Sometimes the person standing in your way isn't someone else. It's the version of yourself that was created to survive. In this episode of the Power & Purpose Podcast, Vanessa Soul sits down with Steven Francisci—U.S. Navy Veteran, author, mental health advocate, and trauma awareness educator—to explore what it truly takes to heal from childhood conditioning, codependency, shame, religious deconstruction, and inherited identities.

Steven shares the powerful story behind his memoir, From Ahole to Alright**, and explains how therapy, self-reflection, and conscious change transformed every area of his life.

Together they discuss:

• Why trauma creates protective identities

• The Codependency Triangle (Victim • Rescuer • Persecutor)

• How manipulation often disguises itself as love

• Religious deconstruction and questioning inherited beliefs

• Radical self-awareness without self-shame

• Healing the inner critic

• Journaling, art therapy, breathwork and shadow work

• Letting go of certainty and learning to trust life

• Returning to love as your true identity Whether you're beginning your healing journey or have been doing inner work for years, this conversation offers practical insights and profound perspective for becoming more fully yourself.

📘 Steven Francisci Book: From Ahole to Alright: A Life Rewritten Through Self-Reflection, Therapy, and Conscious Change**

Amazon: https://a.co/d/0bCqfNM7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healingrootsonup

If this episode helped you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need to hear this conversation today.

Chapters 00:00 Preview

02:00 Who Are You Beyond Your Conditioning?

04:10 Steven's Life Before Healing

05:20 Motorcycle Accident That Changed Everything

06:35 Suicide Attempt & Rock Bottom

08:20 Religious Deconstruction

10:05 Learning to Live with Uncertainty

12:20 From A**hole to Alright 1

4:00 Childhood Trauma & Identity

16:00 What Healing Changed

18:00 Vanessa's Story of Manipulation & Victimhood

20:30 The Codependency Triangle Explained

24:30 First Steps Toward Healing

27:00 Deconstructing Your Identity

29:00 Breathwork, Shadow Work & Therapy

30:00 Journaling & Art Therapy

32:00 Discovering the Inner Critic

34:30 Love Leading the Connection

35:30 How to Connect with Steven

37:00 Final Thoughts

Connect with Vanessa Soul:

🌐 Website:https://vanessasoul.com/theempire

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/vanessaasoul

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VanessaSoulWork

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.spiva.9

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.