In this deeply reflective and emotionally honest episode, Donna Joy Usher explores a powerful theme: the freedom that comes when we stop buying into other people’s stories about us.

Sparked by a confronting moment with her ex-husband and mirrored by a friend’s emotionally triggering breakup, Donna shares how easily we can get pulled into narratives that aren't ours—and the emotional toll that takes. Through the lens of parallel experiences, she reflects on how we often sacrifice our peace in an attempt to explain, justify, or defend ourselves.

This episode dives into:

A story of an accusation and the familiar trigger of needing to be seen, understood, and validated

What happens when you don’t speak up—and why sometimes that’s the most powerful choice

A friend’s experience of emotional manipulation post-breakup and the courageous act of setting firm boundaries

How we get energetically hooked by someone else’s wounding or need to control the narrative

The importance of detaching from both praise and criticism to find your center

The metaphor of the monk and the child: an inspiring reminder that peace comes from within

Recognizing when your inner child is being activated—and how to shift back into your adult self

Why radical self-trust and self-validation are key to emotional sovereignty

Letting go of control, ego, and people-pleasing to reclaim your power

How buying into someone else’s truth can hijack your emotional state—and how to stop

This is an episode about boundaries, self-awareness, and liberation—and about choosing your truth over someone else's perception. If you’ve ever felt the pull to prove yourself, defend yourself, or fix someone’s version of your story, this episode will bring clarity, comfort, and a new perspective on what it means to live through heart.

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You can find out more about me and what I'm up to at my website https://donnajoyusher.com. You can check out my author site at https://donnajoyusher.com/books. If you want to check out Savage Boho Studio, my handmade crystal and copper jewellery go to https://savagebohostudio.com and use the coupon code PODCAST as my gift to you to get a 10% discount.

I want to also say an amazing thank you to the creator of the music I have used in my show intro and outro. It is a piece called Liquid Time by Aakash Gandhi who has generously made royalty free background music for videos or vlogs personal and commercial use. You can read more about him, and download his music, here: https://happysoulmusic.com/aakash-gandhi/

You can connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaJoyUsher/

https://www.facebook.com/savage.boho.studios

Instagram: @savage_boho_studio

@livingthroughheart

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/SavageBohoStudio/

In Episode 70, Donna Joy Usher shares a deeply personal trigger that surfaced during a simple moment in her current relationship—and how it cracked open old stories of needing to be the “perfect” partner to feel safe. What unfolds is a heartfelt exploration of how our childhood beliefs can shape adult dynamics and how healing these wounds requires both inner work and embodied relationship experiences.

Topics covered:

The fantasy of being the “low-maintenance” partner and how it shows up in love

Why triggers aren’t about the now—they’re about unhealed past moments

Conscious vs. unconscious relationships: key differences and how to spot them

How to navigate adult conversations with compassion and clarity

Creating structure in relationship to foster emotional safety and intimacy

Why some wounds only fully heal through loving, present relationship dynamics

✨ If you’re ready to shift out of old patterns and into empowered love, this episode will speak to your soul.

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You can find out more about me and what I'm up to at my website https://donnajoyusher.com. You can check out my author site at https://donnajoyusher.com/books. If you want to check out Savage Boho Studio, my handmade crystal and copper jewellery go to https://savagebohostudio.com and use the coupon code PODCAST as my gift to you to get a 10% discount.

I want to also say an amazing thank you to the creator of the music I have used in my show intro and outro. It is a piece called Liquid Time by Aakash Gandhi who has generously made royalty free background music for videos or vlogs personal and commercial use. You can read more about him, and download his music, here: https://happysoulmusic.com/aakash-gandhi/

You can connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaJoyUsher/

https://www.facebook.com/savage.boho.studios

Instagram: @savage_boho_studio

@livingthroughheart

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/SavageBohoStudio/

In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, Donna opens up about a significant moment in her healing journey — the resurfacing of a repressed memory of childhood sexual trauma. She shares how the memory came through, the intense emotional and energetic unraveling that followed, and the powerful insights she gained about shame, identity, meaning-making, and self-responsibility.

Key points covered:

Why this episode felt vulnerable to record

Understanding the difference between hard and soft trauma

The power of meaning-making and how it shapes our identity

Releasing shame, grief, rage, and dissociation from the body

Donna’s multi-layered healing process and emotional clearing

The moment she reclaimed compassion and forgiveness

Why responsibility is not blame — it’s empowerment

💡 Resources & Mentions:

Charlotte — Donna’s mentor and therapist: charlotte@charlottechalkley.com

This episode is an invitation to reflect, release, and reclaim your power after trauma. Donna gently reminds us that while we can’t always control what happens, we do have the power to choose what it means moving forward.

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You can find out more about me and what I'm up to at my website https://donnajoyusher.com. You can check out my author site at https://donnajoyusher.com/books. If you want to check out Savage Boho Studio, my handmade crystal and copper jewellery go to https://savagebohostudio.com and use the coupon code PODCAST as my gift to you to get a 10% discount.

I want to also say an amazing thank you to the creator of the music I have used in my show intro and outro. It is a piece called Liquid Time by Aakash Gandhi who has generously made royalty free background music for videos or vlogs personal and commercial use. You can read more about him, and download his music, here: https://happysoulmusic.com/aakash-gandhi/

You can connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaJoyUsher/

https://www.facebook.com/savage.boho.studios

Instagram: @savage_boho_studio

@livingthroughheart

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/SavageBohoStudio/

Welcome to Episode 67 of Living Through Heart! 🌿

Have you ever found yourself picking fights over small things, feeling resentful out of nowhere, or creating distance in an otherwise happy relationship? You might be unknowingly using drama to create separation. This is something we all do at some point—myself included—and today, I’m breaking it all down for you.

In this episode, we explore:

✔️ How we use drama to self-sabotage relationships without realizing it
✔️ The subconscious beliefs & past wounds that trigger this pattern
✔️ Why our nervous system sometimes rejects happiness & stability
✔️ My own experience nearly falling into this trap (and what snapped me out of it)
✔️ Practical steps to stop creating drama & deepen connection

This conversation is raw, real, and deeply transformative. Whether you're in a romantic relationship, a friendship, or simply on a self-growth journey, this episode will give you insights into how to break free from old patterns and create space for love, trust, and connection.

Resources & Mentions:

• Episode 59: When Secure Attachment Feels Wrong
• Episode 58: Maintaining Polarity & Chemistry in Relationships
• Episode 28-32: Attachment Styles Series
• Internal Family Systems Therapy by Richard Schwartz

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You can find out more about me and what I'm up to at my website https://donnajoyusher.com. You can check out my author site at https://donnajoyusher.com/books. If you want to check out Savage Boho Studio, my handmade crystal and copper jewellery go to https://savagebohostudio.com and use the coupon code PODCAST as my gift to you to get a 10% discount.

I want to also say an amazing thank you to the creator of the music I have used in my show intro and outro. It is a piece called Liquid Time by Aakash Gandhi who has generously made royalty free background music for videos or vlogs personal and commercial use. You can read more about him, and download his music, here: https://happysoulmusic.com/aakash-gandhi/

You can connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaJoyUsher/

https://www.facebook.com/savage.boho.studios

Instagram: @savage_boho_studio

@livingthroughheart

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/SavageBohoStudio/

Have you ever felt like your words don’t fully capture what’s in your heart? Or that your emotions are too big, too messy, too raw to be shared? In this episode of Living Through Heart, Donna Joy Usher explores what it truly means to speak from the heart—not just as a concept, but as a lived practice that can transform the way we connect with ourselves and others.

Speaking from the heart isn’t just about being honest—it’s about deep self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and allowing ourselves to be fully seen. But most of us have been conditioned to filter, suppress, or manipulate our words out of fear of judgment, rejection, or conflict. In this episode, Donna unpacks how embracing the power of emotional expression and deep listening can change the way we communicate and create more authentic relationships.

Join Donna as she dives into:
✔️ The four core emotions—joy, anger, sadness, and fear—and why all feelings stem from these primary states.
✔️ Why emotions are simply energy in motion, carrying valuable insights rather than something to be suppressed.
✔️ The societal conditioning that teaches us to filter and suppress our feelings—and how to break free from it.
✔️ How speaking from the heart is an act of courage, vulnerability, and radical responsibility.
✔️ The importance of listening from the heart—holding space without judgment or the need to fix.
✔️ What happens when we own our feelings rather than blame others for them.
✔️ How learning to honor your truth transforms relationships, heals wounds, and builds self-trust.

This episode is an invitation to step into your most honest, raw, and authentic self—to show up as you truly are, without the need to control how others perceive you.

Tune in now and learn how to free yourself from the fear of speaking your truth and instead, fully embody the power of your voice.

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You can find out more about me and what I'm up to at my website https://donnajoyusher.com. You can check out my author site at https://donnajoyusher.com/books. If you want to check out Savage Boho Studio, my handmade crystal and copper jewellery go to https://savagebohostudio.com and use the coupon code PODCAST as my gift to you to get a 10% discount.

I want to also say an amazing thank you to the creator of the music I have used in my show intro and outro. It is a piece called Liquid Time by Aakash Gandhi who has generously made royalty free background music for videos or vlogs personal and commercial use. You can read more about him, and download his music, here: https://happysoulmusic.com/aakash-gandhi/

You can connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaJoyUsher/

https://www.facebook.com/savage.boho.studios

Instagram: @savage_boho_studio

@livingthroughheart

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/SavageBohoStudio/

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ The key difference between trying and being and why it matters
✔️ How deep-rooted beliefs shape our ability to step into our true selves
✔️ Why striving often keeps us stuck in a self-sabotaging loop
✔️ The energetic frequency of "being" and how to align with it
✔️ Practical methods to shift from effort to effortless action
✔️ How self-awareness, healing, and mindfulness contribute to this shift

🎧 Tune in now to discover how embracing "being" can unlock transformation in every area of your life!

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Donna Joy Usher’s Website
• Savage Boho Studio
• Joe Dispenza’s work on energetic alignment

🙌 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or tag @donnajoyusher on social media with your biggest takeaway!

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You can find out more about me and what I'm up to at my website https://donnajoyusher.com. You can check out my author site at https://donnajoyusher.com/books. If you want to check out Savage Boho Studio, my handmade crystal and copper jewellery go to https://savagebohostudio.com and use the coupon code PODCAST as my gift to you to get a 10% discount.

I want to also say an amazing thank you to the creator of the music I have used in my show intro and outro. It is a piece called Liquid Time by Aakash Gandhi who has generously made royalty free background music for videos or vlogs personal and commercial use. You can read more about him, and download his music, here: https://happysoulmusic.com/aakash-gandhi/

You can connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaJoyUsher/

https://www.facebook.com/savage.boho.studios

Instagram: @savage_boho_studio

@livingthroughheart

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/SavageBohoStudio/

Welcome to Episode 64 of the Living Through Heart podcast! After a nine-month hiatus, I’m back with a deeply personal and reflective episode. This is more than just a catch-up—it's a journey through the transitions, healing, and clarity that have defined the past months. Here's what you'll hear in this episode:

• What I’ve Done: My travels to Bali, Thailand, and India, learning about Tantra, Kundalini energy, and shamanic healing.\n
• What I’ve Learned: The profound realization of being over trying, the importance of clarity, and the vibrational power of words.\n
• What I’ve Realized: How energy shapes our reality, the importance of integration, and how being present connects us to our true selves.\n
• Where I’m At Now: Shifting focus toward joy, self-love, and empowering women to embrace their lives.\n
• Looking Forward: Plans to release bi-weekly episodes and interview inspirational women to share more impactful stories.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope my reflections and insights inspire you to embrace your path with curiosity, courage, and compassion.

If you’re interested in exploring more, head over to my website, DonnaJoyUsher.com, where you’ll find information about my fiction books, Savage Boho Studio, and tools to help you create a more empowered life.

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You can find out more about me and what I'm up to at my website https://donnajoyusher.com. You can check out my author site at https://donnajoyusher.com/books. If you want to check out Savage Boho Studio, my handmade crystal and copper jewellery go to https://savagebohostudio.com and use the coupon code PODCAST as my gift to you to get a 10% discount.

I want to also say an amazing thank you to the creator of the music I have used in my show intro and outro. It is a piece called Liquid Time by Aakash Gandhi who has generously made royalty free background music for videos or vlogs personal and commercial use. You can read more about him, and download his music, here: https://happysoulmusic.com/aakash-gandhi/

You can connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaJoyUsher/

https://www.facebook.com/savage.boho.studios

Instagram: @savage_boho_studio

@livingthroughheart

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/SavageBohoStudio/