No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women

No Shrinking Violets is all about what it truly means for women to take up their space in the world – mind, body and spirit. Mary Rothwell, licensed therapist and certified integrative mental health practitioner, has seen women “stay small” and fit into the space in life that they have been conditioned to believe they deserve. Drawing on 35 years in the mental health field and from her perspective as a woman who was often told to "stay in your lane," Mary discusses how early experiences, society and sometimes our own limiting beliefs can convince us that living inside guardrails is the best -- or only -- option. She'll explore how to recognize our unique essential nature and how to use that to empower a new narrative.Through topics that span psychology, friendships, nature and even gut-brain health, Mary creates a space that is inspiring and authentic - where she celebrates the intuition and power of women who want to chart their own course and program their own GPS. <

No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women is a health podcast hosted by Mary Rothwell, with 166 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mary Rothwell hosts No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women, a health show with 166 episodes published.

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  Episode #166

  REPLAY: Expect the Expected: Managing Disappointment

  Sep 7, 20266 minS2

  Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! You can love someone and still feel worn down by the same predictable disappointment. When a relationship keeps giving you the same outcome, hope can start to feel like a trap, especially when you’re doing all the emotional work and waiting for the other person to meet you there. I’m revisiting a mini episode that listeners kept coming back to because it names a pattern many of us live with: doing the same thing in a relationship and expecting a different result. I call it “expect the expected,” and it’s one of the clearest tools I know for relationship expectations, boundaries, and emotional self-care. We walk through a client example where a big achievement gets shared with a parent, only for the conversation to flip back to the parent’s needs within seconds, and we unpack why that hurts so much. From there, we talk about what you can do that actually helps: looking at consistent behavior through a clear lens, deciding how you want to show up going forward, and avoiding the trap of trying to change someone with tactics like the silent treatment. Whether the dynamic is mildly disappointing, chronically one-sided, or truly toxic, there’s a continuum of choices you can make to protect your mental health while staying grounded in reality. If this hits close to home, listen through and reflect on where you’re still negotiating with who someone “should” be. Subscribe for more short, practical insights and share this with a friend who needs it. Support the show BUY ME A COFFEE or SUPPORT ALFIE'S TREAT STASH Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE . Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com. Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook and Instagram , and check out my website !

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  Episode #165

  Contraception, Hormones and Women's Cycles: Understanding Whole Body Impacts

  Sep 3, 202643 minS2

  Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Your body isn’t betraying you. A lot of what feels like “random” fatigue, heavy periods, mood swings, migraines, or midlife weight changes starts to make sense once you understand how hormones actually work together. We sit down with women’s health educator, author, and longtime coach Tierra Duncan to talk about hormone literacy and why so many of us reach adulthood knowing almost nothing about the system running the show. We dig into the menstrual cycle phases beyond “the bleed,” including why ovulation matters and how estrogen and progesterone rise and fall to support far more than fertility. Tierra also explains what hormonal birth control can do to natural hormone rhythms, why the pill, ring, implant, and IUD are not interchangeable, and which side effects and risk factors are worth discussing with a provider. We talk about inflammation, nutrient needs, mood changes tied to serotonin and dopamine, and why a one size fits all answer rarely holds up. Then we shift into perimenopause and menopause, where irregular ovulation can mean less progesterone and more emotional volatility, sleep disruption, and that unsettled “I don’t feel like myself” experience. We also cover HRT basics, the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones, and how to choose support that considers testing, deficiencies, and your whole life. We close with practical lifestyle strategies that actually move the needle: better sleep hygiene, steady blood sugar, stress management, and strength training for long-term metabolic and bone health. If this helped you connect a few dots, subscribe, and share it with a friend. You can find Tierra HERE https://www.tierraduncan.com/ Support the show BUY ME A COFFEE or SUPPORT ALFIE'S TREAT STASH Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE . Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com. Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook and Instagram , and check out my website !

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  Episode #164

  Getting Unstuck: Using Scaling to Create Change

  Aug 31, 20269 minS2

  Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Stuck can look like a hundred different things, but it usually feels the same: spinning, second-guessing, and waiting for clarity that never arrives. I share a simple tool I use when life feels mired, a 1 to 10 rating scale that turns a vague problem into something you can actually move. No complicated worksheets, no perfection, just an honest number and one practical next step. We walk through how to pick a situation that is not going the way you want, rate it based on gut instinct, and then ask the question that creates momentum: what would it take to get one point higher? If you are at a 5, what makes it a 6, or even a 5.5? That small shift is where motivation comes back online, because it focuses you on change you can influence instead of outcomes you cannot control. I also apply the rating scale to two common real-life pain points: relationship stress and overwhelm. We talk about communication that makes home or work dynamics more equitable, and why “they need to change” is a dead end if you have not named what you need. For stress management, I share examples like a daily 10-minute walk and setting a boundary with someone who keeps taking more than you can give, along with language you can borrow to say no without being cruel. If you want to support the show, I’m running a National Wellness Month special: order my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive Through the Wisdom of Plants, through my website and you can choose a free No Shrinking Violets t-shirt as your gift. Listen, try the one-point question today, then subscribe, share this mini episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What situation are you ready to move one point higher? Support the show BUY ME A COFFEE or SUPPORT ALFIE'S TREAT STASH Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE . Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com. Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook and Instagram , and check out my website !

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  Episode #163

  Seeing The Pattern: Love Bombing and the Abuse Cycle

  Aug 27, 202649 minS2

  Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Someone can tell you they love you while quietly teaching you to doubt your own mind. That is the part we wanted to name out loud, without buzzwords and without blame. I sit down with artist, author, and speaker Carine Van Hee to unpack how toxic relationships and emotional abuse actually work in real life. Carine shares the moment her mother’s death in 2023 exposed a pattern she could not unsee, and how that discovery also reframed her own past relationship. We talk about why so many people hesitate to use the word “abuse,” especially when there are no visible bruises, and why that reluctance can keep us trapped in confusion. Together, we tease apart toxic vs unhealthy relationships, including the biggest tell: a repeated pattern of power and manipulation. We get practical about what your body may already be signaling, like rumination, exhaustion, and feeling like you’re walking on eggshells. We also dig into love bombing, isolation, gaslighting, smear campaigns, and financial control, and why the question “why doesn’t she just leave?” misses the reality of trauma bonding, nervous system overload, and the way abuse escalates over time. We close with what real support can look like from the outside, and how Carine uses art and her book, “Is It Me, The Hidden System Behind Toxic Relationships,” to replace shame with language and clarity. If this helps you put words to something you have felt, subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. You can find Carine https://www.carinevanhee.com/ Support the show BUY ME A COFFEE or SUPPORT ALFIE'S TREAT STASH Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE . Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com. Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook and Instagram , and check out my website !

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  Episode #162

  Breaking the Negative Thought Loop: Find The Exception

  Aug 24, 202610 minS2

  Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Your mind can turn one bad moment into a whole worldview, and it usually starts with two words: always and never. Today I’m sharing a simple way to interrupt that spiral by looking for “exceptions,” the real-life moments that prove the harsh story in your head is not true 100% of the time. It’s a small shift, but it can change how you experience anxiety, depression, disappointment, and even everyday stress. I also start with a quick National Wellness Month note and a special offer tied to my book, Nature Knows, because I genuinely believe nature-based wellness and tiny daily practices are some of the most accessible mental health supports we have. Then I get candid about being in a liminal space professionally. I’m doing more keynote speaking and training in higher education and nonprofits, I’m working on another book, and I’m taking a hard look at what takes the most time, money, and energy. If this podcast matters to you, I need to hear that. From there, I walk through a real example from city life: moving for community and walkability, then struggling with noise, disrespectful driving, and how that impacts my dog Alfie on our walks. The reframe is not denial. It’s noticing the exceptions, the kind barista, the neighbors who stop to connect, the crosswalk moments where people actually do the right thing. We end with practical ideas for building more calm on purpose, from sunshine to a workout to a tiny joy like that first sip of coffee. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s stuck in a negative thought loop, and leave a review so more people can find us. What’s one exception you can name today? Support the show BUY ME A COFFEE or SUPPORT ALFIE'S TREAT STASH Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE . Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at NSVpodcast@gmail.com. Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook and Instagram , and check out my website !

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