Dismantling false narratives, one brave conversation at a time.
Hosted by Renae M. Dupuis, It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way is a gentle yet firm invitation to uncover the truth of who you are—beneath the masks, the programming, and the pressure to perform. This podcast is a sanctuary for soul-deep seekers, quiet radicals, and anyone who’s ever whispered, “There has to be more than this.”
Through candid solo episodes and thoughtful dialogues, Renae offers validation, insight, and tools for releasing what no longer serves you. Together, we’ll explore themes like self-worth, authenticity, burnout, trauma recovery, and the power of living from the inside out.
You’re not broken. You’re becoming.
Let’s do this together.
Episode library
Every episode, with show notes, a practice to try and the tools that go with it.
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Make It Wild, Not Busy: The Quiet Rebellion of Unrushed Living
Renae and Laura talk about rest that isn’t a reward, yoga as space-making, and why taking care of yourself may be one…
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Healthy Relationships Aren’t That Fragile
Renae and Laura talk about what makes a relationship sturdy enough for honesty: consent before hard truths, rupture and repair, and boundaries…
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The Sandwich Generation: Grief, Boundaries, and the Needs We Were Never Allowed
Caring for aging parents and adult children at once: the grief beneath anger, unmet needs, and permission to honor your own boundaries.
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The Many Faces of Grief
A solo episode on the losses we don’t always call grief: identity shifts, changing roles, burnout, and even joyful milestones.
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Maybe It Isn’t Self-Sabotage: What the Inner Critic is Really Trying to Do
Renae and Laura get curious about the inner critic: what it’s trying to protect, and how to relate to it without going…
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Unlearning the Myth of Midlife
Renae and Laura talk about the midlife we were promised, the one we actually got, and how to stop living by a…
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You Don’t Have to Ingest the Poison
Renae and Laura use the story of Shiva and the poison to talk about toxic spaces, forgiveness, and how to neutralize what…
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This Is As Much As You’re Ready For—And That’s Enough
In the first dialogue episode, Renae and Laura talk about contentment, honoring your own pace, and why growth doesn’t have to be…