"Fly on the Wall” Series – Episode 3: When Toxic Patterns Show Up in Unexpected Places (Round 2 w/ Mary!)

Welcome to my series within Hot Takes on Healing: "Fly On a Wall", where you get an all-access pass to the deep, inspiring, & unfiltered conversations I’ve had with some of my closest friends.

These are the moments we’ve always wished other people could hear—the real, *no edits*, NO-BS chats where nothing is off-limits. We’re talking about the stuff that hits you right in the gut, the kind of truths that stick with you, and the kind of honesty that’ll make you feel like you’re sitting right there with us.

Mary is BACK, and this conversation is powerful. (You can listen to our first 'Fly on the Wall episode HERE)

She’s opening up about finally leaving her toxic job and the hard lessons she’s learned about boundaries, backhanded compliments, and navigating a toxic work environment—especially when narcissistic behavior is at play.

The biggest realization? Toxic relationships don’t just happen in romance. Mary recognized the signs but didn’t immediately connect the dots—because this time, it wasn’t a romantic relationship. It was work. And yet, the patterns were exactly the same.

We also dive into:
- How to spot red flags in any relationship—work, friendships, family, and more
- How Mary reclaimed her independence and started living for herself again
- Her firsthand experience escaping an abusive ex (who nearly took her life) and reclaiming her power over the last four years
- The wake-up call that made her finally see the truth
- How to redirect your energy into your passions instead of draining relationships
- The role of true friends—the ones who stand by you, help you see the light, and remind you of your worth

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, felt trapped in a situation that was slowly draining you, or wondered “why does this keep happening?”—this episode is for you.

You don’t have to stay stuck. And as Mary put its: don’t have to let anyone rob you of your sunshine.

If this episode resonated with you, we’d love for you to join us in the Soundboard community, where these kinds of raw, honest conversations happen regularly. Together, we can continue to build spaces that support and nurture our journeys.

And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who needs to hear it and let us know your thoughts.

Let’s continue talking about the things that matter TOGETHER. And who knows—you might just feel like a fly on the wall in the best way possible.