358: Toxic Empathy Vs Healthy Empathy - Greatest Hits

Empathy can be one of the most destructive forces to connection—or one of the most powerful. Without it, relationships become cold and judgmental. But too much of it, without boundaries, and we lose ourselves trying to carry everyone else's pain. So how do we find that middle ground? In this episode, Justin and Abi unpack what healthy empathy looks like, and what happens when it gets twisted into judgment or codependency. They share raw and personal stories from their own marriage—navigating chronic illness, financial stress, different upbringings, and PTSD—to show how empathy helped them heal long-standing patterns of resentment, disconnection, and pain. You'll learn the difference between cognitive and affective empathy, how boundaries make empathy safer, and why being "too empathetic" can actually be a sign of unprocessed trauma. If you've ever struggled with being too empathetic, not empathetic enough, or confused about what empathy should look like in healthy relationships, this conversation is a game-changer. Don't miss out! You can WATCH us at Don't forget to RATE, REVIEW,

You can listen to 358: Toxic Empathy Vs Healthy Empathy - Greatest Hits online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

358: Toxic Empathy Vs Healthy Empathy - Greatest Hits is an episode from The Connected Life by Justin Stumvoll.

This episode is 01:08:01 long.

This episode was published on Nov 10, 2025.

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