In this episode of the Modern Warrior Podcast, I sit down with Dr Gloria Waterhouse, a woman whose depth, honesty, and life experience completely floored me. We met recently at a wellness retreat, and after hearing parts of her story, I knew this conversation had to happen.

We dive into trauma, childhood wounds, intimacy, relationships, and the emotional patterns that shape our adult lives. Gloria’s story is incredibly raw—growing up in a house filled with secrets and pain, yet somehow finding her strength and a deep sense of purpose.

This conversation shines a light on the hidden shame we carry, especially in relationships, and how it disconnects us from those we love—and from ourselves. If you're ready to go beyond surface-level talk and explore what healing really looks like… this is for you.

🧠 Podcast Summary – Key Points

• Meeting Gloria at a wellness retreat led to one of the most powerful and emotionally honest conversations I’ve ever had on the podcast.
• She shared her early life story—growing up as the only child of two deeply unhappy, alcoholic parents in the American South, where secrets were the norm and survival was her daily mission.
• From a very young age, she felt a sense of responsibility to fix and save her parents, which shaped her lifelong passion for helping others heal.
• Gloria endured unimaginable trauma, including repeated abuse, and yet described her painful childhood as a "gift" because it equipped her with the depth and empathy to truly understand and help others.
• Our conversation explored the impact of shame and secrecy—how it plays out in childhood, relationships, and adult life, particularly when we try to hide parts of ourselves in order to be loved.
• We spoke about porn addiction and emotional disconnection in relationships—how shame can drive men to seek safety in fantasy, rather than face vulnerability and intimacy with their partners.
• Gloria offered powerful insight into why so many couples silently drift apart: hiding, avoiding emotional risk, and repeating unconscious childhood patterns.
• I opened up about my own struggles with addiction and shame, and how those things created emotional distance in relationships I cared deeply about.
• We explored why men often default to logical roles—provider, protector—but struggle to show up emotionally and intimately, often leading to burnout, resentment, or infidelity.
• Gloria reminded me (and all of us) that healing doesn’t come from being perfect, but from being seen, from forgiving ourselves, and from having the courage to face the uncomfortable.
• One of the most powerful takeaways: if you’re always protecting yourself, you can’t be fully connected. True intimacy requires risk, presence, and emotional honesty.