris shares what she has learned about boundaries, self-worth, high-conflict co-parenting and protecting your peace without abandoning yourself.
What You’ll Learn:
🧠 How childhood experiences can shape people-pleasing and perfectionism
💭 Why trauma doesn’t always come from one major event
❤️ The challenge of cutting toxic family members out of your life
🔥 Why becoming a stepmum brought old patterns to the surface
⚡ How over-giving can turn into burnout and resentment
👨👩👧👦 The realities of step-parenting and blended families
🛑 How to navigate boundaries in high-conflict relationships
✨ What it means to stop shrinking yourself for other people
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#PeoplePleasing #ChildhoodTrauma #Boundaries #SelfWorth #Healing #StepParenting #BlendedFamily #MentalHealth