Surviving Toxic Relationships Podcast with The Matadoras

In this powerful story, a teenager’s quick thinking after a devastating car crash leads to a startling discovery—one that forces him to confront years of emotional abuse, silence, and buried truth. In this episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships, we sit down with Steve Eichenblatt, attorney and author of Pretend They Are Dead , to explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the quiet ways...

This episode is for anyone who has ever asked:   “Why am I still paying the price for someone else’s abuse?” In this powerful episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships , hosts Deana and Lizzie sit down with Joni Woods , a certified life coach, culture strategist, and founder of Journey Coaching, to discuss what happens after you leave a toxic or narcissistic relationship—especially when the family...

In this powerful episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships, with Deana and Lizzie sit down with Brooke DeBoer, author of Living the Free Life and a life coach whose journey from bullying and emotional abuse to healing and freedom is both deeply personal and incredibly inspiring. Brooke shares how years of peer bullying, emotional trauma, unhealthy relationships, and limiting beliefs shaped her self...

In this gripping episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships with Deana and Lizzie sit down with Ken Childs, a veteran Los Angeles private investigator whose 25-year career includes celebrity cases, criminal investigations, and exposing double lives. Ken opens up about the rise of online deception, emotional cheating, and how narcissists use manipulation and control to hide their true selves. He shar...

In this deeply personal episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships , Lizzie shares her full story—one that spans faith, marriage, motherhood, religious abuse, emotional control, and survival. From marrying young with the belief that God had ordained the relationship, to enduring years of infidelity, manipulation, and spiritual coercion, Lizzie opens up about what it means to love God deeply while li...

Episode 81:  If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book—or wondered if it’s too late—this inspiring episode is for you. In this powerful conversation on Surviving Toxic Relationships , hosts Deana and Lizzie talk with Terry Whalin —author, editor, literary agent, and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing—about how midlife can become the perfect time to tell your story, share your testimony,...

Welcome to Surviving Toxic Relationships , a faith-based podcast created for women who are healing, rebuilding, and reclaiming their voice after emotional and relational abuse. Hosted by Lizzie and Deana—two women whose lives unexpectedly intersected through a shared past—this podcast offers honest conversations about manipulation, gaslighting, betrayal, trauma bonding, and the long road to recove...

In this deeply personal episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships, Lizzie opens up about how the holidays can feel different—lonelier, quieter, or unexpectedly emotional—especially after walking through heartbreak, divorce, or the loss of family traditions. Midlife brings new realities: children growing up, parents passing on, relationships ending, and identities shifting. What once made the season...

The holidays can intensify toxic family dynamics, emotional labor, grief, and high-conflict co-parenting. For many women, this season brings pressure to perform, suppress pain, and hold everything together. In this episode, Lizzie and Deana talk honestly about why the holidays feel so heavy for women navigating emotionally unsafe relationships and life transitions. We discuss guilt, boundaries, ca...

What if the greatest pain in your life was also the beginning of your purpose? In this powerful episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships , hosts Deana and Lizzie welcome Dr. Wole (Oluwole) Babatunde —a physician, psychiatrist, author, and faith leader whose extraordinary story proves that resilience and divine purpose can rise from even the darkest valleys. In this deeply moving episode of Survivi...

What happens when the pain and exhaustion isn’t “in your head” — but everyone tells you it is? In this powerful and validating episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships, Lizzie and Deana talk with Tami Stackelhouse, founder of the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute and host of The Fibromyalgia Podcast. Tami shares her deeply personal journey from being dismissed and misdiagnosed to final...

Have you ever worked for a fear-based leader , a toxic bully boss , or someone in authority who used intimidation and harassment instead of emotional maturity? In today’s eye-opening conversation, Kate Lowry, CEO Coach and Author of "Unbreakable: How to Survive Under Fear Based Leaders"  breaks down why so many leaders behave more like emotionally reactive children than competent adults...

After a 25-year marriage ended suddenly, emotional-wellbeing expert and artist Elizabeth Jane turned heartbreak into a mission: to help others climb out of the quicksand of grief, reclaim self-worth, and rebuild a full life. In this episode Elizabeth shares practical, bite-sized tools that helped her move from shock → survival → reinvention — plus mindset shifts every woman leaving a long relation...

In this powerful episode, Lizzie and Deana speak with Tracy DeTomasi, CEO of Callisto, a groundbreaking nonprofit using secure technology to connect survivors of serial predators—without forcing them to go public. Tracy shares how the Callisto Vault platform empowers survivors to safely report, match with others harmed by the same perpetrator, and make informed choices about next steps. The conver...

In this raw & honest episode, Lizzie opens up about her courageous journey of leaving a toxic relationship and rebuilding her life from the ground up. She shares how healing isn't a single dramatic moment, it's a process that unfolds in stages, with every step leading toward self-discovery and empowerment.  From surviving emotional turmoil to stepping into a season of reinvention, Li...

In this deeply moving and insightful episode, relationship and self-love coach Jonathan Aslay shares his powerful journey of healing after the tragic loss of his son. Through vulnerability and wisdom, Jonathan explores how grief can become a catalyst for growth , why self-worth is non-negotiable in midlife , and how to build meaningful, lasting relationships rooted in authenticity—not just chemist...

In this inspiring episode, Deborah Weed opens up about her powerful transformation—from a high-achieving corporate career to becoming the founder of the Self-Worth Initiative and the Quills Up Movement . 💫 After a life-altering health crisis, Deborah began to reframe her understanding of value, moving from external validation to embracing her intrinsic worth . She shares how a simple 1943 copper...

In this powerful episode, Lizzie and Deana dive deep into the roots of codependency , how it’s shaped by childhood trauma , and why it often leads to low self-esteem and toxic relationship patterns. Through raw, relatable stories and hard-earned insights, they unpack how codependency shows up in everyday life — from constantly putting others first to struggling with setting boundaries. You’ll lear...

 Am I the Toxic One? | Surviving Toxic Relationships with Lizzie & Deana Are you the toxic one... and don’t even know it? In this eye-opening episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships , Lizzie and Deana turn the mirror inward to explore a question many avoid: Could we be contributing to the toxicity in our relationships? Together, they unpack the subtle but critical differences between toxic be...

In this powerful and compassionate episode, Lizzie and Deana dive deep into the emotional complexities of leaving toxic relationships . They explore the internal battles many face— fear, guilt, and trauma bonds —and how these emotions can make leaving feel even more difficult than staying. Through real talk and heartfelt insights, they shed light on: Why the fear of the unknown often feels safer t...

In this deeply moving episode, Avonley Lightstone, Author of "Strength of Scars", opens up about her powerful journey from unimaginable loss to unshakable faith. After losing her mother at 3 years old in a tragic fire and enduring years of emotional and physical abuse in her adoptive home, Avonley shares how finding God became a turning point in her path to healing. Through candid conver...

In this powerful episode, Hillary Powers, the voice of Sally in the Peanuts cartoons, shares her remarkable journey from childhood trauma and addiction to over 40 years of sobriety, healing, and faith. With raw honesty and deep insight, Hillary reflects on her chaotic upbringing, the path to recovery, and how faith, surrender, and community helped her reclaim her life. She dives into the importanc...

🧠 In this heartfelt episode, Lizzie and Deana sit down with Jacintha Field —family and child counselor, art therapist, and founder of Happy Souls Kids . Jacintha shares her inspiring personal journey from surviving domestic violence to empowering families through emotional healing. 🌱 Learn how she’s on a mission to help 100,000 children by 2027 , and discover powerful tools to help your child na...

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Lizzie and Deana sit down with Julie Barth — trauma survivor, author, special needs mom, and passionate financial advocate for women —to share her extraordinary journey of survival, resilience, and transformation. From losing her husband to cancer, to raising a special needs child on her own, to surviving a narcissistically abusive second marriage, Julie...

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Dr. Zoe dives into the often misunderstood world of complex shame —how it silently shapes our relationships, distorts our identity, and hinders our ability to experience healthy love. Sharing her own transformative journey, Dr. Zoe reveals the hidden patterns of shame, including codependency, hiding behaviors, and fear of vulnerability , and offer...