Women of Impact

What happens when the “hero” turns out to be the monster? In part 2, acclaimed detective Paul Holes takes us into the darkest recesses of the criminal mind — dissecting the Gilgo Beach murders (Rex Heuermann), the tragic Micah Miller case, and showing how even smart, successful women can be hoodwinked by master manipulators. This is the episode every woman and every friend needs to hear for recognizing manipulative tactics, escaping control, and reclaiming your power.
Paul (straight-up genius in criminal psychology), Nicole Schmidt, and I unpack: why the “rescuer” with a dark room is a huge red flag, how powerful men weaponize faith or mental health, and the horrifying stats about leaving abusive partners. We lay out, step by step, how to spot red flags early — and, most importantly, how to build a plan for your own safety when the system fails you.
SHOWNOTES
Why abusers pick certain women: the rescuing, the love bombing, the compliance
Sadistic predators and the “room you can’t enter”: The dark psychology of secret spaces
Why women sometimes protect the abuser, and the heartbreaking cycle of compliance
Micah Miller case: faith, coercive control, and the weaponizing of power
“Predators go where the prey’s at”: doctors, pastors, psychologists aren’t always safe
Weaponizing faith, weaponizing sex: the step-by-step tactics of abusers
When mental health becomes just another weapon
Legal loopholes, system failures, and why the restraining order isn’t always enough
Action steps: how to protect yourself, how to build your support network
Reporting over and over… and still not being heard — the heartbreak of ignored warnings
Bringing it all home: concrete steps every woman can take right now
Micah’s last message. Why sharing and speaking out is the only way to create lasting change

Thank you to today’s sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for a free trial at https://shopify.com/lisa
Qualia: Go to qualialife.com/LISA and use code LISA for 15% off

Follow Paul Holes:
Check out his Patreon: patreon.com/kateandpaul.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul.holes
Buy his book “Unmasked”: https://a.co/d/08oJyivp

Follow The Gabby Petito Foundation:
Website: https://gabbypetitofoundation.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbypetitofoundation/?hl=en

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.

Ever wondered if you could be sleeping next to a psychopath... and not even know it? In this episode, I sit down with Paul Holes, (yes,THAT Paul Holes) the detective who cracked the Golden State Killer case. We dig into the scariest headlines lighting up the news right now: Hidden killers, the chilling Gabby Petito case, and how the seemingly "sweetest guy" could be hiding monstrous secrets. This one is heavy, raw, and so necessary for every woman who has ever questioned her gut, worried about control in her relationship, or just sensed something off but couldn’t put her finger on it.
Paul brings his decades of investigative expertise, dissecting red flags most of us miss. We break down Gabby Petito’s tragic story step-by-step, what domestic violence looks like in real life (NOT just in textbooks!), and why even women’s closest friends or the cops sometimes get manipulated. Plus, I’m joined by Nicole Schmidt, Gabby’s unbelievably strong mom, who shares what she wishes she saw sooner… and what every woman, mother, and friend needs to hear.
SHOWNOTES
Can you really be married to a psychopath and not know it?
How predators “pass” as normal & the Wild Bill Huff story
Gabby Petito case: setting the timeline and heartbreak
Evidence of emotional abuse — the “I’m sorry, it’s my OCD” pattern
The mistakes police made and what should’ve happened
Police protocols in domestic abuse: who gets arrested, who gets believed
How women can get help in domestic violence stops
Stat: 51% of women don’t even know they’re being controlled
Nicole Schmidt (Gabby’s mom) joins: how manipulation fooled everyone
The first red flags she missed: Gabby’s “I’m fine” mask, and the secret signals you need to look for
How criminality can run in families (and why you need to look at the family dynamic!)
Rex Heuermann (Gilgo Beach Killer): predator hiding in plain sight, luring victims online
Why “it couldn’t happen to me” is the most dangerous mindset

Thank you to today’s sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for a free trial at https://shopify.com/lisa
Qualia: Go to qualialife.com/LISA and use code LISA for 15% off

Follow Paul Holes:
Check out his Patreon: patreon.com/kateandpaul.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul.holes
Buy his book “Unmasked”: https://a.co/d/08oJyivp

Follow The Gabby Petito Foundation:
Website: https://gabbypetitofoundation.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbypetitofoundation/?hl=en

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.

In the second part of this enlightening conversation, Elle Macpherson discusses love, wellness, and overcoming life’s hardest moments with grace and determination. She opens up about her sobriety journey, redefining relationships, and why wellness is the foundation of empowerment.

Elle shares actionable tips for navigating fear, building resilience, and creating a life that aligns with your true essence. From candid reflections on past relationships to starting her wellness company, Elle inspires listeners to take control of their journey and embrace the beauty of transformation.

SHOWNOTES
[00:00] Lisa and Elle explore how relationships reflect self-love and inner well-being.
[07:01] The dolphin tattoo story: A moment of clarity and self-discovery.
[12:03] How Elle turned pain into purpose by channeling her energy into creating her lingerie business.
[20:17] Overcoming addiction: Elle’s powerful sobriety story and advice for breaking harmful patterns.
[28:26] Facing fear with clarity: How Elle approached her cancer diagnosis with research and inner trust.
[34:54] The wellness journey that led to founding WelleCo and transforming her health.
[40:37] Aging gracefully: How Elle reframed beauty and vitality as soul-deep qualities.
[50:02] The power of meditation and self-connection in creating a life of fulfillment.

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.

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.

FOLLOW LISA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact
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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.

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.