{"podcast":{"title":"Breaking Cycles with Maria","slug":"breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238","podcast_index_feed_id":6618238,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/breaking-up-with-toxicity/","website_url":"https://breaking-up-with-toxicity.captivate.fm","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/3512fb13-808d-4756-9a00-8262d9c3f321/0F96017D-754B-41B8-A7DA-8CFAACE1CD0A-1-1-4.png","author":"Maria Shkreli","episode_count":30,"summary":"Breaking Cycles with Maria is an honest and relatable podcast about relationships, emotional patterns, self-awareness, anxiety, attachment, dysfunctional dynamics, and the things we normalize without even realizing it. Hosted by Maria Shkreli, LMHC, author of Breaking Cycles and Breaking Up with Toxicity, the podcast explores the messy, complicated, and very human side of life — from unhealthy relationship patterns and family dynamics to workplace stress, life transitions, emotional reactions, and the cycles that quietly shape us. Some episodes are educational. Some are conversational. Some may challenge the way you see yourself, your relationships, or the people around you. Because the truth is… we all have patterns. Some help us grow. Some quietly keep us stuck. Through real conversations, psychological insight, personal reflection, and a little bit of spice, Maria helps listeners better understand the patterns they repeat, the emotional experiences they normalize, and how to navigate life with greater awareness, clarity, and emotional health. No perfection. No pretending. Just real conversations about life, relationships, and breaking unhealthy cycles.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-06T02:20:47.981511+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238"},"episode":{"title":"EP 25: When Healing Feels Like Grief: The Part No One Warns You About","slug":"ep-25-when-healing-feels-like-grief-the-part-no-one-warns-you-about","published_at":"2026-02-05T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/ep-25-when-healing-feels-like-grief-the-part-no-one-warns-you-about","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238","url":"https://breaking-up-with-toxicity.captivate.fm","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f7be3915-a7e1-4482-b1ea-17ef123f034e.mp3","summary":"When Healing Feels Like Grief: The Part No One Warns You About Healing is supposed to feel empowering… right? So why does it sometimes feel lonely, heavy, or heartbreaking instead? In this episode of Breaking Up With Toxicity , Maria Shkreli, LMHC talks about the part of healing no one prepares you for—the grief that comes with growth. The grief of outgrowing relationships that can’t come with you. The grief of letting go of survival patterns that once kept you safe. The grief of realizing how much you adapted, endured, or went without. This episode explores why healthy change can feel painful, isolating, and confusing—even when you’re finally doing the “right” things. We talk about mourning old versions of yourself, releasing fantasies about people changing, navigating quieter phones and shifting relationships, and why sadness during healing is not a sign of failure—but a sign of honesty. If you’ve ever wondered: Why setting boundaries hurts more than staying the same Why healing feels lonely before it feels freeing Why growth brings sadness, not instant relief Or why you miss people you know weren’t good for you This episode is for you. Healing doesn’t always feel good—but it feels true. And if healing feels like grief, you’re not broken. You’re processing. You’re not alone in this part of the journey. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace therapy, diagnosis, or professional mental health treatment. Content discussed does not constitute clinical assessment or diagnosis of any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek professional support for their own circumstances.","meta_description":"When Healing Feels Like Grief: The Part No One Warns You About Healing is supposed to feel empowering… right? So why does it sometimes feel lonely, heavy,…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1225,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/episodes/ep-25-when-healing-feels-like-grief-the-part-no-one-warns-you-about/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/ep-25-when-healing-feels-like-grief-the-part-no-one-warns-you-about.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}