LezCommunicate

The Courage to Walk Away Part 1

Steph & Shellbz Season 1 Episode 1

Ever wondered why it's so hard to cut ties with someone you know isn't right for you? Or felt that strange mix of guilt and relief when you finally find happiness after a toxic relationship?

Steph and Shellbz tackle the emotional rollercoaster that comes with exes discovering new relationships and the complicated feelings that follow. From the surprising support of Shelby's ex-wife to the bitter reactions that leave you questioning yourself, they explore every angle of this universal experience with their signature blend of wisdom and humor.

"I didn't know if other people felt that way as well," Shellbz wonders aloud, as they discuss the anxiety of an ex finding out about a new partner. This vulnerability opens the door to a deeper conversation about why we sometimes fear moving on publicly, even when we're genuinely happy.

The hosts share their personal journeys through toxic relationship cycles, with Steph candidly revealing how she packed her belongings "at least 15 times in the last year" before finally walking away for good. Her powerful realization that staying meant accepting "this feeling of worthlessness for the rest of my life" resonates with anyone who's struggled to leave a situation that no longer serves them.

Perhaps most illuminating is their discussion of trauma bonding - how many relationships form through shared difficult experiences rather than healthy foundations. Both hosts confess to having "savior complexes" in previous relationships, always trying to "fix" their partners, and the disorienting experience of finally finding someone who simply offers love without the drama.

If you've ever questioned whether you deserve happiness after heartbreak, struggled to recognize what healthy love looks like, or wondered why you keep repeating the same relationship patterns, this episode offers both comfort and clarity. Connect with us on Discord through lezcommunicate.com to continue the conversation.

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Steph:

Welcome to. Let's Communicate the podcast where queerness meets chaos.

Steph:

Honesty meets hilarity, and nothing is off limits. I'm your host, steph, and I'm here with my bestie Shelby, and we are diving headfirst into relationships hot takes and all the things we definitely shouldn't be saying out loud. So grab your Red Bull or your cocktail and let's communicate.

Shellbz:

I think it's fucking fantastic.

Steph:

Okay, so you came up with some topics for us to talk about today. Do you have one specifically that you want to go through, or do you want to just fucking wing it? Well, I just want to start from the top. So, did your recent ex find out about your new partner? Is that what happened?

Shellbz:

Are you referring to my?

Steph:

ex.

Shellbz:

That wasn't I was just saying because it wasn't a relationship. No, but she did completely cut me off 100% because of a bracelet that I'm wearing that was in a TikTok. Oh my, but she did completely cut me off a hundred percent because of a bracelet that I'm wearing that was in a TikTok.

Steph:

Oh my God, you have a bracelet that says mine on it?

Shellbz:

I do, but it's just a. It's a song title, that's it, okay, I swear. Okay. Who gave you the bracelet? A friend of mine. Yeah, it's literally just for a band called sleep token. Okay, that's what it is. Okay, all right, but we um, we jumped to all of the conclusions and completely cut it off. Notice that I wasn't wearing the ring that I was given. So apparently that did all of the things, but at the time I wasn't actually with anybody when that all happened. I mean, I was talking to, but I wasn't with anybody. So I was just curious as to what other people felt like if they were ever afraid of an ex situation, ship or relationship finding out about your new person, or if, when you're with the right person, you just don't care anymore.

Steph:

Yeah. So Kelly and I talked a little bit about this like beforehand and obviously when my ex wife found out about my new partner, she was not not happy. But my recent ex I don't really give a fuck if she knows or not, I don't care yeah, but I have had exes find out about new partners and typically what happens with that is one of two things they either get like fucking crazy and try and like get you back in any way that they possibly can, or they get fucking crazy and do stupid ass shit like I've never had one. Just be normal about it, like obviously we're broken up and there's no, there's no rebound there. But lesbians are different lesbians are fucking different.

Steph:

Yeah, because they always like repeat what do you mean by repeat? Like there are a thousand things on Tick Tock right now about like being friends with your ex, like no one wants to be friends with your ex because you're still into your fucking ex.

Shellbz:

That's not always true, I'm just saying that's what's on TikTok. I know, but why? Why is that the assumption? Actually, you want to know who is super fucking supportive of this relationship. Ex-wife, my ex-wife.

Steph:

Goddamn.

Shellbz:

So she actually saw my girlfriend posted me on Snapchat like on her, like story thing. It said daddy on it.

Shellbz:

And I got a message from my ex-wife and it says you are not. And I was like I am not what. And she's like you are not seeing this person. I said, well, I might be, but she wasn't mad. She was just mad that she found out on social media rather than me telling her. But she is actually ridiculously supportive because she knows who she is, she likes her, she's totally fine with my daughter seeing her. I was shocked.

Steph:

I mean, that's fucking healthy.

Shellbz:

I didn't even know how to feel about it.

Steph:

Yeah, I mean my. My relationship with Kelly is probably the only healthy relationship I've only ever had in my life, so I don't know why. I guess, like from the opposite standpoint of that, like when I find out my exes are dating someone else, or when I see, like, who they're dating, I mean the thought that always goes through my head is do better. What are you doing? You're making me look bad right now.

Steph:

jesus, do better, like yeah, I can relate but yeah, I don't know how would you think like the ideal way to react from that is just like from the other side just or like from my point of view. Yeah, from your point of view anytime.

Shellbz:

I've found out about somebody that I was truly like intimate romantically with, like whatever it would suck, but I didn't make a big deal about it, like I never. I didn't not acknowledge it, but then again I didn't go out of my way to say anything. Yeah, you know what I mean. So it's hard for me to understand why others jump at the chance to like completely cut you down and make a big deal about it. I had like three people that were like I thought you weren't fucking seeing anybody, okay, but I wasn't at the time. But life happens Right.

Steph:

Right and now I am so Right.

Shellbz:

Sorry about it, but not sorry at the same time, but I can honestly say this is going to sound so fucking shallow, but I'm going to say it anyway. This is the first person that I've been like, actively wanting to be like. This is mine, this is what I'm doing, this is what I have, since I've been completely separated and divorced. Anybody that listens to this is probably gonna not like to hear that, but it's the truth.

Steph:

Yeah, like don't worry, we've got a long time like there's. There's more. Going to be more time before we actually release these. Hopefully that that bitterness will calm down just a little bit.

Shellbz:

I don't know, I was thinking about it when I sent it to you. I was, I don't know what the fuck I was doing, but I was terrified of one person in particular finding out, and I don't know why that is, and I don't know if it was because I was more so afraid of the words that would be used to make me feel terrible about enjoying myself and having something that was good for me, or if it was the thought of losing that individual completely. But I did discover that losing that individual completely was so fucking beneficial to me. So I guess I'm not. I'm not sure what I was afraid of. I don't know what the anxiety was, but I didn't know if other people felt that way as well. Like did you ever have like that fear at all? Or have you never had like an ex that was that you wanted to get along with?

Steph:

Yeah, I mean I've had lots of exes that I want to get along with Like I mean all of mine at some point, like I wanted to like continue to be friends with them in one shape or another. You know, mostly because, like all of my exes, like I dated for extremely long time. It's just like you're a huge part of my life. I don't want you to just completely let it go.

Steph:

Exactly Like I don't want you to just disappear, but I don't know, I guess and it might just be me, it might just be like something that's inside of me Like I don't, I don't repeat, like I've never, like once, once you're an ex, you're an ex. Like I'm never going to, I don't think I have either. Actually, yeah, like I just don't understand, like the appeal of the repeat again.

Shellbz:

Like why are you, why would you want to go back through the shit that you just went through?

Steph:

Like you already know, you guys aren't good for each other. It didn't work out for one reason or another. So why? Why are you still like keeping in your brain that this person is, that it could change Exactly. It's not going to change, like? People don't change you. Just you just are who you are, I don't know. Do you feel it it's better that? If, do you think it's better that you tell your ex that you're dating someone else, or do you think that that like is stabbing a?

Shellbz:

knife in. I think it would be circumstantial because, like I, I would have told my ex-wife I mean I don't like that. She found out on social media, right, you know what I mean. So I did feel bad in that way, but, like other people, other exes, I didn't give a shit. Yeah, I mean, if I don't have kids with you, then there's really no tie between us, right, it's not really important for them to know. I suppose if you split up with somebody on healthy terms and that might still hurt a little bit one way or another, I think that would be hard for them to find out, like through socials or through people or whatever. And I think I would prefer to tell somebody that I had that sort of separation from, but I can't think of anybody that I've been with that I care if they tell me or not.

Steph:

Yeah, I mean, I guess if any of my exes like came out and said I'm dating so-and-so, my response would be so good for you. What do you want from me?

Shellbz:

She's like a cookie or a small.

Steph:

Yeah, exactly, but yeah, I just couldn't imagine Like I couldn't imagine caring at that point, at the point that I have officially and you I mean I stay far too long, like way longer than I should same um, and at the point where I finally do like leave and normally they've done something that's like bad enough and that's the last thing you give a about is what they're doing and who they're doing it with I don't give a shit what you do right and I'm cocky enough to think that, like I'm better than I same.

Shellbz:

I'm way too cocky you had it, you fucked it up. Good for you carry on congratulations.

Steph:

You fumbled no, you cannot pick it up now.

Shellbz:

We have nothing more to talk about. Yes, I don't think. I truly think that my ex-wife is probably the only person that I care that knows and how she knows.

Steph:

But I also think, just for myself in general, is that I'm very active on social media Right and I've always been very active on social media, at least since like 2020, when TikTok like became my my source of your outlet. Exactly my outlet for everything. But sometimes I wonder, like with my exes, like I feel guilty for like posting certain things because I'm like are they thinking that?

Steph:

like, such as like I feel guilty for like I'm very happy right now. Yeah, you know I'm incredibly happy, so I feel like some sense of guilt for that. Why the fuck would you feel guilty?

Shellbz:

for that I don't fucking know, it's just who I am. Stop it.

Steph:

I feel guilty about it. That's why I block all of my exes off of my social media. So then I don't feel as guilty, like if you're going to hurt your own feelings. Like, go ahead and hurt your own feelings, but I'm going to move forward and I'm going to live my best life.

Shellbz:

Yeah, well, and you shouldn't have to feel guilty. You should not feel guilty. Obviously, that's easier said than done. But like, yeah, I don't, I don't at all, you don't feel guilty at all, not now. No, I can say that had I just settled to be with somebody, just to be with somebody I may have, because like, deep down, I would have known that that was just me trying to pass the time in some way, shape or form. But being with my girlfriend now, zero guilt, none, I feel, not an ounce, because I think it's more so because I know that I deserve it and I wanted to give other people everything I'm giving her, and they didn't want it. So it's more of a fuck you. You fumbled, yeah, and now I fucking giving her and they didn't want it. So it's more of a fuck you. You fumbled, yeah, and now I fucking blast her all over social media.

Steph:

I'm fucking here for it. I didn't think I would be, but here we are. I love it. I mean, if it's not like, if you don't want to show it off, then it isn't worth it and that's just it.

Shellbz:

Like if I feel any sense of how I want to keep this hidden. I don't want anybody to know this is happening, and I did catch myself on this, Like some of the other women that I talked to.

Shellbz:

I was like I don't want to put this on socials, I don't want to do any of that until we know what's happening. But I'm realizing now that's because that's I didn't want it. I was trying to force myself to want it, but I didn't want it. And then, with this one all over everywhere, yeah, no, cares, and I think it's which it's supposed to be. Yeah, so if it's not like that then it.

Steph:

Then I mean you start to worry, you start to wonder, like what the fuck?

Shellbz:

what's wrong with this that I don't want to do that?

Steph:

exactly, or what's wrong with this, that they don't want to do that? True, I worry about that sometimes, but yeah, true, I'm here for it.

Shellbz:

didn't know I would be ever, you do have like a happy glow about you too. I'm so fucking happy. I like we went to the bar last night just to have a drink and I haven't done that in I don't know how fucking long. It was so nice Felt like there was nobody else in the fucking room. Yep, it was so good.

Steph:

I don't know how the fuck I got here, but I'm so happy I am I know kelly and I got called cute at the casino because you guys are cute, I know we're adorable.

Shellbz:

It's sickening. I see your snapchats I'm like oh god, I love it so much. Same you guys are gross, but also send me more.

Steph:

Okay, so you put down here, knowing when to walk away from someone or something. When do you know that you should walk?

Shellbz:

well, I mean because for me, I mean I've got to be hurt at least 5,000 times I'm kind of same, because the person that I was talking about that like basically told me to fuck off and completely cut me off. I think I was just unknowingly waiting around for a mind to change and it never fucking happened. But it also felt like the moment that I would start to put more space in between. Then it was like, hey, I'm still here, don't forget. And I was like, oh, okay, here I am. Yeah, you know.

Shellbz:

So I don't know that I would have walked away had she not done it. Like I wanted her to stay in my life as a friend, which I even told my girlfriend about, and I was like't fucking know why. But I did. And I don't know if it's because there were certain parts of me that I discovered and shared and whatever. Within that situationship, which I'm super fucking grateful for, there was a lot of hurt with the you know secret and not wanting to be with me and whatever. Yeah, but it was really fucking hard to let go of that. Like it fucking fucking sucked when she's like I'm going to get rid of you off Snapchat because it's easier and I was like, okay, I can't, what am I supposed to do about that?

Shellbz:

There's nothing you can do you just got to let them do whatever. But then I'm like, okay, I have the perfect woman already, why am I so fucking upset about it? But I didn't sit there and try and fight it either, right, but I can truly say that I don't know that I would have been the one to cut that tie. I try so hard to keep people close to me when they bring out any good sort of qualities in me, right, you know. So what about you? I mean, you said that it takes you about five thousand times to get hurt.

Steph:

It does.

Shellbz:

Yeah, but this last time was it hard as fuck for you?

Steph:

Yeah it was fucking hard, like it was incredibly hard, and I think the worst part about it was that, you know, we live together kind of so like I mean, we broke up a thousand times like over and over and over again. I knew that that relationship was just incredibly toxic, just like probably one of the worst relationships I've ever had in my entire life, and it was the reason why I couldn't leave. The reason why I kept like coming back over and over and over again was because of the kids. Like I was in love with those kids, but I knew deep down that yes, fucking really, this is so bad, this relationship is so bad. Yeah, I think it was the last time like moving out over and over and over again, like breaking up that many times and packing your stuff that many times into your car like over and over and over again.

Shellbz:

That's got to be exhausting.

Steph:

Jesus, it is so tiring, it's like exhausting to do that, and not to mention that it's like very traumatic. It's a very traumatic thing to have to do. You know, for me it's like very traumatic, it's a very like traumatic thing to have to do. You know, for me it was just like I'm never doing this again.

Steph:

Um, I, actually, kelly and I had this conversation when we were on our way to see the tulips, this conversation about why did you know, when did you? You know, how did you know, when did you know that you were gonna, that this was last time, and I think that for me it was. It just so happened to be like right around that new year's time. You know, right there, I, you know, the disrespect happened again and again and again, and I kept letting it go and then I finally realized, like this is never going to stop.

Steph:

If, like, if this is my person, I'm going to have to deal with this, this feeling, if this is my person, I'm going to have to deal with this, this feeling, this feeling of worthlessness and like being unwanted and like being called a liar, like over and over and over again, like I was going to have to deal with that for the rest of my life. And so I made, like a conscious decision. Like I packed my stuff up again, I put it in my car and I told myself, like this is the last time, like 2025 is going to be a different year for me. I'm not going to go through this again and again and again, like I'm done, I'm over it, it's done. You know, and I think that was it for me. But if it hadn't been like that triggering event that it was New Year's, yeah, you think you still would have been trying.

Steph:

I don't know, I don't know Just when I like walked out of the house, like the very last time when I walked out, it felt like. It felt like different. It felt different for me. It felt like, and even when, like even when she like started like sending messages and like you know, playing on me my emotions, and like having the kids call me and like do all those things, like even at that point in time, like how I had felt previously, like wasn't there anymore.

Steph:

It was just like I know exactly how this is going to go. Like I've been through this like at least 15 times in the last year, so I know exactly how this is going to go. You're going to be nice to me for two weeks and then you're going to turn into the exact same person again that you were before and you're going to make me feel like shit over and over and over again. I don't want to live my life like that. Yeah, I love your kids, I would love to see the kids, I would love to like be around the kids, but no, I'm not going to put up with someone that treats me like that. I don't deserve that.

Shellbz:

And that's a really hard realization to come to.

Steph:

Yeah, it is. It breaks you inside. It did break me inside. It's fucking hard, jesus. It was like I mean I started going to therapy like I had therapy two times a week and then I saw like a psychiatrist once away. I was like I'm like I don't know what I need to do, but I'm never going back there.

Shellbz:

I don't want to fucking do this anymore.

Steph:

Someone stop me Might as well be a therapist. If you have to lock me in this house, do it, I will do it.

Shellbz:

Yeah, it is hard, it is heartbreaking, and I don't know if it's heartbreaking because you want to see the good in a person that you could have had.

Steph:

Yeah.

Shellbz:

Or if you feel guilty, like I don't know what it is, but it is heartbreaking, even though you know it's like the right thing to do.

Steph:

Yeah, and I think that, like for me, I've been this way my entire life, but like the one thing that I've always wanted my entire life is like my person, like I just want my person, I just want to be with somebody that will give me unconditional love and yeah, we talked about this this morning but yeah, unconditional love. Like I want unconditional love, like I want somebody that's going to love me and treat me right and, you know, I want to do the same for them, I want to. I want somebody that's going to give me everything that I give to them.

Steph:

And you know, it took me a very, very long time to figure that out.

Shellbz:

And when I think it's super, fucking hard, because when all you've had is shitty relationships, you don't even know what it's supposed to look like.

Steph:

I know.

Shellbz:

Until you get healthy which is fucking wild, by the way. Because, like I had told you, I was like I don't give a fuck if I'm with anybody ever again. Like I pushed every single person away. I wanted nothing to do with even considering getting married again. Like I pushed every single person away. I wanted nothing to do with even considering getting married again. I didn't want any of that shit and for some fucked up reason, this girl comes in and knocks me on my fucking ass and all of that changed. But unconditional love that's reciprocated is the best fucking feeling ever and I don't think anybody truly realizes that until or unless they've been in complete shit relationships every time.

Steph:

Yeah, yeah, it just like. Like all of my relationships like ended very badly, like it ended very just awful, and I don't get it. I never like understood why, why that was. I didn't understand it, like if I was picking like just bad people or what the what the hell was going on. But every single one of my relationships cheated on me some multiple times.

Steph:

I think, sometimes I just like would come back again and again and again, or just like I was in a relationship for 17 years and it was constant. It was constant like all the time. They would just have different girls all the time. And it got to the point where I was just like I kept getting those like hey, girly messages or like all this shit, and I'm like I started responding back to those Like I don't give a fuck, I don't care. Obviously I have no self-respect, I'm here for it. Yeah, yeah, I get it, I understand.

Steph:

Like congratulations, like they're never going to leave me, and I mean that was a fact. Like because what I provided was, you know, safety, security, money, all of these things. Yeah, they're like you can have sex with them all you want, but they're not going to be your partner, not unless I do it, not unless I'm the one to like cut it off. That's why it was, that's why it was always like incredibly difficult for me because, like these people would never break up with me, like you fuckers, just break up with me, don't make me be the one that has to leave you, because it's hard, it's really hard to like leave someone, no matter how shitty the relationship is, it sucks, no matter what, absolutely yep and another thing I discovered.

Shellbz:

I didn't really think about this until I don't know. It was like yesterday, I think a majority of my actual relationships started off with a trauma bond, oh yeah, and I didn't recognize that there was some up thing that would happen, that I'm like oh, I will be there, fucking be there for you, yeah.

Steph:

Because I understand.

Shellbz:

Did you know? That's not the right way to do that I heard I've heard and then I met this one completely organically, like there was no.

Shellbz:

It was literally. Somebody was like hey, you should get ahold of this person, gave her my information, and that's just how it happened. There was no, there was no weird or significant event that took place, it just fucking happened, which was super nice because there was no poor situation to tie us together, but all my other ones definitely did. So I think that's also what makes a healthy relationship healthy, is the start, like right from the get go. There's no fixing the trauma bond. It's there, it's just fucking there.

Steph:

It's just there, it'll be there. I mean, and that was me too.

Shellbz:

like I have a, I'm gonna like serious savior, complex fucking same jesus christ let me fix you and then to find somebody that you don't have to fucking fix. I know and you're like what do I do?

Steph:

what are you talking? You just want love for me. I don't understand, I don't get that. What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you? Tell me right now. You're lying I literally did that to tell you like over and over again, like what the is wrong with you there's got to be something like that I know. Tell me everything right now. Give me all of your so I can determine like can I fix you don't?

Shellbz:

worry, and I think that the only thing that I want to, I wouldn't say fix, I just want her to see herself the way that I do, but otherwise there's not a single fucking thing that I can pick apart at all. Yeah, and it's different, real different.

Steph:

Yeah, I like it a lot.

Shellbz:

It's a fucked up shit right there, god damn, I don't know what to do with that. Yeah, up shit right there, god damn, I don't know what to do with that. Yeah, except accept it and try not to question the universe as to being like why are you sure I deserve this? Is this what I'm supposed to have?

Steph:

yeah, fuck, my therapist hasn't got me like doing the. You know, take a deep breath. You know, count to 10. Count to 10 and remind yourself. This is what healthy looks like. This is what healthy is.

Shellbz:

This is the way it's supposed to be.

Steph:

I get that you've never been here before. Why don't we? How about you not sabotage this?

Shellbz:

seriously Like I don't want to fuck it up. I'm terrified of that.

Steph:

Oh yeah, I mean, everybody is, or at least good people are. I was going to say I don't know that everybody is but definitely terrified of fucking it up.

Shellbz:

Hopefully I don't overthink it.

Steph:

Okay, we are going to cut it off right there, but don't worry, part two is coming very, very soon, we promise. But in the meantime, if you could head on over to our website, lizcommunicatecom, join our discord and that way you can chat with us in real time, you can send us an email, you can follow us on our socials and please don't forget to like, follow, share on whatever app you're currently using. Also, if we're not on your favorite player, please let us know so we can fix that. I want to thank you guys so much for listening.

Shellbz:

There's just one more thing I'm shelby and this is steph bitch I love you.

Steph:

I'm dancing late at night. Dancing late at night, people sound out of bed. Dancing late at night, people sound out of bed. Heartbeats, grooving Rain drops like. The keys Can't take better than this.

Steph:

Rain drops like the keys Can't take better than this. We sat on a bullet parking time.

Steph:

Okay, I'm gonna stop eating'm joking, don't move my cowboy hat.

Steph:

Okay, I was talking about my cowboy hat. I want it.

Steph:

It makes it feel blue, that's what you need.

Shellbz:

I feel like a US government.

Steph:

No, I can see my fucking key word's coming up, something, no. And then walk in and just like think wall, half, think wall, half think wall, not just just walk in and then like the board goes, the board goes the board goes.

Shellbz:

The board goes. You're like I'm being choppy Walk away, walk away. Right now it's time to go. Can we get a refund? You're like being choppy Walk away. We walk away. Right now it's time to go. Can we get a refund?

Steph:

I mean, this was a last minute type of thing. Maybe we can do that again. Yeah, it was a bad choice. I should have known when it was like 60 bucks.

Shellbz:

I'm like damn, that's cheap.

Steph:

It was only 60 bucks and you're like this is it, this is the one, yep, yeah, yeah, I thought it was cheap because, like online, it was like 180 for an hour, but it was 60 bucks for an hour. I'm like this is a deal.

Steph:

I thought it was cheap because, like online, like it was, like it was like 180 for an hour but it was a 60 bucks for an hour, I'm like it is a deal I can't stand you, thank you.

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