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In this episode, I talk about my own experiences with love bombing — how intensity can feel like intimacy, and how I learned to recognize the difference between overwhelming affection and genuine care. I share what my nervous system taught me, what real consistency looks like, and why slowing down has changed the way I understand connection. Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Sometimes intuition whispers.  Sometimes it throws a tantrum.  And sometimes it yells so loud you still manage to ignore it.    In this episode, I get real about the messy, hilarious, and heartbreaking process of relearning how to listen to myself — from the day my intuition screamed “Lock the gate!” to the year I learned what silence actually feels like.    It’s a story about chaos, recovery, motherhood, and the strange way ignoring your intuition can still lead you back to it.  Equal parts confession and comedy, this episode reminds us that healing isn’t graceful — it’s awkward, loud, and deeply human.    So grab your coffee, your journal, or your emotional support snack.  We’re diving into the noise beneath the knowing.  Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: G1JUN1FUPHJ0DY6T

In this episode, I get honest about the tiny habits, awkward moments, and overthinking spirals that make me ask, “Why am I like this?” I share the funny, very human patterns I keep repeating, what’s actually underneath them, and how I’m learning to understand myself with more compassion instead of judgment. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 53XEMMXFHRBGJPUV

In this episode, I dive deep into the subtle signs of stalking that often go unnoticed — the quiet red flags that hide behind “harmless” gestures. Through trauma‑informed insight and grounded awareness, I explore how emotional manipulation, boundary violations, and obsessive behaviors can escalate when ignored. Key Topics: ​Early warning signs of stalking and obsession​Emotional boundaries and self‑protection strategies​How to recognize manipulation and coercive control​Healing from hypervigilance and reclaiming peaceWhy Listen: This episode blends empathy, education, and empowerment — helping listeners identify patterns, trust their intuition, and build safer relationships.

When someone hurts you… and somehow you end up apologizing?Yeah. That’s not miscommunication — that’s DARVO.In this episode, Ruby breaks down how people flip the script using Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim & Offender, why it leaves you doubting your own reality, and how to reclaim your narrative.Gentle, grounding, and deeply validating.DARVO explained, what is DARVO, gaslighting examples, emotional abuse signs, manipulation tactics in relationships, narcissistic abuse patterns, trauma responses, self‑gaslighting explained, relationship red flags, psychological manipulation, accountability avoidance, toxic partner behavior, healing from abuse, trauma‑informed content

In this episode of Awkwardish, I’m unpacking the childhood “quirks,” “habits,” and “phases” we were told to grow out of — and revealing how many of them were actually coping skills we built to survive environments that didn’t know how to support us. From perfectionism to people‑pleasing, from disappearing into our imagination to becoming the “strong one,” I’m breaking down how these patterns formed, why they made sense at the time, and how they still show up in our adult lives. And more importantly, I’m talking about what healing looks like when you finally give your younger self the compassion they never got. This episode is honest, a little tender, and very much a love letter to the kid you used to be — the one who did the best they could with what they had. If you’ve ever wondered why you react the way you do, why certain things feel “too much,” or why you’re exhausted from carrying roles you never asked for, this one’s for you. What you’ll hear in this episode: • Hidden coping skills we developed without realizing it • How childhood environments shape adult behavior • Why your younger self deserves compassion • How to gently unlearn survival patterns • What healing actually looks like in real life Tagline: Healing doesn’t always look graceful — sometimes it looks honest.

I’m functioning… but the truth is, it’s draining me in ways I don’t always admit out loud. In this episode, I open up about burnout, emotional exhaustion, and the pressure to keep performing when my mind and body are begging for rest. I talk about the guilt of slowing down, the fear of disappointing people, and the hidden cost of always being “the strong one.” If you’ve ever pushed through overwhelm, ignored your own limits, or felt like you’re running on fumes while still trying to look put‑together, this episode will hit home. I’m sharing my real experience with burnout, boundaries, mental health, and the messy process of learning to rest before I break.

I Love People Until I Don’t: The Social Battery Episode is a chaotic‑relatable deep dive into why you can go from “I’m thriving!!” to “I must leave immediately” in the span of one conversation. This episode walks through the rise, peak, and dramatic collapse of your social energy — especially if you’re neurodivergent, introverted, or simply a person who can only be perceived for so long before your soul evaporates. We talk masking fatigue, overstimulation, emotional labor, and the exact moment your brain hits zero and starts buffering. It’s validating, funny, and painfully accurate for anyone whose social battery is basically a Victorian child with asthma. If you’ve ever Irish‑exited a party to protect your sanity, this one’s for you. Stay in touch: Instagram and Threads: @awkwardrube | @awkwardishpodcast TikTok: @awkwardrube Youtube: @awkwardrube @awkwardishpods Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/dope-cat/cloud-wonder License code: IRALAVWDLUKFB502

My brain won’t shut up — and honestly, neither will the anxiety, overthinking, and late‑night “what if” spirals that keep me wide awake. In this episode, I talk about racing thoughts, intrusive worries, and that overwhelming mental noise that makes everyday life feel like a full‑time job. If you deal with anxiety, overthinking, or a mind that refuses to chill, you’re not alone — and this episode is basically a hug for anyone whose thoughts run the show. Keep in touch: Instagram and Threads: @awkwardrube | @awkwardishpodcast TikTok: @awkwardrube Youtube: @awkwardrube | @awkwardishpods Music: Anomaly by Purrple Cat | https://purrplecat.com/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Why do people stay in harmful relationships? It’s never simple — and it’s never just weakness. In this sensitive Awkwardish episode, Ruby unpacks the complicated mix of love, fear, hope, and survival that keeps people in places they wish they could leave. This conversation explores: • Trauma bonding and attachment • The myths about “just leaving” • The emotional and practical barriers • Why survivors blame themselves If you’ve ever stayed longer than you wanted to, or judged yourself for not leaving sooner — this episode is for you. You’re not broken. You were surviving with the tools you had.

Anger isn’t me “losing it” — it’s my body finally telling the truth. In this episode, I talk about the anger I spent years swallowing, why it shows up in healing, and how I learned to stop treating it like a personal failure. I get into: ​the guilt we carry around feeling angry​how gendered conditioning teaches us to turn anger inward​the cultural and religious messages that silence many​the grief underneath being angry at one’s past self​what our anger may actually be trying to tell us If you’re in your anger era, you’re not failing; you’re healing — out loud, on purpose, and without apology. Follow me: Instagram — @awkwardishpodcast | @awkwardrube | @redpetalproject TikTok — @awkwardrube | @redpetalproject YouTube — awkwardishpods | awkwardrube Music: Amb:delirium by Le Gang free download at https://www.mellypark.com/P7W2PC

Healing isn’t always cinematic. Sometimes it’s quiet, slow, and deeply unremarkable — but still sacred. In this episode, we explore the “boring” seasons of healing: the plateaus, the pauses, and the subtle progress that rarely gets celebrated. If you’ve ever felt like nothing is happening, this conversation reminds you that stillness is not regression — it’s recalibration. Some seasons aren’t about blooming. They’re about rooting. Keywords: healing journey, mental health podcast, emotional growth, trauma‑informed healing, self‑care, slow recovery, gentle progress, authenticity, mindfulness, self‑compassion, nonlinear healing, personal development, self‑love, resilience, inner peace Music: Midpoint. - Unminus.com Artist: JNGS URL: http://unminus.com Licence: Unminus License

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the quiet, in‑between space of becoming — the soft, human process of changing without losing the versions of ourselves that once kept us safe. If you’ve been feeling unfamiliar to yourself lately… or noticing small shifts you can’t quite name yet… this conversation is for you. We’re exploring: ​ the versions of us we built to survive​ the fear of outgrowing identities that once protected us​ the guilt and grief that can come with change​ how to grow with intention, softness, and honesty​ why becoming someone new doesn’t erase who you were This episode is gentle, reflective, and rooted in the idea that you’re allowed to evolve at your own pace — without rushing, without apologizing, and without abandoning the past versions of you who carried you here. If you’re in a season of becoming, you’re not alone. A gentle reminder If this episode brought up big feelings, you don’t have to hold that alone. Reaching out to someone you trust — a friend, a family member, or a mental health professional — can make a real difference. You deserve care and connection. — Stay Connected IG: @awkwardishpodcast | @awkwardrube | @redpetalproject TikTok: @awkwardrube | @redpetalproject YouTube: awkwardishpods

Healing isn’t linear — and this week reminded me of that. Some days moved gently, some didn’t move at all, and instead of forcing momentum, I had to learn how to honor the slower parts of my healing without judging myself for them. In this episode, I talk about slow courage — the kind that whispers instead of roars, the kind that shows up even on the backwards days, the kind that lets you start again without shame. If you’ve been feeling behind or softer than usual, this space is for you. TW: mental health, anxiety, nonlinear healing *this weeks episode was a few days late due to technical difficulties

This week, I’m coming to you from a very human place. My body is scared. My hands are shaky. My nervous system is loud. Instead of pretending I’m okay or skipping an episode, I wanted to show up gently — exactly as I am.In this short, honest conversation, I talk about: ​what anxiety feels like in the body​how fear can shrink your world​the guilt that lingers after a mistake​why avoidance is a normal response​how to show up softly when you don’t feel strong. ​ If you’re in a season where everything feels tender or overwhelming, I hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone, you’re not failing, and you’re allowed to be human. Take a breath with me. We’ll get through this one gently.