What happens when a father...simply chooses not to be there? Alicia reveals her on-again, off-again, off-for-good relationship with her dad, how it affected her as a mom, where and when she drew the line, the value of therapy, the keys to overcoming trauma, and much, much more.

Is there any easy explanation when it comes to estrangement? Brian kicks things off by breaking down his long, complicated experience with his family, where the disconnect began, the foreshadowing from childhood, the efforts at mending, the breaking of the olive branch, the realization of finality, the source of embarrassment, the damage of the toxicity, and more.

Have you gone years and maybe decades without speaking with a family member or close friend? Welcome to Dead To Me...this is a podcast about estrangement. I'm Brian Howie, many of you know me as the host of The Great Love Debate, the top-rated dating and relationship podcast. Over the years of hosting that show, we listened to so many reasons why people can't find the right relationship, can't stay in a healthy one, leave one that has possibilities, or don't trust anyone enough to get into one in the first place.

And so much of that has to do with family issues, childhood trauma, or distance from those who are supposed to be the closest. And the more I revealed about my own, sad family situation - a source of great shame for me - the more people reached out to share theirs. So many emails, so many stories, so many times the bough simply...breaks.

So I am starting this podcast dedicated to the topic of estrangement. Maybe it's the flip-side of love, maybe it's the bookend. We'll be sharing, revealing, analyzing, growing, and hopefully healing. Open and honest, vulnerable and real, working through the guilt, the shame, the causes, the consequences, and ultimately letting go of the toxicity.

So please come along on this journey, they might be dead to you, but we are here and very much alive for each other. The show is Dead To Me. An estrangment podcast. Follow us now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your shows.