Why She Stayed

Brand new episode! This is a never-before-heard conversation. I’m joined by author Cora Leyderman , author of Meet Me at the Well , as she shares the story of her previous marriage to a pathological liar. While many people picture abuse as physical violence or obvious intimidation, Cora’s experience looked very different. Her husband’s primary tactics were relentless deception, psychological manip...

This episode originally aired on May 13, 2025. Brand new episode will be released on Tuesday, March 24th. Lundy Bancroft is the author of the book " Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men" as well as many other books and has worked extensively in batterer intervention programs. He has over 30 years of experience working with abusive men and their families and is a leadi...

Lindsey shares the story of how her relationship slowly turned into something she didn’t recognize as abuse. What began as the gradual normalization of cheating became a pattern of psychological grooming. Over time, he reframed betrayal as “normal,” rewrote reality, and convinced her she was the one causing harm. He even faked medical emergencies- claiming she was causing him physical suffering fr...

In this episode, Kelly shares her experience of being in a relationship where reality was constantly twisted. Her abuser was skilled at blame-shifting, making her feel like she was the problem for asking reasonable questions, having needs, or expecting basic respect. What made it even more confusing was how differently he showed up to the rest of the world. Friends, family, and acquaintances saw s...

In this episode, Kelly shares her story of entering a relationship with a mild-mannered Arab Muslim doctor at a vulnerable point in her life, a time when she felt ungrounded and stuck in patterns of promiscuity. He positioned himself as a stabilizing force, framing the relationship as a way to “save” her from that path and introduce her to a more meaningful life. As the relationship deepened, elem...

In this episode, Daniella shares her experience of being in a relationship marked by extreme intensity followed by sudden discard and abandonment. She opens up about how emotional abuse eroded her sense of self, fueled comparison and insecurity, and left her feeling like a shell of who she once was. Daniella also unpacks how her abuser used people outside the relationship to validate his false nar...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Kia Lee , author and survivor, as she shares her journey through domestic abuse and cancer—and what it means to keep creating hope while still living in the unknown. Kia opens up about the loneliness of clarity : that isolating moment when you see the truth of your situation before anyone else does. We talk about how life doesn’t pause for your pain- how t...

In this deeply honest episode, I sit down with abuse survivor and author Stephanie Strickland , whose new book Finding Peace Within shares her journey of survival, self-discovery, and healing. Stephanie opens up about how her abuser convinced her that she was the cause of the abuse—leading her to believe that if she could just be more perfect, more careful, or do everything “right,” the conflict w...

In this survivor story, Tiffany opens up about the hidden layers of abuse she endured in her marriage- abuse she didn’t initially recognize. Growing up with a father who was a “standard yeller,” Tiffany assumed that abuse had to look loud and obvious. But her husband’s tactics were quieter, calculated, and far more confusing. Through gaslighting, and emotionally charged setups that left her yellin...

In this solo episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked reasons people remain stuck in abusive cycles: the inability to name what they’re experiencing. I explore how the lack of clear language- not just individually, but across society- keeps people confused, doubting themselves, and trapped far longer than they should be. We unpack the cultural habit of mislabeling harmful behavior, and how...

In this episode, I sit down with Hannah to explore abuse that is intentionally designed to be unrecognizable. Hannah shares how her abuser strategically created gray areas and emotional ambiguity, making it almost impossible for her to pinpoint what was happening. She also talks about the “threshold” she carried in her mind- her preconceived idea of what “real abuse” was supposed to look like- and...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jaime Zuckerman , a nationally recognized clinical psychologist who specializes in narcissistic abuse and relationship trauma. Together, we dive deep into one of the most painful and confusing stages of recovery- learning to detach from the abuser’s narrative. We explore questions so many survivors wrestle with: Will the abuser change for the next person? Why doe...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Catherine opens up about the years she spent trapped in an abusive marriage marked by emotional abuse, infidelity, and alcohol use by her former spouse. What began as a hopeful relationship spiraled into something she never imagined when she discovered her husband’s shocking attempts to secretly poison her with abortion pills in an effort to end her pr...

In this episode, I’m joined by Wendy as she bravely shares her story of surviving abuse and how it manipulates your sense of duty, love, and identity. Wendy opens up about how her abuser made her feel responsible for his well-being, and how that emotional weight kept her trapped in a cycle of guilt and silence. We explore why so many survivors feel sorry for the very people hurting them, and how t...

In this episode, I sit down with Alissa to talk through the painful reality of surviving not one, but two abusive relationships, and the patterns that emerged between them. We dive into the emotional and financial toll of being made to feel responsible for the very people who were hurting us. Alissa shares how she was expected to take care of her abusers- emotionally, financially, and even physica...

"I didn't think it could happen to me." In this deeply personal and courageous episode, Beverly Hallberg — founder and president of District Media Group — shares her powerful story of surviving abuse. What began with subtle glimpses of control eventually unraveled into something much deeper, finally exposed by the unimaginable loss of her baby. As we acknowledge Domestic Violence Awareness Month t...

This is a solo full Q&A episode where I answer the following questions: 1.) How long did it take for you to no longer feel the need for him to see your worth? 2.) How to not care that you're painted as the villain by abuser? 3.) How do you get over the discard, and how happy they seem to be doing it to you? 4.) How to stop spiraling when they seem to be giving the next partner everything you w...

Alexis Ruhlen and I discuss life post- abuse as a part 2 episode. We cover topics such as: emotions that come with reporting our abusers to law enforcement, dealing with the opinions of others, survivor imposter syndrome, how long it took us to make progress, and breaking the bond for the final time. Lex's original podcast episode of her FULL story is episode #18. If you would like to follow Alexi...

On this episode, Lynn and I speak about topics such as sadistic behaviors, sexual abuse/ boundary pushing, and how abusers coerce you by giving the illusion of choice. To work with Lynn or send her a message, please see the links below: Lynn's Website: https://www.echoismrecovery.com/ Lynn's Instagram: theechochamber2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Monica Smith shares pieces of her abuse story and detailed examples of how an abuser grooms us to no longer trust our own inner dialogue and perceptions. We talk about how they slowly make themselves the only source of truth we feel we can rely on and why it's so hard to believe ourselves. Monica's Instagram: @monicamooresmith Monica's Tiktok: @monicamooresmith5 Hosted on Acast. S...

Taylor shares her abuse story and how her reality became completely distorted and shaken over time. We discuss how she was made to feel like the offender and how she was often recorded, shamed, and blamed as a form of control. We discuss topics of emotional, financial, & sexual abuse throughout the episode. Guest details will be private for now until further notice. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

On this episode, I am joined by podcast host and abuse recovery coach Laura Richards. Laura is the host of That's Where I'm At Podcast and we dive deep into both the addictive nature of the cycle of abuse and her personal story. We speak about the trauma bond, gaslighting, and abusers who frequently talk to other women as a form of punishment. If you would like to get in touch with Laura, visit he...

Nicolette shares about the emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse she faced in her marriage and how minimizing, denying, and blaming made it so hard to see through the fog. We discuss how abusers will often seem very forthcoming and honest about their "past" struggles and use their honesty as a distraction to their current behavior. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erin shares her abuse story of enduring physical, emotional, verbal & financial abuse. She describes how her abuser blamed the mistreatment on "stressors" and kept her in a cycle of hoping it was always just about to get better. Erin's Instagram: @love_doesnt_destroy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah shares her story of the many years of abuse she endured throughout her marriage and how spiritual and emotional abuse played a big role in keeping her trapped. She also shares how she navigated with 3 children including one special needs child and how she clung to her faith even when it was used against her as manipulation. Lastly, we discuss when an abuser says they didn't "mean" to hurt us...