Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of graphic sex, molestation, and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. Over-sexualized at a young age, Will was exposed to sexual content from his sister and had a grandmother that was sexually inappropriate with him in kindergarten. All of this, combined with parents and a community rooted in Christian beliefs and a solid church-going community, Will spiraled deeper and deeper into the depths of guilt and shame. _____ If you or anyone...
Jan 31, 2022•34 min•Ep. 86
Regardless of the situation, Rivkah's compulsive urge to lie about matters big and small started as early as first grade, from lying about a birthday to starring in the touring company of Les Misérables, and even sexual orientation. _____ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com. ______ To share your secret and be a guest on the show email secretlifepodcast@icloud.c...
Jan 24, 2022•32 min•Ep. 85
Trigger Warning: This episode touches on the subjects of molestation, sexual assault, and trauma. Rick was 8 or 9 when he was betrayed by his best friend. He didn't feel he could tell his parents, and the friend he did share it with threatened to tell everyone. How much of that affected his relationships moving forward? Did you know one in six males are sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday? Unfortunately, many victims are reluctant to come forward due to cultural conditioning. Rick is a...
Jan 17, 2022•27 min•Ep. 84
In this episode, our past guest Jen Levin ( Ep #27 Living With Binge Eating Disorder ), pulls back the curtain on the nine online dating apps she frequents. Hint... Bumble is her favorite. You're in for a treat; these stories are almost unbelievable! If you've used a dating app, you know the odds of having an ideal date are pretty slim. In fact, there's a pretty good chance that you're bound to have a few bad experiences. In 2020, data shows that over 270 million people were on dating apps, with...
Jan 10, 2022•25 min•Ep. 83
Studies have shown that the majority of New Year's resolutions focus on weight loss and getting into shape, which can be triggering for those individuals who are struggling with an eating disorder or who are at risk of developing an eating disorder. Brianne and Katie look at social media's power on women, their bodies, and the drive to be sexually desirable. Katie shares how her eating disorder started when she was a college athlete and how she's changed her relationship with food. If you or any...
Jan 03, 2022•22 min•Ep. 82
It's that time again, where we look at the past year and make New Year's Resolutions for the year ahead. Many of which we often can't or don't keep. Something that surfaced as a result of Covid-19 was the opportunity to take stock of our lives, our habits and make some changes if possible and desirable. Some people have changed their lives dramatically, sought help with addictions, dove into therapy, dropped old friends, and focussed more on being present. Justin shares his fears of not accompli...
Dec 27, 2021•23 min•Ep. 81
Follow Up to Episode #77 - [ Trigger Warning: This episode touches on the subjects of sexual assault and trauma.] Suppose you’re a long-time listener of the show. In that case, you know that often the initial secret the guest shares is just the tip of the iceberg. Many times, as Brianne asks the next question, more secrets (some buried for decades or thought would never be shared) are revealed. Lindsay was one of those guests. However, the disclosure came after the first episode was released. Li...
Dec 20, 2021•36 min•Ep. 80
Famed actor/director Stanislavski's "Magic If" describes an ability to imagine oneself in a set of fictional circumstances and to envision the consequences of finding oneself facing that situation in terms of action. In a way, that's what Anna David did when she wrote an article for Playboy magazine about sex and dating—because she didn't have much advice to give. Anna bravely shares how just "assuming the position" led to more articles, books, and a Playboy photoshoot. ______ If you or anyone y...
Dec 13, 2021•31 min•Ep. 79
How willing are we to change? And even when we become willing, is it possible to uncover those deep wounds that we've suppressed for sometimes an entire lifetime? Jason bravely shares some of the discoveries he's had regarding his first drink, sex and love addiction, and the challenges of becoming your authentic self. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com....
Dec 06, 2021•33 min•Ep. 78
It started with a credit card from Victoria's Secret, and before she knew it, Lindsay found herself with several credit cards, thousands of dollars in debt, and desperate to hide it all from her husband. The purchases weren’t extravagant or luxurious, just a coffee here, a lunch out here, a couple of tops at Target, and then, BAMM! Living a life of vagueness and fantasy comes at a price. Lindsay’s been attending Debtors Anonymous for seven months, hasn’t incurred any unsecured debt, paid off her...
Nov 29, 2021•30 min•Ep. 77
It’s never easy to cut someone out of your life. And when it comes to family, it’s especially hard to accept that a family member is creating so much stress, anxiety, and pain that you cant continue to have a relationship with them. Liz Svatek has had a toxic relationship with her sister for over 40 years and she finally realized she was hurting herself by not setting boundaries. People can change, but toxic people rarely do. They lack self-awareness and don’t take responsibility for their actio...
Nov 22, 2021•33 min•Ep. 76
Sometimes called The G-String Scholarship : College Students Strip to Pay Tuition Costs. College students say they make more than enough money to graduate debt-free. Young women in pursuit of a higher education use their stripper earnings to pay for tuition. Stripping to pay for school may sound like a cliché to some, but it was the fastest and easiest way for Celeste to pay for her teaching credentials. When Celeste moved to California, several courses didn’t transfer to get her California teac...
Nov 15, 2021•32 min•Ep. 75
We all know a friend or family member who is single—but for the life of you, you can't understand why. They say they want to be in a relationship; they're attractive, fun to be around, passionate, loving, giving, and yet you can't figure out why they're still single. Guess what? They might not know either. So is there something deeper going on? What blocks might they have? You probably know someone who is Love Avoidant — someone who avoids and fears intimacy. Or a person with Sexual Anorexia avo...
Nov 08, 2021•24 min•Ep. 74
Secret Life was born out of the desire to help people realize that you are not alone. Jill dealt with a learning disability from an early age, that combined with the death of her friend’s mother and a teacher who told her she was stupid, she found comfort in cutting and burning herself. Decades later, she still battles the crippling voices and self-harm. Need help? Looking for some answers? Self-Harm Resource: Crisis Text: https://www.crisistextline.org/topics/self-harm/#what-is-self-harm-1 ____...
Nov 01, 2021•20 min•Ep. 73
You’d never know that actor and TikTok star Adam Rose would be scared of dying. But ever since he can remember, he’s always had a hard time falling asleep at night without thinking of the endless ways he could die. This episode is another can’t-miss episode as Adam share’s some genuinely hilarious stories. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com. ______ Find out mo...
Oct 25, 2021•22 min•Ep. 72
Trigger Warning - This episode briefly touches on sexual abuse. Teresa’s step-dad showered her with gifts from a young age, all of it to keep her quiet about the sexual abuse that went on for years. As she grew up and married, she found herself in a pattern of unhealthy relationships, resentments. Eventually, she would use money to punish the men for their behavior. With the help of Debtors Anonymous, Teresa was able to make amends and change her behavior and patterns. ______ If you or anyone yo...
Oct 18, 2021•30 min•Ep. 71
Growing up with parents who were household names in celebrity news, Meg followed in their footsteps and worked for some of the biggest celebrity news and gossip outlets in Hollywood for over a decade and secretly hated it. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com. ____ To find out more information about Brianne's book Secret L i fe of a Hollywood Sex & Lo...
Oct 11, 2021•24 min•Ep. 70
When you restrict on one type of addiction, you must watch for another addiction to take its place. It's a widespread occurrence that most addicts can identify with. Taking away the drink, drug or relationship isn't the solution; it only stops the destructive behavior. It's what's underneath the addiction and addressing the "why" that we start to heal. Like many people, there were addictions like food and sex that preceded the alcohol and drug addiction that happened later and were first address...
Oct 04, 2021•35 min•Ep. 69
Love bombing is a common abuse tactic used by narcissists and sociopaths to manipulate situations to their advantage. It is the key gaslighting tactic in the Idealization phase of abuse, preceding the far more obvious Devaluation and Discarding stages. Amanda Montell innocently texted her friend’s older brother in Hollywood while she was in high school. What followed was a calculated and abusive relationship. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexu...
Sep 27, 2021•36 min•Ep. 68
What do we hold to be true for ourselves? How do those beliefs affect how we share, communicate and process situations that happen in our lives? If I believe that I’m supposed to have children, and I don’t, then I’m a failure. If I believe I’m supposed to have a specific career or look a certain way, but I don’t, am I a failure? Brianne and Shane look at our core beliefs and how we will keep secrets from others instead of sharing our journey. The willingness to be seen in grief, to allow others ...
Sep 20, 2021•31 min•Ep. 67
“Everybody has sex,” says Rue. “The only difference is that I charged for it.” Rue was a sex worker in her early 20s, working for the madam of Heidi Fleiss. Even though that life is far behind her (she’s married and an educator now), she still firmly believes in the decriminalization of sex workers. It's estimated that there are at least 1 million prostitutes in the United States and 40-42 million worldwide. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexua...
Sep 13, 2021•22 min•Ep. 66
Alexander Pope wrote, "to err is human, to forgive divine." Sometimes forgiving ourselves can be the hardest thing to do. Guilt is a feeling you get when you did something wrong or perceived you did something wrong. Shame is a feeling that your whole self is wrong. Releasing shame and guilt involves learning to empathize and forgive. When you can forgive and care for others, you'll learn to care for and forgive yourself. David Linaker is a shingling example of that truth. Change and freedom are ...
Sep 06, 2021•29 min•Ep. 65
Before her recovery, Jean McCarthy ran a very successful and high profile business in her community. Even though she's helped thousands of people, written and published books, has a successful podcast with millions of downloads, almost nobody in her town has any clue. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com. _____ Jean McCarthy is an award-winning blogger an...
Aug 30, 2021•31 min•Ep. 64
Getting sober and maintaining sobriety while in a relationship can be a challenge. Both people getting sober, maintaining that sobriety, AND staying in the relationship are sadly not very common. Devyn and Jess share how they’ve grown together. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com. _____ For more info on how to support Hope & Rescue and Recovery: Webs...
Aug 23, 2021•45 min•Ep. 63
Raised with an emotionally absent mom and a physically absent dad, Tawny Lara found herself self-medicating for years and acting out sexually. Gratefully, she found recovery and was able to look at her rage and confront it head-on. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com. _______ Tawny is an NYC-based millennial who writes about the intersection of sex and s...
Aug 16, 2021•30 min•Ep. 62
One incredible year and sixty-four episodes later, Brianne Davis and Mark Gantt discuss some of the takeaways they've had—the breakthroughs, the breakdowns, and the gratitude for this incredible journey. _____ TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE INCLUDE gratitude, attitude, self-care, body image, podcasts, self-love, addiction, recovery, sex & love addiction, taboo subjects, courage, freedom, and happiness. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or...
Aug 09, 2021•32 min•Ep. 61
What a perfect way to celebrate our first year of Secret Life and the 64th produced episode!! Dyxie shares some truly unbelievable dating and sex stories in this hilarious episode that will have you on the floor laughing. ______ If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com. To find out more information about Brianne's book Secret L i fe of a Hollywood Sex & Love Add...
Aug 02, 2021•33 min•Ep. 60
Kamala Jones and Brianne Davis share their stories and struggle with fibroids and major surgery. Something that is very common, but rarely talked about. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 80% of all women will develop uterine fibroids at some point during their lives. Because many women don't experience any symptoms, it's possible the incidence of uterine fibroids is even higher. Fibroids are considered benign or noncancerous but can make life painful. Kamala Jones is a sitcom actr...
Jul 26, 2021•28 min•Ep. 59
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." — Confucius. Recovery from addiction is incredibly challenging. Taking away or stopping the drink, drug, food, person, cigarette, gambling, or sex doesn't make our problems go away. Instead, it shines the light on all those feelings we were trying to disconnect and numb ourselves from. In this episode, Jason Wahler shares his journey, the mishaps, and the miracles. _____ f you or anyone you know is struggling with an...
Jul 19, 2021•25 min•Ep. 58
Acting for television and movies since the age of six, Danielle Harris became a parentified child after her father died when she was just seven. With no male role models in her life, Danielle found herself in an uncontrollable and self-destructive pattern of unhealthy relationships. As she struggled with issues surrounding sex and love addiction, she attended 12-step meetings for a while and ultimately found solace, happiness, and a healthy relationship with the help of her long-time therapist. ...
Jul 12, 2021•25 min•Ep. 57
