224 - Scared to Be Seen: Finding Authenticity Through Parts Work w/ Jesse Deal

224 - Scared to Be Seen: Finding Authenticity Through Parts Work w/ Jesse Deal

Curious about how others manage their sobriety journey while still feeling like a total "work in progress"? This conversation between host Andrea and trauma recovery coach and parts work practitioner Jesse Deal/Diehl sits right in that messy, honest middle. Jesse shares how he went from a miserable manual-labour job to full-time trauma coach and podcast host, but he makes it very clear it wasn’t some overnight glow-up.

It was years of therapy, intensive programmes, reading, and then baby steps into a new life. As he puts it, "Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast." That pace will sound familiar to anyone healing from dysfunctional families, addiction, complex trauma, or toxic shame. A big theme is the fear of being seen.

Jesse talks through how he still feels terrified putting himself on camera and how he uses parts work in real time: checking in with the anxious parts, thanking them for protecting him, and asking them for a bit of space so his more authentic self can speak. He even does a mini inner dialogue on air, showing how simple and human this process can be.

Andrea brings her own honesty about healing in public, sharing how coming back after a difficult break left her with a “vulnerability hangover” and fears of being judged as a fraud. Over time, she’s learned to say, "I really know my heart. I'm just here trying to show up as best as I can," and to let that be enough.

You’ll also hear practical ideas for building hope: slowing life down, noticing tiny “glimmers” like hummingbirds and coyotes, and treating resistance like an old bodyguard you sit down and gently interview. If you’re stuck in a life that doesn’t feel like yours, this episode might nudge you to ask: what if resistance doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path at all?