Welcome to the Aware and Prepared podcast

Where I, Mandi, a certified domestic violence victim advocate and survivor, host a podcast about prevention and post-traumatic growth to help others live safer with more peace.


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Hear real stories, expert insights, skills and resources to prevent harm, heal from trauma and grow. Let’s leave worry behind and live aware, prepared and empowered. You deserve to live in peace and safety!

How to Stop People Pleasing and Heal Codependency After Trauma

How to Stop People Pleasing and Heal Codependency After Trauma

How to Stop People Pleasing and Heal Codependency After TraumaMandi Pratt
Published on: 27/10/2026

Ever say yes before you've had a chance to ask yourself what you want? It's not a character defect. It's your nervous system doing exactly what it was trained to do: fawn response, hypervigilance, and why trauma can make good moments seem dangerous..

people-pleasingfawn responsenervous system regulationself-abandonmentcodependencycomplex traumacomplex PTSDc-PTSDhypervigilancewindow of toleranceneuroceptiondomestic violence recoveryDV recoverynarcissistic abuse recoverypeople pleasingself abandonreconnecting with yourselftrusting your intuitiontrust my intuitionGayle Dargel
What Does It Actually Take to Get Out of Hypervigilance?

What Does It Actually Take to Get Out of Hypervigilance?

What Does It Actually Take to Get Out of Hypervigilance?Mandi Pratt
Published on: 15/09/2026

Ever notice you can't just think your way into calm? In this follow-up to last week's episode on Complex PTSD Awareness Month, Mandi breaks down what's actually happening in the brain during hypervigilance, and more importantly, what to do about it.

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From Burnout to Hope: A Leader's Journey Out of Hypervigilance

From Burnout to Hope: A Leader's Journey Out of Hypervigilance

From Burnout to Hope: A Leader's Journey Out of HypervigilanceMandi Pratt
Published on: 11/05/2026

Dr. Brandi Kelly shares her journey as a high-achieving leader when her body and mind said "enough"

sustainable leadershipresilience speakerwomen leadershypervigilanceself-carebuilding communitypersonal growthleadership burnoutwomen leaders burnout recoveryleadership and mental healthovercoming hypervigilancebuilding resilience as a leaderfaith and leadershipDr. Brandi KellyLead with hopeself-care for leadersimposter syndrome womenpurpose-driven leadershipcommunity for women leaderspersonal growth leadershipburnout to resilience