Beyond the Darkness

Welcome everyone to episode 14! In this episode, Cristina and Jon dive into the raw, unforgettable experience of first love and the heartbreak that often follows. They unpack why that initial connection can feel so intense, all-consuming, and sometimes even reckless, pushing us to act in ways we never expected. Together, they explore the deep emotional pain that heartbreak leaves behind, how it ca...

Welcome back to Beyond the Darkness, episode 13! (I can't believe we're here) 🎉 In this episode, Jon and Cristina get honest about what it really takes to stay in a relationship when love gets tested by fear, differences, and the need to control what we cannot control. So often, we think control will give us peace, but in reality, it usually creates more distance, more tension, and less...

When love feels heavy, confusing, or just plain hard, most of us slip into survival mode—shutting down, lashing out, or pretending everything is “fine.” In this episode, Jon and Cristina talk honestly about what to do when connection feels out of reach, the same arguments keep looping, or you’re questioning how much more you can give. You’ll learn simple, practical ways to regulate your nervous sy...

In this episode, Cristy and Jon get real about what it means to feel your emotions without letting them take over. They open up about how easy it is to react out of fear, anger, or hurt, and how choosing to pause, and respond from truth can change everything. This talk isn’t about ignoring your feelings or staying “positive.” It’s about learning to sit with your emotions, understand who you are, a...

They’re back 🎉 Starting 2026 strong! In this week’s tenth episode, Jon and Cristy open up about what it really takes to break free from familial expectations and choose your own path...even when fear shows up every step of the way. Why is it so hard to step away from what’s “expected” of us and choose the life that truly feels honest? This week, Jon and Cristy open up about their personal experie...

Guess who's back at the table? Chris! Remember him from episode 6? In this deeply personal episode, Chris breaks down the transformative journey of separating our identity from our pain. What happens when we stop defining ourselves by what we've survived? What if the truest version of who we are has been waiting beneath the stories of hurt, our upbringing, and what we were told? This is...

Welcome back to Beyond the Darkness! In this episode, Cristy and Jon discuss change and what it asks of us. Often more than we feel ready to give. In this episode, they share personal stories and unique perspectives on the fear that lives quietly beneath transition, uncertainty, and growth. It’s the fear that whispers, stay where it’s safe , even when something deeper within us knows we’re being c...

In this week’s seventh episode, Jon and Cristina dove into the complex and often confusing attraction to emotionally unavailable people. Why do we sometimes find ourselves drawn to people who are distant, closed off, or incapable of offering the emotional connection we crave? Is it a pattern rooted in past experiences, or are we simply wired to chase what we can't have? Welcome BACK to the Be...

Welcome back to Beyond the Darkness- Episode 6! Chris joined us this week and what an unbelievable story he shares. He talked about his childhood, the cycle of suffering from addiction, how he came to believe in God and the journey to complete transformation. This is a very special episode and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did! If you are in need of a mental health provider: Talk with a NAMI...

Jon is BACK and we're so excited!!  Wow- this conversation was filled with so much vulnerability and wisdom on all the ways we can start being better and healthier in relationships.  Jon and Cristy sat down for almost an hour and talked about their experience with being willing to own up to their side of the street in ALL relationships. They were honest about the not-so-proud moments and how...

Welcome back, everyone! You’re listening to Beyond the Darkness. Have you ever asked yourself, who am I? What is my identity? Why do I need to forgive someone when I don't want to? Could I change my past? Javi and Cristy got together and talked about  the power of forgiveness, and how it brings us closer to understanding who we are. They dove deep into explaining how everyone can actually cha...

Who teaches us how to process grief and loss? What do we say when someone we know loses someone they love? In this week's episode, Cristina and Jon share about their process after losing their grandmother. Jon also shares about losing his mom and what he had to work through to overcome the pain. They speak on the anger and guilt that comes up the moment they hear their loved one has passed an...

How can we improve our relationships? How can we go from being reactive, selfish, and dishonest to a more understanding, authentic, and honest dynamic? In this week's episode, Jon and Cristy talk about the beginning stages of breaking out of unhealthy relationships. They share their personal experience on why they stayed and the process of developing authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling rela...

Have you ever felt like you’re stuck in the cycle of suffering, feeling controlled by your emotions, questioning your purpose in life, not knowing who you really are, and unable to be free from debilitating anxiety? Well, you are in the right place. Welcome to Beyond the Darkness podcast. My name Is Cristina and I am your host alongside my dear friend Jon. In this week’s first episode, Jon and I g...