Actor and producer Christian Ochoa Lavernia joins me for one of my most personal conversations yet.

We've known each other since high school, but this episode goes far beyond nostalgia. Christian opens up about growing up in Miami, being raised by a single mother, navigating anxiety, feeling the pressure of expectations, and ultimately finding the courage to pursue the life he truly wanted.

We talk about manifestation, intuition, resilience, and what happened when he spent six months auditioning for The Lord of the Rings—including being flown to New Zealand for the final round, only to face one of the biggest disappointments of his career.

Along the way, we explore the lessons he's learned from rejection, the wisdom of stoicism, the power of trusting your path, and why sometimes the greatest opportunities come when we stop trying to control every outcome.

This is a conversation about purpose, identity, Cuban roots, fear, faith, and becoming the person you're meant to be.

I'm Coral Seco, and this is The Road Leads Back to Me!

New episodes every Wednesday!

What happens when we finally tell the stories our families were forced to carry in silence?

In this deeply moving episode of The Road Leads Back to Me, Coral sits down with filmmaker, director, and producer Victoria Collado for a powerful conversation about identity, immigration, generational trauma, healing, and the stories that shape who we become.

Victoria shares the inspiration behind Waiting for Snow in Havana, her upcoming adaptation of the acclaimed memoir about Operation Pedro Pan, and reflects on the responsibility of preserving the Cuban story for future generations.

Together, Coral and Victoria discuss:

• The lasting impact of Operation Pedro Pan
• Generational trauma and how it shapes our lives today
• What immigrant parents sacrificed for their children
• Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for healing
• The emotional impact of the groundbreaking Amparo Experience
• Growing up Cuban-American in Miami
• Identity, belonging, and cultural pride
• The importance of preserving family stories before they're lost
• Why owning your story is an act of courage—and rebellion

This conversation is equal parts history lesson, therapy session, and love letter to the generations who came before us.

Because when we understand where we come from, we better understand who we are.

The road always leads back to you.

✨ New episodes every Wednesday!

They watch every story.

They view every post.

They somehow know everything going on in your life...

But they never like, comment, engage, or support.

So what's really going on?

In this episode of The Road Leads Back to Me, Coral breaks down the psychology of "lurkers"—the people who quietly keep tabs on your life from behind a screen.

Whether it's an ex, a former situationship, a fake friend, or someone secretly obsessed with what you're doing, Coral explores why these people continue watching and what their behavior may actually reveal.

This episode covers:

• The different types of lurkers and how to identify them
• Why exes continue watching your stories after a breakup
• The psychology behind social media stalking and fixation
• The difference between curiosity, attachment, and obsession
• Why some people watch but never support
• The connection between insecurity, comparison, and lurking
• How limerence can keep people emotionally stuck
• Why boundaries matter online as much as they do offline
• How to stop giving lurkers power over your healing

Through a trauma-informed lens and plenty of loving big sister advice, Coral reminds listeners that someone else's attention is not a measure of your worth.

Because healing happens when you stop focusing on who's watching—and start focusing on yourself.

The road always leads back to you.

✨ New episodes every Wednesday!

What does narcissistic abuse actually look like—and why is it so hard to spot when you're living through it?

This week on The Road Leads Back to Me, Coral sits down with filmmaker, author, and You're Dating a Narcissist creator Ann Marie Allison for an honest conversation about love bombing, trauma bonds, breadcrumbing, cognitive dissonance, and the painful reality of questioning your own worth inside an unhealthy relationship.

Ann Marie shares the personal experiences that inspired her film and upcoming book, the decade-long journey to bring this story to life, and the lessons she wishes she could tell her younger self. Together, Coral and Ann Marie explore why intelligent, capable people can find themselves trapped in toxic dynamics—and how healing begins when we let go of shame and start trusting ourselves again.

In this episode:
• The cycle of idealization, devaluation, and discard
• Why narcissistic relationships are so confusing
• Trauma bonds, breadcrumbing, and intermittent reinforcement
• The role of shame in healing
• How laughter became part of Ann Marie's recovery
• Red flags everyone should know
• Why it's never your fault for wanting to believe the best in someone

If you've ever questioned your reality, blamed yourself for someone else's behavior, or wondered why it was so hard to leave, this conversation is for you.

You're Dating a Narcissist is now available on VOD platforms everywhere. New episodes of TRLBTM drop every Wednesday!

That ex you can’t stop thinking about?

You probably don’t actually miss them.

You miss the version of them you hoped they would become.

In this episode of The Road Leads Back to Me, Coral breaks down the psychology behind heartbreak, nostalgia, grief, and why breakups can feel so emotionally consuming—even when the relationship wasn’t actually healthy.

Through a trauma-informed lens and loving big sister advice, Coral explores how we often mourn not only the person, but the future, fantasy, and version of ourselves we imagined inside the relationship.

This episode covers:

• Why heartbreak feels so emotionally overwhelming
• The difference between missing someone vs. missing the idea of them
• The psychology behind nostalgia bias and euphoric recall
• Why your brain romanticizes the “good moments” after a breakup
• The stages of grief in relationships
• Why we ignore red flags and cling to potential
• How to reconnect with yourself after heartbreak
• The importance of values, boundaries, and self-worth in healing

Coral also reminds listeners that healing isn’t about pretending the relationship meant nothing.

It’s about accepting reality, grieving honestly, and finding your way back to yourself.

Because the road always leads back to you.

✨ New episodes every Wednesday.

You didn’t fall in love with who they really are. Respectfully.
You fell in love with who you hoped they could become.

In this episode of The Road Leads Back to Me, Coral breaks down the psychology behind falling in love with potential—and why so many of us stay attached to people who continuously show us they cannot meet us where we are.

Whether it’s romantic relationships, friendships, or emotionally unavailable people, this episode explores how hope, projection, and unresolved attachment wounds keep us stuck in unhealthy dynamics.

Coral dives into:

• Why we fall in love with someone’s “potential” instead of their reality
• How shame and core beliefs shape the people we choose
• The difference between real love vs. projected love
• Why intermittent reinforcement keeps you emotionally attached
• How trauma and inconsistency create emotional confusion
• The signs you’re making excuses for someone’s lack of follow-through
• Why consistency—not chemistry—is the real green flag
• Practical questions to ask yourself before getting attached

Through a trauma-informed lens and loving big sister advice, Coral reminds you that you cannot build a healthy relationship based on who someone might become someday.

Because potential is not love.
Consistency is.

The road always leads back to you.

✨ New episodes every Wednesday.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses abuse, manipulation, and exploitation.

How does something like this happen—and more importantly, how does it go on for so long?

In this episode of The Road Leads Back to Me, Coral breaks down the psychology behind Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, exploring the patterns, behaviors, and systems that allowed their actions to continue unchecked.

This conversation is not about sensationalism.
It’s about awareness.

Coral dives into:

• How power, status, and “groupthink” protect harmful behavior
• Why people ignore red flags when someone is well-connected
• The psychology of manipulation, charm, and control
• How cognitive dissonance keeps people silent
• The role of intermittent reinforcement and coercion
• Why predators don’t “look dangerous”
• The importance of trusting your intuition when something feels off
• How these patterns can exist on a smaller, everyday level

Through a trauma-informed lens, Coral connects the dots between individual behavior and larger social systems—while grounding the conversation in one clear truth:

Understanding behavior does not excuse it.

This episode is also a reminder to trust your instincts, speak up when something feels wrong, and stay aligned with your values—even when it’s uncomfortable.

Because awareness protects.

A new episode drops every Wednesday—another step on the road back to yourself, another moment to slow down, reflect, and choose healing. The Road Leads Back to Me is a space for honest conversations, emotional growth, mental wellness, and the kind of guidance that helps you navigate every twist, turn, and roadblock life places in your path.

Follow the journey and stay connected on all platforms: @TheRoadLeadsBackToMe for podcast updates and @CoralExplainsItAll for daily reflections, big-sister advice, and storytelling that meets you right where you are.

The road is long, but you never have to walk it alone.

Executive Produced by Pink Grove Agency

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

CW: This episode discusses domestic violence and abuse.

One in three Latinas will experience domestic or interpersonal violence in their lifetime. In this powerful episode, therapist and survivor Coral Seco opens up a necessary, bumpy, and honest road trip through what domestic violence really looks like—and why it’s so much more than a visible bruise.

Coral breaks down the many faces of abuse: emotional, mental, financial, and physical. She walks you through red flags we normalize or minimize. From tracking your location, controlling your money, criticizing your body, punching walls, “joking” threats, sex that ignores your consent—and why none of this is love.

If you’ve ever wondered “Is this normal?” or you’re worried about a friend, Coral shows up as the loving big sister and trauma specialist she is to help you:

• Recognize the subtle signs of domestic and emotional abuse

• Understand why leaving is so hard (and why it’s still the answer)

• Honor your intuition, your safety, and your worth

• Support a loved one without losing yourself or your own safety

On this road, the message is clear: you deserve peace, safety, and a love that doesn’t hurt. And if you need to, you are allowed to take the next exit.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive situation, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text “BEGIN” to 88788.

A new episode drops every Wednesday—another step on the road back to yourself, another moment to slow down, reflect, and choose healing. The Road Leads Back to Me is a space for honest conversations, emotional growth, mental wellness, and the kind of guidance that helps you navigate every twist, turn, and roadblock life places in your path.

Follow the journey and stay connected on all platforms: @TheRoadLeadsBackToMe for podcast updates and @CoralExplainsItAll for daily reflections, big-sister advice, and storytelling that meets you right where you are.

The road is long, but you never have to walk it alone.

Executive Produced by Pink Grove Agency

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.