Relationship Truth: Unfiltered

Have you ever wondered whether staying in your marriage is what God truly requires of you — or whether that belief is actually a lie keeping you trapped? In this powerful episode, Leslie sits down with Charlene Quint, family law attorney, domestic abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, and founder of Abuse Care. Charlene brings a rare combination of courtroom experience, personal healing, and deep biblical...

Show Notes   Have you ever wondered whether your faith was actually keeping you trapped in something God never intended for you? For Jennifer Brantley, that question took 36 years and a shattering moment of clarity to finally answer.   In this powerful episode, Leslie sits down with Jennifer — a speaker, author, and board-certified biblical counselor — who spent more than three decades in a marria...

  You Don't Have to Heal Alone: Why Community Is Essential in a Destructive Relationship   Have you ever sat in a church pew, heard a message about forgiveness or submission, and walked away feeling more trapped than before — wondering if something was deeply wrong with you for still feeling unsafe? You are not alone, and this episode is for you.   Leslie sits down with Kelly Yazzie, our community...

Not Aware Enough or Doesn't Care Enough? Dr. George Simon on Character Disturbance and What You Can Control Have you ever walked away from a conversation with your husband feeling like you are the one who is losing your mind — even though you know something is deeply wrong? That disorientation is not a personal failing. According to today's guest, it is often the most reliable signal that somethin...

Why Rejection Hits So Hard and How to Stop Letting It Define You Have you ever been blindsided by a betrayal so complete that it did not just shatter your marriage — it shattered the story you believed about yourself? One moment you thought you knew who you were, who he was, and who God was to you. And then the truth came out, and suddenly nothing felt certain anymore. In this episode, Leslie sits...

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "Maybe this time he really means it" — and then hated yourself for thinking it again? You are not weak. You are not foolish. You are caught in something far more powerful than willpower alone. In this deeply honest and compassionate episode, Leslie Vernick names two forces that work together to keep women stuck in destructive relationships: Hopium — the coun...

  From Crazy-Making to Clarity: One Woman's Journey Out of a Destructive Marriage What do you do when you cry out to God at two in the morning — not because you are praying, but because you are too afraid to go to sleep?   That is exactly where Shelley found herself: a musician, a mother, a woman of deep faith living in Australia with a vision impairment, and a marriage that had quietly unraveled...

  How to Thrive as the Default Parent When you're doing it all in a neurodiverse family  with Stephanie Holmes   What do you do when you are the only one who sees what your child needs, the only one managing the appointments, the IEPs, the protocols, the meltdowns, the mental load — and the other parent is sitting right there in the same house? If that question landed somewhere deep in your chest,...

  The Dignity Line How to Recognize When Your Relationship Has Crossed It with Dawn Madsen Show Notes Have you ever found yourself unable to explain to a counselor, a friend, or even yourself exactly why your relationship feels so wrong — only to be met with "every marriage has problems" or "have you tried harder to communicate"? You are not alone, and you are not imagining it.   In this powerful...

Tired of Being Dismissed? How to Stop Over-Functioning and Start Protecting Your Heart Have you ever found yourself explaining your needs — again — to someone who just doesn't seem to care? Or quietly wondering, *Is something wrong with me for wanting to be seen?* If that question has lived in your chest for too long, this episode is for you. In this warm, honest conversation, Leslie Vernick coach...

When Conflict Feels Unsafe: How to Stay Open-Hearted Without Abandoning Yourself Have you ever known the “right” way to communicate, but in the heat of conflict, those tools seem to disappear? In this episode of Relationship Truth: Unfiltered, Leslie sits down with psychologist, speaker, and author Dr. Kelly Flanagan to talk about what really happens inside of us when we get triggered—and how one...

Parenting with Someone Who Is Emotionally or Spiritually Unsafe How do you parent well when the other parent is manipulative, emotionally unsafe, spiritually abusive, addictive, or simply unwilling to grow? It’s one of the most painful and exhausting realities many women face after separation, divorce, or even within a difficult marriage. In this powerful conversation, Leslie is joined by Michael...

Finding Life, Hope, and Healing After Divorce with Jessica Kastner Have you ever wondered if your story is over because your marriage ended? Divorce can feel like a death—of dreams, identity, family, and future. But in this tender and hope-filled conversation, Leslie sits down with author and speaker Jessica Kastner to talk honestly about divorce, grief, shame, healing, and the beautiful truth tha...

Have you ever wondered whether what you’re living through is really abuse—or if maybe you’ve just been told for so long to “pray harder,” “submit more,” and “be a better wife” that you no longer trust your own reality? In this deeply honest episode, Leslie sits down with Kelly Yazzie, Leslie Vernick & Company’s community manager, to talk about her painful journey through sexual abuse, spiritua...

Boundaries, Overfunctioning, and Finding Your Voice in Difficult Relationships Have you ever tried to set a boundary… only to feel shut down, ignored, or even guilted into backing down? In this honest and practical episode, Leslie is joined by trusted coach Diana Bala to walk through real-life questions women face every day—how to hold boundaries when someone is angry, how to navigate emotionally...

Healing After Betrayal – Moving from Broken to Brave with Tammy Gustafson Have you ever done everything you were told a “good Christian wife” should do—pray harder, forgive quickly, submit more—only to find yourself deeply betrayed and wondering where God is in the middle of it all? In this powerful conversation, Leslie sits down with counselor, speaker, and author Tammy Gustafson to talk honestly...

Finding Hope in the Deepest Pain   What happens when the unthinkable becomes your reality—and yet you still choose faith? In today’s deeply moving episode, Leslie sits down with Hope Hooton, a courageous mother, advocate, and follower of Jesus whose life changed forever in May 2024 when her two children, Alec and Lydia, were tragically killed during court-ordered visitation with their father. In t...

Have you ever looked in the mirror and quietly wondered, “Who am I really?” Not what you do. Not the roles you play. Not what others expect of you. But who you truly are. In this deeply honest and hope-filled conversation, I’m joined again by our team coach, Susan King, as we explore what Scripture says about your identity—not just your duties. Together, we unpack how Christian women—especially th...

Have you ever thought you finally met the right one—only to discover, painfully, that everything he said was a lie? In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Leslie Vernick sits down with media expert and speaker Beverly Hallberg to unpack her harrowing journey through a deceptive and destructive marriage. From whirlwind courtship to abuse behind closed doors, Beverly opens up about the spirit...

When Should I Talk to a Lawyer (Even If I'm Not Planning to Divorce?) Have you ever wondered if reaching out to a lawyer makes you disloyal—or unfaithful—to your marriage or to God? Many Christian women in painful or destructive relationships fear that even considering legal advice is a betrayal. But today’s episode is here to shine light on the truth: seeking legal counsel doesn’t mean you’re fil...

Resilience After Abuse: What It Really Means and How to Rebuild Key Takeaways Have you ever felt so broken by your past that the idea of “resilience” feels impossible or even offensive? You're not alone. In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Leslie sits down with licensed therapist and trauma expert Tabitha Westbrook to unpack what true resilience looks like after abuse, trauma, or coercive...

When Healing Isn’t Instant: Reframing Mental Health, Faith, and Finding Your Next Step Have you ever wondered if your struggles with anxiety, depression, or trauma mean you're not “spiritual enough”? Maybe you've tried praying harder, reading your Bible more, or pushing yourself to “have more faith,” yet you're still stuck. If so, you're not alone—and you’re not doing it wrong. In this heartfelt e...

What does it really take to go from paralyzing fear and emotional confusion to courageous clarity and freedom? In Part 2 of our conversation, Coach LeAnne Parsons continues her heart-stirring dialogue with three women who bravely walked the journey of healing inside Empowered to Change. This week, we go deeper—unpacking the exact tools, mindset shifts, and faith-filled decisions that helped them d...

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, "I can’t keep living like this… but I don’t know how to change?" You’re not alone, friend. In this powerful episode, you’ll hear from three courageous women—Rhonda, Jill, and Christine—who were once stuck in confusion, fear, and shame. Now, they stand rooted in truth, strengthened by faith, and empowered by the work they’ve done inside the Empowered t...

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to love again after your heart has been shattered? Maybe you've walked through a painful divorce, betrayal, or even the loss of someone dear—and the thought of opening your heart again feels terrifying, or even wrong. In today’s powerful episode, Leslie sits down with Michelle Hord, author of The Other Side of Yet, a woman who has endured the unimaginable: t...