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July 6, 2021

Jennette McCurdy: Enmeshment, Individuating, & Coping Mechanisms

Jennette McCurdy, writer, director, actor, and singer ( iCarly, Sam & Cat), inspires Mayim with her openness and vulnerability as she shares the harmful coping mechanisms and profound revelations she experienced following the death of her mother - leading to Jennette’s one woman show "I’m Glad My Mom Died." Jennette discusses the pressures and anxieties she faced at an early age as a hugely popular children’s TV star and the source of financial support for her family. Jennette unpacks how her identity was tied to her mother’s perceptions of her and how the enmeshed relationship impacted her. Mayim breaks down the psychological concept of enmeshment, including the effects of removing an enmeshed relationship from one’s life, the reasons we tolerate emotional discomfort for so long, and the elements of the power struggles surrounding love. Mayim and Jennette deeply connect over their self-discovery journeys, including their respective paths to recovery from disordered eating. They also discuss their personal and professional plans for the future, and Mayim confesses her feelings about her upcoming feature directorial debut.  In a new installment of Ask Mayim Anything, Mayim explains the origins of self-sabotage and insecurities in an otherwise healthy relationship.

Theme Song Written, Produced, and Performed by Ed Robertson. Mixed by Kenny Luong.
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Jennette McCurdy

Director, Producer, Actress

jennettemccurdy
Mayim Bialik

Host

@missmayim
Jonathan Cohen

Co-Host

@jonathancohenofficial

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Guest References

Jennette McCurdy's Podcast "Empty Inside"
"Empty Inside" is a podcast where host Jennette McCurdy talks with a different guest each episode, doing a deep dive into a specific topic. General topic areas are comedy, eating disorders, filmmaking, jealousy, therapy, and the crippling sense of doom we all face as we desperately try to fill the void within.
Check Out Jennette's Website
Keep up with Jennette's current projects, new merch, and other other stuff she's enjoying!
See More
Former Nickelodeon Star Jennette McCurdy Opens Up About Her Eating Disorder
After spending a lot of time in therapy working on myself and confronting what I’ve experienced, I finally feel like I have the perspective required to write about what I’ve been through and maybe ― hopefully ― it might help someone who is going through the same thing feel less alone.
See More
Kenny - Short Film by Jennette McCurdy
Here’s Kenny, the first publicly released short film that I wrote/directed. It’s a dramedy about a 30something burnout who sacrifices his own dreams to take care of his dying mother. Online film festival Short of the Week premiered it.
See More
Strong Independent Women - an eating disorder short film by Jennette McCurdy
A frazzled mother puts all her energy into helping her daughter overcome an eating disorder...
See More