You’re Not Broken: Why You People-Please, Feel Anxious, & Never Feel Good Enough – and How to Heal

You’re Not Broken: Why You People-Please, Feel Anxious, & Never Feel Good Enough – and How to Heal

From The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

May 21, 2026 · 1h 12m · Episode 397

About this episode

Mel Robbins discusses the concept of Mother Hunger with guest Kelly McDaniel, exploring its impact on people-pleasing and anxiety.

If you’re exhausted from always putting everyone else first, people-pleasing, and struggling with anxiety, this conversation is going to change how you see yourself. And if you've ever felt invisible in your own family, like your needs didn't matter, or if nothing you did was ever enough, this episode will finally connect the dots for you as an adult. Today on the podcast, renowned therapist and bestselling author Kelly McDaniel explains that many of your patterns stem from a hidden wound from your childhood. Her work has helped millions of people finally name an invisible heartbreak they’ve been carrying for decades: Mother Hunger. She says Mother Hunger is a primal yearning for a certain quality of love, safety, and guidance that many of us didn’t receive in the way we needed as children, even if our mothers did their best. This episode is not about blaming mothers. It’s about telling the truth, understanding what happened, and learning how to give yourself what you went without, so you can stop proving your worth and start feeling it. In this episode, you’ll learn: -What Mother Hunger is (and why it can feel like you’re searching for love in the wrong places) -The 3 core needs…

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