About this episode

Joni and Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards discuss the transformative power of heartbreak and trauma in personal growth and healing.

Welcome to Wake Up! with Joni, the podcast where embodied consciousness meets leadership through awareness — awakening lived, not theorized. What happens when heartbreak cracks open the identity you spent a lifetime building? In this deeply honest, funny, and transformational conversation, Joni sits down with Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards — spiritual counselor, speaker, and author of The Venus Flytrap — to explore trauma, toxic relationships, reinvention, emotional healing, and the awakening that can emerge from life's darkest nights. After childhood trauma, psychiatric hospitalization, addiction, multiple marriages, and profound emotional collapse, Steven shares the wisdom he gained through heartbreak, obsession, boundaries, healing, and remembering who he truly is. Together, Joni and Steven unpack: ✨ Why we repeat relationship patterns ✨ The hidden gifts inside heartbreak and emotional pain ✨ Trauma, triggers, and emotional healing ✨ Why "toxic" relationships may actually be teachers ✨ The power of boundaries and vulnerability ✨ Attachment, identity, and freedom ✨ Why we keep running — and what happens when we stop ✨ Remembering who you really are beneath the pain This episode is…

People in this episode

Host: Joni Caldwell Lerner

Guest: Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards

Topics covered

• heartbreak
• trauma
• toxic relationships
• emotional healing
• reinvention
• boundaries
• personal awakening

Keywords

• heartbreak
• trauma
• toxic relationships
• emotional healing
• boundaries
• reinvention
• identity
• awakening

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Venus Flytrap

More episodes of WAKE UP! with Joni

• Stop Proving Yourself: The Freedom of Being Fully You | Dr. Liz DuBois Erskine · July 16, 2026 · 33 min
• When Fear Gets Loud: Reclaiming Your Inner Voice with Martina Tisljar · July 9, 2026 · 52 min
• From Head to Heart: The Frequency of an Authentic Life with Sigmar Berg · June 23, 2026 · 24 min
• The Inner Work Behind Success | Drew Norton on Identity, Discipline & Leadership · May 21, 2026 · 49 min
• The Dark Night of the Soul, Creativity & Becoming Your Own Sanctuary | Marisa Handler · May 14, 2026 · 52 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the WAKE UP! with Joni podcast page.