Brave Haven Podcast

🎙️ What’s Next for Brave Haven? In this short update episode, we share a couple announcements about the future of the podcast. We also share a quick update about the upcoming book release and how to stay connected in the meantime. ❤️ Remember to sign up for the newsletter at bravehavenpodcast.com

In this final episode of Brave Haven Season One, we take a look back at the journey so far. We share behind-the-scenes moments from recording, revisit key themes and phrases from the season, and talk honestly about what it was like to record the entire season in a condensed window of time. This season has included conversations around trauma, abuse awareness, forgiveness, justice, triggers, and wh...

When someone shares their story of abuse or trauma, the response they receive can either bring healing or create a kind of secondary suffering. In this episode of Brave Haven , we unpack the most common hurtful, dismissive, and spiritually misapplied phrases survivors often hear, and explain why they land so painfully. From minimizing comments to victim-blaming and “spiritual clichés,” we respond...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Kayla and AJ move beyond recognizing trauma triggers and into what it actually looks like to live with them inside a healthy, growing marriage. What does it take to build trust when triggers are unpredictable? How do you communicate when you're not ready to talk? And how can both spouses take responsibility without falling into codependency? Together, they share...

Something kept happening in our conversations...and I didn’t have the words yet to explain why. In this episode of Brave Haven , we begin a two-part conversation about what trauma triggers can look like inside a relationship. Early in our relationship, there were moments that didn’t quite make sense. Emotional reactions that didn’t match the situation, silence where there should have been words, a...

In Part 2 of this Brave Haven conversation, we explore trauma triggers, explain dissociation, and talk about how survivors can respond to trauma responses with wisdom and hope rooted in Scripture. RESOURCES : The Christian’s Guide to Psychological Terms by Marshall and Mary Asher Kayla's Book Recommendation: Loving God with All Your Mind by Elizabeth George We mentioned the “Henderson Trauma S...

In this episode of Brave Haven , we talk about some of our personal triggers and how they affect us. This isn’t about internet “offense,” but the deeper reactions that can surface when a place, smell, object, or person reminds us of past trauma. This is a two-part conversation. In Part 1, we share personal experiences. In Part 2, we continue the discussion and explore: How triggers can change over...

In every generation, people say the same thing: “The world has never been this bad.” But Scripture says something different: there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). In this episode, we look at how cultures throughout history have normalized what God calls evil, why you cannot trust culture to define what is good, and why believers have always been called to live counterculturally. T...

What can justice look like after abuse? In this second half of a longer conversation, Kayla and June reflect on their experiences navigating the criminal justice system after childhood sexual abuse. We will talk about post prison restrictions, restraining orders, and talk about God's justice. For further study: God’s justice in the Bible is His perfect, righteous standard applied with fairness...

What can justice look like after abuse? In this first half of a longer conversation, Kayla and June reflect on their experiences navigating the criminal justice system after childhood sexual abuse. From parole hearings and victim notification failures to prison conditions and inmate violence, this episode briefly examines how man’s justice operates. Information Shared: The Lord puts people in powe...

In this New Year’s Address, we reflect on where Brave Haven has been in 2025 and share some of what’s ahead in 2026. Since launching in 2025, Brave Haven has hosted honest, prayerful conversations around childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, and related experiences to bring understanding, language, and comfort where silence often lives. As we look ahead to 2026, we’ll continue these conversation...

This week we will discuss how Forgiveness Is Commanded and Reconciliation Is Conditional. Episode seven is a bonus-length conversation for you to enjoy as we head into Christmas. Our hope is to offer both biblical clarity and gentle grounding as we talk about forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, and peace in the context of deep harm. To see a list of the Bible Verses shared today , you can li...

What happens when you start these familiar phrases with your child? How would they finish them? In this short sidebar episode, Kayla shares her kids’ innocent (and surprisingly sweet) guesses at the endings of the lines many of us grew up hearing: “I brought you into this world and…” “Wipe that smile off your face or…” “Stop crying or…” For generations, these phrases ended in threats. But our kids...

Parenting is holy, humbling work. Today we’re taking an honest look at the ways we, as moms and dads, can unintentionally provoke or discourage the very children we love. Scripture warns us against this for a reason—because our words, our tone, and even the atmosphere of our homes form the world our kids grow up in. In this episode, we walk through many common ways parents can wound a child’s hear...

In this sidebar conversation, we dig into what the Bible really means when it commands us to honor our parents . Honor isn’t blind obedience, cultural manners, or enabling sinful behavior. It begins with honoring God first —valuing Him above family expectations, traditions, or demands. We also discuss how “leave and cleave” matters for married adults, prayer transforms bitterness, and honoring som...

In this episode of Brave Haven , we take a look at the long arc of generational stories. Previously we told you about where we came from and what we carry. Today we will speak more on what we are choosing to hand forward. Through honest reflections about our own mothers, biblical examples from Abraham to Timothy, and the imagery of walking through fire, we explore what it means to break cycles tha...

Information shared today is from here . You are worth what it takes to heal, and you are never alone! -Kayla and June

In this episode of Brave Haven , we explore the signs of abuse and how to recognize them—whether in children, teens, or adults. We discuss emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, and share practical questions to help identify concerning patterns of behavior in relationships. You can access the sex offender registry here .If you’re experiencing abuse and need immediate support, you can find help her...

In this special bonus-length episode, June takes a brave step by sharing her story with us. It’s not an easy thing to bring painful memories into the light, but she does it with courage, grace, and deep joy—joy she says could only have come through Christ’s redemption in her life. The Lord used John MacArthur's sermons to grow June's faith, as well as the community at Grace Community Church . Thro...

Content Note: This episode includes a story about surviving childhood sexual abuse. While specific acts are mentioned briefly, they are not described in graphic detail. Please take care of yourself and feel free to pause, skip, or stop listening at any point if you need to. Joined by June and her husband AJ, Kayla describes the abuse she endured for over a decade and the process of bringing the ab...

From statistics to stories: how data, language, and history reveal the realities of abuse. Kayla and June unpack the scope of childhood sexual abuse through national statistics—and explore how ideas like “gaslighting” and “Stockholm syndrome” have shaped our cultural understanding of trauma. Sources from Today’s Discussion 📊 Statistics We referenced data from two trusted organizations providing n...

Welcome to Brave Haven —a space created by survivors, for survivors, and for anyone ready to face hard truths about abuse and healing. In this introductory episode, Kayla and June share the heart behind the podcast, the meaning of bravery and haven, and how faith and truth-telling have shaped their journeys. You’ll also hear what to expect this season—real stories, honest conversations, and remind...