Marisa chats with Ruta Sepetys, author of A Fortune of Sand, and therapist Callie Manea to explore gaslighting, self-trust, identity, and the challenge of finding yourself after years of being defined by other people's expectations. Together, they unpack how chronic invalidation and manipulation can erode our confidence, why some people become especially vulnerable to gaslighting, and steps that help us reconnect with our own instincts, boundaries, and authentic selves.

Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!

The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.

Marisa chats with Ashley Hanna-Morgan, author of In Her Own Backyard, and therapist Caitlyn Wallace of Desert Bloom Wellness about postpartum mental health and the hidden realities of early motherhood. Together, they explore what happens when you don't feel like yourself after having a baby, why breastfeeding struggles (like D-MER) and sleep deprivation can become major mental health stressors, and how community can be a lifeline during one of life's most challenging transitions.

Using the novel's blend of suspense, friendship, and emotional honesty as a starting point, they discuss the signs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, the importance of seeking support, and the hopeful message that healing is possible.

Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!

The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.

Marisa chats with Lindsay Goldstein, author of Gap Year, and Brittany Parenti, therapist at Matrescence, to explore identity, empty nesting, reinvention, and the challenges of finding yourself when the roles that once defined you shift. They unpack the emotional complexity of launching children into adulthood, the grief and growth that can accompany this major life transition, and how community, self-discovery, and intentional change can help us reconnect with who we are beyond caregiving.

Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!

The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.