logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
1h 6m

Breaking our family patterns

Vox
About this episode

Sean Illing speaks with marriage and family therapist Vienna Pharaon, whose book 'The Origins of You' aims to help us identify and heal the wounds that originated from our family, which shape our patterns of behavior in relationships and throughout our lives. Sean and Vienna talk about how we can spot and name our "origin wounds," discuss practical wisdom to help break free from the ways these pains grip us, and Sean directly confronts some real issues from his upbringing and family life.


Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area

Guest: Vienna Pharaon (@mindfulmft), marriage & family therapist; author

References: 

 

Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Be the first to hear new episodes of The Gray Area by following us in your favorite podcast app. Links here: https://www.vox.com/the-gray-area

Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Jun 30
If AI can do your classwork, why go to college?
What’s the point of college if no one’s actually doing the work? It’s not a rhetorical question. In the age of AI, it's incredibly easy for students to offload their assignments. AI tools can write essays, make study guides, and even complete whole assignments. So what is the poi ... Show More
59m 21s
Jun 16
Is Trump winning?
We’re nearly six months into Donald Trump’s second term as president, and a lot of us are still trying to figure out what that actually means. Not just politically. But culturally. What kind of country are we living in? And what kind of future are we heading toward? In today’s ep ... Show More
52m 31s
Jun 9
A right-wing economist makes his case
For decades, the American right has stayed on brand: the economy. Low taxes. Free markets. Deregulation. Those have been the buzzwords for more than half a century. But that doctrine is now being challenged by other conservatives who envision a future in which America’s trade def ... Show More
1h 8m
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
End or Mend: Managing Difficult Family Relationships with Nedra Tawwab
[Content warning: this episode contains a brief mention of suicide. If you prefer to not listen to this moment, please skip this week's listener question segment at the end of the episode]Nedra Tawwab returns to Reimagining Love to discuss what can be our most challenging and vul ... Show More
55m 8s
Aug 2024
65: Standard Edition Volume 1 Part 11: The Project for a Scientific Psychology Part 2 Teaser
Subscribe to get access to the full episode, the episode reading list, and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness Abby, Patrick, and Dan continue their journey through the Project for a Scientific Psychology. They explore how the Project reflects recent develop ... Show More
6m 24s
Mar 2025
How Is Trauma Dumping Affecting My Relationships?
This week, JVN sits down with existential psychotherapist and author Dr. Sara Kuburic, widely recognized as the @Millennial.Therapist in Instagram, to delve into the phenomenon of "trauma dumping." We’re exploring the nuances between sharing personal experiences and overloading o ... Show More
43m 20s
Dec 2024
The FBI Came to My House
Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at http://shopify.com/unhinged to upgrade your selling today.Head to http://acorns.com/unhinged or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing in your future today!Coming in hot behind sunglasses the size of a windshiel ... Show More
56m 21s
Mar 2025
Curiosity Over Questioning
What’s the difference between curiosity and questioning in relationships? Learn about the importance of approaching emotional challenges with openness rather than interrogation. Colter, Cayla, and Lauren share their personal journey into couples therapy, attachment theory, and th ... Show More
52m 34s
Aug 2024
66: Teens, Cops, and Spies: The Varieties of Hysterical Experience feat. Dan Taberski
Abby and Patrick welcome Dan Taberski, creator of the brand-new podcast series Hysterical. They explore the genesis of the series and the challenges and rewards of confronting both the history and the present of “the H-word.” Tracking the trajectories of this famously “elusive ne ... Show More
1h 24m
Mar 2025
How To Let Go, Move On And Leave Your Past In Your Past with Julia Samuel (re-release) #539
Why does family matter so much to us? As today’s guest, renowned psychotherapist Julia Samuel explains, every client she’s seen in 30 years of practice, mentions their family members. Like it or not, we all carry our upbringing into our adult lives. Our family is wired in us gene ... Show More
1h 37m
Nov 2024
Understanding Identity and How Our Past Shapes Who We Become with Catherine Gray
In this episode, Catherine Gray discusses identity and how our past shapes who we become.  She shares her journey from writing non-fiction to crafting her first novel, which contains some themes from her life experiences. Catherine also delves into the ongoing battle between natu ... Show More
1h 1m
Apr 9
Mom’s Gone QAnon
In part two of our no contact series, the girlies zero in on the emotional and psychological fallout of cutting family ties, discussing the rise of no contact as a cultural norm, the complicated path to reconciliation, and the intra-polarization of the American family. Digression ... Show More
1h 18m
Jul 2024
Mark Groves on Why We Stay in Toxic Relationships and How to Break Free
🎙️ Welcome to the latest episode of "I Wish You Knew" with Adam Lane Smith, the attachment specialist, and Andrey Korikov, CEO and co-founder of Veritas Creative Media. This week, we're joined by special guest Mark Groves to delve into the complexities of relationships, trust, a ... Show More
1h 10m