Genesis The Podcast

In this episode author and survivor Jessi Bixler shares the story behind her memoir, The Story We Share: How One Sexual Assault Rippled Through a Family and Their Fight for Healing , recounting the assault that occurred in her home in 2013, the immediate aftermath, the failures of the criminal justice system, and her family’s decision to pursue civil accountability. The conversation explores how t...

What if fear isn’t weakness… but wisdom? In this powerful episode of Genesis the Podcast , Maria MacMullin sits down with Genesis CEO Jan Langbein to unpack a truth we don’t talk about enough: for women experiencing abuse, fear is not an overreaction—it’s a signal. A signal that something isn’t safe. A signal that control is taking hold. A signal that it’s time to listen. Together, they explore ho...

Fear is one of the most powerful personal safety tools we have, because it’s often the first hint that something is off. In this episode, we sit down with expert and author Laura Frombach to talk about fear as useful data, not drama. We break down the difference between being afraid and being aware, and we share a simple, practical approach to situational awareness using the military-style color c...

Fear can keep someone alive and it can also keep them trapped. To explore this topic, we sit down with Ruth Guerreiro, Chief Clinical Officer at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, to unpack how abusers weaponize fear to establish power and control, ensure compliance, and cut off escape routes long before anyone sees a bruise. In this episode, we break down the real-world mechanics of coercive...

Fear can hit in a split second, before we have words for it, and then we’re left wondering why we reacted the way we did. With this episode we begin our 4 part series about fear by getting specific about the science. With Jordyn Lawson, Chief Residential Officer at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, we unpack what fear really is in the brain and body, why it’s tied to survival, and how the amy...

Roblox isn’t just a game, it’s a massive social world where kids can meet strangers, build friendships, and chat in real time. That sounds normal for online play, until you understand how quickly “friendly” interactions can turn into grooming. In this episode, we sit down with Susan Jones Knape, founder of A Case for Women, to unpack how predators allegedly use Roblox to target children and why th...

Navigating court-ordered visitation can be overwhelming for children, especially when they're required to spend time with predatory parent. Many kids cope by masking their true emotions, staying compliant during visits, and then unraveling once they're safe at home—often exhibiting behaviors like anger, withdrawal, people-pleasing, or even sudden aggression. These responses leave protect...

This week we talk with Jessica Smith Wilcott, sister of Officer Jillian Smith of the Arlington Police Department about how one fateful domestic violence disturbance call changed two families forever. In this episode, Jessica shares the story of what happened to Jillian that December night in 2010, who Jillian was beyond the badge, and how remembrance turned into action can transform law enforcemen...

In this episode we visit with Texas-born singer-songwriter and single mother of four Erin Duvall to unpack how she turned a season of survival into soulful songs, purposeful routines, and a foundation that champions single parents year-round. In this lively conversation Erin traces her path from a childhood spent chasing any stage to a grown-up return to the studio with new clarity. She breaks dow...

What if the moment you finally said “enough” became the spark that built your legacy? We sit down with DeShandra (Monet) Cullins—a survivor, mother of five, entrepreneur, and author of You Good, Sis?—who turned lifelong trauma into a blueprint for healing, purpose, and generational change. From escaping intimate partner violence to walking into a shelter with her daughters, she shares the precise...

Genesis experts Ruth Guerreiro and Jordyn Lawson join the conversation to unpack models that explain domestic violence and provide real, practical solutions for survivors and those who support them. Together we walk through the Cycle of Violence framework as well as the Power and Control Wheel derived from the Duluth Model to understand their origins, purpose, and applications.  Our discussion als...

What if the most powerful weapon in an abusive relationship isn’t a fist, but a login? We sit down with Jordyn Lawson, Chief Residential Officer at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, to unpack how financial abuse and coerced debt quietly trap survivors—even long after they leave. From paychecks diverted into hidden accounts to loans opened under threat or deception, money becomes a leash: it g...

We open the new year by exposing myths that keep victims unheard and abusers protected: the “nice guy” persona, the anger excuse, the belief that leaving solves everything. With Ruth Guerreiro, Chief Clinical Officer at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, we walk through the mindsets that drive coercive control and the covert tactics that slip past friends, families, courts, and even clinicians...

How well do you know the driver of your rideshare? You don't. And you need to listen to this episode to understand what he is capable of and how to protect yourself. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the risks women face in rideshares and the systemic gaps that let predators operate with impunity. Together with Susan Knape, founder of A Case for Women, we trace the data behin...

A voice possesses the power to either conceal - or reveal - the truth. After decades of silence and shame about what was truly unspeakable childhood abuse, Shana Halligan chose speak out. And what followed was a complete  transformation of her life that led to a music career of authentic self-expression and powerful presence. As the daughter of Dick Halligan, founder of the band Blood, Sweat &...

In this episode of Genesis The Podcast, host Maria MacMullin delves into the topic of coercive control with expert Kate Amber. Ms. Amber, a survivor, who holds an MS in Psychology of Coercive Control from the University of Salford and is the founder of End Coercive Control USA (ECCUSA), shares her personal experiences with domestic abuse and explains her Quicksand Model of understanding coercive c...

When Hispanic survivors of intimate partner violence seek help, they face a gauntlet of unique cultural barriers that can make safety seem impossible. From family members who prioritize appearances over protection to faith leaders who frame abuse as a spiritual test, the path to safety is fraught with roadblocks that extend far beyond language differences alone. Teresa Gallegos, Director of Outrea...

Black women are six times more likely to be murdered by intimate partners than white women. Let that sink in. Dr. Miltonette Craig pulls back the curtain on this hidden crisis in our powerful conversation about intimate partner violence and media representation. As an assistant professor at Sam Houston State University and research coordinator for the Crime Victims Institute, Dr. Craig brings both...

From the moment Dr. Carolyn West speaks, her passion for protecting Black women from intimate partner violence resonates with unmistakable urgency. As a professor of clinical psychology with over three decades dedicated to researching gender-based violence in marginalized communities, she brings profound insights into what she calls a "triple pandemic" that devastated Black women during...

What makes someone capable of killing the person they claim to love? Dr. David Adams has spent over four decades searching for answers by interviewing both survivors and perpetrators of intimate partner violence. As co-founder of Emerge, the world's first counseling program for men who abuse women, Adams takes us behind the facade of abusive relationships to expose the calculated tactics abus...

What happens when the person who claims to love you systematically dismantles your sense of reality? Tiffany Tate, CEO of The Family Place in Dallas and a survivor of narcissistic abuse, bravely shares her story for the first time on this powerful episode.    "When you don't trust the thoughts that are in your head, that is very, very hard to recover from," Tiffany reveals, describi...

When asked whether they'd rather be alone in the woods with a bear or a man, most women choose the bear - a startling reflection of how women perceive safety in modern America. Genesis CEO Jan Langbein joins host Maria MacMullin to explore this phenomenon and discuss the evolution of women's rights and domestic violence services as Genesis approaches its 40th anniversary. We open season...

What happens when the only community you've ever known becomes your prison? When sacred teachings become weapons of control? Jo Lloyd Johnson takes us on a raw, unflinching journey through the hidden world of religious cults and the long path toward reclaiming personal autonomy. Growing up in what she eventually recognized as a cult environment, Jo experienced multiple layers of abuse – relig...

Could your kindness be putting you in danger? This eye-opening conversation with Laura Frombach and Joy Farrow reveals how predators don't actually look for weakness—they deliberately target kindness, empathy, and accommodation.  In this episode, Laura Frombach shares her powerful personal story of growing up with generational domestic violence, watching her once very kind mother transform un...

The digital world has become a hunting ground where algorithms serve as silent recruiters, pulling vulnerable young men toward misogynistic ideologies at alarming speeds. This eye-opening conversation with experts Laura Frombach and Joy Farrow reveals the disturbing reality of how technology amplifies hatred against women and girls. When researchers created a fake social media account for a 16-yea...