Irene Cares

How Trauma Rewires the Brain and Practical Ways to Heal the Body On the Irene Podcast, Dr. Steve with Kaizen Health (family medicine and obesity medicine) explains that abuse and trauma create biological brain changes, especially a hyperactive amygdala and downregulated prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which can make past trauma feel present and drive PTSD-like physical responses. He discusses c...

From Teen Mom to Kindness in Motion: Tineise on Breaking Cycles, Finding Purpose, and Building Community In part two of the Irene Podcast, Tineise shares how getting pregnant at 17 prompted an overnight shift toward motherhood and a desire to break generational patterns, though early parenting and relationships were messy, including leaving her daughter’s dad after police involvement and later div...

Nikki Jones on Childhood Abuse, Healing, and Finding Worth Through Faith On the Irene Podcast, Nikki Jones shares her story of early childhood trauma after her parents’ divorce, including severe abuse by her stepmother while living with her father from about ages 4–9, time overseas in Okinawa, and never seeing her father again after leaving at age nine to live with her mother. She describes lastin...

Embracing Your Voice: Communicating Without Justification In this episode of the Irene Podcast, co-founder Hope discusses the importance of not feeling the need to explain oneself in order to be worthy of respect. She emphasizes that the value and truth of one's words remain intact even when others might not understand or respect them. The podcast addresses challenges faced in abusive relatio...

This Is Tineise’s Story In this episode of the Irene Podcast, host Hope interviews Tineise Davenport, with the nonprofit Kindness in Motion. Tineise explains she grew up in a polygamous cult environment connected to multiple fundamentalist groups (including Centennial Park, FLDS/Colorado City, and the AUB), describing secrecy, fear of government, and strict gender expectations that discouraged gir...

Overcoming Chronic Pain: Andrea Parkinson's Journey In this episode of the Irene Podcast, The host Hope one of the founders of Irene welcomes Andrea Parkinson, a dental hygienist and mother of three living in St. George, Utah. Andrea shares her 20-year struggle with chronic pain following a back surgery, and how she navigates life while managing daily pain. She delves into her journey of find...

Tauni's Journey: Triumph Over Tragedy In this emotionally charged episode of the Irene podcast, we hear from Tauni, a mother of six from Idaho who now resides in Utah. Tauni shares the heartbreaking loss of her third child and the subsequent eight miscarriages that deeply impacted her family. She discusses how these tragedies cultivated a deeper appreciation for her children and shaped her re...

Resilience and Self-Love: Jessi Bang's Inspiring Journey In this episode of the Irene Podcast, guest Jessi Bang opens up about her challenging past relationships and experiences of childhood trauma, abusive relationships, and divorce. Jessi shares how she navigated through these difficult times, often feeling responsible for others' happiness and striving for love and validation. She tal...

Overcoming Adversity: Trevor Cowley's Journey from Addiction to Breaking Records In this episode of the Irene Podcast, Trevor shares his story of growing up in a poor and challenging environment in St. George, Utah. Trevor discusses the statistics of growing up in such conditions and how he became a part of those statistics by engaging in substance abuse and reckless behavior from a young age...

Rebuilding Self-Trust: A Journey to Renewed Confidence In this episode of the Irene Podcast, the focus is on regaining self-confidence and healing from emotional harm. The discussion revolves around how self-trust is often eroded by invalidation and doubt rather than simple bad choices. Co Founder of Irene Hope, shares personal experiences about doubting decisions and feeling like a fraud due to e...

Triumph After Trauma: Beth McDonough's Journey from Addiction to Advocacy In this episode of the Irene Podcast, host Hope interviews Beth McDonough, an accomplished author and former reporter who shares her poignant story of overcoming profound loss, addiction, and rebuilding her life. Beth recounts her 30-year career across major news networks, her struggles with alcoholism exacerbated by pe...

Healing Complex Trauma through Somatic Therapy with Jenny from Med Counseling In this episode of the Irene Podcast, host Irene welcomes Jenny, a clinical mental health therapist from Med Counseling with over 20 years of experience specializing in complex trauma and nervous system healing. Jenny discusses the importance of somatic therapy and its role in treating trauma by addressing both the mind...

Unraveling Stories and Healing Relationships: A Deep Dive with Caramie Ann In this episode of the Irene podcast, hosted by Hope, guest Caramie Ann shares her profound journey of healing through relationships and financial planning. Caramie is an author and financial professional, discusses how her personal experiences and coaching background have shaped her approach to helping others develop healt...

Identifying and Understanding Manipulation Tactics in Abusive Relationships In this episode of the Irene Podcast, we delve into the various forms of manipulation used by abusive individuals to control their victims. The host Hope discusses common manipulation tactics such as emotional blackmail, gaslighting, playing the victim, guilt-tripping, blame-shifting, threats, and isolation. Utilizing insi...

Healing and Communication Through Technology: Introducing Irenegpt.ai In the first episode of the Irene Podcast, co-founder Hope Stoddard and guest Samantha Parker delve into the inspiration and purpose behind Irenegpt.ai, an app designed to help individuals navigate and heal from abusive relationships. They discuss personal experiences with emotional and physical abuse, the challenges of communic...