Beyond Words with Najwa Zebian
Let’s use the power of words to heal.
Episodes
This episode was recorded in October of last year. Enjoy!
Come Home to YourselfWhere healing becomes a holistic, embodied way of being via reflection, ritual and release
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have you ever waited for an apology, convinced it would finally give you peace?
In this episode, Najwa shares a deeply personal story about asking someone who hurt her to apologize, only to discover that the words she longed to hear could never provide the healing she was seeking. Drawing from The One Who Broke You Can't Heal You, she explores why we place so much weight on apologies, why validation from the person w...
What do you do when someone fought so hard to have you in their life, only to make you feel guilty for expecting the love, respect, and care they promised?
In this episode, I explore the painful experience of being invited to someone's table and then being left to survive on crumbs. We talk about why it's so difficult to accept when a person is no longer showing up as who they once were, why we cling to the smallest ...
In this special episode, Najwa celebrates the launch of her new book, The One Who Broke You Can't Heal You, and shares the powerful message behind its title.
Through personal stories, insights on toxic relationships, trauma bonds, self-worth, and healing, Najwa explores why waiting for an apology from the person who hurt you keeps you stuck, and what it truly takes to reclaim your life and move forward.
Joined by a sp...
What if the deepest heartbreak isn't losing someone, but realizing they were never who you believed them to be?
In this powerful episode, Najwa shares an excerpt from Chapter 4, How to Fix What They Broke, from her newly released book, The One Who Broke You Can't Heal You. She explores the painful truth behind betrayal, trauma bonds, people-pleasing, and the exhausting cycle of trying to repair damage you never cause...
Have you ever looked back on a relationship, friendship, or situation that hurt you and wondered:
"Why didn't I leave sooner?"
It's one of the most painful questions we ask ourselves after experiencing heartbreak, betrayal, toxic relationships, or trauma bonds. And often, hidden beneath that question is something even deeper: shame.
In this episode, Najwa explores the importance of showing compassion to the version of ...
Welcome to the final episode of the How to Break a Trauma Bond series.
After learning how to recognize a trauma bond, decide whether to stay or leave, grieve what you thought you had, stop waiting for the apology, and become your own fixer, there is one final step:
Rebuilding your sense of safety.
One of the greatest harms caused by trauma bonds is that they distort your understanding of what safety actually feels like...
Welcome to Part 4 of How to Break a Trauma Bond.
So far, we've learned how to recognize a trauma bond, decide whether to stay or leave, grieve what we thought we had, and stop waiting for the apology.
Now comes one of the most transformative steps of all:
Becoming your own fixer.
Trauma bonds teach us to seek comfort, validation, and relief from the same person who causes our pain. Over time, we begin to believe that he...
Welcome to Part 3 of How to Break a Trauma Bond.
One of the hardest steps in healing is accepting that the apology you're waiting for may never come.
In this episode, Najwa explores what happens when you stop waiting for validation from the person who hurt you. Whether you're hoping they'll finally understand your pain, admit what they did, take accountability, or receive the karma you believe they deserve, tying your...
Welcome to Part 2 of How to Break a Trauma Bond.
After learning to recognize and name a trauma bond, the next step is often the hardest: deciding what comes next.
In this episode, Najwa explores the complicated reality of staying versus leaving a trauma-bonded relationship. Rather than offering oversimplified advice, she acknowledges the emotional, financial, familial, and psychological factors that can make leaving f...
What if the reason you can't walk away isn't weakness, but a trauma bond?
In this episode, we explore the most important first step in breaking a trauma bond: learning to call it what it is. When you can finally name the dynamic you're experiencing, the confusion begins to lift, and you can start seeing the relationship through a clearer lens.
We'll talk about why trauma bonds are so powerful, how past wounds can make...
What if the reason you couldn't let go wasn't love at all?
In this episode, I dive deep into one of the most misunderstood relationship dynamics: trauma bonds. A trauma bond isn't formed because someone loves you deeply. It forms when the person causing your pain also becomes the source of your relief. Over time, your nervous system learns to associate love with survival, making it incredibly difficult to walk away, ...
One of the most painful experiences in life is being hurt deeply and feeling like the person who hurt you got away with it.
In this episode, I talk about the illusion of justice, the truth about karma, and why your healing has nothing to do with someone else’s consequences. When someone breaks you, it’s easy to believe that winning means seeing them suffer, change, or regret what they’ve done—...
Grief doesn’t just show up when someone dies. It shows up after a breakup, a friendship that faded, going no contact with family, or a dream that didn’t work out. And yet so many of us judge ourselves for still feeling it.
In this episode, we’re talking honestly about what grief actually looks like, why it isn’t linear, why going back to the person who hurt you only delays your healing...
How do you deal with the mean people and adult bullies you can’t simply walk away from? In this episode, Najwa breaks down two powerful strategies: stop explaining yourself to people who already know they’re hurting you, and stop giving them the reaction they’re looking for. Learn how to starve toxic bonds, build your power bubble, and reclaim your peace, no matter the setting. Plus, a healing mant...
What if the most powerful thing you could do… is disappoint them?
In this short but deeply impactful episode of Beyond Words, we explore the hidden cost of people-pleasing and what it truly means to choose yourself, especially when it comes at the risk of losing approval, validation, or even relationships.
We talk about:
- Why people-pleasing feels safe—but costs you your identity
- The fear of disappointin...
The silent treatment is often misunderstood, but its impact runs deep.
In this episode of Beyond Words, we unpack the emotional and psychological toll of being ignored, dismissed, and made to feel invisible by someone who claims to care about you. This isn’t just about silence—it’s about control, manipulation, and the quiet ways your sense of self can begin to break down over time.
We talk about:
- ...
What do you do when someone breaks you in a way you never saw coming?
In this deeply honest episode, we talk about the desire for revenge after betrayal, and why chasing it may be pulling you further away from the life you truly want.
If you’ve ever wanted someone to feel the pain they caused you… this episode is for you.
In this episode, we explore:
- Why wanting revenge is completely human
- The emotional ...
Narcissists don’t choose you by accident.
In this episode of Beyond Words, we unpack the painful truth about narcissistic relationships—why authentic, kind, deeply feeling people are often targeted, how narcissists isolate you from your support systems, and why becoming their sole source of validation is one of the most dangerous dynamics you can be pulled into.
We explore how narcissists:
C...
What if the confusion you feel isn’t an accident… but the goal?
In this episode of Beyond Words, we dive deep into the truth about gaslighting—what it really is, how it works, and why it’s so hard to recognize when you’re in it.
Gaslighting isn’t just lying. It’s a pattern. A slow, intentional erosion of your reality, your confidence, and your sense of self.
If you’ve ev...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Mike Florio & Chris Simms discuss the biggest NFL stories with honesty, candor, and authenticity.