Podcast Summary: The Dr. Laura Podcast

Episode: I Can't Live Like This Anymore!
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Guests: Susie & Susie’s Mom
Date: November 27, 2025

Overview

This episode centers around a challenging mother-daughter relationship, focusing on cycles of resentment, unresolved issues rooted in the past, and the struggle for emotional boundaries. Susie returns to the show after previously seeking advice from Dr. Laura on how to handle her strained relationship with her mother, who fixates on past hurts and her divorce from Susie’s father. For this follow-up, Susie’s mom joins the conversation, providing her perspective and participating in a candid family intervention, with Dr. Laura mediating.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Previous Call and Susie’s Boundary-Setting

• Susie shares the background:
  • Susie recounts to Dr. Laura how she was advised to inform her mom she might end their relationship unless certain conversational patterns—primarily dwelling on the past—stop ([01:33]).
  • “She consistently talks about the past, her relationship with my dad, wants to tell me his indiscretions, how I hurt her 30 years ago… And if she wants to continue having a relationship with me, she has to stop.” — Susie [01:33]

2. Mom’s Perspective on the Lunch Incident

• Susie’s Mom describes her version:
  • At their last lunch, the conversation supposedly “went off the rails” when Susie got upset about being questioned regarding her son’s visit to his grandfather ([02:39]–[03:58]).
  • Mom expresses regret over losing touch with her grandchildren and recalls details differently, feeling cut off by Susie ([03:57]).

3. Revisiting the Triggering Incident

• Susie provides her account:
  • For Susie, the issue isn’t an isolated event, but a persistent pattern—her mother continually revisits her marital hardship and past family betrayals ([06:47]–[08:47]).
  • Memorable lament:
    • “All she wants to do is tell us about the problematic marriage. And at that lunch, she wanted to tell me about four women he introduced her to. … And I can't listen to it anymore. I don't want a relationship like this. … Why are we still talking about this? And why is it my fault?” — Susie [08:47]

4. Dr. Laura’s Intervention and Direct Questions

• Host’s role as mediator:
  • Dr. Laura pointedly asks Susie’s mom what is served by constantly bringing up the past ([08:53]).
  • As Susie’s mom begins to again reference her painful marriage, Dr. Laura interrupts:
    • “No. Are you missing the point?” — Dr. Laura [11:05]
    • “You're missing the point? Yes, ma'am. Trust me. … She's talking about today, November 2025. You want to go back and talk about your marriage.” — Dr. Laura [11:11]

5. Susie’s Emotional Stand

• Expression of emotional exhaustion:
  • Susie stresses the toll and the futility of decades-long guilt (“I have my own family. … I would never, ever do any of this to my kids. … This is why I called, Dr. Laura. … I don't think I'm wrong.” — Susie [10:56]

6. Dr. Laura’s Tough Love and Final Advice

• Clear recommendations:
  • Dr. Laura bluntly tells Susie’s mom she is avoiding responsibility and refusing to see the damage she causes ([11:37]).
  • “You have a total refusal to see what you do. Total refusal. … Susie has no other option.” — Dr. Laura [12:21]
  • Proposed boundary:
    • “If you two talk on the phone and mom brings up … talks about the past, the marriage, the dad—be polite and excuse yourself and hang up the phone.” — Dr. Laura [12:01]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Susie’s Stand: “I can't listen to it anymore. I do not want this. … It's almost like we can't have a relationship without it. … I can't do it. It's very stressful for me.” ([08:47])
• Dr. Laura’s Directness: “Are you missing the point? … She’s talking about today, November 2025. You want to go back and talk about your marriage.” ([11:05]–[11:11])
• Susie Accepts Responsibility: “I've admitted that, I said yes, I did that. … I take responsibility that I looked in your purse, at your plane ticket. … Why do we even have to talk about this in general?” ([09:26])
• Dr. Laura’s Boundary-Setting Advice: “Be polite and excuse yourself and hang up the phone. That's my recommendation.” ([12:01])
• Dr. Laura’s Summary Judgment: “You have a total refusal to see what you do. Total refusal. Susie has no other option.” ([12:21])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Susie Recaps Prior Advice & Sets Boundaries: [01:33]–[02:34]
• Mom’s Version of the Lunch Incident: [02:39]–[03:58]
• Susie’s Version and Ongoing Pain: [06:47]–[08:47]
• Dr. Laura Challenges Mom’s Focus on the Past: [11:05]–[11:37]
• Dr. Laura’s Final Recommendations: [12:01]–[12:48]

Tone & Language

Dr. Laura maintains her signature combination of empathy and blunt directness. Susie is openly distressed, oscillating between frustration, sadness, and exasperation. Susie’s mom comes off as defensive and stuck in past grievances, prompting Dr. Laura's intervention. The tone shifts from tense and emotional to clarifying and resolute as Dr. Laura offers clear, actionable guidance.

Takeaways

This episode is particularly instructive for anyone struggling with parental relationships rooted in old wounds and circular grievances. Dr. Laura underlines the necessity of boundaries and the courage it takes to break unproductive, hurtful cycles—demonstrating, in real-time, how old family pain can be confronted and, if necessary, decisively disengaged from for self-preservation.