PODCAST

Brutal Vulnerability

Lauren McQ & Rebecca Rush

A recovery podcast about things that nice ladies don't discuss. Pod hosted by Rebecca Rush of Vulnerability: A Comedy Show, held at The Hollywood Improv, and Lauren McQ of @BrutalRecovery, a recovery meme page on Instagram.
Start Here
From Incels To Insults
From Incels To Insults
May 14 2022
1 hr 11 mins
From Incels To Insults
From Incels To Insults
Welcome to season two, focused on the theme of belonging. On this episode, hosts Lauren McQ and Rebecca Rush explore the sad world of pickup artists and the women they abuse. NLP, The Game, The Attraction Method, approach anxiety, San Diego rape case, pickup companies as cults, rapey boot camps, and #TakeDownJulienBlanc. Ya goddamn war criminals! On Patreon, the ladies discuss their various experiences with PUA's. Surprising no one, one of Rebecca's exes became a PUA trainer while digital nomading through Europe. (& being shitty) This episode is sponsored by WorkitHealth Patreon ($5 a month for over two hours of exclusive video content, master book list, a monthly Zoom Yin Yoga class & MORE)
May 14 2022
1 hr 11 mins
No Such Thing As A Free Lunch W/ Kate Griffin and Angela Zhang
No Such Thing As A Free Lunch W/ Kate Griffin and Angela Zhang
For the Season One finale, Lauren and Rebecca interview social worker Angela ZHang and  research fellow Kate Griffin (who also happens to be Rebecca's cousin) about their work studying the link between poverty and shame. Lunch shaming, period poverty, how military spending is prioritized over people, the book Poverty Safari, and the dominant poverty narrative and how it maintains the status quo. On Patreon the ladies discuss varying experiences of both poverty and the poverty narrative, learned judgements and learned shame, and, most importantly, the dismantling of the beliefs that do not belong to us. Patreon Subscriber Yin Yoga on Zoom 3rd Wednesdays 6 pm PST, $4 without subscription, DM us on Insta for details. Also via Insta, follow and DM us what you think our S1 theme was - first person to guess correctly wins a 90 day subscription to our Patreon. Season Two Premieres May 10.
Apr 20 2022
1 hr 40 mins
My Body, My...Friend?
My Body, My...Friend?
Welcome to the penultimate episode of the first season! This is a continuation of last week's episode on diet culture, and it's on loving (& even buying jeans for) the body you're currently in. From initiatives designed to educate medical professionals like Health At Every Size to movements like Intuitive Eating and Beauty Redefined to the Fuck It Diet and the Minnesota Starvation experiment, we go to great lengths to explain something that we all understood as children - our bodies are pretty fucking cool places for our souls to hang out. On Patreon we discuss how complicated it feels to be told we've lost weight, having different standards for ourselves and others (worse) moments of judgement, and going to a hypnotist for your career only to have them include weight loss suggestions in the tapes. Yoga for our Patreon subscribers ($5/month for 4-5 half hour video eps, master book list, close friends list on Insta, and our monthly Zoom yin yoga class and hang. First class April 20th at 6 pm PST. To join yoga without subscribing, Paypal us $4 with an email for the link to BrutalVulnerability@gmail.com Instagram Patreon   Sponsored by WorkitHealth
Apr 12 2022
1 hr 21 mins
The Diet Myth
The Diet Myth
Diet culture is embedded so deeply into our psyches hosts Lauren McQ and Rebecca Rush didn't even realize how many of their toxic beliefs were not their own. Now a 100 billion dollar industry, they explore the history of the diet, fatphobia, the medical political industrial complex, disturbing facts (Weight Watchers has an app for kids as young as 7), backlash, impact, and the three types of eating personalities. On Patreon Lauren takes a tour of all her counterintuitive diets and Rebecca talks about the endless diet cycle her mom and stepdad took part in. 95% of diets fail...but we still blame ourselves? That's what big diet WANTS!   Patreon Instagram
Apr 7 2022
1 hr 25 mins
Late Stage Monogamy?
Late Stage Monogamy?
Is monogamy dead? Hosts Lauren McQ and Rebecca Rush are divided. Why polyamory? What's the difference between polys and swingers (hint, it's more than a generational thing)? The relationship escalator, relationship anarchy, polyamory in the pandemic, Franklin Deveaux & poly abuse, and, what Reddit wants you to know. On Patreon Lauren talks about a failed poly experiment with a football player, Rebecca talks about a failed poly relationship that ended with her screaming "I forgive you" on 10th street at 2 am, sober.   Sponsored by WorkitHealth Join us on Patreon with 4-5 v personal bonus eps a month, private zoom yoga, a master book list, and more for only $5 a month!
Mar 30 2022
1 hr 54 mins
Ghost Marriage
Ghost Marriage
Is polyamory just gentrified polygamy? Hosts Lauren McQ and Rebecca Rush present an in depth study into polygamy in American culture and around the world. LDS, FLDS, and the the plural marriage principle, the economy of child brides, the psychological impact of polygamy on women and children, polyandry (plural husbands) around the world, polygamy today, and the stories of three women who escaped. On Patreon, Rebecca will tell the story of a girl she knew who grew up in the FLDS in Texas and how it appeared to affect her as an adult where Lauren discusses all the men who've tried to wife her (which is basically like marrying three people) Sponsored by WorkitHealth Follow us on Instagram Join for 30-45 minute brutally personal video episodes on each topic on our Patreon
Mar 22 2022
1 hr 18 mins
Sexual Networking
Sexual Networking
What constitutes cheating? Why do people cheat? And why does it hurt SO much? Hosts Lauren McQ and Rebecca Rush can't wait to tell you. Infidelity around the globe, sex workers and infidelity, microcheating, the stages of emotional affairs, trauma, betrayal, adult children, infidelity and attachment theory, and the stages of recovery from infidelity. Does finding out your partner cheated cause transient BPD? On Patreon, Lauren talks about being the other woman, and Rebecca talks about both cheating and being cheated on, once, by and on her husband, with the same person, on the same weekend, in the same house. Miami is wild! Patreon is only $5 a month and includes 4-5 bonus v personal video episodes on our topics, a master book list, a spot on our Instagram close friends list, and our monthly zoom yin yoga class. Sponsored by https://workithealth.com Https://patreon.com/BrutalVulnerability https://instagram.com/BrutalVulnerability
Mar 15 2022
1 hr 27 mins
Anti-Fantasy Bond
Anti-Fantasy Bond
To close out the npd/bpd arc, Lauren and Rebecca get into the 9 habits of highly ineffective couples - the npd/bpd relationship. Conflicting needs, why they are attracted to each other, narcissist abuse recovery, and, Sea World. On Patreon Lauren discusses an NPD/BPD long term relationship & Rebecca talks about another common NPD/BPD relationship - the BPD bisexual woman and the NPD gay man 'besties'. @BrutalVulnerability Patreon
Mar 9 2022
1 hr 48 mins
A Life Worth Linehan W/ Mary Tobon
A Life Worth Linehan W/ Mary Tobon
Lauren and Rebecca wouldn't bring you all the way into hell without leading you back out - with a little help from our Lord and Savior, Marsha Linehan, the creator of DBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. History and overview of DBT and why it's so effective treating BPD and other trauma related disorders, followed by an interview with DBT Therapist Mary Tobon, LCSW. On Patreon, we talk about times we used DBT skills to get through a bad situation without making it worse. Sponsored by WorkitHealth @BrutalVulnerability on Instagram Patreon! @MaryTobonLCSW on Instagram
Mar 3 2022
1 hr 13 mins
Narcissism Is The New Black
Narcissism Is The New Black
When you have BPD like our hosts Rebecca Rush and Lauren McQ, you attract a lot of narcissists. Most people with NPD/narcissism will never get better, so it's on the rest of us to learn to spot them & deal. Let them help you: New Age Narcissism, behavioral aspects, different types, ghosting, narcissism vs NPD, CULTS, 5 signs of narcissistic texting, & the work of Dr. Ramani Durvasula, who has studied narcissism in Los Angeles for over years, which as Lauren would say, is a FECUND FIELD.
Feb 22 2022
1 hr 23 mins
Over The Borderline
Over The Borderline
Borderline Personality Disorder is the umbrella under which everything else the people who have it exists - anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction. Lauren & Rebecca have more to say on this one than other episodes - listen and find out why. Traits that aren't found in the DSM, misconceptions, pain management behaviors, the biosocial causation, how it shows up in men v women thanks to socialization, and the brilliant new memoir by Courtney Cook, The Way She Feels. Sponsored by @curiouselixers
Feb 15 2022
1 hr 53 mins
Abortions Anonymous
Abortions Anonymous
Lauren & Rebecca take on a topic that affects all of us: abortion rights. From the bible to the talmud, the ancient world to the lack of access today. Sea shanties, all of the UK being forced to travel to England, the grim situation in Eastern Europe, and the beauty of women standing in solidarity of other women - like when a 16 y/o girl in N. Ireland in 2016 was arrested for buying abortion pills online and hundreds and hundreds of activists turned themselves in at police stations, claiming they too had done this. On Patreon they tell their own stories of abortions - Rebecca has 6. This episode sponsored by Curious Elixers. Use code BRUTAL22 for a discount. @BrutalVulnerability
Feb 8 2022
1 hr 8 mins
Emotional Contagion W/ KCL Anderson
Emotional Contagion W/ KCL Anderson
The podcast has it's first guest, KCL Anderson, author of Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters as Lauren and Rebecca discuss emotionally immature parents. Being born feeling everything that is forbidden in the family, the dream that one day our parents will magically become different people, role reversal, and remembering that not everyone wants to be happy. On patreon they discuss the toxic dynamics of the family group chat. https://kclanderson.com/ Patreon Sponsored by Curious Elixers
Feb 1 2022
1 hr 14 mins
Security, Now?
Security, Now?
In the final installment of the attachment theory series, Lauren and Rebecca investigate the mythical secure attachment style. Secures are 50% of the population and nobody we know. How to move toward building a secure base, meet your needs, and be lovingly conscious. The small good things you do in relationships add up! On Patreon we discuss close encounters of the secure kind.   @brutalvulnerability Patreon This episode brought to you by @curiouselixers
Jan 27 2022
1 hr 14 mins
Constant Conflict
Constant Conflict
Lauren and Rebecca delve into the forgotten attachment style, called both mixed and disorganized, having qualities of both anxious AND avoidant. It is created when your caretaker and abuser are the same person. How we become addicted to trauma, the 6 forms of abuse, in relationships, brainwashing, dissociation, brain damage, and the power of reflection. On the Patreon we discuss our darkest secrets yet, involving a mentor taking the ultimate advantage and whether or not someone hired a hit man to murder their own family. @BrutalVulnerability on Insta Patreon! This episode sponsored by WorkitHealth.
Jan 18 2022
1 hr 15 mins
Metaphorical Hot Carl
Metaphorical Hot Carl
Attachment theory episode two - avoidants! Deactivating strategies - tools to keep love at arms length, assets to avoidant attachment style, 8 things you can do today to stop pushing love away, the phantom Ex, pining for the one, mistaking self reliance for independence. Rebecca's social media block list and Lauren's avoidant beaus on the Patreon. @BrutalVulnerability
Jan 11 2022
59 mins
Protest Not Perfection
Protest Not Perfection
The first of a four episode series on attachment theory, Lauren and Rebecca cover the anxious attachment style. Negative self/positive other positioning, protest behavior, the need to acknowledge and accept your true needs, the anxious - avoidant trap, activating strategies, hypervigilance to social cues, core beliefs, and how attachment injuries occur. On Patreon they discuss anxious relationship behaviors they've witnessed and acted out. @BrutalVulnerability Patreon   Bibliography: Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
Jan 4 2022
1 hr 7 mins
Be The Hot Fudge Sundae
Be The Hot Fudge Sundae
To complete the eating disorder series, Lauren and Rebecca explore the wild world of food addiction. Victims of childhood sexual abuse are far more likely to become obese adults. Bingeing after sex, just wanting to FEEL FULL. Compulsive eating as anorexia of the soul. Food is less stigmatized than alcohol but being fat? Isn't. On Patreon we discuss how our eating got weird in Covid. @BrutalVulnerability Patreon Recommended Reading: Hunger by Roxane Gay Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth
Dec 28 2021
1 hr 3 mins
Hulu & Hurl
Hulu & Hurl
Welcome to our exploration of bulimia, whose movies all have secret in the title. Do bulimics come from chaotic families? Who knows, we basically stopped covering it in the media in 2005. Famous bulimics include Lady Gaga, Jane Fonda, Elton John, and Princess Diana. The link with addict brain, private self torture vs throwing up public, brain over binge (terrible) and do our binge/purge desires go down as we focus on *gasp* self nurture? Patreon ep details the anatomy of a binge. @BrutalVulnerability on Insta
Dec 21 2021
57 mins
Eating Disorder Cookbook
Eating Disorder Cookbook
Welcome to the first three episode arc of the podcast, on eating disorders. Anorexia is up first. Lauren & Rebecca discuss, fear foods, Karen Carpenter, Amy Winehouse, The Best Little Girl In The World, Lene Marie Fosson, Wasted, the ana creed, the thin commandments, progression of restriction, and watching the Food Network while starving on purpose. Lauren moderated a pro-ana message board in the aughts. In the Patreon episode, we discuss our personal histories with the most admired (and deadly) of the eating disorders. Follow us on Insta! @BrutalVulnerability   Bibliography: Best Little Girl In The World by Steven Levenkron Wasted by Marya Hornbacher
Dec 14 2021
1 hr 11 mins