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How to deal with a sibling that keeps giving you advice? How to deal with a friend who only cares about themself? How to explain narc behavior? How to overcome needing to lie when you're afraid to express your own truth? Sven again takes to simultaneous live feeds on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok to answer these listener questions, and much more. Please listen in! Explicit content.

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Is negative attention better than no attention at all? In this counseling episode, Sven works with Gia and Leif, two individuals with seemingly different stories but similar feelings of being lost, alone, and insecure. As a child, Gia's parents made her feel like she was overly dramatic and crazy, while Leif's parents impressed upon him that he had no worth unless he did exactly as they said. Listen in for these impactful examples of parental messaging and actions that can have seriously destructive effects for years and years. Explicit content.

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Listen in as Sven counsels Zena and Corrine, two women in serious pain from lovers who just don't care. One cheated, the other was cheated on. Is a temporary dopamine hit worth the destructive behavior? And what are the roots of these two women's feelings? As they experience Sven at his maximum badass counselor self, they also find a lot to learn from each other. Explicit content.

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Madi is a person of faith, and in pain over family pressure to maintain a relationship with her father, who she describes as a "shit person." Hearing her heartbreaking story, Sven guides her to understand that what she considered as simply being a low priority was actually serious abuse. Madi feels pressure to forgive, but her father's cruelty and overwhelming hypocrisy make it difficult or impossible. Sven (a former pastor) provides keen insight on the complexity of forgiveness, and the dangers of using a narrow interpretation of the Bible to control and exploit others. Listen for Madi's epiphany, and cheer her on! Explicit content.

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Join Sven for unrehearsed responses to incoming online questions! Is there life after a 35-year marriage to a narcissist? Feeling like you don't deserve to live? Is there a difference between hate and rage? And hear Sven's emotional response to a follower who just became a quadriplegic. It's Lightning Round LV. Come on in! Explicit content.

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In Emily's story, the abuse went both ways. After suffering a miscarriage, her husband severely beat her...after she threw a broken glass at him when he called her crazy in public. They later had a son, but the two-way abuse continued until they divorced. Now co-parenting, Emily wonders why she still loves her ex-husband even though she knows she deserves better. Sven asks, "Can feelings of love be detrimental?" as he counsels Emily to stop avoiding her painful feelings and get on with the hard work of healing for her son, and herself. Explicit content.

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More spontaneous Q&A with Sven, recorded as he checks in with his followers on multiple platforms. Need some new strategies to deal with your worries? Wondering how to succeed at a long-distance relationship?  How do you know when it's over? Having trouble co-parenting with an uncooperative ex?  Join us for Lightning Round LIV for all this, and much more! Explicit content.

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Britt's sad history includes rape, beatings, and attempted suicide. She understands that she was taught to be unlovable and is making progress, but she's scared to let go of all the trauma that has defined her life. She wonders: What is her substance without it? Sven helps her though the final stages of embracing her authentic self in this ultimately uplifting counseling session. Explicit content.

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In Lightning Round LIII, Sven again takes to multiple social media platforms to take live, unpredictable questions. Topics include fear of traveling, difficulties with journaling, conflict avoidance, forgiveness, distant spouses, and more. Sven never knows what's coming, and his answers are always insightful and illuminating. Please listen in! Explicit content.

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Meet Lynn, whose memories of hating herself begin at age 8. Sexually abused as a child by a string of her mother's partners, Lynn struggles with crippling depression and suicidal thoughts. Compounding her misery - her mother knew about the abuse and did nothing except eventually blame her for it. And the manipulation and cruelty continue to this day. Lynn can only refer to her mother as "BG" - her birth giver. Through her tears, Sven guides Lynn to confront her true feelings, and helps her begin to release her pain and embrace life. Explicit content.

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In Sven's 52nd Lightning Round, he offers great insight about repairing relationships between parents and children, and vice-versa. Feel like you're giving too much? Afraid that your trauma defines you? Wondering how to finally get your needs met? Worried that your partner is dumping adult problems on your children? Sven tackles all these issues and more in this recorded session of incoming questions from his online followers. Please join us for Lightning Round LII! Explicit content.

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Jennifer's life has been filled with "99% self hate." As a child, she never felt protected and had to protect her mother from her father's abuse. Although Jennifer would never allow her mother to parent her own daughter in the same way her mother did to her, she still unquestionably loves her mother. Sven works Jennifer through her painful life story of handed-down abusive behavior, and a string of horrendous relationships. Jennifer is taking steps in the right direction, but has a ways to go. Sven helps point the way. Explicit content.

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In Sven's 51st Lightning Round, he takes on his followers' toughest questions on dealing with grief, handling difficult parenting (and parent) issues, getting past abusive relationships, understanding guilt, loving life like you used to, and so much more. The questions come live and unscripted, and the answers are always enlightening. Come on in and join us for Lightning Round LI! Explicit content.

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Sven again goes live on multiple social media sites to take unpredictable questions from his followers. In this recorded Lightning Round, topics include: self-sabotaging; having no memories of childhood; journaling prompts for young people; fear of being the center of attention; and much more. Please listen in! Explicit content.

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Sarah believes her hate and rage are behind her, but she says she has no functional relationships. Sven helps her discover the connection between her severely troubled childhood and her true feelings as an adult. Molestation at the hands of her older sister and cousin was ignored by her parents and led her to a violently abusive relationship at age 15 with a 21 year old man. She's now taking steps to leave another failed relationship - an 11-year marriage - but her religious faith is getting in the way. Lots of tears and lots of hope in this moving episode. Explicit content.

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Wondering if narcissists ever feel guilt? How to stop feeling invisible to your family? How to get through your sibling's wedding? Afraid you'll become a narcissist after living with one? Are you failing to get your emotional needs met? Join Sven and his online followers for our 50th Lightning Round! The questions are unpredictable, the answers always provocative and illuminating. Come on in! Explicit content.

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Meet Lance and Rebecca, whose deep wounds from their lost childhoods haunt their adulthood. As a child, Lance was forced to care for his bipolar, suicidal mother. Rebecca suffered an early life filled with emotional and sexual abuse of the highest order. Did they become self-critical? "Only 100%." 
Listen in to this gripping session as Sven counsels these two remarkable individuals who are struggling toward a better life filled with good relationships with their own children, their partners, and themselves. Explicit content.

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Recorded live and unrehearsed for the 49th time, Sven takes on tough questions from his online followers. Tons of useful insight and advice here, with questions including: What's the best way to unlock blocked memories? Where did my teen learn to say "You're triggering me?" How can I stop lashing out when I'm stressed? Who is Sven for Sven? And: Why does my girlfriend keep storming out of my house at midnight? All this and much more in Sven's latest Lightning Round. Come on in! Explicit content.

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In two stories of abandonment and guilt, Sven provides some seriously healing counsel. First, Sharon found her estranged fiancé dead in his car, and needlessly blames herself. In the second half of the show, meet Christian, who always knew he didn't want to marry, but gave in anyway, thinking, "What's the worst that could happen?" Both individuals found out. If you'd like to learn how to give yourself permission to live life your way, listen in and join Sven, Sharon, and Christian in this riveting episode. Explicit content.

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After the episode "What's the Worst That Could Happen?," Sven got Sharon and Christopher's reactions to their experience on the show.

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Another recorded session of Sven taking unpredictable online questions fed to him live from 3 different social media platforms. Sven explains the root of his 12-year depression, and tackles topics like narcissism, finding one's purpose, the effects of adoption, the green flags to look for when dating, and much much more. Explicit content.

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Sven's counseling guests in this episode have cheated, been cheated on, had parents that cheated, been abandoned... Amanda wants to hold herself responsible and resolve her feelings, and Faith is just scared that life is passing her by. Both women seek recovery and peace, and Sven helps them look, painfully at times, at the origins and effects of cheating. Far-reaching cheating. Please join us and listen in to these compelling stories and Sven's insightful guidance. And check out the bonus content with Amanda and Faith in Badass Overtime. Explicit content.

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After the show "Cheating From Every Painful Angle," Amanda and Faith share their thoughts with Sven. 

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Fearless Sven again takes to social media to field unpredictable questions on tough personal topics: My ex is a narcissist and I've adopted his daughter who is just the same, should I cut myself off from her? How can I erase the memory of an accident that put me in a wheelchair? I apologized, but my son won't talk to me. How do I get over my abusive ex-husband? And lots more. Join us for Lightning Round 47! Explicit content.

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In this dramatic counseling session, Sven works with Sarina, who finds herself stuck in an unhappy marriage but won't leave. She's emotionally drained, has lost her motivation after leaving the military, and confused about her next steps. As Sven probes her deepest feelings, we find that Sarina was adopted only for the financial benefit of a mother who, among other atrocities, has stolen her voice. How can Sarina reclaim her self-determination and learn to advocate for herself? Listen in for Sven's "Badass Wisdom." Explicit content.

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Sven does some seriously badass counseling with two women, each struggling to find their inner voice. Rachel is having a crisis of faith. Damaging and sexist messages taught by her parish are blocking her ability to heal from past trauma, including sexual abuse. Sven's deep pastoral knowledge plays an important role in helping Rachel find her free, authentic self. Sven's first guest is Jacqueline, and his heart bleeds "200%" when he learns of her horrible childhood. She felt the responsibility to take care of her mother's emotional needs, but got little or nothing in return. Small wonder she has felt uncomfortable even existing. Listen in to this riveting counseling session, and then check out the Badass Overtime bonus episode to hear the guests' reaction after the show. Explicit content.

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Listen in behind-the-scenes as Sven has an interesting chat with his guests after the show "It's Your Inner Voice. Listen!"

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Kicking off Season 5, Sven takes to social media to record this new round of questions from his followers. He never knows what will come up, but he's always ready for anything. In this episode, find out what he thinks about a mother who leaves town -- right when her child is about to undergo brain surgery! Tons of great advice here on relationships (long-distance or otherwise), anxiety about intimacy, narcissistic partners, journaling, and much more. Cool insight here for hot summer days, so please come on in! Explicit content. 

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Meet Phil and Kristi, two very different individuals whose issues have a common root. Sven counsels them to look inside, rather than at the extremely challenging outside forces that debilitate them.  Kristi has suffered through an abusive marriage to a violent narcissist and needs guidance to find a better life for herself and her children. Phil was caught cheating, has a houseful of relatives, and seeks to reconcile with his reluctant wife. For insight and advice, they turn to Badass Counseling. Listen in to see how it goes! And please join us for the Badass Overtime bonus episode with Phil and Kristi to see how they felt after spending some intense time with Sven. Explicit content.

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After finishing "With or Without You," Sven had a meaningful exchange with his guests. Listen in!

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Here's another recorded session of Sven in top form, fielding questions in real time from followers on 3 different social media platforms. Narc issues, mom issues, Ex issues, anger issues, children issues, childhood issues, relationship issues...It's all here, and more, in Sven's 45th Lightning Round. Please join us for great insight, advice, and a few laughs, too! Explicit content.

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Meet Rachel, who knows she should leave her relationship with an "aggressive, whiny, and controlling" man, but can't figure out how she got into it. Sven guides her through confronting her family myth and the effect it had on her. When no one in her family keeps a picture of her late father, you can begin to guess what's up. Rachel finds it tough to state the truth, but says, "It's kind of easier with him being gone." Join us for her compelling story, and don't miss Badass Overtime with Rachel to see how she felt after the show. Explicit content.

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After the show, Rachel had the chance to tell Sven how different it felt to talk with him directly vs. listening to him counsel others. Lots to learn here, so please join us for Badass Overtime! Explicit content.

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Narcissists! (or, Extreme Takers). Sven offers his in-depth thoughts about narcissists from many angles, including why are they the way they are, why don't they think they're not lying, why do they often abandon their children, and more. Sven is fired up and ready to rock in this recorded session of listener questions and answers, fed to him in real time from social media platforms. Other topics include fixing relationships with children, handling triggers, and dealing with a partner who smokes pot. Always many gems of advice and insight in Lightning Rounds, so come on in! Explicit content.

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Tiffany says her mom "broke me," but still hangs on to the feeling that a relationship with her mother would make her feel whole. But Sven points out the hole in her reasoning in this counseling session about the long term effects of a verbally abusive parent. And now, Tiffany must determine how to protect her own children from their grandmother, who hasn't changed a bit. Lots to learn in this episode, so please listen in, and then join Tiffany and Sven after the show in their Badass Overtime. Explicit content.

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In this recorded Lightning Round, Sven fields questions in real time from his online followers on topics including: Dating advice after a long-term relationship; how can you build trust with a cheater; should you talk to your Ex-narc in order to get closure; what to do when your partner says they can't make you happy; and much more. Tons of good advice and insight here, so come on in! Explicit content.

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After the show, Tiffany and Sven talked about her experience. Explicit content.

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What's the secret to living life effortlessly? How do I build my confidence? I can't get over my ex! How do I deal with a bully at work? Why do I get mad when my peace is disrupted by my kid? Listen as these and other issues are hurled at Sven from his online followers in another live session recorded for this podcast. Sven riffs on taking the direct approach, on swearing, on overcoming fear, and so much more. Sven's 43rd Lightning Round awaits, so come on in! Explicit content.

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In one of his most powerful -- and tearful -- counseling sessions, Sven comes to the aid of Sarah, who in her 50's can't understand why she "...can't release the pain." Is it simply because she was adopted? No, Sven goes deep into Sarah's experience with a biological father who wouldn't acknowledge it, neglectful adoptive fathers, and a mother who basically used her only as a tool for getting her own love needs met from others. Grab three hankies and listen in to this fascinating session. And don't forget to check out Badass Overtime with Sarah to hear her collect her thoughts after the show. Explicit content.

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It was a challenging show for Sarah, and she had a chance to reflect with Sven after the taping. Explicit content.

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Live on tape again and ready for action, Sven takes to multiple social media platforms to field questions from his followers. Like to know exactly how narcissists destroy relationships? How to flush out the pain of attachment issues, or spiraling, or trauma bonds, or even dealing with the death of a child? Please join us for these and many other topics here in Sven's 42nd Lightning Round! Explicit content. 

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William is a great dad. But he fears losing his marriage and the three children he dearly loves. He desperately wants to give his kids a different life than he suffered through. As a small child, his mother would storm out of the house because he didn’t clean his room. He was afraid of talking to his drug-addicted father for fear of saying the wrong thing. Sven knows the effect of such horribly damaging messages on a child. William has some serious healing to do, and Sven’s unvarnished truths help William to understand his past and guide him to a better life. Explicit content.

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After the show, Sven had a heart-to-heart talk with William. Explicit content.

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A reminder that Sven's Lightning Rounds are recorded live, with Sven taking questions in real time from different social media sites. Each show takes different twists and turns, sometimes very serious, sometimes lighthearted. In this episode, tons of dating and relationship advice, questions about open marriages, survivors of domestic violence, and even dealing with the death of a pet. Please come on in and join us for Sven's 41st Lightning Round! Explicit content.

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Christa describes her childhood as "World War III." But who was the aggressor? Sven helps Christa blow up the falsehood of her family's myth that the parents were great and the kids were bad. All she wanted was a Dad, but he was always absent, and Mom was cruel and abusive. Christa makes dramatic progress in discovering the root of her pain in this hopeful, illuminating episode. Explicit content.  

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Sven takes to social media again, recorded live and unrehearsed, to field questions from his followers. Tons of great relationship advice in this episode, including: Are all men unhealed monsters? Is brutal honesty ok? What do you do with a man who's always trying but not doing? How do I stop overthinking? Why are men so afraid to open up? And much more! Come on in for Lightning Round 40! Explicit content.

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Listen in to this moving counseling session in which Sven guides Clara and Anthony, two strangers, toward a more peaceful, hopeful life. Both were victims of difficult and often abusive childhoods, and the effects linger on. Do they have the power and the courage to stick up for themselves? And what does that mean for their lives? Please listen in, and find out. Explicit content.

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Sven's guest Steve feels lost. A veteran who has spent his whole life in service to others, Steve shares custody of a physically handicapped son, worries about his ill mother on the other side of the country, and holds onto the vain hope of reuniting with his ex-wife. Sven helps Steve understand his struggles, and provides insight into how to get unstuck. Explicit content.
And please  join us for the Badass Overtime bonus content with Steve to hear his post-show reaction and Sven's final words of advice.

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After "Waiting In Vain," Steve still searched for answers. Sven provided support and helpful final thoughts. Explicit content.

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Sven again takes to live social media platforms to record this fast-paced episode. Is your partner becoming more like their narcissist parent? Can't stop taking an abuser back? Trouble standing up for yourself? Looking for solid advice on dating? Wondering what was Sven's own turning point? You'll find the answers to these and much more here in Lightning Round 39! Explicit content.