Family Movie Night | FINDING NEMO: How to Spot Tricky People & Abuse Tactics | Podcast

Turn Movie Night into a Masterclass on Grooming, Boundaries & Body Awareness

Listen to the podcast here:

Think Finding Nemo is just a sweet fish tale? Think again. Hidden beneath Pixar’s playful ocean adventure are powerful, teachable moments for helping your kids recognize tricky people, manipulative patterns, and how to trust their body’s warning signals.

In this episode, we’ll walk you through how to transform scenes from Finding Nemo into real-life lessons that empower your children—and help you parent like a protector.

📌 Your Family Movie Night Challenge

Tonight, make Finding Nemo more than entertainment. Use it to build your child’s awareness of tricky people and their own protective instincts.

✅ Pause during Bruce’s flip, the anglerfish trap, and Darla’s chaos.

✅ Ask what your kids notice about words vs. actions.

✅ Practice the “Body Signals Check” to teach them to trust their feelings.

✅ Keep the conversation going by sharing times you’ve trusted—or ignored—your own gut, and what you learned.

🚨 Bonus Resource: Feel It, Name It

Want a step-by-step conversation guide with age-appropriate scripts to teach your kids about body warning signals? Grab our free printable Feel It, Name It activity sheet ➔thisWILDjourneypodcast.com

🚨Grab the Finding Nemo Discussion Guide Here:

Family Movie Night | Discussion Guide | FINDING NEMO

Catch this episode on YouTube:

Meet your hosts: 

🧠 Sarah McDugal – high-conflict communication strategist guiding protective parents through family court chaos with integrity, clarity, and calm under pressure (no tiptoeing, no legalese, no playing nice with coercive control)

🧬 Bren Wise Mays – neuro-sensory wellness provider translating wild-but-true neuroscience into real-world tools for resolving toxic or traumatic stress (no fluff, no fakery, no bypassing—just real regulation)

Together, we blend somatic support, legal strategy, and zero-BS tools to help you stop spiraling and start thriving.

👉 Hit follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube
👉 Share this episode in your group chat. 

THINGS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST

"Exposing the PLAYBOOK: the 3-Step Blueprint to Anticipate Your Abuser's Next Move in Family Court"

The $7 Investment That Could Save You Thousands

• What’s Inside:

  ✅ The three biggest myths that can sabotage your case before it even starts.

  ✅ The 3-step strategy to anticipate their next move before they even make it.

  ✅ The exact tactics abusers use to manipulate the system—and how to fight back.

  ✅ Insider tips to protect your sanity and self-care while navigating family court.

• Get it here.

SUPPORT WILD:

• Join the SCOOP for $17/mo (it’s like our Patreon, but with mega-perks!)

• And check out our workshops for quick, bite-size steps to clarity.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT:

BREN:

Hey friends, welcome back to This WILD Journey! It’s Family Movie Night again, and today we’re plunging into Pixar’s Finding Nemo. I’m Coach Bren, and with me is Coach Sarah, our resident high-conflict communication strategist.

Sarah, Finding Nemo looks like a simple underwater adventure, but it’s actually packed with powerful examples of tricky people, manipulation, and moments that can teach kids how to spot abuse tactics. Where do we start?

SARAH:

Bren, let’s head straight to the shark scene. When Marlin and Dory meet Bruce, the great white, he greets them like a jolly host: “Hello! My name is Bruce!” He invites them to a meeting with his shark pals—Hammerhead and Mako—in what seems like a goofy fish support group.

But underneath that “friendly” vibe is a deep threat: Bruce’s entire environment is predatory. They’re not really there for a support group—they’re hungry sharks, and Marlin and Dory are potential prey.

It’s a textbook example of grooming. Abusers and tricky people often present themselves as safe, kind, or generous to drop your guard. The minute there’s an opportunity—or, in Bruce’s case, the smell of blood—they show their true nature. The switch from friendly to dangerous can be instant.

BREN:

That switch is so jarring, and it’s scary because it’s so sudden. It teaches kids a critical lesson: people who act nice aren’t always safe. If something feels “off,” it’s ok to leave, say no, or get help—even if the person seems friendly at first.

SARAH:

Absolutely. We see this again when Bruce is triggered by Dory’s nosebleed. He goes from a calm conversation to full-on attack mode. Parents can pause the movie right there and ask kids: “How do you think Marlin and Dory felt when Bruce’s eyes changed and he lunged at them?” Helping kids notice those shifts—voice tone, facial expression, body language—can train them to sense danger.

BREN:

Yes! Another powerful moment is in the fish tank at the dentist’s office. Gill, the leader of the tank gang, seems wise and protective at first. But his desperation to escape leads him to pressure Nemo into a risky plan—jamming the tank filter with a rock. Gill says, “You can do this, kid!” but he’s really putting Nemo in harm’s way for his own goal.

SARAH:

Exactly. This illustrates how tricky people can pressure others—especially children—to do unsafe things by flattering them or promising rewards. Gill’s not a villain, but his manipulation shows kids that just because someone sounds supportive doesn’t mean their plans are safe.

Parents can talk with their kids about this by asking, “Has anyone ever tried to convince you to do something dangerous or wrong by telling you how brave or cool you’d be?” That invites kids to process their experiences without shame.

BREN:

That’s so good. Another great scene for kids to learn from is Dory herself. She’s a lovable character, but her impulsivity leads Marlin into risky situations—like when she follows a glowing light into the anglerfish’s trap. The lure looks beautiful and inviting, but it’s deadly.

SARAH:

YES! The anglerfish’s glowing lure is like a metaphor for online grooming or offers from strangers: “Look at this fun thing! Come closer!” But the second you do, you’re in danger. Parents can teach kids that just because something looks exciting, doesn’t mean it’s safe.

This scene is also perfect for introducing the idea of “tricky feelings” in your body. When something’s too good to be true—or feels off—your body might send signals: your stomach knots, your chest tightens, your palms sweat. But many of us were raised to ignore those signals.

But we have a bonus resource to help Want to turn your next movie night into a powerful tool for emotional growth?

🎬 Download our free one-sheet Family Movie Night One-Sheet — a simple, heartfelt, trauma-informed discussion guide for all ages. It helps you talk with your whole family about trauma, spot harmful relational patterns, and build healthy emotional safety — all through the stories your family already loves.

🖱️ Get yours at the link in the show notes!

BREN:

Back to the part about those body signals tho... We’re taught to override those feelings out of politeness or fear of making someone upset. But those instincts exist to protect us.

Sarah, how can parents teach kids to tune in to those body signals?

SARAH:

Try this exercise after the movie:

• Ask your child: “Where in your body do you feel it when something seems wrong or scary?”

• Have them point or put their hand there—maybe it’s their tummy, chest, or head.

• Then ask: “What does it feel like? Heavy, hot, twisty, tight?”

• Normalize it by sharing your own signals: “I feel it in my chest like a rock when something’s wrong.”

And remind them: “Your body is smart. When it gives you a warning, it’s IMPORTANT to listen.”

BREN:

That’s a game-changer. Before we wrap, I want to talk about Darla, the dentist’s niece. She’s the human tornado who shakes the bag with the fish. 

She doesn’t mean to hurt them, but her reckless behavior is still harmful. It’s a chance to teach kids that even if someone says, “I didn’t mean to,” you’re still allowed to set boundaries or get help.

SARAH:

Exactly! Intent doesn’t erase impact. Kids need to know they can speak up about harm—even if the person hurting them didn’t “mean” it. 

It’s not their job to protect someone else’s feelings when they feel unsafe.

BREN:

That’s so important. Alright friends, here’s your Family Movie Night challenge: watch Finding Nemo with your kids and pause during those shark, anglerfish, and Darla scenes. 

Ask what your kids notice about the characters’ words vs. actions, and how those moments feel in their bodies.

SARAH:

Once again… I’m:

🧠 Sarah McDugal – high-conflict communication strategist guiding protective parents through family court chaos with integrity, clarity, and calm under pressure.

BREN:

And I’m… 

🧬 Bren Wise Mays – neuro-sensory wellness provider translating wild-but-true neuroscience into real-world tools for resolving toxic or traumatic stress.

SARAH:

Together, we blend somatic support, legal strategy, and zero-BS tools to help you stop spiraling and start thriving. 

Alright friends — if this episode gave you a fresh take on this family movie, and fabulous tools to teach your kids language for something you’ve felt but couldn’t name, or helped you see your story in a new way…
would you do us a huuuuge favor?

👉 Follow the show and leave a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube… wherever you love to listen.

👉 Share this episode with your parent fb group or your group chat with other moms.

👉 Go download your Family Movie Night discussion guide and our bonus Body Warning Signals one-sheet at the link in the show notes or at thisWILDjourneypodcast.com.

And remember, you don’t have to walk This WILD Journey all alone. We’ll see you next time for Part Two on Finding Nemo.