Break the Silence, Build a Future

Send us a text In Episode 13, Rebuilding After Loss: Who Am I Without This?, we dive into the identity shifts that grief demands. Losing someone, a relationship, or a dream often leaves us questioning who we are and how to move forward. This episode explores how to navigate these changes, embrace life again, and find purpose after loss. Together, we’ll discuss the fears, challenges, and small step...

Send us a text In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, I sit down with Molly Booker, a passionate advocate for authenticity, mental well-being, and embracing life's imperfections. We dive into the raw realities of grief, resilience, and how to navigate the messy, unpredictable nature of healing. Molly shares her personal journey of loss, growth, and finding purpose through the chaos....

Send us a text Healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in connection. In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, host Fartumo Kusow explores the transformative power of healing in community. Discover why shared experiences foster resilience, how they help break down isolation, and the practical steps to create spaces of connection and support. Whether you’re navigating your own h...

Send us a text Loss reshapes our lives, challenging our sense of identity and purpose. In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, host Fartumo Kusow explores the true meaning of resilience after loss—not as bouncing back, but as growing and rebuilding in the face of pain. Join Fartumo as she shares insights on embracing vulnerability, finding strength in adversity, and redefining purpos...

Send us a text In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, host Fartumo Kusow explores the transformative power of storytelling. Sharing your story not only helps you heal, but it also creates a ripple effect—connecting with others, inspiring courage, and fostering a movement for change. Fartumo reflects on the challenges and rewards of vulnerability, shares how her own story has impacte...

Send us a text In this episode of 'Break the Silence, Build the Future', Fartumo Kusow delves into the emotional and psychological costs of avoiding grief, sharing her personal journey following the tragic loss of her daughter. She emphasizes the importance of confronting grief rather than suppressing it, discussing the profound impacts of avoidance on mental health and relationships. The episode...

Send us a text Grief doesn’t have an endpoint; it becomes a part of who we are, shaping how we see the world and live our lives. In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, host Fartumo Kusow explores what it means to live with grief and make it a part of your story. Fartumo reflects on how grief becomes woven into our daily lives and shares personal insights on finding purpose and meani...

Send us a text   In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, host Fartumo Kusow sits down with Victoria Ellen, author of Painting in the Rain: A True Story of Trickery and Triumph. Victoria Ellen is a survivor, the mother of two adult children, a wife, and an executive in corporate America. In 2023, she published her first book titled “Painting in the Rain: A True Story of Trickery and T...

Send us a text In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, host Fartumo Kusow delves into the transformative power of owning your story. Sharing deeply personal reflections, Fartumo discusses the courage it takes to confront grief and speak your truth, even when it challenges societal expectations. Whether shared publicly or privately, embracing your story is a vital step in the healing...

Send us a text In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, we explore the concept of delayed grief—the grief that we push aside when life’s demands leave us no room to process our loss. I’ll share my own experiences with delayed grief, from losing loved ones while adjusting to a new life in Canada to navigating the end of a long marriage while raising young children. Together, we’ll unco...

Send us a text In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, I explore the tension between what we expect grief to look like and the reality of how it actually shows up. After the loss of my daughter, I found myself struggling with the disconnect between society’s expectations of grief—especially for mothers—and my own experience of quiet numbness. I’ll share my personal story of feeling g...

Send us a text In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, I reflect on the overwhelming nature of grief—how it doesn’t come in waves but floods every part of life, making even the simplest tasks feel impossible. After losing my daughter, grief became a constant presence, filling every moment and relationship, leaving little room for anything else. I’ll share how I managed to live throug...

Send us a text Are you struggling with grief that doesn’t look the way others expect? In this episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, we dive into the unspoken social pressures surrounding grief. Learn how societal expectations shape the way we mourn, the harmful impact of these expectations on healing, and why it’s important to embrace your unique journey. Host [Your Name] shares personal r...

Send us a text In this poignant and deeply introspective season finale of Break the Silence, Build a Future, I delve into the contrast between societal expectations of how one should grieve and the reality of my own experience. When I first learned on June 5, 2023, that my daughter's husband had been arrested for her murder after she had been missing for twelve days, I felt an overwhelming coldnes...

Send us a text In this poignant episode of Break the Silence, Build a Future, we delve into the harrowing journey of seeking justice after the unimaginable loss of a loved one to intimate partner violence. One year after the tragic murder of my daughter by her husband of 18 years, my family and I are still navigating the complex and often overwhelming court process. This episode sheds light on how...

Send us a text In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode, I open up about the tragic loss of my daughter, who was murdered by her husband last year. As we navigate the complex and often overwhelming legal process, my family and I have faced significant challenges, not only in seeking justice but also in finding the support we desperately need. I’ll share our emotional journey through the court...

Send us a text In this deeply personal episode, I confront the complex and often overwhelming emotions that accompany the first anniversary of my daughter's murder. Through candid reflections and raw honesty, I explore the many shades of grief, from haunting flashbacks to feelings of helplessness. Join me as I navigate this painful milestone, seeking to find meaning, healing, and a path forward am...

Send us a text In this powerful and heartfelt episode, I open up about my personal journey through the unimaginable grief of losing my daughter to intimate partner violence. Sharing my story is not only a way to honor her memory, but also a means to reach out to others who might be facing similar heartache. Join me as I navigate the emotional challenges and the healing process, discussing how I ma...

Send us a text Join me on this deeply personal episode as I reflect on the weight of May 8th, a day that holds both profound joy and unimaginable pain in my life. It's a date marked by the containers of my birth, a celebration of life and growth, juxtaposed against the harrowing realities of domestic violence and loss. As I share my journey, I'll take you through the highs and lows of this signifi...

Send us a text Join host Fartumo Kusow in a compelling episode of "Break the Silence, Build a Future" as we explore the legislative landscape surrounding Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Bill 173, a pivotal piece of legislation aimed at deeming IPV as an epidemic in the Ontario Legislature. Joined by Cait Alexander, a survivor of IPV who courageously shares...

Send us a text In "Living With Loss: A Parent's Journey Through The Justice System," I intimately share the poignant story of me grappling with the unimaginable—the loss of my daughter to senseless violence. Through this emotional narrative, I peel back the layers of grief, resilience, and determination as I navigate the labyrinth of the justice system. Join me as I journey along witnessing the hi...

Send us a text In this episode, we delve into the urgent call to declare Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an epidemic, highlighting its pervasive, predictable, and preventable nature and the crucial role of awareness in breaking the cycle of shame and secrecy.  Intimate Partner Violence is not merely a private matter; it's a public health crisis lurking in the shadows of shame and secrecy. Join us...

Send us a text   In this episode, we delve into the profound experience of attending the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), the United Nations' largest gathering dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment. Our host shares their firsthand account of being amidst hundreds of women from diverse backgrounds, passionately striving towards the goal outlined in this year's t...

Send us a text  In this compelling episode of “Break the Silence, Build a Future," we delve into the profound connection between natural disasters and intimate partner violence, focusing on the harrowing aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Joined by esteemed guest Dr. Teresa Rodrigues-Lebron, we explore how the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria exposed the stark reality of violence a...

Send us a text In this powerful episode, join Fartumo Kusow as she courageously opens up about the unimaginable pain of losing her daughter to intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite the heart-wrenching tragedy, Fartumo shares her inspiring journey of transforming grief into a powerful force for change. Tune in to hear how she channels her pain into a relentless commitment to end IPV, creating a...