Survival Mode Disrupted with Leticia R Francis

Mickey pulls the mask off survival mode and names what too many of us were trained to hide: grooming, child sexual abuse, manipulation, addiction, homelessness, and violence. This is not trauma porn. It is truth, recovery, and responsibility. In this episode, we unpack the patterns that kept her stuck, the moments that cracked the denial, and the choices that rebuilt her life with dignity and powe...

This powerful conclusion tracks Mickey’s path through Drug Treatment Court, relapse, jail sanctions, a high-risk pregnancy, and the moment surrender became a choice. She names the difference between treating symptoms and healing trauma. She walks us into a courtroom that tried to rip her apart and a justice system that finally listened. We talk recovery structure, community, grief, and the audacit...

Today’s guest is not here to perform strength. She is here to tell the truth. Molested at 7. Silence, fights, and promiscuity by 13. A teenage pregnancy. Multiple suicide attempts. Law enforcement work that amplified unhealed wounds. An abusive marriage. A fourth attempt that became the turning point. Chanika shows us what it looks like to stop waiting for rescue and choose yourself in real time....

Bermuda raised her. Purpose pulled her. In this episode, Desta walks us through leaving a 21-square-mile comfort zone for engineering school in Toronto, pounding on closed doors back home, and finally smashing ceilings as a sustainability leader. But behind the wins was a private war: an abusive partner, post-separation warfare, and the moment her child intervened to stop an attack. That was the l...

Survival wasn’t a phase for Frankco, it was the air he breathed. Abusive home. Public bullying. “Pick a struggle” became “I had all of them.” He fled Bermuda, lived homeless in NYC, cycled through addiction, prison, and an overdose before clawing his way back. Today he’s nine years sober and building solutions for the island that shaped him studying how smallness, isolation, and culture complicate...

This is not a surface-level chat about “moving on.” This is survival mode, cracked wide open. Darla Illa shares the raw truth about growing up in dysfunction, surviving narcissistic abuse, and taking her power back through radical self-love and grace. We unpack the love-bombing, the trauma bonds, the gaslighting, and the decades-long reprogramming it takes to finally feel free. 💥 What “love bombi...

In this soul-shaking conversation, Leticia sits down with Rachel Lemon to expose the insidious nature of psychological and emotional abuse—and what healing actually takes. From red flags disguised as compliments to the slow erosion of self-trust, this episode peels back the layers of survival mode with zero fluff and full truth. 💥 What grooming actually looks like 💥 Subtle red flags most women m...

In this brutally honest episode, Jessica Perini shares how unresolved childhood trauma and codependency led her into the grip of narcissistic abuse. Through brainspotting, somatic healing, and radical self-honesty, she clawed her way out—and is now helping others do the same. 🧠 The psychology of codependency & control 🔥 What reactive abuse actually looks like 🪞 Why narcissists are drawn to...

Leticia sits down with Jonathan Simos for a deeply honest conversation about what it really means to survive, pivot, and thrive as an entrepreneur. From living out of his car to building a wellness brand rooted in holistic transformation, Jonathan shares how he flipped rock bottom into radical clarity—and why mindset is your real currency when everything else falls apart. 🚗 Living out of a car wh...

In this vulnerable and empowering episode of Survival Mode Disrupted , Ali shares her honest journey through postpartum depression, identity loss, and the slow climb out of survival mode. From breaking down over spilled soup to rebuilding her life through creativity and purpose, this conversation is a lifeline for any woman feeling lost in the roles she plays. 🍼 The silent reality of postpartum d...

Monica’s journey is one of radical reclamation—from silent suffering to powerful rebirth. After losing a child, supporting a husband with a traumatic brain injury, and caring for medically fragile kids, she gave everything to others… and lost herself in the process. ⚠️ The day her doctor warned she might not survive 💔 Losing a child, and how unprocessed grief fuels survival mode 🍽️ Using food and...

This episode isn’t about trauma. It’s about TRUTH. Kristen Clark doesn’t just disrupt survival mode—she detonates it. Together, we dive deep into the real reason we stay stuck in old stories—and how to burn the script once and for all. ⚡ Why survival mode is romantic fluff that keeps you small 🚫 How trauma narratives distract you from your actual power 🧬 The radical truth: You’ve never needed h...

In this powerful episode of Survival Mode Disrupted , I sit down with Cari, a survivor whose story will stop you in your tracks. She shares the deeply personal journey from suicidal hopelessness to becoming a coach, speaker, and author. This is not just a conversation—it’s a resurrection. 💔 A childhood of hidden abuse and generational silence 📉 The mental health system that failed her—three ther...

In this soul-stirring episode of Survival Mode Disrupted , Astra joins Leticia to dive deep into what it really means to heal—not just mentally, but spiritually. They explore the ripple effects of childhood neglect and sexual trauma, and the ways we disconnect from our bodies and ourselves in order to survive. But survival isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of the return. 🌀 Spiritual a...

In this deeply honest episode of Survival Mode Disrupted , Dawn shares her powerful story of early abuse, emotional chaos, and the physical and relational toll of unprocessed trauma. As a longtime nurse, she began seeing patterns—both in her patients and in herself—and realized what she’d been carrying wasn’t just pain… it was grief. Together, we unravel the hidden grief trauma survivors hold and...

What happens when trauma rewires your identity before you even know who you are? In this raw and radically honest episode, Sue Bowles shares her journey of entering survival mode at just 7 years old—and how it took nearly four decades before she started healing. From self-blame to self-discovery, Sue walks us through how she finally stepped into her power and chose to live again. Here’s what you’l...

What happens when fear becomes your comfort zone? For Carolyn J. Murphy , that fear started in early childhood—and ruled her life for decades. In this soul-shaking episode, Carolyn shares her story of surviving molestation, rape, and family loss, while carrying the invisible weight of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and generational pain. But this isn’t a story about what broke her—it’s a story ab...

Kelly Watt didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. She set out to breathe . After 11 years in public service, workplace stress, panic attacks, and soul fatigue pushed her to a breaking point. In this raw, relatable episode, Kelly shares how she left a secure job with no backup plan, survived a pandemic, and found her freedom—not in flashy success, but in peace, purpose, and presence. Here’s what we...

Ashley’s story will gut-punch every high-achieving woman who’s still stuck in the loop of “do more, be more, achieve more.” From Ivy League pressure to building a dream business while traveling the world, Ashley had it all—except peace. ✈️ Built a global business but couldn’t feel free inside 🧠 Trapped in thought spirals and emotional shutdowns 🧘‍♀️ Discovered mindset hacks weren’t enough—healin...

This episode is a masterclass in self-trust, intuitive discernment, and the hidden survival patterns even the “successful” women are stuck in. Anik Malfa went from thriving in the finance world to emotionally bankrupt —until she cracked open her life with one powerful question. 🚨 This one’s for the woman who’s done everything right and still feels like something’s missing. Inside this episode: ✨...

This powerful episode is a full-body exhale for every woman who's been told to "just move on" while silently unraveling inside. Martha shares her harrowing journey from growing up in a religious cult to confronting the trauma stored in her body — and what it really takes to heal. ✨ We talk nervous system regulation, inner child work, vulnerability as a superpower, and the raw truth about choosing...

This is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever had. In this episode, Sadia Carone unpacks her survival story with unfiltered truth, gut-wrenching detail, and laugh-out-loud wit. From childhood sexual abuse and narcissistic parenting to finding healing through theater, poetry, and comedy — this conversation is a full-circle moment of truth, art, and alchemy. Here’s what you’ll hear: 🔥 T...

In this fierce, soul-shaking episode of Survival Mode Disrupted , Dr. Rita Louise helps us decode the hidden trauma bond between narcissists and empaths — and why it keeps so many women trapped in survival-mode relationships. From energy dynamics to emotional programming, Dr. Rita peels back the layers of toxic love and guides us toward radical self-awareness. Here’s what we unpack: 👀 Why most em...

Brie’s story is one of emotional honesty, layered trauma, and radical relocation—from domestic violence in New York to healing in Spain. As a somatic therapist, she now helps other women reconnect with their bodies and regulate their nervous systems to truly exit survival mode. This episode peels back the reality of survival mode, how trauma trains us to settle for pain, and why learning to listen...

Michelle Burke gets real about the unspoken survival mode millions of women live in—where the biggest trauma isn’t one moment, but the daily grind of unmet needs, money stress, and shame. In this gut-wrenching episode, Michelle and Leticia tear down the glamorized facade of "resilience" to reveal the raw truth behind barely hanging on. 💸 Why financial stress is one of the most overlooked traumas...