Episode 185 - Your Inner Child Is Still Running the Show And Probably Needs Peanut Butter

What up, Beasts? In this episode, I sat down with therapist and storyteller Ishara Lee for a conversation about identity, inner child work, manipulation, healing, and what it actually takes to find yourself again after losing who you are inside someone else’s version of you. We talked about how we become “a collection of our yesterdays,” the voices we unknowingly carry from other people, and how adulthood is often the process of dismantling who we were taught to be so we can uncover who we actually are. Ishara shared the deeply personal story of losing herself in a controlling relationship during college, the isolation and heartbreak that followed, and the unexpected ways she rebuilt herself through dance, strength training, cosplay, community, and storytelling. This episode is about reclaiming your identity, honoring your younger self, and maintaining what Ishara calls “a healthy disregard for the impossible.” It is thoughtful, nerdy, emotional, funny, and honestly one of my favorite conversations about healing and becoming. As always, I hope something lands with you today. I hope something you hear tugs at your heart strings and/or I hope you laugh. Bio: Ishara holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Child and Adolescent Development certification. She has professional experience in mental health, working with individuals, couples, families, and groups, as well as in crisis and trauma intervention. Her therapeutic approach currently incorporates dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), rooted in a combination of behavioral and humanistic approaches to addressing client concerns. She has experience supporting individuals navigating LGBTQIA+ challenges, depression, grief and loss, anxiety, and relationship issues. In her free time, she enjoys cosplay, video games, reading when she has the focus to do so, and learning about different cultures and folklore. She also enjoys watching movies and occasionally uses examples from media to illustrate relatable points in her work as a therapist. Music by Prymary: Sean Entrikin (my hot husband) on guitar, Chris Quirarte on drums, Smiley Sean on keyboards, Rob Young on bass, and Jaxon Duane on vocals. Want to be a guest on the show? Click Here: https://beautifulbeastwithinstudios.c... Connect with Ishara! MelaninMusesPodcast    / @melaninmusespodcast   Kintsugi_Wabisabi (Instagram)   / kintsugi_wabisabi   Where else can you find me? Linktree: https://linktr.ee/beautifulbeastwithi... Contribution Page: https://beautifulbeastwithinstudios.c... How to Join the Newsletter: https://beautifulbeastwithinstudios.c... Book a FREE Exploration Chat: https://beautifulbeastwithinstudios.c... Your Input Can Change Lives! If you have ever felt stuck in diet cycles, body image spirals, or trying to “fix” your body and never feeling like it is enough, I would love to hear from you. I am collecting confidential stories and experiences about food, movement, and body image to create resources that actually support real humans, not diet culture. Your honest input can help shape a future where health is about more than a number on the scale. Click here to take the survey: https://beautifulbeastwithinstudios.c... Affiliate Links Breakthrough Coaching Certification: If you feel called to help others heal or grow, Sean Smith’s Breakthrough Coaching Certification is where that calling becomes real. https://coachseansmith.ontraport.net/... Opus Clip: I use Opus Clip mostly for captions, and it’s a game-changer for turning long videos into usable clips. If you use my link, it supports the show, and I appreciate you big time! https://www.opus.pro/?via=1118d2 Mary Kay: Listen… I’ve been using Mary Kay since I was 17. I’m in my 40's now and people still ask me what college I go to. Not really, but you get the idea. Grab your faves here: https://www.marykay.com/kaitienoelle Beastly Merch: https://beautifulbeastwithinstudios.c... Unveil the Beautiful Beast Within YOU!