Shows
Diary of a Recovering People PleaserEp. 37: Interview with Cherisse Fortunato: Lessons of Love, Loss, and Letting GoJoin the conversation with Cherisse Fortunato, author and self-proclaimed recovering people pleaser, as she shares intimate stories about overcoming her people-pleasing along her path to self-discovery. Starting with her childhood background, we follow the timeline of her healing journey through aspects of her life- romantic relationships, friendships, family, and parenthood. Cherisse shares actionable steps she’s taken to be able to set boundaries and start putting her own self care at the forefront of her healing journey.Cherisse also dives into her experiences working in radio, her transformative journey into motherhood, and the significant impact of her br...
2025-07-2346 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp. 36: Journaling to Release Baggage and Craft Self-Care Lists: Your First Step to Heal People-Pleasing“Healing is a time to be playful...letting go, loosening your grip, being in the here and now, having some fun, having some laughter and joy."- Jenny LeckeyJenny Leckey is back with a new season of the Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser Podcast! In this episode, she reintroduces herself and the podcast's mission to offer a supportive, inclusive space for people pleasers at any stage of their healing journey. She shares her own background, from radio to teaching, and now to energy healing and spiritual mentorship. She stresses the importance of feeling see...
2025-07-2214 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp. 35: Finding Work - Life Balance through the Power of Boundaries: an Interview with Jeff Jolton"I think that is all about being raised male, right? That self-silencing, not being able to express your true feelings about something." - Jeff JoltonIn this episode, Jeff Jolton, an industrial organizational psychologist, shares his personal journey of overcoming people pleasing behavior in the work place and in his personal life. Jeff opens up about his struggle with balancing professional demands while also being a father and husband. He discusses how his people pleasing tendencies were driven by a pursuit of perfection in all the roles he plays in his life. He discusses societal e...
2025-03-1242 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 34: Dine Like a Boss: Mastering Self-Advocacy at Restaurants"Not only is it about taking the action, but it's also about the story that you tell yourself before, during, and after these types of experiences." - Jenny LeckeyIn this episode, Jenny tackles the challenges for people pleasers in a restaurant setting. She shares her personal journey after being diagnosed with celiac disease and how it forced her to advocate for her dietary needs. Jenny provides practical tips on how to start small by asking for what you need in a dining experience, emphasizing the importance of taking up space and asserting oneself. W...
2025-03-1108 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 33: Jessie's Journey with Inner Wisdom, Sobriety, and Self-Reflection as a Recovering People Pleaser"Every time you say yes to yourself, you're just getting a little bit closer to your authentic self, and the closer you get to that, the more amazing this time on this earth will be." - Jessie MancusoIn this episode, Jenny hosts a heartfelt conversation with Jessie Mancuso, a yoga and meditation teacher from North Buffalo, NY. Jessie shares insights on tapping into inner wisdom, the transformation yoga has brought into her life, and the importance of giving yourself the option to make new choices. They explore themes of authenticity, self-reflection, and the power o...
2025-02-0742 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 32: Paying Attention: How a Fever Taught Me Life's Real Lesson“What you focus on, you're paying for. When you're paying your attention, is it reaping the benefits? Are you getting the reward out of it?" - Jenny LeckeyIn this episode, Jenny shares the story of how of dealing with a severe cold & fever led to a profound realization about the importance of paying attention to what truly matters. She discusses how being forced to slow down and rest stripped away the unnecessary stress and people pleasing tendencies that often burden our lives. Jenny dives into the concept of 'paying attention' and explores how our foc...
2025-02-0512 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 31: Social Media Influencers Don't Know More Than You: Flipping the Script on Learning“We're moving away from the hierarchy of 'The teacher knows and the student is learning.' “ - Jenny LeckeyIn episode 31, Jenny discusses the importance of tuning into yourself rather than seeking external validation. Jenny explores how people often look outside themselves for answers on social media, especially on platforms like TikTok, and how this is slowing down the healing process. She emphasizes that true wisdom comes from within- when you learn something new on your healing journey, it's really awakening dormant knowledge and intuition you had all along. Jenny speaks about the link...
2025-01-1112 min
Frieze Masters PodcastEpisode 5: The State We're In | Mark Leckey, Jenny Waldman & Polly Staple 'What's left for art? Art can offer ritual and ceremony, a communal place where bodies can gather. It's a place where things can happen visually, musically, sonically, and in dance and with the voice.' – Mark Leckey In the fifth episode of the Frieze Masters Podcast, artist Mark Leckey, curator Polly Staple and Director of Art Fund Jenny Waldman reflect on the legacy and future of British art and discuss how it might expand its reach to engage young and underrepresented audiences. Mark Leckey is a Turner Prize-winning artist whose work is infused with popular cultu...
2025-01-0330 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 30: Childhood Trauma, Toxic Workplaces, and Finding Self-Worth: An Interview with Tracie Groves "I realized that if I say no to someone and it's going to make them not love me, then they probably don't."- TracieIn this insightful episode, Jenny has a conversation with Tracie, a self-described recovering people pleaser, who shares her deep and personal journey of overcoming a lifetime of people pleasing. Tracie delves into how her childhood trauma in an abusive household wired her to strive for the approval of others. She also discusses the impact of a toxic workplace where her people-pleasing tendencies were manipulated, leading to severe health issues. Through therapy an...
2024-12-2341 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 29: Ditch the To Do List - Focus on Your "Goodbye" List Instead“"It's like the devil, you know, Right? It's the comfort, you know.” - Jenny LeckeyIn this episode, Jenny discusses her transformative six-month coaching program with her Ayurveda coach, Dawn. She delves into the importance of saying goodbye to habits and relationships that no longer serve us, especially in the context of people pleasing. Jenny shares her personal journey, including past experiences with depression, friendship breakups, and finding out she has celiac disease. She emphasizes the need to create space for new, healthy habits by releasing old patterns and poses the critical question to listeners: What...
2024-12-1813 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 28: Improv Permission Slip to Take Up Space- My People Pleaser Revelation"Underneath all the people pleasing, underneath all the molding yourself to make other people feel comfortable, underneath all of that protective layer is your true essence, and people can see it."- Jenny Leckey In this episode, Jenny recounts a transformative lesson during an improv class years ago. She shares how her improv teacher saw that she wasn’t taking up space on stage, instead worrying about everyone else (classic covery people pleasing). He encouraged her to do the opposite - that she was allowed to take up space. This eye-opening advice encouraged her to start changing thi...
2024-12-0607 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 27: Workplace Boundaries, Self Acceptance, and Religious Upbringing & Guilt with Jen Cunningham"When you start realizing that everything is just a reflection of a person whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, it's just it's them. It's not you." - Jen CunninghamIn this episode, Jenny welcomes Jen for a deep dive into overcoming people pleasing. They discuss the challenges of people pleasing in both professional and personal settings, including workplace dynamics, religious influences, and familial pressures. Jen shares her personal journey, highlighting pivotal moments like setting boundaries, dealing with difficult friendships, and embracing self-care routines. The conversation touches on practical strategies for improving self-awareness a...
2024-12-0636 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 26: Channeled Message from Mary Magdalene: How to Handle Heavy Emotions through Self Care This Holiday Season "When you're tapping into this divine feminine energy, this is creating a warm, insular space for yourself to be able to adhere to those boundaries." - Mary MagdaleneIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser, Jenny brings forth advice for the holiday season through a channeled message from Mary Magdalene. The message includes Mary Magdalene's wisdom on embracing divine feminine energy, creating a nurturing and cozy space for self-reflection, and preparing for emotional challenges that may arise during the holidays. The episode specifically addresses the importance of self-care, especially for people pleasers, an...
2024-11-2711 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 25: Family Dynamics, Caregiving, and Personal Boundaries: an interview with Kim"I feel like people pleasing with me is more being taken advantage of because I would give anyone the shirt off my back. I would, not anymore." - KimIn this episode, Jenny chats with Kim White-Lopez about her people pleaser recovery journey. Kim, an improv comedian, actress, and paranormal investigator, delves into her personal experiences with people pleasing, beginning from a young age while caring for her terminally ill mother. They discuss how family dynamics impact people pleasers and how she navigated setting boundaries and starting to heal despite the demand of being a caregiver for s...
2024-11-2333 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 24: Handling Emotional Turmoil- a Pep Talk & Some Self Care Tips for These Crazy Times!"Are you going to be like Violet Sorrengail? Are you going to learn the lessons before the battle comes and then be the leader and be able to objectively respond to conflicts using the tools that you learned?"- Jenny LeckeyIn this episode, Jenny shares her recent personal experiences of dealing with nervous system dysregulation, emotional upheaval, and the challenges of people pleasing. She discusses the importance of meditation, Reiki, and mindfulness practices in maintaining mental and emotional stability. Jenny also highlights how setting boundaries and practicing self-care have transformed her approach to stressful s...
2024-11-1814 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 23: My Book Nerd Tattoo Exposed My People Pleasing Habits at Work "I remember going to my office and thinking, I can't believe I just f*cking copped out."- Jenny, during her people pleaser daysIn this episode of Ep 23: My Book Nerd Tattoo Exposed My People Pleasing Habits at Work , Jenny shares her lifelong love of reading and how it led to a pivotal moment of self-expression through a 'book nerd' tattoo (and a subsequent people pleaser aha moment).Jenny discusses the struggles of being a people pleaser as a middle and high school English teacher, particularly in a district with strict no-visible-tattoo policies. She r...
2024-11-0411 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 22: Life of a College Student: Setting Boundaries, Mental Health Tips, and Honoring Your True Self - an interview with Kyai and Angel"True freedom is owning who you are, unfiltered, unapologetic, and fiercely confident." - Kyai"People pleasing should not be meant for self soothing." - AngelIn this episode, Jenny puts on her previous high school English teacher hat and reconnects with her former students, Angel and Kyai, who are now navigating their senior year of college. They discuss the concept of being a people pleaser and how it’s impacted their lives as college students and as people who are neurodivergent (ADHD-focused tips included in this episode!)Angel, who is studying psychology with a...
2024-10-3036 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 21: Archangel Gabriel Channeled Message- People Pleasing and Your Self-Healing Process"You are born worthy of the life that you desire, the experiences you wish to encounter, and likewise, you are worthy of growth and healing." -Archangel Gabriel channeled by Jenny LeckeyIn this episode, Jenny delivers a channeled message from Archangel Gabriel who offers advice for healing from people pleasing. This message is directly from AA Gabriel - a special gift for you on your healing journey✨AA Gabriel's message emphasizes the importance of self-worth, inner connection, and mindfulness. AA Gabriel advises listeners to avoid punishing themselves for their choices, to cultivate an authentic connection bet...
2024-10-2611 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 20: What Is Meditation and How Do I Start? A Beginner's Guide for People Pleasers"Meditation brings stillness and peace into your life. It literally rewires your brain so that you see the world in a different way."- Jenny LeckeyIn this episode, Jenny explores the power of meditation and how it can help you stop from being a people pleaser.She addresses common misconceptions about meditation, highlights various styles such as EFT tapping, guided meditations, and mantra meditation, and explains how meditation helps in becoming an observer of thoughts and emotions. As a certified Chopra Center meditation teacher, Jenny shares her personal experience and offers practical a...
2024-10-2609 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 18: Wedding Planning, Five Brothers and Friendship Breakups: an Interview with MeganIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser, Jenny explores the journey of overcoming people pleasing with this week's guest, Megan. You’ll hear from Megan about how she navigated the challenges of planning her wedding amidst family expectations and social pressures. She talks about how people pleasing played a role in her wedding planning experience - and how she handled some difficult conversations!They discuss the role that anxiety plays in people pleasing and how to manage it.Jenny shares practical techniques like meditation to manage anxiety and set boundaries. If you're lo...
2024-10-1637 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 19: Who Is Deciding Your YES? People Pleaser Relationship Advice"Everyone else, especially in romantic relationships, they were the yes. I was the really go with the flow, accommodating 'mother hen' girlfriend. " - Jenny LeckeyIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser, Jenny dives into the heart of people pleasing- the word YES! Who is saying your yes? She explains the need to ask yourself daily if your decisions are driven by a true 'yes' or by guilt, shame, or others' expectations. She gives tangible advice on how to start this new habit with journaling.She highlights the negative impact o...
2024-10-1610 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 16: Mindful Healing & Setting Personal Limits: An Interview with Liliana"Rejection is a redirection to help you find your actual tribe, the people who will love you and accept you just the way that you are." - LilianaIn this episode ofDiary of a Recovering People Pleaser, Jenny has a heart-centered conversation with Lil (Liliana), who shares her transformative journey of overcoming people pleasing tendencies. The conversation explores how what we often learn as children reinforce these behaviors in adulthood. Lil shares techniques she's used to reparent herself to heal. Lil recounts pivotal moments in her healing journey, including her decision to separate from her h...
2024-10-1147 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 17: Master the Art of Not Taking Things Personally- Book Spotlight with The Four Agreements and Buddhist BookcampMaking assumptions and taking things personally are probably some of the two biggest shifts that we can make internally. - Jenny LeckeyBook Spotlight Episode!In this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser, Jenny shares life changing concepts that were game changers in her starting to overcome people pleasing while enhancing her spiritual growth. She draws from the book, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and insights from Timber Hawkeye and his book, Buddhist Boot Camp. Jenny discusses the importance of learning to not taking things personally and us...
2024-10-1113 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 15: The Power of Mindset: Change Your Life by Embracing SynchronicitiesIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser, Jenny shares her secret to experiencing synchronicities and awe-filled moments: an intentional mindset. She shares a story about how being “ stuck” behind a slow truck on the back roads of North Carolina turned into a memorable moment involving a sunrise and country field, turning an initially frustrating situation into a moment of awe. Emphasizing the importance of changing your perspective, Jenny offers practical tips for building this habit, such as setting reminders on your phone and journaling small moments. She explains how this practice goes beyond...
2024-10-0206 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 14: Goals Are Killing Your Growth: A New Approach To ChangeJoin Jenny in this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaseras she challenges the traditional concept of goal-setting, sharing personal stories of her career path and experiences with goal manifestation. She talks about the importance of being open to new ideas, opportunities, and experience that can inevitably lead to a shift (or ditching) of goals.Jenny invites you to consider a different perspective on achieving goals by loosening the reins and embracing the unpredictability of life's journey. What are you missing out on because you have tunnel vision about how the goal is supposed to unfold? ...
2024-10-0210 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 12: Part 1: Navigating Perfectionism, Career Transitions, and Romantic Relationships as a People Pleaser: a Conversation with Meredith Ritchie"Stop making assumptions. In small print: don't assume I'm a bitch for putting this on my car, but also I don't care." - Meredith Ritchie (her bumper sticker) In this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser, Jenny chats with Meredith about her personal people pleaser journey, touching on themes of childhood, family dynamics, and the struggle with people pleasing in relationships. Listen to Meredith talk about her upbringing in the Christian South, her experiences in school growing up, her personal realizations in college, and roles she assumed in her family. They discuss the s...
2024-09-2530 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 13: Part 2:: Workplace Stress, Burnout, and People Pleasing: An Educator's Point of View with Meredith Ritchie"When it comes to people pleasing, in reality, it's so many assumptions... In theory, you could go around and say, are these the expectations you have for me? And they'll probably say, no, I just want you to be you." - Meredith RitchieIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser , Jenny and Meredith dive into the concept of people pleasing at work, specifically in the world of education. As former educators, they discuss their personal experiences with people pleasing leading to burnout and other challenges. **Even though the focus is on educators, t...
2024-09-2530 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 11: Your Success Is Inevitable (A Pep Talk For When You're Having Doubts)"It's not about the end goal because you already know that's guaranteed. It's about the choices you make in every moment."- Jenny LeckeyIt's time for a pep talk! In this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser , we are focusing on your vision and goals for your life. Feeling some doubt? Imposter Syndrome? Second guessing yourself? This episode is for YOU!Jenny talks about how mindset determines the journey you experience. The story you tell yourself and the expectations you set will either make or break your spirits. Save this...
2024-09-2504 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 10: Overcoming Childhood People-Pleasing & Parental Expectations: A Conversation with Glynn Couch"People pleasing is lack of boundaries with ourselves. When you change that, you feel like you're shifting the whole lay of the land." - Glynn CouchIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser , Jenny has an in depth conversation with Glynn Couch, a licensed clinical social worker (and Jenny’s former therapist!). They discuss a variety of people pleasing aspects, including the heaviness of managing others' emotions, the importance of setting boundaries as well as the true purpose of boundaries in relationships. Glynn opens up about her personal journey, sharing poignant memories fro...
2024-09-1752 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 3: Tolerate the Tension - The Key to Heal People Pleaser Habits""Tolerating the tension means really being in tune with your body and your mind-body connection, taking a step back and observing what comes up." - Jenny LeckeyIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser , Jenny dives into the concept of tolerating tension and how crucial it is for overcoming people-pleasing tendencies. She discusses the importance of being in tune with your mind-body connection, and recognizing your own scale of tension levels. If you know what send you over the edge, then you can work with tension in smaller doses to build up...
2024-09-1708 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 4: Breaking Free from Codependency & Low Self-Esteem: an Interview with Caitlin Steitzer"You can give a hundred percent. And that is 50% of the relationship." -Caitlin SteitzerIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser , Caitlin Steitzer joins Jenny to discuss the topic of people-pleasing from her unique POV as a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and improv performer.They explore personal experiences, the psychological and societal underpinnings of people-pleasing, and the importance of healing your sense of self-worth. Caitlin shares insights on radical self-acceptance, codependency, and how classism and body image contribute to people pleasing tendencies.They also touch upon the value of...
2024-09-1748 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 5: Putting Myself in the Equation: Prioritizing Self-Care To Heal People Pleasing"Transforming my fear from losing people to losing myself has been the biggest shift in my healing journey. I finally put myself into the equation." - Jenny LeckeyIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser , Jenny shares her journey of prioritizing her own well-being to help her stop being a people pleaser. She explains how she used to fear losing relationships but has shifted to fear losing herself in those relationships. By de-centering others 24/7 and focusing more on her own needs, she argues that self-care improved ability to serve others. Practical steps...
2024-09-1707 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 6: Reframing 'Lazy': Embrace 'Soul-Full' Living"Instead of laziness, let's call it coming back to your soul: being 'soul-full' ". - Jenny LeckeyIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser , Jenny talks about disliking the word 'lazy' and explains how it is centered around the need to always be busy and doing things you “should” do (a sneaky sister of people pleasing).She challenges the negative connotation of the word by suggesting it is a form of guilt rooted in people pleasing. Jenny shares her vision of 'soul-full' living – connecting with your true self and balancing it with daily activi...
2024-09-1705 minDiary of a Recovering People PleaserEp 7: Authenticity, Anxiety Relief, and a Sprinkle of Stoicism: an Interview with Sonia"Imagine you're deathbed, looking back on your life. You're thinking about the things that mattered. 'Swear to God, it's not going to be whether or not you pissed off someone at Trader Joe's!” - Sonia MerkelIn this episode of Diary of a Recovering People Pleaser, Jenny has in a candid conversation with Sonia Merkel about the challenges and strategies of overcoming people-pleasing. Sonia shares her personal experiences, from over-apologizing at work to being a mom balancing self-care and family duties. They explore practical tools such as naming emotions, the benefits of physical exercise, and emb...
2024-09-1739 min