CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT

Calling Home

Family Dynamics

Estrangement

Mental Health

Family Relationships

Boundaries

Emotional Immaturity

Parenting

Childhood Trauma

Parent-Child Relationships

Emotional Abuse

Family Estrangement

Therapy

Grief

Parentification

Emotional Neglect

Emotional Maturity

Generational Trauma

Sibling Relationships

Narcissistic Family Systems

Boundary Setting

Whitney Goodman is a licensed marriage and family therapist and author on a mission to help adult family members have better relationships. Each week, Whitney has conversations with influential guests and real people to help listeners find new ways of looking at old family problems.Calling Home is available every Tuesday and Thursday wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/... more

760 ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	227	Founded	3 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	RelationshipsEducationSelf-ImprovementSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

The Court Gave My Estranged Mother-in-Law Access to My Kids

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of suicidal ideation, child abuse and neglect, childhood sexual abuse, and abortion.

Whitney answers two questions about accepting a family situation you never chose and never asked for. First, a m... more

6 Aug 2026 • 39 min • Popular

We Tried to Set One Boundary and Lost 40 Family Members with Jon and Ashley Lefrandt

If you've spent time in the estrangement conversation online, you've noticed how fast it flattens into two camps: the people who cut off and the people who got cut off. Ashley and Jon Lefrandt have lived on both sides of that line. The couple behind ... more

4 Aug 2026 • 1 hr 15 min • Most popular

Why I'm Stepping Back From Instagram

Content warning: This episode contains a description of a traumatic birth, postpartum complications, and abuse.

Before the Q&A, Whitney opens with an unscripted reflection on taking a break from Instagram. She then moves into two listener questions ... more

30 Jul 2026 • 43 min

Myth of the Bad Seed: The Dangerous Belief That Some Children Are Just Broken

“He's been hard since the day he was born.” “Something in her is just off, and always has been.” “Is there something broken with my child?” Whitney traces questions and the fears beneath them to a centuries old belief that some people are simply born... more

28 Jul 2026 • 25 min

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Recent Guests

Emma Mahony

Therapist focused on family patterns, parentification, and conscious relationships

Self-employed / Therapy practice

Episode: Therapists React to Shameless and What the Show Gets Right About Parentification

Stephanie Lindeman

Group facilitator at CALLING HOME; runs the family estrangement group; dual-license therapist in Florida

Episode: Therapists React to Succession and What the Show Gets Right About Narcissistic Parents

Patrick Teahan

Therapist guest providing analysis of the show's dynamics

Episode: Toxic Mothers with Patrick Teahan | Therapists React to Animal Kingdom

Amanda White

Therapist and co-host of the podcast Nuance Needed

Therapy for Women Center

Episode: Therapists React to Gilmore Girls: Mother-in-Laws, Enmeshment, and Money

Meg Josephson

Author of the New York Times bestseller, 'Are You Mad at Me?'

Episode: Analyzing Family Dysfunction in the Netflix Series "Nobody Wants This"

Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart

Pediatric psychologist, parent-coach, speaker, and author

A New Day Pediatric Psychology

Episode: Love the Teen You Have with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

Clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and author

Upcoming book: You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Episode: You, Your Husband, and His Mother with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

Dr. Juli Fraga

Psychologist, parent educator, and content creator who helps caregivers turn insight into action.

Author of Parents Have Feelings Too

Episode: How to Parent Differently Without Overcorrecting with Dr. Juli Fraga

Kate Gray

Licensed marriage and family therapist known as Codependency Kate on social media

Personal brand focusing on estrangement

Episode: Therapists Analyze the Viral Estranged Parents Video

Host

Whitney Goodman

Licensed marriage and family therapist and host focused on helping adult family members improve relationships; frequently discusses boundaries, estrangement, and therapeutic guidance.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 760 ratings

Beautiful and extremely helpful podcast
I discovered this podcast in the last month and wow- it is like a warm soft blanket. As an adult that has been estranged from my mother for over 10 years, I always felt like “is it just me?” It is such a life saver to not feel alone.
Apple Podcasts
5
cwbean22
United States6 months ago
So helpful and informative
Thank you for sharing your work and expertise. The profound impact it has on my quality of life is beyond any grateful words I can write in a review. I never miss an episode, and revisit them when needed. Thank you
Apple Podcasts
5
jihanburger
United States6 months ago
I feel seen by this podcast
I’ve been struggling with estrangement for 30 years. In this podcast, Whitney and her guests say all the things I’ve thought but was afraid to truly feel. Their completely non-judgmental thoughtfulness and insights have helped me so much - highly recommended.
Apple Podcasts
5
NinaWrites
United Kingdom8 months ago
Must Listen for Anyone Navigating Difficult Family Relationships
Listening to this show has made a significant positive impact on my life. It has helped me better understand and navigate my relationship with both my family of origin and my in-laws. It has also helped me process my feelings around these complex and at times difficult relationships. Whitney provides thoughtful comments to listener questions and I really enjoy the pop culture commentary as a way to unpack family dysfunction.
Apple Podcasts
5
Koko Z.
United States9 months ago
Excellent podcast
Super well researched. Thanks so much Whitney, can’t put into words how helpful your podcast has been. 💜
Apple Podcasts
5
cherry_pez
United States9 months ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are praised for practical strategies and compassionate, research-informed insights.

Many listeners say it helps them feel less alone and more capable of making tough boundary decisions.

Listeners describe the show as validating and comforting for anyone navigating estranged family relationships.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#93	United States/Society & Culture/Relationships
Apple Podcasts	#227	Canada/Society & Culture/Relationships
Apple Podcasts	#108	Australia/Society & Culture/Relationships
Apple Podcasts	#100	New Zealand/Society & Culture/Relationships
Apple Podcasts	#109	Finland/Society & Culture/Relationships
Apple Podcasts	#124	Ireland/Society & Culture/Relationships

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why I'm Stepping Back From Instagram

Q: How do you manage when nobody in your family wants to talk about the past but you want healing and connection?

Lead with positive intent, express your desire for closer connection, acknowledge the others' discomfort, and seek a listening, nondefensive conversation, while recognizing that some relatives may not be ready to engage and you may need to heal and relate differently for now.

Why I'm Stepping Back From Instagram

Q: What do you do when you've accepted that someone isn't going to change, but that person still expects the same closeness and access they've always had?

Provide a balanced approach by assessing what level of contact feels feasible and safe, considering the ongoing impact on your child and family, and communicating boundaries with a focus on minimizing harm while allowing for a redefined relationship.

Radical Acceptance in Families That Won't Meet You Halfway

Q: I went no contact with my parents about a year ago and feel like I had to set boundaries after decades of trying to have a relationship.

The host validates the pain and explains that radical acceptance involves recognizing the reality of the relationship, setting boundaries, and deciding how much energy to invest, possibly choosing distance or limited contact if needed.

When is it Time to Accept That Your Parents Were Not Who You Needed Them to Be?

Q: How do you move toward true acceptance when your parents' pattern of control and betrayal has persisted for 41 years, especially when it harms your child and family?

Whitney acknowledges the deep pain and explains that acceptance does not require happiness with estrangement. It involves de-centering parental influence, recognizing patterns, and choosing interactions that protect the family. She emphasizes boundaries, safety, and the possibility that some relationships may be restructured rather than fully repaired, while validating the listener's feelings of anger and grief. She also highlights resources and ongoing support communities for people navigating these dynamics.

When is it Time to Accept That Your Parents Were Not Who You Needed Them to Be?

Q: Our question is about how or why we should keep boomer grandparents integrated into our young family, and whether it's worth maintaining a relationship when they frequently criticize and undermine our parenting.

Whitney suggests starting with the closest, most receptive grandparent and having a calm, clear conversation about how criticism affects the family, with the goal of preserving some level of contact while reducing harm. If a single entry point improves the dynamic, you can gradually involve others; if not, structure visits in safer, shorter settings, and consider reducing contact or re-evaluating the relationship over time based on behavior and impact on the children.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About CALLING HOME

What is CALLING HOME about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show explores family dynamics, estrangement, boundaries, and healing through clinically informed conversations with guests and listeners. Episodes commonly cover emotional neglect, parentification, narcissistic patterns, and strategies for managing grief, guilt, and decision-making around reconciliation or separation. A standout element is the practical, action-oriented guidance—scripts, boundary-setting tools, and community resources—that help adult children navigate complex relationships and rebuild fulfilling lives. The host brings a steady, empathetic presence and often ties insights to broader cultural and psychological research, sometimes highlighting supportive groups like a related membership community. This blend of therapy-in... more

Where can I find podcast stats for CALLING HOME?

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How many listeners does CALLING HOME get?

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What are the audience demographics for CALLING HOME?

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How many subscribers and views does CALLING HOME have?

To see how many followers or subscribers CALLING HOME has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to CALLING HOME?

These podcasts share a similar audience with CALLING HOME:

1. Our Whole Childhood with Patrick Teahan
2. Adult Child
3. Dear Dr. Tracy
4. Still Talking About It
5. Mother Mayhem: For Daughters of Narcissistic or Emotionally Limited Mothers

How many episodes of CALLING HOME are there?

CALLING HOME launched 3 years ago and published 227 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact CALLING HOME?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for CALLING HOME?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for CALLING HOME from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for CALLING HOME?

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What guests have appeared on CALLING HOME?

Recent guests on CALLING HOME include:

1. Emma Mahony
2. Stephanie Lindeman
3. Patrick Teahan
4. Amanda White
5. Meg Josephson
6. Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart
7. Dr. Tracy Dalgleish
8. Dr. Juli Fraga

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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