Episode 4

Ep 74 | From Fairytale to Nightmare

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This week on From Mrs. to Ms., we’re joined by the remarkable Dr. Nadine Macaluso, aka Dr. Nae—a licensed marriage and family therapist, trauma expert, and author of Run Like Hell: A Therapist’s Guide to Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing from Trauma Bonds.

As a 22-year-old, Nadine was swept up in a fairy tale romance with Jordan Belfort, the infamous "Wolf of Wall Street," played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the hit movie. Their eight-year marriage started with extravagant gifts, romantic dinners, and lavish parties, but soon turned into a nightmare filled with infidelity, narcissistic abuse, and uncontrollable addiction. Nadine, like so many others in toxic relationships, remained trauma-bonded—believing her love could save him—until the pain became unbearable.

At 30, Nadine made the courageous decision to leave Jordan, pack up her children, and start over in Los Angeles. Through intensive therapy and deep self-reflection, she not only healed but discovered her passion for helping others break free from similar cycles of abuse. By 39, she returned to school and later earned her PhD in Counseling and Somatic Psychology, becoming an industry expert in narcissistic abuse, trauma bonds, and complex PTSD. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Nae shares her personal journey from a trauma-bonded marriage to finding healing, purpose, and ultimately, love again. She breaks down what trauma bonds are, why they’re so hard to escape, and the steps you can take to reclaim your authentic self. Whether you’re navigating a difficult relationship or simply curious about the psychology of toxic dynamics, this episode is filled with valuable insights and hope.

Don’t miss this heartfelt discussion with a woman who turned her pain into power and is now helping countless others do the same.

IG: @threaldrnadine
TikTok: @drnaelmft
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Website: https://drnae.com

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From Mrs. to Ms.
Where Real Talk Meets Relationships, Romance, and Reinvention

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About your host

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Andrea Knoche

Andrea Knoche is a podcast host, on-air personality, and dating and relationship expert helping women navigate love, dating, and starting over with confidence and intention.

As the host of From Mrs. to Ms., a globally ranked top 2% podcast with over 160,000 downloads, Andrea has created a space for honest, unfiltered conversations about relationships, heartbreak, reinvention, and what it really takes to build a healthy, aligned partnership.

After spending over 20 years in the mortgage industry, Andrea made the bold decision to follow her passion for storytelling, connection, and helping others transform their relationships from the inside out.

Through her podcast, content, and coaching, she brings together expert insight and real-life experience to help women stop settling, date with clarity, and choose relationships that actually work.

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