Girl, Wake Up! – Details, episodes & analysis

In this powerful episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with Michelle Horton, author of Dear Sister, to unpack the story of Michelle’s sister, Nikki Addimando, who was incarcerated after defending herself against her abusive partner.

This conversation is bigger than one case. It’s about a system that routinely misunderstands coercive control, ignores patterns of abuse and punishes women for refusing to die quietly.

We explore:

1. Why self-defense is so difficult to prove in long-term abuse cases
2. How coercive control gets erased in courtrooms
3. The myth of the “perfect victim”
4. What prison does to survivors of trauma
5. Why women who fight back are often portrayed as perpetrators
6. What needs to change legally and culturally

When a man claims self-defense, it’s often seen as strength. When a woman does, it can become a life sentence.

No woman should have to choose between being abused and being incarcerated. This episode is a wake-up call about how our justice system handles domestic abuse–and why survival should never be criminalized.

Get Michelle Horton’s book here.

Learn more about Michelle on her website: MichelleHortonWriter.com

And their campaign: WeStandWithNikki.com

Follow her on Instagram @michellehortonwriter and @westandwithnikki

Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here.

Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

Midlife isn’t a breakdown. It’s a wake-up call.

In this honest and eye-opening episode of Girl, Wake Up!, I sit down with Dina Alvarez and Dina Aronson, co-authors of Midlife Private Parts, to talk about what really happens to women in their 40s and 50s-physically, emotionally, sexually and psychologically-and why so many of us feel blindsided.

Because no one prepared us.

No one told us perimenopause could feel like anxiety, rage, brain fog and clarity all at once. No one told us we might start questioning our marriages, our careers or the roles we’ve played for decades. And no one told us midlife might be the moment we realize we’ve been over-giving and under-valuing ourselves for years.

For some women, that wake-up call leads to renegotiating a marriage. For others, it leads to divorce. For many, it leads to reclaiming their voice, their desire and their power.

Midlife isn’t the end.

It’s the end of pretending.

And on Girl, Wake Up! — we answer the call.

Learn more about Midlife Private Parts and get your copy here: www.midlifeprivateparts.com

Follow Midlife Private Parts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifeprivateparts/

Follow Dina Alvarez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewritestyles/

Dina Alvarez’ Substack “A Few Good Things”: https://dinaalvarez.substack.com/

Follow Dina Aronson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patina_life/

Dina Aronson’s Substack “Patina”: https://patina.substack.com/

Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here.

Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

Narcissistic abuse doesn’t begin with cruelty. It begins with connection.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy Polacko sits down with licensed psychotherapist Vanessa Reiser, LCSW, to unpack how narcissists condition, confuse and trap even the smartest, strongest women– and what it actually takes to break free.

Vanessa is the author of Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide to Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People. A two-time Ironman, she has run across multiple states in a wedding dress to raise awareness about narcissistic abuse and survivor empowerment. Together, we explore how love-bombing turns into control, why gaslighting erodes self-trust, and how trauma bonds keep women stuck long after the red flags appear.

But this episode isn’t just about the trap. It’s about the comeback.

Vanessa shares how she rebuilt her identity, reclaimed her power and transformed her pain into purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered:

Was it really that bad?

Why did I stay so long?

Why do I still miss him?

This conversation will help you understand the psychology– and reclaim your clarity.

Episode Time Stamps

00:00 - 00:46 Girl, Wake Up Intro

00:47 - 2:39 Welcome to our Girl, Wake Up guest: Vanessa Reiser. Amy deep-dives into her life, work, and activism.

2:40 - 3:10 Men as victims of Narcissistic Abuse. Popular culture headlines such as P.Diddy, and Kevin Spacey.

3:11 - 4:13 It's a Power Dynamic: Why people in positions of power need to step forward.

4:14 - 8:43 Vanessa's book, her work and mission as a clinician, and her experience with pathologized personalities, gaslighting, behavioral disorders, and more.

8:54 - 12:19 Narcissists have a different kind of brain. (Explained)

12:20 - 15:33 Clinician explains how to get out of an abusive situation with a narcissist. Discusses: Trauma bonding, Love bombing; unpacks the abuse cycle.

15:34 - 18:08 Vanessa discusses the psychology behind CULTS. There are different cult systems.

18:09 - 22:12 Dealing with emotionally immature parents (EIPs), narcissistic parents, childhood trauma, identity, and broken family systems.

22:07 - 25:17 When people say the term "narcissist" is overused, the stereotypical narcissist, covert versus overt narcissist

27:18 - 27:53 Truth or Trap segment of the podcast: Narcissists only prey on weak women.

27:54 - 30:30 Letter from a Listener. Amy and Vanessa share their insights

30:31 - 31:44 Thank you, Vanessa. And where the audience can find her online.

31:45 - 31:57 Outro

Find out more about Vanessa Reiser and follow her:

https://tellatherapist.net/

Instagram: @vanessareiserlcsw

Get her book: Narcissistic Abuse

Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

The ways in which film & television portray women on TV are NOT accidental.

In this new podcast episode of Girl, Wake Up! award-winning Los Angeles producer Aliza Rosen takes us behind the scenes of media, storytelling and power to expose how narratives about women are shaped, softened, edited and sometimes erased altogether.

From Hollywood to headlines, who gets believed, who gets framed and who gets attention.

This episode is a wake-up call for any woman who has ever felt misrepresented, minimized or told her story was “too much,” “too complicated” or “not marketable.”

In this episode, we cover:

1. Who actually controls the stories told about women—and why it matters
2. How power hides behind “content,” “objectivity” and “the edit”
3. Why women’s stories are being told more now
4. The cost of misrepresentation
5. Why was “Dirty John” a turning point?
6. Trends we’re seeing in documentaries, podcasts and films

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Find out more about Aliza’s company and follow her:

https://www.ayr-media.com/

Instagram: @ayr_media

Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here.

Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomwarriortribe/

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

Prenups aren’t about planning for divorce–they’re about planning for yourself.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, host Amy Polacko sits down with family law attorney and Prenup Queen Deveney Wells-Gibson for a no-BS conversation about money, marriage, and women’s power. Together, they break down why financial clarity is one of the most radical forms of self-respect-and why more women are choosing prenups and postnups not out of fear, but out of wisdom.

If you’ve ever been told that talking about money is “unromantic,” that prenups mean you don’t trust your partner, or that asking for protection makes you difficult — this episode is your wake-up call.

Because peace of mind isn’t accidental. It’s negotiated.

1. Why prenups are a form of empowerment — not mistrust
2. The biggest money mistakes women make before marriage
3. How prenups protect women who step away from careers to raise families
4. What a postnuptial agreement is-and when it’s actually smarter than a prenup
5. The red flags that show up when partners resist financial transparency
6. How to talk about prenups and postnups without apologizing
7. Why financial independence is foundational to emotional freedom

Women are waking up. We’re no longer outsourcing our safety–emotionally or financially.

And as Deveney makes clear, knowing your numbers, naming your needs, and putting protections in place isn’t pessimistic- it’s powerful.

Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here.

Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomwarriortribe/

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

Learn more about Deveny Wells-Gibson here:

Website: www.lovemeetswealth.com

Follow Deveny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprenupqueen/

Starting over isn’t a failure—it’s a declaration.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy Polacko is joined by Olivia Howell, founder of Fresh Starts Registry, to talk about why rebuilding your life after divorce is one of the bravest things a woman can do.

Olivia created Fresh Starts Registry after her own split, when she realized how little support exists for women starting over quietly, without weddings, baby showers or applause. What she built instead is a powerful community that says: your fresh start matters.

Together, we unpack the emotional, practical and deeply personal realities of starting over-and why choosing yourself is never something to apologize for.

1. Why starting over is often mislabeled as “failure” (and why that’s wrong)
2. The emotional toll of rebuilding your life in silence
3. How divorce, breakups, and major life resets can become portals to power
4. Why women need support systems after relationships end-not just before they begin
5. How Fresh Starts Registry is changing the way we show up for women in transition
6. What it really means to reclaim your life, your space and your future

So many women are navigating massive life changes without language, permission or support. This episode is a reminder that starting over isn’t weakness-it’s wisdom.

Amy Polacko is a Fresh Starts Expert - Book a free Coaching Consultation with her here.

Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomwarriortribe/

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

Learn more about Fresh Starts Registry and follow Olivia here:

Fresh Starts Website: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

Fresh Starts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

Olivia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviahowell/

If you’ve ever dimmed your light to fit in or keep the peace, this is your sign– it’s time to stop staying small.

So many women aren’t playing small because they lack confidence. They’re doing it because they were taught to. In the second episode of the official podcast Girl, Wake Up!, Amy Polacko sits down with Erin Gallagher, creator of the Hype Women movement, to unpack how patriarchy thrives when women stay quiet, compete with each other, and shrink to be liked.

Erin explains why being a Hype Woman isn’t just about encouragement. It's about strategy, survival, and collective power. This message matters for single women, married women, and everyone in between.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why “playing small” is learned– and who benefits from it.

• How patriarchy pits women against each other through competition and comparison

• The truth about adult mean-girl culture and internalized misogyny

• Why being a Hype Woman is a political, professional, and personal act

• How women can take up space without apology-in work, relationships, and life

• Why this movement matters for all women, regardless of relationship status

This isn’t about toxic positivity or empty empowerment slogans. It’s about women recognizing their power, transferring it to each other, and refusing to shrink... TOGETHER.

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Erin's Bio:

Erin Gallagher is a founder and disruptor who launched the global Hype Women Movement. She is the host and producer of the HYPE WOMEN podcast. She is also the CEO and Founder of Hype Women, an inclusive ecosystem unlocking women's access to human, social, financial, and political capital. She's an expert in helping women heal, build generational wealth, and move into positions of power and influence– and as one global CMO succinctly put: "Erin is the not-so-secret weapon so many leaders use to drive real change."

Here’s how you can find her:

Website: hypewomen.com

Instagram: @erin.gallag.her

Buy her Book: Hype Women: Breaking Free from Mean Girls, Patriarchy and Systems Silencing You (*Available wherever books are sold)

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Learn more about Amy Polacko's work and free 15-minute Coaching Consultations here.

Watch & Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior

Join the conversation with Amy on Instagram: instagram.com/freedomwarriortribe

Read the book: amazon.ca/Framed-Women-Family-Court-Underworld/dp/B0DB6MNR2W

In the launch episode of Amy Polacko's new podcast, Girl, Wake Up!, we go inside the real story of Dirty John with Tonia Bales, the first wife of the man who would later become infamous as one of America’s most notorious con artists and predators.

Long before podcasts, Netflix series and headlines, Tonia lived this story from the inside. Her book with Amy Jauman, When You See It: How I Outsmarted & Outlasted Dirty John, shares this incredible backstory.

In this powerful conversation, Tonia reveals how predators hide in plain sight-using charm, credibility and coercive control to quietly dismantle a woman’s sense of safety and self. Together, we break down the early warning signs women are often conditioned to ignore, how con men gain control inside intimate relationships and what it takes to escape and heal after psychological manipulation.

This episode isn’t just about Dirty John.

It’s about how these men operate, why strong women are targeted, and how awareness saves lives.

We cover:

1. The red flags Tonia didn’t yet have language for
2. How coercive control slowly takes hold
3. Why leaving is far more complex than “just walking away”
4. The hidden aftermath of psychological abuse
5. Turning survival into purpose-and helping other women now

Today, Tonia uses her voice to help women trust their instincts, recognize danger sooner and reclaim their power.

If you’ve ever dismissed a gut feeling, minimized a red flag, or wondered “Was it really that bad?”-this episode is your wake-up call.

📘 Tonia Bales’ new book is out today! Get it here.

Her website: www.toniabales.com

Find her on Instagram: @toniabales

Find her on Facebook: Tonia Sells Bales

Learn more about Amy Polacko's work and free 15-minute Coaching Consultations here.

Join the conversation with Amy on Instagram: instagram.com/freedomwarriortribe

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior

Girl, Wake Up! is for women who’ve realized the systems were never built to protect us. Join award-winning journalist and divorce/life coach Amy Polacko as she moves past feel-good empowerment and into what actually works: strategy, clarity, and self-reliance. We talk honestly about relationships, money, divorce, power, and self-preservation. Because waiting to be saved isn’t a plan.

Premiering January 13th, 2026

Now, more women are wearing them for a different reason–and the term “divorce ring” isn’t always strong enough.

That’s where the F-You Ring comes in. It’s a growing term among women who choose to mark the end of a relationship not with silence or shame–but with a symbol of independence.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy speaks with Alex Weinstein, an influencer who went viral after creating her own F-You ring after a breakup, and Mollie Suarez, a jeweler who designed one for herself after divorce and now helps other women create theirs.

Both women were featured in Amy’s recent Guardian article on the rise of F-You Rings, and together they explore why more women are reclaiming jewelry–and their stories–on their own terms.

• How Alex Weinstein’s breakup inspired her to create her own F-You ring

• Why Mollie Suarez began designing these rings for women after experiencing divorce herself

• The emotional power of reclaiming an engagement diamond or creating something new

• Why the idea of women buying meaningful jewelry for themselves is gaining momentum

• What the F-You ring really represents–anger, closure, freedom or reinvention

• How women are rewriting the narrative around divorce and breakups

• The deeper cultural shift behind this trend

Follow Alex Weinstein on Instagram: @alexandrajaye

Learn more about Mollie Suarez’ Westshore Diamond: https://www.westshorediamond.com

Follow Westshore Diamond on Instagram: @westshorediamond

Book a free Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here.

Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts