In this thought-provoking episode of Podcasts by Dr. Kirk Adams, Dr. Adams sits down with author, speaker, and boundary expert Sheryl Green for a wide-ranging and deeply human conversation about why boundaries matter, and why so many of us struggle to set them. Green shares her personal journey from forensic psychology and years of animal rescue work to a moment of burnout that became a turning point in her life. That experience led her to study, teach, and ultimately write about boundaries as a practical, compassionate tool for protecting our time, energy, relationships, and sense of self. Together, they unpack concepts like “yes-vomiting,” people-pleasing, and the hidden costs of failing to say no, especially when it comes to emotional and time boundaries.
The conversation takes on added depth as Dr. Adams connects Green’s boundary framework to the lived experience of disability. Drawing from his own life as a blind leader, he explores how people with disabilities routinely face boundary violations, ranging from intrusive questions to unwanted physical “help”, and how understanding boundaries can be empowering rather than isolating. Green reflects on the difference between impairment and disability, acknowledges the role of “aggressive helpfulness,” and emphasizes that setting boundaries is not about shutting people out, but about creating healthier, more respectful interactions. The episode closes with a shared call to action: building a more inclusive, empathetic world, one boundary at a time.
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