Relationships Episodes

Working title was “How to Deal with Arseholes” but I thought Apple might ban me. After being evicted from our rental in the UK, I had to sell our house in Australia from the other side of the world. I did not expect the amount of conflict and tension I would have to manage (uncooperative tenants, RE agents not communicating and a selling agent in London applying pressure to meet an impossible deadline). Let’s just say I was not always my best self. 😐 I reacted emotionally, sent emails I should...

Couples Therapist, Tarah Kerwin opens up about how her past trauma affected her relationship with her husband EJ, also a therapist. Despite their professional expertise, they both realised they needed to address their personal issues to save their marriage and build a thriving partnership. Cass and Tarah discuss the importance of self-awareness, emotional safety, understanding the impact of early attachment wounds and building compassionate communication skills. This episode will offer hope to a...

Do your partner and closest friends support and validate your ideal self? Today, we're diving into the intriguing concept of the Michelangelo phenomenon in relationships. This idea suggests that the people closest to us can help us reveal our best selves, much like Michelangelo chipping away at stone to uncover a beautiful sculpture. Tune in to hear how actively supporting each other's growth by affirming the qualities and aspirations that align with your ideal self, leads to enhanced satisfacti...

Feeling disconnected in relationships is a theme that's been surfacing a lot lately in my coaching sessions, and I think it’s something that many of us can relate to. In this episode, I dive into the common struggles women face in long-term partnerships, particularly the sense of not being heard or satisfied. We explore the importance of owning our part in relationship dynamics while also recognising when our emotional needs aren’t being met. I share insights on how to navigate those tough conv...

In this solo episode of Crappy to Happy, Cass discusses the importance of quality friendships and what makes them thrive. She highlights three key ingredients of high-quality friendships: consistency, positivity, and vulnerability. Cass emphasises the need for regular contact, positive interactions, and the ability to share personal and intimate experiences.She encourages listeners to assess their own friendships and take responsibility for their contribution to the relationship. Cass also empha...

This week Cass talks with Dr Ann Kelley, licensed psychologist and co-host of the Therapist Uncensored podcast, about the importance of updating our understanding of attachment styles and the limitations of categorising ourselves and others. Ann proposes a more helpful approach of thinking about attachment as a spectrum. She introduces the idea of secure relating (as opposed to secure attachment), which involves understanding our own nervous system and how it impacts our interactions with others...

Cass answers a listener question about what to do when you feel disappointed by people in your life. She shares ideas about how to manage your expectations, how to take responsibility for your own part in the situation, and how to heal from painful feelings of disappointment. Our social connections are the single most important factor contributing to happiness and wellbeing so it's critical we have strategies for communicating our expectations and what to do when they aren't met.Connect with Cas...

Dr Sue Johnson is a psychologist, author, a pioneer in the psychology of relationships and the creator of Emotionally Focused therapy, which focuses on creating secure emotional bonds between partners. EFT is widely acknowledged as the gold standard in evidence-based couples therapy. Dr Sue emphasises the importance of vulnerability and emotional safety in relationships, and shares how EFT can help couples navigate their patterns of distress and create positive cycles of interaction.Sue also dis...

This week, Cass is talking about Parasocial Relationships; that is the one-sided relationship between a media figure and a fan. She discusses how even 'micro-influencers' can be the object of parasocial relationships and how social media has fuelled the intensity of those connections. Are they all bad though? Let's look at the benefits of parasocial interactions for both the public figure and the fan.You can download the Celebrity Attitude Scale HERE. Connect with Cass:www.crappytohappypod.comh...

These days it seems like everyone is a Narcissist. The term 'narcissism' is a bit of a buzzword that is used to describe anyone who comes across as a little self absorbed, or 'full of themselves', but is that true? Is everyone a narcissist? And what is the distinction between a narcissist and the rest of us?In this episode, Cass breaks down: the DSM criteria for a diagnosis of Narcissism and how it is outdated the different presentations of Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissism (or overt and cov...

Are you curious about how different styles of attachment are ingrained in us from when we are infants? Understanding different attachment styles that may be affecting your day to day life can help you heal and become stronger. In this episode, Cass explains the various styles of attachment, including anxious and avoidant styles, and the characteristics and meanings behind each one. Connect with Cass: www.cassdunn.com www.instagram.com/cassdunn_xo Contact Crappy to Happy: Email: hello@cra...

Do you find the Christmas Holiday period stressful and overwhelming? Do you struggle to set boundaries with your family during this time? In this episode, I explain why clear communication and boundary setting is the key to a happy and healthy Christmas with your family, and how setting expectations early can help avoid conflict.Connect with Cass:www.crappytohappypod.comhello@crappytohappypod.com www.instagram.com/crappytohappypodwww.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod Join the free 7-day Happiness Cha...

Keith Campbell is one of the world’s experts in narcissism, and he’s here to help us understand and interact with all the narcissistic people in our lives. In this chat the psychology professor explains the actual definition of narcissism, the difference between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, how to spot narcissistic traits in others and what we can do to stop our kids becoming narcissistic, plus so much more.Connect with Keith:https://wkeithcampbell.com/Buy his books here: The New Science...

Cass talks with NYT best selling author, Eve Rodsky, whose unique system for gamifying and sharing the domestic workload has taken the world by storm. Women are exhausted and burnt out from carrying the weight of ‘invisible labour’ in most households but rather than accept the status quo, Eve applied her Harvard trained organisational management skills to create a solution to this age-old problem. The result is ‘Fair Play’, a structured process to split tasks fairly, reclaim your time and energy...

Cass Dunn talks with Holly Tarry, speaker, coach and author of “Power Boundaries”. Holly shares her personal story of digging deeply into the patterns in her life that were keeping her from living an empowered, joyful and meaningful life. She did the hard work of having difficult conversations, executing power boundaries and re-creating her life and relationships including her relationship with herself. Power Boundaries is available on Amazon and I recommend it to anyone looking to take brave ac...

Cass talks with journalist and author, Madonna King about the particular issues faced by pre-teen girls in the age of technology, social media and a global pandemic. After she wrote her best-selling, “Being 14”, parents around the country expressed that the challenges typically experienced by adolescents seemed to be appearing in their younger girls. Madonna embarked on a mission to better understand our 10-year old girls so that we can best support them to become the strong, confident, joyful y...

Tiff Hall is back in our reunion episode after a year away from the mic. In that time she’s had a baby, broken her leg, become a pro trainer for Chris Hemsworth and managed to get her body back to where she wants it. Tiff and Cass Dunn reminisce, discuss the delicate balance of juggling multiple careers and family and laugh as they remember how far they’ve come in their own journey from Crappy to Happy.https://www.tiffinyhall.com.au/ Connect with Cass:www.crappytohappypod.comhello@crappytohappy...

Rebecca Sparrow helps parents navigate the tricky road of early adolescence. Bec and Cass Dunn discuss how to be a positive role model, keep communication open and support our kids through difficult times.Connect with Cass:www.crappytohappypod.comhello@crappytohappypod.com www.instagram.com/crappytohappypodwww.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:www.cassdunn.com/happiness Connect with Cass: www.cassdunn.com www.instagram.com/cassdunn_xo Contact Crappy to Happy: ...

How do you keep the romance alive in a long-term relationship? Sexologist and relationship expert Dr Nikki Goldstein talks with Cass Dunn about sexual compatibility, how resentments can erode intimacy and gives some tips for re-igniting the romance.Connect with Cass:www.crappytohappypod.comhello@crappytohappypod.com www.instagram.com/crappytohappypodwww.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:www.cassdunn.com/happiness Connect with Cass: www.cassdunn.com www.instagr...

Strong, supportive relationships are the foundation of happiness and even longevity. In this episode, Tiff Hall and Cass Dunn discuss why our friendships can have either a positive or negative affect on our wellbeing and the importance of honest communication. They'll help you learn strategies for having difficult conversations and teach why you should weed out the toxic friends so you can focus your energy on the relationships that are mutually supportive and satisfying.Connect with Cass: www.c...