Episodes

There’s a specific type of narcissism that goes under the radar. It goes under the radar because it’s the opposite of what you think of when you think of narcissism. Overt narcissism is the most known type of narcissism where someone is the center of attention, extremely arrogant, and overpowering others. However one specific type of narcissism is even more toxic because it goes under the radar and surfaces when you are already deep into a relationship, partnership, or friendship. These people w...

Are you accepting crumbs in your relationship? What does it mean to be crumbed? The beginning of a relationship can start in a very different way: lots of attention, love bombing, and admiration and then things change. Eventually the massive amount of attention begins to come to an end and you begin to get less and less. You don’t realize but the little attention you are receiving begins to be put on a pedestal by you and you aren’t realizing you are now cherishing the crumbs. Learn about crumbi...

Unhealthy Relationships have One Common Denominator…FEAR…Unhealthy, toxic, and challenging relationships often begin with love bombing, massive amounts of attention from the other person, codependency, and an over-active mind creating a "perfect life" narrative that makes us overlook the red flags and jump in head first. Often we get into serious relationships, unhealthy marriages, and have children with people that we should not be in a relationship with. We pushed ourselves into these relation...

In this episode of The Ashley Berges Podcast: Who are you spending your time with? I'm exploring positivity, negativity, toxic positivity, and realist thinking today. How each way of thinking impacts your mindset, relationships, health, success rate, and overall well-being. I’m discussing how negativity drains energy, allows for victimhood, and creates mental and emotional roadblocks. Toxic positivity is something many people are not aware of and fall victim to criticism and negative judgment. J...

Have you ever felt like you’re constantly cleaning up someone else’s mess, but nothing ever changes? In this episode of the Ashley Berges Podcast, I ask: Do the people in your lives really want help, or are they just putting on a show and dragging us into it? I'm breaking down the key indications that someone isn’t ready to change, from blaming others and refusing accountability to projecting their insecurities. I also go into deep explanation on how enabling others keep us stuck and why setting...

You think you’re being supportive. You think you’re being loving. But what if you’re actually regulating everyone else’s emotions? In this podcast, I’m breaking down the difference between healthy emotional support and over-functioning. If you walk into a room and immediately scan for someone’s mood… if you soften your opinions to avoid conflict… if you feel responsible when someone else is upset… this podcast is for you. I'm addressing where this pattern originates, how it connects to codepende...

Have you ever tried to talk about something that hurt you, only to walk away feeling guilty, confused, or ashamed? That’s not conflict. It’s DARVO. In this episode, I break down how DARVO works, why it’s so damaging, and how blame gets reversed so the person who speaks up becomes the problem. You’ll learn how to recognize this manipulation pattern, stop gaslighting yourself, and begin trusting your own perceptions again. If every hard conversation ends with you apologizing, this episode is for y...

Are you dealing with a lack of motivation, worried about what others think of you, not sure if you have the the knowledge to be successful, and finding yourself operating more from a place of fear than anything else? It’s time to take a real look at the world and the stage you are on. Are you in your own play? How do you show up in your life? Are you self-sabotaging? Are you playing it safe but hurting yourself in the process? It’s time to ask yourself the deep questions: who’s influencing you...

Do the holidays make you anxious because of one or several toxic family member who always stir things up? This episode is your guide to taking your power and peace back. I'm breaking down how to use the Yellow Rock method to stay calm, how to avoid getting triggered, and how to redirect conversations without revealing personal information that can be used against you. You’ll learn how to set boundaries, manage emotional triggers, know when to walk away, and leave the gathering on a high note. Th...

Are you stuck in a relationship where giving feels endless and love feels conditional? In this episode, I explore how codependency, future faking, and patterns learned from our family dynamic can keep us trapped, and how alcohol, drugs, and distractions reinforce the cycle. Sobriety isn’t just about quitting substances; it’s about gaining clarity, recognizing your value, and understanding your relationships for what they truly are. When you remove the brain fog, you stop believing the lies, see ...

Have you ever found yourself waiting for something that never materializes, perhaps a trip, a proposal, or a promise that keeps getting pushed back to someday? In today's podcast, I’m explaining what future faking really is and how it traps you in a cycle of false hope and emotional exhaustion. I’ll share how narcissists and emotionally unavailable people use this tactic to keep you hooked and how to see through the illusion, finally. It’s time to take your power back and stop waiting for others...

The word narcissist and the concept of narcissism is brought constantly in our society. However, narcissism isn’t one size fits all, there are different types of narcissism. The five common types of narcissism are overt, covert, vulnerable, communal, antagonistic, and malignant. The most dangerous form of narcissism is malignant narcissism. Malignant narcissism and sociopaths, antisocial personality disorder, have a lot of signs in common. These types of people thrive on control, creating fear,...

Losing a pet to death of their body is painful and you may feel lonely because others don’t understand the bond and connection. They don’t understand the love and connection you had with this being. People say things like, they were ready to go, and other say it was just their time, they think they are being accurate and helpful but neither one of the comments bare any truth. The truth is that their body failed them, whether it be environmental, food, or organ failure, their body stopped working...

The loss of a pet to some people is just that, a loss of a pet. But for some of us the loss of a pet is the loss of a child. When you don’t have children, your dog or cat is your child. The connection and bond is strong and takes work, consistency, and dedication. Buddy has been with me for 15 years, he is my child. I have friends that have children and they do love their dogs but not to the same degree. The love for them is strong but not nearly as strong when they are your children. Many peopl...

Are you dealing with challenging people in your life? Trying to understand specific relationship dynamics? Wanting to choose wisely when it comes to friendships, romantic relationships, and business partnerships? In today’s podcast, Ashley deep dives into the concept of discernment, what it means, and why it’s not the same as judgment. When we cultivate discernment in our life we safeguard ourself from chaos in friendships, business partnerships, and in our personal life. Relax and listen while ...

In today’s episode of The Ashley Berges Show , I’m deep diving into something we don’t talk about enough: how we only understand ourselves. We have people in our lives, such as partners, parents, siblings, and best friends, but even they can only interpret what they think we say or feel. They can’t fully grasp what we’re going through internally. I’m exploring what it means to truly know yourself, how we continue to learn about who we are, and why outside perspectives, even well-meaning ones, of...

Welcome to The Ashley Berges Show. Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s more relevant than ever: gaslighting. It’s showing up everywhere, in our personal lives, professional environments, and across the media. In this episode, I examine how constant manipulation affects us, particularly when it begins at home and resonates throughout every other aspect of life. I break down what gaslighting means, how to recognize it, and why it’s crucial to call it out. Additionally, I explore the various ty...

On today’s episode of The Ashley Berges Show, I invite you to shift your focus from society’s distractions to real sources of peace, joy, and freedom. Are you overwhelmed by the news, social media, and life's personal pressures? Join me as I explore how our so-called small things may hold the deepest value, and how to reconnect with them. We’ll also take a closer look at the people and situations that bring unnecessary drama into your life. Once you start experiencing drama-free days and nights,...

In order to safeguard yourself, you must be able to identify malignant narcissists that are in your personal life, family dynamic, work environment, and people you may listen to on the news, on social media, and in politics. A malignant narcissist believes they are above you and everyone else. They will say anything and do anything to you no matter the pain and suffering you will endure. They have no remorse and no empathy for your pain and suffering. For some listeners of this podcast, you will...

What happens when Borderline Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder overlap? Many of us understand narcissism and some of us understand borderline. However, what do you do when you find yourself in a relationship with a person who exhibits both narcissistic and borderline signs and symptoms? These relationships began very different than they present currently. When you are dealing with straight boilerplate BPD and the person is working on self-awareness, it can be manageable ...

It's time to stop your brain from talking you out of what really happened, what was really said, and what events actually transpired that day in your life. It’s interesting how we create narratives in our minds as to what happened in a given...

An imbalanced relationship is a relationship where one of the two people in the relationship is held to a higher standard than the other. In these relationships, one person creates a set of rules for the relationship but the person that creates the...

Are you being manipulated or controlled mentally and emotionally by another person? Do you feel as though you can’t make your own choices and that everything you do is questioned and put under the microscope? When we identify manipulative and...

Are you feeling more codependent in your personal relationship than ever before? Do you feel that you are being taken advantage of and feeling as though you are loosing your identity? Some relationships begin in a whirlwind style -fast and furious and...