”The Trauma Behind ‘I Am Who I Am’” Feat. Karen Salmansohn

Season 9, Episode 19 of PSA: The Mental Health Podcast peels back the workings of a phrase many of us lean on: “That’s just how I am.” But what if that’s just trauma hiding in emotional armor?

Izzy sits down with bestselling author and leading Behavior Change Expert, Karen Salmansohn, the creative brain behind NotSalmon.com a former advertising creative director turned writer who’s sold over 2 million books and courses, and whose insights regularly appear on Oprah.com and Psychology Today  Her bold, irreverent style challenges emotional stagnation and invites transformation with tools grounded in psychology, humor, and spiritual insight.

In this conversation, they unpack how generational trauma often gets mistaken for personality, how men grow up being told that emotion is weakness, hardening their hearts in the process. Karen’s research-backed belief is clear: “Stubbornness is often just trauma in mask form.” And they tackle the flip side, how embracing healing over performance opens the door to real connection. 

They question: How long will we let unresolved pain dictate our habits? What if “strength” has kept us silent? And how do we dismantle these defaults when growth feels like betrayal?

Plus, Karen’s newest book, Your To‑Die‑For Life, is highlighted as a wake‑up call to live with meaning—pushing readers to write aspirational eulogies, build “to‑die‑lists,” and let mortality fuel clarity and purpose—not fear.

This is for the man who’s emotionally overworked, spiritually numb, or just plain tired of playing strong. You can’t outgrow what you won’t confront—but you can choose to heal. Press play. Then, start living.

Karen's Social Media
Instagram: @notsalmon
Website: https://www.notsalmon.com/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.

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