# EP 29: Maria & Madge: Picking Up Where We Left Off

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/ep-29-maria-madge-picking-up-where-we-left-off
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/ep-29-maria-madge-picking-up-where-we-left-off.md
Podcast: [Breaking Cycles with Maria](https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238)
Published: 2026-06-05T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://breaking-up-with-toxicity.captivate.fm
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/c44f97f6-8c98-47eb-82c2-26f274934379.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/episodes/ep-29-maria-madge-picking-up-where-we-left-off
Duration seconds: 1891

## Resource

Life got busy again. Months passed, schedules filled up, and before we knew it, another conversation was waiting to happen. In this episode, Madge and I pick up where we left off and talk about friendship, growth, changing seasons of life, and why sometimes the smallest changes create the biggest shifts in our relationships. Sometimes people reconnect instantly. Sometimes they reconnect slowly. And sometimes they're still figuring out what that connection looks like today. We talk about: • How friendships evolve over time • Why some people remain in our lives while others drift away • The impact of life changes on relationships • The pandemic and its effect on self-reflection and connection • Understanding people instead of labeling them • How expectations can shape our experiences with others • Why growth often begins with awareness Along the way, I also share part of the journey behind the development of the Cycle Breaker Method™—a framework built around a simple but powerful idea: The response is your point of control. Many people are familiar with Atomic Habits and the idea that small habits create lasting change. The Cycle Breaker Method™ approaches change from a different angle by focusing on the response—the moment where patterns are either reinforced or interrupted. Because what gets repeated becomes reinforced. What gets reinforced becomes normalized. And often, the smallest shift in response can create the biggest change in a relationship, a workplace, a family, or even your own life. If you enjoy conversations about personal growth, behavior change, self-awareness, relationships, and understanding human behavior, this episode is for you. Most people aren't stuck. They're patterned. This isn't a conversation about having all the answers. It's a conversation a…

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## Transcript

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