

Conversations from the Heart
Yvette Erasmus
A weekly, soul-nourishing podcast offering psychologically grounded, heart-centered reflections on human relationships, inner healing, and compassion-based communication. Focused on live mini-coaching moments to help callers shift from reactive, domination-based communication to collaborative, heart-centered connection. Listen for new scripts for stuck situations, new ways of responding to old relationship dynamics and guidance on how to approach these situations with empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication strategies. Here, we emphasize understanding both one's own needs and the needs of others, creating safe spaces for vulnerable conversations, and finding ways to express ourselves authentically while respecting others' boundaries.
Episodes
Mentioned books

5 snips
Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 3min
#100 - Will the Real Me Please Step Forward?
This discussion dives into the chaos of inner voices battling for attention, highlighting the struggle between ambition and peace. Listeners hear about the importance of emotional regulation and the healing journey after betrayal. The conversation touches on navigating judgment in relationships and embracing self-compassion. With insights on self-advocacy and overcoming external validation, it encourages a journey toward authentic self-expression and community connection, inviting participants to address their inner conflicts and seek support.

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 4min
#99 - Turning Guilt into Growth
Explore the emotional labyrinth of guilt and regret, as Judy grapples with self-blame over her grief while trying to craft a condolence letter. Georgia faces the dilemma of setting boundaries amid fear of losing a friendship due to late cancellations. Discover life-changing reframes of regret, communication scripts for honesty without defensiveness, and how embracing your 'too muchness' could protect your tenderness. Dive into the nervous system's role in friendship repair and enjoy surprising metaphors to change your perspective on connection.

Jun 16, 2025 • 1h 3min
#98 - How To Stop Overfunctioning In Relationships - And Start Listening for Fit
What if the reason your relationships feel hard isn’t because there’s something wrong with you, but rather because you’re waking up and getting more conscious? In this tender, truth-filled episode, we meet Carol and Paulina, two women navigating the messy terrain of rebuilding self-trust after giving too much of themselves away in past relationships.Carol is considering reconnecting with a longtime friend who’s consistently prioritized his comfort over their mutual care. She wants reciprocity but keeps accommodating the status quo, hoping it’ll inspire change. Together, we explore the hidden cost of chronic self-abandonment and what it takes to risk doing things differently.Paulina, meanwhile, is mourning the loss of a toxic relationship that activated every part of her attachment system. She feels flat, emotionally shut down, and unsure if she can ever love again. Her current relationship is kind, stable… and unfamiliar. We unpack the difference between trauma chemistry and real connection, and how to trust love that doesn’t feel like chaos.If you’ve ever confused anxiety for attraction, or found yourself resentfully staying in a dynamic that doesn’t meet your needs, this episode is for you.You’ll learn:How to stop over-functioning in lopsided relationshipsThe difference between behavior and intention, and which one to trustWhy real love might feel boring at first (and why that’s a good thing)How to reclaim your yes and no without shameAnd how to grieve what never was without losing your capacity to love againListen in for practical tools, emotional wisdom, and the gentle nudge you may need to come back to yourself.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, I warmly invite you to become a member of The School of Human Connection. Twice a month, I host live calls where members bring real relationship dilemmas. We slow things down and I'll help you see what's actually happening and how to respond with more integrity, strength and care.You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.Here are more ways to connect with me:Join the School of Human ConnectionHop on my free Wednesday live callFollow me on YouTube

Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 2min
#97 - Bad Girl Energy: How To Play by New Rules
What do you do when someone you love keeps using emotional blunt force instead of listening? When the men in your life still believe criticism is caring, or that dominance equals dialogue?In this week’s episode, we sit with two brave women learning how to communicate with men who are still playing by old, outdated rules where vulnerability is weakness, power is control, and connection gets sacrificed for the illusion of authority.We explore what it means to keep our hearts open without abandoning ourselves, to name what hurts without making someone wrong, and to build bridges without betraying our own inner truth. You’ll hear real-life moments, fresh language to try, and permission to stop performing “good girl” energy just to keep the peace.In this raw and real episode, two women ask:How do I stay in connection with someone who keeps hurting me?Why do I freeze or fawn when I know better?SHOW NOTES: Why old-school masculinity often shows up as dismissal, control, or withdrawalHow women often internalize the pressure to stay sweet, silent, and obedientWhat to say (and not say) when our boundaries are being ignoredThe art of exiting a conversation with grace and powerHow to bring “bad girl” energy back into wholenessThis episode is for anyone tired of talking to a wall, and ready to start listening to themselves.🎧 Tune in now, and reclaim your voice, your power, and your peace.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, I warmly invite you to become a member of The School of Human Connection. Twice a month, I host live calls where members bring real relationship dilemmas. We slow things down and I'll help you see what's actually happening and how to respond with more integrity, strength and care.You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.Here are more ways to connect with me:Join the School of Human ConnectionHop on my free Wednesday live callFollow me on YouTube

Jun 2, 2025 • 1h 5min
#96 - Ghosted Your Best Friend? Here’s What to Say Now.
Struggling to reconnect with a friend after drifting apart? This engaging discussion offers heartfelt scripts for mending those bonds. Learn how to approach conversations when emotions run high, especially if the other person is still hurt. The podcast dives into the importance of owning your feelings while navigating shame and guilt. Real-time coaching explores the complexities of friendship ruptures, emphasizing vulnerability and emotional maturity as keys to rebuilding trust. It's a masterclass in healing relationships, one heartfelt conversation at a time.

May 26, 2025 • 1h 3min
#95 - Stay in Your Lane: What’s Yours to Carry, And What Isn’t?
Explore the burdens we unknowingly carry in relationships and how to set healthy emotional boundaries. Discover relatable stories, like navigating community exclusions and heavy emotional loads. Learn why fixing others can feel like disapproval and how to communicate your limits with compassion. Unpack the complex dynamics around money and why your triggers could be invitations for growth. This discussion dives into the messy work of staying true to oneself while gracefully managing relationships and societal expectations.

May 20, 2025 • 23min
Living Love as Daily Resistance: The Soft Revolution Starts With You
For ongoing practice and deeper learning, I warmly invite you to become a member of The School of Human Connection. Twice a month, I host live calls where members bring real relationship dilemmas. We slow things down and I'll help you see what's actually happening and how to respond with more integrity, strength and care.You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.Here are more ways to connect with me:Join the School of Human ConnectionHop on my free Wednesday live callFollow me on YouTube

May 19, 2025 • 33min
#94 - How to Love Someone Without Letting Them Off the Hook
A heartfelt exploration of love intertwined with accountability takes center stage. A listener grapples with maintaining a relationship with a brother who has caused great harm. The discussion highlights the delicate balance between compassion and boundaries. Real-life scripts provide insight into honest communication. Emphasis is placed on protecting one’s inner child while navigating familial complexities. The difference between enabling and acceptance is examined, alongside the impacts of punitive responses versus protective approaches in relationships.

May 12, 2025 • 44min
#93 - Too much, Too loud, Too Honest? Try Soft Power.
What if your fiercest judgments were just misplaced devotion?In this raw and revealing episode, we unpack those charged moments when your love for truth and justice gets mistaken for criticism or control. When your “I just want to help” lands more like “You’re doing it wrong.” And when your longing to belong collides with your need to speak up.Two powerful stories unfold in this episode: One about a moment of regret after calling out a fellow trainer in a large group, and another about getting kicked out of a recovery meeting… for being too disruptive. But underneath it all? The same longing: to be seen, heard, and held in our full humanity.💥 Warning: This episode may stir up old wounds. But it also offers hope, tools, and a path to healing. Also, be aware that we sometimes use spicy language so be careful if any little ones are listening, too. In this episode, we explore:Why your “judgmental” moments might be rooted in love - not criticismWhat to do when you speak from truth but it lands all wrongThe real difference between empathy and commiseration (and how we often get it twisted)What happens when you get banned from a recovery group… and why it’s not the end of your storyHow to apologize without collapsing or giving your power awayA powerful reframe for those moments when you think, “Ugh, I did it again…”✨ Whether you’re the one who blurted out too fast, or the one retreating into silence after conflict, this episode will help you find your way back - to yourself, to others, and to what really matters.🎧 Listen now if you’ve ever:Regretted your tone but stood by your messageFelt like the “too much” one in the groupWanted to show up with integrity and connectionLonged for a do-over, but didn’t know how to startResources Mentioned:Free Communication Starter KitJoin the Conversations from the Heart Membership for live support and communitySubscribe on YouTube👉 Like this episode? Share it with someone who’s navigating a relational repair of their own. And remember: you’re allowed to be a work in progress and a force for good.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, I warmly invite you to become a member of The School of Human Connection. Twice a month, I host live calls where members bring real relationship dilemmas. We slow things down and I'll help you see what's actually happening and how to respond with more integrity, strength and care.You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.Here are more ways to connect with me:Join the School of Human ConnectionHop on my free Wednesday live callFollow me on YouTube

May 5, 2025 • 55min
#92 - Boundaries, Burials, and Brothers Who Overshare
Ever felt torn between staying true to yourself and keeping the peace in your relationships? In this episode, we walk with three courageous guests as they navigate the messy middle of relational repair, where heartbreak, hope, and healing often collide.Throughout the episode, I offer grounded coaching and relational insight, modeling how to make peace with not getting your way, how to advocate without attachment, and how to hold your truth with both gentleness and strength.Plus, I share my favorite Marshall Rosenberg quote that gives us all permission to show up imperfectly.The big insight? Sometimes, the conversation is less about the thing and more about the way we talk about it. Tune in to learn how to shift from “I need you to agree with me” to “Can we co-create a process where we both matter?”Key Questions ExploredWhat do I do when I want something deeply - but no one else agrees?How can I reconnect with someone after months or years of silence?How do I set boundaries with people who steamroll my needs?What if honoring myself means disappointing people I love?Listener Takeaways/Show Notes A step-by-step process for advocating without demandingHow to hold space for grief when connection doesn’t go as hopedThe “thermometer tool” to surface hidden family dynamicsLanguage to use when you’re overwhelmed but still want to show upHow to shift from self-judgment to healthy regret when you’re not perfectListen for heart-centered coaching, clear language templates, and real-life examples of relational courage.For ongoing practice and deeper learning, I warmly invite you to become a member of The School of Human Connection. Twice a month, I host live calls where members bring real relationship dilemmas. We slow things down and I'll help you see what's actually happening and how to respond with more integrity, strength and care.You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans. Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.Here are more ways to connect with me:Join the School of Human ConnectionHop on my free Wednesday live callFollow me on YouTube


