Women of Impact

Elle Macpherson, one of the most iconic supermodels of all time, joins Lisa Bilyeu for a candid conversation about overcoming life’s toughest challenges. From battling alcoholism to navigating divorce and a cancer diagnosis, Elle shares the tools and mindset shifts that empowered her to reinvent herself and thrive in her 60s.

In this episode, Elle dives deep into how to let go of external validation, the power of trusting your intuition, and her journey from self-doubt to self-love. She reflects on career-defining moments, personal growth through hardships, and how the lessons she’s learned can inspire women to embrace their strength at any stage of life.

SHOWNOTES
[00:00] Lisa introduces Elle’s inspiring story of reinvention and resilience.
[02:14] Elle explains the importance of focusing on what you love and aligning with your heart.
[03:38] How Elle learned to handle criticism early in her modeling career and use it as fuel for growth.
[07:51] The power of self-reflection: Learning from mistakes without judgment.
[09:26] Understanding the Four A’s (Approval, Agreement, Acceptance, Allegiance) and how they guide decisions.
[12:32] Why listening to your intuition is like building a trusted friendship.
[16:54] Elle’s life-changing decision to trust her gut and embrace unexpected opportunities.
[22:25] Relationships as mirrors: What Elle discovered about self-love through her marriages.

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You know that feeling when you pour all your love and energy into someone… only to find yourself depleted, second-guessing, and begging for scraps? Homie, this is your episode. If you’re tired of being told you’re “too much,” exhausted by toxic loyalty, or want to become impossible to manipulate…hit play.
In this conversation, I sit down with Margarita Nazarenko, author of “Unbothered,” advocate for radical self-worth, and the internet’s toughest love coach, for the raw, sometimes uncomfortable truth about why women outsource their value, fall for emotional breadcrumbers, and confuse drama with connection.
Not only does Margarita break down the cycle of anxious and avoidant attachment (yes, she’ll tell you exactly which one you are), but she gives you real scripts, tactical moves, and mindset shifts to finally put your power back in your own hands. No empty affirmations, just the blueprint for creating unbreakable confidence and peaceful, drama-free relationships.
Here’s exactly what we dive into:
The “unbothered” mindset: How to validate yourself without toxic independence
Scripts and pause tactics for breaking codependent patterns (text and real life!)
How to trust “boring” love after chaos addiction (and why calm is actually chemistry)
Negotiating power dynamics, resentment, and real partnership, without losing yourself

Chapters
Anxious vs. Avoidant Attachment: Jessica and Amanda Explained
“Urgency Is Not Truth”: The Power of Pausing Before Reacting
Why Anxious Attachment Attracts Manipulators (and Repels Healthy Men)
The Three Ms: Mothering, Martyring & Managing in Relationships
The Mental Load Dilemma: Partnership, Resentment, and Fair Trade-Offs
Dopamine, Breadcrumbs & Phone Addiction: Why You Crave Their Attention
“Look for Boring”: Detoxing from Adrenaline Addiction
Care, Castration, and Masculinity: The Cost of Over-Functioning
Guilt, Negative Voices, and the Art of Using Discomfort for Growth
Reality Check: Handling Triggers, Rumination, and the Illusion of Closure
From Anxious Chasing to Self-Respect: Stories That Change Everything
Men, Masculinity, and the “Red Pill” Question

Thank you to today’s sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for a free trial at https://shopify.com/lisa

Follow Margarita Nazarenko:
Website: https://www.margaritanazarenko.com/theunbotheredwoman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margarita.nazarenko/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Margarita.Nazarenko

Follow Me, Lisa Bilyeu:
Website: https://www.lisabilyeu.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever found yourself wrapped up in a relationship, only to wonder later if you were being manipulated?

Well, today we're diving deep into the world of seduction, manipulation, and the often overlooked power dynamics at play with the help of CIA veteran Andrew Bustamante, who knows all too well how these tactics are used both in espionage and everyday life.

In this eye-opening episode of Women of Impact, we’re pulling back the curtain on how the human brain can be influenced by hormones and emotional connections to uncover how to spot those red flags before you get too entangled.

Andrew is here to break down the three-step process of human sexuality, explain how predators like narcissists find their targets, and give us the tools to protect ourselves from falling into manipulative traps.

Trust me homie, with Andrew’s insights, you’ll gain a better understanding of the power dynamics at play and how to navigate them with confidence and clarity!!

In this episode, we go DEEP into:
- How YOU can identify and outsmart manipulators before they even have a chance to play their games
- The surprising role hormones play in attraction and why understanding them can give you a serious edge in relationships
- How to build authentic connections without falling prey to emotional persuasion
- The real difference between seduction and genuine romantic interest
- And soooo much more!!

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a toolkit to recognize and deflect manipulation, understand the role of hormones in emotional and sexual engagement, and maintain control in your relationships.

So guys, no more second-guessing or blaming yourselves when things feel off. This episode will arm you with the knowledge to stand strong against manipulation and build relationships that genuinely respect your worth and boundaries!!

So let’s dive right in, guys!! I’m Lisa Bilyeu and welcome to Women of Impact.

SHOWNOTES
Ambitious folks just want to feel seen.
Life cycle: belonging, connecting, leading, creating.
Assumptions help the brain save energy, easily.
Vasopressin boosts belonging, fuels frequent hookups.
Ravens need more time with female targets.
Sex boosts brain power differently for everyone.
Exploited admin vulnerabilities for secrets over decades.
Czechoslovakian spies faked marriage, stole U.S. secrets.
Think logically, not emotionally, to avoid mistakes.

FOLLOW LISA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever found yourself wrapped up in a relationship, only to wonder later if you were being manipulated?

Well, today we're diving deep into the world of seduction, manipulation, and the often overlooked power dynamics at play with the help of CIA veteran Andrew Bustamante, who knows all too well how these tactics are used both in espionage and everyday life.

In this eye-opening episode of Women of Impact, we’re pulling back the curtain on how the human brain can be influenced by hormones and emotional connections to uncover how to spot those red flags before you get too entangled.

Andrew is here to break down the three-step process of human sexuality, explain how predators like narcissists find their targets, and give us the tools to protect ourselves from falling into manipulative traps.

Trust me homie, with Andrew’s insights, you’ll gain a better understanding of the power dynamics at play and how to navigate them with confidence and clarity!!

In this episode, we go DEEP into:
- How YOU can identify and outsmart manipulators before they even have a chance to play their games
- The surprising role hormones play in attraction and why understanding them can give you a serious edge in relationships
- How to build authentic connections without falling prey to emotional persuasion
- The real difference between seduction and genuine romantic interest
- And soooo much more!!

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a toolkit to recognize and deflect manipulation, understand the role of hormones in emotional and sexual engagement, and maintain control in your relationships.

So guys, no more second-guessing or blaming yourselves when things feel off. This episode will arm you with the knowledge to stand strong against manipulation and build relationships that genuinely respect your worth and boundaries!!

So let’s dive right in, guys!! I’m Lisa Bilyeu and welcome to Women of Impact.

SHOWNOTES
00:00 Dopamine and noradrenaline make things exciting.
08:52 Taylor Swift shirt makes me seem harmless.
15:51 Can't keep up with Taylor Swift convo.
18:59 She hits the gym hard daily, for sure!
25:50 Attraction and connection often lead to affairs.
27:53 Energy level ups with more intense activity.
33:53 Seduction in spy work: Building trust, not sex.
37:59 Women worry about being manipulated or seduced.

FOLLOW LISA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've ever been controlled by someone mentally or emotionally, then you know how crushing it is to your confidence, your self-esteem, and your belief in yourself.

You question HOW this person convinced you to do or say or believe things that you KNOW deep down to your core are not true? WHAT did they do to get you to fall for the lies and change so much, without you even frikin’ realizing it? And HOW can you make sure it doesn’t happen to you again??

Well homie, the reality is that this type of manipulation happens more often than you might think, 1 on 1 in toxic relationships and sometimes even whole groups of people at a time in a cult.

So in this episode of Women of Impact, I wanted to get to the bottom of how good, well-intentioned, educated, “normal” people like you and me can fall into the trap of a controlling person like a cult leader or narcissistic romantic partner, and literally leave behind their life, family, job, money, friends, belief system, sanity, and everything about themselves for this person.

And whether it’s coz of a cult, a toxic partner, or a guy at work that keeps trying to convince you to join this “amazing self-help group”, if you think it “won’t happen to you” – well homie you’re actually that much more likely to become their next target and victim!!!!

And that’s why today’s guest is none other than the ultimate cult expert and deprogrammer, Rick Alan Ross. This guy is an aboslute LEGEND when it comes to cults!!

We go deep into:
- the type of people who start cults.
- how cults like NXIVM and Scientology bring people in.
- what specifically makes a person more vulnerable to saying yes and “drinking the Kool-aid”.
- strategies used by notorious cult leaders to gain control and brainwash people (and you’ll be surprised by what they have in common with your toxic ex!!!).
- HOW you can actually avoid getting into a cult or toxic relationship in the first place.
- & so much more!!!

This episode is truly FILLED with the knowledge you NEED if you want to have any hope of spotting the cult leaders, con men, and toxic boyfriends BEFORE they can rope you, or anyone you love, into their manipulative world and cut you off from the life YOU want to live!!!

Follow Rick Alan Ross:
Website: https://culteducation.com/
X: https://x.com/RickAlanRoss
Get “Is This a Cult?”: https://a.co/d/hKoEsRt

FOLLOW LISA:
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.