Beyond the Monsters

After being medically discharged from the Air Force due to Crohn’s disease, Destynie’s life was turned upside down. Crohn’s disease (a chronic, debilitating autoimmune disorder) took away her career and nearly took her life. What followed was a decade-long battle not only with her own body but with the military healthcare system and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that were supposed t...

Lee Alexander shares his powerful journey from military service to surviving the unseen battles that followed. A U.S. Navy veteran who later served in the Army National Guard, Lee spent years deployed in the Middle East and Mogadishu, Somalia, working as a criminal investigator aboard the USS Ranger. After injuries forced him to leave active duty, he grappled with PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and the s...

Laura’s story is a haunting look at the hidden realities of domestic violence — and the systems that fail survivors. She opens up about falling in love with a man who slowly stripped away her confidence through manipulation, gaslighting, and control. What began as subtle red flags turned into emotional and physical terror, leaving her fighting to reclaim her sense of safety and self-worth. As a tr...

Melisa shares the heart-wrenching story of her ex-partner Alex’s motorcycle accident that left him quadriplegic after being struck by a Grubhub driver. In the aftermath, she faced not only the devastation of ICU visits and breaking the news to her daughter, but also the unraveling of family trust.   As Alex’s girlfriend stepped in as his caretaker, Melisa describes how she cut him off from loved o...

Savannah, a police officer and military veteran, shares her story of sacrifice, betrayal, and survival. After giving up her entire life in Washington to move to Chicago for marriage, she quickly discovered her husband was not the man she thought he was. Once married, he became emotionally abusive and revealed struggles with cheating, drug addiction, and sex addiction, leaving Savannah to navigate...

Clair’s life began in chaos—raised by a father who fabricated shocking lies about his family being murdered and a mother who was later deported. Her childhood was marked by deception, abandonment, and the weight of secrets no child should carry. As she grew older, Clair uncovered more truths about her family’s past, while navigating the pain of loss, strained relationships, and the emotional toll...

After growing up in Trenton, New Jersey, Prince broke the cycle and built a life defined by discipline and service; first in the Army, then as a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer. Ten years into his career, everything changed when a drunk driver hit him, forcing an abrupt medical retirement. While facing the aftermath of the crash, Prince was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. Instead of...

Misti Blu Day shares her powerful story of surviving both childhood trauma and life-threatening health battles. Growing up in a home marked by abuse, alcoholism, and trauma bonds, she learned early on what it meant to live in survival mode. Later in life, she faced congenital heart issues, dangerous arrhythmias, and multiple open-heart surgeries — first in 2011, again seven years later, and most r...

Paul Hutchinson, executive producer of Sound of Freedom and founder of multiple child-rescue initiatives, exposes the hidden realities of human trafficking and child exploitation. He shares his firsthand experiences from undercover operations, detailing how traffickers target children, the signs families should recognize, and why awareness is the first step in prevention. Hutchinson also addresses...

In part two, Lyndsey continues her courageous domestic violence survivor story, exposing the realities of life after leaving an abusive relationship. She opens up about the trauma responses that follow abuse, the challenges of co-parenting with an abuser, and the emotional impact on her children. Lyndsey shares her experience of navigating the justice system, the cycle of manipulation and intimida...

Lyndsey shares her powerful story as a survivor of domestic violence, opening up about the early signs of manipulation, control, and emotional abuse that slowly escalated into physical violence. She reflects on the devastating impact on her children, the painful cycle of leaving and returning, and the emotional toll of the justice system that often failed to protect her. Lyndsey recounts how the l...

Marie Pizano is an author, filmmaker, producer, and passionate advocate for domestic violence survivors and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) awareness. As the founder of MVP3 Entertainment Group, she’s brought compelling stories to life—from serving as executive producer on the multi-award-winning documentary Momo: The Sam Giancana Story, to producing the feature film Shattered. In her memoir...

Mariah Heller exposes what really happened to her when she was offered a deal with a major record label. She shares how the label took control of her image, silenced her voice, and used her past trauma as part of their branding—without her consent. Pressured to change her name, aesthetic, and personal narrative, she was told to lose weight and put on a strict diet under a label-assigned nutritioni...

Danielle shares what it was like to live in an abusive marriage while silently battling depression, alcoholism, and the pressures of motherhood. During the Covid pandemic, she was raising her children, working from home, and struggling from alcoholism. In this episode, we talk about the emotional toll of high-functioning addiction, domestic violence, and what it means to live in survival mode for...

At just 29 years old, Adriana Sansam lost her husband to a fentanyl overdose—leaving her to raise their three young children alone. she shares the reality of falling in love, building a family, and discovering her partner’s hidden struggle with heroin addiction. Adriana opens up about navigating sudden widowhood and the challenges of grief while raising kids. She also talks about battling postpart...

In Part 2, Charles opens up about his powerful journey through addiction, incarceration, and personal transformation. He reflects on the emotional toll of navigating the legal system, the impact on his family, and the hard lessons learned from jail time and courtrooms. Through faith, service work, and creative healing—like tattoos—he began to rebuild his identity and repair broken relationships. T...

Dr. Robb Kelly had it all—a music career, talent, success—until alcoholism took everything and left him living on the streets. In this raw conversation, he shares how addiction shattered his life and family, and the spiritual awakening that led him to recovery and a powerful reunion with his children. Now a leading voice in addiction science, Dr. Kelly breaks down why traditional treatment models...

Charles opens up about a life shaped by childhood trauma, addiction, mental health struggles, and the fight for identity. From a violent upbringing and a devastating car crash to the spiral into substance abuse, he shares the turning points that led him to seek help. This raw conversation covers the emotional weight of PTSD, broken family dynamics, infidelity, and the impact of addiction on father...

Sheri shares her story of being groomed and trafficked by her boyfriend’s father at the age of 15. She details her journey from a shy teenager to a victim of manipulation and abuse due to human trafficking. The importance of awareness and education to prevent such tragedies is emphasized, illustrating how grooming can happen to any child, regardless of their background. Sheri’s story highlights th...

Vittorio "Wyatt" Gray's journey is one of surviving the unimaginable—kidnapping, rape, childhood abuse, and homelessness—while discovering his identity as a transgender man. He opens up about the emotional weight of growing up in an abusive family that struggled to accept him, the mental health toll of constant rejection, and the isolation of navigating gender identity in a world that often misund...

Grace Ann’s story isn’t just about surviving addiction or doing time—it’s about what happens when the system spits you out, and life still expects you to show up. In this episode, she opens up about catching federal RICO charges, navigating probation, and the reality of incarceration as a young mother. She talks about losing her son, finding her way back through grief, and how that pain pushed her...

Kira Wahlstrom shares her journey of trauma, survival, and the pursuit of justice after being brutally raped. She recounts the emotional turmoil faced by her and her family, the challenges of navigating the legal system, and the impact it had on her mental health. Kira discusses the civil trial that followed the criminal trial (the biggest premises liability case in Massachusetts history), the dif...

Roanna shares her harrowing journey of growing up in a deeply dysfunctional family within the cult-like religious group known as The Order of the Lamb. She opens up about the trauma she endured as a child—severe punishment, emotional control, and fear-based obedience—and how it shaped her mental health and sense of self. Her story weaves through early play therapy with dolls, the isolating experie...

Sarah Benedict shares her deeply personal and harrowing journey involving her late husband, Andrew, and the tragic murder of his first wife, Rachelle. She recounts the early years of their relationship, the challenges of young parenthood, and the shocking events that unfolded in their small town in Texas. As the story unravels, Sarah reflects on the devastating impact of Rachelle’s murder and the...

Carissa shares how her spark for life was reignited after meeting and working closely with powerhouse entrepreneur Jessie Lee Ward, who was navigating a Stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis. As Jessie’s personal assistant, Carissa found herself transformed—not just by the challenges they faced together, but by Jessie’s relentless spirit, drive, and vulnerability. In this powerful episode, Carissa opens...